Chapter 117: Special Training Activity

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That very evening, the Zhan family sent people over as reinforcements. With more personnel at his command and Zhan Shaohua taking charge, Zhan Yu felt much more confident.

That night, he arranged special training for everyone. Everything concerning the new mutant insectoid species was organized, and a comprehensive investigation of the uninhabited planet was set in motion.

As for the island where they were staying, Zhan Yu intended to leave it to the students from the Federation First Military Academy who were undergoing military training. It would be a good opportunity to temper them. In Zhan Yu’s view, anyone who had never experienced actual combat was completely useless.

The next day, Zhan Yu decided to separate all the students in the special-training class and put them through another round of intensive training. He planned to send the special-training class in first, then arrange for the ordinary students to follow.

During the military training, Xuan Xuan was a special existence. Every day, she sat beneath the shade of a tree and watched.

Zhan Yu was helpless in the face of her, while Kuang Shao could not say anything either.

Even the indignant students nearby dared not say a word under Zhan Yu’s suppression.

Xuan Xuan lived an easy life. She came whenever she felt like it, and when she did not come, she went to Zhan Yu under the pretext of researching the insectoids. But whether she was really there for that or not, Zhan Yu suspected she was merely going there for free meals.

She was not necessarily around when it was time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—but whenever there was food, she was absolutely present. He simply could not understand how a girl could have such thick skin.

Still, he was too embarrassed to drive her away. After all, she was that person’s disciple, and she had helped him with a great deal.

With Xuan Xuan freeloading there, even Kuang Shao felt too awkward to chase her away.

After an entire month of special training, even Xuan Xuan had to give Zhan Yu’s methods a thumbs-up.

Every student in the special-training class seemed to have become an entirely different person. Their vitality and spirit had both improved tremendously.

Although everyone cursed Zhan Yu inwardly, they still had to admire his training methods.

The progress of Wanqi Weihao, his companions, and Lou Yitong was even visible to the naked eye.

Once the month of special training ended, Zhan Yu announced that the next day they would enter the rainforest in teams. Every group would have the same mission: emerge safely from the rainforest. Anyone who discovered traces or clues of the insectoids would receive additional points.

Each group would have six people.

Wanqi Weihao was staring at Zuo Chen, Xiao Daopeng, and Zheng Chao, making all three of them feel a chill run down their spines.

Wanqi Weihao, Wanqi Weihan, Xuan Xuan, and Lou Yitong already made four people.

That left three more, meaning one person had to be eliminated. Who should they get rid of?

“How about the three of you settle it with rock-paper-scissors?” Wanqi Weihao suggested.

No one dared entrust their fate to something so dependent on luck. The three of them knew exactly what Xuan Xuan was capable of. With her, they would have food, drink, and a good chance of staying alive.

Zuo Chen hurried forward. “Why bother with rock-paper-scissors? There isn’t a plant in the rainforest I don’t recognize. It’ll save everyone trouble if you take me.”

Wanqi Weihao glanced at him. He knew every plant? “Do you know more than Xuan Xuan?”

“Aren’t we looking for traces of the insectoids? I’m good at that.” Xiao Daopeng gave Zuo Chen a smug look. See? I’m quicker than you.

Wanqi Weihan heartlessly twisted the knife. “Then how come you didn’t discover the insectoid that was parasitizing you?”

Xiao Daopeng wilted. “That was a special case.”

“When special cases happen often enough, they become common cases.” Wanqi Weihan waved him off. With his own Xuan Xuan around, what use was he?

Zheng Chao did not dare say anything at all. He specialized in mecha maintenance, which made him practically useless here. Mechas would be of no use in the rainforest.

Xuan Xuan walked over. “What are you doing?”

“We’re discussing how to divide up the groups.” Wanqi Weihan gave her a sinister smile. “Who do you think we should leave out?”

Xuan Xuan counted the people. Wasn’t the number just right?

“Then leave yourself out.”

Wanqi Weihan’s face fell. Seeing everyone nearby snickering, he said, “I can do useful work too.”

Xuan Xuan pointed toward Zheng Chao. “He’s taller and stronger than you.”

“I can also use spatial—”

Before he could finish, Wanqi Weihan automatically fell silent. He remembered the time he had demonstrated “spatial concealment” in front of Zhan Yu. Better not show off his meager skills before an expert.

Xuan Xuan looked at him. Well, at least he had a little self-awareness. There was still hope for him.

She called Lou Yitong over. “Take her in with you.”

After a month of special training, Lou Yitong was still somewhat reserved, but she had improved considerably. “What about you?”

“It’ll be so exhausting. Of course I’m not going.” Xuan Xuan said it as though it were self-evident.

Zuo Chen, Xiao Daopeng, and Zheng Chao all glared at Wanqi Weihan at the same time. If Xuan Xuan was not going, what was he acting so smug about?

Wanqi Weihan felt even more aggrieved. If you weren’t going, why scare me like that?

And besides, she had so openly declared that entering the rainforest for special training would be exhausting, then simply refused to go. Couldn’t she see that the gazes of everyone around her had nearly turned into swords?

Xuan Xuan’s refusal to participate in military training had already made countless people jealous. Now she did not even have to attend the special training, which made countless students want to rebel.

Of course, under the suppression of Zhan Yu, the grim-faced god, those rebellious thoughts remained nothing more than thoughts.

Xuan Xuan did not care what they thought. Even if she were going, she would not be going with them. Every student from the special-training class would carry a monitoring device into the rainforest. The purpose was training, not genuinely expecting them to discover anything. How could Zhan Yu possibly let them wander around freely?

Besides, once they entered, Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao would enter as well, along with a large number of military personnel.

Naturally, Xuan Xuan would not go with Wanqi Weihao and the others. She would follow Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu instead. No matter what, she would eat better and sleep more comfortably with them.

After leaving Lou Yitong with Wanqi Weihao and the others, Xuan Xuan went over to Zhan Yu’s side. She wanted to see what ready-made food he had prepared. The dried meat and other provisions they had brought from the imperial capital were already gone.

Ai Zhe watched Xuan Xuan leave in the direction of Zhan Yu’s camp. He would have been willing to accept even the two Wanqi brothers, but it absolutely could not be Zhan Yu.

He felt an inexplicable hostility toward Zhan Yu.

He smiled bitterly. No matter who she teamed up with, it would not be him. Yet following Zhan Yu would be safer, wouldn’t it?

“Ai Zhe, who are you teaming up with? Our group still needs someone from the command division.” Xuan Guo walked over and asked.

At a time like this, when they were taking risks together, it would be the best chance to cultivate their relationship, wouldn’t it?

In order to get closer to Ai Zhe, she herself was also in the command division. How could she possibly be short of a place?

Ai Zhe politely shook his head. “No need. I already have my own group.”

Watching Ai Zhe casually join another group, Xuan Guo’s expression immediately darkened.

Soon. Very soon, he would obey her every word instead of forever staring at Wanqi Xuan Xuan’s back.

She clenched her hand and glanced at her arm. This time, she would definitely succeed.

Ai Zhe, when the time came, she would let him see exactly how completely obedient to her he could become.

After Xuan Xuan thoroughly raided Zhan Yu’s kitchen, she discovered that everything had already been arranged properly: equipment and medicine for each person, some seasonings, and three days’ worth of food and water.

She silently went to the storeroom and raided everything all over again.

How could three days possibly be enough?

When she came out of the storeroom, the more than one hundred students from the special-training class had already set out. Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao were preparing to leave.

“Why aren’t you with them?” Kuang Shao asked.

Xuan Xuan glanced at him. “Why do I have to go?”

“This is your assignment.” Kuang Shao felt that Wanqi Xuan Xuan had absolutely no awareness of herself as a student.

Of course, Xuan Xuan had no such awareness. “I’m going with you.”

“No. You have to train.” Kuang Shao rejected her outright. They could not always make exceptions for her. Many students would resent her, and even more would ostracize her. If his old master found out that he had caused her to be isolated by everyone, he would probably cut him to pieces.

“Then don’t come looking for my help later if anything happens.” Xuan Xuan spoke calmly, completely unafraid of him.

Had she calculated that he would not dare agree?

Zhan Yu muttered inwardly. He truly could not be certain. Who knew what might be lurking in the rainforest, especially with so many students inside?

What if something happened and they needed her help?

The possibility was far too great.

Kuang Shao gritted his teeth. He was doing this for her own good, yet she did not appreciate it.

“Are you going or not?” he asked.

“I am. I’m going with you,” Xuan Xuan replied.

She felt that Kuang Shao was too long-winded and could not understand plain speech.

Zhan Yu was speechless as well. “You must obey my orders.”

After hesitating for a moment, Xuan Xuan decided to agree for now. If there was something she did not want to do later, she could always argue about it then.

She nodded. “All right.”

“If we need your help, we’ll have to trouble you when the time comes.” Zhan Yu gave her advance warning. This girl was unreliable and acted entirely according to her mood, so he had to give her a precautionary reminder first.

Xuan Xuan did not hesitate at all. It was a minor matter. She nodded. “No problem. Shall we go?”

She was quite interested in this operation. Otherwise, she would have stayed in camp. Why put herself through hardship?

In any case, she had already calculated that Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu could not do anything to her.

Since she was not afraid of being expelled, Xuan Xuan felt no pressure at all about skipping military training.

Following Zhan Yu and the others into the rainforest, Xuan Xuan immediately felt much more at ease. She swept her gaze around. The surroundings were rather similar to those of Hundred Herb Planet.

She wondered whether there would be Illusion Morphing Grass here as well.

She glanced at Kuang Shao and secretly smiled. She wondered how he would react if he were transformed in the real world into a breathtaking beauty capable of bringing ruin to a kingdom—and did so in front of his own subordinates.

It would probably be quite amusing.

Since Xuan Xuan had chosen to accompany them, she felt she ought to do her duty. As soon as they entered the rainforest, she spread out her mental power and observed the surroundings as carefully as possible.

Then she suddenly asked Kuang Shao, “After I told you to keep an eye on Xuan Guo, did you send anyone to monitor her?”

Kuang Shao jumped. The rainforest was quiet, and Xuan Xuan’s sudden question startled him. Although he did not know why she was asking, he still turned to Kuang Chi beside him.

“Did anyone follow her?”

“We investigated for a month and found nothing unusual. Now that she has entered the rainforest, she shouldn’t be able to cause any trouble, so we didn’t send anyone after her,” Kuang Chi replied.

Xuan Xuan looked at Kuang Shao, speechless.

“A-Shao, send someone immediately. Have them watch her day and night and report anything unusual at once.” Zhan Yu issued the order.

“Why?” Kuang Shao asked. “Is it that serious?”

Zhan Yu was helpless as well. “Now that she has entered the rainforest, I’m afraid she has entered its territory.”

Kuang Shao slapped his forehead. Right.

He turned toward Kuang Chi. “What are you waiting for? Go!”