Qin Siyang drove the drill pod at full speed, fleeing from that region.
Behind him came again the familiar sound of the sandworm tunneling through the ground.
Only after about twenty minutes did the sound of pursuit gradually fade away.
Qin Siyang glanced at the map, circled around again, and returned to a spot about one hundred kilometers from the safe zone.
Then he had the drill pod surface once more.
Hu Chan looked at Qin Siyang, "You still want to try? How about we rest? For no reason we got targeted by a sandworm, we can't do anything at all. Let's just come back another day."
Qin Siyang's tone was indifferent, "Unless you don't want the payment for this trip, otherwise you'll do as I say."
"You!"
Hu Chan clenched his fists, so angry at Qin Siyang that his chest felt stifled.
"This time, circling around again and again, never-ending, when will this stop? If that sandworm keeps chasing us, what, am I supposed to just run around outside the safe zone with you for a lifetime?"
"Qin Siyang, even if I need something from you, I'm not your slave!"
Qin Siyang thought Hu Chan's anger wasn't without reason.
If today they'd been chased by the sandworm twice in a row, then if the sandworm really kept following, that would mean it truly wasn't suitable to be hunting gods.
Qin Siyang felt very helpless inside, his palm repeatedly rubbing the top of his head.
Today, in his rush to head out, he had forgotten to check the Blue Star calendar.
He quickly opened his phone.
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[Blue Star Era 2010, May 24]
[Western calendar, Monday.]
[Summer calendar, Gengyin Year, Fourth Month, Eleventh Day. Favorable: removal, travel. Avoid: marriage.]
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'Hm?'
'Today is favorable for travel?'
'Then why did this situation happen?'
Qin Siyang lightly tapped his knuckles on the console, then glanced at the still furious Hu Chan.
Slowly, he said, "If we encounter the sandworm again this time, then we'll just go back to the safe zone. I'll still give you your payment. That good enough?"
"You said it!"
"I said it."
"Fine, then wait ten minutes, I'll use my skill."
Saying so, Hu Chan was about to step out of the drill pod, but the door was still locked.
Looking back, Qin Siyang was still sitting inside.
"Qin Siyang, what are you sitting there for? Hurry and open the door so we can get out."
Qin Siyang shook his head, "This time, let's not leave the drill pod. Once we know the direction, I'll drive us straight over."
"Why?"
"Of course, for safety."
"But if you stay inside this drill pod, how will you kill Abyssal Hounds and Blood Moon Spiders? How will you collect round plate armor?"
Qin Siyang waved his hand, "We've looked twice already and found nothing. Let's wait until we actually run into some small gods, then we'll talk."
Hu Chan thought Qin Siyang's cautiousness wasn't baseless, so he accepted the suggestion.
"Qin Siyang, open a window. In a fully sealed environment, I can't activate my skill."
"Then you go down yourself. I'll wait for you inside the drill pod."
"Huh?"
"Hurry up, don't dawdle. My goal won't just disappear, I'm not about to ditch you here."
Hu Chan frowned, staring at Qin Siyang for a long time, his mind racing. In the end, he couldn't think of a reason why Qin Siyang would harm him, so he reluctantly went down alone.
As soon as he stepped out, Qin Siyang immediately shut the drill pod door.
Hu Chan jumped in fright.
He looked at Qin Siyang inside the pod warily, "What are you planning?"
"Don't make a fuss, I'm just closing the door. Hurry up and use your skill, once you find the direction, come back up."
Seeing that Qin Siyang's hands were off the steering wheel and his head tilted back, eyes closed, resting, Hu Chan finally began to use his skill.
During the activation, every few seconds Hu Chan would turn back to check, making sure Qin Siyang wasn't going to ditch him and escape.
About ten minutes later, Hu Chan returned to the drill pod.
Qin Siyang opened his eyes, "You found the direction?"
"Yeah. Over there, and also over there, both have large groups of small gods. We can check them out."
Qin Siyang smiled, "Two directions both with groups? That actually gives me some hope."
As Qin Siyang drove the drill pod forward on the surface, Hu Chan suddenly asked coldly, "You don't dare leave the drill pod, because you know that sandworm is coming for you, isn't it?"
Hu Chan wasn't stupid.
With actions this obvious, it wasn't surprising he guessed the intention.
Qin Siyang shook his head, "I'm not sure, it's just a guess."
"A guess? What evidence do you have?"
Qin Siyang gave a faint smile, "Why would I tell you?"
Hu Chan rolled his eyes at Qin Siyang and ignored him.
But Qin Siyang continued speaking, "I heard from your Blue-Robe Protector Jin Shengyu that you're also an orphan."
"Mm."
"For an orphan to get this far, ability is important, but luck is even more crucial. Sometimes, you can only rely on a benefactor to get through difficulties."
Hu Chan snorted, "You trying to lecture me? Qin Siyang, even if you seem more in the spotlight right now, my experiences might not be fewer than yours."
"No, you misunderstand, I'm not the type to preach."
"I just want to tell you, perhaps I am your benefactor."
"You? A benefactor?"
"Of course."
Qin Siyang ignored Hu Chan's sarcasm.
"For example, this Titan Foxtail inner-leaf fragment, without me, you'd be in trouble."
"That's something I earned myself. Following you outside the safe zone, I nearly lost my life."
"Earned yourself? Without me, even if you worked yourself to death, you'd still get nothing."
Hu Chan wanted to argue back, but had to admit Qin Siyang was right.
Besides him, there really wasn't anyone else in the safe zone willing to provide Titan Thatch inner-leaves.
Seeing Hu Chan acknowledge his words, Qin Siyang added, "As your benefactor, I'm also preparing to give you an opportunity. I hope you can grasp it well."
"What opportunity?"
"An opportunity to earn research credits. This is a topic absolutely no one has studied. I'll hand it to you, you research it. In the final paper, I'll be first author, you'll be second. Guaranteed you'll never lack sequence potions again."
Hu Chan frowned, "All the work given to me, and I'm only second author? Why?"
"Nonsense. Research is grunt work, anyone can do it. But research topics and ideas, only those with exceptional insight can think of. I came up with the idea, of course I'm first author."
"I think you have some talent in research, that's why I'm willing to give you a hand. Consider it yourself."
Hu Chan knew what Qin Siyang said was true.
It seemed this orphan really was a research expert.
"The idea you're giving me, does it have to do with the sandworm chasing you?"
"Yes. Even though I haven't published a paper yet, I believe a paper exposing the secrets of large gods will definitely earn a lot of research credits."
"And at the same time, it will also bring many unexpected gains."
Hu Chan naturally knew the research value of large gods.
Hearing Qin Siyang admit it himself, Hu Chan instantly jumped up from his seat, "The sandworm really is chasing you? And you know the reason?"
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