"I... I have something to tell you guys..." Mei mumbled as she stood before her friends.

At the side, Su Qing watched, flying about.

Seeing Mei's solemn expression, they quietened and stopped smiling.

"Did something happen?" Xiuying asked, her eyebrows lowering, concerned.

"Well... I was thinking..."

"Um..."

"I was thinking of taking everyone on a trip later this afternoon! Yeah..." Mei trailed off.

The table was quiet for a moment.

Xiuying and Liu Qiang laughed.

"And here I thought you were about to say something serious! There's no need to be anxious." Xiuying smiled reassuringly. "Sure, let's go after the lecture. Where are you planning to go?"

"Mei's just shy." Wang Wei commented.

"Am not!"

At the side, Su Qing cheered.

Mei heaved a sigh of relief.

"I'm busy later, so I won't be joining," Yingyi said curtly.

Hmph. She didn't like him anyway. Would probably be better without him.

"Yingyi! I know you two don't get along the best, but she finally came out of her shell!"

"I don't care." he harrumphed.

...Mei felt like she was being treated like a child by Xiuying.

"Um, actually..." Wang Wei spoke up. "I'm kind of busy later too, I need to study for the upcoming alchemy assessment..."

"Sorry, Mei." Liu Qiang smiled apologetically.

Mei suddenly felt dismayed. This was what she was afraid of... that everyone would just be busy and not want to tag along.

"Seriously?" Xiuying said in disbelief. "She's your friend, you know! I don't care what you guys think, we're all going, later today!"

Finishing her words, she crossed her arms and looked away.

"Friend..? She just sits there and doesn't say a thing, making things awkward." Yingyi frowned. "The only time she meets up with us is during breakfast too. You sure she isn't just joining us out of obligation to be in the group?"

"Yingyi!" Xiuying shouted.

"Why should I come along when she suddenly decides to drag us somewhere?" he continued.

Mei was a little angry, but she felt like she couldn't argue with what he was saying.

"You really should watch what you say! How do you think she feels?"

For the rest of the meal, Xiuying and Yingyi argued the whole time. The rest of the friends weren't sure what to say and ended up eating in silence...

11 PM, after the lecture.

Perhaps it was because he wanted to give her time, Qiao Shun's lecture ended early today.

Yet, as Mei walked up front, her friends following, she felt a little miserable.

The tension... it was stifling.

Yingyi was all the way to the back, sulking. Liu Qiang kept looking back at him, as if he wanted to say something but refrained.

Meanwhile, Xiuying, right behind her, had a rather murderous air to her... was this what they called killing intent? Scary...

To think wanting to do something for her friends would end up like this... Mei felt full of regrets. Dammit, that stupid Yingyi... this was all his fault.

Su Qing patted her back with a leaf he found on the ground, trying to be reassuring.

As for where she was going, she decided to visit Da Xing, the gorilla who advised her from the start. She thought it would be rather fitting.

It was then when she realised she forgot his address, but thankfully, Su Qing remembered. Verdant South, Unit 345.

"Don't worry about that idiot!" Xiuying suddenly smiled. "I'll talk to him later."

Not the slightest trace of hostility in it... how was she switching so fast? It reminded her of Xiuying's little sister.

After a quick flying carriage ride, the group of friends arrived.

Around them, lush forestry swayed in the wind, split by long stone paths with grass sprouts peeking out from the pebbles.

Two young looking spirit apes were playing with a ball of sorts but quickly scurried away upon seeing them.

Mei took in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air.

They walked along the road, making small talk along the way. Here and there, there were little houses built gingerly, between trees, as if trying not to disturb them. Unit 134, Unit 234... tsk, the unit plates didn't have any rhyme or reason.

"I'll go look from above!" Su Qing said. "Wait for me!"

Before waiting for their response, he flew into the skies.

"Ah... I guess it's nice to take a break for now." Xiuying said. "Anyone want a drink?"

From a storage bag, she took out a large piece of cloth and laid it on the ground, then took out a massive yellow drinking gourd and several glass cups.

"Is that... alcohol?" Mei eyed it warily.

"What? No of course not, haha. It's just fruit juice."

She poured out a stream of pinkish juice from the gourd, cold mist wafting out, before handing it to Mei. Nearly dropping it from the cold touch, she took a drink. Sweet and slightly sour. It was quite mellow and refreshing, especially with how cold it was. She gulped the entire thing down in seconds.

Wang Wei thanked Xiuying as he received his glass, sipping from it once in a while as he read from an alchemist manual floating in the air from qi sense. Wow... that looked really convenient. Mei suddenly felt more motivated to train her qi sense.

After receiving their glasses, Yingyi and Liu Qiang went back to talking. Something about a shield design? Seems like Liu Qiang was thinking of making a prototype of some sort of artefact.

Staring at the gourd Xiuying placed down, Mei suddenly started craving more.

"Can I have more?"

"I'm glad you like it? Help yourself."

Mei poured another glass and chugged it down just as fast. So good...

Another one wouldn't hurt. She glanced at Xiuying who just smiled.

Glug.

Another?

"Um, Mei... do you think you're drinking a bit too much?" Xiuying said, glancing at the 4th cup Mei held.

"Oh... sorry."

Slightly embarrassed, she tried to sip the last cup slowly, imitating Wang Wei.

After a few minutes, as she was about to finish the last of it, Su Qing's voice came from above,

"I found Da Xing's house!" he shouted excitedly. "It's just over there!"

Getting up with her group, Mei realised her stomach hurt from drinking a little too much juice...