Chapter 108: The Sudden Emergence of the Insectoid Swarm

Xuan Xuan glanced back—so this was one of Master Ji’s other disciples? Rumor had it he had been stationed on a remote planet all along, and she had never met him before. But he appeared refined and gentle, not nearly as unbearable as Master Ji had described.

Zuo Chen shot a sharp look at Wan Qi Weihang. “Even if he’s your junior, he’s not my junior.”

“You’re my sister’s junior,” Wan Qi Weihang replied with a smile. “Good junior, call me senior uncle.”

Zuo Chen gritted his teeth. He had long heard of a senior uncle in the imperial capital barely a decade old, rumored to be useless. He still couldn’t fathom why his own teacher had taken on a master so much younger than himself, resulting in not only a grandmaster who had since vanished, barely older than him, but also this so-called useless senior uncle.

Wan Qi Weihao glared at Wan Qi Weihang. Soldiers stood guard everywhere outside; getting caught was no joke.

Seeing the glare, Wan Qi Weihang toned down his teasing, though a mocking gleam lingered in his eyes as he looked at Zuo Chen.

The seven of them crouched silently near a large tree not far from the kitchen door, their eyes fixed on the entrance.

Zheng Chao swallowed repeatedly, wondering if Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao were doing this on purpose—there was a delicious scent of roasted meat wafting from the kitchen late at night.

They watched for a while; groups went in and out intermittently, but no one ever came out, and once inside, silence reigned.

Zuo Chen was nearly at his wit’s end. “Why is there still no movement?”

“No news is bad news,” Zhan Yu said. They must have been captured, and no warning was given to prevent those behind from rushing in blindly.

“But why don’t they come out at all?” Zheng Chao asked.

“Wait a little longer,” Wan Qi Weihang suggested.

Sure enough, after a short while, a large group of subdued captives emerged from the kitchen, with Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao following behind.

“How shall we punish them?” Zhan Yu asked.

“They’re so lively tonight, no need for sleep. Everyone runs laps. Since they’ve eaten enough tonight, they don’t eat anything tomorrow,” Zhan Yu said, casting a glance at them.

The captured group raged silently inside but had not even touched their chopsticks—how could they have eaten enough?

Zhan Yu paid no heed to whether they were truly full; if he felt they had, that was enough. He sent them off to the training grounds under guard.

Xiao Daopeng, Zuo Chen, and Zheng Chao exchanged glances—no meals tomorrow, really?

Exhausted all day yet still hungry, they would have to run on an empty stomach and continue training without food.

The three silently thanked their luck.

Zhan Yu’s methods were formidable. Of those below, nearly half were from the special training class, the rest mostly from the mech and command divisions—none were ordinary. Surely, none would be simple-minded, yet they had all been caught without a sound in the kitchen.

Moreover, they all behaved obediently.

Not only the three of them but even Wan Qi Weihao and his brother showed surprise.

A rumble came from Zheng Chao’s stomach; he clutched it tightly—the black-faced god was still inside.

Why did it have to happen now?

Xuan Xuan noticed Zhan Yu’s sharp gaze sweeping over and reacted swiftly, her eyes narrowing. Zhan Yu’s displayed power was far beyond what they had seen in the star network.

The other six stared wide-eyed.

Lou Yitong gripped Xuan Xuan’s clothes so tightly her fingers turned white.

Xuan Xuan waved her hand hastily and laid down a “Spatial Concealment” spell—a high-level space magic that opened a dimensional pocket to hide people within.

Even her own father had only barely touched the edges of this magic. Space magic was as distant as a mountain to others. Though Zhan Yu’s mental power was immense, he was a metal-element psychic.

Though he sensed something off about the space in front of him, he found nothing unusual.

Frowning, he circled the area once before leaving.

Kuang Shao asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Zhan Yu said casually, glancing back once more at the spot before walking away.

Only then did Xuan Xuan lift the spatial concealment.

Rubbing her forehead, she found casting this spell still somewhat taxing. Her mental power was sufficient, but her magical energy was lacking.

Zuo Chen and the others stared in astonishment. “What just happened?”

Why did it seem as if the place had suddenly shifted? And how was it possible Zhan Yu circled them without detecting them? It was incredible.

Wan Qi Weihang, a space-element psychic himself, recognized the spell but lacked the power to master it. He hadn’t imagined that his own sister would be so much stronger.

Feeling somewhat deflated, he muttered about protecting her, when in fact he needed her protection.

Wan Qi Weihao patted him on the shoulder. “Same here.”

Xuan Xuan paid no mind. Once the others had left, she prepared to gather the spoils. Though the kitchen’s food was generally poor, tonight’s roasted meat smelled quite appetizing.

She scanned with her mental power and located several surveillance points, tossing a few leaves to sever connections.

Entering the kitchen, she found the roast still sizzling over the fire. Two chefs chatted idly.

“Just saw the power of the ‘Emperor Yao’ and ‘Emperor Yan’,” one said.

“Truly shocking to witness. A group entered and were down in less than three seconds,” the plump chef added.

“The ones from the mech division lasted how long?” the other asked.

“You mean those three? They held on for two seconds and took three hits.”

“Besides them, all were finished instantly?”

“Instant kills, really,” said the plump chef.

Xuan Xuan frowned. “Is the food ready or not? Why all this chatter?”

Behind her, everyone froze. Three people combined only managed three moves before being captured? Surely, dealing with one person wouldn’t require even one move.

A shiver ran through her—thankfully, they hadn’t come; otherwise, they’d have been doomed.

“Alright, finish up quickly. Young Master Kuang’s side is still waiting. I just hope my roasting skills catch the Kuang family’s eye,” one chef said with a smirk.

“Don’t be so hopeful,” the other replied.

“Why not? Ten years ago, several who mastered cooking skills rose quickly in the Kuang family.”

The other was about to argue, but Xuan Xuan had no time to listen. She drew out a vial, telling those behind her, “Cover your nose and mouth.”

Seeing them comply, she opened the bottle. A faint, intoxicating fragrance escaped—the potion was aptly named “Drunken Desire.” As its name suggested, just opening it sent the two chefs’ feet wobbling.

“I’m feeling dizzy.”

“Me too...”

Smiling faintly, Xuan Xuan eyed the roast, aromatic and enticing. She plucked a piece and tasted it—crispy skin, tender meat. She squinted, satisfied that the wait had been worth it.

With a wave, she stored most of the meat in her spatial pocket.

Those nearby stared blankly. “Where did the food go?”

The Wan Qi Weihao brothers, silent but already full, didn’t mind eating more.

They reached out to grab some, but before they could, the food vanished in an instant.

The three ignored where it had gone and reached out, “Slow down, slow down.”

Xuan Xuan yawned, taking Lou Yitong by the hand and teleporting them back to their dormitory, where she finally unpacked the food to eat.

Next door were other girls who, after a day of hunger and exhaustion, had trouble sleeping. Now, the scent of roast meat wafted through the air.

Xuan Xuan savored the meat, nodding with approval. Although the daytime meals had been terrible, this roast was truly excellent.

“Hey,” Xuan Xuan said, looking at Lou Yitong. “Aren’t you eating?”

Lou Yitong swallowed. “Not hungry. Trying to lose weight.”

Xuan Xuan sized her up. She wasn’t really fat, more pleasantly plump and cute. She disliked dieting that forbade eating meat. “Lose weight tomorrow. You need to eat well to have the strength to lose weight.”

Lou Yitong, with no resistance left, quickly agreed, “Alright, eat well so I have the strength.”

Xuan Xuan nodded.

She ate heartily. Even the Wan Qi Weihao brothers, having eaten their fill, left.

Kuang Shao grew impatient, glancing at Zhan Yu. After playing with the students all day, he didn’t seem tired. “Go check—why isn’t the roast ready yet?”

“Yes, Young Master,” Kuang Shao replied.

Soon, Kuang Shao returned, puzzled. “Both chefs have fainted, and the food is missing.”

“Hm?” Kuang Shao’s beautiful almond eyes narrowed dangerously. “Have you found out who did it?”

“No. All surveillance points were blocked,” Kuang Chi answered.

“Well done. They cleaned up nicely,” Kuang Shao said with a dangerous smile. Snatching food right under their noses—someone really dared.

“What about the two chefs?” Zhan Yu asked.

Kuang Chi said, “They seem drunk but clearly are not.”

Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao exchanged knowing looks. “Alright, prepare some food casually for me downstairs. As for the chefs, carry them back to rest.”

“Looks like my little junior sister has quite the courage,” Kuang Shao chuckled.

No wonder she was his disciple—there was no such thing as timidity.

Xuan Xuan had used this potion on the star network before; Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu remembered it well: “Drunken Desire.”

Unaware she had inadvertently revealed herself, Xuan Xuan, full and content, tidied up and prepared to sleep. Suddenly, she stood, pulled Lou Yitong aside, and crouched by her bed. “What is this?”

Lou Yitong noticed her serious gaze. “What is it?”

Xuan Xuan looked at her and said firmly, “Insectoid.”

“Insect or insectoid?” Lou Yitong looked down. It was a thin, red worm-like creature, somewhat disgusting, like a leech. Could there really be such an insectoid?

“Insectoid,” Xuan Xuan said with conviction.