Chapter 34: A Perilous Situation Surrounded by Wolves

The crackling of the campfire was gradually replaced by a heavier, more oppressive atmosphere. The news brought by Wu Xia hit like a pebble cast into a still lake, sending ripples of unease through the group. When the mysterious figure claiming to represent the "Shadow Alliance" appeared, the smiles on everyone's faces froze, replaced instantly by deep vigilance.

The night was as thick as spilled ink, shrouding the ruined contours of the city in shadow. The so-called "gathering place" turned out to be a luxurious structure hidden deep within the ruins, with two ghastly white lanterns swaying in the wind at the entrance like eerie ghost fires. As Chu Feng and his team entered the hall, they were immediately struck by a suffocating pressure. The hall was brightly lit, yet the light failed to dispel the pervasive, icy chill that hung in the air. Figures from various factions were scattered about in small groups, their gazes sweeping over the newcomers like those of starving wolves.

Chu Feng instinctively stepped to shield Feng Yao and Pan Yue, while Liu Yong stood silently to the side, as motionless as a stone statue. Sun Yue moved nimbly through the crowd, periodically feeding useful information back to Chu Feng. Chen Qiang acted like a solid wall, using his hulking frame to guard his teammates from behind. Standing alone in the center of the hall, they were like a small boat in a storm, vulnerable to being swallowed at any moment.

"Well, well, isn't this the rising star of the adventuring world?" a rough voice broke the stalemate.

Everyone turned to see a burly man with a bloated, menacing face emerging from the crowd. This was Leader Zhao. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. "If you're smart, you'll hand over the clues you're holding and join my 'Mad Wolf Gang.' I guarantee you'll be living in luxury in this apocalypse!"

Leader Zhao's words were like a stinging slap to every member of the team. His blatant threats and contempt set them seething with rage. Pan Yue gripped her fists tightly, her delicate face flushed with anger. Chen Qiang’s eyes widened, his frustration so intense that he looked ready to charge forward and tear the arrogant man to shreds.

"Are you threatening us?" Chu Feng asked coldly. His voice was laced with suppressed fury, and the shadow sigils upon him hummed with a low, ominous vibration.

"Threatening?" Leader Zhao let out a boisterous laugh that sounded like metal scraping against metal. "I'm simply giving you a choice! Either submit, or... die!" His lackeys joined in with arrogant laughter, tightening the tension in the hall until the very air seemed to solidify.

Just as the two sides were on the verge of a clash, a soft cough echoed from the crowd, and a tall, thin figure slowly stepped forward. His eyes were sinister, and a chilling, hair-raising sneer played on his lips. "Leader Zhao, why get so angry? Why not listen to their choice first..."

The words of Advisor Qian caused Leader Zhao’s lips to curl into a smirk. He turned his gaze back to Chu Feng, his eyes flicking like the tongue of a viper, while Advisor Qian, standing behind him, continued to sneer. The advisor was like a cold snake lurking silently in the shadows. A cunning light gleamed in his narrow eyes as he slowly pulled a stack of photographs from his coat and scattered them carelessly before the group.

The photos clearly depicted the gruesome aftermath of the team’s previous battles: mangled flesh, ghastly wounds, and faces twisted in agony—every image a direct assault on their nerves.

"Take a look, just look. What a brave and fearless adventuring squad," Advisor Qian said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and grating like sandpaper. "But isn't the price a bit too high? Tsk, tsk, tsk. This blood, these severed limbs... it really makes one's heart ache." His words were like poison needles, piercing deep into the hearts of the team. The tragic scenes instantly triggered memories of the pain and despair of those battles, and suppressed emotions washed over them like a tide, nearly drowning them.

Pan Yue’s fingernails dug so deeply into her palms they nearly broke the skin, yet she fought against the fear, refusing to show a trace of cowardice. Chen Qiang gritted his teeth, the veins on his thick neck bulging as his fists creaked. Sun Yue kept his head down, his expression unreadable as he calculated his next move. Even the usually reticent Liu Yong slowly gripped the wrench in his hand, as if ready to fight to the death at any second.

Just as the atmosphere reached a freezing point, Chu Feng stepped forward, standing before his team like a towering mountain, absorbing all the pressure upon himself. His gaze was resolute, like a drawn sword piercing directly into Leader Zhao’s eyes.

"Leader Zhao," Chu Feng said, his voice low and powerful, as if containing infinite strength. "We weren't raised on fear. You’ve miscalculated if you think such base tactics will break our will."

He scanned the surroundings, his eyes sweeping over the hostile factions, and a mocking smile curled his lips. "This so-called 'Mad Wolf Gang' is nothing but a group of rabble who use the power of others to intimidate. Your 'recruitment' is merely a cover for your greed for the resources in our possession. As for those so-called 'clues'—heh, I suspect you know their value even better than we do."

Chu Feng’s words were like a sharp blade, instantly tearing away the masks worn by Leader Zhao and Advisor Qian. Leader Zhao’s face turned leaden, his previous arrogance dissipating. Advisor Qian’s sneer froze on his face, and the surrounding factions began to whisper among themselves.

"You... you..." Leader Zhao trembled with rage, his finger pointing at Chu Feng, unable to utter a single word for a long moment.

"What about me?" Chu Feng asked with a cold laugh, his gaze piercing enough to see right through them. "Was I wrong? Or is it that your so-called 'great faction' is nothing more than a group of clowns lurking in the dark?"

This final remark hit Leader Zhao and Advisor Qian like a thunderous slap, sending the tension in the hall to a breaking point. Behind Chu Feng, Pan Yue watched his back, her eyes like clear springs, gazing tenderly at his resolute profile. He stood like a massive peak, shielding her from the wind and rain. She couldn't help but lean closer, resting her hand gently on his back. The rough texture of his clothing against her fingertips felt like a silent transfer of strength. A faint, subtle intimacy permeated the air—a delicate melody playing amidst the tension of the war-song.

Just as everyone held their breath, waiting for the storm to break, the silent Liu Yong suddenly spoke up. His voice was as rough as gravel, yet it rang with startling clarity in the quiet hall: "We will not join any faction, but we can solve a problem for you."

All eyes fixed on Liu Yong, including those of Leader Zhao and Advisor Qian, who were stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"A problem?" Leader Zhao squinted, his eyes filled with skepticism. "You ants at the trainee level—what kind of problems could you possibly solve?"

Ignoring the mockery, Liu Yong pulled a strange, intricate metal box from behind him, its surface covered in complex gears and circuits. He said in a low voice, "This is a relic of the previous civilization, a 'Sigil Amplifier' that you cannot activate. If you meet my conditions, I can make it function again."

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was shocked by the revelation, including Leader Zhao, whose jowls trembled with excitement.

"A Sigil Amplifier?" Leader Zhao’s voice wavered as he stared fixedly at the metal box in Liu Yong’s hands, as if he were looking at a priceless treasure. "Are you telling the truth?!"

Liu Yong nodded slightly. "I have no reason to lie."

A glimmer of greed flashed in Advisor Qian’s eyes as he stepped forward to whisper in Leader Zhao’s ear. The leader’s gaze flickered between Chu Feng’s group and the box, clearly conflicted.

"Fine. If you can make it run," Leader Zhao said through gritted teeth, his voice thick with ambition and avarice, "I might consider letting you off!"

"Ha..." Chu Feng let out a cold laugh. He glanced at Pan Yue, who returned his gaze with a tender look. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Without another glance at Leader Zhao, he led Pan Yue and the others as they turned to leave.

Leader Zhao, incensed by the blatant disregard, opened his mouth to shout something, but found his throat constricted, unable to utter a sound. A raging fire burned in his chest; his fists were clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, and his face twisted into a mask of pure fury—like a caged lion with nowhere to vent his rage. Beside him, Advisor Qian’s smirk had vanished, replaced by a dark, brooding expression. A dangerous light flickered in his narrow eyes as he began to plot.

As Chu Feng and his team stepped out of the hall, a roar of fury from Leader Zhao echoed behind them—a sound like the wounded cry of a beast, reverberating through the ruins for a long time.

The night was deep, and the cold wind howled, whipping up dust from the ruins with a sound like ghostly wailing. After leaving the eerie building, the team quickly vanished into the labyrinthine alleys.

Back at their temporary base, the oppressive tension finally began to lift. Pan Yue poured warm water for everyone, the heat soothing their throats and dispelling the chill. Chen Qiang slammed his fist onto the table and growled, "Those bastards in the Mad Wolf Gang—they'll pay for this sooner or later!"

"Don't be impulsive," Chu Feng said calmly. "Today was just an initial skirmish; they won't let it go that easily." His gaze fell on Liu Yong. "Liu Yong, can the 'Sigil Amplifier' really be fixed?"

Liu Yong nodded, sparing no words. "Yes, but it requires time and materials."

"Good. Then that task is yours," Chu Feng said, patting Liu Yong on the shoulder. "This could be the key to us standing against those factions."

Feng Yao looked at Chu Feng with concern. "Our situation is very dangerous; we are surrounded by enemies."

"I know," Chu Feng said, taking her hand and giving her a reassuring look. "But we must be strong—for our survival, for finding the origin of the sigils, and to save this world."

Wu Xia swirled the glass in her hand and said enigmatically, "In chaotic times, strength is the only truth. My friends, the real show is only just beginning..."

The group relaxed momentarily, the relief of having survived permeating the air. Sun Yue habitually slipped into a corner, vigilantly observing the surroundings. Suddenly, a dark shadow flickered by, shoving a folded note into his hand before vanishing into the night. Sun Yue unfolded the paper and, by the dim light, read the scrawled message: "Sigil mineral vein, abandoned factory in the western suburbs. Beware of traps."

As Sun Yue looked at the note, his expression turned grim.