Chapter 675
676
Saintiger heard the dismissive reply and didn’t press the issue.
Aria produced her silver needles and began performing acupuncture on Yancy. The others immediately gathered around, watching her every move intently.
They all knew Echohawk’s silver needles were lethal, capable of killing without a trace. So, when she produced them at that moment, a flicker of confusion crossed their faces.
One of the team members whispered, “Wait, is she really going to wake Yancy up with those needles?” Sure enough, within mere seconds, Yancy’s eyes fluttered open.
As Aria finished removing the needles, Yvonne was stunned. “Is this Huthailian acupuncture?” she asked.
Aria nodded. “Correct.”
Yvonne gasped in astonishment, “You know traditional medicine too?”
“Just a bit,” Aria replied coolly.
Saintiger’s gaze was complicated. He couldn’t comprehend how someone could use the same needles both to kill and to heal.
Aria glanced at Yancy. “How are you feeling?”
Yancy straightened his clothes and stood up. “I’m fine now. Thanks, Cap.”
“If you’re fine, let’s keep moving,” Aria said curtly, striding ahead to lead the way.
Sure enough, with the herbal pouches in hand, they proceeded without encountering any more venomous insects along the way.
Suddenly, a deep growl echoed through the woods. Saintiger tensed instantly. “Bear,” he warned tersely.
“Stand down,” Aria reassured calmly. “The herbal pouches can ward off predators, too. “The growl drew closer, then faded into the distance.
Yvonne gasped in renewed astonishment. “Is this herbal pouch that effective? Cap, could you spare me one?”
“Sure,” Aria said. “But the potency fades over time. I’ll give you the formula so you can experiment with it yourself.”
Yvonne exclaimed in delight, “Such a precious formula! Are you really just giving it to me?”
“Yeah,” Aria responded simply.
“Cap, may I have one too?” Yancy chimed in eagerly.
“Sure,” Aria replied.
The other two team members chimed in as well, asking for pouches, and Aria agreed.
Only Saintiger grumbled disapprovingly, “You’re just taking the easy way out.”
Yvonne scoffed, “That’s our Cap’s skill. Don’t complain when you’re already benefiting from it.”
Saintiger knew they couldn’t stand him, so he might as well shut up.
Unhindered by venomous insects or predators, they deftly avoided the traps and reached the trail’s end after three hours of smooth progress.
Just as they reached the exit, they overheard a conversation.
A member of Wade’s team asked, “Are we seriously going to send the bear after them? That’s so underhanded.”
“Obstructing them is just part of securing victory.”
Joel couldn’t help but retort, “You call this obstructing? You’re basically trying to get them killed!”
The Wade member snapped back, “We already told you two to stop tailing us.”
Harry scoffed, “This path doesn’t belong to the Solemnity Guild. What right do you have to stop us from walking here?”
Yvonne crossed her arms and smirked at Saintiger. “Calling our herbal pouches ‘taking the easy way out’? Your precious Team One is literally driving bears to kill us.”
Saintiger frowned. “That guy isn’t even part of Team One. Don’t just pin the blame on us.”
Yancy chimed in, “If your captain isn’t stopping them, that’s tacit approval.”
Saintiger opened his mouth to argue, but realized he was no match for them. Suddenly, he just felt so tired.
Saintiger thought to himself, ‘Back when Team One was under Team Six’s thumb, Team Six was just as obnoxious. How come now that these four, after following Echohawk, have become equally troublesome?’
Aria glanced at the group. “Let’s move.”
Wade’s group was just about to sic the bear on them when they abruptly saw Aria and her team emerge at the exit, giving them quite a fright.
Yvonne scoffed mockingly. “So, I heard you were planning to sic a bear on us?”
Wade frowned. “How did you make it out so quickly?”
Yancy arched an eyebrow. “You weren’t exactly slow yourselves, were you?”