"What?" The robed man couldn't believe his ears. He had exhausted his words laying out the pros and cons for this person, only to receive such an answer in return.
This was truly hard for him to accept.
None of this has anything to do with you? Didn't you hear what I said before? The more talented you are, the more dangerous it is to stay in Giant Pharmaceuticals. Do you want to end up mysteriously disappearing like those other geniuses before you?…
The robed man's expression shifted between uncertainty and anger, utterly unable to fathom what was going through Feng Lin's mind.
Seeing their respected leader repeatedly humbled, the Snake Man, who had been watching from the side, could no longer hold back. He shouted angrily, "You brat, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Our captain is trying to help you out of kindness, yet you—"
"Watch out!" At that moment, the robed man's face suddenly changed drastically.
Boom!
The Snake Man was in the middle of his loud reprimand when he was struck speechless the next instant. An invisible fist force tore through the air.
It felt as if a massive mountain had slammed into his chest. His body flew sideways like a torn sandbag, crashing heavily to the ground. He curled up in pain, writhing in agony.
At such close range, even the robed man couldn't react in time, forced to watch helplessly as his subordinate was knocked down with a single punch.
A flash of anger appeared on his face. This person was utterly unreasonable.
But thinking of the formidable combat power of the one who struck and his own goals ahead, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
A small impatience ruins a great plan!
The middle-aged robed man took deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly. His eyes fixed on his nose, his nose on his heart, as if he hadn't witnessed the scene just now.
Feng Lin slowly withdrew his fist, standing still with a blank expression, as if the one who had struck wasn't him at all—merely swatting away an annoyingly persistent fly.
Feng Lin's voice turned icy, his murderous intent resurfacing as he warned, "Don't keep provoking me. Know that my patience has limits. Next time, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
Then he turned coldly to the robed man and said, "I won't get involved in your Mars Revolutionary Army's affairs. Joining you to fight against Giant Pharmaceuticals and the Solar System United Government is just your method. I don't trust anyone. I'll only hold my fate in my own hands."
Feng Lin spoke decisively, leaving no room for compromise.
He saw it clearly: wherever there are people, there are conflicts.
The internal situation of the Mars Revolutionary Army was definitely not as rosy as this man claimed.
If he, an outsider from Earth, joined, he wouldn't garner much attention or become a core member.
Wasn't it the same with him at Giant Pharmaceuticals?
On the surface, he had joined the core R&D department, yet weren't many things still hidden from him?
So why should he join the Mars Revolutionary Army?
No matter how grand their slogans sounded, what did it have to do with him? Feng Lin had no desire to become a high-level cannon fodder!
Hearing Feng Lin's warning, the robed man looked deeply puzzled and said gravely, "Are you really willing to stay inside there? One day, you'll die without even knowing how. Only by joining our revolutionary army can you have the greatest safety!"
But unfortunately, Feng Lin didn't see it that way. "Whether this matter is true or false, words alone prove nothing. I'll investigate it myself. No need for you to trouble yourselves!"
"Why? Joining us gives you everyone's help, far better than fighting alone!" The robed man wouldn't give up, pleading earnestly.
Feng Lin, however, raised a hand to stop him from continuing. "Enough said! It's simple: I don't trust you! No matter how much you say, it's useless! I will never join your revolutionary army!"
With that, he turned and walked away without lingering.
"Wait—" The robed man tried to speak again.
But Feng Lin moved so swiftly that he instantly widened the distance, as if unwilling to stay a moment longer.
The robed man couldn't get another word out, watching him leave.
Failure!
He couldn't help but sigh. This time, he didn't forcefully stop him.
He had said everything that needed to be said. Feng Lin remained unmoved, his mind made up. More words were useless.
Still, he made one last attempt to hold him back. "If you ever change your mind, you can contact me. I'm Luke, captain of the Mars Revolutionary Army's Iron Blood Combat Squad!"
With that, he sent over a piece of contact information.
Feng Lin didn't pause or respond, not even acknowledging whether he received the message. He quickly vanished from Luke's sight.
Luke let out a deep sigh.
This recruitment attempt was a complete failure.
Trying to persuade a hard-hearted person with words was far too difficult!
But the Snake Man didn't see it that way. With the menace gone, the pressure on his mind eased, and he said with schadenfreude, "Captain, that kid doesn't know what's good for him. Our revolutionary army took an interest in him, and he doesn't appreciate it. An Earthling joining Giant Pharmaceuticals—he'll die without knowing how."
He snorted coldly, staring at Feng Lin's retreating figure with icy eyes, as if looking at a dead man.
Having suffered so much at Feng Lin's hands before, he had thoroughly come to hate him.
"Enough!" The robed man barked sharply.
"Captain!" The Snake Man's eyes widened, unsure what he had said wrong to earn the captain's rebuke.
"Snake Man, you've always been a genius apprentice in our revolutionary army, just one step away from becoming a cultivator. That's why you're arrogant and refuse to yield to anyone. But do you know that there's always someone better? The universe is vast, geniuses emerge endlessly, and there will always be those whose talent surpasses your imagination. Today, because of your recklessness, we nearly ended up in a death trap!" The robed man scolded, his voice cold.
The Snake Man was startled, realizing that his usually domineering captain's back was drenched in cold sweat without him noticing. Could that kid really put that much pressure on the captain?
"If it weren't for the fact that he wanted the ancient martial art Kunlun Great Hand Seal today and had no killing intent, I might have escaped, but you would definitely have been left here! From now on, you must restrain your temper and stop stirring up trouble. Remember, Feng Lin is only 17, younger than you, yet he's already a true interstellar cultivator, with combat power far exceeding his peers." The robed man warned coldly. "You need to understand: only the victor has the right to judge others. No matter how sharp the loser's words, they're just barking dogs."
As a renowned genius apprentice in the revolutionary army, he had never been so harshly scolded by his captain before.
The Snake Man's face flushed red, deeply resentful. I'm just one step away from becoming an interstellar cultivator; when I do, I won't necessarily lose to him.
He dared not oppose his respected captain, so he directed his anger at Feng Lin, saying grudgingly, "There's no need to court him like that. You're overrating him! He's just a cultivator. Our revolutionary army has plenty of interstellar cultivators—one more or less doesn't matter. And he's an Earthling, completely untrustworthy."
"Not at all!" The robed man shook his head vigorously. "There may be many interstellar cultivators, but those who can work in Giant Pharmaceuticals' R&D department are extremely rare. The R&D department is Giant Pharmaceuticals' core division, and we've never succeeded in planting anyone there. If we could recruit Feng Lin, it would be like driving a nail into the heart of Giant Pharmaceuticals, greatly benefiting the organization! And his Earthling identity is perfect—Giant Pharmaceuticals would never suspect an Earthling of being one of our Mars Revolutionary Army members, greatly increasing security and secrecy. Unfortunately, he didn't agree!"
With that, he shook his head, full of regret.
Ignoring the Snake Man's dismissive expression, the robed man gazed into the distance where Feng Lin had gone, his eyes deep and thoughtful. But then, as if struck by an idea, a faint smile inexplicably appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Though the recruitment had failed, it wasn't without gain.
He still held onto one last hope.
He wouldn't join the Mars Revolutionary Army, but they could still cooperate temporarily for a common purpose.
Right?