162: The emptied spirit pool and her trembling

The next morning.

Penglai Pier.

The sea breeze swept across everyone's faces.

Zhao Ya wore a trench coat, carrying a long saber on her back, and stood at the very front of the jetty.

Behind her, Su Wanqing and the four other members of the "Sword Immortal" squad were ready to depart.

Only two people were missing.

Zhao Ya raised her wrist to check the time, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Where is Honglian? She's usually the most proactive one, why is she late today?"

A teammate named "Qingluan" whispered, "Last night, Sister Honglian seemed to have gone to give the newcomer some 'induction counseling'..."

"Counseling?"

Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow.

She knew exactly what Honglian meant by "counseling."

That guy is probably lying in bed right now, questioning the meaning of life.

Just then.

Footsteps sounded in the distance.

"They're coming!"

Everyone turned to look.

Lin Yuan, wearing a new set of special combat fatigues, walked over full of vigor.

His steps were light, his face rosy and bright —where did he look like an injured person?

"Morning, everyone!"

Lin Yuan walked up to the team and grinned.

"The food here in Penglai is really good. I ate too much last night, so I just spent a little time digesting."

Zhao Ya looked at him, utterly surprised.

This recovery speed was even faster than expected.

"Where is Honglian?" Zhao Ya asked.

Lin Yuan pointed behind him.

"Oh, Sister Honglian."

"She's quite tired. She might need... some assistance?"

The moment he finished speaking.

Honglian was seen leaning against the wall, limping and shuffling out from behind.

Her face was pale, her eyes were dark, and her normally dazzling red hair was now dull and lifeless, hanging down like dry straw.

"Cap... Captain..."

Honglian's voice was hoarse, and before she could reach the team, her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed onto the ground.

The entire scene fell silent.

Everyone's gaze darted back and forth between Lin Yuan and Honglian.

Their expressions gradually turned strange, then shocked, and finally morphed into a certain... awe.

Su Wanqing's eyes widened even further.

"You..."

Zhao Ya looked at the exhausted Honglian, then at the energetic Lin Yuan.

Even she couldn't help but jump to conclusions at this moment.

"Lin Yuan."

Zhao Ya adjusted her mindset and spoke with a complicated tone.

"While I don't interfere with the private lives of my team members."

"However... young man, you still need to exercise restraint."

"Huh?"

Lin Yuan looked bewildered.

"Restraint regarding what? Didn't she insist on giving me an extra meal?"

"I even complained that her firepower wasn't strong enough."

Everyone: "..."

He is truly a formidable person.

Hearing this, Honglian rolled her eyes in fury, nearly fainting.

Zhao Ya rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

This wasn't recruiting a teammate.

This was clearly recruiting a menace.

"Everyone aboard!"

Zhao Ya waved her hand, cutting off the awkward atmosphere.

"Lin Yuan, the logistics budget for this mission is doubled."

"In the future, stay away from my team members."

"Especially at night."

Lin Yuan, clutching his thermos cup, looked wronged.

"Why? I'm the victim here!"

"She drank several mouthfuls of that pool water last night!"

"That's all money!"

Amidst Lin Yuan's continuous complaints, the speedboat started up and sped toward the vast ocean.

Meanwhile, on Penglai Island behind them.

A maintenance worker stared at the dried-up, bottomed-out Celestial Number Five Pool, deep in thought.

"That's strange..."

"Since when did the Spirit Pool allow takeout?"

During the not-so-short voyage.

Lin Yuan sat in the corner of the stern, looking utterly confused.

The seating arrangement of the entire "Sword Immortal" squad showed a distinct polarization.

He was at the stern.

Everyone else was crammed together at the bow.

Several rows of seats separated them.

"Is that really necessary?"

Lin Yuan asked skeptically.

"I just ate a little too much, didn't I?"

He craned his neck to look over there.

The female teammates were huddled together, heads touching, engaged in some kind of secret information exchange.

Although the sea wind was strong, Lin Yuan's hearing, tempered by lightning, still managed to catch snippets of conversation.

"...Is that true or false? Sister Honglian is in the Resonance Phase..."

"Absolutely true! When I helped her to the infirmary this morning, her legs were shaking, and she couldn't stand steadily..."

"Oh my god, he looks so skinny and weak, but I didn't expect him to be a beast..."

"I told you never to judge a book by its cover. Look at his dark circles; he definitely overindulged..."

"It's terrifying; he drained the Celestial Number Pool in a single night..."

The speaker was the short-haired girl named "Qingluan," who glanced back at Lin Yuan in terror while speaking.

She happened to make eye contact with Lin Yuan.

Qingluan abruptly turned her head away, tightly clutching the arm of her nearby teammate.

Lin Yuan: "???"

He touched his own face.

"A beast? Are they complimenting my physical fitness?"

Lin Yuan proudly puffed out his chest, feeling rather pleased with himself.

It seemed the story of him subduing Honglian with electricity last night had already spread.

Although the process was a bit convoluted —that crazy woman insisted on trying to burn him with fire —he, Lin, always repaid injury with kindness.

He merely gave her a full-body anesthetic using a lightning net.

"Sigh, it's lonely at the top."

Lin Yuan sighed emotionally.

Su Wanqing, sitting in the front corner, currently had her head buried in her knees.

If the wind weren't so loud here, Lin Yuan probably would have heard the sound of her teeth grinding.

It was too embarrassing.

As a former teammate who had fought alongside Lin Yuan, she knew his way of thinking all too well.

That group of female teammates was making suggestive jokes; the wheels were practically running over her face.

Yet this guy still thought they were complimenting his driving skills.

"Captain Su."

Lin Yuan suddenly called out.

Su Wanqing stiffened all over and reluctantly raised her head.

"What is it?"

Lin Yuan pointed at the whispering girls in front and asked in a low voice:

"Are they discussing how to divide up my bonus money?"

Su Wanqing: "..."

She took a deep breath, struggling to control the impulse to kick this idiot overboard.

"Lin Yuan."

"Huh?"

"Shut up."

Su Wanqing turned her head, looked out at the vast ocean, and decided not to speak another word to him until the mission started.

Otherwise, she feared she would break down before the enemy did.

Just then.

Zhao Ya, who had been standing at the bow facing the wind, suddenly turned around.

"We've arrived."

Those two simple words cut off all the private chatter.

All team members quickly returned to their positions, checked their gear, and their eyes sharpened.

Lin Yuan also stood up and looked ahead.

On the horizon, several black islands slowly emerged from the mist.

The Nine Rings Archipelago.

The sky here was much lower and heavier than elsewhere; dark clouds pressed down, and waves crashed against the reefs, creating a roar.

Faintly visible on the islands were some dilapidated buildings and a few flickering lights.

"Attention, everyone."

Zhao Ya's voice was clearly audible over the sea wind.

"This is the edge of international waters, a blind spot for the law."

"Our mission is infiltration, reconnaissance, and extraction."

"Remember, do not alert the enemy."

Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Lin Yuan and pausing for two seconds.

"Now, for the grouping."

"This operation will adopt a two-person team infiltration model, providing mutual cover."

Zhao Ya paused.

"Qingluan, you are paired with Bailu, responsible for external security."

"Yes!"

The two girls responded in unison, their movements synchronized.

"Ziyuan, you are paired with me, heading straight for the central temple."

"Understood!"

All that remained were Su Wanqing, and Lin Yuan, who was watching everyone with an expectant look.

As well as two other teammates who had not yet been called upon.

Zhao Ya glanced at the two teammates.

"The two of you..."

Before she could finish speaking.

The two female teammates shook their heads frantically, shrinking backward.

"Captain! I also want to go on external security!"

"Me too! I... I have my period, I can't be subjected to stress!"

Are you kidding?

Be paired with this perverted humanoid teddy bear who "drained the Spirit Pool in one night" and "made Honglian's legs weak"?

What if he suddenly went wild during the infiltration?

Out here in the middle of nowhere, there would be no one to call for help.

That was a man even Sister Honglian couldn't handle!

Lin Yuan watched their reaction and frowned.

"Wait, ladies."

Lin Yuan spread his hands, looking innocent.

"Am I really that scary?"

"Although this is my first offshore mission, I'm very durable."

"As long as you give me something to eat, I can fight all night without taking a breath."

Dead silence.

Only the sound of waves hitting the hull could be heard.

The faces of the two female teammates flushed scarlet.

It was confirmed.

This guy was a pervert.

Zhao Ya's mouth twitched.

"Su Wanqing."

She called her name directly.

"Present."

Su Wanqing stepped forward expressionlessly, her eyes vacant, having already seen through the Mortal World.

"You are paired with Lin Yuan."

Zhao Ya's tone carried a hint of sympathy.

"You are Ice elemental, which should... help him cool down."

"You will be responsible for the trading zone on the eastern coast."

Su Wanqing sighed and nodded.

"Yes."

She had known this would be the outcome.

This was fate.

"Alright, distribute the communicators."

Zhao Ya did not want to dwell on the topic; with a wave of her hand, several black boxes were tossed over.

Lin Yuan reached out and caught one.

It was a device similar to a bone conduction headset, along with a tactical watch.

"This is the Bureau's latest 'Silent Watcher' communication System."

Zhao Ya explained.

"It uses quantum encryption, has extremely strong anti-interference capabilities, and includes biological vital sign monitoring."

"If anyone's life signal disappears, the others will immediately receive an alert."

"Commence action!"

Zhao Ya stopped wasting time and issued the command directly.

"Remember, maintain silence."

"If you encounter the enemy, prioritize assassination."

"If you are exposed..."

She glanced at Lin Yuan.

"Then kill all witnesses."