Free Web NovelChapter 460: Chapter 409: Do You Have Someone You Care About?
Wu Baokang heard someone enter the room and initially didn’t want to pay attention. When the lights turned on, from the corner of his eye, he saw it was Zhang Su. He quickly sat up and mumbled a lot, looking very agitated, but no one could understand what he was saying.
"You were tied up because you couldn’t be honest. Not only are you unrepentant, you’re planning a sneak attack. With that attitude, you still want to talk with me? I’ll talk to you alright!"
Zhang Su stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, giving a mocking glance at Wu Baokang, who was sitting on the bed. While it was not obvious to others, Zhang Su knew that Wu Baokang was using a special grip to hold a several-centimeter-long metal rod, which was evidently removed from a belt buckle.
Just like Li Zongkai had said, Wu Baokang had strong abilities in making use of available materials, turning everything at hand into a weapon. That thin metal rod, though only four or five centimeters long, could easily blind someone, or worse, slash a throat if wielded by expert hands!
Wu Baokang frowned upon hearing Zhang Su’s words, shaking his head and emitting strange sounds.
"This is your last chance. If you dare cause trouble again, I’ll kill you right here; no, I’ll cripple you so you’ll wish for death!"
If it weren’t for wanting to question him, Zhang Su wouldn’t have tolerated his behavior any longer.
This time, Wu Baokang didn’t continue to try to conceal; likely feeling Zhang Su’s genuine murderous intent, the metal rod slipped from his hand, dropping to the floor with a clang.
At this close range, Zhang Su could clearly monitor the slightest change in Wu Baokang’s muscle movements, but he didn’t get close while Wu Baokang still held the weapon. Only after the metal rod was discarded did Zhang Su approach, with the military saber in his hand.
"Uuu, ah, ah!"
Seeing Zhang Su approach with the saber, Wu Baokang became agitated, shouting and yelling.
"Don’t you dare move!"
Zhang Su impatiently uttered, then flicked his arm upward. The cold glint brushed past Wu Baokang’s cheek, snapping the rope tying his mouth. A white mark was left on his skin, quickly turning red and oozing droplets of blood.
"Your saber skills are seriously amateur!"
Wu Baokang felt the pain on his cheek, his mouth twitching. He raised his arm with difficulty to wipe the blood with his clothing.
"Haha, you deserve a bit of flesh and pain!"
In Wu Baokang’s view, this was Zhang Su’s excuse for his poor swordsmanship. Little did he know, the bloodstain was entirely intentional by Zhang Su, who could control his actions with precision.
"Stop spouting nonsense. I’m here to ask you: What exactly is Liao Youzhi up to? I warn you not to lie or try to muddle through, because I already know a lot. If you say anything different from others, I’ll stab you immediately!"
Zhang Su raised the military saber he held, signaling for him to start talking.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Wu Baokang, with a rugged face and dark skin, heard Zhang Su’s words, his face darkened further, and responded in a deep voice, "As Leader Liao’s personal guard, I know more than anyone else, and more accurately too. It’s not strange that my information differs from others because what they know is fake!"
This made sense, but Zhang Su wasn’t about to tolerate his many faults, impatiently furrowing his brow and replied, "Enough! Stop rambling. No matter how close a guard, can you be closer than Liao Youzhi’s women by his side? They sleep together in a family bed, knowing more than you do!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Baokang’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Leader Liao’s women have someone arranged by you?"
Zhang Su gave him a deep, wry smile, as if to say: You think you’re all that?
"Impossible, you’re deceiving me. If it were true, there’d be no reason for you to interrogate me. You’d just go ask the sisters directly."
Wu Baokang instantly dismissed the idea.
"Say what you should. If you speak another word of nonsense, you know the consequences."
While speaking, Zhang Su swiftly placed the military saber on his face without the sound of wind, eerily fierce and swift.
Wu Baokang took a deep breath; he’d never been this frustrated before and bit his teeth, saying, "Leader Liao’s main goal isn’t to attack Celestial Horse Island. From his sources, he learned about some of your intel and hopes to recruit you, thus expanding his forces. The real aim is to use the guise of attacking Celestial Horse Island to deal with the other three families!"
"Hmm?"
If Wu Baokang had said only the first part, Zhang Su would’ve struck him with the saber immediately. But the latter statement intrigued him; he hadn’t heard this from others before!
"Are you surprised?" Wu Baokang heard Zhang Su’s puzzled voice and smirked, "Liao Youzhi’s ambition is vast; he’s determined to take over all of Qin City, and all obstacles must be removed."
"Oh? Meaning Liao Youzhi tried to negotiate unification with the other three families before but failed?" Zhang Su asked.
Wu Baokang nodded, "They didn’t know what’s good for them. If King Yama, you act wisely, not only can Celestial Horse Island brothers be preserved, but you could also secure a position under Liao Youzhi. If you resist, Liao Youzhi won’t spare you. I’m not threatening; I’m telling you what I know."
"Quit bragging, also, my name’s Zhang!"
Zhang Su couldn’t handle it; the talk was going well until suddenly the nickname King Yama popped up, making it too unpredictable. He continued, "The Survivor Alliance is strong indeed, and the other three families individually can’t beat you. But to swallow all three families at once, and plan to take us down simultaneously, you must have some secret weapon. Come on, tell me something I don’t know!"
That’s the intel Zhang Su most wanted, as knowing the opponent’s details would make other things easier. But to his surprise, what he heard next made him furious.
"Our secret weapon is an iron will in battle, ah... You bastard!"
Just as he was about to finish, a swoosh sound rang out. The pants were shredded layer by layer, and his lower leg was cut firmly, avoiding vital blood vessels, causing blood to seep out but hardly deadly.
"Aaah..." Wu Baokang’s lips trembled, not from pain but from anger.
Zhang Su coldly glanced at him: "That’s it? An iron will in battle? Quickly confess, what type of mutated zombie is your leader hiding?"
The casual tone made Wu Baokang’s heart tremble. The fact that the Survivor Alliance possessed mutated zombies wasn’t a secret, but using them as weapons was an absolute top-secret. Knowing this detail meant knowing the alliance’s core, what even the women sleeping next to Liao Youzhi shouldn’t know!
"There are none, no mutated zombies. I don’t know; whoever told you, ask them!"
Wu Baokang shook his head oddly, giving him a face like you’re talking nonsense.
Zhang Su had a thought, his tone softening as he spoke, "Old Wu, are you a loner? Have anyone important in the alliance?"
"Hmm? Are you trying to use my people to threaten me? Hahaha, you’re wrong. My family died long ago; it’s just me now!"
Wu Baokang looked at Zhang Su with disdain, feeling he had nothing to leverage against him.
Wu Baokang hid it well, but subtle flaws were caught by Zhang Su, though he wasn’t sure, needing verification.
"Since Liao Youzhi is eyeing Celestial Horse Island, a battle between us is inevitable!"
Zhang Su paced the room with his hands behind back, speaking in a deep tone.
"The Survivor Alliance has a secret weapon, but we’re not just empty vessels. We’ll go all out, and while Liao Youzhi certainly knows how to win, having learned so much, we’re not entirely doomed. If I lose, there’s nothing more to say. But if I win decisively, I won’t harm the innocent survivors in the alliance. But in case..."
Here, Zhang Su stopped and looked at Wu Baokang with a wry smile before coldly declaring, "In case after losing many, I narrowly defeat Liao Youzhi, every Survivor Alliance member must pay with their lives for my lost brothers and sisters! If you want those you care about to live well, tell me what I want to know, and I might spare their lives."
