116 The Teacher and the Student (13)

Yin Mei observed the kids from a distance, hidden by the shadows of the forest as they recovered from the fall.

Aside from the two leads and the villain, Ri Yang and Jade, both of whom were friendly toward Qin Shuang, were also here.

Song Hua had on a slightly cold and arrogant expression, standing a little ways away from the group. After all, he was not part of this group, having been completing his missions alone when he encountered them running away from an alien beast. He had been caught up together with them before they had all fallen down that rift into this place.

He looked around. From what he had seen as they were falling, this place looked rather big, and he had even spotted some ruins in the distance.

Without a word, he headed in that direction on his own, ignoring it when Ri Yang called out to him. "Where are you going? It's better if we stick together!"

Ri Yang shook his head in exasperation when he saw that Song Hua was not paying him any mind.

"Let's head that way as well," Qin Shuang said, knowing that the way Song Hua was headed toward were the ruins that he had saw when he was in the air.

Yin Mei continued observing them from afar before disappearing, reappearing from the faint gray shadows of the city, thoughtfully wandering around for a moment before taking a seat by the palace moat and fiddling with her tablet.

Although she couldn't contact the outside, she could still play around and analyze the photos that she had taken.

For example the flowers from the palace lanterns were very interesting, from what she knew of Leiden's flora, this should be an undiscovered species that was not available anywhere else. Using flowers as lights was very cool. She thought that if she got her hands on some, she could decorate her house with them.

It didn't take long for the group of children to encounter her.

"Teacher! You were here?" Ri Yang exclaimed in excitement. After all, their teacher was very strong. This place creeped him out, but with her here there wouldn't be any dangers that they couldn't overcome.

But unlike the happy Ri Yang, both Qin Shuang and Song Hua felt slightly suspicious. What in the world was the teacher doing here.

Yin Mei's expression was slightly amused as she put away her tablet. "You kids fell down the ravine too?" She looked like this was something funny and seemed to be enjoying herself, allowing her mood to affect the others as their shoulders visibly relaxed.

"Teacher, you fell down that as well?" Ri Yang couldn't see such a strong teacher making a mistake like that.

"I jumped in," Yin Mei honestly replied, making the students blink. She... jumped in?

???

"This place is quite interesting. I plan on reporting it when I leave. As for you kids, it's better to send you back out to complete your field training..." Yin Mei said thoughtfully, but Ri Yang immediately protested.

An "interesting" place like this, of course he would take the opportunity to stay and explore. Now that there was their teacher here, he no longer had anything holding him back. "Teacher, I want to stay here!"

Yin Mei paused, seeming to consider it. The other students didn't say anything, seemingly agreeing with Ri Yang. As for Qin Shuang and Song Hua, they were simply waiting and watching to see her decision.

"Well, it isn't everyday for you kids to get such a good experience. Then I'll talk to the management later. For now I'll let you come along." She finally said, and Ri Yang immediately brightened, excitedly chatting to Alice, Jade, and Qin Shuang.

"This place is not a registered region of Leiden, so it should still be an undiscovered place. We might even be able to find some good stuff," Yin Mei commented, causing the blood of these youngsters to boil up. Only that old man, Qin Shuang, was indifferent, having seen his fair share of treasures in his time.

Even Song Hua, who had on an expression of indifference, couldn't cover up the sparkle in his eyes.

Yin Mei smirked inwardly, thinking that these kids were really just too cute.

Since Yin Mei had already explored the ruins, and the forest area didn't hold anything interesting for her, while they were unequipped to go to the volcano area (a pity), Yin Mei decided to just cut to the chase and drag them to the mountain area.

After all, that was where the most important item was anyways. They could also grab some good minerals, something for the other kids to take home as souvenirs (as to whether they were dangerous or not, well, that wasn't her problem).

"To the mountains?" Ri Yang looked at the sharp gray ridges shrouded in fog. They really looked dangerous... But thinking about it, didn't they have one of the most skilled members of the Brigade with them? Retired or not, Ri Yang still had trust in his teacher's ability.

As for Qin Shuang, he agreed with this, mostly because he could feel something pulling at him, directing him toward these mountains it was a mysterious feeling, but he felt that he would find something good if he went there.

None of the others had anything to see either, obediently following Yin Mei like little chicks to go on their way toward the mountain range.

Yin Mei picked a few flowers on the way, mostly for souvenirs than anything else. But the students, feeling that they should follow the lead of their teacher, would also pick out some flowers. Yin Mei wanted to laugh, telling them that these were just for her to decorate her home with. Even so, they stubbornly picked out flowers that they liked, also thinking that this idea of decorating their dorm rooms with alien flora was a pretty good idea.

Yin Mei really felt these kids were too cute.

It was only Song Hua and Qin Shuang, these two that refrained from doing so. Qin Shuang, this old man, of course would not pick out random alien flora - who knows what sort of dangers could. be hidden in them? As for Song Hua, his pride prevented him from stooping so low as to picking flowers, like they. were on some sort of sightseeing tour.

Yin Mei would have wanted to tell him that he had no problems discarding his pride when it was convenient, so why was he so insistent on stubbornly using it as an excuse now?

With the speed of the evolved humans, the group quickly reached the beginning of the mountain ranges. Like a light footed mountain goat, Yin Mei quickly climbed up, making sure that the children were keeping up. Although the children didn't have her skill, they were still, after all, the creme de la creme of the Black Cross Academy.

If they couldn't keep up through sheer physical ability, they instead used their abilities to do so.

"How high are we gonna go?" Alice couldn't help but ask.

"To the top." Yin Mei replied lightly, but this actually wasn't true. Halfway up, there will be a cave opening that they would need to enter.

Yin Mei's eyes cautiously scanned the bleak and dreary mountainside, especially keeping an eye on Qin Shuang's facial expression. Since Qin Shuang was the male lead, she had no doubts that he would be drawn to that cave.

Suddenly, Yin Mei came to a stop. "This is..." The sound of an almost melodic screech echoed softly along the wind. There was something wrong. She went through the information again.

The reason Qin Shuang was able to easily obtain the sacred beast egg was due to the fact that the sacred beast had not been home. Neither of the two parents. Yin Mei hadn't thought much of it, but logically speaking it should be because something had happened? Otherwise why would the two sacred beasts leave their egg all alone? Not only that, but they didn't even make a ruckus after it was stolen, and the governments hadn't found hide nor tail of them, as if they had vanished into thin air.

It was quite mysterious, to say the least.

But, it was none of Yin Mei's business. As long as it wouldn't become an issue later, since the sacred beasts were out of the equation, that was good. The only thing they needed to worry about, as a result was...

Survival!

"What's wrong, teacher?" Alice asked, and Yin Mei blinked.

"Nothing," she said, continuing. The students, aside from Qin Shuang and Song Hua, didn't think much of it. As for Qin Shuang, he had also heard the sound of the sacred beast calling, and couldn't help but recall the single mission that Mei Wen had assigned him.

He couldn't help but feel a little bit suspicious.

As for Song Hua, for some reason, he couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of anxiety. As if what would happen next would determine his entire future...

(A/N: This chapter is much shorter than usual, because I wanted to get it out at least. Also because as I mention in the author note below this, I've been. having a really annoying issue with. my keyboard and thus haven't had the motivation to write. I probably won't be able to get this checked out. this week, so there probably won't be another chapter soon. until I. can figure out a way to fix this.)