“It’s not bad. I’m ranked in the top ten of the Morningstar Legion. The points I earn from missions are enough for me to live very comfortably on my own.”
Ao Guang didn’t think much of it. Morningstar Base offered excellent benefits. Most of his time was spent training and going on missions, so he rarely had opportunities to spend points. In fact, he often had more than he could use.
“If you’ve got such a nice vehicle, why didn’t you have it pick us up at the entrance to the Underground City? Carrying all that stuff wasn’t heavy?”
If they had driven earlier, Xiang Ge wouldn’t have had to endure all those curious stares.
“Ah, the wind’s too loud. What did you say? I can’t hear you.”
Ao Guang was obviously pretending to be deaf.
Xiang Ge rolled her eyes.
It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was thinking. He clearly didn’t believe her radiation level had dropped and had deliberately walked with her all the way, waiting to see her get arrested.
Running her hand over the luxurious interior of the car, Xiang Ge thought to herself that once she had enough money, she would definitely buy one too.
And if her storage space could expand enough to fit a parking spot, that would be even better.
The thought made her want a Pure Gemstone even more.
Maybe if she got another space-type one, it could increase the size of her existing storage space.
Helping ten people lower their radiation levels?
Fine. I’m in.
Suddenly, Xiang Ge felt incredibly motivated.
Having a goal really did make a difference.
Morningstar Base had only one hospital, located in the central district.
The hospital was surprisingly empty, nothing like the overcrowded hospitals Xiang Ge remembered.
Then again, purification agents were so expensive. Very few people here could probably afford medical treatment.
Lu Changting was staying in a VIP ward.
After knocking three times, Xiang Ge followed Ao Guang inside.
The Legion Commander sat on a spotless white hospital bed, looking as gentle and composed as ever.
However, grayish-white patches covered much of his exposed arms.
Radiation lesions.
Radiation sickness manifested in many different ways.
Xiang Ge had suffered from weakness and stagnation throughout her body.
Sang Wan’s leg had withered.
Lu Changting’s symptoms appeared as large patches of radiation scars.
Every form was agonizing—worse than death.
“I’m doing fine. I’ve already told you that you don’t need to visit so often.”
Lu Changting spoke while checking his wrist terminal, his expression calm.
Then he looked up.
“Xiang Ge?”
Surprise appeared on his face.
The last time he had seen her outside the base, the girl had been almost destroyed by radiation sickness, only a step away from complete genetic collapse.
Now, her appearance and spirit were completely different.
“Commander Lu, I came to visit you.”
Xiang Ge pulled out a large round potato from her backpack.
A red ribbon was tied around it.
“A small gift.”
She placed the potato on the table.
Visiting a patient empty-handed was simply unacceptable.
That principle was engraved into her bones.
“Your visit is already enough. You didn’t have to bring anything.”
Lu Changting suppressed his surprise and smiled warmly.
Although his radiation level had already exceeded ninety and his body was suffering tremendously, he showed none of that pain on his face.
Xiang Ge ignored the conversation and wandered around the room instead, casually looking everywhere.
“Hey, what are you doing? Didn’t you say you could save the Commander? Why are you sightseeing?”
Ao Guang finally couldn’t help asking.
Xiang Ge ignored him.
Only after making a full circuit of the room did she return to the bedside.
The mental energy she had spread throughout the room quietly withdrew.
Watching her actions, Lu Changting seemed to understand exactly what she was checking for.
“This is a VIP ward. There are no surveillance cameras.”
“And no one in this base is monitoring me.”
Xiang Ge nodded.
Then she pointed at Ao Guang.
“You need to leave.”
“What? Why? I’m not leaving!”
Ao Guang’s eyes widened in protest.
“If you stay, I can’t proceed.”
Sooner or later, her ability to purify radiation would become public knowledge.
But Xiang Ge had no intention of revealing it this early.
“Ao Guang, go outside.”
Lu Changting waved his hand.
Since the order came directly from his commander, Ao Guang could only obey.
Reluctantly, he shuffled toward the door, looking back every few steps.
“I’ll be right outside. Call me if anything happens.”
Only then did he close the door.
The large room was now occupied by only Xiang Ge and Lu Changting.
Sitting beside the hospital bed, Xiang Ge spoke directly.
“We’re both straightforward people, so I’ll get right to the point.”
“Commander Lu, I owe you a favor for saving my life.”
“I now have a way to help lower your radiation level. Would you be willing to let me try?”
“Of course.”
“It would be my honor.”
In the wasteland, no one could refuse an opportunity to lower their radiation level.
Even if it was only a possibility.
Lu Changting didn’t ask how she could do it.
Nor did he ask how she had managed to return from the wilderness.
He understood his situation very clearly.
This was his only chance.
“Good.”
Xiang Ge stopped hesitating and called out to the system in her mind.
[Current target: Lu Changting. Radiation Level: 92.]
[32 Purification Points are required to reduce the target to the healthy radiation threshold.]
[Would the host like to proceed?]
The system quickly calculated the required amount.
“Proceed.”
Since she had already decided to help him, Xiang Ge intended to lower his radiation level all the way into the healthy range.
After all, helping ten people reach healthy radiation levels would earn her a Pure Gemstone.
Lu Changting would be the first.
She gently placed her hand on his forehead.
The gesture wasn’t actually necessary.
System purification didn’t require physical contact.
But Xiang Ge already knew that Purifiers were supposed to reduce radiation through touch.
She had no intention of hiding her ability to purify radiation.
That would be impossible anyway.
However, she would never reveal the existence of the system.
The identity of a Purifier was the perfect cover.
Lu Changting remained completely still, allowing her hand to rest on his forehead.
Two minutes passed.
[32 Purification Points consumed.]
[Current target: Lu Changting.]
[Radiation Level: 60.]
[Remaining Purification Points: 13.]
Xiang Ge withdrew her hand.
The radiation lesions on Lu Changting’s arms visibly faded.
His skin gradually returned to a healthy color.
“Congratulations, Commander Lu.”
“You’ve regained your health.”
Following her gaze, Lu Changting looked down at his own arms.
The changes were impossible to miss.
Not only his arms—his entire body felt different.
It was as though invisible shackles had suddenly been removed.
All the accumulated damage had been swept away.
He felt twenty years younger.
Regaining his health was something he had never even dared dream about.
Over the past few days, he had already prepared himself mentally to leave his family and the base behind.
But his body couldn’t lie.
It had been a very long time since he had felt this light and comfortable, both physically and mentally.
The joy he had been suppressing finally broke through.
Unable to contain himself, he jumped out of bed and paced rapidly around the room.
“Good! Wonderful! This is wonderful!”
“Xiao Ge, thank you!”
Lu Changting felt better than he had in years.
He had already accepted death as his inevitable fate.
Yet now, heaven had suddenly handed him an extraordinary gift.