“You’re welcome. If you want to thank someone, thank yourself for having such good judgment and spotting a promising talent like me early on.”
When it came to praising herself, Xiang Ge was never stingy.
“Remember all those things you told me about Purification Fruits? Well, guess what? I’m lucky. After you all left, I actually stumbled across a Purification Fruit by chance. The moment I ate it, my radiation level dropped to zero, and I became a Purifier. That’s why I’m able to help you now.”
Xiang Ge delivered the explanation she had prepared beforehand.
It sounded unbelievably lucky, but she didn’t really care whether others believed it or not. It was the only reasonable explanation available, and nobody was likely to think of anything else.
“So that’s what happened. Then your luck really is extraordinary.
“But if my radiation level has decreased, won’t that affect your own body?
“I don’t know exactly how the Purifiers from Ark Base use their abilities, but I’ve heard that their Purifier is constantly weak and rarely able to leave home.”
After the initial joy, Lu Changting became concerned.
If saving him came at the cost of harming the young girl, that was not something he wanted to see.
“There will be some impact. My body needs time to process it, so I can’t purify too many people right now.
“So, Uncle Lu, no matter what, please keep this a secret for the time being. Don’t reveal my identity.”
Xiang Ge’s plan was simple: keep it hidden for as long as possible. At the very least, she wanted to earn more Purification Points before being exposed.
After all, the pitiful thirteen points she had left couldn’t accomplish much.
“I understand. Don’t worry, Xiang Ge. You’ve done me such a tremendous favor. From now on, I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.
“And stop calling me Commander. From now on, call me Uncle Lu.”
Lu Changting had already made up his mind. He would spend the rest of his life repaying this debt of gratitude and protecting her however he could.
“Alright, Uncle Lu.”
Xiang Ge accepted immediately without the slightest psychological burden.
Lu Changting held a high position in Morningstar Base and was a genuinely good person. Being his honorary niece was hardly a bad deal.
The atmosphere inside the hospital room was warm and harmonious.
Outside, however, Lu Yilin was practically screaming Ao Guang’s ears off.
“I want to go in! I want to see my dad! Why won’t you let me in?”
“Is my dad getting worse?”
“Dad! Waaaah!”
The young woman’s face resembled Lu Changting’s by at least seventy percent. She lacked some of his rugged determination but possessed a softer beauty.
Dressed in a light-pink dress, she looked elegant and carefree. In the wasteland, being able to dress so beautifully was proof enough of how much security and privilege her family provided.
Blocked at the hospital-room door by Ao Guang, Lu Yilin finally lost control of her emotions and burst into tears.
Ever since Lu Changting had been hospitalized with his injuries, her heart had been hanging by a thread.
This morning, when his radiation level surpassed 90, she had forced herself to stay strong in front of him.
Every day, she traveled back and forth from home, bringing meals prepared by her mother so her father could eat better and recover faster.
Now, being stopped at the door was the final straw.
“Oh, come on, Princess. The Commander’s fine. It’s just… well… anyway, wait a little longer before going in.”
Ao Guang had wanted to explain that the Commander was receiving treatment.
But he wasn’t sure whether Xiang Ge’s method would actually work, and he didn’t want to give Lu Yilin false hope.
So he could only stall vaguely.
Just as Ao Guang was reaching his limit from the crying, the door suddenly opened.
“You can come in now.”
Xiang Ge stepped aside.
She had heard the shouting from inside and had no intention of attracting the entire hospital.
“Dad!”
Lu Yilin rushed into the room and threw herself onto Lu Changting’s bed.
“Oh, my precious Linlin. Daddy’s fine.”
Lu Changting lovingly stroked his daughter’s head.
She was his only child, whom he had doted on since birth.
When his radiation level exceeded the limit, the person he worried about most was her.
Now that his radiation had dropped and he could continue caring for her, he was equally emotional.
“Dad, your arm is healed?”
Lu Yilin immediately noticed that the radiation lesions on his arm had disappeared.
She grabbed his arm and examined it closely.
“Really?”
Ao Guang knew exactly why Xiang Ge had gone inside. Hearing this, he hurriedly looked over as well.
“Mhm. Dad’s fine now. Thanks to Sister Xiang Ge, who found a precious Purification Fruit for me. That’s the only reason I was able to get through this crisis.”
Lu Changting did not reveal Xiang Ge’s identity as a Purifier.
“A Purification Fruit? Something that precious, and you actually…”
Lu Yilin stared at Xiang Ge in shock.
She had wanted to say, and you actually gave it to my father?
But realizing how inappropriate that sounded, she swallowed the words.
Ao Guang’s expression became even stranger.
He knew Xiang Ge herself had recovered from dangerously high radiation levels, and now she had somehow lowered the Commander’s as well.
Had she found two Purification Fruits?
That didn’t make sense.
Still, he knew she had thrown him out of the room to keep her secret.
Whatever the truth was, as long as the Commander recovered, Ao Guang was willing to play deaf and blind.
“Dad, what’s your radiation level now? Didn’t they say there’s a chance of becoming a Purifier after eating a Purification Fruit?”
Simple-minded by nature, Lu Yilin’s mood shifted quickly from despair to excitement.
“It should be below eighty. I haven’t felt this relaxed in a very long time.”
Lu Changting had been too busy talking to check his wristwatch.
He knew perfectly well he hadn’t actually eaten a Purification Fruit, so becoming a Purifier was impossible.
He lowered his gaze to the radiation display on his wrist device.
Then he froze.
“It’s… sixty. My radiation level has returned to the healthy range.”
He muttered the words in disbelief.
Are Purifiers really this powerful?
Can they lower radiation by thirty-two points in a single session?
Lu Changting glanced at Xiang Ge.
She still looked perfectly fine, with no obvious signs of exhaustion.
He couldn’t help thinking that if Purifiers truly possessed such heaven-defying abilities, then Ark Base had done an incredible job keeping that secret hidden.
Of course, he was overestimating ordinary Purifiers.
If a normal Purifier had attempted this, lowering his radiation level to eighty would already have required every ounce of their strength.
“That’s fantastic! With your radiation back in the healthy range, Commander, you can use purification agents again and wield laser weapons without restrictions.
“The next time we encounter a mutant beast horde, we won’t have to fear them anymore.”
Ao Guang was overjoyed.
A warrior with a healthy radiation level was incomparably stronger than one suffering from high radiation.
Their physical condition, reaction speed, and weapon performance all improved dramatically.
“Xiao Ge, I truly don’t know how to thank you.
“Is there anything you need? As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do everything I can.”
The gratitude in Lu Changting’s voice was completely sincere.