Inside the three-person tent, Yu Hongyuan was terribly curious, feeling like a feather was scratching inside his mind—it was itching so badly.
What’s going on?
Why did Team Leader Lin call them to this tent alone?
Is this some special treatment for the top students?
Cough cough, but the conditions of this tent aren’t exactly luxurious, and besides, it’s a bit awkward for a guy like him to be alone with two girls.
Fang Chuyun was still reading that worn-out “Basic Star-grasping Techniques.”
Yu Hongyuan had flipped through it for a week too, but the more he read, the more frustrated he got.
He figured he’d study it in depth when he got to the military academy, so he decided to spend the summer having fun instead.
Li Yang, on the other hand, was more mysterious—sitting quietly without a word, like an old monk in deep meditation.
Why did Team Leader Lin keep Li Yang behind?
Did he want to guide her because of her talent?
Team Leader Lin was from the military—could this mean Li Yang was about to form some connection with the military?
Life just wasn’t fair.
Yu Hongyuan had barely left home for a day and already wanted to go back.
One hour…
Two hours…
Three hours later, Yu Hongyuan couldn’t take it anymore.
He was the only one still alive in this tent!
The other two were like stone statues!
He was going to suffocate in here!
He was going to find another tent to hang out in!
Just as he stood up, Li Yang and Fang Chuyun both looked at him at the same time.
Yu Hongyuan: “!”
Li Yang said, “Team Leader Lin said we shouldn’t leave the tent before dawn.”
Yu Hongyuan muttered, “Uh, you two are girls, and I’m a guy… this is weird. I’ll just sleep in another tent.”
Fang Chuyun’s tone turned colder, “On a march or in battle, who cares if you’re a guy or a girl?”
Yu Hongyuan:
Li Yang noticed that Yu Hongyuan was restless.
He was an only child, spoiled by his parents and still full of naive ideas about the world outside, completely unaware of the dangers that lurked.
She couldn’t just keep hiding things from him—what if something went wrong and they all ended up suffering?
Li Yang said, “There might be danger tonight. Although we took a safer route, that also means it’s not as concealed. We can avoid the quarantine area, but not the people.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Hongyuan wasn’t stupid—he immediately asked, “Do you mean the Star-falling cult is going to launch a surprise attack?”
“Possibly.”
Yu Hongyuan got nervous, “Damn, they’re not planning to kidnap me, right?! I must be worth a lot!”
Li Yang: “…”
Well, he had veered off course a bit, but he wasn’t too far off.
Yu Hongyuan’s family was wealthy, and he might have been warned about kidnappings when he was younger.
The tent fell silent again.
Yu Hongyuan no longer felt bored.
In fact, he pulled out his crumpled “Basic Star-grasping Techniques” and decided to practice a bit, sharpening his skills even if it was just for show.
The night grew quiet.
The City Guard was made up of Star-graspers, so staying awake all night wasn’t a big deal, especially for someone like Lin Yue-suo, a third-rank Star-grasper who could go a whole week without sleep.
At eleven o’clock, the surroundings were still calm.
At midnight, all the students were asleep, and there was still no movement.
The City Guard members began to relax their guard.
A tall, thin member said, “Shouldn’t be anything tonight, right?”
“Hope so. Makes things easier for us.”
“With Team Leader Lin here, they wouldn’t dare show up!”
“Right. The cultists who take on tasks like this won’t be too high-ranked, at most just first-rank elites.
Once they see there’s a third-rank Star-grasper with us, they’ll probably back off.”
These guards were experienced, handling tasks like maintaining public order or dealing with cultists.
In small places like Huangcheng, the cultists’ abilities weren’t much to worry about, and their leader was only a second-rank low-level.
Li Yang, being a physically extraordinary student, was valuable, but not enough for the high-ups of the Star-falling Cult to put much effort into.
They probably just posted a bounty for any local cultists who could take on the job.
If not, they’d let it go.
And even if they mobilized all their forces, the cultists had no chance of killing someone like Lin Yue-suo, a third-rank Star-grasper.
The City Guard members felt safe, confident that this escort mission was practically risk-free.
Logically speaking, the cultists in Huangcheng wouldn’t dare strike lightly.
A million-point bounty was high, but they had to be alive to collect it.
However… six months ago, a Star-grasper with the codename “Shadow Man” had defected to the Huangcheng branch of the Star-falling Cult.
Though his rank was low, only a first-rank beginner, he had a very special Star Skill called “Shadow Concealment.”
This ability allowed him to go into stealth mode, so well that even a fourth-rank beginner Star-grasper couldn’t detect him.
But while in stealth mode, he couldn’t use other Star Skills, and if his star power flowed, he would be exposed instantly.
The cult leader of the Huangcheng branch had noticed that this ability was holding Shadow Man’s training back.
Shadow Man was talented, but he was stuck at the first-rank beginner level, unable to break through.
A double-edged sword—he had gained a powerful skill but sacrificed part of his progress.
The Huangcheng branch was willing to launch an attack because they had Shadow Man as their trump card.
They didn’t need to kill Lin Yue-suo—just hold her off while Shadow Man kidnapped the key two people, especially Li Yang.
If they captured her, this mission would be a success.
If they also captured Yu Hongyuan, they’d get another 500 contribution points.
After carefully considering, the middle-aged man thought the plan was highly likely to succeed.
He emphasized again, “We’ll focus on keeping the third-rank Star-grasper occupied, and once Shadow Man gives the signal, we retreat quickly.”
The group of over twenty cultists shouted, “Understood!”
The middle-aged man then looked at Shadow Man, “It’s up to you. If things go south, just kill all three kids. We’ll still get 1000 contribution points.”
By 1 AM, even the City Guard members were starting to relax and yawn.
At 2 AM, Yu Hongyuan had curled up in a corner, fast asleep.
At 2:30 AM, Fang Chuyun had stopped flipping through her “Basic Star-grasping Techniques.”
At 2:45 AM…
Suddenly, there was a blast from outside!
Then came the angry shouts of the City Guard, followed by the thunderous roar of cannonfire.
Li Yang had been keeping herself alert and instantly opened her eyes, looking outside through the tent window.
Fang Chuyun woke up with a start and rushed to her side.
Yu Hongyuan was sound asleep, but the noise jolted him awake.
“What’s happening?! Are they really here?”
Other students in different tents were also waking up in alarm, and the City Guard shouted loudly, “Don’t go outside! Stay in the tents!”
The students complied, staying inside their tents without panicking.
Lin Yue-suo, with her experience in field camping, had chosen a great spot—backed by a mountain wall, making surprise attacks difficult.
The front was a circular area with only one entrance, easily defensible.
As long as the City Guard held their ground, they could protect the students.
Li Yang glanced outside and immediately assessed the situation.
This was the first time she saw Star-graspers fighting, and it was nothing like the combat tests—this was on a whole different level!
Mutated creatures were stiff and predictable, even second-rank ones, but the cultists, even first-rank mid-levels, had far more cunning combat experience.
Li Yang focused and could see the Star Qi surging, the battle intensifying.
Amid the deafening blasts, it was like a heavy artillery battle!
Suddenly, a burst of star power descended, and Lin Yue-suo leaped from the top of a vehicle.
With one powerful kick, she sent a cultist flying, then with a punch filled with star power, she crushed the skull of another cultist.
Li Yang’s face turned pale as she watched.
Fang Chuyun couldn’t help but gasp.
Yu Hongyuan had never seen anything like it and nearly vomited.
Lin Yue-suo instantly killed a first-rank high-level cultist—that was the power of a third-rank Star-grasper!
Li Yang couldn’t help but clench her fist.
This was what it meant to be a Star-grasper?
This was the world they’d face once they became Star-graspers?
Lin Yue-suo was decisive and ruthless.
If she closed in on someone, they were as good as dead.
No hesitation, no mercy—just fast and deadly strikes!
The City Guard’s morale soared!
The cultists had launched an attack unexpectedly, but with Team Leader Lin here, they were essentially walking into their own doom!
The battle raged on.
Fang Chuyun tried to stay calm, but her voice trembled as she said, “Don’t worry, with Team Leader Lin here, we’ll be fine.”
Li Yang didn’t respond.
She had her eyes fixed on the situation, tense and alert.
Yu Hongyuan, still shaken, muttered, “This is way scarier than the combat tests!”
Fang Chuyun glanced at him coldly, “If you’re scared, it’s not too late to drop out.”
Yu Hongyuan grumbled, “I’m not scared! But once I become a Star-grasper and have my own Star Skills, I’ll…”
He stopped himself.
Honestly, life in the province had been too comfortable.
Even with cultists lurking, under the protection of the City Guard, they didn’t dare do much.
But in the wilderness, that’s when the real cruelty began.
Cultists were terrifying, but Team Leader Lin was even more terrifying!
The battle outside seemed like it was nearing its end.
Though the cultists had sent many people, Lin Yue-suo alone had tied up most of them, while the City Guard held off the rest.
Once a few more cultists fell, the rest would probably retreat.
Fang Chuyun breathed a sigh of relief, “Team Leader Lin is really strong.”
Compared to Li Yang and Yu Hongyuan, Fang Chuyun had a broader perspective.
Her evaluation carried weight.
Please get an editor, or at least keep records of your title usage.
First it was star guardian, then star breaker, now it’s star grasper. It ruins reading experience if the title keeps changing like that