53: Chapter 53 Huo Xiao's Befriending Plan, Step Three

The mark of Dark Blade.

Everyone inside and outside the camp saw it.

Wang Lin looked up at the burning blade in the night sky, his pupils trembling slightly.

He didn't expect Captain Huo Xiao to go this far.

Why?

Just because he agreed to help him pass a message to his father?

Wang Lin couldn't understand it.

Before the light of the signal flare had faded, hurried footsteps could be heard from inside the camp.

A team of people rushed out from the end of the street, each wearing the standard combat uniform of Dark Blade, their steps uniform and their momentum imposing.

They held weapons in their hands, their faces bearing the cold sternness only seen during battle.

They filed out and quickly formed a formation behind Captain Huo Xiao.

One, two, five, ten...

More and more.

In less than a minute, twenty or thirty people were already standing behind Captain Huo Xiao.

A dense mass of figures stood facing the Blood Fang forces opposite them.

The two auras clashed in front of the camp gate, making even the air feel heavy.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing and Su Xiaoxiao stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.

They looked at Captain Huo Xiao's back, then at the twenty or thirty fully armed Dark Blade members behind him, their minds buzzing.

Dark Blade?

This person was actually the leader of Dark Blade?

Deputy Leader Su Muqing had been in the camp for so many years, so she had certainly heard of the name Dark Blade.

It was one of the top mercenary groups in the camp, and its leader, Captain Huo Xiao, was a Level 6 powerhouse, with every subordinate being an expert.

Usually, if she saw such a person on the street, she wouldn't even dare to take a second look, let alone strike up a conversation.

But now, the leader of Dark Blade was standing right in front of her, confronting the people of Blood Fang for Wang Lin's sake.

Su Xiaoxiao was even more shocked, her mouth hanging wide open for a long time.

She looked at Wang Lin, then at Captain Huo Xiao, with only one thought left in her mind.

When did Wang Lin get to know the leader of Dark Blade?

And looking at this stance, their relationship wasn't shallow.

To be able to make a leader bring his entire mercenary group out to back him up—how much face did that require?

Su Xiaoxiao remembered the two people sitting nearby when she had just rushed into the Tea House to ask Wang Lin for help.

That seemingly ordinary man was actually the leader of Dark Blade.

She had actually cried and shouted in front of the leader of Dark Blade...

Deputy Leader Su Muqing thought more than her sister.

Her gaze shifted back and forth between Captain Huo Xiao and Wang Lin, her mind rapidly processing the information.

Who exactly was Wang Lin?

Could an ordinary Level 2 kid make the Dark Blade leader go to such lengths for him?

This was clearly impossible.

This meant that Wang Lin's background was much deeper than she had imagined.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing took a deep breath and silently made a decision in her heart.

From now on, she must maintain a good relationship with Wang Lin.

Such a person could not be offended.

In the center of the scene, Captain Huo Xiao and Commander Tie Mu stared at each other.

Commander Tie Mu looked at the twenty or thirty Dark Blade members behind Captain Huo Xiao.

"Captain Huo Xiao, are you sure you want to fall out with me for this kid?"

Captain Huo Xiao smiled, his expression showing no intention of backing down.

"Brother Tie, it is not that I want to fall out with you."

"It is just that Wang Lin is indeed my friend. When a friend is in trouble, I cannot ignore it."

Commander Tie Mu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Since that is the case, then let us follow the rules of the camp."

Captain Huo Xiao's smile faded slightly, his gaze becoming serious.

He certainly knew the rules of the camp.

The camp had its own laws.

Personal grudges and disputes between mercenary groups could not be resolved on the streets, and innocent people could not be harmed.

If neither side was willing to back down, they would go to the arena in the center of the camp.

That was the place specifically for resolving such issues.

Once the life-and-death contract was signed and they entered the arena, their fates were in their own hands.

Whoever won, the grudge was settled.

Whoever lost, could blame no one but themselves.

This was the iron law established at the beginning of the camp, which no one could violate.

Even a Level 6 powerhouse had to comply.

Commander Tie Mu looked at Captain Huo Xiao, the curve of his mouth slowly widening: "Three days later, see you at the arena."

"You and I will each send out three people, in a wheel battle format. Whoever is the last one standing on the stage wins."

"If I lose, the matter regarding Squad Leader Qian Kui will be wiped clean. If I win..."

His gaze passed over Captain Huo Xiao and landed on Wang Lin.

"This kid will be handed over to me to deal with."

Wang Lin understood Commander Tie Mu's meaning: He was going to use Dark Blade's people to gamble with his life.

Captain Huo Xiao remained silent on the surface, but inside he was blooming with joy.

Everything was going according to his plan.

This was precisely the third step in his plan to befriend Wang Lin: Establish a crisis and face a common enemy.

Only when everyone has the same goal and the same enemy is the relationship the most solid.

The relationship between the two would also be further improved.

Commander Tie Mu looked at Captain Huo Xiao's silent appearance, his smile deepening: "What? Don't dare?"

Captain Huo Xiao smiled.

"Fine! Three days later, see you at the arena. Dark Blade accepts the wheel battle."

Commander Tie Mu stared at Captain Huo Xiao for several seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! Captain Huo Xiao, you've got guts."

He turned and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped and said without looking back:

"Three days later, remember to bring all your people. Don't say I bullied you then."

After saying that, he strode into the camp.

The Blood Fang people followed behind and soon disappeared into the night.

The area in front of the camp gate returned to peace.

Captain Huo Xiao turned around, looked at Wang Lin, and his face returned to that gentle smile.

"Young Master Wang, it is fine now. I will handle this matter for you."

Captain Huo Xiao originally thought Wang Lin would be moved to tears, or at least say a few polite words.

But Wang Lin just looked at him and said: "Meddlesome."

Captain Huo Xiao's smile froze on his face.

Su Wan widened her eyes, almost thinking she had misheard.

Deputy Leader Su Muqing and Su Xiaoxiao stood to the side, their mouths open wide enough to fit an egg.

The leader of Dark Blade fell out with the Blood Fang people for you and even accepted an arena match, and you just call him meddlesome?

The Dark Blade members looked at each other; if it weren't for the leader's order not to offend Wang Lin, they would have already started cursing.

But Wang Lin didn't care.

He was telling the truth.

Even if Captain Huo Xiao hadn't stepped in, he would have been fine.

He could just hide in the camp.

Killing was forbidden inside the camp, so no matter how arrogant Commander Tie Mu was, he wouldn't dare to act inside the camp.

He had plenty of time to wear Commander Tie Mu down.

Once outside the camp, it was even simpler.

If the enemy retreats, he advances; if the enemy advances, he retreats.

He was alone, with no ties, so he could fight if he wanted and run if he wanted.

Commander Tie Mu couldn't possibly send out the entire Blood Fang group to chase him all over the world just for one person, right?

As long as he didn't run into a powerhouse above Level 5, he was confident he could win.

Even if he were unlucky enough to run into Commander Tie Mu himself, he held several Superpowers in his hands: Shadow Shapeshifting, Wind Ability...

Plus the Speed bonus, even if he couldn't win, escaping calmly wouldn't be a problem.

As for the people from the Wildfire squad...

He would help if he could, and if he couldn't, he wouldn't.

He acted today because Su Xiaoxiao was crying so pitifully.

But if he had to sacrifice himself to save them...

Sorry, Wang Lin wasn't that great.

His life was worth more than others' lives.

He had understood this principle a long time ago.

Captain Huo Xiao suddenly realized one thing: Wang Lin was not an ordinary person.

This kid was cold to the bone.

It wasn't that he didn't understand social conventions, but that he simply didn't care.

Others' lives, others' kindness, others' efforts.

In his eyes, they might all just be resources to be utilized or troubles to be avoided.