Chapter 168: Will You Join Me in Forming a Mercenary Corps? (Revised)

At the same time, on the other side of the teaching area—

Qi Hengyu practically stepped out as soon as the class‑ending bell rang, and, like a stray dog, rushed to the Manufacturing Department classroom doorway, his face still bearing lingering guilt and worry.

After looking for a while without seeing that familiar Ying Guang Lu, he could only stop a student who had just walked out and asked anxiously.

"Classmate, may I ask where Ying Duo is? The one with the most eye‑catching hair."

The student he stopped was momentarily stunned, surveyed Qi Hengyu from head to toe, and, evidently still remembering him after a class, spoke with a hint of sympathy:

"As for Ying Duo, he was 'asked' out by Teacher Gu shortly after class began."

Qi Hengyu's heart dropped instantly; it was over—another person was lost!

He thanked him hurriedly, couldn't bother to ask more, turned and sprinted toward the spot where he and Shen Zexi had arranged to meet, needing to tell Shen Zexi the news at once.

Meanwhile, at the agreed location, Shen Zexi was facing a dilemma of moderate size.

He stood at the Academy convenience store entrance, feeling his empty wallet, his brows tightly knit.

He clearly remembered putting money in the pocket of the clothes he was to wear today last night, the money being his remaining monthly allowance, yet now not a cent remained.

Could it have been lost when he sprinted with Ying Duo this morning and then fumbled changing clothes?

Thinking of the chaotic morning scene, he could only accept the reality.

Now not only was breakfast ruined, but in the coming days they might even have to resort to begging.

At that moment, Qi Hengyu came running, panting, and before he could steady himself he hurriedly spoke.

"Shen Zexi! Ying Duo the kid disappeared again; the Manufacturing Department folks say he was kicked out by the teacher right after class started."

Shen Zexi hadn't yet had time to process this 'unexpected yet unsurprising' news when he first saw Qi Hengyu's anxious expression.

He temporarily set aside his unease and first presented the predicament before him.

"You arrive just in time; did you bring any money? My wallet seems to have been lost this morning."

"Money? Of course I brought it......"

Qi Hengyu answered instinctively, reaching for the inner pocket of his uniform jacket while continuing to speak.

"The key now is to find Ying Duo; Teacher Li Ya said he needs to convalesce......"

His words cut off abruptly, because Qi Hengyu had rummaged through all his pockets, his complexion shifting from anxiety to shock, finally to a pallid hue.

"... Wait, where's my money?! How did the money I had in my pocket disappear?!"

That was all the living expenses he had left for the month!

Qi Hengyu felt his head buzz, a headache worse than when he first learned of Ying Duo's disappearance.

At that moment, his and Shen Zexi's thoughts aligned astonishingly.

So it was indeed because this morning was too chaotic, and they accidentally lost it, right?

Shen Zexi looked at Qi Hengyu's equally empty pocket, his expression growing solemn, tinged with a hint of apology.

"Sorry, the morning was too chaotic, I accidentally took your money as well......"

Qi Hengyu, irritated, scratched his hair and cut off Shen Zexi's apology.

"It's fine; at least you remembered to thank the heavens for helping me with my clothes and shoelaces back then."

He forced himself to calm down; misfortune came in threes—money gone, and a person also lost.

Shen Zexi paused briefly, then suggested.

"Shall we retrace the route we took this morning from the dormitory to the infirmary? Perhaps the wallet fell somewhere along the way."

Qi Hengyu shook his head dejectedly; searching himself seemed less hopeful than hoping someone at the Academy might have a conscience.

"Even if it dropped, after this long it would have been picked up already; whether it's returned is another issue. I think we'd be better off reporting to a teacher directly to see if anyone turned it in......"

Before his words finished, a corner of his eye caught a familiar after‑image trailing Ying Guang Lu, flashing past a nearby corridor corner at breakneck speed.

Both froze simultaneously and turned to look.

Ying Duo was sprinting toward the dormitory building at a pace that bore no sign of recent internal injury.

The fresh red scratches on his exposed skin, against the Ying Guang Lu backdrop and his rapid motion, were especially glaring.

Shen Zexi and Qi Hengyu stared at each other, both seeing a hopeless "Sure enough, trouble again" expression.

"Ying Duo! Stop right there!" Qi Hengyu shouted, no longer caring about the money or the teacher, and bolted after him.

Shen Zexi sighed, suppressing the lingering doubt about the wallet's whereabouts, and immediately followed.

————————————————

Ying Duo, like a green whirlwind, surged back to the dormitory building, skillfully locating his own room door and flinging it open.

Inside, Luo Jinyou was arranging his books, preparing to leave for the next class, and when he heard the commotion behind him he turned reflexively, meeting the rushing Ying Duo face‑to‑face.

Luo Jinyou's gaze instantly fell on the fine, fresh scratches on Ying Duo's face and arms, as well as the layered old and new bloodstains on his clothing.

His expression showed not even a ripple; he asked calmly, almost numb.

"Do you need to go to the infirmary?"

Ying Duo shook his head, the motion small yet decisive.

"No need."

Blood Bar was auto‑recovering; going to the infirmary would be a waste of time.

He got straight to the point, his hollow eyes fixed on Luo Jinyou, and declared bluntly.

"I intend to form a Mercenary Corps, and you should join as well."

Luo Jinyou didn't seem particularly surprised by Ying Duo's sudden line of thought, but asked curiously.

"A Mercenary Corps needs at least five people, right? Who else?"

Ying Duo immediately extended a finger, first pointing at Luo Jinyou, then at himself.

"You, me, Chen Mo Zhi......"

Just as he was naming them one by one—

Bang!

The dormitory door was forced open from the outside, and the out‑of‑breath Qi Hengyu, with Shen Zexi right behind him, appeared at the doorway.

The two clearly sprinted at full speed; Qi Hengyu even braced one hand on the doorframe, panting while pointing at Ying Duo.

"You… you kid ran so fast, as if hurrying to be reborn..."

His words stalled when he saw the fresh wound on Ying Duo, and his eyes gradually went vacant.

Ying Duo's gaze shifted to the doorway; seeing the two pursuers, his eyes lit up, and he naturally raised his hand, pointing at the newly arrived Shen Zexi and Qi Hengyu, adding.

"... and them both."

Shen Zexi, Qi Hengyu: "......???"

Why does a sudden ominous feeling arise?

The two looked bewildered, completely missing the sudden turn of events, when Ying Duo turned around, faced them, and, in an unprecedented, even oddly sincere tone, asked:

"Would you be willing to form a Mercenary Corps with me?"

Luo Jinyou:......

So the others hadn't agreed yet, huh?