New Novel
Chapter 8: Are You Questioning Me?

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Are You Questioning Me?

A soft, alluring voice carried clearly to the ears of the team members.

Everyone’s heart skipped a beat as they stole glances at the pair at the center of the commotion.

’Their captain seems to be awake...’

With their minds racing, everyone quickly looked away, their expressions a mix of emotions.

’See no evil, hear no evil!’

Feeling a strange sensation on her neck and shoulder, Xu Qingsui quickly looked down.

Lu Jingyu was hovering between sleep and wakefulness. His eyes were still closed, his long, dark lashes trembling slightly.

She didn’t know what he was dreaming about, but his thin, rosy lips were gently nuzzling her neck and shoulder.

From time to time, he would even part his lips for a light nip.

The warm, damp puff of his breath, the tingling sensation from his nuzzling, and the feeling of his hesitant nips...

It made Xu Qingsui go weak all over, her heart feeling as if it were being tickled by a feather.

The turmoil in her heart, combined with the strange glances from those around them, made her cheeks flush red.

Just as she was debating whether to wake Lu Jingyu, worried it might interfere with the soothing effect, he slowly lifted his head and looked at her with sleepy, hazy eyes.

Xu Qingsui had just breathed a sigh of relief when her eyes widened in shock, and she held her breath.

Lu Jingyu wasn’t awake. He was even leaning in to kiss her.

Xu Qingsui was frozen, at a complete loss, watching helplessly as Lu Jingyu’s face grew larger in her vision.

"Captain... what are you two doing?"

Just as their lips were about to touch, a sharp, piercing voice cut through the air.

Lu Jingyu’s body jolted, and the haze in his eyes cleared, replaced by clarity.

Seeing her face so close, he realized what had happened and quickly backed away, putting distance between them.

"I’m sorry, I lost control again. Thank you for saving me once more."

Xu Qingsui’s cheeks were crimson as she averted her gaze.

"You’re welcome. I’m a guide; this is just what I’m supposed to do."

"What were you two doing just now?"

The sharp voice rang out again as a figure appeared before them. It was Li Yaru, who had deserted the team earlier.

Li Yaru’s eyes were bloodshot. She stared viciously at Xu Qingsui, as if she wanted to tear her to shreds.

Lu Jingyu’s brow tightened. ’Since when could a team member question me like this?’

Moreover, he really disliked the way she was looking at Xu Qingsui.

Recalling Li Yaru’s previous actions, he had already made a decision.

"Are you questioning me?"

Seeing the anger on Lu Jingyu’s face, Li Yaru panicked. "No... I wouldn’t dare..."

Her gaze flickered away, not daring to meet Lu Jingyu’s eyes.

"Captain, we’re still in the instance. Mutated organisms could appear at any moment. I thought you two... I was afraid you’d forgotten our current situation..."

Li Yaru scrambled for an excuse, but it was so clumsy that a trace of disgust appeared on Lu Jingyu’s face.

Seeing the expression on Lu Jingyu’s face, the hatred for Xu Qingsui in Li Yaru’s heart swelled rapidly.

But afraid of provoking Lu Jingyu further, she quickly changed the subject. "Captain, I just found a suspicious place. It might be related to clearing the instance. Let’s go check it out!"

’We’re still in the instance, after all,’ Lu Jingyu thought. ’Some matters can be dealt with after we leave.’

Lu Jingyu nodded, his expression unreadable. "Lead the way."

Li Yaru breathed a sigh of relief and immediately started walking back the way she came.

Originally, she had planned to find a place to hide and just lie low until they cleared the instance.

Unexpectedly, however, she had stumbled upon a strange location.

Thinking she could use it as a chance to stand out in front of Lu Jingyu, she had come to find them, only to witness the scene just now.

She had always relied on the fact that she was one of the few women in the Heiyu Alliance and had completed many missions with Lu Jingyu, believing she was destined to be the woman by his side.

But her repeated attempts to probe his feelings had all failed to get a response from Lu Jingyu.

Yet this woman, who had just appeared, had been in close contact with him multiple times.

This made Li Yaru so furious she was about to explode, and in a moment of anger, she had blurted out her question.

As she led the way, a hint of murderous intent crept into Li Yaru’s eyes.

Behind her, Lu Jingyu and Xu Qingsui walked side by side.

Although the earlier moment had been interrupted, both felt a strange stirring in their hearts.

Walking so close, the other’s presence lingered around them, agitating their hearts and sending their thoughts into a jumble.

In the end, it was Lu Jingyu who spoke first, formally introducing himself.

Just as Xu Qingsui finished introducing herself, Li Yaru, who was up ahead, began to walk faster and faster.

She couldn’t stand hearing Lu Jingyu whispering with Xu Qingsui.

Moving at a rapid pace, the group soon arrived at the place Li Yaru had mentioned.

Looking from a distance, they could see pillars of reef rock of various shapes and sizes standing on the seafloor.

Li Yaru scurried up to Lu Jingyu as if presenting a treasure, fawning over him. "Captain, the rules say that when the golden light blooms, the city will regain its prosperity. Look at these reef pillars..."

As she spoke, Li Yaru pointed at the reef pillars before them.

"Don’t they look like torches, or lamp posts? Maybe this is the key to clearing the instance."

Li Yaru deliberately batted her eyelashes, staring at Lu Jingyu with an expectant look, hoping for his approval and praise.

But her expectations were dashed. Lu Jingyu walked toward the reef pillars with a blank expression.

Li Yaru’s theory was a bit of a stretch, but having been in the instance for so long, this was the first time they had seen such a forest of reefs.

Even if this wasn’t the key to clearing the instance, there might be some clues here.

Lost in thought, he had already walked up to one of the reef pillars and reached out to touch its surface.

Li Yaru was a little disappointed, but when she saw Xu Qingsui and the other members about to step forward, she quickly blocked Xu Qingsui’s path and rushed to Lu Jingyu’s side.

Seeing that she had successfully separated the two, she shot Xu Qingsui a smug glance.

But Xu Qingsui paid her no mind, instead beginning to examine a nearby reef pillar.

Based on the experience from her past life, Xu Qingsui knew that strange places usually held some significance.

She was looking forward to another mutated organism or rule appearing so she could increase her spiritual power.

"Captain, have you found anything?"

Li Yaru continued to fawn over Lu Jingyu.

"Everyone has worked hard. Let’s rest here for ten minutes, then spread out and check the surroundings. Be careful, and report any findings immediately."

Lu Jingyu ignored Li Yaru and gave his orders.

Being ignored so pointedly, even the other team members started to feel embarrassed for her.

Seeing Li Yaru’s flushed face, no one dared to speak. They could only disperse, some resting and others investigating.

Humiliated and furious, the suppressed anger in Li Yaru’s heart gradually boiled over.

But she didn’t dare do anything to Lu Jingyu, so she could only turn her gaze toward Xu Qingsui.

’It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for you, he would never ignore me like this.’

A murderous glint flashed in her eyes. Li Yaru clenched her fists and strode toward Xu Qingsui, who had her back to her while examining a reef pillar.

But she had only taken a single step before a tall, imposing figure blocked her path.

"Don’t force me to deal with you right here and now!"

The icy voice shocked Li Yaru back to her senses, her murderous intent instantly replaced by fear.

"Captain, I..."