The Whale in the Mountains
Chapter 658 Co-opting
Chen Xiao stared at Team Leader Zhang and suddenly smiled.
He had already given Zhang a chance to live at the entrance of the camp, but he dared to come looking for trouble.
"Heh, I'm not qualified to talk to you?"
Team Leader Zhang grinned with a look of arrogance. "Then surely this is!"
He pointed to the gun in his hand.
However, the instant he finished speaking, the muzzle of the gun in his hand suddenly drooped, bending downwards like melting chocolate.
"What's going on?"
Team Leader Zhang was dumbfounded, not understanding what had just happened. Then, he suddenly felt a tightening all over his body.
His body was squeezed together as if someone had grabbed it. Bones cracked, eyeballs bulged, and flesh was forced out of his body, like a banana being squeezed out of its peel.
In just a few breaths, Team Leader Zhang, who had been so arrogant just moments before, had turned into a pile of minced meat!
Everyone was stunned. Although many present were martial artists, their strength only made them stand out among ordinary people. None had ever seen such a terrifying and bizarre scene.
Luo Xingquan was even more frightened. He had long heard of Chen Xiao's exploits, such as single-handedly confronting five S-level ability users in Jiang City, and causing a ruckus in Dongyang, even killing the Dongyang Emperor…
But he thought that Chen Xiao would restrain himself within the Tian Ce Army camp.
He never expected that Chen Xiao would kill someone right in front of him, and he could do nothing about it.
At this moment, his security detail was all silent as cicadas in winter, trembling, unable to hold their guns steady.
On the contrary, someone in the Tian Ce Army shouted, "Tian Ce Army, prepare for battle!"
Then, hundreds of men quickly formed a formation, their spears pointing directly at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback, looking at them incredulously. "I'm speaking up for you, and you're turning around to deal with me?"
"The dignity of the Tian Ce Army must not be violated!"
The person who had shouted earlier said sternly.
Chen Xiao grinned. The goodwill he had built up towards these young men instantly vanished.
Perhaps they had their own rules, their own beliefs and convictions.
But in Chen Xiao's opinion, people who don't know how to adapt are not worth cultivating.
Liu Yu, seeing this, sternly reprimanded them, "Stand down! Do you know who he is?"
"He is Chen Xiao! A distinguished guest of General Xiao!"
The faces of the Tian Ce Army soldiers immediately showed shocked expressions.
No further introduction was needed. The name 'Chen Xiao' represented everything.
"This humble one was unaware that you were Mr. Chen. I apologize for my offense just now, please forgive me..."
The soldier who had shouted quickly apologized.
Chen Xiao waved his hand. "Forget it. Strictly speaking, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen!"
The man was immediately overjoyed to hear this.
Had he gained Mr. Chen's appreciation? Would Mr. Chen take the opportunity to teach him a move or two?
He was still complacent, unaware that he had just ruined a great opportunity for himself... no, for the entire Tian Ce Army!
A powerful enemy was about to descend, and Chen Xiao needed a group of brave and resourceful warriors who could stand alone.
Judging from the overall performance of the Tian Ce Army, they were clearly unqualified.
Perhaps it was because he had such soldiers under his command that Xiao Zhan was being sidelined. It seemed the title of War God was not applicable to him.
Along with that, Chen Xiao's assessment of Xiao Zhan dropped a few points.
While the Tian Ce Army was still delighted by Chen Xiao's arrival, Luo Xingquan read disappointment in Chen Xiao's eyes.
This discovery immediately pleased him. If he could bring a valiant general like Chen Xiao over to his side, it would be a great achievement!
"Stop it, all of you!"
"Daring to point your guns at Mr. Chen, do you all want to die?"
Luo Xingquan dismissed the guards around him, as if they would dare to shoot without his order.
As for Team Leader Zhang, who had been turned into a pile of minced meat, he chose to selectively ignore him.
"Heh, so this is Mr. Chen. I have long admired your name, it's like thunder to my ears. Please don't blame my subordinates for being blind just now!"
Luo Xingquan acted as if he had just learned that the person in front of him was Chen Xiao.
As for his attitude towards Chen Xiao, it became extremely respectful and flattering.
"Heh, it's nothing, nothing."
Chen Xiao sized up this despicable man, wondering what he was up to.
"Mr. Chen has come from afar, it is truly an honor for our Tian Ce Army camp. I wonder, what is the purpose of your visit?"
Luo Xingquan asked tentatively.
Hearing this, Liu Yu immediately understood what Luo Xingquan was planning. She quickly said, "Mr. Chen is here to see Vice Commander Xiao. Vice Commander Xiao is tied up on the front lines, so he instructed me to receive Mr. Chen."
The main purpose of her words was to remind Chen Xiao.
And Chen Xiao instantly understood that Luo Xingquan was actually trying to win him over.
Liu Yu's little trick naturally couldn't stump Luo Xingquan.
He feigned anger. "This Vice Commander Xiao is truly outrageous. With Mr. Chen's status, even Commander Song himself would not be excessive in receiving him. Now that Commander Song is not here, I will naturally take on the responsibility of receiving him!"
His implication was that Liu Yu's rank was too low to be worthy of receiving Chen Xiao.
This infuriated Liu Yu, but she couldn't refute it. She could only hope that Chen Xiao wouldn't get along with him.
She didn't expect that Chen Xiao would suddenly say, "Vice Commander Luo, now that you mention it, there is indeed something I need to trouble you with."
"Mr. Chen, feel free to speak!"
Luo Xingquan said cheerfully.
"I have a younger brother named Chi Hao. I heard that he is being held here."
Chen Xiao said lightly.
"Chi Hao?"
Luo Xingquan's eyes narrowed slightly. He had obviously never heard of this person.
"He was originally a member of the Jiang City branch of the Po Xie Si (Evil Extermination Division)."
Chen Xiao reminded him.
"Oh~~"
Luo Xingquan suddenly understood. The one Chen Xiao was talking about must be that vampire!
"Chi Hao... is indeed here."
Luo Xingquan originally wanted to say that he was being held here, but when he thought about Chen Xiao calling him his younger brother, he changed his wording.
"Vice Commander Luo, I appreciate your trouble!"
Chen Xiao cupped his fist towards Luo Xingquan, his meaning self-evident.
Luo Xingquan naturally understood what Chen Xiao meant, and gestured for him to follow. "Mr. Chen, please come with me!"
"You two, wait here for me, I'll be right back."
Chen Xiao said to Xiao Hei and Chu Qingluan, and then followed Luo Xingquan.
It was different from what Chen Xiao had imagined. He thought that Chi Hao would be held in a place similar to a prison.
But in fact, Luo Xingquan led Chen Xiao to a three-story building that looked normal on the surface, but was full of technology inside.
Carbon fiber floors, walls wrapped in titanium alloy, and fully automatic sensing thin doors. When he first walked in, Chen Xiao thought he had come to the cabin of a spaceship.
"Mr. Chen, please wait a moment, I will instruct someone to bring Mr. Chi Hao over."
Luo Xingquan led Chen Xiao to a room and said respectfully.
After speaking, he walked out and came back with a few bottles of drinks.
"The conditions in the Northern Border are harsh, it is difficult to even get a cup of hot tea. Mr. Chen, please make do with it."
Luo Xingquan casually threw a bottle of drink to Chen Xiao, then opened a bottle himself and took a big gulp.
"Mr. Chen, I wonder what your opinion is of Xiao Zhan as a person?"
Luo Xingquan suddenly asked.
"Oh? What aspect are you referring to?"
Chen Xiao took the drink in his hand, but did not open it.
"Well, let me put it another way. Compared to Commander Song, whose evaluation do you think is higher?"
Luo Xingquan asked.
"I have never met Song Anbang, so it is difficult to comment."
Chen Xiao said lightly.
"Heh, it is not necessary to have met someone to understand them. For example, I have never met Mr. Chen, but my admiration for Mr. Chen is about to overflow from my heart... And Commander Song has endured hardship and bided his time for many years, and when he finally made a move, it was astonishing. Is that not enough to illustrate the problem?"
Luo Xingquan went on with another round of cloudy mountains and foggy talk.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Chen Xiao became a little impatient.
"Alright, then I will be frank!"
Luo Xingquan raised his chin slightly and spoke eloquently, "As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a tree to perch on. Mr. Chen, let me tell you the truth. Xiao Zhan is like a grasshopper after autumn, he won't be able to make trouble for many more days. You might as well break away from Xiao Zhan as soon as possible and join Commander Song's camp."
"With you and me assisting him, Commander Song will surely be unstoppable. Your strength plus my wisdom, we will be unmatched within the four seas."
"The sky is high for birds to fly, and the sea is wide for fish to leap. At that time, the vast world will be ours to conquer!"
Luo Xingquan had a burst of passion, but Chen Xiao didn't know where to start his criticism.
"Wait!"
Chen Xiao interrupted Luo Xingquan's grand aspirations and asked, "Are you saying that you think I am now Xiao Zhan's subordinate?"
"Otherwise?"
Luo Xingquan said as a matter of course, "You have a close relationship with him, and forgive me for saying so, although you are strong, you have no background. If it weren't for Xiao Zhan, would you be alive today?"
Chen Xiao now realized that in the eyes of some people, he was actually Xiao Zhan's man.
And there may be quite a few people who hold this idea.
"Mr. Chen, Xiao Zhan has lost power. Those who were afraid to cause you trouble because of him before will probably come to settle accounts after the autumn harvest. Now is definitely the best opportunity for you to switch your allegiance to Song Anbang!"
Luo Xingquan believed that his words were clear and logical. As long as Chen Xiao wasn't an idiot, he would make the right choice.
Little did he know, Chen Xiao and he were not on the same dimension.
His eyes were only on a small patch of sky, for which he had been struggling all his life, and he still called it a vast world.
Little did he know that Chen Xiao had the fate of the world in his heart, and was considering the fate of the entire Blue Star!
To put it bluntly, the two people's understanding of this world was not on the same dimension at all.
So Chen Xiao sneered and said disdainfully, "In this world, no one is qualified to have Chen Xiao work for him!"