"You're not able to do morning training?" Mu Qingyun raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Su's pale face. Honestly, she was at her wits' end with him.
He looked like he was about to keel over, and yet he was still thinking about training?
"Forget the training for now. Do you have any medicine or something that could treat your condition? Your complexion looks terrible," she said, concern beginning to rise in her voice. No one present seemed to have any medical skills.
"Why not ask that merman? I heard merfolk are trained in medicine from childhood," Fan Xuanye chimed in, his meditation disrupted by their conversation. He looked over and offered the suggestion helpfully.
"Is that so?"
"Eh, never mind. I don't want to bother him. I'd owe him a favor," Su muttered, a flicker of annoyance passing through his eyes. He raised his head slightly and gave Yi Beixuan a subtle look.
Yi Beixuan immediately understood the signal and stepped forward. "No worries, I've got some medicine. He probably hurt himself during training. His body's just naturally weak—he can't handle much stress."
Su: …Do you really have to make me sound like a helpless invalid?
"Then let's call off future morning sessions," Mu Qingyun sighed and reached out to gently pat his head.
She had wanted to help Su improve physically, since his ability wasn't particularly strong. A well-trained body might make up for that—but now, even that hope seemed unlikely.
Yi Beixuan retrieved a nutritional bean from his storage pouch, raised an eyebrow, and gestured for Su to open his mouth.
"No need. I've got it," Su said as he turned his head away to avoid the spoon-feeding attempt. He took the bean from Yi Beixuan and popped it into his mouth himself.
Mu Qingyun left to train alone, but as she practiced, Su's pale, almost fragile face kept flashing in her mind.
Fan Xuanye's words echoed as well.
Maybe… maybe she should ask Kazel for help.
[Barrage comments: Live audience reactions]
[OMG! I swear, the "Choose the Tree to Nest" CP is so fated! Su gets sick, Mu Qingyun wants to help, and the merman just happens to know medicine.]
[Right? This is divine matchmaking at work! Destiny ship confirmed!]
[Mu-ge, please go ask Kazel! He can save your boy!]
[Heard that merman tears can turn into pearls. Also, Kazel's family runs a media company. If Mu Qingyun ends up with him, she could finally leave that trash planet.]
[Guys… they're both men. And there's no hint of a romance. You're already writing their wedding vows?!]
[Mind your business, beachside child! Let us dream!]
After breakfast, Mu Qingyun glanced up at the virtual creature points hovering above their heads. The number hadn't changed in ages, which made her frown.
She wanted to see more of this futuristic world. Though this era was filled with advanced technology, their island had nothing but dirt and danger.
She wanted to go explore. She wanted out.
"Let's go hunt some virtual creatures."
"Aww, Mu-ge, haven't we hunted enough already?" Xiong Ruoyou pouted, dragging her voice with exhaustion. "We finally get some rest and now you want to head back into danger?"
"You don't want to leave early?" Mu Qingyun asked, gently cracking her knuckles. "Out there, there's family that loves you… warm beds… delicious food…"
"Ahhh! Mu-ge, stop! Please!" Xiong Ruoyou wailed dramatically and hung her head in despair.
She hadn't minded this life before, but bringing up her old life broke her resolve. If not for the chance to meet the First Commander, she would never have come to this cursed island.
"That's why we need to hunt more virtual creatures. The sooner we finish, the sooner we leave. Every day we stay here increases our odds of a brutal conflict later," Mu Qingyun said, her expression sobering.
"Got it. Besides, we've got five people now," Su added with a gentle smile. He leaned toward Yi Beixuan and nudged his arm. "Right?"
"Mm. I can help too," Yi Beixuan nodded. He had only come to this simulation for a brief experience. Once this phase was over, he planned to leave.
He still had personal matters to attend to—especially with Su Qiluo tied up in the military academy's trial. Now that he was on his own, it was the perfect time to act.
"Let's go," Mu Qingyun said, tipping her chin in acceptance. Yi Beixuan had freeloaded enough food and shelter lately—time to earn his keep.
Besides, with his powerful abilities, their hunting efforts would be significantly easier.
The group set off from the cave and began hunting virtual creatures in the surrounding area.
With Yi Beixuan's addition, their speed noticeably increased.
Before long, the number "103" hovered above their heads in glowing digits—bright and eye-catching.
[Barrage comments: Live audience reactions]
[Whoa! At this rate, they'll be out of here in no time!]
["No time"? I think you have a very optimistic view of what "soon" means.]
[This isn't basic arithmetic! I just hope they can gather enough points before the contested hunting phase opens.]
[Even if it does open, who would dare challenge Mu-ge's team? Aside from Su, there's practically no weak spot!]
[Pfft, are you living in a fairy tale? What if other teams join forces to snatch their resources?]
[...Fair point.]
"Mu Qingyun?"
A familiar voice called from behind. Mu Qingyun turned to find Bai Feifei standing alone a short distance away, doing something unclear.
"You need something?" Mu Qingyun raised a brow, regarding her with amusement. But to her surprise, Bai Feifei blushed under her gaze.
"Why does your team have five people?" Bai Feifei asked, scanning the group curiously, confusion gleaming in her eyes.
Mu Qingyun found the question absurd. Was Bai Feifei trying to make small talk?
"What's it to you?" she replied coldly, frowning in irritation. She had no desire to entertain this woman.
"Mu Qingyun, can't you be a little nicer to me?" Bai Feifei pouted and punched the air weakly, her frustration evident.
"And why should I be nice to you? Because of all those things you said? Or because of what you planted in our base?" Mu Qingyun scoffed, her smile turning cold and sharp. "The fact that I haven't come after you already is me being nice. Don't go looking for trouble."
"Well said," Su added from the side. When Bai Feifei turned her gaze to him, he smiled innocently and chimed in, "I support everything Mu-ge says."
[Barrage comments: Live audience reactions]
[OMG! He totally loves him. I'm melting.]
[Wait… does Bai Feifei like Mu-ge too? Is this a love triangle?!]
[What triangle? Mu-ge couldn't make her rejection any clearer. Bai Feifei's already out of the game.]
[To be honest, I don't get why Bai Feifei suddenly caught feelings. It came out of nowhere.]
[Maybe that's just how she is. Don't worry, Mu Qingyun. If you don't want her, she can come to gege. I'll cherish her.]