Wolf preying for sheep (Chapter 88)
"Deal?"
Ye Sheng raised an eyebrow and didn't say anything, just gesturing with her eyes for Mo Lin to continue.
Even though they'd worked together once before, there was no guarantee that the next cooperation would go smoothly... It was better to hear what the deal was about before deciding whether to get involved.
Mo Lin, noticing Ye Sheng's silent signal, didn't get annoyed. Instead, he enthusiastically began, "There's an opportunity tomorrow for a private group activity: forming a convoy to dig for star iron ore in the wilderness."
"!!!"
Hearing "star iron ore," Ye Sheng's eyes widened in shock. She had just heard about it from the lottery space.
She hadn't expected Mo Lin to bring it up now!
Mo Lin wasn't surprised by Ye Sheng's reaction. In fact, he had anticipated it. After all, any wastelander knew the value of star iron ore.
Once weapons were mixed with star iron, they became not only more durable and less prone to breaking but also sharper.
Therefore, star iron ore was extremely valuable!
Upon hearing about the opportunity to dig for star iron ore, anyone would be thrilled. Even Mo Lin had been excited when he first got the news.
"Although it's a private group activity, they've hired top-notch security: a squad from the Blue Whale Mercenary Corps."
"It's organized by some powerful individuals, who are bringing their friends and family along. There aren't many slots left, but I have an insider's recommendation and can secure two spots..."
At this point, Mo Lin's meaning was clear. If Ye Sheng wanted to join, she would have to pay a certain price.
Anyone else would have agreed immediately, but Ye Sheng thought for a moment before asking carefully, "How much is the fee? Also, do we need to rent our own vehicles to follow the convoy, or can we just tag along? And how much of the star iron ore do we have to hand over?"
Ye Sheng had heard from Ah Mu about private convoy groups while wandering around the safe zone.
While informal groups of 200 people scavenging the wilderness were common, joining a convoy was more organized. Ye Sheng had thought she'd have to buy a house in the safe zone before she could participate in such a convoy. She hadn't expected the opportunity to come so soon.
If Mo Lin's terms weren't too harsh, she was genuinely interested in going.
After all, with the protection of a strong mercenary group, she was just a tagalong.
Mining and seeing the world would be nice.
Even if something unexpected happened... No, she shouldn't think like that before even setting out!
Better not jinx it.
"I was planning to share a ride with someone else. If you want to join, the travel costs and hiring fees need to be shared. The total is around 50,000 credits, and the entry fee, thanks to my connections, is also 50,000 credits. Of the star iron ore we dig up, three-fifths have to be handed over, and another one- fifth goes to me."
"Wow!"
After all that effort, she would only get one-fifth of the haul.
And she had to pay 100,000 base credits.
That's... that's really expensive!
Seeing the hesitation on Ye Sheng's face, Mo Lin sighed and explained, "Miss, this price isn't expensive. If it were put up on the trading market, it would be snapped up instantly. It's just that I want to pick someone who seems reliable to team up with."
Of course, apart from being reliable, they couldn't be too much of a threat.
Otherwise, it would be too dangerous if someone stabbed them in the back.
Mo Lin thought Ye Sheng seemed quite well-off, looked frail, and had connections with the reputable Azure Phoenix Mercenary Group. He didn't know why she was living in the mitigation zone...
However, she sold him duck meat at a fair price of 100 credits per pound and wasn't greedy. Overall, she seemed like a good partner.
He wouldn't trust anyone else more.
"The value of star iron ore doesn't need explaining. Even if you sell it in the swap shop, it's 3,000 credits per pound. Private buyers offer even higher prices. As long as we bring back 30 pounds, we break even... Though there might be dangers along the way, we don't have to fight up front. We can just follow and pick up the scraps!"
Ye Sheng was still hesitant, but upon hearing the price for star iron ore, she immediately made up her mind.
She would join!
Even if the cost was high, the potential gain was worth it.
Not to mention, her Lucky Bag could secretly store a lot of ore, and she could exchange it for credits in the lottery space.
If they really found star iron ore, she wouldn't just break even—she'd make a fortune!
When Mo Lin heard Ye Sheng agree, he was also pleased. They agreed to meet at the city gate at six in the morning, preferably arriving half an hour early to avoid delays.
The deal was made, and Ye Sheng paid 50,000 credits as a deposit, with the remaining 50,000 to be settled later.
She had just earned 20,000 credits from selling duck meat, and now she spent 50,000 in an instant.
It's hard to save money!
But if they brought back a good haul of star iron ore, she'd have enough credits to buy a house!
She could also pay off her lottery debt!
Just thinking about it made her happy.
After parting ways with Mo Lin, Ye Sheng walked back cheerfully, stopping by the swap shop to buy 100 arrows, a large dryer, and a vacuum machine for making pet food for her black duck.
She also bought some powder and sprays to mask their scent.
Another 8,000 credits gone.
After calculating her income and expenses over the past two days, she still had a balance of 647,000 credits on her identity card.
There were still 50,000 credits to be deducted after the trip.
This star iron ore expedition needed to earn at least 400,000 base credits!
The pressure was on!
"Gu Luoyu, I'll be out with the convoy for a week starting tomorrow. I'm counting on you to take care of the house and Ye Heiya. Once we return from the mining trip, we'll be able to buy a house in the outer city of the safe zone!"
Back home, Ye Sheng's excitement hadn't faded. She sat happily beside the straw bed, sharing her upcoming plans with Gu Luoyu, whom she affectionately called "Xiaodongxi or little one or little pity."
She didn't hide anything about her deal with Mo Lin or the details of the star iron ore expedition, explaining everything in detail to avoid worrying Gu Luoyu.
Recently, she hadn't spent much time with her. Once she bought a house, she wouldn't have to be so mentally strained. Then, she could take a break and spend more quality time with her.
"Ye Sheng, this is too dangerous. Can you not go?"
But after hearing Ye Sheng's words, Gu Luoyu frowned and looked up at her.
Her red eyes were filled with concern, and she pressed her lips tightly together. She reached out with her left hand and took hold of Ye Sheng's.
If it were before, Gu Luoyu wouldn't have cared much. Everything would have been just a façade. But now, Ye Sheng had piqued her interest, and she genuinely didn't want her to go and never return.
The energy stones she had previously brought back not only restored her eyes and left hand but also replenished some of the energy in her body. Now, she could circulate it on her own, slowly healing her injuries.
Even without absorbing more energy stones, she would eventually recover.
Thus, Ye Sheng didn't need to take risks anymore, and they could spend more time together, allowing her to uncover her hidden secrets. What had caused this sudden change in her attitude toward her?
However...
Hearing Gu Luoyu's concern, Ye Sheng smiled shyly and then shook her head resolutely. "Opportunities like this only come once. I don't want to miss it. Besides, I've faced many dangers before, and I've always come through. This time, the convoy has hired a powerful mercenary group, so safety is guaranteed!"
Surely, she wouldn't run into the Black Spring Freemasonry again!
"Gu Luoyu, don't worry. Instead of worrying about these things, why not think about how to decorate our new home when we move to the outer city of the safe zone... Also, I brought back a high-radiation duck that can serve as Ye Heiya's food for a week."
Ye Sheng shifted the topic to divert Gu Luoyu's attention, and her gaze suddenly fell on the gratitude gifts she had organized earlier.
Now was the perfect time to use them.
She couldn't wait until the evening; she wanted to try on the tactical bodysuit now.
With that in mind, Ye Sheng looked at Gu Luoyu with a bright smile, her dimples showing. "Gu Luoyu, I want to try on the tactical bodysuit the mercenaries gave me. Can you help me see if I'm wearing it correctly?"
"Okay."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Ye Sheng, Gu Luoyu suppressed the irritation rising in her heart and nodded calmly. She then turned around, giving Ye Sheng space to change.
From their time together, it was clear that Ye Sheng was quite modest. Whether seeing someone else's body or being seen herself, she couldn't accept it.
"It’s just a child-like figure.
No need to be so cautious.
Gu Luoyu’s red eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth, her expression indifferent.
'I... I'm done changing.'
In reality, putting on the tactical suit wasn't difficult. The excuse of having Gu Luoyu check if it was worn correctly was just that—an excuse. Ye Sheng really wanted her to see if it was suitable to wear.
However, after changing into the suit herself, Ye Sheng looked down.
There was no need for the little one to check; she felt herself that it wasn't suitable!
Previously, with her flat chest, Ye Sheng might have found the suit loose. But since taking the mental soothing potion, her chest had immediately risen in elevation.
Her waist had also become slimmer.
Though she still didn't have as good a figure as little one, it was far beyond others, making Ye Sheng, who usually preferred loose clothing, very uncomfortable.
She felt like her body had been inflated.
Just a ‘whoosh’ and it changed!
However, her height hadn't changed much, still not exceeding 1.5 meters.
A shorty, oh no!!!
At least let her grow to 1.6 meters!
╥﹏╥
Ye Sheng had a strong resentment towards her height. She took a few steps forward, just as Gu Luoyu turned around. Because of the angle, the first thing Gu Luoyu saw was Ye Sheng's considerably ample chest, lifted by the corset.
Below that was a slender waist and a curvy figure.
Given Ye Sheng's not-so-tall height, this body proportion was quite voluptuous.
It made Gu Luoyu tilt her head in curiosity—when did Ye Sheng become so voluptuous?
Her skin had also become whiter and more delicate.
Although she hadn't paid much attention before, Gu Luoyu had scanned Ye Sheng from head to toe the moment her vision had recovered. The memory was vivid, and she could still recall it now. Even with different clothing, it couldn't have changed this much...
So, she became more interested in Ye Sheng. Due to her current injuries, she was limited, but once she recovered, she could get to know Ye Sheng better and find some answers.
"Gu Luoyu, I think this outfit looks weird; I’d better change back!"
Ye Sheng felt extremely awkward now.
Especially after being stared at by the little one, she wanted to change back as soon as possible.
What kind of stupid tactical suit was this? It looked like a fetish outfit...
/(//o/ω/o//)/
If she were a real girl, maybe she wouldn't be so conflicted and would accept it better. But facing this very real side of herself, she, who had been a boy in her previous life, felt very uncomfortable!
Gu Luoyu returned to the present after hearing this. She smiled at Ye Sheng and offered a compliment: "You look really good in it. I'm quite surprised... If you're uncomfortable, you can wear another layer over it since the tactical suit has protective functions.'
"Mm-hmm."
Ye Sheng accepted Gu Luoyu's suggestion.
After putting on a short-sleeved shirt and pants over the tactical suit, her good figure was immediately well covered.
This made Ye Sheng relax at once.
Gosh, having a good figure isn't all good; it made her feel really awkward.
After resolving the issue with the tactical suit, she sat next to the little one and curiously asked, "Gu Luoyu, do psychic ability users have to wear these kinds of clothes too?"
Little one had such a good figure; she would look great in them.
Hehe.
Ye Sheng herself felt awkward wearing them, but if it were another pretty girl... well, that would be nice to look at!
Gu Luoyu instantly saw through Ye Sheng's thoughts, raising an eyebrow slightly. She looked at Ye Sheng with a meaningful expression and then answered, "Yes, besides tactical suits, there are also light armor and other options. In the face of survival, only practicality matters."
As for Gu Luoyu herself?
She didn't have to worry that much.
It didn't matter what she wore since she wasn't afraid of being attacked.
Moreover, when dealing with S-class pollution creatures, these outfits wouldn't provide much protection...
Initially, she thought Ye Sheng was innocent and naive, but now it seemed she had some thoughts of her own.
However, she was too shy to act on them, only daring to probe subtly. When she got a response, she would immediately turn into a well-behaved quail.
Like a sensitive plant.
When touched, its leaves shyly curl up quickly.
Once it senses there's no danger, it spreads its leaves again.
It made people want to keep touching it, just to see the leaves curl up again...
Unaware of Gu Luoyu's thoughts of wanting to 'poke' her, Ye Sheng felt satisfied after getting her answer. She didn't continue asking more about psychic ability users.
After all, little one was still injured. It wasn't good to ask too many questions.
When little one's injuries healed and she was back to normal, then there wouldn't be so much to worry about.
After packing her luggage, the sky gradually dimmed in the busy hustle until nightfall, and red moonlight streamed through a gap in the roof, casting a mysterious red veil over the earth, making everything look hazy.
Since she had to wake up early the next day, the torch hanging in the shack had already been extinguished. After changing into her pajamas, Ye Sheng did not immediately go to sleep. She was too excited to close her eyes.
She turned her head to glance at little one beside her, who was also not asleep. Her red eyes seemed to sparkle faintly in the dark.
Her beautiful face looked like that of a celestial being.
When expressionless, she appeared cold and indifferent, exuding an untouchable aura.
Ye Sheng stared at her, dazed and unblinking, making it impossible for Gu Luoyu to pretend she didn't notice. She mimicked Ye Sheng's slight head tilt and looked back at her, her eyes shimmering like ripples on spring water.
With a change in expression, her demeanor transformed.
The distance between them suddenly felt closer.
She reverted back to the familiar, gentle, and fragile little one that Ye Sheng knew.
"Can't sleep?"
Before Ye Sheng could react, Gu Luoyu asked and immediately raised her left hand to pull Ye Sheng closer. Their bodies touched, and warmth spread between them.
Ye Sheng's heart felt warm.
Then, Gu Luoyu gently patted Ye Sheng's back with her left hand, like comforting a child. Her soft voice reached Ye Sheng's ears.
"Sleep now. I'll be waiting for you at home. You'll be safe."
"Okay."
Ye Sheng's mouth unconsciously curved into a smile. She snuggled a bit closer, and soon, sleepiness washed over her, making her eyelids heavy. She quickly fell asleep.
However, Gu Luoyu did not sleep. She raised her hand to lift Ye Sheng's chin, making her look up. Ye Sheng's closed eyes and innocent face were full of an innocent charm, like a pure forest deer.
This seemingly contagious feeling.
It stabilized Gu Luoyu's mind, bringing peace to her heart, dispelling many distracting thoughts.
This unfamiliar feeling made Gu Luoyu lower her head and kiss Ye Sheng's forehead, softly whispering.
"You will come back."
......
With high-quality sleep, even waking up before five made Ye Sheng feel full of energy.
After washing up, she bid farewell to the little one, then set off with her simple luggage towards the city gate.
Ye Sheng had thought that arriving early would mean waiting for a while. However, Mo Lin had arrived even earlier and was already waiting at the city gate. When he spotted Ye Sheng, he immediately waved for her to come over quickly.
"Sister Ye Sheng, you're just in time. We'll be leaving in ten minutes."
"So soon?"
"Yes, yes, that's why we need to come early. The departure time is decided by the leader!"
After a small complaint, Mo Lin led Ye Sheng to the convoy, stopping in front of the four-wheeled vehicle he was riding in, and introduced the temporary carpool companions for this trip.
"This is Liu Chenxing and his younger brother Liu Muyang. The driver for this trip is Brother Liu. This is my cousin, Ye Sheng. We’ll need to rely on you for the journey ahead!"
Mo Lin introduced everyone with a grin. The Liu brothers were both muscular and imposing, though the older brother was rather shy.
Hearing Mo Lin's words, Liu Chenxing scratched his head bashfully and responded with a simple, honest smile, "We’re already fortunate to catch a ride. If anything comes up along the way, just let us know."
"That's right. My brother and I are tough. Even against mercenaries, we’re not afraid. Ye Sheng, Mo Lin, we'll make sure you eat and drink well on this trip."
Compared to Liu Chenxing, his younger brother Liu Muyang was more lively and talkative, chattering away enthusiastically.
Mo Lin cheerfully responded, "Heck yeah, with Brother Liu here, I can just relax and win. Let's dig up lots of minerals and earn plenty of points."
Brother Liu and Mo Lin quickly hit it off, buddying up. Ye Sheng, not being shy, easily joined the conversation. In her past life, she had good social skills, allowing her to quickly integrate and learn more about the wasteland world.
Relying solely on Ah Mu for information wasn’t enough; she needed to ask others to fill in the gaps. Fortunately, the Liu brothers were easy to talk to and had good tempers. It seemed Mo Lin had a good eye for selecting travel companions.
As the three chatted and Brother Liu listened with a smile, the rest of the convoy started to arrive.
Compared to their rented, ordinary open-top four-wheeled vehicle, which had a somewhat worn exterior, the vehicles of the convoy leaders were very luxurious. The contrast was like that between an old Santana and a Land Rover.
However, the convoy leaders weren’t in their vehicles but were standing guard at the city gate.
Soon, a tall woman with short hair emerged, prompting the convoy leaders to rush over eagerly, nodding and bowing respectfully. It was clear she was someone important.
Curiously, Ye Sheng glanced over a few times. Liu Muyang exclaimed, "Wow, I thought they were just bragging, but they really hired an esper to accompany us. They spared no expense!"
"An esper?"
Ye Sheng was equally surprised.
She thought information about espers was tightly guarded.
How could just anyone know about it now?
Information about espers seemed too cheap!
Seeing the puzzled look on Ye Sheng's face, Liu Chenxing immediately explained, "Espers are quite special and are strictly monitored by the base, not allowed to leave freely... However, there are free psychics, mostly from various noble families, whose actions are not restricted. But it's rare for them to accompany a convoy into the wilderness."
After Liu Chenxing finished, Liu Muyang quickly added, "Yeah, that's why I was so surprised. The leaders of this convoy are just from side branches of noble families, they are not qualified to hire an Esper!"
With the Liu brothers' explanation, even Mo Lin became curious, joining Ye Sheng in peering towards the city gate from the car door.
The distance made it difficult to see the Esper clearly, causing Mo Lin to marvel, "This is my first time seeing an Esper. When they pass by our car, I'll make sure to keep my eyes wide open so I can brag to my friends later!"
"Haha, Mo Lin, you better be careful. Espers can be moody. If you upset her, she might separate your head from your body."
Liu Muyang laughed, trying to scare Mo Lin.
Mo Lin responded with an eye roll, clearly unimpressed, making Liu Muyang concerned enough to warn him.
"Mo Lin, my brother isn't wrong. Esper have keen senses. Even if you sneak a glance, they can notice... We once encountered an esper with a bad temper who killed someone just for staring. No one else dared to say anything."
"!"
Compared to the unreliable Liu Muyang, Liu Chenxing's words made Mo Lin shiver.
He quickly nodded like a pecking chicken.
"Then I won't dare stare. I still want to mine with all my limbs intact!"
Ye Sheng, however, was puzzled. Wasn't it said that espers only commit suicide, with Erensu being a rare case of killing others? Or maybe in the early stages, when espers absorb less energy, their suicidal tendencies aren't strong?
Having read the Black Spring Freemasonary' psychic esper research report, Ye Sheng knew a lot but didn't dare reveal too much to avoid arousing suspicion. After all, she was just an orphan from a mitigation zone. Even if she knew people in the Azure Phoenix Mercenary Group, she wouldn't have access to internal information.
Seeing that his words had scared Mo Lin, Liu Chenxing quickly added, "But not all espers are like that. Most are high and mighty, not caring about ordinary people. Look at how the convoy leaders are fawning over her, and she isn't paying them any mind."
Hearing Liu Chenxing’s words, Ye Sheng looked up again.
He was right.
The Esper was, even a bit impatient, waved her hand dismissively and walked directly toward the convoy.
As she got closer, they could see her striking silver wolf-tail hairstyle, full of personality.
Her slender, slightly upturned phoenix eyes.
Deep blue eyes carrying indifference, lips pressed tightly together, and her slightly raised chin full of impatience.
Her tall, slender frame was clad in tactical tight-fitting clothes, with a black cloak draped over her shoulders. Her cold and aloof demeanor made each step she took exude an aura of dominance, making others not dare to look directly at her.
She appeared to be a very unapproachable type.
Mo Lin shrank his neck in fear, and Liu Muyang also fell silent. The two of them were like mice encountering a cat, not daring to look up, making Liu Chenxing feel both amused and helpless.
"Act normal. The more you act like this, the more you draw attention."
Hearing this, Liu Muyang retorted, "Big brother, you’re wrong. Everyone else is just like me. That’s an Esper, who wouldn't be scared? A slight move and she could tear me in half."
Indeed, just as Liu Muyang said, the people in other vehicles were equally terrified.
This left Liu Chenxing speechless, and he helplessly continued, "Espers don’t bother with ordinary people. They won't even glance at you. If you..."
"Bro-bro-brother, hush! She’s coming!"
Before Liu Chenxing could finish, Liu Muyang, seeing the esper approaching from the corner of his eye, quickly tugged at his brother’s hand, signaling him to stop talking.
Ye Sheng wasn’t as scared as Mo Lin and the others, perhaps because little one by her side was also an esper.
She didn't share Liu Muyang and the others' apprehension, only silently complaining to herself about how she looked like she was in a fetish outfit when wearing a tactical tight suit, while others looked stylish and formidable!
Ugh, she was indignant!
o(?^`)o
Thinking these thoughts, Ye Sheng didn’t want to attract unnecessary trouble, so she obediently lowered her head like the others.
However, although Ye Sheng lowered her head, it didn’t stop the silver-haired esper from suddenly pausing her steps, then stepping back a few paces, her wolf-tail hairstyle swaying with the movement, bringing her right next to Ye Sheng’s vehicle.
As Liu Muyang and the others held their breath in fear, she leaned over the car door, her striking silver short hair and bright blue eyes staring intently at the bowed Ye Sheng.
It was like a wolf had its eyes on a fat lamb.