Published: February 9, 2025
At the banks of the Dark River, Mina, Garan, and the others had stopped arguing.
After witnessing Ye Zhongming silently jump in, everyone was shocked but understood that this person was not 'Lai Ba', but rather a solitary hunter.
However, after the surprise, most people began to shake their heads directly.
It didn't matter that it wasn't Lai Ba; didn't they fear encountering him while hunting? The magic crystals and materials they desperately obtained could be snatched away, and they might even be killed for it. Wasn't that foolish?
Even if they didn't encounter Lai Ba, did they think they could catch the star sunfish by going in alone? Those were social creatures; even if one was strong enough to handle a lone one, the star sunfish had become increasingly cunning. It was impossible to hunt alone, and there was a significant chance of dying and becoming food for the star sunfish instead.
"Hey, another one who's overestimating himself. What a pity, looks quite good and seems clean."
Mina and Garan stood at the closest position to the Dark River, their subordinates lingering about ten meters behind them.
"You don't seem like someone who cares about other people's lives," Mina said, a mocking smile curling her lips as she struck at her rival without hesitation.
Garan chuckled dismissively, "Babe, I don't care about others, but I do care about you. The opportunity is great now; as long as you become Lin Xing's woman, wouldn't you be living well in Linhai? Even I would have to call you 'Miss' when I see you in the future."
Her words were laced with laughter, which was probably how Garan appeared at that moment.
"If you like him so much, why don't you go be that old man's woman?" Mina's anger flared, her narrowed eyes sparking like lightning.
"He wouldn't look at me!" Garan shrugged, releasing a part of her body she had been holding onto, and even shook it deliberately in front of Mina, provoking an eye roll from the woman across from her.
"It's you who doesn't want to, don't think I don't know why your colorful fragrance team is being pressed in the third air defense hole!"
Garan was stunned, not expecting Mina to have been keeping tabs on her team's situation and deducing the messy relationship between herself and Lin Xing from the smallest clues.
Recalling the recent suppression and threats, and how her team's condition was worsening, the charming smile that usually graced Garan's face vanished. She looked down at the river's surface, her expression serious.
"Perhaps we can join forces."
Seeing Garan silent for a long time, Mina threw out the second purpose for coming here today.
"Ha!" Garan scoffed, "Join forces? Do you think we can escape Lin Xing and the control of his ninefold pavilion? Even combined, our two teams might not be enough for Lin Xing to kill alone! You better wake up; Lin Xing holds his status and isn't short of beautiful women. So, he's not in a hurry with us, looking to play slowly."
"But if you think of resisting him, he could make us disappear without a trace in an instant!" Garan looked at Mina as if she were an idiot, wondering how she could understand her situation yet suggest such a thing.
Mina remained unfazed, narrowing her eyes as if lost in thought. After a while, she said, "In college, we were best friends. After graduation, we were besties, until we turned against each other for that man."
Upon hearing this, Garan's eyebrows shot up, and she gritted her teeth, spitting out two words: "Shut up!"
Mina shook her head and smiled, "Given our original relationship, we should have protected each other to survive after the apocalypse came. Unfortunately, we became strangers, each fighting for survival. I built a team, and so should you. You hunt here, and I want to hunt too… We compete in every possible place, always wanting to determine a winner."
"Are you done talking? If you're done, go to hell and reminisce about the past!"
Suddenly, Garan was engulfed in pink flames, her red hair floating without wind behind her. The teams behind them immediately took their battle stances, and a fight seemed imminent.