Chapter 41

Jiang Baimian seemed to have been thinking about this problem for a long time. She smiled and said in a relaxed manner:

"This isn't too difficult. I'll wear the exoskeleton suit and use its integrated early warning system along with my own sensitivity to electrical signals to give Jingfa a surprise.

"Caught off guard, he might even suffer serious injuries."

"He's an Awakened," Shang Jianyao pointed out the issue.

Jiang Baimian chuckled and said:

"I'm not stupid. I've already been burned once, so how could I not consider this factor?

"I'll try to keep the distance at more than fifty meters. This should exceed the limit of Jingfa's 'Pretta Realm' ability; otherwise, he wouldn't have launched his ability after jumping down from the tree. At this distance, my accuracy won't be low, even with a grenade launcher."

After a brief moment of thought, Shang Jianyao and the others accepted Jiang Baimian's proposal, but Bai Chen quickly raised another question:

"Who will drive the car after you and Shang Jianyao switch places? Who will ensure we can avoid Jingfa's long-range attacks in advance?"

Jiang Baimian hissed:

"This is indeed a problem. Let me think about how to solve it..."

Shang Jianyao was silent for two seconds before he spoke up:

"I'll do it."

Jiang Baimian, following this suggestion, muttered to herself:

"If you do it, we'll need to modify the plan.

"Compared to Jingfa, the monk, you are almost inexperienced. If I give you the task of surprising Jingfa and trying to injure him, I'm worried it will put a huge burden on you, causing you to make mistakes in judgment and choices at critical moments.

"Hmm... Since Jingfa wants to play cat and mouse with you, you should play along and lead him further away, while we take the opportunity to drive to a place in the Black Marsh Wilderness where people often come and go. There, the numerous tire tracks and footprints will effectively cover our traces, making it impossible for Jingfa to find us or catch up.

"Don't speak... This brings up another problem. Once you shake off Jingfa, you won't be able to find us either. That distance will definitely exceed the effective range of the walkie-talkies.

"Let me think, think... I have an idea. We'll agree on a well-known location in the wilderness to meet up.

"Bai Chen, are there any landmark locations nearby?"

Bai Chen observed the surroundings and looked at the sky:

"The only landmark nearby is the steel mill ruins.

"However, if we head to a place where people often come and go, based on our current direction, we'll end up at Yuelu Station."

"Yuelu Station?" Jiang Baimian frowned. "How long will it take?"

"Maintaining our current speed, it will take about a day and a half, but we won't be able to keep this speed the whole way," Bai Chen estimated.

—Previously, the relic hunter named Harris Brown and his companions took more than a day to travel from north of Yuelu Station to the steel mill ruins by bicycle. Normally, a car wouldn't be able to reach there so quickly, but Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and the others had already driven at full speed towards Yuelu Station for half a day, and a jeep is definitely faster than a bicycle. The "Old Adjustment Team's" destination is just Yuelu Station, and they don't plan to continue north.

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully:

"If we use Yuelu Station as the meeting point, we can also try to create some false trails leading north.

"If we had already successfully shaken off Jingfa, that would be best. If not, we can use this to lure him north, involving him in that unknown mess and making him collide with the dangerous anomalies.

"After that, even if he can shake off the situation, he won't be able to catch up with us."

As she spoke, Jiang Baimian's already loud voice grew even louder, seemingly excited about the prospect of tricking Jingfa.

Shang Jianyao listened silently and, as in school, raised his hand:

"I have a question."

"What?" Jiang Baimian was puzzled.

She thought she had explained everything clearly.

Shang Jianyao's voice was slightly闷沉地说道：

“我不认识月鲁车站，也不知道该怎么去那里。”

“……”蒋白棉一时竟无言以对。

隔了几秒，她才自嘲道：

“我都忘记你是一个初到地表的新手了……

“这说明你表现得不错！

“如果不是我要专心开车，我会竖大拇指夸你！”

强行解释了一波后，蒋白棉转而叹了口气：

“听说旧世界没毁灭前，天上有很多可以使用的卫星，这能帮助人们轻松定位目的地，让他们即使从来没有去过，也能熟练地选择最合适的路线抵达。

“这个……还是我来穿戴外骨骼装置吧，到时候，我继续开车，等避开了净法的第一轮攻击，我再下车去撵他，白晨趁机爬到驾驶座位置，掌控住汽车。”

“你穿戴外骨骼装置的时候，净法发动了袭击怎么办？”白晨想到了方案里隐藏的漏洞。

蒋白棉为之语塞，说不出话来。

白晨看了一眼后视镜，表情一如既往地沉静：

“我也跟着下车，我来给商见曜引路。

“外骨骼装置单纯只背负一个我这样矮的人，应该不会怎么影响到移动和反应能力。”

“我说过了，你不是矮，是娇小。你这身高对荒野上的人来说，算是中等偏上了，我见过的流浪者，不到一米六的比比皆是。”蒋白棉随口驳了一句，接着点头道，“我就不说这是一件很危险的事情了。既然生在灰土，到了地表，那么在合适的时候，承担起相应的风险，是常见的发展。如果需要我去冒险，我也不把责任转嫁给你们。”

她呼了口气，提醒道：

“记得带上足够的食物。”

说到这里，她忽然闭上了嘴巴，甚至松开了握方向盘的右掌。

她抬手指了指扶手箱内的压缩饼干和能量棒，又指了指自己的嘴巴，并做出鼓腮帮子的动作。

商见曜、龙悦红相当疑惑，正要开口询问，就看见白晨扭头，对他们使了个眼色。

两人同时放弃了涌到嗓子眼的话。

白晨虽然同样不理解蒋白棉想表达什么，但她看得出来，组长不愿意在这个话题上做更多的交流，甚至不愿意进行对话。

这时，蒋白棉重新握好了方向盘，转而说道：

“商见曜，你也得思考一下怎么应对净法的‘饿鬼道’。

“万一他不再兜圈子，突然靠近你，将距离拉到了能力有效范围内，那就麻烦了。”

“我会好好……”说到这里，商见曜停顿了一下，接着重重点头，“想一想！”

回答完毕，他连忙对白晨道：

“事不宜迟，我们把食物带上，做好下车准备。

“也可以现在吃一点，之后很长一段时间内可能没法停下来进食。”

“好。”白晨拿起放在扶手箱内的食物，分了一半给商见曜。

商见曜拆开一袋压缩饼干，将里面的食物塞入了口中。

不到一分钟，蒋白棉猛地拉动方向盘，让吉普车躲开了净法发射的激光。

无需吩咐，商见曜打开车门，扑出了吉普——这次他没有顺势滚落，而是发力跳跃。

嗤的一声，一道激光又穿透了地表某处。

如果商见曜像先前那样顺势滚落，那他现在已经被这道激光命中——即使外骨骼装置有部分装甲，他也无法幸免。

紧接着，他膝盖用力，带动辅助关节撑起，整个人一下就跃出了十几二十米，直奔远处的净法而去。

机械僧侣净法与之前几次一样，立刻后撤，拉开距离，兜起圈子。

趁此机会，蒋白棉猛踩刹车，放慢了车速，让白晨能够不受伤害地从副驾位置滚到地面。

滋溜的声音中，白晨随手关门，顺势翻滚，躲到了一丛低矮灌木后。

吉普的速度瞬间又飙升了上去，向着黑沼荒野上经常有人来往的大路而去。

这时，将净法远远撵开的商见曜返回了附近。

身体覆盖着铁黑色金属骨架和少量装甲的他，指了指身后的能源背包，示意白晨坐到这里。

白晨窜出灌木丛，以外骨骼装置的辅助关节为“梯子”和“抓手”，蹭蹭两下就爬到了能源背包上。

这让她即使坐着，也比商见曜高出很多。

而比起单手抱她，这是最不影响外骨骼装置活动和瞄准的方式。

接下来，他们就要一路追赶净法，把这机械僧侣往更远的地方撵，和他在这一区域兜圈子，从而为蒋白棉和龙悦红脱离净法追踪范围争取时间。

戴着金属头盔的商见曜跑了两三步，在无人袭击的情况下，竟主动做起跳跃和翻滚。

白晨缩着身体，紧紧抓着外骨骼装置肩膀处的金属骨架，不让自己被甩出去。

她明白商见曜这是在趁净法反扑前多做磨合。

翻滚了几次后，穿戴外骨骼装置的商见曜蹬蹬迈开大步，依靠综合预警系统带来的远程视力，追赶起披着红色袈裟的机械僧侣。

净法眼中红光大亮，似乎因看见女性处于不稳定的状态中。

他金属关节一弯，整个人弹了起来，向侧面跳去。

他并没有彻底疯狂，依旧在执行着预定的策略，毕竟他对女性的仇视是身体造成的心理扭曲，而非觉醒者需要付出的代价，有一定的自控能力。

挂着一枚枚榴弹的商见曜见状，没有像之前那样回返，继续追赶着净法，尝试拉近距离。

一追一逃了好几分钟后，能源背包上的白晨突然弯下身体，沉声说道：

“不对。

“净法在往吉普车的方向兜圈子！

“他想绕过我们，继续追赶组长他们！”

PS: 求推荐票~

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Shang Jianyao's voice was slightly dull as he said:

"I don't know Yuelu Station, nor do I know how to get there."

"..." Jiang Baimian was momentarily speechless.

After a few seconds, she said self-deprecatingly:

"I forgot you are a newcomer to the surface...

"This shows you've been doing well!

"If I weren't focused on driving, I would give you a thumbs up!"

After a forced explanation, Jiang Baimian sighed:

"I've heard that before the old world was destroyed, there were many usable satellites in the sky. These could help people easily locate their destinations, allowing them to choose the most suitable routes even if they had never been there before.

"Since this... I'll wear the exoskeleton suit. When the time comes, I'll continue driving. After avoiding Jingfa's first round of attacks, I'll get out of the car to chase him, and Bai Chen can take the driver's seat and control the car."

"What if Jingfa attacks while you're wearing the exoskeleton suit?" Bai Chen thought of a hidden flaw in the plan.

Jiang Baimian was speechless, unable to respond.

Bai Chen glanced at the rearview mirror, her expression as calm as ever:

"I'll get out of the car too and guide Shang Jianyao.

"The exoskeleton suit should not significantly affect mobility and reaction time when carrying someone of my height."

"I've already said, you're not short, you're petite. Your height is considered above average for people in the wilderness. I've seen many wanderers who are less than 1.6 meters tall," Jiang Baimian casually rebutted, then nodded, "I won't say this is a very dangerous task. Since you were born in the Ashlands and have come to the surface, taking on appropriate risks at the right time is a common development. If I need to take risks, I won't shift the responsibility to you."

She took a breath and reminded them:

"Remember to bring enough food."

As she spoke, she suddenly closed her mouth and even released her right hand from the steering wheel.

She pointed to the compressed cookies and energy bars in the center console, then to her mouth, and made a puffed-cheek gesture.

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong were quite puzzled and were about to ask when they saw Bai Chen turn her head and give them a meaningful look.

Both of them immediately held back their questions.

Although Bai Chen didn't understand what Jiang Baimian was trying to convey, she could tell that the team leader didn't want to discuss this topic further, or even engage in dialogue.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian re-gripped the steering wheel and continued:

"Shang Jianyao, you also need to think about how to deal with Jingfa's 'Pretta Realm.'

"If he suddenly stops playing cat and mouse and gets close to you, bringing the distance within the effective range of his ability, it will be troublesome."

"I will think... " Shang Jianyao paused, then nodded heavily, "about it!"

After answering, he quickly said to Bai Chen:

"We shouldn't delay. Let's take the food and prepare to get out of the car.

"We can also eat a little now, as we might not be able to stop and eat for a long time afterward."

"Okay." Bai Chen picked up the food from the center console and gave half to Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao opened a bag of compressed cookies and stuffed the food into his mouth.

Less than a minute later, Jiang Baimian sharply turned the steering wheel, making the jeep dodge a laser shot by Jingfa.

Without being told, Shang Jianyao opened the car door and leaped out of the jeep—this time, he didn't roll but jumped.

A hiss sounded as another laser pierced the ground.

If Shang Jianyao had rolled like before, he would have been hit by the laser—despite the partial armor of the exoskeleton suit, he would not have survived.

Then, he used his knees to activate the auxiliary joints, propelling himself forward several dozen meters, heading straight for Jingfa.

The mechanical monk Jingfa, as before, immediately retreated, increasing the distance and circling around.

Taking this opportunity, Jiang Baimian slammed on the brakes, slowing the car so that Bai Chen could roll out of the passenger seat without injury.

With a screech, Bai Chen closed the door and rolled behind a low shrub.

The jeep's speed instantly increased, heading towards a frequently traveled road in the Black Marsh Wilderness.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao, who had chased Jingfa far away, returned to the vicinity.

His body, covered in iron-black metal and partial armor, pointed to the energy pack on his back, indicating that Bai Chen should sit there.

Bai Chen darted out of the shrub, using the exoskeleton suit's auxiliary joints as a "ladder" and "grip," and quickly climbed onto the energy pack.

This made her sit much higher than Shang Jianyao, and it was the least obstructive way for the exoskeleton suit to move and aim compared to carrying her in one arm.

Next, they would chase Jingfa, driving him further away and circling in the area to buy time for Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong to escape Jingfa's pursuit.

Wearing a metal helmet, Shang Jianyao ran a few steps and, with no one attacking, began to jump and roll.

Bai Chen huddled, tightly gripping the metal frame on the exoskeleton suit's shoulders to avoid being thrown off.

She understood that Shang Jianyao was practicing to get used to the exoskeleton suit before Jingfa's counterattack.

After a few rolls, Shang Jianyao, wearing the exoskeleton suit, took large strides, using the integrated early warning system to chase the mechanical monk in the red robe.

Jingfa's eyes glowed red, seemingly because he saw the woman in an unstable position.

His metal joints bent, and he leaped to the side.

He wasn't completely insane and still followed his predetermined strategy, as his hatred for women was a psychological distortion caused by his body, not a cost of being an Awakened, and he had some self-control.

Seeing this, Shang Jianyao, equipped with grenades, did not return as before but continued to chase Jingfa, trying to close the distance.

After several minutes of pursuit, Bai Chen, sitting on the energy pack, suddenly bent forward and said in a low voice:

"Something's wrong.

"Jingfa is circling back towards the jeep!

"He wants to bypass us and continue chasing the team leader and the others!"

PS: Please give me a recommendation!