Chapter 36
Shen Xili had just snapped open the nutrient solution and drank it when the ground shook. Both of them were swayed significantly by the tremor. Before they could react to the cause, they heard a wolf’s howl.
“Awoo—”
The Black Wolf!
Alarm bells rang in Shen Shuyu’s heart. How could he forget about it! This Black Wolf must have heard their commotion just now and followed the sound.
Now Chi Yanxun and the others were nowhere to be found, and Lin Xuyi wouldn’t be back for a while. It was just him and Shen Xili—one weak, one injured.
Shen Xili heard it too. His face was solemn as he slowly stood up, palms bracing against the rock wall. He whispered, “You go find Lin Xuyi.”
He and Shen Shuyu couldn’t both perish here. If Shen Shuyu went to find Lin Xuyi, maybe they could fight for a sliver of hope.
After speaking, Shen Xili took a short knife from his bag and stuffed it into Shen Shuyu’s arms. “Self-defense.”
He reached behind his neck and tore off the inhibitor patch. The scent of cold plums instantly swept over both of them. Shen Shuyu saw that Shen Xili’s condition was wrong; the veins that had subsided were bulging again. The mobilization of pheromones accelerated the movement of the red ant toxin in his body.
The footsteps of the Black Wolf were getting closer; it must have discovered them.
Shen Xili said coldly, “Go.”
After speaking, he walked out from behind the rock. The Black Wolf was indeed less than ten meters away from them. Smelling Shen Xili’s pheromones, it retreated a few steps, letting out a hoarse roar from its mouth. It seemed to hate the smell of pheromones.
After all, on a real battlefield, pheromones could also be used as ‘weapons.’
Shen Shuyu knew that with his currently frail stamina, staying here would be a burden. Moreover, there was a high probability that when eliminated, he would be taken out together with Shen Xili.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on the short knife in his hand. This knife looked old; the patterns on the handle and sheath were worn. Shen Shuyu pulled out the knife; the blade inside was incredibly sharp.
This must be the life-saving knife the protagonist had kept with him since childhood, almost never leaving his hand. Today, it was thrust into his hands just like that.
Shen Shuyu’s mood was complex. He poked his head out from behind the rock again. The sleeve of Shen Xili’s left arm was already torn to shreds, and blood from his movements had almost soaked his entire left side!
Damn it! Isn’t this a survival war organized by the school? Do students really have to lose half a life just for this?
He felt the cold plum scent in the air grow heavier. Fortunately, the inhibitor injected earlier was effective; only his gland felt hot.
Shen Shuyu looked a few more times, shouting for the System in his mind. The System still didn’t respond.
Trash System! Playing dead at every critical moment!
Now the three Alphas were missing, and Shen Xili was struggling to buy him time. Shen Shuyu felt his brain throbbing.
Was this plot in the original novel?!
Didn’t the novel only focus on his troublemaking scenes?! Why are there so many details!
Shen Shuyu dared not delay any longer. He had to find Lin Xuyi quickly. But he had taken less than five steps when a tree made a violent crashing sound. He turned to look. Shen Xili was lying under the tree, covered in blood. His hands clenched into fists, struggling to get up. If the Black Wolf attacked again, he would probably be eliminated directly.
Shen Shuyu withdrew his gaze and continued walking out without looking back.
Shen Xili watched Shen Shuyu listen to him, taking his knife and walking out of the forest. Good, at least he was obedient at the critical moment. In the first level, losing one person was better than losing two.
He struggled to turn over, facing the Black Wolf. The Black Wolf had also taken quite a few injuries during their fight and was currently suppressed by his pheromones. But pheromones weren’t inexhaustible, and coupled with the red ant poison, if he hadn’t been poisoned, maybe he could have delayed it longer. Now, buying Shen Shuyu a little escape time was the limit.
Soon, he wouldn’t be able to suppress it anymore.
Shen Xili’s mind was becoming blurry. The veins on his neck and arms bulged even more severely than before. He had wanted to walk toward first place with the team, but he didn’t expect to be eliminated in the first level.
Under the suppression, the Black Wolf slowly stood up bit by bit. “Awoo—”
The howl was fiercer this time. It was ready for the final strike.
Shen Xili felt his pheromones gradually dissipating. He exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. He had no strength to fight back. He waited quietly for the Black Wolf to eliminate him, but after waiting a while, the next move didn’t come.
Just as he opened his eyes in doubt, he felt someone helping him up.
He opened his eyes. Shen Shuyu, who had left, was standing in front of him. He snapped open a nutrient solution and said viciously, “Young Master’s nutrient solutions are almost all drunk by you. If you don’t pay me back when we get out, I’ll definitely have my brother kill you.”
Shen Xili felt the liquid flowing down his throat into his stomach. While he was still dazed, he was barely hoisted onto Shen Shuyu’s back. He was bent over a bit, but it was manageable—similar to Wen Jiafei.
Shen Shuyu didn’t dare to stay. Carrying Shen Xili, he ran.
Just now, his conscience couldn’t take it. Besides, this was the Protagonist Shou! If he was eliminated in the first level, who would he direct his future troublemaking at? And just at that moment, the glitchy System came back online. He made a prompt decision and negotiated with the System.
Although the System didn’t have much energy, it exchanged a small packet of anesthetic powder for him. The amount wasn’t much, maybe only enough to make the Black Wolf sleep for three minutes, but it was enough.
If he couldn’t beat it, he could hide! Plus, the System told him there was a hiding spot nearby, and Lin Xuyi was on his way back. As long as they stalled until the antidote arrived, they had a chance!
Relying on sheer will, Shen Shuyu felt like he was floating as he walked, but he gritted his teeth and persisted. Damn it, as a cannon fodder, he was really doing too much!
When the plot ends, I absolutely have to punch the Protagonist Gong, the Protagonist Shou, and Wen Jiafei once each. These damn protagonists!
Shen Xili lay weakly on Shen Shuyu’s back. From his angle, he could see the sweat on Shen Shuyu’s body, and under the loose collar…
He looked away. His neck seemed to redden even more. Moreover, he was incredibly close to Shen Shuyu’s gland. Even though the inhibitor patch was on, he could still smell the scent of rain-beaten camellias.
Very faint, yet unexpectedly alluring.
Shen Xili couldn’t help but say, “You… put me down.”
The nutrient solution had restored some of his strength; he could walk by himself now.
Shen Shuyu didn’t stop, his heart set on the hiding spot. Hearing Shen Xili say this, he said irritably, “Shut your mouth! I’m almost dying of exhaustion and you’re still talking to me. Say another word, and I’ll have my brother beat you up when we get out!”
Shen Xili: …
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