He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Fifty Five - Meeting of Kindred Spirits

Zhang Min yawned widely and without covering his mouth.  It was too early for this shit.  He adjusted the strap of the weapon upon his shoulder and followed directly behind Song Jian, not really caring that he was crashing through the forest like one of the forest people's tame stompers.  His best friend glanced back at him, before giving the surrounding area his full attention.  There was a noticeable smug smile upon his lips.

The girl, Xu Lin, was giving them odd looks.  Though it had been evening when they had left the mining site for the forest, evenings on this world seemed to drag on a little, like the sun was too busy admiring the colours it cast into the sky as it made its final descent beyond the horizon, so the thrown together squad had made some progress.  One of the soldiers, a large man who had taken command of the squad had told them to set up camp as the night began to turn inky black.  As there were only three tents, the same soldier had advised them of the sleeping arrangements.  Xu Lin would share with the lone female soldier on the squad, Private Feng Liang. The soldiers Zhang Min and Song Jian would share another and the rest of the men would squeeze in the last.

"Wait," Xu Lin had counted that Han Huan would be sleeping with three other men if they stuck with those arrangements.  "Surely it would be better for one of you to share a tent with them!" She said pointing to the quiet, muscular man and his talkative companion. 

"You are right," the sergeant had said.  "Any volunteers?"  As neither of the remaining soldiers had raised their hands, Han Huan chose to abstain.  "Didn't think so."

"But...?"

"Leave it, Xu Lin," Han Huan had urged.  "It's fine." 

One of the soldiers had placed his hand upon her shipmates shoulder and said; "Wise choice."  Xu Lin had still found this strange, especially when the sergeant insisted on the two tents shared by the women and the majority of men be placed some distance from the third tent. 

If she was honest, she still did not understand what the problem was.  Sure she had heard some odd muffled noises coming from the third tent, but it didn't make sense that the two men were segregated that way.  Their comrades didn't seem to have a problem with them now.  Lost in her own thoughts, it barely registered when the soldiers suddenly armed their weapons and aimed, creeping forward as they did so.  Even the sleepy Zhang Min suddenly became alert.

"It's okay, it's just a boy," the female soldier said aloud.

Zhang Min shuffled forward and was instantly caught by the vivid red hair upon the green forest boy's head. "Ah!" He said, recognising the boy from this one feature. "I remember you, you sometimes travel upon the wagons when your people trade with us."

Naturally, the boy was wary. Outsiders did not usually travel into the forest, aware that it was not only easy to get lost in amongst all the vegetation that looked nearly monotonous to their untrained eyes, the people of the forest did not welcome them inside. However just as Zhang Min had recognised him due to the colour of his hair, he recognised Zhang Min. "You are the son of the large, female Elder," he said in reply.

There was a slightly shocked muffled outburst of laughter. Zhang Min's mother would not like to be considered an 'elder'. Zhang Min rolled his eyes at his comrades in warning. Not that he would share this kids words with his mother, nor their reactions to them. He watched as the boy dragged himself up on weakened legs, before rubbing at his lower back and facing them a little more confidently. Zhang Min instantly felt the sympathy reserved for a kindred spirit.

"Are you alright?" Xu Lin asked in a motherly tone, stepping forward slightly, ready to offer physical assistance to the poor child. Zhang Min held her back by the shoulder, causing her to pause and look at him.