On the Ark.

Shining simply shook his head: "I know what you're thinking, but you can't learn my swordsmanship, and don't even think about learning it, unless you want to become something more terrifying than a demon."

Having said that, Lin Ye didn't press the matter further.

As the three were leaving the cafeteria, Nightingale called out to Lin Ye again.

"What's wrong, Liz?"

Nightingale hesitated for a moment, then asked, "The one I gave you last time..."

"A talisman?" Lin Ye took it out of his pocket. "I always carry it with me."

"Is that so?" Nightingale's lips curled slightly. "Then I wish you a successful trip to Sherag."

……

……

Author's note: Twenty-five chapters are owed.

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Journey

If only there were airplanes.

Whenever Lin Ye saw the SUV they used for their trip, he couldn't help but wish there were airplanes. Especially since their destination, Shelag, was even farther than Lungmen; the journey alone would take two days and one night. Although Lin Ye didn't suffer from motion sickness, the feeling was still quite unpleasant. However, no matter how unpleasant it was, there was nothing he could do; work required making a living.

The scheduled departure time was 8:00 AM, and Lin Ye arrived at 7:30 AM. He was half an hour early and thought he was the earliest, but he didn't expect that others had already arrived and were working diligently.

This person is Xiao Zheng from the medical department… the little girl Su Suluo. She was still wearing the same petite medical department uniform as yesterday, pushing a small cart that was taller than her, filled with medicines provided by the medical department. When Lin Ye arrived, she was struggling to move the medicines from the cart into her car.

The fact that it was still struggling reminded Lin Ye of how ants carry food.

"Put it down, put it down, let me do it." Lin Ye hurriedly went over, "Don't fall."

Susuluo placed a box of medicine in the trunk, heard Lin Ye's voice, turned around to look at Lin Ye, then sat down, breathing softly, and politely thanked Lin Ye.

Lin Ye took over Su Suluo's work and asked, "Why are you the only one here?"

“I was the only one from the medical department who came here,” Susuluo said in a pleasant, youthful voice.

"I mean, these medicines, you could at least send someone to help transport them," Lin Ye said. "It's really too much to send a kid like you."

“I’m not a child,” Susuluo said calmly. “I’m older than you, and I think I can handle these medicines on my own without the help of my colleagues.”

Lin Ye smiled and said, "Yes, yes, you're older than me. So, do you need any help right now?"

Perhaps because she was used to people saying that, Susuluo did not refute it, but instead admitted it: "I am indeed not very good at physical strength."

"So, from now on, just leave these kinds of things to me. I mean during this mission, but of course, after the mission is over."

There weren't many medicines, and Su Suluo had already moved most of them before Lin Ye arrived, so Lin Ye only needed to carry four or five more boxes before he was done. He looked at Su Suluo resting in the back of the truck, took out some milk biscuits from his pocket, and waved them in front of her: "Want some?"

Susuluo glanced at Lin Ye: "Can you please stop treating me like a child?"

"Uh, okay, do you want to eat it?"

Susuru thought for a moment, realizing she was indeed a little hungry, and nodded, "If possible."

Lin Ye smiled and handed over the cookies. He looked at Su Suluo, still feeling a sense of familiarity. In his past life, his neighbor had a little boy about Su Suluo's age… no, about Su Suluo's height. The boy would often sneak over to his house after school to see the cat, and he would give the little boy some cookies or pastries. He wondered how that little boy was doing now, whether he had grown up. If he had, he hoped he was healthy and not like himself.

Thinking this, Lin Ye's mind slowly became hazy until the sound of Su Suluo eating cookies pulled him back. He looked at Su Suluo, whose little hands were not much bigger than milk and cookies, which was really interesting. Lin Ye really wanted to give her a head pat! But when he thought about her actual age, Lin Ye suppressed such thoughts and then began to pack his things into the trunk.

While Lin Ye was loading the car, Su Suluo put down the biscuits, sniffed them, looked at Lin Ye, and asked, "What's in your bag? It smells so peculiar."

"Uh, catnip...mint tea leaves." Lin Ye coughed twice. "Can you even smell that?"

“My sense of smell is still quite keen.” Sussuro nodded. “It does smell like herbs, but the Sherag people don’t seem to like tea much. All that tea you brought in your backpack is a waste.”

Lin Ye smiled and said, "Who knows?"

Su Sulu frowned: "You seem so confident."

"No, I just wanted to try it out," Lin Ye said. "Anyway, I don't drink this kind of tea."

"You're buying it even if you're not going to drink it? You have so much money," Su Su Luo muttered to herself. "I just don't think it's a good idea for you to bring tea as a gift."

Lin Ye smiled again, still choosing not to explain to Su Suluo what was so good about his tea. Su Suluo had clearly smelled the catnip but showed no reaction, meaning the catnip didn't attract her, so there was no point in explaining. Because Lin Ye himself didn't know what was so good about catnip.

The two waited for about ten minutes before Horn Peak, First Snow, and Cliff Heart arrived.

“Dr. Lin.” Horn Peak extended his hand directly to Lin Ye and said with a smile, “I’m glad you can come with us to Shelag.”

“It’s all work,” Lin Ye said with a smile, shaking hands with Horn Peak. “Besides, I also want to see what a beautiful place Kjerag is.”

“Sherag will satisfy you,” Horn Peak said with a smile.

Cliffheart, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and complained, "Can you guys please stop using this kind of official jargon that gives me goosebumps? Is it really necessary when we see each other every day?"

Lin Ye and Jiao Feng immediately felt awkward and let go of each other's hands. Lin Ye even scratched his head and said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to say."

"Why wouldn't you know? Just tell me... Hey?" Ya Xin suddenly leaned closer, sniffed around him, and her eyes lit up. "It smells so tempting, is it catnip?"

"...You smelled it?"

"Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm." Ya Xin nodded repeatedly.

When Lin Ye was loading the car earlier, he accidentally spilled a can of catnip. Following the principle of not wasting anything, he had to grab it by hand and put it back. That's probably when he picked up the catnip scent, which Ya Xin immediately noticed. Actually, not only Ya Xin, but Chu Xue also smelled it and glanced at him several times. However, Chu Xue isn't Ya Xin, so she wouldn't be so unladylike as to stick close to him.

"Wow, Dr. Lin." Ya Xin gave Lin Ye a thumbs up. "As expected of you, you even thought of using it as a spice."

"...I hadn't actually thought that way."

"Really? But the effect is great. Even though you're not particularly good-looking, this fragrance makes you stand out."

Lin Ye: "..."

Can't you even speak properly? What do you mean by "average-looking"? Do you think I'm average-looking? You know, when he was little, he was adored by aunties and grandmothers over forty. Those aunties and grandmothers all said they would marry their granddaughters or daughters to him when they grew up! The title of "friend of middle-aged and elderly women" was placed on him at a very young age!

Lin Ye was internally ranting, but dared not say it aloud, and could only nod: "I understand."

"Did you bring any catnip?" Ya Xin asked eagerly. "Can I have some too?"

"No, that's all. I've given it all to you." Lin Ye shook his head and said firmly, "I have nothing left."

"Oh, okay." Cliffheart felt a pang of disappointment.

At this moment, Jiao Feng, who had walked to the driver's seat, couldn't help but look back at Lin Ye. He thought to himself that the eldest and second young ladies really liked talking to this kid. He didn't know why, but he didn't think Lin Ye had any charm. His own master was clearly the epitome of a real man!

Ten minutes later, the last member of the Rhodes Island delegation finally arrived.

Lappland rubbed her eyes and yawned, a few dry grasses still stuck in her hair, as she slowly walked over.

Lin Ye couldn't help but ask, "Lappland, you're almost late."

"Late? How would I know if I'll be late? There's no clock where I sleep," Lappland said matter-of-factly.

Lin Ye was unable to refute it.

"Hmm?" Lappland looked around.

What are you looking for?

"Where's Texas?" Lappland scratched her head. "Did she arrive later than me?"

"What are you thinking about?" Lin Ye said. "Texas isn't coming."

Lappland's eyes widened.

Chapter 221 I, Lappland, would never sleep in such a cramped place.

Lapland was furious, really furious.

When Lin Ye approached her and asked if she would like to go to Shelag, she agreed almost without hesitation. Why? Because she knew what Shelag was—a silver country perpetually covered in snow, where her ancestors had lived in a similar environment.

She felt that such a place was her true home turf. Imagine, in a world draped in silver, she and Texas strolling through the snow. Texas watched her retreating figure, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She smiled calmly, turned back, and asked, "Texas, why are you staring at me?"

Texas's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, hesitated for a long time, and then made her decision, speaking softly.

"I think you're kidding me! I'm not coming! Don't flatter yourself!"

Her smile froze instantly.

……

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Lin Ye pressed down on Lappland's head, glaring at her. "Why are you biting me? Are you a dog?! Let go!"

"I'm such a coward!" Lappland mumbled, "You're just wasting my time!"

"What the hell did I do to you?! Don't slander me! You'd better give me a piece of your mind, you bastard!"

Lappland finally released her grip, then glared at Lin Ye angrily: "Where's Texas?!"

"How am I supposed to know where Texas is?!" Lin Ye looked down at his arm. Well, there was a row of teeth marks. If his physical strength hadn't increased a lot, his hand would probably be covered in blood right now.

"Then why did you lie to me!"

"What did I lie to you about!" Lin Ye was genuinely annoyed. "I never told you Texas was coming, did I? I just asked you if you wanted to come to Sherag with me, and you just nodded!"

Lappland stared at Lin Ye: "Is that so?!"

"Think about it carefully yourself, okay?" Lin Ye said irritably.

Lappland tilted her head and thought about it carefully.

Well, the night before last, Lin Ye came to the training ground to find her and asked if she wanted to travel to Sherag. He didn't seem to mention Texas at all. However, she subconsciously assumed Texas would come. The reason was simple: a few days ago, Lin Ye had promised to teach her how to approach Texas, and then used that as an excuse to trick her into giving him the internship agreement. So when Lin Ye mentioned Sherag, she thought he had specifically chosen a special place for her and Texas to rekindle their relationship.

Little did she know, she was overthinking it.

Without his Texas companion, Lappland immediately wanted to get off the bus.

Then Lin Ye said quietly, "If you get off the bus now, I won't give you the internship agreement, and you won't be able to get a full-time position."

Lappland was even angrier: "You quack doctor, how dare you deceive an innocent girl!"

"Who the hell lied to you? And you're not some innocent girl! Have some shame, you're clearly... Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Lin Ye's screams echoed through the carriage once again.

……

Ten minutes later, Horn Peak, who was driving in the driver's seat, looked up at the rearview mirror and saw that Lappland had finally calmed down, so he took the paper ball out of his ear.

Seriously, I only drove for half an hour and listened to an argument for half an hour. I'm definitely not mature enough.

Lin Ye was also feeling exhausted. It took him half an hour to finally get Lappland to accept the fact that Texas wasn't on this trip, but if she didn't go, she wouldn't even get her internship agreement. The price he paid was two arms covered in teeth marks, thankfully without drawing blood. He wondered if Lappland had deliberately held back... no, deliberately left her mouth open. Even so, it still hurt.