Morning arrived. Sunlight filtered through the base, casting a golden hue over the buildings. The weather was noticeably warr than usual.
At this mont, more people than usual were heading out, each carrying bags on their backs. Among them was the father who had bought candies for his son yesterday.
"The sun's a little brighter today," Dai Yun mumbled to herself. "Maybe today won't be so bad!"
"Don't be so confident," Dai Rui warned. "Stay alert at all tis. The place we're heading to is a dozen tis more dangerous this ti!"
"I know, I know! Quit nagging!" Dai Yun huffed.
Near the base gates, the Iron Gale Squad had already assembled early in the morning. Wang Bo needed at least another day of rest, so he wasn't joining them. Next to them stood Zhao Lin's team.
"Sister Dai! Thanks for the breakfast!" Zhao Lin exclaid happily, munching on a piece of cheese while sipping warm mushroom soup from the thermos Dai Yun had given her.
Dai Yun waved her hand dismissively. "Don't ntion it! If you want another biscuit, just say so!"
Zhao Lin grinned. "Did you score big last night?"
Dai Yun shook her head. "No, but I found out about a vendor who accepts jade as paynt for supplies." She quickly explained the details. "So if you see any jade out there, keep it! That rchant will be back in three days. She said she'd have more supplies then. I hope she brings more noodle flavors and more mushrooms!"
For so reason, the jade-obssessed Nanzhi flashed through Zhao Lin's mind.
"Got it," Zhao Lin nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
Just as they were speaking, the jade rchants—Nanzhi and her team—finally arrived.
Because Nanzhi and Lin Weihao had been wearing masks last night, most people didn't recognize them—except for Zhao Lin.
"Sister Nanzhi! Sister Baoyin!" Zhao Lin called out happily.
Wu Hao also greeted them. Cho Jin, on the other hand, remained silent, too ashad to face them. His gaze flickered toward them before quickly looking away.
Zhao Lin eagerly introduced her new acquaintances. "This is the Iron Gale Squad, my new friends! We t yesterday. This is Dai Yun, a healing-type awakener; her brother, Dai Rui, a wind-type; and Liu Ming, a strength-type, who is their leader!"
Unlike the military base, the Longn Base didn't have a device to asure an individual's power rank.
Using her ntal exploration, Nanzhi discreetly scanned their energy fields. From her estimate, all three were at the early stages of Tier 1, with Dai Rui possessing the strongest energy field among them. In Zhao Lin's team, Wu Hao had the highest energy fluctuations.
"Hello!" Dai Yun greeted enthusiastically, extending a hand.
Nanzhi and Lin Weihao imdiately recognized her—after all, Dai Yun was their little rich custor, and Liu Ming was the one who had bought dicine from them.
The other side, however, likely didn't recognize them.
Exchanging pleasantries, Nanzhi grasped Dai Yun's hand. "I'm Nanzhi, and… this is my boyfriend, Lin Weihao."
It was the first ti Nanzhi had introduced Lin Weihao as her boyfriend in front of others.
Lin Weihao's expression remained stoic, but everyone in his team could sense his good mood.
Calling your boyfriend so openly… Does that an I can start calling you my wife now? Lin Weihao mused to himself. He subtly hooked his pinkie around the hand resting at her side.
When Nanzhi didn't swat it away, he intertwined their fingers completely, declaring their relationship. If one looked closely, they could almost see an imaginary wolf tail wagging behind him.
Feng Ran and the rest: Where did these CGI falling flower petals co from?
The others: Are we being force-fed dog food?
Dai Yun's shoulders slumped. She loved beautiful things—not just jade jewelry but also handso n. And Lin Weihao's face? It was precisely her type.
But she wasn't the type to wreck a ho. The mont she realized the man she fancied was taken, she wisely averted her gaze and instead looked at Feng Ran!
Another eye candy!
Nanzhi continued introducing her team. "This is Yu Baoyin, Feng Ran, Bingwen, and Hei Qian…" She paused. Now that she thought about it, their team didn't even have a na.
"Hi!" Yu Baoyin smiled warmly.
Everyone exchanged greetings.
At that mont, a person from Lan Fuyou's side stepped forward, gathering everyone for a final briefing. After confirming that all teams were present, they distributed maps marked with red indicators.
"Listen up," the man said. "Our objective is simple—assess the water facility and extract the supplies. The red marks on the map indicate the distribution of alien beasts. As long as we avoid them, we should be able to co out unscathed. Paynt of 50 spars per team will be given after the missio."
Nanzhi: That doesn't sound very convincing.
"Your main duty is to safeguard the Emperor's convoy until all supplies are extracted!"
"The water supplies will be divided equally among the teams if the mission is successful."
"What about the spars?" Zhao Lin raised her hand to ask.
"Whoever eliminates the alien beast keeps the spar," the man replied.
"How will tasks be assigned?" another person asked. "What if two teams have a dispute?"
"If there's a conflict of interest, we'll toss a coin!"
"And if we find supplies along the way? How should they be divided?" asked a man from the Thorns Team. His squad had originally consisted of eight people, but after four of them were beaten to a pulp last night, only four were left fit for duty.
If he finds those people who have beaten his team mbers, he would not left them off!
The person leading the briefing smirked. "Simple. Whatever you can carry is yours!"
Nanzhi swept her gaze around. In total, there were thirty-two participants. From what she sensed, their energy levels were lower than both Zhao Lin's team and the Iron Gale Squad.
Seeing that there were no further questions, everyone boarded their vehicles.
When so teams caught sight of Nanzhi's cars, their eyes lit up with interest.
Even though the vehicles were dusty and muddy from travel, it couldn't hide their sleek and sturdy design. Compared to the clunky, worn-down cars owned by the other teams, they were like luxurious beasts of war.
The Iron Gale Squad was no exception—they, too, were envious.
"So Zhao Lin's friends are rich, huh?" Dai Yun sighed. "If only we could find one of those for ourselves!"
A low whistle cut through the air.
"Damn, where did they get those cars?" The leader of the Thorns Team muttered under his breath. His eyes flashed with greed.
"What a waste to leave those babies in other people's hand! It's more fitting for the Thorn Team!"
After a brief wait, Lan Fuyou's convoy finally arrived. The vehicles in the middle of the formation parted to make way for him.
Inside the Humr, Nanzhi and Lin Weihao's gazes simultaneously landed on the blue-eyed man standing at the back of the lead truck.
As if sensing their eyes on him, the man briefly opened his piercing blue eyes and looked directly toward them.
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