RITAAB 90.1

Xia Liansheng failed to talk to Qin Jiulin again this time because of Liu Zhongyuan’s interference. Although he was a little frustrated, Qin Jiulin didn’t seem as resistant to him as before.

The two teams first arrived at Liu Zhongyuan’s mission location.

Qin Jiulin stood on a high spot and pointed to another area. “You go over there. You know the mission requirements, right? Clear out the semi-beastkin within the designated area. It’s best to also eliminate some of the semi-beastkin near the mission area. It’s safer that way.”

“If anything happens, you can call us directly. We’ll be right next door.”

Lin Lou, “Okay, we understand.”

The last thing they saw was Qin Jiulin and Liu Zhongyuan transforming into their beast forms, then going on a killing spree. It looked truly terrifying.

This was also the first time they saw such a ferocious side to the two of them. When killing the semi-beastkin, perhaps due to their excessive strength, a severed arm was flung into the air and landed not far in front of them, rolling a few times towards them due to inertia.

Lin Lou, and the other two, “…”

Duan Shuangshuang swallowed, “My god, they’re so powerful. No wonder everyone says Liu Zhongyuan is the strongest Variant Beastkin here, and this team is the strongest team.”

“I used to think it was just Liu Zhongyuan’s reputation and strength, but I didn’t expect Qin Jiulin to be so formidable too. I’m afraid the three of us combined aren’t a match for Qin Jiulin.”

There was no way around it. Qin Jiulin’s beast form was a giant tiger, similar in size to a water buffalo or a hippopotamus, but his strength was truly overwhelming. Just by watching, they knew they were no match for him.

Song Wennan, “Amazing, just amazing. We need to observe and learn more.”

Lin Lou, “But your beast form is a water buffalo, right? You can’t bite like a tiger. You mainly use heavy attacks with your head and those terrifying horns, and your hooves…”

Song Wennan, “Hooves? What hooves?”

Lin Lou, “Nothing. Let’s go over there. That’s our area of responsibility. From now on, we’re truly free. Let’s earn more contribution points and exchange them for better, safer housing later.”

Duan Shuangshuang narrowed her eyes and sneered, “Exactly. We’re fine, after all, our beast forms and strength are there. But our families are no match for them. And Zhou Lie suffered a big loss this time. Liu Zhongyuan and the others definitely won’t take action against him since they aren’t strong enough.”

“But they might come after us. Maybe not directly, but…”

Their families might not be so lucky, so they must earn more contribution points and choose good housing, preferably like now, in a community with soldiers patrolling around the clock.

Living in such a community would definitely require a lot of contribution points, especially since they haven’t joined the army. Of course, being Variant Beastkin still gave them some privileges.

Lin Lou, “We’re not taking advantage of anyone. We’ll just work harder now.”

Duan Shuangshuang, “When we first returned to Modu, Zhou Lie badmouthed Captain Gao to us. Now it seems he’s the one who’s like that. Even if Captain Gao has similar traits, I’m on his side.”

Song Wennan, “Yeah, at least we’re doing this voluntarily.”

The three of them stopped talking and transformed into their beast forms, clearing out the semi-beastkin in this area. The number wasn’t particularly large, and it wasn’t difficult for the three of them to clear them out, but it wasn’t easy either.

After all, they weren’t like Liu Zhongyuan and Qin Jiulin, who were practically cheating.

Before, they were all ordinary people. Even after becoming Variant Beastkin and being forced by Zhou Lie to do the most dangerous missions, they hadn’t received formal training, so their combat abilities were slightly inferior.

Liu Zhongyuan and Qin Jiulin also noticed this problem. After they finished their mission, they recommended the three of them to go to the military for special training.

Lin Lou wiped the blood off his face, the blood of semi-beastkin, of course. His beast form was a hippopotamus, but a Variant Beastkin hippo was definitely different from an ordinary one.

The first time they met, he hadn’t been serious, so Qin Jiulin hadn’t noticed then. When Lin Lou transformed, his hippo’s large mouth concealed some fangs, usually hidden.

Lin Lou, “We need special training?”

Qin Jiulin, “Of course. You were all ordinary people a few months ago. You don’t understand any combat techniques or anything. And as Variant Beastkin, even if you’re powerful in your beast form, you’re still vulnerable and at risk in your human form.”

“Although the stronghold is safe, it’s not 100% guaranteed. There are always remote areas that the patrolling soldiers can’t reach. So to be safe, you should definitely come with us.”

Duan Shuangshuang, “The three of you are going too?”

Qin Jiulin, “Yes. It won’t do you any harm, right?”

That was true.

Lin Lou, “Indeed… only benefits, no harm. Then thank you very much.”

Qin Jiulin, “No problem. It’s still early. Go wash up first, and then we’ll go to the military training grounds. The training grounds are currently inside a university. There are open spaces like playgrounds and basketball courts, as well as indoor spaces, very suitable for training.”

Just like that, Lin Lou and the other two were persuaded… no, suggested by Qin Jiulin to participate in special training. Of course, the training schedule was planned by themselves.

After all, they still needed a lot of time to spend with their families, and to take and complete missions. They were already familiar with clearing out semi-beastkin.

Especially after participating in the special training and learning specialized combat techniques, they found it easier and faster to hunt semi-beastkin, and they genuinely appreciated the training.

And while they used to be out of breath after any exercise, perhaps due to becoming Variant Beastkin, their stamina and physique had greatly improved. Although they were still very tired during the special training, they could persevere.

Now they could even go toe-to-toe with a few trained recruits. After learning this, Liu Zhongyuan and Qin Jiulin were relieved.

However, to their surprise, Zhou Lie hadn’t sent anyone to contact them or try to persuade them to return to his side.

Qin Jiulin snorted, “Zhou Lie probably knows himself that these three people hate him, so he’s not bothering with a futile effort.”

Qi Yue suddenly remembered something, “Hey, didn’t we give them someone before? Their enemy? I wonder if she’s still alive.”

Qin Jiulin suddenly remembered this matter, “Speaking of which, Zhou Lie should still value that toad quite a bit. He must know in his heart that her disappearance is related to us. Why hasn’t he come to ask us?”

Liu Zhongyuan, “Who knows what he’s thinking. He’s probably plotting something in secret, but he won’t attack us for now.”

Cheng Lin’s beast form was poisonous, and the poison was indeed very useful. Zhou Lie shouldn’t be willing to lose her, especially after losing three Variant Beastkin, leaving him with only three.

Cheng Lin was also one of them. If Cheng Lin died, it would be a great loss for him, but Zhou Lie didn’t seem anxious at all. He even seemed pleased about it…

Qin Jiulin, “Huh?”

Pleased? Yes, could it be…

Liu Zhongyuan, “What’s wrong?”

Qin Jiulin, “Didn’t we say before that she was Zhou Lie’s mistress? But because her beast form is a toad, she’s no longer his mistress. Do you think Cheng Lin was still clinging to and seducing Zhou Lie, but Zhou Lie was no longer interested, yet because her beast form was useful, he had to pretend and appease her?”

“Perhaps sending her to Xia Liansheng was an attempt to find Cheng Lin a new man? Now that Cheng Lin is missing, although he might feel a little regretful, he wouldn’t specifically try to find her back?”

Upon hearing this, both Liu Zhongyuan and Qi Yue fell silent.

They wanted to refute it, but they couldn’t find anything wrong with what Qin Jiulin said. It seemed possible, which meant…

Duan Shuangshuang, Qi Yue, and Cheng Tianxiang all had flying beast forms, so whenever they met in the canteen, they would sit together and eat, sharing their experiences.

Xi Sihan ate with Liu Zhongyuan and the others. Today, Lin Lou and Song Wennan were also present, so the five of them ate together. Qi Yue and the other two weren’t far away, just one table over.

So when Qin Jiulin said this, basically everyone heard it.

Lin Lou took a bite of his food in silence, “This possibility… I really hadn’t considered it before.”

Duan Shuangshuang, “I think that’s exactly the case.”

Song Wennan, “I did see Cheng Lin flirting with Zhou Lie, but I was too far away. I saw Cheng Lin sitting on Zhou Lie’s lap. It was an eyesore, so I turned away.”

The corner of Duan Shuangshuang’s mouth curled up, “Actually, there’s more. Perhaps Cheng Lin thought she had become a Variant Beastkin and that old Zhou Lie was no longer worthy of her. She disliked her beast form and he started to distance himself from her, so she set her sights on Zhou Lie’s two sons.”

“I’ve seen Cheng Lin flirting with those two young masters in secluded corners more than once, relying on her good looks.”

Song Wennan, “Those two young masters actually…”