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Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Old Grudges and Resentments
Zhu Chengzhi came over holding a tray, his spirits high as he presented it in front of Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao, "The device comes with eleven Spatial Rings. I have one for testing and there are ten more."
Han Jiaojiao looked at the white rings on the tray, her eyes shining.
Undoubtedly, this was an excellent item! It was especially useful when going out on missions. Just imagine, if you needed to travel hundreds of kilometers for a mission and could open a wormhole to return to the base in seconds after completing the mission, it would not only save time and fuel, but, most importantly, it would avoid the dangers potentially encountered on the return journey.
And think about it, if the base needed to recruit technical talents from other bases, it would require at least four or five military trucks for a few hundred people. They would need to eat and drink on the way, and with the added fuel, a large amount of materials would be consumed. But, with these Spatial Rings, all you need to do is open a wormhole and have people queue up to enter one by one.
It’s really amazing!
Eventually, Han Jiaojiao received a ring, and Lu Changyuan received one too; the remaining eight were all given to Yan Xiao and Xiao Jian. They were in charge of the regular army of the Space-Time Base, and these rings would be distributed to team leaders heading out on missions.
Zhu Chengzhi enthusiastically explained how to use the rings to Han Jiaojiao, while Lu Changyuan said beside them, "Later, let the team leaders come to the research institute, and Xiaozhu can train them on how to use it." 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Xiao Jian nodded, "Mm, I’ll arrange it after I go back."
After learning how to use the ring, Han Jiaojiao happily traveled back and forth between two space-time wormholes. Han Yi, somewhat concerned, asked Professor Luo, "If it’s used too frequently, will it harm the body?"
"It won’t, but each time a wormhole is opened, it consumes some energy from the main unit."
Upon hearing this, Han Jiaojiao didn’t dare to play anymore, afraid of wasting energy. She immediately closed the wormhole and returned to stand obediently beside Han Yi.
Han Yi looked at her and smiled.
...
To celebrate the success of Professor Luo and Zhu Chengzhi, the next evening, Lu Changyuan arranged a banquet at Taihe Hall, making it a small celebration.
During the celebration, people clinked their glasses cheerfully. Han Jiaojiao also joined the fun and drank a few glasses. At first, she didn’t feel anything, but then she started to feel dizzy, thinking it must be the effect of the alcohol, so she dared not drink anymore. But by then, it was already too late.
Drunk and blurry, the face of Han Yi appeared doubled in her vision. Han Jiaojiao quickly closed her eyes and burrowed her head into Han Yi’s chest, daring not to move.
Yu Wanxi saw this and suggested, "Let’s find a car later. It’ll be cold on the road if she sleeps like this."
There was a distance from Taihe Hall to Fenglin Palace, and in the cold weather, everyone was bundled up. It was unrealistic for Han Yi to carry her all the way back.
Zhu Changfu stood up to call a small car, but Han Yi shook his head, saying, "No need, her pets are waiting outside."
Han Yi was referring to the Space-Time Beasts.
As the weather turned colder, the Space-Time Beasts seldom went out, spending most of their time wandering around the ancient city. Lu Changyuan said they were the guardian beasts of the base, and the residents had gradually gotten used to occasionally seeing these huge creatures passing by.
With them around, there was no need to worry about how Han Jiaojiao would get back.
Bai Kairui, seeing Han Jiaojiao motionless and tucked in Han Yi’s embrace like a bashful ostrich, laughed, "Jiaojiao’s alcohol tolerance is so poor, even getting drunk on wine..."
Yan Xiao was somewhat surprised, "Han ge, don’t you usually forbid Jiaojiao from drinking? Why did you let her drink today?"
Han Yi remained silent, gently patting Han Jiaojiao’s back with one hand.
Lu Changyuan, appearing thoughtful, glanced at Han Jiaojiao and then at Han Yi, saying, "That matter, you haven’t told her yet, have you?"
Han Yi was silent for a moment, then replied, "I’m afraid she’ll overthink it."
This was an acknowledgment.
"What? What is it?" Yan Xiao looked around, saying, "How come I don’t know about it?"
Lu Changyuan put down his chopsticks and slowly said, "Someone has discovered a huge nest, with at least ten thousand Alien Species inside, breeding very quickly... If left unchecked, the consequences are unimaginable, so the major bases issued a statement, calling for joint forces to eliminate the nest."
He paused there, glanced at the people around the table, and continued, "The initiator is Qin Wenhao."
Everyone inwardly shuddered.
After a long silence, Yan Xiao couldn’t help but curse, "A scourge lives for a thousand years. Wasn’t he supposed to be recuperating? Is he all healed up now?"
Lu Changyuan smiled, "Yes, healed up, and interestingly, his Ability has changed."
"It’s not lightning anymore?"
"No, it’s now explosive Ability. External estimates put his power level at least above five million."
Yan Xiao scoffed, "A big illness brings big fortune now? If there’s no conspiracy here, I’d write my name backward!"
Xiao Jian looked at Han Yi, "Brother Han, are we going to participate with the Space-Time Base? I bet Qin Wenhao will try something tricky."
Han Yi gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Lu Changyuan’s deep voice resonated softly, "...Of course we must participate. The other four major bases will also join this operation. If we don’t go, it would severely affect the Space-Time Base’s reputation among the public. And—"
He paused there, his tone suddenly shifted, and his gaze intensely turned to Han Yi, "...Yunan Base is too far away, not convenient for us to operate in, this joint mission is a good... opportunity."
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Yan Xiao suddenly realized, "Brother Han, are you planning to take this opportunity to eliminate Qin Wenhao?... Take me with you! I want to go, I want to go!"
But Han Yi looked up at him and said, "You stay behind."
"Why?!" Not being able to participate in such a big event made Yan Xiao unwilling.
Han Yi calmly said, "We can’t leave the base unguarded. No one knows if someone will try to fish in troubled waters, to strike while the iron is hot..."
Alright, guarding the base was a hefty responsibility too.
With a sigh, Yan Xiao accepted the arrangement.
Without further ado, Lu Changyuan had already prepared the specifics of the plan.
Han Yi draped a thick down jacket on Han Jiaojiao and, holding her securely, he walked out.
The bodyguard who accompanied them opened the door ahead of him.
In front of the vermilion gold-laced doors, a "Snow Mountain" towered. Those unaware of the circumstances might think that the snow-clearing personnel had been lazy, leaving such a large pile of snow unremoved.
"Cotton Candy." Han Yi called it, his voice very soft as if afraid of waking the person in his arms.
The lazily resting Cotton Candy shook its body, its white fur trembling slightly. Pepper crawled out from underneath its vines. At four meters tall, Cotton Candy was as big as a small house and with thick warm fur; thus, the slightly smaller Pepper always liked to curl up underneath it.
Han Yi placed Han Jiaojiao on Cotton Candy’s vines, which steadfastly caught Han Jiaojiao and wrapped around her, lifting her to the anemone-like crest, encircling her layer by layer, shielding her from the cold wind and snow.
Han Yi couldn’t help but think of the fairy tale of Thumbelina.
Cotton Candy slowly moved toward Fenglin Palace, with Han Yi and Pepper closely following. Behind them were the bodyguards responsible for protecting the leader and his wife.
Though described as moving slowly, it wasn’t really slow since Cotton Candy was so large that a small step forward meant everyone else had to walk briskly to keep up with its pace.
When they arrived at the resting palace, Han Yi took Han Jiaojiao down from Cotton Candy. The usually intoxicated Han Jiaojiao suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"...Brother, did you... purposely make me drunk?"
