The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1362 829: Liu Zheng: You Two Are Like a Pair of Tigger Twins and Two Crispy Sharks_2

"Hold on a moment!"

Just as Liu Zheng anticipated Ma Baoli would seize the moment to strike back, she cried out loudly.

Her exclamation not only startled Liu Zheng and the Yaksha but also caused Teresa and her entourage to freeze.

Indeed, the very instant Ma Baoli grasped Teresa, three women clad in identical silver armor, hefting greatswords, emerged from the shadows, their blades aimed squarely at Ma Baoli.

"Cease."

Teresa, too, raised a hand, signaling them to halt.

Amidst the speculation about the unfolding situation, Ma Baoli suddenly wrenched Teresa's greatsword inward, driving it through her own abdomen.

"That strike just now, I return it to you,"

Ma Baoli declared through gritted teeth, enduring the sharp pain.

"What a fool; surviving in this Metropolis is already a challenge,"

Teresa commented, shaking her head.

"Hmph, do not assume I yielded because of this."

Ma Baoli withdrew her hand, her muscles spasming to narrowly close the wound.

"Again!"

She yelled.

"You have already lost, little fool."

Teresa gave a gentle tremor, and countless black spikes instantly erupted from the greatsword.

Had these spikes detonated within Ma Baoli at that moment, she would have been incapacitated, if not killed outright.

"You believe I wouldn't know how to do that?"

Ma Baoli scoffed, a swirling vortex of the Five Elements Divine Thunder coalescing in her palm, with serpentine black and white Qi intertwining at its core.

This was a Two Forms Divine Thunder, a technique far surpassing the Five Elements Divine Thunder. She hadn't fully mastered it due to insufficient Innate Qi but could approximate its power.

With this Two Forms Divine Thunder, unless Teresa possessed an invulnerable head, a mutual destruction was all but guaranteed.

Teresa smiled, retracting the black spikes and restoring her arm to its normal state.

"Did you mean it when you said you'd pay double?"

She inquired, looking towards Liu Zheng.

"Naturally,"

Liu Zheng paused, then gave a nod.

"I demand triple. This isn't extortion; our policy mandates a triple refund if the task cannot be accomplished."

Teresa stated.

"Wow, you'd need to open a bank to afford such terms,"

He exclaimed.

"We conduct thorough power assessments of our targets. Of course, oversights in our evaluations occasionally occur. For instance, this engagement has provided us with quite an unexpected surprise."

Teresa subtly glanced at Ma Baoli.

"You surprised me as well. What's the price?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"Let's say one and a half million,"

Teresa deliberated for a moment before replying.

"Hiring your services for five hundred thousand was already quite cost-effective,"

He remarked rather bluntly.

Had it been Teresa alone, five hundred thousand would have been a considerable sum.

However, with three subordinates present and more likely at their clinic, even if these subordinates were only half as potent as Teresa, five hundred thousand still represented a bargain.

"Money is only one facet; they possess something we desperately require."

Teresa shook her head.

"What is it? Don't dismiss me just because I'm a delivery person; I have a considerable network and might be able to procure it."

Liu Zheng pressed further.

Teresa, possessing both strength and a code of principles, was a highly valuable mercenary.

Teresa regarded him but offered no immediate response.

"Very well. Here, this constitutes one and a half million."

Liu Zheng ceased his inquiries, retrieved the sum, and placed it on the ground.

"Kreel."

Teresa called out.

"Yes."

A female swordsman with hair cut to ear-length approached Liu Zheng, removed a cloak from her back, used it to bundle the money, and returned to Teresa's side.

"Your contract is rescinded, yet the task of recovering Lin Pinru remains. If you wish to avoid conflict with us, do not render any assistance in her escort."

Teresa stated.

"My, was this also part of your employer's intricate plan?"

Liu Zheng expressed slight surprise.

"Perhaps. The Metropolis harbors an abundance of cunning individuals."

Teresa offered a shrug.

"Alright, kindly sign for the delivery."

He produced a food container and a delivery receipt.

"Farewell, Little Ma Baoli. May you offer even greater surprises the next time we meet."

Teresa signed for the delivery, cast a final glance at Ma Baoli, her tone gentle.

"I've told you, I am Ma Baoli, not 'Little' Ma Baoli!"

Ma Baoli retorted in exasperation.

"Ha!"

Teresa emitted a brief chuckle, then unfurled her wings and soared towards the clinic, closely pursued by the three swordswomen.

"How are you holding up? Can you endure?"

Liu Zheng approached Ma Baoli, inquiring about her condition.

"What do you surmise?"

Ma Baoli rolled her eyes at him before succumbing to his embrace.

The Thunder Skill excelled in offense but offered little in terms of health regeneration; her ability to persevere until this point was solely attributed to her robust Body Refining foundation.

Now that the fierce battle had concluded, with Liu Zheng acting as her steadfast guardian, Ma Baoli felt the need to hold on no longer.

"Is there any kind of Healing Technique, or perhaps something similar?" Liu Zheng inquired of the Yaksha.

"Indeed," the Yaksha responded with a nod. The gray gem embedded in the top of her Magic Wand began to emit a soft glow.

"Shadow Magic: Life Finger!"

An ethereal, finger-shaped gray aura surged from the gem, striking Ma Baoli's body.

"Hmm?" Liu Zheng observed the wound, noting its utter lack of change, before turning his gaze back to the Yaksha.

"It failed; this particular spell only carries a fifty percent chance of success," the Yaksha stated, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Then, could you please employ one with a hundred percent success rate?" Liu Zheng asked, his voice tinged with exasperation. He couldn't help but think, *'A healing technique with mere probability? Is this some kind of role-playing game?'*

"Shadow Magic: Healing Mist!" The Yaksha obliged, and a luminous gray mist flowed from the gem, enveloping Ma Baoli.

"How are you feeling?" Liu Zheng questioned.

"A bit better, but only slightly," Ma Baoli replied.

"Does this spell even function?" Liu Zheng pressed, his brow furrowed as he looked at the Yaksha.

"Expecting a Dark Elf to perform healing is rather amusing; you should seek out Druids for such tasks. I am merely knowledgeable. If you were to approach my kin, they might not even know how to cast Life Finger," the Yaksha explained without a trace of embarrassment.

"Fine, be proud of your ignorance then," Liu Zheng retorted with a dismissive glance. He then removed the Heart of the Ocean pendant and placed it around Ma Baoli's neck.

"Even if you cannot heal, surely you can summon water, correct? Help me conjure a massive wave, as large as possible," he requested.

"Nope," the Yaksha flatly refused, shaking her head.

"What?" Liu Zheng stared at her, his expression one of disbelief.

"There is no Water Wind among the Magic Eight Winds. Life Magic and Heavenly Magic do possess spells to summon water, but I haven't learned them," the Yaksha clarified.

The Dark Sect comprised the Magic Eight Winds, meaning mastery of the Dark Sect encompassed mastering its eight distinct techniques. However, even an Immortal Species possessed finite energy. Consequently, the Yaksha held only a rudimentary understanding of the other seven techniques, aside from her primary focus, Shadow Magic. Healing Techniques ranked lowest in her interest.

"You two are truly like bounding tigers and brittle sharks," Liu Zheng sighed, looking up at the sky.

"Who are you referring to?" Ma Baoli shot him an annoyed look. Though she couldn't decipher his latest nonsensical pronouncement, she was certain it wasn't complimentary.

"I wasn't talking about you. Let's go," Liu Zheng said, picking up Ma Baoli and heading towards the clinic. Although Teresa had assured him she wouldn't rush to seize patients, Liu Zheng felt compelled to inspect the premises just to be safe.

"Did you manage to drive those individuals away?" At the clinic's entrance, the Sphinx approached and posed the question.

"Not exactly chased away; rather, we've established a strategic cooperation," Liu Zheng replied.

"Hmph, entirely unnecessary. I was contemplating using their heads to sharpen my fangs," the Sphinx grumbled.

"For now, you'll have to make do with dried fish," Liu Zheng stated, producing a handful of rock-hard dried fish and offering it to the creature.

"Furthermore, you should express gratitude to her. Had she not voluntarily intercepted that sword for you, those individuals would have already made their move against you," Liu Zheng added, gesturing towards Ma Baoli, who was slung over his shoulder.

"Preposterous! Do I require aid from this human female?" the Sphinx declared with haughty indignation.

"Behave yourself, Ando. She assisted you, and that is a fact. While your treatment of me is of no consequence, I expect you to show the most basic courtesy to my companions," Liu Zheng stated with utmost seriousness.

"And what if I refuse to offer my thanks?" the Sphinx challenged.

"Then I shall beat you until you do, and you shall never receive new dried fish or yarn balls again," Liu Zheng retorted.

"Who wants them, hmph!" The Sphinx declared, then swiftly raised its front paws, shook them twice in Ma Baoli's direction, before settling down and pointedly ignoring them.

"This creature, truly..." Liu Zheng chuckled helplessly, then led both Ma Baoli and the Sphinx into the clinic.