Chapter 1684: Something’s Off

Chapter 1684: Chapter 1684: Something’s Off

Ji You’s words clearly have made it decided that she and He Bi are the first ones to officially step into the grid, and since that’s the case, everyone has no objections.

Yue Qiguang, although wanting to rush out first, only pursed his lips and didn’t insist on going out first.

He Bi remained in the security inspection cabin without leaving, and since it was closest to the exit door of spaceship X-N3848, about 5 meters away, he lazily said, "I’m not going over, just waiting here for you."

Ji You heard this, her mouth twitched, and said, "Jerk, do you have to be so lazy? It’s just a few steps."

He Bi opened his mouth and spoke with extreme cheekiness, saying, "I’ve got everything ready, no need to go to the deck. Go there looking at your faces? You’re not even as handsome as me."

Upon hearing that, Ji You’s mouth twitched a few times, and she felt something was off. Her facial expression remained unchanged, but her tone was full of disdain as she muttered, "You’re just lazy, don’t glamorize yourself based on looks."

"When it comes to handsomeness, I’ve never lost," He Bi said, grumbling while observing the ’footprints’ on his few strands of Spiritual Silk. Those black dots showed no change, but their existence always made He Bi uneasy. But the more anxious he became, the less he dared to show it and just pretended he didn’t notice anything while modestly bragging to Ji You.

Hmm?

Something wasn’t right.

When Senior He Bi was babbling away with the previous few sentences, Ji You felt a bit odd; although Senior was a jerk, he never liked wasting words.

Now, this chatter wasn’t just ordinary, it was especially excessive.

Feeling a twitch, Ji You said, "Senior, if you don’t want to move, then stay there and wait for me. Once I’m equipped, we’ll go out together."

He Bi heard this, his dark eyes staring at the monitor’s display, which relayed his body data. His expression didn’t change, but upon hearing Ji You saying she’d equip herself further, he felt a bit impatient and said, "Hurry up, don’t dawdle."

"What’s the rush? If you’re anxious, you go first. I need to ensure my protection before leaving." Ji You snorted lightly, saying, "You wait, at least 10 minutes."

Upon hearing that, He Bi said angrily, "10 minutes? Spending time in a latrine doesn’t take that long!"

Ji You replied, "Right, I’m going to the latrine, and when I do, it’s 10 minutes to start, 20 minutes for the base, and finish in 30."

He Bi: "..."

At that moment, when Ji You stated it would take over 10 minutes, He Bi distinctly felt the several black dots, the ’footprints’ on his strands of Spiritual Silk, move slightly.

He wasn’t mistaken, it indeed moved a little, very faintly, virtually undetectable if he hadn’t been watching closely.

So——

This thing didn’t leave?

It’s always been on his Spiritual Silk?

Then——

Are those black dots its body, not its footprints?

Or, these dots are marks it left on him, allowing him to be monitored even if it leaves?

...

These questions made He Bi feel that the more he thought, the more he sank into contemplation, increasingly unable to grasp clarity, so he simply chose not to think about it and feigned ignorance.

...

Though Ji You told Senior He Bi to wait 10 minutes, she didn’t drag her feet and immediately began preparing for departure.

Of course, Ji You said 10 minutes, but she didn’t plan to really take 10 minutes. She trusted Senior He Bi’s ability, believing something very strange was happening over there, which he couldn’t voice aloud but could only communicate secretly to her and the teammates.

Ji You, with a steely expression, began taking action, starting with preparing protective gear: protective clothing, helmet, air purification system... All these were meticulously checked before being worn.

Chu Jiaojiao stood beside her, specifically overseeing Ji You’s preparations to ensure nothing was left out, before starting to prepare her own gear.

Uncertain what might occur after Ji You and Senior He Bi head out, Chu Jiaojiao felt she had to preemptively equip herself comprehensively, fully preparing ahead of time. After dressing neatly, Chu Jiaojiao looked at Ji You’s face, smiling and patting her chest, saying, "Ji You student, go out boldly, Jiaojiao will watch over you from here, prioritize your safety."

Ji You said, "You and Yue Qiyuan get ready first." Then she turned to the others and said, "Everyone put on protective gear to avoid unanticipated situations."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Next.

Ji You selected weapons. Her Mecha, called Blade, was personally improved by Teacher Mu; ’Blade’ was a mecha balancing speed and defense but primarily focused on speed, equipped with several conventional weapons, not many, three types each for close and long-distance combat, those Ji You was most familiar with and handy.

Long-range weapons included the Particle Cannon and Energy Gun.

Close-combat weapons included the Big Chopper, Dagger, and Big Iron Hammer...

These were mounted on the Mecha, and Ji You also carried a folding knife. This folding knife wasn’t purely a cold weapon; it had a switch in the handle, allowing it to transform into an energy weapon.

Having verified everything was in order, Ji You glanced at her slightly concerned teammates, her lips curling slightly, "Are you worried about me?"

Yue Qiguang glanced away, "Please, stop joking. Who’d be worried about a fool like you?"

Unlike Yue Qiguang’s awkwardness, Chu Jiaojiao was very sincere, saying, "Ji You student, I’m very worried about you... more so, your face."

Before she could finish, Ji You stomped heavily on the spaceship deck, heading towards the others, prompting a hurried pursuit from Chu Jiaojiao, saying, "Hey! Ji You student, I haven’t finished yet, you must protect your face, it’s the most important asset, you know?"

Ji You felt her ears were burning, tired of Chu Jiaojiao’s old-fashioned words, and turned towards Liu Fufeng and Yue Qiyuan, both seeming to be on the verge of speaking.

Ji You pointed at Liu Fufeng, saying, "Student Fufeng, you speak first."

Liu Fufeng promptly pulled out a small card and said, "Ji You student, let me predict your fortune real quick?"

Ji You turned and walked away, behind her came Yue Qiyuan’s voice, "Hey! Hey! Wait... you haven’t finished hearing us."

Ji You replied without turning, "I guess it’s not anything good."

"..." Yue Qiyuan’s mouth twitched, tossing out a rope and said, "Don’t go yet, tie a rope on yourself first. If you really get into trouble, we’ll have a way to retrieve your body."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You muttered softly, "Indeed, nothing good comes out of a dog’s mouth."

That rope had been used frequently recently; back when entering the vortex, He Bi had a rope tied around him, made of exceptionally robust material, durable even in the peculiar conditions within a Space Rift.

Ji You didn’t resist, took the rope, tied it onto herself, and the other end was fastened at the spaceship’s airlock. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

This preparation took roughly less than 3 minutes.

Next.

Ji You was set to meet up with He Bi.