Chapter 55: Testing and Eyes
Hearing this, Zhi Qi shrugged. Seeing that the others had caught up, she had no choice but to continue leading the way.
After all, the map was in her head.
If she didn’t lead, everyone would have to stop.
It was already 15:38 in the afternoon.
If they didn’t pick up the pace, they wouldn’t reach the campsite before dark.
The deep forest at night was dangerous.
Traveling through the mountains after dark was even more perilous.
Although Zhi Qi enjoyed clinging to Fang Xiaocao and teasing her, she wouldn’t joke about everyone’s safety.
Fang Xiaocao stood by the roadside, pretending to rest.
“Do you want me to carry your bag?”
As she passed by, Yun Luoshu asked.
“No need, I just need a little break.”
Fang Xiaocao shook her head and smiled.
Because of Su Wanqing’s sluggish pace, Yun Luoshu and Wen Shi—both much stronger than Fang Xiaocao—actually looked more exhausted than her.
Sweat drenched their backs, their hair matted with moisture.
“Don’t worry about me, just keep going.”
Fang Xiaocao smiled and waved them off.
Yun Luoshu nodded and, along with Wen Shi, continued dragging the nearly lifeless Su Wanqing forward.
“Miss Fang, do you need my help?”
Wan Xiaozhou walked up with a smile.
“No need, let’s go.”
Fang Xiaocao smiled back, then started walking alongside her.
“Your name is Wan Xiaozhou?”
Fang Xiaocao feigned curiosity.
“Mhmm.”
“How did Miss Fang know?”
Wan Xiaozhou nodded and asked in return.
“Your boss told me, of course.”
Fang Xiaocao grinned.
“Oh, then that makes sense.”
Wan Xiaozhou smiled.
“Xiaozhou, you have such great stamina!”
Fang Xiaocao feigned surprise at seeing the two backpacks Wan Xiaozhou carried.
“It’s okay~”
Wan Xiaozhou chuckled.
“Xiaozhou, are you a regular at the gym?”
Fang Xiaocao eyed her up and down with feigned admiration.
“Yes, I work out a lot!”
Wan Xiaozhou nodded.
“No wonder you’re so fit and strong.”
Fang Xiaocao sighed.
“I just don’t have the discipline to stick with it.”
She said with a playful smile.
“The beginning is tough, but once you get used to it, skipping even a day feels unbearable.”
Wan Xiaozhou laughed.
“Miss Fang’s figure is already nice, just a bit on the skinny side. If you work out, you’ll look even better.”
She seemed quite interested in fitness, talking more than usual.
“Really?”
“Then I should get a gym membership when we get back!”
Fang Xiaocao pretended to be thrilled.
“Xiaozhou, do you have any workout plans you’d recommend?”
She pressed on.
“Start with the basics first.”
Wan Xiaozhou gave her a quick once-over before replying.
“Also, do some yoga to stretch and improve flexibility. That way, you won’t bulk up in the wrong places.”
She added thoughtfully.
“Got it, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Fang Xiaocao nodded.
“I heard that practicing combat sports like boxing or Sanda while working out helps with body shaping. Is that true?”
She asked with feigned curiosity.
“Yes, it’s true!”
“But it’s best to start young.”
“If you don’t have a foundation, yoga works just as well.”
Wan Xiaozhou nodded with a smile.
“Then you must have trained in combat sports while working out, right?”
Fang Xiaocao eyed her again, pushing further.
Hearing this, Wan Xiaozhou’s steps faltered.
For a split second, her expression stiffened.
She quickly recovered and smiled.
“Yes, I did practice combat techniques.”
She paused before adding:
“My family signed me up for classes when I was little.”
“Wow, that sounds impressive!”
Fang Xiaocao gasped in admiration.
“Xiaozhou, you must be really good at fighting!”
She asked, her tone full of intrigue.
“Not really~”
Wan Xiaozhou hesitated briefly before brushing it off.
“Miss Fang, we should hurry up.”
“If we lag too far behind, we might get lost.”
She quickly changed the subject.
With that, Wan Xiaozhou quickened her pace.
Fang Xiaocao stood still, watching her back with an unreadable expression.
She had noticed the subtle change in Wan Xiaozhou’s face.
Every question was intentional—meant to test her.
“It seems Wan Xiaozhou really is suspicious.”
Fang Xiaocao muttered to herself.
Through this exchange, she had mentally categorized Wan Xiaozhou as someone dangerous.
She had combat skills, likely quite strong ones.
If she ambushed someone, injuring an average adult male wouldn’t be difficult at all.
“Xiaocao, what are you doing?”
“Stop dawdling and catch up!”
Zhi Qi’s voice rang out.
Snapping back to reality, Fang Xiaocao responded, “Coming!”
She quickened her pace.
Rustle—
The bushes trembled.
A pair of eyes peeked through the branches, staring at Fang Xiaocao’s back.
Walking ahead, Wan Xiaozhou suddenly stopped.
She turned her head to look behind.
Her gaze landed directly on the bushes.
Swish!
The eyes disappeared instantly.
Rustle—
The bushes shook again.
“Xiaozhou, what’s wrong?”
Seeing her stop and glance back, Fang Xiaocao asked curiously while turning to follow her gaze.
“What’s that?”
She gasped as she caught sight of the shaking bush.
“Nothing, probably a small wild animal.”
“This forest is well-preserved, so there are plenty of wild creatures.”
Wan Xiaozhou replied with a smile.
“What happened?”
Hearing Fang Xiaocao’s exclamation, Zhi Qi ran over, concern evident on her face.
“N-nothing.”
Fang Xiaocao eyed the bush and hesitated.
“That bush just moved.”
“Xiaozhou said it’s probably a small wild animal.”
She explained.
Hearing this, Zhi Qi looked toward the bush.
Seeing that it was too low to hide any large predator, she relaxed.
“Probably just a small animal.”
Zhi Qi reassured her.
“Don’t be scared. Let’s keep moving.”
“Okay.”
Fang Xiaocao nodded, glancing at the bush one last time before following Zhi Qi.
Thinking about how she had just been standing near that bush, she felt a lingering sense of unease.
At the same time, her wariness of Wan Xiaozhou grew stronger.
“Such sharp instincts… can an ordinary person really have that?”
She wondered.
(End of Chapter 55)
