CHAPTER 37: CH 24 - TEAM DISASTER: FIRST STEPS

"Nice trick," I said. "You always run like that, or just when you’re trying to scare people?"

She glanced sideways, voice flat. "Both."

Cold answer.

Cool delivery.

Yeah, that checked out. Definitely both.

Behind Lin Xue, Liu Cheng was still whining. "Man, mud and ice don’t mix. I’m gonna slip and die one day because of her."

Lin didn’t even turn her head. "Then run somewhere else. There’s a whole forest."

I almost snorted. Fair enough.

But then I looked down—oh great, every step Liu Cheng took left this wet, brown mess behind.

Right. Mudtoad bloodline. Should’ve guessed.

And where was I?

Right behind them, of course.

Perfect spot. Ice queen in front freezing the road, mud boy in the middle turning it into a swam ...and me behind them, slipping around like some clown who missed rehearsal.

I sighed inside.

Great. Background horror guy’s right behind me. If I get stabbed today, at least it’ll be fast.

"Yeah, perfect team setup. Next time, I’m flying."

After a few minutes of skating and slipping like idiots, we finally stopped near a ridge. My legs were already writing a complaint.

I was sweating already — shirt sticking to my back, hair damp near my temple.

Damn, tugging my collar a little. Did this area forget to turn off the heat regulator or what?

Lin Xue didn’t even react.

Of course she didn’t. Miss Frostbite probably thought this was spring weather.

Meanwhile, I felt like the forest was trying to steam-cook me alive.

Lin Xue stopped ahead and turned back. Same faint blue glow in her eyes — cold enough to make me think twice before breathing.

She lifted her card, looking all serious, like she was about to teach a survival class none of us asked for.

I straightened up a bit, pretending to listen. Yeah, I knew that look that said, say one more word and I’ll turn you into an ice statue.

"The Azure Vein Root should be around here," she said. "Higher fracture zone. High mutated energy, unstable terrain. Keep your scanners on and eyes open."

"Scanner?" I asked, blinking.

She turned her head just enough to glare — that slow, sharp turn that screamed did you really just ask that?

Her eyes glowed faint blue. Not strong, but enough to make me think she wanted to freeze my brain just for asking.

"The card," she said flatly. "Try using it before you start talking."

"Yeah, that tone could freeze a campfire."

I raised my hand a little in surrender. "Right, right... got it, Miss Ice Tutorial. Just checking if you’d melt enough to explain."

I froze the second I said it.

Wait.

That... wasn’t supposed to be out loud.

Lin Xue’s head snapped toward me — cold glare, temperature rising at least ten degrees.

Nice, Shen Yan. Great job. Thought you were narrating again, didn’t you?

She rolled her eyes and turned away without a word. I swear, if looks could raise the temperature, I’d have to run to the Himalayas for a minute just to cool off.

I stared at it for a second, then at her. "Wait—this little thing again? So it scans, tracks, stores data, shows holograms... what’s next?"

She didn’t answer. Just gave me that look — the one that said please shut up before I actually do it for you.

I nodded slowly. "Cool. Multi-tool of the century. Guess it’ll replace me next."

She tapped her card and bam — a blue map floated up in front of us, glowing veins all over it like the forest just got a body scan.

She started explaining something about energy lines and roots and "low-rank monsters." I caught maybe three words. Probably important ones. Probably.

I nodded like I was learning something new, even though I could already guess what she was gonna say next.

I looked at the map of her for a second, then

out of curiosity, I tapped my own card — and boom, same blue map popped up.

The thing was actually mapping the trail we’d walked, like one of those game maps that fills in piece by piece as you explore.

Kinda cool, kinda creepy.

I zoomed out for fun. Damn, it even marked where we almost slipped earlier. Great. A tracker and a humiliation log.

"This mission’s not just about finding the herb," she said again. "We’re mapping the zone — energy flows, creature signs, resources, everything."

I sighed inside.

So basically, delivery boys with extra steps. Find the herb, draw the map, pray you don’t die.

I glanced at the others. Lin Xue was all focused, Liu Cheng looked like he was pretending to look busy, and Zhao Rui... yeah, he was still doing his silent ghost impression.

Then that pull hit again — faint, right behind my eyes. Predator Sense kicking in. Someone else was here.

I closed my eyes for a second, tuning into it.

Range — about a kilometer.

Four signatures. No, wait — five.

Moving straight toward us.

I sighed quietly.

I frowned.

"So it’s not just us looking for this fancy root," I muttered under my breath.

Great. Nothing like a bunch of idiots fighting over the same shiny herb.

And of course, they split up. Classic rookie move. Nothing says teamwork like scattering in a death zone.

Lin Xue went left, all serious about finding the Azure Vein Root like she could glare it into existence.

Liu Cheng wandered off with his scanner up, muttering about mapping the route... while still eating chips. Multitasking genius.

And Zhao Rui? He vanished somewhere deeper, probably marking down every creepy otherworldly thing that twitched.

Everyone had their job. Except me.

Wait... what was my job again?

Did she even tell me? Probably.

But I think I zoned out somewhere between "team coordination" and "if you’re in trouble, don’t expect help."

Real motivational stuff.

Too busy checking out how cool this card was — glowing screen, scanner, map, mission tracker... damn, it even looks expensive.

I scratched my head.

"Yeah, great start, Shen Yan. Day one and you’re already freeloading."

Great. So everyone got their job.

Guess I’ll assign mine.

I’ll go check those little dots heading this way.

The intruders.

Don’t worry, I’ll be nice.

I’ll just take a look. See who they are. Maybe wave. Maybe stab them. Depends on their attitude.

That little rush crawled under my skin again. Excitement.

It’s been a while since I felt that.

I took a step toward the trees.

"Alright, Shen Yan," I whispered. "Let’s go make some new friends."

And if they turn out to be trouble?

Well... I’ll just make sure they don’t leave this zone with a pulse.