The sky had grown dark; there was no moon tonight, and the stars were dim, their faint light barely outlining the highway's contours. Along one stretch of this road, a bus lay overturned near the shoulder, against which the four members of the Thunder Squad were leaning.

"The Young Master's training plan wasn't fully completed this time, but his strength has indeed improved significantly," the elder named Liu said with a smile.

"It's alright, I suppose, but it's still quite a ways off from what my dad expects," the mixed-race youth, Li Wei, replied, shaking his head.

"Young Master, for someone your age, your current strength is already formidable," the elder Liu stated, as Karon and Panya nodded in agreement.

Li Wei shook his head: "Not enough, far from enough! There are quite a few Mid-level Warlords in Jiangnan Base City who are in their twenties. My parents are both War Gods—how can their son lag behind? Oh, right... Panya, that Luo Feng from Fire Hammer Squad you mentioned, he's only just turned lq this New Year, hasn't he? And he's already an Entry-level Warlord! Me, the son of two War Gods, shouldn't be worse off than some country bumpkin?"

"Yes, yes," the elder Liu chimed in.

"Young Master, you are the strongest," Karon, the burly white man, affirmed as well.

Li Wei allowed himself a slight smile.

Captain Panya of the Tiger Fangs sighed, "Now that the Young Master puts it that way, it's true; compared to him, that Luo Feng is nothing! But this Luo Feng is a major headache for me. My Tiger Fang Squad and the Fire Hammer Squad are locked in a death feud, and I'm the only one left in Tiger Fangs—the Fire Hammer Squad will surely come after me! The others are manageable, but Luo Feng's rate of improvement is simply astonishing!"

"He only became a martial artist not long ago, and he's already an Entry-level Warlord. I believe he will soon surpass me in strength. When that happens, my death will be certain!" Panya let out a long, mournful breath.

Panya was indeed filled with regret. He had seen Luo Feng once at a supply base, and Zhang Zehu had even suggested killing him then, but Panya had worried about alerting the enemy and hadn't acted. Who could have imagined that after that encounter, Luo Feng's power would surge so rapidly, earning him the nickname 'Madman'? Hunting over a hundred thousand monsters in two months, most of them High-level Beast Generals—this insane feat had already spread throughout the martial artist circles of Jiangnan Base City. Unfortunately, Panya didn't encounter Luo Feng again until they reached City No. 3.

"Later, aren't you planning to join a new martial artist squad?" the mixed-race youth Li Wei asked.

"Yes, but the Fire Hammer Squad won't forget this grudge. They might deliver a back-alley shot at any moment," Panya said with a distressed look. He couldn't forget how they had dealt with the Fire Hammer Squad; now, with his current strength, being hit by a sniper rifle unawares would almost certainly mean death.

Panya looked toward the mixed-race youth Li Wei. "Young Master, next time you have a chance through your Underground Alliance intelligence network to find out where Luo Feng is in the wilderness, could you notify me?"

"Sure, no problem," Li Wei replied heartily.

The elder Liu and the burly white man exchanged a look. They had seen through Panya's deliberate show of anxiety earlier; his aim was clearly to get the Young Master to use some of his influence. However, as mere bodyguards, they were reluctant to get involved in such matters. Furthermore, Panya had been quite adept at flattery these past few days, keeping the elder Liu and the white man in good spirits. Coupled with the heavy losses Panya's squad had suffered, helping him out seemed a small favor. "It's getting late; let's get some rest. We have to travel tomorrow morning," the elder Liu finally said.

Immediately, the four members of the Thunder Squad settled down to rest. Unlike in summer, most martial artist squads in winter traveled during the day and rested at night when it was dark. In summer, they rested during the heat of the day and traveled at night when it was cooler.

Deep in the night, the members of the Thunder Squad rested—some cross-legged, others lying down. However, apart from the Young Master, the other three were merely "resting their spirit"; they dared not actually sleep... In the wilderness, a monster could appear at any moment. To be eaten in one's sleep would be a truly ignominious end.

"Hm?" Panya, the elder Liu, and the burly white man all opened their eyes simultaneously. They had heard a faint sound.

It was the sound of walking!

Suddenly, a figure strode past the side of the bus, then turned its head to look over... The passing martial artists and the three members—Panya, the elder Liu, and the burly white man—made eye contact.

"How could we run into them!"

Luo Feng nearly cursed the heavens. He had been happily planning to get home early, but who would have thought the four members of the Thunder Squad were hiding and resting behind the bus? Because of the bus's obstruction, he hadn't seen the four of them until he had already walked past, and by then, it was too late!

"Luo Feng!" Panya hissed, his eyes gleaming. Truly, one searches high and low for something and finds it without effort! The person he had been constantly thinking about—Luo Feng—had bizarrely appeared before them alone!

"Oh, it's that Luo Feng. I've seen you before," the awakened mixed-race youth, Young Master Li Wei, also stood up, glancing indifferently at Luo Feng... Li Wei wasn't foolish; he already knew that Captain Panya of the Tiger Fangs wanted Luo Feng dead. Now that Luo Feng had delivered himself to their doorstep, the outcome was obvious, wasn't it? Li Wei's gaze toward Luo Feng held a hint of pity.

"Luo Feng, you walked right into an open hell gate," Captain Panya of the Tiger Fangs glanced at the elder Liu, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod... Panya had asked Elder Liu and the others to help wipe out the Fire Hammer Squad before, but they hadn't located them then.

"Captain Tiger Fangs!" Luo Feng's expression changed drastically. Walking into an open hell gate? Even a fool could tell Panya intended to kill him! However, if it weren't for the three others beside him, the victor in a fight would be uncertain! But the presence of the other three complicated matters: the elder Liu and the burly white man were both 'High-level Warlords,' and while the Young Master's personal strength was weaker, his background was terrifyingly influential, backed by several War Gods!

"Gentlemen," Luo Feng turned to the elder Liu, the burly white man, and the mixed-race youth. "This Captain Panya of the Tiger Fangs holds a grudge against my Fire Hammer Squad, and you can all see what he intends to do now. The state has laws prohibiting martial artists from killing each other! Of course, out here in the wilderness, the state's reach is limited."

"I don't ask you to stop him; I only ask that you observe from the sidelines and not interfere, allowing me and this Panya to fight to the death!" Luo Feng looked at the mixed-race youth. "Young Master Li Wei, I presume? Although I've never spoken a word to Young Master Li Wei before, I've certainly heard tales of your fame. It was only later, from my friends in the Fire Hammer Squad, that I learned it was you that day... Had I known earlier, I would have gladly given that twin-headed black-lined snake to the Young Master."

Luo Feng deliberately lowered his stance, flattering Young Master Li Wei.

"Mmm-hmm," Young Master Li Wei smiled slightly, quite enjoying the flattery from a talented martial artist.

If these three, Li Wei and his guards, don't interfere, this fight becomes manageable. Even if I kill Panya in a direct confrontation, given Li Wei's status, they might not press the issue, Luo Feng hoped internally.

Panya immediately glanced at the elder Liu. They had faced life and death together these past few days, and there was the implicit agreement concerning the Fire Hammer Squad.

"Who are you? Speaking so rudely!" the elder Liu snapped.

"Senior," Luo Feng adopted an even humbler tone.

"Who is your senior?" the elder Liu glared. "Panya's two teammates before—you probably killed them! Since you caused the deaths of Panya's comrades, you deserve to die!" Li Wei beside him also smiled faintly, preparing to watch his subordinate deal with Luo Feng. Luo Feng was a genius? Killing a genius would certainly be an interesting spectacle.

"What to do, what to do?" Luo Feng's face darkened. "I can certainly kill Panya alone, but adding the other three makes things difficult, especially that Young Master Li Wei... If they truly attack, should I resist? If I don't resist, I die. If I do resist... even if I manage to kill them all, killing Li Wei's relative, the consequences would be dire."

"But if I don't kill them, Li Wei's retaliation will bring even more terrifying consequences!" Luo Feng's mind raced through countless possibilities in an instant.

The elder Liu, the burly white man, and Panya began to spread out, closing in.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Luo Feng flung three throwing knives toward Panya and then immediately turned to flee!

Clang! Clang! Ding!

Panya swiftly blocked two knives with his three-edged bayonet and dodged the third.

"Hah!"

The elder Liu, the burly white man, and Panya instantly burst forth with speed, aiming to kill Luo Feng. But just then, the two knives Panya had blocked, which had fallen to the ground, shot back up almost instantaneously toward the heads of the elder Liu and the burly white man! Because they were facing away from the knives, and controlled by Luo Feng's mental power, these knives were faster than sniper bullets! The sonic boom hadn't even arrived before the knives, traveling at several times the speed of sound, were already there!

Thud! Thud!

Two streaks of black light instantly pierced through the backs of the elder Liu and the burly white man, driving directly into their skulls! With two dull impacts, their heads exploded. Two High-level Warlord powerhouses were instantly executed without any chance to defend themselves!

"What!" Panya was utterly shocked. The knife that had pierced the elder Liu's skull curved sharply and instantly darted toward Panya! A frontal assault! Unfortunately, Panya was only a Mid-level Warlord. He desperately swung his three-edged bayonet, managing only to graze the edge of the black streak of light. The light flickered slightly.

Slash!

Panya’s entire top skull cap was sliced clean off!

"Aah!" Everything happened too fast. The mixed-race youth Li Wei, who had been watching with a smile, widened his eyes the moment the elder Liu and the burly white man’s heads blew apart. He immediately reached for his communication watch.

Slash!

The third knife—the one Panya had evaded—sliced across Li Wei’s neck! A precious head, one worth an astronomical price, flew into the air, blood spurting like a broken water main from the severed pillar!

In an instant!

All four members of the Thunder Squad were dead!

"They say a cornered rabbit will bite back!"

"Did you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you!"

"Damn it, so what if he has a War God for a father? Even if the killer is traced back to me in the end..."

"At worst, I'll expose my identity as a Spiritual Force Master, sacrifice my freedom, and join the core of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. Besides, it's debatable whether your dad can even trace it back to me!"

Luo Feng retracted his throwing knives, and simultaneously, his entire body dissolved into a streak of phantom light, fleeing the highway and plunging into the overgrown fields beyond.