186: Chapter 186 What Does Skin Matter?

Qi Yun waited idly at the base of the hill near the outpost with some of the girls.

Chen Xiaolin squatted on the ground counting ants, finally unable to help complaining when she reached the hundredth one:

"Qi Bao, where's the 'Ninja EXP Gift Pack' you mentioned? They didn't get lost, did they?"

"What's the rush? Just wait a bit longer."

Qi Yun folded his arms, looking into the distance.

Before he could finish his sentence, a series of messy footsteps approached from afar.

They're here!

Qi Yun's spirits lifted, and the girls also put away their lazy postures, their gazes becoming sharp.

However, when the group of figures emerged through the thin mist and into view, Qi Yun and the girls were stunned.

There were quite a lot of them, a dense black mass of at least a hundred people. They were all wearing dark gray clothing, likely members of the Shadow Flow Tribe.

But they weren't in a combat formation, nor were they using stealth; they just walked over openly and boldly.

More strangely, there was no murderous intent on their faces; instead, they wore expressions of respect.

Leading them was a lean-faced middle-aged man.

He led the group to a halt ten meters in front of Qi Yun and the others, his gaze fixing on Qi Yun:

"Are you Chief Qi Yun of the Returner Tribe?"

Qi Yun raised an eyebrow, that bad feeling coming back to him.

But he still nodded. Holding onto the last hope that "maybe a fight will break out," he spoke in what he thought was his most punchable tone:

"Yeah, that would be your grandpa here. What's this? Bringing so many people—are you here to perform a mass seppuku for me, or to beg for mercy on your knees? You little pieces of trash."

He deliberately emphasized the words "little pieces of trash," full of provocation.

However, the expected rage and drawing of blades did not happen.

"Thud!"

A dull sound echoed.

The leading middle-aged man, along with the hundred members of the Shadow Flow Tribe behind him, simultaneously and with perfect form, gave a deep bow in Qi Yun's direction!

They bent ninety degrees at the waist, their attitude incredibly respectful!

"Chief Qi Yun! Previously, someone in our Tribe was blind and spoke arrogantly, offending you!"

"We have investigated and punished them severely! We have brought them here specifically to apologize! Please, in your great magnanimity, forgive our ignorant offense!"

The middle-aged man's voice was loud and his tone sincere. After speaking, he straightened up and waved a hand behind him.

Two burly men dressed as ninjas immediately dragged out a man from the group. He was tied up tightly, gagged with a rag, and his face was swollen like a pig's head, making it almost impossible to recognize him. They threw him in front of the group.

Qi Yun looked closely. Could this be the guy who told him to wait in the channel?

The pig-faced man hit the ground, making muffled "wuwu" sounds. His eyes were filled with fear and pleading as he desperately kowtowed toward Qi Yun.

Qi Yun: "..."

The EXP pack... Before the fight even started, it had unwrapped itself and even included an apology letter and the "responsible party"?

"Chief Qi Yun, we have already taught this person a harsh lesson!"

The middle-aged man bowed again, his attitude humble to the extreme.

Looking at the trembling pig-faced man on the ground and the "polite" ninjas before him, Qi Yun felt incredibly frustrated.

No! I can't let it go just like this! How can I let the EXP that's already at my mouth fly away?

Qi Yun took a deep breath, trying to make himself look more overbearing. He stepped forward and snorted:

"Hmph! An apology?"

"You've come to apologize empty-handed?"

"I'm very unhappy! The consequences will be severe! I'm going to flip—"

Before the word "out" could even leave his mouth, the middle-aged leader's eyes sharpened, and he suddenly clapped his hands!

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of the clap echoed.

Immediately after, there was a commotion at the back of the Shadow Flow group.

Dozens of ninjas carried over a dozen heavy crates, jogging to the front of the group.

They stacked the crates neatly in front of Qi Yun, then with a "click," opened the lids simultaneously!

In an instant, jewels glittered, and energy mist rose!

The crates were filled with various rare materials, scrolls, and quite a few pieces of high-quality equipment!

The rest of Qi Yun's sentence got stuck in his throat, his eyes widening slightly.

Good grief, the apology gifts are this generous?

The middle-aged leader bowed again, his tone even more respectful:

"A small token of our appreciation, nothing much. Consider it a way to calm Chief Qi Yun's nerves and as an apology! Please accept them!"

Qi Yun looked at the dozen-plus crates of supplies and then at the Shadow Flow members, whose attitude was as low as the dirt. For a moment, he was speechless.

This made him feel awkward about continuing to cause trouble.

Their apology was sincere, their punishment of the "culprit" was decisive, and the gifts were generous enough. They had practically mastered the art of "backing down."

But he still wasn't ready to give up!

EXP! Leveling up! How could he let the duck that's already in his mouth... no, the EXP pack, be cashed in this way?

Qi Yun pulled a long face and pointed at the pig-headed Hattori on the ground, continuing to pick a fight:

"Supplies are supplies, but face is face!"

"He made me lose face in front of so many people in the channel. Can a few items just make that go away?"

"Where am I supposed to put my pride? Where is the dignity of our Returner Tribe?"

Hearing this, a look of "as expected" flashed across the middle-aged leader's face.

He looked up and said solemnly, "Chief Qi Yun, please open the Regional Chat Channel and take another look."

Qi Yun was taken aback, suspicious, but he opened the Regional Channel as requested.

One look, and he was even more bewildered.

The Regional Channel was being flooded by a wall of messages from members of the Shadow Flow Tribe!

[Shadow Flow Tribe - A]: "Chief Qi Yun of the Returner Tribe is mighty! The Returner Tribe is number one in the world! We of Shadow Flow are trash! Sewer rats! Frogs at the bottom of a well!"

[Shadow Flow Tribe - B]: "Lu Chun was blind to offend the heavenly might; he deserves ten thousand deaths! All of us in Shadow Flow offer our most sincere apologies to the Returner Tribe!"

[Shadow Flow Tribe - C]: "The heroes of the Returner Tribe are all as beautiful as goddesses and possess peerless strength; they are beings we will forever look up to!"

[Shadow Flow Tribe - D]: "Our Shadow Flow Tribe is full of useless trash from top to bottom! We're spineless cowards! A disgrace to the world of ninjutsu! We aren't even worthy of carrying the Returner Tribe's shoes!"

...

Each message went to extremes in self-deprecation and sucking up to the Returner Tribe. The language was so cheesy and the attitude so humble that even Qi Yun, the "victim," couldn't help but get goosebumps.

The frequency of the messages was extremely high, turning the entire channel into a "Shadow Flow Confession Session."

What was even more incredible was that people from other Tribes in the channel—those cowards from before—were now jumping out to watch the show and post mocking comments:

[Skull-Cracker Tribe - Skullcrusher]: "Yo, you softies from Shadow Flow, you know how to be afraid now? Where was this energy earlier? (picks nose)"

[Bone-Crusher Tribe - Spinebreaker]: "Tsk tsk, this apology statement is so full of emotion, it's almost pitiful. (eats popcorn)"

[Ironjaw Tribe - Ironchewer]: "Shadow Flow guys, remember to carve the word 'Trash' on your Tribe's main gate and recite it three times every morning, noon, and night. (smirk)"

[Fengchuan Tribe]: "Sigh, if you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? (lights candle)"

The people of Shadow Flow ignored the mockery and continued to frantically spam apologies and praise.

They had an attitude of "as long as Chief Qi Yun can vent his anger, what does our pride matter?"