Chapter 103: Sanctuary No. 57, Part II

The women draped around them wore provocatively revealing garments. Though spring had only just arrived, their attire was already designed to titillate, showcasing fair and voluptuous bosoms that, under the dim light and in the haze of alcohol and tobacco, stood out with striking allure.

Four women nestled in Rice's embrace, two of them running their hands over his muscular chest. Always bare-chested, Commander Rice had never been more the object of feminine fascination—particularly due to the thick mat of hair on his torso, which seemed to enrapture the women clinging to him.

Lin's allure was undeniable. His handsome features, paired with his indiscriminate charm, made him effortlessly magnetic. As Xiao Feng stepped into the tavern, the first sight that met his eyes was Lin, locked in a fervent kiss with a woman.

Her top had already been ripped off by Lin, whose hands moved with unrestrained lust, kneading her soft flesh with such fervor that her chest was misshapen and mottled with red marks. The woman clung to Lin's neck, moaning breathlessly, utterly indifferent to the many eyes upon her.

Perhaps she was truly enthralled by this strikingly handsome Asian man. Or perhaps it was the tingling ecstasy Lin evoked in her body. But most likely, what she craved resided in Lin's pockets—the precious Alliance coins.

Her hands slid slowly from his shoulders down to his waist, reaching for his belt. Lin made no move to stop her. Even in the presence of a crowd, he showed no shame in turning the moment into a public spectacle.

Seeing this depraved scene, fury surged within Xiao Feng. His gaze alone wished to tear the two men to shreds.

Draped in black from head to toe, even his long hair and irises an abyssal shade, Xiao Feng cut a striking figure. In the Western world, such appearance was rare enough, but it was the long black case on his back and the alloy blade slung across it that truly riveted every gaze in the tavern—men and women alike.

That slim, elongated case clearly held a rifle—no ordinary firearm, but a weapon of exceptional make, judging from its extraordinary length. Murmurs stirred; speculation bloomed. Who exactly was this enigmatic figure?

With a cold expression, Xiao Feng approached Lin from behind. Across from them, Rice—clearly inebriated—noticed him and gave a drunken grin of mischief, waiting to see what would unfold.

Xiao Feng spoke coolly to the woman in Lin's lap:

"Get lost."

The woman looked up, startled. Xiao Feng's allure was even more arresting than Lin's. Where Lin carried a sly charm, Xiao Feng possessed a rare and unblemished purity. Her eyes wandered over him with unhidden interest.

"What's wrong, handsome? Care to join us?" she asked, unabashed.

Xiao Feng unsheathed the black alloy blade and pressed it lightly to her neck.

"Leave. Now. Or I'll kill you."

Startled, the woman scrambled out of Lin's arms, hastily pulling her clothes together.

"Freak... psycho..." she muttered, before rushing out of the tavern in disarray.

Lin met Xiao Feng's gaze. He knew he was furious—and with good reason. While Xiao Feng had risked life and limb outside, they had indulged in debauchery within. Lin, though capable of mischief, was no fool. He reached out with a laugh, trying to smooth things over.

"Ah, Xiao Feng, come now—what's with the long face? Come, have a drink."

"Damn it. I was nearly devoured out there by a monster, and you two are in here living it up. Screw this—your shares of the earnings? You're not getting a single coin."

Lin chuckled awkwardly. "Hey now, don't be like that. Rice and I were just killing time. Gotta find some fun where we can, right?"

Rice added, "It's just an E-rank core, isn't it? Not worth much anyway. Let it go."

Xiao Feng sneered. "An E-rank? Ha. You really have no idea."

His cryptic response made both men sit up.

"What do you mean?" Lin asked, narrowing his eyes.

"You didn't... you didn't actually kill that D-rank beast, did you?" Lin asked, the realization dawning.

With a faint, triumphant smile, Xiao Feng nodded. He reached into his pack and pulled out a cloth bundle. Without ceremony, he opened it before their eyes.

Inside lay a small green crystal—an E-rank core—and beside it, a dazzling orange-red shard: a D-rank magic core.

He smirked.

"Well? Ever seen a magic core that color before?"

Rice and Lin both stared in stunned silence.

"A D-rank core...?" Rice whispered, swallowing hard. He knew the value—tens of thousands of Alliance coins, at least. In the right hands, perhaps even a hundred thousand.

Xiao Feng watched their dumbfounded expressions with amusement, then casually stowed the cores back in his pack.

"All right then. Let's get going."

The three of them rose and moved toward the door.

But before they could step outside, several burly figures blocked their path. Each of the men was at least a head taller than Xiao Feng—and even more muscular than White or Turner.

Xiao Feng's lips curled into a crooked smile.

"What's this? Some kind of welcoming committee?"

The men's eyes gleamed with naked greed. One, clearly the leader, stepped forward.

"Outsiders carrying such valuable magic cores—how dare you show up in Sanctuary 57 without protection?"

Still smiling, Xiao Feng answered coolly,

"You think the likes of you can claim my magic core? What—were your brains flattened in the cradle?"

"Enough nonsense," the leader growled. "Hand it over, and we'll let you live." As he spoke, a semi-automatic pistol appeared in his hand, aimed straight at Xiao Feng.

At this range, such a weapon was deadly. If the trigger were held, all thirty rounds in the magazine could be unloaded in seconds—enough to kill even three awakened hunters.

But the man had chosen the wrong target.

With a blur of motion, Xiao Feng twisted his body. Before the thug could react, Xiao Feng had already seized the gun, pushing the muzzle downward. In the same moment, a surge of electricity erupted from his hand—crack!

The burly thug spasmed violently and crumpled to the floor, twitching uncontrollably.

The others raised their weapons—pistols, even submachine guns.

All around them, the tavern erupted in screams. If the thugs opened fire, the entire place would be reduced to rubble.