Chapter 160: Bad Luck?

On the way back, Luo Yao seemed to recall something.

“Haizhu, can I… ask you a question? When I was fighting the Nether Leopard, I was hiding in the shadows. How did you discover us?”

Having just obtained a spirit pearl, Luo Yao was still quite excited. Now that she had calmed down, she immediately asked the question. She had been puzzled during the battle, and now that they were safe, she asked directly.

The last time someone discovered her whereabouts was when she was with Lin Xiao; she hadn’t expected Haizhu to be able to detect them too. This was somewhat disheartening and made her suspicious. Although she was shy, it didn’t mean she was foolish.

The similarities between the two were too many. Haizhu was an SS-level power type. When Lin Xiao introduced himself during the class meeting, he mentioned that his admission letter also listed him as an SS-level power type. Both were level two, and both had excellent marksmanship. Lin Xiao’s true ability was enhanced vision, and Haizhu’s eyesight was also excellent, always able to detect spirit beasts before others.

Now, with both of them able to detect someone using shadow abilities, all these coincidences together made suspicion inevitable.

Hearing Luo Yao’s question, Lin Xiao felt uneasy. During the battle, he hadn’t thought this deeply; this was hard to explain. Had she discovered something?

“You mean this? I’m personally quite sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual energy. I can accurately distinguish different people’s energy waves. That’s my special skill,” Lin Xiao said with some hesitation, not really sure how to explain, so he just made up a reason.

“Oh, I see.”

Lin Xiao: ∑(°口°?)

She actually believed it! So adorably naive!

Actually, it wasn’t Luo Yao’s fault. After harboring doubts, she carefully observed Lin Xiao. She was sure there was no mask or makeup on his face, and in terms of build and voice, Haizhu and Lin Xiao didn’t look like the same person. Perhaps she was just overthinking.

The three quickly returned to camp. Although others had somewhat heard the commotion of the battle, no one got up. This was an agreement within the Warwolf Mercenary Group: if they could handle the fight themselves, there was no need to wake others.

Lin Xiao’s choice not to ask for help meant they could manage it. That was why no support had arrived during the battle.

When Chen Long and Xu Gou saw Lin Xiao and the others return, they immediately approached.

“Are you okay? From the noise, it sounded like quite a big fight.”

“A level-five dark-type spirit beast. It’s been taken care of. I got a dark-type spirit pearl and gave it to Luo Yao; she can use it perfectly.”

Chen Long and Xu Gou looked at them in shock. Level-five spirit beasts were not rare; they had killed many before. But a dark-type spirit beast? Although they weren’t afraid, it was basically impossible to capture one alive. Yet the three of them had killed such a beast—how did they manage that?

Their gazes immediately turned to Chou Niu. They were more familiar with him and hoped to learn the general details from him.

Chou Niu: o(′^｀)o

“What are you looking at me for? I was just a bystander; I didn’t even get a chance to strike.”

Lin Xiao noticed their curiosity. “Luo Yao is a light-dark dual-type, which just happens to counter it.”

Though still a bit incredulous, Chen Long and Xu Gou accepted this explanation.

Lin Xiao glanced at Luo Yao. “There are still a few hours left. Use this time to absorb the spirit pearl.”

Luo Yao, already impatient, sat cross-legged and began absorbing the newly acquired spirit pearl.

Half an hour later, Luo Yao successfully absorbed the spirit pearl. As she opened her eyes, she saw Lin Xiao quietly staring at her from very close, causing a sudden blush to flood her cheeks.

Lin Xiao’s face also flushed; he had been caught peeking!

“Ahem, awake? How’s the effect of the spirit skill?”

“Very… very good. At the current level, I can summon four spectral clones, each with half my strength. For every level I raise it, I can summon one more.”

Hearing Luo Yao’s words, Lin Xiao gasped inwardly. This spirit skill was incredible. Seeing the Nether Leopard use it before, he thought those clones were mere illusions, but they actually possessed half the real strength.

In that case, the skill's cost-performance ratio was very high.

The Nether Leopard was really foolish—how could it think to flee when it had such a skill? If it had attacked with those clones, they might have turned the tables.

Luo Yao was very satisfied with the skill, and with it, her combat power improved significantly.

Lin Xiao envied her terribly. Why had he not yet acquired a single offensive spirit skill? Who could he even complain to?

He only had the Petrifying Eye, but that was a level-seven spirit pearl, impossible to absorb. Good things always belonged to others; it was maddening!

The next day, after Zi Shu and the others woke up, they asked about the situation from last night. After all, Lin Xiao had caused quite a commotion. Although they hadn’t gotten up, they couldn’t have heard nothing.

Lin Xiao didn’t hide anything and briefly recounted the events.

Upon learning that Lin Xiao had obtained a rare spirit herb and Luo Yao a dark-type spirit pearl, everyone was very surprised.

Those two kids truly had exceptional luck.

Of course, no one asked Lin Xiao for the spirit herb. Everyone was just envious. After all, they were all A-level mercenaries, and Lin Xiao still needed to use the Three-Leaf Green Ganoderma to quickly improve his mercenary rank.

...

After some time, the Warwolf Mercenary Group soon reached the core area of the secret realm. This was their destination. Upon arrival, they began their tasks with peace of mind.

They stayed in the core area for a day, killing over a dozen level-five spirit beasts and one level-six spirit beast.

No significant danger arose; Lin Xiao was always able to detect the spirit beasts in advance, allowing them to prepare before the fight.

Unfortunately, their luck wasn’t great—they only obtained two spirit pearls.

When the Warwolf Mercenary Group realized this, they were somewhat speechless. In the past, entering the secret realm and getting such rewards was already considered good luck. When would such gains start to feel unlucky?

It seemed everything began after Haizhu arrived.

They had only entered the secret realm twice with Haizhu! If Haizhu hadn’t joined them, they didn’t know what their future days would look like.

There were still many spirit beasts in the core area, but the Warwolf Mercenary Group wouldn’t kill them all. After all, they needed to return to the secret realm later for tasks. If they killed everything now, there would be no more fun.

The current missions were basically complete, so there was no need to continue.

Calculating the time, it was about time to return.

Once back in the capital, there were matters to discuss with Haizhu.