Chapter 82 – A Hand Extended Will Not Be Struck

At this moment, everyone in the underground base quietly observed Di Ping's actions. When they saw him rummaging through the shattered remains of meat, many were puzzled by what this fearsome young man was doing. Could it be that he had some peculiar habit?

This thought sent a chill down everyone's spine. As they watched the mutilated flesh being prodded by Di Ping's broken sword, many of them felt their throats tighten, overcome by an overwhelming sense of nausea. Some managed to suppress it, but others couldn't hold back, running off to one side to vomit.

However, Di Ping seemed completely oblivious to their reactions. He continued on, moving toward the remains of the mutated dogs that had been killed by Gina's magic. One by one, he dissected them to extract the crystal cores, placing each one in a cloth and tucking it into his chest. Once he had finished, Di Ping finally looked up and noticed the group of people in the hall, who were gathered and staring at him in fear.

"Di Brother! Di Brother!"

At that moment, two figures entered through the doorway. Upon seeing Di Ping, they both shouted in unison, their expressions a mix of excitement and fear. They carefully stepped around the bodies of the mutated dogs on the floor, hurriedly approaching Di Ping.

Without turning around, Di Ping knew that these two were Yue Lie and Liu Han. It was only now that he remembered he had forgotten about them earlier in his rush to rescue people from the underground mall. It seemed they had been hiding outside and only entered when they saw that there was no immediate danger.

Di Ping did not blame them. After all, they were ordinary humans, and the battle had only lasted a brief ten minutes. It was already impressive that they hadn't run off in fear.

"Isn't that Yue Lie and Liu Han?"

"Yes! It's them!"

"They didn't die outside?"

"That's right! Didn't we hear that their whole team was wiped out?"

The appearance of the two caused a stir among the crowd, with some recognizing them and murmuring in surprise.

Ge Zhongping, hearing the discussions behind him, suddenly changed his expression. He quickly relaxed and a smile reappeared on his face, his previous fear vanishing completely.

He had been frightened earlier by Di Ping's frantic behavior and the powerful magic of the mysterious black-robed figure. He didn't know who these two individuals were—were they from Earth or perhaps extraterrestrials? After all, he had never seen such powerful humans on Earth. Though they had killed the mutated dogs, he couldn't tell if they were allies of humanity or enemies. That uncertainty had made him hesitate. But now, seeing that Yue Lie and Liu Han could communicate with Di Ping, he immediately realized that Di Ping was not an enemy.

Yue Lie and Liu Han were from his own base, so if they could interact with Di Ping, that meant Di Ping was definitely not hostile. With this realization, Ge Zhongping's smile returned. As long as communication was possible, he believed he could win over these two mysterious individuals.

"Haha… This young hero, we are truly grateful! I am Ge Zhongping, the head of this underground base, and I speak on behalf of everyone here to thank you for your rescue!"

Having figured it out, Ge Zhongping, the seasoned politician, immediately broke into a hearty laugh. He quickly walked toward Di Ping, his face beaming with friendliness and approachability. As he got closer, he extended both hands in a warm greeting.

"Hello, Mr. Ge, I've heard much about you!"

Di Ping, turning to face the approaching Ge Zhongping, couldn't help but offer a faint smile and extended his hand for a brief shake. Though he had already heard from Yue Lie and Liu Han that Ge Zhongping was not a good person, this was not the time to confront him. So, he decided to let it slide for now, his expression remaining neutral with just a small smile.

"Haha, it's just a reputation. You, young man, are truly noble! You've saved all of us here, and we must reward you for it!"

Ge Zhongping laughed heartily, though his smile revealed a hint of smugness. From calling him a "young hero" to now referring to him as a "young man," the change was rapid. His words expressed thanks but also lifted Di Ping to the level of a noble hero, promising a reward—though who exactly would offer that reward was unclear.

"You're too kind, Mr. Ge," Di Ping replied, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Internally, he felt disdain for this man who appeared just and righteous on the surface but was evil at heart. But right now, his priority was to keep everyone calm, not stir up trouble, so he kept his tone polite.

"Mr. Di, I'm Han Zhongguo. Thank you for your rescue! You've worked hard!"

At that moment, a loud voice boomed. A tall, square-faced man in his forties, with thick eyebrows and a dignified air, quickly approached Di Ping. He extended his hand with a warm smile, his expression one of gratitude.

"Di Brother, this is Mr. Han!" Yue Lie whispered from behind, introducing the middle-aged man.

"Hello, Mr. Han, no need for formalities! Isn't it only natural for humans to help each other?" Di Ping said with a smile as he shook Han Zhongguo's hand. This was the man Yue Lie and Liu Han had described as having a strong sense of justice. Di Ping had always liked people like him, so he was happy to offer a friendly handshake.

"Haha! Yes, yes, we humans should help each other! Mr. Di, you have a magnanimous heart!" Han Zhongguo laughed heartily, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Di Ping. He was deeply impressed by this young man, whose powerful abilities were matched by his calm and unassuming demeanor. Di Ping's composed attitude, devoid of arrogance or nervousness, only increased Han Zhongguo's respect for him.