236: Chapter 236 Executing Orders

After they finally decided to follow Song Yiqing's advice and choose the detour, the team struggled for another half-hour through the rugged and difficult jungle path.

The dense vegetation ahead gradually thinned out, and a massive, yet long-dilapidated, ancient ruin suddenly appeared in their field of vision.

Moss covered the broken walls and ruins, and huge stone pillars lay scattered haphazardly on the ground, as a gloomy and desolate aura rushed toward them.

Fei Erfeng stopped, took his binoculars to observe carefully, and his expression turned solemn.

He lowered the binoculars, turned to the group, and said sternly:

"Everyone, pay attention. Although this is a ruin, based on past experience, such unexplored ancient ruins often harbor unknown creatures or traps."

"For safety's sake, we cannot go inside. We will rest briefly on the outskirts and then continue on our way."

As an experienced veteran team leader, his judgment was undoubtedly sound.

However, just as everyone was preparing to nod in agreement, a calm yet firm voice rang out once again.

"No."

The speaker was, naturally, Song Yiqing.

He stepped to the front of the team, his gaze not on the ruins, but lifted toward the clear, azure sky above.

"We must go in."

"And we need to find a place to take shelter from the rain as soon as possible."

"A rainstorm is coming immediately."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole group was stunned.

Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky, only to see the scorching sun hanging high, not a single cloud for miles, the sunlight so blinding that it was hard to keep one's eyes open, and there wasn't even a hint of a breeze.

How did this look like it was going to rain? Never mind a rainstorm, it didn't even look like a single drop of rain could fall!

"Pfft—"

In the crowd, Xue Xingye, who had been holding in a belly full of anger, finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

The fear he had felt from being intimidated by Song Yiqing earlier was now significantly diluted by this absurd statement.

He pointed at the sky, his expression exaggerated and mocking, and laughed loudly:

"Hahahaha! This is absolutely hilarious!"

"Song Yiqing, do you think that because you can conjure a bolt of lightning, you can act like the Dragon King?"

"Everyone, look at the sky! With such a big sun, you're telling me there's going to be a rainstorm?"

"Even if you want to play mystic, you should check the weather forecast, right? Or are you blind and can't see the sun?"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Rain? What are you talking about? Don't think that just because you're a specially invited external aid, you can treat everyone like fools!"

Xue Xingye became more and more animated, as if he had finally caught Song Yiqing in a mistake and wanted to fiercely regain the face he had lost earlier.

Although the other team members were not as brazen as Xue Xingye, their expressions were also filled with doubt and confusion.

Even the weather expert walked over with his instruments, looked at the readings, and shook his head.

"Mr. Song, according to the atmospheric pressure and humidity, it is impossible for there to be any rain in this area within the next twenty-four hours..."

Facing the skepticism of the group and the mockery of Xue Xingye, Song Yiqing's expression remained completely unchanged.

He just glanced at Fei Erfeng indifferently.

"The weather in the Forbidden Zone never follows science."

"Believe it or not, I'm not getting rained on."

After saying this, he didn't even turn his head, walking straight toward the depths of the ruins.

That composure and certainty made Xue Xingye, who had originally wanted to mock him a few more times, inexplicably stumble over his words.

Fei Erfeng watched Song Yiqing's departing figure, then looked at the cloudless sky, his heart once again falling into conflict.

Reason told him this was impossible, but his intuition was crazily sounding alarms, especially when he recalled the decision earlier that they "must take a detour."

A few seconds later, Fei Erfeng gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"Listen to him! Everyone, enter the ruins immediately to take shelter from the rain!"

"Professor! This..."

"Execute the order!"