Chapter 545: Full of Sincerity

A Jiu's voice had just finished, and the other Black Feather member who had been standing beside him stepped forward.

They also had red eyes, clenched fists, clearly had struggled for a long time before taking this step, "Lao Da! I'm also! Black Feather is my home, I will never let anyone destroy this home!"

"I'm also! Lao Da! I'm also!"

"And me too, Lao Da! And me!"

"What's ten million? Can ten million Game Coins give me food every day, a place to live, and family to be with me?"

The Black Feather member's voice grew louder; though his eyes were red, his tone was full of stubbornness.

"When I entered this world, I knew nothing, had nothing; it was you, Lao Da, who believed in me! It was Black Feather that gave me a home! Now someone wants to destroy this home, and if I waver because of ten million, am I still a person?!"

After he finished, his chest rose and fell violently, clearly these words had been bottled up for a long time.

"Exactly, Lao Da!"

"We're not afraid of death, we're only afraid of having no home!"

"Ten million, impressive? I don't care!"

"I don't care either! I'll stay in Black Feather, I'll follow Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji!"

Cheng Shuili stood in place, watching the faces that gathered around. Young, stubborn, eyes red yet desperately holding back tears.

A Jiu, the member who spoke first, the one who just shouted "What's ten million", and the others behind who echoed in turn—

Some she knew, some she had only met a few times, some she couldn't even name.

But their gazes at her were the same now.

Trust, reliance, and that resolute willingness to entrust their lives.

Cheng Shuili suddenly didn't know what to say.

She stood there, surrounded by those gazes, her throat feeling as if something blocked it.

The feeling was very unfamiliar.

Before arriving in the Road World, she had lived over twenty years, accustomed to being alone, relying on herself for everything, used to owing no one and letting no one owe her.

After arriving in the Road World, she built a force, recruited members, and became Lao Da.

But she always felt this was merely an exchange of interests. She gave members protection, members gave her their lives.

Fair trade, no one owed anyone.

But at this moment, the way A Jiu and the others looked at her told her it wasn't like that.

For them, it wasn't a transaction.

It was a family.

Cheng Shuili's throat moved; she wanted to say something—"I understand," "Thank you," "I won't disappoint you."

But the words reached her mouth, then she swallowed them back.

She only felt those words didn't match those gazes.

Cheng Shuili stood there, silent for a few seconds, before finally speaking.

"If you need any supplies, report to the logistics team. If weapons are insufficient, see Ailin. If anyone bullies you, tell Xinxue."

Her voice was calm, no different from usual; after a pause she added, "Black Feather won't fall. I won't die either."

After speaking, Cheng Shuili no longer watched their expressions, turned and walked back, steps neither fast nor slow, just as usual.

But she knew the gazes behind her still lingered on her.

After washing up, Cheng Shuili finally lay on the bed and closed her eyes.

Even the most comfortable place couldn't calm her thoughts.

A Jiu's words, that member's words, and the overlapping "I'm also."

What's ten million?

Can ten million give me a home?

Cheng Shuili still kept her eyes closed, but the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

She had always thought she gave these people protection.

But now she suddenly realized that these people also gave her a home.

Cheng Shuili opened her eyes and looked out the window.

The night was still thick, but those few streetlights remained on, casting small patches of dim yellow light on the ground.

The lights seemed a bit brighter than before.

……

Thursday, a bright sunny day.

When Cheng Shuili opened her eyes, sunlight had already slipped through the car window cracks, cutting a bright line across the bed.

She stared at that line for a few seconds, then slowly sat up.

The private message notification sounds filled the air; she read them one by one.

Xinxue sent good news: the matter discussed yesterday had already been settled.

She, as Cheng Shuili instructed, delivered the message to the New Federation's leader Adams; now she just had to wait patiently for Adams's response.

Ailin also sent good news; halfway through the week, she followed the usual routine to report the Guard Team's training to Cheng Shuili, and everyone's progress was fine.

Besides that, there was a selfie.

The bandage on Ailin's wound had been removed; this person seemed to know only one pose, still flashing a "yeah" to the camera.

Cheng Shuili let out a dumbfounded laugh.

Coincidentally, Wan Yi asked if she was awake; after Cheng Shuili replied, a steaming bowl of breakfast was delivered, still in Cheng Shuili's exclusive golden rice bowl.

At this moment, the golden bowl was filled with steaming porridge, a few slices of meat atop it, and two side dishes beside it.

Cheng Shuili lifted the bowl and took a sip.

The warm liquid slid into her stomach, and she felt a bit more comfortable.

She sipped the porridge while continuing to scroll through her private messages.

When she reached the third message, Cheng Shuili froze.

The sender's ID was Adams.

Although she had anticipated it, Cheng Shuili still felt a slight surprise at the other's speed.

She opened the chat window, and the message came into view.

【Adams】: Wuya Dalao, I'm truly sorry for contacting you so late. I only learned last night about the stabbing of your subordinate; it turns out people from the New Federation were also involved…

He wrote earnestly for over two thousand characters, and Cheng Shuili, after reading the whole thing, extracted only a few key pieces of information.

First, the incident was indeed carried out by Mingri, but it has nothing to do with the New Federation.

Second, they have already detained Mingri; their people are pressing Mingri for the reason behind the act, but no conclusion has been reached yet.

Third, Adams hopes the matter ends here, so as not to affect the relationship between the two forces, and he subtly expressed a desire to cooperate with Black Feather. Moreover, from his words it seems that Yanchan, Great Wall Watch and other factions have long coveted the privileged access in the safe zone.

Adams' move can be described as full of sincerity, but sincerity aside, the matter is not that simple.

If Mingri dies, it becomes a headless case; the New Federation could shift all responsibility onto a dead man, pay a sum of supplies, utter a few flattering words, and consider the matter closed.

But Mingri did not die.

Not only did he not die, he is still being interrogated.

What does this mean?

It means the New Federation is willing to give Black Feather an answer, and it means Adams truly came with sincerity; he does not want a rift with Black Feather.

Cheng Shuili is very satisfied with this outcome, and it was not in vain that she asked Xinxue to go around the bend to remind Adams.