35: Chapter 35 Conflict: Li Chengxi's True Nature Revealed

Lin Mo remained silent for a long time.

What should he say?

He didn't know if he was qualified to respond to these feelings.

He came here to become stronger, for slaughter value, and for that constantly ticking number in the system.

He didn't know if he would die tomorrow, or if his next mission would be a one-way trip.

He didn't even know what was in his own heart.

"I don't know," he finally uttered those few words.

It was an honest answer.

The light in Yi Xiaoyu's eyes dimmed for a moment.

But she didn't cry; she just stood up, turned her back to Lin Mo, and said softly, "It's okay, you don't have to answer now."

She paused.

"I just wanted you to know."

Then she left.

She walked faster and faster, eventually breaking into a light jog, her short hair fluttering messily in the wind.

...

When Lin Mo returned to the outpost, he found that the atmosphere had suddenly changed.

The morning's bustle was gone; Old Hei and Old Yu were squatting in a corner talking in low voices, their faces grim.

Wu Feng stood by the window, his back as tense as a drawn bowstring.

Yi Xiaoyu was there too.

She saw Lin Mo enter and quickly looked away, but her eyes were still red.

Lin Mo didn't pay attention to that.

"What happened?" he asked.

Wu Feng turned around and said:

"We just received word from Headquarters. The 18th Detachment encountered a large pack of Rank Two beasts three hours ago and suffered heavy casualties!"

Lin Mo's heart tightened suddenly.

"The Captain died on the spot. Three of the four veterans were killed in action. The students..." Wu Feng paused, "One student also died."

"Five survivors, led by the Vice-Captain, have retreated to an abandoned pillbox. They've been besieged for over two hours now."

Lin Mo's throat tightened as he hurriedly asked, "The 18th Detachment? What was the name of the student who died?"

Wu Feng looked at him and remained silent for two seconds.

"I don't know!"

"However, on the list of surviving students... there's Lin Sisi."

Wu Feng felt somewhat helpless.

He had heard before that Lin Mo, Lin Sisi, and Zhao Fansheng were all classmates.

He didn't really want to tell Lin Mo this news because he knew, based on his understanding of Lin Mo, that the kid would definitely go to the rescue.

Lin Mo's pupils contracted sharply.

Lin Sisi.

The girl who had red-rimmed eyes in the cafeteria while advising him not to take risks.

The one who, despite being rejected by him many times, still persistently tried various ways to pull Lin Mo into her assault team.

She was a girl who always gave silently and never asked for anything in return.

He remembered the look in Lin Sisi's eyes the last time he saw her.

Disappointment and grievance, yet still hiding concern.

"Give me the coordinates," Lin Mo said.

Wu Feng didn't move.

"Coordinates," Lin Mo repeated, his voice already carrying a chill.

"Lin Mo," Wu Feng said in a heavy voice.

"The ones besieging the 18th Detachment are a pack of mid-Rank Two Shadow Leopards, with two early-Rank Three leaders."

"The only ones capable of a rescue are the top ten ranked assault teams."

"If you go, you'll just be throwing your life away for nothing!"

Lin Mo's voice turned cold as he said:

"But they are on the main battlefield!"

Wu Feng shook his head and advised, "Headquarters has already arranged a rescue team!"

"Three hours. As long as they can hold out for three hours, the rescue will arrive!"

Three hours!

Could they hold out for three hours?

Lin Mo thought it was highly unlikely.

A pack of mid-Rank Two Shadow Leopards, plus two Rank Three leaders.

Relying only on a single pillbox, they couldn't possibly last three hours.

By the time the top ten teams arrived, all they would likely be able to do was collect the bodies.

"I'm going," he said.

Wu Feng pressed his hand on his hilt and blocked him. "With our detachment's strength, going there is just suicide."

Lin Mo looked at him and said each word distinctly:

"Move."

Wu Feng met his gaze.

Five seconds later, Wu Feng released his hilt.

"You win. I'll go with you. The others stay at the outpost."

He turned to the other two veterans; it wasn't a tone of negotiation, just a statement.

Old Yu and Old Hei exchanged a glance, both seeing an 'I knew it would be like this' expression on each other's faces.

The two of them knew Wu Feng too well; he was someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"No time to lose, we leave now!"

Wu Feng said in a low voice.

However, just as the two of them stepped out of the outpost's main gate, they ran head-on into a group of people.

The one in the lead had a forced smile plastered on his face, but his eyes hid an unmaskable gloominess—it was Li Chengxi.

Behind him followed five people: the three incorporated Rank Two veterans, and two trusted aides he had brought from the command center.

"Ah, Captain Wu, Student Lin Mo!"

Li Chengxi opened his arms and came forward as if greeting old friends he hadn't seen in a long time.

"It's so early in the morning; where are you two headed?"

Wu Feng's pace faltered slightly, but he didn't respond.

Lin Mo glanced at him and continued walking forward.

Li Chengxi's smile stiffened for a moment, then he quickly caught up and reached out to block their path.

"Please stay a moment."

His tone changed, no longer that forced warmth from before, but carrying a hint of coldness.

Wu Feng stopped.

Li Chengxi cleared his throat and stood with his hands behind his back, trying to strike the pose of a superior:

"Captain Wu, Student Lin Mo, you both know how I've treated you these past two days. The best rooms, the best supplies, and I haven't assigned you any missions. I've given you plenty of face, haven't I?"

He paused and continued:

"Now, you want to leave without even saying a word. Are you not taking me, Li Chengxi, seriously?"

Wu Feng frowned. "We have our own mission. Returning to the unit is our duty."

"Mission?"

Li Chengxi laughed, his laughter tinged with sarcasm. "Your mission was to support the 16th Defense Zone. Now that the 16th Defense Zone has retreated to the Second Defense Line, I'll barely consider your mission complete!"

"However, from now on, you should be under my deployment."

He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over their faces with reckless abandon.

"Now, in my capacity as the commander of the Second Defense Line, I order you—"

"You are not permitted to leave without authorization!"

Wu Feng's hand moved to his hilt.

But he didn't draw his blade.

Because he knew that although Li Chengxi was useless, he was indeed the highest commander of the Second Defense Line right now. According to wartime regulations, he really could command him!

If he openly defied orders, according to military law, Li Chengxi had the right to deal with him on the spot.

Li Chengxi saw his hesitation, and his smile deepened.

"Captain Wu, I know you're from the Sixth Battalion and aren't under my jurisdiction. But since you're in my defense zone now, you have to follow my rules."

His tone softened, switching back to that heart-to-heart manner.

"I won't make it hard for you either; just stay for three days. After three days, you can go as you please, how about it? Give me some face."

Wu Feng remained silent.

He knew what Li Chengxi was planning. Three days and then another three days, and then another three days after that. He would keep dragging it out until it became a fait accompli.

Just as he was about to refuse, a cold voice suddenly came from beside him:

"Move."

Li Chengxi was stunned and looked at Lin Mo.

...