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Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Dangerous Rainy Day
Everyone in the vehicle fell silent.
Han Jiaojiao disdained even to mention Su Xue, while Wei Jie and Wang Mengyi were struck by a great shock deep in their hearts. They couldn’t believe that Su Xue would purposefully trip them up at a moment when their lives were at stake just over such a matter. A teammate like this... was too terrifying...
It was nothing more than a quarrel between two people, fighting or arguing wasn’t unusual, but was it worth letting someone die?!
"Originally when Sister Hong applied in her report to have her expelled from the Special Training Team, I thought that punishment was too severe..." Wei Jie sighed heavily and said, "I didn’t expect her to be this kind of person, no wonder she could just return to the base without caring about the lives of those five teammates."
Wang Mengyi opened his mouth to say something but in the end, it turned into a heavy sigh. The actions of Su Xue shattered the beautiful illusion he had in his mind, bit by bit...
Tian Xinyue wiped the tears from her face and spoke solemnly, "Right now, we are still not out of danger. The vehicle’s tires have been severely damaged by the mutant birds, and we can no longer drive it. Moreover, we are still a long distance from the base. Let’s pick up our weapons, get out of the vehicle immediately, and try to return to the base before it gets dark!"
Tian Xinyue was the team leader for this mission, and Han Jiaojiao, seeing her finally regain her composure, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just now, to avoid the mutant birds, the jeep had driven a bit further, putting them even further from the base.
Even if it was just a fifteen-minute ride, walking would take about three hours. Even if they ran all the way without any incidents, it would still take at least two hours.
"This is too slow," Han Jiaojiao looked at Tian Xinyue and said, "Can Wang Mengyi use his Ability to return to the base first, and then come back to get us with a vehicle?"
She remembered Wang Mengyi’s Ability was Enhanced Speed.
Tian Xinyue looked at Wang Mengyi and said with difficulty, "Although Wang Mengyi’s Ability is Enhanced Speed, it’s not sustainable enough for him to make it back to the base, and after over-exerting his Ability, his speed... would be even slower than that of an ordinary person..."
Wang Mengyi awkwardly lowered his head.
Han Jiaojiao was slightly startled, she had forgotten, these people were just ordinary members of the Special Training Team. In other words, even if they had Abilities, they were individuals with poor qualifications; otherwise, someone like Wang Mengyi with a speed-based Ability could have totally joined the ability team.
She thought for a moment, then asked, "What about using a radio call?"
Wei Jie shook his head beside her, "I’ve tried it. There was no response from the other side. It might be... Su Xue, who turned off the channel."
Han Jiaojiao turned to Tian Xinyue, who kept a composed face, refraining from anger, perhaps knowing that getting angry now wouldn’t help.
Tian Xinyue strapped on a backup ammunition pack, took out a self-defense knife, and said coldly, "Since that’s the case, let us hurry. It’s three in the afternoon now; we have four hours until sunset at seven. We have plenty of time. Let’s go."
After speaking, Tian Xinyue gave Han Jiaojiao an apologetic smile. "Jiaojiao, I’ve dragged you into this..."
Han Jiaojiao waved her hand nonchalantly, "I asked to come along. It has nothing to do with you."
She had originally come out looking for an opportunity to test her Ability in a real battle... Han Yi had been running to the hospital these last few days. The men at home wouldn’t dare to act without Han Yi’s permission, and there hadn’t been any missions lately worth taking, which was why Han Jiaojiao had approached Tian Xinyue.
She never expected that she would end up stranded with Tian Xinyue at a place only a fifteen-minute drive from the base.
Wei Jie stepped forward, patting Tian Xinyue’s shoulder, "Let’s go, we’ll settle things with Su Xue when we get back."
Tian Xinyue nodded expressionlessly, her voice sinking, "Li Qian’s death must not be in vain. I have to give her an explanation."
The group silently walked towards the base, under the harsh heat of the sun, sweat sticky on their skin, the air around them oppressively stifling...
They didn’t know how long they had been walking, the sky gradually became overcast, yet the oppressive heat did not diminish.
Wang Mengyi looked at the sky uneasily and said, "Is it an illusion... Why do I feel like it’s getting dark earlier than usual?"
Han Jiaojiao lifted her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She looked up at the sky, beginning to feel uneasy.
Tian Xinyue’s expression changed, "It’s not an illusion. It’s getting cloudy."
"It’s going to rain!" Han Jiaojiao suddenly realized! She should have noticed the impending storm’s humid, heavy air earlier!
Han Jiaojiao hurried forward a few steps, her face tense as she looked around the sides of the road.
"Jiaojiao?" Tian Xinyue was puzzled, "What’s wrong?"
Han Jiaojiao turned and grabbed Tian Xinyue’s arm and started running forward—
"The alien species are coming out! We must find a safe place to hide!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Jie’s lips trembled, "...That’s right, there’s no sunlight... They’re about to come out and move..."
"But there’s nothing nearby!" Wang Mengyi caught up to them, growing anxious.
On both sides of the highway were vast fields of corn, where the crops had already withered. Han Jiaojiao, with Tian Xinyue, jumped onto the dry, cracked soil and pointed towards a distant construction site, "Xinyue, use your ability to listen for any movement there!"
Tian Xinyue steadied her mind, concentrated for a moment, and then replied, "...No, it’s very quiet inside."
Han Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief, held Tian Xinyue’s hand, and said, "Xinyue, don’t ask anything for now, just listen to me. The alien species has a dormant period of six hours a day, from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon, which is their deep sleep period, between nine in the morning and three in the afternoon are their light sleep periods, other times they are awake. As soon as there is no sunlight outside, they will come out to search for food and activities!"
Having said this, Han Jiaojiao looked at Wei Jie and Wang Mengyi and continued, "Now that it’s cloudy, if it starts to rain, it will get even darker. There’s no cover here, we must find shelter quickly."
"Jiaojiao, I trust you, tell us what to do, we’ll follow you!" Tian Xinyue said decisively, "Out of all of us, only you and Xiaojie have fought the alien species. You command! Don’t worry about me being the group leader!"
A few large drops of rain fell, immediately wetting the soil.
Han Jiaojiao did not dare delay further, she immediately said, "Okay! Let’s head to that building now!"
The rain became heavier, starting as sparse drizzle, but quickly turning into a torrential downpour! Han Jiaojiao’s vision blurred, and she could only be thankful that they had earlier left the road to cut across the fields in a straight line. Even if they couldn’t see ahead clearly, they wouldn’t lose their direction.
The cornfield was uneven. Dry plants protruded up, continuously tripping them. They stumbled and ran without pausing! Finally, upon approaching the construction site, they could see that it was a row of three unfinished buildings, a huge tower crane towering over the top of the buildings, with vivid red streamers hanging from around the building, displaying huge discount prices per square meter.
Huaihe Development Zone had numerous sites like this, countless unfinished buildings.
The ground was full of mud and sand; rainwater mixed it into dirty sludge. They didn’t care about the mud on their shoes and pants as they hurried into the building.
Running through the rain, everyone was breathlessly gasping.
Tian Xinyue gasped, her face pale, "Jiao... Jiaojiao, there’s something... I heard..."
Han Jiaojiao’s chest heaved violently, she adjusted her breathing while surveying the surroundings, finally looking up, she said, "Let’s go up!"
