Jiu Li transitioned to another topic.
"Anyways, do you wanna go back to the warehouse later today?"
"Uhm…the thing is—well I have plans today, maybe we can go next week instead?"
Jiu Li's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly masked any disappointment.
"Sounds good, see you next week then!"
Wei Feng waved in response as Jiu Li got up from his seat and left the classroom.
Lost in his thoughts, Jiu Li made his way down the hallway, the sound of echoing footsteps accompanying him.
As he stepped outside, the cool breeze brushed against his face, momentarily distracting him from his thoughts. The world around him seemed to come alive, bustling with the energy of a thousand possibilities. Jiu Li took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air, and let a smile creep onto his lips.
It's time to review the events that happened during the mission!
…
So first, before I organize the events, I have to keep this in mind, the "safe heaven" was the hidden area behind the dumpster near the Caru Lake while the areas you should certainly avoid was the wastelands because there were half of the monsters in the group occupying that space according to the novel.
I think that was the last batch of monsters Zheng Hu killed before the mission was completed and the explosion happened. Definitely would stay veeeeerrrrrryyy far from the wastelands.
Jiu Li tried recalling the contents of the novel. But he only rememberer snippets of the text such as "The monster instantly locked targets on him.", "There was a whole horde waiting for him.", "Fiel jumped right infront of Sar, taking the blow for him.", "Zheng Hu progressed into the wastelands, in search of monsters. But there wasn't any(?)", "All of a sudden, Zheng Hu felt something brushing against his cheek. Before he knew it, it was dripping with blood."
None of these were related to eachother, heck no, Jiu Li couldn't make anything out of these snippets. Ugh, you useless snippets! Also, why was I born with a bad memory? WHY? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE IN THE MISSION?
I'm doomed…I just know it, there's no way to refute it. Jiu Li went through the five stages of grief at that very moment.
Just then, an idea arose in Jiu Li's head, sparking a whirlwind of thoughts. What if I withdrew from the mission? But no—Jiu Li quickly dismissed the idea. He had joined this mission for a reason, to witness the main event—the explosion that would he wanted to see the person furing the mission.
Jiu Li felt perplexed. Should I withdraw? The thought lingered, tempting him with the promise of safety. After all, if he withdrew, it would guarantee his survival, wouldn't it?
Jiu Li considered the consequences of his decision. Would he regret it if he withdrew? This question swirled in his head.
…
"What?! I can't withdraw?"
Jiu Li exclaimed, his voice betraying a hint of disappointment and disbelief.
"Unfortunately, indeed, we are short on volunteers for this mission. Every member is vital, and we can't afford to let anyone withdraw."
Jiu Li's heart sank, his hopes dashed against the hard reality of the situation. He nodded, understanding the mission's urgency and the weight of their responsibilities.
"Oh... I understand"
Jiu Li murmured, his voice tinged with resignation.
As Jiu Li absorbed the news, another idea arose in Jiu Li's head, flickering like a light switch.
What if he acts like he has a cold? Wouldn't he automatically be able withdraw without having to do much? Aww…that means I'll actually have to say good bye to seeing the explosion in person but safety comes first.
"Wait—what if I catch a cold on the day of the mission?"
"If you catch cold, huh? Then you'll have to still go since you've applied to hunt down the monsters BUT you can participate less getting the same reward as your teammates who have done more than you have."
Jiu Li raised the corners of his mouth.
"Fair enough, also, I have one more question about the mission."
The other party tilted their head and shrugged.
"Okay then, shoot."