The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 111: Chapter 1: Team Coincidence?

「Several days later, in the plaza outside the Task Department hall at the Outer Sect Headquarters.」

Two men and a woman stood quietly in a corner, waiting for the other members of their team to arrive.

The woman was about thirty years old, while the two men appeared slightly older, around forty.

However, because they were so well-preserved, their actual ages were likely even greater.

A moment later, a slightly older young man walked up, a younger man in tow.

As they approached, the three waiting all frowned in unison.

One of the middle-aged men, Hek Tuan, was the first to speak. ”Feng Mingyou, even though you’ve now figured out a Tier Two Foundation Establishment Technique and earned the title of Quasi-Tai Chi Cultivator...”

”...your path is the Tea Dao. Your actual combat strength is so-so, not that much greater than the rest of us.”

”So what are you doing now? Bringing the whole family along?”

As Hek Tuan spoke, the other members of the team remained silent, clearly agreeing with him.

Feng Mingyou glanced coolly at Hek Tuan. ”Last time we talked, didn’t we agree that we could use our own judgment to invite one or two teammates?”

Upon hearing this, Hek Tuan retorted, ”We said you could invite one or two teammates, yes. But that meant finding capable peers to help gather resources, not dragging your family along.

”This junior brother isn’t even twenty, is he?”

”To advance to an Intermediate Apprentice and become an Outer Disciple at such a young age shows some Talent, I’ll admit.”

”But what’s the big idea, bringing an Intermediate Apprentice with you?”

Feng Mingyou didn’t bother with a lengthy explanation, only stating coolly, ”That’s not your concern. In any case, rewards are distributed based on contribution; we’re not all eating from the same big pot.”

”I shouldn’t need your approval for who I bring, should I?”

”You... Can’t you just speak properly for once...” Hek Tuan said with a frown, seeming particularly concerned with Feng Mingyou.

”Alright, stop arguing. We haven’t even set out yet, and you two are about to come to blows.”

Seeing the tension rising between the two, the other man, Hua Wei, quickly interjected, playing the part of peacemaker.

”Hey, I’m not the one looking for trouble. I’m just stating a fact,” Hek Tuan said.

”Look at him. We’ve only worked together once, and now he’s dragging along dead weight like this. What is he trying to pull?”

Hua Wei chuckled. ”When we discussed this last time, we didn’t set any rules about a member’s strength.”

”Besides, Feng Mingyou has a point. Since rewards are based on contribution, if he wants to bring a junior along for some training, we should just let him.”

”Who doesn’t have someone they need to look out for, right?”

Seeing this, Hek Tuan sighed in resignation. ”Fine. I just hope he stays out of the way and doesn’t cause any trouble.”

Hua Wei smiled and said, ”You don’t need to worry about that. Feng Mingyou will keep him in line. Right, Junior Brother Feng?”

Feng Mingyou laughed. ”I never said I was bringing a junior along. He’s a teammate I recruited.”

Hua Wei just smiled, dismissing the comment. ”Alright, whatever you say. Just make sure you look after him. Once we’re in the back mountains, none of us will have the spare time.”

Zhang Deming and Feng Mingyou exchanged a glance, but neither of them offered any further explanation.

’As long as I can tag along, I don’t care what they think,’ Zhang Deming thought. ’Besides, if I keep hiding my strength, I really will be nothing more than dead weight.’

This was his first time entering the back mountains, so he was just joining a team to get the lay of the land. It was better to be cautious, after all.

”Since everyone’s here, let’s get going!” Hua Wei announced.

”Wait, I invited someone too,” said Yuling, the woman who had been silent until now.

”Junior Sister Yuh invited a teammate? Now that’s a rare sight,” Hua Wei said with a smile, looking at the indifferent Yuling.

”Did you tell them to...”

”She’s here.”

Before Hek Tuan could finish his sentence, Yuling spoke, her gaze fixed on the distance.

The group of five turned in unison, and all five were momentarily stunned.

When they got a clear look at the newcomer, even the peacemaker Hua Wei’s expression soured.

Hek Tuan’s face was as black as thunder. ”What is with you people? Is everyone planning on bringing their family along?”

Yuling shot Hek Tuan a cool glance. ”If you’re not satisfied, you’re more than welcome to go form another team.”

”It’s only our second time cooperating, after all.”

Hek Tuan’s face darkened, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. He glanced at Feng Mingyou; if not for his desperate need for this Tea Dao specialist, he might have actually quit on the spot.

Hua Wei also stared at the newcomer, somewhat speechless. Zhang Deming, however, was looking at her in a complete daze.

She was seventeen or eighteen, with a pure and adorable face that held a hint of silliness and a dorky charm. A faint Spirit Charm emanated from her, making her look just like a real-life Elf.

She was certainly beautiful, so teaming up with her wasn’t something even Hek Tuan or Hua Wei would find unpleasant.

But they were planning to venture deep into the back mountains—a life-threatening endeavor.

And now... in a team of six, there were two Intermediate Apprentices. What was this?

A tour group?

While the others wore varying expressions, Zhang Deming finally snapped out of his daze and was about to say hello.

”Wearing pants this time?” the girl asked, delivering a completely unexpected opening line.

Zhang Deming was caught completely off guard, freezing on the spot once more.

Hua Wei and Hek Tuan exchanged strange, unreadable glances.

Yuling looked at Zhang Deming, lost in thought. Feng Mingyou seriously sized up the girl who had just appeared.

Huh?

’Am I... being hit on?’

’I think I am, right?’

After a moment of stupefaction, Zhang Deming finally came to his senses and retorted, ”What’s wrong? Disappointed you have nothing to take advantage of? Should I take them off for you?”

’Little chubby girl, you really think I’m afraid of you!’

”Um, do you two know each other?” Feng Mingyou asked, watching them flirt back and forth as if no one else was there.

”No!”

”No!”

The two of them spoke in perfect, uncanny unison.

After speaking, they both paused, then looked at each other. Zhang Deming’s eyes were contemplative, while the girl’s held a flash of anger.

”Ahem... Alright, it’s getting late. We should get going,” Hua Wei said, breaking the strange atmosphere and playing peacemaker once again.

Clearly, these two newcomers had some history, but now wasn’t the time to investigate.

The group of six, apart from the two new members, were all veterans who had worked together once before, all of them striving for the resources needed for advancement.

Therefore, including the two newcomers, everyone present knew at least the three Basic Techniques.

And so, upon leaving the Task Department plaza, all six of them began the Casting for the Agility Technique.

In truth, Zhang Deming only needed A Thought to complete the Casting of the Agility Technique.

But this wasn’t the time to be showing off.

He joined the others in forming hand seals and Casting. Spirit Wind swirled at the feet of the other five, while Light Wings appeared at Zhang Deming’s heels.

The others, who had been about to set off, all stopped in their tracks. Everyone except Feng Mingyou turned to look at Zhang Deming—or more accurately, at the miniature Light Wings on his feet.

Zhang Deming asked, feigning confusion, ”What’s wrong?”

’I already held back,’ he thought. ’I didn’t even cast it instantly.’

Hua Wei said, ”Junior brother, your Agility Technique is quite impressive. It’s already reached the Mastery stage of Rune Concretization.”

”Few Outer Disciples possess such a level of skill.”

”And for a junior brother as young as you to have already achieved a Mastery Level Agility Technique... your future is truly limitless.”