80: Chapter 80 Biting the Hook

3:00 PM.

Zhou Xiong stood in the shadows at the edge of the camp, watching the training grounds in the distance.

Many students were training on the grounds, and Yi Xiaoyu and her friends were among them.

Zhou Xiong watched for a few minutes before turning to leave.

Upon returning to his tent, two of his subordinates were already waiting for him.

Both were at the early stage of the Third Order and had been following him for two or three years; they were trusted confidants he had personally promoted.

"Is everything ready?"

"Ready."

Zhou Xiong nodded.

"Acting after dark is too late; we'll be discovered before Lin Mo returns."

Zhou Xiong paused, then continued, "The plan needs to change. You two go now."

The two subordinates were taken aback.

"Now? In broad daylight?"

"Yes." Zhou Xiong nodded.

"Lin Mo is leading a patrol this afternoon and won't be back until five. We have nearly two hours!"

"Battalion Commander, is two hours enough?"

The two subordinates gave a look that every man understood.

"It's enough!" Zhou Xiong patted their shoulders.

"Go on, be clean and quick. Don't alert anyone."

The two nodded and turned to leave.

Zhou Xiong stood there, watching their backs disappear into the flow of people in the camp.

Then, he turned around and looked in another direction.

There, Shen Yi was sitting on a rock, lost in thought by herself.

Zhou Xiong walked over and stopped in front of her.

He didn't sit down but bowed slightly.

"Ms. Shen."

Shen Yi looked up and cast a faint glance at Zhou Xiong. Her eyes still held their usual fragility and confusion.

But Zhou Xiong knew that was just a facade.

"What is it?"

"For tonight's plan, I need you to accompany me." Zhou Xiong's tone was respectful, tinged with a hint of caution.

"Oh? Is it that much trouble?"

Shen Yi stretched languidly.

The afternoon light filtered through the window lattice, casting a slant across her, outlining her exquisite figure like a silhouette. Every rising and falling curve exuded a silent temptation.

Zhou Xiong paused before carefully explaining, "Yes, this is Lord Cao Shen's wish..."

Shen Yi was silent for a second.

"He asked you to take me?"

"Lord Cao Shen wants to ensure the plan is more secure. Having you present provides an extra layer of protection."

Shen Yi looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but Zhou Xiong felt an inexplicable tightening in his chest.

"Understood."

She stood up and brushed the dirt off herself.

"When?"

"We can set off now. My men have already gone to invite those three girls."

Shen Yi nodded.

"Fine."

She stepped forward.

Zhou Xiong followed behind her, half a step back.

After a few steps, Shen Yi suddenly stopped.

"Zhou Xiong."

Zhou Xiong was startled.

"Yes?"

Shen Yi turned back to look at him.

Her eyes remained fragile, but Zhou Xiong clearly saw a flash of dark golden light pass deep within them.

"You know I'm not like you, right?"

Zhou Xiong's heart skipped a beat.

"I know. You and Lord Cao Shen are the most perfect creations; how could we ever compare to you..."

Shen Yi smiled.

"Good that you know."

She turned and continued walking.

Zhou Xiong stood there, watching her back, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Of course he knew.

Shen Yi was a First Generation Seed created by the hands of the gods themselves, completely different from defective products like them.

In the presence of a perfect First Generation Seed, defective products like them, who could only gain power by devouring their own kind, were not even fit to carry their shoes.

This was also the strictest hierarchical rule within the Mimics.

3:20 PM.

Yi Xiaoyu and her friends had just finished training and were heading toward their dormitory.

Halfway there, two veteran soldiers approached them.

"Students, wait a moment."

Yi Xiaoyu stopped and looked at them vigilantly.

"What is it?"

"The logistics team is short-handed and would like to ask for your help moving some things. It'll be quick, just ten minutes."

Yi Xiaoyu hesitated and was about to agree, but Lin Sisi tugged on her sleeve.

Yi Xiaoyu was about to nod when Lin Sisi suddenly tugged on her sleeve again.

"Xiaoyu..."

Yi Xiaoyu turned back and saw Lin Sisi frowning, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Sisi ignored her and looked at the two veterans.

"Sirs, I have a question."

One of the veterans laughed.

"Little girl, what's your question?"

Lin Sisi pointed toward the training grounds.

"Aren't there logistics students at the training grounds? They just finished training and are idle. Why come all the way to ask us girls to move things instead of finding them?"

The veteran was taken aback, his smile freezing for a moment.

But he quickly recovered, sighed, and showed a look of helplessness.

"Don't even mention it. It's precisely because they're idle that we don't dare ask them."

Yi Xiaoyu was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

The other one took over, smiling as he said:

"This afternoon, the logistics team had some internal conflict. Some troublemakers started fighting and nearly caused a scene with the Battalion Commander. Now they're being punished by their team leader, standing there with long faces as if their fathers just died. Who would dare order them around?"

"We have no choice; we're really short-handed, which is why we thought of asking you easy-going students to help. Don't worry, it's just moving a few boxes of supplies from the warehouse to the truck. It's only a few steps."

Yi Xiaoyu looked at Lin Sisi.

Lin Sisi was frowning, still hesitant.

The veteran who had spoken earlier saw this and added:

"It's right here in the camp anyway, what could happen? You'll be back in a few minutes."

Yi Xiaoyu thought about it and nodded.

"Alright, we'll help."

Lin Sisi wanted to say something, but Yi Xiaoyu had already started following them.

She had no choice but to pull Ye Zhixia along and follow.

However, they hadn't gone far when Yi Xiaoyu suddenly felt something was wrong.

This path wasn't leading to the warehouse.

She stopped walking.

"You..."

Before she could finish, a hand covered her mouth from behind.

A strange scent filled her nose.

Everything went black.

The three girls knew nothing more.

5:00 PM.

Lin Mo led his team back to the camp.

He habitually glanced toward Yi Xiaoyu and her friends' dormitory.

The door wasn't closed, but the curtain was drawn.

He didn't think much of it and went to turn in his mission.

Five minutes later, he walked back.

Passing by Yi Xiaoyu's room, he suddenly stopped.

Something was wrong.

It was too quiet.

Usually at this time, those three girls would be chattering away as they came out to get food.

He walked over and lifted the curtain.

The room was empty.

The beds were perfectly neat, as if they hadn't been touched.

Lin Mo's brow furrowed.

He turned and headed toward the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was crowded, but Yi Xiaoyu and her friends were not there.

He grabbed a student and asked, "Have you seen Yi Xiaoyu, Lin Sisi, and the others?"

The student shook his head.

He asked several more people, but they all said they hadn't seen them.

Lin Mo's heart sank.

He walked out of the cafeteria, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

Yi Xiaoyu and the others wouldn't disappear for no reason.

Either they left on their own, or they were taken.

If it was the latter...

Lin Mo's eyes narrowed.

Zhou Xiong.

That name jumped into his mind immediately.

He turned and walked toward Li Chengxi's office.

Halfway there, Lin Mo happened to run into a veteran from the Sixth Battalion who had previously been with Zhou Xiong.

"Is Battalion Commander Zhou in?"

The veteran shook his head.

"No, he went out this afternoon."

Lin Mo looked at him.

"By himself?"

The veteran hesitated.

"He seemed to have brought two people, and... a very pretty female student went out with them too."

Lin Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

A female student...

It's Shen Yi!

Lin Mo regained his composure, but the corner of his mouth curled into an arc.

Shen Yi, she went with them too!

"It seems there's no need to set the bait; the big fish has already taken it!"