Chapter 45: Beibei, Let's Go

Jiang Lan’s thumb was bitten off by Mouse Bei Bei in a single snap. Although the gun in her hand hadn’t dropped yet, she could no longer grip it. Crunch, crunch! Mouse Bei Bei chewed her thumb, crushing it to pieces in just a few bites. Jiang Lan was so furious she nearly lost her mind. If the finger were merely severed, it could be reattached and healed, but Mouse Bei Bei had obliterated it, swallowing the fragments. Now, she had no hope of restoration. Until she ascended to a fourth-tier divine body, she would forever lack a finger—a fate unbearable for any woman who cherished beauty.

“I’ll kill you!” she roared, falling backward in an attempt to crush Mouse Bei Bei beneath her, hoping to squash it to death. But Mouse Bei Bei sprang three meters away as she collapsed. Squeak, squeak! Mouse Bei Bei circled the fallen Jiang Lan like a wolf, searching for an opportunity to bite.

Chen Meng, enduring the pain, took off his backpack and pulled out the dagger he’d bought, preparing to seize the chance to strike Jiang Lan. Bang, bang! Two shots rang out—Jiang Lan had switched her gun to her other hand and fired twice at Mouse Bei Bei. Squeak! Mouse Bei Bei moved a fraction too slowly; one bullet grazed its calf, leaving a bloody mark.

Seeing Mouse Bei Bei wounded, Chen Meng grew anxious and even angry. After days of living and learning together, Mouse Bei Bei had become his friend; seeing it hurt, he wanted to kill Jiang Lan himself. He searched around and spotted the dining table he shared with Mo Xiaoyi. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and hurled it from behind the wall toward Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan, newly elevated to a divine body, had not yet surpassed ordinary humans in strength or defense. Seeing the table flying at her, she instinctively dodged, rolling upright and retreating swiftly. Squeak, squeak! Mouse Bei Bei seized the chance, leaping onto the spinning table, then launched itself onto Jiang Lan, landing squarely atop her head.

“Filthy rat, get off me!” Jiang Lan shouted, ignoring the table as it smashed into her. Mouse Bei Bei was undeterred, biting her gun-wielding arm and tearing off a chunk of flesh. Squeak, squeak! Mouse Bei Bei shrieked, ready to continue biting, and if left unchecked, it could gnaw her entire arm clean.

Desperate, Jiang Lan swung her mangled hand—missing its thumb—at Mouse Bei Bei. “Rotten woman, die!” Chen Meng realized this was his moment. Summoning all his breath, he employed the breathing technique taught by the old man, his feet moving with Ghost Lotus Steps, and lunged at Jiang Lan.

Bang! Mouse Bei Bei, unable to dodge, was punched by Jiang Lan and sent flying into the wall, cracking a brick.

Meanwhile, Chen Meng arrived, stabbing his dagger at Jiang Lan’s throat. Infuriated, Jiang Lan could not believe a mere mortal dared attack her and threw a punch at Chen Meng’s heart. A blow from a divine body to the heart would shatter it, or nearly so. But at that instant, Chen Meng’s foot traced a semicircle, his body swaying like a willow, and he slipped behind Jiang Lan.

“Not good!” Jiang Lan was shocked, cold sweat breaking out instantly. What was this footwork—so uncanny? She tried to locate Chen Meng, but a black dagger suddenly slashed from another direction, piercing her gun hand’s wrist.

Unable to control it, she dropped her gun. Chen Meng, overjoyed, abandoned his dagger, using Ghost Lotus Steps to dart away and chase after the pistol.

Bang! The gun struck the wall and bounced back. Chen Meng reached out and grabbed it; the familiar feel boosted his confidence. For him, marksmanship was now his strongest asset.

“Die!” Chen Meng growled, spinning the gun and aiming at Jiang Lan.

“Not good!” Jiang Lan knew Chen Meng’s skill and retreated instantly, leaping several times toward the martial arts hall’s entrance.

Bang, bang, bang! Chen Meng fired three shots, but Jiang Lan’s speed was astonishing. She had ascended to divine body status with a blue elixir specialized in speed. She could likely run at 15 meters per second. From the back hall to the doorway was a mere second for her. Of three shots, only one grazed her abdomen; the others missed.

“Damn!” Chen Meng rushed after her, hoping to fire again, but Jiang Lan’s figure had vanished.

Jiang Lan escaped, but the matter was far from over. Mouse Bei Bei staggered from the back hall, worried for Chen Meng’s safety.

“Bei Bei, we’re in real trouble this time,” Chen Meng muttered. After considering, he immediately called Han Hao: “Captain Han, that woman who was following me just tried to kill me and Mouse Bei Bei.”

In truth, Mouse Bei Bei was the main target. Without saying so, he feared Han Hao wouldn’t take his safety seriously.

“What? That’s incredibly bold!” Han Hao was astonished.

“Yes, right at the school gate, she held me hostage—I never expected she’d actually attack,” Chen Meng gritted his teeth. He’d hoped to escape into the school and lose Jiang Lan. “Why would she risk so much to kill me and Mouse Bei Bei?”

“It’s not you—it’s Mouse Bei Bei. He’s crucial to the situation between Earth and the prehistoric world. In the wilderness there’s a region called Rat King Ridge, a military stronghold. If we can take it, we could set up nukes there to threaten the New Moon Empire,” Han Hao explained. “Mouse Bei Bei, after awakening his intelligence, has a good chance of becoming the new Rat King of Rat King Ridge, ruling that mountain range.”

Hearing this, Chen Meng understood. Mouse Bei Bei was too important—no wonder both the cult and the law enforcement bureau were after him.

“If Mouse Bei Bei is that vital, the New Moon cult won’t give up; they’ll mobilize all their forces to exterminate him. Killing a rat is hard, but killing me is too easy,” Chen Meng bit his lip, feeling anxious. He didn’t want to die here before becoming a divine body. Jiang Lan, just newly ascended, was already so formidable—what about the cult’s second, third, or even fourth- and fifth-tier divine bodies? He’d stand no chance.

His mind raced; he realized he could rely on only one person—the old man. If nothing else, the old man’s son was Hong Qing. Even if the old man wasn’t secretly a big shot, the law enforcement bureau would do everything to protect him. Chen Meng’s own life might not matter, but Mouse Bei Bei’s and the old man’s certainly did. By staying close to these two crucial figures, he’d have a chance. If the old man truly was a powerhouse, all problems would be solved.

He resolved to find the old man. “Captain Han, that woman is from your bureau. Now I have serious doubts about your people. I’ll try to save myself—you know my phone number and can locate me. If you don’t want Mouse Bei Bei to get hurt, send reliable people to protect him.” Without waiting for Han Hao’s reply, Chen Meng hung up.

He dialed the old man, but no one answered. He then called Mo Xiaoyi.

“What’s up, Chen Meng?” Mo Xiaoyi was still at Jiangzhou University, puzzled.

“Send me the old man’s address,” Chen Meng said bluntly. He couldn’t afford to waste a single second; every delay could let cultists catch up.

“You need something from him?” Mo Xiaoyi wondered.

“I need him to save my life,” Chen Meng replied. “I’m being hunted, and there may be divine bodies above third tier involved. The old man’s the only one who can save me.”

“This…” Mo Xiaoyi was shaken, deeply curious what Chen Meng had done.

“Hurry, I don’t have much time,” Chen Meng urged.

“Alright, wait a moment,” Mo Xiaoyi hung up, quickly found the old man’s address in his favorites, and sent it to Chen Meng—he also believed the old man was a hidden master.

“Old man, you’d better be reliable,” Chen Meng prayed inwardly.

He opened the map and discovered the old man’s house was entirely outside Jiangzhou City, in the peripheral area—commonly called the countryside, or more politely, the suburbs. Distance: 36 kilometers!

“Bei Bei, let’s go.”

Chen Meng called out, and Mouse Bei Bei, sensing the danger, leaped onto his shoulder and burrowed into his backpack.

Out on the street, Chen Meng flagged down a taxi and left quickly.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lan reported the incident, and soon all the cultists in Jiangzhou mobilized.

“Find that rat and kill it,” commanded the New Moon cult’s protector in Jiangzhou. After some thought, he added, “If necessary, I’ll act myself.”

Chen Meng, unaware of all this, was speeding toward his destination in a taxi. Han Hao promptly reported to Wu Tengkong, who recognized the gravity of the situation and took personal command.