Zhang Qian's voice came through the communicator, warped with panic. "Sergeant Major Lin! The Zhao Family's already through the camp gates! They brought more than a dozen Martial Artists!"
"Got it."
Lin Feng clipped the communicator back onto his belt, crouched down, and kept digging out Magic Cores.
What was the rush?
Let the Zhao Family investigate if they wanted. Uncle Fu and Zhao Yuan had died in a cave-in. The forensic report and military accident report were all in order, every formality documented in black and white.
He dug out the last Magic Core, brushed the bloody grit from his hands, and headed back to camp at an unhurried pace.
Through the camp gates, he spotted three military off-road vehicles parked outside the Command Center.
A dozen or so people stood beside them, all dressed in black, fitted clothes, weapons at their waists, their auras fully unleashed. Even the weakest among them was an eighth-stage Martial Artist.
At their head stood a thin old man, his gray hair tied behind his head. He wore a dark robe and held his hands behind his back.
A Martial Ancestor.
Lin Feng glanced over, didn't stop, and continued toward his tent.
"Stop."
The thin old man's voice came from behind him.
Lin Feng ignored him.
"I said, stop!"
The pressure of a Martial Ancestor slammed down.
Several soldiers nearby, carrying supplies, buckled at the knees and hit the ground with a thud. Their boxes spilled everywhere.
Lin Feng paused.
He turned around.
"You mean me?"
The thin old man walked over and looked him up and down.
"You're Lin Feng?"
"Yeah."
"I'm Zhao Kun, Second Elder of the Zhao Family."
Zhao Kun circled Lin Feng once, sniffing the air.
"You reek of blood."
"We just finished fighting the Beast Tide. Haven't had a chance to wash." Lin Feng dusted off his sleeve. "What can I do for you, Elder Zhao?"
Zhao Kun stopped in front of him and stared.
"The Zhao Family's Young Master, Zhao Yuan, died in a Rift near the Sixth Defense Line three days ago. You know about this?"
"I heard. Crushed in a cave-in. Pretty tragic."
"A cave-in?" Zhao Kun sneered. "I've lived for over sixty years, and I've never heard of a cave-in killing a First-Rank Psychokinetic Master."
Lin Feng spread his hands. "Then you'll have to ask Heaven. There's no point asking me. Who can predict disasters and misfortune?"
The smile vanished from Zhao Kun's face.
He was about to speak.
"Second Elder Zhao, what an impressive show of authority."
Li Zhenguo's voice came from behind them.
He dragged the Heavy Blade along the ground as he strode over, one step at a time.
"You're on my defense line, using a Martial Ancestor's pressure on my soldiers?"
Zhao Kun turned around.
"Commander Li, I'm only here to investigate the cause of the young master's death. I meant no offense."
"No offense?"
Li Zhenguo planted the Heavy Blade into the ground.
With a crack, the earth split open. A fissure stretched from the tip of the blade to Zhao Kun's feet.
"You entered my camp without notifying me."
"You pressured my soldiers without notifying me."
"You interrogated my Sergeant Major without notifying me, either. What the hell is wrong with you?"
Li Zhenguo walked forward, one step at a time. With each step, the crack in the ground grew an inch longer.
"Second Elder Zhao, do you think the Sixth Defense Line is the Zhao Family's backyard? You can come and go as you please, investigate whenever you like?"
Zhao Kun's expression darkened.
"Commander Li, the young master's death was suspicious. I have the right—"
"You have no damn right."
Li Zhenguo cut him off.
"The forensic report is done, and so is the military accident report. If the Zhao Family doesn't accept them, file an appeal through the military. If it's approved, I'll cooperate fully. Until then..."
His one eye swept over the Zhao Family members.
"Not one of my soldiers is to be touched."
Zhao Kun clenched his fists.
The dozen or so Zhao Family Martial Artists behind him tensed, hands reaching for their weapon hilts.
For a few seconds, the camp fell silent.
Then Li Zhenguo suddenly laughed.
A cold laugh.
"Second Elder Zhao, let me remind you of something else."
"Three days ago, the Northern Wasteland Beast Tide alert went out. The Sixth Defense Line sent requests for support to every nearby force."
He raised one finger.
"The Zhao Family has three contracted Rifts near the Sixth Defense Line, all within twenty kilometers. You received the request for support, didn't you?"
Zhao Kun didn't answer.
"You received it." Li Zhenguo answered for him. "But you didn't come. You didn't send a single person."
He took another step, stopping less than three paces from Zhao Kun.
"The night of the Beast Tide, your Zhao Family stayed holed up in Qing Prefecture while my soldiers risked their lives on the walls."
"Thirty-seven died."
"The youngest was nineteen."
Li Zhenguo lowered his voice until only Zhao Kun could hear him.
Yet every word landed in everyone's heart like a blow.
"Now that the Beast Tide's over, you show up. You brought a dozen Martial Artists and came swaggering in to investigate?"
His voice suddenly rose.
"Where's your Zhao Family pride?"
His roar carried across the entire camp.
Zhao Kun's face went deathly pale.
The soldiers nearby had already gathered around.
They'd just fought for a whole day and night, and the killing intent still hadn't left them.
They stared at the dozen or so Zhao Family members, eyes bloodshot.
They'd stayed back during the Beast Tide and never shown up.
Now that the fighting was over, they'd come to investigate?
What a bunch of crap.
One soldier spat on the ground.
Zhao Kun's temple twitched twice.
"Commander Li, the matter of the Zhao Family's young master won't just—"
"Then go through the military channels." Li Zhenguo spoke slowly, each word distinct. "Now, take your people and get the hell out of my camp."
Out.
The word echoed through the camp.
Zhao Kun's lips trembled.
Several of the Martial Artists behind him couldn't take it anymore. They'd already drawn their blades halfway.
"Try moving."
Captain Zhao had appeared at some point, bringing more than twenty Martial Masters with him.
They surrounded the dozen or so Zhao Family members.
They hadn't even taken off their armor. It was plastered with all sorts of gore, and some of it was still dripping.
Their eyes were bloodshot, as if they'd just walked out of a slaughterhouse.
Zhao Kun surveyed them.
More than twenty Martial Masters and a Martial Ancestor.
The people he'd brought didn't stand a chance.
The old man gave Li Zhenguo a long look, then turned to leave, his steps quick and hurried.
The dozen or so Zhao Family Martial Artists followed him into the vehicles.
The moment the doors shut, Zhao Kun glanced at Lin Feng through the window.
His gaze was dark and sinister.
It was the look of a hunter who'd set his sights on his prey.
The three off-road vehicles started up and drove away.
Li Zhenguo turned back to Lin Feng and said, "You're on your own out there. Be careful."
"Understood."
Lin Feng nodded and turned toward his tent.
Halfway there, Zhang Qian caught up, trotting along beside him.
"Sergeant Major Lin, the Zhao Family won't let this go. They're the Zhao Family of Qing Prefecture, one of the most prominent families even in the Provincial Capital."
Lin Feng swung Mountain Splitter onto his shoulder.
"By the time they come back, I won't be at this level anymore."
Zhang Qian paused, completely lost by what Lin Feng meant.
After following him for a couple of steps, he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right. We got a notice from command. After the Beast Tide, they're holding a New Recruit Competition. This year's event is especially grand. The Provincial Martial Arts Association and several major Lineages will send people to watch."
"What's that got to do with me?"
"You're a Sergeant Major. You have to be a judge."
Lin Feng stopped in his tracks.
"I'm supposed to be a judge? I spent a whole day and night killing Exotic Beasts, and now I have to watch a bunch of brats spar?"
"Can't be helped. Commander Li picked you personally. He said the New Recruit Competition needs someone who can command respect."
Lin Feng sighed.
"When is it?"
"Tomorrow." Zhang Qian paused, then added, "I heard a few of this year's new recruits come from prominent families."
"One of them is named Zhao."
Before you continue