Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 928 - 921: Test Subject

Chapter 928: Chapter 921: Test Subject

Since their last defeat, the Advance Team had returned to Axia’s dwelling, lying dormant for nearly half a month. By now it was already April, and the Snow Domain welcomed the spring season, marking a full month since they had entered the Snow Domain.

After returning to Axia’s place, the Snow Domain experienced several snowfalls in succession, only starting to slowly melt away the week before.

According to Axia, the snow in the Snow Domain wouldn’t completely melt until summer. Based on past experiences, even with the onset of spring, the Snow Domain would still experience drops in temperature and snowfall, once again enveloping the land.

However, once spring arrived, most areas of the Snow Domain would no longer see heavy snowfalls, which was undoubtedly good news for the Advance Team.

Following the unsuccessful mission, Luo’er and Headquarters had communicated. Wang Xu was very concerned about their safety and insisted they complete the mission without compromising their own security, urging them not to be rash in their pursuit of quick results.

He would rather have the Advance Team move slowly, treating it as a long-term task, than have them riskily hasten the mission’s progress. While the opening of the Otherworld Gate was important, to Wang Xu, the safety of Luo’er and the entire Advance Team was paramount.

No one could guarantee that the Advance Team would definitely find the Ancestors’ Holy Book in the Snow Domain, and even if they did, it would take time to derive the method to open the Otherworld Gate from this book.

Therefore, right from the start, Headquarters had categorized the task of opening the Otherworld Gate as a long-term mission, with a duration of one to two years, or even three to four years, all within their acceptable range.

Opening the Otherworld Gate would undoubtedly double Headquarters’ influence in the Otherworld, but their main focus at the moment was still on consolidating their existing power, making sure the CIA didn’t get a chance to exploit any loopholes and ruin their decades of effort.

Luo’er received good news from Wang Xu: the route from the Continent’s west coast to Luscaque in the Snow Domain had opened for navigation. The Blaiqi people’s supplies could now be transported to Luscaque, and the Advance Team could take a ship directly south to Winter Harbor in Odelanqi when the time came.

This news was extremely timely for Luo’er, as he had been facing a shortage of supplies. Although they didn’t have to worry about food at Axia’s home, they had nowhere to replenish the military supplies needed by the Advance Team.

Although merchants would occasionally pass through the area, it was just the beginning of spring, not yet the active season for traders. Even if there were any, these merchants were not arms dealers; the weapons they could procure were mostly of inconsistent quality, and the ammunition was always short of weight, far from satisfying the needs of the Advance Team.

Due to the shortage of supplies, Hu Daoke gradually gave up the habit of hunting with firearms and instead turned to bows and arrows made by Axia. But archery was not a skill that could be perfected overnight; most of the time, he had to rely on Feng’s perception and long-range sword energy for hunting, which left him feeling defeated and gradually losing interest in the hunt.

"Ah, staying here, eating and living at someone else’s expense—I can’t help feeling a bit embarrassed," said Hu Daoke, wrapped in a fur blanket and curled up in front of the fireplace, speaking listlessly.

"Wow, you can actually feel embarrassed?" Cheng Ziang shook his head in disbelief, and with a look of astonishment said,

"You’re not as thick-skinned as you, taking whatever you want without any remorse," Hu Daoke shot back with a glance.

"When have I ever done that?" Cheng Ziang rolled his eyes as he asked.

Humph..." Hu Daoke hummed sulkily a couple of times, then fell silent.

Feng knelt behind them, eyes closed, concentrating on her meditation. After a while, filled with magic power, she opened her eyes, slowly crawled up behind Hu Daoke, reached out and tugged on his clothing, and made a hopeful expression.

"Ah, Little Fengye," Hu Daoke glanced at her and waved his hand, saying, "I haven’t been hunting recently, it’s all you hunting while I just watch—it’s no fun..."

"What kind of talk is that? The point is to participate. When you wanted to hunt, Feng accompanied you, and now that Feng wants to, you start making excuses. Is that reasonable?" Cheng Ziang said dissatisfyingly.

"Ei, you little..." Hu Daoke turned his head to look at him and then at Feng, seeing her look of anticipation, he bit his lip and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright, Xiao Fula, go see if there are any traces of game nearby, and let’s not go too far this time."

"Don’t call me Xiao Fula!" Fulajie’er reminded him irritably as usual, but despite the annoyance, she obediently flew up high, scanning the surroundings.

"Come, have some hot drink!" At this moment, Axia walked out from another room with a tray and warmly offered them,

"Ah, I always feel awkward about this, eating and drinking at someone else’s expense," Hu Daoke scratched his head and took the silver teacup from her tray.

"There’s no need to feel awkward," Axia said indifferently, "You are Eve’s friends and my guests. It is only right for me to entertain you. Besides..."

As she spoke, Axia’s gaze drifted towards another room, and squinting her eyes, she said, "Your hardworking Captain has been a great help to me these past few days. If anything, I should be the one expressing my gratitude."

"Ah, our boss is always so hardworking, can’t seem to sit still. If you need anything just give him a shout, he’d definitely be willing to help." Hu Daoke waved his hand and then frowned as he took a bitter and astringent sip of the hot drink.

"What kind of talk is that, you heartless thing!" Cheng Ziang kicked him from the side and also took a sip of the hot drink.

"Actually, you guys have helped me a lot too, testing the efficacy of these herbal soups..." Axia continued.

"Pfft!!!!"

No sooner had her words fallen than the two, who had been drinking the hot beverage, spewed it out in unison, then looked at Axia with wide eyes, faces full of shock.

"Don’t be so scared, the medicine isn’t poisonous, it’s just for regulating the body," Axia said, squinting her eyes and smiling.

"Good grief, no wonder she was so nice to them, offering food and drink," Hu Daoke leaned over to Cheng Ziang and whispered.

"A woman’s heart is the most poisonous..." Cheng Ziang whispered back in kind.

"What are you saying?" Axia asked, narrowing her eyes.

The two smartly conversed in Chinese, which Axia couldn’t understand at all, so she could only ask them.

"Uh..." Hu Daoke’s eyes rolled around for a few turns, and then he blinked and asked, "This stuff is really non-toxic?"

"It’s non-toxic, feel free to drink it like a beverage," Axia reassured.

"Even if it’s non-toxic, it feels undrinkable now..." Cheng Ziang said with an awkward smile, muttering under his breath.

He turned his head and saw Feng holding a teacup, tilting his head back to gulp down the hot drink in one go, afterward frowning and showing a pained expression.

"Ay, Little Fengye is the honest one..." Hu Daoke couldn’t help but lament.

"Speaking of which, where did everyone else go? Why does it feel so eerily quiet here?" Cheng Ziang looked around and couldn’t help but ask.

"The girls are all helping Luo’er with chores, so I had to recruit you guys for the experiment," Axia said with a shrug.

"Uh..." The two exchanged glances, showing awkward expressions.

Hu Daoke cleared his throat slightly, then said seriously, "Well, we are the hunting reserve team, always ready to go hunting, not slackers, right!"

"Oh, right, right, we’re the hunting group!" Cheng Ziang nodded hastily, although he had barely gone out hunting at all.

"Oh well, whatever," Axia sighed and said while holding the plate, "as long as Luo’er and the others are busy with the tedious tasks, we don’t miss your help. Also, on the other hand, you guys did hunt quite a few pelts for me, even though they’re all from common animals and not worth much. By the way, if you have any adverse reactions after drinking the soup, let me know immediately so I can adjust the formula and keep making soup for you."

"Hey, I think I’m already having an adverse reaction!" Hu Daoke raised his hand and said.

"What reaction?" Axia’s eyes lit up, asking with anticipation.

"I need to pee!" Hu Daoke stated earnestly.

Hearing his words, Axia didn’t say anything but gave him a fierce glare and left, holding the plate.

"She’s a dangerous woman indeed!" Cheng Ziang watched her retreating figure and commented.