He Nu went out to find allies, but unexpectedly, he didn’t find any, and instead, their side lost a team member. Upon hearing the news, everyone was shocked, and Xia Bingbing angrily said, "Which idiot team actually refused to ally with us? Are they blind? We are essentially on the same big camp, naturally allies!"

Yu Cheng fell into silence; he hadn’t expected Song Ping to be eliminated. This fact made him momentarily sad because when he entered the arena, it was right after crossing the conveyor belt with Song Ping. Unbeknownst to them, upon entering the battle arena, they found out they were on the same squad; such destiny... it was practically fate that they would be comrades-in-arms! Therefore, the two had agreed that they would surely help each other in the competition to win advancement.

But——

Song Ping was eliminated as soon as the match started.

The more Yu Cheng thought, the more upset he felt. After a few seconds of silence, Yu Cheng suddenly asked, "Wang Qiang, which team from the enemy camp killed him?"

He Nu kept in mind that he was ’Wang Qiang’ at this moment, so he didn’t hesitate. Hearing the name ’Wang Qiang,’ he reflexively turned to Yu Cheng, seeing his fierce expression as he sought revenge for Song Ping.

He Nu’s mouth froze for a moment but he quickly came to his senses, furrowing his brows in time, and said, "It was the Seventh Team of the Fifth Camp."

Yu Cheng gritted his teeth, "Seventh Team!"

Xia Bingbing frowned, saying, "They are in the same squad as us."

He Nu said, "Yes, we are going to the Seventh Team."

While He Nu explained the situation to his teammates, He Yu, Liu Jia, Wang Xin, Cheng Haoyue on their side showed a look of patient listening. The enemy side had only 4 people left—Xia Bingbing, Yu Cheng, as well as another male and female—the male named Zhang Wei, the female named Xie Xin, their abilities were at a middle-lower level. Ji You and his companions found it quite easy to resolve these 4, without even alerting other teams.

Yet Ji You did not give the order, even though Cheng Haoyue and the others were eager to capture the four heads, they did not act recklessly.

Among these four, Xia Bingbing and Xie Xin had more meticulous thoughts. While He Nu was describing the encounter with Song Ping, Xie Xin listened carefully, suddenly frowned, took a close look at He Nu, with confusion flashing in her eyes. But her nature was very shy, so she didn’t immediately express her doubts.

At this very moment, Ji You, immersed in mourning for Song Ping, suddenly asked, "Seventh Team? Song Ping died, yet you escaped. You two were acting together, can you explain exactly how you evaded the enemy’s pursuit?"

Xie Xin’s eyes lit up!

This was the exact question she wanted to ask. It had to be said, the squad leader’s question precisely matched Xie Xin’s thoughts, so she lifted her head, quickly glanced at the squad leader Ji You, with respect and gratitude in her eyes.

Insightful, sharp-eyed... In this regard, indeed the squad leader has already displayed the alertness and sharp attention befitting a leader.

Thinking this way, Xie Xin refocused on the issue of teammate Song Ping’s elimination; she and Zhang Wei were the last members to report, hadn’t talked much with Song Ping, Xia Bingbing, Yu Cheng, and the rest, thus, she could take a very objective stance to suspect anyone.

’Wang Qiang’ is definitely suspicious.

Two people acted together, one died, the other survived, the one who died is nowhere to be found, couldn’t even retrieve a ’body.’ No one knows for sure what he encountered before he died; on our side, everybody could only rely on the other survivor’s verbal account, which easily leads to suspicion of the survivor’s hidden actions.

Thinking this, Xie Xin focused intently on He Nu.

Under the intense scrutiny of allies and enemy team members, a trace of unease flashed across He Nu’s face; he didn’t respond immediately but deliberated on the tone, then lowly remarked, "I...I indeed failed to do something right. I apologize to Song Ping and everyone."

Saying this, He Nu’s head drooped lower and lower.

Xie Xin, upon hearing this, instantly became angry, "What did you do?"

He Nu’s head drooped even lower.

Xie Xin, Yu Cheng, and others’ eyes flared up in anger. Yu Cheng blurted out wanting to accuse, "Was it you who harmed Song Ping?"

Just as the atmosphere was becoming tense, on the verge of explosive hostility, Ji You scolded, "What are you arguing about? Shut up, are you so idle? Is this a garbage can for emotional outbursts?"

This is competition!

Going further, this is the battlefield!" Ji You’s tone grew increasingly severe, almost enunciating each word, "And standing before you are your comrades! For a long time in the future, you will need to entrust your backs to one another!"

With this statement, Xie Xin, He Nu, Yu Cheng... everyone’s eyes slightly darkened, and Xie Xin especially showed a trace of shame, while Yu Cheng still remained somewhat defiant, continuing to gaze angrily at He Nu.

He Nu kept his head down, stared at the soles of his shoes, not daring to meet others’ eyes, his slightly curly hair hanging down, obscuring some of his eyes...

No one could truly see He Nu’s expression, but through his tense shoulders, everyone could sense He Nu’s emotions:

He was frustrated.

He was remorseful.

He was sad.

...

Ji You looked at He Nu’s performance, tightened her grip on the knife:

Good one!

Learnt this.

If acting doesn’t work, you can use lowering your head, feeling down to make up for it at least.

Thinking this inwardly, Ji You’s surface remained very solemn, she sighed heavily before everyone, and said: "We are comrades! You must always remember this! Always remember this through every moment!

The war hasn’t officially begun, if we start fighting internally now, causing division among ourselves, then... I ask you this now, what was your original intention when you stepped onto the battlefield?

What was your reason for deciding to apply to the Military Academy?

Was it to gain personal interests?

Or for self-improvement?" At this moment, Ji You’s eyes slightly lowered, then she opened her mouth again, her voice wasn’t loud, rather slightly gentle, but each word clearly striking in everyone’s hearts:

"I—Ji You, chose the Military Academy, stepped onto the battlefield for only one reason, and that is—to protect!

Protect my home! Protect my family and friends! Protect my hometown, protect the Alliance, protect—every comrade around me!" As she reached the last word, Ji You’s voice grew even softer.

As her words settled, everyone present, He Yu, Liu Jia... Xia Bingbing, Xie Xin... even the always head lowered He Nu raised his head, staring at Ji You, whose eyes shone with starlight as she spoke.