The group changed into practical black uniforms.
In the second-year Secret Realm hall, Xie Heng was still admonishing Jiang You. "Once we’re inside the Secret Realm, don’t stray too far from me, and don’t just run off..."
"You’re so naggy," Jiang You said, sounding impatient. "I get it. You can stop now."
She just had to get through one more Secret Realm of acting difficult to complete her mission.
Xu Wen, who was standing nearby, sidled over with a smile. "Hey, the captain’s never had to remind anyone so many times before. He’s only this talkative because he’s worried about you."
He thought that would make Jiang You cut their captain some slack.
"He’s supposed to care about me and protect me. If he can’t do that, then he’s useless," Jiang You said, her tone cold, arrogant, and matter-of-fact.
Xu Wen hadn’t expected that response. After a moment of shock, he turned to look at Xie Heng.
Xie Heng’s expression was calm. He looked at Jiang You without arguing. "She’s right."
Xu Wen fell silent.
A short while later, Xie Heng led the team to the entrance of Secret Realm 103.
"Our target this time is to hunt the Swift Wind Leopard." Xie Heng’s slender hand rested on the doorknob of the Secret Realm. He didn’t push, merely glancing sideways at Jiang You. "We’ve run this realm many times, so it’s not dangerous. When we’re fighting, you just hide."
"I know," Jiang You said impatiently, reaching past him to shove the door open.
A blinding light burst from the opening.
Everyone instinctively squinted.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves in a Purple Leaf Forest.
The woods were filled with purple-leafed trees, creating a dim and gloomy atmosphere. The ground was blanketed in dead branches and fallen leaves.
"Why is the drop zone so random every time?" Li Xiang lifted the terminal on his wrist, projecting a small screen that displayed a map. "We’re currently in the Purple Leaf Forest to the west. The Swift Wind Leopards are in the northwestern barrens. That’s pretty close this time, just over a few mountains."
"Now that the route is planned, let’s move out." Xie Heng tapped a few things on his wrist terminal and sent the route to his teammates.
Jiang You felt a vibration from her own terminal. Raising her wrist, she saw the map and route from Xie Heng. ’This is indeed the shortest path,’ she thought, ’but there’s a cliff. Does anyone here have a flying-type beast form?’
After a few steps, Xie Heng noticed Jiang You hadn’t followed. He turned back to her and called out, "Jiang You."
Jiang You quickly pushed the thoughts aside. ’My only job is to be a nuisance, why think so much? If they chose the shortest, most dangerous path, they must have their own way of handling it.’
She hurried to Xie Heng’s side.
"Stay close," Xie Heng said softly, not looking at her.
Jiang You paused for a second, but seeing Xie Heng already moving ahead, she hurried to catch up.
Though there was no wind, a rustling sound came from the leaves of the Purple Leaf Forest.
Indistinct shadows shuttled through the trees.
"The Illusion Monkeys are here. Be on your guard," Xie Heng stated calmly. "As long as you don’t look into their eyes, they aren’t very strong on their own."
"Yes, sir," Xu Wen and the others replied.
Their captain knew the weaknesses and attack patterns of many mutant beasts, and his Beast Soul was powerful. He inspired a great deal of confidence.
With Jiang You in the center, surrounded by the others, and Xie Heng in the lead, the group advanced in formation.
They all released their Beast Souls.
Xie Heng’s was a jet-black eagle that perched on his shoulder.
’So he does have a flying-type Beast Soul,’ she thought.
Xu Wen’s was a brown monkey, Li Xiang’s was a black pig, and Lin Zhi’s was a brown bear.
Shadows zipped through the trees, and then suddenly, they charged. One by one, skinny, purple-eyed monkeys leaped straight for their faces.
Xu Wen’s monkey sent an attacking Illusion Monkey flying. Li Xiang’s black pig barreled through the dense swarm of them, and Lin Zhi’s brown bear swatted them away one by one with its massive paws.
The jet-black eagle circled above the team, snatching Illusion Monkeys out of the air while simultaneously ensuring everyone’s safety.
An Illusion Monkey lunged at Xie Heng, but he simply grabbed it and flung it away.
An Illusion Monkey dove straight at Jiang You from above.
Jiang You’s eyelid twitched. Feigning fear, she threw herself at Xie Heng, conveniently dodging the Illusion Monkey in the process. "Xie Heng, you—you have to protect me!"
Then Jiang You realized that the Illusion Monkey never would have reached her anyway; the Black Eagle had already snatched it out of the air.
’So I would have been fine even if I hadn’t moved.’
’The Black Eagle’s main priority is protecting me.’
But Jiang You was determined to cause trouble.
And so, Jiang You threw her arms around Xie Heng.
Because she had embraced him so suddenly, he almost flung her off like another Illusion Monkey, but thankfully, he caught himself in time.
Jiang You’s soft chest was pressed firmly against his arm. Distracted for a split second, Xie Heng failed to notice an Illusion Monkey leap onto his neck. Its claws raked his skin, and a line of blood instantly appeared on his fair throat.
Xie Heng’s eye twitched. The sharp pain snapped him back to his senses, and he ripped the Illusion Monkey off his neck, throwing it to the ground.
The flung Illusion Monkey tumbled several times across the ground.
The Illusion Monkey that had been targeting Jiang You charged again, and Xie Heng sent it flying with a kick.
Jiang You was still clinging tightly to his arm, restricting his movements.
Xie Heng’s eyelid twitched. He looked at her, appearing to suppress his temper. "You..."
Thinking he was about to push her away, Jiang You tightened her grip on his arm. "Xie Heng! I’m your fiancée! If you dare push me away, I’ll call off the engagement! Call it off!"
Xie Heng’s face remained impassive. He simply turned and hoisted her onto his back. "Hold on tight."
Before Jiang You could even process what happened, she was on Xie Heng’s back. She instinctively clamped her legs around his waist and locked her arms around his neck in a death grip.
Jiang You’s hold on his neck was so tight that Xie Heng could barely breathe.
His expression darkened. "Not so tight. Are you trying to strangle me?"
Countless more Illusion Monkeys charged at them.
Carrying Jiang You, Xie Heng dodged the incoming Illusion Monkeys, sent one flying with a kick, and deftly evaded several more.
"Xie Heng! AAAAH! There’s—there’s one behind me!" Jiang You shouted deliberately.
Xie Heng spun around, snatched an incoming Illusion Monkey out of the air, and flung it away. His tone was grave. "I know. Be quiet."
In truth, Jiang You could see that Xie Heng was more than fast enough to spot the attacking Illusion Monkeys on his own.
But her goal was to cause trouble and annoy Xie Heng.
And Xie Heng was, indeed, very annoyed.
The kicks he used to send the Illusion Monkeys flying seemed to carry extra force.
Seeing the violence in Xie Heng’s kick, Jiang You’s own eyelids twitched.
"We can’t stay here." Xie Heng saw that the commotion was attracting even more Illusion Monkeys. "Run!"
His decision was immediate. Carrying her on his back, Xie Heng broke into a sprint, and the other team members immediately followed suit.
Some of the Beast Souls covered their rear while others flanked them.
The team charged forward.