Chapter 142
When it came to a rescue operation, quality mattered more than numbers.
Although bringing only two people looked dangerous, Ji Qing truly could not find a suitable third person. Unless Ling You’er could teleport from Huai City to the vicinity of Xucheng, Ji Qing had no intention of asking anyone else for help.
What Ji Qing had not expected most, however, was that Xie Chang’an and Feng Youyou were together.
Naturally, the fact that Ji Qing had sought support from Feng Youyou through the Terminal was also known to Xie Chang’an, who was beside her. While wondering why those two were acting together, Ji Qing was also considering where exactly he should place Xie Chang’an in the operation.
The situation inside Xucheng was complicated.
Anyone who was not a local could very easily lose their way in its tangled maze of alleys. Ji Qing had already seen Feng Youyou’s strength during the Individual Competition. Feng Youyou excelled at wind control and at creating wind fields, and her personal mobility was extremely strong.
In a place like Xucheng, with its convoluted routes, her Ability would also be able to provide excellent support.
Ji Qing could not help recalling Feng Youyou’s performance during the Team Competition once more. Though Ji Qing had not said it outright at the time, her wind control was not only well suited to assisting her teammates, but also to protecting her own safety.
Still… if Ling You’er had been here, that would have been even better. A trace of regret rose in Ji Qing’s heart.
Among the eleven members of Class S, Ling You’er was the only support-type truly suited for battle, and the role she could play in combat was far stronger than one might imagine. As for the other two support-types… You Xingluo was suited to prediction, while Liu Mu was suited to intelligence gathering.
The three of them excelled in different areas and were suited to different kinds of situations.
But this time, Ji Qing intended to force his way out with violence.
The situation in Xucheng was far too complicated, and his free time was not exactly abundant. Rather than trying to think of a flawless escape plan, he might as well confront things head-on right there.
If the gangs dared to leave the city at night, then so did they.
And since their side had fewer people and greater precision, the danger they would face would certainly be less than what the gang would face. Aberrants that craved flesh and blood would instinctively pursue the side with more flesh and blood, and afterward, the more mobile side would be able to shake off danger more quickly.
Looking at it that way, was leaving the city at night actually more advantageous?
Ji Qing’s gaze shifted thoughtfully. Although he felt a bit sorry for what the gang members were about to go through, the fact remained that Ji Qing did not possess the slightest trace of pity at the moment. Perhaps that, too, was simply the effect of closeness and distance in one’s relationships.
Before ending the conversation with Feng Youyou, Ji Qing deliberately asked about the situation on her side as well.
The reason Feng Youyou was with Xie Chang’an was because Xie Chang’an wanted to find a craftsman to rework the Tang Saber he had recently obtained. Because it had been left unused for many years, the Tang Saber’s edge was no longer sharp. But because that Tang Saber was an Ability Item, very few craftsmen dared to lay hands on it directly.
Feng Youyou happened to know a highly renowned master, so the two of them had chosen to travel together.
As for Gu Lingxue… she had accompanied Ling You’er back to Huai City.
For some unknown reason, the Ling Family had suddenly called Ling You’er home, but Ling You’er had not been very willing to go by herself. Since Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an already had their own arrangement afterward, Gu Lingxue had volunteered to accompany Ling You’er home.
That explanation did seem reasonable, Ji Qing thought.
After all, the signs of their friendship had already appeared back at school. All that had happened since then was that those bonds had deepened further. As someone who had watched Xie Chang’an make his way here step by step, Ji Qing found many emotions rising in his heart.
Still, given Xie Chang’an’s abilities, he would not be of much use throughout the rescue operation.
But if Ji Qing simply left him alone to fend for himself, he felt somewhat hesitant instead. Ever since they had begun their off-campus practical work, Ji Qing had gradually started to understand what Yuexia was planning. Yuexia might well have intended from the very beginning for Xie Chang’an to come into contact with the members of Class S one by one.
From Gu Lingxue, to Zhou Que, and then to Feng Youyou…
If not this time, then the next.
If that truly was the case, then Ji Qing had no choice but to consider the risks that might follow. You Xingluo’s identity was sensitive, and there was a very high chance that he would encounter danger again in the future. Rather than leaving that choice to the unpredictable Yuexia, it would be better for Ji Qing to take the initiative in arranging this meeting himself.
Besides, was there not a saying that put it very well?
The protagonist was always surrounded by danger, yet the protagonist and his friends always managed to escape disaster. And since danger already surrounded You Xingluo himself, they might as well place a bet on that future escape from peril.
Having thought that through, Ji Qing calmly turned off the Terminal screen.
He rose to stretch his aching neck, then prepared to wash up and sleep. Ji Qing thought that by tomorrow, he ought to be able to meet the two of them.
They could discuss the battle plan then.
***
At 1:46 p.m. on the afternoon of the third day, Xucheng.
Standing at the entrance of the hotel, Ji Qing spotted the two travel-worn figures from afar. Feng Youyou was still the same Feng Youyou as before, with her orange low twin ponytails and gold-rimmed glasses. But behind Xie Chang’an, who wore a black jacket, there was now an additional blade.
A Tang Saber that was crimson from end to end.
At the sight of it, Ji Qing paused slightly in surprise, then gave the two who had come from afar a cool nod. He immediately turned and headed for the room he was staying in on the third floor, intending to discuss important matters with them there.
Feng Youyou understood Ji Qing’s hint at once.
With a smiling face, she approached the staff member seated behind the front desk and casually booked the two rooms nearest Ji Qing’s. Because of both their personal preferences and the nature of their Abilities, she and Ling You’er often accepted commissions that required special attention to secrecy.
She and Ling You’er had been teaming up for exactly as long as the second semester had been underway.
Occasionally, Song Xiaoran would join their commissions. Ling You’er got along extremely well with Song Xiaoran, and as a result, Feng Youyou’s own bond with Song Xiaoran had also become much closer. But compared with the two of them, Song Xiaoran was far more casual about taking commissions.
As long as he met the school’s standards, everything else could wait until next semester.
And because of that—
When the three girls of Class S teamed up and advanced together to become A-Rank Hunters, Song Xiaoran was still among the ranks of B-Rank Hunters.
Even now, Song Xiaoran still remained at B-rank.
Compared with taking Hunter commissions and competing over who would become an S-rank Hunter first, Song Xiaoran much preferred building a bond with the plants on the balcony. When Song Xiaoran’s Mutation was at its worst, he had stayed for three straight weeks on the same balcony, in the same position, basking in sunlight from the same angle, grandly calling it “photosynthesis.”
If one asked why Feng Youyou knew that, it was because the three of them lived together.
At first, Feng Youyou had been worried that a living arrangement of two girls and one boy might lead to some problems. But later, she came to feel that rather than a cohabitation life of two girls and one boy, it was more like she and Ling You’er were living together with a humanoid green plant from home that could move and speak.
My apologies, Song.
Feng Youyou thought guiltily, Once you stop seriously insisting that you are “doing photosynthesis,” I will absolutely classify you once again as a normal human male. Until then, you had better honestly remain a potted plant.
But then again—
Were all Ability users who had undergone Mutation like this? Did they, like Song Xiaoran, unconsciously act adorable?
Feng Youyou could not help feeling a little curious.
But a special condition like Mutation… it was still best never to encounter it if possible.
At 2:07 p.m., on the third floor of the Xucheng hotel.
“It really has been a long time, Ji Qing.”
After carefully inspecting the corridor outside the room, Feng Youyou quietly shut the door. She immediately turned around and clapped her hands with a bright smile. “I’m so glad you thought of me at a time like this. I’m sure I absolutely won’t let you down!”
The smile on Feng Youyou’s face was as bright as a sunflower in full bloom.
Ji Qing raised a brow.
He felt as though Feng Youyou’s radiance had nearly dazzled him. Although Feng Youyou had emphasized during the new Class S self-introduction that she welcomed anyone seeking her help anytime and anywhere, what Ji Qing had not expected was this: Feng Youyou truly was someone whose words matched her actions.
She looked far too happy, Ji Qing thought helplessly.
For some reason, Ji Qing now very much wanted to know what sort of expression the hungry, cold, sleepless You Xingluo would make when he saw Feng Youyou’s smile. In any case, it certainly would not be a pleasant one. Even so, Ji Qing still wanted to see it.
That would definitely be much more entertaining than hearing You Xingluo call himself an idiot.
“Long time no see.” Ji Qing’s expression softened.
On the other side, Xie Chang’an said awkwardly, “Long time no see, Ji Qing.”
Actually, it did not really count as that long… Xie Chang’an silently added in his heart.
It had not even been a full month since the day the two of them had parted in Huangtie City.
Compared with Feng Youyou and Ji Qing, who had not seen each other for four or five months, Xie Chang’an and Ji Qing had far more chances to meet again: from the semester’s opening registration, to teaming up in Huangtie City, and then to the rescue in Xucheng…
While secretly delighted, Xie Chang’an was also uneasy about Ji Qing’s attitude.
Ji Qing absolutely must not think he had done this on purpose.
Although Xie Chang’an was indeed happy to run into Ji Qing, these repeated encounters were just as unexpected to him. Xie Chang’an secretly wondered whether his luck was simply that good. But luck this good had already made him start fearing the misfortune that might come in the future.
“Long time no see.” Ji Qing smiled at that.
Just as he was about to bring the conversation to the main point, Feng Youyou could not help looking back and forth between the two of them before asking curiously, “Why does it feel like the two of you have developed a new connection behind my back? Have your relationship gotten better?”
“I suppose so,” Ji Qing said coolly.
He did not intend to go too deeply into that subject, but neither did he intend to avoid Feng Youyou’s question. His relationship with Xie Chang’an certainly had improved. The number of things the two of them had gone through together had increased so much that even if it had not improved before, it ought to have by now.
Aside from the label of “manga protagonist” still remaining a cause for vigilance, Ji Qing no longer needed to deny it.
Ji Qing cleared his throat, his expression returning to its usual coolness as he said, “But more important than that, we should hurry and prepare to rescue You Xingluo first. If we delay too long, I am worried something may go wrong. As for everything else, we can wait until the rescue is successfully over before discussing it.”
“Understood.” Feng Youyou’s tone suddenly turned serious.
She was no longer all smiles and playfulness, but had returned to the state of a Hunter taking on a commission. Compared with a bright and youthful high school girl, what a client usually hoped to meet was an experienced Hunter who was skilled in battle.
“Xie Chang’an, do you understand?” Ji Qing turned to him.
What Ji Qing had not expected, however, was that Xie Chang’an wore an expression as though he had just been struck senseless by some sudden piece of news. But after hearing Ji Qing’s words, Xie Chang’an hurriedly came back to his senses and, imitating Feng Youyou’s tone, replied, “Understood.”
Yet Ji Qing could clearly see the upward curve at the corner of his lips.
Ji Qing tilted his head in confusion. …Had he said something inspiring?
