Free Web NovelChapter 235: Chapter 235: Pursuit
The first line of defense was established using the thorny vine seeds brought by Wang Teng. After they selected a location, planted the seeds, and watered them with stored Exotic Beast blood, winding thorny vines rapidly intertwined, forming a thirty-foot-high circular fence in the blink of an eye.
Its poisonous thorns glinted with an eerie purple light under the sun. The moment an Exotic Beast drew near, the vines would awaken and hunt.
The second line of defense consisted of various man-made traps. Combined with Lan Xin’s Water Mirror Technique, their surveillance extended for dozens of kilometers.
Behind the first and second lines of defense, Ning Xuan also placed several Protective Shields. If any unfamiliar energy signature intruded, the shields would activate automatically.
After two days of work, Ning Xuan and her group had finished setting up their camp. This time, among the thirteen of them, everyone except for Tang Xue and Min Wu, who built a treehouse together, constructed their own treehouse just the way they wanted.
The banyan tree in the center of the nine was the tallest and had the most flourishing branches and leaves. Ning Xuan built her treehouse in this tree.
Seated in a rattan chair Lin Mo had just finished, Ning Xuan frowned in thought as she studied the locator. They were heading toward the Dark Forest, at coordinates (83.4, 87.9).
Among the special missions issued by the Military Department to S-Class squads, successfully mapping the Dark Forest would earn them one S-Class Energy Cabin and three S-Class Starships. Both were priceless items that money couldn’t buy.
The time limit for the graduation exam was six months. At the six-month mark, everyone had to arrive at the assembly point designated by the military and return together.
Anyone who failed to reach the designated assembly point and complete the return journey would have their scores nullified and all personal property confiscated.
Candidates whose scores were nullified and who remained stranded on the New Star Body would be sentenced to hard labor without exception.
The reason for such a rule was to prevent candidates from staying behind without authorization.
After all, the New Star Body was rich in resources, which could not be privately exploited without the military’s approval.
Ning Xuan looked at her current coordinates on the locator—(121.1, 82.5). ’I’m not too far from the Dark Forest.’
"Master, those people we saved yesterday... they’ve come looking for us," Lan Xin reported to Ning Xuan, kneeling outside the treehouse.
"Come in and tell me," Ning Xuan said, setting the locator aside with a frown.
Lan Xin assented and entered, approaching Ning Xuan’s side.
Kneeling at Ning Xuan’s feet in a humble and respectful posture, Lan Xin said, "Master, I just used the Water Mirror Technique to survey the surrounding area. I found traces of those three people fifty kilometers to the southwest."
After Lan Xin’s Spiritual Power Level increased, his Water Mirror Technique had upgraded along with it. Before, he could only view the area within a thirty-kilometer radius centered on himself. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
After the upgrade, this surveillance range had expanded to fifty kilometers. Furthermore, while the total area of surveillance remained the same, he could now freely change its origin point and shape.
For instance, those three were actually about a hundred kilometers away from their current position.
"Please, take a look," Lan Xin said with a slight bow. He raised a hand and swiped the air in front of Ning Xuan. A hazy mist appeared, coalescing into a mirror-like surface. An image gradually materialized within the ripples.
Beside a patch of low shrubs, three tall yet disheveled figures leaned unsteadily against one another.
The man with the scar on his face was using a dagger to pry off the bandage on his leg. The wound beneath had already scabbed over. He looked at it and sighed. "That young lady we met yesterday has to be a powerful Alchemist. The medicine she gave us works wonders. This wound has been bothering me for over ten days without healing, but I just applied her medicine twice yesterday and it’s already all better."
"Yeah, she’s amazing. Third Brother, are you sure that young lady went into the forest? It’s so dangerous in there!" the second man exclaimed.
"When has my judgment ever been wrong? Now it’s up to you two whether you want to keep looking. But even if we find her, then what? She already refused us. She’s not going to take us in," the shortest of the three lamented.
"Do you guys remember the bounty board in Zone 13?" the first man said. "Don’t you think that young lady bears a striking resemblance to the person Young Master Mo has a bounty on?"
"That’s right! The most important characteristic in that bounty notice is a young, female Alchemist. Big Brother, you’re sharp as ever, getting right to the point," the second brother said, slapping his thigh.
"Big Brother, regardless of whether she’s the one on the bounty board, she saved our lives. You’re not actually thinking of finding her just to collect the reward, are you?" The shortest one’s face suddenly darkened.
"Wh-what? Of course not. I just... I want to find her to repay her for saving our lives, that’s all. Third Brother, how could you think that of me?" the ’Big Brother’ said with a forced laugh.
Although he denied it outright, Third Brother could still see the frustration behind his smile.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, let’s just hurry back to Zone 13," said Third Brother, the one who seemed to possess special tracking skills. "We’ve been delayed for too long. Our supplies are running low."
The ’Big Brother’s’ face darkened at his words, but Third Brother ignored him completely and started walking in the direction away from the forest.
The second brother and the ’Big Brother’ exchanged a subtle glance, then followed after him.
Ning Xuan watched the scene unfold in the Water Mirror, her eyes on the scar-faced man as he clenched his fists, clearly resentful about having to give up.
However, lacking any tracking ability himself, he had no choice but to follow.
"Go get Di Youlin," Ning Xuan said, her expression hardening.
"Yes, Master," Lan Xin replied respectfully.
Di Youlin had built his treehouse in the same tree as Ning Xuan, just below her, so he arrived quickly.
"Greetings, Master." Di Youlin bowed to Ning Xuan the moment he entered.
Lan Xin followed behind.
"Youlin, you and Lan Xin are to go and kill them," Ning Xuan ordered. "Try to be discreet. Lan Xin, you will follow them and find the precise location of Zone 13. Just kill those two; do not alert the third one."
’I shouldn’t have bothered saving them. Now I have to clean up the mess.’
After all, the location where Lan Xin had just found them wasn’t too far away. If that man sold her location, it would bring her endless trouble.
She had no desire to abandon the camp they had just finished building so quickly.
"Also," Ning Xuan added, "when you get inside the Zone 13 safe zone, investigate that bounty notice. And find out the identity of this Young Master Mo."
Di Youlin could fly, and Lan Xin could use his Water Mirror Technique to track their targets. Working together, the two of them could complete the mission in the shortest possible time.
"Yes, Master." Although Di Youlin didn’t yet know who he was being sent to kill, he agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Di Youlin’s eyes turned cold and sharp. ’Master is so kind. Anyone she wants killed must truly deserve to die.’
