Wizard: My Skills Can Infinitely Break Through

Chapter 223: Chapter 216: Killing Chen Scarface

Just then, the sound of an old man’s cough came from the crowd.

The white-bearded old man walked out unsteadily, leaning on a wooden staff. The wrinkles on his face were clustered together, and his cloudy eyes were filled with exhaustion and pleading.

"You two... please, calm down." His voice was as hoarse as a broken bellows.

"In times like these, it’s hard enough for us to survive. We mustn’t fight amongst ourselves, we mustn’t..."

He turned to Chen Scarface, his tone softening slightly.

"Leader Chen, Brother Li just saved our lives. That’s a real debt we owe him.

He’s young and hot-headed, and his words were a bit rash. You’re a bigger man than that, so please don’t take it to heart."

Chen Scarface’s expression eased slightly. Just as he was about to speak, the old man turned to Ian.

"Brother Li, Leader Chen has been leading this group for years. He’s familiar with the paths in this Wilderness. If we want to get to Blue Cave Mountain, we still need him to lead the way..."

"Lead the way?"

Ian cut him off, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Let me ask you, from which direction did the Corrupted Earth-Burrowing Beast come last night?"

The old man faltered. "From... from the sandy area east of the camp..."

"And when we made camp last night, what position did Chen Scarface choose?"

"At the bottom of the leeward slope..."

"At the bottom of the leeward slope, with an open stretch of sand to the east and not even a bit of cover."

Ian’s voice was cold as ice as he spoke, enunciating every word.

"Of the guards on watch last night, three were on the east side. Two of them were asleep, and one was dozing off. Is this what you call ’familiar with the Wilderness’?"

The old man opened his mouth but was left speechless.

Chen Scarface’s face instantly turned livid.

"What the hell do you know?!"

He practically roared, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"The wind is strong at night! If we don’t camp on the leeward side, do you want everyone to freeze to death?!"

"Freezing to death is better than being eaten by monsters."

Ian’s voice wasn’t loud, but it struck everyone’s ears like a hammer.

He turned, his gaze sweeping across the frightened and weary faces around him.

"Everyone, let me ask you. On this journey, how many have died? How many have been injured? Did Chen Scarface ever care?"

A low murmur of unrest immediately rippled through the crowd.

Some lowered their heads; others’ eyes turned red.

A woman holding a child suddenly began to sob, her shoulders shaking.

"My husband... a Mutant bit his leg off yesterday, and Leader Chen said... he said he was slowing us down and told us to figure it out ourselves..."

The child in her arms began to cry as well.

Another middle-aged man, who had lost an arm, had eyes filled with suppressed hatred.

"I lost this arm while scouting for him, and he didn’t even give me a second glance!"

More and more voices rose up, surging like a tide.

Chen Scarface’s expression grew uglier and uglier. The few trusted Guards behind him exchanged glances, and their resolve began to waver.

One of the younger ones moved his lips and muttered under his breath, "Li Si was with him for three years... and he killed him just like that..."

Chen Scarface whipped his head around, his gaze cutting like a knife.

The young Guard flinched and didn’t dare say another word.

But the chill had already spread through the crowd.

Ian took a deep breath; the indignation he had been deliberately stoking in his chest was about to overflow.

"I’m not forcing anyone."

He raised his voice, making sure everyone could hear him clearly.

"There are two paths now. Those who want to keep following Chen Scarface, stand with him. Those who want to follow me, stay here."

"I can’t promise that everyone will make it to Blue Cave Mountain alive, but I promise that when we face danger, I will be the first to charge forward.

For the injured, I will find a way to treat them. For the dead, I will see to their bodies!"

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over every face.

"At the very least, I won’t use you as cannon fodder."

When his words fell, a deathly silence followed.

Then, the crowd began to stir.

The woman with the child was the first to walk over and stand behind Ian.

Next was the man with the missing arm, who limped over, and then more people...

Civilians, injured Guards, and even two of the young Guards who had originally been with Chen Scarface came over, their teeth clenched and heads bowed.

Like the tide receding to reveal the beach, the crowd split into two groups.

A dense crowd stood behind Ian; almost everyone had come over.

On Chen Scarface’s side, only two staunchly loyal henchmen remained.

Three or four others hesitated, frozen in place, unsure which way to go.

Chen Scarface watched this scene unfold, his eyes turning completely red.

"Fine... fine! You’ve all got some nerve!"

He ground his teeth so hard they audibly creaked, and the hand holding his blade was shaking violently.

"Li Xing, you’d better remember this! I’ll settle this score with you sooner or later!"

Chen Scarface turned to leave with his two henchmen, cursing under his breath.

"Damn it, a bunch of ungrateful bastards..."

Just then, a calm voice sounded from behind him.

"Still daring to threaten me?"

The hairs on the three men’s bodies stood on end, and they spun around abruptly.

Ian, without them noticing, was now standing three paces behind them, his eyes as cold as two bottomless wells.

"You... what are you doing..."

Panic flared in Chen Scarface’s heart, and he fumbled for the blade at his waist.

"Don’t bother."

Before Ian’s words had even faded, his figure was already in motion.

He pushed Star Step to its limit, his body becoming a gray bolt of lightning that left a blurry afterimage in the darkness.

Chen Scarface only had time to see a flash of sword light.

SHKTT!

The throat of the henchman on the left had been slit, and fresh blood sprayed out in the moonlight, a dark crimson splash.

He didn’t even have time to scream before he collapsed, clutching his neck with wide eyes.

"Lao Wu!"

The eyes of the henchman on the right turned red. He drew his short blade and lunged forward.

Without even a glance, Ian swung his sword in a backhand motion.

The blade slid along the short knife, precisely piercing the man’s heart. With a twist, Ian pulled it out.