Chapter 1419 - 1418: Return to the Mountain Stronghold
As expected, upon closer inspection, everyone clearly saw that the person on the back was indeed Senior Brother Wu.
"Third Senior Brother, what happened to you?" Several junior brothers shouted almost instantly, never imagining that their third senior brother would endure such hardships. Just after escaping a calamity, this happened again—how could they bear it?
"Brother Ru Nian, don’t get excited. He’s not in any immediate danger. I’ll fill you in on the details back at the stronghold," Xiao Feng said, feeling it wasn’t appropriate to discuss it at the entrance.
"Yes, yes, Gang Leader Xiao, please come in!"
Ru Nian wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and gritted his teeth as he spoke. The bond between the senior brothers and junior brothers was now one of life and death, as close as siblings. If anything happened to Wu Guangzu, they wouldn’t know how to go on.
The group followed Xiao Feng grandly back into the main hall of Fire Dragon Stronghold. Tan Batian placed Wu Guangzu onto Zhang Hu’s large tiger-skin chair, and then Xiao Qing approached to care for him.
"Gang Leader Xiao, what happened to our Senior Brother Wu?" Ru Nian couldn’t wait to ask.
"Yes, what happened to our Third Senior Brother?"
Ding Kong and the other junior brothers asked in unison.
"Don’t rush, everyone. Let me explain slowly,"
Xiao Feng stood respectfully at Wu Guangzu’s side and said, "Your third senior brother fought that scoundrel Kuang Shengtian. In the end, he decided to use a Powerful Qi Bomb in a desperate move, but Kuang Shengtian was cunning and likely had some defensive Divine Skill. So Wu Guangzu couldn’t harm him and ended up injuring himself with his own Powerful Qi Bomb."
"It must be the Kuang Family’s Golden Bell Divine Skill. Our master was injured by it before!"
Ru Nian had a good memory; he quickly recalled past events.
"Golden Bell Divine Skill? This martial art has been lost for years, and I never thought the Sabina people would master it. It’s truly unfortunate for Huaxia," Xiao Feng said, frowning.
Seeing Wu Guangzu barely holding on, Ru Nian couldn’t help but ask, "What’s the situation with my senior brother’s body now? Why is he still unconscious?"
"Hmm, if it weren’t for Fang Yan’s Inner Strength sustaining him, he might have died long ago. Rest assured, I gave him a Great Rejuvenation Pill to keep him alive for now, but..."
Xiao Feng hesitated to continue.
"But what? Gang Leader Xiao, just say it. Wu Guangzu is our Assassin Group’s only hope. No matter what, we’ll cure him,"
Ru Nian prepared himself mentally, knowing it must be a serious issue.
Xiao Feng thought for a moment and then spoke frankly, "Brother Ru Nian, brace yourselves. Wu Guangzu is now a cripple. Tomorrow, we’ll take him to seek treatment from Divine Doctor Li Tianyou, but he has been missing for years. Finding him will be difficult," Xiao Feng disclosed honestly.
"Li Tianyou? Isn’t he in Celestial Sea City?" Ru Nian was stunned and immediately asked.
"Oh? Are you sure?" Xiao Feng was also surprised.
"Yes, Li Tianyou is Chen Tianlong’s master. He’s currently in Celestial Sea City, running a company called World Medicine Group, also owned by Chen Tianlong. It’s easy to find," Ru Nian said, somewhat delighted.
"Haha, that’s great news. Tomorrow I’ll dispatch someone to take Brother Wu back to Celestial Sea City to find Divine Doctor Li for treatment," Xiao Feng laughed, relieved.
"Thank you, Gang Leader Xiao. We’ll surely serve you wholeheartedly in the future."
Ru Nian, leading the Assassin Group disciples, expressed their gratitude.
"Oh, quickly rise. No need for thanks among family," Xiao Feng hurriedly helped Ru Nian and the others up.
In a short while, everyone started to retire for rest. After Xiao Qing escorted Wu Guangzu back to his room, she lingered, reluctant to leave. She had liked this man from the bottom of her heart ever since she first laid eyes on him.
Feelings are truly mysterious. Just one more look, and Xiao Qing couldn’t forget Wu Guangzu’s honest face, as if destined in a previous life to meet in this one.
She strongly believed in fate; without it, they wouldn’t have met each other.
Having met, and longing for, is affection.
Xiao Qing was very sure of what she wanted, even if Wu Guangzu was perhaps just a fleeting passerby in her life. But she couldn’t bear to let him go. Even if she could just see him smile one more time, she’d live without regret.
Therefore, this time no matter what, Xiao Qing would find a way to heal Wu Guangzu, regardless of the cost, just to see him smile sweetly once more.
What is love in this world? It makes people vow life and death.
It’s always said, since ancient times, so many heroes succumb to beauty, but how many beauties have overcome the hero?
The night passed without words. After breakfast, Xiao Qing and Tan Batian took Wu Guangzu to Celestial Sea City to find Li Tianyou.
Several days later, in Fire Dragon Stronghold, Wu Guangzu fully recovered.
Wu Guangzu brought a small squad to the backmountain of the stronghold to conduct special training. Now it’s already the seventh day of training, and he wanted to see the results.
So, he walked to the front of all the team members and shouted, "Everyone has worked hard. Since I’m the captain you elected, today you must show me the results of your training during this period."
"First squad, ready! Obey my orders, all of you, line up."
Ding Kong stood in front of the soldiers, shouting valiantly.
In an instant, the previously scattered crowd quickly formed into four rows, each with about twenty-five people, now neatly arranged. Wu Guangzu smiled at the orderly formation, showing that the brothers hadn’t slacked off. In such a short time, they organized the team so well.
However, what he needed were not just soldiers who could line up but soldiers who could bravely kill the enemy—a squad capable of annihilating the enemy as the Assassin Group Guard.
"Very good! The formation is neat, orders are followed, but listen up, I’m not just looking for lineup skills, but for how you kill the enemy."
Wu Guangzu was learning quite well; however, as a captain, he needed to exude authority and treat matters seriously.
"Ding Kong, order your team members to prepare for a 500-meter obstacle test, and those who fail aren’t allowed lunch." Wu Guangzu believed strict military discipline was essential for training excellent soldiers.
"Yes, Captain!"
Ding Kong replied without hesitation, knowing that Third Senior Brother Chen Tianlong had a purpose, and it surely was well-intentioned.
At this moment, some murmurs arose among the soldiers, which was understandable, as they weren’t a regular army but consisted of brothers from various places and the Fire Dragon Stronghold. And they’d only trained for seven days, so forming such a neat formation was impressive.
For them to follow orders so strictly was still a bit challenging at the moment.
"Brothers of Fire Dragon Stronghold, those who don’t pass, step forward and report your name. No dinner either, got it?!"
After all, Xiao Feng was a seasoned general, and his words still had a military air. Wu Guangzu was a bit more lenient, only withholding lunch, while Xiao Feng directly denied dinner as well, revealing his ruthlessness.
Military orders are as solid as a mountain, which is what soldiers must adhere to. Internal strife in the military is the most terrifying thing, which is why Xiao Feng specifically called out the brothers from Fire Dragon Stronghold, intending to establish authority.
Indirectly telling others that even his brothers would face such severe punishment, imagine what it would be for outsiders. In front of Xiao Feng, the military regulations are impartial.
"Yes! Brother, if we don’t pass the test, we voluntarily accept punishment!"
More than a hundred members of the Fire Dragon Stronghold shouted in unison, their voices so powerful that they vibrated the entire backmountain of the stronghold.
"Good, brothers, you’re doing great. Now, it’s up to you." After Xiao Feng finished speaking, he stepped back, as Wu Guangzu was the actual captain and shouldn’t steal the spotlight.
At this time, Wu Guangzu signaled to Ding Kong, who received the cue and immediately shouted, "First Squad, at my command, prepare for the 500-meter obstacle sprint test."
"Yes!"
The First Squad’s team members responded in unison.
"Go!"
With Ding Kong’s loud shout, the hundred First Squad members started sprinting. After about twenty meters, a barbed wire fence appeared. They all dropped low, using their bodies to wriggle and crawl forward beneath it.
Meanwhile, Wu Guangzu, Ding Kong, and others ran to a nearby high platform to watch; since 500 meters wasn’t close, they couldn’t see their progress without the elevation.
