Chapter Eighty-Four: Return to the Plane

In a room belonging to the Xie family, the appointed few had arrived early. Guo Lang was nearly the last to appear, delayed chiefly by a training session. Led by Second Brother Xie, Guo Lang entered a chamber in the rear courtyard.

Those present were: Water Mage Xie Lin, Arcanist Jiang Liuying, Sword Saint Ye Zhiqiu, and Tracker Cang Mingyue—each a legendary figure in the Federation of the future. Yet now, they were to accompany Guo Lang to his world to hunt a necromancer whose name none had even heard in their previous lives.

“Oh, the host has arrived! I heard you made quite a splash just now!” The speaker was Jiang Liuying, clad in a blue dress and holding a flute. Guo Lang didn’t even bother to ask who she was modeled after.

The news of his recent notoriety made Guo Lang smile wryly—how had they learned so quickly?

“Hey, buddy, the system notified us. You’re the first outsider believer to win the Beastfolk’s friendship. With just a bit more favor, you can exchange it for an Honor Charter. I have no idea what it’s good for, but it looks pretty impressive!” The cheerful voice belonged to Ye Zhiqiu, whose honest face was impossible to dislike.

“Yes, the AI notified us: you’re the first outsider believer to proactively increase their infamy in the Void. They say if you’re killed now, the reward is doubled!” The chilling remark made a cold sweat bead on Guo Lang’s forehead. He grinned obsequiously at Cang Mingyue, “Sister Cang, I’m not wanted yet, am I?”

“Not yet, but soon,” Cang Mingyue replied coldly, her expression unchanged. “Just try a little harder. When the time comes, come to me—don’t let someone else profit.”

Guo Lang’s face darkened—what a cold joke!

He noted, too, that today Cang Mingyue’s hair was washed clean, her clothes new. She was, in fact, rather quiet and refined; Second Brother Xie had an eye for quality. Cleaned up, she looked quite decent.

Xie Lin approached and sat naturally beside her, helping to comb her hair. Yet Guo Lang and the others noticed his fingers pinching something, making a faint crunching sound.

“Second Brother Xie, what are you doing?” Guo Lang swallowed nervously.

“Picking lice. She hadn’t washed for too long, and some things just won’t come out…”

Everyone was speechless.

A bunch of oddballs, Guo Lang thought. Was he really the only ordinary one? He clapped his hands, “Alright, let’s get to business. You all set your return coordinates, right? I don’t need to teach you?”

The first return defaults to the game warehouse, but after that, players can set a coordinate anywhere, ensuring some safety on future returns.

Guo Lang produced a contract of walnut-hued wood, unfurling it to float in midair. “Read the terms carefully—don’t say I tricked you!”

The contract detailed everyone’s remuneration and various restrictions—all fairly set. The group glanced over and signed, except Ye Zhiqiu, who rubbed his bald head and pointed to Cang Mingyue, “Why does she get fifty thousand and we only thirty?”

Guo Lang and Xie Lin’s faces stiffened. Jiang Liuying, meanwhile, looked eager, nearly shouting, “Make trouble! Make trouble!”

“She’s more skilled,” Guo Lang hesitated but spoke plainly. With a blunt man like Ye Zhiqiu, it was best not to beat around the bush.

“Is that so!” Ye Zhiqiu looked not at all displeased—on the contrary, he was excited. “I thought she was something special!”

Cang Mingyue’s expression remained unchanged, though her eyes flashed coldly. Sensing the tension, Guo Lang quickly intervened, pointing at the contract, “Clause seven: teammates are forbidden from fighting each other. Don’t mess around!”

“Sparring doesn’t count as fighting,” Ye Zhiqiu negotiated.

“Spar your own damn self! Not allowed!” Guo Lang swore outright.

Ye Zhiqiu pulled a bitter face, then grinned sheepishly at Cang Mingyue, “Guess I’ll have to wait for another chance.”

Cang Mingyue habitually tilted her head, her eyes even colder. “There will be a chance.”

“Alright, let’s go then!” Guo Lang felt uneasy about gathering so many lunatics together, but there was no turning back now. He could only pray silently, then crushed the teleport scroll. The five marked participants vanished from the map of Planet D in a ripple of spatial contraction.

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Lan Island:

After Guo Lang’s departure, Thomas and his group faithfully followed the policies he left behind. The principal managers were Thomas, Abel, and Old Wick. Abel commanded the front line; as the Tree of Life expanded, its reach grew ever faster. He often complained of a lack of manpower, but his command never faltered, and not a single casualty had occurred. The group acknowledged his capability.

Old Wick managed the rear logistics, overseeing supplies for non-combatants and labor assignments. Thomas focused on training the rear guard and distributing combat supplies, including authority over gene serums—a right covering the whole base. Anyone requesting gene serums, especially elite warriors seeking higher-grade ones, needed his approval. This privilege elevated his standing among the trio, and Thomas was greatly satisfied, a testament to Guo Lang’s trust in him.

Surveying the fantastical yet thriving scene, Thomas’s dark face softened with contentment. It was just as the leader had said: in this apocalypse, they had created a haven. One day, he and his people would change this world. Excitement flickered in his heart.

“Dad!” The sweet voice belonged, naturally, to his daughter. Smiling, Thomas lifted her high, drawing delighted laughter. She planted a big kiss on his cheek and waved her lunchbox, “Mom made this for you!”

“Good!” Thomas smiled, though his eyes betrayed a hint of complexity. Since the incident, he and Mary had tacitly separated; his relationship with Kelly was now open, but Mary seemed unwilling to let go.

He couldn’t quite understand it. Mary, as the island’s sole doctor, had considerable status. She was granted gene serums early and, at each distribution, received as much as any frontline warrior. As the only medical staff, despite past awkwardness, everyone outwardly respected her—after all, who would antagonize a doctor, especially when there was only one?

Almost everyone greeted her proactively. By rights, she didn’t need to rely on him, yet she hadn’t given up. She cleverly used their daughter to maintain contact, making it hard for Thomas to refuse.

What did she want? Affection? Thomas shook his head. If that were true, she wouldn’t have strayed so quickly. Was it his power? The base was small now, but everyone knew it would grow, and Thomas’s status would soar. He shook his head again, unwilling to think so poorly of his wife after so many years, but it seemed the most reasonable explanation.

A vague irritability rose in his heart. Holding his daughter, he sighed softly.

“Dad, are you unhappy? Did I do something wrong?” His daughter was sensible and inherited her mother’s intelligence. Thomas’s face melted into tenderness as he stroked her hair, “Of course not, Lili is so well-behaved.”

“Hey! Thomas!” It was Kelly running over. Hearing her, Lili stiffened, burrowing deeper into her father’s arms, peeking out to glare defiantly at Kelly.

“Hi, Lili!” Kelly smiled, unfazed, greeting the little girl, who turned her face away. In her mind, this woman was the villain who took her father and left her mother lonely.

“What’s wrong?” Watching his daughter’s reaction, Thomas smiled wryly. He knew Kelly rarely visited him at this hour—she had to train female soldiers, attend hunter training herself, and work with the growing Moon Leopard.

“Our leader is back, and he’s brought a group with him!” Kelly’s face was serious.

“Oh?” Thomas stood, his expression shifting to match hers. “Alright, I’ll head over now.” He turned and spoke gently to his daughter, “Lili, Daddy has important work. Go play with Mom, okay?”

“Okay!” Lili was reluctant, but despite her age, she was very sensible and nodded obediently.

As the two walked away, Kelly broke the silence, “She’s really well-behaved.”

“Feeling motherly?” Thomas laughed boisterously.

“But she doesn’t like me,” Kelly said, troubled.

“Don’t worry, give it time. She’ll see your good side.” Thomas comforted her, patting her shoulder.

“Mm…” Kelly lowered her head, lost in thought. Yet the happiness that once shone in her eyes when she fell for Thomas was gone. Sensitive as she was, she realized that in Thomas’s heart, his daughter mattered more than she ever could.