52: Chapter 52 Huo Xiao's Befriending Plan, Step Two

Since the matter was resolved, the group turned and walked toward the encampment.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing walked in front, supporting two of the injured, while Su Xiaoxiao followed by her sister's side, glancing back at Wang Lin from time to time, wanting to say something but feeling too shy to speak.

The remaining members of the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group had long since run off, disappearing without a trace, not even bothering to drag away their fallen companion on the ground.

Wang Lin walked in the middle, his hands in his pockets, in a good mood.

Squad Leader Qian Kui's Shadow Shapeshifting ability had merged into his body.

He could feel that his upper limit for Speed had been raised a notch; even walking felt a bit lighter than usual.

After walking for about twenty minutes, the outline of the encampment became increasingly clear.

The tall walls, the two dim searchlights at the entrance, and the flow of people coming and going—everything was just as it usually was.

But Wang Lin suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He narrowed his eyes, looking toward the encampment gate.

He discovered a group of people standing in front of the gate.

A dark mass of them, at least twenty or thirty.

The person at the lead stood with his arms crossed over his chest, legs slightly apart, blocking the very center of the entrance.

Bald head, leather jacket, expressionless.

Commander of the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group, Commander Tie Mu.

A level 6 powerhouse.

In the encampment, level 6 was already among the top tier.

Out of the tens of thousands of people in the encampment, no more than twenty had reached level 6, and among these twenty, Commander Tie Mu was a notoriously ruthless character.

It was said that in his early years, he was a lone wanderer who had braved the wilderness alone for three years, fighting his way from level 4 to level 6.

Later, he founded the Blood Tooth Mercenary Group, and in just a few short years, it became one of the top powers in the encampment.

This man was ruthless and vindictive; whoever offended him would be hunted to the ends of the earth until he killed them.

A saying circulated in the encampment: "Better to offend the King of Hell than to offend Commander Tie Mu."

At this moment, Wang Lin's feet were rooted to the spot.

Behind him, Captain Huo Xiao and Su Wan also stopped.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing froze completely, her grip on the injured tightening unconsciously.

Pedestrians coming and going gave them a wide berth, hugging the base of the wall, not even daring to breathe loudly.

A few timid ones turned back immediately, preferring to wait outside a little longer rather than pass in front of Commander Tie Mu.

Commander Tie Mu's gaze fell upon Wang Lin.

That gaze was cold, as cold as winter well water, bottomless.

Wang Lin felt as if a basin of ice water had been splashed onto his back, sending a chill from the back of his head all the way to his tailbone.

The feeling wasn't fear, but an instinctive alertness, just like a rabbit whose fur would stand on end when targeted by an eagle.

At this moment, Commander Tie Mu spoke.

"You are Wang Lin?"

Wang Lin stood there, his hands still in his pockets, but his palms were already soaked with sweat.

"That I am."

"Did you kill Squad Leader Qian Kui?"

"That's right."

Commander Tie Mu's eyes narrowed slightly: "Then do you know that he was my man?"

"I know."

When these two words were spat out from Wang Lin's mouth, the people around held their breath.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing's eyes widened, and Su Xiaoxiao covered her mouth.

This was no longer a matter of courage.

This was a death wish.

"Knowing he was my man, you still dared to kill him? You have guts."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand.

The twenty or thirty people behind him moved instantly.

They dispersed silently, flanking from both sides in a fan formation, like a pack of wolves hunting.

Wang Lin's pupils contracted slightly.

He swept his eyes around quickly, his brain racing.

The encampment gate was twenty meters behind him.

As long as he sprinted those twenty meters and entered the encampment, Commander Tie Mu would not dare to make a move.

Killing was forbidden inside the encampment; that was the rule, and even a level 6 could not openly violate it.

As for the others...

Sorry.

He, Wang Lin, was no saint.

Coming to help today was already doing his duty, and in this situation, it would be good enough if he could save his own life.

What did the life or death of others have to do with him?

His toes turned slightly, his center of gravity shifted back, ready to sprint.

As soon as Commander Tie Mu made a move, he would rush into the encampment.

With his current Speed, twenty meters would take only two or three seconds.

As for Deputy Leader Su Muqing and the others...

They would have to fend for themselves.

The situation was on the verge of exploding.

The Blood Tooth members closed in, their footsteps sounding particularly heavy in the night wind.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing subconsciously pulled Su Xiaoxiao behind her, her face as pale as paper.

The two injured from Wildfire leaned against their companion, their legs trembling.

Just at this moment... Captain Huo Xiao's mouth curled slightly.

The smile was faint, so faint that if one weren't standing next to him, they wouldn't have noticed.

Now was exactly the second step in befriending Wang Lin: offering proactive help.

Captain Huo Xiao stepped forward, blocking the space between Wang Lin and Commander Tie Mu.

"Brother Tie. This Wang Lin is my friend. See here, can we let this matter go?"

Commander Tie Mu's gaze shifted to Captain Huo Xiao, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Let it go? My brother was killed by him, and you say let it go just like that?"

"Then what does Brother Tie want to do?" Captain Huo Xiao's tone remained calm and unhurried.

"Naturally, I want him dead."

When these three words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze.

Su Xiaoxiao gripped her sister's sleeve tightly, her nails digging into her own flesh.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing bit her lip, unable to say a word.

Captain Huo Xiao's expression didn't change.

He had known Commander Tie Mu would say that.

In fact, he had a hundred ways to resolve this matter peacefully.

Offering gifts, apologies, compensation...

Given Captain Huo Xiao's status in the encampment, as long as he was willing to pay, Commander Tie Mu would give him some face.

Everyone was level 6, and they were bound to see each other often; there was no need to fall out over a level 3 squad leader.

But that was the worst possible strategy.

If he stood out now to act as a peacemaker, taking out crystal cores and points to compensate Commander Tie Mu, how would Wang Lin see him?

He would only think that Captain Huo Xiao had influence, power, and the ability to settle things.

But that would be all.

There would be gratitude, but that kind of gratitude would be shallow, transactional in nature.

You helped me, I'll remember the favor, and I'll repay you when there's a chance.

This was not what Captain Huo Xiao wanted.

He wanted something deeper.

He wanted Wang Lin to know that in this encampment, when he encountered trouble, only Dark Blade, only he, Captain Huo Xiao, was worthy of trust.

Therefore, he would not choose to negotiate.

He would choose a riskier, more intense, but also more heart-moving path.

He decided to stand on Wang Lin's side.

Even if the person on the other side was Commander Tie Mu, even if it meant a falling out.

Because all of this was worth it.

The smile on Captain Huo Xiao's face slowly faded, replaced by a cold, sharp resolve.

"Brother Tie, Wang Lin is my friend. If you want to touch him, you'll have to ask me if I agree first."

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Su Wan.

Su Wan understood.

She pulled a signal gun from her bosom, pointed it toward the night sky, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang..."

A blinding red light shot into the sky, exploding in the night air and transforming into a sharp blade made of flames.

That blade hung in mid-air, burning fiercely, dyeing half the sky blood-red.