Chapter 233 - 232: Currying Favor

Yin Jiu didn’t want this man’s presence to change the team’s dynamic for the worse, or even sour the relationship between Sheng Yue and Jian Yu.

It stood up and placed its front paws on Jian Yu’s arm. "Just tell us where it is. In return, I’ll personally escort you out of the Ultimate Eye."

"No, I still haven’t found my captain and the others." Gu Qi’s eyes turned red again.

Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to fall, which made him look quite pitiful. "My captain also knows where that Beast Plant is. If they escaped, they’ll likely head there to regroup. I want to go and see if I can find them."

Yin Jiu was furious.

’This man is so annoying.’

It shook its fur. Its round, fluffy body looked adorably soft.

But its blue eyes, so similar to Sheng Yue’s, held a coldness that was impossible to ignore.

"If your captain managed to escape, he’s probably already left this place."

The stare made Gu Qi’s scalp prickle, and a chill shot up from the soles of his feet.

"It wasn’t easy getting up here. I don’t want to go back empty-handed."

He didn’t dare look at Yin Jiu. His gaze shifted, landing on Jian Yu. "I won’t cause you any trouble."

Gu Qi pitifully tugged at his clothes. "I’m so jealous of you all. You can even kill such a huge Mutant Beast. Look at me... I just ran until my clothes were in tatters."

Zhang Qin opened his backpack and casually tossed a set of clothes over. "If they’re torn, then change. It’s on me."

Gu Qi caught the clothes and clutched them to his chest. They were far too large and clearly wouldn’t fit.

He turned and gave Jian Yu a wronged look.

Everyone: "..."

’What’s he trying to pull?’

Lu Qi muttered under his breath, "She’s not your mom. Why are you looking at her?"

Yin Jiu narrowed its blue eyes slightly, its gaze sweeping over Gu Qi’s face.

[Master, this is bad. He’s really here for me.]

Jian Yu saw right through him but chose not to say anything. She simply hugged Yin Jiu, pulling it back into a comforting embrace.

She could tell Gu Qi had designs on her. Although she didn’t know what he hoped to get from her, she had to admit she was a sucker for his act.

’It’s just that he’s a bit fake, his looks are average, and his every move seems meticulously calculated.’

’Not that it matters. He’s just a nobody.’

Jian Yu glanced at Sheng Yue out of the corner of her eye.

Yin Jiu also turned its head to look at Sheng Yue. [Master, I want the Beast Plant.]

Sheng Yue watched the scene quietly. [Mm.]

His expression was indifferent and his gaze distant, as if nothing in his surroundings was worthy of his notice.

Yin Jiu grew anxious. [Master, you can’t just be like this.]

’He’s not taking any initiative at all. I was the one who had to learn about drinking from Ting Ying first.’

Sheng Yue: [Agree.]

Yin Jiu’s cold blue eyes flickered, its expression turning innocent again. "Alright then, we’ll go together."

’So annoying.’

’Why can’t Master be the only man left in the world?’

Jian Yu wanted that 3S-tier Beast Plant.

Everyone knew she wanted it.

And Gu Qi knew she wanted it, too.

And so, both parties reached a tacit understanding.

Sheng Yue suspected Gu Qi was lying. A five-hundred-year-old Beast Plant couldn’t possibly have remained undiscovered for this long unless it was exceptionally well-hidden.

He looked at Jian Yu, and his cold resolve softened a little.

’I’ll wait and see.’

"That’s great! Thank you, Sister! Thank you, Chief!" Gu Qi immediately flashed a brilliant smile.

His eyes swept over Jian Yu, a probing glint in them.

Jian Yu lowered her eyes.

’It was cuter when Little Flying Bear called me Sister.’

’They have the same persona. It’s just awkward for the one who’s less attractive.’

The group set off again.

Gu Qi relentlessly fawned over Jian Yu, his voice cloyingly sweet and coquettish.

After being repeatedly pushed aside, interrupted, and contradicted, Sheng Yue finally couldn’t take it anymore.

He physically blocked Gu Qi, shooting him a cold glare.

Yin Jiu was overjoyed. [Yes, yes, yes! Just like that, Master!]

Thwarted, and seeing that Jian Yu remained completely indifferent and unmoved, Gu Qi stopped trying to sidle up to her.

’A classic male tactic: if you can’t have her, you bad-mouth her.’

He complained to himself, ’She’s probably a bad woman herself. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be getting tangled up with several men and starting all those rumors.’

More than half of their journey passed without any reward. Gu Qi had failed to scavenge anything valuable and couldn’t ride Jian Yu’s coattails, so he grew distracted.

"Just keep going straight ahead," Gu Qi said, deliberately slowing his pace to fall to the back of the group.

His gaze drifted over the team members, quickly locking onto the most inconspicuous-looking person.

The man always walked with his head lowered, making him seem rather pathetic and timid.

"What’s your name?"

Zhao Jiangyou looked up, his voice soft. "Zhao Jiangyou."

Gu Qi started making small talk, trying to glean information about the other members from Zhao Jiangyou.

But Zhao Jiangyou pleaded ignorance to every question.

Gu Qi felt like he was being disrespected.

His tone grew condescending. "And what is it you do, exactly? You just look like dead weight."

A flicker of emotion crossed Zhao Jiangyou’s eyes, and he stopped walking.

He lifted his head, a lost look in his eyes. "I... I’m a Healer."

"A Healer?" Gu Qi scoffed, looking him up and down.

Zhao Jiangyou’s face flushed red. His lips moved as if to retort, but in the end, he just shut his mouth.

Seeing that he didn’t dare talk back, Gu Qi felt a sense of satisfaction.

He lowered his voice. "We’re about the same height. You got any clothes that’ll fit me? Give me a set."

Zhao Jiangyou obediently opened his backpack.

Gu Qi took the clothes in surprise.

He peered into the backpack and, seeing an opportunity, pressed his luck. "You all must have collected some good stuff along the way, huh? Is that a High-level Beast Plant? Let me have a look."

Zhao Jiangyou shook his head. "No, I’ve just been looking for someone this whole time."

’Yan Ying was looking for Jian Yu.’

’Besides, even if they did find something good, it’s not like I would get a share.’

Gu Qi reached out. "I saw them. You have so many Beast Plants, what’s the big deal about giving me a few?"

He rummaged through the bag. ’Wait, these are just low-level Beast Plants?’

Zhang Qin spun around, marched up to Gu Qi, and landed a swift kick. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think we’re deaf? Bullying my teammate."

Zhao Jiangyou froze.

’This counts as bullying?’

Gu Qi was stunned by the fall.

He scrambled to his feet, apologizing profusely. "Sorry, sorry! I just don’t know how to talk to people sometimes. I didn’t mean it."

’How could they hear me? I was speaking so quietly.’

Gu Qi shrank back, not daring to bully the perceived weakling again.

Jian Yu glanced back and saw Gu Qi looking at her with another pitiful expression.

’Ugh. I have no words.’

Zhang Qin protectively pulled Zhao Jiangyou into the middle of the group. "Just ignore him."

Gu Qi silently followed.

The difference in status and strength was just too great.

No amount of scheming would work here.

He was handsome and considered himself quite charming. Otherwise, why would his captain and teammates, on the brink of death, have prioritized protecting him and getting him to safety?

Gu Qi admitted he was short-sighted and liked to take advantage of others, but he certainly didn’t think he was unattractive.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t good enough; it was that Jian Yu had already tasted a gourmet feast and had no interest in a simple side dish like him.

Having figured out the group’s personalities, and seeing Jian Yu’s cold, expressionless face, Gu Qi finally gave up on his schemes.

Fortunately, he hadn’t been lying. There really was a five-hundred-year-old 3S-tier Beast Plant ahead.

Zhang Qin looked around. "Are you sure this is the place?"

He couldn’t seem to sense the aura of any High-level Mutant Beasts.

Gu Qi spoke up. "It’s inside those vines."

The last time he’d accidentally gone in, at least six Mutant Beasts had chased after him.

Pulling aside the vines revealed a dark opening. Zhang Qin took out an Air Flow Bomb, intending to clear the way.

Teacher Hu shook his head and stopped him. "Zhang Qin."

Yin Jiu acted as Sheng Yue’s translator. "You might accidentally blow up the Beast Plant."