Chapter 199: Odd Shelter

But Lin Yifan not wanting to use Mao Mao is one thing, while Mao Mao willingly helping him is another.

Mao Mao willing to fight for him makes him a partner on the same front.

Although Lin Yifan had awakened a special talent after arriving in the Survival Realm, his development was rapid.

But correspondingly, the crises he faced kept coming one after another; he was always fighting alone, and even if he were made of iron, he would still tire.

Only during that instance run, when he had teammates beside him and didn't have to do everything alone, did he constantly wish to have his own team.

But forming a team is easy, yet finding a few partners worthy of entrusting one's life to is doubly difficult.

So far, the only people he can somewhat trust are Ruan Qingtán and Hong Shaoqiang.

Even though Su Xiao xi has already signed the Master-Servant Agreement, Lin Yifan still cannot absolutely trust her.

Moreover, human hearts are changeable and hardest to fathom.

Even if one can trust now, who knows whether there will be changes in the future?

But Mao Mao is different; Mao Mao was raised by Lin Yifan from scratch, and their bond is deep.

Moreover, the Golden Eagle is the most loyal; once it acknowledges someone as a partner, it will absolutely not betray.

Even if Mao Mao is a mutant Golden Eagle, this nature basically will not change.

So, he can trust Mao Mao!

But Su Xiao xi, upon hearing Lin Yifan's words, was stunned in place.

She raised her head and asked with deep emotion and confusion:

"Yifan brother, what is a partner?"

Lin Yifan paused briefly, then said lightly:

"A partner is a teammate on whom you can rely and entrust your life; I will entrust my life to it, and it will entrust its life to me."

"Between partners, there must be mutual respect, absolute trust, and never any betrayal!"

"Yifan brother, can I be your partner?" Su Xiao xi raised her head, full of anticipation, and asked.

Lin Yifan examined Su Xiao xi, his eyes filled with doubt and incomprehension.

Because he realized that, when Su Xiao xi asked that question, her anticipation and longing were genuine.

All along, Su Xiao xi's demeanor has been contradictory; although young, she is deep‑minded, always thinking three steps ahead for every action.

Moreover, she has a knack for scheming people's hearts, never trusts anyone, and is extremely adept at disguise.

But Lin Yifan faintly sensed that this little girl had another side within—one that was inferior, cowardly, sensitive, suspicious, full of longing for familial affection, and also full of dependence.

And Su Xiao xi's hatred toward her brother also comes from the bottom of her heart, wanting to repay it.

That is precisely why Lin Yifan was willing to spare her life, using on her an extremely precious 【Master‑Servant Agreement】.

Otherwise, given his current character, he would absolutely not keep someone who had schemed against him.

Therefore, when Su Xiao xi just asked, "What is a partner?", he gave a serious and careful answer.

And Su Xiao xi did not disappoint him; she indeed had expectations for a trustworthy partner.

Lin Yifan naturally also hoped Su Xiao xi could become his partner, so he replied solemnly:

"Your question, I cannot answer now; a partner requires absolute trust, and I currently cannot absolutely trust you."

"But as the saying goes, 'distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's heart.' I believe that if you truly sincerely want a partner, you will surely have your own partner."

"It doesn't have to be me, but I also hope it is me!"

Su Xiao xi stood stunned in place; after a long silence, she suddenly raised her head and spoke solemnly.

"Yifan brother, I know my previous deceit and exploitation of you made it impossible for you to trust me in the short term."

"But I will prove with actions that I am a partner worthy of trust; by then, I hope you will regard me as a partner."

"Good! I'll wait." Lin Yifan reached out and ruffled Su Xiao xi's hair.

Then he took a set of camouflage uniform from the Ring Space and handed it to Su Xiao xi, saying, "Your clothes are dirty, but I don't have suitable clothes for you here; only this—please change into it first!"

The camouflage uniform is not Su Xiao xi's size; the clothing each person draws from the Treasure Chest is basically their own size.

It is obvious that Su Xiao xi, as an underage Survivor without a Guardian, can still open a Treasure Chest to obtain supplies just like an adult Survivor.

But there will still be some differences.

Otherwise, a girl, even if a bit young, could not allow herself to dress in a sloppy manner.

Her clothes had long been worn out; moreover, although Lin Yifan had little contact with thirteen‑ or fourteen‑year‑old girls, he could still tell that her clothes were a school uniform.

They were not clothes drawn from the Treasure Chest, showing that her wardrobe is scarce.

Su Xiao xi indeed had no complaints, happily took it, and said:

"New clothes? Yifan brother, are these new clothes really for me?"

"Of course it's real." Lin Yifan let out a light sigh, also seeing that this little girl, though scheming, was not doing well, so he added:

"Since you're following me, I will naturally take care of your living needs; however, the clothes I obtain are my size, so when I later go to the Trading Hall, I will exchange a few pieces that fit you."

"Thank you, Yifan brother!" Su Xiao xi then happily went to change clothes.

Meanwhile, Lin Yifan turned his head to look around; for some reason, he always felt that something here was not quite ordinary.

Especially this Shelter; although Su Xiao xi repeatedly confirmed it was the Shelter she and her brother possessed when they first arrived here, later she exhausted all resources to barely upgrade it to level three.

Lin Yifan also observed carefully; although the Shelter is level three, it is merely the most ordinary level three.

Inside the Shelter, apart from some wood and stone and other basic supplies, there were no precious resources at all.

Moreover, Su Xiao xi had no storage equipment such as a storage bag; that is why she previously asked Lin Yifan for food.

Thus it is evident that Su Xiao xi did not lie; this indeed should be the Shelter she and her brother have.

But for some unknown reason, Lin Yifan always felt something was off, a feeling hard to describe.

But merely seeing this Shelter gives him a peculiar sense of discomfort that is hard to put into words.

"Ah! Yifan brother, save me!"

At that moment, Su Xiao xi, who had returned to the Shelter to change clothes, suddenly let out a terrified scream.

Lin Yifan frowned and immediately kicked open the Shelter's door.

Before he even entered the door, he saw Su Xiao xi, her face full of terror, curled up in the corner of the wall.

And before her, a Maggot Human Bone covered in crawling maggots, with only its head retaining any skin, was constantly advancing toward her.

And the face on that head was none other than Su Tianhao's!