Tight Supplies

"How about we count up our source energy blocks instead?" It was Wen Jifei who suggested it. Listening to too many stories about top experts tended to backfire, leaving a person feeling dejected and small—especially when that person was a Dice. "Source energy blocks? Mine are easy to count," He Tangtang said. "Just the two I got last time. One is two-thirds absorbed, and the other is completely untouched." "All I have is the one Qingzi gave me before, and I haven't even finished it yet." Wen Jifei hadn't taken anything during the last division of spoils, still using the block Han Qingyu had given him even earlier. Liu Shiheng had one as well, roughly half used. And then there were six blocks in the communal reserve. Originally, seven had remained after dividing the loot, but because Shen Yixiu needed to replace her source energy on the spot, Han Qingyu had her take one from the communal reserve. No one had objected; when she joined the battle back then, she hadn't received any combat supplies, using her own source energy blocks instead. Once they joined their squad, training and combat supplies wouldn't be an issue—those would be issued automatically down through the legion and regiment. However, as for what was needed for nourishment... They could only hope Great Spikes would show up. After hacking them to death and turning in everything, including the metal blocks, they would receive a certain percentage back. Then, by accumulating merits, they could earn rewards. "The problem is, what if they just don't come?" He Tangtang asked. Once the words left his mouth, he didn't dare be too direct, casting a sideways glance at Shen Yixiu. "Yeah. They used to say an area would only get one or two a year. Starting this year, things have been unusual. Captain Lao's side had four in eight months, and the squad in the army with the most has had around seven so far." This wasn't actually a good omen, but to them, it had turned into something to look forward to. Han Qingyu's gaze was somewhat more direct as he looked over at Shen Yixiu too. Because for everyone else, it was only a matter of nourishment, but for her, it was keeping her alive. "I... besides the two I have on me, I have nine left. Adding what I got from the split, what I earned from sparring, and what was saved at home... I have nine blocks left that I can take with me." Which meant she had less than two left at home before. Nine blocks, excluding the periods when she could make use of training and combat allocations, would last a little over four months at minimum consumption. The question was, would Great Spikes come within four months? How many times?! Although the legion and regiment would surely allocate a few blocks as a reserve for a newly formed squad, those obviously couldn't be handed straight to Shen Yixiu for her personal use. "Why don't we just kidnap Captain Qin?" He Tangtang suggested. Everyone chuckled. The guy was a captain, and since he had openly admitted to carrying six on him, borrowing two or three would definitely be possible. But that wasn't a long-term solution either. "Actually, that's already a lot," Shen Yixiu said earnestly. "I've still got twenty full blocks on hand." Han Qingyu spoke up next, counting the number currently in his possession without factoring in what he could collect quarterly from his medals. He continued, "As for where they came from, the biggest chunk is from the medals, and the rest... a mixed bag." "Scammed, snatched, swindled..." Wen Jifei helpfully summarized. Han Qingyu looked at Shen Yixiu. "I can still collect four blocks every quarter going forward. If it really isn't enough, I'll lend them to you first... though that isn't a long-term solution either." "Mm." Borrow? Borrow again? Besides, everyone knew how brilliantly talented Han Qingyu was right now; he was the one who needed source energy blocks most to grow quickly. After a brief hesitation, Shen Yixiu said, "I wonder if there'll be a chance to earn merits." "Well... maybe poking around a Cleansing Faction hideout and robbing them a few times would be more realistic," He Tangtang said bluntly. "Though that kind of thing probably doesn't just come down to having enough strength—you have to stumble into the right opportunity... To be completely blunt, even if you earned a gold and a silver medal like Qingzi, adding it all up still wouldn't be enough for you to use." Silence fell over the room. How could Cleansing Faction hideouts be that easy to find? Besides, even if they did find one, the odds were it wouldn't be anywhere near as rich as the last one. That had just been lucky timing. "If only we could use the undercover leads on the Rejecters' side." "Fake my death?! Have them help collect the bounty? Who knows what kind of proof they'd need, though." "..." Han Qingyu thought about it. He was caught in a contradiction right now: regarding the plan to let assassins from the City of Iniquity come after him six months later, if he wanted to pull it off, he had to get stronger as fast as possible. And to get stronger, he needed massive amounts of source energy blocks himself, leaving him unable to help Rusty Sister much. What a headache. "Do you think this could work?" Liu Shiheng, who had remained quiet all this time, spoke up. "We could launch an investment project." "What on earth is that?" None of them understood. "An investment." "Investing in who?" "In our Squad 1777, or in Qingzi and Rusty Sister," Liu Shiheng said seriously. "Everyone thinks highly of you two right now anyway. Why don't we put the word out: a one-year term, invest five and get back six, or invest five and get back seven... Maybe someone will bite." "Oh, so it's basically borrowing money and paying interest, right? Why call it an investment?" Wen Jifei grasped the gist of it. He pondered a bit and said, "Though it really is something to consider. I just don't know if the army allows it. Old Legion Commander..." When he called out, everyone realized that Shen Fengting hadn't said a single word since they started tallying the source energy blocks. By all rights, he should have cared about this more than anyone. "Here's the thing. Give me a little time to think it over, and I'll decide tomorrow whether to tell you or not," Shen Fengting said, looking up with a smile. "Grandpa, you aren't... you aren't planning to wait until I leave and sneak off to the City of Iniquity to earn source energy blocks like you used to think of doing, are you?" Shen Yixiu panicked, her voice carrying a tearful tremor. So when the old man had been at his wit's end, he had actually entertained such an idea. "No, I can't go there, and I wouldn't dare make you worry. Don't worry—now that Grandpa sees hope, I'll definitely take good care of myself and keep on living." Shen Fengting patted the back of his granddaughter's hand as he spoke. "In any case, let me think about it some more. You kids chat about something cheerful first." *** They chatted and watched TV at the Shen household until past eight in the evening. Back at the base, Wen Jifei led the way and stepped into the dormitory. He took one look, spun around, and bolted. Han Qingyu caught him in a flash. "What's wrong?" "Wrong room! It's a women's dorm! Run, before they make an example of us on our very last day!" Wen Jifei struggled in his grip. Han Qingyu glanced up at the room number. "22. That's our room." In Dorm 22, only the four of Han Qingyu's group had returned so far. Standing surrounded in the middle of the room was an unfamiliar comrade whose gender remained entirely ambiguous. "You're a girl, right? What are you doing barging into our dorm all by yourself?" The one being interrogated was the person Wen Jifei had just locked eyes with at the doorway, causing him to think he had stumbled into a women's dorm. Granted, the hair wasn't long, but plenty of female soldiers had short hair. Look at that fair, delicate skin, those brows and eyes, that soft glance, that slender figure... "I'm a guy." If he—or she—hadn't spoken, it might have been fine. But the moment those words were uttered... "My knees are weak, I'm numb, I'm going numb..." several of the brutes groaned on the spot. Her voice was too sweet and soft—far too sweet and soft. "Girl, stop messing around." "I'll say it again," the girl said, her eyes defiant. "I'm a guy." "..." "And I didn't just wander in here on my own. Captain Milla brought me up... I'm one of the veterans Captain Milla contacted personally earlier. I rushed all the way back because I want to join your squad." With that, she held out a list to Han Qingyu. "Milla said it requires your consent. Take a look." "Even so, there's no need to pretend to be a guy. It's not like we don't take female soldiers," Wen Jifei chimed in. "Yeah, we welcome you," He Tangtang said. "But I really am a guy!" The girl blew up—though whether she was a girl or not was now entirely up in the air. Feeling deeply aggrieved, she said, "I've studied opera since I was little, specializing in huadan roles. My master said I had to bring the acting into daily life... and I took him seriously for fourteen years." "Then what's your name?" Han Qingyu asked, looking at the roster. "Look for yourself." "There are over a dozen names here." "The last one." "Qi... Qi Rourou?" Han Qingyu read it out. "Yeah." He Tangtang: "And you still say you're not a girl?" Qi Rourou let out a wistful sigh. "My master gave me that name too! This lady— Bah! This man isn't joining anymore! I'm furious!" With that, he stomped toward the door. "What's going on?" Milla appeared right outside, glanced into the room, and caught hold of him. A moment later, she walked inside and said solemnly, "He really is a man."