Zhao Mu's gaze turned icy. Knowing he had stolen the credit, Sun Jiliang guiltily looked away before speaking with dissatisfaction.
"Don't forget—we were kind enough to bring you along on this mission. Junior Brother, you should learn to respect your Senior Brothers."
Zhao Mu took a deep breath and replied coldly, "What deserves respect is a pioneer's experience and character, not simply who joined the camp first."
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Tian Lizhen quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright. Senior Brother Sun only did it for everyone's safety. Besides, this is our first mission together, and we completed it successfully. We should be celebrating!"
She smiled brightly as she looked at Zhao Mu.
"Junior Brother, we should work together more often in the future. With our help, you'll grow much faster."
"Besides, even though you didn't earn any academic credits this time, you still gained a lot, didn't you?"
As she spoke, Tian Lizhen's eyes briefly swept over the Ember Remains hidden on Zhao Mu's finger. The flash of burning jealousy in her eyes did not escape his notice.
Zhao Mu merely smiled coldly and said nothing.
His only reason for teaming up with them was to unlock the authority to accept solo missions. Although both of them had relatively high Combat Levels, their actual combat experience was lacking, and Sun Jiliang's shameless behavior had completely disgusted him. There was no possibility of working with them again.
Sun Jiliang forced a smile and added, "That's right, Junior Brother! In the future, your Senior Sister and I will take you on more missions, and we'll all have a bright future together!"
Although he smiled, the jealousy in his eyes was impossible to hide. He was desperately trying to curry favor.
Both he and Tian Lizhen had already spent four years in the Soldier Camp. If they failed to earn enough academic credits to advance to the Intermediate Camp next year, they would be forced onto the battlefield to fight exotic beasts and the Dark Races.
After four years, they had only reached Combat Levels 19 and 20. Their talent was average at best, and almost no one wanted to team up with them.
That was why they had reluctantly brought along a newcomer with only Combat Level 7.
What they hadn't expected was to hit the jackpot. Their very first mission had gone flawlessly.
Now they wanted to tie Zhao Mu firmly to their side so he could help them earn more academic credits.
If they could even obtain an Ember Remains from him, it would be an enormous profit.
Zhao Mu simply smiled.
"The mission is over. I'm heading back."
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Tian Lizhen hurried over and grabbed his arm.
"Junior Brother, why the rush? It's already late. Let's grab a late-night snack and celebrate."
Although Zhao Mu disliked Sun Jiliang, Tian Lizhen had never directly offended him.
Besides, he was a little hungry, so he nodded in agreement.
Sun Jiliang immediately called the security officers to take Zhang Yu's body away for processing.
The three of them got into a vehicle and drove toward the night market.
Throughout the trip, Sun Jiliang and Tian Lizhen continued trying to persuade Zhao Mu to join their team permanently.
Zhao Mu listened as though he hadn't heard a word, smiling politely without giving any answer.
Gradually, the two of them sensed his indifference, and their expressions became increasingly awkward.
Not long afterward, they arrived at a barbecue stall.
On a summer night, barbecue and cold beer were the perfect combination.
The three sat together and began eating.
Zhao Mu only drank two glasses of beer.
During the meal, Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang exchanged several meaningful glances.
Zhao Mu pretended not to notice.
He was actually curious. In a crowded place like Jinhe District, what exactly were these two planning?
Did they really intend to rob him of his Ember Remains?
It wasn't that Zhao Mu underestimated them. With the pitiful combat skills they had displayed during the mission, even if both attacked together, he wasn't afraid in the slightest.
Before long, he got his answer.
Halfway through the meal, a military vehicle stopped beside the road.
Two tall men stepped out, walked directly to their table, pulled over a pair of stools, and sat down.
Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang looked up, smiled, and said,
"The more people there are, the livelier it gets! We invited two Senior Brothers over. Zhao Mu, you don't mind, do you?"
The two newcomers sat on either side of Zhao Mu and casually asked the owner for extra bowls and chopsticks.
Zhao Mu glanced at Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang before a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Ignoring the two men beside him, he lowered his head and continued eating his skewers.
The atmosphere at the table became eerily silent.
All five quietly ate without speaking.
The two newcomers drank heavily and devoured skewers as though Zhao Mu didn't even exist.
Zhao Mu sighed inwardly.
"These are all tricks I used years ago."
The man on his left was Tian Hu.
The man on his right was Ge Tianxing.
Both had previously suffered major losses because of Zhao Mu and had completely lost face.
Their appearance tonight was hardly surprising.
When Zhao Mu had returned to his hometown to eliminate Chang Lian, Li Xiaopang had already told him that during the previous rest day, a tall, burly man had waited outside their home for an entire day.
At that moment, Zhao Mu had already guessed Tian Hu intended to come after him.
As for Ge Tianxing's arrival, that wasn't surprising either.
Since Zhao Mu had rejected Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang's invitation to form a team, they didn't dare violate Qingfeng Camp's rules by attacking him themselves.
Instead, they invited Tian Hu and Ge Tianxing—two people who already held grudges against Zhao Mu—to teach him a lesson.
Neither man spoke.
They simply sat beside Zhao Mu, pretending to be intimidating experts, hoping their silent pressure would make him nervous.
Unfortunately for them, Zhao Mu had survived Blood Bone Mountain, where countless ferocious beasts roamed freely.
His own hands had torn open the stomachs of countless bears and tigers.
How could he possibly be intimidated by such childish tactics?
After eating until he was about seventy percent full, Zhao Mu calmly put down his chopsticks and wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth with a tissue.
"I thought you'd at least have the dignity to challenge me openly at Qingfeng Camp."
"I didn't expect you to come here and gang up on me instead."
Tian Hu stared directly into Zhao Mu's eyes and answered seriously.
"Qingfeng Camp has rules. If someone from a higher-level camp challenges someone from a lower-level camp with a huge Combat Level difference, they'll become a laughingstock."
"Don't worry. The person beside me is only here to watch. He won't interfere."
Lowering his voice, Tian Hu continued,
"Last time I lost because I underestimated you."
"So that defeat doesn't count."
"I want a rematch."
"If you beat me again, I'll never bother you in the future."
Tian Lizhen and Sun Jiliang stood up with smiles.
"You two catch up. We won't disturb you."
After saying that, the pair left without looking back.
Zhao Mu watched their departing figures, a dangerous glint flashing across his eyes.
They had deliberately set him up and were now walking away as though nothing had happened.
Unfortunately for them, Zhao Mu was someone who never forgot a grudge.
He stood up calmly.
"Fine."
"Let's go."
"There are too many people here."
"Let's find somewhere quieter."
________________________________________
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