13 Extremely Arrogant Villain

Li Xiaoxiao had not paid much attention to Zhang Guangmu at first.

The first time he saw Zhang Guangmu, Li Xiaoxiao had merely felt a pang of sympathy, thinking the other man was a pitiful nobody.

Later...

Their side's whereabouts had been betrayed, and quite a few people had died. Chu Fan had rushed into Changhe Survivor Camp, clamoring to avenge himself on Zhang Guangmu and Zhao Zhengrong, but Li Xiaoxiao had keenly sensed that something was off.

After investigating, he discovered that Zhang Guangmu had not been the one who sold out their intelligence. In fact... because of the kindness of a single meal, the man had endured interrogation and torture without yielding, choosing death over submission. His tough bones had earned Zhao Zhengrong's respect and recognition.

From that point on, Li Xiaoxiao gradually began taking Zhang Guangmu seriously.

After killing the real traitor, he had even considered bringing Zhang Guangmu under his command.

Unfortunately...

Almost the instant that thought arose, he received news of Chu Fan's defeat.

To be honest, Li Xiaoxiao could not understand how that guy had lost.

Compared with Changhe, their side had the advantage in numbers, morale, and equipment. Their training and logistical support utterly crushed the opposition.

What was more, as soon as the battle began, their first volley had luckily killed Zhao Zhengrong. The enemy had lost its leader and become a scattered mob.

With such a massive disparity in strength, how could Chu Fan possibly lose?

How had he even dared to lose?

It was simply unbelievable!

Impossible to understand!

After learning every detail of the battle, Li Xiaoxiao's regard for Zhang Guangmu, the Changhe New King, rose to the absolute maximum. At the same time, he gave up any thought of recruiting him.

As the saying went, "Those united in purpose will prevail." Though Zhang Guangmu was young, he already knew how to bind all the capable fighters under his command to his warship through benefits and goals. For that alone, Li Xiaoxiao considered him a qualified commander.

Therefore...

Faced with the defeated remnants Chu Fan had brought back, Li Xiaoxiao immediately began trying to salvage the situation.

Unfortunately, divided command was a military taboo.

Although Chu Fan had suffered defeat and his reputation had taken a severe hit, he still controlled all the team's supplies and refused to hand over temporary command, afraid that his position would be taken from him.

If Li Xiaoxiao had been given a little more time, he was confident that he could truly integrate the defeated soldiers, unite their strength into one force, confront Zhang Guangmu head-on, and crush him completely!

Unfortunately...

There were no ifs!

Zhang Guangmu had arrived far too quickly!

Swift as the wind, slow as the forest, immovable as a mountain, invading like fire!

Under his leadership, that pack of Small Fry from Changhe Camp was like a group of starving wild wolves, pouncing directly upon plump lambs, tearing into them and scattering the flock!

Still, there was a chance to win.

The seemingly powerful Changhe Faction was not actually that frightening.

As long as Zhang Guangmu could be killed, they could win!

Li Xiaoxiao's figure flashed as he wildly pulled the trigger.

One man and one gun, waging guerrilla warfare by relying on his familiarity with the terrain.

Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!

Compared to Chu Fan's eye-searing marksmanship, Li Xiaoxiao could practically be called a god of war. With just one gun and a few ramshackle pieces of cover, he forcefully held back the Changhe Faction, making the Changhe Survivors howl in pain and preventing them from advancing even half a step.

"I'll deal with him!"

Zhang Guangmu decided to personally chew through this tough bone.

Holding his service pistol, he located Li Xiaoxiao's position and opened fire without mercy.

After all, the other side had a gun in hand and posed too great a threat. If he fumbled at a crucial moment just to maintain some gentlemanly poise, that would be utterly humiliating.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Muzzle flashes bloomed in the night.

The scent of gunpowder gradually spread through the air.

After exchanging several shots with Li Xiaoxiao, Zhang Guangmu ducked behind cover and narrowed his eyes at the bloody hole that had appeared in his left arm.

His body was drenched in hot sweat, his blood boiled, adrenaline surged through him, and his breathing quickened.

"This guy... is good!"

Amateurs watched the excitement; experts saw the method.

After reaching Firearms Shooting 1, Zhang Guangmu's aim had not merely become more accurate. He had also acquired a great deal of relevant knowledge. He could tell at a glance whose shooting was underperforming and whose was seasoned.

Li Xiaoxiao's marksmanship was simply on a completely different level from Chu Fan's. He was really strong, clearly on the same level as Zhang Guangmu himself. Judging by his age, he was absolutely a young shooting prodigy!

Zhang Guangmu was not surprised by this.

Before starring in "Endless Food Bag," he had not gained a single Usable Ability Point either. Acting Skill 1 and Imperial Body Forging Technique 1 had both been honed bit by bit through tremendous time and effort.

It was perfectly normal for other people his age to master one or two skills at the same level!

Those Second Generation kids who never had to worry about food or drink, if they had received Elite Education from childhood and guidance from Famous Teachers, would only have an even greater advantage in this regard. For all he knew, they might already have mastered three abilities rated at 1 Point.

After all, Zhang Guangmu was an orphan with Radiation Sickness. No one had been willing to adopt him. After leaving the National Orphanage, he had endured Wind and Rain, surviving on nothing but Odd Jobs. Just staying alive had already taken everything he had.

Of course, the social welfare of the Xuanlong Empire was quite good as well.

Otherwise, a sickly youth like him would probably have Grave Grass three yards high by now.

"Whew... whew..."

Exhaling great clouds of Hot Air, Zhang Guangmu gathered his thoughts and focused on his duel with Li Xiaoxiao.

From their previous exchanges, Li Xiaoxiao's Tactical Evasion clearly showed that he had received relevant training.

Moreover, from Li Xiaoxiao's Habitual Body Reactions, Zhang Guangmu could vaguely sense that the other man's Imperial Body Forging Technique was likely better practiced than his own. Many of his movements had already become ingrained in his subconscious and instincts!

However...

On the battlefield, situations changed in an instant. Having more skills or greater mastery did not necessarily mean victory.

At present, Li Xiaoxiao held the Geographical Advantage, but timing and popular support belonged to Zhang Guangmu.

Zhang Guangmu felt that if Li Xiaoxiao had a few Reliable Comrades by his side right now, they might truly be able to Turn the Tide.

But the truth was, the other side had no Reliable Partners.

That Unreliable Guy Chu Fan had Fumbled at the Crucial Moment. Sensing Danger, he had already slipped away.

It was rather laughable. The terrain between the Protagonist Group Temporary Camp and Changhe Camp was Rugged Terrain, yet there was nowhere suitable to Conceal Figure. No matter how fast Chu Fan ran, where could he escape to?

Survival Instinct had made Chu Fan choose wrongly, and he had personally buried their last Comeback Opportunity.

"You're Li Xiaoxiao, right? You've shown me kindness, so I won't kill you. As long as you lay down your gun, I guarantee you'll be safe and sound. No one will dare touch you!"

The moment Zhang Guangmu spoke, he sounded like a Villain, Extremely Arrogant: "Brothers and Sisters of Changhe, do my words, Zhang Guangmu's words, carry weight around here?"

The people of Changhe Survivor Camp might not have been much good at fighting, but they were first-rate at Heckling.

Hearing Zhang Guangmu's words, everyone immediately started Laughing Heartily and urged Li Xiaoxiao to Lay Down Arms and Surrender.

"They do! Once Boss Zhang gives the word, anyone who refuses to listen is picking a fight with me!"

"Little miss, Brother Zhang is just like Boss Zhao, A Man of His Word. He's a trustworthy Good Man, so just go with him!"

"Yeah! We have No Grudge against each other. As long as we kill Chu Fan and Snatch Back the Endless Food Bag from him so everyone can eat their fill, can't we all live in peace?"

"A Young Maiden like you shouldn't be fighting and killing every day. Put down the gun, and we can all be peaceful. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Li Xiaoxiao was furious and ashamed and angry. He fired two shots toward where the voices had come from.

Bang! Bang!

Bang!

When he pulled the trigger a second time, pain flared in his wrist. His service pistol flew away, and a bullet pierced cleanly through his right hand, leaving it dripping with blood.

Li Xiaoxiao, who had never practiced holding a gun in his left hand, quickly realized that he had completely lost his Comeback Opportunity.

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The cold wind whistled through the narrow alleyway, carrying the faint, metallic scent of blood. Lu Chen leaned against the damp brick wall, his breath hitching as he clutched his side. The wound was deep, a jagged tear in his leather armor that pulsed with a dull, throbbing ache. He forced himself to remain still, listening intently to the rhythmic clatter of heavy boots echoing against the cobblestones nearby. They were closing in.

He gritted his teeth, his fingers brushing against the cold steel of the dagger tucked into his belt. If I can just make it to the main thoroughfare, I might have a chance to lose them in the crowd, he thought, his gaze darting toward the sliver of moonlight visible above the rooftops. Every movement sent a fresh wave of agony through his torso, but he couldn't afford the luxury of pain. Not now.

[Status Panel]
Name: Lu Chen
Level: 12
Class: Shadow Blade
HP: 14/150
Stamina: 22/100
Active Skills: Stealth (Level 3), Quick Strike (Level 2)

A shadow flickered at the mouth of the alley. Lu Chen didn't hesitate. He pushed off the wall, his muscles screaming in protest, and lunged into the darkness. Quick Strike. The blade hummed as it cut through the air, finding its mark with lethal precision. The pursuer collapsed without a sound, leaving Lu Chen alone in the suffocating silence once more. He didn't look back; he simply vanished into the night.

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