Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

Time rewinds to last night.

The speeding vehicle screeched to a halt, stopping abruptly in front of a shopping mall entrance.

"They're back!" Chen Shicheng, squatting at the entrance like a street thug, jolted awake, clapped his hands, and leaped up. He wanted to rush forward, but then hesitated, pacing in place, a bit awkward.

Yun Feng, who had been standing at the entrance like a statue, watched the vehicle stop, took a deep breath, and forced a smile onto his stiff face.

"Welc…" Yun Feng's words of welcome stopped after just the first syllable.

Because he didn't see Shu.

Kiana was the first to get out of the car, slamming the door shut with a gloomy expression. Then came Mei from the driver's seat, followed by Bronya from the back.

Their appearances were still a bit disheveled. Yun Feng could tell they'd probably just been through something.

Scanning the three, Yun Feng looked at Mei, who seemed to be the most in charge. "Miss Huangquan, your captain…"

"We got separated." Mei shook her head. "But we believe he'll be alright."

Separated? Yun Feng's expression turned grave. Chen Shicheng tried to interject several times, but forced himself to hold back.

Yun Feng glanced at the anxious Chen Shicheng and spoke softly, "This isn't a good place to talk. Let's go inside first."

Mei nodded and led the two behind her through the shelter entrance.

The heavy iron door closed once again, cutting off the light from the outside, trapping them inside, preventing those inside from leaving.

Sliding the heavy bolt into place, Yun Feng sighed and looked at Chen Shicheng, signaling with his eyes that he could speak now.

"Welcome back! Did you… uh, deal with the Honkai Beast outside, right?" Chen Shicheng asked quickly.

"Are you talking about the Knight-class Honkai Beast? We've taken care of it." Mei tried hard to keep her words measured, not wanting to give anything away to Yun Feng and the others.

Shu had painstakingly given them code names, and the "Fire Moth" persona they'd invented to get stronger couldn't be exposed because of them.

"You took care of it?!" Chen Shicheng's face lit up. "Great!"

Then, Chen Shicheng immediately turned around and instructed the others behind him, "You guys grab the backpacks! We're going to prepare to search for food right away!"

"Wait, Shicheng." Yun Feng interrupted Chen Shicheng's excited actions, looking at Mei. "Miss Huangquan, is there anything else?"

Mei sighed. "There's more than just one Honkai Beast outside. A much stronger Honkai Emperor has appeared nearby. Shu… Captain, he separated from us to lure that Honkai Emperor away from this area."

Yun Feng's breath hitched.

Honkai Emperor. Shu had given them a brief explanation of the [Honkai] and related things when he first arrived at the shelter.

Yun Feng remembered that this "Honkai Emperor" was the highest rank among Honkai Beasts that Shu had mentioned.

"Is that so…" Yun Feng lowered his head, his brow furrowed deeply.

Chen Shicheng was also silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath. "In other words, your captain lured away that Honkai Emperor thing, so it's still safe around here, right?"

Mei was taken aback, looking at Chen Shicheng in surprise.

"What are you…" Kiana gritted her teeth, but Bronya tugged at her.

Kiana angrily shut her mouth and turned her head away.

"Shicheng, we need to discuss this further." Yun Feng sighed.

Anyone could see that the relationship between Shu and these three was more like equal partners than superior and subordinates. The trust between them was unusually deep.

But now, the worried expressions on their faces were also undeniable, indicating they weren't too confident about Shu's safety either.

Shu's life or death was unknown, yet Chen Shicheng disregarded their feelings and spoke so bluntly.

This was already a serious offense, no wonder that "Herrscher of the End" Miss was so angry.

Now was not the time to deal with internal conflicts.

"I'm sorry." Chen Shicheng was sharply glared at by Yun Feng, and apologized sincerely, lowering his voice.

Did he know he was being offensive? Of course he did!

But was he supposed to just stand here and pray for their captain's safety? He couldn't do that either!

The shelter's one hundred and forty-seven… one hundred and forty-six people were still waiting for the next supply run! Right now, the outside was probably the safest it would be. He had to seize this opportunity!

Who knew if that Honkai Emperor thing would change its mind and come back halfway through?!

So he had to be the bad guy!

Yun Feng closed his eyes, took a couple of heavy, somber breaths, then opened them again.

"Chen Shicheng." Yun Feng spoke sternly. Chen Shicheng instinctively stood up straight. Yun Feng rarely called him by his full name. When he did, it meant something important was about to happen.

"You take them to rest and prepare dinner for them." Yun Feng took the empty backpack from Chen Shicheng's hand, slinging it over his shoulder. "You guys, come with me. We're going to find food."

Chen Shicheng's eyes widened, looking at Yun Feng, who had snatched his backpack, in disbelief. "Yun Feng! I should be the one going!"

"Obey orders!" Yun Feng's expression suddenly turned terrifying, a sharp glare making Chen Shicheng shudder.

Then, Yun Feng immediately returned to an apologetic expression. "Sorry, I must excuse myself."

With that, Yun Feng led a few people, each carrying a backpack, and turned to walk towards the entrance.

The three watched Yun Feng leave with his group. The moment the door closed, Chen Shicheng slammed his fist into the wall beside him.

"..." After punching, Chen Shicheng took a few deep breaths, then lowered his voice to the three. "Come with me."

Kiana, Mei, and Bronya exchanged glances. Kiana still wanted to say something, but seeing Mei shake her head, she could only shut up.

Declining dinner, the three returned to the small room they'd slept in the night before, gathering together.

"Mei, didn't Shu tell us to take the survivors at the shelter to the train ASAP?" Kiana asked anxiously. "Why didn't you say anything just now? Isn't that guy the most influential leader in this shelter?"

"Kiana, do you remember what Shu said about the Honkai Beast's target selection mechanism?" Mei sighed, reaching out to take Kiana's hand, gently patting it to soothe her emotions.

Target selection mechanism?

Kiana had failed Professor Shu's class, she didn't understand.

"Honkai Beasts find targets based on the density of crowds around them, not proximity. Back in Nagazora City, we were clearly closer to those Assault-class Honkai Beasts, but they still chose to go to the military base far away."

Kiana's face paled. "You mean… at that military base…"

"There were many people who died for us." Bronya stated the grim fact.