RITAAB 85.1

Chapter 85 【o(￣︶￣)o】part 1

Xia Liansheng felt a bit displeased, but looking at Qi Yue’s age, he didn’t seem like someone with that kind of brainpower. Could he have been thinking wrong? Were his words just unintentional?

At this moment, Cheng Tianxiang suddenly interjected, “Anyway, we get contribution points, so even if we’re busy, there’s a reward.”

Qi Yue said, “That’s right, contribution points are good things. We should get more of them. Once we’ve cleared all of the Modu, we’ll definitely be able to exchange them for lots of good stuff.”

Afterwards, Xi Sihan also found a chance to join their conversation. The three of them chatted happily, while Xia Liansheng seemed to be excluded. It wasn’t until they reached the cafeteria that the four of them separated.

Xia Liansheng never ate with his two teammates. They normally stuck together, but today they were sitting with Qi Yue, the three of them chatting and laughing, seemingly having a good relationship.

Xia Liansheng looked away, at the food in front of him, without making any extra movements. He ate while secretly observing. He had always felt that Xi Sihan and Cheng Tianxiang didn’t have a good relationship with him.

He just didn’t expect that they had such a good relationship with Liu Zhongyuan’s team. At least they could eat and chat together like this. Maybe… there was something he could exploit here.

However, at least for now, he wouldn’t make a move, since he hadn’t thought of a good way yet. But he still needed to investigate the information he had previously leaked to Qin Jiulin through Qi Yue.

If they had revealed it to Gao Siyang, then he could consider himself successful. But just as he was about to inquire, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure. He immediately looked away.

Xia Liansheng ate seriously, not looking at Qi Yue, and not even looking at Xi Sihan and Cheng Tianxiang who were chatting so happily with him. It was as if he had nothing to do with them at all.

After finishing his meal, he went to get more food without saying a word. This time, he didn’t go to sit with Qi Yue and the others. Instead, he chose a place further away, looking as if he was focusing on his meal, not wanting to be disturbed by their chatter.

Qi Yue looked at Xia Liansheng with some confusion, but didn’t pay much attention to it. It was fine with him if Xia Liansheng didn’t come to find him, so he wouldn’t have to think of excuses to answer his questions.

Cheng Tianxiang snorted softly, but didn’t say anything. After all, as a variant beast-shifter herself, after getting used to her beast form during this time, she also knew that beast-shifters’ senses were much stronger than before when in human form. At least if they were speaking this close, they would probably be able to hear clearly.

She didn’t like Xia Liansheng, but she also knew that he was a relatively powerful team leader. It was better not to keep provoking him, otherwise, he might be pushed too far and attack her directly.

If that happened, she would surely die in vain. After all, no one would punish another powerful, living variant beast-shifter for killing someone who was already dead, even if they were a variant beast-shifter themselves.

As long as they weren’t hostile to the entire capital and continued to protect it, basically no one would be nosy enough to make a powerful variant beast-shifter their mortal enemy. That was something no one wanted to do.

After being relentlessly educated by Xi Sihan, Cheng Tianxiang now understood her position and power. She couldn’t always wear her dissatisfaction with others on her face.

She could criticize them in her heart all she wanted, but as long as she didn’t say it out loud, others probably wouldn’t mind.

Qi Yue asked, “By the way, how have your missions been going recently? Have you encountered any danger?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “There hasn’t been any danger. I just fly in the sky. The daily missions don’t require me to fly very high. If any other birds appear, I’ll immediately lower my altitude and get closer to Sister Sihan, and then they won’t dare chase me anymore. And in the morning missions, with you protecting me, all the birds were shot down by you!”

Qi Yue blinked, suddenly remembering that Cheng Tianxiang was also part of the blood bag mission. Although her beast form didn’t have claws to hold blood bags, she was large enough to carry things on her back, which allowed her to complete the mission perfectly.

Qi Yue said, “You’re right, but speaking of those birds that have been appearing above our mission locations recently, their numbers are increasing every day. It’s as if they’ve figured out our mission patterns, always waiting in the vicinity during those times.”

Cheng Tianxiang pondered for a moment, “What you said seems to make sense. It really is like that, but…there’s no way around it. After all, they fly in the sky. Do you want snipers on standby at all times?”

“The buildings directly below or around our mission locations are basically occupied and controlled by half-beasts. Soldiers can’t follow, and beast-shifters can’t go there either. Those dense masses of half-beasts, even if variant beast-shifters went, they probably wouldn’t have a good outcome.”

Qi Yue said, “So we can only reduce the number of people on each mission, and only go to a range where I can look after everyone. Otherwise, it would be really difficult for me to protect all of you over a large area.”

Xi Sihan said, “Sounds very reliable. Even though you’re young, you can already stand on your own. Or rather, everyone on your team is top-notch.”

Qi Yue thought of Qin Jiulin and Liu Zhongyuan, nodding in agreement. “I’m nothing, but the captain and Brother Qin are really amazing. Have you guys seen their beast form battles before?”

Hearing this, both Xi Sihan and Cheng Tianxiang nodded in agreement. “They really are amazing. In just a few ‘swoosh swoosh’ sounds, they can clear a whole street of half-beasts.”

Qi Yue said, “But…many people say they’re fierce and bloodthirsty. Now, not only ordinary people, but even the soldiers and ordinary beast-shifters deliberately look away or change their path when they see them or encounter them, just to avoid catching their attention.”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “Isn’t that a good thing?”

Qi Yue was stunned for a moment, “A good… thing?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “Yes, variant beast-shifters need that kind of presence and status. They need to be intimidating and oppressive. It’s a symbol of strength.”

Qi Yue thought about it but still felt something was wrong, “Isn’t it better to be approachable?”

Cheng Tianxiang laughed, “You’re still young, as expected. You can’t just say things like that. Variant beast-shifters are all about strength and status. It’s like when the Modu is recovered, all the variant beast-shifters will become symbols of the base’s protection. How would that be good if they were approachable?”

“There needs to be a gap for people to recognize them more. Sometimes being too gentle isn’t a good thing. It’s just like their style, I love it the most.”

“Oh my, I heard that they’ve got something going on internally. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot. Maybe I could make it happen?”

Qi Yue took a bite of his food speechlessly, “A sense of distance? It’s bad for variant beast-shifters to be too gentle?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “A kind horse is often ridden, and a kind person is often bullied. Don’t you know that? Sometimes it’s not that the more powerful someone is, the less likely they are to be bullied, you understand?”

Qi Yue said, “I know that.”

Afterwards, Qi Yue saw Xia Liansheng finish his meal and leave the cafeteria. He then found an opportunity to ask about Xia Liansheng, “Recently, has your team leader had any unusual behavior?”

Cheng Tianxiang sighed, “Oh, what unusual behavior could he have? He’s unusual every day. But the two of us are always with him only during missions. We don’t stay together at other times, so we’re not very clear about the specifics. But recently, he has asked us about our future plans.”

Qi Yue said, “How did you answer?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “How else could we answer? We said that everything would be decided after the Modu is safe. It’s too early to talk about it now.”

Qi Yue asked, “Xia Liansheng just let you off with such a simple answer?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “Hey! You know, it’s kind of weird. After replying like that a few times, he actually came back to ask us again!”

Qi Yue said, “Just that simple?”

Cheng Tianxiang said, “Yeah, the two of us also found it a little unbelievable. After all, they don’t seem like the kind of people who would give up so easily. We’re also variant beast-shifters, after all.”

Qi Yue said, “It’s so complicated.”

Xi Sihan said, “Actually, recently there seems to be someone deliberately trying to get close to us. But they don’t appear in front of us often, just when the two of us go out or come back. We’ll just accidentally run into them on the road, and we’ll greet each other, but there’s no further interaction, so it’s not very strange.”

Qi Yue said, “I feel like there’s something wrong, but didn’t you say that variant beast-shifters need to maintain a certain distance from others? How come someone is being so attentive to approach you guys, and you even greet him first?”

Cheng Tianxiang gently slammed her hand on the table, “Yeah, isn’t that the logic? How come I didn’t realize it before? I’m really blind to things under my own nose!”

Xi Sihan said, “Then… if we meet him again, should we just ignore him?”