Chapter 30: Read Less Fiction!
Chapter 30: Read Less Fiction!
In the end, Lan Mu still joined the Forest Club. After all, besides the annual fee, he had no other obligations.
Du Yu helped Lan Mu complete all the procedures, and Lan Mu quickly became a member of the Forest Club.
However, when several veteran members received the news and rushed over, they all sized up Lan Mu.
“Zheng Hui, you came at the right time. This is an external expert our club invited. He’ll go with you guys the day after tomorrow.”
Wang Ling touched his nose and said to Zheng Hui, “You two will lead the team together.”
Zheng Hui frowned. When Fang Moqi wasn’t around, he led the team for the vast majority of the Forest Club’s activities. Why invite an external expert? Was this a lack of trust in his abilities? Or was it the members’ request?
He glanced at Lan Mu’s application materials. “Just joined the club?”
“Which club did Mr. Lan here belong to before?” Zheng Hui gave Lan Mu a slight nod and then asked Wang Ling.
Wang Ling said awkwardly, “He didn’t belong to any club.”
“Oh… so he’s from the Hunter Association… Hello, Mr. Lan. I’m Zheng Hui.”
Lan Mu shook his hand and heard Zheng Hui continue.
“What’s your ranking, Mr. Lan? I’m currently ranked 19th.”
Lan Mu said, “I’m not with the Hunter Association. I’m just a journalist.”
Zheng Hui froze, then looked at Wang Ling in surprise. “He’s not? A journalist?”
Wang Ling nodded.
Zheng Hui frowned and said somewhat angrily, “Isn’t this a joke?”
“Manager Wang, what are you doing? Everything was prepared these past two days, and you suddenly put a reporter in? As a team leader, no less?”
Du Yu finally got annoyed and said, “What’s wrong with being a reporter? I invited Brother Mu here. I think he’s stronger than you!”
“Du Yu, are you serious? Even if you want to hire external help, you shouldn’t just grab any reporter off the street!”
Du Yu had spoken to this point, and Zheng Hui was also getting angry. He continued, “Ask everyone here. For this trip, would they rather have me lead, or have some total amateur boss them around blindly?”
There were other members nearby. Hearing Zheng Hui’s words, they found it reasonable and nodded one after another.
Wang Ling hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Don’t say anymore, Zheng Hui. Mr. Lan definitely has skills. Otherwise, Du Yu wouldn’t recommend him so strongly. You don’t know. Du Yu called me all last night…”
“What does Du Yu know? He’s only half-capable himself! Wilderness survival isn’t something to mess around with. If someone with no experience gives blind orders, it could get the whole team killed.” Zheng Hui said angrily.
Du Yu gave him a sidelong glance and said, “You call that having experience? Won’t go there, won’t go here. Whenever there’s a wild animal, you just take everyone and hide. Is that fun? Everyone who’s been out with you says it’s boring, not exciting at all.”
After Du Yu finished speaking, the others fell silent, just looking at Zheng Hui. Clearly, deep down, they also thought it was not exciting.
“I do it for your safety! And you’re all still looking for thrills? Do you think I can take care of everyone by myself?” Zheng Hui said angrily.
“Fang Moqi can manage just fine! If just climbing a mountain, sleeping in sleeping bags, and eating wild vegetables counts as wilderness survival, wouldn’t it be better if I just went to Mount Song for fun?”
The moment Du Yu mentioned Fang Moqi, Zheng Hui lost his steam. That guy was a monster. He treated ordinary wilderness like flat ground. Zheng Hui couldn’t muster a single word of rebuttal.
“So you got a reporter to annoy me? Even if you hire someone, at least get someone from the industry!” Zheng Hui could only focus on Lan Mu. “Manager Wang, think it over. If I have to bring a burden along, I won’t take responsibility if something happens.”
Wang Ling was a flip-flopper. He had promised Du Yu to let Lan Mu be the team leader, but now he was also trying to placate Zheng Hui with kind words, resulting in a dual-leader setup.
“Zheng Hui, he can’t be the leader in name, but we still need you! Just think of it as having one more team member…”
Du Yu was frustrated. He clearly wanted to help Lan Mu secure the leader position. Zheng Hui would just be the nominal leader. After all, if that guy led the team, places with wild animals were off-limits, dangerous spots were off-limits. It would be utterly boring.
So he absolutely couldn’t let Zheng Hui be the actual leader.
“Manager Wang, we agreed that my Brother Mu would lead this trip. And I told you, Brother Mu’s archery skills have surpassed Fang Moqi’s. Why don’t you believe me?”
If Du Yu hadn’t said that, it might have been fine. But as soon as he did, Zheng Hui laughed.
“Manager Wang, I understand your mentality of humoring the kid now… Surpass Fang Moqi? Du Yu, do you even know Fang Moqi is the number one combat archer? The top hunter in the country?”
“A reporter, huh? Do you know what a professional hunter is? Many things can’t be learned by watching movies!” Zheng Hui added, “You want to follow the team to shoot footage, right? Then there’s no need to be the leader. Here’s an idea. Just ask me more questions while following the team, learn a bit. I’ll take care of you, no problem. Don’t worry.”
Seeing that Manager Wang also had a look that suggested this was how it should be, Du Yu hurriedly argued, “Ask you more? Learn from you? Learn what? The Explosive Rapid-Fire Arrow?”
Zheng Hui was stunned and asked, confused, “What Explosive Rapid-Fire Arrow?”
“Do you know the Rapid-Fire Arrow technique? The first arrow is still in the air, the second arrow chases after it, hits the one in front, and blows it up! Like scattered flowers in the sky!” Du Yu described the amazing archery he had witnessed.
Zheng Hui was taken aback and said, “Are you talking about a myth?”
“What myth? I saw it with my own eyes! Brother Mu shot it easily! And Brother Mu never misses. One arrow faster than the last, like a machine gun.”
“Pfft…” Zheng Hui finally understood and laughed heartily. “I was wondering what you were talking about… Du Yu, don’t read so many comics and novels. A machine gun? Like this? Tat-tat-tat… Haha!”
After saying that, Zheng Hui even imitated the action and sound of a machine gun.
His imitation made the surrounding members laugh. Using a bow and arrow like a machine gun? That sounded ridiculous!
“Du Yu! Since when did you become such a big talker?”
“Little Yu, you’re something… By the way, does he also know the Explosive Twin-Shock Arrow?”
“Read less fiction!”
Wang Ling also had a look of not knowing whether to laugh or cry beside them. Last night, Du Yu had talked to him the same way all evening, annoying him endlessly. Only out of respect for the big boss did he reluctantly agree.
Seeing everyone laughing at him, Du Yu felt embarrassed. He said to Lan Mu, “Brother Mu, show them what you can do! Otherwise, he’ll take the leader position.”
Lan Mu was using WeChat to contact former classmates and hadn’t paid attention to these people arguing about him.
Hearing Du Yu, Lan Mu put away his phone and said, “If I’m not the leader, is there still a participation fee?”
Du Yu smiled. “Of course! I saw it with my own eyes. I definitely believe in your skills!”
“Alright then. Not being the leader is fine. Even if the participation fee is lower, it’s okay.”
Du Yu saw that Lan Mu wasn’t willing to show his skills, and everyone was still laughing at him. Letting it go like this was too embarrassing. He kept scratching his head and even said, “Brother Mu, if you’re like this, there might not be a participation fee… Because it’s against the rules. I’d be paying it all myself.”
“Oh, then I’ll head back first. I’ll also cancel the club membership. The annual fee is pretty expensive.” Lan Mu shook his head.
Du Yu quickly grabbed Lan Mu, looking aggrieved. “No, Brother Mu, I’m really fed up with his cowardice.”
Lan Mu patted Du Yu’s shoulder and said, “I really don’t have any experience. Solid skills aren’t something you can just claim to have.”
“Next time. Sooner or later, I’ll also go out to shoot some documentaries. I’ll let you know then.”
Du Yu and he had met by chance, but Du Yu had treated him really well. Lan Mu found out that this guy, just to see his archery skills, was spending his own money trying hard to make him the leader. It wasn’t easy. Lan Mu had many ways to make money. He didn’t want to take Du Yu’s money like this.
Seeing Lan Mu about to leave, Zheng Hui smiled slightly, as if it was expected.
“No need to leave. Since you’ve already joined the Forest Club, you can still participate in this event. You’re a journalist. I think if I talk to the guys, they’ll still give me face and cooperate with your filming.”
Du Yu thought for a moment and suddenly seemed to decide something. He opened his mouth.
“Wait! Brother Mu!”
Du Yu grabbed Lan Mu and made a phone call.
The contact name in his phone was “Big Brother,” who was actually the boss of the Forest Club.
Soon, he started talking. “Bro, isn’t the club going to Malaysia in a couple of days? I invited a friend as external help. I only recognize him as the leader. What do you say…”
“What external help? Don’t mess around. Fang Moqi is back. I already asked him to lead the team. How about that? Pretty exciting, right?”
Hearing his brother’s words, Du Yu was stunned. He indeed looked both shocked and delighted. But then he looked at Lan Mu, somewhat conflicted.
He knew no one could object to Fang Moqi leading the team. He seemed to want to say something but couldn’t. Finally, he just asked, “Then… when will he arrive at the club?”
“He should be here any minute! By the way, you said you invited your friend as external help? That’s fine, but maybe next time. It wasn’t easy getting Fang Moqi to agree to help me out.”
“O-okay.”
Du Yu hung up the phone, looking awkward.
“Brother Mu, you can’t be the leader this time. How about… being a regular team member? Don’t worry, I’ll still give you the leader’s participation fee!”
Lan Mu shook his head and said, “No need. You get paid for the responsibility you take. There’s no reason for you to pay out of your own pocket. Next time.”
Du Yu was disappointed. Zheng Hui smiled and said, “It seems Boss Bi still has good judgment. Even hiring external help requires a foundation. It’s like this with everything. If you don’t have the diamond drill, don’t take on the porcelain job.”
“Tch, you’re not the leader either! What are you laughing about?” Du Yu gave him a sidelong glance.
“Who else could it be if not me? Our club only has a few combat archers. I’m the only one ranked in the top twenty of the Hunter Association. Isn’t that qualified enough?” Zheng Hui shrugged.
“Hehe, are you saying the number one person in the Hunter Association isn’t qualified enough?”
“Huh?” Zheng Hui was stunned and exclaimed, “Fang Moqi is back?”
“What do you think?” Du Yu said and then went to catch up with Lan Mu.
Lan Mu hadn’t gone far. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to earn the money, but even though he could rely on his Elf form to roam the forest freely, he also couldn’t just take Du Yu’s money for nothing.
“Brother Mu, why didn’t you show them the Explosive Rapid-Fire Arrow? I guarantee their jaws would drop!” Du Yu caught up and asked.
Lan Mu shook his head. Of course, he didn’t dare go around showing off Elf archery, even if he could change back in over ten hours.
Du Yu desperately held onto Lan Mu, not letting him leave, frantically trying to persuade him to join the group trip.
In his mind, with Fang Moqi this time and a sharpshooter like Lan Mu, the expedition would definitely be amazing. He had to keep Lan Mu no matter what.
“Don’t! Brother Mu, aren’t experts supposed to appreciate each other?”
“Our club has someone named Fang Moqi, known as the Extreme Hunter, the top archer in the country. Don’t you want to see what he’s like?”
“Even if you don’t, you’ve already joined the club. This trip is free. It’s also good for your filming, right? With Fang Moqi around, we definitely won’t be bored!”
Du Yu chattered on and on. Lan Mu couldn’t resist him and was finally persuaded.
Mainly, it was because of the “free trip” part. Since he wanted to shoot a documentary anyway, he might as well owe this favor and produce his studio’s first work.
“Well… okay.”
As soon as Lan Mu agreed, Du Yu was overjoyed. Just then, a voice came from the entrance.
“Little Yu, bragging about me again? Quickly introduce me to the beauty beside you.”
Hearing the word “beauty,” Lan Mu seemed to be triggered by something and angrily turned his head to look.
He saw two people walking in, one after the other, about three meters apart.
Du Yu exclaimed to the middle-aged man in front, “Fang Moqi! Fang… Brother Fang, you’re here!”
After realizing the first person was Fang Moqi, Lan Mu’s gaze shifted to the person behind. Then his heart skipped a beat.
He recognized the second person. Even though he had only met him once, Lan Mu remembered him.
“Isn’t that the Police Commissioner? What’s he doing here?”