"Lin Sheng!?"
Hearing Ma Long's words, not only Wang Sanyang but also the people around were startled, seemingly not understanding why he would ask this.
However, some people in the crowd started searching, and quickly found Lin Sheng huddled in a corner.
After all, although the Ninth Squad suffered heavy losses, there were still some people present, and these people naturally knew Lin Sheng and the news that he had returned safely.
Feeling everyone's gaze fall upon him, Lin Sheng frowned.
From the moment Ma Long called out his name, he felt something was wrong, but in the current situation, he couldn't do anything. Turning around and leaving would only make him stand out more.
Moreover, after dealing with Ma Qiang, he had somewhat anticipated this situation and was mentally prepared.
Having lived two lives, his mental fortitude was outstanding, to say the least.
He understood that the more this situation developed, the less he could show any sign of panic.
Ma Long naturally noticed the gazes of the people around him. He turned his head and stared at Lin Sheng with both eyes.
The next moment, he took a step forward, and his figure crossed several zhang in the blink of an eye, arriving in front of Lin Sheng.
"So many people from the Ninth Squad died, even Liu Jie of the Body Tempering Realm didn't return, so why were you able to come back!?"
Ma Long narrowed his eyes, staring at Lin Sheng like a knife, and asked slowly.
Lin Sheng raised his head, met Ma Long's gaze directly, and spoke neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
"Reporting to Captain Ma, I, Lin, was just lucky and wasn't targeted by the Tusker Mountain Pig, so I was fortunate enough to escape back."
"Luck, why is your luck so good? Why isn't others' luck so good..." Ma Long spoke indifferently, staring intently at Lin Sheng, his Aura growing increasingly sharp.
"Ma Long, what are you doing? This is the Ninth Squad, not your Third Squad. I know your brother died and you're in a bad mood, but are you cursing the living people in our Ninth Squad??"
At this moment, Wang Sanyang suddenly spoke up and shouted.
He had already walked over, clutching his injured arm.
"Isn't it a good thing that more people survived? Do you perhaps want everyone in my Ninth Squad to die completely so you can be at ease with your brother!!"
At this time, Wang Sanyang's expression was not good, clearly showing he was thoroughly angered. Because of the heavy casualties the Ninth Squad suffered in this mission, he was already in a bad mood, and then Ma Long came to demand accountability aggressively. Naturally, he would no longer tolerate it.
"Hmm!?"
Hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Ma Long's eyes. His gaze left Lin Sheng and looked at Wang Sanyang.
"Alright! Stop talking."
At this moment, a strong voice sounded from outside the courtyard.
A very sturdy man walked in from outside, it was Tian Hu.
Tian Hu's gaze swept over the severely injured Hunters, and finally landed on Wang Sanyang and Ma Long, whose atmosphere was somewhat tense.
"You are all people from the Hunting Beast Hall, there's no need to make the relationship so stiff. Chen Wei, a few people from your Second Squad stay behind and take the injured to the hall for treatment."
"Yes."
Immediately, a dark-skinned man walked out from the crowd and took the injured people in the courtyard away.
Tian Hu then spoke again.
"Ma Long, your brother's death is not anyone else's fault, you can only say it was bad luck. If there's nothing else, you should leave."
"Alright, Deputy Tang Zhu Tian."
Seeing Tian Hu arrive, the coldness on Ma Long's face finally dissipated. After a long while, he finally showed a hint of a smile again and responded readily.
"Since that's the case, then I won't disturb you. Brother Wang, take good care of your injury, otherwise this arm might really be crippled."
Having finished speaking, Ma Long no longer lingered. He turned and left with his people, but as he left, his gaze swept over Lin Sheng.
Seeing Ma Long leave, Wang Sanyang also did not continue to delay. After handing the four Tusks on his back to Tian Hu, he hurried off for treatment. His injury was not light, and if he didn't treat it, he might really end up with some lingering issues, which would be a loss.
As for Lin Sheng and the remaining few Hunters of the Ninth Squad, they were responsible for cleaning up the base. After tidying up, they were also dismissed.
Only after leaving the assembly point and returning to his courtyard did Lin Sheng finally let out a sigh of relief.
Just now at the Ninth Squad's base, although he appeared quite calm, his heart was somewhat uneasy. He was really worried that Ma Long would suddenly attack him regardless of the consequences. If that were the case, he wouldn't care about hiding and could only fight back.
That would undoubtedly expose his own strength, and at that point, it would be really difficult for him to explain.
"No, I have to find a way to get rid of this Ma Long. Keeping him is always a hidden danger."
Lin Sheng thought to himself.
This Ma Long, as the Captain of the Third Squad, was even stronger than Wang Sanyang. It was rumored that he was close to breaking through to the Forging Tendons Late Stage.
Moreover, being in the same Hunter's Hall, if the other party wanted to target him and do something, with his current status and position, it would be truly difficult to deal with.
"I must think of a way. Even if I can't get rid of the other party, I must quickly raise my status in the Hunting Beast Hall. That way, even if the other party wants to do something to me, they will have some reservations."
...
Yangping Town, Third Squad Base.
Ma Long sat in the courtyard, playing with a pair of stone balls in his hands. In front of him was a circular pond where carp were constantly swimming, occasionally leaping out of the pond, splashing water.
"Wang Sanyang."
He slowly chewed on Wang Sanyang's name, then suddenly sneered.
"Wanting to exchange the Tusks of the Tusker Mountain Pig plus your savings for a precious pill, thinking that this way you can break through to Forging Tendons Completion? You're thinking too simply."
"Someone!"
Suddenly, he shouted, and someone immediately ran in.
"Have Old Ma and the others search along the route taken by the Ninth Squad this time and see if there are any clues. If you can find Ma Qiang or Liu Jie, or their bodies, I will reward you heavily."
"Yes, Captain."
The person immediately trotted out and started calling the Hunters.
Watching his subordinate's back disappear, Ma Long closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Actually, he no longer held out much hope for Ma Qiang.
He didn't believe Wang Sanyang would attack his brother, after all, there was no need for him to antagonize himself because of it.
As for the others in the Ninth Squad, they would be even less likely to dare, and with Liu Jie accompanying him, unless Wang Sanyang made a move, others wouldn't be able to kill them.
So, in his heart, he had already accepted Wang Sanyang's statement that Ma Qiang and Liu Jie had died at the hands of the Tusker Mountain Pig.
As for that Lin Sheng, he had just suddenly remembered the name. He didn't believe that with that kid's strength, he could do anything to Liu Jie and Ma Qiang.
If it were just Ma Qiang alone, it might be somewhat possible, but Liu Jie was an experienced Hunter. Whether fighting fierce beasts or people, he had extremely rich combat experience, and ordinary Body Tempering Martial Artists would absolutely not be his match.
Even with careful planning against an unsuspecting opponent, a Martial Artist at Forging Tendons Minor Completion might even fall into his hands.
So, even if that kid was hiding something, it was absolutely impossible for him to take down an experienced Hunter like Liu Jie.
However, even so, he didn't plan to let Lin Sheng off. His gaze fell upon the carp in the pond fighting for fish food, and he muttered to himself.
"Xiao Qiang, since you said you wanted to deal with this kid, and you couldn't do it, then as your older brother, I'll help you out one more time."
Of course, he didn't plan to act immediately. After all, if that kid died now, it would be a bit too conspicuous.
"Wait a few days, in a few days, I'll find an opportunity to deal with him."
After thinking this, with a 'snap', the two stone balls in his hand were crushed into powder.