50: Chapter 50 Shadow Transformation

Captain Huo Xiao nodded hurriedly, "I understand this, I understand."

"If Young Master Wang could help put in a word, I would be extremely grateful."

"Whether it works out or not is another matter, but at least let me have a chance."

He paused, then added, "These crystal cores are just an apology gift; regardless of whether it works out, they are for Young Master Wang."

"If things work out later, there will be another generous reward."

Wang Lin was overjoyed inside, but his face still wore that troubled expression.

"Since Commander Huo has said so much..." He pretended to ponder for a moment.

"Fine, I will go back and mention it to my father."

"However, I have to say the ugly truth upfront: I can't guarantee whether it will work out."

"That is only natural, that is only natural." Captain Huo Xiao's smile became even warmer as he raised his teacup.

"I am already very grateful that Young Master Wang is willing to help. Come, let this tea serve as wine; I toast to Young Master Wang."

Wang Lin also raised his teacup and clinked it against his.

The two of them, each harboring their own thoughts, drank the cup of tea.

This was the first step in Captain Huo Xiao's plan to befriend Wang Lin: an apology.

If he had sent the ten Level 3 crystal cores directly, the other party might not have accepted them.

Even if he did accept them, he would just think 'might as well take them' and still harbor reservations.

But sending them while "asking for a favor" was different.

This way, Wang Lin would accept them with peace of mind and even feel like he was the one taking advantage.

More importantly, regardless of whether Wang Lin spoke to Wang Dashan or not, this connection had been established.

Whenever anything came up in the future, the first thing Wang Lin would think of was Dark Blade.

The first step of befriending Wang Lin was a success; as for the second step...

At this moment, a young girl hurried in through the door; it was Su Xiaoxiao.

The younger sister of Wildfire Mercenary Group's Deputy Leader Su Muqing.

Her eyes were red and her hair was a bit disheveled, as if she had run a very long way.

As soon as she entered, she looked around, and upon seeing Wang Lin, she immediately rushed over.

"Wang Lin! You have to help me! Only you can help me now!"

Wang Lin was startled by her intensity: "Tell me slowly, don't rush. What happened?"

"Outside the camp... my sister took us out on a mission and ran into people from the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group..."

"They said my sister stole their prey, and the two sides started arguing..."

"Then... then they started fighting..."

Wang Lin's brows furrowed even deeper.

Blood Tooth Mercenary Group?

They were a notorious bunch of tough guys in the camp; their commander was a ruthless LV6, and none of his subordinates were pushovers either.

Compared to Blood Tooth, Wildfire was a far cry behind.

"And then? Did their commander go too?" Wang Lin pressed.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head: "The commander didn't come. The one leading the team was one of their squad leaders, named Squad Leader Qian Kui, a Level 3."

"But they have many people; seven or eight of them surrounded us, and my sister couldn't hold them off..."

As she said this, tears fell drop by drop onto the table:

"When I ran out, my sister was already surrounded... I don't know how she is now..."

She grabbed Wang Lin's arm, her fingers gripping tightly: "Wang Lin, please, help me!"

"I know that even though you are only Level 2, you even killed Commander Leí Héng... You must have a way!"

Wang Lin's arm hurt from her grip, but his mind was racing.

To be honest, he wasn't very close to Deputy Leader Su Muqing; they were just acquaintances.

The Wildfire Mercenary Group had a good reputation in the camp, and Deputy Leader Su Muqing was decent too; she followed the rules and wasn't as overbearing as those people from Blood Tooth.

But what did this have to do with him?

However, seeing the young girl in front of him crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Wang Lin eventually softened his heart.

"Alright, stop crying. Let's go, let's go take a look."

Su Xiaoxiao seemed to have grabbed onto the last straw of hope: "Really?"

"Really. But I have to say the ugly truth upfront: I'm just going to check the situation. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to help."

"That's enough, that's enough!" Su Xiaoxiao nodded desperately, "You being willing to go is already enough!"

Captain Huo Xiao, who was on the side, raised his teacup and took a sip, a faint, imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He stood up: "Perfect, I have nothing to do anyway, let's go and take a look together."

Wang Lin glanced at him, nodded, and did not refuse.

Su Wan also stood up and followed behind Captain Huo Xiao.

Although Su Xiaoxiao didn't know the two people in front of her, she couldn't care about that right now.

In her view, having more people was always a good thing; even if they were just standing on the side to make up the numbers, it would still bolster their presence.

The four of them walked quickly out of the Tea House.

Su Xiaoxiao walked in the front to lead the way, her steps hurried, looking back from time to time for fear that Wang Lin would change his mind halfway.

Outside the camp.

Wang Lin followed Su Xiaoxiao at a light jog, exiting the camp gate and rushing east along a dirt road.

After walking for about ten minutes, a noisy sound came from ahead.

Wang Lin quickened his pace, turned around a small hill, and saw the scene below.

Seven or eight people from the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group were standing in a circle, with four people from the Wildfire Mercenary Group in the middle.

The people from the Wildfire Mercenary Group were clearly at a disadvantage; two of them were already wounded, leaning on their companions covered in blood.

The woman standing at the very front was none other than Deputy Leader Su Muqing.

She was holding a short blade in her left hand, her right arm hanging by her side, with blood dripping down from her fingertips.

But her gaze remained sharp, staring fixedly at the people opposite her.

Standing opposite her was a lean man with a piece of grass in his mouth and a face full of hooliganism.

It was the squad leader of the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group.

Squad Leader Qian Kui, Level 3.

Wang Lin stood on the hillside, squinting his eyes to assess the situation in the field.

Level 3? He sneered inwardly.

A Level 3 squad leader, and he dares to be this arrogant?

With his track record of a Level 2 killing a Level 4, a mere Level 3 was no longer a threat in his eyes.

"You wait here." Wang Lin said to Su Xiaoxiao, then strode down.

"Squad Leader Qian Kui." He called out.

Everyone's gaze turned towards him.

Squad Leader Qian Kui narrowed his eyes, looked Wang Lin up and down, and curled his lip: "Who are you?"

Wang Lin did not answer.

He walked straight up to Squad Leader Qian Kui and stood still.

"I will only say this once: take your people and get lost."

Squad Leader Qian Kui was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Who the hell are you? A brat whose hair hasn't even fully grown yet, daring to talk to me like that?"

"Take him out for me..."

Two people from the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group rushed up.

Wang Lin moved.

His Speed was astonishing; with a Level 2 shell combined with combat power close to Level 4, dealing with these ordinary small fries was like an adult fighting a child.

The first punch smashed into the face of the person on the left, and the sound of the nasal bone shattering was clearly audible.

Before the man could react, his whole body flew backward, crashing to the ground and becoming motionless.

The second kick landed on the knee of the person on the right; with a crisp crack of bone, the man screamed and fell to his knees, clutching his leg.

Two seconds.

Two people.

Squad Leader Qian Kui's smile froze on his face.

"Good kid... I really underestimated you..."

He stamped his foot violently, and the ground cracked with several fissures.

A stream of black energy rose from under his feet, winding up his legs and spreading upwards.

Those black mists squirmed like living things on the surface of his skin, eventually condensing into a pair of translucent black wings behind him.

Calamity Power: Shadow Shapeshifting.