Chapter 112

Chapter 112

After dealing with the S-level giant crab, there was only a week-long cross-inspection task left in Jing City to confirm that it had met the standards of a B-level danger zone. At dusk on the last day of the month, the team returned to the base. Official arrangements had a fixed patrol team taking over the daily maintenance of Jing City.

The aircraft took off from the gloomy Jing City and landed under the drizzling winter rain that shrouded the entire Southeast Base.

The cabin door opened, and Sun Fushan took a deep breath. "It's good to be back at the base. So comfortable."

Sun Xuan greeted the commander and walked over to his younger brother, hinting meaningfully, "Now that you've been upgraded, it's time to fulfill your duties."

Regular A-level psi-ability users had the right to choose whether to join the army or become freelance mercenaries. Unless something unexpected happened, Sun Family children would join the guard force after graduating from the Military Academy.

Sun Fushan's expression grew solemn. He liked comfort, but he didn’t resist contributing to the base. After all, as long as the base existed, there was comfort to be enjoyed.

He really didn’t want to leave his teammates, but he had reached the A+ level. There was no longer any reason to delay joining the army.

Seeing Xu Qiao and Meng Li looking at him, Sun Fushan smiled and typed, "Even if I join the army, I'll still be the captain of the Silent Gold squad. The squad won't disband."

Xu Qiao smiled. "As long as the captain is here, I'll always be a member of the squad."

Meng Li nodded simply.

Xu Qiao asked, "Will you rest for a while, or head to the army immediately?"

Sun Fushan scratched his head and looked at his older brother. As a new recruit, he had to follow his older brother’s plans.

Sun Xuan said, "Rest for a week, then head to the coastal base."

Even though Sun Fushan had mentally prepared himself, his face fell when he heard this.

The little green turtle jumped out and landed in Xu Qiao's hand, wanting to burrow into her sleeve.

Sun Xuan pinched the turtle’s shell, lifted the little one, and said, "You're probably the second most formidable turtle in our family. You should go to the coastal base and show your strength. Let the guard force there get to know you."

The little green turtle blinked and formed the character "earth" using its spiritual energy towards the two teammates. "Will you go too?"

Sun Fushan waved away the characters, stammering, "No need... for you... to come."

Forcing his spiritual being back, he summoned his off-road vehicle and, without regard for his older brother, escaped into the driver's seat and drove away.

The coastal base sounded like a tough place. He wouldn’t drag his teammates along just because he’d miss them.

As his car drove off, a familiar black sedan pulled up opposite the cabin door. Rain continuously pelted the car, shattering the light cast by the aircraft.

The driver's door opened, and Qinchi held an umbrella as he walked around.

Sun Xuan smiled. "Your squad has a strong bond."

Xu Qiao pretended not to hear any hidden meanings in those words and took an umbrella from her storage space, saying to Meng Li, "Let’s head out."

Meng Li asked, "Where are you going?"

Xu Qiao was about to speak when Sun Xuan said, "I'll take Meng Li. I need to visit Professor Lu’s lab anyway."

Meng Li instinctively wanted to decline, but knowing Xu Qiao would insist on dropping her off first, she said, "Thank you."

So, Meng Li got into Sun Xuan’s car, while Xu Qiao climbed into the long-unseen black sedan with Qinchi.

She put away her umbrella and leaned back in her seat, relaxed. Even the continuous rain outside couldn't dampen her good mood about returning to the base.

The small fire dragon wrapped around her arm, carefully drying the few raindrops on her battle armor.

She placed it in her palm; it was warm like a hand warmer. She looked at Qinchi and said, "Can fire element psi-users get by without wearing down jackets in winter?"

Qinchi smiled. "I've never needed a down jacket."

Xu Qiao: "Not even before you were sixteen? It should be pretty cold where you're from, right?"

Qinchi, while driving, said, "There's heating indoors, and when outdoors, we're usually training, so it's not needed."

Xu Qiao: "..."

Lu Yang had messaged her, asking if she had returned.

Xu Qiao chatted with Lu Yang for a while. After ending the conversation, she looked at the rain constantly pounding on the car window and thought about Sun Fushan, who was about to head to the coastal base. A sense of parting weighed on her.

Qinchi: "What are you thinking about?"

Xu Qiao brought up Sun Fushan's situation.

Qinchi was silent for a moment and then said, "After I finish teaching this semester at the Second School, I'll also have to return to the military. However, I'll still take my holiday and come to visit you once it starts."

Due to the increasing severity of his beastification, he had been forced to take leave. Now that he was more stable, Qinchi couldn't bring himself to use beastification as an excuse to enjoy a longer period of leisure.

The task of an S-grade awakened, apart from eliminating mutants, was also to minimize casualties on the frontlines. Compared to mutated creatures, the human populace was too small. Every additional psi-user that survived brought more hope to humanity.

Xu Qiao looked out the window, having grown accustomed to seeing Qinchi every day. Thinking about the long separation that would come after the new year, she felt a preemptive sadness.

Qinchi glanced at her and shared some news. "My mother has been preparing to establish a fifth base in Jicheng for the past two years. Once the Jicheng base stabilizes, we'll be able to clear a low-risk area that runs through the north and south, connecting the Northeast Base, Southeast Base, and the new base. With today's technology, a high-speed rail could be built, allowing travel between the bases in just two hours."

Xu Qiao, surprised, said, "Jicheng base?"

Qinchi: "Yes, when that happens, I'll apply to be posted at the Jicheng base. It'll be much closer to the Southeast Base."

Xu Qiao: "But will there be enough people moving there?"

Qinchi: "Yes, the Northeast Base has over twenty million people, and we need to leave enough space for farmland and safe zones, making it quite crowded. As long as the new base's safety can be guaranteed, many people will be willing to move."

Thinking about the densely packed high-rise buildings in the Southeast Base, Xu Qiao could understand the demand for a more comfortable living environment. She looked at Qinchi and said, "I thought you'd become the next marshal of the Northeast Base."

Qinchi: "I have no interest in becoming the marshal of any base. I also don't believe that only S-grade psi-users should hold the position of marshal. Sometimes, a psi-user's combat ability and governing capability aren't on the same level."

He was willing to protect a base's safety but had no interest in dealing with complex administrative matters.

Xu Qiao: "In the past, there were discussions about the qualifications for marshal nominees, but most people tend to trust S-grade awakened individuals more."

Qinchi: "Perspectives will change over time."

Xu Qiao was momentarily distracted by his topic and temporarily forgot about their impending separation after the new year.

They arrived at Ping'an Community.

The winter rain had kept the residents indoors, leaving the streets empty. When the black sedan stopped in front of Building 5, Xu Qiao noticed that units 101 and 102 had their lights on.

She looked at Qinchi in surprise.

Qinchi smiled. "It's been a while since anyone lived there, so I cleaned it for you. Leaving the lights on makes it seem less deserted."

Xu Qiao nodded toward the window of apartment 102.

Qinchi: "I need to be prepared in case you prefer to eat at my place."

Xu Qiao: "..."

Qinchi got out of the car first and opened an umbrella to meet her. The fire dragon quietly slipped into Xu Qiao's sleeve to avoid being noticed by neighbors on the same floor.

Under one umbrella, Xu Qiao instinctively hooked her arm around Qinchi's, but after a couple of steps, remembering that neighbors might be watching from their balconies, she tried to let go.

Qinchi held the umbrella with one hand and pressed her hand with the other.

Xu Qiao bit her lip and let him hold her hand.

Once inside the building, thinking of her own simple decor, Xu Qiao steered Qinchi to stand in front of 102's door. Given the heavy rain, she preferred the cozy interior that Qinchi had designed.

"What’s for dinner?" Xu Qiao asked as she changed into slippers.

Qinchi: "Hotpot? I bought the freshest beef this afternoon at the supermarket."

Hearing that, Xu Qiao felt even more hungry.

By the time she finished washing her hands in the bathroom, Qinchi had already laid out all the prepared hotpot ingredients on the dining table, even the broth was ready, bubbling and emitting clouds of white steam.

Xu Qiao sat down opposite Qinchi and focused on eating. She would think about post-New Year matters later. For now, Qinchi was sitting across from her.

After dinner, Xu Qiao was about to leave.

Qinchi: "Do you want me to walk you back?"

Xu Qiao nodded with a smile.

Stepping out of 102, they faced 101. Qinchi had even changed his shoes and followed Xu Qiao. When she opened the door and glanced back, Qinchi asked in a low voice, "Can I come in and help you look around? If there's anything you're not happy with, I'll clean it up again."

Xu Qiao: "..."

She smiled and led her boyfriend inside.

The living room looked familiar to Xu Qiao, though the vegetables were put away, and the planters had been stored in Qinchi’s space.

The floors and surfaces were spotless, and the coffee table and dining table were filled with baskets of flowers, full of life.

The doors to the guest bedroom and study were open; the guest bedroom, unoccupied, only had a mattress.

Lastly, the master bedroom.

The bed was laid with the same bedding set Xu Qiao had used before, and she touched it. The sheets were dry and crisp, free from the dampness typical of the rainy season in Southeast Base.

Qinchi: "It's been raining for days. I washed the quilt this afternoon and dried it using my abilities."

Xu Qiao looked towards her wardrobe.

Qinchi: "I didn't touch your clothes. If you need anything, just let me know."

Xu Qiao: "...No need. There are spare clothes in my space."

Qinchi looked at the battle armor on her body. "Then you rest. I’ll read in the living room."

Saying that, he closed the master bedroom door from the outside, and his footsteps headed towards the living room.

He acted incredibly naturally, but Xu Qiao's heartbeat became irregular again.

The lotus flower emerged and said, "If you don't want him to stay the night, I can tell him for you."

It could sense Xu Qiao's nervousness.

Xu Qiao: "......He might not even want to stay. Don’t say such things."

She retracted the lotus flower and took out a set of clean clothes, and she headed to the bathroom first.

The bath lasted more than half an hour. When the sound of the hair dryer reached the living room, the fire dragon, having waited, asked Qinchi, "When will she ask us to help dry her hair?"

Qinchi simply continued reading his book.

The fire dragon paced the living room, and upon hearing the door open, it immediately flew over.

Xu Qiao checked the time and asked, "Are you going to sleep? Shall I send you to the guest bedroom?"

Fire dragon: "Not sleeping. Qinchi wants to kiss you, and I want to be there."

When acting alone, the fire dragon didn’t experience those strange desires, but just like it enjoyed good food, it also enjoyed the sensation of syncing with Qinchi and Xu Qiao when they kissed. It was thrilling and exciting.

Xu Qiao: "......"

Fire dragon: "Why are you blushing?"

At this point, because his girlfriend had been lingering in the hallway for too long, Qinchi put down his book and approached.

Xu Qiao quickly grabbed the fire dragon and used its body to disperse the flaming words in front of her.