CHAPTER 716: CHAPTER 716: DECEIVED

"Quick!"

Ji You was startled and alarmed!

"Uh?" What startled Ji You was obviously nothing good, and it was also the first time Xuzhou saw panic on Ji You’s face. Xuzhou’s heart tightened, and he swiftly turned around, first waking up Zhang Ye and Shen Changqing.

By the time Xuzhou turned back, in just less than 3 seconds, he saw Ji You, who had a frightened look on her face, had already calmed down. Her lips were tight, and her pupils were like deep, unfathomable dark pools...

This calmness suddenly steadied the somewhat nervous Xuzhou.

As soon as Shen Changqing opened his eyes, he asked, "What happened?"

Zhang Ye and Xuzhou began to wake up others one by one. Group 44 has always been on high alert; people like Chu Jiaojiao, Sheng Qingyan, and others would wake up at the slightest disturbance.

The people from Zhongqing Group, however, were deep asleep. When Xuzhou woke up their deputy captain Ren An, Ren An even grumbled irritably, "Who the hell dares to disturb me?"

No sooner than his complaints were muttered, Ren An also came to his senses, just in time to hear Ji You’s reply to Shen Changqing and others:

"Star Beasts!"

"A lot of Star Beasts!"

"Everyone, pick up your weapons, prepare for battle! Also—Xuzhou, Zhang Ye, try to inform the other groups..." Ji You sternly ordered, gripping her Big Chopper tightly.

Ren An jumped up, mocking, "Are you kidding me?"

"Star Beasts?" His voice was a bit sharp, filled with undisguised mockery: "This is a military agricultural base! Where would the Star Beasts come from?"

"And a lot of them!"

"Do you think the military stationed warriors are here for nothing?" Ren An’s rant was like a machine gun, cracking rapidly, growing more excited, causing others in his group to join in:

"Yeah!"

"It’s impossible that there are Star Beasts!"

"This is a military food base, there won’t be any issues, not to mention, we have Teacher Mu!"

...

People from Zhongqing Group, having been suddenly awakened, felt a bit dizzy and confused. Now, hearing Ren An’s reasonable claims, they all started discussing...

Ren An looked a bit proud as he gazed at Ji You. Ji You’s eyes narrowed slightly, and suddenly—

She pulled out her knife, slashing through the air—

Boom—

"Scram!"

Ren An and others: "..."

Ren An stepped forward, saying, "We’ve paid the lodging fee! Plus, there’s still more than an hour and a half left, what right do you have to kick us out?"

Ji You narrowed her eyes, coldly declaring, "I’ll say it again, scram!"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but oddly, it sent a chilling creep down the spine.

Ren An’s pupils shrank, he opened his mouth, "Our lodging fee..."

Ji You’s eyes darkened, "Stupid lodging fee, I fear it might reduce my IQ just holding it. I don’t want it today! Are you leaving or not?"

Ren An: "..."

Ren An, ashamed and angry, declared, "We’re leaving!"

Saying this, he walked briskly towards the door. His teammates were all hesitant. Ren An looked back, angrily said, "If there really are a lot of Star Beasts, do you think you’ll be safe staying here?"

"With just them?" Ren An glanced disparagingly at Ji You and her people behind her, disdainfully adding, "Whether there are Star Beasts or not, our main priority now is to find Teacher Mu!"

As soon as his words hit the floor, his teammates thought it over, it made a lot of sense. If there really were a lot of Star Beasts, the best thing to do would be to report to Teacher Mu.

So—

1.

2.

3.

...

Everyone followed Ren An, leaving Zhong Qing in a difficult position. She desperately wanted to persuade her teammates, saying, "Don’t go, let’s hear what Ji You and the others have to say before we leave..."

"Wait..."

"Ah!" Finally, unable to contain herself, Zhong Qing stomped her foot and hurriedly turned back, saying to Ji You and the others, "Ji You, I am... really sorry."

Ji You and the others kept silent, letting them leave.

This twist, from Ji You’s call for full alert to Zhong Qing’s team leaving, lasted only about a minute. While Zhong Qing’s group was filled with doubts, behind Ji You, Chu Jiaojiao, Shen Changqing, Yue Qiguang, Yue Qiyuan, Sheng Qingyan...

Everyone did not voice any objections but immediately drew their weapons, ready for battle.

Ji You didn’t delay, instructing, "It’s a group of long-eared rabbits, estimated at least over a hundred in number, their level is currently unknown. In 5 minutes, they will attack—"

Everyone’s expression changed, echoing, "That many?"

The long-eared rabbit is a type of Star Beast with strong jumping ability and sharp teeth and claws. Moreover, they are not tame and are very aggressive, often attacking humans.

Ji You kept a stern face, adding, "I hope I estimated wrongly. These are Star Beasts, not some minor nuisance..." Saying this, Ji You immediately turned to Xuzhou and Zhang Ye, instructing, "Go and inform the other groups. Within 3 minutes, inform as many as you can, alerting them to stay on guard..."

"Remember! Within 3 minutes, everyone must regroup!" Ji You solemnly instructed.

Xuzhou, Zhang Ye: "Okay!"

The two departed.

The others gathered together, ready for battle. No one objected to Ji You’s decision to send someone to notify other groups.

Although this was the final assessment field and the students’ performances were being graded,

But!!!

These were Star Beasts, not anything else. A slight carelessness could cost lives.

Ji You’s approach was not seen as foolish but rather, she was showing a great sense of responsibility.

This sense of overall responsibility prioritized the common good over individual interests. What she saw was the big picture, and her actions were aimed at maintaining the overall safety.

Whether it was Chu Jiaojiao, Shen Changqing, Yue Qiyuan, Yue Qiguang... all strongly agreed with her approach.

Just after Xuzhou and Zhang Ye had left, and not even 3 minutes had passed, a dark long-eared rabbit suddenly sprang out near where Ji You and the others were staying. Its bared fangs lunged at Ren An, Zhong Qing, and the rest...

Ji You cursed loudly, "Damn! They came earlier than I expected!"

"Battle!"

Shen Changqing and Yue Qiyuan, both spiritual power S-grade Talents, also used their spiritual power to probe.

Shen Changqing with a stern face said, "It’s Level 3!"

Yue Qiyuan’s face also looked grim, "There are six Level 2s! And many Level 1s."

Yue Qiguang grabbed a handful of hair, gripping the Energy Axe tightly, "Damn! Should we really not tell Mrs. Mu?"

Hearing Shen Changqing and Yue Qiyuan reveal the accurate levels of the Star Beasts, Ji You felt somewhat relieved.

Because—

These were all Low-level Star Beasts, completely manageable by the students if they remained alert.

Ji You was more worried at that moment about Xuzhou and Zhang Ye, who hadn’t returned on time. Hearing this, considering a possibility, she couldn’t help but curse, "I was too naive."

"Damn!"

"No need to look for her anymore!"

"Because, that devil isn’t in the camp at all."

Others: "Huh?"

Ji You cursing continuously, "I even went to check myself! Damn! I’ve been tricked!"

Aahhh!!!

This was the first time Ji You had been deceived so badly!

Now thinking about it, Teacher Mu’s soft breathing sounds and the scolding wasn’t real, it was a recording!

Exactly!

A recording!

The purpose, just to trick the students into lowering their guard.