Chapter 422: Gift

The channel fell silent for a moment.

Someone posted "……".

Someone posted "?".

Someone else directly sent an emoji pack saying "Lao Da, are you serious?".

When the silence was broken, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

Undying War Wolf Soul's words were naturally tinged with a half‑joking tone, but behind the joke lay an unmistakable, bone‑deep sense of helplessness.

And… the one who said it was Undying War Wolf Soul.

He is the leader of Great Wall Watch! He is the core of the entire faction.

In any case, the joke is now somewhat untimely.

Undying War Wolf Soul also realized this, thought for a moment, and added in the group chat: "Don't say such dispiriting words. Black Feather is strong, and this time they indeed performed brilliantly, but Great Wall Watch hasn't yet reached the point where we need self‑mockery to maintain our dignity."

"Lao Da is right."

"Confirmed. Lao Da, I think what we should settle now is our future attitude toward Black Feather and Wu Ya. Although no one says it outright, we have indeed been rather dismissive when dealing with members of Black Feather."

The channel's atmosphere eased slightly because of Undying War Wolf Soul's serious addition, but immediately tightened again as the issue laid out in plain sight resurfaced.

Indeed, attitude.

This is not a joke; it's reality.

Black Feather rose too quickly and too dazzlingly, and those who consider themselves the official forces view them with some scrutiny, or watchfulness, even an unconscious contempt.

After all, the core of Black Feather is the person Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, unlike them who led a core team out of a sea of corpses and blood as a regular army.

But now, the regular troops are ravaged by a plague, while the rogue Black Feather has produced a lifesaving remedy and, in a way no one expected, firmly grasped the initiative.

This disparity's impact is far more painful than a single battlefield defeat.

The issues discussed over at Yanhuang are essentially the same as those here at Great Wall Watch.

Both factions fly the Long Guo official banner and have indeed been negotiating a merger lately, but both sides know they simply won't submit to each other; merging for now yields no result.

Yet in terms of face, neither can refuse, so during this period both sides have been handling those petty internal matters.

While sorting out those trivialities, both sides tacitly placed the rising variable Black Feather into a watch‑list category, even subconsciously harboring a hint of disdain toward the non‑orthodox.

Now, as it stands, Black Feather has become a crucial force that must be faced immediately and that requires us to adjust all strategies,

"Yanhuang over there… is probably scratching their head now."

"How about… we talk with Yanhuang again, to confirm our mutual stance?"

Undying War Wolf Soul watched the channel's final tentative proposal, his fingers Qing Qing tapping the tabletop, eyes flashing.

Talk again?

In the past, that was indeed a decent option, after all Yanhuang was almost an ally, while Black Feather was an outright outsider.

But now, the situation has changed.

Black Feather's importance now tops all other forces.

"No." Undying War Wolf Soul typed that word in the channel with absolute finality.

The channel fell silent again in an instant, and everyone was a bit stunned.

Not talk with Yanhuang? Then talk with whom? Could it be…

Undying War Wolf Soul's next words confirmed their speculation:

"Now talking with Yanhuang, about what? About how to jointly counter Black Feather? Or about how, under the new rules set by Black Feather, we preserve our pitiful face and authority?"

His tone carried a hint of self‑mockery, but more so clarity and resolve.

"You all have seen what Black Feather is doing now. They are handing out tickets to every player on the server—a ticket to survive. Given that, do you think the power‑struggle between us and Yanhuang still matters?"

"If we now rush to band together with Yanhuang, we only send a signal to the outside, especially to Black Feather and Wu Ya: that we are scared, that we are forming a self‑preservation alliance, that we treat Black Feather as a wary outsider or even opponent."

"That is exactly opposite to what Wu Ya is doing now, because Black Feather is strengthening our internal identity within Long Guo. If we truly act that way, we will completely lose the initiative and be wholly excluded from the new order she is building."

"Then Lao Da, you mean…" someone asked cautiously.

"Our stance must now be made clear to Black Feather, to Wu Ya himself."

Undying War Wolf Soul said word for word, "And it must be swift, sincere, and demonstrate genuine respect and willingness to cooperate. As for Yanhuang… they aren't fools; seeing our actions, they'll naturally know what to do."

"Lao Da, should I contact Black Feather?" someone immediately asked in the channel, voice urgent.

That person is considered the diplomat of Great Wall Watch, handling almost all external liaison affairs.

And this time…

"No, I will." Undying War Wolf Soul replied decisively.

The channel fell silent again for a moment.

Lao Da… coming in person?

What does that mean?

It means Great Wall Watch not only must adjust its strategic attitude toward Black Feather, but also, at the highest level, have its leader personally make the ice‑breaking contact.

This is the highest specification, also the most direct signal.

"Lao Da, would this… make us seem too…"

Otherwise people are hesitant, fearing that a too‑low posture would sacrifice dignity.

"Too what? Too eager? Too humble?" Undying War Wolf Soul retorted, sending a voice message, his tone even tinged with a frustration like iron that won't become steel: "Now is not the time to fuss over superficial appearances. Black Feather holds the lifeline, the people's hearts. If we lag even one step, we may fall behind at every turn. Yanhuang seeing us contact privately might think we're swift, but if I go personally, the meaning is entirely different."

He paused, then continued: "I will tell Wu Ya, and tell everyone, that Great Wall Watch has recognized the situation and possesses enough courage and sincerity to adapt to the new landscape. This is not humility; it is pragmatism, and also… confidence."

"We have our own foundation and value, but we also acknowledge and respect the advantages Black Feather currently holds, which we cannot replace for now."

These words gave the channel's core members a jolt, instantly stirring a complex wave of emotions.

There was admiration for the leader's decisiveness, lament over the sudden shift in circumstances, but more than anything, a clarity awakened by the revelation.

Indeed, true strength is not clinging to past glory, but seeing reality clearly and decisively making the choices most beneficial for the future.

"Understood, boss!" The members immediately replied: "Do you need me to prepare anything?"

"No need to prepare anything," Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie replied: "But we must first do one thing."

The members in the channel immediately perked up their ears.

"Black Feather is currently unrivaled in fame, but that also makes it the time when it attracts the most resentment."

Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie analyzed: "Especially those players from other major regions who are discriminated against and have to spend an extra three hundred Game Coins, as well as those forces that have always disliked our Long Guo region. They dare not act openly, but behind the scenes they will surely find a way to trip up Black Feather."

"Listen to me," Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie's tone turned into an order: "Immediately dispatch two elite reconnaissance and anti-infiltration squads, under the pretense of voluntarily assisting in maintaining order, temporarily hand them over to Wu Ya's command, letting her direct them!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the group chat sucked in a breath of cold air.

This... this is no longer a simple gesture of goodwill or a cooperative stance!

This is directly handing over our own elite forces, like tribute, into the opponent's hands!

Lending them out is easy, getting them back is hard.

Once these two squads enter the Black Feather Safe Zone and obey Wu Ya's commands, it means the Great Wall Guard has completely relinquished its initiative in this matter, even temporarily ceding part of its military command authority to Black Feather.

This posture is no longer merely lowering oneself; it is almost a declaration of submission.

"Boss! This... this is absolutely not allowed!" The member in charge of military command was the first to jump out and oppose, his voice trembling with urgency: "How many elite squads do we even have? You want to send away two at once? No! Absolutely not! Handing them over to Black Feather, what if..."

"What if what?" Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie's voice turned cold: "What if they are detained by Black Feather? Or what if they suffer an accident while carrying out the mission and are lost in Wu Ya's hands?"

He didn't wait for a reply, continuing: "What I want is exactly this 'what if'! I want Wu Ya to see that our Great Wall Guard's cooperative attitude is one of unreserved trust! We are handing over our sharpest blade to her, hilt toward her, blade outward! This carries more weight than any empty congratulatory message or promise!"

"As for the risk..." Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie paused, his tone carrying a cruel clarity: "Of course there is risk. But you must understand, we are not negotiating with an opponent of equal strength; we are courting an emerging core power! Conventional diplomatic means are no longer enough; we must stake heavily!"

"These two squads are our stake! They not only represent our military sincerity, but also serve as a pair of eyes and ears. Wu Ya can use them to clear troubles within the safe zone, and we can, through them, more directly understand Black Feather's operational model, crisis response capability, and... Wu Ya's methods and breadth!"

"If Wu Ya accepts and makes good use of them, it shows she indeed has the capacity to tolerate others and is worthy of deep cooperation. If she refuses, or uses them to undertake suicidal missions... we can also gain early insight into certain things and adjust our strategy in time. Regardless of the outcome, for us this is an extremely valuable intelligence investment!"

These words caused the opposing voices in the channel to instantly weaken.

Only then did everyone realize that behind Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie's seemingly impulsive and even humiliating decision lay a profound calculation.

This is not mere dedication, but an active advance wrapped with probing, investment, and high-stakes gambling!

"But boss, the members of the elite squads are all proud and high-spirited elites. Having them take orders from an outsider, possibly even a hillbilly leader, I fear they will harbor resentment, causing their execution of orders to be compromised, which would backfire."

"Then tell them the truth!" Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie said firmly: "Select the most loyal, most obedient to orders, and strongest in overall perspective members."

"Before departure, I will personally conduct the mission briefing. Clearly tell them that this mission concerns the survival and status of the Great Wall Guard in the future landscape! They are not going to be mercenaries; they are going to be the vanguard, the spearhead for the Great Wall Guard to forge the future! Every one of their actions will represent the face and future of the Great Wall Guard!"

"I trust my troops!" Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie's voice resonated powerfully: "As long as they understand the strategic significance of the mission, they will overcome any personal emotion and perfectly execute the orders! Because they are our Long Guo's soldiers!"

The channel fell silent again, but this time the silence brewed not shock and opposition, but a solemn and mission-driven feeling infected and ignited by the leader's resolve and vision.

Orders were swiftly carried out.

Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie closed the group chat, standing alone in the command room, his gaze deep.

"Black Feather... Wu Ya..."

He murmured softly, the corner of his mouth curling into a complex arc: "I have sent my finest blade into your hands; now it's up to you how to use it. But... don't let me down."

"What is this?"

Cheng Shuili looked at the twelve people before her, filled with astonishment.

They wore uniform combat attire, well-equipped, eyes sharp as hawks, posture straight as pines—clearly veterans who had served for several years.

At this moment they stood in the lobby on the first floor of Black Feather's territory, standing out conspicuously.

The leader was a man with the ID Shan Lan; he stepped forward, gave Cheng Shuili a standard, neat military salute, and said in a low voice:

"Report! The First and Third Reconnaissance and Anti-Infiltration Squads directly under the Great Wall Guard, acting on the orders of our leader Zhan Lang Hun Bu Mie, have come to report to Commander Wu Ya! The squads total twelve members, all present, ready at any moment! Requesting instructions!"

His voice was loud and clear, each word distinct, echoing in the somewhat noisy hall.

At first, passing Black Feather players were merely attracted by their posture and movements, but upon hearing this, their expressions immediately changed; the players who had been busy stopped what they were doing, gathering one by one behind Cheng Shuili.

Cheng Shuili herself merely paused, then abruptly turned her head to look at the guilty-looking Guang Hui, asking: "Is this the gift you said the Great Wall Guard sent?"

Guang Hui shrank his neck under her stare, muttering softly: "I... I actually haven't checked the list yet... the Great Wall Guard side only said there was special support; who knew they'd directly send people over... no wonder I asked for twelve passes, I found it strange."

In short, he approved the passes without even clarifying what the gift was.

It seems Guang Hui has been too busy lately, busy to the point of being somewhat muddle-headed.

This really isn't something she, as the boss, should be doing—how can she assign so many tasks to her subordinates?

Look, she doesn't even know how to use the permissions.

Now, if she doesn't take back the permissions, what else can she do?