"Haha, Jingjing, you don't need to explain it so thoroughly. Our classmate Mo Fan has already experienced a Scarlet Alert firsthand and knows exactly what a demon army entails. Am I right, Mo Fan?" Luo Song chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. Let's focus on how to reach Jinlin City safely," Liao Mingxuan interjected, sounding impatient.
"We'll follow this abandoned railway," Song Xia suggested, pointing to the moss-covered tracks beneath their feet, her map in hand.
Lu Zhenghe stepped forward confidently. "As agreed beforehand, I'm the commander of this team. With a mission as crucial as this, the seventeen of us need discipline and structure. I'll decide our course of action, how we engage with monsters, when we rest—all of it. While you can offer suggestions, the final decisions rest with me."
Xu Dalong, Liao Mingxuan, Zhao Mingyue, and others from the Imperial Capital Academy nodded in agreement.
Ye Chenfeng smirked. "Fine. Then follow me. If you want to stay behind, be my guest."
Xu Dalong tried to mediate. "The dean emphasized unity. The area ahead is demon territory. If we act recklessly, we're all in danger."
"That's precisely why I'm giving you this chance. If not for your dean's sake, do you think I'd waste my breath on this weakling?" Ye Chenfeng scoffed. His tone darkened. "In this world, the strong lead, and the weak follow. That's the law. Expecting the weak to command the strong? That's absurd."
Xu Dalong hesitated, his earlier confidence faltering as he recalled the fearsome rumors surrounding Ye Chenfeng. Avoiding his gaze, Xu muttered an agreement under his breath.
Before Mu Ningxue could speak, Ye Chenfeng turned toward her with a mischievous grin. "Oh, Xiaoxue, no negotiations. You're following me, or I'll beat you up."
Mu Ningxue blinked, her resolve shaking. I've confirmed through eye contact—he's way out of my league. Resistance is futile.
Lu Zhenghe quickly stepped in to diffuse the tension. "Brother Ye is right. Your strength is unparalleled. It's only natural we listen to you."
Liao Mingxuan and Zhao Mingyue nodded vigorously, echoing their agreement.
Ye Chenfeng regarded Lu Zhenghe thoughtfully. "You surprised me. I assumed you'd want to split up with your team from the Imperial Capital and go your own way. Turns out, you have a good sense of the bigger picture." He clapped Lu on the shoulder. "Not bad, not bad."
Lu Zhenghe forced a nervous laugh, sweat beading on his forehead. Thank goodness he misunderstood. If he knew I wanted to be the leader, I'd be finished.
Mo Fan, smirking, couldn't resist adding, "Old Ye, what if he's just pretending? Maybe he does want to lead the Imperial Capital group and take your spot."
Ye Chenfeng raised an eyebrow. "Haha, you're all comedians now?"
Lu Zhenghe nearly stumbled, his face stiff. Mo Fan, shut up before you get me killed!
As they progressed, they reached a mountain track and stopped. Song Xia examined her map. "This tunnel stretches two kilometers. Judging by the frequency of demon sightings earlier, it's likely home to some creatures. My recommendation is to bypass the tunnel by going over the mountain. Better to avoid unknown species and numbers in the darkness."
Ye Chenfeng responded curtly, "Good idea. Let's kill them."
Though startled by his bluntness, Song Xia relented. "Alright. But who goes first?"
Ye Chenfeng took charge. "Summoned beasts lead the way, followed by Xiaoxue. The light mages come next, then Mo Fan takes the rear. I'll stay in the middle, with wind mages scouting the area. Everyone else positions themselves based on tactics."
Having set the formation, the group entered the cave. Zhao Manyan and Song Xia illuminated the path with their light magic, dispersing the oppressive darkness. Every few meters, they renewed their spells, pushing back the stale, foul air filled with damp odors, demonic excrement, and miasma.
"How's it looking ahead?"
"Nothing unusual, just some scattered white gravel," someone reported.
"Keep moving," Ye Chenfeng ordered.
Suddenly, his heightened senses detected something. "We're being watched."
He turned sharply and released a beam of golden light toward the tunnel wall, illuminating a thick web of black vines crisscrossing the surface. Between the vines, pairs of glowing, dark blue eyes stared back at them.
Without hesitation, Ye Chenfeng unleashed a torrent of flames, incinerating the vines and revealing hunched creatures clutching bone clubs, their weapons stained with dried blood.
"Stand by! Light mages, illuminate the area!" Ye Chenfeng barked, sending several firebursts into the shadows.
Zhao Manyan and Song Xia obeyed instantly, their magic flooding the tunnel with light. As the illumination spread, they gasped. Hidden side passages camouflaged by vines revealed rows of openings, each concealing cave demon slaves.
Ye Chenfeng wasted no time, his flames piercing through the creatures with devastating precision. The battle was far from over, but his unwavering confidence and swift actions steadied the team as they prepared for the onslaught ahead.