Chapter 187: I Accept Your Secret Crush (4/10, Autumn Subscription)

Thinking of this, Fang Yue asked: "Since Chaoyue Village is doing so poorly, barely surviving, why do they always insist on returning to Chaoyue Village to rebuild after every ghost attack? Is their village name and pride really that important to them?"

Fang Yue watched the new Captain Shan's groveling demeanor toward the Guard Team and didn't think he had much backbone at all. Generally speaking, a village's decisions are made by the Captain alone.

This isn't even counting Man Shui Village—surely there's another reason.

Fang Yue thought of Chaoyue Village's countless returns to its original site to rebuild, its countless abandonments and escapes, and the ghost attacks—and silently pondered: Could it be… that Chaoyue Village hides some treasure? That's why it was first targeted by powerful ghosts and destroyed.

"Pride? The village name?"

Captain Shan heard Fang Yue's words and couldn't help finding them amusing.

"Deputy Captain Ye, you're overestimating Chaoyue Village's grit. Yes, the old Chaoyue Village was indeed mighty, towering over all others. But after all these years, Chaoyue Village is no longer what it once was. Before death and survival, what could these villagers possibly hold onto?"

"But it's useless—Man Shui Village is already overflowing. If not for the ghost attack a few days ago that severely depleted our manpower, every single refugee would have been barred from entering."

"Even now, Man Shui Village has strict requirements for outsiders settling in—not just anyone can stay permanently. Those refugees who can't work hard get kicked out quickly. And… do you really think I came to Chaoyue Village for no reason?"

Fang Yue froze.

He suddenly remembered that when Captain Shan joined the team, she had mentioned coming to Chaoyue Village on official business.

He'd assumed she was just making up an excuse to tag along and spar with him daily—but apparently, she really was here to work.

"So you came to Chaoyue Village to recruit people?"

"Exactly. I've got the announcements ready. I just didn't expect to run into ghosts and nearly got killed."

This made Fang Yue feel a bit embarrassed.

Captain Shan probably thought traveling with our group was safer, but in truth, the Yang Xu Ghosts were all drawn by us.

An Shenyi, the Blood Hunter, and the others all contracted ghost curses; traveling together naturally amplified their scent and the curse's spread.

"Enough talk. Let's rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, you continue to Mo Cun. I'll return to Man Shui Village with recruits."

"You… go back to Man Shui Village alone with them?"

Fang Yue couldn't help asking.

So far, aside from the Yang Xu Ghosts, we haven't encountered danger—but that doesn't mean it's always safe. Traveling alone is… somewhat risky.

"Yes, don't worry. I'll take them along the village path—nothing will happen."

"It's only half a day's journey. I know the route inside out. If danger arises, I can handle it."

"Besides, I don't plan to recruit many. With refugees filling the gaps, Man Shui Village already has sufficient manpower. But out of courtesy, if I don't come to Chaoyue Village to recruit now, it'd look bad."

"Also, Chaoyue Village does have one or two skilled specialists. When Man Shui Village isn't short-handed, they're not worth much—but now, of course, we take them in first."

Fang Yue saw that Captain Shan spoke with clear logic—she'd clearly planned this long ago—and said no more.

While they talked, the escort team had already been assigned lodging by Chaoyue Village.

Actually, there wasn't much to arrange—the best houses in the village were just a few crumbling stone huts, so those were cleared for the escort team.

As for food, it was pitiful: potato mash that had been sitting god-knows-how-long. Thankfully, they'd boiled a pot of hot gruel, so it wasn't entirely inedible.

Of course, since Chaoyue Village was this destitute, Fang Yue wouldn't let Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu eat their food—so Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu didn't eat anything today.

"Yay!!"

She happily ran off to share the good news with Tail.

"Ye Ge, this village doesn't seem to have any players?"

Niu Niu had somehow drifted over and messaged.

Fang Yue smirked. Whoever woke up in this village would be stuck with a hellish-difficulty start.

No Martial Dao-level Captain. The best martial arts you could learn were crude and basic.

No strong protectors. You'd have to abandon the village and flee at random, likely dying on the road.

Most horrific of all: surviving this hardship grants no special rewards—it's just that the starting village is pathetically weak. It's utterly cruel.

Surely… no one would be this unlucky?

After confirming the village truly had no players, Niu Niu's eyes went blank with disappointment.

This guy's been AFK a lot lately—probably busy taking care of his sister. Fang Yue was happy to have some peace.

An Shenyi and the Blood Hunter reviewed the route and discussed contingency plans for various scenarios before parting ways.

After dinner, Captain Shan excitedly approached Fang Yue to spar. Fang Yue didn't mind—but she had to escort villagers back to Man Shui Village tomorrow. Wouldn't staying up late to train risk injury?

"Just a little! Just a little!"

Captain Shan licked her lips, staring at the calluses on Fang Yue's fingers from training, and subtly clenched her thighs.

"This… fine."

They found an open patch of ground and began sparring.

Fang Yue had gained over ten points in stats since last night—naturally, he still crushed Captain Shan.

But for some reason, Captain Shan seemed to thoroughly enjoy sparring with him. Every time his strikes landed solidly on her body—even when his Blade Technique scorched her skin—she flushed crimson, her eyes glazed over, occasionally pausing, trembling slightly.

You're not right!

Fang Yue feared she might drip something, so he immediately softened his attacks.

Also, Captain Shan had to escort villagers tomorrow—he didn't want to injure her and weaken her strength.

If ghosts appeared tomorrow and she was weakened, lives would be at stake.

But Captain Shan immediately sensed it. Her expression shifted from shock to fury in barely ten seconds.

"Deputy Captain Ye, what are you doing?"

"What's wrong?"

"That's not your usual attack strength. Hit harder!"

"But you have to escort the villagers tomorrow. If I use my full strength, I'm afraid you'll get hurt…"

Captain Shan froze. Her face turned icy cold.

"I didn't know you were secretly in love with me."

What?!

Fang Yue was stunned, and quickly explained: "No, Captain Shan, you've misunderstood—I feel about you the same way I feel about the Blood Hunter… no, I feel about the 【Giant-Head Blood Hound】—it's the bond between comrades!"

"What?! 【Giant-Head Blood Hound】! I never thought you'd like… good heavens! Such an outrageous, morally depraved thing—this is so thrilling! I've never been liked as something like that before… Fine, I accept your secret affection!"

(End of Chapter)