Chapter 86: Capricorn
Before long, the bonfire was lit.
Su Wanqing and Wen Shi clumsily roasted the meat.
Yun Luoshu, Zhi Qi, and Fang Xiaocao busied themselves with butchering the wild boar.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingchen scurried about like a diligent little ant, collecting dry wood from the forest and making repeated trips back and forth.
Not long after, Wan Xiaozhou returned with Lin Meng.
Wan Xiaozhou helped Ye Lingchen gather firewood.
Lin Meng, on the other hand, joined the roasting efforts—she simply couldn’t bear watching Su Wanqing and Wen Shi struggle any longer. The meat they roasted was burnt black on the outside yet still raw on the inside.
Everyone played their part, and no one slacked off.
Food is the priority of the people!
No matter how vast the heavens and the earth, eating always comes first.
______
Rustle, rustle, rustle…
Footsteps echoed from the forest.
Everyone immediately became alert. Fang Xiaocao instinctively drew her pistol and looked up at the tree where Qian Xia was hiding.
Qian Xia, crouched on a branch, gestured an OK sign toward Fang Xiaocao.
Whew…
Seeing the signal, Fang Xiaocao exhaled in relief.
“It’s just Aquarius coming back. No need to worry,” she assured everyone, putting away her gun.
At her words, the others relaxed.
Aquarius emerged from the forest, swiftly approaching Fang Xiaocao. In a low voice, she reported, “Your Highness, I found them.”
“Found who?”
“Capricorn? Or those other people?” Fang Xiaocao frowned.
“Both,” Aquarius replied softly.
“Where?” Fang Xiaocao pressed on. “What’s the situation?”
“There are two men and two women currently engaged in battle with Capricorn and her team,” Aquarius explained.
A fight?
Fang Xiaocao’s eyes lit up. “How’s the battle going?”
“There are three skilled fighters among them. Even though they’re facing an onslaught from Capricorn’s group, they’re holding their ground well. They won’t fall easily,” Aquarius reported.
“Good!” Fang Xiaocao exclaimed.
“This is a great opportunity to eliminate Capricorn and her people.”
Her excitement was clear.
“Qian Xia, Xiaozhou, come here!” she called.
Qian Xia leaped from the tree and landed beside her in an instant. Wan Xiaozhou put down the firewood and walked over.
“What’s up?” Qian Xia asked.
“We found Capricorn’s group,” Fang Xiaocao explained. “They’re currently in a fight. I think this is our best chance to take them out.”
“What do you two think?”
“I’m with you,” Qian Xia said firmly.
Wan Xiaozhou nodded, expressing her agreement.
“Good. Let’s go take Capricorn down,” Fang Xiaocao declared.
Qian Xia and Wan Xiaozhou began preparing their gear.
“Lin Meng, Ye Lingchen!” Fang Xiaocao called.
“Here!” Ye Lingchen responded immediately.
“You two stay behind to protect everyone,” Fang Xiaocao instructed. “I’ll be taking Aquarius, Qian Xia, and Wan Xiaozhou with me.”
“Understood,” Ye Lingchen replied. “I’ll keep everyone safe.”
Fang Xiaocao nodded, gave a quick wave to Zhi Qi, then turned and strode into the depths of the forest.
Qian Xia, Wan Xiaozhou, and Aquarius quickly followed.
“Aquarius, lead the way,” Fang Xiaocao ordered.
“Yes!” Aquarius responded, darting ahead.
The group moved swiftly through the dense forest, weaving through the trees. Before long, the sound of intense combat reached their ears.
Fang Xiaocao raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.
She crept forward carefully, parting the tall grass to peer ahead.
In a small clearing, ten individuals were locked in fierce combat, weapons clashing as they battled furiously.
“Aquarius, which one is Capricorn?” Fang Xiaocao whispered.
“The one in the leather jacket with short, ear-length hair,” Aquarius said, pointing.
Fang Xiaocao followed Aquarius’s direction and immediately spotted Capricorn.
The woman was tall and dressed in a black leather jacket. She wielded a flexible sword, fighting fiercely against another tall woman dressed in a camouflage tactical jacket. The latter had her hair tied back in a ponytail and wielded a pair of daggers.
“She must be quite skilled to be able to fight Capricorn one-on-one,” Aquarius murmured in admiration.
Fang Xiaocao nodded in agreement.
Aquarius was right—both fighters were clearly experts.
“That’s Capricorn,” Fang Xiaocao confirmed. “She’s our target.”
“We take her out first.”
She pointed directly at Capricorn, her voice decisive.
Qian Xia, Wan Xiaozhou, and Aquarius all nodded in unison.
Fang Xiaocao pulled out her pistol, loaded a bullet into the chamber, and disengaged the safety.
She wasn’t great at close combat.
So, she’d rely on her gun.
Sweeping her gaze across the group, Fang Xiaocao gave the order: “Move!”
Even before she finished speaking, Aquarius, Qian Xia, and Wan Xiaozhou had already sprung into action, charging straight for Capricorn.
“Damn, they’re fast…” Fang Xiaocao muttered, quickly following suit with her pistol at the ready.
She hesitated to fire, uncertain of who was friend and who was foe.
Then, suddenly, her gaze landed on a young girl.
A girl just like her.
The girl clutched a dagger in her hands, curled up in a corner, her large, watery eyes filled with fear as she watched the chaotic battle unfold before her.
Fang Xiaocao raised an eyebrow.
This girl definitely isn’t an enemy.
If Blacklist had someone this green…
Well, they wouldn’t be the Blacklist anymore.
Glancing around cautiously, Fang Xiaocao quietly approached the girl.
“Hey there,” she greeted with a smile.
The girl flinched at her voice.
Her terrified eyes darted to Fang Xiaocao as she shakily raised her dagger, pointing it at her.
“D-Don’t come any closer…”
“I-I have a knife… I’m not afraid of you!”
The girl’s voice trembled as she spoke.
Fang Xiaocao chuckled.
She casually lifted her gun and gave it a slight shake.
The girl froze.
Then, her eyes welled with tears.
“Waaah…”
“You’re bullying me…”
The girl dropped her dagger, plopping down on the ground and sobbing.
Fang Xiaocao was stunned.
Where did this little crybaby come from?!
Why is she crying?
This is a life-and-death situation—who cares about a little bullying?!
“Stop crying!” Fang Xiaocao scolded, frowning. “If you keep crying, I’ll shoot you!”
The girl flinched, hastily biting back her sobs.
Her tear-filled eyes stared at Fang Xiaocao, brimming with grievance.
“What’s your name?” Fang Xiaocao asked, feigning anger.
“M-My name is Yu Ling…” the girl stammered.
Fang Xiaocao blinked.
Then, a name surfaced in her mind.
Yu Tianqi.
(End of Chapter 86)
