Not just Yue Zhenqiao, the group of bodyguards, and Flying Dagger.
Li Nian and Lin Yu were also watching the doorway with the same sense of impending doom.
In Lin Yu's ears and mind, the voices of Li Nian and Old Zheng almost overlapped, sounding simultaneously.
"Three people, all players."
"Three players, be careful."
GOOGLE search TWKAN
The [Torch of Fear] had silently appeared in Lin Yu's hand, and he stood up to look at the doorway.
Compared to Li Nian and Old Zheng, Lin Yu didn't seem particularly alarmed.
Because...
Since these three 'players' had appeared in this stone house, they might not necessarily be coming with hostility.
Based on Lin Yu's understanding of the [Confrontation Instance] type, and the accumulated experience from all [Confrontation Instances] so far, there had never been a 'clearance condition' that involved directly killing all members of the opposing side in a never-ending battle.
Typically, in [Confrontation Instances], the 'players' involved are divided into several camps, with different 'clearance conditions' for each camp that are mutually exclusive to some extent.
For example, one group of players might need to assassinate someone, while another group needs to protect them.
Or several parties might need to assist NPCs from absolutely irreconcilable factions in achieving their respective goals.
In short... although it's basically a "live or die" situation, this "live or die" is not explicitly stated but rather inferred.
Therefore, a certain 'high-level player', the founder of a certain 'player organization', once proposed a bold idea...
Perhaps [Confrontation Instances] have the possibility of cooperation and mutual benefit, leading to a joint clearance.
So, that 'high-level player' personally conducted an experiment after he and his organization members encountered a [Confrontation Instance]—and surprisingly, it succeeded!
Although not everyone survived, both sides of the camp completed their mission conditions in a subtle way.
Lin Yu happened to have heard this story—because the protagonist of this story and that organization were 'Radish' and the 'Player Mutual Aid Association' respectively.
This case and related theory were also recorded by 'Order'.
However, these conditions are extremely difficult to achieve.
After all, figuring out a solution that allows both sides to achieve their clearance conditions in a [Confrontation Instance], like solving a puzzle, is simply not as easy as directly fighting the other side.
To achieve this win-win situation, you'll likely have to go against the entire [Instance], which will be quite difficult.
And the biggest difficulty is actually believing that the 'players' in the opposing camp will also cooperate and not stab you in the back.
Even 'Order' would not pursue actions of killing other players in [Confrontation Instances]—otherwise, it would be too inhumane.
But...
Radish did indeed create an unprecedented example.
Even if it's a distinctly [Confrontation Instance] type, both sides often try to contact, communicate, and negotiate first to see how severely mutually exclusive their 'clearance conditions' are and to assess whether the opposing players are trustworthy.
Although cooperation is unsuccessful eight or nine times out of ten, but... what if?
Even if they don't reach an agreement, both sides can often gain the information they want.
It's a bit like a "gentleman's contest."
So...
Those three 'players' probably arrived at Chen Family Fort later than Lin Yu's group and the escort team. They probably scouted out Lin Yu's group's movements, so they went straight to the stone house.
Then the other party might want to talk.
And sure enough, the three 'players' who entered the stone gate and came in under the rolling heat, although vigilant, did not attack immediately.
They were obviously a well-coordinated team. The three men, armed with sword and shield, staff, and dual guns, stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the room vigilantly.
The man with the sword and shield was the tallest, the one with the staff was the second tallest, and the shortest was the one with the two handguns.
Standing in order, they were all wearing black armor or clothing, looking from a distance like the three signal bars on the side of a mobile phone.
Yue Zhenqiao didn't dare to be negligent, picked up his long knife and said, "May I ask who you are..."
The man with the sword and shield said, "Looking for someone—but not you."
They looked around and quickly recognized Li Nian, Lin Yu, and Flying Dagger, who were obviously different from the group of bodyguards and locals.
"The three of you must be the people we're looking for!"
The man with the sword and shield spoke again, and Lin Yu nodded.
"Can't you tell from our outfits?"
The black-armored man with the sword and shield spoke again, "I see... Allow me to introduce myself, I am 'Little Fire Dragon' from the 'Mutual Aid Association'!"
The black-robed man with the staff also spoke, "I am 'Turtle' from the 'Mutual Aid Association'!"
The last short and fat black-shirted dual-gunner also spoke, "I, 'Deadshot' from the 'Mutual Aid Association'!"
"Wait a minute, someone's name is wrong among you three," Flying Dagger immediately complained, "My obsessive-compulsive disorder is about to flare up."
The 'Little Fire Dragon' holding the sword and shield nodded, "You guessed it, 'Bulbasaur' has to 'level up' in this [Instance], so he didn't come."
The dual-gun 'Deadshot' nodded aloofly, "That's right, 'Bulbasaur' is the strongest of the three of them. I was entrusted by 'Bulbasaur' to lead the two of them."
Flying Dagger was in awe, "What deep brotherly love..."
Then, Flying Dagger seemed to be touched by the scene and was saddened, "Back then, I also... Alas!"
Li Nian patted Flying Dagger.
"Take it easy, brother..."
Then, she looked at the three of them, "Hmm, the 'Pokémon Trio' of the 'Mutual Aid Association', I've heard of your names."
Little Fire Dragon was surprised, "You've actually heard of us, not bad—it seems you should know that we have some strength..."
"Now it's your turn to announce your names!"
Little Fire Dragon said proudly, and Li Nian grinned, "'Thief' A'Nian, from the 'Freedom League', ever heard of it?"
As Li Nian spoke, Little Fire Dragon's expression changed slightly.
"'Thief'?! Not good, brothers!"
He held his sword in front of him, and Deadshot immediately drew his gun with his left hand and pointed it at Li Nian.
Turtle shouted, "Calm down, she might not be the real deal, maybe she's just trying to scare us!"
"No, this guy is the real deal!"
Deadshot said calmly, raising his empty right hand.
He had just drawn his guns with both hands—but only his left hand had drawn one.
And on Little Fire Dragon's side... the shield in his hand had also disappeared.
The whereabouts of the two items were self-evident.
Li Nian shook the handgun in her hand, sat on the round metal shield under her butt, and said with a smile.
"I knew you might not believe me, so I showed off my skills in advance to prevent counterfeiting."
"Don't worry, I'll return the items later, I don't have any malicious intent!"
