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“The doctor said it’s okay for us to visit and chat with Anna. It would be a shame to leave our dear Anna feeling lonely,” Liu Mengqi remarked, a hint of playful defiance in her voice. She gently rubbed the spot on her cheek that had reddened from Lin Feng’s earlier pinch.

“Isn’t that right, Anna?” Liu Mengqi teased, wrapping an arm around Anna in a light-hearted embrace.

“Ah! Are you a lily too?” Anna yelped, pushing Liu Mengqi away. Though she resisted, she didn’t seem as hostile as before, and her smile seemed to have regained some of its normal energy.

“All right, you two, enough of that,” Lin Feng interjected, his voice tinged with relief upon seeing Anna’s improved state. To him, she felt like an endearing daughter figure: petite and full of unfortunate spirit. “I’ve got a task for all of you.”

He ventured outside briefly, returning with several hazmat suits.

“Wow, Lin Feng! Where did you get these? They look amazing! Just like real police gear!” Chen Ranran said, her curiosity piqued as she examined one of the suits.

“They are from the actual police force,” Lin Feng clarified, gently retrieving the suit from Chen Ranran. He gestured towards the dark, dried stains on it. “I need everyone to pitch in and clean these five suits. A… friend needs our help, we’ll need these suits so please handle them with care; they’ve seen better days.”

The suits, marred with what appeared to be dried blood, clearly needed meticulous cleaning. Lin Feng had no intention of wearing them as they were.

Sensing Lin Feng’s urgency, the girls immediately recognized the importance of his request. They paired up without further ado, taking the suits away for cleaning.

Lin Feng gave Anna a reassuring glance, signaling for her to rest, as he readied himself to depart.

“Lin Feng, I was thinking…”

“Focus on resting, Anna. This mission isn’t for you,” he said gently, his words laced with warmth and concern.

The instant Anna started to speak, Lin Feng intuitively grasped her intention. Despite her severe injuries, she seemed eager to join the upcoming mission. Although Mr. Spider had claimed the task was safe, Anna clearly needed rest.

“We are from a lineage of warriors,” Anna began with a hint of pride.

“Even warriors need their respite,” Lin Feng responded, a teasing note in his voice. “Unless, of course, your tribe can thrive without sustenance. If so, then maybe I’d reconsider.” He laughed lightly as he shut the wooden sliding door, leaving Anna behind.

Why was Anna so determined to push her limits? Wouldn’t it be simpler for her to embrace a laid-back approach, much like Liu Mengqi?

In the main hall, Elder Liu was seated on the wooden floor, a steaming pot of green tea before him. The principal and Yan Aoxue sat nearby, their faces a blend of anticipation and uncertainty. Lin Feng had previously sent a cryptic message through Ruolian, and now they eagerly awaited details about their new mission.

“During my recent exploration, I encountered a plant that induced hallucinations,” Lin Feng began, gathering his thoughts. “Subsequently, I was rescued by a talking spider.”

“An articulate spider?” Yan Aoxue’s voice carried a blend of incredulity and intrigue.

“That’s right. This spider claimed it was once a human but underwent a transformation. It warned me of the spreading peach blossom trees, which induce hallucinations, and asked for our help.”

“Why don’t they deal with it themselves?” Yan Aoxue pondered aloud, her fingers thoughtfully stroking her chin.

“They possess an inherent fear of fire. Apparently, the only way to exterminate these trees is by burning them. Honestly, these trees could soon overrun our entire city, and we would inevitably have to face them anyway.”

“But how can we rely on a spider’s account?” The principal interjected, pausing to sip his tea, his expression contemplative. Everyone vividly remembered the spider’s unprovoked assault on the humans. Now, Lin Feng seemed to be suggesting a potential collaboration.

“I… have my reservations,” Lin Feng admitted hesitantly.