[Vol. 6] Chapter 199: Shadows of the Night
After reaching an agreement with Le Qiaoqiao, the forest was nearly completely shrouded in darkness. Violet decided it was best to stop moving for the day and continue the search for water the next morning.
Using the [Crystal Jades] they had picked up earlier, they exchanged for some more supplies before leaving the supply point. They found a relatively open area to set up camp and prepared to spend their first night in the wilderness survival competition.
It had to be said, Le Qiaoqiao, the temporary worker Violet had, was proving to be quite handy. After they picked a campsite, she didn’t even need instructions. She gathered plenty of dry firewood, skillfully started a fire using flint, set up a simple perimeter alarm with wood and string, and sprinkled some powder around the area, claiming it would repel insects and snakes.
The entire process was so smooth and practiced that Violet found herself a little surprised. It was clear that Le Qiaoqiao was no stranger to camping in the wild. In fact, if food weren’t an issue, this competition might be the perfect stage for her to show off her skills.
Once everything was ready, the two of them sat around the campfire. They roasted the plain biscuits, cured meat, and a few wild chickens and rabbits they had caught along the way, eating and chatting over some fresh water.
“So, is this enough to fill you up?”
Le Qiaoqiao glanced at the small mountain of food in front of her, about half a meter high, with biscuits, assorted side dishes, and roasted chicken. She hesitated as she inspected the chicken she was grilling over the fire.
“For one meal, yeah, this should be enough. But if you count the equipment and seasonings, this pile alone is probably worth around 10 [Crystal Jades], right? We can’t possibly afford to spend that much on food every single day…”
Violet smiled.
“Who says we can’t? One person equals 10 [Crystal Jades], and there are 300,000 participants in this forest.”
“You mean… robbing people? I don’t really mind, but let’s get one thing straight. I’m just a small-time thief. I’m good at sneaking around and running away, but I’m not about to risk my neck fighting strong opponents just to get a meal.”
“Little thief, huh...”
Violet nodded noncommittally, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Le Qiaoqiao's self-assessment. She simply followed the conversation naturally.
“I understand what you're worried about. Just saying I won’t harm you doesn’t mean much. Stay alert and use your own experience to judge if it’s safe. Like I said, I’m a boss with a conscience. As long as you don’t betray me, you’re free to leave anytime peacefully.”
To be honest, the reason Violet hired Le Qiaoqiao was partly because she happened to run into her and thought she seemed sharp. Violet figured it wouldn’t hurt to have someone around to handle small tasks. A temporary… "maid," so to speak.
But there was another reason.
Curiosity.
Le Qiaoqiao wasn’t just the ordinary little thief she claimed to be. Her ability to hide her presence and blend into her surroundings was remarkably sophisticated. If Violet hadn’t been on high alert in the unfamiliar forest, she might not have noticed Le Qiaoqiao hiding in the tree at all.
This skill reminded Violet of those from the [Shocking God Sect]. Young and extraordinarily talented individuals burdened with an impressive lineage or legacy. The scholar she encountered during the earlier trials seemed to fit a similar mold.
If it weren’t for the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], these young prodigies might never have crossed paths. Since they had, Violet thought it might be interesting to get to know them. It wasn’t a bad way to make her journey more engaging.
The two sat around the campfire, chatting here and there. For the most part, though, it was Le Qiaoqiao who was busy eating, occasionally responding to Violet with a few words between bites. It was hard to imagine how her petite frame, just slightly smaller than Violet's, could handle such a massive amount of food.
The world truly was full of wonders.
As for Violet, she barely touched the food, leaving most of it for the thief girl.
The divine race didn’t rely heavily on food for sustenance. While the cured meat and dry biscuits were filling, their taste left much to be desired. However, the meat roasted by Le Qiaoqiao smelled incredible, so Violet only tore off a few small pieces to sample.
Firewood was steadily added to the campfire, and as the flames crackled, the night grew deeper.
This part of the forest was already rarely visited by humans, and at night, the damp, cold air seemed to rise from the spiritual veins of the earth. Even with the campfire pushing back the chill as much as possible, the cold still seeped in, adding an eerie atmosphere.
If there really was something sinister lurking in the forest, now would be the time for it to act.
Suddenly, Le Qiaoqiao stopped gnawing on the last pieces of chicken and turned her head toward the distance. The firelight danced in her eyes, flickering with shadows that made it impossible to read her expression.
The campfire’s light extended no more than ten meters in radius. Beyond that, the pitch-black forest was an impenetrable void where even outstretched hands would disappear into darkness. The occasional chirps of insects seemed unable to dispel the oppressive stillness. Instead, the eerie silence slowly overtook them until the air was frighteningly quiet.
The only sound left was the faint crackling of the fire.
“What’s wrong?”
Whether she was genuinely oblivious or just pretending, the black-haired girl set aside a book she had been idly flipping through to kill time. Her gaze fell calmly on Le Qiaoqiao, who stood nearby.
But Le Qiaoqiao wasn’t joking or grinning this time. Instead, she raised her hand silently, pointing in a specific direction.
“The warning trap I set up… something triggered it and is coming closer.”
“What is it? A wild animal? Or maybe other participants drawn to the firelight?”
Le Qiaoqiao shook her head and reached for the small crossbow she carried on her back, flipping off its safety.
“Hard to say for sure right now. But typically, most wild animals wouldn’t approach bright firelight at night. As for participants, they should know fire means competitors and possible danger.”
She paused, her tone serious and thoughtful.
“It’s been at least an hour since nightfall. Who would still be wandering through a perilous forest like this in the dark?”
Whether she was asking Violet or speaking to herself wasn’t clear. But with her cautious gaze now fixed on Violet, she seemed to be looking for guidance.
“What do you say, boss?.”
“Hmm, let’s check it out first, no matter what. We’ll go together.”
“Alright then, let’s do it!”
With the decision made, the two women got up and left the bright, comforting circle of the campfire, heading toward the dim depths of the forest.
*Rustle, rustle...*
In the darkness, the occasional sound of rustling bushes echoed eerily. Le Qiaoqiao gripped her small crossbow tightly, cautiously advancing step by step toward their destination.
The light from the campfire grew fainter behind them, and the strange, unidentifiable noises also faded as they approached. Nearing the source of the disturbance, the thief girl stopped, glanced at the black-haired girl beside her, who was scanning the area carefully. She slowly reached out her hand to part the bushes.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!*
A piercing screech shattered the silence of the night. Le Qiaoqiao froze for a moment but then relaxed slightly, her tense expression easing into one of mild annoyance. She turned to Violet with a helpless look.
“Boss, it looks like it’s just a few baby birds that fell from the tree into the bushes. We…”
“Wrong!!!”
A sudden, violent clash, like metal blades colliding, rang out from a blind spot near her ear!
The surge of danger was so overwhelming that Le Qiaoqiao’s pupils contracted. Without hesitation, she fired three arrows at the figure briefly illuminated by a flash of golden light from a shield. The figure groaned and stumbled back into the shadows.
At that moment, a snow-white hand gently patted Le Qiaoqiao’s shoulder, startling her even further. Violet’s voice, tinged with a hint of teasing, broke the tension.
“You’ve got some skill, but your instincts are too shallow. Think about it. On a still, windless night, with no disturbances, how could baby birds just fall out of a tree for no reason?”
“That was bait. You almost died just now.”