Two hours later, Wenren Jin slowly woke up. After a short rest and something to replenish his energy, he was soon full of life again.
The group quickly set off, reaching their next rest stop before nightfall.
As luck would have it, the moment they settled in, spring thunder rumbled. March's most tiresome weather was about to begin.
Before long, a fine, steady drizzle would fall, and mist would shroud the mountains.
As a team that frequently went on wilderness missions, they were naturally prepared.
They each pulled a portable tent from their bags. A flick and a shake, and their little shelters from the rain took shape.
But before they climbed inside, they suddenly remembered that one member of their party had come empty-handed, without a single thing.
Wenren Jin's alluring eyes curved into a smile as he offered, "Mu Yi, right? You can squeeze in with me."
Mu Yi turned his head and looked Wenren Jin over. Contrary to his "tank" abilities, he was neither tall nor muscular. In fact, he had the slenderest build of them all.
If Mu Yi absolutely had to share a tent, Wenren Jin was indeed a fairly suitable choice.
But alphas and betas were different. Suitable or not, they couldn't share. Besides, there was something cloying in the way Wenren Jin looked at him that made him uncomfortable.
Before he could refuse, however, an arm draped over his shoulders, deciding for him. "He's sharing with me."
Wenren Jin paused, then smiled. "Captain, can the two of you fit?"
Zhong Xuezhi said, "It'll be a little cramped, but we'll manage."
In truth, having Mu Yi share with him was his only option.
Spring had arrived, and someone was getting frisky. He couldn't leave him alone with a handsome young man.
As for the others...
An Beize slept poorly and needed his own space.
Du Jing was so huge that his tent was already a snug fit with just him inside.
Qiu Cai was a restless sleeper. Zhong Xuezhi was afraid he'd wake up tomorrow to a charbroiled chubby corpse.
Of course, Mu Yi knew nothing of these considerations. All he knew was that sleeping together would give him a chance to touch the snow leopard's tail.
And he could replenish the Ice Band's cold energy in time, too.
Thus, someone's principle that alphas and betas should keep their distance went straight out the window, and he happily climbed into Captain Zhong's tent.
Fortunately, frequent emergencies in the wilderness meant everyone slept fully clothed, so it wasn't too improper.
Zhong Xuezhi gave Mu Yi his pillow, then took a jacket from his bag and rolled it up to make another.
Lying down on his side, he smiled and said, "We won't have to squeeze in together for more than a couple of nights. We'll be back in Crystal City soon."
Only then did Mu Yi remember that damned research business. Displeased, he contradicted him. "Did I say I was going back to Crystal City with you?"
Zhong Xuezhi rubbed his nose and admitted honestly, "Well, I was planning to work on persuading you."
"Think about it. If you come back to Crystal City with us, you can contact your Safe Base through the Crystal Arbitration Council and have them pick you up."
Mu Yi gave a quiet snort. "No need." They wouldn't be able to reach it anyway.
"What do you mean, no need?" Zhong Xuezhi continued trying to persuade him. "You've been out here on your own for so long. Surely your family must be worried?"
"Even if you don't plan to go back yet, you could at least send them a message to let them know you're safe."
Mu Yi suddenly rolled onto his back. Looking up at the roof of the tent, he replied, "I don't have any family."
Zhong Xuezhi went still for a moment, then reached over and patted Mu Yi's arm with a smile. "What a coincidence. Neither do I."
"The world's a big place. Meeting each other must be fate. If you're willing, from now on we can be brothers-with different fathers, different mothers, and different surnames."
Mu Yi flung his hand away. "Who the fuck wants to be your brother? Get lost!"
Zhong Xuezhi cackled a couple of times, then steered the conversation back. "Seriously, if you have nothing tying you to your old home, that's all the more reason to come to Crystal City."
"Crystal City is the most prosperous Safe Base around today, with the highest defense rating. Countless people fight tooth and nail to become residents and still fail."
When Mu Yi said nothing, Zhong Xuezhi continued, "But you're different. With me vouching for you, you can get in easily."
"And if you're willing to cooperate with the research into improving the Hallucinogen Antidote, you'll receive the very best treatment the city has to offer."
In short, they'd put him on a pedestal.
Unfortunately, Mu Yi wasn't tempted in the slightest. "Not interested."
As a young master born with a silver spoon in his mouth, what luxury hadn't he enjoyed?
"Don't be so absolute, brother." Zhong Xuezhi had nearly talked himself hoarse. He cleared his throat and asked, refusing to give up, "It's a big world. There must be something you want, right?"
"What do you want? Tell me. Let's make a deal."
At that, Mu Yi rolled onto his side again to face Zhong Xuezhi, then asked softly, "Anything I want?"
"Of course!" Zhong Xuezhi agreed readily. The Mutation Research Institute would be footing the bill anyway.
Mu Yi smiled. "All right. Find me a rare snow leopard Variant. I want to keep one as a pet."
Zhong Xuezhi: "..."
Zhong Xuezhi was speechless for several seconds before venturing, "Would a substitute do?"
"A Black-Spotted Lynx, for example. It's a newly discovered species that looks quite like a snow leopard. It even has wings, just on a smaller scale."
Mu Yi shook his head. "I only want a snow leopard."
Zhong Xuezhi was troubled. "Nobody's found one in over twenty years. How are we supposed to conjure one up for you out of nowhere?"
"If you can't do it, then there's nothing to discuss." Utterly merciless, Mu Yi turned over, presenting Zhong Xuezhi with his back.
"Come on." Zhong Xuezhi immediately scooted forward, pressing close to his back. "Let's talk some more."
It wasn't surprising that Zhong Xuezhi was pestering Mu Yi like this. Successfully developing a highly effective Hallucinogen Antidote was simply too important.
Mental Value was a vital measure of human safety. Often, how high or low it was determined whether someone lived or died.
So, if the Hallucinogen Antidote's effectiveness could be significantly improved, when facing Variants such as Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in the future...
They would no longer have to worry about mental disturbances, or about being infected and turning into Variants because their Mental Value had dropped too low.
Of course, Zhong Xuezhi knew nobody would contribute to their research for nothing. All he could do was show as much sincerity as possible.
"Mu Yi, think it over. Is there anything else you want?"
"Or I could take you straight to the institute's breeding facility. There are all sorts of fascinating things there, every kind of pet you could imagine. Take your pick."
"Hey, Mu Yi. Mu Yi? Say something!"
Mu Yi's lips curled, but he didn't answer.
When his silence dragged on, Zhong Xuezhi grew anxious. He took Mu Yi by the shoulder and rolled him onto his back.
"I know you're awake. Could you please stop giving me the silent treatment?"
"Ah..." Mu Yi let out a long sigh, then mercifully relented. "Fine. I'll give you another condition."
Zhong Xuezhi immediately brightened. "Tell me!"
Mu Yi left him hanging for two seconds before slowly saying, "Since there aren't any real snow leopards, I suppose a substitute could work."
Then he added, "Not a lynx."
Zhong Xuezhi paused. "But there's no closer substitute than that."
Mu Yi turned his head to glance at him and said casually, "Aren't you one? I could make an exception and convince myself to treat you as a real snow leopard."
"Wait..." It took Zhong Xuezhi a while to untangle his tongue. "You want me to be your pet?"
Mu Yi clicked his tongue softly. "You don't agree?"
"It's not a question of agreeing. The problem is, I'm a living, breathing human being. How am I supposed to be your pet?"
Was that remotely reasonable?
Mu Yi thought it was perfectly reasonable. With complete ease, he said, "Simple. Come whenever I call, lie down, and let me pet you."
Zhong Xuezhi: "?!"
Before you continue