Chapter 130: Strength Disparity

"Let's use a different exit," Xu Huo said in a low voice to the people beside him.Painting Woman and Wang Chaoqing followed him, with the latter asking, "Aren't those people here to rescue us? Why are we leaving?"

"They don't seem like good people to me," the Old Gentleman spoke up instead of Xu Huo answering. "I've lived most of my life and never seen soldiers act so harshly toward ordinary citizens."

Wang Chaoqing gave him a skeptical look and was about to say something when someone suddenly called out from behind them, "You few over there, stop right there!"

Xu Huo kept walking, but the next second a bullet punched a hole in the floor tile beside him.

He turned back to see the leader raising his gun as he approached. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To get more people," Xu Huo said. "There are still many people on Chaonan Road. It's safer to gather everyone together. Aren't you here to rescue people?"

The man's gaze turned sharp when he saw the White Mark on the back of Xu Huo's hand. "You're a player?"

"That's right," Xu Huo nodded. "But I didn't join the vanguard squad. You're from the vanguard squad, aren't you? Are only three of you coming to rescue people?"

The man sized him up for a moment before saying, "We're the advance team. Gathering people together makes follow-up rescue operations easier."

"Since you're also a player, don't leave. Stay and help us maintain order."

"You find somewhere to rest," Xu Huo didn't refuse, turning instead to Painting Woman and the other two.

Painting Woman grabbed his hand and shook her head, indicating she wanted to stay with him.

"Rescue will come soon. Don't be afraid. Stay with Wang Chaoqing and be careful. If anyone bullies you, don't hold back," Xu Huo patted the back of her hand.

Painting Woman nodded pitifully, and Wang Chaoqing quickly said, "Brother, don't worry, I'll definitely take care of our little sister."

Xu Huo glanced at him, his eyes flicking toward the computer, and Wang Chaoqing nodded in understanding.

Xu Huo followed the Camouflage Uniform away.

Meanwhile, some relatively calm young people went out in small groups to call in everyone scattered outside, including the manager and server whom Xu Huo had kicked and injured. As soon as they entered, they eagerly approached the Camouflage Uniforms: "Comrade, it's him! He attacked people without reason! This is a society governed by law—you must report this and get him sentenced to several years in prison!"

The stout and thin Camouflage Uniforms turned to the man beside Xu Huo. "Brother Feng?"

"Tell them to get lost. If they don't behave, beat them until they do," the leader called Brother Feng said impatiently.

"Aren't you supposed to be public servants? What kind of attitude is this!" The manager pulled out his phone to record video. "I'm going to post your behavior online!"

But as soon as he raised his phone, the tall thin Camouflage Uniform struck it down with his rifle butt, then pointed the dark muzzle at his forehead.

The manager's arrogant demeanor instantly deflated. He cowered, bending his body, and slowly retreated to sit on the ground with the others under the soldier's gesture.

"Given face but won't take it," the tall thin Camouflage Uniform spat, then glanced back at Xu Huo before going to lock the main entrance.

Soon, all six exits on the mall's first floor were locked by them. This action undoubtedly poured cold water on the hopes of those waiting for rescue inside the mall. People began whispering, and someone bold enough couldn't help asking, "Why are you locking the doors?"

"To save your lives, of course," Brother Feng smiled. "Those of you with White Marks on your hands, step forward."

By now, the crowd trusted them much less than before and didn't respond to his words.

Brother Feng nodded to his left and right, and the two Camouflage Uniforms entered the crowd with their rifles, searching. Surprisingly, they actually found two people with White Marks on their hands—one man and one woman. The man wore a baseball cap and fashionable clothes, while the woman wore a shirt and trousers with her hair covering half her face.

Both had come down from the mall's second floor.

The stout Camouflage Uniform grabbed the woman and began tearing at her clothes. The baseball cap man stepped forward to stop him. "What are you doing to this female comrade?"

The stout Camouflage Uniform slapped him to the ground, then ripped open the woman's top. Seeing the number on her back, he chuckled, "This one's even a white player."

The woman, humiliated and angry, shook off his hand, crossed her arms over her chest, and backed away repeatedly. A girl behind her quickly draped her own jacket over the woman's shoulders, while several men stood up to block the woman from view, glaring angrily at the Camouflage Uniform.

"What are you afraid of?" the stout Camouflage Uniform sneered. "Even if you threw yourself at me, I wouldn't want you."

He scanned the crowd, then suddenly his eyes lit up. He strode over to Painting Woman, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up. "Nice chest and ass, Brother Feng! This one has a great figure!"

As he started to drag Painting Woman away, the Old Gentleman quickly protected her. "Young man, focus on the important matters. If you like this female comrade, wouldn't it be better to pursue her after we're safe?"

Blocked repeatedly, the stout Camouflage Uniform's smile disappeared, his expression turning slightly ferocious as he raised his gun. "Who the hell thinks they can stand in my way? Die, old man!"

"Bang bang bang!" A series of bullets swept from the ground to the porcelain shop across the way. Amid the crowd's terrified screams and the sound of shattering porcelain, the stout Camouflage Uniform's gun flew out of his hand, was kicked twenty meters away, and slid right to the main entrance after hitting the ground!

Xu Huo stood in front of Painting Woman and the old man, one hand gripping the stout Camouflage Uniform's arm, the other catching his punching fist. Shaken back, he then raised his leg to kick against his opponent's kick. Under the collision of force, both men retreated two steps each!

"Not bad!" The stout Camouflage Uniform showed momentary surprise after retreating, but then clenched his fists. It was only then that Brother Feng nearby spoke up: "Enough!"

He walked over, placing his hand on the stout Camouflage Uniform's shoulder and patting it lightly. "Stop obsessing over that trivial stuff all day."

Then he looked at Xu Huo. "Brother, you've been hiding your skills. I underestimated you earlier."

Xu Huo's right leg was in excruciating pain, but he didn't show it. In that kick, he had used his full strength with the enhancement of special evolution, while the other had clearly held back. With just one exchange, he could feel the disparity in their strength.

These three were most likely players from outside the district.

"You just want to escape the Black and White Life-and-Death Game. You must have a purpose for coming here—killing people isn't necessary," he said without showing any emotion.

"Fair enough," Brother Feng said. "I see you think quickly. Why not work with me? I won't bother with your woman or those two friends of yours."

"I can cooperate with you, on the condition that your people don't touch my people. It's also best not to kill randomly—I don't want to spend my days hiding and running for the rest of my life," Xu Huo said straightforwardly.

The stout Camouflage Uniform who had retrieved his gun looked discontented. "You think you can set conditions..."

Brother Feng raised his hand to cut him off, stepping forward to say, "We have no grudges against these people. We don't necessarily have to kill anyone, but it depends on whether they cooperate."

"How do you want us to cooperate?" Xu Huo asked.