Chapter 711 The maidservant’s team
Entering the Sacred Mountains from the direction of Mt. Shenchi had always been referred to as the “Western Route.” Meanwhile on the “Eastern Route,” Vanilla and Tang Hualong were leading a group of people forward. They could already see the outline of the Sacred Mountains from afar.
Compared to Cheng Yu’s team, Vanilla’s team was exceptionally easy to handle. In this group, there were no intelligence personnel from the consortiums harboring ulterior motives like Wang Yun, nor were there weird intruders like Ren Xiaosu.
In Vanilla’s group, there were only A-rank hitmen who had been carefully selected. As all of them here were people who truly wanted to participate in the Anjing House trials, they were especially united.
It was different from the hooligans in Cheng Yu’s group. If something happened to Cheng Yu, many of those in his team would probably gloat at his misfortune.
Meanwhile, almost everyone in Vanilla’s group scrambled to showcase themselves. They would volunteer to take down whatever obstacles were blocking their way.
Vanilla did not even need to do anything himself. The A-rank hitmen who wanted to join the Anjing House had already done everything for all of them.
For example, someone had scouted the surrounding terrain beforehand, while others knew in advance of the tarantulas’ existence in the periphery of the Sacred Mountains. They were putting on such a good performance so that they could get Vanilla’s attention to help increase their chances of joining the Anjing House after the expedition to the Sacred Mountains.
At some point, Vanilla felt a little emotional. He did not have to put in any effort at all on the journey since everyone was way too enthusiastic.
However, there were always one or two exceptions in a group. Vanilla looked back at Zhou Yingxue, who was in the group behind him. He could not understand what the woman had come here for and why she was selected during the previous screening.
Actually, the Anjing House was also unsure if there were any problems with Zhou Yingxue. The Anjing House had even sent Vanilla to the black market outside of Luoyang City to investigate her, but he did not find anything unusual.
Regarding the Anjing House’s suspicion and speculation on Zhou Yingxue, they always felt something would happen wherever she went, but they did not have any conclusive evidence.
After entering the mountain range, Vanilla realized some problems as well. The woman named Zhou Yingxue did not seem to be that interested in the Anjing House trials anymore. She only cared about asking him the whereabouts of the other groups during the journey.
For the rest of the time, she focused all her attention on the exotic plants growing by the side of the paths. At the beginning, she did not interact with anyone at all.
Gradually, Zhou Yingxue even ordered the others to find her some exotic plants. Many people in the team could not tell who she was, so they could only obediently help her find them.
It was not that everyone was kind, but it was rumored the Anjing House would test them on many aspects. Perhaps, Zhou Yingxue was sent by the Anjing House to see if they had any compassion.
After all, everyone also felt Zhou Yingxue was a little unique. It was as though she had a different purpose in coming here.
Therefore, everyone assumed this uniqueness to mean she was an “examiner” hiding in the crowd.
When Vanilla thought about this, he was put in a dilemma. After all, there was a reason why the boss had arranged for him to lead this team. Everyone in the group was extremely important, and they might become the core members of the Anjing House in the future.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been specially assigned to the same team.
Zhou Yingxue had just followed the group into the mountains for a few days, but she already successfully obtained two seeds. One of them was an evolved sweet potato plant that did not have any uses other than producing a higher quantity of potatoes. It was especially sweet when roasted too.
Zhou Yingxue felt this plant was very compatible with the Potato Shooter, so she decided to name it the Sweet Potato Buddy from now on. This way, the Potato Shooter would not be that lonely anymore.
The other plant was a little stranger. After all, Zhou Yingxue still lacked wilderness survival experience, so she could not recognize what the plant was.
Not only could the plant grow on a rock, it could even crush it.
At this moment, Tang Hualong walked over from the other side and beckoned to Vanilla, “Vanilla!”
Zhou Yingxue perked up. “Vanilla? What kind of plant is vanilla? Old man, did you discover an exotic plant?” She was already planning to get up and turn “vanilla” into a seed.
Vanilla said with a dark expression at the side, “Vanilla is my name. Lady, just what is your purpose in coming here?” “I’m here to participate in the Anjing House trials, of course.” When Zhou Yingxue heard that vanilla was only a name, she immediately felt a little disappointed, and the way she looked at Vanilla turned disdainful.
Vanilla said unhappily, “Why do I get the feeling that you’re not interested in participating in the trials at all? Just look at the other participants! All of them are spirited and ready to take on the dangers in the mountains. But you? I’ll let it slide that you keep picking flowers and plants by yourself, but what’s with ordering others to do that for you as well?” “I’m a floral supernatural being. Since there’s exotic plants here, of course I have to collect them.” Zhou Yingxue was also getting unhappy. After following Ren Xiaosu around for a long time, even people like Luo Lan, Li Yingyun, Zhang Qingxi, and Xu Ke would treat her courteously. Where did this Vanilla, an insignificant character, pop out from? How dare he yell at her.
Zhou Yingxue was a slightly superficial woman. Otherwise, she would not have bought ten rings and worn them all on her fingers. She was already starting to miss the days of being around Ren Xiaosu. No one dared to shout at her, and she could even throw her weight around and intimidate others.
Recently, Zhou Yingxue had been wondering if she had been too impulsive by coming to the Sacred Mountains. Since her master was definitely with Yang Xiaojin, what should she call Yang Xiaojin when she saw her? Madame? Mistress?
It felt a little strange no matter what. Besides, she came here in such a hurry that she did not bring along any gifts. Should she just give her ten rings to Yang Xiaojin? She wondered if Yang Xiaojin would like them or not.
Of course, Zhou Yingxue had also considered Yang Xiaojin might not want her hanging around Ren Xiaosu.
But it didn’t matter to her. If the Central Plains were to continue getting more and more chaotic, she could simply head to the Northwest.
Regardless of whether Ren Xiaosu would return to the Northwest, she could tell the people of Fortress 178 she was Ren Xiaosu’s maidservant. They would definitely be very polite towards her then.
Zhou Yingxue had heard from the Great Hoodwinker that Ren Xiaosu was the future commander of Fortress 178. In that case, the maidservant of the future commander would surely also enjoy a high status, right?
Even if she did not hang around Ren Xiaosu at that time, she could still lead a very comfortable life.
Zhou Yingxue was not useless eye candy either. She heard there was a lack of food in the Northwest and the residents barely had enough to sustain themselves. Sometimes, there would be famine when the harvest was not good.
Zhou Yingxue had heard Wang Fugui mention in town that he had brought such a large convoy to the Central Plains because he had the very important task of delivering crops.
Although the territory of the Northwest was large, a lot of it was unsuitable for growing crops. It was not that Fortress 178 was poor at management, but that there was a natural climate constraint to it.
Now that she possessed the Potato Shooter and Sweet Potato Buddy seeds, she could easily become the most popular person in the Northwest.
After all, the crops she planted with her own hands were not afraid of the harsh weather!
Thinking of this, Zhou Yingxue felt a little more at ease. In any case, she would have a place to go no matter what.
