Lu Beicheng and Ji Mingyu were both looking at Zhen Jiu’er.

Jiu’er wasn’t sure how to explain, so she casually made up an excuse. “My family was poor when I was little, so I often went out to gather wild vegetables, so…”

“Then Jiu’er must be great at finding wild greens!”

Qin Fei clapped and grinned. “Perfect timing — A’Ke has everything except fresh vegetables. At noon, Jiu’er, you could come gather some wild greens with me for everyone to try!”

Meat could be frozen and kept for a long time, but fresh vegetables didn’t store well.

So A’Ke hadn’t brought much; if they wanted greens, they’d have to make do with dehydrated vegetables.

Qin Fei, as if he’d struck gold, threw an arm around Jiu’er’s shoulder. “Bringing Jiu’er along this trip was really the right cal—”

What was that? Why did his neck suddenly feel ice-cold, like his head might drop off at any moment?

Ji Mingyu walked over and removed Qin Fei’s hand from Jiu’er’s shoulder, giving him a look loaded with meaning.

“Jiu’er is a girl. If you want to live, keep your distance.”

Qin Fei looked utterly innocent.

Sure, Jiu’er was a girl, but surely one touch wouldn’t be fatal?

Besides, it wasn’t as if he’d hugged her or anything improper — he just thought of Jiu’er like a sibling, nothing untoward about it at all!

But his head really did feel like it was about to fall off…

“Move out.” Lu Beicheng’s wheelchair started forward.

Ji Mingyu hurried to walk beside him.

Zhen Jiu’er, lost in her own thoughts, could only rein in her mind and follow after Ninth Master.

Left behind, Qin Fei scratched his head, still not quite understanding.

Where had that sudden chill just now come from?

In the blink of an eye, he realized Lu Beicheng and the others had already walked far ahead.

Qin Fei hurried to catch up. “Hey! Old Ji, Ninth Master, wait for me!”

…At noon they rested in the forest.

A’Ke started cooking again.

But just as Qin Fei had said, A’Ke had everything except fresh vegetables.

“We’ve got an hour and a half. Jiu’er, take me to find some wild greens!” Qin Fei wasn’t giving up.

He simply enjoyed being around Jiu’er now — it felt easy, relaxed.

Talking with Jiu’er, even if it was mostly him doing the talking, still made him happy.

Zhen Jiu’er nodded, and the two of them walked into the woods together.

“Don’t go too far.” What Ji Mingyu really wanted to say was different — what he really wanted was for Qin Fei to get his behind back here.

Didn’t that idiot realize that every time he got close to Jiu’er, a certain someone’s chill grew mysteriously colder?

He wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but it really did seem like Ninth Master didn’t like Qin Fei and Miss Jiu’er being too close.

Was it just his imagination?

“N-Ninth Master, rest here a moment, I… I need to relieve myself.”

It was all that brat Qin Fei’s fault — now, whenever he was alone with Ninth Master, the pressure was somehow so much greater.

Lu Beicheng said nothing, closed his eyes, seemingly resting.

Ji Mingyu added, “I’ve already contacted the reserve team; I’ve had them send a drone to scout the surrounding area. There should be news soon.”

Whoever had left those footprints, they needed to find out.

This area was already well beyond any inhabited region — even hunters or hardcore hikers wouldn’t normally come out this far.

Those footprints were very suspicious.

Ji Mingyu left.

Lu Beicheng watched the direction Zhen Jiu’er and Qin Fei had gone, his gaze gradually deepening…