Upon hearing this familiar voice, Chloe was momentarily stunned.
She could hardly believe her own ears.
It wasn't until her companions urged Instructor Ren repeatedly that she was finally roused from her daze.
Chloe turned around to face her.
—It was indeed Ren Yunying, no doubt.
But... Hurst said he had locked Instructor Ren in that...
"What are you thinking about?" Ren Yunying stroked Chloe's hair, speaking in a low voice, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"This is just a game."
Hearing this, Chloe pursed her lips.
She didn't say anything, but that didn't mean the other companions wouldn't speak up.
Daniel protested first, jumping up and down angrily: "We almost died in the arena! You call this just a game?!"
Qin Huaibei also frowned, disapproving, "Instructor Ren, I think this is inappropriate."
He looked at Chloe, then said:
"I don't think this is something everyone can accept."
Especially Chloe.
In the silence, Daniel moved his injured limbs, limping over to the downcast Chloe, bending down in an attempt to see her current state:
"Is she crying?"
No sooner had he spoken than Chloe punched him.
Daniel: "Oww!!"
He rubbed his reddened nose, retreating quietly.
Qin Huaibei patted his shoulder reassuringly.
Seeing this, Ren Yunying hugged Chloe tighter:
"It's okay, the military academy just wants you to grow faster, they didn't mean to hurt you..."
Chloe frowned slightly: "I know."
She pushed away Ren Yunying's hand on her body:
"I know, you were hugging too tight, my shoulder hurts."
Hearing this, Ren Yunying quickly let go.
After the explanation, the battered and bruised Hurst was finally able to speak.
He held an ice pack handed to him by a staff member, wincing in pain:
"Oh my, Miss Chloe, you really don't look like a lady punching people at the drop of a hat."
Chloe gave him a cold look:
"I've never claimed to be a lady, so please don't always define me with the words 'lady'."
"Otherwise, I'll definitely punch you again."
The wound on Hurst's face throbbed painfully again.
He quickly fell silent.
As the situation stabilized, Ren Yunying led them into a secluded space:
"Your injuries..."
"Are already fine," Katherine said.
Being of the Elf Race, once the magic-sealing bracelet was removed, she began using her powers to heal herself.
Over the course of this time, Katherine's injuries had mostly healed.
As she answered Ren Yunying's question, she leaned towards Chloe to help heal her wounds.
The other young companions conscientiously stood aside in line.
With each healing session, Katherine prioritized helping Chloe.
But it seemed no one had any objection to this.
Thinking of this, Ren Yunying felt a sense of gratification.
After some contemplation, she finally revealed the whole truth about this incident.
The gist was that the military academy, in order to train their bloodlust, had sent them to the Barren Planet's arena, and to ensure their safety, the academy had also arranged for Hurst to provide extra care.
Overall, in this place, they only had the role of beating others, not being beaten themselves.
As long as the cubs could safely witness bloodshed, this outing would be worthwhile.
Hearing this, Daniel muttered:
"Even so, Hurst isn't a good person."
This statement was met with silence from everyone.
After careful recollection, they all looked at each other.
Finally, Chloe said flatly:
"Hurst was never a good person."
Qin Huaibei and Daniel clapped in agreement: "Well said!"
Even without this incident, Chloe had never liked Hurst.
Previously, Xavier had advised her to keep her distance from Hurst.
Taking this opportunity, Chloe also cautioned her companions:
"Stay away from Hurst, that guy is neurotic, not a good person."
Everyone nodded solemnly, indicating they understood.
In the following days, Ren Yunying asked everyone to stay on the Barren Planet and experience the local customs.
Hearing this, Chloe peered out the window.
She just happened to spot a child stealthily reaching into an adult's pocket, stealing a few hundred bucks, and then running off.
Chloe: "..."
"Such wholesome local customs indeed."
...
"I think this is very unfair," Chloe said seriously, kicking a small stone aside.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Qin Huaibei: "How so?"
Chloe: "We were brought all the way to the Barren Planet, and before we even did anything, we were thrown into the arena to fight for our lives."
"When we finally made it out alive, we found out it was all Instructor Ren's conspiracy and trickery."
"Even after we understood, Instructor Ren didn't apologize to us, but merely gave a cursory explanation before kicking us out to experience the local customs of the Barren Planet."
After this long speech, everyone felt she made some valid points.
Katherine looked at her: "So what do you think we should do?"
Chloe carefully considered, then shook her head dejectedly.
It seemed they had nothing that could threaten Ren Yunying.
Even if they spoke up, chances were Ren Yunying would just slowly brandish her whip to intimidate them.
How pitiful.
The group of five cubs walked along the Barren Planet's road, looking somber.
They were just too conspicuous, frequently drawing various gazes from passersby.
Some curious, some greedy.
But it wasn't long before someone couldn't resist the urge and approached them.
It was a scrawny man who rushed over without any qualms, reaching out to grab the most harmless-looking Katherine from the group.
But before his bony hand could touch Katherine, Chloe grabbed his wrist.
The cub's strength was surprisingly great, and after being grabbed, the man's wrist hurt terribly, as if all the blood in his body had stopped flowing.
Chloe smiled sincerely, her slightly opened mouth revealing glimpses of sharp fangs, razor-sharp and sparkling with faint light in the Barren Planet's dim illumination.
It was quite obvious.
They looked like they could easily tear a person's throat apart.
The man's throat moved, and for some unknown reason, he let out a cold sweat, instinctively trying to break free from Chloe's grasp.
The first time he struggled, he couldn't break free, but on the second attempt, the man approached.
They were just a bunch of brats, he could crush them with one hand, what's the big deal?
Thinking this, the man immediately grabbed Chloe's wrist, sneering:
"Brat, you know what kind of place this is, even if I pull out a knife on the street and... Ah!"
The man's words were cut off by a scream of agony.
He stared in shock at his severed hand, a look of terror spreading across his eyes.
Blood gushed out, the severed hand falling to the ground.
He trembled as he raised his eyes, just in time to see a sincere smile on Chloe's lips, her fangs reflecting a faint light, as she said delightedly:
"Mister, if your hands are dirty, you can just chop them off, you know~"
