Mated at First Sight
Chapter 841 - 559: Give Thanks Properly (First Update)

Chapter 841: Chapter 559: Give Thanks Properly (First Update)

"So does that mean we can relax a bit?" If there’s no worry of a surprise attack, there’s no need to be on guard all the time, right?

Yang Yuebin suggested that relaxing a bit might even lead to some unexpected findings; the thought was indeed quite pleasant.

However, it was a pity.

"But don’t forget, this is the jungle." Moreover, it was an unknown jungle to them, they had no idea what kind of dangers they would encounter here, and those who left them here probably didn’t think it was safe either.

Someone’s sweet dream was abruptly interrupted.

"Yicen is right," Yue Qiao chimed in from the side, "No matter what, we cannot relax until the assessment is over." They had to be aware of everything; otherwise, if something were to happen suddenly, they wouldn’t be able to respond in time.

Missing this opportunity would mean that they might not know how long they would have to wait for the next one.

Perhaps, several more years.

Furthermore, those were just their speculations. Although it was unlikely, it wasn’t impossible that Ying Sun’s people might suddenly decide to ’play’ with them and launch a sneak attack.

After all, the human heart is sometimes really hard to predict; it is the simplest yet also the most complex thing in the world.

"Yeah." Jing Chen nodded. "Let’s continue, but watch out for snakes, insects, rodents, and ants in the forest." There should be fewer mice.

This time, they didn’t even bring the useful items Mu Lin had provided, which they now regretted not having stashed in a pocket. Next time, they would definitely remember.

They hadn’t expected they wouldn’t be allowed to bring anything at all.

Right now, none of them knew which direction was the correct one, so they could only move forward based on instinct.

They were still unaware of what the clues were.

Directions, instructions, or something else; they just hoped nobody would play tricks on them again.

Honestly, they were quite scared.

It was past three in the morning, and in about an hour, the sky would gradually brighten. They should be grateful that it was summer.

Otherwise, if it were winter, they would have to wait even longer for dawn to break, which would be even less convenient. Searching for something at night without night-vision goggles was really...quite troublesome.

As they continued their search and moved forward, two hours passed quickly, and by then, they had put away their flashlights as the day had gradually brightened.

"What is this?" Just at that moment, an excited voice suddenly rang out in everyone’s ears. They subconsciously turned back to look at Xia Luoyu, "What did you find?"

Breaking into a grin, "Nothing," Xia Luoyu turned back. "I was just wondering if this could be edible." She plucked something that looked like a fruit from a nearby tree.

The group was exasperated, "We thought you found a clue." It was a false alarm.

Xia Luoyu: "Finding food is also good, right?" After all, they had to stay here for two days, didn’t they?

But still!

"Are you sure this is edible?" Observing the strange triangular shape of the fruit in Xia Luoyu’s hand, the others were seriously skeptical.

"If Mu Lin were here, that would be great," Xia Luoyu added with a sheepish laugh. If Mu Lin were here, she’d definitely know which things were edible and which were not, including this strange object she was holding; Mu Lin was the queen of the jungle.

"Too bad she’s not here," Zhou Yujun shrugged, reminding them.

Although they really wished she was with them here too; they wanted her to lead them on a mission, to train them once more.

Even though they had only trained with Mu Lin for a mere three months, the group found that most of their deepest memories, nearly eight to nine months on, were from the short time they spent training and surviving in the wilderness with her.

In fact, they had been making continuous efforts, striving just so they wouldn’t become a burden to her the next time they stood by her side.

But now it seemed, they were still a long way off from that step.

Self-awareness constantly reminded them; they were often discouraged, but each setback became a source of motivation.

"Can we eat this thing in the end?" Xia Luoyu finally asked.

"With such a strange item, better not eat it," Yue Qiao advised. It would not be worth it if someone got sick.

"Alright." Xia Luoyu shrugged, but still pocketed the small object; thinking that she might as well show it to Mu Lin later, who might know what it was and even if it could be used in medicine.

In the jungle, they truly couldn’t find anyone more familiar with it than Mu Lin.

The group continued on their way.

The time was around nine in the morning.

Watching the figures advancing on the monitor, Black Shark remained expressionless, while Xigua and others leaned back leisurely, observing intently.

"Some of these people, why are they always heading in the opposite direction from us?" If this continues, it’s doubtful they can make it out within the allotted time.

"Dumbass." Wu Ya cocked his lips. Xigua gave him a look, "Like you’re the smart one."

"Is that so!" There was no courtesy in the acknowledgment, not a hint of embarrassment to be found, as several pairs of rolling eyes were received in perfect unison.

"But still, it’s good." Black Shark suddenly said, "At least two-thirds of the people haven’t gone in the wrong direction." Actually, this was the time to test some of their skills in the forest.

What they relied on was observation, observing clues, and step by step moving towards the exit.

As a Special Forces soldier, during a mission, one cannot miss a single clue, even if it was hardly noticeable.

So, in the Special Forces, scouts are actually the most popular, and also the most likely to be approved; of course, the prerequisite is that you are good enough.

The others nodded, continuing their observations.

It was still the same old saying, just don’t let them down.

After all, they had been looking forward to this for quite some time.

Moving forward all the while, but after a long time, they still had not found any clues to guide them, which made Jing Youlan and his group begin to doubt.

"Are there really any clues? Don’t tell me there’s nothing at all!" That would really be tragic.

"Impossible." Ji Shubai shook his head, "Unless they did not want any of us to pass." But that sort of thing couldn’t happen.

"It might be inconspicuous." Moreover, Jing Ye wouldn’t be the kind of person to do that, to play them like this.

"Yeah." The group agreed, continuing to move forward.

However, just a few steps later, they saw a familiar face, though he was alone; his unexpected solitude was somewhat surprising.

Upon seeing Jing Youlan and his people, a deep shade crossed the other’s eyes, and then he quickly stepped towards them.

"Why are you here?" Jing Youlan frowned at the sight of the newcomer, his displeasure plain to see.

"If you’re here, why can’t I be here." The other snorted, every encounter starting with a sharp exchange.

However, the sharpness between the two now lacked the previous smell of gunpowder, leaving the onlookers to do no more than... ignore them.

That was their most genuine reaction; after all, they had grown accustomed to it.

Sure knows how to pick an adjective, are you sure you’re using that word right? And, you’re using it to describe a man? This kid’s got the guts—let him say that in front of Jing Ye and see how Jing Ye reacts.

Indeed, only a certain someone was slow to react to that word.

To avoid the two bickering wasting more time, Ji Shubai looked at Xue Jianbing and butted in to ask, "Xue, why are you alone?" He remembered that he should have had his little sidekick with him, although there was only one.

"We got separated." Xue Jianbing answered indifferently, he would probably continue on by himself; after pausing, he casually asked, "Have you guys found any clues?" By now, they had already wasted several hours, and if this continued, they probably wouldn’t pass.

Therefore, Xue Jianbing had actually come this way on purpose; it was a shot in the dark; he saw the direction they took when they descended, so he slanted over, trying his luck.

He always felt that his luck would improve if he was with them.

Of course, certain person excluded.

As for that so-called someone, probably felt the same way too.

Hearing his words, Ji Shubai shook his head, "We haven’t found any clues yet." They were hidden too well, and in such a vast forest, it wasn’t easy to find.

Xue Jianbing pressed his lips together, "Then let’s continue, we can’t afford to waste any more time." Forty-eight hours would soon be over.

Everyone nodded, and even Jing Youlan broke his usual pattern of contradicting and did not say a word against it.

The group continued forward, dispersing and closely observing everything around them.

"I think... I’ve found a clue." Just then, Yang Yuebin’s voice unexpectedly rang in everyone’s ears, albeit sounding a bit strange.

Finding a clue should be a good thing, right?

"You’ve found..." He started to ask Yang Yuebin what he had found, but as his gaze followed Yang Yuebin’s, they saw a small box lying about seven or eight meters away from them.

That...

If nothing was wrong, what was inside the box should be the hint they were looking for.

Normally, finding a clue should be a cause for celebration, after all, it was a good thing, but!

What if next to the spot where the box lay, there was a python roughly as thick as their arms, and the box was just so perfectly, trapped under the tail of that snake?

Are the heavens sure they weren’t joking with them? Or perhaps, were the people from Ying Sun seriously playing them?

To think they put the clue in such a... realistic spot.

Heh heh heh... they really want to extend their heartfelt thanks to them!