Trash Talk, Surveillance

Lu Lin tilted his head slightly. The few martial artists from the Great Wind Squad were looking his way, too.

They were all dressed like ordinary martial artists, carrying saber and sword in their hands. At a glance, their weapons were clearly no ordinary items.

The one leading them had a naturally cheerful face and not a single hair on his head. He looked rather amiable.

"Well, if it isn't an elite martial artist from our Dragon Saber Squad. Good grief, how could the Free Martial Artist Association be so inconsiderate? They actually made Elder Ren the Cannon come here in person to handle things. Doesn't Brother Wang Yan usually take care of this sort of thing?"

The bald man walked over as he spoke. The martial artists beside him all chuckled and came closer.

"Brother Chou, I heard someone set Wang Yan up the day before yesterday. His dantian was damaged and his blood vitality declined. You must've heard about such good news, right?"

"Don't bring it up, don't bring it up. I heard there was blood all over the ground. Wang Yan was rolling around like a dead dog. Tsk, tsk. I wonder who could've been so ruthless."

"Guys, don't you have any decency? Our brothers from the Dragon Saber Squad are injured, and you're actually gloating here. You've got no compassion at all. Come on, Full Moon Tower tonight. I'm treating everyone to a feast."

"Hahaha, thanks, Brother Chou." The Great Wind Squad's martial artists all burst into laughter at Li Chou's offer.

Was there anything more satisfying than seeing an enemy fall on hard times?

If there was, it had to be their own captain treating them to a celebratory feast.

Ren Tian's expression darkened. He pulled Lu Lin behind him and said in a low voice, "Li Chou, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Heh. Ren the Cannon, don't put on that sour face with me. I'm just chatting with my brothers. What's it to you?"

"I wonder who Wang Yan pissed off to get beaten so badly. They crippled him outright. Tsk, tsk. He was a peak martial artist, too. What a shame, what a shame."

As he spoke, Li Chou shook his head and put on a regretful expression.

But the two squads were enemies. They'd clashed repeatedly on missions in the wilderness. There wasn't the slightest chance they genuinely felt sorry for him.

"Li Chou, my Dragon Saber Squad will remember what happened today. Once we're outside, we'll settle the score."

"Lu Lin, let's go!"

Ren Tian started to lead Lu Lin away.

But Li Chou stepped forward and blocked their path.

"Don't be like that! Ren the Cannon, why wait until we're outside? If you want to get back at me, go ahead and try right now. Let's see how the Wu'an Bureau handles it."

"Come on, guys, put down your weapons. Let Ren the Cannon have himself a good time."

As he spoke, Li Chou was the first to unfasten the two-piece spear from his back and toss it to the ground.

The others from the Great Wind Squad followed suit, removing their sabers and swords and hurling them down with a clatter.

The commotion soon caught the attention of the association's staff.

A burly martial artist in a dark blue uniform came over. He took in the scene, frowning.

"Li Chou, Ren Tian, what's going on here?"

The moment Li Chou saw him, he hurried over in a few quick steps. "President Gao, you've got to stand up for us freelance martial artists! We came to the association to pick up a mission like any other day, and ran into Ren Tian from the Dragon Saber Squad. We thought we'd say hello and ease the tension. Didn't you say before that we should turn swords into plowshares? But Ren Tian actually threatened us right here in the association. He told us to watch our backs when we leave the city, and that he'd kill us every time he saw us."

"President Gao, we really weren't looking for trouble. I, Li Chou, am not strong, and the Great Wind Squad only exists because my brothers did me the honor of joining. If they all die at Ren Tian's hands, who knows what sort of hardship their families—widows and orphans—will face?"

Li Chou sounded deeply sincere, but the burly President Gao remained unmoved. He looked at Ren Tian. "Ren Tian, what happened? Your squad was attacked just yesterday, and now you're still acting so recklessly?"

President Gao's name was Gao Hu. He was the vice president of the Dongshan Free Martial Artist Association headquarters, and was usually responsible for settling disputes among martial artists. He knew the situation between the Great Wind and Dragon Saber Squads better than anyone.

"President Gao, you've got the wrong idea."

Ren Tian couldn't let Li Chou slander him like that. He stepped forward and explained why they'd come today. Gao Hu glanced at the Free Martial Artist certificate in Lu Lin's hand and nodded.

Ren Tian might have been a troublemaker, but he wouldn't pick a fight with the Great Wind Squad at a time like this.

"All right, break it up. There's nothing to see here."

Gao Hu sent away the martial artists who'd gathered to watch, along with the Advanced Martial Disciples looking for work. Then he turned to Li Chou. "You lot, too. If you've got business, get on with it. What's the point of making a scene? Hurry up and get back to whatever you're supposed to be doing."

"But, President Gao, Ren Tian really did threaten us just now..."

Li Chou tried to protest, but Gao Hu's expression hardened. "What? You think I can't give you orders?"

"Of course you can." Li Chou quickly agreed, then turned around and raised his voice. "Brothers, pick up your weapons! When we're outside the city, even if Ren Tian and his Dragon Saber Squad bully us, we can't just sit back and take it. President Gao will see that justice is done!"

Picking up his spear, Li Chou cupped his hands toward Gao Hu. "President Gao, we'll be off, then. You should have a word with Ren Tian, too. There aren't many martial artists in Dongshan as it is. If he keeps making our own people kill each other..."

"That's enough. Get the hell out of here."

Gao Hu gave him a shove, and Li Chou finally turned to leave.

Once he was out of Gao Hu's sight, he turned back and made a throat-slitting gesture at Lu Lin and Ren Tian.

Lu Lin felt his whole body stiffen. Was that a martial artist's killing intent?

Ren Tian wanted to glare back, but Gao Hu stepped into his line of sight. "All right, Ren Tian. You should head back, too."

Li Chou and the others from the Great Wind Squad were hard to deal with, but the Dragon Saber Squad weren't exactly pushovers, either.

If the two squads hadn't kept their clashes to minor skirmishes, the association would've stepped in long ago.

"President Gao, you can't blame us for what happened today. They were the ones who came looking for trouble."

"Fine, I believe you. You can go. And remember this: even if there's no one to keep an eye on you outside the city, don't attack martial artists from Dongshan City lightly. If I catch you, I'll make sure you regret it."

"Got it, President Gao. Don't worry."

Ren Tian replied lazily. "Lu Lin, let's go."

Lu Lin hadn't had a chance to say a word throughout the whole incident, but that gesture from the Great Wind Squad had left a deep impression on him.

Once they left the association and got into the car, Ren Tian didn't start the engine. He turned to Lu Lin and said, "Lu Lin, the Great Wind Squad has a serious grudge against our Dragon Saber Squad. They've stolen our stuff before and sabotaged our missions. Of course, we've paid them back, too."

"Are you scared, kid?"

Scared?

Lu Lin shook his head. The two sides had only traded a bunch of insults just now. What was there to be scared of? Even if it came to a real fight, he wasn't sure he'd back down.

"Good. I knew I wasn't wrong about you. But don't worry. Neither side dares go too far inside the city. Once we're outside, that's when we can really let loose."

"Oh, right. Wait here a moment."

Ren Tian suddenly seemed to remember something. He got out of the car and went back into the association.

A short while later, when he came out, he wore an unmistakably pleased smile.

"Brother Ren, what did you go in there for?"

"Nothing much. I hired an Advanced Martial Disciple to keep an eye on which mission the Great Wind Squad picked up. If we get the chance, we'll give them a little surprise after we leave the city."

Lu Lin was speechless. So much for everything President Gao had just said.

Ren Tian had someone watching the other squad, and the Great Wind Squad naturally wouldn't sit around waiting to be caught off guard, either.

But it didn't really matter. Since the two squads were mortal enemies, sooner or later they'd clash. Unless Lu Lin quit the Dragon Saber Squad right now, he'd definitely have to fight them.

Seeing how Lu Lin had calmed down after just a little reassurance, Ren Tian silently nodded to himself.

It seemed his new little brother wasn't one to shy away from trouble.

In any case, they'd completed the signing smoothly that day. Ren Tian said he'd help Lu Lin find some equipment when they got back, so he wouldn't have to spend any money for the time being. That would save him a bit, too.

If Lu Lin found the gear unsuitable, he could buy his own equipment based on his needs after he returned from the mission.

Lu Lin was deeply moved. Ren Tian might have been a rough, carefree sort, but he was genuinely thoughtful. Unless Lu Lin borrowed money from Liu Weiran, he couldn't afford any equipment at all.