Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Chapter 426: Chapter 22 You are Not the Captain
 

Before the advent of the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu, insect-controlling cultivators actually faced a rather awkward status: they were too easily restrained by Taoism Method.

Take Tang Xiaolian’s Peach Blossom Miasma and the Flying Fire Ants, for example. They look numerous, overwhelming, and quite frightening. But with a single “Tidal Division” from Su Yunjin, a deluge of water could instantly scatter them to the winds.

Compared to the physically strong Demons and Spirit Beasts, Gu Insects are too fragile, and they aren’t as adept at stealth as Yin Ghosts. Therefore, current military foresight research generally believes that the future of insect-controlling cultivators lies in reconnaissance and providing support, rather than taking on the role of the main attacker.

The emergence of the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu completely changed this perception.

Impervious to blades and fire, it meant neither Flying Swords nor Taoism Method could inflict any damage, and its strategic significance was self-evident.

Of course, the current stage of the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu is not invincible. For instance, Qing An Team’s Assistant Officer Wang Haoran, whose magic treasure is an Annals of History Scroll, can emit a vast expanse of Qing Guang that can immobilize people or Flying Swords. In battle, when he fixes the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu with Qing Guang, he can effectively render it invisible—a lone insect must be extremely cautious of such controlling techniques.

“Of course, from another perspective, it’s like forcing the opponent to use up one of their control-type offensive methods,” Zhang Huaide analyzed for everyone. “On the battlefield, being immobilized means being at the mercy of others, so you have to be on guard against his control techniques all the time. But if you use the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu as an exchange piece, then our tactical execution will be much more at ease.”

“This Gu insect is of great significance to us,” Zhou Hongyu concluded.

“On this matter, it’s not just Xiaolian who owes Captain Yan a favor; our entire team does,” Zhang Huaide continued. “Considering that the incident started with Xiaolian insisting on following Captain Yan into the Mysterious Realm, even though he now appears nonchalant about it, we should still try to do our best in aftercare.”

“I’ve been trying hard to make up for it,” Tang Xiaolian quickly said. “I have been working on building rapport with him all this time!”

“Are you sure that’s building rapport, not harassing him?” Qin Meng retorted.

“Nonsense,” Tang Xiaolian rolled her eyes. “Captain Yan is a person whose inside matches his outside. If he’s annoyed with you, he is annoyed with you. If I dared to bother him, he would have scolded me long ago.”

“Xiaolian, you need to maintain a good relationship with Captain Yan because you are the biggest beneficiary this time. Of course, the specifics are up to you,” Zhang Huaide said gravely. “Captain Zhou, I’ll go with you to thank Captain Yan in person.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Zhou Hongyu frowned slightly, obviously reluctant.

“Don’t forget, your Crimson Feather Nine Phoenix Fire was also obtained for you by Captain Yan,” Zhang Huaide reminded.

“Wasn’t it an equal exchange with the Thunder Method from the Zhendong Army?” Hou Qing questioned.

“What equal exchange?” Tang Xiaolian immediately scoffed. “The Thunder Method has stringent cultivation conditions and requires an extremely strict True Yuan capacity. There’s no suitable candidate within the entire Pingxi Army to cultivate it, whereas the Crimson Feather Nine Phoenix Fire is extremely needed by our captain. To exchange a method we can’t utilize for one we desperately need is clearly a huge advantage for us. How could we have the nerve to talk about an equal exchange? With Xie Ruoxi from their team being a Magic Cultivator with abundant True Yuan, it’s not like she has to hang herself on the Thunder Method tree. Even if she cultivated the Crimson Feather Nine Phoenix Fire, it would work for her. What’s the need for her to insist on exchanging with us?”

Hou Qing’s face turned pale, then green, then pale again before he finally said in a muffled voice:

“I was mistaken.”

“Enough,” Zhou Hongyu signaled Tang Xiaolian to stop and then said to Zhang Huaide, “Let’s go.”

When the two approached Yan Yu, who was napping with a blanket over him, they heard Zhang Huaide laugh and say,

“Captain Yan, our team owes you a big thanks for Xiaolian obtaining the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu. We really appreciate your help.”

“Thank you,” Zhou Hongyu said succinctly.

Yan Yu slowly opened his eyes, first smiling at Zhang Huaide,

“You’re welcome, Zhang. It’s too formal to say it like that.”

Then he turned to Zhou Hongyu, his smile fading slightly as he remarked,

“Just a thank you? Isn’t there a cup of tea or something for me?”

Zhou Hongyu, expressionless, picked up a cup from the table and then went to the counter to ask Tang Xiaolian,

“Where’s the floral tea?”

Everyone was shocked: was Captain Zhou really going to make tea for Captain Yan?

“Over there, on the top shelf,” Tang Xiaolian pointed and added, “Captain Yan prefers jasmine tea.”

“Where’s the jasmine tea?” Zhou Hongyu asked again.

Everyone was shocked again: was Captain Zhou really going to make jasmine tea for Captain Yan?

“In the top right compartment,” Tang Xiaolian said.

“Well done, Tang Xiaolian!” Qin Meng said in surprise. “You’ve even figured out Captain Yan’s tea preferences!”

“What else?” Tang Xiaolian retorted. “I have helped run a family guesthouse before, you know?”

Zhou Hongyu brewed a cup of jasmine tea and placed it on the table in front of Yan Yu.

Yan Yu kept his arms wrapped in the blanket and said with a faint smile,

“You’ve only made me tea, what about yourself?”

“I’m not thirsty,” Zhou Hongyu shook his head.

“Sit,” Yan Yu indicated the seat opposite him.

Zhou Hongyu didn’t refuse but sat down in the chair across from him, opting not to lean back. Instead, he sat up straight, hands on his knees, his cold gaze fixed on Yan Yu as if to say, “I’m watching what you’re going to pull next.”

From the counter where he stood chatting with others, Captain Zhou saw Zhou Hongyu sitting with perfect posture on the other side and heaved a silent sigh.

Forget it, I can’t manage and have no way to manage interactions between captains.

Yan Yu calmly observed Zhou Hongyu’s pretty face, while the latter met his gaze with a stubborn and defensive look in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Yu suddenly showed a smile, “You seem to be afraid of me?”

“Afraid of you!” Zhou Hongyu instantly got angry, first with a growl, then feeling her reaction might have been too intense, she quickly switched to a cold, scornful tone, and retorted, “Afraid of you?”

“Otherwise?” Yan Yu said, “Right now, you’re like a little kid who just started kindergarten, having to sit up straight because they’re scared of being scolded by the teacher…”

Before he could finish, Zhou Hongyu leaned back in her chair and looked out the window, casually saying:

“You sure know how to pick a nice place.”

The meaning of changing the subject was, if you keep spouting nonsense about me being scared of you, I might really lose my composure.

Yan Yu didn’t press further and just said:

“The location of Xiaolian’s homestay has nothing to do with me, if you want to compliment, compliment her.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Hongyu responded with a sound but had nothing more to say.

“The reason why I helped her was purely coincidental.” Yan Yu continued, “Before entering the Mysterious Realm, I didn’t know it would have Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Hongyu said.

“As for my current condition, it’s because I overreached myself in the Mysterious Realm.” Yan Yu said with a smile, “See? This is what happens when you insist on being too strong.”

“Yeah.” Zhou Hongyu said.

“Are you getting a bit impatient?” Yan Yu asked tentatively.

“No.” Zhou Hongyu said.

Yan Yu immediately laughed helplessly. Given Zhou Hongyu’s lone star-like character, it seemed she disdained lying: if she’s annoyed, she’s annoyed; if she’s not, she’s not. No need to say one thing when she means another.

That is to say, she didn’t want to talk more, but rather… didn’t know what to talk about with him?

Interesting woman.

“Ding Ding~” Tang Xiaolian suddenly appeared above Yan Yu, holding onto the top of his recliner with both hands, a bright smile on her face as she spoke to the two, “It’s tea time in the afternoon! What would the two guests like to have? Would you like to start with cupcakes, crispy meat, cherry tomatoes, or…”

“Not eating you, thank you.” Yan Yu said, “I’m allergic to you.”

“That’s mean!” Tang Xiaolian hit him on the head, chiding, “Captain Yan, no mean talk allowed! So, Captain, what do you want to eat?”

“Fried crispy meat.” Zhou Hongyu said.

“How much?” Yan Yu asked, “Not telling the price, are you planning to rip us off?”

“Today’s afternoon tea will be on Miss Tang.” Tang Xiaolian hummed, “If you don’t choose now, you’ll miss out.”

“So, is it still okay to choose now?” Yan Yu asked.

“Too late!”

Tang Xiaolian brought a lot of food from the kitchen to treat the teammates of the Huofeng Team.

Everyone gathered to eat and drink, laughing and chatting, pretending not to see Captain Zhou and Captain Yan in the distance.

Zhou Hongyu held a plate of fried crispy meat, dipping it in chili powder and eating slowly with chopsticks. Yan Yu sat opposite her, and although Tang Xiaolian joked that he had no part in it, in the end, she brought over a plate of cupcakes (one of each color), a plate of crispy meat, and a fruit platter mixed with tomatoes and blueberries, which looked very plentiful.

“Would you like some, Captain Zhou?” Yan Yu leisurely sipped his tea, pushing the plate of cakes a bit closer to the opposite side.

“I already have some.” Zhou Hongyu said.

“Really?” Yan Yu pretended to be shocked, “Whose is it?”

Zhou Hongyu gave him a cold glare.

“Just a joke.” Yan Yu laughed it off, “You looked so serious, just trying to lighten the mood.”

“That’s just how I am.” Zhou Hongyu said, “If you’re not used to it, don’t bother me so often.”

“I can testify that Captain Zhou is indeed like this.” Tang Xiaolian popped up out of nowhere again, smiling, “But I’m not, you know, if Captain Zhou doesn’t bother with you, Captain Yan, you can still come to me~”

“You?” Yan Yu looked her over, “I don’t think you’ll do…”

“Why not?” Tang Xiaolian’s eyes widened.

“You’re not a captain.” Yan Yu said.

Tang Xiaolian puffed up her cheeks in frustration, then turned her pleading eyes towards Zhou Hongyu, only to see her head down, eating her crispy meat again, making her facial expression unclear.