71: Chapter 71 Tsk, I hate those people who are late the most.

Su Wan immediately turned her head and looked toward that retreating figure.

Noticing her movement, Lin Jianqiu also followed her gaze toward the crowd and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Su Wan stared at the back for a good while before withdrawing her gaze and shaking her head in response. "Nothing, I mistook them for someone else."

She had thought it was that person just now.

But looking closely, only the body shape was somewhat similar; their facial features were different.

Then again, in a survival environment like this, if you lose track of someone, you might never see them again for the rest of your life.

How could it be such a coincidence to run into them?

Lin Jianqiu gave an "oh" and didn't think much of it, continuing the previous topic of conversation:

"Seriously, how did you actually get those five hundred points?"

Su Wan smiled, no longer continuing the slightly joking boasting from before, and simply said:

"Good luck. I ran into someone who helped me."

The two chatted as they walked toward the exit of the Trading Area.

...

Not far away, in another section of the vendor stalls.

After finishing his inquiry with a stall owner about some details, Gu Changming began to slowly browse through the stalls here.

Since he was going out to hunt that boss-level spider, he naturally needed to purchase some basic supplies, such as drinking water, compressed rations, or medicinal bandages for treating wounds.

Although these could also be bought through the Mall interface, the prices were significantly more expensive.

Especially those potions that quickly heal wounds or alleviate toxins; their prices were about two to three times that of what current Apothecaries could refine.

...

The next day.

By the main road leading out of the stronghold, many teams preparing to head out had already gathered.

Su Wan's team was among them.

Lin Jianqiu was squatting on the ground, checking her equipment one last time. She pulled her slender blade halfway out of its sheath, lightly wiped it with her finger, and pushed it back with a "clack" once she confirmed everything was in order.

Chen Yanzhi stood a bit further away, resting with his eyes closed. His lowered hand constantly brushed against the Low-Grade Mental Recovery Potion strapped to his leg.

Zhang Yuanfan carried the largest bag of the whole team, repeatedly adjusting the straps of the backpack on his shoulders.

The equipment of all three was more complete than yesterday, having been supplemented or maintained using the points earned the previous day.

With everything packed up, Lin Jianqiu stood up, and the three of them naturally turned their gazes toward Su Wan.

However, she was somewhat distracted at the moment, staring at the passage leading out of the stronghold behind them.

"Su Wan?" Lin Jianqiu took a step forward, asking inquiringly, "We're all ready on this end. When do we set off?"

Su Wan's shoulders moved imperceptibly as she was pulled out of some train of thought.

She blinked and then slowly turned around, her gaze sweeping over her three prepared teammates.

Then, she looked away from her teammates and glanced up at the sky.

After a two-second silence, as if she had just thought of something on the fly, she spoke up: "It's still early. At dawn, there isn't enough light, and visibility outside might be poor. We... will set off a bit later."

This was said rather abruptly.

Lin Jianqiu and the other two looked at each other. Since when did the weather have such a big impact? They hadn't noticed her paying attention to these things before; at most, they just didn't go out at night.

But since Su Wan said so, they didn't have any objections. Leaving early or late didn't make much difference.

"Alright, then we'll move out in a bit."

Chen Yanzhi and Zhang Yuanfan walked over to a relatively clean concrete block and sat down.

After sitting, Chen Yanzhi began sharing some experiences with Zhang Yuanfan and telling him not to be too nervous.

Lin Jianqiu, however, walked over to Su Wan's side and looked in the direction Su Wan had been gazing—the passage leading out of the stronghold. There was nothing special about it.

"What are you looking at?" She tilted her head, her tone casual and tinged with curiosity.

Su Wan's attention was pulled back. She shook her head, her voice slightly lower than before: "Nothing, just..."

The sentence started but had no follow-up.

She herself couldn't seem to untangle what that fleeting, blurred emotion was.

She didn't know if it was because there had been so many coincidences involving that person lately, but she always felt like she might run into them here.

Especially now, as they were about to head out, this feeling was exceptionally strong. She felt as if that person would emerge from the passage and they would meet.

Lin Jianqiu looked at her and didn't press further. She just stood beside her with arms crossed, her gaze fixed ahead as she muttered to herself about the purpose of this outing.

"Going out today, we're mainly looking for 'Elite-level' monsters to train that kid and improve our coordination?"

"Yeah." Su Wan nodded.

They had just killed the Venom Giant Toad, so logically they should have rested for a few days. However, thinking of Zhang Yuanfan in the team, they decided to get moving.

Elite monsters weren't a significant threat to the three of them, who were experienced E-rank adventurers. Going out for a trip to train their teammate while earning nearly a hundred points on the side was also good.

...

The sky gradually grew clearer as they waited. Although it still couldn't be called bright, the outlines of the wilderness were already clearly visible.

Other teams gathered near the gate began to set off one after another. Chen Yanzhi and Zhang Yuanfan stood up again, their gazes falling on Su Wan.

Seeing everyone's eyes on her again, Su Wan withdrew her gaze from the distance. A trace of extremely faint disappointment, which even she might not have realized, flashed through her eyes.

"Go?" Lin Jianqiu asked from the side.

"Go..." She had just uttered one word.

Right then, a clear, unhurried sound of footsteps came from inside the passage entrance.

Su Wan's voice stopped abruptly. She immediately turned her head, her gaze fixed on the passage entrance with a subconscious sliver of anticipation.

The footsteps quickly approached, and a figure walked out. It was a young man wearing a black jacket, his head slightly lowered, making his features hard to see.

Su Wan's eyes followed him.

The man walked out and then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the several teams waiting to depart.

His features were regular, but it was a strange face, not the person she was thinking of.

The stranger quickly scanned the area and, as if confirming his target, ran straight toward another five-person team that had long since assembled next to Su Wan's group.

He waved and shouted something as he ran, and someone in that team responded to him.

Watching this scene, a speechless expression appeared on Su Wan's face, and then she let out a strange "tsk."

Lin Jianqiu, standing beside her, heard it and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"What did he do to you?"

Su Wan turned around and took the lead in walking toward the wilderness outside, her voice drifting back.

"Nothing. I just hate late people the most. He's already so late, yet his footsteps were still so unhurried."

Lin Jianqiu raised an eyebrow, trying to understand this strange point of anger.

Then the three followed. The team of four left the stronghold and walked toward the plains outside.

...

I didn't expect that after just complaining yesterday, everyone would think of helping me pull up the rating.

So today I'm updating two extra chapters. Thank you, everyone.