“What? I don’t agree!” — the buzz-cut man objected on the spot.
“What? Can I not go?” — this was Yuan Li’s resistance upon hearing the news.
The buzz-cut man thought Yuan Li at least had some self-awareness. He looked at the deputy minister. “See, she’s not happy either. Should we have someone else take her?”
“You are the people she is most familiar with,” the deputy minister said, emphasizing his words. “This is an order.”
The buzz-cut man muttered a curse under his breath. “What? Just because I went in during her inquiry, I’m considered the person she knows best?”
The deputy minister gave a warning look.
Knowing the decision couldn’t be changed, the buzz-cut man, though displeased, stayed silent.
Seeing the buzz-cut man speechless, Yuan Li hesitated for a moment.
But the deputy minister’s attitude toward her was much gentler than toward the buzz-cut man. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he explained to Yuan Li, “I don’t know why your memories and understanding have stayed in the time before the apocalypse. I can tell you clearly: it is already the fifth year of the apocalypse. This is no longer the peaceful era. Even in the Huaxia Zone, things are extremely chaotic. If you were left alone, you would be like a sheep among wolves.”
“Moreover, Captain Lin and the others are essentially your lifesavers. They got you out of the laboratory.”
“You’ll stay with them for a while. Once you’re able to live independently, you can leave. How does that sound?”
Hearing this, Yuan Li, who was not ungrateful, didn’t argue.
But…
“From what you said, Captain Lin and the others are very important. Will I disturb them?”
The elderly man with graying hair looked even gentler. “You don’t need to worry. You’re just staying temporarily and using their reputation to protect yourself. Even if missions arise, you won’t affect them.”
Half an hour later,
Yuan Li’s handcuffs were removed. She ran to catch up with Captain Lin, who strode ahead, and stepped into a huge training ground.
No sooner had she entered than a glint of steel flew straight at her.
The blade moved so fast that Yuan Li couldn’t react at all. She thought she was going to die, but the blade grazed her cheek, cut two strands of her hair, and went “do” into the door frame.
The tip of the blade quivered, humming.
Yuan Li’s pupils dilated. She didn’t scream outwardly, but her soul had already flown out through the crown of her head.
Captain Lin looked regretful.
If the blade had truly aimed for Yuan Li’s head or neck, the problem would have been solved.
“That’s… the live specimen from the laboratory?”
A hoarse voice brought Yuan Li back to her senses. She saw a tall woman.
The woman had short, neat hair, stood half a head taller than Yuan Li, roughly 1.75 meters, and her gaze was anything but friendly.
“Captain, why did you bring her here? Are we supposed to kill her for fun?”
Yuan Li shivered and moved her already weak legs, quietly hiding behind Captain Lin.
In that moment, even the fierce Captain Lin seemed protective to her.
Captain Lin, previously annoyed, brightened as he looked at the woman.
He stepped aside without hesitation, giving Yuan Li space.
“Let me introduce you. This is Hong Yuan, the only female member of our team. And this is… Fang… Yuan…”
Captain Lin faltered.
Yuan Li hesitated, then softly added, “Yuan Li.”
“Oh, Yuan Li,” Captain Lin said solemnly, “the deputy minister said she’s in your hands. Do your best; I’m counting on you.”
Hong Yuan’s brow twitched, and she drew her blade, rushing forward.
“I’ll show you who’s boss!”
Yuan Li jumped. “Wait…”
Captain Lin, used to this, met her attack without hesitation. In moments, the two had exchanged over a dozen blows.
Yuan Li silently retreated two steps, curling up in a corner.
Meanwhile, Hong Yuan and Captain Lin fought and argued simultaneously.
“The deputy minister said so. Go find her yourself.”
“Hah, fine. Let’s ask the deputy minister if he actually said to hand her to me!”
Captain Lin said, “Anyway, she’s been assigned to our third team. He said she should stay with us. You’re the only woman here. What’s the difference if she’s with you?”
“Hmph.”
Hong Yuan spun her curved blade faster.
Three others, who had been training nearby, had gathered, laughing and joking.
“Hey, Hong Yuan, go for his third leg, don’t hold back.”
“Captain, you’re weak! Look, she’s dominating you. Are you soft?”
A blade flew toward the three men.
“Who’s soft? Watch out, I’ll stab your kidney!”
“Ah, Daodao, look, you’re bleeding!” One teammate shielded from the blade with an innocent look.
Daodao laughed and swung his blade at the unsuspecting teammate.
The two’s fight became a five-person free-for-all.
They didn’t stick to fixed opponents; whoever was nearby became the target.
The entire training ground echoed with clashing steel. Only Yuan Li, the accidental intruder, trembled in a corner.
When it finally ended, all the fighters bore minor injuries.
The biggest mouth received the most “attention,” but he didn’t care. He rubbed his face and covered a bleeding wound on his stomach, plopping on the ground. “Seriously, you hit too hard! We’re teammates!”
“Hmph.” Hong Yuan rolled her eyes, glancing at the small white rabbit in the corner.
She asked coldly, “Can’t she be sent back?”
“It’s the deputy minister who asked us to bring her,” Captain Lin said quietly after a pause. “He wants to see if she can be used as bait.”
“Her? As bait?” Hong Yuan sneered. “Even a little shrimp could eat her up.”
“That’s why we’re guarding her,” Captain Lin patted her shoulder. “I trust you.”
Hong Yuan coldly swatted his hand away, laughing twice.
But things had gone too far; there was no turning back.
She cleaned her twin blades, returned them to the sheath at her waist, and looked at Yuan Li in the corner. “You, come here.”
Yuan Li hesitated, pointing at herself. “Me?”
“Are there any others here?” Hong Yuan asked impatiently.
Yuan Li, not daring to anger these ruthless people, ran over immediately.
“You’ll stay with me. But don’t expect me to take care of you. Don’t bother me at home either, understood?” Hong Yuan warned.
Yuan Li nodded quickly. “I understand. Thank you for letting me stay. I won’t disturb you carelessly.”
Her tact improved Hong Yuan’s expression slightly.
Seeing Yuan Li accepted, she cautiously asked, “Your injuries, do you want me to help treat them?”
“No need. Stay out of my business in the future,” Hong Yuan said coldly.
Yuan Li obediently nodded.
As for the other teammates watching and waiting for drama, Hong Yuan ignored them.
She kicked once. Her fake smile harshly commanded, “Go move the bed!”
The Cleaning Department had its own dormitories. In this apocalypse, the accommodations were very decent.
A one-bedroom unit with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom, totaling about forty square meters.
Hong Yuan set up a small private area for Yuan Li in the living room. The bed was newly moved in.
Of course, the heavy lifting was done by a few teammates.
The small space, about five square meters, had a lofted bed with a desk underneath, a tiny table, and a small wardrobe.
It was similar to a pre-apocalypse college dorm bed, but fully wooden and movable.
This small room took up one-third of a window. A power line was extended, and a new bulb installed.
“You can use the living room, kitchen, and bathroom freely. My room is off-limits. These things are from the deputy minister. Figure out meals yourself.”
A backpack was placed on the desk.
Inside were two full sets of clothing. With the one she was wearing, Yuan Li had three sets to change.
There was also an ID card and a small jar of money.
It contained coins ranging from one to one hundred units, with the same face value as the old paper currency, totaling one thousand units.
Yuan Li didn’t know how long it would last but understood she couldn’t just sit idle.
She summoned courage and asked Hong Yuan, “I want to work to earn money. Can you give me some advice?”