Chen Gu looked completely unbothered and chuckled, "It's nothing. Luo Zhe and Zhang Ke just bet on who could blink faster, and I'm judging for them."
At last, his eyes stopped feeling so dry. He opened them, bloodshot, and Luo Zhe nodded along. "Yeah, yeah. Look, Brother Chen saw how much fun we were having and started blinking with us."
"By the way, you've been looking toward the bar for a while. Did you spot a friend? If you've got something to take care of, go ahead. Don't worry about us. I'll call you when the captain gets here."
Luo Feng gave the three of them a strange look, pressed his lips together, and tried to hold back a laugh. He nodded. "All right. You guys keep at it. I'll go over for a bit." He left his backpack, shield, and War Blade on the sofa, then got up and walked toward the bar.
Luo Zhe and the others immediately snuck a look toward the bar.
"I'd bet anything there's something going on between them! Just look how happy Luo Feng is," Chen Gu declared confidently. He pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and zoomed in to see what the girl looked like.
Zhang Ke leaned over to watch, grinning. "Doesn't look that way to me. See how surprised the girl looks? It's obvious Luo Feng's the one who's interested in her!"
"Brother Chen, take a picture! Send me a copy. Now I won't have to worry about Auntie Luo nagging me to find Luo Feng a girlfriend anymore." Seeing Chen Gu take out his phone to snap a picture, Luo Zhe eagerly urged him to share it.
Just as they were getting caught up in the show, a voice suddenly came from behind them. "What are you three looking at?"
Luo Zhe hurriedly turned around. A massive, muscular man stood there, with two black hammers flecked with silver strapped to his back. Behind him followed a pair of twins, each carrying a shield and a curved blade.
After taking the picture, Chen Gu turned around too and greeted them with a grin. "Captain! Wei Tie, Wei Qing! You're here."
Zhang Ke cheerfully added, "Captain, long time no see."
"Come on, Luo Zhe, let me introduce you. This is our Fire Hammer Squad's captain, 'Double Wind Hammer' Gao Feng, the backbone of our squad." Chen Gu pulled Luo Zhe, who seemed a little at a loss, over to his side and introduced him.
Then he turned to Zhang Ke. "Go over to the bar and call that kid Luo Feng back." Zhang Ke nodded and headed toward the bar.
Chen Gu continued, introducing the twins behind him to Luo Zhe. "These two are the famous 'Twin Moon Scimitars,' the Wei Brothers—Wei Tie and Wei Qing. They're both experts with blades. You can learn a lot from them."
The Wei Brothers were a little aloof. They nodded at Luo Zhe, then took off their shields and curved blades and found seats.
"Captain, Brother Tie, Brother Qing," Luo Zhe greeted them with a stiff smile.
How was he supposed to act like an old friend when he was meeting the captain for the first time? Urgent—answers needed!
Before Luo Zhe could think much more about it, Gao Feng sat down beside him on the sofa and patted him on the shoulder with a big hand. He grinned, the muscles in his face drawing together like rock. "Good kid. You've got a solid shoulder. Chen Gu's already told us about you and Luo Feng. You're both talented, and I'm sure you'll become full-fledged members of our squad in no time."
Gao Feng wasn't especially tall, only a little over six feet. What made him stand out was how incredibly muscular he was. He looked as if he'd been forged from steel. When his palm landed on Luo Zhe's shoulder, it felt like getting hit by a steel plate. His shoulder throbbed with pain.
Luo Feng soon returned with Zhang Ke. With Chen Gu's introductions, he quickly settled in with the squad, being the steady sort.
The other members of the Fire Hammer Squad were all much older than the two of them, at least ten years older. Compared to the others, Luo Zhe and Luo Feng were still just kids, so the older members were more considerate in how they spoke to them.
From what Luo Zhe observed, Gao Feng, the backbone of the team, was a quiet, warmhearted man who looked after everyone. He didn't say much, but whenever he gave an order, even Chen Gu obeyed without question. Chen Gu was like the family's mother hen. Though the prospect of entering the Wilderness Zone had made him less nagging, he still talked more than anyone else. Zhang Ke was an easygoing, good-natured guy who usually faded into the background, always smiling no matter who he spoke to. The Wei Brothers were two stone-faced men who hardly said a word. They followed Gao Feng's lead and were classic examples of speaking little and doing much.
Being in a squad like this was pretty interesting.
Who knew what kind of commotion he and Luo Feng, two young "old hands," would stir up after joining a team full of seasoned old hands?
"Get your gear together. We're leaving soon," Gao Feng said after they'd sat around for a while and everyone had finished chatting.
"Yes, Captain."
All six of them, Luo Zhe included, nodded and stood up to check their equipment for anything missing.
A few minutes later, after confirming they hadn't left anything behind, Luo Zhe and the others looked to Gao Feng, who stood in the center. Gao Feng glanced around at everyone, then waved his hand. "Let's go! We're heading to the Wilderness Zone!"
"Luo Feng!" Suddenly, a voice called from behind them.
Luo Zhe and Chen Gu exchanged a look, then grinned knowingly. Luo Feng, standing beside them, hadn't noticed a thing. He turned around and greeted the person approaching, delighted.
It was the bar manager from earlier. Maybe she couldn't bear to part with Luo Feng. The two of them stood nearby, blushing as they talked about something, and then Luo Feng quickly turned and rejoined the squad.
"I'm starting school in a few days, but while I'm in college, I'll be working here as a manager during the day on Saturdays and Sundays," the girl called. "You have to come by then."
"Okay. I'll definitely come."
The squad set off, all seven of them striding toward the exit with imposing confidence.
Luo Zhe patted Luo Feng on the shoulder, a hint of a smile on his face. "Not bad, Luo Feng. Auntie only told me a couple days ago to introduce you to a girl, and now you've found one yourself."
Before Luo Feng could answer, Chen Gu came over too and threw an arm around his shoulder, grinning. "You young guys sure know how to woo girls. Impressive! Maybe we can compare notes sometime?"
Bringing up the rear, Zhang Ke said in a mournful voice, "That's because Luo Feng's young. Beautiful girls throw themselves at him. For old guys like us, the only way to pick up women these days is to pay."
"Then how come no girls are throwing themselves at Luo Zhe?" Wei Tie, usually stone-faced, suddenly chimed in. The smile froze on Luo Zhe's face.
The worst thing was an awkward silence. The second worst was Brother Tie suddenly showing concern!
Seeing Luo Zhe's expression, the others in the squad burst into laughter. Even the usually expressionless Wei Brothers couldn't help letting stiff smiles spread across their faces.
The air was filled with joy!
Gao Feng walked at the front, smiling as he watched the others joke around. It was too early to tell how capable the two newcomers, Luo Zhe and Luo Feng, were, but at least they were already beginning to fit in with the squad.
"Let's go!"
"Get in!"
The seven members of the Fire Hammer Squad boarded an HR Alliance vehicle straight to the train station. They took a train out of the Base City and headed for the Wilderness Zone.
Before you continue