Chapter 149 Lure Them Out and Fight

While everyone was drinking, the Coward had already returned with the information. Just as Ou Xiaolu had learned, three new people—two women and one man—had indeed appeared by Cheng Ming’s side.

These three did not seem to possess overwhelmingly powerful combat abilities, but their presence was clearly purposeful. The Coward lacked the nerve to test their strength directly, but it was obvious they were deployed for specific targets.

The Coward noted that the man could manipulate gravity. When eating and drinking, he did not need to lift a finger; items would automatically float and drift right to his mouth.

As for the two women, one appeared capable of transforming her body into magma, rendering her immune to various types of flames, while the other seemingly wielded ice-based abilities. The Coward had witnessed with his own eyes how this woman froze a bottle of wine into solid ice and chewed the pieces in her mouth.

After listening to the Coward’s account, Ou Xiaolu stated with certainty, "The gravity manipulator is sent to deal with A Luo, whose Pulmonary Metal-Qi Sand-Storm Technique is countered by magnetism and gravity. The one who turns into magma must be intended for someone from the Holy Blood Council. As for the last one with the ice power, she is meant for me. I’m just a bit puzzled by their reasoning."

"Actually, ice and fire share a certain duality; both can suppress the flame attribute. It's also possible the magma one is meant for you, and the ice one for the person you mentioned," the Ghost King mused.

"Since they don't know our situation has changed, I'll take care of the ice user. I can use ice powers too, you know," Emilia said excitedly, pulling out her Round Ice Shield to show off.

Ou Xiaolu was deliberating whether he should spend his accumulated experience points to level up first, perhaps creating another avatar specifically tailored to deal with Future Tech.

At that moment, however, the Ghost King spoke up: "I am formless and bodiless. I shall handle the gravity user."

Only then did Ou Xiaolu remember that they had plenty of manpower and temporarily had no need for additional avatars. He immediately declared, "Then I will take the fire user. I'd like to see whether my shark can swallow magma."

A Luo understood his assignment without needing to be told. Letting Cheng Ming escape last time had caused this massive trouble; naturally, he could not afford to let Cheng Ming slip away again.

Finally, Ou Xiaolu notified Booth, telling him not to appear in New Town for the time being. Booth was, after all, another enemy of Future Tech, and Xiao You was still with him. Should Future Tech discover Booth's existence, the next wave of operatives sent after them would likely be even larger.

With their respective tasks assigned, Ou Xiaolu and his group wasted no time. The Coward led the way, followed by the Ghost King, and then A Luo and Ou Xiaolu.

Emilia was either carried by A Luo, soaring along with the wind, or towed along by Ou Xiaolu using the Purple Thunder Heavenly Escape.

Soon, they traveled from Ou Xiaolu's apartment to the place Cheng Ming had rented.

This time, Cheng Ming had grown wise. His residence was frequented by a constant stream of people, and no one dared to act recklessly here.

Surveying the surroundings, the Ghost King could not help asking, "How do you plan to fight?"

To the Ghost King, such details made little difference, but for Ou Xiaolu, launching an attack right here carried considerable pressure.

Ou Xiaolu thought for a moment. "You all find a place to lie in wait, and I'll lure them out."

The Ghost King glanced around, finding no obvious traps in the vicinity, and nodded affirmatively.

A Luo and Emilia then set off to scout for suitable ambush spots. Although the area was busy, quiet corners were not entirely absent. Besides, night was fast approaching; if a fight broke out on the streets, it would not attract too much attention.

Once word came from the Ghost King that the ambush was set, Ou Xiaolu positioned himself on a building directly opposite Cheng Ming's rented apartment. Pointing his right hand toward Cheng Ming's window, he simulated the sound of a gunshot, and a shark materialized, hurtling straight across and smashing through the glass.

The impact startled everyone inside the room. Cheng Ming, despite losing both hands, was fine, but the other three leaped directly out the window.

Catching sight of Ou Xiaolu on the opposite building, the three of them twisted their faces in rage. They had been in New Town for days without yet seeking Ou Xiaolu out, only for him to show up at their doorstep uninvited.

The gravity-manipulating man immediately commanded, "Follow my steps."

With that, he stepped forward, leaving ripples of water in mid-air as if walking upon solid ground.

The two women who sprang out behind him had red and white hair respectively, clearly dyed to match their traits. Influenced by who-knows-what, they wore magical-girl-style outfits that fluttered gracefully as they ran.

They stepped with utmost caution, placing their feet precisely upon the ripples left by the man ahead. If any ripple seemed the least bit unstable, they would choose an alternate path or leap over it entirely.

Before long, the three of them chased Ou Xiaolu to a nearby small park. In New Town, such small parks were quite common, typically serving as habitats for the homeless. Today, nothing remained except a mess of abandoned tents and cold campfires.

Seeing Ou Xiaolu standing before the dead campfire, the three of them realized they had been lured into a trap.

The red-haired woman stepped forward. "It seems you knew we were coming. Trying to ambush us?"

"Indeed," Ou Xiaolu stepped forward. "Not quite a formal ambush, just a spur-of-the-moment idea. I'm merely curious: how did I offend you people? Things are already like this, yet you still send people to hunt me down."

As he spoke, Ou Xiaolu raised his left hand.

"Precisely because things have reached this point, we must eliminate you. You've been in New Town for less than a month, and look at the level you've already attained. If we drag this out any longer, it won't be long before our Future Tech is destroyed at your hands."

"What a touching speech; I am deeply moved. You can send a message to your boss in a dream, telling them that if Future Tech is ruined by my hands in the future, it was entirely brought on by your words."

With that, Ou Xiaolu drew his long sword from behind his back. Under the flickering firelight, the faint green patterns along the blade's edge rippled like moving serpents.

"It seems your courage has grown quite a bit. Call out your companions—that tiger and that black man."

A tiger and a black man? Ou Xiaolu blinked in surprise. He knew the tiger referred to A Luo, but could the black man possibly be Charles? Were these people prepared specifically for Charles? Good grief, he hadn't seen Charles in days; had that guy been up to something else again?

While Ou Xiaolu was momentarily dazed, the red-haired woman struck without warning, transforming her fist into blazing magma and slamming it straight toward Ou Xiaolu's face.