Chapter 152

Chapter 152

The next day, after breakfast, everyone was called to gather in the central courtyard of the academy. Kong Siyin and the Chief Instructor stood at the front. When everyone assembled, the Chief Instructor took out a list and began calling names.

"Wang Siqi, Cai Zhuoxi, Fengchen, Ji Yi, Chen Wenchao, Ding Hongsheng..."

Yan Bubu thought it was a routine roll call, but the Chief Instructor stopped after calling out only some Sentinels and Guides' names.

Names like Fengchen, Cai Tao, were on the list, but his and Wang Suizi's names were missing.

Kong Siyin, who had been silent, spoke slowly, "As you all know, Chen Liuwei from Sentinel Class One is missing. The army searched through the desert and mountains all night without finding him. The resettlement area is still under construction, and there are many mutated creatures. Since the military lacks manpower, we'll have to search ourselves today."

His gaze passed over each student through his spectacles, "Chen Liuwei is a student of our academy, and we must do everything possible to find him. But most importantly, ensure your own safety while searching. I don't want any more students in trouble after one has gone missing."

"Today, we'll search the mountains. After the assembly, the students listed earlier will depart for the hills. Those remaining have a significant task of safeguarding the mining area against any potential mutant intrusion."

"Yes, sir!"

"Understood!"

Kong Siyin didn't say anything more; the Chief Instructor began to read the list of personnel for this mission.

"First Squad: Fengchen, Sun Cheng, Chen Wenchao, Ji Yi, Ding Hongsheng, Cai Tao. Fengchen is the squad leader. Second Squad: Lu Feike, Chen Qian..."

After reading the list, the Chief Instructor took out an enlarged photo showing a young sentinel in the academy uniform.

"This is Chen Liuwei. Those going for the search, remember his appearance."

The students dispersed. Those heading into the mountains hurried towards the supply depot to collect equipment and firearms. Fengchen strode swiftly towards the depot, while Yan Bubu jogged beside him, continually chattering.

"Bring Bino and Sasaki with you. There are many rocks on Yinshao Mountain; take it slow if it gets dark. The temperature in the mountains should be much lower than here. Shouldn't you wear another layer? Ah... I really want to go too. Let me talk to the Chief Instructor."

Fengchen said, "If the Chief Instructor asked you to stay, he must have a reason. Focus on building the house in the camp, so I can see the roof when I come back to sleep. Oh, and you also have to deal with those mutant creatures and guard the camp."

Yan Bubu wanted to argue further, "I'm worried if you encounter danger in the mountains, no one will be able to realign your mental domain—"

"What's written at the second-floor staircase of the teaching building?" Fengchen suddenly stopped and shouted loudly.

The instructors often shouted abruptly before or after class, so Yan Bubu reflexively stood up straight and loudly replied, "A soldier's duty is to obey orders and defend the country with honor!"

"A soldier's duty is to obey orders and defend the country with honor!"

Two identical voices echoed simultaneously nearby. They were two sentinels passing by who, like Yan Bubu, stood straight, heels clicking together.

The two sentinels, realizing the situation wasn't right, immediately whispered, "Don't play games like this."

"We are just innocent passersby, why are we being stopped and handed dog food?"

Fengchen tipped his cap to the two and they reciprocated, smiling before walking away.

Yan Bubu, teased by Fengchen, didn't get upset. Instead, he giggled and leaned in, hugging him playfully. "I want to go too... I want to go too..."

Fengchen placed both hands on his shoulders and spoke softly, "We're going into the mountains to find someone. It's very tiring and tough, that's why the Chief Instructor decided the younger ones should stay in the camp. Besides, your task is challenging too. Just take care of Bino and Sasaki in the camp and focus on building the house."

Fengchen entered the supply depot, announced his name to the soldier distributing supplies, who then lifted a bulging backpack nearby and handed him an assault rifle.

Behind a row of empty storage cabinets, Fengchen started organizing his gear, donning his helmet, and fastening his ammunition belt around his waist. Yan Bubu stood eagerly nearby, watching.

As Fengchen sat on a bench to change boots, Yan Bubu quickly crouched down to tie his shoelaces. "Let me, let me, I'll tie them for you."

He tied them carefully, not too tight to constrict Fengchen's instep nor too loose, ensuring the knots were both secure and neat.

Yan Bubu finished tying the left shoe lace and looked up at Fengchen. "Master, how well did I serve you?"

"Passable." Fengchen switched to the right foot. "Just secure it, doesn't have to look perfect."

"That won't do. I learned a new way of tying knots from Wang Suizi; the knots look beautiful. I must use it for you..." Yan Bubu muttered to himself, continuing to tie the shoelaces earnestly.

After securing both shoes, he admired the two knots, then glanced up at Fengchen, only to find him staring deeply at him, causing him to startle.

Despite hearing murmurs from fellow students behind the row of storage cabinets, there was only one soldier in their aisle, arranging items and facing away from them.

Yan Bubu and Fengchen locked eyes briefly, feeling a warmth spreading through their chests due to the intense gaze. Doing nothing felt impossible; it was as if their entire bodies would ignite.

Slowly, he leaned toward Fengchen, tracing his gaze down his nose to his thin, tender lips. Fengchen's lips were perfectly shaped, thin yet rosy, reminding him of the sensation when they touched his forehead—soft and warm.

As Yan Bubu got closer, he could feel Fengchen's warm breath and discern the clearly defined eyelashes.

But just as he was about to kiss, a slender finger pressed against his forehead.

"What do you think you're doing?" Fengchen, half-closed eyes, looked at him.

Yan Bubu's heart pounded; he whispered, "I wanted to kiss you."

Fengchen glanced at the nearby soldier, then lowered his voice, "You're absolutely out of line."

"He hasn't turned around, we can quickly kiss..."

After a few seconds of staring, Fengchen released the hand from Yan Bubu's forehead. Thinking it was permission, Yan Bubu immediately leaned forward, only to have his cheeks pinched by Fengchen.

"What chaotic thoughts are swirling in your head all the time?" Fengchen scolded in a low voice.

Yan Bubu's mouth puckered into a pout, not daring to say a word, just innocently looking at him.

"Let's go, get up." Fengchen released his cheeks and stood up. Just as Yan Bubu looked disappointed, Fengchen leaned down swiftly and lightly tapped Yan Bubu's lips.

"This doesn't set a precedent," he cleared his throat, looking composed. Then he turned and strode out.

Bang!

He knocked over a stool by the cabinet, quickly set it back upright, and continued walking out.

Yan Bubu remained crouched on the floor, touching his lips after a while. The sensation from just now, like the kiss imprinted on his forehead, was soft but surprisingly warm...

"What are you doing here? Are you going on a mountain mission? Did you get your equipment?" The soldier finally turned around and saw Yan Bubu squatting on the ground.

Yan Bubu slowly lifted his head, blushing, with dreamy eyes, and giggled after a moment, "I won't tell you."

Soldier: "..."

The road into the mountains was on the left side of the Watchtower Academy. All the students going into the mountains were lined up on the open ground with their respective quantum beasts beside them. Yan Bubu stood not far from Fengchen, looking at him and then at the guides who were going with them, feeling envious inside.

Bino also stood next to Yan Bubu, eyes fixed on the black lion beside Fengchen.

"Qian Rong."

"Here."

"Hong Xingcheng."

"Here."

……

"Sun Cheng."

When the instructor called out this name, there was no response.

"Is Sun Cheng here?"

Someone replied, "Sun Cheng just heard that his mother sprained her foot. He went to the settlement area near the plantation and said he'll be back soon. Just wait another ten minutes."

The instructor, with an angry expression, shook the list in his hand. "We're about to set out on a mission. Who would wait for him? Are we all standing here waiting for him?"

He continued loudly, "We're lacking one guide now. Is there any guide going into the mountains with us?"

Yan Bubu was startled, but Bino, beside him, already raised his paw high. Reacting quickly, Yan Bubu spoke up before the other guides could, saying, "Yes!"

The instructor turned towards the sound, and Fengchen, standing at the front, also glanced slightly toward Yan Bubu.

"Instructor, I can go on the mission," Yan Bubu added.

Seeing his slim figure and realizing he couldn't be older than eighteen, the instructor hesitated.

Yan Bubu ran up to the instructor, heels clicking together in a military salute. "Student guide Yan Bubu, requesting permission to join the mountain search mission."

"But you..." The instructor was still hesitant, but Yan Bubu had already picked up a bulging military backpack from beside him, stuffing ammunition clips into his pockets. Bino also grabbed a stainless steel canteen and strapped it on himself.

Instructor: "Yan Bubu, right?"

"Reporting, Instructor! I'm Yan Bubu, a student from the third guide class! I will definitely execute the mission well after entering the mountains!" Yan Bubu immediately stood at attention, loudly replying.

Bino also straightened his body. The strap of his water bottle was too long, causing the bottle to hang halfway to the ground.

The instructor rubbed his ear, "Alright, alright, it's you."

Yan Bubu turned around without looking around and walked towards the team, standing beside Fengchen. Bino also walked proudly towards the black lion, the water bottle dragging on the ground, making a banging noise.

"Quite something," Fengchen said in a voice only audible to the two of them.

"Definitely," Yan Bubu replied smugly, reaching out to hook his little finger with Fengchen's.

"If you can't walk, don't expect me to carry you."

Yan Bubu glanced at him sideways, "As long as you can walk, I can too."

Fengchen bent down to remove the water bottle from Bino, adjusted the strap, and put it back on.

"Depart!"

At the instructor's command, everyone headed towards the rear mountain.

Although the harsh winter had passed, the vegetation on the rear mountain was not dense. Due to lack of sunlight, it grew short and frail, exposing vast dark mountain slopes. In the distance, faint green lights floated in the darkness; those were lurking mutant species, watching the group keenly.

"These mutants might not dare to act recklessly with so many of us now, but it might change once the teams disperse. So, you must be careful and keep your communicators open at all times. We're only searching within a fifty-mile radius; we won't go any further, and Chen Liuwei couldn't have gone that far either," the instructor's voice came through the earpiece.

The quantum beasts led the way and surrounded all the students in the middle. After maintaining this formation and marching for two hours, the lead instructor at the front stopped: "Ahead is the area the military hasn't searched. Now, each team leader leads their squad within a fifty-mile radius for a thorough search."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Fengchen's team consisted of nine members, with Chen Wenchao and Yan Bubu as guides, and the rest as sentinels. They were to search towards the northeast of Chaya Peak. After a stretch, they encountered a marsh, sparsely covered with small clusters of shrubs.

Using forehead lights to illuminate the area, they saw several rotting trees lying across the swamp, each with a diameter of at least one meter, requiring at least two people to embrace it.

"This was definitely a dense forest here before. It's a pity these trees..." Jiyi reached out, patting a fallen tree trunk. "They're quite resilient, at least leaving a husk behind. Those wooden houses, after enduring scorching summers and harsh winters, much of the timber has turned into fragments."

Fengchen lifted a piece of bark to look inside. "The wood hasn't completely decayed, proving they actually survived through extreme heat and cold. Sometimes, the resilience of plants is much stronger than we imagine."

Ding Hongsheng sighed, "They originally tried their best to survive, but sadly, they couldn't hold on till the end."

Yan Bubu touched the tree in front of him. "Then why couldn't they hold on?"

Fengchen checked the real-time map and said, "This is a depression before Chaya Peak, and there's no outlet. During extreme cold, it definitely accumulated a thick layer of ice and snow. After the extreme cold, when the ice melted, without drainage and sunlight, the roots of these trees soaked in water for a long time and couldn't survive."

Due to the fear of leeches or other threadworms in the swamp, they began to wear protective suits and prepared to recall the quantum beasts to their mental realms.

While everyone was dressing up, they suddenly heard Cai Tao burst out angrily, "What the hell are you doing?"

Everyone immediately grabbed their guns, turned around, aimed, only to see Cai Tao's wolfhound happily rolling in the mud, already plastered itself into a mud dog. After hearing Cai Tao's shout, the dog shivered, stopped rolling, and lay on its back in the mud, looking at him.

"Well done!" Chen Wenchao clapped slowly.

Ding Hongsheng said, "Look at how it's become. Hurry up and recall it back to the mental realm."

"It's so dirty, I damn well won't recall it into the mental realm. Disgusting." Cai Tao picked up a clump of mud from the ground and hurled it, "Stupid dog!"

The wolfhound was hit by mud but dared not come back, just looked at Cai Tao pleadingly.

Chen Wenchao sneered, "The quantum beast is your mental entity. If it behaves foolishly, it reflects poorly on you."

"How am I foolish?"

Chen Wenchao replied, "When the quantum beast returns to the mental realm, it takes on a form of psychic force, and those attachments can't be brought back. Why fear the dirt? Once it's released again, it will be a clean foolish dog."

The wolfhound, with ears upright, listened intently, then nodded quickly and stuck out its tongue at Chen Wenchao, showing a pleasing smile.

Cai Tao, unable to bear it, turned his eyes away, "Forget it, if it likes playing in the mud, let it have its fill. Go on, scout ahead."

The wolfhound rapidly pawed through the mud, heading forward.