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墨書 Inktalez
Once upon a time, there were two lumberjacks working in the mountains. Suddenly, they found themselves being targeted by a black bear. Upon realizing the danger, the two men took off running. One was agile and swift, leading the way, while the other was weaker and struggled to keep up. As the bear closed in, the weaker man felt a surge of panic.
The difference in their speed mirrored the competition between Wolf Alliance and Hua Gang tonight; it was a matter of strength, and in such dire moments, it was difficult to improve or hope for a miracle. Typically, stories like this would end tragically, with the weaker individual ultimately falling victim to reality.
However, if this were just an ordinary tale, it wouldn’t have made its way here. In a moment of desperation, the lagging lumberjack climbed a nearby fir tree. The bear could do nothing against the towering tree, and with the faster man in sight not far away, the bear instinctively pursued him instead. The outcome was inevitable; the "stronger" lumberjack met his demise at the bear's jaws.
Sometimes, outward strength does not dictate the outcome. For instance, tonight Guan Chao became that unfortunate lumberjack.
With the emergence of Hua Gang's remaining forces and Ren Hongbo's sudden death, Guan Chao was severely injured. The Unification Alliance and Prairie Wolf fell apart like a house of cards; after a token resistance against Hua Gang, they surrendered once they suffered significant losses.
The members of Hua Gang surrounded the remnants of Unification Alliance and Prairie Wolf. In the midst of it all stood Guan Chao, pale and gasping for breath as he leaned on several brothers for support.
His right eye socket had been deformed; blood obscured half his face. He struggled to lift his gaze but could hardly muster any spirit. He looked toward the front line of Hua Gang, focusing particularly on one young man. The young man had somehow emerged unscathed amidst hundreds of fighters from Unification Alliance and Prairie Wolf, except for Yu Jianyuan, who had also been present.
Guan Chao felt an overwhelming sense of regret as he realized that this young man had just killed Ren Hongbo, specifically that beast on his shoulder. Recognizing Yu Jianyuan standing there made it clear who he was. However, given how well-versed Unification Alliance was in matters concerning Hua Gang, such a figure should not exist among them. After much contemplation, it seemed only one person could overlap with this young man who had turned the tide tonight.
Thinking about a recent title that had gained notoriety in the Underworld, Guan Chao felt his teeth grind in anger.
There were too many injured brothers around him, and Wu Li was also hanging by a thread. Not wanting to waste time on unnecessary chatter with Guan Chao, Yu Jianyuan spoke up.
"Alliance Leader Guan, tonight's outcome is set in stone. Everyone has their own loyalties. I initially intended to kill you, but considering you are also a hero in your own right, I will leave you as a rival for future battles. However, I hope that when we meet again, you won't disappoint me like you did tonight."
This statement from Yu Jianyuan felt like adding insult to injury. Normally he wouldn’t have spoken so harshly, but given that tonight marked a significant victory for Hua Gang, especially after consecutive failures, he needed to bolster his side's morale while simultaneously suppressing that of his opponent.
Guan Chao froze at these words, shifting his gaze from Jufeng to Yu Jianyuan. His first thought was that this was some kind of trap.
It was no wonder he thought this way; countless members of Hua Gang had perished at his hands—bones piled high and blood debts uncounted. In his mind, he believed that Hua Gang would see him as an unforgivable demon; having finally caught him today, how could they possibly let him go?
Although he was severely injured, his mind was still clear. After a brief moment of contemplation, he understood Yu Jianyuan's intentions. He and Ren Hongbo had come together to conquer the city, with the Unification Alliance as the main force and Prairie Wolf as support. However, the outcome was that he survived while Ren Hongbo met a tragic end. If he returned alive, Prairie Wolf would surely harbor resentment and might either extort him or simply leave. Moreover, having lost a battle in which he had a clear advantage, upon returning to the Unification Alliance, he feared that the other ambitious leaders would seize this opportunity to make his life difficult.
Given that letting him live could yield greater benefits, Yu Jianyuan's actions were understandable. After all, who wouldn't want to survive? He knew this but had no choice but to cling to life.
Most importantly, in order to avenge today's grievances in the future, he had to stay alive.
Before leaving, he couldn't help but voice his lingering doubts.
"Yu Jianyuan, before you go, I want to ask—without the assistance of the few remaining forces, how do you expect to defeat me?" Guan Chao said, casting a deep glance at Jufeng before turning away in despair.
Throughout it all, Jufeng remained silent with a faint smile.
Those who could walk were supported by their Brothers as they left. Those who could not were temporarily placed in Zhao City for rest and recuperation. As both groups departed, Hua Gang began to clean up the aftermath. Wu Li was rushed to the hospital immediately and underwent emergency treatment until dawn the next day. As sunlight began to warm the world, news finally emerged from the Emergency Room.
Fortunately, Wu Li was out of danger; however, according to the doctor, he would likely need to stay in bed for the next six months. Of course, given Wu Li's constitution, it might be just two months at most or one month at least before he could walk freely again.
Standing in the hospital corridor, Tang Haoran felt relieved upon hearing the news. He approached Jufeng, his admiration more sincere than ever before.
"Feng Shao, I didn't know how to express my thoughts about last night. You were indeed more suited for that situation than I was. I also want to thank you and Zhu Yao for saving Wu Li's life; Hua Gang will surely repay this debt in the future."
Yu Jianyuan was busy organizing defenses in Zhao City and communicating with Yang City about their next steps, so Tang Haoran needed to express gratitude on behalf of Hua Gang for now.
Jufeng smiled slightly and replied, "Brother Haoran is being too polite. We've already moved past this; we share a common enemy and are all part of one family—there's no need for such distinctions."
"With this battle coming to an end, if my assumptions are correct, the relationship between the Unification Alliance and Prairie Wolf will no longer be as solid. Therefore, I won't linger here much longer. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to meet again. Please convey my best wishes to Wu Li for a speedy recovery; I have great respect for him!"
Tang Haoran clasped his hands together in farewell as he saw Jufeng off. Once their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor, he returned outside the Intensive Care Unit.
Wu Li was still in a deep sleep, but it was not a coma; he was in good condition. Tang Haoran gazed at his brother, wrapped in white gauze, behind the glass wall. Memories of their battles together flooded his mind. They had joined Hua Gang around the same time, witnessing its rise and enduring the fall of a dynasty together. The bond of brotherhood in this world could hardly be deeper or more resilient.
Lost in thought, this tough man found himself with misty eyes for a moment. He steadied himself and murmured, "Don't worry, Li. Just focus on recovering. The upcoming battles will be handled by your brother Haoran."
...
Jufeng and Zhu Yao left Zhao City and boarded the train to Troop City. Zhu Yao had changed into a brand new dark blue bodysuit, which clung to her skin, revealing multiple wounds that had been bandaged up—thanks to Jufeng, who had done this for her for the third time.
Chang Guohong led the Starlight Ranking ahead to Washing City to assist Jufeng in launching the Azure Wind Antelope training program. The battle from last night had already proven that elite teams could significantly diminish the advantage of sheer numbers and offer greater mobility, serving as a trump card at critical moments.
Troop City was an ancient city and an economic hub. Within it lay the Ruins of Wu Shu, a remarkably well-preserved ancient site that attracted countless tourists each year eager to witness its splendor. However, for Hua Gang, with danger lurking nearby, there was no time to admire the scenery; every moment felt like walking on thin ice.
(To be continued)
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