Chapter 196 - 132: Discussing the Plan! New Followers! Attack from the Parasites

Chapter 196: Chapter 132: Discussing the Plan! New Followers! Attack from the Parasites

In contrast, Ning Feng—who was usually so carefree and always laughing—was like a completely different person.

His usual frivolity was gone, replaced by a face clouded with a lingering gloom and a hint of sorrow.

Chen Chong took it all in, but he wasn’t surprised.

Aside from Ning Yu, Ning Feng was the only other person from the Swordsmanship Club who had made it back to the school alive.

Shen Xinrou had examined him earlier. Other than complete exhaustion and being a bit shaken up, there was nothing seriously wrong. All he needed was a little rest to recover.

Presumably, after two days of recuperation, he was mostly fine.

So naturally, he didn’t need to lie in the infirmary to recover like the others.

But the brutal incident had ultimately left an indelible shadow on his heart...

Xu Jun came to Chen Chong’s side, his gaze sweeping over the two from the Swordsmanship Club. He spoke in a low voice tinged with worry.

"Brother Chong, I’m afraid the Swordsmanship Club’s situation isn’t looking good. On my way over, I saw Ning Feng wasn’t in a good state, so I asked him a few things."

"I heard that while we were asleep during the day, one of the three people they rescued died not long after."

"Of the remaining two, one is still unconscious, and the other’s vital signs are dropping rapidly. According to Xinrou’s prognosis, that one probably won’t last more than two days."

"Also... their own sister, Ning Shuang, is gone. Plus, one or two members are still missing without a trace. I’m afraid they’re also..."

Xu Jun didn’t finish the thought, but Chen Chong already understood the gist of it.

It seemed the Swordsmanship Club’s losses were truly catastrophic.

Out of eight people, only half remained, and two of them were critically injured and on the verge of death. It was uncertain if they could be saved.

Tragic.

Especially Ning Shuang. Now that she was gone, he couldn’t even blame her if he wanted to.

While Chen Chong felt sympathy for the Swordsmanship Club’s fate, he also took this incident as a warning to heart.

One wrong decision had led to an irreversible price...

That was the cruelty of this world.

’I must always be cautious. Otherwise, I might endanger the people around me and lead us all to a point of no return.’

Perhaps sensing Chen Chong’s gaze, Ning Yu glanced in his direction.

"My condolences."

Ning Yu remained expressionless, merely giving a slight nod.

Ning Feng, however, forced the corners of his mouth into a smile that looked worse than tears.

He had learned from his sister about everything that happened afterward and was extremely grateful for Chen Chong’s help—not just for avenging them by killing the Blood-tooth Python, but also for bringing back three of their members.

He knew he should be expressing his gratitude, but he just couldn’t muster the energy. After all, in just two short days, members of his club had been losing their lives one after another.

Even the two members lying in the infirmary were in critical condition. They were still alive, but both he and his sister knew in their hearts that the chances of recovery were... terrifyingly low.

An idea occurred to Chen Chong, and he spoke up again. "The dead are gone, and there’s nothing I can do for them. But for the two who are still alive, their odds of survival might just see a huge boost."

At his words, Ning Yu and Ning Feng froze, looking at him with confusion.

"Today, Ah Jun recruited a capable new person—a veteran who has practiced medicine for decades. With her joining the infirmary, she might be able to improve your two companions’ chances."

"Really?!"

Just as he expected, Ning Yu and Ning Feng cried out in unison at his words, their faces filled with incredulous excitement.

Chen Chong nodded firmly. "Ah Jun has already summoned her. She’s in the infirmary right now. Barring any surprises, she should be a huge help in treating the injured."

"That’s wonderful!"

Ning Yu and Ning Feng glanced at each other, both seeing a spark of excitement in the other’s eyes.

The Swordsmanship Club had suffered devastating losses. If they could save the last two, their eight-person team wouldn’t be reduced to just the two of them.

For a situation that had already hit rock bottom, this was undoubtedly a ray of hope in the darkness.

After all...

They couldn’t bear to lose another member. If even one more person could be saved, it would give them more motivation and hope to keep going.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Immediately after, Zhong Fang appeared at the activity room’s entrance with a group of people, his voice booming from a distance.

"Hey, Brother! So sorry, we’re late, we’re late! Kept you all waiting!"

Before Chen Chong could say a word, Zhang Meng jumped in with a joke:

"I gotta say, Old Fang, you sure are putting on airs. All of us are here, even the Swordsmanship Club has assembled, and you’re just strolling in now?"

"You’ve dawdled for at least half an hour. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you don’t live at the school—that you built a new house in the jungle and had to rush over from there!"

"Hey, there was a good reason!" Zhong Fang explained hurriedly.

"I was actually up a while ago. As soon as I heard Chen Chong was gathering everyone to discuss the important matter of uniting the school, I figured I’d bring along the new batch of guys who’ve joined us. It’s a good chance for everyone to get acquainted, and we’ll have more hands on deck for whatever comes next!"

"New guys?"

At this, it wasn’t just Zhang Meng who was stunned; even Chen Chong and Xu Jun looked astonished.

They hadn’t noticed in the dim light before, but now that Zhong Fang mentioned it, they realized the group behind him seemed to have a dozen or so more people than the original Fishing Club.

There were men and women, all of them unfamiliar faces.

"Did your Fishing Club recruit new members?"

Zhong Fang quickly waved his hands. "What’s so great about our club that people would want to join? These people aren’t here to follow me—they’re here to follow Brother Chen Chong!"

"Huh?"

Chen Chong was taken aback by his words.

Xu Jun, Zhang Meng, and Ning Yu all looked on in surprise.

With a smile, Zhong Fang began to recount what had happened at the Central Square a couple of days ago...

As he spoke, everyone finally understood where these dozen or so new faces had come from.

It turned out that after hearing about Chen Chong’s heroic feat of killing the Unihorn Catfish, some students had privately sought out Zhong Fang to ask if they could join Chen Chong’s team.

Zhong Fang, knowing about Chen Chong’s plan to unite the school, had naturally agreed. He planned to take them to meet Chen Chong that very evening.

But who would have known that before they could even meet, the whole incident with the Blood-tooth Python would happen...

"Brother, a lot more people actually came to me in private, but I was out with you by the Sky Pit for a day and a night before I had a chance to respond. Even so, there are thirty or forty people who’ve said they want to follow you."

"I don’t know these people very well, though. I spent a while wandering around just now and only managed to find this dozen or so. I have no idea where the rest of them are staying, and it’s impossible to find anyone so late at night. I could only bring them over for now, but..."

Before Zhong Fang could finish, the dozen or so new faces—a mix of men and women—eagerly pushed forward, their expressions filled with adoration and respect.

"Chen... Chong, Brother Chong! My name is Wen Zhi. Ever since I heard you killed an Extraordinary Creature, I’ve been completely in awe of you. I hope you’ll take me in!"

"Me too, Brother Chong! I can’t believe you can kill Extraordinary Creatures. You’re so badass!"

"I was still reeling from you killing the Giant Catfish, and now you’ve killed a Blood Python, too? You’re like a god walking among mortals!"

"Brother Chong, Brother Chong...."

Watching the crowd in front of him, Chen Chong’s expression gradually soured, his brow visibly furrowing ever more tightly.

Zhong Fang noticed Chen Chong’s dark expression, and his tone became a mix of confusion and unease.

"Brother, you... you don’t want to accept them? If not, I’ll just have them..."

"Ah Jun, do you sense it?" Chen Chong ignored Zhong Fang.

"I smell it. A familiar scent..."

Xu Jun’s expression also turned grim.

The Tiger Striped Dog and Blade-Limbed Assassin Insect showed no reaction, but the Lion-headed Goose being held in his arms stared intently at the crowd, its hawk-like eyes fixed on them as if it had spotted an intruder.

"Brother, what’s going on..."

Zhang Meng could also tell something was wrong and was just about to ask.

BOOM!

And then, chaos erupted!

Countless vines erupted inside the room. Like the limbs of a monstrous octopus, they lunged toward Chen Chong, aiming to assassinate him...

...