Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 69: Camouflage Team

Under the moonlight, the maze paths twisted and turned. Some people were lost here; others faced off there.

The strong guys in camouflage waited for Xu Wang and his team to distance themselves and form a battle formation before beating the war drum. “It’s not easy to have made it this far, but this is where it ends.”

His patience didn’t stem from courtesy, but from contempt.

Along with his words, a massive shadow descended over the heads of the four teammates.

It was a light gray haze, like a net, rapidly descending, attempting to envelop the four!

Xu Wang didn’t know what it was, but he knew it was dangerous.

“Quick, dodge—”

He yelled loudly, leading his team in a retreat!

Qian Ai immediately focused, manipulating the still-active [(Defense) Joyful Charge].

Boosted by the defense, the four moved swiftly on their feet, managing to escape the reach of the gray haze at the last moment!

The gray haze hit the ground but didn’t disperse. Instead, it “stood up”!

Indeed, it stood up, forming arms and legs, becoming a distinct gray humanoid figure. It was like a visible but unclear, tangible but intangible gray ghost.

It was then that they heard the delayed notification—

[Owl: Someone used [(Offense) Returning Home] on you~~]

Xu Wang shuddered at the mention of [Returning Home]—wait, returning home… home…

He quickly warned his teammates. “Don’t let it touch you, or you might be sent ‘home’!”

“You’re quick to react,” The camouflage captain said leisurely, confident that a single piece of stationery could end the battle. “Then try your best to dodge.”

The gray ghost suddenly floated up, its legs merging into a shadow and its arms widening, like a frenzied spirit, lunging at them again!

Just two meters in front of them, a transparent wall appeared—Wu Sheng’s still-active [(Defense) Iron Wall]!

Wu Sheng stood in front of his teammates, pouring all his concentration into strengthening the defense!

The gray ghost couldn’t slow down in time and hit the transparent wall!

However, the expected impact noise didn’t occur.

The ghost merely paused for a moment before easily passing through the wall as if it was nothing!

Wu Sheng was caught off guard.

He knew that no stationery was absolutely dominant, but he hadn’t expected his [Iron Wall] to be as weak as paper in front of the opponent’s stationery!

This was the first time Qian Ai saw an attack that could completely ignore defense stationery. “This weapon is too buggy!”

Perhaps because the situation was so one-sided, the camouflage team couldn’t stand to watch any longer and stepped in to clarify—

Camouflage Team Member 1: “It’s not that the weapon is buggy; it’s that you guys are just too inexperienced.”

Camouflage Team Member 2: “When you understand the interactions and counterplays between different stationeries, come back and show off in front of us.”

Camouflage Team Member 3: “Captain, don’t be too nice. Let’s just send them back home.”

After his teammates spoke, the strongman in camouflage turned back to Xu Wang’s team and nodded slightly.

Having passed through the [Iron Wall] and stopped, the ghostly figure started moving again, with no hesitation, and charged straight for Wu Sheng at the forefront of the formation!

In a split second, the ghost was right in front of Wu Sheng, its edge almost touching him!

In that critical moment, a large, three-dimensional letter “F” appeared in front of Wu Sheng, about a foot tall and a couple of inches thick, reminiscent of the [Words Like Pearls and Jade] stationery Qian Ai had used on the airplane on 2/23.

But while [Words Like Pearls and Jade] was an offense stationery, this “F” didn’t attack. It simply stood between Wu Sheng and the ghost, blocking the final gap!

The edge of the ghost, which was about to touch Wu Sheng, recoiled upon touching the “F”, as if it had been scorched!

In the moment when the ghostly shadow retracted, several three-dimensional letters and symbols like “G”, “M”, “m”, and “=” appeared in front of Wu Sheng, eventually forming a uniquely shaped three-dimensional defense wall. Wu Sheng was initially puzzled upon seeing the letter “F”, but as the letters and symbols assembled, he laughed and turned back to look at his team captain.

Xu Wang tossed a flirtatious wink. “How does it feel to be protected by a formula?”

Wu Sheng looked at the familiar “defense formation” and felt a sense of security. “Solid.”

Xu Wang then turned to the astonished camouflage team, sincerely thanking them. “I had always been puzzled about how to use this defensive stationery. Thanks for the reminder.”

Qian Ai didn’t hear what his captain said, as his entire attention was on the “three-dimensional equation” in front of their advisor. “I’m done for. I’ve returned all my knowledge to the teacher… I’ve definitely used this formula before… It’s super familiar…”

Kuang Jinxin felt really sorry, whispering the answer, “It’s the gravitational constant*. F equals the gravitational constant multiplied by the product of the masses of two objects, divided by the square of the distance between them.”

*F = G m₁m₂/r²

Qian Ai: “……”

He decided to continue fighting.

As Qian Ai was defeated by physics, the four teammates heard a belated reminder—

[Owl: Someone used [(Defense) Approaching Science*] on you~~]

*Referencing a show in China that originally started with the goal of education in subjects like biology, archaeology, psychology, ect., but due to low ratings was rebranded to a more “mystery-seeking” format. It supposedly guides viewers (who are normally of lower education) from so-called “supernatural events” to a more scientific interpretation (note that this is important).

As the voice faded, Wu Sheng suddenly noticed the gray ghost flash. By the time he realized something was amiss, it was too late. The ghost surged forward, bypassing him, who was defended by the gravitational constant formula, and charged directly at Xu Wang, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin!

This time it was faster, like lightning, almost formless as it dived rapidly towards Xu Wang and the others!

Xu Wang had anticipated this move. If he were in the ghost’s place, he wouldn’t have been stopped by a single person either and would give up attacking the other three.

But the prompt was heard by all four companions.

Naturally, Wu Sheng wasn’t the only one to approach science.

sin(90°-α) = cosα!

CuSO4 + 2NaOH === Cu(OH)2↓ + Na2SO4!

V = COSθ * (R+h) * 2π / T!

Three formulas rose simultaneously, forming a defense wall impossible to breach!

The gray ghost, unable to retract in time, hit the three-dimensional formula wall hard, instantly turning into ash and dissipating!

This stationery was thoroughly broken.

The expressions of the four members of the camouflage team were no longer relaxed.

But in their solemnity, it was hard to distinguish how much was respect for Xu Wang’s team and how much was speechlessness towards the formulas.

Captain Xu, one-sidedly, interpreted their “serious faces” as a thirst for knowledge—

“Don’t worry. I’m about to explain,” he said, draping one arm over the formula in front of him and stretching out the other arm to pat the outer shell of the three-dimensional letters, as if knocking on a blackboard. “Let’s start with this trigonometric formula. You just need to remember one rule: odd changes, even remains, the sign depends on the quadrant!”

“This one in front of Xiao Kuang—isn’t this the preparation of copper hydroxide? Middle school chemistry, easy marks!”

“This one for Lao Qian is a bit complex. Wait a moment, I need to communicate with the stationery… Oh right, the formula for calculating the linear velocity of Earth’s rotation, perfect.”

Camouflage Team Member 1: “Captain…”

Camouflage Team Member 2: “I can’t take it anymore…”

Camouflage Team Member 3: “Can we stop the lesson…”

“To that Camouflage Junior 2.” Teacher Xu, having finished the class content, turned to a member of the camouflage team with a sincere smile. “I seem to have learned the mutual restraints between stationery. Am I qualified to fight with you guys?”

[(Defense) Iron Wall], raises a transparent protective wall around the protected, capable of blocking physical attacks.

[(Offense) Returning Home], attacks in the form of a light gray ghost, easily penetrating most physical defenses, like a ghost entering a house, immediately sending those touched by it home.

[(Defense) Approaching Science], uses concrete “mathematical, physical, and chemical formulas” as a protective barrier, which are highly effective against magical attacks as it promotes science and dispel feudal superstition.

“Plan C.” Not waiting for a response from Camouflage Team Member 2, Captain Xu ignited his fighting spirit. “Lao Qian, go—”

Why was it always Classmate Qian who charged into battle?

Who made him carry so much stationery?

Qian Ai activated the [Qilin Arm], with double defense—the advisor’s [Iron Wall] + the captain’s [Approaching Science], and his own [Joyful Charge]—like a tiger descending the mountain, he charged straight at the enemy’s camp!

“I smashed the door and brought you in, so I will send you home—”

With a loud shout, Qian Ai completed the “Cool Pre-Battle Declaration” that Advisor Wu had in mind and swung his arm towards the muscular man in camouflage like a cannonball!

The three teammates of the camouflage team scattered, leaving only their captain standing in place.

But they weren’t idle. As they dispersed, two of them activated their stationery!

The stationeries were aimed at Xu Wang and the others to prevent them from coming over and reinforcing the [Qilin Arm].

In a stationery battle, long-distance combat was common, and only fools would charge alone into the enemy lines. Since the opponent was sending a gift from a thousand miles away, they had no reason not to accept it.

The fierce attack brought by the stationeries, though not completely penetrating the [Iron Wall] and the formulas of [Approaching Science], still suppressed the three on that side, preventing them from effectively supporting or attacking their side.

Meanwhile, on their side, the muscular man in camouflage, in the last moment before Qian Ai’s punch, extended his hand, astonishingly using his palm to block Qian Ai’s heavy punch powered by the [Qilin Arm]!

And caught it!

Qian Ai felt like he had punched into a ball of putty, unable to harm the opponent, but also without the hard reactive force to stop the inertia, allowing him to quickly retract his punch.

In this uncontrollable moment, the muscular man’s palm suddenly moved up, letting go of the continuing punch. He grabbed his wrist with one hand while the other hand grabbed his shoulder and flung him up!

Qian Ai was tossed into the air instantly, and before he could react, he was beautifully thrown over the shoulder and heavily hit the ground!

In the severe blunt pain, Qian Ai was thrown into disarray.

“[(Offense) Borrowing Force to Strike*].” The muscular man kindly explained, letting Qian Ai understand the pain.

*Important principle in Tai Chi where the practitioner uses the opponent’s force or momentum against them.

Qian Ai lay on the ground, his arm still tightly clamped by his opponent, but this didn’t hinder their “heart-to-heart” exchange.

“This is too troublesome.” He took a deep breath, suddenly letting out a lion’s roar towards the muscular man in camouflage. “Hoo-ha—”

The muscular man realized that in addition to the [Qilin Arm], Qian Ai was also equipped with another time-limited stationery, but it was already too late as his body was uncontrollably flung into the air.

Then, following a beautiful arc, he landed heavily on the other side of Qian Ai.

Just as how Qian Ai was thrown, the muscular man was thrown in the same way.

“Captain!” The three members of the camouflage team’s expression changed into shock. They were baffled, as they clearly didn’t see how their captain was attacked.

Qian Ai, looking at the muscular man who finally lay on the ground just like him, felt psychologically balanced and gave him a toothy grin. “[(Offense) Hit Me if You Dare].”

The muscular man’s face could no longer be described as merely darkened.

A shapeless fierce fire suddenly descended from the sky, attacking Qian Ai!

Xu Wang and Wu Sheng were busy dealing with the stationeries, and the transparent wall and formulas originally covering Qian Ai had already dissipated in the earlier over-the-shoulder throw!

The one using the stationery was the one who hadn’t made a move until then—a free agent in the camouflage team’s tactics, seizing every opportunity.

Seeing Qian Ai glance at the distant battlefield, he sighed and shook his head. “Don’t look anymore. Your teammates are busy dealing with our attack. They can’t afford to be distracted to reinforce your defenses now.”

Knowing that stationery required mental focus to maintain, he had been brewing this attack for a long time!

[Owl: Someone used [(Offense) Flamingo*] on you~~]

*Clarity: The word is (火烈鸟) so while combined means flamingo, if broken apart, it means fiery bird.

The voice and heatwave arrived together, leaving no time to activate new stationery.

Qian Ai closed his eyes, concentrating, and braced for impact!

“Puff.”

The moment the flames touched Qian Ai’s body, they suddenly extinguished completely, making a very faint sound, like a candle wick being effortlessly snuffed out by a fan.

The free agent of the camouflage team couldn’t believe his eyes. “How is that possible…”

Beads of sweat rolled down Qian Ai’s forehead, proving that this defense wasn’t easy. But the captain had said to make sure the opponent thoroughly understood the knowledge points, so no matter how tired he was, he had to pick up the teaching stick. “[(Defense) Fire, Theft, and Ambush Protection]. Although it can only defend three times, its duration is very long. So lucky, so lucky.”

The free agent of the camouflage team: “……”

The captain of the camouflage team: “…How many fucking stationeries are you using?!”

Their captain’s roar startled camouflage team members 1 and 2, interrupting their attacks.

Captain Xu inside the formula circle took the opportunity to hurriedly call back his teammate. “Lao Qian, retreat—”

Classmate Qian was a bit reluctant, getting up and looking eagerly at the four members of the camouflage team. “How about you hit me a few more times?”

It was a pity that [Flamingo] was blocked and he couldn’t use [Hit Me if You Dare] to bounce it back.

The camouflage team members 1 and 2, unaware of the situation here, were provoked by Qian Ai’s taunt, and anger surged within them!

“He has a reflective counter!” the muscular team captain of the camouflage team shouted, like a beacon in the fog.

His two companions paused, instantly realizing it was a trap.

The camouflage team captain looked at Qian Ai, gritting out a few words through clenched teeth. “Disarm their stationeries.”

Not just him, but them.

Hearing this, the free agent raised his arm. Looking at the precious stationery, he hesitated, reluctant to part with it. He asked again, “Captain?”

This was something they had reserved for the strongest enemy, to be used in the most critical moment. Were they really going to use it on these guys now?!

The camouflage team captain knew what his teammate was implying, but he couldn’t afford to be ambiguous. This was a new team, but damn, they were full of tricks. “Disarm!”

“Go—” Captain Xu, perhaps unable to call back his teammate, suddenly ordered, leading the whole team in a charge!

When Qian Ai saw his teammates approaching, he suddenly lost his reluctance, forcefully breaking away from camouflage members 1 and 2 and running towards his teammates!

Just like Xu Xian and Bai Niangzi* running towards each other on the broken bridge, so did Qian Ai and Captain Xu’s team creating a scene that was both beautiful and mesmerizing.

*These are the main characters in the Chinese legend “Legend of the White Snake”. The broken bridge is a famous scene where these two first meet and fall in love, and once again reunited after separation.

The patience of the small camouflage team had been challenged to the extreme. The free agent, carrying the team’s hatred, decisively activated their cherished stationery!

A mushroom cloud exploded on the open ground. Thick dust enveloped the entire maze path!

[Fire, Theft, and Ambush Protection], [Iron Wall], [Qilin Arm], [Joyful Charge], [Hit Me if You Dare], [Approaching Science]—all six stationeries in use, were instantly forcibly deactivated!

Xu Wang and his team suddenly felt light, as if they had been stripped clean after being fully armored.

As the mushroom cloud dispersed, the four companions clearly heard the name of the instigator—

[Owl: Someone used [(Illusory) All is Quiet in the World] on you~~]

Indeed, the world had quieted down. Even the maze path fell into silence, as if the previous fierce battle was just an illusion.

“The game ends here,” declared the captain of the camouflage team, lifting his arm. “Time to hit the road…”

“Ahh ahh ahh—” Qian Ai, already back with his team, suddenly covered his eyes, screaming in pain.

The camouflage team captain was taken aback by this unprecedented level of play-acting. “I haven’t even attacked yet!”

Xu Wang lifted a small spray bottle, apologizing with a smile to the opponents a few meters away. “Sorry, it was my handiwork.”

The four members of the camouflage team swallowed nervously.

They didn’t know what the spray was, but judging by Qian Ai’s level of pain… Could the management style of this team be a bit harsh? That guy was already performing well against the four of them!

[Owl: Someone used [(Offense) Tears Like Rain] on you~~]

[Owl: Someone used [(Defense) We Are All Wooden Figures] on you~~]

The sudden prompts in their ears made the camouflage team members shudder, realizing they had been careless again!

How come this new team seems to have an endless supply of stationery? Has the rule of the “Owl” changed, and now everyone who joins gets a “Newcomer’s Stationery Gift Pack”?!

While grumbling, the four in camouflage tried to summon some stationery to fight back, only to realize they couldn’t move their bodies!

We’ve all turned into wooden figures.

Wooden figures.

Fuck!

“Only your mouths and eyes can move.” Kuang Jinxin was the user of the stationery. He stood upright and explained with patience. “So you can’t summon any stationery now.”

[All is Quiet in the World] was an indiscriminate attack. Now, the four in the camouflage team and Xu Wang’s team were all “fighting naked”.

Not being able to summon stationery meant they could only be beaten.

But—

Doubt appeared in the eyes of the muscular man in camouflage. “Why aren’t you four moving either?”

His team stood still like four wooden stakes, and the opposing team stood like a row of birch trees.

Kuang Jinxin said matter-of-factly. “We’ve been hit too, just like the illusory stationery you guys used just now. My [Wooden Figure] is impartial!”

Muscular man in camouflage: “…”

Camouflage team members 1 and 2: “…”

Camouflage team member 3: “What’s there to be happy about!”

“Why not be happy?” Qian Ai blinked his red eyes. “You can’t use your stationery anymore, but I just managed to summon mine.”

The muscular man closed his eyes to concentrate, then quickly reopened them. “No use. Your defense stationery has dulled both mental and physical abilities. Even if you can control a weapon, you can’t possibly have enough attack power to send us home.”

“I don’t need to control it, nor do I need to use mental power to attack.” Tears welled up in Qian Ai’s eyes. “I just need to cry tears of joy.”

Two streams of hot tears flowed uncontrollably from Qian Ai’s eyes like a torrential Yellow River.

Light rain, drip-drop.

“Ouch! This isn’t rain. It’s corrosive liquid—”

Moderate rain, drip-drip-drip.

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s burning through? My new clothes—”

Heavy rain, patter-patter-patter.

“Damn it, if you have the guts, at least tell us your names!”

Torrential rain, whoosh—

“At least tell us what you sprayed on him before!”

Just before the return trip express train departed, the four finally received Captain Xu’s answer.

“[(Offense) Onion Flower Fragrance], yeah?”

[Owl: Dear~ I’m giving you an early holiday. Sending you home.]

……

Plan C: Qian Ai pretends to attack, disperses the opponent’s formation, probes the opponent’s stationery, and confirms the tactical environment is suitable, then regroups to execute a combined technique.

Core combination technique of Plan C: [Onion Flower + Wooden Figures + Tears Like Rain].

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>