Jiangnan Base City, one of the six major base cities in the Huaxia Nation, is extremely prosperous. In the heart of the city stands a magnificent skyscraper with no fewer than 88 floors. On its towering walls shine the bold English letters “HR.” Surrounding the first floor of this towering structure are a beautiful plaza and the largest fountain in all of Jiangnan Base City. Around the plaza, over a thousand fully armed soldiers patrol ceaselessly, ensuring no outsiders dare step foot inside.
Passersby often glance toward this towering marvel with curiosity and admiration.
Most people in Jiangnan Base City spend their entire lives never setting foot inside.
“Beep!”
An electronic chime rang out.
Instantly, the patrolling and stationed soldiers stepped aside. A military off-road vehicle, emblazoned with the “HR” insignia, drove through and came to a stop at the entrance of the skyscraper’s grand lobby. The doors opened with a clatter, and out stepped three fully armed warriors—one carrying an iron spear, another a battle blade and shield, and the third bearing two heavy iron crates.
“Sir, please proceed,” a courteous doorman greeted with a respectful bow.
The three warriors strode directly into the lobby of the skyscraper.
“Come on, Luo Feng. Let’s go sit at the bar counter. We’ll wait for the captain there,” Chen Gu chuckled.
“I haven’t met the captain yet. I wonder what he’s like,” Luo Feng smiled, his eyes scanning the HR Alliance Mall around him. This was a secret alliance formed by the world’s greatest noble families and corporate conglomerates, serving as their Jiangnan Base City headquarters. The entire building was a masterpiece of luxury.
The lobby floor gleamed like a mirror, and even the simplest decorations were extraordinary.
The attendants in the lobby—handsome men and charming women—each wore smiles that felt like a warm spring breeze.
Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and another teammate, Zhang Ke, sat on a sofa.
“Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?” a waiter bowed slightly and asked with a smile.
“Tieguanyin tea!”
“Pu’er tea, with a hint of jasmine!”
Chen Gu and Zhang Ke, the two seasoned warriors, ordered without hesitation. Luo Feng was slightly surprised; back at the Limit Dojo, these two were often seen drinking alcohol. Zhang Ke, whose arms were thick and muscular like those of a gibbon, chuckled, “Luo Feng, you can’t afford to be careless in the wilderness. No alcohol allowed.”
Luo Feng nodded in understanding. Indeed, one must always remain vigilant in the wilderness. How could he drink now?
“Bring me a cup of Pu’er as well,” Luo Feng smiled.
The soft, soothing strains of a flute drifted through the lobby. Though Luo Feng couldn’t identify the piece, its melody danced between ethereal grace and lively vigor, washing over him like a cleansing breeze that refreshed the soul.
“Luo Feng, the first floor is for welcoming and resting guests. The floors above are where the mall sells its goods,” Chen Gu explained with a smile. “The prices here in this underground alliance mall are generally a bit lower than the full price on the ‘Limit Home’ online store. Of course, they’re still higher than the half-price we get as insiders.”
Luo Feng nodded. The half-price deals were exclusive to members of the Limit Dojo.
“The biggest advantage of this underground alliance mall,” Chen Gu continued, “is that we can sell the materials obtained from monster hunts at a high price.”
“If we sell to the Dojo, we get lower prices but also earn contribution points. Selling here gives us higher cash but no points. The choice is ours.”
Luo Feng smiled. He had read about this on the martial artist forums before.
Selling to the Dojo meant both contribution points and money.
Selling to the underground alliance meant only money, albeit at a higher price.
“Big Brother Wang, you’ve been up all night. Rest now. I’ll take over,” a clear, gentle voice rang out. Luo Feng, who had been sipping tea, suddenly turned his head.
Inside the bar, a young girl in a white shirt and black dress pants was relieving the male manager on duty.
Inside the bar, there were a total of twelve attendants and one manager, operating 24 hours a day with eight-hour shifts in three rotating teams.
“Xu Xin?” Luo Feng couldn’t believe his eyes. The girl he now saw was a professional woman, exuding natural grace. To be a manager in the underground alliance’s reception hall bar was no small feat—it was a place reserved exclusively for warriors!
Even an ordinary bar attendant would likely be a graduate from a prestigious university, trained in etiquette and more. Let alone a bar manager.
“Xu Xin…”
The once plain high school girl had completely transformed in demeanor.
“Chen Ge, Zhang Ge, I’ll go over there for a moment,” Luo Feng said, leaving his backpack, shield, and sword on the sofa as he stood and walked toward the bar.
Inside the bar.
Xu Xin was crouching down, checking the stock of drinks and supplies when suddenly—
“Xu Xin.”
A familiar voice called out.
“Huh?” Xu Xin was startled. In the main hall of the reception area, people usually addressed her as “Manager Xu.” It was rare for anyone to call her by her given name, and the voice was so familiar. She looked up—
At that moment, Luo Feng was standing outside the bar counter, looking in. Xu Xin, who had been crouching to check the drinks, lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
In that moment, both Luo Feng and Xu Xin felt a sudden flutter in their hearts.
“Luofeng? What are you doing here?” Xu Xin quickly stood up, smiling.
“If you can be a manager here, why can’t I be here?” Luo Feng smiled. Looking at the young woman before him, memories of his high school days flooded back—sitting at the back of the classroom, watching Xu Xin’s back countless times, secretly admiring her for so long without ever having the chance to confess.
He had thought he might never see Xu Xin again, yet here she was, at the HR Alliance Mall. And it was on the eve of his first journey into the wilderness.
“Ah, Luo Feng, you’re a warrior now?” Xu Xin asked, surprised and delighted.
“Yeah, I’m heading into the wilderness soon,” Luo Feng replied with a smile.
“The wilderness?” Xu Xin’s expression changed slightly.
Beyond the base cities, the rest of the world’s landmasses were collectively known as the wilderness—a synonym for death zones in the minds of base city dwellers. Filled with all manner of monstrous beasts—some cunning and elusive, others mighty and savage, and many nearly invincible.
Only the strongest among humanity—the warriors—could survive and battle there.
Xu Xin had never imagined that Luo Feng had become a warrior and was about to enter the wilderness.
Truth be told, she knew that Luo Feng had feelings for her. It wasn’t something he could hide well—during class, he often stole glances at her back. Occasionally, when she turned around, she caught him staring. Naturally, she had understood his feelings long ago.
But neither had ever spoken of it.
“Luo Feng, the captain’s here. Come over,” Chen Gu called.
“I’m coming,” Luo Feng said to Xu Xin.
“Okay,” Xu Xin nodded.
Luo Feng returned to his seat. At that moment, three more people arrived. Two of them looked strikingly alike—obviously twins. Both carried shields and curved sabers. The third was a towering figure, carrying two massive black hammers that shimmered with a hint of silver.
“Luo Feng, these are the famous ‘Twin Crescent Blades’—the Wei brothers, Wei Tie and Wei Qing,” Chen Gu smiled.
The Wei brothers nodded at Luo Feng, then removed their shields and blades to sit down.
“Big Brother Tie, Big Brother Qing,” Luo Feng greeted with a smile.
All the other members of the Fire Hammer Squad were significantly older than Luo Feng—each at least a decade his senior. Compared to the other five, Luo Feng was indeed the youngest.
“This,” Chen Gu continued, “is our squad leader of the Fire Hammer Squad, ‘Dual Wind Hammers’ Gao Feng.”
Luo Feng turned his attention to the squad leader, Gao Feng. Standing just over 1.8 meters tall, Gao Feng’s most striking feature was his massive build, as if carved from solid steel.
Gao Feng grinned, his facial muscles tightening like stone. “Luo Feng, you’re a swordsman too. Once we’re in the wilderness, learn from Wei Tie and Wei Qing. You’ve got talent. I believe you’ll soon become a true member of our squad.”
“Understood,” Luo Feng nodded.
Whatever it took, his first goal was to avoid being a burden to this elite squad of battle lords.
“Rest up. We leave soon,” Gao Feng announced.
“Yes, Captain.”
The five of them, including Luo Feng, nodded in agreement.
Just twenty minutes later, after finishing their tea, Gao Feng and the others stood.
“Let’s go. Head out to the wilderness.”
Luo Feng quickly slung his Blood Shadow Blade and shield onto his back.
“Luo Feng.”
A voice called out.
Luo Feng turned.
Xu Xin’s chest was rising and falling slightly. For some reason, the thought of Luo Feng entering the perilous wilderness stirred unease in her heart. Perhaps, for this boy who had secretly admired her during high school, Xu Xin had also begun to feel something special.
“Hmm?” Luo Feng looked at Xu Xin.
“I’ll be starting university soon, but on Saturdays and Sundays during the day, I’ll be here as manager,” Xu Xin called out. “You must come by then!” She blushed slightly after speaking.
“Alright, I’ll definitely come.”
Luo Feng smiled.
“Already scoring with the ladies? Impressive!” Chen Gu slapped Luo Feng’s shoulder and laughed.
“Youth has its advantages. The beauties come willingly,” Gao Feng chuckled as well. Now that they had decided to let Luo Feng join the Fire Hammer Squad, they naturally treated him as one of their own.
Luo Feng simply smiled.
“Let’s go!”
“Get in the car!”
The Fire Hammer Squad, a team of six warriors, boarded the HR Alliance’s exclusive vehicle and headed directly to the train station, departing the base city for the wilderness.
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