"No, thank you."
Xú Yáo waved her hand calmly, politely declining.
Her indifferent and distant tone caused Gōng Yīxíng's outstretched hand to freeze mid-air.
What was wrong with her?
Xú Yáo ignored Gōng Yīxíng's expression and walked directly to a nearby tree, leaning against it to rest with her eyes closed.
"Attention all students, our school will be implementing a Point System starting tomorrow. All supplies will be exchanged for points. Here are the detailed rules for point exchange."
The school's broadcast announcement sounded, and at the same time, everyone's communicators beeped with notifications.
The school forum posted the new school rules, along with a detailed point exchange table.
Xú Yáo opened it and quickly scanned through.
This suggested everyone form their own teams to go hunting?
Mutated Materials obtained could be exchanged for points, and points could be used to purchase corresponding items from the school.
Xú Yáo carefully examined the point table for exchangeable materials, wanting to see if the school had any fire seeds available for exchange.
Gōng Yīxíng had sat down at some point without her noticing. Seeing that Xú Yáo was still ignoring him, he tentatively spoke.
"All major Safe Zones are starting to adopt this method, and regulations for the registration and management of Ability Squads will also be introduced soon."
"Oh." Xú Yáo nodded uninterestedly, her voice carrying a hint of coldness.
Ability Squads were the general trend; did he need to explain it to her?
Gōng Yīxíng pursed his lips and was about to speak again when he was interrupted by a gentle male voice.
"Junior student Xú Yáo, the school now requires us to form teams ourselves. Would you like to join our Ability Squad?"
Gōng Yīxíng turned his head and saw Wú Hàowén, dressed in white, standing behind him. He frowned, his eyes sharp, and was about to speak.
"Are you guys ever going to stop?" Xú Yáo, standing beside them, looked up and stared coldly at Wú Hàowén, her anger almost palpable.
These people were just like phenylbutazone plasters, impossible to shake off.
She already had a bellyful of rage with nowhere to vent.
"Yáo Yáo, we're only trying to help." Yáng Yuè emerged from behind Wú Hàowén, smiling faintly as she stepped forward, appearing to persuade Xú Yáo, her voice soft and weak. "Our team is very strong. Now is the time when everyone needs to unite."
"Very strong? With a piece of trash like you, it would be strong?" Xú Yáo sneered, her lips curling as she stared intently into Yáng Yuè's eyes.
"What? Did Zhū Sīyǔ fail to harm me this afternoon, and now you've come yourself? What trick are you planning this time?"
"Yáo... Yáo Yáo, what are you talking about?" Yáng Yuè stammered, her eyes darting away. "How could I possibly harm you? You must have misunderstood again."
Seeing the fleeting guilt flash across her face, Xú Yáo didn't say another word. She stood up and swung her iron hammer.
It was indeed her. Xú Yáo had started suspecting her after seeing her acting suspiciously in the crowd that afternoon.
Before she could even find her to settle the score, she showed up at her doorstep.
"Ah!" Yáng Yuè screamed.
She hadn't expected Xú Yáo to make a move so suddenly. Caught off guard, she was hit hard and fell to the ground, instantly losing consciousness.
Xú Yáo squinted dangerously as she looked at the unconscious Yáng Yuè.
Dying like this was too good for her. Once she found a suitable fire seed, she would make sure Yáng Yuè knew what it felt like to wish for death.
Xú Yáo coldly withdrew her gaze, slung the iron hammer over her shoulder, and turned to look at Wú Hàowén. "I'm not interested in your team. Get lost."
"Junior student Xú Yáo." Wú Hàowén took a few steps back, his eyes flickered, and he managed a strained smile. "I am sincerely inviting you. We will take good care of you."
He had realized during their last encounter that Xú Yáo's powerful ability, if not used by him, would be a terrible waste.
"Are you deaf? Or can you not understand human language?"
Gōng Yīxíng stepped forward, shielding Xú Yáo behind him, and looked coldly at Wú Hàowén, who was still putting on a show of affection.
"Classmate, I wasn't talking to you." Wú Hàowén looked at Gōng Yīxíng, who was significantly taller than him, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes. "In the future, the speed of biological mutations will only increase. Only I can protect..."
"Bang."
Before Wú Hàowén could finish, Gōng Yīxíng appeared in front of him in an instant and kicked him flying.
Wú Hàowén landed heavily beside Yáng Yuè, rolled a couple of times, and got up spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing this, Gōng Yīxíng's expression was indifferent. His healing ability could withstand that blow, so it seemed this person was wearing defensive equipment.
"Scram!" he said, his face taut, his calm voice carrying an irrefutable aura.
Wú Hàowén, terrified, scrambled away with Yáng Yuè.
Seeing this, Xú Yáo's anger subsided slightly.
She put away her iron hammer and gave Gōng Yīxíng a proud glance. "Thank you."
With a cold snort, she turned her head and returned to the tree to rest.
Looking at Xú Yáo, who had closed her eyes again, Gōng Yīxíng sighed silently and sat down not far from her.
After a while, Liú Fāngfāng and another person returned from a day's guard duty for the School Team.
As soon as they approached, they noticed something was wrong.
Normally, Gōng Yīxíng and Xú Yáo looked harmonious even when sitting together in silence.
But today, it felt like there was an invisible wall between them.
"Yáo Yáo, what... what's wrong?" The two of them sat beside Xú Yáo and asked cautiously.
Xú Yáo paused upon hearing them, then shook her head and smiled at them.
"It's nothing. Did you see the notice? Should we form a team?"
"Yes, of course, we should team up." Both of them nodded without hesitation.
Gōng Yīxíng listened to their conversation, looking hesitant. He cautiously glanced at Xú Yáo. Receiving no response, he withdrew his gaze, unconsciously fiddling with the hilt of his short blades.
Xú Yáo also glanced at Gōng Yīxíng from the corner of her eye, a hint of conflict in her eyes. She bit her lower lip.
Why wasn't he speaking? Was he expecting me to invite him?
"The School Team is also in a state of semi-dissolution right now." Liú Fāngfāng, seeing the silence, spoke up.
"Patrolling and defending against Mutated Beasts are now voluntary. Each participation will be rewarded with corresponding points."
Gōng Yīxíng listened to their conversation, quietly moved a little closer to Xú Yáo, lowered his gaze, and opened his mouth but made no sound.
Xú Yáo saw all his actions, hesitated, and then snorted. "Why are you coming over?"
"I'll join the team too." Gōng Yīxíng sighed with relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.
Xú Yáo, however, fell silent. After a long while, she moved aside slightly, making space.
He couldn't reveal himself now. She'd just consider it repaying the favor for the fish scales.
Once the equipment was made and she gave him a piece, she would part ways with him completely.
Seeing her action, Gōng Yīxíng's eyes lit up, and he quickly sat down in the spot Xú Yáo had vacated.
Xú Yáo looked around, ensuring no one was paying attention to them.
She then opened her backpack, took out an ear-shaped prop, and gently crushed it.