Wuning noticed that no one seemed to treat nudity as something particularly private.
But considering the short lifespans of the Polluted, Wuning could understand—live for the moment.
Apart from survival and killing, nothing else fell within their considerations.
Since they didn’t mind, Wuning didn’t feel shy or anything either. After all, she had seen plenty in her posts and infinite flow experiences.
“I saw a little. He has many scars on his body.”
Bo Yin crossed his legs, his tone calm. “You should know the origin of the name ‘Polluted.’”
Wuning nodded. “It refers to people contaminated by the Dark Matter in the Dark Sky Zone.”
“Our bodies always contain this Dark Matter. You can think of it as a special serum or gene—it cannot be eliminated.” Bo Yin opened a webpage on his communicator to show her.
“It causes irregular patterns to appear on our skin, which can also be understood as scars.”
“Low temperatures can suppress the activity of Dark Matter. Cook has the most scars on his body. He doesn’t want them on his face, so he wears that icy mask.”
Wuning suddenly understood, then frowned slightly. “But isn’t that very bad for the skin and facial nerves?”
“No need to worry about that. He doesn’t wear the Cryo-mask all the time, and the physical constitution of the Polluted isn’t bothered by such minor damage.”
Wuning instinctively disagreed. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t painful or torturous.”
Bo Yin abruptly fell silent, his gray eyes fixing on her with a deep gaze.
“I—sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.” Wuning opened her mouth, softening her voice.
“No need to apologize. You haven’t offended us. But you must understand that what might seem like the most ordinary, even nagging or unnecessary concern to ordinary people is precious and unattainable words to us,” Bo Yin said calmly.
“So before you prepare to say such sweet words to us, you’d better think carefully.”
Wuning didn’t yet understand what there was to consider—it was just expressing goodwill. “Think carefully?”
Bo Yin looked at the innocent, naive, beautiful, and fragile Medic before him. For a moment, he truly wanted to withhold what he was about to say next.
Let this little lamb who had strayed off the path learn her lesson properly.
Who gave her the courage to be so naive and ignorant, to pour out words of affection to madmen?
No one could interact with them so harmlessly.
Everyone had to fear and despise them.
But Bo Yin detected a trace of greed in his heart.
Even if it wasn’t pity directed at him, he still wanted to hear a few more words.
Since the emotions of being feared and despised were already satisfied,
then greed should also be satisfied a little.
Bo Yin regained his composure and continued from where he left off.
“You’re provoking and attracting a group of madmen. If you don’t know what ‘madmen’ means, you can ask others about the atrocities of 191.”
“If we get a taste but can’t control ourselves, we’ll definitely suck out the flavor from between the cracks of your bones.”
After speaking, Bo Yin quietly waited for fear and regret to appear on the girl’s face.
But Wuning didn’t find it frightening.
This kind of threat was nothing compared to the horror scenarios in infinite flow.
Still, it had some effect.
Wuning lifted her pale face. “I’m hungry.”
Don’t talk about sucking bones! It really makes me crave spare ribs! Or a big bone soup!
Bo Yin was taken aback, momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in topic.
Hungry?
Was it simply hunger, or was there some other meaning he hadn’t fully grasped?
Wuning sighed softly, “I’m genuinely hungry. I haven’t eaten lunch or dinner.”
Bo Yin snapped back to attention, “My apologies, that was an oversight on my part. Please wait a moment.”
For the Polluted, aside from sexual and combat desires, all other desires had very low thresholds—especially appetite.
Because their tongues could no longer taste the interplay of flavors, and their noses could no longer detect the richness of aromas.
What meaning was there left in eating?
It was mostly just a matter of having some nutrient solution or nutrient paste to get by.
So when Bo Yin brought over a few tubes of nutrient solution, it was no surprise to see the girl’s miserable expression.
Wuning was no stranger to nutrient solution, but this was the first time she had encountered one so hard to swallow.
She couldn’t help but spit out the first mouthful to the side.
Even the most pitiful beggar ate better than this!
Receiving the girl’s incredulous gaze, Bo Yin rarely frowned, “Is it that bad?”
Wuning nodded vigorously in protest, “The premise of ‘bad’ is that it’s drinkable! This stuff feels like it’s corroding my mouth!”
After saying this, she leaned over to the side and dry-heaved.
But their base only had this.
So, a short while later, Wuning found herself seated in the cafeteria of a certain military district.
So much pressure.
They had come uninvited again.
The spacecraft thumped down outside, and as soon as they stepped out, several gun barrels were aimed at her head.
The people around scattered in a flurry, all secretly sizing her up—curious yet wary and vigilant.
Bo Yin paid no attention, setting down a tray, “This is the best-tasting cafeteria in the Eastern Military District.”
“How do you know?” Wuning picked up her utensils.
“I served here once,” Bo Yin said calmly. “Back then, this was the best.”
Wuning thanked him and tentatively took a bite of the stewed meat.
…Did human evolution leave chefs behind? This level of cooking couldn’t even compare to the mass meals at construction sites or schools!
But it was still much better than the nutrient solution.
Wuning sighed inwardly and obediently finished all the food on her tray.
Bo Yin’s fingers moved away from his communicator, “Done?”
Wuning nodded.
Bo Yin stood up to take her away.
The crowd parted to either side as several high-ranking figures stepped forward.
Judging by their military ranks, they were at least on par with Bo Yin.
“Long time no see, Major General Bo Yin. You should know the rules—you can’t just pilot a fighter jet here without permission,” one of them spoke up.
Wuning had thought it was just an ordinary spacecraft, but it turned out to be a fighter jet?!
This was no different from showing up at someone’s doorstep armed and robbing them.
But this was 191’s way of doing things, and she had no right to interfere.
Bo Yin’s voice betrayed no emotion, “Just here for a meal, and I notified in advance.”
Even if it was just one second earlier, it still counted as advance notice.
“A meal? I thought the Polluted only needed nutrient solution,” the man said with deliberate surprise, his gaze locking onto Wuning.
“Well, look at that—Shadow-phantom actually found a Medic? Hey there, little beauty, are you sure about this? What terms did they offer? Did they act like dogs, wagging their tails and begging in front of you?”
“Have the other Polluted lost their appeal, making such a pretty little beauty go to 191?”
Wuning wrinkled her nose, disliking this kind of idiotic provocation.
But it seemed Bo Yin didn’t like it either.
Wuning only had time to see a silver arc of light before gasps erupted all around.
Upon closer inspection, the military cap on the person opposite slowly split into two, along with a portion of shaved hair that fell to the ground.
The blade had narrowly grazed past his scalp.
Now he not only had a ridiculous frame encircling his head, but also a balding, receding hairline.
Wuning couldn’t hold back her laughter and simply lowered her head.
The man’s face turned deathly pale, his legs trembling so badly that he had to be supported by his adjutant to avoid kneeling on the ground in an embarrassing display.
The vast cafeteria fell so silent that not a single sound could be heard.
Wuning wondered whether she should explain that it was voluntary.
Before she could think of the right words, Bo Yin bent down and picked her up.
Huh?
She sat on the man’s forearm, instinctively wrapping her arms around Bo Yin’s shoulders.
Even like this, she wasn’t taller than the 198cm Bo Yin.
Bo Yin sheathed his blade and walked away unhurriedly, with no one daring to stop him.
No matter how resentful they were, no one would easily block a Shadow-phantom.
Back in the fighter jet, Wuning carefully considered her tone. “I could also drink nutrient solution. Causing a rift with the military district over a meal doesn’t seem worth it.”
Even if internal conflicts were to arise over something, it should be over something more valuable, like weapons or rescue missions.
Bo Yin fastened her seatbelt, his gray eyes hidden beneath silver-white lashes, gleaming like cold stars.
He simply and quietly stroked the girl’s full little belly, then spoke softly yet firmly.
“It’s worth it.”