Chapter 43: Grouping and Competition

Qin Yumoke frowned slightly and cast a cold glance, looking directly at Heart's Desire as she said,
"Red Dust cannot use this skill right now. You know I have never liked others interfering in what I do."

Those familiar with Qin Yumoke present all understood that she was displeased.
Her words were subtle, but the meaning was clear: "I have my own reasons for how I do things, so stop telling me what to do."

Heart's Desire wore an awkward expression and hurriedly explained with a bitter smile, "Yumoke, I didn't mean to interfere with what you're doing."
He then turned to Fu Chen and offered a sincere apology, "I'm sorry. I didn't know the situation just now and misunderstood you."

Regardless of whether the apology was sincere or not, he had apologized after all.
Fu Chen also smiled generously, "Understood. You were just trying to protect a friend. I'll mind my tone next time."

Just as Qin Yumoke's expression began to soften, she heard Heart's Desire change his tune and start criticizing Fu Chen once again:
"The misunderstanding is cleared up, but as a man, can't you avoid always trailing behind Yu and Huang?"

Qin Yumoke's eyes instantly turned cold as she stared strictly at Heart's Desire and said,
"Zhao Xu! This is the last time I will say this: I do not like others meddling in my affairs. You..."

"Huang, let him speak," Fu Chen softly interrupted Qin Yumoke, turning to Heart's Desire to ask, "Then what do you mean?"

By this point, no matter how slow-witted Fu Chen might be, he could sense that something was wrong.
If the earlier conflict arose because his words were misinterpreted as bossing Qin Yumoke around—prompting Heart's Desire to speak up on her behalf—then the other person's current attitude clearly carried a hint of personal grievance.

Heart's Desire smiled with contempt. "You're also level 15. You're fully capable of fighting monsters on your own instead of hiding behind Huang.
Besides, aren't these two level 6 beauties your friends? Let me make it clear, I'm not targeting them.
However, since they can neither attack monsters nor provide healing support, what exactly are they supposed to be doing in the party?"

Not wanting to cause a rift between her son and his teammates, Qinglan spoke up proactively at this moment:
"It really is inappropriate for Yaoyao and me to stay in the party. Red Dust, we'll leave the party first and go back to complete our quests."

"Sister Qinglan, don't leave the party," Qin Yumoke immediately intervened upon hearing this.
She shot a cold glare at Heart's Desire and said, "This party was formed specifically to help Sister Qinglan level up.
Since you, Zhao Xu, have opinions about it, you and your party members can leave the group instead."

As soon as Qin Yumoke finished speaking, she directly kicked Heart's Desire, Purely for Entertainment, and Double Pupil out of the party.

Heart's Desire was dumbfounded and wanted to argue, only to find that Qin Yumoke had already turned around and walked toward Qinglan.
Double Pupil, having been kicked from the party, let out a soft sigh and remained completely silent, acting as if nothing had happened.

Purely for Entertainment, having been inexplicably implicated, offered a reluctant, bitter smile and said, "Huang, I'm completely innocent in all this."

Qin Yumoke approached Qinglan and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Sister Qinglan. My friends are just used to acting up."

Qinglan offered an understanding smile. "Actually, it's fine if we leave, or if Red Dust carries us."

Fu Chen also walked over and echoed, "I agree. Huang, you should stay in a party with your friends so you can help carry them."

Hearing this, Heart's Desire instantly found an outlet for the frustration he had suffered from Qin Yumoke.
He scoffed mockingly, "Some people shouldn't assume everyone is like them, always relying on women to carry them."

Purely for Entertainment wore an expression of disbelief and couldn't help whispering a reminder,
"Can you keep your mouth shut for a second? Have you forgotten who just helped us out?"

"Someone seems thoroughly unconvinced. Care to have a match and see?" Zero suggested, eager to stir up trouble.

"A match it is! Who's afraid of whom?" Heart's Desire was indeed unconvinced and immediately asked, "Name it. How do we compete?"

Zero said with excitement, "The two parties will hunt monsters separately, and we'll see which party can defeat more monsters in the same amount of time."

Purely for Entertainment immediately raised an objection, "That's not fair. Your team has two level 15 players—the gap is too big."

Zero's eyes rolled as he immediately smiled and said, "That's easy. Huang will join your party, and Lady Yu will as well."

Double Pupil looked at Zero in confusion and asked, "Doesn't that mean your team is guaranteed to lose?"

Upon hearing that he could team up with Huang, Heart's Desire couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
Fearing that Fu Chen might back out, he tried to provoke him: "Half-Loving Red Dust, you're not scared of losing and too cowardly to compete, are you?"

Without batting an eye, Fu Chen nodded and replied calmly, "Since you want a competition, I'll grant your request."

Seeing that neither side had any objections, Zero hurriedly had Huang and Lady Yu join the opposing party.
At that moment, Double Pupil suddenly added, "Even though it's a competition of quantity, it's only fair if both sides hunt the exact same type of monster."

This was to prevent one side from hunting low-level monsters purely to pad their numbers.

Fu Chen naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement, "Rest assured, there are more than enough Ghost Sentinels around here for us to fight."

Seeing that both sides had reached a consensus, Zero checked the time and announced,
"It's 9:16 now. We'll start at 20 past the hour, with a one-hour timer. Prepare yourselves."

Shortly after, Fu Chen led his three teammates fifty meters away, distancing the two groups from each other.
With less than two minutes remaining, Fu Chen's side had nothing special to prepare for.

On the other side, Qin Yumoke looked at her teammates with a sense of helplessness, wondering where they got their sudden confidence.
Recalling Fu Chen's advice to guide them a little, she decided to give some brief instructions while there was still time.
After a brief thought, she said, "Double Pupil, you'll be the primary attacker, the three of us martial artists will provide support, and Little Yu will handle looting."

"Huh?" Double Pupil was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this, wearing an expression of absolute disbelief. "We're fighting physical monsters, and you want me, a mage, to be the main attacker?"

Qin Yumoke's expression remained completely nonchalant as she countered lightly, "Or would you rather take over the command?"

The calmer her demeanor was, the greater the pressure felt by the acquaintances around her.
Double Pupil offered an awkward smile and hurriedly defended himself, "No, no, no. I have no objections. I'll be the primary attacker."

Qin Yumoke then turned to the other two martial artists and said, "You two are using your combat skills in the wrong order.
Use [Dragon Manifestation] for ranged attacks first, then follow up with [Inch Power] and [Running Water] once you close the distance, and finish with [Tiger Strike].
Don't panic if a monster gets close to you—never mind, we'll talk about this after the match."

Upon hearing this, the two men wore mortified expressions, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
To begin with, they had even forgotten to use their ranged attack skills first, which showed just how flustered and pathetic their previous performances had been.

At that moment, Lady Yu reminded them, "Get ready, less than a minute left."

Hearing this, Double Pupil waved his magic artifact and took a few steps closer to his chosen target.
Qin Yumoke gave her final instruction to the two martial artists: "Stick close to me and don't rush to attack the monsters first."

Soon, the clock struck 9:20. With a crisp and loud cry of "Start!", both sides sprang into action simultaneously.

Double Pupil immediately launched a [Blazing Fire Talisman] at a monster, signaling the start of the battle on their side.
Seeing the monster retaliate after being hit, Qin Yumoke activated her [Swift Cloud Step] and rushed forward ahead of the others.
Purely for Entertainment and Heart's Desire followed closely behind, unleashing a coordinated wave of one front and two rear [Dragon Manifestation] attacks against the monster.

In a single round of combined attacks from the four of them, half of the Ghost Sentinel's health was instantly depleted.
This sight greatly boosted the confidence of the three men in the party, prompting them to shout excitedly, "Awesome!"