Zuo Feng picked his ear, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he casually replied, “Oh dear, my apologies, Chief Jun. I thought a fight had broken out, so I just moved a little. Didn’t the battle start?”
It was Zuo Feng’s deliberate action to have the Devouring Flower consume a Peerless Apocalypse member. He didn’t want to start a full-scale war. Having the Devouring Flower launch a sneak attack on one person could test the enemy’s strength, deter them, and avoid an all-out conflict—three birds with one stone. Why wouldn’t he do it?
Jun Wushuang’s eyes widened in fury: “Zuo Feng, are you really planning to start a war?”
Zuo Feng shrugged indifferently: “War? I don’t care. Just give me a clear answer. If you want to fight, do it quickly; don’t drag it out.”
Jun Wushuang gritted his teeth, knowing it was not the time for impulsiveness, and forcefully suppressed his anger.
“Oh, right, a reminder: the Python Branch Giant Tree is more dangerous than the Devouring Flower. When the fighting starts later, you’ll need to be careful in how you deal with it.”
Zuo Feng added casually, a cold glint in his eyes, as if hinting at a deeper threat.
“Boom!” A deafening roar echoed as the Python Branch Giant Tree suddenly moved. Its thick branches coiled out like giant pythons, instantly crushing a Second Floor house into splinters.
Everyone’s hearts tightened; this power was no joke.
Jun Wushuang took a deep breath and said coldly, “Zuo Feng, you are forcing us into a fight to the death!”
Zuo Feng sneered, his gaze like a knife: “A fight to the death? Honestly, your Peerless Apocalypse isn’t qualified!”
The faces of the Peerless Apocalypse members turned ashen, their anger and fear intertwined, but no one dared to make a move.
“Haha, Chief Zuo, Chief Jun, calm down. Why hurt our harmony? It’s just a joke, why take it seriously?” Wan Youyu played the peacemaker, his face wreathed in smiles, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
“Hehe, exactly! We’re all smart people, why fall out over a small matter? Let’s just consider today’s incident a misunderstanding. If we each take a step back, the world is vast. Chief Zuo, don’t you agree? We’ll have plenty of opportunities to cooperate in the future, why be so hasty?” Mei Xue Ji spoke softly, her eyes shimmering as if they could melt hearts.
Hu Banshan remained silent, his gaze stern, his hands clenched into fists, gone was the earlier bravado of demanding one-fifth of the profits.
Zuo Feng glanced at Mei Xue Ji, a slight smile playing on his lips: “Chief Mei certainly knows how to talk. However, Chief Mei, when you say ‘take a step back,’ how exactly should we all retreat?”
Mei Xue Ji covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling: “How about this, let’s first sit down and talk peacefully, shall we?”
Jun Wushuang’s brows were tightly furrowed; he knew he had greatly underestimated Firefly.
Originally, he thought that eight powerful individuals who had lit Six Lotus Seeds would be enough to control the situation, but he hadn’t expected Zuo Feng’s trump card to be so powerful. Now, the Three Giants clearly showed signs of backing down, and he couldn’t contend with them alone. The situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.
Facing Mei Xue Ji’s suggestion, he had no choice but to consider it carefully, slowly nodding: “Alright, talking is possible, but Chief Zuo must provide an explanation!”
Losing a strong individual who had lit Six Lotus Seeds was incredibly painful, even for Jun Wushuang.
Zuo Feng chuckled, unceremoniously retorting to Jun Wushuang: “An explanation? What kind of explanation do you want? You brought people here to deal with me, and now someone died, and you want me to give you an explanation? What a joke! Is the loss of your Peerless Apocalypse not well-deserved? I was already merciful not to wipe you all out. If you really want to talk, then show some sincerity, otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Jun Wushuang’s veins bulged on his forehead, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes, but he ultimately suppressed it.
Being weaker meant enduring humiliation, and he finally said no more.
Seeing this, Mei Xue Ji let out a soft laugh and gently said, “Chief Zuo, Chief Jun, let’s both take a step back. Let’s sit down first and talk properly.”
Mei Xue Ji then turned to Hu Banshan and Wan Youyu, her tone gentle: “Chief Hu, Chief Wan, what do you two think?”
Hu Banshan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: “Since Chief Mei has spoken, we naturally have no objection.”
Wan Youyu quickly echoed: “Exactly, exactly, harmony brings wealth.”
Thus, the five factions each retreated, forming a relatively open negotiation area.
Zuo Feng, Jun Wushuang, Mei Xue Ji, Hu Banshan, and Wan Youyu, the five leaders, sat in a circle. Although the atmosphere was still tense, at least the previous hostility had subsided.
“Chief Zuo, let’s get straight to the point. The Wild Wolf Gang’s greatest research achievement—the potion that can turn ordinary people into Mutants—it’s impossible for Chief Zuo to monopolize it. Our five factions cooperating and sharing the profits equally is the long-term solution. Otherwise, once we fall out, no one will have an easy time. Everyone knows the value of this potion. If Chief Zuo insists on monopolizing it, it would not be a wise move.”
Wan Youyu spoke first, directly addressing the core issue.
The Wild Wolf Gang’s greatest research achievement, a potion that could turn ordinary people into Mutants, was coveted by both Peerless Apocalypse and the Three Giants. This was also why the Wild Wolf Gang could possess hundreds of Mutants.
It could be said that any force that obtained this potion would rise unstoppably.
“Hehe, Chief Wan is absolutely right. Chief Zuo, our biggest enemy is ultimately the zombies. We should stand united against them. If this potion could be shared, it would also be a great blessing for humanity.”
As Mei Xue Ji’s words fell, Zuo Feng’s gaze deepened, and he stared coldly at Mei Xue Ji, saying: “Chief Ji, don’t try to pressure me with righteousness. Ask yourselves, if you had this potion, would you share it?”
Mei Xue Ji’s smile faded slightly, her tone firm: “Chief Zuo, I would, of course, share it. After all, only by uniting can humanity survive in this apocalypse.”
Hu Banshan nodded in agreement: “Exactly, a single tree does not make a forest; cooperation is the way to go.”
Jun Wushuang snorted coldly: “I agree, in this apocalypse, humanity should unite and help each other.”
Wan Youyu echoed: “That’s how it should be!”
Zuo Feng sneered inwardly: As expected of people who could become leaders, they could still speak with righteous indignation while going against their conscience.
“You all are truly good at scheming, planning to take this heaven-defying potion from me with just empty words. What a pipedream. Do you really think I, Zuo Feng, am a three-year-old child? If you want to talk, show some sincerity, otherwise…”
Zuo Feng’s gaze swept over everyone, his tone chilling: “We’ll let our fists do the talking!”
Jun Wushuang’s eyes narrowed, and he said coldly: “Chief Zuo, you need to be clear. This potion was developed by the Wild Wolf Gang; it belongs to Dream City, not to you. We are currently discussing a distribution plan, not trying to seize it from you.”
“Isn’t the rule of Dream City that whoever gets it, it’s theirs? Now that I’ve gotten it, how is it not mine?” Zuo Feng sneered, coldly sweeping his gaze towards Jun Wushuang.
Jun Wushuang quickly added:
“The rule is not quite like that. The potion concerns the fate of all humanity, not just one person’s property. According to Dream City’s rules, it only counts if you get it and take it away. Chief Zuo has gotten it now, but hasn’t taken it away yet; it’s not Chief Zuo’s private property yet.”
If it were truly according to Dream City’s rules, everything of the Wild Wolf Gang would indeed belong to Zuo Feng. But now, the potion that could turn ordinary people into Mutants absolutely could not be classified as Zuo Feng’s private property, otherwise, it would be extremely detrimental to their subsequent negotiations.
So, Jun Wushuang slightly altered this unwritten rule.
“Chief Zuo, Chief Jun is right!”
“Indeed.”
“That’s how it should be.”
The three leaders were all shrewd individuals; they instantly understood Jun Wushuang’s intention and readily agreed.
Zuo Feng’s sneer deepened upon hearing this. He knew the other party was ganging up to pressure him, but since they wanted to play this game, he would let these people witness his way of doing things.
Zuo Feng said with a smile:
“Haha, so that’s how it is. It only counts if you take it away. I haven’t been in the City of Dreams for long, so my previous understanding was indeed flawed. You’ve all had a good laugh at my expense.”
“Haha, no harm, no harm, perfectly understandable.”
Wan Youyu immediately chuckled, playing the peacemaker, though inwardly delighted. It seemed Zuo Feng was relenting, which meant things would be easier from now on.
The other leaders all showed a hint of a smile in their eyes, exchanging knowing glances.
But was Zuo Feng the kind of person who would easily compromise? Since they wanted to play this game, he would play by their rules!
“Da Mi Tao, Xiao Mi Tao, you two take Mu Jingjing and the two Python Branch Giant Trees, and send the people back to our Firefly Base! Anyone who dares to obstruct will be killed without mercy!”
At these words, the entire place was stunned.
Da Mi Tao and Xiao Mi Tao quickly responded, telling Mu Jingjing to put away the two Python Branch Giant Trees, and swiftly walked towards the convoy…
Jun Wushuang and the others’ expressions changed drastically. They hadn’t expected Zuo Feng to be so bold, directly dispatching team members and the Giant Trees to escort the potion and research personnel with the data away. This was undoubtedly challenging their bottom line.
“Zuo Feng, how dare you!” Jun Wushuang roared, slamming his hand on the table and rising to his feet, his aura surging, clearly enraged to the extreme.