Chapter 42. Yan Yan's Two Realms: Black Cat...
Soon, the battlefield was cleaned up, and all the squads gradually left the battlefield and returned to the residential area in the west district.
Half an hour after the battle ended, Longya found the female staff member who had initially met them. Under her guidance, they crossed the largest street in the West District and arrived at a secluded, remote open space.
This place is in the middle of nowhere, with only a narrow path a little over a meter wide leading to it, surrounded by large rocks, and lacking even basic infrastructure like lighting.
As we followed, the bustling activity and lively atmosphere in the heart of the residential area came into stark contrast to what we saw along the way.
One is like a bustling, portable city, the other is like a remote, sparsely populated small county town.
Longya and his group watched the West District staff member who had led them there leave with fake smiles on their faces before finally taking off their fake smiles.
Wang Hao put his hands on his hips, his gaze falling on the dark 'campsite' (an empty space with nothing in it), and scoffed, "How did this desolate place become the carefully selected campsite they were talking about?"
The team members haven't responded yet.
From the darkness, a hearty male voice spoke first: "Hahahaha, you guys must not have paid any kickbacks to be banished to this remote corner."
Upon hearing the sudden reply, the Dragon Fang Squad tensed up at first, then recognized the voice and breathed a sigh of relief.
In the darkness, Gu Qingqi strode out, his face still bearing a cheerful smile, but the part of his right forearm that went down had vanished into thin air.
Xiao Weizhi's gaze fell on Gu Qingqi's missing right forearm, and he frowned as he asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Gu Qingqi scratched the back of his head with his undamaged left hand, his expression somewhat disheveled under the cover of night: "Oh, this was a mistake. I was eaten by a monster. I can get a limb restoration spell from Uncle Chen when I get back to the capital."
Xiao Weizhi said in a deep voice to his companions, "You guys set up camp first."
After saying that, he reached out and grabbed Gu Qingqi by the collar, pulling him aside to talk.
Lin Xiaoxiao saw Chen Feng and Liu Huihui pulling on her sleeves.
She immediately withdrew her gaze from Xiao Weizhi and Gu Qingqi, and took out the folding tent, folding kitchen, fence, campsite protective cover, power generator, lights and other items from the space one by one.
Forty minutes later, a fully functional, clearly divided, and comfortable campsite was set up.
Under the soft incandescent light, Longya's friends sat around the long camping table, slumped in their chairs, chatting and eating.
Lin Xiaoxiao sat and waited for several hours, until she was sleepy, but Xiao Weizhi still hadn't returned.
After she finished washing up, she sat on the small bed with her wet hair down, smiling as she watched the red-tailed rat and the treasure-hunting rat playing at the foot of the bed. Then Xiao Weizhi returned.
She turned around and saw him return, and asked softly, "Did you eat the food that Brother Yijin left in the kitchen?"
When Xiao Weizhi came in, he casually took off his dusty robe and draped it over the clothes rack next to the entrance of the tent.
Wearing crisp gray trousers and a loose shirt, he casually picked up the towel Lin Xiaoxiao was draped over her shoulder and wiped the water droplets from her hair: "Not yet, we'll go eat right away. Why isn't your hair dry again?"
Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and retorted softly, "My hair is too long, and it takes too long to dry. I'm tired."
The implication is that she didn't fail to dry the water droplets, but rather that she was tired and planned to rest for a while before wiping them.
Xiao Weizhi's gaze behind his glasses was focused and gentle. His movements were light and efficient, and in ten minutes, he had dried her hair until it was half dry.
Then I went to the bathroom and took out a portable cordless hair dryer. I dried my hair until it was completely dry before putting the hair dryer on the bedside table.
After finishing all this, he gently stroked the back of Lin Xiaoxiao's head a few times, and then placed a light kiss on her forehead: "Your hair is dry, you go to sleep first, I'll sleep after I'm done."
Lin Xiaoxiao reached out to cover her open mouth as she yawned, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes from exhaustion: "Okay."
Although she didn't do much that day, just followed behind her teammates as a mascot, she still felt exhausted, as if her whole body was about to fall apart.
At around 2 a.m., there were only three soft breaths inside the tent.
The treasure-hunting mouse sleeping in the basket emitted a faint yellow glow.
It wasn't until Lin Xiaoxiao, Xiao Weizhi, and Hongwei in the tent had fallen into a deep sleep that it slowly opened its dark, beady eyes.
The treasure-hunting mouse flipped itself off the small basket, faced the top of the tent, and buzzed, "Boss, the masters are all fast asleep."
The next second, a distorted vortex appeared on the top of the tent, and the black cat's figure passed through the vortex and quietly appeared inside the tent.
It stood on the bedside table, gazing at Lin Xiao, who was fast asleep, for a long while.
Then, the black cat turned its head, opened its vertical eyes which looked particularly green in the darkness, and said to the treasure-hunting mouse who was standing obediently to the side waiting, "Let's go, you lead the way."
The treasure-hunting mouse nodded quickly, "Hurry up and go, I have to be back before my masters wake up."
The black cat carried the treasure-hunting mouse on its head and, in the pitch-black night, without disturbing anyone, slipped through whirlpools and silently left the western district residence.
Before dawn, the black cat returned carrying the treasure-hunting mouse.
It skillfully jumped onto the cat bed, curled up into a ball, and began to purr softly.
Lin Xiaoxiao opened her eyes to a surprise and found that the black cat, which had been nowhere to be seen before, had also come along.
She was so happy that she immediately sat up in bed and saw that it was sleeping in its cat bed with its tail still. It was probably fast asleep, so she didn't disturb it.
After changing his clothes, he happily walked out of the tent and ran to the kitchen to ask Chen Yijin, who was making breakfast, to help prepare another breakfast for Black Cat.
Chen Yijin replied with a smile, "No problem, I'll get right on it."
Just as she was happily holding her face and sitting next to Cheng Cheng, waiting for breakfast, Xiao Weizhi arrived with Gu Qingqi and his team.
Gu Qingqi waved to Lin Xiaoxiao and said, "Hey, sister-in-law, good morning. We've come over for a free meal."
Lin Xiaoxiao sat in the chair, smiling and waving in response: "Good morning, Mr. Gu."
Xiao Weizhi glanced at Gu Qingqi beside him, wanting to complain, but considering their team's situation, he took a few deep breaths and decided to give up.
He turned to Chen Feng and instructed him, "Chen Feng, arrange to expand the camp a bit more. During this time, Hu Xiao will stay in the same camp as us, and we'll use our spare supplies."
He then turned to Chen Yijin and said, "Yijin, you may have to work a little harder during this period. You'll need to prepare meals for 12 more people."
Including the team leader Gu Qingqi, the Tiger Roar Squad has 12 members, making it a full-strength pioneering team.
Chen Yijin nodded happily: "No problem, boss. Do they have any dietary restrictions?"
Thinking of what Gu Qingqi had talked to him about last night, Xiao Weizhi rubbed his temples helplessly: "Don't worry about them, just do what you have to do."
They eat and drink for free and still dare to complain? We'll break their legs.
Lin Xiaoxiao curiously observed the members of the Tiger Roar Squad. Unlike Dragon Fang, there were four female professionals in the Tiger Roar Squad.
They are: Priest, Mage, Shield Master, and Support Aura Master. Almost every one of them holds a crucial position in the team and can be considered the backbone of the Tiger Roar Squad.
The four female professionals in the Tiger Roar Squad were not angry at Lin Xiaoxiao's curious stare; instead, they all gave her friendly smiles.
Lin Xiaoxiao returned a shy smile, feeling a little embarrassed.
After arranging everything, Xiao Weizhi walked to Lin Xiaoxiao's side and reached out to pat her head: "Why did you get up so early today?"
Usually at this time she'd still be lazing in bed in her tent, so why is she up at 7 a.m. today?
Lin Xiaoxiao pushed away Xiao Weizhi's large hand that was on her head, tugged at his robe, and gestured for him to bend down and come closer to speak.
Xiao Weizhi pulled over a folding chair from the side, sat down, put his arm around her shoulder affectionately, and leaned his face towards her: "Go ahead and say it."
Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her voice, speaking in a whisper like a thief, "When I opened my eyes this morning, I saw the black cat boss sleeping in its cat bed. I was afraid of disturbing it, so I just came out."
A glint of light flashed in Xiao Weizhi's eyes. The black cat had followed them.
Then Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "What's the situation with the Tiger Roar Squad?"
Tiger Roar's entire team looked very imposing.
But the dusty business suit, the slightly dirty face, the greasy hair, and the fact that Captain Gu Qingqi had lost his right hand made him look nothing like someone who was doing well in the West District.
Moreover, considering that Gu Qingqi was encountered in this remote place last night, it's not hard to guess that Hu Xiao's camp must not be too far from here.
Xiao Weizhi lowered his voice and explained Hu Xiao's current situation in a few short words.
In short, the West District is a complex place with intertwined relationships, requiring constant networking and maneuvering.
However, Gu Qingqi and his group failed to make proper arrangements and fell into someone else's trap.
In a battle, Hu Xiao made a fatal mistake, resulting in Gu Qingqi losing an arm and the entire Hu Xiao team needing to be interrogated in the operations department's interrogation room.
Gu Qingqi almost went bankrupt, sending out all his supplies to barely save everyone in the team. In the end, he was relegated to live in this remote place, where he suffered terribly due to the lack of supplies.
Lin Xiaoxiao was taken aback, and her voice involuntarily rose a little: "How dare they?"
Treating a team of pioneers who came to provide support in this way is illegal. Does the higher-ups know about the actions of these scoundrels?
Her slightly raised voice drew the attention of everyone who was busy at work.
Xiao Weizhi gently patted Lin Xiaoxiao's shoulder and comforted her in a gentle voice: "These kinds of things can't be avoided or stopped. This time it was Old Gu's carelessness, and he has to admit it."
All the evidence was against Huxiao, so the fact that everyone survived safely was the best possible outcome.
Xiao Weizhi knew who was plotting against Gu Qingqi, but this person was not someone they could touch at the moment.
There's plenty of time, let's wait and see.
Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. Even though she knew Xiao Weizhi was right, she still couldn't help but get angry.
Why should those who work hard be suppressed and schemed against, while those in high positions can reap the benefits without lifting a finger and secretly harm anyone they don't like?
Seeing this, Xiao Weizhi changed the subject without looking for clues, and brought up something: "Old Gu is very curious and interested in the fact that your candy box can draw candies that give buffs, and said he wants to try his luck."
Speaking of this, we have to thank Wang Hao and Jiang Tao, those two big mouths, for letting it slip when they were showing off.
This greatly interested the members of the Tiger Roar Squad.
Gu Qingqi went directly to Xiao Weizhi and asked him to help make a connection so he could try his luck drawing candy from Lin Xiaoxiao.
After all, candies that can provide buffs are really good stuff.
Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes immediately lit up, and she turned to Xiao Weizhi beside her in surprise: "Really?"
Seeing that she was no longer angry, Xiao Weizhi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile: "Really, they are all looking forward to it."
Lin Xiaoxiao immediately took out a surprise candy box from her spatial storage: "When are we going to draw one?"
She loves sharing this kind of joy, and it's definitely not because she's too bored in the secret realm and wants to watch a show.
Xiao Weizhi stood up, took the candy box from her hand, and helped her up as well: "Now you can."
Anyway, the people from Longya can do something as simple as setting up a tent.
Since she's so looking forward to it, and Gu Qingqi and the others also want to try, then let's not delay any longer; it's not appropriate to continue discussing the previous topics.
Three minutes later, a scream came from Gu Qingqi's mouth, followed by a series of gasps, retching, and cries for water.
The Dragon Fang team members grinned mischievously as they watched the Tiger Roar Squad warriors bravely down the candy in one gulp.
As seasoned candy-loving veterans, they only dared to stick out the tip of their tongues to try and lick it once, never daring to put the whole candy in their mouths.
However, the Tiger Roar team did not come away empty-handed. The priestess ate a candy that grants a 6% Holy Light attribute buff (3 hours).
And so, what followed was that Dragon Fang and Tiger Roar became allies and went in and out of the West District together.
Spending every day together, eating and living together, the Tiger Roar team members have all become rounder and their complexions have improved considerably.
Gu Qingqi repeatedly marveled at Xiao Weizhi's shrewdness: 'Bringing Lin Xiaoxiao, a talent with an enormous spatial ability, into this S-level secret realm is like bringing a super-large warehouse; life would be much better. No wonder Xiao Weizhi hides Lin Xiaoxiao like a treasure.'
Xiao Weizhi and Lin Xiaoxiao did not refute Gu Qingqi's sigh, choosing to tacitly accept it.
After all, only the two of them knew the details.
Unbeknownst to both teams, the black cat took the treasure-hunting rat out every night and returned at dawn, and was not discovered even once during those many days.
Then, the treasure-hunting mouse slept all day, and Lin Xiaoxiao was worried that something might be wrong with the mouse's health.
Later, they discovered that the treasure-hunting mouse simply loved to sleep and could eat and sleep well, which put their minds at ease.
Time flies, and twenty-three days have passed in the blink of an eye.
Dragon Fang and Tiger Roar stood together on the front line, their movements of projecting skills becoming increasingly coordinated, always able to follow up with a suitable skill at the right time.
Gu Qingqi sighed, "Weizhi, almost a month has passed. I'm reluctant to see you go back to the North District."
The time the Tiger Roar Squad spent eating and drinking for free in Dragon Fang was the most comfortable period they had experienced since arriving in this S-level secret realm.
With only seven days left before Xiao Weizhi and the others had to go back, to be honest, they were really a little reluctant to part ways.
Xiao Wei scoffed: "You just can't bear to part with the supplies in Xiaoxiao's space!"
Gu Qingqi wasn't embarrassed when Xiao Weizhi exposed him. He glanced back and saw Lin Xiaoxiao sitting in the back with Cheng Cheng, Qi Lei (Tiger Roar Support - Priest), and Tang Baobao (Tiger Roar Support - Aura Master), chatting and drinking tea with smiles. He looked on with envy.
He then sighed helplessly. Why wasn't Gu Qingqi a support? Otherwise, he could sit in the back with them, drink tea and chat, and occasionally keep an eye on the team's health, mana, and status... that would be enough.
Xiao Weizhi waved his staff, and a series of fireballs appeared out of thin air, landing in the middle of the monsters and causing an explosion, with dust flying everywhere.
Congratulations on defeating the level 31 Crimson Flame Giant Lizard! Experience gained: 4472
...
Not long after, the BOSS suddenly appeared, breaking the previous pattern of appearing at the appointed time and appearing several hours earlier than usual.
If someone observes closely, they will notice that today's Crimson Giant Lizard BOSS leader no longer has the leisurely and relaxed demeanor of the past.
The whole thing seemed particularly anxious, as if they had lost something very important, but had no choice but to be here, unable to search for it.
The moment the BOSS appeared, it unleashed a powerful attack on the professionals in the West District.
A barrage of meteors and fireballs rained down from the sky, one after another. Just when the skill was about to end, the BOSS unleashed another powerful attack.
Skills came one after another, without any pause.
The professionals on the front lines raised their protective shields, slaying the hordes of ferocious beasts while skillfully dodging the occasional showers of meteors and fireballs falling from the sky.
Everyone was suffering terribly, praying in their hearts that the BOSS's skills would end soon.
But they were going to be disappointed. The meteor shower started during the day and continued into the night without stopping, until a long, strangely sung flute note rang out, as if reminding them that it was time to end the battle.
The BOSS reluctantly led the surviving Crimson Flame Giant Lizards away from the battlefield.
Lin Xiaoxiao was certain that she had indeed heard the flute music, which was why the BOSS led the monster horde back. However, when she asked Xiao Weizhi, he said he hadn't heard it.
They went to secretly ask Cheng Cheng, but Cheng Cheng also said he hadn't heard anything.
Back in the tent, Lin Xiaoxiao sat in a chair, lost in thought, wondering why she was the only one who could hear the flute sound today.
Xiao Weizhi came in from outside and saw that Lin Xiaoxiao's prosthetic limb had not been removed and she did not intend to wash up. She was still sitting motionless, looking deep in thought.
He half-squatted in front of her and asked, "Are you still thinking about that flute note from today?"
Lin Xiaoxiao snapped out of her daze: "Yes, I really heard a flute sound."
Xiao Weizhi raised his hand and touched her cheek, asking gently, "Do you want to wash up? Get some rest early tonight."
The subtext is that the flute music Lin Xiaoxiao heard today was probably a hallucination caused by extreme fatigue.
Lin Xiaoxiao frowned, looking at him with a stubborn expression: "I'm not very tired today, and that flute sound was definitely not a hallucination."
The flute sound was definitely real, and her intuition told her that the BOSS left because he heard the flute sound.
Xiao Weizhi slightly curled the corners of her lips and said in a gentle voice, "Hmm, I was probably fighting, so I didn't hear it. It's my fault."
Even though Xiao Weizhi had bowed his head, the way he coaxed her like a child made her inexplicably want to get angry.
It felt like a fire was pressing down on Lin Xiaoxiao's heart. She felt inexplicably irritable, and subconsciously sensed that something terrible was about to happen.
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Author's Note: Sorry for the slightly late update today. I'll resume my normal update schedule tomorrow. [heart emojis]
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