The commotion quickly alerted those left in the camp. Wang Xiaorui was the first to rush out, leaping onto a rooftop to survey the situation. She soon spotted her panicked companions fleeing back.
“Adou, go call everyone back!”
With their makeshift oxygen gear and evolved physiques, these non-combatant “meat pigs” could stay submerged for an hour.
The woman named Adou immediately sprinted toward the pool and dove in.
Ye Zhongming, who had already identified the approaching threat, shook his head slightly at Wang Xiaorui’s order.
These women truly lacked experience.
Without even identifying the enemy, she’d ordered the retrieval of submerged teammates—a clear tactical error.
The camp’s isolation provided safety, but there were no escape routes during attacks. Their only retreat was the pool itself.
The correct move would’ve been to assess the threat first. If mutated lifeforms attacked, they should abandon those who were fleeing and hide inside the pool to see if they could hide from the trouble. If humans came, leave the submerged hidden, sacrificing the rest to protect them.
Perhaps due to the noise, Xiaohua gradually regained consciousness. Seeing the emergency, she struggled violently, muffled cries escaping her gag as she desperately signaled Ye Zhongming.
When the gag was removed, she didn’t scream but pleaded quietly: “Please save us. You said you sympathize! They can’t fight—most don’t even have weapons. They won’t survive. Please!”
When Ye Zhongming remained impassive, she gritted her teeth. “Then, at least free me. I have to help my sisters.”
“Even if you help, assess the situation first. Do you know what’s chasing them? Mutated lifeforms or evolved? Charging in blindly just means dying pointlessly. You won’t even be able to help them.”
Ye Zhongming’s tone was exasperated.
He did pity these Soul Merchant escapees—his female guards’ connection fostered that—but their sheer ineptitude frustrated him.
Xiaohua fell silent, focusing ahead. “Mengmeng?”
Concentrating, she recognized one of the fleeing women—another sent out to adapt. She wasn’t as strong as Xiaohua and only evolved one level to six stars. Her equipment wasn’t as good but was slightly better than the other sisters.
Why was she back now?
Hearing the name, Ye Zhongming recalled the earlier conversation. This woman had recently returned. Coming back so soon meant…
The pursuers soon became visible—a dozen five-meter-tall ogres wielding massive clubs. Most had single heads (levels 5-6), but two bore twin heads (level 7).
This area was ogre territory, but Ye Zhongming had noticed their territory expanding outward, leaving this sector abandoned.
Why would they appear now?
Then he noticed their blood-red eyes and sluggish movements—even if they were furious, this was a very unnatural state. They weren’t fast too.
To him, these ogres posed zero threat.
To these women, they were unstoppable demons.
“Mengmeng must’ve led them here!” Xiaohua gasped.
“She was followed, but not by ogres.” Ye Zhongming unfastened her bonds while she was confused.
“Go help them. I’ll check the rear.” Without explanation, he vanished into the trees.
Xiaohua hesitated only moments before leaping down to join her sisters.
The slow ogres allowed her to meet up with her sisters easily. By the time they regrouped, most fisherwomen had surfaced.
“Mengmeng? Xiaohua? Why are you two together? What’s happening?” Wang Xiaorui was stunned to see both sisters return simultaneously.
“I encountered them on my way back. Prepare to fight!” Mengmeng panted, drenched in sweat from the frantic retreat.
Wang Xiaorui knew questions could wait. Survival meant eliminating these ogres.
The odds weren’t hopeless—they could manage with her, Xiaohua, and Mengmeng- two seven stars and one six stars. Others could distract the weaker ogres, giving them a chance.
“Xiaohua, we take the twin-heads. Everyone else with weapons support Mengmeng against the rest. Non-combatants, hide!”
In crisis, Wang Xiaorui’s external experience showed. She assigned targets cleanly before charging.
Xiaohua followed, scanning futilely for Ye Zhongming.
He’d fled—that was understandable.
Though only twin-heads appeared, their kind included eight-star triple-heads. It was normal for him to find that dangerous and then choose to leave.
She felt no resentment, only gratitude—he’d released her in time to fight. If not, she wouldn’t be here to fight alongside her sisters. Without this, her next visit back might’ve found corpses.