"What is the Captain calling me for right now?" Outside, the cold wind howled and snow fell thick, but Luo Feng’s mind was racing through thoughts. Finally, he took a deep breath and softly said:

"Calling back!"

Ring... ring... ring...

"Hello, Luo Feng," came the voice of Captain Gao Feng.

"Captain, what's up?" Luo Feng replied with a smile.

Gao Feng’s voice lowered, "Did you see that astronomical bounty? It’s a full 100 billion! It will definitely make countless martial artists envious. It specifically pointed out that... the killer is likely a Wargod-level martial artist, or perhaps a Psychic Master! You must, absolutely must not reveal your identity as a Psychic Master, or it will bring huge trouble... After all, our Hammer Squad and the Tiger Fang Squad already have a feud, and among the four dead, one was Tiger Fang's Captain, Pan Ya. Once your Psychic Master identity is known, it’s easy for people to suspect you. Then thousands of people will be scrutinizing you. Even if you are careful, accidents can happen."

"I understand. But since it wasn't me, what do I have to fear? However, Captain, this killer’s strength is truly formidable. To manage it so that before these four died, they couldn't even relay the killer's identity to that couple—truly impressive," Luo Feng couldn't help but marvel.

"Indeed, very formidable," Gao Feng agreed with a sigh of admiration.

Luo Feng continued, "And Pan Ya being dead is a huge blessing. Our Hammer Squad won't have any more trouble from now on."

"Mmm, this matter benefits us. I’m just reminding you to be careful, careful, and extremely careful! This matter involves too much. I will immediately go remind Chen Gu and the others as well. Don't worry... if any of them dare leak this information, I won't spare them."

"Oh, right, when are you returning to the base city? The monster materials we hunted from the wilderness are still stored there, waiting for you to return so we can decide how to dispose of them."

Luo Feng smiled, "I was planning to stay in the wilderness for a while longer, but since the Tiger Fang Captain is dead, I have nothing left to do here. I'll be back in the next couple of days."

"Good, see you then." Gao Feng's voice came through the communication watch.

"See you then."

Luo Feng hung up the call, his expression immediately turning serious.

This call seemed like the Captain calling out of genuine concern to remind him. Hearing the Captain's words initially did warm his heart. But after carefully considering the whole situation, he realized something—the other four members of the Hammer Squad would likely suspect him.

However, the four of them didn't have conclusive proof! How could they make Luo Feng believe them? "The best way for them to make me trust them is by not calling me at all. If they don't call or communicate with me, they naturally can't find concrete evidence." Luo Feng frowned. "But the Captain called me, seemingly out of concern and comfort... If I were less cautious, coupled with the psychological pressure from the 100 billion bounty, under the care of people who care about me, perhaps I might have impulsively confessed."

Thinking of this, Luo Feng felt a sudden chill of fear! Indeed, a young man under twenty, having just killed a major figure and now facing a 'heavenly bounty,' would naturally be very tense. At this moment, the concern from a senior he trusted deeply might easily move the youth, causing him to blurt out his secret in a moment of emotional heat! "Questioning me in various ways would only make me vigilant."

"But this kind of concern is what makes one let their guard down. If I were to confess, perhaps the Captain is using a recording device, capturing my words right now." Luo Feng gasped. "Combined with my hunting of the Tiger Fang Squad, combined with my identity as a Psychic Master, and further combined with Li Wei’s parents confirming that I was one of the martial artists closest to the scene... Finally, add this recording.

How could the world have so many coincidences, so much evidence, almost one hundred percent confirming the killer's identity?

Luo Feng sucked in a sharp breath... Truly, if he had admitted it personally, the trouble would have been immense.

Fortunately, he had carried heavy burdens since childhood, striving relentlessly to become a martial artist. Under long-term pressure, his mental fortitude wasn't as fragile as that of a typical young man under twenty.

Time slipped by, and the heavy snow continued to fall, turning the world into a vast expanse of white. Simultaneously, the temperature dropped to astonishing lows, and it was soon evening.

In the dingy room.

Luo Feng sat cross-legged, murmuring, "I received two calls today! One from the Captain, one from Wei Qing. The Captain’s was entirely words of care and instruction... As for Wei Qing, he sounded completely astonished." Earlier that morning, the first thing Wei Qing had said on the call was, "Damn, maniac, the Captain told us all to be careful not to let anyone know you're a Psychic Master. Did you kill those four people?"

Both Wei Qing's call and the Captain’s call made Luo Feng suspicious.

Of course, it was merely suspicion! Perhaps the Captain genuinely cared, or perhaps Wei Qing truly saw him as a brother in life and death, hence his careless tone.

"People are the hardest things to read. After all, a man's heart is hidden beneath his skin."

"In the face of such immense wealth, brothers betraying brothers, spouses turning against each other, fathers and sons severing ties... I've seen too many such incidents online!" Furthermore, this time it was a staggering 100 billion! Luo Feng used his watch to browse some forum posts.

He saw how madly the entire world was reacting to this bounty.

Night fell, colder than the day.

Luo Feng huddled in the corner, his heart feeling somewhat chilled. Ever since suspecting Captain Gao Feng and Wei Qing, Luo Feng’s mindset had shifted... He used to be cheerful, just like any ordinary martial artist, able to fight alongside the brothers in the squad, feeling wonderfully free. He had long considered them good brothers.

But now...

"Do they see me as a brother, or are they trying to trade me for that huge reward? Perhaps they just lack sufficient evidence, which is why they haven't acted." Luo Feng’s gaze turned cold.

"What am I thinking about!"

"Always suspecting everyone." Luo Feng shook his head. He finally realized that under the pressure of the 100 billion bounty, even his mentality was starting to change... He wasn't sure if others could resist 100 billion, after all, it was 100 billion. So, he became frequently paranoid! Even though Luo Feng knew this suspicion was unhealthy, he couldn't control it! Veronia Bolognese's goal was achieved... Luo Feng had unconsciously fallen into the various pressures brought by the 100 billion bounty.

"Stop thinking, stop overthinking."

Luo Feng immediately lowered his gaze to his watch, gently tapping a button, beginning to look at the various messages on the communication watch screen. Suddenly, he flipped through the address book; the names listed there calmed his heart... Among these names was 'Wei Wen,' a brother he had played with since they were both wearing split-crotch pants.

"I wonder how Ah Wen is doing now." A faint smile touched Luo Feng's lips as he recalled some fun moments with Wei Wen from years ago.

The address book contained many names of high school classmates.

Also names of friends from the Limit Martial Arts Association.

And the names of his parents and younger brother.

"Mom and Dad," Luo Feng’s gaze softened. "No matter what, you all will be fine! I will definitely overcome this hurdle."

Suddenly—Luo Feng's eyes landed on a name—Xu Xin! He had exchanged numbers with Xu Xin when chatting at the HR Alliance Mall, but he had never initiated a call until now.

"Dial Xu Xin's number," Luo Feng commanded.

He didn't know why he called now, perhaps out of fear... that one day, if his identity as the killer was exposed, the Xu family would forbid Xu Xin from associating with him again.

"Hello," Xu Xin’s voice came through the communication watch. "Is that Luo Feng?"

"Yes, it's me," Luo Feng felt a warmth spread through him.

"It's rare for you, a great martial artist, to think of calling me," Xu Xin teased. "What, are you back in the base city?"

"I’m still in the wilderness, but I was bored tonight, so..." Luo Feng paused here, feeling a bit awkward.

Bored at night?

It sounded like looking for a prostitute—bored at night and looking for one.

"Ahem." Xu Xin coughed lightly. "I didn't know Luo Feng was so H."

H? Uh... How is university going for you? I’m someone who never attended university, so I’m quite curious.

Luo Feng immediately changed the topic. And just like that... the two chatted over the phone. Perhaps because it was their first phone conversation, and it was late at night when the world was quiet, they talked for a long time.

When he finally hung up, Luo Feng realized—they had been talking for an hour and a half.

"Is this what they call 'casserole calling' [long phone calls]? Sure enough, after an hour and a half, the porridge must be perfectly cooked." Luo Feng felt a surge of inner joy. Having a ninety-minute conversation with the girl he secretly adored was indeed uplifting.

The panic and the negative emotions of suspicion brought on by the 100 billion bounty...

Were completely swept away! His mood shifted from one of frantic panic and paranoid suspicion to the simple, pure joy of a boy with a crush... This change in mentality felt like a spiritual cleansing for Luo Feng.

Gradually, Luo Feng calmed down.

It was an unprecedented tranquility, a serene composure achieved after his mindset had experienced such massive peaks and troughs. After all, how many normal people could experience such dramatic emotional swings?

His heart was still, like stagnant water! "This feeling is so comforting." Luo Feng savored this unprecedented peaceful state, and at this moment, he felt an impulse—the urge to practice his bladesmanship! Whoosh! He drew the Blood Shadow Battle Blade from his back.

In the cold, deep night, on this night that had astonished countless people due to the astronomical bounty, Luo Feng, in a deserted residential building in Wilderness City 003, began practicing the Nine Layers Thunder Blade alone. With a stillness of heart as calm as water that he had never felt before, every swing of the blade felt uniquely smooth and satisfying.

One strike... Two strikes...

Luo Feng’s psychic energy naturally diffused outward, and every subtle movement caused by his blade strikes was clearly perceived by his mental force.

Cold light, like snow, scattered throughout the room...