Chapter 533: Chapter 531: Ji Insect Poison
Suddenly, a pain came from his waist. Qin Hao snapped back to reality and looked down, realizing it was Gu Qinyue’s small hand pinching his waist.
"Hmph!"
Gu Qinyue turned her head away in dissatisfaction, offering Qin Hao only a small ear, clearly feeling jealous.
Qin Hao awkwardly smiled, holding Gu Qinyue’s small hand for comfort. He said to Fox, "Fox, you really know how to joke, haha. Let’s just support each other when the time comes."
While they were bonding, Viper had also stopped his bleeding and forced himself to stand and walk over, his eyes filled with resentment as he stared at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao couldn’t be bothered with him, looking earnestly at Sun Aihua and the middle-aged soldier.
So far, Sun Aihua was very pleased with Qin Hao’s performance. The other four members of this team were under the responsibility of the middle-aged soldier, while Qin Hao was personally recruited by him.
Now that the captaincy was snatched by Qin Hao, it was clear whose judgment was superior.
The middle-aged man was displeased and snorted coldly, saying, "I hope you can shoulder the responsibility as team leader and successfully complete this mission!"
Qin Hao was a bit puzzled, having never met this major general before; why was he being hostile?
What does this sour face mean!
Pride surged in his chest, but Qin Hao couldn’t be bothered with the major general. He turned to the team members and said, "Let’s set off now!"
The major general’s face turned cold as he frowned at Qin Hao, wanting to assert his authority, but halted by a glance from Sun Aihua.
That glance made his anger unexpressed. After all, regardless of rank or insight, he couldn’t match up to Sun Aihua, and he had to give some face.
As they were about to depart, Sun Aihua handed each of the five a camouflage backpack, saying, "Inside are the map of Dragon Gate Mountain and the location of the Ancestral Temple. Plus some essential jungle warfare items, you can check them out."
Qin Hao opened the camouflage backpack and found military knives, pistols, rations, walkie-talkies, compasses, and other military supplies inside. He silently praised the military’s thoroughness, slinging the pack over his back, and said, "Alright, it’s getting late, so let’s head out!"
A makeshift team moved on in force towards Dragon Gate Mountain.
Three days later, Dragon Gate Mountain.
The forest stretched on endlessly, dotted with towering ancient trees.
Somewhere on the outskirts of the forest.
With countless birds chirping, several dozen birds flew from a towering tree, seemingly disturbed by something.
A faint rustling sound arose.
A six-person team suddenly intruded into the forest’s outskirts.
Each member carried a green camouflage pack, divided into four men and two women, all with weariness etched on their faces.
This was precisely Qin Hao and the others, who had been traveling for three days.
At this moment, the cold man at the back sat down under a tree and said coldly, "We’ve walked for an entire day; it’s time for a break!"
Fox, with a charming expression, shook her head and said, "Viper, even I, a woman, can keep going. How can you be so delicate and need a break now?"
Viper snorted coldly but looked resentfully at Qin Hao, as if waiting for him to speak.
Qin Hao looked back at him indifferently, couldn’t be bothered to engage in any argument, and turned to the others, saying, "I know you’re all tired, but now isn’t the time to rest. The thick grass in these outskirts is prime for Gu insects and venomous snakes. If you don’t want to die from poisoning, then get moving."
Saying that, he grabbed Gu Qinyue and led the way into the forest depths.
Little Wolf and Scholar exchanged a glance and quickly followed.
Fox threw a mocking look at Viper, then with quick steps, caught up to Qin Hao, even playfully saying, "Captain, you’re so domineering, not even waiting for me."
By the tree, Viper watched as everyone left, clenched his teeth, pounded the tree, and eventually begrudgingly got up to follow.
This forest was full of weirdness, and he dared not linger alone, forced to swallow his pride and follow along.
While walking, he recalled the scene of being beaten by Qin Hao, his heart filled with rage and hatred.
Various malicious thoughts quietly formed in his mind.
Half an hour later, Qin Hao led the team ten miles in.
The forest seemed calm, but underneath there were hidden dangers waiting.
Their pace was not fast, but it was steady. Up until now, they hadn’t encountered any crisis.
At this time, it was noon, the hottest part of the day.
However, the towering trees shielded the sky, preventing sunlight from penetrating, leaving the forest silent, dark, and chilly.
Viper casually pulled a foxtail from the ground, keeping it in his mouth with a voice full of sarcasm, "We’ve walked so long and haven’t encountered any of those Gu insects and snakes that some people talked about. Haha, seems someone is telling tall tales with a straight face!"
The team suddenly stopped. Qin Hao looked at Viper with an odd expression but said nothing.
Startled, Viper instinctively snapped, "What are you looking at!"
He felt Qin Hao’s gaze was strange, as if showing pity?
Scholar was the oldest and most mature member of the group.
He didn’t want the team bogged down in infighting because that would spell trouble when facing threats.
So he butted in, "Viper, we are now one team; please don’t speak with resentment all the time."
Viper laughed coldly, "Scholar, you may be spineless, but I’m not."
Scholar felt angry, retorting, "What do you mean spineless! I just want everyone to survive together!"
Viper laughed arrogantly, "As if it’s so terrifying, yet have we encountered any danger? Not a single one!"
As he finished speaking, he laughed wildly, but midway through, his face stiffened, unable to utter a sound, seemingly with something stuck in his throat.
The foxtail fell to the ground as he fell back in shock.
"What!"
Everyone was shocked; Little Wolf scanned the surroundings but found no danger.
Fox’s charming smile vanished, replaced by rare seriousness.
She walked over to Viper, pressed down on his pulse for a few seconds, and said solemnly, "He’s poisoned!"
She said so, but was inwardly shocked. She was deemed the poison expert of the team, yet couldn’t identify what poison Viper was afflicted with!
"What kind of poison did he get?"
Scholar walked over with a heavy expression, squatting beside Viper and asking.
Fox’s face turned slightly pale as she shook her head, "I can’t even determine the cause of the poisoning."
The latter part of her words went unsaid, but everyone understood.
Not knowing the cause, how could they identify the poison?
"How could this be... Sister Fox, you’re hailed as the Female Poison King, yet you can’t even tell..."
Little Wolf called out in panic, his gaze darting around, feeling the once quiet forest had become terrifying and eerie!
Now the team became afraid, realizing this serene forest indeed teemed with danger.
Suddenly, Qin Hao’s previous warning rang in their minds, everyone instinctively looked at him, only to see Qin Hao’s face incredibly calm as he said, "He’s afflicted with Ji Insect Poison."