Chapter 533: No Ifs

Since Hua Jian Lei and Lao Bao are undercover among the mercenaries, Yang Yixie has basically figured out the situation.

He guesses that this plot point is mostly related to Su Jingming's death, and the important NPCs to play are likely Yue Chengzhang and Qi Junyi.

He plans to hand that instance over to Xi Ren Sheng and Lao Bao.

He is more concerned about what role Mu Lingxiao plays here.

Xi Ren Sheng quickly marked a point on the map and told Yang Yixie the location where the researchers are gathered.

Yang Yixie glanced at it and promptly matched the marked point on the mini‑map with the earlier location in the Black Stone Mountain Range.

This spot… is actually similar to where he obtained the Air Train draft.

The location should be roughly the same; hopefully when he goes there, he can find her.

【Hua Jian Lei: Just as you thought, we triggered the instance here.】

When Hua Jian Lei's message arrived suddenly, Ying Duo was still traversing the energy circuits of the underground research institute in the form of a digital ghost.

Although this group conducts research in the underground institute, only a portion of the area has been activated; many energy circuits have suffered severe damage and aging, causing his normally flawless teleportation to be unusually slow and mana‑draining here.

Yang Yixie thought that he has some lingering issues with this place.

Since the last time he messed up Meng Kexin, he has once again clearly realized that his ability truly isn't suitable for use inside such structures.

If used well, his Aberrant Arts combined with collapsing buildings have a strange effect; if used poorly, it merely brutally hurts teammates.

It belongs to the kind that even if teammates have damage immunity, they still take the full damage.

【Ying Duo: What's the instance content?】

Hua Jian Lei immediately sent the mission they had taken to Ying Duo.

【Story‑experience mission triggered: Proceed to the research lab】

【Mission description: As bodyguards of the institute, it is now under attack by external Invaders; after discussion, you decide to split up, one side to investigate the researchers, the other to handle the Invaders' subsequent support.】

【To let players better experience the plot flow, please choose the role you will play in this mission and participate.】

【Location: Mitra Academy Classified Archive Room】

【Time: Midnight 12:00 on the same day】

【Note: This mission allows you to choose to play as Yue Chengzhang, Qi Junyi, or Su Jingming.】

There is no difference from Ying Duo's guess.

【5】 【Hua Jian Lei: Our situation is pretty much what you guessed, so we're going straight into the instance?】

Hua Jian Lei: The situation here is about the same as you guessed, so shall we go straight into the instance?

Although Hua Jian Lei says that, there are still some discrepancies with Yang Yixie's speculation.

Do even destined‑to‑die NPCs need someone to play them?

That's not good news at all, and they actually have to split up.

Yang Yixie's understanding of the situation at this moment is limited to

【Ying Duo: How do you plan to assign roles?】

【Hua Jian Lei: Lao Bao and Qi Junyi; Xi Ren Sheng has been watching Yue Chengzhang.】

Their side has just the right number of people, so the extra Su Jingming slot naturally falls to Hua Jian Lei.

Hua Jian Lei's illusion… survival isn't an issue, but given the high risk here, should they switch to the more self‑preserving Lao Bao?

However, Lao Bao just fought Qi Junyi; although Hua Jian Lei stopped it in time, the Blue Bar also dropped significantly.

If a truly dangerous situation arises, his Aberrant Arts might not hold, while a fully‑charged Hua Jian Lei would be more suitable.

【Hua Jian Lei: Don't worry, we won't have any problems here.】

Hua Jian Lei casually leans against the wall, and doesn't mind that his clothes have inevitably become stained with loot.

If everything in this instance is data, there should be a clothing‑cleaning service attached after we exit.

Xi Ren Sheng idly squats in the corridor corner, hands supporting his head; since this mission instance appeared, everything around has stalled, and he no longer has to force himself to chatter with Yue Chengzhang.

He lost; he really lost.

He originally intended to extract intel from Yue Chengzhang, but despite Yue's chatter, not a single word of the crucial matter was revealed, and he knows such things aren't for casual talk.

He even turned around to warn Xi Ren Sheng, saying that he knows Teacher Xi has no ill intent, but such wording could be exploited by those with ulterior motives, and advised him to be cautious.

Xi Ren Sheng for a moment didn't know whether to mock the teacher being lectured by a student, or to mock himself for actually being the one with ulterior motives.

So he truly doesn't want to deal with such over‑zealous, stubborn types.

The other side clearly has no malice, yet he still feels scolded.

The playing cards spin on his fingertips, the clown's crooked smile still the same.

Lao Bao stands beside them, now somewhat silent, a cigarette between his fingers that Hua Jian Lei just gave him, saying to step aside and calm down with a smoke.

"He's underestimating us," Hua Jian Lei says, watching Yang Yixie's long silence in the Team Channel, probably guessing what the strategy team is thinking.

This is likely the strategy team's biggest flaw: they dislike plans slipping out of control and always prepare a solution for every possible mishap.

So, this guy is a tech‑nerd.

Although they're not Divine Oracles and each has flaws in their Aberrant Arts, surviving in such a place for so long isn't without merit.

Every step they take after entering the game world is a dance on a blade's edge, and unfortunately that's exactly what they love.

So, Yang Yixie is still very different from them.

Kids who live in a peaceful world always have too many worries; even when given a chance to let loose, they won't easily fly into the storm.

Xi Ren Sheng unusually does not retort to Hua Jian Lei's bad‑mouthing of his partner; he had already met Yang Yixie in reality and knows exactly what he longs for.

If Yang Yixie were alone, he might rush into these risks without hesitation; even a potential positional hazard or a mountain of swords and cauldrons before him, he would still dare to charge.

So he has always wanted to pull his partner over to their side.

Unlike Hua Jian Lei and Lao Bao, Xi Ren Sheng abandoned a stable, bland life and stepped into this fire pit.

If that person weren't a partner, if that person weren't the strategy team, if that person weren't Yang Yixie.

He would certainly stop at nothing, even doing things people would regret, to spare no cost in dragging someone here.

Hua Jian Lei: This side, leave it to us.