The atmosphere grew exceptionally tense, and the platform instantly became charged with hostility.
Ironhide, whose throat Hunter Tiger had seized, looked like a plucked rooster. All he could do was wheeze and croak.
"Put Lord Tie Pi down, or we'll attack!" A dwarf standing at the front waved a short blade and shouted at Ji Wuming.
They could not understand what Hunter Tiger had just said, so they could only save him by putting pressure on Ji Wuming.
Yet their shouting without advancing already revealed what all the dwarves were thinking.
"Relax, relax. We haven't reached the point where one of us has to die." Ji Wuming stepped forward and patted Hunter Tiger's arm, hurriedly casting Xiao Yang a pleading look.
The latter shrugged, looking helpless.
After roughly ten seconds, Hunter Tiger finally loosened his grip around Ironhide's throat slightly, giving him a chance to breathe.
The dwarf struggled twice. Although his pride would not allow him to bow his head, the threat of death—he had almost gone to meet his ancestors just now—had left him with no will to resist.
"Put-put me down. You-you can all pass."
"You—you all, put your weapons away!"
The dwarves in the back reluctantly put their weapons away. A few even glared fiercely at Hunter Tiger, seemingly blaming him for not killing Ironhide.
"Captain Tie Pi, I forgot to warn you—my bodyguard has a rather bad temper." Ji Wuming breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to help the dwarf up.
Ironhide snorted. "Don't celebrate too soon. I may be easy to deal with, but Tie Sen's appetite is much bigger than mine."
"If his appetite is bigger, can't we simply replace him with someone else?" Ji Wuming put away his smile and spoke coldly.
After his gaze swept over Ironhide, the dwarf