The sun was already beginning to sink when the Flame Team and the twins finally returned to Jiang-Nan city. Their clothes were ragged, their boots caked in mud, and the lingering scent of blood clung to them like a shadow. Yet, despite their battered appearances, their spirits burned with triumph.
The Azure Horned Python was dead.
The enormous carcass had been processed in the field, its most precious parts carefully preserved. Along with that, the weapons and gear stripped from the Wolf Squad filled several heavy packs. The team knew before even stepping foot in the city that they were carrying a fortune on their backs.
The Flame Team moved together toward the Limit Dojo's internal exchange hall. Here, beast cores, valuable organs, and rare materials could be officially appraised and sold. Warriors often came here not only to gain cash but also contribution points that allowed them access to cultivation resources.
The staff's eyes widened when the Azure Horned Python's horn was laid on the counter. Whispers rippled through the hall.
"That's a high-level beast soldier horn! Worth hundreds of millions!"
The appraisal completed quickly, and the numbers confirmed what everyone already knew: just the python's horn and core brought in close to two hundred million in cash, with another large pile of contribution points.
The remaining materials—the hide, bones, blood essence—would fetch a better price elsewhere.
The team left the dojo, slipping quietly into the more dangerous parts of the city. Here, among shadowy stalls and dimly lit shops, the black market thrived. The Wolf Squad's equipment was laid out, and buyers practically pounced on the rare blades, firearms, and protective gear.
One by one, the brothers and their teammates watched as wealth transformed from steel and bone into neat stacks of credit chits. By the end, the total earnings reached 2.8 billion credits, far beyond anything the Flame Team had ever seen.
"More than four hundred million in one trip…" Chen Gu whispered, almost not daring to breathe. "This… this is enough for most teams to live comfortably for years."
Captain Gao Feng's expression was complicated. Excitement glimmered in his eyes, but so did humility. He turned to the two brothers, his voice firm.
"This harvest wasn't because of luck. It was because of you two. Without Luo Feng and Luo Zheng, we'd be dead out there. The Azure Horned Python, the Wolf Squad… it was your blades, your knives, your strength that won the day."
The other members nodded vigorously.
"Captain's right."
"Those flying knives… I still can't believe what I saw."
"You two aren't just warriors—you're monsters in human form."
The twins exchanged a glance. Luo Feng gave a small smile, Luo Zheng's eyes glinted faintly in the dim light.
The captain took a deep breath, his voice ringing with authority and sincerity. "From this hunt, I propose that eighty percent of the earnings go to the Luo brothers. The rest of us can split the remaining twenty. Without them, there would be nothing to divide at all."
A stunned silence fell.
Luo Feng immediately shook his head. "That's not right. We're a team. Everyone fought, everyone risked their lives. It should be equal."
Luo Zheng's calm voice followed, low and steady. "He's right. We don't need special treatment."
But Chen Gu laughed, slapping the table. "You think we don't know our limits? We've been doing this for years, and never once have we taken down something like that python. We've fought beast generals and lived by sheer luck. But you two? You're different. Accept it."
The others joined in, their voices overlapping until Luo Feng and Luo Zheng could no longer protest.
Finally, Luo Feng sighed, nodding. "Then… we'll accept it. But remember, we are still a team."
That night, the Flame Team gathered in a lively restaurant. The air was filled with the smell of roasted meat and strong liquor, the tables piled high with dishes they hadn't tasted in months. Cups clashed together, laughter rose, and for once the weight of the wilderness felt far away.
After several rounds of drinks, Gao Feng stood, his cheeks flushed but his eyes sharp with sincerity.
"Brothers," he said, raising his cup, "today we've shared life and death. But let me speak plainly. Luo Feng, Luo Zheng… you've proven yourselves far beyond us. We'll keep fighting, but we know where we stand."
His voice cracked slightly at the end. For a moment, silence reigned. Then Chen Gu lifted his own cup with a grin.
"Doesn't matter. Tonight, we drink! Whether soldier or not, we're brothers of the Flame Team!"
The heavy mood shattered into laughter. Cups clashed again. Liquor spilled. For hours, the restaurant echoed with their voices, warm with camaraderie.
Later that night, as the team stumbled out into the cool air, Luo Zheng's voice was calm and steady. "If any of you ever need us, don't hesitate. Call, and we'll come."
"Count on it," Luo Feng added with a smile.
The following morning, Luo Feng set out alone to handle the official transfer of contribution points at the dojo's finance department. The hall bustled with warriors coming and going, clerks recording transactions, the faint metallic scent of blood clinging even here.
As he finished the paperwork and stepped outside, a familiar figure caught his eye. She stood in the sunlight, her long hair falling gently over her shoulders, her beauty drawing eyes wherever she went. Xu Xin.
Luo Feng's heart skipped. He hadn't expected to see her here. She noticed him too, her lips curving in a polite smile.
"Luo Feng? What a coincidence."
He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly awkward. "Xu Xin. Yeah… didn't expect to run into you here."
They exchanged a few words, light conversation about the dojo, about training. Her laughter was soft, her eyes bright, and Luo Feng felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the sun.
When they parted ways, he stood for a moment, watching her go. Then he shook his head, chuckling under his breath.
"Fit to be my sister-in-law…"
A shadow stirred beside him. Luo Zheng had appeared silently, as if he had been watching the whole time. His smirk was impossible to miss.
Luo Feng's face darkened. "You… were spying?"
Luo Zheng didn't answer, only patted his shoulder lightly. "Brother, just remember—don't let her slip away."
Luo Feng groaned, covering his face as his brother walked off ahead, the faintest trace of amusement lingering in his aura.