Chapter 281: Li Luo's Plan

"Reinforcements?"

As soon as Li Luo's words fell, even Jiang Qing'e was stunned. Currently, only students were in this region, and the nearest reinforcements were likely the Fourth Star Hall students and Golden Brilliance mentors deeper in the Dark Cave.

But they would still need time to arrive, and they might not even make it in time.

Besides them, who else in this area could be called reinforcements?

Duze Honglian and the others nearby also cast suspicious gazes over. If there were reinforcements available in this area at a time like this, they would have already requested them; it wouldn't be Li Luo's turn to suggest it.

Facing those gazes, Li Luo was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured."

The cryptic words left Duze Honglian and the others confused. Only Jiang Qing'e seemed to recall something, her expression shifting as she looked at Li Luo: "You don't mean... that spirit beast in the Forbidden Zone, do you?"

Whoosh!

The others immediately erupted into an uproar, looking at Li Luo with disbelief.

The reinforcements this guy was referring to were actually that spirit beast in the Forbidden Zone?!

"Li Luo, have you lost your mind?" Duze Honglian was the first to lash out, as this proposal was so ridiculous it felt like an insult to their intelligence.

"Not to mention whether that spirit beast would immediately wipe out our stronghold if it actually came, just getting to the Forbidden Zone, finding it, and then figuring out how to lure it here—these are all unsolvable problems!"

A sneer suddenly appeared on Duze Honglian's beautiful face. She stared at Li Luo with a hint of disdain: "You aren't trying to use this as an excuse to run away, are you?"

"Do you think you can escape after the stronghold is destroyed?"

Clang!

Jiang Qing'e slammed her heavy sword into the ground. She looked at Duze Honglian with cold eyes and said, "Duze Honglian, don't think that just because I am severely injured, I cannot deal with you."

Duze Honglian glared back, saying, "Am I wrong? Does he really think that spirit beast in the Forbidden Zone is a benevolent creature? Besides, there is a seal left by the Dean outside the Forbidden Zone; that spirit beast cannot leave it at all!"

Li Luo did not speak, because what Duze Honglian said were indeed difficult problems. Even he himself held some doubts about whether his plan could succeed.

Jiang Qing'e said calmly, "But no matter how bad it is, can the situation be any worse than it is now?"

"Given the stronghold's defenses, there is a high probability we won't last until reinforcements arrive, and once the defenses are broken, we will all die here."

"Since we are already in a desperate situation, what is wrong with letting Li Luo give it a try?"

Duze Honglian was speechless. From start to finish, she did not believe in Li Luo's plan. In her view, Li Luo simply saw that there was no hope for the stronghold's defense and had developed the intention to flee.

But it didn't matter anyway; Li Luo wasn't important. And if the stronghold was destroyed, where could he run to?

By then, the area would be overrun by Otherkind and the pollution would worsen. A student at the Second Stage of the Resonance Master realm would be dead regardless. And even if he were lucky enough to survive, the academy would certainly conduct an investigation later, and all these things would be exposed.

At that time, what face would Li Luo have to remain in the academy?

Thinking of this, she crossed her arms and cast a cold glance at Li Luo, saying, "Since you've said so, then do as you please. I'll see what you can come up with."

The others exchanged glances with complex expressions, but in the end, they said nothing more.

However, it was clear that they didn't believe in Li Luo's so-called "two tigers" plan either; they just didn't say anything out of respect for Jiang Qing'e.

Jiang Qing'e looked at Li Luo and asked, "Does this plan require any other helpers?"

Li Luo shook his head and said, "I have already surveyed the terrain previously. After comparing it with the map, I found that there is a river behind the stronghold that connects to the Forbidden Zone mountain range. I can use my Water Resonance power to travel at the speed of the current, which will allow me to reach the fastest possible speed. As for how to solve the subsequent problems, I have other attempts in mind."

"So, helpers are not needed. At a time like this, more people would only be a burden."

Jiang Qing'e nodded slightly and said, "Staying here means certain death. Going to fight for it might just win a glimmer of survival. Go."

Li Luo looked at the girl's beautiful and calm face. He knew time was pressing, so he didn't act overly sentimental. He just said softly, "Wait for me for three days. If I can return, I will definitely find a way to save you."

Jiang Qing'e said, "You will definitely succeed. Otherwise... if we all die here, wouldn't the House of Luolan be finished? After working so hard to maintain it for so many years, that would be too unjust."

Li Luo smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

Behind him, Bai Mengmeng and Xin Fu hurried over. The two looked at Li Luo but didn't say anything about following him, because they knew the current Li Luo did not need that kind of help.

"Captain, we believe in you," the two said earnestly.

Li Luo was a bit surprised, then couldn't help but smile. Everyone else who heard his plan probably had the same thought as Duze Honglian—that he saw the stronghold was doomed and wanted to run away. But clearly, Bai Mengmeng and Xin Fu did not think so.

Having spent this time together, they still had some understanding of Li Luo's character.

"Wait for my return."

Li Luo said this to the two, then leaped off the high wall. Under the gaze of those complex looks, he passed through the crowd of people who were still unaware of the situation and headed straight for the back of the stronghold.

Yi Lisha, Qian Ye, and Si Qiuying stood on a section of the high wall, watching Li Luo's figure disappear into the distance.

"Do you think his plan can really succeed? Or is it just an excuse?" Qian Ye asked.

Yi Lisha rubbed his chin, sighed, and said, "The plan he mentioned sounds truly like a fantasy. Honestly, I can't think of how he could possibly solve those problems."

Si Qiuying, who was nearby, was silent for a moment before saying, "Although I don't know if his plan will succeed, I know he is not running away."

Although Li Luo seemed easy to get along with on a daily basis, his inner pride was likely no less than Jiang Qing'e's; it was just that one's pride was displayed outwardly, while the other's was deeply hidden within.

For someone so proud, even Si Qiuying felt it was unlikely he would become a deserter.

"But after this spreads, most others probably won't think so," Qian Ye said, shrugging.

Yi Lisha said helplessly, "It doesn't matter what they think. If Li Luo's plan really fails, we will likely all die here. No one cares about the thoughts of the dead."

The other two fell silent as well, their expressions heavy.

They also hadn't expected the Dark Cave to be this dangerous. It was their first time entering, and they were already facing the crisis of being completely wiped out.

Right now, they really could only leave it to fate.

While the people in the stronghold were in a complex mood, Li Luo had already quietly left from a small path behind the stronghold and arrived beside a river.

This river led directly to the outskirts of the Forbidden Zone mountain range.

By utilizing the speed of the river water, he could save a lot of time.

However, these were all minor issues; the real problems would only appear once he reached the Forbidden Zone mountain range.

Thinking of this, Li Luo did not hesitate further. With a movement of his body, he swept onto the river. With Water Resonance power flowing beneath his soles, his figure seemed to be gliding across the water, whistling away along the river at an extremely fast speed.