C124 They Were Suspected!

Chen Guo had long been pondering how to bolster the power of Beginner Village. Regardless of the path of development, people were the key ingredient. To transform the Beginner Village into an empire, a substantial population was essential.

Recruiting additional trial challengers required specific quotas. Quotas were available for those who were first to complete challenges, and presumably, for other achievements as well. But these quotas were quite limited, and recruiting an unlimited number of trial challengers quickly was not going to be easy.

So when Chen Guo learned that Cruel Camp housed over a thousand NPCs, he saw an opportunity to enlist them. These NPCs were indistinguishable from real people. By integrating them into Beginner Village, the NPCs would gain protection, and the trial challengers would benefit from more ordinary folks to supply them with essentials and services—a win-win situation.

"You're not just a big-picture thinker; you have incredible foresight. It looks like we made the right choice in appointing you as the Village Chief of Beginner Village!" Zhou Tao's admiration for Chen Guo's vision grew.

Zhou Tao was clever, but the idea of recruiting NPCs had never crossed his mind until Chen Guo hinted at it. Previously, Zhou Tao had admired Chen Guo for his strength, but from that day forward, it was Chen Guo's strategic vision that earned his respect.

"There's no need for flattery. I'm not fond of insincere praise, though I don't entirely mind it," Chen Guo remarked.

"I'm not flattering you; I'm simply stating facts," Zhou Tao replied earnestly.

"You've mastered the art of flattery without even trying. I miss the defiant spirit you had at the start. Can you keep that up?" Chen Guo chuckled.

"In your presence, defiance doesn't come easily to me..." Zhou Tao responded with a wry smile.

Their conversation continued as they followed Chu Xiaohong to the entrance of the Heavenly Silkworm Battalion. The entrance was ingeniously concealed in the shadows, shrouded by dense shrubbery, making it nearly impossible to find without a guide.

As they drew near, several armored warriors brandishing swords emerged from the underbrush, encircling Chen Guo and his companions.

"Who goes there!"

"What's your business here?!"

"Are you under the command of demons?!"

The four warriors ignited their torches, shouting their challenges.

"Human warrior Zhang Zequan, level 30, fighting capacity: 58,000!"

"Human warrior Li Fengnian, level 30, fighting capacity: 60,000!"

"Human warrior Song Taowen, level 31, fighting capacity: 64,280!"

Leading them was a burly warrior with thick eyebrows and a gleaming shaved head.

"Human warrior Geh Pao, level 35 elite, fighting capacity: 120,000!"

Once the torches were ablaze, the warriors were taken aback by the sight of the newcomers.

They had never encountered individuals with such vibrant complexions.

"Uncle Geh, it's me, Chu Xiaohong. There's no need to worry; I'm the one who brought them here," Chu Xiaohong quickly interjected.

Chu Xiaohong's petite stature had initially kept her from the warriors' view, but now that they spotted her, their faces registered shock.

"Xiaohong, weren't you taken by the wolf? I mourned for you for so long!"

"Xiaohong, you're alive?"

"Xiaohong, you..."

The warriors' faces showed a mix of emotions.

Chu Xiaohong clarified, "Yes, the wolf did take me, and I thought I was a goner, but these heroes stepped in and saved my life!"

"Really?" Geh Pao looked skeptical. "Are you certain you haven't sided with the Timber Wolf and brought these people here to trick us?"

Geh Pao had every reason to be wary; the survivors were in peril, and the Timber Wolf was notoriously sly. It was anyone's guess whether Xiaohong and this group's arrival was part of the Timber Wolf's plot.

With a look of innocence, Chu Xiaohong protested, "Uncle Geh, you've known me since I was a child. Don't you know my character? I would never betray our people, not even at the cost of my life!"

"Besides, the dark humans serving the Timber Wolf exude pure malevolence, shrouded in shadows. But look at these heroes; they radiate positivity, clearly not of the same ilk."

"That remains to be seen," Geh Pao retorted.

Chu Xiaohong began, "But you..."

Geh Pao interrupted, "Even if they did rescue you, you know the rules here. You shouldn't have brought strangers into our midst, regardless of who they are. This could expose our camp to great danger."

Chu Xiaohong spoke up, "If they had merely rescued me, there's no way I would have brought them here. The reason I did is because they performed another act right before my eyes, one that I believe earns them the right to not only our trust but even our admiration."

Curious, Geh Pao inquired, "What did they do?"

Pointing to Chen Guo, Chu Xiaohong explained, "He slew the Timber Wolf and brought back its head! Not only the Timber Wolf, but his two vile accomplices were killed as well. And while not every monster in Phoenix Nest Mountain was eliminated, he took care of the majority! How could someone capable of such a feat possibly mean us harm?"

"Have you lost your mind to a fever? How could they possibly take down the Timber Wolf?" Geh Pao was openly skeptical, dismissing her claim as, "The most absurd lie I've ever heard!"

"Uncle Geh, you really don't believe me?" Chu Xiaohong's voice quivered, her eyes brimming with tears.

Geh Pao retorted, "You were carried off by a wolf, then you return out of the blue, bringing strangers with you. It's difficult for me to take your word for it. Moreover, your story is far-fetched. Killing the Timber Wolf brothers and their numerous henchmen is not within human capability. Do any of you believe it?"

He cast a questioning glance at the other three human warriors.

"They don't seem powerful enough for that to be believable."

"Xiaohong is spouting such a clumsy lie, something's definitely off with her."

"I'm not buying it, no way."

None of the other warriors were convinced. It wasn't for lack of imagination; as fighters, they were well aware of the Timber Wolf's formidable strength.

They might have entertained the notion of a ruse to behead the Timber Wolf in isolation, a feat they themselves had long contemplated. But the claim of storming Phoenix Nest Mountain, dispatching the Timber Wolf, the Giant Wolf Fenrir, the Lilac Sorceress, and a host of the Timber Wolf's minions was simply too far removed from reality.

It was akin to telling someone that fish were soaring through the skies and birds were diving in the ocean depths. Such defiance of common knowledge was naturally met with disbelief.

"Enough, stop talking. It's not right to treat a little girl this way; you've wounded her heart," Chen Guo said. "I can vouch for the truth of her words."