After Raising Monsters, I Was Loved by Everyone in the Wasteland – CH75

Chapter 75

The room was cluttered with the corpses of mutated ants.

The red panda wasn’t a picky eater.

But after sniffing the strange smell emanating from the corpses, it had no choice but to reluctantly toss them all out.

Otherwise, leaving them would not only block the way but also fill the room with a foul stench.

After smashing the surveillance cameras, Wen Xin jumped down from the queen ant’s body.

Given the limited resources, there wasn’t anything to bind the queen ant.

Yet, the queen didn’t dare to move recklessly or summon other mutated ants to rescue it.

Because Ah Lü, the green-scaled viper, was watching from the side.

Its gaze was one of lazy amusement, with its cold, reptilian eyes gleaming darkly, occasionally licking its lips.

Its demeanor suggested that it was waiting for the queen to make a suicidal move so it could devour her whole.

For an A-level mutant, becoming an S-level’s meal was a terrifyingly real possibility.

The queen ant curled up tightly, trembling with fear.

Wen Xin walked to the stone platform and checked the remaining gear and bullet count.

Noticing Tang Qi staring off into space, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I think I need a moment to process everything.”

Tang Qi rubbed his face vigorously.

His face turned red from the effort, trying to convince himself that the scenes of Wen Xin sweeping through the arena with sheer force weren’t just a figment of his imagination.

It was utterly mind-blowing.

After finishing his inventory check, Wen Xin casually handed Tang Qi a standard pistol.

“Here, take this. There are five bullets inside. Use it for self-defense later.”

This type of gun didn’t have much recoil and was easy enough for an untrained civilian to use.

If the arena’s owner decided to show up in rage after hearing Wen Xin’s provocation, the ensuing battle would be extremely perilous.

At that time, Wen Xin couldn’t guarantee he’d be able to protect his friend.

Tang Qi snapped back to reality, fumbling as he accepted the weapon.

The cold, metallic surface didn’t excite him. Instead, it only intensified his growing panic. “Why don’t we just escape with the others?”

After subduing the queen ant, Wen Xin had it open the safety passage.

When the survivors learned Wen Xin was staying behind to confront the arena’s owner, they immediately abandoned their plans to cling to his coattails, shoving and scrambling to get out.

One of them paused before leaving, awkwardly muttering a word of thanks.

That person had previously invited Wen Xin to join them and assumed Wen Xin was just another indecisive fool when rejected.

Little did they know they were dealing with a true expert.

Tang Qi had the chance to leave with them but couldn’t bring himself to abandon his friend.

After everything that had happened today, he felt like he’d entered a surreal world. His mind struggled to comprehend why Wen Xin insisted on staying to face the spider queen head-on.

Not to mention the other creature—the spider-human hybrid lurking somewhere in the maze after being alerted by the commotion.

Though it hadn’t appeared yet, it would undoubtedly emerge during the fight, waiting to strike.

Wen Xin hesitated briefly.

He couldn’t very well admit it was because Ah Lü had been craving its preferred food for ages.

Before knowing the little ones were mutants, he had unknowingly deprived them of proper meals for so long.

Now that he knew, guilt gnawed at him, and he found it impossible to refuse the hopeful gaze of the green-scaled viper.

Shaking his head, he replied, “I have my reasons. And leaving such dangerous mutants unchecked is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Though humanity was still governed by military groups equipped with modern weapons, those weapons were often ineffective against high-level mutants with near-invincible defenses.

After the disbandment of national governments and the collapse of societal cohesion, countless new factions had sprung up, eventually forming localized regimes.

No longer could the world count on countless brave souls banding together in times of crisis.

Without sufficient incentives, no organization was willing to mobilize their full forces to hunt down a powerful mutant.

Wen Xin was sure that reporting this would never prompt the regional authorities in the West to intervene.

Tang Qi stared into his friend’s determined eyes. He wanted to say, “But this isn’t your responsibility.”

The people who died weren’t your relatives or friends. You’re not a fully armed soldier, just an ordinary person.

He walked over to Tang Qi and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. “From now on, you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Tang Qi’s eyes reddened.

He found himself unable to voice the cynical remarks that had been on the tip of his tongue—it wasn’t his place to say such things.

If it weren’t for Wen Xin, an ordinary person boldly stepping forward—

Would Tang Qi and the other survivors have been rescued?

Clutching the pistol tightly, a surge of indescribable warmth rose in Tang Qi’s heart. He said slowly and firmly, “I promise I won’t be a burden to you.”

He wanted to help Wen Xin, but he understood the vast gap between them.

At this moment, his only wish was not to drag Wen Xin down.

In the future, he would strive to keep up with his friend’s pace.

Wen Xin patted his shoulder again.

Time ticked by.

The room was so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard.

Wen Xin held a gun, his tactical vest bulging from its many pockets. Leaning his back against the wall, he appeared to be resting his eyes.

Suddenly, Ah Lü let out a puzzled “Hmm?”

Wen Xin’s eyes snapped open. “Something’s wrong?”

The little green cat shook its crushed fur and stood up. “Something’s definitely off. Besides the spider, there’s another mutant—at least A-level.”

But for an A-level mutant, Ah Lü wouldn’t usually be so on edge.

In an instant, Wen Xin’s muscles tensed. Following Ah Lü’s gaze, he warily looked toward the entrance of the safety passage.

His heart pounded like a drum.

He thought of the terrifying possibility—above A-level was S-level, creatures wielding catastrophic power capable of leveling a city in moments.

Just like Ah Lü, an ultra-dangerous S-class mutant.

Wen Xin had no delusions about his capabilities. The ease with which he handled the mutated ants hadn’t made him underestimate the power of mutants.

If it was an A-level mutant, he could still provide support and interference.

But an S-level battle? All he could do was grab Tang Qi and the red panda, and run at his fastest speed to avoid being collateral damage.

As Wen Xin prepared to retreat immediately, unwilling to complicate things for Ah Lü, the viper made a surprised sound.

Then Wen Xin saw that the little green cat, which had been eagerly gearing up to face a formidable foe, suddenly lay back down.

Ah Lü looked disinterested, even rolling its eyes in exasperation.

“Oh, it’s him. Looks like he’s gotten bold these days.”

Wen Xin detected a hint of nostalgia in Ah Lü’s tone as if it shared a good rapport with this newcomer.

“Is he your friend?” Wen Xin asked.

The green-scaled viper was about to answer when the figure lurking in the shadows felt a chill run down their spine. Quickly, they emitted a soundwave signal, a plea mixed into it, urging the viper not to spill the beans.

Ah Lü’s eyes sparkled with mischief as it replied, “Yeah, he’s a friend of mine.”

The person hiding clutched their chest, their breath hitching as their heart threatened to stop.

But in the next moment, Ah Lü pivoted, sparing them.

“He’s a bit of a recluse. You probably wouldn’t know him. That said, while he isn’t the sharpest, he’s not dumb enough to have built such a disgusting, pointless arena.”

The viper shook itself and stood again, preparing to meet its old acquaintance.

“If he’s here, there must’ve been some misunderstanding. Don’t start a fight just yet—listen to what he has to say.”

Hearing this, Wen Xin’s tension eased slightly.

As soon as Ah Lü finished speaking, footsteps echoed from the passage.

But it wasn’t just one person—there were many.

Wen Xin steeled himself once more.

The first thing to appear was an enormous spider, its limbs tightly bound.

Thud!

The black spider landed heavily at Wen Xin’s feet, the impact resounding loudly.

Dazed and infuriated, the spider clicked its fearsome mandibles, looking as if it wanted to curse.

But when it raised its head, it met Ah Lü’s narrowed eyes.

Those eyes radiated a sharp, ravenous hunger.

The killing intent was even stronger than when facing the canary in battle.

The spider’s heart skipped a beat. Its eight legs curled up, and it flipped over, feigning death.

Even though Wen Xin had mentally prepared himself, this bizarre sight left him stunned.

More footsteps followed, and soon a crowd poured in.

In groups of three or four, they hauled in several massive crates, placing them inside the room before opening them.

Under the stark white light, the contents of the crates gleamed in golden and radiant hues.

The once sparse and simple room was instantly transformed, illuminated by the luxurious glow of treasure.

The crates were packed with gold, silver, and jewels.

Wen Xin frowned, still clutching his gun tightly, unsure of their intent.

What kind of play was this?

Ah Lü, however, understood immediately, letting out a derisive laugh. “It’s an apology.”

By the time the room was nearly filled with the crates, the man finally stepped out.

Hearing Ah Lü’s comment, he coughed lightly and said with a calm expression, “It’s true. These are my apologies.”

As the man spoke, Wen Xin studied him.

His sharp brows were slightly furrowed, a habitual gesture that suggested frequent contemplation.

His thin cheeks and the lingering bloodlust in his eyes exuded a cold aura, keeping others at arm’s length.

However, the icy coldness etched into his very being seemed to soften when he looked at Wen Xin.

A subtle intuition surfaced in Wen Xin’s mind, inexplicably.

An odd sense that this face was familiar, that this “person” might know him.

A mutant, a supposed friend, and in the western region…

The answer was glaringly obvious.

Wen Xin’s lashes trembled slightly as he calmly met the canary’s gaze. “Forgive my ignorance, but what are you apologizing for?”

His tone had softened.

The canary, unaware that Wen Xin had already deduced his identity, felt a weight lift from his chest when the young man finally stopped scrutinizing him so intensely. Relaxing his clenched fists behind his back, he exhaled inwardly.

The tension of seeing Wen Xin so unexpectedly, coupled with the fear of being misunderstood, had stirred a storm of mixed emotions within him.

He had to restrain himself carefully to keep from revealing anything.

The canary steadied himself and began to explain the situation.

He emphasized, “I was unaware of the spider queen’s actions beforehand. The moment I received word, I rushed to stop it, but I was too late. It had already abducted a group of innocent people.”

Speaking too cautiously might arouse the young man’s suspicions, so the canary feigned a stronger stance. “I’ll ensure that all humans and mutants it abducted are returned.”

“And since it violated the rules I set, both the queen ant and spider queen, as well as their progeny, will be severely punished.”

Wen Xin absent-mindedly stroked the barrel of his gun, deliberating his words.

A reunion with an old acquaintance, but one so drastically changed.

Even the once-familiar features had become unrecognizable, the resemblance to the past completely gone.

The canary was not like Xiao Qi or Ah Lü.

Xiao Qi had immediately revealed the truth, unreservedly showing her reliance on him.

Ah Lü was equally uninhibited, flinging itself at him whenever it pleased.

But the man before him… had no intention of recognition, his behavior elusive and hard to read.

Wen Xin contemplated what attitude he should adopt toward him.

Seeing Wen Xin remain silent, the canary’s heart, which had only just settled, leaped back into his throat.

His mouth was dry.

He fretted over whether his previous words had been too harsh, or if his explanation had been insufficient.

Struggling to maintain a composed expression, the canary finally said, “Mr. Wen, I’ve heard of your reputation and admired you for a long time. Would I have the honor of becoming your friend?”

Wen Xin looked up.

He replied coolly, “I haven’t told you my name yet. How do you know I’m Wen Xin, or that I’m the person in those rumors? Have we met before?”

The canary: “…”

A figurative DANGER sign might as well have been stamped across his forehead.

Despite the rising panic in his heart, the canary maintained a calm and collected demeanor, his expression steady.

He repeated to himself: Don’t slip up. Don’t slip up. Don’t slip up.

With a faint smile, he said, “Perhaps you don’t realize how famous you’ve become. I came across your name by chance and was curious enough to investigate. I learned that Wen Jinfeng is your elder brother and even saw your photograph. That’s how I recognized you.”

“I see.” Wen Xin nodded in apparent understanding.

Then he followed up with a sharper question.

“I’ve also heard that the Rose Fortress in this region issued a bounty to locate me. If you were chasing another faction’s reward, I appreciate you keeping my identity secret.”

“By the way, I don’t believe I caught your name?”

The canary: “…”

He felt his throat tighten. Realizing he couldn’t conceal the truth any longer, he decided to come clean.

“Actually, the Rose Fortress… could be considered my domain.”

In other words, he was the lord of Rose Fortress.

Wen Xin let out a surprised, drawn-out “Ah,” as though everything had clicked. He said apologetically, “I didn’t expect that—how rude of me.”

Then, with a puzzled expression, he asked, “But why were you looking for me? Was it because of my reputation?”

The canary forced himself to nod. “Naturally. People are often drawn by renown.”

Wen Xin: “But since you knew who I was, why not approach me directly? Why issue a bounty?”

“Someone of your distinguished status would surely have been warmly welcomed in City A.”

The canary: “…………”

He froze. It was true—he knew who Wen Xin was, what he looked like. Why hadn’t he sought him out directly?

It was a blatant contradiction.

Alarms blared in the canary’s mind, but he couldn’t afford to show it.

Keeping his expression neutral, he locked eyes with Wen Xin, racking his brain for a plausible answer.

Wen Xin, ever patient, waited calmly, offering a polite, faint smile.

The smile almost made the canary admit defeat on the spot.

In the nick of time, Ah Lü intervened, breaking the tension.

Though, what it said didn’t quite help.

“What are you two on about? Stop circling around and deal with the real issue.”

The green-scaled viper swatted the nearby queen ant with its tail. “Why not just let me eat them? Save you the trouble.”

Hearing this, the queen ant was so terrified it shrank back, inching away.

Both men turned to look at Ah Lü.

Seeing Ah Lü lick its lips with evident interest, clearly not joking, the canary’s expression twitched. “I still have use for them. If you eat them, where am I supposed to find help of their caliber?”

Ah Lü was displeased. “Let’s get one thing straight—they were the ones who messed with us first. And don’t tell me you brought us all the way here and won’t even treat us to a decent meal?”

“Alright, it’s my fault.”

The canary sighed helplessly. “Near Rose Fortress, there’s a free hunting zone. The rule there is simple: mutants foraging inside live or die by their own skill. You can hunt and eat freely; no one will intervene.”

Hearing this, the red panda, clinging to Wen Xin’s leg like a quail, immediately lit up, its eyes sparkling with excitement.

The canary’s gaze landed on the little creature.

Was this one of Wen Xin’s new cubs?

He paused briefly, a mix of subtle and complicated emotions stirring within him.

But on second thought, the realization that he was the only one who could fly in their family finally calmed him.

“Such a long list of rules,” Ah Lü muttered, curling its lips. “Fine, I’ll catch my own food later.”

“There’s one more thing.”

Ah Lü jumped onto Wen Xin’s shoulder and said, “We’re here with Wen Xin to find Ah Jiu. He’s under your jurisdiction—you must know where he is?”

At those words, Wen Xin looked up to gauge the canary’s reaction.

The canary froze for a brief moment before quickly recovering, seamlessly replying to the viper’s question. “Yes, I know.”

“You can come back with me. I’ll arrange accommodations for you and notify him to meet with you.”

Though the canary addressed his words to Ah Lü, his eyes remained fixed on Wen Xin, filled with a ripple of shifting emotion.

“Please don’t refuse, alright?”

“Because he’s mentioned you more than once. He said he misses you all.”

Want more chapters that are downloadable as EPUB or PDF? Click Here~