Chapter 21: “Knight”

A special sequence?

Xiao Luobo’s words ignited everyone’s passion for the seed.

“But unlocking a special sequence isn’t that easy.”

Xiao Luobo, tiny like Thumbelina, continued speaking as she wagged her finger.

“If you try to fuse the sequence, the seed will summon a powerful guardian… These puppets are just one of its summoned guardians, but there should be an even stronger leader.”

Even stronger?

Where?

“Hey, did you guys notice something?” One of the Monsoon members pointed behind them, “Why does the door we came through have teeth now?”

“……”

Rows of sharp, densely packed teeth now covered the doorway.

The door contracted like flesh, its teeth clamping tightly shut, completely sealing the exit.

“Looks like we all know where the guardian is now.”

All around us.

We’re inside its stomach.

“Needle Red Chicken,” Ah Lei looked around excitedly at the twisting, writhing flesh. 

Jet-black veins were turning into tentacles, detaching from the body and starting to writhe, ready to hunt.

“This is amazing! Never thought I’d get to experience real tentacles in my lifetime! I can die happy!”

“Damn, this guardian really gets us… Ah! I can’t hold back anymore!”

“Miss Tentacle, eat me first!”

Despite hearing about the special sequence, none of the men before her showed the slightest hint of greed.

In such a dangerous world, the value of a special sequence was beyond question… But to them, the bizarre attractions before them seemed far more enticing.

“Hold it!” Ah Lei suddenly snapped into leader mode, unleashing a roar that subdued the restless bunch of apes.

“What’s up, boss?”

“Have you all forgotten our vow?”

Ah Lei planted his sword in front of him and put on a solemn expression.

Seeing his stance, the group sobered up and smiled knowingly.

Thud!

Ah Lei suddenly dropped to one knee, kneeling before Wu Xiaomi like a true knight.

“True love must not be betrayed! We cannot allow a beautiful girl to be defiled before our very eyes! All Monsoon members, listen up—protect Xiaomi La!”

“……”

Completely baffling… but somehow, being the one protected felt oddly moving?

“If you really want to mess with tentacles, go visit an octopus-themed brothel or something. These things aren’t it—the black fluid in those tubes is highly toxic,” Luobo scoffed.

“Octopus-themed brothel?!”

The entire Monsoon crew whipped their heads around, eyes blazing, staring dead at Luobo.

“Uh… coastal cities usually have them, I think. But they’re pricey. To deep-sea creatures, you humans are the ugliest monsters out there. Unless a girl’s got a matching kink, dealing with you guys is seriously stressful… But there are plenty of tentacle girls into weird stuff, too.”

Strange new knowledge acquired.

“Knights of Monsoon, listen up! Grip your swords tight, cut down evil, show no mercy! Once we finish this raid, we’re heading to a coastal city!”

“Long live the captain!”

No, this is too embarrassing.

Wu Xiaomi couldn’t even bring herself to look.

“Xiaomi La… Wu Xiaomi,” Ah Lei stood in front of her, wearing his usual goofy, slightly sleazy smile.

But his legs were trembling—just slightly.

Trembling with fear.

No one else could see it, but Wu Xiaomi had activated her Huntlord instincts and sensed it clearly.

She had always thought he wasn’t scared—just like during every horror game they played, where his ridiculous commentary would shatter the fear around them.

Maybe… he was the same back then, too?

“I’ll leave the job of taming the sequence seed to you,” Ah Lei said with a forced smile, nodding at Wu Xiaomi.

But Wu Xiaomi didn’t quite get it: “Don’t tell me… Monsoon is really…”

She couldn’t believe it. 

She couldn’t believe anyone would willingly give up a sequence seed.

The danger of this raid was obvious to all.

To survive, another sequence meant another chance.

How could they just hand it over like that?

As she wrestled with her thoughts, a message popped up in front of her.

[Private Chat – Ah Lei: Most of the key intel for this raid came from you. The sequence seed rightfully belongs to you.]

That’s it? That’s why they gave it up?

I don’t buy it.

[Private Chat – Ah Lei: Monsoon’s greatest strength isn’t our sequences—it’s our vibe. I don’t want us tearing each other apart over this. If that happened, Monsoon wouldn’t be Monsoon anymore.]

So that’s it.

“Go on, we’ll cover you.” Ah Lei gave her a thumbs-up.

So much for the backstabbing drama between brothers.

But looking at it now—

The reason Monsoon survived their first raid and made it this far wasn’t just luck.

They had a good captain.

“How do I tame it?”

Wu Xiaomi looked toward the sequence seed.

“Are you sure you want to do this? The moment you begin, its guardian will go into a state of extreme frenzy…”

“Our way back is sealed. We don’t have a choice anymore.”

Luobo glanced at the door.

It was now just a thick wall of flesh.

“Well then, it looks like everyone’s lives are in your hands now. If you fail to tame it, not just them—even I—will die here with you…”

“Then don’t fail!”

The girl’s eyes were firm as she extended her palm toward the sequence seed.

There’s a time and place for slacking off.

She would choose when to care and when not to—not because of some irresistible force, and no one could make that choice for her.

At least for these next few minutes, she wanted to stand tall.

She couldn’t let down these “knights” who had put their trust in her.

“It’s time to lift the veil on this thing.”

Luobo floated into the air:

“With such a grand display of guardianship, let’s see just what sequence this really is…”