Chapter 42: First Encounter, Hostility

Seeing the hesitation on Qin Yumoke's face, Fu Chen immediately laughed heartily, "Huang, quickly add our new friends."

Qin Yumoke then accepted the party requests of the three newcomers and whispered in explanation, "They are good friends of mine in reality."

Fu Chen nodded to show he understood, replying sincerely, "In this world, it's much more fun to adventure together with friends."

After saying that, he looked at the party interface to check the status of the three new members.

All three of them were currently level 9, clearly having just completed their class awakenings.

They were: the Mage [Double Pupil], and the two Martial Artists [Just For Fun] and [Beloved Heart].

Fu Chen smiled and said, "Not bad at all, one Mage and two Martial Artists. Our team's overall offensive power has increased quite a bit."

At this moment, the three newly joined members also hurried over from the lumberyard, each showing a different reaction.

Just For Fun chuckled teasingly, "Have we arrived in a kingdom of women? Why is everyone in the party an absolute beauty?"

Double Pupil looked eagerly at the monsters ahead and said, "Level 15 monsters? This challenge looks a bit intense."

Beloved Heart fixed his gaze on Qin Yumoke and smiled, "Yumoke, you're leveling up way too fast. Truly a heroine matching any man."

Qin Yumoke frowned and replied coldly, "Let's not use real names here, otherwise everyone will get confused about who is who."

"Alright, then I'll listen to Yu—listen to you." Beloved Heart didn't seem awkward at all, agreeing without the slightest hesitation.

At this point, Qin Yumoke had already turned to look at Fu Chen, asking, "Now that we have more people, how should we fight from here on?"

"We aren't familiar with each other's habits yet, so just play freely," Fu Chen thought for a moment and replied.

Hearing this, Qin Yumoke turned around directly and began arranging things: "Double Pupil, the three of you coordinate with each other and take down one monster together."

Just For Fun didn't take it seriously upon hearing this, letting out a light chuckle: "Huang, we're just fighting a level 15 monster, no need to be so serious about it, right?"

Before Qin Yumoke could speak, Zero Dot couldn't hold back and bluntly interjected:

"If you think you're fine, then split up and fight on your own. Why all the nonsense?"

Double Pupil made no effort to hide his intentions and laughed, "Fine, then let's split up first and try challenging a level 15 monster."

As soon as his voice trailed off, he had already rushed toward his chosen target, stopping twenty meters away to directly wave his magical artifact and initiate an attack.

Seeing this, Zero Dot was completely dumbfounded, asking in utter astonishment, "Double Pupil, how can you hit the monster from that far away?"

Busy fighting the monster, Double Pupil didn't even turn his head as he answered, "Official Mage skills have a much longer attack range than the trial skills."

Hearing this, Zero Dot couldn't help rubbing her chin with her fingers, wearing a thoughtful expression.

At that moment, the two Martial Artists, Just For Fun and Beloved Heart, also charged toward their respective chosen targets.

Clearly, they had already entered the attack range of [Dragon Appears], yet they failed to use the skill.

Instead, they both ran right up to the monsters and, with a synchronized movement, each unleashed [Tiger Strike].

This was a clear sign that they were unfamiliar with the combat style of the Martial Artists, simply executing skills in the exact order they had learned them.

Before their skills could even land on the monsters, the creatures lifted their long legs and delivered heavy kicks straight into the chests of the two players.

Since they were only level 9, their total physical defense was less than 200, and a single strike from the monster instantly depleted nearly thirty percent of their health pools.

Frightened out of their wits, the two turned and tried to run, only to be struck squarely in the back by a heavy punch from the monsters, dropping another thirty percent of their health.

Seeing this from behind, Zero Dot couldn't help mocking and teasing them, "Ouch, that hurts! Quick, take some medicine, or you're going to die."

Only then did Just For Fun remember to consume a healing potion, giving a helpless, bitter smile: "Zero Dot, can we not gloat over our misfortune?"

"Hee hee hee, I just find it hilarious watching someone get slapped in the face," Zero Dot retorted mercilessly, continuing her mockery.

On the other side, Double Pupil initiated combat with a [Blazing Talisman].

As a Mage possessing a ranged advantage, his opening went smoothly enough.

However, the Ghost Vanguard possessed long limbs and came charging toward him with massive strides.

Fully aware of his own weaknesses, Double Pupil turned and fled, sprinting several meters away before pausing to unleash a [ gushing spring ] spell.

Stopping and going, he barely managed three exchanges before the monster caught up to him.

He took a solid, heavy kick from the monster square in the chest, his health instantly plummeting past the halfway mark.

Just as Double Pupil was panicking and frantically using a red health potion to heal, a refreshing beam of white light descended upon him.

It turned out that Beauty Yu, standing behind him, had noticed he was in danger and cast a [Mind-Clearing Mantra] to heal him.

Beauty Yu showed off with immense pride, "Brother Xuan, keep fighting well, I'll take care of your healing."

Just For Fun finally woke up to reality at this moment and asked in bewilderment, "Zero Dot, look at little Yu. Why aren't you casting heals on me?"

Zero Dot was clearly used to bantering and bickering with him on a daily basis and showed no mercy, countering with a question:

"Heal what part of you? Weren't you acting all arrogant earlier? Huang suggested the three of you team up and you refused; would you even accept my heals?"

Just For Fun didn't even have time to argue back as he and Beloved Heart were chased all over the place by the monsters.

In his panic, Beloved Heart fled right toward the vicinity of Qin Yumoke and Fu Chen.

He watched with his own eyes as Qin Yumoke stood at the frontline taking the monster's blows while fighting, whereas Fu Chen merely lingered nearby, watching leisurely.

Beloved Heart flew into a rage on the spot and sneered tauntingly:

"Half-Lotus Red Dust, making Huang—a girl—tank the monsters for you, are you even a man?"

Hearing this, Fu Chen smiled without responding, instead turning to Qin Yumoke beside him and saying, "Huang, save him!"

Qin Yumoke and Fu Chen had already achieved a high degree of tacit understanding; a single sentence was enough for her to fully grasp his intent.

She pivoted on the spot, brandishing her long spear as she charged directly toward the monster chasing Beloved Heart.

A critical hit from [Dragon Appears] instantly shaved off 215 points of the monster's health, pulling the aggro squarely onto herself.

Beloved Heart wasn't completely dense; seeing this situation, he immediately stepped forward to coordinate with Qin Yumoke, the two of them joining forces to swarm the monster.

After a couple of exchanges, well over half of the monster's health bar had been depleted.

Soon after, Fu Chen arrived leisurely. As he unleashed a [Dragon Appears], he told Qin Yumoke, "Next!"

With those words, without even sparing a glance at the dying monster, he once more followed closely behind Qin Yumoke as they charged together toward Just For Fun.

Beloved Heart was left completely dumbfounded on the spot, staring blankly at Qin Yumoke's retreating figure.

He couldn't help wondering in bewilderment, "Since when was Yumoke so easygoing? Someone says a single word, and she obeys without a second thought?"

On the other side, with the assistance of Qin Yumoke and Fu Chen, Just For Fun was also instantly freed from his predicament.

As he ran over, intending to offer assistance, he saw that the very monster that had chased him for ages had already been cleanly and efficiently executed.

Just For Fun was thoroughly convinced now, sighing with deep emotion, "Is the difference really this massive with just a 6-level gap?"

At that moment, having successfully slain her monster with the aid of Beauty Yu, Double Pupil walked over as well.

He frowned with a bitter smile, "Level 15 monsters hit really hard, and Mages simply don't hold an advantage against physical-type monsters."

"Indeed they don't!" Fu Chen nodded in agreement, turning around to instruct, "Huang, cast a [Golden Bell Shield] on them to boost their physical defense."

Just as Beloved Heart walked over, he witnessed Qin Yumoke walking unhesitatingly into the middle of the group.

Grasping her long spear, she stamped her foot firmly on the ground and squared her shoulders, causing a ring of purple radiance to ripple outwards from her body and envelop her teammates.

Beloved Heart was certain his intuition hadn't failed him: "Yumoke seems completely submissive to this Half-Lotus Red Dust. What gives him the right?"

Unable to contain his rising anger, he jutted his chin out provocatively toward Fu Chen and demanded in a chilly tone:

"I say, Half-Lotus Red Dust, do you not have this skill yourself? Why are you always bossing Huang around to do everything?"