“Well, there actually is something I need help with.”
When Xiang Ge treated Lu Changting, it had been both mutually beneficial and a way of repaying his kindness. She hadn’t really expected any reward.
But since he asked, she suddenly remembered something.
“Previously, I went with the Second Legion to dig up potatoes. A swarm of red ants appeared in the potato field.
“I heard the First and Second Legions might carry out a joint operation later. When that happens, bring me along.”
Red ants were great—plentiful and endlessly farmable. Every one of them was a source of Purification Points.
“That happened?” Lu Changting turned to Ao Guang. Because his injuries had been severe these past few days, many legion matters had been deliberately withheld from him so he could rest.
“Yes. The Second Legion said they’ll need Shen Jin’s fire ability when the operation begins,” Ao Guang replied.
“If you want to go, then bringing you along won’t be a problem. Just stay by my side when the time comes.”
Ao Guang had initially wanted to snap at Xiang Ge, asking why she wanted to throw herself into such a dangerous place.
But then he remembered she had just cured the Commander.
Compared to that, such a small request was nothing. Even if it were more difficult, he would have tried to make it happen.
“When will it be?”
Xiang Ge remembered she would be gone for the next three days. It would be terrible if the operation happened while she was away.
“Shen Jin was injured too and is still recovering in the hospital. The plan was to wait until he recovered.
“I’d estimate tomorrow or the day after,” Ao Guang said. He checked on Shen Jin every day and was familiar with his condition.
“No, no. Make it a few days later. The guy just got out of the hospital and you already want him working? That’s inhumane.”
Xiang Ge panicked. She truly didn’t want to miss this operation.
“What’s the problem? Just let Brother Shen Jin stay in the hospital a little longer!
“Leave it to me!
“Sister Xiang Ge, is another week enough?”
Lu Yilin immediately understood Xiang Ge’s meaning and patted her chest confidently.
Her father’s benefactor was her benefactor. Something this small was easy.
Besides, she knew a certain little secret hidden in Shen Jin’s heart. Manipulating him would be effortless.
Hearing that, Xiang Ge gave Lu Yilin an approving look.
Then she glanced at Ao Guang with obvious disappointment and shook her head.
Ao Guang: “?”
I never said I couldn’t handle it!
Before leaving the hospital, Lu Changting, Lu Yilin, and Ao Guang all added Xiang Ge to their contact lists.
Lu Changting also invited her to his home for dinner sometime.
Xiang Ge gladly accepted.
As soon as she reached the hospital entrance, she received a message from Lu Yilin.
It was a transfer of 536 points.
Attached was an awkward note:
I used to spend my points way too recklessly, so I don’t have much saved up. This is everything I have right now.
Buy yourself some food and clothes.
Thank you. Life hasn’t been easy for you either, and you still saved my dad.
Xiang Ge blinked.
Why does that sound a little strange?
Whatever.
Actions mattered more than intentions.
She happily accepted the points and replied:
You’re welcome.
After all, she had spent a huge amount of Purification Points. She felt no guilt whatsoever taking this money.
It was getting late.
Since she had to leave early the next morning for the mission, Xiang Ge returned home, packed her things, and went straight to sleep.
She slept dreamlessly through the night.
The next morning, her wristwatch alarm woke her on time.
She fetched water to wash up, changed into her light-gray combat uniform, pulled on her Martin boots, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and looked clean and efficient.
Breakfast was a chocolate-flavored nutrient solution.
She drank it in just a few gulps before heading to the western gate of the city for the rendezvous.
The western district in the early morning was probably the busiest place in Morningstar Base.
The area was spacious and close to the city gate, making it the gathering point for nearly every mission vehicle.
When Xiang Ge arrived, she quickly found her four teammates already assembled.
“Let’s go! Get in!”
Seeing her arrive, Shen Cheng waved enthusiastically and pointed toward a pickup truck nearby before climbing into the front passenger seat.
Ye Zheng took the driver’s seat.
That left the three girls sharing the back row.
Fortunately, the interior was roomy enough, and all three of them were slim, so it wasn’t cramped.
The pickup’s engine started with a loud buzzing sound.
It buzzed for nearly half a minute before the vehicle actually began moving.
Sitting by the window, Xiang Ge looked at the battered, warped door panels and the seats whose upholstery had peeled away until only the foam remained.
She fell silent.
Even back in the apocalypse, when she had driven second-hand, third-hand, fourth-hand, fifth-hand, and sixth-hand vehicles scavenged from everywhere, she had never seen one this beat-up.
The fact that this wreck could still run at all was impressive.
She honestly wondered whether it could outrun mutant beasts if danger struck.
“Sorry about this. Resources are limited.
“But don’t worry—we send it in for maintenance and repairs after every mission. It’s perfectly safe.”
Shen Cheng saw her expression and immediately knew what she was thinking.
“It’s fine.”
Whether it was fine or not hardly mattered.
She was already on board. There was no turning back now.
Along the way, Sang Wan chattered nonstop like a cheerful little magpie.
As the team’s atmosphere-maker, Shen Cheng talked quite a bit too.
Sang Ya occasionally joined the conversation.
Meanwhile, Ye Zheng ignored everything and focused entirely on driving.
Xiang Ge casually asked questions here and there and soon pieced together the team’s background.
Shen Cheng had originally been a researcher at Ark Base but had left for some undisclosed reason.
Ye Zheng was a mercenary Shen Cheng had once saved there.
When Shen Cheng left, Ye Zheng followed him.
Shen Cheng regarded him as a friend and brother, while Ye Zheng seemed to view protecting Shen Cheng as his life’s mission, staying by his side like a bodyguard.
As for Sang Ya and Sang Wan, they were biological sisters.
Their parents had both died from radiation sickness, leaving the sisters dependent on each other.
There was also something nobody said outright, but Xiang Ge could sense it.
Everyone seemed to have a personal reason for joining this orchard mission.
Because it was a low-radiation wild orchard, everyone hoped they might get lucky and discover a Purification Fruit.
Shen Cheng probably wanted one for research purposes.
The sisters wanted one to lower Sang Wan’s radiation level.
As for Ye Zheng—
Wherever Shen Cheng went, he went.
If not for these motivations, none of them would have chosen the orchard—the place with the highest concentration of mutant beasts—over safer missions.
The low-radiation zone was far from Morningstar Base.
The truck drove for a full three hours.
In the wasteland, low-radiation zones were precious lands full of opportunity.
But precisely because they were so valuable, they were also the most dangerous.
Humans liked them.
Mutant beasts liked them too.
Most slum dwellers who scavenged alone preferred to search in medium-radiation zones.
The radiation would slowly damage their bodies, but the chances of encountering mutant beasts were much lower.
Between a slow death and immediate death, most people preferred the former.
When Xiang Ge finally climbed out of the truck, her legs had gone numb from sitting still for so long.
Her desire to own a vehicle only grew stronger.