Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 345 - 225: Escape Plan

Qu Jianlei and his companions met Wei Wushuang again in the woods outside the casino.

Wei Wushuang saw the object covered with black cloth, stepped forward and uncovered it. His eyes immediately lit up, "No doubt, it’s it!"

Qu Jianlei asked, "Should it be placed in Central City or Celestial District?"

Wei Wushuang pondered for a moment before answering, "Celestial District, Central City might have unbearable consequences if the news leaks out."

Originally, Qu Jianlei also wanted to take the Nutrition Pod back to the Celestial District, but hearing this, he changed his mind.

"I think Central City is better, you have a greater capacity for risk."

Back then, Bentley and Flower Scorpion were ambushed because of him; he didn’t want a repeat.

The last time both were left disabled, but at least they survived. This time the potential risks could be greater.

Wei Wushuang rolled his eyes, "My capacity for risk... greater than yours?"

Qu Jianlei shook his head, "How should I put it, you have an official status, whereas I’m just a wanted man."

Seeing Wei Wushuang about to speak again, he interrupted, "At least you have the potential for Advancement to Supreme, so leave some face."

Wei Wushuang nodded with a chuckle, "That’s true, but you’re so young... your potential for Advancement to Supreme is much greater than mine."

Qu Jianlei, hearing this, rolled his eyes helplessly, "Advancement to Supreme... does it mean I’m not a wanted man anymore?"

Wei Wushuang gave him a sideways glance, "You indeed have confidence in Advancement to Supreme."

Qu Jianlei replied casually, "You gotta have dreams; what if they come true?"

Wei Wushuang sighed, a bit helplessly, "I mean, you have mastered the way to Advance to Supreme, no wonder you robbed the research lab..."

Qu Jianlei ignored this remark, "How about you buy this Nutrition Pod? I could make a buck."

Wei Wushuang, waving his hand, answered without hesitation, "Absolutely not buying, do you think... there aren’t enough A-level wanted criminals?"

He knew very well that the thing was a hot potato nobody would want to handle.

Just using it is one thing; claiming ownership would invite thunderous retaliation and backlash.

Not from the Gorge, but from the base.

"Cheapskate," Qu Jianlei muttered, "Then find a place first."

Wei Wushuang honestly didn’t want to get too involved. His eyes shifted, "I see you intend to treat Black Panther, let him choose a place."

He has the Nutrient Liquid which can be involved, Qu Jianlei has the potion and Nutrition Pod, Black Panther wants treatment, he has to make contributions.

Qu Jianlei snorted, "You’re roping in as many people as possible."

Wei Wushuang didn’t refute, just sighed lightly, "And we mustn’t let too many know... not very simple."

Qu Jianlei saw he willingly admitted and decided not to argue further, "Contact Black Panther then."

Big Boss Wei summoned him, Black Panther came over quickly.

Upon hearing their request, he readily expressed, "No problem, I’ll arrange a place."

There’s no need for an explanation; he wants treatment, he must take the corresponding risk. Why would it turn to him otherwise?

The place he found was familiar to Qu Jianlei; it was the solitary courtyard where the three sheltered after their last battle.

This time, Black Panther explained it’s the family property, counted under his name, with clan members helping him guard it.

He was making clear: My involvement is deep; you can rest assured.

The Nutrition Pod settled in, the first to receive treatment was Xiao Moshan.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with operating the Nutrition Pod, and Wei Wushuang could lend a hand. Crucially, his injuries were the easiest to recover.

Just before immersing in the Nutrition Pod, Xiao Moshan cut open old wounds himself, proving he’s a tough guy.

However, when it came to removing the poorly healed bones, he faltered, requiring Black Panther’s assistance.

Wei Wushuang remained indifferent toward the scene, only muttering with curiosity, "Could it be this guy used to be disabled?"

Qu Jianlei answered expressionlessly, "He was hit by a stray bullet during the Douglas Family ambush."

Wei Wushuang was silent for a while before speaking, "So I can understand your choice at that time."

After Xiao Moshan soaked in the Nutrition Pod, observing for two days, Qu Jianlei calculated further, "Estimated to soak for half a month."

"That’s pretty fast," Xiao Moshan remarked casually, "But Youyou, you need to hurry up."

Youyou shook her head, "Not convenient to return alone, next time you guys can help me get an identity over here."

"Then we’ll have to bring a female over," Xiao Moshan rolled his eyes, "Can’t just have outbound records."

Fear flashed in Youyou’s eyes, "But... I’m really having a headache."

Her combat power wasn’t particularly strong, nor was she used to fighting alone. Last time she forced herself to escape; there was no other choice.

Thinking for a moment, Xiao Moshan spoke seriously, "Then you go together with Jianlei."

Qu Jianlei gave him a strange look, "You’re not worried about unexpected incidents?"

"What unexpected incidents?" Xiao Moshan responded nonchalantly, "As long as the two of you are alright, who would dare to mess with me?"

Qu Jianlei thought about it and realized it made sense. The Big Boss Wei had already been roped in; who dared stir trouble in Central City?

As for the possibility that Wei Wushuang might turn traitor? Qu Jianlei thought that even if Brother Wei had a stroke for ten years, he wouldn’t make such a decision.

So he nodded, "That works, the two of us will return as soon as possible."

"Doesn’t matter," Xiao Moshan replied lazily, "Even ransacking another warehouse would be fine..."

"After Flower Scorpion and Bentley are treated, they’ll need quite a few crystals too."

The ones from the last heist should be enough, Qu Jianlei thought with a smirk, but then again... who complains about having too much of a good thing?

He always liked to leave a bit of room in his plans, "I’ll head to a few Secret Camps and leave the Limb Regeneration Potion for you."

After saying this, he turned and left, and Xiao Moshan thought for a moment before speaking, "Youyou, I have something to tell you..."

Early the next morning, Qu Jianlei and Youyou said goodbye to Black Panther and left directly.

By noon, Wei Wushuang wandered over and curiously asked, "Where are those two?"

"They said they have something to do," Black Panther answered honestly, "Said there’s no need to keep watch all the time."

Wei Wushuang joked, "Those two are really bold, aren’t they afraid I’d capture them?"

Black Panther rolled his eyes helplessly, thinking even if you had another ounce of courage, would you dare?

When Qu Jianlei and Youyou returned to the gorge, they found that the atmosphere was a bit tense, and the document checks at the entrance were very strict.

Youyou’s document triggered an alert again, and the inspector gave her a look and muttered, "You’re really good at returning right on time."

However, because of this, they actually passed through faster, which was a stroke of luck.

Inside the city within the gorge, it was the same, with document checks everywhere.

Qu Jianlei slightly spread out his spirit and perceived the situation, then understood—something had happened at the base.

The base had just over seven thousand people, and with a B-level Warrior missing for two consecutive days and unreachable, an investigation immediately began.

The investigation revealed that before this person disappeared, they inquired about the old training site.

So people went to the old training site and found that a Nutrition Pod was missing along with some Nutrient Liquid.

—Don’t underestimate the old training site; although the equipment is old, since it’s reserve materials, everything is meticulously accounted for.

And then... things escalated; the base issued orders to find both the person and the equipment!

Since they couldn’t be found inside the base, targeting the gorge became inevitable.

Qu Jianlei vaguely sensed that the base might be more concerned about how the Nutrition Pod was smuggled out of the base!

With this kind of objective, the checks wouldn’t ease up for a while.

He and Youyou decided to hide in a safe house.

This hideout lasted over ten days, and when Youyou’s identification document was about to expire, she destroyed it.

On the sixteenth day of hiding, Qu Jianlei grew restless, "Lurking in the safe house every day—when will this end?"

"You weren’t this edgy before," Youyou noted the change, "Are you worried about Flower Scorpion and Bentley?"

She initially intended to mention only Flower Scorpion, but sensing his steel-like demeanor, she added Bentley as well.

"I just feel something is off," Qu Jianlei muttered softly.

By the seventeenth day, this uncomfortable feeling became more pronounced, and he decided to go out and gather some intel.

By evening, he returned with a sullen expression, "I’ve also received a task warning for the assessment!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Youyou couldn’t help but burst out laughing, "Haha, no worries, you just got it; there’s still some time."

"The checks are pretty tight," Qu Jianlei replied helplessly, "Twice they almost took me to start the task directly."

Youyou found it curious, "Have they become this eager?"

Qu Jianlei grumbled, "They can’t catch who they’re looking for, and they’re worried about getting reprimanded, so they’re finding things to do."

Youyou suddenly understood and, after thinking for a moment, suggested, "Why not destroy your Identity Token too?"

"Better not yet," Qu Jianlei shook his head, then his expression turned stern, "Looks like we’ll have to hit another reserve warehouse."

"It’s just a distraction tactic; if others can do it, why can’t I?"

Upon hearing his words, Youyou’s eyes glimmered as she remembered Xiao Moshan’s instructions to her.

She tentatively proposed, "Why... don’t we pay the base another visit?"

"Go to the base?" Qu Jianlei gave her a surprised look, "With someone missing, won’t it be even more secure there?"

Youyou hesitated for a moment and then, with a resolve, said, "Actually, I want to escape the base."

"Escape... the base?" Qu Jianlei was momentarily stunned, recalling some of his suspicions.

But he didn’t press further—he had been politely refused many times; unless the other party offered, he wouldn’t ask.

So he asked a different question, "Does Xiao Moshan know about your plan?"

"He does," Youyou nodded decisively, "Without his help, I couldn’t possibly escape the base."

(To be continued, summoning monthly votes and subscriptions.)