Reborn as a Hatrack in the Mystical Land-Chapter 833 - 83: Struggle for Shelter (Part 1)

"Captain, they are too outrageous," several other members of the Four Unlikes Team quickly gathered around Ying Wuwang, hoping their captain would stand up for them.

No team can have two leaders, and as soon as Yue Jinghua entered the Divine Ruins, she clearly showed signs of challenging Ying Wuwang’s leadership, which secretly displeased Ying Wuwang.

Women are better suited for the palace, singing and dancing, indulging in romance; the battlefield is a man’s world.

Ying Wuwang raised his brows, ready to speak.

Just at that moment, a ripple from the Transmission Array appeared in the air, and a team materialized before them.

"Brother!" Yue Jinghua recognized the leader immediately—it was her own brother, Yue Minzhi.

"The Four Unlikes Team," several members of the Dragon Team, most of whom were part of the Dragon Rider Team, looked surprised to see Yue Jinghua, who shouldn’t be here.

Seeing Yue Jinghua, Yue Minzhi’s normally stern face softened slightly. He knew his beloved little sister wouldn’t stay put and would surely find a way to enter the Divine Ruins.

"How did you end up in the Divine Ruins? Didn’t the City Lord forbid your entry?" Ji Yun, another member of the Dragon Team, pointed at Yue Jinghua as if he had seen a ghost.

"Kid, don’t point your finger at our captain. She is Duke July Rose, and you, a mere Dragon Knight, dare to question our leader? Besides, who said City Lord Changsun forbade us from entering the Divine Ruins? He just didn’t personally lead us here. He didn’t lead us, so we came on our own; the Divine Ruins is so vast, are we bothering you by being here?" Compass sneered, glaring bullishly at Ji Yun and the dissatisfied Dragon Team members.

"Huahua, you acted recklessly. Why didn’t you discuss it with your brother before coming in? Since you’re here now, you should act with your big brother for company, so you have support," Yue Minzhi’s protective instincts kicked in again; he glanced at Ying Wuwang, finding him suspicious and odd, feeling it was inappropriate for his sister to stay with such a group.

Now that she’s inside, it’s likely impossible to get out.

"No, brother, you’re the captain of the Dragon Team, and I belong to the Four Unlikes Team. Walking together with you might provoke some discontent among interested parties, and your authority as captain might be undermined. I’d better stick with my own team," Yue Jinghua shook her head; she didn’t want to burden her brother.

She entered the Divine Ruins not to seize the fruits of the Xuyang Trial but to kill Ying Wuwang.

Seeing Yue Jinghua insistently refusing to act together, Yue Minzhi had no choice but to share in detail what City Lord Changsun had previously said to Yue Jinghua and others. He cautioned them that if a crisis arose, they must not act strong and should swiftly use the Transmission Array to leave.

"Brother, you’re even more verbose than mother. Keep this up, and Long Rui may find you annoying and leave you," Yue Jinghua teased, causing Long Rui to blush, giving Yue Jinghua a playful glare.

"Captain Yue can rest assured, I will protect her," Ying Wuwang briefly surveyed Yue Minzhi and his formidable Dragon Team, attempting to make peace with a smile.

"Huahua doesn’t need protection," Yue Minzhi frowned displeasedly; who does this Tom, Dick, Harry think he is? His sister, Yue Minzhi’s sister, needing someone else’s protection?

Yue Minzhi’s straightforward rejection left Ying Wuwang’s face instantly sour.

Yue Jinghua chuckled secretly, making a face at Ying Wuwang and discreetly signaling a thumbs-up to her brother.

Seeing Yue Jinghua’s lively expression, Ying Wuwang momentarily forgot his anger.

Though Yue Minzhi worried about his sister’s safety, he also knew that Yue Jinghua was no longer the pampered and naive daughter of a Duke sheltered by her father and brother’s glory.

The challenging past years had molded her into a warrior no less talented than himself.

Yue Minzhi glanced at the bloody Demon Beast carcass on the ground and then at the members of the Four Unlikes Team, all untouched, and felt slightly assured.

"Then brother will leave first. Remember, don’t act rashly," Yue Minzhi affectionately patted Yue Jinghua’s head, showing the affection one might have for a mischievous daughter, leaving Yue Jinghua both amused and exasperated.

With Yue Minzhi’s commanding shout, the Dragon Team moved swiftly, soon disappearing seamlessly among the stone houses, showing Yue Minzhi as an effective captain.

The arrival of the Dragon Team implied that the other Holy Beast Teams had also entered the Divine Ruins, albeit at different times and locations due to the Transmission Array.

But presumably positioned somewhere within the village.

Hearing Yue Minzhi’s words caused some members of the Four Unlikes Team to visibly relax, revealing that City Lord Changsun had prepared a fail-safe, installing four Transmission Arrays within the ruins, which could be used with merit rings from Four Symbols City, offering an escape if faced with danger.

"A bunch of cowards; didn’t Captain Yue say you need at least ten merit points to teleport out? Some might play safe and never muster enough merit points," Shalman rolled his eyes, retrieving Thunder Snake.

"It’s getting late; the temperature plummets after nightfall in the village. We should hurry to find a suitable shelter. Our team sneaked into the Divine Ruins, and with our numbers, we rank lowest among all teams. I hope in the coming months we avoid internal conflict and prioritize team interests," Ying Wuwang advised calmly, looking meaningfully at Yue Jinghua.

Yue Jinghua nodded nonchalantly, indicating agreement.

If no one provokes her, she won’t bother them, but if anyone attempts anything sneaky, she won’t hesitate to retaliate.

As dusk fell, the group followed the village’s main road, heading toward the center.

After about an hour, they realized the village was far larger than expected, and most stone houses had been occupied by Demon Beasts.

Ying Wuwang walked in front, silently casting off his evil qi as he moved.

The nearby Demon Beasts scattered, saving the Four Unlikes members considerable trouble, allowing them to focus on finding a suitable stone house to occupy.

Most stone houses within the village retained their original appearance but were mostly in ruins, with collapsed walls and missing parts, unable to fend off the chill or keep out nocturnal Demon Beasts.

After walking for a while, the group noticed in front of them a spacious stone house with intact walls and windows, a sight for sore eyes.