Chapter 237: Are They Teammates? (13)

Wanrenzhan simply couldn't stand Blue Eyes.

He never bothered hiding it.

Even after learning who Blue Eyes really was, he still couldn't stand him—

Especially whenever the little guy clung to He Yu.

Whenever Blue Eyes had appeared in previous instances, Wanrenzhan would simply think—

He'll disappear once the instance ends.

After all...

NPCs were different from them.

But now he knew exactly who this guy was.

And he knew this damned fellow just refused to go away...

Even if he was his former idol, Li Zhan—

It didn't matter anymore!!

Of course...

It also helped that Li Zhan no longer had a human body.

Even knowing his identity, it was almost impossible to connect this tiny little ginseng with the mighty Zhan God.

Wanrenzhan slowly extended an evil hand toward the little ginseng rooted in the flowerpot.

Should he just kill him?

...No.

He Yu would be unhappy.

Then maybe...

Beat him up a little?

While Wanrenzhan was still weighing his options, his hand lightly touched the little ginseng.

Blue Eyes looked up at him.

Those watery-blue eyes held no emotion whatsoever.

His expression was completely blank.

Cold.

Wanrenzhan glared back, baring his teeth while reaching for the little leaf growing on top.

If he plucked that leaf off...

Let's see how this guy kept pretending to be adorable.

At that moment—

Blue Eyes suddenly smiled.

A rather wicked smile.

Wanrenzhan froze.

Bang!

The little ginseng he had touched suddenly rolled off the rock together with the flowerpot.

Instinctively, Wanrenzhan reached out to catch it.

Yet somehow...

The flowerpot strangely curved around his hand in midair.

It landed heavily on the ground with a loud crash that immediately drew everyone's attention.

Then...

It rolled all the way to He Yu's feet.

"He Yu..."

"He Yu..."

Still lying flat inside the flowerpot, Blue Eyes looked utterly aggrieved.

His leaf trembled pitifully.

Wanrenzhan:

"...?"

Although He Yu was still forging, he freed one hand to pick up the flowerpot.

His voice was gentle.

"What happened?"

Blue Eyes pointed one tiny root behind him toward Wanrenzhan.

"He pushed me."

Swish!

Instantly, everyone turned toward Wanrenzhan.

Shock.

Displeasure.

Condemnation.

Tang Ke said angrily,

"You've gone too far."

That was Zhan God!!

Siya rolled her eyes.

"Wanrenzhan."

"That's everyone's shared points."

"What are you trying to do, killing him by yourself?"

Yuan Ze's face darkened.

"Wanrenzhan."

"Looking for a fight?"

How dare he bully his weakened idol?

Zhante snorted coldly.

"Don't pull something stupid."

Wanrenzhan:

"...??"

He shouted in disbelief,

"I didn't touch him!"

He immediately looked toward He Yu.

"I'm serious!"

"I only barely touched him!"

"I hadn't even started yet!"

Tang Ke muttered quietly,

"You hadn't started..."

"So you were planning to."

"I—"

Still forging, He Yu calmly said,

"Wanrenzhan."

"Behave yourself."

Wanrenzhan:

"............"

He had been framed!!

Completely framed!!

Without even looking up, He Yu added,

"And you're moving to the end of the queue."

"I'll forge yours last."

Wanrenzhan:

"...???"

He exploded.

"He's acting!"

"He really is acting!"

"I didn't even touch him!"

Yuan Ze asked coldly,

"Then why were you standing beside the rock?"

"I remember you weren't there before."

His expression was extremely unfriendly.

If Wanrenzhan really dared attack Li Zhan...

Yuan Ze was ready to fight him to the death.

Wanrenzhan:

"..."

—He couldn't defend himself.

—No matter what he said, nobody would believe him.

Blue Eyes looked pitifully at He Yu.

His tiny face was full of fear.

Two little roots wrapped around He Yu's little finger.

In an aggrieved voice, he said,

"He Yu..."

"I want to stay with you."

Then he added,

"I can just hang from your hand."

Smoke practically came out of Wanrenzhan's nose.

He understood now.

This guy had deliberately done all this just to stick to He Yu!

Before he could speak, however, He Yu sighed helplessly.

"Plants belong in the soil."

"Be good."

"Wait for me."

"I'll take you with me tomorrow."

He handed the flowerpot to Ling Buchen.

Those watery-blue eyes looked longingly at He Yu several more times.

Reluctant to let go.

He Yu smiled faintly.

"If you keep acting..."

"It'll become too obvious."

Hearing that, Blue Eyes immediately dropped the pitiful expression.

Obediently withdrawing his roots, he settled back into the flowerpot.

"All right."

"I'll wait for you."

He Yu smiled before returning all his attention to forging.

—This one wasn't exactly easy to deal with either.

Ling Buchen had no particular affection for Blue Eyes.

But he also had no intention of harming him.

So he simply placed the flowerpot back onto the rock before returning to help He Yu.

Once again...

The flowerpot sat alone atop the rock.

Nearby...

Wanrenzhan felt both furious and oddly satisfied.

He glared at Blue Eyes before lowering his voice.

"So your little scheme didn't work."

"When He Yu is busy, he won't carry you around."

"All you know is pretending to be pitiful."

"Fake."

Blue Eyes remained focused on He Yu's back.

He didn't even acknowledge Wanrenzhan.

His expression was completely indifferent.

The pitiful little act from moments ago had disappeared entirely.

Now he looked distant and cold.

Wanrenzhan became even angrier.

Thinking back to everyone condemning him...

And the way He Yu had comforted Blue Eyes...

Wanrenzhan snorted quietly.

"You framed me."

"If I don't actually do something now..."

"Wouldn't all those accusations be wasted?"

Not only had He Yu scolded him...

His weapon upgrade had been pushed to the very end.

Unacceptable.

The moment those words left his mouth...

He swung a hand toward Blue Eyes.

This time he'd prepared carefully.

His other hand was already waiting on the opposite side.

Even if the flowerpot rolled again...

He wouldn't let it reach He Yu.

However—

Bang!!

Wanrenzhan vanished.

His body shot through the sky like a cannonball.

Straight across the horizon.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!"

Accompanied by his miserable scream...

Everyone watched a huge figure fly farther and farther away.

Shrinking...

Into a tiny black dot...

Until he disappeared completely into the darkness.

Everyone:

"..."

What...

Just happened?

Siya swallowed.

Looking toward Ling Buchen, who was still helping forge, she asked,

"...Who attacked Wanrenzhan?"

Although phrased as a question...

Her eyes were fixed firmly on Blue Eyes.

The little ginseng remained planted quietly inside his flowerpot atop the rock.

A round green leaf rested above his head.

His watery-blue eyes gazed innocently at He Yu's back.

He looked impossibly obedient.

No matter how anyone looked at him...

He simply didn't resemble someone capable of launching Wanrenzhan into orbit.

So harmless.

So weak.

So innocent.

But—

There was only one suspect.

"Blue Eyes."

Ling Buchen answered without hesitation.

"Obviously."

"It was him."

"Just because he looks weak..."

"Don't forget who he is."

This was one of the Federation's gods.

Even reduced to a tiny little ginseng...

Even appearing utterly harmless...

He still possessed the ability to control immense amounts of energy.

Wanrenzhan was indeed powerful.

But confronting Blue Eyes without any preparation—

He never stood a chance.

So...

Wanrenzhan really had been wrongly accused earlier.

Blue Eyes could send him flying as easily as playing with a toy.

How could someone like Wanrenzhan possibly bully him?

Clearly...

He'd only wanted He Yu to hold him.

When that failed...

He lost interest in playing with Wanrenzhan.

The moment Wanrenzhan reached out again—

Blue Eyes simply swatted him into the sky.

Tang Ke looked at Blue Eyes...

Then toward the direction Wanrenzhan had disappeared...

Quietly swallowed...

And discreetly moved farther away from Blue Eyes.

Meanwhile...

Blue Eyes continued gazing peacefully at He Yu's back.

Graceful.

Noble.

Completely detached from worldly affairs.

—

By dawn...

He Yu had finished strengthening Qiong's equipment.

At the same time...

Qiong had essentially completed the Star Network.

Duan Yuchen was also nearly done forging.

Wanrenzhan finally returned.

Bruised.

Battered.

Covered in swelling.

His face radiated indignation.

Originally, he had intended to settle the score with Blue Eyes immediately.

Then...

His eyes suddenly turned.

He Yu picked up the flowerpot and was about to walk toward Qiong.

Wanrenzhan suddenly jumped out and blocked his path.

Tall and imposing...

He towered over He Yu.

An axe rested in his hand.

His scarred face stared fiercely downward.

Anyone seeing him for the first time might think he was about to eat someone alive.

In the past...

Ling Buchen and the others would have become alert.

Now...

Nobody reacted.

Wanrenzhan would sooner chop himself in half than attack He Yu.

He Yu remained perfectly calm.

"What?"

Wanrenzhan widened his silver-gray eyes.

In a loud voice, he declared,

"He Yu."

"He hit me!"

He pointed directly at Blue Eyes.

His already rugged features...

Combined with his scar...

And now...

The colorful bruises covering half his face...

Made him resemble a walking palette of black, blue, and purple.

Frankly...

Not pleasant to look at.

Yet he still forced himself to imitate Blue Eyes' aggrieved expression.

He Yu:

"..."

Everyone else:

"..."

【Bullet Screen: "Here's a horror story: Wanrenzhan acting cute. Hahaha."】

【Bullet Screen: "I'm dying. He's trying to copy Blue Eyes by tattling."】

Without looking directly at Wanrenzhan's face, He Yu asked calmly,

"Oh?"

"And why did he hit you?"

Wanrenzhan:

"..."

The confidence on his face slowly faded.

He unconsciously took a step backward.

Opening his mouth...

His face turned bright red.

After a long while...

Not a single word came out.

Because...

He'd been trying to bully Blue Eyes.

He Yu answered calmly,

"That's why I told you not to provoke him."

In his eyes...

This was simply someone asking to be beaten.

Knowing perfectly well he couldn't win—

Yet insisting on provoking the other party anyway.

Wanrenzhan grew angry.

"He Yu!"

"You're biased!"

He Yu smiled faintly.

Blue Eyes smiled too.

One tiny root twitched.

Wanrenzhan instantly leaped backward several steps.

His axe crossed protectively before his chest as he stared at Blue Eyes in alarm.

Terrified of being launched into the sky again.

Blue Eyes merely withdrew his gaze.

He had no intention of attacking.

Instead...

He extended a tiny root until it rested gently against the hand with which He Yu held the flowerpot.

His eyes were filled with satisfaction.

He Yu simply looked away again and continued walking toward Qiong.

Wanrenzhan felt utterly miserable.

—So angry he resembled an inflated pufferfish.

He'd failed to bully Li Zhan.

Instead...

He'd been condemned.

Sent flying.

If he hadn't been so unbelievably tough...

He might not even have survived the trip back.

How could he not feel wronged?

Meanwhile...

Qiong reassembled Eugene and Gedai's bodies.

The two mechanical beings rolled their necks.

Each looked more resentful than the other.

Qiong, however, was delighted.

"Done."

Standing before her, He Yu asked,

"Can everyone communicate now?"

Qiong proudly lifted her chin.

The brim of her hat tilted upward.

"It's only basic functionality."

"I built a custom connection network."

"Using Eugene and Gedai as the central relay."

"Each relay can connect up to ten smart terminals."

"They can share locations."

"And..."

"It can continuously detect the positions of other contestants across the world."

"Very convenient."

He Yu smiled.

His eyes carried obvious admiration.

"Excellent."

"Qiong."

"You're amazing."

Qiong coughed awkwardly.

"It's nothing."

"As long as those two don't die..."

"The network stays active."

"You can issue commands through your smart terminal."

"Everyone else can report information the same way."

Duan Yuchen finished forging and looked over.

"Excellent."

"I'm done too."

"So..."

"Shall we officially begin?"

He Yu nodded.

Calling Zhen Xing and Bo Jingshan back from cultivation.

Soon...

Everyone had gathered.

Including the extremely unwilling Wanrenzhan.

After everyone's smart terminals connected to the new Star Network...

A projection appeared before He Yu.

He could clearly see everyone's locations and status.

Likewise...

They could all see his.

Meanwhile...

Using Eugene and Gedai as central hubs...

Detection radar signals continuously spread outward.

The visible area on the map grew larger and clearer every second.

Sliding the new map with one finger...

He Yu calmly assigned everyone's tasks.

"Zhen Xing."

"Gedai."

"Bo Jingshan."

"Ling Buchen."

"Yuan Ze."

"Qiong."

"The six of you will split into three teams."

"Locate three mission sites."

"Create some commotion."

"Wait for your prey."

"Let the others come to you."

"The rest of us will split into two groups."

"We'll intercept contestants."

"Report information at all times."

Zhen Xing nodded.

"No problem."

The arrangement was perfectly reasonable.

All of them possessed newly upgraded weapons.

Combined with Gedai from Mechanical Planet...

Their detection range and map coverage would be greatly expanded.

Since Gedai accompanied Zhen Xing's group...

Eugene naturally had to remain with He Yu to maintain network stability.

Wanrenzhan was about to object.

Suddenly, Ling Buchen spoke.

"I only have one request."

"Wanrenzhan must stay with you."

He was looking directly at He Yu.

After a brief pause...

He Yu nodded.

"All right."

Wanrenzhan blinked.

Looking strangely at Ling Buchen.

—Why was this guy suddenly being nice to him?

—Forget it.

—He Yu had already agreed they'd be together.

Immediately, he squeezed up beside He Yu with an absurdly delighted grin.

Everyone else silently looked away in disgust.

【Bullet Screen: "..."】

【Bullet Screen: "I seriously can't look at this anymore..."】

【Bullet Screen: "Still... I kind of understand. Without Zhen Xing or Ling Buchen nearby, Wanrenzhan would definitely protect He Yu."】

He Yu stood tall and elegant.

Among the towering Federation races, his height wasn't particularly remarkable.

Yet his unique bearing drew every eye toward him.

He naturally became the center of everyone's attention.

In his hands rested a white porcelain flowerpot.

Inside it sat a tiny green ginseng crowned with a single round leaf.

Looking toward the rising sun...

He smiled.

"Let's go."

Qiong confidently manipulated her threads.

Zhen Xing gripped his Cube as though everything were already under control.

Bo Jingshan and Ling Buchen remained as quiet as ever—

One carrying a blade.

The other a zither.

Both radiated overwhelming strength.

Eugene and Gedai's mechanical arms gleamed with deadly menace.

Wanrenzhan carried his axe.

Yuan Ze.

Tang Ke.

Siya.

Duan Yuchen.

Zhante.

Every one of them was an expert worthy of fear.

Starting from beyond the mist...

Their powerful bodies leaped into motion.

Carrying terrifying weapons...

They shot toward every direction.

Soon disappearing from sight.

—The hunters had begun their hunt.

【Bullet Screen: "Moment of silence for the other contestants."】

【Bullet Screen: "One of them was already terrifying enough. Now over a dozen top experts have joined forces, built a Star Network, and upgraded all their equipment... They're leaving the other contestants no chance at all."】

【Bullet Screen: "Hehehe... But I really want to watch!"】

【Bullet Screen: "They're doing all this so everyone can advance. Hopefully they succeed."】

—

Outside Mission 23.

Two contestants had discovered the mission site.

They had already confirmed each other's identities.

Since they were teammates...

They trusted one another enough to cooperate within this instance.

"It's awfully quiet."

"Do you think something's wrong?"

"Probably not."

"It's only Mission No. 23."

"It shouldn't be difficult."

"Let's hurry up."

"We need more points."

The instant those words fell...

Both suddenly stopped.

Holding their breath.

Then—

One of them collapsed.

Vanishing completely.

At the same moment, a woman's voice rang out.

"Leave one for me."

Bo Jingshan calmly sheathed his blade.

Several threads wrapped tightly around the remaining contestant.

Qiong smiled sweetly.

The man grabbed desperately at the threads.

"Wait!"

"We might be teammates!"

"Don't—"

Qiong smiled apologetically.

"Sorry."

"Even teammates have to die."

She blinked innocently.

"Go get some rest."

"I hope we meet again."

As soon as she finished speaking...

Her fingers tightened.

The contestant disappeared completely.

Bo Jingshan quietly returned to hiding.

His hoarse voice drifted over.

"You were too slow."

Qiong:

"..."

She muttered softly,

"It's not a competition..."

Just then—

Beep.

She looked down at her smart terminal.

A new message had arrived.

【Siya: Already finished three. ♪】

Qiong choked.

After a long pause, she muttered,

"...What's so impressive about that?"

"There just weren't enough people coming to our mission..."

—

Mission 91.

This mission was difficult.

And extremely well hidden.

Fortunately...

Zhen Xing pulled out a mirror.

He angled it toward the sun.

Instantly...

An intense beam of reflected light burst across the area.

Impossible to miss.

Gedai looked surprised.

"How did you think of that?"

Zhen Xing remembered He Yu's "blunt blade."

A faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.

He gave no answer.

After all...

The title "Lone Wolf" had never been undeserved.

Gedai merely shrugged.

He wasn't offended.

He simply continued waiting.

Ten minutes later...

Someone arrived.

Gedai was still waiting for them to get closer.

Zhen Xing had already moved.

Before those contestants even realized what was happening—

They were dead.

His harvesting of lives remained swift.

Merciless.

Gedai:

"..."

He couldn't hide the envy in his eyes.

Zhen Xing himself had become dramatically stronger.

His Cube had become dramatically stronger as well.

Previously...

Gedai had still believed he could challenge Zhen Xing.

Now...

He no longer had that confidence.

—

Several contestants sprinted desperately.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

They ran at full speed.

Only to collide head-on with another team.

The nature of this instance naturally encouraged forming groups.

Obtain a Verification Card.

Confirm someone's identity.

Recruit them.

Expand your team.

Some teammates died during missions.

Others joined.

The group continually changed.

Seeing newcomers approach...

The resting team immediately stood.

Weapons raised.

Before they even came close, one person shouted,

"Teammates?"

Normally...

This was when Verification Cards would be shown.

Without one...

Approaching others was almost always treated as hostility.

Yet the newcomers didn't stop.

Just as the resting group prepared for battle—

The runners shouted breathlessly,

"Run!"

"Someone's hunting us!"

"Who?"

"Your enemies?"

The fleeing contestant gritted his teeth.

"No!"

"It's the top thirty contestants!"

"They've joined forces!"

"They're trying to wipe everyone else out!"

"What nonsense."

"They only need to eliminate enemy camps."

"They're not going to kill their own teammates."

"Exactly."

"We've got plenty of points."

"We even have Verification Cards."

"We can prove we're on the same side."

...

The fleeing contestant grew frantic.

"No!"

"They don't care about camps at all!"

Realizing further explanation was pointless...

The fleeing group continued running.

Leaving behind only one final warning.

"We were fighting the enemy camp when they suddenly appeared."

"They slaughtered everyone."

"We barely escaped."

"Believe it or don't."

If they hadn't worried those people might be allies...

They wouldn't even have bothered warning them.

The reason they were absolutely certain those experts killed indiscriminately...

Was because two confirmed enemy camps had been fighting.

Regardless of which camp those experts belonged to...

Surely one side should have contained teammates.

Yet...

They killed everyone.

No hesitation.

No mercy.

It was clearly premeditated.

Not everyone in the fleeing group belonged to the same camp.

Survivors from both opposing camps had escaped together.

They had no intention of stopping.

After they left...

The resting group exchanged uncertain glances.

A cold wind suddenly swept past.

The strongest among them immediately stood.

"We're running too!"

Thus...

The fleeing group became even larger.

Those with flight equipment flew low through the air.

Not daring to rise too high and attract attention.

The rest sprinted at full speed.

A massive group desperately fled together.

Then—

The person at the very front suddenly stopped.

Those behind instinctively halted as well.

Standing in the open wilderness ahead...

Was a single man.

White robes.

Black hair.

His pale skin seemed even fairer beneath the morning light.

His beautiful black eyes watched them with complete focus.

He held a flowerpot.

Inside sat a tiny green ginseng.

The combination should have looked strange.

Yet somehow...

It felt perfectly natural.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree.

Merely standing there...

He resembled a painting.

Behind him stretched endless grasslands.

Like a jade Buddha...

He gazed quietly at them.

Without joy.

Without sorrow.

"...He Yu..."

Someone whispered the name hoarsely.

He Yu.

That name no longer belonged merely to Blue Star Contestant No. 2333.

It belonged to the contestant everyone in the Top Talent Show feared most.

Everyone knew his combat power.

Anyone there could crush him like an ant.

Yet...

Simply standing there...

He prevented anyone from taking another step.

No one dared move carelessly.

A terrible sense of foreboding crawled across everyone's skin.

Someone swallowed hard.

In a hoarse voice...

They asked,

"Teammates?"

He Yu looked at them.

His rimless glasses gave him an icy elegance.

He calmly adjusted them.

"It doesn't matter."

"I simply wish to discuss something with all of you."

"W-What...?"

Someone stammered.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Something was terribly wrong.

An icy chill penetrated their bones.

Every hair on their bodies stood upright.

He Yu truly was breathtakingly beautiful.

But nobody had the slightest mood to appreciate it.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

They could hear only their own pounding heartbeats.

Silence.

Only the wind remained.

He Yu took two slow steps forward.

His footsteps were light.

Yet each sounded like a drumbeat against their hearts.

Then he spoke.

"I intend to achieve the 'Everyone Advances' accomplishment."

"I'll need everyone's cooperation."

"H-How...?"

"How do we cooperate?"

He Yu smiled.

"Please..."

"Go rest at the Transfer Station first."

The instant those words fell—

Several shadows emerged from all directions.

Charging directly into the crowd.

Their combat power was overwhelming.

Completely unstoppable.

Contestants fell one after another.

Eyes widened in horror.

Within moments...

Only a single person remained.

Wanrenzhan turned around.

Blood stained his fierce face.

His axe was already descending—

The remaining contestant hurriedly shouted,

"I'll do it myself!"

He struck the back of his own neck with all his strength.

Just before disappearing, he looked toward He Yu and managed one final sentence.

"Boss..."

"You'd better keep your promise."

"Everyone advances."