Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 636 - 629: Infection Risk

Chapter 636: Chapter 629: Infection Risk

Luo’er clearly intended to hold off the rear. He let his team members climb aboard the Transport Plane one by one, leaving himself to be the last. The number of Exotic Insects gathered on the top of the tower was increasing. The wall was crawling with a dense population of Exotic Insects, all baring their fangs and claws at him.

Hu Daoke and Cheng Ziang tried to knock down a few, but their efforts were just a drop in the ocean. Worried they might accidentally hurt their own people, they dared not continue shooting recklessly.

After getting his team members onto the Transport Plane, Luo’er took a deep breath and pulled the pin of his Magic Crystal grenade. He glanced at the ground below him, and then tossed the grenade down the stairs.

Apart from the tower walls, the other parts of the tower were made of wood, so even a single hand grenade could set the whole tower ablaze.

After throwing the grenade, Luo’er turned around to climb aboard the Transport Plane assisted by his team. But just as he had almost completely climbed into the cabin, except for his left leg, an Exotic Insect that had just climbed to the top of the tower lunged at him from behind. Its large and fearsome jaws clamped onto Luo’er’s ankle in an instant.

Luo’er felt excruciating pain in his ankle, and he let out a horrible scream. Upon seeing this, the relatively calm Cheng Ziang immediately raised his shotgun and fired several rounds at the insect. He emptied all the rounds from his shotgun.

The powerful shotgun tore apart the incoming Exotic Insect, shattering its body and limbs, only a head remained, still clenched tightly on Luo’er’s ankle.

"Take off, take off!" After accomplishing this, Cheng Ziang quickly tossed aside his shotgun and hammered on the cabin, signaling the pilot to ascend urgently.

The other members of the Advance Team quickly pulled Luo’er into the cabin. His ankle was already blood-soaked, with the insect’s head still clamped onto it, refusing to let go. Even though it had been separated from its body, it continued to gnaw on Luo’er’s ankle through reflex nerves.

"Luo’er, Luo’er, you can’t let anything happen to you!" Seeing the pool of blood and Luo’er’s pale face, Tangmo’s mind went blank, and he let out a whimpering sound, completely at a loss.

The hand grenade Luo’er had thrown into the tower finally detonated. Suddenly, the whole tower was engulfed in flames. Even the top of the tower was instantly set on fire, ablaze with roaring flames.

Fortunately, the Transport Plane had already ascended to about ten meters above the tower top, so it wasn’t affected by the explosion. The insects that had finally gathered at the top were instantly swallowed by the flames, screaming and jumping chaotically. Sparks fell from the top of the tower into the sea of insects below.

Luo’er was groaning at this moment, the pain in his ankle was unbearable. What’s worse, he might get infected with a virus, which was his main concern.

"Old Hu, hold Luo’er’s leg!" Cheng Ziang rushed to Luo’er’s foot with composure, instructing Hu Daoke to hold Luo’er’s leg while he bravely grabbed the insect’s large mandibles, trying to pry it open and pull it off.

Though the insect had died, its nerves were still active. It took Cheng Ziang a great deal of effort to pry open the insect’s mandibles and pull its head off Luo’er’s foot.

"Water, water, water!! You all, stop hesitating! Baiyue, tie Luo’er’s thigh tightly to prevent the virus from traveling to his heart through the blood! Moumou, get water to clean the wound quickly!" Cheng Ziang commanded in a loud voice.

At his command, everyone, who had been in shock, sprung into action again. Tangmo, trembling, took the sleeping bag off his back, and pulled out the drinking tube. Cheng Ziang immediately grabbed it and squeezed out water to clean Luo’er’s wound.

Though Luo’er’s situation wasn’t good, it wasn’t hopeless either. As long as they ensured that the insect’s blood didn’t enter his body through the wound, they could largely prevent him from being infected.

Cheng Ziang removed Luo’er’s boots and tore open his trousers. The wound on his foot was appalling. The strong bite force of the insect had left two deep gashes on his ankle, reaching the bone. Luckily, he didn’t find any evidence of contamination from the insect’s blood on the wound. He washed the wound with clean water, washing off the blood, which temporarily ensured that Luo’er would not be infected.

"Alcohol, bring me alcohol, who’s got the emergency medical kit!" Cheng Ziang shouted out in anxiety.

"Here!" Baiyue immediately handed him a small bottle of alcohol, and took out all the other medical supplies from the medical kit, preparing to treat Luo’er’s wound.

Having someone reliable by his side, Cheng Ziang finally heaved a sigh of relief and immediately used the alcohol to continue cleaning Luo’er’s wound.

The sharp sting of the alcohol caused Luo’er to scream again. Hearing his screams, Tangmo turned around and held his face while comforting him tremblingly, "It’s, it’s okay, it’s okay, Luo’er, if it hurts, bite my hand."

As she spoke, her face was covered in tears and snot, her voice trembling so much that she was barely able to speak. Annoyed, Luo’er pushed her hand away, biting his teeth and clutching her clothes tightly, bearing the severe pain in his foot.

Over these years of growth, Tangmo has changed significantly. Yet, when Luo’er’s safety is at risk, she is never able to remain calm. For her, losing Luo’er is an unbearable pain that will forever linger in her heart.

"Drive faster, drive faster," Tangmo urged loudly, finally breaking down into tears. She fell to her knees, leaning against Luo’er’s chest, wailing uncontrollably, "Why is this happening? Why is this happening?!"

Cheng Ziang found Tangmo’s behaviour quite vexing. On the one hand, her actions significantly affected the morale of the troops. But he also knew that for the majority of the Advance Team, the pain of losing Luo’er would be hard to bear.

The Advance Team was Luo’er’s team, a fact acknowledged by all team members. Before Luo’er found Nina, Cheng Ziang once pondered how he would manage the Advance Team if Luo’er left.

However, subsequent events revealed to him that without Luo’er, the Advance Team would merely be a shell of its former self. Even if he could gather the remaining members together, it would not be the same Advance Team anymore, as the spirit of the team would have dissipated.

As there was still a glimmer of hope for Luo’er, the other members of the Advance Team managed to maintain their composure. But, if Luo’er were indeed beyond saving, Cheng Ziang felt that the remaining members would not behave much better than Tangmo.

"Why are you crying? I’m not going to get hurt." Luo’er, having finally regained his strength, patted Tangmo’s back, trying to comfort her softly.

Cheng Ziang, anxious to the point of seeing stars, had finished pouring a bottle of alcohol and reached for another one to open, but Luo’er quickly pulled away and stopped him, "No more, no more. Just bandage it up a little, I’ll be fine."

"What are you joking? If you get infected, it’s incurable." Cheng Ziang ignored his pleas and continued to twist the bottle cap open.

"Ziang, do you believe me?" Luo’er grabbed his wrist and looked at him seriously.

Cheng Ziang glanced at him, then paused before saying, "Go ahead and talk."

"I said I’ll be fine, and I won’t get infected. Do you believe that?" Luo’er asked while panting.

"You..." Cheng Ziang faltered, suddenly a thought popped into his head. He remembered what happened in the watchtower and hesitantly asked, "Are you...sure?"

"I’m sure!" Luo’er nodded, stating it resolutely.

"Okay, I just hope you aren’t lying to me!" Cheng Ziang stared at him seriousness. After hesitation, he finally twisted the cap back onto the alcohol bottle.

He let out a sigh of relief, had Baiyue bandage up Luo’er and then took a rest, trying to steady his racing heart. It was then that he noticed Feng, kneeling in the corner, watching them with an emotionless expression.

"You’re really heartless." Cheng Ziang couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing.

"What do you mean?" Feng tilted his head, curiously asking.

"Aren’t you worried about Luo’er at all?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"Not at all!" Feng shook his head.

"Why?" Cheng Ziang asked, puzzled.

"The master said that Luo’er will lead me to my final destination, so I’m not worried about his safety." Feng calmly replied.

"Prophecy, again?" Cheng Ziang sighed. He couldn’t help but glance at Luo’er. Although many questions rushed to his lips, he ultimately remained silent.