Chapter 199: Midnight Shadows

After finalizing discussions with Miss Le Qiao Qiao, the sky in the forest had nearly completely darkened. Miss Vilyric paused for a moment, then decided it would be best to stop moving for now and continue searching for water the next day.

Using the crystals gathered earlier, they exchanged for some supplies and left the supply point, finding a relatively open area to settle down for their first night in this wilderness survival competition.

I must say, having Miss Le Qiao Qiao as a temporary worker turned out to be quite useful. Once they chose a location, she didn’t even need Miss Vilyric’s instruction; she actively gathered plenty of dry twigs around, expertly starting a campfire with flint, and set up a rudimentary warning circle with wood and rope, finally sprinkling some powder said to repel insects and snakes.

The whole process flowed smoothly, which left Miss Vilyric slightly astonished. It was clear that this was not her first time camping outdoors. Perhaps, if they set aside the food issues, this competition would be quite suitable for Miss Le Qiao Qiao to showcase her skills.

After everything was ready, the two girls sat around the campfire, casually roasting the flatbreads and cured meats they had swapped for, along with some mountain chickens and wild rabbits they had captured along the way, chatting away with fresh water on the side.

“How’s this? Is it enough to fill you up?”

Looking at the small tower of flatbreads beside her and the variety of food, Miss Le Qiao Qiao hesitated a bit while rotating a spit with a whole peeled mountain chicken.

“It’s about enough for one meal, but taking into account the ingredients and seasonings, this is nearly worth 10 crystals, right? We can’t possibly keep spending that much every day on food…”

Miss Vilyric chuckled.

“Who says it’s impossible? One person equals 10 crystals, and there are a full three hundred thousand contestants in this great forest, you know.”

“You mean… robbing? I don’t have an issue with that… But just to be clear, I’m just a small thief, so causing trouble or running away is fine, but I’m not planning to fight strong opponents just to fill my stomach!”

“A small thief, huh…”

Nodding noncommittally, Miss Vilyric didn’t bother correcting her attitude and simply continued the conversation.

“I know what you’re worried about. Just verbally assuring you that I won’t harm you is meaningless. Stay alert, use your own experience to judge whether it’s safe or not. I’ve said it before; I’m a very conscientious boss. As long as you don’t actively betray me, we can part ways peacefully at any time.”

To be honest, the reason Miss Vilyric hired Miss Le Qiao Qiao was partly due to chance; she found her to be quite smart and thought she could help with some petty chores as a… partner.

On the other hand, she was indeed a bit curious.

This Miss Le Qiao Qiao wasn’t just an ordinary small thief as she claimed; her ability to conceal her figure and presence was remarkably exquisite. If Miss Vilyric hadn’t been in an unfamiliar environment and kept a vigilant eye, she might not have immediately recognized her hiding in a tree.

This girl gave Miss Vilyric vibes similar to those from the Divine Academy people—young, exceptionally talented, and bearing some notable legacy. The Hong Yan they encountered during the martial arts competition prior likely fit this mold too.

If it weren’t for the Four Saints Selection Tournament, these young talents might never have had the chance to gather in one place. Since they had met and she was interested, it wouldn’t hurt to get to know her better.

After all, the essence of travel is to continuously meet interesting people and things.

The two girls chatted idly by the campfire, with most of the time taken up by Miss Le Qiao Qiao eagerly devouring food, only occasionally stopping to respond to her boss. It was hard to imagine how this petite girl, who wasn’t much stronger than Miss Vilyric, could consume such a massive amount of food.

The world truly is full of wonders.

Miss Vilyric barely touched her food, giving it all to the thief.

The Divine race had no strict dietary needs; while the cured meats and flatbreads were sufficient to fill the stomach, their taste was rather mediocre. Meanwhile, the wild game roasted by Miss Le Qiao Qiao smelled simply divine, so she just tore off a few pieces to taste.

As logs were continuously added to the campfire, and amidst the crackling sounds, the night grew deeper.

This forest was already sparsely populated, and as night fell, the cold, damp air surged upward from the underground spiritual veins. Even with the fire trying to disperse it as much as possible, it still gave off a hint of chill.

If there’s anything unclean lurking in this forest, it should start acting up now.

Suddenly, Miss Le Qiao Qiao paused her feasting on the last few pieces of chicken, turning her gaze toward the distance. The firelight danced in her bright eyes, obscuring its depth.

The campfire only spread out to a maximum radius of ten meters; at the edge of the light, the blackened underbrush was virtually pitch black, and the occasional rustling of insects did little to disperse the profound chill—it almost felt like the sounds were being subdued by it, leading to an eerie silence.

The silence was frightening; for a moment, the only sounds that remained were the soft crackles of the burning fire.

“What’s wrong?”

Whether she was pretending not to hear or was genuinely unaware, the black-haired girl put down her reading material, which she had pulled out to pass the time, her gaze only landing on the nearby thief.

But the latter didn’t seem to be in a playful mood. Instead, she cautiously raised her hand to indicate a specific direction.

“My warning net was triggered. Something’s getting closer.”

“What is it? A beast? Or another contestant approaching because they see the fire?”

Miss Le Qiao Qiao shook her head, grabbing the small crossbow that she had been carrying and disengaging the safety.

“It’s hard to say right now, but normally, most beasts wouldn’t approach bright fire at night, and contestants should understand that a campfire represents other competitors and the existence of rivalry.”

“It’s already past an hour since dark; who would be wandering around in this dangerously dense forest in the dark?”

As if answering, or perhaps talking to herself, she cast an inquiring glance at Miss Vilyric.

“What do you say, boss? Why don’t you make a call here?”

“Hmm, let’s assess the situation first. We should go check it out together.”

“Really? Alright then ~”

After making up her mind, the two girls stood up in succession, leaving the bright core area lit by the campfire and venturing into the dim depths of the forest.

“Rustle, rustle…”

In the darkness, the bushes occasionally emitted strange sounds as they were disturbed. Miss Le Qiao Qiao tightened her grip on her short crossbow, cautiously advancing toward their destination.

The light behind them slowly faded, and the indistinct chaotic noises grew clearer. As they approached, the thief girl halted, glancing at the black-haired girl surveying the surroundings, swallowing nervously before cautiously raising her hand to push aside the branches.

“Cheep cheep cheep cheep!”

The shrill cries instantly shattered the midnight silence, but after a brief surprise, Miss Le Qiao Qiao’s expression relaxed, and she turned back to look at Miss Vilyric with a hint of resignation.

“Boss, it seems like just a few chicks fell from the tree and into the bushes; we…”

“Clang!!!”

A violent clang that echoed like weapons clashing unexpectedly rang out from the corner of her vision!

The suddenly surging sense of crisis made the thief girl’s pupils contract, and without hesitation, she fired three arrows at the figure illuminated by a fleeting golden shield, causing it to groan and tumble back into the shadows.

At that moment, a snow-white hand gently patted the still-stunned girl’s shoulder, a teasing tone in her voice.

“You’ve learned the technique quite well, but your cunning is too shallow. In the dead of night, with absolute silence and no wind, how could a bird’s nest just fall from the tree for no reason?”

“This is a bait, you know. Just now, you almost died.”

   

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