Over three hundred people packed the fountain plaza, immediately surrounding Shi Feng and his companions with weapons drawn and predatory gazes fixed upon them.
Yet what struck Shi Feng as odd was that none of them seemed inclined to charge forward.
Instead, they parted to let a group of about twenty-odd people through.
These twenty-some individuals walked up to Fengyun Wuhui, their faces dark as storm clouds. None of them were particularly high-level—only around level five or six—and their equipment was nothing impressive, far below the standard of the Martial Alliance's elites.
"Now let's see what you can do." Fengyun Wuhui looked at them and spoke in a harsh tone. His gaze then shifted to Fire Dance, a cold, vicious smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
These people nodded expressionlessly, drew their weapons, and all turned to walk toward Shi Feng.
From a distance, Fire Dance and Water Buffalo were stunned when they saw these people.
"You… how could you be with the Martial Alliance?" Fire Dance shouted, her voice ringing with accusation.
The twenty-some people approaching were far from strangers—they were Fire Dance's former companions, the ones who had shared both bitter and sweet times with her.
At this moment, Fengyun Wuhui looked at Shi Feng and burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Night Edge, I'm a very generous person, you know. These people here helped you kill quite a few of our Martial Alliance members before. Well, I've promised them that if they kill you and your companions, I'll forgive them—and the Martial Alliance will never bother them again."
"Night Edge, don't you think you should do something for them now? Make up for their losses?" Fengyun Wuhui sneered. He wanted to see whether Shi Feng would dare to make a move. As long as Shi Feng so much as lifted a finger, tomorrow's headline on the official forums would be about a publicly recognized swordsman expert betraying his allies—selfish and self-serving, killing friends to save his own skin. Then let's see how Shi Feng would continue to make his way in the Divine Realm.
Fire Dance couldn't hold back any longer. Her eyes gleamed with a cold, icy light as she glared fiercely at Fengyun Wuhui. "Fengyun Wuhui, you despicable coward! These people killed your Martial Alliance members under my orders! If you've got the guts, come at me!"
Fire Dance had been thrilled to join Shi Feng's team. She never imagined something like this would happen and put him in such a wretched position. If Shi Feng were to kill these people now, others would absolutely gossip about it—claiming he was heartless and without honor, that he would even kill people who had helped him before.
Though she had been the one to orchestrate those kills, these people were indeed her companions. It was under her leadership that they had struck down Martial Alliance members. Now every last one of them had betrayed her, siding with the Martial Alliance and turning their blades against her, putting Shi Feng in an impossible position. She felt absolutely terrible toward him.
"Fire Dance, we had no choice either. If we want the Martial Alliance's forgiveness and to keep playing in Red Leaf Town, we have to do this."
"Fire Dance, we really had no other option. We hope you can understand."
"Yeah, we were forced into this. Just let us kill you once."
Fire Dance's companions spoke as they closed in. Some of the magic-type classes had already begun channeling spells, preparing to attack.
"You all…" Fire Dance's expression was ghastly. Then she turned to Shi Feng and bowed her head in apology. "I'm sorry, Big Brother Night Edge. I'll settle this matter for you."
"Listen well, Fengyun Wuhui! I, Fire Dance, am withdrawing from the team effective immediately, and I have no further connection with Big Brother Night Edge! Let me be the one to settle things with you!" Fire Dance left the party on the spot. After making her declaration publicly, she drew her daggers and walked toward her former companions, intending to deal with them herself—this way, Shi Feng wouldn't have to suffer a shred of slander.
When Fengyun Wuhui saw this, his face turned ashen in an instant. He hadn't expected Fire Dance to be so decisive and resolute.
"Fire Dance, aren't you putting us in a terrible spot? We were companions, after all—how could you do this?"
"Exactly! We followed you through life and death for so long, and this is how you treat us?"
Fire Dance's companions all began to level accusations at her. Each one struck deep into her heart. They had laughed together, suffered together—now all their bonds had dissolved into passing clouds. All she could do was hold back her tears and strike with a ruthless hand.
"Fire Dance, are you really so cruel that you'd kill us?" a middle-aged assassin in gray leather armor said with resentment.
This made Fire Dance freeze for a moment.