My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 104: I Really Can’t Keep Up

"First, the captain of our team is and will always be Li Rui. He’s humble and amiable in private, but during missions, you must call him captain and unconditionally obey his orders."

With the newbie joining, it seemed that He Chengli had secretly reconciled with Huo Yun and even started promoting his ideas in the car.

"Yes!"

Surprisingly, Kong Hua was quite receptive to the idea. Ever since he learned about participating in an elite mission overlap, he had been very excited.

"Second, our team is a team and must enforce strict discipline."

"Yes, Captain!"

"Third, I’m the vice-captain," He Chengli unexpectedly added.

"Get out of here, I’m the vice-captain."

Normally, Huo Yun wouldn’t compete for such a childish title, but being in the original trio for so long seemed to have rubbed off some impractical habits.

Li Rui, initially resting with his eyes closed, couldn’t help but speak as he listened to their bickering: "Alright, all three of you are vice-captains."

"Yes, Captain!"

The first principle is strict discipline and unconditional obedience to the captain’s orders.

Seeing that they finally stopped arguing, Li Rui just started to feel at ease when he received a call from Kong Ji, waking him up again.

"Hey, Brother Kong, what’s up?"

Upon hearing the name, Kong Hua kept a straight face, but secretly pricked up his ears to listen closely.

"Have you picked up Xiaohua? How’s it going, no trouble, right?"

"No, he’s been very obedient, hasn’t caused any trouble." Li Rui thought that beating up Hea Yang in the club probably didn’t count as trouble.

"You don’t need to comfort me."

Kong Ji seemed unconvinced, "This kid is young and rebellious, doesn’t listen to anyone. Bear with him, I’ll pay extra, okay?"

The extra pay refers to more materials being provided.

Li Rui glanced at Kong Hua: "No problem, I’ll definitely get along well with him."

"Mm, tell me if you have difficulties. Teach him a lesson if needed, don’t be polite."

".....Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Li Rui looked at Kong Hua, contemplating whether to give this kid a beating, otherwise, he wouldn’t feel right taking the money.

"Captain?"

Kong Hua felt a chill down his spine.

.....

East Gate Province is the easternmost gateway in the Northwest, and the Hea family’s roots are there. But most of the time, He Pengxi stays in the courtyard on the east side of Qing Garden City in West Wind Province, as most external dealings are conducted here.

This afternoon, he rarely found time to leave work early and returned to his residence.

After getting off at the main gate, he was accustomed to walking through the green path planted with sycamore trees. The Northwest is dry, not suitable for these trees to grow, but he liked them, so he had people specially tend to them.

After taking a few steps forward, he noticed someone hiding behind a tree.

"Come out."

He coldly issued a command, entirely different from his demeanor in front of Kong Ji.

A limping figure emerged from behind the tree; Hea Yang dared not defy this man.

"Got beaten up? Who did it?" He Pengxi asked, without any detectable emotion.

Hea Yang begrudgingly replied, "People from the fighting club."

"Didn’t I tell you not to go?"

He Pengxi was slightly displeased. Earlier, Kong Ji had approached him, clearly indicating that other families had complaints about this guy being targeted harshly.

Hea Yang did not explain, preparing to face punishment.

"But."

He Pengxi asked, "With your skills, who there can beat you?"

"I don’t know, an unfamiliar face, very young, level 17, looking for Kong Hua."

Hmm?

He Pengxi knew the relation between Kong Ji and Kong Hua, and also thought of Li Rui, who had made quite an impression recently.

"Ha, why’d you provoke him?"

Hea Yang hadn’t expected a scolding, and even heard a chuckle, leaving him utterly shocked.

Boldly, he asked, "Third Uncle, do you know him?"

"Do you know Li Xiaolin?"

As He Pengxi spoke, he started walking forward with his back to him, "Blood Tiger, level 25 transformer, a man from the Land of Chaos, left in bad shape by him. Daring enough to provoke him, huh? You’re not allowed to go to the club anymore."

Hea Yang stood, mouth agape, motionless for a long time.

Only then did he fully realize just how terrifying the person who had defeated him in ten seconds was.

"Why does Boss Kong know him, and Third Uncle knows him too, who on earth is he?"

.....

Li Rui had already led the team to the designated mission site, a similarly remote wilderness, common in the Northwest.

"We aim for a swift resolution. Once the mission occurs, we’ll handle it right away and rush back to Qing Garden City to enter the Secret Realm, so we can’t afford delays."

"Yes, Captain!"

However, the timing spans quite far; there’s still eight or nine days until the Secret Realm countdown, probably can return two or three days ahead of schedule.

Kong Hua eagerly volunteered, "I’ll take watch!"

He hadn’t personally undertaken an external mission; when the family sent someone to show him, it was always from a distance.

Now able to experience it firsthand, he was very excited.

Li Rui said, "Alright, you and I will be one group. The remaining two will form another."

He Chengli and Huo Yun exchanged a glance, about to object, but were immediately stopped.

"Principle one."

"Yes, Captain....."

Strategic planning was complete, leaving shifts for watch and rest as they awaited the mission.

Time passed quickly. At noon, under a scorching sun, as Li Rui and Kong Hua sat atop a rock platform looking out, changes finally appeared.

The distant air began to fluctuate, enormous mirage-like arches rose from the ground, glowing brightly on the vast Gobi.

"It’s here. Stay close, don’t stray more than ten steps away from me," Li Rui instructed.

Kong Hua was only level 16, relatively low in a level 20 mission. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t delve deep, but remembering the first principle, he immediately nodded.

"Yes, Captain!"

Li Rui took two steps and jumped off the platform, racing down the slope, charging towards the arches.

Meanwhile, between the posts of each arch, tall figures also began appearing.

Li Rui frowned, noticing these figures, all over two meters tall, were standing two-footed toads wielding weapons of various kinds.

"Demon Race?"

In the 16-20 level phase, the Demon Race gradually assumed humanoid form, although far from complete transformation.

He just murmured to himself, feeling unfazed, the Shenxiao Thunderbolt Heart Scripture activating, darting among the demons, knocking each Toad Demon on the head with his umbrella.

Once his skills activated, he moved effortlessly, while Kong Hua suffered; each Toad Demon was not only stronger but also terrifying, making his heart race, almost feeling like crying.

Suddenly, a red-skinned toad leaped from afar, wielding a short blade, directly striking toward his head.

The assailant came too fast, with Kong Hua just dodging an attack round, now unable to react, helplessly watching the gleaming blade descend.

Am I going to die here?!

The threat of death chilled him, this mission was real, not like the Secret Realm.

However, he didn’t need to worry, as Li Rui wouldn’t let the mission’s target suffer any harm.

A flash of golden light, his figure appeared like a war god before Kong Hua.

With a clang, he deflected the short blade, then struck with a Thunderbolt Palm.

"Didn’t I tell you to stick close?" Li Rui yelled, turning to glare at him.

Kong Hua, feeling guilty and innocent, said, "I really can’t keep up, Captain....."