The Zhao Family Investigates? Where Were You Guys During the Beast Tide!

The communicator carried Zhang Qian's voice, now twisted out of shape: "Sergeant Major Lin! The Zhao Family people have already entered the camp gate! With over a dozen Martial Artists!"

"Got it."

Lin Feng clipped the communicator back onto his belt, crouched down, and continued digging out Magic Cores.

What's the rush?

Let the Zhao Family come investigate. Uncle Fu and Zhao Yuan died in a cave-in. The forensic report, the garrison incident report—black and white, a full set of documents, all in order.

He dug out the last Magic Core, patted the blood residue off his hands, and walked unhurriedly toward the camp.

Entering the camp gate, he saw from a distance three military off-road vehicles parked at the entrance of the command post.

Over a dozen people stood beside the vehicles, all in black tight-fitting outfits, weapons tucked at their waists, their auras flaring outward. The weakest among them was at the Eighth Stage of Martial Artist.

Leading them was a gaunt, dried-up old man, his graying hair tied back, wearing a dark long robe, hands clasped behind his back.

Martial Ancestor.

Lin Feng swept a glance over them, didn't stop, and kept walking toward his own tent.

"Stop."

The gaunt old man's voice came from behind.

Lin Feng ignored him.

"I said stop!"

The oppressive pressure of a Martial Ancestor slammed down.

A few soldiers nearby who were moving supplies had their legs give out, thudding to their knees, boxes scattering all over the ground.

Lin Feng's steps paused for a moment.

He turned around.

"Calling me?"

The gaunt old man walked over, sizing him up.

"You're Lin Feng?"

"Mm."

"I am Zhao Kun, Second Elder of the Zhao Family."

Zhao Kun circled around Lin Feng once, sniffing.

"Reeking of blood."

"Just finished a Beast Tide, haven't had time to wash." Lin Feng patted his sleeve. "Does Elder Zhao have business?"

Zhao Kun stopped in front of him, staring.

"The Zhao Family's young master, Zhao Yuan, died three days ago in a rift near the Sixth Defense Line. You know about this?"

"Heard about it. Killed by a cave-in. Pretty tragic."

"Cave-in?" Zhao Kun sneered. "This old man has lived over sixty years and has yet to see a cave-in kill a First-Rank Psychokinetic Master."

Lin Feng spread his hands. "Then you'll have to ask the heavens. No use telling me. Natural disasters and human misfortunes—who can say for sure?"

Zhao Kun's smile vanished.

He was about to speak.

"Second Elder Zhao, quite the display of authority."

Li Zhenguo's voice came from behind.

His heavy sword dragged along the ground as he walked over step by step.

"On my defense line, releasing Martial Ancestor-level pressure on my soldiers?"

Zhao Kun turned around.

"Commander Li, this old man is merely here to investigate the young master's cause of death. No offense intended."

"No offense?"

Li Zhenguo planted his heavy sword into the ground with a thud.

Crack. A fissure split the earth, extending from the sword's tip all the way to Zhao Kun's feet.

"You entered my camp without a greeting."

"You suppressed my soldiers without a greeting."

"You interrogated my Sergeant Major, and still, without a single damn greeting."

Li Zhenguo stepped forward, each pace lengthening the crack in the ground by an inch.

"Second Elder Zhao, do you take the Sixth Defense Line for the Zhao Family's backyard? Come as you please, investigate as you please?"

Zhao Kun's face darkened.

"Commander Li, the Zhao Family young master's death is suspicious. This old man has the right to investigate."

"You have the right to a fat load of nothing."

Li Zhenguo cut him off directly.

"The forensic report is out. The garrison incident report is out too. If your Zhao Family doesn't believe it, go through the military appeals channel. If the higher-ups approve it, I'll cooperate fully. But before that..."

His one eye swept over the Zhao Family members.

"Don't even think about touching a single soldier."

Zhao Kun's fists clenched.

The dozen or so Zhao Family martial artists behind him tensed up, their hands moving to their sword hilts.

The camp fell silent for a few seconds.

Li Zhenguo suddenly laughed.

A cold laugh.

"Second Elder Zhao, let me remind you of something."

"Three days ago, the Northern Wasteland Beast Tide warning came down, and the Sixth Defense Line sent a joint defense request to all surrounding forces."

He raised one finger.

"The Zhao Family has three contracted rifts near the Sixth Defense Line, less than twenty kilometers away. You received that request, didn't you?"

Zhao Kun said nothing.

"You received it." Li Zhenguo answered for him. "But you didn't come. Not a single person."

He took another step forward, stopping less than three paces from Zhao Kun.

"The night of the Beast Tide, your Zhao Family holed up in Qing Prefecture while my soldiers held the wall with their lives."

"Thirty-seven died."

"The youngest was nineteen."

Li Zhenguo's voice dropped low, low enough that only Zhao Kun could hear clearly.

But every word still struck everyone's hearts.

"Now the Beast Tide is over, and you show up. With a dozen martial artists, swaggering in to investigate?"

He suddenly raised his voice.

"Where's your Zhao Family's face?"

That shout echoed through the entire camp.

Zhao Kun's face went pale in an instant.

The surrounding soldiers had already closed in.

These men had just fought for a day and a night, their killing intent not yet faded.

They stared at the Zhao Family's dozen or so men, eyes bloodshot.

Hiding in the rear when the Beast Tide came.

Now that it's over, they come to investigate?

What the hell?

One soldier spat.

Zhao Kun's temple twitched twice.

"Commander Li, the Zhao Family young master's matter won't end like this—"

"Then go through the military channel." Li Zhenguo said, each word deliberate. "Now, take your people and get the hell out of my camp."

Get out.

The word echoed through the camp.

Zhao Kun's lips trembled.

A few martial artists behind him couldn't take it anymore, their swords already half-drawn.

"Try moving a muscle?"

Captain Zhao had somehow arrived with over twenty Martial Masters, surrounding the Zhao Family's dozen or so men.

These men hadn't even taken off their armor, which was caked with all kinds of filth, some of it still dripping.

Their eyes were bloodshot, like they'd just walked out of a slaughterhouse.

Zhao Kun swept his gaze around.

Over twenty Martial Masters, one Martial Ancestor.

The dozen or so men he'd brought? Not even close.

The old man gave Li Zhenguo a deep look, then turned and walked away, his steps quick and urgent.

A dozen or so Zhao Family martial artists followed and got into the vehicles.

Just as the car door shut, Zhao Kun glanced at Lin Feng through the window.

It was a dark look.

The gaze of a hunter locking onto its prey.

Three off-road vehicles roared to life and sped off.

Li Zhenguo withdrew his gaze and said to Lin Feng, "Out here on your own, watch yourself."

"Understood."

Lin Feng nodded, turned, and headed toward the tent.

Halfway there, Zhang Qian caught up, jogging to keep pace beside him.

"Sergeant Major Lin, the Zhao Family won't let this go. That's the Qing Prefecture Zhao Family—they rank even in the provincial capital."

Lin Feng slung the Mountain Splitter over his shoulder.

"By the time they come a second time, I won't be at this rank anymore."

Zhang Qian froze, completely lost on Lin Feng's meaning.

He followed a couple more steps, then suddenly remembered something.

"Right, word came down from above—after the Beast Tide ends, there's going to be a New Recruit Competition. The scale is especially high this year; the provincial Martial Arts Association and several major families are sending observers."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"You're a Sergeant Major—you have to be a referee."

Lin Feng stopped in his tracks.

"Me, a referee? I've been killing Exotic Beasts for a day and a night, and now I'm supposed to watch a bunch of kids spar?"

"No help for it—Commander Li personally named you. Said the New Recruit Competition needs someone who can hold the fort."

Lin Feng sighed.

"When?"

"Tomorrow." Zhang Qian paused, then added, "I heard among this year's recruits, there are a few family scions."

"One of them's named Zhao."