CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 193: "QI QI QI QI QIAN——!

After dealing with the Black Bee Bear, the five-person squad followed their original plan to head for the supply station.

"Do you guys feel like the sky is getting darker?" Zhang Yun looked up, feeling that the sky seemed darker than before.

Han Li raised his wrist and checked his watch, "Well, the time setting in the 3019 instance is 2 hours less than outside, and the time difference is quite significant. If we average it out, it’s equivalent to 7 PM in the evening during June outside. To avoid sleeping on the ground at night, we should hurry to the supply station."

"How do you know this?" Xu Jinghong was surprised for a moment, wondering if this was the awesomeness of a Command Department student.

Sheng Qing also glanced towards Han Li.

"There’s a strategy on the campus forum." Han Li blinked, looking at the curious others, "Don’t you guys check strategies before entering an instance?"

Xu Jinghong shook his head, "I’m not sure which instance I’ll enter, so what’s the point of looking them up? Plus, strategy posts are only open to students above the sophomore year. This month’s pre-exam training is already busy enough. Who has the time to look at them."

Sheng Qing coolly responded, "Not necessary."

Zhang Yun scratched his head, giving a naive smile, "I’m a tank, as long as I don’t run into Spiritual Magical Beasts, it’s not a big deal."

Han Li: ...Sorry, apparently I’m the rookie here!

Han Li eagerly looked at Qian Qi, "Qi Qian, do you not look at strategies either?"

Qian Qi: "I do."

Han Li was delighted, thinking he’d finally found a companion, only to hear Qian Qi chuckle, "I only looked at the strategy for the 3019 instance."

Han Li: ???

"Are you so sure we would agree to enter the 3019 instance?" Xu Jinghong stared at Qian Qi, and the recent princess hug brought up some unpleasant memories. Also, looking at Qian Qi’s figure felt familiar, causing him to suspect that Qi Qian was Little Qian.

Qian Qi pointed at Han Li, "A loner."

Then pointed at Xu Jinghong, "One nobody wants."

Pointed at Sheng Qing, "One nobody dares want."

Lastly pointed at Zhang Yun, "And one eager to team up, all were found by me, so choosing which instance, I’m definitely calling the shots!"

Xu Jinghong: ?

Hey, hey, hey, why am I the one nobody wants, and Sheng Qing the one nobody dares want!

The group chatted and laughed along the way, encountering a few stray Magic Beasts mid-route and solving them together. By the time they arrived at the supply station, the sky had completely darkened.

Their squad took a triangular route, and the earlier battle with the Black Bee Bear delayed them somewhat, causing them to be a tenth behind other teams. Fortunately, the supply station still had remaining supplies to fill the gap slightly.

"Emergency Hemostatic Medicine, antipyretic anti-inflammatory drugs... Zhang Yun, go fill up mineral water, grab 2.5L bottles, at least six of them. Xu Jinghong, you check if there are any tents or sleeping bags left."

Han Li picked the medicines, looked at the shelves with the few remaining self-heating meals, and packed them all into his backpack decisively.

He had to consider his teammates first; with four boys on the team requiring substantial meals, and Sheng Qing being the strongest but also a girl, naturally they shouldn’t go hungry.

"Only one tent and two sleeping bags left." From the other side of the supply station, Xu Jinghong dragged three sleeping bags and came over.

"Three are enough. At night, we have to leave two people to guard, the shift can share sleeping bags." The fact that the supply station had three sleeping items left felt lucky to Han Li. Once they gathered some fragmented supplies, they quickly departed from the supply station.

The supply station wasn’t a safe resting point; it was brightly lit and easily attracted Magic Beasts at night. Running into teams intending to steal supplies would be even worse.

"Head towards Flag Point 7. There’s a river here. Nearby is an open space. If suitable, perhaps we can set up camp." Although they’ve only been in the instance for half a day, unlike the city with lights, it’s pitch black at night. Even with flashlights, moving isn’t convenient.

If exhaustion leads to a lack of energy during the daytime to face Magic Beasts, that would be disastrous.

After reaching the location Han Li designated, he let Qian Qi take him around to release spiritual power and check for risks of Magic Beasts attacking within 500 meters. Thankfully, there were two E-level Magical Beasts slightly farther away, but they were sleeping and shouldn’t disturb them.

Han Li advised against killing the Magic Beasts, as the scent of blood might attract Magic Beasts from a greater distance, best not to cause unnecessary trouble.

However...

To save time, and for a quick escape upon encountering Magic Beasts, he was carried by Qian Qi on his back, but for some reason...

Han Li asked in confusion, "Qi Qian, do you have something in your pocket? Why do my thighs feel so uncomfortable."

Since Qi Qian had no backpack, and he looked skinny and lacking strength, carrying supplies was usually left to him, Zhang Yun, and Xu Jinghong.

But Qi Qian’s coat pockets were supposed to contain a sack only, yet why did his legs feel so hard, like there were many small sticks?

Qian Qi looked down, then replied innocently, "Probably nylon cords."

Nylon cords?

Han Li recalled, he had a good memory, clearly seeing Qian Qi put the nylon cords in the large pocket on the left leg, while the coat and inner clothing pocket contained sacks and Magic Potions.

Did they switch positions while on the road?

Han Li didn’t think much more of it. When he and Qian Qi returned to the resting place, tents and a bonfire were already set up. Sheng Qing sat on a rock with eyes closed to meditate, Zhang Yun stuffed everyone’s backpack into the tent, while Xu Jinghong was blowing bubbles with bubble gum, accidentally bursting it and spreading it all over his mouth, impatiently peeling off the gum from his face.

And another team appeared at the spot; apparently, they fancied this area too.

"When did they arrive?" Han Li glanced at the team that had neither set up a tent nor sat down to eat but stood there discussing something. Occasionally glancing over at them made Han Li speculate they just arrived or lacked sleeping gear for the night.

"Just came, less than half a minute before you got back." Zhang Yun sat by the tent edge, started unpacking the backpack, "Captain, when are we eating? I’m hungry."

Seeing fellow teammate hungry, Han Li quickly said, "Let’s eat then, make sure you don’t go hungry."

"But..." Zhang Yun’s burly figure curled up at the tent entrance, clutching a self-heating meal, mumbled softly, "There are several flavors of self-heating meals..."

Han Li: ...

A burly fellow with large hands holding a small self-heating meal box, sitting there hung up on flavors, how is it so freaking adorable!

Han Li was tempted to blurt out to eat whichever he wanted, but his rationality ultimately prevailed, he reluctantly asked, "Which flavor do you like? I’ll go ask them."

Zhang Yun chuckled, "I like red-braised pork."

Han Li noted the self-heating meal flavor, asked around; Xu Jinghong wanted tomato beef, Sheng Qing was indifferent, and as for Qian Qi... Han Li turned his head, discovering Qian Qi kneeling by the river, probing the water with his head.

Han Li almost freaked out, sprinting over to retrieve Qian Qi’s head from the water, "Qi Qian! It’s possible for Magic Beasts to appear in the river! Don’t get too close!"

"Mm." Qian Qi flicked his wet hair, clamped a lively silver slender fish between his teeth, holding two or three little fish in both hands, mumbled unclearly, "Who’s to say I wasn’t fishing."

"Qi Qi Qi Qi Qian—!" Han Li’s face instantly turned into the iconic painting "The Scream", "Magic Beasts aren’t for eating aaaaah—!"