Command with confidence

Everyone was slightly startled and looked toward Long Chen. The man who had patted Long Chen on the shoulder earlier asked, "Wei San, why is your voice so hoarse?"

Long Chen's heart stirred. It seemed this guy took him for one of his subordinates, which made him feel much more at ease. He hurriedly said, "I got stung just now too. It hurt like hell, so I screamed until my throat went hoarse."

As soon as Long Chen finished speaking, someone immediately chimed in, "Isn't that the truth? I got hit in the thigh, and it's killing me."

His voice was even hoarser. They estimated that the guys who had been howling the whole time might not even be able to speak once they woke up.

There was no other way; that kind of pain could only be understood by those who had experienced it. No matter how tough you were, it was useless. Only by screaming madly could you release that agony, otherwise, you would go crazy.

Qi Xin waved his hand, stopping everyone's complaints, and said to Long Chen, "You are called Wei San?"

"Yes."

"Tell me your method. If we successfully obtain the honey, I will record you as having made the top contribution, and there will be no shortage of rewards for you," Qi Xin encouraged.

"Actually, this method is very simple. Bees are generally afraid of fire, but flames will enrage them. However, thick smoke can soothe them, causing them to calm down and lose their instinct to sting," Long Chen continued, his voice still hoarse.

Long Chen was also a bit nervous inside, fearing that Qi Xin might recognize his voice. However, at this moment, Qi Xin had his mind entirely on the Jade Butterfly Bees and didn't notice Long Chen's voice at all.

Moreover, since the man had called Long Chen 'Wei San' earlier, he felt relieved and was instead more interested in Long Chen's method.

"Will this work?" Qi Xin couldn't help but feel a bit doubtful again.

"It should be feasible. I remember that when farmers steal wild honey, they seem to use this kind of method," the man familiar with "Wei San" said, his eyes lighting up.

"Good, then let's try it. Let's go, we're going back." Qi Xin nodded; trying it out was fine too.

"Big Brother Qi, what should we do about these people?" Someone pointed to the people on the ground who had been knocked unconscious.

"Useless trash, unable to succeed at anything but good at ruining things. As for the guy who messed up first, tell him to get lost as soon as he wakes up. Leave one person behind to watch them. Let's go." Qi Xin cursed and led the group quietly back to the Jade Butterfly Bee hive.

Having learned from the painful lesson last time, no one dared to be careless anymore, and everyone was on high alert.

"How should we use the smoke to attack?" Qi Xin asked Long Chen.

Now that Qi Xin treated Long Chen as his trusted subordinate, many were filled with envy. This kid had such good luck; he just came up with one idea and was already being valued.

"For safety, we should retreat half a mile and use some wood with high moisture content to start a fire. That way, the smoke will be very thick. Everyone should fan it together to send the thick smoke to the hive. I believe it will take effect in half an hour," Long Chen said.

"Good, I'll listen to you. I'll leave this matter to you; you arrange it. All of you, come here. Whatever Wei San tells you to do, you do it," Qi Xin shouted to the crowd.

Long Chen was amused inside. Good heavens, he'd been promoted so quickly: "You, you, and you, go cut down trees. Remember, they must be live trees; the lusher the branches and leaves, the better."

"That big dummy, don't just stand there. Go collect some dry firewood for the base fire, otherwise, we won't be able to light those fresh branches and leaves."

"As for the rest of you, everyone go make yourselves a large cattail leaf fan. Since there are small trees everywhere here, I believe that won't be a problem for you."

"Remember, we are a team. At this time, don't think too highly of yourselves. We must work together to take this hive for Big Brother Qi. Does everyone have confidence?" Speaking to the end, Long Chen roared with his hoarse voice.

The group rolled their eyes. This guy had just gotten an opportunity and was already acting like a tiger using a fox's power. But they didn't dare not to answer because Qi Xin was there. Even if it was just acting, they had to perform, even though they hated Wei San to death in their hearts.

"We do!"

"Why is your voice so small? I can't hear you. Do you or don't you?" Long Chen shouted.

"We do!"

Now everyone was so angry they were going crazy. What was the meaning of a petty person getting ahead? Long Chen had acted out this phrase to the fullest. They turned their anger into strength and responded loudly.

Qi Xin nodded, feeling that this Wei San actually had some skills. With a few words, he had adjusted the atmosphere of the group. He was indeed a talent worth utilizing.

However, what Qi Xin didn't know was that what had been stirred up wasn't the 'atmosphere' but 'anger.' Each one of them was gnashing their teeth in rage, cursing Wei San to death.

However, despite their resentment, the work still had to be done, and it had to be done well. This was a real headache for this group of pampered Geniuses.

"Hey, what are you doing? I told you to find dry firewood, why did you bring back all dead wood? Where is the kindling for starting the fire? Without kindling, what are we supposed to use to light it? And you, the dry wood hasn't even been laid down yet, why are you putting the wet wood on the ground? Do you know how to start a fire?…

,

Long Chen commanded the crowd with great authority. It had to be said that with Qi Xin there, no matter how Long Chen scolded them, they dared not speak up, which gave Long Chen a great sense of satisfaction.

Long Chen suddenly remembered—the person who had patted him on the shoulder wasn't that the same person who had made him kneel and apologize to his brother?

Because everyone was wearing helmets, he hadn't recognized him, but after hearing his voice so much, he finally remembered.

"You, go light the fire," Long Chen said, patting the man on the shoulder.

The man's expression changed immediately. This kid was simply too excessive. No matter what, he was a favorite in front of Qi Xin, yet he was being ordered around like a dog.

However, getting angry at this time was clearly unwise and would annoy Qi Xin, so he had to swallow his anger.

He secretly swore in his heart that once this matter was over, he would definitely teach this Wei San a lesson and let him know how to behave.

A fire pile over a zhang high rose up, the flames reaching the sky. Long Chen ordered people to throw fresh branches and leaves onto the fire, and suddenly, thick smoke billowed.

"Start fanning!"

Following Long Chen's command, everyone had no choice but to honestly wave the cattail fans they had woven themselves. Dozens of people fanned together, and because they were all Blood Condensation Realm experts, the fanning effect was astonishing.

The billowing thick smoke was sent straight into the Jade Butterfly Bee hive. Long Chen kept ordering people to throw fresh branches onto the fire to keep the smoke constant.

A quarter of an hour later, the buzzing sound in everyone's ears gradually lessened, and the Jade Butterfly Bees that had originally been flying around in the sky gradually decreased.

"It's working!"

Seeing this, Qi Xin couldn't help but be overjoyed. This proved that Long Chen's method was effective.

"Should we go over and take a look now?" Qi Xin asked.

Long Chen shook his head and said, "Not yet. We need at least half an hour to smoke these Jade Butterfly Bees until they lose consciousness and become numb. If we want to be absolutely safe, it's best to smoke them for a full hour."

"Good, then we'll smoke them for a full hour." Qi Xin now completely trusted Long Chen. Seeing the honey about to be in his hands, he couldn't help but be extremely excited.

A full hour later, the group quietly approached the hive and discovered that on the ground near the hive, densely packed Jade Butterfly Bees were constantly wriggling, but they seemed to have been smoked unconscious and were not attacking anyone.

"Let's go, let's go check the hive."

Qi Xin was overjoyed and led his people toward the hive.

"Big Brother Qi, there might still be danger inside the hive. Let me take the lead and go check it out first," Qi Xin's capable subordinate hurriedly said.

He had been ordered around by Long Chen earlier and had been bottling up a belly full of anger. Now that there was a ready-made opportunity to perform a meritorious service, he naturally wouldn't let it go, lest this Wei San become more and more favored.

After speaking, that person flew out. As soon as he left, a dozen or so shrewd people immediately followed him.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of Long Chen's mouth. He didn't speak, just followed behind Qi Xin, slowly walking forward.

When Long Chen and the others were still dozens of zhang away from the hive, suddenly an exclamation came from the front, followed by an explosion.

Everyone was startled. Looking forward, they saw the people who had just entered the hive flying out in a sorry state.

"Bang!"

With an explosion, a wave of air erupted. One person had a long saber in his hand and slashed directly forward, but was knocked flying far away.

At this moment, four behemoths crawled out of the Jade Butterfly Bee hive. Those giant Jade Butterfly Bees, nearly a zhang long, rushed straight toward the crowd.

"It's the Jade Butterfly Bee Queen!"

Qi Xin was both shocked and delighted. Such size and such Aura indicated that these Jade Butterfly Bees had already advanced to the second-rank Demonic Beast level, which meant there was a very high probability that Jade Butterfly Bee Royal Jelly existed in this hive.

"Everyone attack, kill the Jade Butterfly Bee Queens!"

Qi Xin shouted loudly, commanding everyone to attack the Jade Butterfly Bee Queens. The Bee Queens were exceptionally strong, their bodies as hard as iron. When blades and swords struck them, sparks flew everywhere, yet they couldn't cause any effective damage.

"Use battle skills!"

Seeing that everyone's ordinary attacks were ineffective, Qi Xin shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, everyone roared and unleashed a violent Aura. Beams of light shot directly toward the Jade Butterfly Bee Queens.

It had to be said that although these people were all pampered clan Disciples, their combat power was extremely strong.

The four Jade Butterfly Bee Queens couldn't withstand it either. Under the group bombardment, they were instantly blasted into slag.

The killing of the four Jade Butterfly Bee Queens made everyone extremely excited. Qi Xin laughed heartily and strode toward the hive.

Now that the ordinary Jade Butterfly Bees were smoked to the point of immobility, and the Bee Queens had been killed, it was time to count the spoils of war.

The people present were all shrewd; they knew that at this moment, Qi Xin was the main character, and no one would be so blind as to steal his limelight.

"Wei San, you're very imposing today."

Qi Xin's capable subordinate walked up to Long Chen and said coldly.

"It's alright. Do you have an opinion?" Long Chen shrugged and said nonchalantly.

"Kid, you just joined the force, while we are all veteran-level figures. You'd better watch yourself and don't be cocky, otherwise, you won't have a good ending," the man snorted coldly.

As the man scolded Long Chen, many others also took off their helmets, looking at Long Chen with disdain.

"Kid, don't get cocky just because you had a moment of success. You have to know that arrogance has a price."

"Thinking you can climb over our heads with a little cleverness? Keep dreaming."

Everyone showed expressions of contempt; they clearly looked down on Long Chen. They had been bottling up anger before, and now it had finally erupted.

Long Chen looked at this group of people with a smile, not saying a word. He didn't take these small fries seriously at all; he was waiting.

"Boom!"

An explosion rang out, the ground trembled, and everyone almost fell over. At the same time, a terrifying Aura rose up.

"Hehe, finally waited for it." A smile appeared at the corner of Long Chen's mouth.