Chapter 85: The Fierce Tiger Overlord

The actions of the Dragon Soar players brought a subtle warmth to Ye Chen’s heart. Regardless of their reasons, the fact that they were still willing to risk life and limb with him in the face of such overwhelming odds was a favor he would remember.

“Friends of Azure Plume, how about joining forces this once?” Ye Chen glanced at the Linghu players, who outnumbered them severalfold, and smiled faintly. Then he waved at Jian Qingcheng and the others, who had been left aside by Linghu. He didn’t reveal the connection between the two sides; it was better to keep such ties hidden until they were no longer wary of Fierce Tiger.

“Of course. Linghu has always been an old rival of ours. Today, let’s have a good fight,” Jian Qingcheng grasped Ye Chen’s intention immediately and nodded calmly without giving anything away. Drunken Longing also smiled at Ye Chen, her eyes filled with warmth and a mysterious light. Lingyue and the others looked at Ye Chen with excitement. The two probationary members who hadn’t joined the studio yet didn’t know about the relationship between the sides, but Ye Chen’s slaying of Linghu Shenyue had won their strong admiration. Immediately, under Jian Qingcheng’s lead, the dozen or so Azure Plume members flanked around to surround the Linghu players.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, a familiar female voice suddenly rang out from the Linghu players’ group.

“Friends from Dragon Soar, are you really going to go up against us Linghu just for this Ye Chen?” The Linghu players parted, creating a path. A familiar figure appeared before Ye Chen and the others—it was none other than Linghu Shenyue, who had clearly just died. She had somehow been resurrected, likely due to her special class, as resurrection spells were not available to players before level thirty.

Linghu Shenyue hid most of her body behind two penitent monks, shooting Ye Chen a venomous glare before shifting her gaze to Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed. Her expression softened into a seductive smile. “Brother Empty, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you. Our Linghu and your Dragon Soar have always stayed out of each other’s business. So what’s this? Are you really going to break that peace today for this boy surnamed Ye?”

“Heh, let us through and there’ll be nothing to break,” Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed replied with a cold, mocking laugh.

“So you Dragon Soar folks are intent on crossing us Linghu? You know our strength. Can you really make that call on behalf of Wandering Hero?” Linghu Shenyue’s expression darkened.

“You damn woman, enough with the screeching! If you want to mess with our Brother Chen, you’re messing with us. If you’ve got guts, bring it on! I’ll take you!” Dragon Soar Mad Bull suddenly jumped in. Though he was brash and spoke without much thought, he was loyal to those who treated him well.

“And who the hell are you? Is it your turn to talk?” Linghu Shenyue blanched with anger at being called a ‘damn woman’ and pointed at Mad Bull, cursing him out.

“It’s none of your business who he is. But what he said goes for me, too. Linghu Shenyue, if you don’t know your place today, then let’s fight. Don’t think your numbers will save you. With Azure Plume and us together, the outcome is far from certain,” Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed, having resolved to support Ye Chen, showed no hesitation.

“Jian Qingcheng, are you Azure Plume people really going to get involved? I’m telling you now, if you leave with your people, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened. Didn’t I already give you a way out before?” Linghu Shenyue glanced at the dozen or so Azure Plume members and frowned slightly. Today’s events had gone completely beyond her expectations—Linghu’s forty against the two sides’ thirty wasn’t a sure win for her.

“Did I hear that right? Linghu Shenyue, even you know how to back down? Save your breath about our grudge. Do you think Azure Plume would pass up a chance to take you down?” Drunken Longing sneered.

“So you won’t back down? Don’t blame Linghu for being ruthless in the future, then,” Linghu Shenyue’s brows arched.

“We don’t need your mercy. Either you retreat or you fight—your choice!” Jian Qingcheng drew her sword.

Linghu Shenyue’s face darkened as she watched Azure Plume and Dragon Soar closing in around her side. She hesitated. She certainly hated Ye Chen and also harbored a grudge against Azure Plume, but she didn’t want both sides to be ruined. Her aim was to crush her opponents with overwhelming force, not mutual destruction.

While Linghu Shenyue weighed her options, a disturbance erupted at the entrance to the Amethyst Forest in the distance. A hundred-strong team came charging toward them, all bearing the tag of Fierce Tiger above their names—it was Fierce Tiger’s people!

Ye Chen’s face fell. Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed and Dragon Soar Star Slayer also sensed trouble, and the Azure Plume members looked grim. Everyone knew about Ye Chen’s feud with Fierce Tiger; clearly, their intentions were anything but friendly.

Meanwhile, the Linghu players were overjoyed. They’d heard from Left Handed Legend about Ye Chen’s enmity with Fierce Tiger, and now that so many of Fierce Tiger’s people had arrived, it was as though Linghu had gained a mighty ally.

“Ye, your grandpa Roaring Tiger is here today! I’ll see you die with no grave!” Fierce Tiger Roaring, following beside a barbarian knight, shouted at Ye Chen from afar, his face brimming with excitement.

Ye Chen glanced at Fierce Tiger’s hundred-strong team and clenched his fists. This Roaring Tiger was a real menace. After getting through today, he’d have to eliminate him—otherwise, the trouble would never end.

“Brother Thief, Brother Chen, what do we do now?” Dragon Soar Star Slayer, abandoning private messages, voiced his concern openly. Linghu’s dozen or so players were manageable, but with over a hundred more from Fierce Tiger, he was starting to panic.

“Call for backup!” Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed didn’t look happy either. He pointed at the barbarian knight. “Even Fierce Tiger Overlord is here—how could Wandering Hero not show up? Fierce Tiger is clearly challenging Dragon Soar.”

Ye Chen glanced at Jian Qingcheng and the others, who were watching him anxiously not far away, and after a moment’s thought said, “Maybe I’d better slip away. I’ve got an invisibility potion—if I run, they won’t catch me, and I won’t drag you all down.”

“Slip away, my ass! Fierce Tiger Overlord bringing so many people means he’s disrespecting Dragon Soar. Let’s fight them today and settle this once and for all, so these bastards stop acting like they own Lishan City!” Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed was fired up, waving his fists.

The Dragon Soar players erupted in cheers. Ye Chen was a bit helpless—fight it was, then. At worst, he’d lose a level and some gear. With everyone backing him, he couldn’t show weakness.

“But Brother Thief, there’s so many of them. If Linghu teams up with them, we’ll be wiped out in no time. Will backup arrive in time?” Dragon Soar Star Slayer worried.

“No need to worry. When Linghu confronted us earlier, I already messaged Wandering Hero. Our people are on the way. Lishan City isn’t far—should only take a few minutes,” Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed grinned smugly.

“Brilliant, Brother Thief,” Dragon Soar Star Slayer flattered, but he was still uneasy. “But I’m afraid even a few minutes might be too long.”

Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed smiled. “No need to worry. The more people, the harder it is to fight. Open the guild channel and rally everyone—anyone near Amethyst Forest, get over here. Anyone in a dungeon, get out. We should be able to gather a few dozen at least.”

His method worked well. There were indeed quite a few Dragon Soar players nearby, even at this late hour. As Fierce Tiger's team arrived, a dozen or so Dragon Soar players who’d been looking for groups also joined up. Jian Qingcheng led another dozen girls to join as well. Suddenly, Ye Chen’s side swelled from thirty to nearly fifty, outnumbering even Linghu. Although the latest additions weren’t as well-equipped—several had only basic gear—no one cared about that now. The priority was getting the team together first.