All told, Remian was having a very bad day. It started off reasonably enough. They had him outfitted for leather armor, had him try a few weapons, of which he was most familiar with the sword, spear, and crossbow. Among the three, Big Li easily settled upon having him take a crossbow, because, she said, at his level of skill, trying to use a sword or spear in battle would have him killed in no time. Remian gritted his teeth and bore it all while wondering, [Is this what my world would have been like without mana?] [Very likely.] Death agreed. They also had him carry some equipment specific to Man-Eating Vinetraps, specifically some salty-smelling dough in a tightly sealed urn. Oddly enough, nobody else seemed to be weighed down with bait. Hesitantly, he asked about it. “We all need to do our part.” Big Li said, shrugging. “You don’t seem suitable for any other role, so…” In other words, he was useless in a fight, and thus he was the ba

[Lem Yan and Wushuang…?] Big Li blinked at them as they chorused their reply side by side. [That’s… unexpected.] Little Li was also surprised. [How come Cousin Wushuang is suddenly sharing secrets with Lem Yan? How come she doesn’t share secrets with me?!] Even Mu Hou thought, [Oh? So it’s her he’s after? That makes sense. Even if she looks like a beggar, Xue Wushuang is still a member of the Xue Clan. He can get all the resources and support he needs if he manages to land her. Who cares about beauty when the woman comes with money, eh? Wise decision. He’s smart enough to know he has no chance with Li-er. At least he knows his own place.] Zhao Feng meanwhile, thought, [Why is she paying attention to them? Is the real secret of Red Mist Forest in Wushuang’s hands, or Lem Yan’s?] Oddly enough, Wushuang’s thoughts buzzed with the answer. [Is Big Li worried I might tell Lem Yan about the Treasure? No, no, this has nothing to do with that…] Remian

"From now on, everyone do what Lem Yan did." Hou instructed the surviving guards and carriers. "What I did?" Lem Yan… err… Remian... blinked. "Grab a torch, and carry some oil with you." Hou instructed. "If a giant vine tries to grab you burn it! If burning it a little isn't enough, throw the oil on and burn it even more!" "Uh… right." Remian didn't want to tell them that it wasn't oil that made his fire flare up and all. Actually, come to think of it, what Hou was saying was exactly what he should have done. His instructions were not wrong. Hou's instructions in general were sound. In terms of command and tactical thinking, he was actually clearer minded than the others, an In-Charge sort while the others were more of Charge-In types. Too bad he was a greedy, murderous lecher. It was the morning after the night ambush. The group had collected fifteen gourds full of Trapvine sap and were now about to track their attacker back to its lair.

Behind Remian, Mu Hou was really upping his game. “My dear Li-er, your eyes are as beautiful as the star lilies, and your hair is like the black lotus itself! What other adornment could match you other than the Blue Phoenix Hairpin being auctioned off the day after tomorrow?” “Aww! How sweet! Feng-feng! Feng-feng!” Big Li prodded Zhao Feng, in a spoiled tone. “Can you say something nice like that?” “You smell good.” Zhao Feng said shortly. Big Li whapped him over the head with a blush. [Do I really smell?! Oh dear, I’ve been all sweaty all day…] Mu Hou had to fight to keep his face from turning darker. [Keep cool… don’t show your jealousy… don’t show it… don’t! But why? Why is it that I have been scoring points all this while yet she still seems to be paying him more attention?!] Yueli noticed that the more she tried to flirt with Feng-feng, the harder Mu Hou tried to grab her attention, adding promises upon promises. Zhao Feng, meanwh

Apparently, the Escape Pod was still in the dock because it was already broken before the spaceship was destroyed. That’s why nobody took it. [Can it even be repaired?] Remian had to ask. [Not fully. But enough to move, at least.] Orb sent him the gist of it. [It won’t be space-worthy, but it should be able to fly.] A flying pod! It would be similar to one of Mindy’s fighters, Remian assumed, but flying on power, like a military-grade airship, not lighter-than-air containment. Actually, no, this particular pod would be flying on… Psionic energy?! Yes. Those crystals held some form of contained Psionic Energy. How, Remian had no idea, but there were six of them, including the one currently fueling the Pod, and that meant he might be able to fly around in the Pod quite a bit. The Pod was unarmed, so it wouldn’t do as a fightercraft, but as far as transportation went, it sure beat walking. [What about going underwater?] Remian won