The Three Realms Thief Chapter 29

“Cut the chatter, are we going or not?” Jiang Xueyao asked.

“Who knows if the Flood Dragon will come back,” Xu Yuan said. “Let’s use the fortifications here first and observe the situation.”

He reached out and patted the stout and firm mushroom.

This was Yang Xiaobing’s mushroom.

With it there, even if there was an earthquake, at least they wouldn’t be buried.

With temporary shelters, array formations, and the mushroom, this place could be considered a good stronghold.

—The monster just now came from underground.

This proved that it wasn’t safe above ground either.

Since below wasn’t good and above wasn’t good, they might as well stay here!

The few of them looked at the mushroom and quickly agreed with Xu Yuan’s judgment.

“This mushroom can also be used for combat. Just let me know if anyone needs its help.”

Yang Xiaobing said.

“Alright,” Xu Yuan responded.

Jiang Xueyao, however, waved at him.

“?” Xu Yuan.

“Come here, I have something to tell you.”

Before Xu Yuan could answer, she had already walked towards a distant corner.

Xu Yuan had no choice but to follow.

“What is it?” he asked, puzzled.

“This Border Town battle… I actually experienced it during the Independent Admissions exam,” Jiang Xueyao whispered.

“What? Did the teacher give you the answers?” Xu Yuan was surprised.

“No,” Jiang Xueyao said, “Actually, I could have applied not to participate in today’s exam, but I was always a bit unwilling and wanted to try again—anyway, what I want to say is—”

“The correct choice should be to meet up with others at Gulou Street Subway Station, and then fight a decisive battle with the enemy.”

“—You have to give your all in the decisive battle and show your talent.”

Xu Yuan asked, “Do you think we should go too?”

“I don’t know, but the teacher from Nine Luminaries evaluated this exam at the time and gave this correct answer,” Jiang Xueyao said.

The teacher from Nine Luminaries…

That’s equivalent to a Tsinghua professor; extremely professional.

Xu Yuan suddenly smiled and asked,

“Meet up at that subway station, and then what?”

“Everyone worked together, defeated the demon, and won the war,” Jiang Xueyao said.

“Was the city saved? Were the people rescued?” Xu Yuan pressed.

“No, the city was destroyed, but the demon was defeated—this was an event from 10 years ago,” Jiang Xueyao said.

Xu Yuan fell into thought.

Jiang Xueyao also remained silent, just quietly looking at him.

Xu Yuan met her gaze.

Her eyes were as deep as the sea, as dazzling as the stars.

But she said nothing, just looked at him, wanting to know his choice.

Xu Yuan turned his head and looked away.

His gaze fell on the little boy.

—Are we going to abandon this child?

Jiang Xueyao thought to herself.

After all, there was already a correct answer to guide them.

Frankly.

Her identity was very sensitive, she knew many things, and she was curious about past events, which was why she came to take this exam again.

Now that she had told Xu Yuan about this, even if someone saw it, it would only be regarded as a kind reminder.

To seize the initiative and, within certain limits, kindly remind companions.

This was perfectly in line with the identity of a millennium aristocratic family descendant.

It also showed that the whole thing happened naturally.

—Our Jiang family just participated in the exam with the team, didn’t criticize past events, and even pointed out a clear path for companions.

And—

She absolutely did not reveal the true background of the little boy during this monthly exam!

This was why she called Xu Yuan to speak!

His reaction proved that she had never revealed the identity of the prince.

The current developments were all happening naturally, absolutely no manipulation or scheming!

This matter was done.

Many examiners could testify.

So what now—

How would Xu Yuan choose?

Jiang Xueyao looked at Xu Yuan, waiting quietly.

“Look,” Xu Yuan finally spoke, his voice low, “the correct answer is nothing more than this, why don’t we explore new solutions ourselves?”

Jiang Xueyao was surprised: “No way, you mean—”

“Yes,” Xu Yuan said.

He wants to save the Princess!

Does he know what that means?

He knows nothing!

Jiang Xueyao stared at him intently, waiting for his next words.

In the darkness.

His face was unclear.

She only heard him say softly:

“If we want to save people, then let’s save them; if we want to leave the city, then we should go out and see; life has infinite possibilities, we always have to try, maybe we can find a new path?”

“People’s dreams and growth cannot be restrained.”

“—Even if others have the correct answer.”

Jiang Xueyao abruptly clenched the Chixiao in her hand, her eyes slightly unfocused. After a while, she asked:

“What if we fail the exam?”

“We just failed the exam, we didn’t die. We can start over,” Xu Yuan said softly, meeting her gaze.

“What if we die?” Jiang Xueyao pressed.

“If you’re already dead, do these things still matter?” Xu Yuan said.

Jiang Xueyao couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, and snapped:

“Only you would say that.”

She lowered her head, a sigh of relief in her heart, and quickly walked back.

It’s fine.

This answer was sincere and irrelevant to personal gain.

A young man, participating in the exam according to his purest thoughts.

No one could blame him!

Mission accomplished!

Xu Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn it.

Almost got led astray.

—Luckily I reacted quickly and passed safely!

What I just said came from the bottom of my heart.

With such an open city space, there are countless possibilities for action, and you give me a “correct answer”?

Correct my ass.

The city was destroyed, and that’s considered the correct answer?

If I don’t try it myself, I won’t be satisfied!

Besides.

My competition isn’t at that subway station.

If I want to win.

I have to save the little boy’s life!

In the surrounding darkness.

A rustling sound gradually began.

Something was approaching rapidly.

“Xiaobing, unleash the dogs.”

Xu Yuan shouted.

Yang Xiaobing pulled out a talisman, quickly folded it into shape, and placed it on the ground.

The talisman immediately transformed into a hunting dog, which darted into the tunnel, beginning to investigate the situation.

In just a few breaths.

Yang Xiaobing suddenly shouted, “The enemy is here!”

“What is it?” Zhao Afei asked.

“Human skins—many human skins clinging to the walls, crawling forward—damn it, there are too many of them!” Yang Xiaobing’s voice was tense.

“In that case, I will control the array to attack and defend,” Jiang Xueyao said.

Xu Yuan said, “I know you’re skilled with arrays, but the consumption of spiritual power for arrays—”

His voice cut off abruptly.

Only because Jiang Xueyao opened a bag, full of spirit stones.

Besides spiritual power, spirit stones could also activate arrays!

What a rich person.

No, wait.

This is one of us.

—Truly a savior of the people!

“Please, do protect my life, fellow student Jiang,” Xu Yuan said seriously.

“Stop spouting nonsense,” Jiang Xueyao snapped.

“Xiaobing, Afei, let’s meet the enemy!” Xu Yuan turned to call out to the two of them.

He dragged rectangular wooden boxes in front of him, kicked open the lids, revealing the ammunition and firearms inside.

These were the equipment supplied by Officer Liu after the special operations team was formed.

Xu Yuan looked back at Yang Xiaobing and Zhao Afei:

“Have you two ever learned how to shoot?”

Both of them shook their heads.

“I’ll learn when I get back,” Yang Xiaobing said, a little ashamed.

“Me too,” Zhao Afei said.

—Xu Yuan’s marksmanship had truly played a huge role.

Even Zhao Afei, who usually looked down on firearms, now felt that guns were really useful!

Xu Yuan said:

“I’ll handle long-range attacks; you two assist in close combat.”

“Okay!” The two immediately agreed.

With the tasks assigned, Xu Yuan looked towards the tunnel again.

He still didn’t know the enemy’s combat characteristics.

However, the tunnel was very close to their position, almost a close-quarters encounter.

A close-quarters encounter, huh…

Xu Yuan chose an assault rifle, mounted a light machine gun on the掩体, and finally slung a shotgun over his back.

The assault rifle had a moderate rate of fire and high accuracy, suitable for narrow terrain, and could effectively cover mid-to-close range engagements.

The light machine gun was responsible for suppressing enemy advances, blocking their push and movement.

As for the shotgun—

At close range, its “area-of-effect” lethality was extremely considerable.

This formed a typical infantry squad’s combat system: “assault rifle as primary, machine gun for suppression, shotgun for finishing blows.”

Tsk.

Such combat preparations came naturally.

But why was he still nervous?

Xu Yuan closed his eyes slightly, meditated for a moment, then opened them again.

Yes.

This was different from every VR FPS (first-person shooter) competitive event in the past.

This was a real monster.

And it would affect his life and death!

So he wasn’t nervous.

But rather—

“You’re sweating, are you nervous?”

Jiang Xueyao said indifferently.

“I’m a little excited—it’s been a long time since I felt this way. It even reminds me of the first time I participated in battle,” Xu Yuan said.

“The first time you participated in battle?” Yang Xiaobing asked curiously.

“Yes, I was very excited then too,” Xu Yuan said, a reminiscent look on his face, “I beat the opponent 5-0.”

“That amazing?” Yang Xiaobing gasped.

Xu Yuan nodded solemnly.

Winning a game was a simple matter.

—It was at an internet cafe then, playing with classmates.

At a critical moment in the intense battle, I secretly pressed the power strip switch on their computer tower, then immediately switched it back on.

No one noticed.

Then—

I enjoyed watching my classmates’ furious expressions while slowly dominating them.

Even now, I still think of that game as enjoyable.

Youth.

It was so foolish, so beautiful.

Xu Yuan suddenly grabbed the assault rifle, aimed at the darkness outside the shelter, and pulled the trigger hard.

Da da da da da!

Flames spewed out.

In the tunnel.

Dense human skins surged out of the darkness, tumbled onto the platform, and crawled towards the shelter, using both hands and feet.

The caliber of the bullets was not enough; hitting them only slightly delayed their movement.

—They were just skins.

What could a piece of skin do?

Forget it, I don’t care, just can’t let them get close.

Xu Yuan switched to the machine gun.

The firepower intensified!

This time, it finally suppressed the movement of the human skins.

“Xiaobing, Afei, don’t move, Jiang Xueyao, you try it!”

Xu Yuan shouted without looking back.

Jiang Xueyao pressed her hand on the array disk—the array disk snatched from the Nanshan City No. 1 Middle School students—the embedded holes at the bottom of the array disk were already filled with spirit stones.

In an instant.

A faint green spiritual light emerged from outside the shelter, gathered into form, and materialized as a giant warhammer illusion.

“Go.”

Jiang Xueyao let out a soft exclamation.

Boom—

The giant warhammer flew out, striking the tunnel with full force, slamming heavily onto the countless human skins.

The ground shook.

The tunnel entrance was completely collapsed by this blow.

The human skins surging from behind were immediately blocked in the tunnel, unable to rush towards Xu Yuan’s defenses.