The air in the plane instantly stiffened, the cabin falling into a weighted silence that seemed to hum alongside the low vibration of the standby engines.
Jing Shu sat back, her curiosity piqued as she studied the figures entering the pressurized cabin. The stronger her teammates were, the higher the chance of success, which meant more safety for her in the field. It also meant she could be less of a burden, unlike Tang Seng always needing rescue from Wukong or Bajie. After all, this trip was half personal and half official. Everyone probably had different goals hidden beneath the mission parameters, but strong teammates were a must for survival.
Of course, she would cooperate if it was possible. If it wasn't, she would go solo.
First to approach the group was a towering man, his massive frame easily two meters tall. His thick forearms and heavy legs were wrapped in reinforced protective gear that looked like a mix of copper and steel. Every step thudded loudly against the floor, his muscles bulging visibly against his clothes. Even while carrying two heavy iron balls attached to thick chains, he strode forward with a heavy, rhythmic confidence.
The muscle man almost blocked everyone else from view as he stepped into the light. He glanced toward the back cabin, his brow furrowed as he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice. "There isn't enough space in the rear."
Then a man who left a strong impression on Jing Shu stepped forward. He wore a dung-colored jumpsuit and a bright orange cap; the combination was impossible to miss even in the dim light of the cabin. The real highlight, however, was his tongue.
She had lived a long time but never seen a tongue like this. It was at least eight or nine centimeters long. It moved with a snake-like fluidity, flickering out into the air. He flicked it twice, the tip tasting the recycled air. Then, smiling, he patted the equally shocked Monkey on the shoulder. "You guys sit in the back. Five of us won't fit up here."
Strangely, despite the length of his tongue, he spoke normally. His voice was magnetic and pleasant, a tone that reminded Jing Shu of Orochimaru from Naruto.
The front cabin of the private plane was spacious, designed with four sofa chairs, a dining table, and a massage bed. The rear cabin was much more restricted, having only two chairs, a dining table, and a three-person sofa. Jing Shu's spot in the front cabin was indeed more comfortable and offered much more legroom.
"First come, first served, guys. My luggage is already settled, and I don't want to move. There are also five seats in the back," Monkey said, his voice flat with stubbornness. Then, to everyone's surprise, the long-tongued man shot out his tongue. The muscle moved with a wet sound as he quickly licked Monkey's face a few times. Monkey and Ah Huang immediately went into combat mode, the dog's fur bristling as tension in the cabin skyrocketed.
Jing Shu noticed a thin trail of some unknown liquid glistening on Monkey's face.
Yang Yang stood up, his movements calm. "Let's go to the back. There are too many of them up here."
From this action, it was clear that Yang Yang was the Wu City team leader for this trip. Otherwise, Monkey and Hao Yunlai wouldn't have gotten up without a word to move their gear to the rear.
At that moment, a youth Jing Shu hadn't paid much attention to stepped forward. He lightly patted the muscle man and the long-tongued man on their shoulders. "We will go to the back. It's first come, first served."
Compared to the first two flashy men, this youth looked quite ordinary. He was around 1.7 meters tall, with short black hair covering his brows. He had slender eyes and delicate features that gave off a calm, clean aura. He was probably only in his twenties. At first glance, he seemed plain, dressed entirely in black. He could easily blend into a crowd of other Asian men on a busy street.
But on closer look, Jing Shu was surprised. The youth's eyes were pure and clear. Monkey's eyes always shouted confidence, the muscle man's eyes radiated aggression, and the long-tongued man's eyes challenged and taunted. But this youth had nothing. No emotion flickered in his gaze. His expression was neutral, and his speech was matter-of-fact, almost like he was giving a set of commands that couldn't be ignored.
Jing Shu realized this seemingly ordinary black-haired youth was the real leader of the Capital team. His presence was overwhelming, carrying the weight of a demon king who was indifferent to the lives under his control.
Sure enough, the black-haired youth casually said a single sentence, and the previously tense atmosphere instantly dissolved. The two men turned and walked toward the rear cabin without another word.
Behind them, a girl in a short skirt followed silently, her head lowered as she gripped the straps of her bag. The long-tongued man bent slightly toward her. "Beautiful Miss Ling, please join me at this two-person table for a lovely date."
The girl's cheeks flushed red. She shook her head softly and slid into a corner of the sofa, saying nothing to the invitation. The long-tongued man flicked his tongue twice and sat beside her.
The black-haired youth turned to Yang Yang. "Once we settle our luggage, we will discuss the plan for this mission."
Yang Yang nodded in agreement. Jing Shu and the others returned to their original seats. Hao Yunlai didn't even look up; he could continue sleeping.
Jing Shu stroked her chin, her interest in her U.S. teammates growing. Everyone seemed either extremely skilled in a specific area that would benefit the mission or was just incredibly strong individually.
The Capital team had a lot of luggage. The last person shuttled multiple trips, their boots thumping on the ramp. Because the private plane's luggage compartment was too small, everything ended up piled in the cabin. The spacious front area suddenly felt cramped with the stacks of gear and cases.
The plane took off again, the engines roaring as the craft climbed into the grey sky. The Capital team finally settled in their spots, and nine people gathered around the large dining table as the flight leveled out. Yang Yang pulled out a map and pointed to a specific location in the U.S.
"Our first stop is Sacramento, a border city adjoining Mexico. We will start from the edge and move inward. Next is Austin, the capital of Texas, and so on. Besides our two teams, another team will advance from Saskatchewan to join us later.
The direct flight to Sacramento takes twelve hours, giving us time to discuss objectives, detailed plans, roles, and rules. But first, we need to understand our teammates' abilities and roles so we can maximize our collective strength and complete the assigned mission. Agreed?"
The black-haired youth nodded. "We're a team. How we compete back home doesn't matter, but abroad, we stick together. I'm Zhen Nantian. My role is an all-rounder, and I'm currently rated S-tier."
The brief introduction left Monkey and the others wide-eyed with shock. Even more surprising, the long-tongued man laughed. "Captain, you're too modest. Why not—"
He immediately stopped talking as Zhen Nantian casually shot him a glance, his pure eyes silencing the man instantly.
===
So, I hit a bit of a wall and I think I need a new story to freshen things up. Basically, I got a little bored translating one of my projects on Webnovel, True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress, so I decided to pick up another novel.
I was looking for something with 'historical' mixed with 'transmigration' and 'Fourth Calamity' vibes. I found this shorter one, I think it's around 100-150 chapters, called Summoning Players: From Magistrate to Monarch.
You can check it out on my AO3 profile if this blurb hooks you!
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Lin Xi died, and then she got a promotion. Waking up in a new world, she's now the magistrate of a backwater county, a post awarded to her predecessor by a grateful emperor. The good news? She's skipped the peasant class entirely and landed a government job. The bad news? Her new county is poor, the roads are terrible, and the locals have a deep-seated distrust of anyone in power.
But Lin Xi has a theory: there are no bad citizens, only too many terrible officials. So, she rolls up her sleeves. She's planting crops, building bridges, and turning this forgotten place into a functioning society. She's doing such a great job that the one thing she never saw coming happens: the Imperial Court vanishes. The central government just... ceases to exist.
With no emperor, no chain of command, and no laws from the capital, what's a capable and ambitious local leader to do? For Lin Xi, the path is clear: if the old heaven has died, it's time for a new one to rise.
Meanwhile, in a modern world called Longguo, a hyper-realistic game titled From Magistrate to Monarch has become an overnight sensation. Gamers are desperate to play, but the chances of getting a spot are almost zero. The masses are left watching live streams, endlessly debating the game's ruthless AI. What they don't know is that the world is all too real, and the few lucky "players" who log in are about to have their own lives turned upside down, forever changing the fate of Lin Xi's rising domain.