"Ah-"
The wounded man had seen Cult Master Hong bring this person in and assumed he was a reinforcement, so he had said nothing when the man suddenly flew over and approached him. When the man released a Gu Insect to bite him, he was too astonished to speak. But seeing his blood being drawn away without pause, and the hideous Gu Insect refusing to let go even though its belly had swollen so large, he finally could no longer suppress his terror and screamed.
His scream drew everyone nearby over. Seeing several Daoists releasing Gu Insects to drink blood, they thought enemies had sneaked in, flew into a rage, and drew their weapons on the spot.
"They're guests Cult Master Hong brought here!"
Fortunately, someone recognized the three Daoists and spoke up.
Hong Changbao now held extremely high standing among Redwood Ridge's surviving troops. At these words, everyone hesitated, not daring to act.
But the wounded man was still howling. Cheng Xinzhan was about to explain when someone else in the crowd spoke, his voice both startled and delighted.
"Are you Hall Master Cheng?!"
Cheng Xinzhan looked toward the voice. A sallow, emaciated old man squeezed through the crowd and came up to him, waving his hands. Cheng Xinzhan looked closely and finally recognized him.
"Uncle Lang Shan!"
It was actually Lang Shanliu!
"Hall Master Cheng is here?"
Others followed the voices over. Every one of them was delighted and encouraged to see Cheng Xinzhan. In these chaotic times, when survival from one day to the next was uncertain, seeing an old acquaintance was truly a joy.
"Bai Heqiao, Dong Tiandang, He Qiumo, Gao Shanxiang..."
Cheng Xinzhan called out their names one by one. They were all old acquaintances from Seven-Mile River Market! Yet every one of them had