CH 87

Chapter 87: With Gain Comes Loss

The excitement of feeling like a reborn person after the catastrophe passed subsided and Su Zihan gradually regained his composure and noticed something amiss.

This is simply unscientific. They were right on the rhino beast's path, yet it made no sense that the rhino beast saw them but didn't attack.

Thinking back to Xiao Qingyang's confident assurance before, did the rhino beast really ignore them because of Qingyang?

Su Zihan was genuinely curious about Xiao Qingyang's method and asked, "Qingyang, how did you make the rhino beast not attack us?"

Xiao Qingyang revealed a mysterious smile but didn't answer the question. How could he answer this?

He couldn't just tell Su Zihan that he used his spiritual power to envelop everyone and make them invisible, so the rhino beast didn't see them and thus didn't attack.

Even if he was an open book, he couldn't disclose such information to others, not even to his teammates. Since he didn't know how to answer, Xiao Qingyang could only smile in response.

However, his smile took on a different meaning in Su Zihan's eyes.

Although alchemists may appear physically weaker, they usually have one or two life-saving methods. Otherwise, if they encounter danger and the ability users are not present or unable to arrive in time, what choice do the alchemists have other than to wait for death?

And naturally, means of self-preservation during critical moments like this shouldn't be easily shared with others.

After understanding this, Su Zihan felt regretful for his earlier curiosity and worried that Xiao Qingyang might misunderstand. He quickly explained, "I didn't intend to pry into your secret. Methods of self-preservation like this shouldn't be told to others, otherwise, what would we do if we encounter danger in the future?"

Xiao Qingyang didn't know what Su Zihan had imagined, but at least the current situation was in his favor.

As long as they didn't continue to inquire about the previous matter, Xiao Qingyang would be relieved. He smiled and replied, "It's okay."

"Qingyang, what should we do now?" Su Zihan asked, implicitly regarding Xiao Qingyang as their leader.

With this question, the previous matter was also put behind them, and Xiao Qingyang's anxieties were completely alleviated.

In reality, he didn't overthink it from the beginning. He only wanted to protect Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian, alleviate the burden on the other teammates, and allow them to fight the rhino beasts without any worries.

But when he truly managed to save everyone, Xiao Qingyang realized the problem. The matter of spiritual power was definitely something he couldn't share with others. If someone were to ask how he did it, he wouldn't know how to respond either.

Fortunately, the topic was finally brushed aside.

"We must find a safe place to hide and wait for our teammates to return victorious," Xiao Qingyang said to the other two.

The only thing they could do now was to protect themselves and await the triumphant return of their teammates.

In truth, Xiao Qingyang wanted to go to the battlefield and help his teammates. However, with two almost powerless teammates in tow, he had to prioritize their safety.

Therefore, Xiao Qingyang dismissed the idea of going to the frontline to assist his teammates and focused wholeheartedly on protecting Gu Xiaotian and Su Zihan.

Although the rhino beasts had passed by them, no one was certain if they would come back. So, this place was not safe, and they needed to relocate.

"Where should we go then? We don't have a map, and if we wander aimlessly, what if they can't find us later?" Su Zihan expressed her concerns.

As long as Xiao Qingyang had his spiritual consciousness, he wouldn't lose track of his teammates, but he couldn't reveal everything at once.

Su Zihan and the others didn't suspect anything this time, but who knew if their repeated encounters with unscientific events would raise suspicions?

Initially, Xiao Qingyang planned to use his spiritual consciousness to search for a safe place while keeping an eye on his teammates' situation. He knew that after they dealt with the rhino beasts, his teammates would certainly return along the same path to find them.

And since the previously traveled route was within the scope of his spiritual consciousness monitoring, he would be the first to notice their return.

However, after hearing Su Zihan's words, Xiao Qingyang realized that his previous plan was not well thought out. If they were in the cultivation world, they wouldn't need to worry. They could simply leave. But here, in the interstellar era without cultivators, everything was different.

In the end, Xiao Qingyang decided not to leave this place for now and instead find a relatively safe location nearby.

Xiao Qingyang looked around and then glanced up, saying to Gu Xiaotian and Su Zihan, "Can you two climb trees?"

"Climb trees?" Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian repeated simultaneously.

"In order to avoid getting lost ourselves and to ensure that our teammates can find us, it's better not to go too far from here. The trees nearby can provide us with a hiding place and some safety," Xiao Qingyang pointed to the tall and sturdy trees around them.

Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian both looked up at the towering trees that had branches starting several dozen meters above the ground. They couldn't help but swallow nervously and eagerly looked at Xiao Qingyang.

Even though neither of them spoke, the message conveyed through their eyes was crystal clear to Xiao Qingyang.

"Here's the plan: I'll climb up first and then tie the rope to a branch. You two can hold onto the rope and climb up," Xiao Qingyang said.

It seemed that using this clumsy method was their only option now. If only he had enough spiritual power and could expose himself, he could have easily carried one person in each hand and flown up to the trees.

At this moment, Xiao Qingyang deeply missed the freedom of using spiritual power in the cultivation world, without worrying about being discovered and only being able to use it secretly.

Sigh... There are gains and losses. Xiao Qingyang sighed silently in his heart and reflected on the situation.

Although the interstellar era was technologically advanced, with many things achievable without relying on spiritual power, even ordinary people living in this era had a much better life than ordinary people in his past era.

However, once they encountered situations where technology couldn't be used, everyone's abilities would plummet. This was not good, not good at all.

The saying "rely on oneself rather than others" applied to technology as well. No matter how advanced and convenient technology was, there would always come a day when it was lost. Only one's own abilities would always stay with them and become a means of self-preservation.

At this moment, Xiao Qingyang became even more determined to restore his cultivation level and regain the same physical fitness as in his past life. He firmly refused to be blinded by technology and slack off.

Looking at the tall tree in front of him, Xiao Qingyang didn't take it seriously at all. He had seen and climbed many trees like this before. Climbing trees was just like walking on flat ground to him.

However, he remembered that this was the interstellar era, and he couldn't appear too exceptional, as it would raise suspicions.

Therefore, Xiao Qingyang controlled his speed and climbed slowly. But little did he know that even though he deliberately slowed down, it still seemed fast in the eyes of Gu Xiaotian and Su Zihan.

The two of them looked at Xiao Qingyang with admiration as he quickly climbed to the first fork in the tree, securely tied the rope to the branch, and then slid down the rope.

His posture was truly cool.

"Qingyang, you're amazing! Did you used to climb trees often? You climbed up so quickly and effortlessly. It's truly impressive," Su Zihan exclaimed with sparkling eyes, not holding back her praise.

"It's nothing special," Xiao Qingyang replied, feeling a little embarrassed by Su Zihan's straightforward compliments.

Facing the enthusiasm and straightforwardness of people in the interstellar era, Xiao Qingyang still felt somewhat uncomfortable, but he didn't dislike it either.

"Come on, hold onto the rope and climb up. I'll be right behind you. Don't worry about falling," Xiao Qingyang handed the rope to Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian, gently reassuring them.

Although Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian were not super-powered individuals or hyperactive individuals from the Mecha Academy who couldn't sit still, they still had a mischievous side. They were curious about climbing trees, but their physical limitations always prevented them from succeeding.

However, with Xiao Qingyang escorting them this time, they had no reservations. They grabbed the rope and started climbing, seizing the opportunity to experience a childhood adventure they hadn't completed.

Su Zihan took the lead, followed closely by Gu Xiaotian, and Xiao Qingyang was the last one.

Xiao Qingyang kept a fair distance from the two, giving them enough time and space while ensuring that he could catch them if they slipped and fell, preventing any injuries.

The mere dozens of meters took Su Zihan and Gu Xiaotian a full ten minutes to climb. If it weren't for their reluctance to appear too weak and slow Xiao Qingyang down, they might have returned to the ground much earlier.

"This is the most difficult tree I've ever climbed in my life, and also the tallest. I'm so happy," Su Zihan exclaimed, exhausted, as he lay directly on a tree branch. He gasped for breath while expressing his satisfaction with a smile on his face.

If it weren't for Xiao Qingyang's presence, he probably wouldn't have made it up. Despite feeling tired, the sense of achievement was overwhelming.

Gu Xiaotian wore a similar smile. Even though he was too exhausted to speak, it was evident that he was content.

Xiao Qingyang collected the rope and felt happy seeing his two teammates behave this way.

Thus, the three of them sat or lay on the branches, waiting for the other teammates' triumphant return.

"Qingyang, Xiaotian, how do you think they're doing now? Can they handle those Rhino Beasts? They look so big and formidable. They'll be facing three or four of them at once. Will they be able to handle it?" Su Zihan, finally catching her breath, started to worry about the safety of their other teammates.

"If they follow the strategy we discussed this morning, they should be fine. We have to trust them," Xiao Qingyang reassured Su Zihan.

In truth, he wasn't sure either because he didn't know the true strength of the third-level mutant beasts in this world.