“What could the team leader want by calling me at this moment?” The wind howled outside, snowflakes danced in the air, yet Luo Feng’s mind was racing with thoughts. Finally, he took a deep breath and whispered, “Call back!”
Beep… Beep… Beep…
“Hello, Luo Feng.” The voice of the team leader, Gao Feng, came through.
“Leader, anything up?” Luo Feng replied with a smile.
Gao Feng’s voice lowered, “You’ve seen that astronomical bounty notice, right? A full 100 billion credits—it’s bound to make countless warriors envious. It specifically states that the murderer is likely a warrior of Saint rank or a Psycho-Sender! You must never reveal your identity as a Psycho-Sender, or you’ll be in serious trouble. After all, our Firehammer Squad has always had a feud with the Tigers’ Fang Squad. One of the four deceased was the Tigers’ Fang Squad leader, Panya. If your identity as a Psycho-Sender were revealed, people would easily suspect you. Thousands upon thousands would be watching your every move. No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen.”
“I understand. But since it wasn’t me, what do I have to fear? Still, the killer must be extremely powerful to prevent those four from even reporting the murderer’s identity to the couple before they died. Truly impressive,” Luo Feng couldn’t help but admire.
“Indeed, very impressive,” Gao Feng agreed.
Luo Feng continued, “Besides, Panya’s death is actually a good thing. Our Firehammer Squad won’t have much trouble anymore.”
“Yeah, this incident works in our favor. I’m just warning you to be cautious—extremely cautious. This matter is too big. I’ll also remind Chen Gu and the others later. Don’t worry, if anyone dares to leak this information, I won’t spare them.”
“By the way, when are you coming back to the base city? We still have the monster materials stored there, waiting for you to decide their fate.”
Luo Feng smiled, “Originally, I planned to stay in the wilderness a bit longer, but now that the Tigers’ Fang Squad leader is dead, I have no more business here. I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
“Alright, see you later,” Gao Feng’s voice came through the communicator.
“See you.”
Luo Feng hung up the call, his expression immediately turning serious.
This call seemed to be the team leader’s earnest concern and warning. At first, hearing the leader’s words warmed Luo Feng’s heart. However, upon deeper reflection, a thought emerged—other members of the Firehammer Squad might suspect him.
But none of them had solid evidence.
What could they do to make Luo Feng believe them?
“The best way to convince me would be for them not to call me at all. If they don’t communicate with me, they can’t gather solid evidence,” Luo Feng frowned. “Yet the team leader called me, pretending to be caring and comforting. If I were less cautious, and under the psychological pressure of 100 billion credits, I might recklessly reveal something to someone I trust.”
Thinking about it, Luo Feng felt a chill run down his spine.
Indeed, a youth under twenty, having just killed an important figure and now facing an astronomical bounty, would usually be extremely nervous. At such a moment, the concern of a respected senior might easily move the young man, causing him to spill secrets in a moment of emotional vulnerability.
“If they ask me questions in various ways, it would only raise my guard.”
“But such concern makes one let down their guard. If I revealed the secret, maybe the team leader was recording the conversation,” Luo Feng gasped. “Combined with my killing the Tigers’ Fang Squad, my identity as a Psycho-Sender, and the fact that Li Wei’s parents confirmed I was one of the warriors near the scene at the time.”
“And then, adding that recording.”
Could there be so many coincidences, so much evidence? It would almost certainly confirm the identity of the killer.
Luo Feng inhaled sharply. Indeed, if he admitted it himself, the trouble would be immense.
Thankfully, he had carried pressure from a young age, constantly striving to become a warrior. Under long-term pressure, his psychological resilience was not as fragile as that of an average youth under twenty.
…
Time passed minute by minute. The snow grew heavier, the world turning into a white expanse, and the temperature dropped to an astonishing level. Soon, evening arrived.
Inside the filthy room.
Luo Feng sat cross-legged: “Today, I received two calls—one from the team leader and one from Wei Qing. The team leader’s was a message of concern… while Wei Qing sounded surprised.” Earlier that morning, Wei Qing’s first words on the call were—”Hey, maniac, the team leader told us earlier to be careful not to reveal your identity as a Psycho-Sender. Those four people weren’t killed by you, were they?”
Both Wei Qing’s and the team leader’s calls made Luo Feng suspicious.
Of course, it was only suspicion!
Perhaps the team leader was genuinely concerned. Perhaps Wei Qing was just being his usual, carefree self, treating Luo Feng like a close brother.
“Ah, people are the hardest to understand. After all, hearts are hidden behind bellies.”
“And in the face of massive wealth, brothers turn on brothers, couples turn against each other, fathers and sons sever ties… Such stories are too common on the internet. Let alone this time, it’s a colossal fortune of 100 billion credits!” Luo Feng browsed some forum posts online through his communicator.
He quickly realized how crazed the entire world had become over this bounty.
…
The night was even colder than the day.
Luo Feng curled in a corner, his heart growing cold. Ever since he began suspecting team leader Gao Feng and Wei Qing, his mindset had shifted… In the past, he was cheerful, like any ordinary warrior, able to share life and death with his teammates, enjoying the camaraderie. He had long considered them as close brothers.
But now…
“Do they see me as a brother, or are they just waiting for a chance to exchange me for a fortune? Perhaps they just lack enough evidence to act on it,” Luo Feng’s eyes turned cold.
“What am I thinking!”
“Always suspecting others without cause.” Luo Feng shook his head. He finally realized that under the pressure of a 100 billion credit bounty, his mindset had unavoidably changed… He couldn’t be sure others weren’t tempted by 100 billion credits—after all, it was 100 billion! So he kept imagining threats where there were none! Though Luo Feng knew such paranoia was unhealthy, he couldn’t control himself!
Vinita Bolenas had achieved her goal… Unknowingly, Luo Feng had fallen into the psychological pressure brought by the 100 billion credit bounty.
“Enough thinking, no more unnecessary worries.”
Luo Feng immediately lowered his gaze to his communicator, lightly pressing a button to browse the various messages on the screen. Suddenly flipping to the contact list, the names brought him a sense of calm…
Among these names was his childhood friend ‘Wei Wen’, who had played with him since they were in diapers.
“I wonder how Wen is doing now,” Luo Feng couldn’t help but smile, recalling the fun times they had shared.
There were many names of high school classmates in the contact list.
Also names of friends from the Limit Martial Arts Academy.
And the names of his parents and younger brother.
“Mom, Dad, little brother,” Luo Feng’s gaze softened. “No matter what, you’ll live well! I will definitely overcome this obstacle.”
Suddenly—
Luo Feng’s eyes landed on a name—Xu Xin!
Xu Xin’s contact information had been exchanged when they chatted at the HR Alliance Mall. Yet all this time, he had never taken the initiative to call her.
“Call Xu Xin,” Luo Feng said.
For some reason, he felt compelled to call at this moment. Perhaps a part of him feared… one day, if his identity as the killer were revealed, the Xu family might forbid Xu Xin from seeing him again.
“Hello.” Xu Xin’s voice came through the communicator. “Is that you, Luo Feng?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” A warmth spread through Luo Feng’s heart.
“Rare indeed! The great warrior finally thought of calling me,” Xu Xin teased. “So, are you back in the base city?”
“I’m still in the wilderness. Just bored tonight, so…” Luo Feng hesitated, suddenly feeling awkward.
Bored tonight?
It sounded like calling a prostitute out of boredom.
“Cough,” Xu Xin coughed. “Didn’t expect you to be so… naughty.”
“Naughty? Uh… how’s university treating you? I never got to go, so I’m really curious,” Luo Feng quickly changed the subject. Thus, the two chatted on the phone. Perhaps because it was their first phone call, and it was late at night, they talked for a long time.
When they finally hung up, Luo Feng realized… they had been on the phone for an hour and a half.
“Could this be what they call a long phone chat? Indeed, an hour and a half—enough time to cook a pot of porridge.” Luo Feng felt a warmth in his heart. Talking for an hour and a half with the girl he secretly admired was truly joyful.
The panic and paranoia brought by the 100 billion credit bounty…
All vanished like mist in the morning sun!
…
From the earlier panic and paranoia to returning to the simple joy of a boy with a secret crush… This emotional shift cleansed Luo Feng’s heart like a refreshing rain.
Gradually, Luo Feng calmed down.
It was a calm unlike any he had known before—a serene peace following emotional turbulence. After all, how many ordinary people could endure such emotional highs and lows?
His heart was still, as calm as still water!
“This feeling is so comforting.” Luo Feng cherished this unprecedented calmness. At this moment, he felt a sudden urge—a desire to practice his blade!
Whoosh!
He drew the Blood Shadow Combat Blade from his back.
In this cold, lonely night, in the wilderness area of City 023, within a deserted residential building, Luo Feng stood alone, beginning to practice the “Nine Thunder Slashes.” With his heart as calm as still water, each slash felt more satisfying than ever before.
One slash, two slashes…
His Psycho-Sending power naturally spread out, detecting every subtle movement around with clarity.
The cold gleam of the blade danced like snowflakes within the room…
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