Chapter 120: Survival of the Fittest

Chen Cao certainly understood the meaning behind the words of the white man before him. The man wanted him to emerge from the cave first to assess the situation—in other words, use him as a test subject. But with a gun pointed at him, Chen Cao had no choice but to comply. He had already heard the sound of orderly footsteps outside, and he suspected that the blond-haired, blue-eyed man who had come to save him could sense it too.

“Hurry up! Do you know how precious time is right now?” the blond man said, still aiming his gun at Chen Cao. His voice was tinged with urgency. Indeed, being hacked to death or captured alive by those dwarfs was hardly a pleasant prospect.

Chen Cao smiled calmly, grabbed the rope tied at the cave entrance, and climbed up in three quick steps. As he emerged, a breath of fresh morning air filled his lungs. Though he hadn’t been trapped for long, having faced death once made those moments feel like a century. Unable to resist, he mimicked Lu Tianming, taking a deep breath to let the moist jungle air soothe his lungs.

He scanned his surroundings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though the subterranean gloom had left him on edge. But the approaching footsteps were unmistakably real. Time was of the essence. Waving at the cave entrance, Chen Cao immediately heard the rustling sounds of movement below.

The blue-eyed, blond man was the first to crawl out. As soon as he emerged, he removed the submachine gun slung over his shoulder, glanced at Chen Cao, and tossed a handgun to him. “Here, this is all I’ve got now. No heavy weapons left!”

Chen Cao caught the pistol and quickly unloaded the magazine to inspect it. The bullets were fully loaded—an MMO automatic armor-piercing handgun, powerful and fierce. He was quite satisfied with this. It was a pity, though, that his “Farewell Double Blades,” a gift from Duan Tianya, had been taken by a native warrior. The thought of betrayal and nearly dying here darkened Chen Cao’s eyes.

Stanley was the second to crawl out. Taking a few deep breaths, he knelt and stretched out his hands, bowing eastward while murmuring, “My true god, I swear from now on I will worship and honor you daily.”

The blond man’s face twisted into an ambiguous smile as he watched Stanley’s prayers, then remarked to Chen Cao, “Looks like he’s forgotten who saved him.”

Chen Cao ignored the blond man’s remark and asked, “I want to know— I don’t know you. Why did you come to save me?” He deliberately lifted the pistol in his hand as he spoke.

The blond man replied, “I told you, we share a common goal. Let’s find a quiet place to talk. It’s far too dangerous here.”

“Yes, it’s too dangerous here,” Chen Cao agreed, glancing toward the cave entrance. Several minutes had passed—why hadn’t Lu Tianming come up yet?

Lu Tianming truly couldn’t climb up; his emaciated body lacked the strength. Stanley had finished his prayers and was now looking toward the cave entrance with a disdainful smile. It was clear he had no intention of rescuing Lu Tianming.

The blond man tightened his grip on his gun and said, “That guy is worthless. Better to let him perish on his own. The jungle demands strength—I think you understand that.”

Chen Cao raised his gun and said coldly to Stanley, “Pull him up, or I’ll throw you down!” His voice was steely, making Stanley shiver. Chen Cao believed that if he didn’t correct Stanley’s bad attitude now, next time Stanley found himself in danger, he might show the same expression.

Stanley trembled. Perhaps the memory of Chen Cao’s terrifying self-harm in Audru had left a deep impression on him. He knew Chen Cao was a reckless outlaw but also an intensely passionate man. This mix made Stanley feel a strange compulsion he could neither reject nor fully embrace.

He hurried to the cave edge and called inside, “Hey, skinny, I’m pulling you up!”

From within came weak but respectful breathing and a voice: “Thank God, Mr. Stanley, thank you so much!” The rope tied at the entrance shook slightly, indicating Lu Tianming had secured it. Stanley began to pull. Honestly, despite his own hunger, lifting the nearly skeletal Lu Tianming required barely any effort.

While Stanley was pulling Lu Tianming up, Chen Cao looked at the blond man and asked, “I want to know your name.”

The man still held his submachine gun and replied, “I don’t think it matters much. Saving you was a gamble. I hope you won’t disappoint me. When the time comes, we’ll each get what we need.” After a moment’s thought, he added, “You can call me Flower Buddha.”

“I’m Chen Cao,” he said.

Hearing that nickname, Chen Cao studied the white man carefully. He was tall but sturdy, with calloused hands gripping the gun’s stock—evidence of rigorous training. His narrow face was covered with stubble, showing he had been in the jungle for days. Yet his blue eyes burned brightly, filled with desire. Chen Cao recognized a fierce hunger in them.

“Oh, thank you, brother! I really don’t know how to thank you enough!” Lu Tianming panted as he was pulled up.

Stanley wiped sweat from his face, disdainful of Lu Tianming’s gratitude. “Thank the boss if you want—I’m not that kind-hearted.” He pointed a finger at Chen Cao.

Lu Tianming’s eyes lit up as he looked at Chen Cao nearby. Rubbing his bony hands, he said, “I never expected to meet a compatriot here. And to be saved by one, no less! How can I ever repay you?”

Flower Buddha snorted coldly, gun in hand, turning to Chen Cao. “I pity you for having such weak teammates. But I’m not you. In just a few minutes, I can see the truth: you’re a tiger full of compassion. That’s your weakness.”

Chen Cao did not deny it. His gaze remained steady as he replied calmly, “I suppose so. They may be weak, but I’m not going to abandon them.”

Flower Buddha turned, raising his gun and pulling back the bolt. “But you must understand—this is a fight to the death. If they hinder my mission, I won’t hesitate to kill them. Understood? I’m only after you.”

With that, Flower Buddha strode ahead into the depths of the jungle.

Chen Cao said to Stanley, “Support him. We’re moving out!”

“No way—carry a walking skeleton? That’s ridiculous!” Stanley protested, slinging Lu Tianming’s frail arm over his shoulder. He was already nostalgic for his days with Jared.

Flower Buddha seemed anxious, leading Chen Cao swiftly through the jungle. They stopped near a large tree, where Flower Buddha placed a pack into a tight pocket on his camouflage jacket.

Stanley, less fortunate, huffed and cursed Flower Buddha for his lack of consideration as he struggled to support Lu Tianming. When they reached a hollow tree, he carelessly dropped Lu Tianming to the ground. Seeing Flower Buddha approaching, Stanley opened his mouth to curse, but Flower Buddha’s presence froze him. Chen Cao, busy loosening his legs, watched the scene with puzzlement.

With Chen Cao present, Stanley felt calmer. He sat on the ground, chest out, striking what he thought was a cool pose, daring Flower Buddha with his eyes. But Flower Buddha’s expression was unreadable as he drew his gun and aimed it at Stanley’s head.

“Do you realize how much time you’ve wasted with your incompetence?” Flower Buddha said, finger on the trigger, giving it a slight squeeze.

Stanley nearly soiled himself. The cold barrel against his temple sent a shiver through his nerves. All his anger toward Flower Buddha evaporated instantly. He opened his mouth in shock, forgetting to close it.

Lu Tianming, seeing Stanley’s life threatened and helpless against the strong man, pleaded with near desperation, “Sir, please… could you—”

But before he could finish, a cold gun barrel slid into his mouth, pressing down on his tongue, immobilizing his speech.

“You two talk too much,” Flower Buddha said coldly. “With dead weight like you, it’s hard for me to escape unscathed.”

Yet as he spoke, Flower Buddha suddenly felt another cold barrel pressed against his own head.