Chapter 603 - Because You’re an Idiot!

Han Wu activated Lightning Whip. The five cables danced like wild snakes, electricity arcing between them. Ji Zhongyi’s Mechmouse King avoided it deftly as it attacked Han Wu.

This was Han Wu’s first time seeing a mechanical device with this level of dexterity. It was as if he were fighting a seasoned warrior rather than a machine. This thoroughly piqued Han Wu’s interest.

The Mechmouse King whipped its steel tail at him. A single lash caused explosions in the air—a testament to its power.

Ji Zhongyi oozed confidence. In his eyes, a biological life form could never compete against a machine. He was already looking forward to splitting Han Wu in half. With Han Wu dead, there would be no one to stop him from proceeding with his plan.

Unexpectedly, Han Wu didn’t dodge the attack but instead caught it with his right hand. A metal tail, capable of turning stone into dust, failed to even scratch Han Wu!

Han Wu pulled on the tail. The Mechmouse King was dragged forward. Its claws left deep grooves on the stone floor as it vainly attempted to resist.

Ji Zhongyi’s face paled as if he had seen a ghost.

Is he really human? Who’s really the automaton here?

Han Wu yanked harder before abruptly swinging the Mechmouse King away. Ji Zhongyi fell off it and onto the ground. Though winded from the pain, he forced himself to stand up and run. Han Wu’s cables were already too close for comfort.

“You think you can run?” Han Wu chuckled, lashing his cables at Ji Zhongyi.

Whip cracks echoed through the plaza. Five lines of blood flowed out from Ji Zhongyi’s back as he fell to the ground with an agonized cry. He had never felt this kind of pain in his life.

Han Wu whipped him ten more times in succession, taking great pleasure in teaching him a lesson. “This one is to remind you to use your brain. This one is to remind you to respect your elders. This one is to remind you not to help traitors. This one is to remind you that...”

By the end, Ji Zhongyi’s body was a bloody mess, and he couldn’t even groan in pain. He shot Han Wu a vicious glare, but Han Wu only whipped him again.

“It seems you’re not satisfied yet. Want me to beat you up again?” Han Wu threatened.

Ji Zhongyi shook his head with a wince of pain, no longer daring to glare. With Ji Zhongyi subdued, Han Wu proceeded with his true mission.

“Now, look closely at what would’ve happened to you if I weren’t here,” Han Wu lectured, gesturing for Luxun to bring the captured hunter over.

The hunter was still unconscious, but that didn’t stop Han Wu from smacking him awake. The hunter blearily spat out several bloody teeth. Terror filled Ji Zhongyi at the realization that Han Wu had just smashed the guy’s teeth in with just a punch.

When the hunter regained his senses, he panicked. He recognized this place.

“I’m a believer of the Machine God...” the hunter mumbled.

Han Wu couldn’t quite make out his words, so he simply slapped the hunter again—breaking the rest of his teeth—before commanding him to shut up.

The toothless hunter could only swallow the blood in his mouth in silence.

Then, turning to Ji Zhongyi, Han Wu asked, “What did they ask you to do?”

“They told me to ride the Mechmouse King into the core and bring out the treasure hidden within,” Ji Zhongyi hastily replied, terrified of getting his teeth smacked out of him as well. “They promised to pay me 10 million Enercoins and give me the project to install the conveyor belt here in the Lightless Sewers in exchange.”

Han Wu frowned at him before glancing at the Mechmouse King. “Do you know why they told you to do this, instead of other, more experienced hunters?”

Ji Zhongyi hesitantly shook his head.

“It’s because you’re an idiot! They don’t need you; they need the Mechmouse King. Also, there’s no treasure in the core. They used you.”

Ji Zhongyi swallowed the protests on the tip of his tongue. His aching body warned him not to go against Han Wu.

Han Wu was aware of Ji Zhongyi’s thoughts and looked forward to proving it to him. “Don’t believe me? Let me show you what would happen if you’d followed their instructions.”

Dragging the Mechmouse King closer, he commanded the hunter to sit on it. The hunter knew what would happen to him and vehemently refused.

“Do as I say,” Han Wu warned. “You might die, but at least you’ll die swiftly. If not, I can guarantee you a slow and painful death. Choose.”

The hunter despaired. Reluctantly sitting on the Mechmouse King, he commanded it forward.

The Mechmouse King slowly inched toward the core. When it was just a step away, it did something that even Han Wu couldn’t comprehend: it turned to look at Ji Zhongyi. It was a strangely sentient act.

Then, facing forward once more, the Mechmouse King entered the core. Three seconds later, a blaring siren sounded from the sewers, and swarms of mechanical mice converged in the plaza from the various corridors.

Han Wu tossed Ji Zhongyi onto Luxun so he wouldn’t die from the stampede. Surprisingly, the mechanical mice didn’t attack them but instead charged at the core.

They swiftly detonated themselves, but even a million explosions did nothing. A massive python-like being emerged from the core. Clamped in its maw was half a corpse and a metal tail.

Ji Zhongyi’s face was ashen. If he had entered the core, that corpse would be his. The Machine God Cult had tricked him! Though furious, there was nothing Ji Zhongyi could do to vent his anger. It didn’t matter if the Machine God Cult had tricked him. He was simply too weak to do anything against them.

Han Wu, on the other hand, was delighted at the sight of the giant mechanical python. He could clearly sense the Machine God's presence within it!

“The main character is here.” Han Wu grinned. “Time to hunt.”

Activating his Divine Ring, he transformed into the Black Dragon King to attack the giant mechanical python.

Ji Zhongyi watched the ensuing fight while tied to Luxun, his heart filled with awe.