"Captain, we still haven't spotted Xie Xingyan's squad. This doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, even if they set off earlier than us, our team's overall physique is much stronger. There's no way we shouldn't have caught up by now."
"There's only one possibility—they didn't run at all. They must be hiding near the exit."
As his teammates analyzed the situation, Xie Xingyuan's expression turned dark and rigid.
He hadn't expected that right at the start, that damned girl would already trick him.
"We'll head back. Spread out and search. If anyone finds them, don't act rashly. Notify the rest of us to move in together."
None of them were fools. That initial setback had made them all more cautious in dealing with her squad.
Meanwhile, Xie Xingyan led her team to find a new hiding place. After all, their opponents weren't complete idiots—after a few hours, they were bound to catch on.
The others had no objections to her decision. Only Li Yuanyuan looked uneasy, her lips trembling before she finally spoke up:
"Captain, it's already dark. For safety's sake, shouldn't we just stay put?"
Before Xie Xingyan could respond, Emil cut in: "We have to move. Once the enemy realizes, they'll turn back and target us. Staying here would be suicide."
"That's right, I agree with Emil. Xie Xingyuan's team won't rest until they find us. Their pride wouldn't allow it."
Sayer, who had been in the same class as Xie Xingyuan, knew his personality well. Whether out of reason or personal bias, he sided with Emil.
As for Dalman—he had little opinion of his own, usually just following the majority.
With that, the matter was settled. Li Yuanyuan had no choice but to swallow her words. Inside, she seethed—everyone in this squad listened to Xie Xingyan. She couldn't sow division, and now they were constantly on the move.
Her initial anticipation turned into dread. Li Yuanyuan didn't dare imagine what would happen to her if Direna found she had failed after luring her here.
Even though Xie Xingyan had made the right call, traveling at night inevitably slowed them down. Worse, fortune was not on their side this time.
They ran right into Xie Xingyuan.
The moment he saw them, he turned to flee.
Xie Xingyan tossed the treasure chest to Emil and rushed after him with Sayer.
Sayer's physique was slightly higher than Xie Xingyuan's—an A+ rank—so he caught up first.
When Xie Xingyan arrived, she saw the two locked in a fierce struggle. Their fighting styles were too similar; neither could gain the upper hand.
No good. If this dragged on, it would only hurt them.
With that thought, Xie Xingyan leapt into the fray. Her unpredictable strikes threw Xie Xingyuan off balance, forcing him briefly into a defensive position.
Seizing the chance, she pinned down his right hand while Sayer used his tall, powerful frame to restrain him completely.
"Beep. Student Xie Xingyuan, you have triggered the 'withdraw' button. Confirm withdrawal?"
Under her brother's venomous, furious glare, Xie Xingyan did not hesitate. She pressed the confirmation with his hand.
Rage exploded inside him. That despicable little sister—how dare she use such a shameless trick instead of beating him head-on!
To think he'd be the first in his squad eliminated—it shattered his pride. Snapping, he lashed out with his mental power.
So what if mental attacks were forbidden during the trial? He had been forced into a corner. He would drag her down no matter what—it was the only way to deny her satisfaction.
But Xie Xingyan had been wary from the start. The instant she sensed his mental assault, she threw up a protective barrier over herself and her teammates.
When he saw her unharmed while more than half his spiritual power had been consumed, humiliation burned him to the core.
Though unwilling, he was eventually escorted away by the instructor who had come to enforce the withdrawal.
Before leaving, Xie Xingyuan suddenly burst into wild laughter, casting them a triumphant glance.
Damn it. He'd used a diversion. The rest of her squad was in danger.
Sayer came to the same realization. His worry turned to Emil—she had the treasure chest, which made her the most obvious target.
When they rushed back, their hearts sank at the sight of three teammates lying unconscious on the ground.
Xie Xingyan sprinted over, immediately pulling recovery potions from her spatial button and feeding them to each of the three.
As Emil regained consciousness, the first thing she did was shout: "Sayer! Quick, get the treasure chest—it's hidden in the tree, wrapped in leaves!"
Ten minutes earlier, Emil had sensed something was wrong. She'd decided to stash the chest away, reasoning that as long as it was returned to her within fifteen minutes, the mission rules would still hold.
So, when Xie Xingyuan's teammates failed to find the chest on her, they assumed the others had it. After looting their spatial buttons, they left, never considering such a loophole.
"Emil, you really saved us this time. If not for your foresight, we'd be done for."
Xie Xingyan was never stingy with praise. When a teammate contributed, she encouraged them wholeheartedly, without a trace of envy.
After that, the five stuck together, refusing to split up again.
Meanwhile, Xie Xingyuan's remaining squad members were in shock after learning he had withdrawn.
"The captain? Quit? Impossible. He would never do that!"
"Only one explanation—those bastards must have forced him to!"
"Can we report them for this shameless trick?"
"Unlikely. The school rules never forbid it. They just exploited a loophole."
"Damn them. If I meet them again, I'll make them taste what it's like to be forced out!"
Though Xie Xingyan had managed to eliminate one enemy, she knew full well that such a trick could only work once. Next time, they'd be ready.
So, after some discussion, she put her knowledge of Gulan Star's mortise-and-tenon structures to use, crafting several identical wooden chests.
At a glance, they were indistinguishable from the real one. Each teammate carried one close to their body.
On the observation ship, the instructors watching the feed looked at each other in astonishment. None had expected Xie Xingyan's mind to work so quickly.
But the Class A mecha instructor gave a disdainful snort. "Hmph. Using underhanded tricks to eliminate others. People who exploit loopholes like this shouldn't even be credited for passing the trial."
The others exchanged knowing looks. Wasn't it just because his student had been the one eliminated? Must he be so bitter?
Teacher Melusa, unbothered, smiled faintly. "What can I say? When a disciple is too clever, it's only natural to attract a little jealousy."
"Melusa, don't get smug. Your student only won through disgraceful tricks."
As the two squared off, the rest of the instructors hurried to smooth things over, trying to prevent the quarrel from escalating further.