Group One and Group Two each had their own areas within the Great Courtyard, separate from one another.

Wu Yan didn't use his Escape Art this time, instead, he used his movement skills to slowly make his way and before long, they once again entered a courtyard.

There was no one at the gate of the courtyard, which looked empty and deserted as Wu Yan led Xiao Mu inside.

Upon entering, they found that the courtyard was like a large park.

In the park, there were ponds, pavilions, and even a large artificial lake.

Each garden bed was planted not with ordinary plants but with various mysterious plants, including Energy Fruits, Mutant Fruits, and various rare mutated herbs.

Within the park, moving between garden beds and around the artificial lake and pavilions, there were at least thirty or forty people, young and old, male and female.

Each and every one of these people was a Mutated Being.

However, at the moment, all of them were wounded; some were missing legs or feet, some were enveloped in Black Gas, and others had undergone physical mutations, possessing normal bodies but with the heads of animals.

"Good to see you, Group Leader!" An elderly man with a missing leg looked up to see Wu Yan and flashed a smile.

"Group Leader Wu has come!" This came from an old woman who walked past with a basket of mutant fruits on her arm.

"Haha! Group Leader Wu, care for a game of chess? I, Old Li, have studied a new game strategy recently—dare you play a round with me?" A man with the body of a human and the head of a horse sat at the Go table, smiling warmly at Wu Yan—a smile that despite being unnerving was not frightening in the least.

These Mutant Beings, despite bearing injuries and even curses that made them half-human, half-animal, still maintained a good spirit, full of passion for life.

"Old Li, with that lousy game of yours, I could still win even if I gave you nine pieces," Wu Yan teased the half-human, half-horse man, Old Li, sitting at the Go table.

"Give me nine pieces? You said it, come on then, play a round with me, Old Li. Whoever is too scared is my grandson," Old Li exclaimed boisterously to Wu Yan.

"The Group Leader is going to play chess with Old Li, haha!"

An old man missing a leg laughed heartily as he hobbled over from a flower bed in the distance, clearly ready to enjoy the show.

"Haha! Group Leader Wu, I'll give up my seat for you. I hope you beat Old Li, so that old kid stops boasting in front of me."

The scholar opposite Old Li, his body wrapped in swirling black gas, stood up from his seat, fan flicking in his hand.

"Group Leader Wu, beat him! Beat Old Li!"

Some people stirred things up, eager to watch Old Li and Wu Yan's chess game.

The nearby Mutant Beings all gathered around, egging on the chess game.

A man, whose appearance was that of a baby but whose tone and gruff voice sounded like an elderly nearing the end of his years, staggered over, laughing as he walked, "Group Leader Wu, if you're playing chess with Old Li, there has to be stakes involved. How about this—if you lose, you have to bray like a donkey three times."

"This... perhaps not such a good idea. How about, whoever loses must use a thousand Energy Fruits to buy Seven-color Fruits and treat everyone," Wu Yan said, casting a glance at the half-human, half-horse Old Li, gently suggesting another option.

"Haha! Group Leader Wu is worried about my sensitivities, that's why he doesn't agree to braying if you lose. Even though I've turned into a half-human, half-horse monster, I've never cared about that. Bray like a donkey, then bray like a donkey, Group Leader Wu, don't tell me you're afraid! Whether one's heart is that of a horse or a human, or even if one turns into a horse, they're still a human at heart. I, Old Li, don't care, so what's there for you to worry about?" Old Li laughed heartily.

"Fine, if it comes to braying, then we'll bray," Wu Yan agreed with a laugh, taking the challenge.

The chess game between the two began, with Old Li placing a piece on each of the nine stars with the black stones, while Wu Yan used the white stones to occupy the corners...

"Young man, have a date!"

The woman with the basket suddenly took a fiery red date from the basket and offered it to Xiao Mu.

"Thank you!"

Xiao Mu glanced at the woman with the basket and accepted the date.

The date was as if it was enveloped in flames, and holding it felt like grasping a ball of fire.

This was undoubtedly a Mutant Date.

Xiao Mu didn't hesitate and ate it in one bite. At his level, the Mutant Date could no longer have any effect on him.

The fiery date in his stomach immediately ignited like a fireball, a surge of pure power flowing towards Xiao Mu's body, attempting to cause a mutation.

Once the energy inside Xiao Mu stirred, he suppressed this special power and conveniently transformed it into ordinary power for his own Absorption.

Wu Yan and Old Li didn't play chess for too long, the match was decided in just over half an hour.

In the final counts, Wu Yan lost the game by a narrow margin.

"I've lost, now I'll bray like a donkey, hee-haw!" Wu Yan sighed and imitated the sound of a donkey.

"It's clear you let me win on purpose, Leader Wu. Truthfully, I should be the one losing. Old Li's face was filled with disappointment. "Leader Wu, it's just a game of chess. Letting me win takes the fun out of it. Near the end, when you were about to go for the kill, you suddenly stopped. It was obvious you were giving me the game."

"Enough of that, a loss is a loss, and I, Old Li, am not someone who can't handle defeat. It is I who should be braying like a donkey, hee-haw!"

Old Li raised his horse's head and let out a bray.

"Haha! Did you really think I would let you win?" Wu Yan teased Xiao Mu and Old Li.

"How about another round?" Old Li, not admitting defeat, glared at Wu Yan with his huge horse's head.

"Let's call it a day this time, I have other matters to attend to. When I'm free, I'll play with you for three days and nights," Wu Yan stood up, no longer wishing to continue the game.

"You said it; I'll hold you to that," Old Li laughed heartily.

"This is Xiao Mu. Xiao Mu, this is Old Li, Old Rong, Old Qin..." Wu Yan casually introduced everyone to Xiao Mu.

"Xiao Mu, you're the new guy, right?"

Old Li glanced at Xiao Mu and said with a smile, "When you're on a task, take care of yourself first. If there's danger, run. Only engage when you're sure it's safe. Don't be like us."

"Yes, Xiao Mu, heed Old Li's advice—it's true. Protecting yourself comes first. Don't learn from us old folks," the kind old lady added warmly.

"If you get injured, you won't be able to continue contributing to the group. People like us are just fools!" said the young man with the appearance of a scholar, enshrouded in black gas, his figure faint, not seeming human.

"Thank you for the warning! I will remember it," Xiao Mu responded with a smile on his face.

"Xiao Mu, follow me!" Wu Yan waved to the others, beckoning Xiao Mu to follow him.

"Farewell, everyone!"

Xiao Mu saluted the group with a fist.

"Come by any time!"

"Xiao Mu, make sure to visit often!"

...

Everyone greeted Xiao Mu with cheerful hellos and goodbyes.

"I'll be sure to visit often!"

Xiao Mu replied with a smile, saying farewell once more, and then he hurried to catch up with Wu Yan.

"These are our team's senior members, who were injured during missions," Wu Yan said to Xiao Mu in a low voice, his tone tinged with sorrow.

Xiao Mu had already noticed, even without Wu Yan saying anything.

He saw several people with missing limbs, clearly harmed by the Brilliance of the Five Elements. The wounds were too severe, and the power of the Five Elements within them could not be dispelled, which made healing impossible.

Old Li, half-man, half-horse, had obviously been afflicted by a curse technique from the Curse Gate, leaving him half-man, half-horse.

The scholar, faint in form, had been struck by some kind of curse as well.

Others had completely passed away, leaving behind only fragments of their will, solidified through special methods, lingering in this world.

A will is different from Yin Spirits; while Yin Spirits can continue with cultivation, a will cannot, and it's only a matter of time before it completely dissipates.

Xiao Mu nodded, saying nothing.

These senior group members of Team One, though all injured, with either missing parts or mutated, maintained an optimistic and positive attitude. They had not sunk into despair and lived in this vast park, still contributing their strength to Team One.

Undoubtedly, the mysterious fruits in the park were being cultivated for the team members who were fighting on the frontlines.

Like the mutant fruit that the old woman gave Xiao Mu to eat, such ordinary mutated fruits could still provide help to the team members.

"This way!"

Wu Yan led Xiao Mu deeper into the park. Along the way, they encountered many other injured team members, greeted them, and stopped in front of a grey house.

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