Gunfire, Punk and Necromancer

Peicheng Railway Station is located in the northwest corner of the city, at the junction of the industrial area and the river embankment area. This is a passenger and cargo station, and the intention of placing it here is obvious: to form an advantage in water and land transport and provide impetus for the industrial development of Peicheng.

Unfortunately, things backfired: as Peicheng and its satellite cities continued to grow, the city became more and more developed towards an isolated fortress. The industries in each city are controlled by companies, and the differences between cities are getting smaller and smaller. The so-called competitive advantages or industrial advantages are reduced accordingly, and cross-city division of labor and cooperation are suppressed by the production capacity of the city. Cross-city transportation has become increasingly unmarketable and has become something only done occasionally.

Both water transport and railway transport have become half-dead, and the so-called water-land transport hub has become a mirror image. Trucks running on highways have been able to meet most transportation needs, relying on their flexibility and speed to become the only survivors. The current demand for cross-city transportation only occurs when there is a difference in the speed of factory construction. This demand will soon be wiped out by the impersonal urban industrial setup. “Every city looks the same.” This is how modern people complain about reality.

Passenger transport has become the last straw for the railway system to continue to survive. However, the profitability cannot increase, and the railway system has little ambition to improve. The train that the Famine Stranger rides is still a model from thirty years ago. Due to the disrepair of many parts, it can no longer provide the comfortable service it once did. However, the Famine Stranger doesn't care. Relying on dormant martial arts, all discomfort can be passed on.

"Master." "Master." Zhuang Xuteng and Ge Gongdao saw Master at the exit of the station. They hurried up to greet him and took the bag from Master's shoulder. Zhuang Xuteng didn't get the only bag, so he pretended to reach out to take the master's sword, but the master knocked him on the head with the hilt of the sword.

"What are you thinking about? Silly boy." The Famine Stranger knew that Zhuang Xuteng was joking, so of course he would not use force when he struck. "Are you so anxious to become a senior brother?"

"I think so, but I think Brother Dao is more suitable."

"Oh? Are you not trying to make progress lately?" The Famine Stranger looked at the two of them, poked their backs with the hilt of his sword, frowned and asked, "Have you crossed the four-step barrier?"

"Master, both of us have reached the fifth dodge." Ge Gongdao chuckled twice and said as he walked: "Nike broke through the fourth dodge and the fifth dodge first. I guess he is very likely to break through to the seventh dodge first. This The kid is very cunning, he clearly wanted to paralyze me and then sneak up in front of me."

"No!" Zhuang Xuteng shook his head, then looked around and said, "Master, let's go to a secluded place to talk."

There were not many people at the train station, but it was not a place to talk after all. The three of them got into the business car on Gagon Road - it was more comfortable than the white beast and more suitable for picking up important people - and sped back to the laundromat. The car drove out of the garage and the three of them entered the new base of operations.

The decoration in the base is very simple, and it looks like a classroom combined with a dormitory. A table for six and its matching chairs are placed in front of the whiteboard. Next to it are a refrigerator and a locked container, as well as two beds with bunk beds. Currently, this base is only used by Zhuang Xuteng and Ge Gongdao, and they both sleep on the lower bunk. In the corner of the room is a set of PCPD police car radios, which were bought on the black market and can monitor PCPD channels. There is a large sofa next to it, and a small portable TV is placed on the low table opposite.

"It looks good here." The Famine Stranger reached out and touched the desk, chair and whiteboard, then sat on the sofa. "Naike, tell me. Why do you want Ge Gongdao to become your senior brother?"

"It's better this way." Zhuang Xuteng poured juice for his master, moved a chair and sat across from him.

"Is it that simple? Just because you think it's better this way?"

"Yes." Zhuang Xuteng said: "From the perspective of martial arts, Brother Dao is more suitable for sword dancing. The Qingquan sword is also a huge weapon for the master, but Brother Dao is larger and will be very easy to pick up. My ambition is not in martial arts, but in mixing martial arts with magic."

The Famine Stranger scratched the tip of his nose, smiled slightly, and said, "Are you good at magic again?"

"I learned a little through some channels, and I think that is more suitable for me." Zhuang Xuteng waved his hand, and the invisible resentful spirit servant picked up the legion juice and poured it into a cup, and then brought it to Zhuang Xuteng.

"Through the wind, I can feel an invisible humanoid guy. Is this your spell?" The Famine Stranger raised his finger and pointed. Ge Gongdao walked over with curiosity and stretched out his hand to poke. The servant of the resentful spirit only has substance and exerts power where the order requires it. Now that Zhuang Xuteng doesn't let it do anything, it is virtual, just like air.

"There seems to be something, the air pressure is different, it's so magical!" Ge Gongdao blew hard and then waved his hand. His tactile sensitivity is somewhat lower than that of the Famine Stranger, and he can only sense the presence of wraith servants through direct contact. "No wonder you asked me about extraordinary spellcasters and spell implants some time ago. It turned out to be because of this. Why, you don't practice super-calculated martial arts anymore?"

"I know how to practice, and I won't let go of such a good thing. Master, you are about to retire. We don't know when we will reach Seven Flashes, but we will definitely reach it. When Ge Gongdao is a senior brother, he will learn from Qingquan And sword dance martial arts, it can be regarded as a worry. Once you reach the seventh flash, you can start practicing sword dance, seamlessly."

"What a seamless connection. Your real plan is not to find me anymore, right?"

Zhuang Xuteng smiled and nodded, and said: "Master has retired, and we are still working as mercenaries. Looking for him again will only cause trouble. If you need us, we will still show up; if you don't need us, it means you are doing well. , we are also happy.”

"Aren't you afraid of making me angry and breaking this contract?"

Zhuang Xuteng shook his head and said: "It is no longer a simple contract. You are our master and we are your disciples, whether there is a contract or not."

The famine stranger smiled slightly and threw the clear spring to Ge Gongdao. Brother Dao hurriedly caught it with both hands. While he was still looking surprised, the master said: "You will be the senior brother from now on. I will teach you the sword dance martial arts in these two days. You are only allowed to learn it yourself and are not allowed to teach it to others. Unless you accept another disciple. The sword dance martial arts requires clear springs to be used, and it is not suitable for other weapons, and may even affect your learning of other martial arts. I will tell you the reasons."

Ge Gongdao was stunned for a moment, then quickly hugged the sword and said: "I...this is senior brother? Master, I am holding the clear spring, what are you using?"

"Before the retirement ceremony is completed, I will still use the clear spring and give it to you later. Even if you learn the sword dance martial arts now, you won't be able to use it. Seven Flashes is the basis of sword dance." The Famine Stranger pointed at Zhuang Xuteng and said: " This kid has a very smart mind, I don’t know if he saw it or figured it out, but he seized the opportunity."

Ge Gongdao poked Zhuang Xuteng with his finger and asked, "What did you think of?"

"No...why do you feel like I have a conspiracy?" Zhuang Xuteng shook his head and said: "I just considered the conflict between us and drug dealers, and the company started to access the Lanyeren market. In the future, Peicheng will be the employer. The danger to soldiers will become higher and higher."

"You've only gotten into trouble five times and you've already gotten into trouble with the company? How did Lucy arrange tasks for you?"

"Sister Lucy takes good care of us. It's not our problem, but the company's reach is getting longer and longer." Zhuang Xuteng waved his hand and said, "Master, what on earth do you think I have thought of?"

"Hmph! What I'm thinking is: If you value the relationship as a mercenary, you will wait until Qishian to come to me again, just like getting money for completing a mission. If you treat me as a master, how can the apprentice not ask for good things from the master? The more you ask for it, the more it will be a favor, not a task.”

Zhuang Xuteng quickly shook his head: "I really didn't think so! I just thought that if I can get it, I will get it, and if I can't get it, I will cheat. Brother Dao can be my senior brother with peace of mind, and I can practice martial arts and spells without any distractions. I can live a comfortable life like this. .”

The Famine Stranger nodded and said: "You are right, comfort is very important. I have carefully calculated that by retiring while I still have fighting ability, I can live a comfortable life in the future. I want to reduce the use of implants. Take care of your body for a long time and keep your mind relaxed, so that I will suffer less when I am older. The side effects of implants, especially the side effects of combat implants, will always torture you. What people can do, That means being kind to yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Ge Gongdao hurriedly asked: "Master, are you stressed about the side effects of the implant now?"

"I already have some feeling, but overall it's completely controllable. I'll take a look at the situation first. If the situation is calm, I will gradually reduce the number of implants and replace them with fillers or the like. Haha, fortunately, there is a medical implant subsidy bill. Yes, you can save a lot of money!”

"It seems that Master has already planned it." Zhuang Xuteng scratched his head and asked: "What about the retirement ceremony specifically? What preparations do I want us to make?"

"You don't need to worry too much. This retirement ceremony is actually a task I sent to Lucy. She will take care of the venue and the details of the ceremony. As for the two of you, your main task is to accompany me to the appearance, and then maybe we will A few games. The only way to resolve the grievances between the mercenaries is to fight. Be careful then. Although it is not a fight to the death according to the rules, what if someone does something evil? But you can reach five dodges, which is higher than I expected. , I don’t think it’s a big problem. Four dodges may not be stable, but five dodges... not many mercenaries can beat you."

"Master, do you know Palovic? That guy seems to be quite powerful."

The Famine Stranger shook his head and asked, "Never heard of it. Is he a mercenary?"

"He used to go by the name Carter Ross and was a middleman for other cities."

"Oh, Carter Ross, I get it. I asked him for help when I was on a mission, and later I helped him in return. That guy is quite good at things, and it's easier to deal with him. It's just that he's a bit weak. The feeling of being in the air, I don’t know when it changed or ran away. Is his name changed to Palovich now? "

"It seems that Master has not cared about the changes in the middlemen and mercenary industry for a while." Zhuang Xuteng briefly told the story about the middlemen who crossed the border and came to Peicheng to grab business a while ago, and then talked about Palovich's gravity spell. "Master, we actually want to ask about combat spells. What types are there and how to deal with them."

"Okay, I will tell you what I know. If you don't know, there is nothing you can do. You will always encounter new enemies and new methods. Survival of the fittest, and the new will eliminate the old. This is inevitable in all fields. It will happen." The Famine Stranger patted Zhuang Xuteng on the shoulder and said, "But there is no rush to listen to the story. You go out to play first, and I will teach Ge Gongdao the sword dance martial arts. Come back when I call you. "

Zhuang Xuteng immediately stood up, gave Brother Dao a thumbs up, and said: "Brother, come on, study hard. Master will beat you if you don't learn well, and I can't be there to share the burden with you..."

When there were only two people left in the room, the Famine Stranger said to Ge Gongdao: "I can't say it in front of Naike. I really thought that when you come to me in the seventh flash, there is a high probability that you will give it to me." It will bring some trouble. The best outcome for me is to disappear, rather than keep this line with the mercenary industry. Being involved after retirement usually does not lead to a happy ending. You have been in the industry for a long time, and you should have heard of this kind of thing Bar?"

Ge Gongdao nodded and said: "It is difficult to retire safely, so I can completely understand your thinking."

"Actually, I only figured it out recently. On the way out for inspection, I found that what I thought before was not quite right. There is a world out there where the strong bullies the weak. The weak either endure it or launch a resistance, but the latter often Failed because of the disparity in strength. If you are willing to be a weakling and lower your expectations, you can still survive, because a strong person also needs a lot of weak people to support him, as long as he does not become the weakest at the bottom. But retired mercenaries are all powerful , I will not be willing to be a weakling. But at this time, I must recognize one thing..."

Ge Gongdao frowned and asked, "What do you want to recognize?"

"When I was a mercenary, I didn't even draw my sword and swing it when I was at my peak. Now that I'm old and retired, what qualifications do I have? If I want to retire safely, I have to be willing to be a weakling and avoid everything. . It would be a waste and wrong to have Qingquan stay with me, so it’s good to leave it to you now.”

Ge Gongdao drew out his sword and immediately felt a stab of pain in his wrist. He used dormant martial arts to divert the side effects, so that Qingquan could be stabilized. This sword was twice as powerful as the side effects of all the implants in his body combined. If he didn't continue to improve his dormant martial arts, he might not be able to use it.

"What Naike said is right. Your body shape is suitable for this sword. It's still a bit too big for me to use. Fortunately, sword dance has both two-handed sword skills and one-handed sword skills. When I use it, I focus more on two hands, but you can Preferring one hand.”

Ge Gongdao tried the weight and feel of the sword. His wrist began to feel sore again, so he inserted it back. "Since there are one-handed sword skills, why can't you just teach this part to Naike? Can't you teach it at all?"

"Can't. I'll tell you why."