For those newly discovered old-world city ruins, because it's unclear what mutations might have occurred among the remaining "Mindless," and what hidden dangers might exist, ruin hunters tend to cooperate and form alliances to explore together, rather than guarding against each other and trying to eliminate competitors. After all, such a city ruin is rich in various resources, enough to satisfy everyone, and there's no need to rob each other.

In the ruin hunter community, this is called "Opening up the Wilderness."

Jiang Bai Mian was not surprised by Wu Shou Shi's invitation. She first turned her head to look at Shang Jian Yao and others, and then said with a smile:

"We have other things to do."

Before Wu Shou Shi could speak, she turned and said:

"I heard there are many anomalies north of Yue Lu Station.

"In addition to the midnight roars that you should also know about, some people have died inexplicably, with no visible injuries on the surface, their faces either twisted or smiling, which is very strange."

She relayed the information she had obtained from Harris Brown to Wu Shou Shi and others, as a reward for helping to pull the jeep out of the mud.

After listening, Wu Shou Shi turned his head to look at the indifferent female companion beside him:

"Ru Xiang, can you see anything?"

The woman in the military green camouflage uniform shook her head:

"Unable to judge."

Wu Shou Shi nodded almost imperceptibly and looked at Jiang Bai Mian:

"Thank you for the reminder, we will pay attention.

"But such an opportunity may only come once every few years, and it will only become less and less in the future, so we definitely can't miss it.

"In the Ashlands, we must strive for everything we can, otherwise, it's just the difference between dying a few years earlier or a few years later."

After expressing his firm will, he saw Jiang Bai Mian just smiling and not committing, and immediately understood that the other party really had no intention of exploring the new ruins.

"Then we'll continue on our way, I hope to see you again." Wu Shou Shi bid farewell politely and returned to the gray off-road vehicle with his companion.

"May we meet again." Jiang Bai Mian waved her hand.

"See you again" is one of the most beautiful wishes in the Ashlands.

With everyone likely to die from hunger, disease, attack, or natural disaster at any time, being able to meet again is definitely a precious thing.

After watching the gray off-road vehicle drive away, Jiang Bai Mian turned around and exclaimed:

"What a pity...

"Such an undiscovered city ruin would definitely yield a lot of precious firsthand information."

Bai Chen looked north and subconsciously asked:

"Really not going?"

"Do I look like the kind of person who says one thing to your face and another behind your back?" Jiang Bai Mian asked with a smile.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Shang Jian Yao, Bai Chen, and Long Yue Hong all looking at her, their eyes somewhat strange.

"Haha." She laughed awkwardly twice, "That's tactics, understand? Tactics."

Before the three team members could speak, she teased Bai Chen:

"What? Is the blood of a wasteland wanderer burning fiercely in your body, urging you to go?"

Bai Chen was silent for a second, and lowered his head slightly:

"More, is, a habit.

"As long as they know about this kind of thing, every wasteland wanderer will not let go of the opportunity.

"Rather than freezing to death in winter due to lack of food and clothing, taking a gamble at least gives you hope."

Jiang Bai Mian nodded slightly and looked at Shang Jian Yao and Long Yue Hong:

"If our 'Old Task Force' has been established for more than half a year and has completed several tasks, then this time I would definitely revise the plan and detour north of Yue Lu Station.

"However, we have two novices who have just arrived on the surface, and the anomalies and dangers there are clearly revealed. I can't take these two rookies on an adventure and pave the way for my own expectations with their lives."

Shang Jian Yao listened quietly and suddenly said:

"You said earlier that I was performing well, making you forget that I was a novice who had just arrived on the surface."

"...What did you say? I didn't hear clearly." A slight smile froze on Jiang Bai Mian's face.

Before Shang Jian Yao could repeat himself, she rubbed her ears:

"In short, every member of our 'Old Task Force' is hard-won, and I won't let you sacrifice casually."

Speaking of this, she said to Bai Chen with a serious face:

"Look at the map and confirm our current location.

"Although we are not going to that newly discovered city ruin, we have to pass the news back to the company. I have to find the nearest wasteland wanderer settlement that is affiliated with the company and has a radio.

"Also, the information provided by Harris Brown, the information related to the Mechanical Monk Jing Fa, must also be passed back to the company."

"Okay." Bai Chen took out a relatively simple map.

At this time, Long Yue Hong remembered to ask about the key matter:

"Team Leader, did you solve Jing Fa?

"Will he come after us again?"

Jiang Bai Mian sneered:

"If he would come after us at any time, would I dare to communicate with Wu Shou Shi and them here, and chat with you?"

Seeing Long Yue Hong breathe a sigh of relief, she changed the subject:

"However, we haven't really solved Jing Fa yet."

Long Yue Hong's body tightened slightly.

Jiang Bai Mian then smiled:

"We just seriously injured him, making it impossible for him to come after us for a while.

"By the time he fixes himself, we will have already left his tracking range. The Black Marsh Wilderness is so big that there is almost no need to worry about being found by him again."

Long Yue Hong relaxed and touched his stomach:

"I feel a little hungry."

At this time, it was long past lunchtime, and he had only eaten half a compressed biscuit when he was affected by the "Hungry Ghost Path."

Jiang Bai Mian raised her eyebrows slightly and said:

"You're not asking how we seriously injured Jing Fa?"

"From you getting out of the car halfway, I can roughly guess your real plan." Long Yue Hong straightened his back, "As for the specific details, I can ask after lunch."

"A promising child." Jiang Bai Mian praised in a deliberately old-fashioned tone, "Smarter than I thought."

Long Yue Hong felt a burst of joy and subconsciously wanted to be modest.

At this time, Shang Jian Yao asked, perhaps deliberately, out of the blue:

"Team Leader, did you think he was not smart before?"

"..." Long Yue Hong's expression instantly collapsed.

Jiang Bai Mian coughed twice:

"...That's not it, mainly because he doesn't have much experience, so it's quite good to be able to react in time.

"No matter what, he has undergone genetic modification, so his brain won't be too bad."

"My grades were just average..." Long Yue Hong lowered his head slightly and replied as if to himself.

Jiang Bai Mian tilted her head slightly and carefully distinguished the other party's words.

After a few seconds, she glanced at Shang Jian Yao:

"Sometimes, being too smart is not necessarily a good thing. Those with average intelligence may have a better chance of survival, because they know how to follow orders and will not act on their own initiative.

"Besides, everyone has different strengths."

Long Yue Hong took a breath and nodded slowly.

At this time, Bai Chen had confirmed the current location and pointed it out to Jiang Bai Mian on the map.

"Ha, the nearest settlement is actually in the north... We should be able to arrive by evening or tomorrow morning..." Jiang Bai Mian looked at it carefully for a while, "Fortunately, it's still a long way from Yue Lu Station, and there is also a certain deviation in direction, so we won't get involved in the affairs there."

She casually closed the map and threw it to Bai Chen:

"Let's go, target Black Rat Town!"

Shang Jian Yao and Long Yue Hong were not familiar with the Black Marsh Wilderness and had no objections.

"Bai Chen, you check the vehicle's condition. Long Yue Hong, you take some more energy bars out of the trunk." Jiang Bai Mian ordered while walking towards the jeep.

When Bai Chen and Long Yue Hong were doing their respective tasks, Jiang Bai Mian slowed down her pace, looked at the small swamp in front of her, and said to Shang Jian Yao beside her:

"Why did you want to undermine Long Yue Hong's confidence just now?

"Be honest, tell me what you really think."

Shang Jian Yao also looked ahead, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised:

"I want him to leave the 'Old Task Force', he's too much of a hindrance."

Jiang Bai Mian didn't respond and continued to walk slowly towards the jeep.

After two seconds, she heard Shang Jian Yao's slightly muffled voice sounding low:

"It's too dangerous for him..."

Jiang Bai Mian tilted her head slightly, and a smile appeared on her face again:

"I almost didn't hear what you were saying!"

She didn't continue the previous topic, quickened her pace, and got into the driver's seat of the jeep.

Soon, the jeep restarted and headed towards Black Rat Town in the north.

After taking turns eating lunch, Shang Jian Yao took the initiative to ask:

"What kind of place is Wildgrass City? Where is it?"

Bai Chen, who was in the co-driver's seat, turned her head and said:

"It's a city on the border of 'First City', on the edge of the Monk Wasteland."

"Monk Wasteland?" Long Yue Hong keenly noticed that this term was a bit strange.

——Inside "Pangu Biology," because many people may never go to the surface in their lives, the corresponding geography textbooks are very rough, only roughly introducing the major forces and marking the most important terrain.

"It's the area where the Mechanical Monks are most active." Jiang Bai Mian casually explained while driving, "Rumor has it that the headquarters of the Monk Order, the Lapis Lazuli Pure Land that hides the 'Eternal Life' technology and corresponding equipment, is located somewhere in this wasteland."

Bai Chen added:

"The specific location of this wasteland is southeast of the Black Marsh Wilderness. If you want to go to 'First City,' as long as you don't detour, you will pass through it."

After briefly introducing the Monk Wasteland, she continued the previous topic:

"Wildgrass City was originally a small force in the Monk Wasteland. Later, 'First City' expanded over there and wanted to turn the residents there into slaves.

"In this way, they fought several battles, each with casualties. At that time, 'First City' also had conflicts with other major forces, and there was really no way to reinforce the slave-catching team here, so they had to negotiate with Wildgrass City, allowing them to join 'First City' as formal citizens.

"Therefore, Wildgrass City has a high degree of autonomy and is a very active place for ruin hunters. The 'Hunter Guild' branch there is also quite famous."

After listening to Bai Chen's story, Long Yue Hong, who was full and had enough to eat, began to ask Jiang Bai Mian and others about the specific details of dealing with Jing Fa, drawing experience and information from it.

When talking about this matter to the end, he turned his head to look at Shang Jian Yao, unable to suppress his curiosity but also a little hesitant, and asked:

"What's the name of the Awakened ability that you used to suddenly make Jing Fa friendly?"

He quickly added:

"If it's not convenient to answer, then don't say it."

Shang Jian Yao looked at the windshield in front of him and was silent for a few seconds:

"Reasoning Clown."

ps: Asking for recommendation tickets on Monday~ The second update is at 12:30 noon