After He Yu said those two words, she tried hard to squeeze out a smile at Xia Bingbing.

This smile...

How to describe it?

Quite ugly.

It’s the kind of smile that you clearly don’t want to make, but you force it out, making it look like a skin-deep smile...

He Yu isn’t ugly. In fact, she’s quite pretty—an oval face, black eyes, porcelain skin... She gives off an untouchable, aloof vibe. But when she smiles, the corners of her mouth and chin twitch ever so slightly... Xia Bingbing was genuinely startled, but then suddenly, she felt a bit touched. This girl clearly doesn’t like interacting with people, yet now, because they’ve become teammates, she’s trying hard to show her goodwill.

A gentle person, indeed.

Xia Bingbing thought to herself.

At this moment, He Yu was gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, her heart extremely tense. She was even wondering whether she should draw her sword or not, in case she got exposed all of a sudden. If she knew what Xia Bingbing was thinking, she probably wouldn’t be able to hold the sword firmly.

He Yu kept a straight face, feeling quite uncomfortable inside.

Just then, Ji You, acting as the ’class leader’, suddenly said, "Zhang Jian, go to our border line now and check out the surroundings."

Cheng Haoyue’s eyes were fixed on a black dot on a nearby rocky mountain, lost in thought:

——With my shooting skill, can I hit that black dot?

"Zhang Jian!"

"Zhang Jian!"

"Zhang Jian!"

A sharp arrowhead gleaming coldly appeared before Cheng Haoyue’s eyes, startling her, as Ji You said with a stern face, "Take your arrow and go over there now. I have a new idea."

Seeing Xia Bingbing, Yu Cheng, and Song Ping all watching her, Cheng Haoyue stiffened and asked, "Class leader, what new idea?"

Ji You’s expression didn’t change, but she sighed inwardly:

Ah!

Time is too tight and too short, and they haven’t had much interaction with one another, leaving Ji You with no time to clarify the upcoming action plan to her teammates.

Ji You really didn’t want to be mysterious, as there was no need for it. As a captain, the main leader of a small team, if the commands and instructions are not clear enough, causing subordinates not to receive clear instructions or understand what they need to do, that captain is a complete failure.

Ji You wasn’t familiar with the new teammates, and they weren’t familiar with Ji You either. Even with He Nu, whom Ji You had met once and clashed with, Ji You wasn’t familiar. In short—they had no tacit understanding with each other.

If it were Shen Changqing, Chu Jiaojiao, Sheng Qingyan... even the most carefree Yue Qiguang, Ji You would only need a glance, and they would understand and quickly cooperate with her.

Ji You slightly collected her thoughts; objective factors will always exist. If one wants to win, it’s not about complaining about these factors but about actively resolving them.

The battlefield changes in the blink of an eye, testing one’s adaptability and maneuvering skills.

This competition, first of all, separated people from the same school, scattering them... forming teams and camps entirely made of strangers. The first difficult problem testing the students is how to quickly become familiar with these strangers and swiftly build up a sense of understanding.

...

Ji You stared into Cheng Haoyue’s eyes and said, "Go check where our territory’s border line is and see what the surrounding situation is, and if possible, find a way to slip over to the other side."

Ji You emphasized the word ’other side’.

Cheng Haoyue listened, her brows slightly knitting.

The other side?

Isn’t that our actual base?

What’s there to check back there?

She had already thoroughly scouted the base’s situation—she was the first to enter and, out of hunger, thirst, and boredom, had even counted all the stones there. Was there still a need to check?

Something’s not right!

There’s one thing unclear! I still have 4 teammates who haven’t reported in! What if they arrive but can’t find the captain or any teammates...

Apart from these 4 teammates, being in the opposing camp, her captain’s badge, which is that small piece of paper, hadn’t officially received the tasked mission from higher up yet. That is to say——

Cheng Haoyue had a thought: "Do you mean——"

[You want me to go back temporarily to stabilize the new coming 4 teammates, or rather——just have them stay outside and cooperate with us here?]

The more Cheng Haoyue thought about it, the more excited she felt inside.

Then.

Faced with the first task assigned by Ji You, Cheng Haoyue deliberately put on a discontent expression and said, "We don’t need to rush to investigate the enemy’s situation so soon, do we?" Though she wasn’t keen, the next second, she mumbled and said, "Fine, fine, I’ll go."

After speaking, Cheng Haoyue accepted the arrow and the crossbow that Ji You handed over.

Then.

She quickly departed.

Watching Cheng Haoyue leave, Liu Jia, He Yu, and Wang Xin were a bit puzzled. After all, they had agreed to come over to attack and catch people off guard, and had been waiting for Ji You’s signal to strike.

But——

Not only weren’t they told to attack, but they also weren’t sent back, leaving them staring across at the enemy instead?

This——

What are they supposed to do?

The three of them were a bit confused, but following Ji You’s previous advice of staying silent if they didn’t understand, they kept quiet, believing silence is golden.

So the three continued to maintain a taciturn demeanor, not really acknowledging the new three arrivals.

Then.

Ji You turned to He Nu, who was ready, and said, "Wang Qiang, take my letter and go to the Sixth Team next door, tell them I want to form an alliance with them and see if they agree."

Each squad is both teammates and competitors. The more they eliminate enemies, the more resources the squad can acquire, leading to better treatment and, accordingly, more opportunities for each member to earn points.

So, Ji You wasn’t sure if the Sixth Team next door would be willing to cooperate. With a slightly hesitant tone, she said, "If the Sixth Team is unwilling to cooperate, then go to the Eighth Team. It’s best if you can persuade a team to join us."

He Nu listened, slightly lowered his eyes, then raised his head with a solemn expression and said, "Captain, rest assured, I will do my best to negotiate successfully."

Ji You looked at the sky and said, "Time is money. Be quick!"

He Nu nodded firmly, "Alright."

He lifted his foot to leave——

At that moment, Ji You suddenly said, "Wait a moment, Song Ping, go with Wang Qiang. I’ve noticed your speed is very fast. If the other side agrees to cooperate, you can return to report first." Cheng Haoyue, He Nu had been sent out; if there were new incoming enemies and misfortune struck with a powerful enemy among them, that was quite possible. Ji You, being inherently cautious, would not underestimate the enemy or be careless.

Must send away a strong one.

At least, temporarily.

Placing him beside He Nu was because Ji You trusted He Nu, who could settle things with the other side if necessary before returning.

Song Ping was slightly stunned, not expecting to be given such a task just upon reporting, without showing any special skills. And indeed, his speed was an advantage...

Such sharp insight was quite impressive. The seemingly weak captain was not weak at all.

Being valued by a strong captain was beneficial to him...

With these thoughts, Song Ping was especially pleased and responded loudly, "Yes."