"What are you following me for?" Chen Mu raised his eyelids to take a look at Wei-ah.
He had always found it strange that Wei-ah's reaction that day had been very strange.
Wei-ah's first reaction had been to grab Chen Mu and Li Duhong when they had run into the swarm of ants that day.
It wasn't surprising that he would save Li Duhong right away, but Chen Mu couldn't understand why the other person would be him.
He believed that whether it was Alfonso or Kitt, they were both more important than he was.
Moreover, he was an outsider.
Wei-ah, who was always close to the clan elder, had appeared in the troop, and Chen Mu had been wondering who it was that could make the clan elder issue such an order.
He had never thought it would be him, which was completely unreliable.
Since then, Wei-ah had simply stuck close to Chen Mu.
No matter how Chen Mu asked him, he would remain silent, and if Chen Mu got up, he would certainly get up.
"Kitt is awake!
Kitt is awake! "
The camp was in an uproar, and the good news made the weary youths smile happily.
Kitt had finally woken up.
That was good news for everyone, including Chen Mu.
He breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn't have to worry about Kitt waking up.
"Mr. Little Chen, Kitt would like you to go over." A youth who looked twelve ran over to Chen Mu and said respectfully.
Chen Mu's performance those two days had won the respect of all the youths.
When Chen Mu arrived in front of Kitt, he was startled when he saw his face, and had a bad feeling.
Kitt's cheeks had turned an abnormal bright red, as though it were the final radiance of a setting sun.
Kitt looked at Chen Mu and forced a smile, "Thank you." Li Duhong and Alfonso were at Kitt's side.
Li Duhong had displayed a strength that far exceeded that of an ordinary child, insisting on walking every day during that time, rather than relying on someone else's back.
Kitt had just said something to Li Duhong, and there were still traces of tears on Li Duhong's face, though his eyes, which were like black gemstones, reflected an even more resolute gaze.
"Don't thank me." Chen Mu shook his head, and answered honestly, "Get better quickly.
I've already done what I could.
I don't have any good ideas just now. "He wasn't being modest, as he had racked his brains and still hadn't had a clue.
There were 2,725 youths left in this division. Among them, only three had completed all the warrior training.
Leading them for so many years was like leading a flock of plump lambs, but there was no pride to protect them.
Perhaps there were already wild beasts eyeing them.
"You've already done very well!" Kitt looked straight into Chen Mu's eyes, not hiding his appreciation for Chen Mu at all.
Chen Mu smiled bitterly. "Outstanding?
It's useless even if you praise me. I really have no other way. "
It was unknown what Kitt was thinking, but his tone became deep and indistinct. "Fate, ah, always makes people feel despair, but when people are in despair, it reveals a sliver of sunshine."
Chen Mu couldn't make heads or tails of it. All his knowledge was related to cards, and he hadn't dabbled in anything like literature. So, he chose to remain silent.
"Do you have any ideals, Chen Mu?" Kitt suddenly changed the subject and asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"Ideal?"
Chen Mu carefully experienced the unfamiliar word in his heart. Suddenly, he thought of many things from the past.
He thought of how he had made one-star power cards every day for several years. He thought of how excited and distressed he had been about the card play with Copper. He thought of how excited he had been when he had discovered the mysterious card.
"You don't want to die in this jungle, do you?" Kitt interrupted Chen Mu's recollections, looking deeply at him.
Coming back to his senses, Chen Mu quickly responded with a nod. "Right."
Kitt motioned for Alfonso to help him sit up. When the surrounding youths saw Kitt sitting up, they couldn't help but get excited.
They believed that as long as Kitt was well, he and Chen Mu could join hands and certainly lead them out of their predicament.
Chen Mu and Kitt were acclaimed as the two most talented youths. Whether it was Chen Mu or Kitt, they were both worthy of their trust.
"Do you see them?
They are very young, and they are very fragile. Any wild beast could tear them to pieces. "Kitt looked straight at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu was listening, knowing Kitt had more to say.
"But that's only for now!
Among them, there are quite a few who have gone through warrior training, even if it's not complete!
But as long as another five years, no, perhaps only three years, a considerable portion of them will grow up and become excellent warriors! "
Kitt's face showed some pride. "You probably don't know this, but this department is full of the most outstanding youths in the clan!
Each one of them is very, very outstanding! "
"If you want to walk out of the jungle by yourself, you won't be able to succeed!
I believe you are very clear on that point.
But if you have them, it won't be a problem.
Most of them will become specialists in the jungle.
With so many specialists in the jungle, this jungle will become your kingdom.
And you will be the king of that kingdom! "
Kitt's words were full of temptation.
Chen Mu wasn't moved.
Kitt had sketched out a very beautiful prospect for him, but everything was built on the premise that he could lead those children to survive.
Could he?
Chen Mu shook his head to himself, not believing he had that ability.
Kitt started to cough violently, and the coughing became more and more violent, while the flush on his face grew deeper, making Chen Mu tremble with fear.
The children stood up one by one, looking nervously in his direction.
Kitt managed to stop his coughing with difficulty, and forced a smile. "I reckon I'm going to die soon, and the heavens are rushing me.
Chen Mu, take that gang of children with you.
If you're in a critical situation, just run by yourself.
You won't lose out anyway … "Kitt coughed violently again, and Li Duhong was biting his lip to the side. His eyes were red, and he kept a straight face, doing his best not to let the tears fall.
Chen Mu sighed to himself, and said softly, "OK, but I can only say I'll do my best, and I can't guarantee anything."
He had already seen the dark red blood flowing from between Kitt's fingers, and Kitt's handsome face was so red it looked as though it would ooze blood.
After a few minutes, Kitt stopped coughing, and looked gratefully at Chen Mu. "Thank you!"
Then he lightly stroked Li Duhong's head with his right hand. "Remember to listen to little Mr. Chen later, kid."
"Mmmm!"
Li Duhong made a sound of weeping, biting his lip so hard that it almost bled, and tears were swirling in his eyes.
Alfonso couldn't help but turn his face away, wiping his tears.
"Wei-ah." Kitt suddenly raised his head.
Wei-ah was taken aback, not having thought that Kitt would have something to say to him.
"Come here. I have something to say to you."
Wei-ah hesitated, but still walked over to Kitt.
"Come a little closer."
Wei-ah put his ear next to Kitt's mouth, and Kitt said something softly.
Wei-ah looked at Chen Mu with some astonishment, and then nodded lightly.
Chen Mu noticed that detail, and he couldn't help but wonder what Kitt would say to Wei-ah.
Kitt called a few of the older youths to his side, and carefully instructed them.
The camp was filled with the sound of crying, and all of the youths couldn't help but shed tears of grief.
Kitt's voice became smaller and smaller, until it was almost inaudible. He seemed to be asleep, and no matter how much they called out to him, he didn't respond.
Wei-ah went forward and put his fingers on the side of his neck, shaking his head at Chen Mu. "He's dead."
Kitt was buried on the spot, and the morale of the troops reached a freezing point.
There was nothing Chen Mu could do about the situation, and he could only set up camp for the time being.
They had left marks along the way, but none of Colin and the rest had chased after them. Chen Mu surmised that the odds were stacked against them.
But what surprised Chen Mu was that he had found a few small cluster cannons among the supplies on the backs of the beasts of burden. Colin and the rest hadn't had time to take them out when they had run into the swarm of ants.
Although he didn't think those small cluster cannons would have much effect, it was better than nothing, and no matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat.
He had specifically picked a few of the older youths to practice operating the few weapons they had.
The troops were still moving forward, though their speed was a lot slower than before.
They were still children, after all, and there was a big gap between them and adults in terms of physical strength.
But those youths were outstanding, and in a very short time they had learned how to operate the small cluster cannons, and they practiced tirelessly over and over to increase their proficiency.
Wei-ah had been sent out by Chen Mu to be a scout, which was the only one in the entire troop who was most suited to do.
Chen Mu had been a little worried that Wei-ah wouldn't listen to his orders, but he hadn't thought that Wei-ah would be so strangely cooperative. No matter what orders Chen Mu gave, he would carry them out without hesitation.
The only thing that gave Chen Mu a headache was that every day Wei-ah would whisper into Chen Mu's ear to urge him to learn his skills.
As the most powerful guy in the whole troop, Wei-ah was put to good use by Chen Mu.
Wei-ah had also used his performance to prove that he was worthy of his title as the number one ace in the village.
They would often run into dead wild beasts along the way, and when they asked Wei-ah, they found out that they had all been killed in passing while he was a scout.
Chirp!
A long, sharp whistle suddenly sounded through the woods.
The whole troop immediately stopped moving forward, and the youths couldn't help but show a look of alarm.
Chen Mu's expression couldn't help but change. That was Wei-ah's warning sound, which meant he had run into trouble!
Trouble that Wei-ah couldn't solve was real trouble!
Smiling bitterly to himself, Chen Mu closed his eyes as quickly as he could.
He needed to enter that damned state of breath control right away!