Chapter Forty-Four: Discussion and True Colors

“Awooo!”
Inside the wooden cabin, Yueyue, who was happily devouring her meal, suddenly perked up her ears, let out a warning bark toward the door, and bared her little fangs in a display that was both adorable and fierce.

“What is it?”
Fang Tang was puzzled and glanced toward the door.
Though Yueyue was still young, she was, after all, a wolf.
Animals’ senses for their surroundings are often far keener than those of humans.
Yueyue’s reaction instantly put Fang Tang on alert.
He drew his firearm and the Daxia Lark Blade, then stepped out of the cabin.

As he walked outside, he spotted a young man skulking around the cabin, moving slowly and keeping his footsteps deliberately quiet, clearly hoping to avoid being noticed.

But he hadn’t counted on Yueyue.

Chen Yang also spotted Fang Tang. Realizing Fang was alone, he visibly relaxed, his face breaking into a sunny smile.

“Hey, hello there, brother!”
Chen Yang strode over with enthusiasm, gesturing at the cabin. “When I first saw the place, I thought maybe the dungeon creatures had learned to build houses! Thank goodness it’s just you—gave me quite a scare.”

He feigned lingering fright, but his steps were light as he approached Fang Tang.

“I don’t care who you are, but you’d better keep your distance.”
Fang Tang stabbed the Daxia Lark Blade into the ground, crossing his hands casually atop the golden hilt, his expression cold and indifferent.

“Uh…” Chen Yang’s eyes flicked to the blade, instantly captivated by its ornate design, a flash of envy crossing his gaze.

“Come on, brother, no need for that. I’m from Longguo too, and I’m pretty sure you are as well. Meeting a compatriot here is something to be happy about, right? We could team up—makes survival a lot more likely. Being alone is dangerous.”

Chen Yang’s expression was earnest, even harmless. Most people might have been swayed, but he was speaking to Fang Tang.

Clang!
With a resonant ring, the Daxia Lark Blade slid three inches from its sheath. Fang Tang’s gaze was icy, his meaning unmistakable.

“Alright, alright!” Chen Yang raised both hands and took two steps back. “I won’t bother you. But I do have two companions—could we rest here in the dungeon for a while?”

Two more?

A cold glint flashed in Fang Tang’s eyes, and he gave a frosty smile.
“What do you think?”

“Seriously, brother? We just need a break. Exploring the dungeon is exhausting. We won’t go inside—just set up our tent at a distance, is that alright?”

Chen Yang pointed to a corner of the dungeon wall nearby, his face wearing a pleading look.

Fang Tang narrowed his eyes. He turned and went back into the cabin, locking the door behind him.

The cabin was bulletproof and fireproof; he had no fear of any tricks this group might try.

He could be kind, but he would not be taken for a pushover. Otherwise, their consequences would be dire.

Seeing Fang Tang return inside, Chen Yang took it as tacit approval and brightened with an open smile.

“Thanks a lot, brother!”

Once his back was turned, however, the smile vanished instantly.

He retraced his steps. The man and woman with him hurried over. “How did it go?” they asked.

Chen Yang’s face was serious. He spoke in a low voice, “Just one man inside. He’s got a knife—very ornate. If we do make a move, I want that blade.”

“No one else in the cabin?” the woman asked, frowning.

Chen Yang shook his head. “He’s extremely cautious. I had to talk for a while before he agreed to let us stay in the dungeon. We’ll set up here and observe him for a bit.”

The man and woman exchanged glances, then nodded slightly.

“Alright. But if things don’t look promising, we’ll have to leave.”

…

Fang Tang sat on the edge of his bed, glancing at the three Level-2 shelters in the distance, leisurely eating fried rice without the least sign of worry.

Yueyue lay sprawled across his lap, her belly round and eyes half-closed in lazy contentment, resembling a kitten.

Finishing the last bite of fried rice, he tidied everything away, settled onto the sofa, and spread open a newspaper.

After a moment’s thought, he composed a message.

Fang Tang: “Now taking new orders for body armor. Not only bulletproof but also effectively absorbs the impact of bullets. Price as marked: one element stone per piece, no bargaining.”

The message hit the public channel like a bomb dropped in a pond.

“It’s been over a day since we’ve seen him—Brother Fang is back! Body armor, what a treasure!”

“Holy crap, lifesaving gear! Now if someone points a gun at me, I won’t have to worry. I can’t believe Fang the Flayer is willing to share something this good!”

“Boss Fang, can’t you go a little lower? Didn’t you used to make things for thirty silver bars? Can you do the same for this body armor?”

…

More and more people crowded into the public channel.

Fang Tang’s private messages exploded instantly.

In this perilous dungeon, weapons were plentiful, but protective gear was rare.

Five days had passed, and this was the first time body armor had appeared in the public domain—a testament to its value.

Fang Tang worked through the orders one by one.

Outside the cabin, the three also took note of the public channel.

“That Fang Tang can make body armor now. Should we buy some?” the woman asked, holding two pieces of bread with a hot dog sandwiched between them, pointing at the message.

The man was silent for a moment before looking at Chen Yang. “You’re sure he only has the one knife?”

“That’s all I saw. I can’t say if he has anything else,” Chen Yang replied, sipping his soda with a look of satisfaction.

The man pondered, then nodded slowly. “So far, no one’s found a weapon more dangerous than a gun. If that guy’s got a gun, body armor would be a good idea.”

He dismissed the danger of the Daxia Lark Blade. After all, how could a knife break through body armor—especially when they themselves had guns?

“But an element stone per piece—that’s steep,” Chen Yang muttered, wincing.

“You have to spend money to make money. If we can get the cabin, our living conditions will improve dramatically,” the man said with determination, opening a private chat with Fang Tang.

The woman watched the two of them, worry flickering in her eyes. She felt uneasy, but the vague discomfort was hard to put into words.

“I just hope we succeed this time, too.”

This wasn’t their first time pulling such stunts—they’d been successful before and the rewards had been decent.

Chen Yang glanced at the woman and gave a sly, meaningful smile. “Actually, we have a better way to test his strength.”

“What do you mean?” the other two looked at him.

Chen Yang jerked his chin toward the woman. “Sister Qing here—she’s got a great figure and she’s pretty. No normal man could resist her charms. And in this dungeon world, you might go centuries without seeing a woman—he must be starved by now…”

He paused, then continued, “To be honest, I was watching the cabin earlier, and through the window, I saw him staring at us for a long time—especially at Sister Qing. If she’s willing to make a little sacrifice, our chances of success could rise dramatically.”

After Chen Yang finished, both the man and woman fell silent.

The man looked at the woman, whose face was icy cold.

“I think Chen Yang’s idea is worth a try. But if you’re unwilling, that’s fine—we respect your choice.”