That night, thanks to the materials gathered during the day, Zhang Yemiao managed to craft two more simple tents. Now, each of them could have their own private shelter.

But…

"Someone needs to keep watch," Zhang Yemiao said. "We must have someone monitoring the surroundings. That worm from earlier was defeated by Wang Qi, but if something like that attacked at midnight..."

Though Zhang Yemiao volunteered, the others refused outright. "The Dorm Leader has zero combat ability," they argued.

*That’s not true,* she thought. *Mastery of Objects isn’t just about crafting tools—it lets me wield any object too. If I had a divine artifact right now, I could use it immediately.*

Yet her beginner-level skill only allowed her to make mundane items—kitchen knives, cooking utensils. Nothing for fighting.

*But then again,* she mused, *aren’t level-one magic and Divine Arts just as useless? Like that worm yesterday—even its damage couldn’t outpace their healing spells.*

In the end, night watch duty fell to Wang Qi. "No problem," he said. "With Physical Enhancement, I can stay alert just by closing my eyes and resting."

So Wang Qi sat outside alone on the grassland.

Zhang Yemiao felt guilty but helpless. Wang Qi’s words from the previous night echoed in her mind: *He’s just doing his duty. Once we reach safety, he’ll leave us.*

She tried to sleep but couldn’t. The memory of that monstrous worm haunted her—only Wang Qi could handle such horrors.

—*Dorm Leader?*

A sudden male voice startled her. She unzipped her tent flap to find Wang Qi’s head poking through. "Dorm Leader, could I have some of that worm meat from this morning?"

"Huh? Sure, but… what will you do with raw meat?" Zhang Yemiao had stored the carcass but had no interest in it.

Wang Qi looked awkward. "I’m kinda hungry. Cooking at midnight is a hassle. Remember what Bear Grylls said? It’s six times better than beef or something…"

Zhang Yemiao blinked, confused. "But… it’s raw."

"Raw’s better," Wang Qi muttered.

"What?"

"I mean… raw’s fine. Barely edible."

Hesitantly, Zhang Yemiao handed him a large chunk of the pure white, tender-looking meat. "Thanks," Wang Qi said, taking it. "Get some rest, Dorm Leader. I’ve got watch." He left.

Zhang Yemiao pressed her ear against the tent fabric. Soon, chewing sounds filled the night—flesh tearing, heavy swallowing. It felt unsettling.

*Wang Qi wasn’t just hungry.*

If he’d been unsatisfied, he could’ve finished her leftover roasted meat. So why eat *this*?

*Does Physical Enhancement require monster meat? Or… does he only eat raw things?*

Dark possibilities swirled in her mind. For the first time, the reality of this world struck her: horrors existed here. Things defied reason.

*Resolve.*

The word flashed in her thoughts. Without it, survival was impossible. *Do I truly have that resolve?*

Exhausted by her racing thoughts, she finally fell asleep.

When she woke, dawn barely lightened the sky. Outside, Wang Qi was digging.

*Burying something.*

He smoothed the dirt, stamped it down carelessly, then sat cross-legged with closed eyes.

*What did he bury?*

Zhang Yemiao wondered if he hid it from her—but why do it so obviously if he wanted secrecy?

She waited until full daylight before stepping out. "How was watch?"

"Uh… nights here are terrifying," Wang Qi admitted.

"Let me take tonight’s shift," Zhang Yemiao insisted, guilt gnawing at her. "It must be awful alone."

Wang Qi shook his head. "No. You keeping watch wouldn’t help."

"I *insist*!" She met his eyes firmly. "With your strength, you could leave this grassland alone anytime. You stay only because of us. If we just accept your protection without giving back… that’s inhuman."

Wang Qi sighed, a bitter smile on his lips. "Fine. You can join me tonight. I won’t let you watch alone."

Zhang Yemiao nodded. "You ate all that meat?"

Wang Qi shifted uncomfortably but nodded.

"You can stomach raw meat? How starving *are* you?" She kept her suspicion hidden.

"Seriously, it was tough."

Silence fell.

After waking Zou Moan and Li Pingtian, they set off again. The grassland now teemed with hidden dangers—as if yesterday’s worm had marked their entry into true wilderness.

Fortunately, they could level up.

Slaying monsters granted experience. Everyone had grown stronger:

- Zou Moan and Li Pingtian advanced from Novice to Junior 1st-tier Mage and Divine Art user, gaining new spells like glowing orbs of light.

- Wang Qi’s Physical Enhancement progressed further—his true strength now unknown.

Only Zhang Yemiao stared at her skill description, frustrated. *Mastery of Objects* still only let her craft household items. Worse, leveling required *manual* crafting—not skill synthesis. She’d need to forge a knife herself to improve.

*A skill that only grows in human settlements? Useless here.*

A headache throbbed behind her eyes. *I’m the only deadweight.*

She finally understood Wang Qi’s desire to leave. *I’m just leeching off them.*

That night, sitting beside Wang Qi on watch, she asked quietly: "Will you really leave?"

He nodded.

"Take me with you?"

Wang Qi turned sharply, stunned. "Dorm Leader, no. Your skill will be invaluable in human cities. I’m not so weak I need company to survive." His voice held unexpected heat.

"But *I* need it."

The words choked the air between them. After a long pause, Zhang Yemiao whispered: "I can’t survive alone in this world."

She leaned sideways, half her small frame collapsing onto Wang Qi’s lap like a delicate doll. Her eyes stayed open, fixed on his face. "I’m not as strong as you all. Being alone… I can’t do it."

Wang Qi froze, hands hovering awkwardly. "Dorm Leader, this is—"

"Just let me rest here," she murmured, shifting slightly on his lap. "A pretty girl’s asking for a lap pillow. Humor me, okay?"

"Uh…" *Since when does ‘pretty girl’ get special privileges?*

"I’ve always been scared," she continued softly. "Yesterday’s worm, today’s monsters… I know I *shouldn’t* fear them. I know courage is needed here. But I can’t hide how I feel." Her voice trembled. "I can’t charge toward dreams like Mo An and Ping Tian. I can’t dedicate myself like you. So I’m just… leeching off you all."

Wang Qi’s enhanced night vision caught the flush on her cheeks. Admitting this shamed her deeply.

"So…" Her whisper was barely audible, yet clear to his ears. "*Don’t leave me behind.*"

Her fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve.

Zhang Yemiao couldn’t dream of adventure like her roommates. She feared this world that had shattered her old life—wealth, connections, everything gone. She lacked the courage to rebuild.

These bonds were all she had left.

Wang Qi opened his mouth, then closed it. Slowly, gently, he placed a hand on her head, fingers threading through her silky hair. Awkward at first, then natural.