Undertow

"Lin Sheng!?"

Hearing Ma Long's words, not only Wang Sanyang but also the people around were stunned, seemingly not understanding why he asked that.

However, someone in the crowd began to search, and soon found Lin Sheng huddled in a corner.

After all, although the Ninth Squad had suffered heavy losses, there were still some people left, and these people naturally recognized Lin Sheng and knew that he had returned safely.

Feeling all eyes on him, Lin Sheng frowned.

Ever since Ma Long had called out his name, he had felt something was wrong, but in the current situation, he couldn't do anything. Turning and leaving would only highlight himself more.

Moreover, after dealing with Ma Qiang, he had anticipated this situation and was mentally prepared.

Having lived two lives, if nothing else, his psychological fortitude was top-notch.

He understood that in this situation, he absolutely could not show any sign of panic.

Ma Long naturally also noticed the surrounding gazes, and he turned his head, his eyes fixed on Lin Sheng.

The next moment, he took a step forward, his figure crossing several yards in the blink of an eye, arriving in front of Lin Sheng.

"So many people died in the Ninth Squad, and even Liu Jie, who is in the Body Tempering realm, didn't return. How can you be back!?"

Ma Long narrowed his eyes, staring at Lin Sheng like a knife, and slowly asked.

Lin Sheng raised his head, met Ma Long's gaze, and replied neither servile nor overbearing.

"Reporting to Captain Ma, I, Lin Sheng, was just lucky enough not to be targeted by the Tusk Mountain Boar, so I managed to escape back."

"Luck? Why is your luck so good? Why aren't other people's luck this good…" Ma Long spoke indifferently, his eyes fixed on Lin Sheng, his aura becoming increasingly sharp.

"Ma Long, what are you doing? This is the Ninth Squad, not your Third Squad. I know your brother is dead and you're in a bad mood, but are you cursing the survivors of our Third Squad?!"

At this moment, Wang Sanyang suddenly shouted.

He walked over, still clutching his injured arm.

"Isn't it a good thing that more people survived? Do you want all of my Ninth Squad to die before you can feel at peace with your brother?!"

Wang Sanyang's expression was not good at this moment, clearly having become completely angry. The Ninth Squad had suffered heavy casualties on this mission, and he was already in a bad mood. Now, with Ma Long coming to demand an explanation and being so aggressive, he naturally wouldn't tolerate it any longer.

"Hmph!?"

Hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Ma Long's eyes, and his gaze shifted from Lin Sheng to Wang Sanyang.

"Alright! Stop talking now."

At this moment, a resonant voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

A very sturdy man walked in, it was Tian Hu.

Tian Hu scanned the severely injured hunters, then looked at Wang Sanyang and Ma Long, whose atmosphere was somewhat tense.

"We are all from the Beast Hunter Hall. There's no need to make things so awkward. Chen Wei, leave a few people from your Second Squad to take the injured to the Hall for treatment."

"Yes."

Immediately, a dark-skinned man stepped out from the crowd and took the injured away from the courtyard.

Tian Hu then spoke again.

"Ma Long, your brother's death is not anyone's fault; it can only be said to be bad luck. If there's nothing else, you should leave."

"Understood, Deputy Hall Master Tian."

Seeing Tian Hu arrive, the coldness on Ma Long's face finally dissipated. After a while, he revealed a slight smile and simply replied.

"Since that's the case, I won't disturb you any further. Brother Wang, take care of your injuries, otherwise, this arm might be permanently disabled."

After speaking, Ma Long didn't linger. He turned and led his men away, but his gaze swept over Lin Sheng as he left.

Seeing Ma Long leave, Wang Sanyang also didn't delay any longer. After handing the four tusks from his back to Tian Hu, he hurried off for treatment. He was not lightly injured, and if he didn't receive treatment soon, he might really end up with some lingering problem, which would be a loss.

As for Lin Sheng and the remaining hunters of the Ninth Squad, they were responsible for cleaning up the base. After tidying everything up, they were also dismissed.

From leaving the assembly point all the way back to his courtyard, Lin Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he had appeared quite calm in the Ninth Squad's base just now, his heart had been pounding. He was genuinely worried that Ma Long might suddenly attack him without regard for anything. If that had happened, he wouldn't have been able to hide and would have had to resist.

That would undoubtedly expose his own strength, and at that point, it would have been difficult to explain.

"No, I need to find a way to deal with this Ma Long. Leaving him around is always a threat."

Lin Sheng thought to himself.

Ma Long, as the captain of the Third Squad, was even stronger than Wang Sanyang. It was rumored that he was close to breaking through to the late stage of Muscle Forging.

Moreover, being in the same Beast Hunter Hall, if the other party wanted to target him, with his current status and position, it would be truly difficult to handle.

"I must find a way. Even if I can't deal with the opponent, I need to improve my status in the Beast Hunter Hall as soon as possible. That way, even if the other party wants to do something to me, they'll have to consider it."

Yangping Town, Third Squad's Base.

Ma Long sat in the courtyard, playing with a pair of stone balls in his hand. In front of him was a circular pond where carp were swimming, occasionally leaping out of the pond, creating splashes of water.

"Wang Sanyang."

He slowly chewed on Wang Sanyang's name, then let out a cold laugh.

"To think he could break through to Great Accomplishment in Body Tempering just by using the tusks of a Tusk Mountain Boar and his own savings for a precious pill, how naive."

"Someone, come here."

Suddenly, he called out, and someone immediately ran in.

"Have Old Ma and the others search along the Ninth Squad's route. See if they can find any clues. If they can find Ma Qiang and Liu Jie, or even their corpses, I will reward them handsomely."

"Yes, Captain."

The person quickly trotted out to gather the hunters.

As his subordinate's retreating figure disappeared, Ma Long closed his eyes, lost in thought.

Truthfully, he no longer held much hope for Ma Qiang.

He didn't believe Wang Sanyang would harm his own brother; after all, there was no reason for him to offend Ma Long.

As for the others in the Ninth Squad, they wouldn't dare. Moreover, with Liu Jie accompanying them, as long as Wang Sanyang wasn't involved, no one else could kill them.

Therefore, he had already accepted Wang Sanyang's explanation: Ma Qiang and Liu Jie had died at the hands of the Tusk Mountain Boar.

As for that Lin Sheng, he only remembered the name suddenly. He didn't believe that kid's strength was enough to do anything to Liu Jie and Ma Qiang.

If it were just Ma Qiang alone, perhaps there would be a possibility, but Liu Jie was an experienced hunter. Whether facing fierce beasts or people, he possessed extremely rich combat experience. Ordinary Body Tempering martial artists would never be his match.

Even with the advantage of surprise, a martial artist at Minor Accomplishment in Muscle Forging might even fall to him.

So, even if that kid had some hidden abilities, he couldn't possibly have caused an experienced hunter like Liu Jie to fall.

However, even so, he didn't intend to let Lin Sheng off. His gaze fell on the koi carp fighting for food in the pond, and he murmured aloud.

"Xiao Qiang, you said you wanted to deal with that kid, but you couldn't. So, as your brother, I'll help you one more time."

Of course, he didn't plan to act immediately. After all, if that kid died right now, it would be too conspicuous.

"After a few days, I'll find an opportunity to take care of him."

With that, with a snap, the two stone balls in his hand were crushed into powder.