Chapter 28 – The Joking Attitude Completely Collapses

Today, Demon Hunter Academy had not scheduled any classes.

In fact, for the upcoming period, Demon Hunter Academy would no longer arrange any courses.

The Academy’s upper management had officially announced the news about the Spirit Demon Abyss appearing in Huaming District, making all Academy members aware that they would soon need to go to Huaming District to organize the Defense Line.

Under these circumstances, continuing classes was impossible, so the Academy directly granted all students official leave, disregarding attendance rates, allowing students to manage their own time before departing for Huaming District.

As a result, the Academy was exceptionally noisy today, with bustling crowds visible everywhere.

Students hurried about—some confirming the latest updates, others discussing matters among themselves, and some anxiously preparing combat equipment and supplies, creating scenes as tense and fervent as those in a military base.

Even the top students and elite students, who usually ranked at the top academically, had high reputations, and rarely appeared in public, could no longer hold back. Starting today, they frequently appeared around the Academy, moving through various areas and being surrounded by groups of students.

This was entirely normal.

The Academy had already issued a notice requiring students to form their own teams and submit the team rosters to the Academy for assigning roles and positions when organizing the Defense Line.

As a result, these top-ranking and elite students naturally became the center of attention, sought after fervently by their peers.

Since team formation was required, it wasn’t strange for students to want to join teams with those who ranked at the top.

Even the typically independent top students, who were confident in their abilities and usually undertook missions alone, set aside their pride and began carefully selecting their teammates.

No matter how outstanding their academic performance or how dazzling they were in the Academy, they were still just students.

In the professional world, they might not even measure up to a one-star Professional.

In this situation, Longyao Base City had directly summoned all Hunters and Sorcerers to jointly defend against the invading Phantom Demons from the Spirit Demon Abyss.

Among all the Hunters and Sorcerers in the Base City, there were undoubtedly high-star Professionals, and even the highest-ranking Six-Star Professionals would be deployed.

Compared to these Professionals, the students—no matter how exceptional or top-tier—were merely inexperienced youngsters. They didn’t believe they could stand alone in this crisis or survive the threat of the invading Phantom Demon army on their own.

Therefore, whether they were top students or elite students, they had no choice but to set aside their usual pride and self-importance and start forming teams.

Su Ming also received a call from Xu Qianqian, who informed him that she would form a team with some of the Academy’s top students and head to Huaming District together.

This puzzled Su Ming.

“Aren’t you going to act with your Family?” Su Ming asked Xu Qianqian.

With all the Professionals in the Base City mobilizing, the Xu Family, as one of the top Hunter Families in Longyao City, would undoubtedly deploy all their combat forces.As the young miss of the Xu Family, it would be perfectly normal for Xu Qianqian to move together with her family members and be protected by them.

However, Xu Qianqian didn’t seem to have such intentions.

The reason was simple.

“They have their own missions, and I’m not qualified to intervene yet. They would also oppose bringing me along because it’s too dangerous.”

Xu Qianqian’s concise explanation made Su Ming understand her meaning.

Simply put, this young miss would stay behind the frontline as a student, just like him.

For those Professionals, this position was undoubtedly the safest – no need to go to the very front, making it perfectly suitable for placing the younger generation of the family.

“It seems like the new generation from other Hunter families will also stay behind the frontline, performing harmless logistical tasks with us.”

Su Ming shrugged.

Xu Qianqian didn’t comment on this, but after remaining silent for a while, she asked Su Ming:

“If you want to join my team, I can arrange it for you.”

There was no doubt – Xu Qianqian was inviting Su Ming to join her team.

After all, even until today, Xu Qianqian still didn’t know Su Ming’s true strength.

In this young miss’s view, Su Ming was undoubtedly someone with hidden depths. Bringing such a person into her team would only bring benefits, no drawbacks.

But Su Ming refused without hesitation.

“No thanks, I don’t want to invite trouble.”

Even a fool would know that any team with Xu Qianqian would inevitably have Jianghu drama.

It was impossible for the team containing this goddess senior to not have one or two admirers, one or two supporters.

How glaring his presence would be to these admirers and supporters if he were invited in by this goddess senior was easily imaginable.

Plus, Xu Qianqian was still being targeted by assassins. The strength of her team must be extraordinary and would definitely be assigned higher-risk missions. All these unstable factors were telling Su Ming that he’d better keep his distance.

Not to mention, Su Ming hadn’t planned to reveal his strength yet.

If he didn’t reveal his strength but joined such a strong team, wouldn’t he just be asking for scorn and ridicule from those extras?

Who wasn’t an extra with a fragile heart these days?

Thus, Su Ming solemnly refused.

“Alright.” Xu Qianqian’s slightly helpless voice came through the phone, muttering as if to herself: “I knew you would refuse.”

It seemed this young miss had already prepared herself mentally for rejection.

“I’ll team up with my roommates, just tagging along, doing logistics work. As long as I can keep my little life safe, that’s enough.”

Su Ming said this.

“…Why can you say such embarrassing things with such a cheerful and bright tone?”

Xu Qianqian was rendered speechless.

“Let’s not talk about me, you should focus on taking care of yourself.” Su Ming offered a reminder: “Don’t forget, given your team’s positioning, you’ll definitely have to handle some troublesome missions later. And with those rats watching you, if you’re not careful, you might end up in serious trouble.”

“I’m aware.” Xu Qianqian said in a cool tone: “I’ll make complete preparations. If they dare come, let them come.””What about our mission then?” Su Ming continued asking, “The investigation into that Suspicious Group can’t possibly continue under these circumstances, right?”

“That mission will be temporarily suspended.” Xu Qianqian replied without much hesitation, “I’ve already consulted with my superiors, and they’ve permitted me to postpone its execution.”

“That makes sense.” Su Ming wasn’t surprised, saying, “Compared to the battle in Huaming District, investigating a Base City Executive’s private forces can’t possibly compare, even if there really were juvenile Phantom Demons of higher ranks involved.”

After all, this was a major situation concerning the safety of the entire Base City. Even the Base City Executives should understand that now isn’t the time for internal conflicts.

Those politicians couldn’t possibly fail to understand the principle that everyone shares in prosperity and adversity.

Of course…

“Taking advantage of this opportunity when all Professionals in the Base City are heading to Huaming District together, that Suspicious Group might lose many of their inhibitions and start acting more boldly.” Xu Qianqian said, “If you spot them, you could seize the chance to investigate. Given your position, you probably won’t be assigned any troublesome tasks anyway.”

“Alright.” This time, Su Ming didn’t refuse again, nodding as he said, “Before that, can I complete one transaction with you first?”

“Transaction?” Xu Qianqian was momentarily taken aback before understanding, “You mean helping you sell Extraordinary Items, right?”

“Exactly.” Su Ming stated his main purpose for contacting Xu Qianqian, explaining, “I originally planned to complete this investigation mission before trading with you, but I didn’t expect such a sudden situation to occur. I need to make some preparations too.”

What preparations?

Of course, opening packages!

Although, given Su Ming’s assigned role in this operation, he shouldn’t encounter any danger – but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Who knows if some extraordinary situation might occur later?

Who knows if the battlefront organized by the Base City might collapse?

If the frontline can’t hold and the Phantom Demon army breaks through, even support positions behind the battle lines would face serious threats.

Considering this, Su Ming felt he should seize the opportunity to properly open some packages and boost his strength first.

As long as he can open packages, at the very least he should get some useful items, right?

And if he could open something truly Heaven-Defying that could change his fate, then Su Ming would hit the jackpot.

“Fine.” Xu Qianqian thought for a moment before finally agreeing, “I’ll come find you after I finish handling my current matters.”

After saying this, Su Ming and Xu Qianqian chatted for a few more moments before hanging up.

But just as Su Ming ended the call, another call came through.

“Little Zijin?”

Seeing the caller’s name displayed on his phone screen, Su Ming didn’t overthink it and directly answered.

“Brother Su Ming!”

The next second, An Zijin’s happy and cheerful voice reached Su Ming’s ears.

Su Ming’s heart couldn’t help but soften.

It had to be said, An Zijin’s voice was truly pleasant to hear. Though not as crisp and melodious as Xu Qianqian’s, it was light, gentle, and soft, like the sound of wind chimes, directly bringing joy to one’s mood.”What’s wrong, Zijin?” Su Ming asked in a relaxed tone. “Calling so late at night – did you have a nightmare?”

“Of course not!” An Zijin replied with a huff. “Brother Su Ming, could you please stop treating me like a child?”

“Then what’s the matter?” Su Ming chuckled. “Instead of properly preparing for team formation and combat operations, you’re coming to chat with me in the middle of the night – this isn’t something to be encouraged, you know?”

Su Ming had only said this casually, just teasing the young girl a little.

Who would have thought that what An Zijin said next would completely shatter Su Ming’s playful mood.

“I actually wanted to talk to Brother Su Ming about this very matter!”

From the other end of the phone, An Zijin’s voice grew even more cheerful and delighted as she spoke these words.

“I want to bring my roommate to join Brother Su Ming’s team. Is that okay?”

Hearing this, the expression on Su Ming’s face froze completely.

Well, this…

(End of Chapter)