At dusk, the hunting party returned to Black Wind Camp under the blood-red sunset.

At the camp entrance, several people repairing the fence stopped their work and looked at the prey on the stretchers, their eyes flashing with envy or greed.

"Two Swamp Crocodiles, three Bone-Sting Dogs, and materials from a Corrosive Poison Toad!" Tie Dun shouted loudly as he carried half a crocodile carcass, the pride on his face unable to hide his exhaustion.

"We also gathered Poison Heart Grass, three complete stalks!"

"Yo, Scarface made quite a haul this time!"

"Is that a Swamp Crocodile? That hide could make several sets of leather armor."

"The new kid actually didn't die?"

Whispers came from all directions. Lin Feng kept his head down, silently following behind Zhao Hu. He could feel those gazes—scrutinizing, suspicious, and calculating.

Zhao Hu ignored the chatter and headed straight for the two-story small building.

"You guys unload the stuff into the warehouse first," he instructed Tie Dun. "I'm going to see the Boss."

He glanced at Lin Feng again, his expression complex. "You... wait here."

Lin Feng nodded and found a woodpile in a corner to sit on. The wound on his left arm was still throbbing slightly; the Hemostatic Grass powder's effect was mediocre, and blood had already seeped through the cloth strips.

He closed his eyes and brought up his attribute panel:

【Name: Lin Feng】

【Level: 1 (71/100)】

【Class: General (Junior)】

【HP: 149.5/175】 (Wound recovering)

【Attributes:】

Constitution: 7.5

Strength: 7.5

Agility: 7.5

【Free Attribute Points: 0】

【Skill: General's Majesty (Passive)】

【Leadership: 0/100】

He was only 29 experience points away from leveling up. Today, he had independently killed a Level 5 Swamp ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Crocodile and gained the full 40 experience points;

He participated in killing another one and received 10 points; plus the 20 points from that Bone-Sting Dog, totaling 70 experience points. The efficiency was higher than expected.

But a problem had also arisen: Zhao Hu already suspected his level.

The General's bonuses were too staggering; having attributes at Level 1 that rivaled Level 5 was simply impossible by common knowledge.

Zhao Hu could only come to one conclusion: Lin Feng was hiding his true level.

"This is fine," Lin Feng calculated in his mind. "Letting them think I'm Level 5 is better than exposing the General class."

However, he would have to be very careful about allocating the attribute points he gained from leveling up next.

He couldn't add more to Strength; 7.5 Strength was already conspicuous enough. If he kept stacking it, it would eventually arouse even greater suspicion.

He couldn't add too much to Constitution either. Today, he had taken a hit from a Bone-Sting Dog and only lost 15 HP; this was already beyond the endurance of a normal Level 1 newcomer. If his health bar got any thicker, even an idiot could see something was wrong.

Using "talent" as an excuse wouldn't work either; he had never even heard of anyone having such a thing.

That only left Agility.

Agility affects speed, evasion, and accuracy. Although adding to Agility wouldn't directly increase damage numbers, it would make him more nimble in dodging attacks and more at ease during combat.

Most importantly, the improvements brought by Agility weren't as intuitive and weren't easily seen through at a glance.

"Next time I level up, I'll save the attribute points first," Lin Feng decided. "I'll observe the others' reactions. If no one looks too closely, I'll add them to Agility."

Just as he was thinking, the door to the two-story building opened.

Zhao Hu walked out, his expression unreadable. He beckoned to Lin Feng.

Lin Feng stood up and walked over.

"I've cleared things up with the Boss," Zhao Hu lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. "I told him you're Level 5 and that you hid it before because you were new and unfamiliar with the environment, fearing you'd be treated as a spy or a fat sheep."

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly. "The Boss believed it?"

"He doesn't care," Zhao Hu exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Black Wind Camp has all kinds of people—fugitives, scions of noble families cast out by their clans, and people like me whose territories were destroyed, leaving them homeless.

As long as you can bring in profit and don't break his rules, he doesn't care where you're from or what secrets you have."

These words made Lin Feng breathe a sigh of relief, but he immediately became alert again. This attitude of the Boss's was exactly what indicated how dangerous the man was.

A boss who only cares about profit and doesn't ask about one's background means that in his eyes, everyone is just a tool.

Keep those who are useful, discard those who are not.

"How's your wound?" Zhao Hu asked.

"Just a flesh wound, it's fine."

Lin Feng moved his left arm; it was indeed just a skin tear. The Constitution bonus from his General class made his recovery power much stronger than a normal person's. By now, the bleeding had stopped and it had scabbed over.

Zhao Hu nodded, remained silent for a few seconds, and then suddenly lowered his voice. "I publicly stated you were Level 5 today for two reasons."

Lin Feng listened intently.

"First, your damage doesn't lie. A Level 1 newcomer dealing over 30 points of damage is inexplicable unless you have a Green or even Blue quality weapon.

Instead of letting people suspect you're carrying some great treasure, it's better to just say you hid your level. In the Nightmare World, hiding one's strength is perfectly normal."

"Second," Zhao Hu flicked away the ash, "I need you to gain a firm footing in the team. The rule in Black Wind Camp is distribution based on contribution. The greater your contribution, the more resources you get, and the more say you have.

The fact that you solo-killed a Swamp Crocodile today will spread quickly. Level 5 strength is enough for you to shed the 'newcomer' label. Next time the loot is distributed, you'll be able to take your rightful share."

Lin Feng understood. Zhao Hu was paving the way for him.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao."

"Don't be so quick to thank me." Zhao Hu waved his hand, his tone becoming serious.

"I'm helping you because you truly have potential, and also because you remind me of my son.

But here, favors are the least valuable things. The value you showed today could be wiped out tomorrow by a single mistake."

Lin Feng nodded. "I understand."

"Go eat. We should have some extra meat tonight." Zhao Hu stubbed out his cigarette.

Watching Zhao Hu's retreating back, Lin Feng took a deep breath and turned toward the campfire in the center of the camp.

Dinner was indeed a bit more lavish. Crocodile meat was stewing in a large pot. Although the seasoning was simple, the aroma of the meat still made everyone salivate.

Lin Feng received a large bowl of meat soup and two palm-sized steaks, nearly double what he'd had the previous few days.

He took his bowl, found a corner to sit in, and observed the camp while he ate.

By the campfire, Tie Dun was animatedly recounting today's battle, exaggeratedly gesturing how Lin Feng "heroically" soloed the Swamp Crocodile.

A few younger camp members listened with great interest, occasionally exclaiming in surprise.

Shadow Snake sat alone to one side, eating her meat slowly and methodically, but her eyes were scanning the surroundings warily.

Jian Yan was wiping his longbow, his movements as gentle as if he were treating a lover.

Old Scar huddled next to Old Wu from the kitchen, seemingly discussing what to exchange his contribution points for this time.

And through the window of the two-story building, the silhouette of the Bald Boss could be faintly seen, contemplating something on the table.

Everything seemed normal, but Lin Feng could feel an undercurrent surging.

The strength he displayed today had already changed his position in the camp.

Before, he was a newcomer anyone could order around; now, he was a "combat member with Level 5 strength."

This meant respect, but it also meant more attention and potential hostility.

After dinner, Lin Feng returned to the kitchen shed. The old man's attitude toward him was clearly much better today; he even threw him a relatively clean animal hide to use as a mat.

"I heard you solo-killed a Swamp Crocodile?" the old man asked while clearing the dishes, his tone carrying a rare hint of approval.

"You've got some skill. But don't get ahead of yourself. Swamp Crocodiles are only considered low-level prey in the Nightmare World. You haven't seen the truly dangerous things yet."

"What do you mean?" Lin Feng took the opportunity to inquire.

The old man pointed toward the northwest. "Deep in that Stone Forest, there are lizards that can breathe fire, and they're as fast as ghosts."

"Further out in the eastern swamp, they say there's a Toad King that can control poison mist, with a body larger than a house."

"And the Rift Valley to the north; you can hear a woman's crying at night. No one who goes in ever comes out."

He paused, his voice dropping even lower. "The most terrifying things aren't these monsters, but the 'Legions'."

Lin Feng's heart stirred. "Nightmare Legions?"

The old man nodded, a flash of fear in his cloudy eyes. "A year ago, I stayed in a town-level territory to the north."

"At that time, the territory had over two thousand people, the city walls were seven meters high, and the granaries were so full they could last half a year. Then, overnight, a 'Great Qin Elite Soldiers' Legion arrived."

The "Great Qin Elite Soldiers" was one of the most famous ancient Legions in the Nightmare World, said to be modeled after the elite forces from when Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms. They were well-equipped, highly disciplined, and specialized in group warfare.

"How many came?" Lin Feng asked.

"I don't know." The old man shook his head. "A vast, dark mass—simply uncountable. Arrows fell like rain, and catapults smashed the city walls like they were made of paper."

"Our Lord was a Level 15 Warrior, leading three hundred personal guards in a charge, hoping to decapitate the enemy general..."

He stopped, seemingly unwilling to recall the images that followed.

Lin Feng didn't press him, but his heart felt heavy. This was the cruelty of the Nightmare World.

"So, kid, if you've got some skill, keep it hidden," the old man said finally. "Here, the one who survives until the end is the winner."

The night grew deep.

Lin Feng lay on the animal hide mat, but he wasn't sleepy at all.

"I have to be even more careful," Lin Feng said to himself.

In this place, trust is a luxury, secrets are amulets, and strength is the only passport.

He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.