I Have a Golden Crow

As the vehicle came to a stop in front of a barbecue restaurant, everyone got off.

It was already three in the afternoon, yet the seven or eight small tables in front of the shop were still packed with diners.

”Hurry, hurry.” Li Mengnan pursed her lips, grabbed Lin Shiwei’s arm, and strode into the shop.

Lin Shiwei couldn’t help but laugh, ”Craving it?”

”Just smell it.” Li Mengnan blushed slightly and spoke in a low voice.

As the two of them walked past the tables, the aroma of barbecue wafted into their noses. For Li Mengnan, who had eaten compressed biscuits for four days, it was simply irresistible!

”108.” Lin Shihao jogged a few steps, leading the two women into a private room.

Du Yu arrived shortly after, and inside, a group of students were exchanging pleasantries.

Aside from the former teammate Ye Xihai, the remaining three men and one woman were naturally members of the Liu family.

Among them, one man and one woman were familiar to Du Yu, namely the Blue Team’s core leader Liu Juncai and Liu Junxing, who had been eliminated by him before.

As for the other two, Du Yu hadn’t met them before.

With Du Yu’s arrival, a brief silence fell over the room.

Luckily, the barbecue restaurant was bustling and lively, significantly easing the awkward atmosphere.

”You all surely know this person, so I won’t introduce him further.” Lin Shihao said with a smile, patting Du Yu on the shoulder.

”Liu Juncai.” The girl gracefully extended her hand.

She had long, straight black hair and a noble, cool look, seemingly out of place in this roadside eatery.

Of course, most Demon Tamers carried an intimidating demeanor.

Take Dong Yujun, for instance. Despite being male, he attracted more attention than even Li Mengnan on their way here...

”Du Yu.” Du Yu nodded politely and shook her hand.

After the customary handshake, he naturally intended to let go, but surprisingly, the girl’s grip was firm.

Du Yu tugged twice, but failed to pull his hand back?

”You gave me quite a headache on the battlefield.” Liu Juncai said, scrutinizing Du Yu under the brim of his cap.

Du Yu: ”Uh.”

How should I respond to that?

Don’t worry, I was just doing my job?

The quiet 108 private room sharply contrasted with the noisy environment of the barbecue restaurant.

Liu Juncai suddenly broke into a smile, her icy demeanor softening considerably: ”Now we’re teammates, so it’s others who will have headaches.”

Du Yu spoke, ”You were pretty good too.

Quite ruthless and decisive.

If you had managed to communicate well with the Mud Po Goddess Sculpture, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.”

Liu Juncai’s smile deepened: ”Glad you don’t mind; we were just discussing how to smooth things over with you and Shiwei.”

Lin Shiwei, whose name was mentioned, did not respond.

She merely shifted her gaze to the hands they were holding.

Liu Juncai seemed to realize something and gently released her grip.

”People often become acquainted through conflict!” Lin Shihao quickly chimed in to liven up the mood.

Though there were only a dozen or so people in the room, there were quite a few stories between them.

Take Liu Junxing and Lin Shiwei for instance.

General Lin fought solo, charging back and forth in the enemy formation, only to be captured by Liu Junxing in the end.

Of course, Liu Junxing eventually failed when One Arrow, Two Beads from the south sent him off the field...

But Lin Shiwei was too badly wounded and had to withdraw in defeat.

”Sit, sit, everyone, let’s sit.” Lin Shihao said enthusiastically, ”Now we represent Shaohai Province in the competition, with a common goal.

Du Yu, this is Liu Junxing.”

True to his name, Liu Junxing, handsome with star-like eyes, nodded slightly at Du Yu: ”Great archery.”

Du Yu smiled, showing rare friendliness: ”Back then, you shouldn’t have given Shiwei a chance.”

Liu Junxing also smiled: ”Her solo charge was hard not to admire.”

”Knock, knock.”

Following the sound of finger tapping on the table, Liu Junxing turned his head to look.

With a faint smile, Lin Shiwei said, ”Don’t admire your opponent in this exam.”

”Haha.” Liu Junxing laughed helplessly, nodding repeatedly.

Seeing the atmosphere improving, Lin Shihao took a deep breath: ”These are brothers Liu Junlong and Liu Junhu, former flag-bearing commanders of Zone 6.”

Du Yu nodded to the brothers; during the last finals, he hadn’t met them.

Zone 6 was a battle zone firmly controlled by the Blue Team.

From the start to the finish of the assessment, regardless of the Blue Team’s disadvantages or how many fierce attacks the Red Team launched on Zone 6, it always remained steady as Mount Tai, earning foundational points for the battle zone.

As leaders of the military, the brothers Liu Junlong and Liu Junhu were certainly indispensable.

Their performance was all reflected in their points ranking.

One was ranked fifth, the other sixth.

Amidst a defeated army, their top-ranking results highlighted their abilities!

Or rather, throughout the war, the Blue Team suffered successive defeats. But the brothers Liu Junlong and Liu Junhu never lost.

Liu Junlong looked at Du Yu and smiled: ”My brothers who were knocked out said we ranked in the top ten because we never encountered you on the battlefield.”

Liu Junhu, with a burly build, spoke in a gruff voice: ”No need to say more; just grateful God Yu didn’t visit our Zone 6!

Hey! Waiter, bring me two cases of beer!”

Du Yu: ”...”

He totally didn’t expect a worldly person hidden among the Liu Family’s Eight Steed?

In comparison, Liu Juncai, Liu Junxing, and Liu Junlong seemed more ”high-end, grand, and upscale.”

”Hu Zi, the exam is the day after tomorrow.” Liu Junlong urgently reminded.

Liu Junhu opened his big eyes: ”Yes, aren’t we resting tomorrow?”

Liu Junxing also advised: ”Junhu...”

”Hey! What do you know!” Liu Junhu waved his big hand, ”Talking like this, back and forth, you just lack a drink!

”Two cases of beer and unity is complete, eh!”

With that, Liu Junhu seemed impatient with the slow service, so he went out to fetch it himself.

Several members of the Liu family looked at Liu Juncai, and the girl smiled, ”Let him drink. Just don’t drink tomorrow.”

”How’s your drinking tolerance?” Lin Shihao looked at Du Yu.

Du Yu looked a bit troubled, ”I don’t know. I’ve never drunk before.”

Lin Shiwei spoke lightly, ”Then don’t drink. The exam is important.”

Du Yu: ”Oh.”

...

It wasn’t until nightfall that everyone returned to the hotel designated by the bookstore.

Walking in the hotel lobby, Du Yu watched as Hu Haobin and Liu Junhu wobbled in their steps, and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

These two rough men can really drink!

And they don’t even go to the bathroom. I really wonder where all that beer went.

”Hmm?” Du Yu felt a tug at his clothes and immediately turned his head to look.

Li Mengnan came close and whispered, ”Our bags, with my third sister’s.”

”There are too many people here. Let’s go to your room later, and I’ll get them for you.”

Lin Shihao and others arrived first, and they had already completed the check-in procedures. After Du Yu and others signed in, they went upstairs together.

However, while he was still thinking about going to Li Mengnan’s room, he was dragged back to his own room by Lin Shihao.

Also inside were Liu Juncai and Lin Shiwei.

Lin Shihao closed the door and came in with a bottle of mineral water, ”There are too many people outside, hard to talk. Juncai, how much do you know about the exam content?”

”Thanks.” Liu Juncai took the mineral water handed over by Lin Shihao, ”I’ve heard we have to attack a city.”

”Attack a city?” Lin Shihao looked puzzled, ”Attack the Ancient Wilderness City?”

”Supposedly.”

Lin Shihao was full of doubt, ”The Ancient Wilderness City was crafted by the Ancient Wilderness Hammer, how could we possibly conquer it?”

Liu Juncai: ”Perhaps the bookstore convinced the Ancient Wilderness Hammer, or this Divine Weapon already has an owner willing to cooperate and lower the difficulty for the exam.”

”Hmm, that must be it.” Lin Shihao nodded thoughtfully.

Lin Shiwei curiously asked, ”What counts as conquering? Just breaking into the Ancient City is considered completing the task?”

Liu Juncai shook his head, ”I don’t know. I only know roughly what the assessment content is.”

Du Yu frowned slightly, ”The Ancient Wilderness Hammer’s output method is to raise a sandstorm and repel all living things.”

”Yes.”

”This is just the known effect of the Demon Soldier Array.” Du Yu’s face was serious, ”For a Divine Weapon like this, it’s possible that its Demon Soldier Array has six or seven skills embedded.”

Liu Juncai agreed, ”That’s true, but the Ancient Wilderness Hammer has only ever shown this one type of array skill.

Before coming here, I checked a lot of information and asked many people; no one knows.”

”We’ll see when the time comes.” Lin Shihao seemed rather helpless.

Liu Juncai spoke softly, ”Du Yu’s idea is correct.

And I think the Ancient Wilderness Hammer probably won’t use its sandstorm attack; it will force us back with other abilities.”

Lin Shihao: ”Why?”

Liu Juncai smiled confidently, ”Because our purpose here is twofold: to experience the battlefield and to present a result to the people of Great Xia.

If we fight in a sandstorm, people won’t be able to see our performance.”

”Makes sense.” Lin Shihao nodded, urging the Paper Crane Disciple and providing public responses are equally important at the Great Xia Bookstore.

”Without intel, we can only respond as we go.” Liu Juncai looked at Du Yu and said in a low voice, ”Do you know much about the Guandong Army and Shandai Army?”

Du Yu shook his head.

Liu Juncai: ”The Paper Crane Disciples in those two regions are very strong, especially this batch of people this time, extremely strong!

Later, I’ll send you some information. Several of the disciples even have Spirit-level Demon Pets.”

Hearing this, Du Yu smirked.

Spirit-level Demon Pets?

This king even has a Demon General·Desolate Silver Lynx in his pocket!

If I pull it out, wouldn’t that scare the life out of them?

To be honest, if I pull it out, I’d be afraid myself!

”Hmm?” Liu Juncai naturally noticed Du Yu’s reaction.

Unlike other arrogant disciples, she knew Du Yu was someone extremely reliable!

Unable to resist, Liu Juncai’s eyes shone brightly, ”Seems like you don’t care?”

”I care, I care.” Du Yu quickly said, ”Send it to me later, I’ll study it carefully.”

Liu Juncai didn’t buy it; she trusted her own judgment, and laughed softly, ”Then I’ll just follow God Yu in chasing the rankings.”

Lin Shiwei suddenly spoke, interrupting the two, ”How did you and Shihao decide on leadership positions?”

Liu Juncai raised an eyebrow slightly, and Lin Shihao also looked up.

This was a relatively sharp question, yet also one that must be faced.

If a team doesn’t have a clear leader, the members would act individually like scattered sand.

Liu Juncai raised an eyebrow slightly, speaking in an interesting manner, ”I’m here visiting Shihao’s room, isn’t that obvious enough?”

Lin Shiwei nodded naturally, ”Just confirming.”

Liu Juncai looked at Lin Shiwei and spoke softly, ”We’re not opponents; we’re teammates.”

”Hmm.” Lin Shiwei also smiled, nodding in response.

Even Du Yu realized something was off!

He stood up, wrapped his arm around Lin Shiwei’s shoulder, and headed out, ”It’s quite late; let’s stop for today.”

Lin Shihao tilted his body, watching the two head towards the door, ”Du Yu, are you coming back to stay tonight?”

Du Yu: ???

Lin Shiwei turned her head, coldly glaring at Lin Shihao.

”Hehe.” Lin Shihao waved goodbye with a smile, ”Good night.”

”Let’s go, let’s go.” Du Yu pushed Lin Shiwei out of the door, whispering, ”To your room, I’ll get your luggage for you.”