Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 73
Chubby ball
After the apocalypse, the weather became unpredictable, and the seasons lost their usual patterns.
This sudden large-scale drop in temperature was a first.
Despite the emergency measures taken by the base, it was impossible to simultaneously cater to all survivors. Under the hastily erected warming tents, people crowded together.
The winter clothing that had been collected in random missions instantly became the most sought-after items in the base.
As Si Yin Yuan playfully spoke and wrapped a red scarf around Ji Jiu’s neck, the latter resisted and struggled, saying, “I don’t like this color.”
“What color do you like, then?” Si Yin Yuan asked patiently.
“Green!” Ji Jiu’s eyes sparkled.
Most of these items were randomly scavenged during missions and stored haphazardly. If it weren’t for the addition of a spoiled companion, Si Yin Yuan wouldn’t have used these things at all. He patiently went back to rummage through the cabinet and surprisingly found a handmade green scarf.
Well, although the green wasn’t as nice as his original color, it was much better than red.
Only then did Ji Jiu obediently lift his head to let Si Yin Yuan wrap it around him.
When they went outside, they noticed that the usual stalls were absent. Ji Jiu, bundled up like a bear cub and unable to move freely, felt very upset. To alleviate his sorrow, he drank two bottles of strawberry-flavored nutrient solution.
However, this sadness was quickly replaced by curiosity about the snow.
This was his second encounter with snow. The first time was during the seed period when he was buried in thick snow and almost couldn’t get out. In complete darkness, he could only sense the sudden drop in temperature around him, making the grass very uncomfortable.
Now, he could stand directly on the snow. Ji Jiu took a confident step forward, and then… deeply sank into the snow.
Ji Jiu: ???
He struggled to pull his foot out, but instead, he ended up sprawled in the snow.
Ji Jiu: ????
He exerted effort to lift his foot, but it got stuck again. Eventually, he just clung to Si Yin Yuan and refused to move.
Seemingly, he still hated the snow!
So, Si Yin Yuan carried him like a pendant, bundled into a ball, to the guild.
When Yue Feichen and Li Chao approached, they almost didn’t recognize Ji Jiu in this form.
Yue Feichen poked the hat on Ji Jiu’s head. “Are you planning to hibernate?”
Looking at Ji Jiu turning awkwardly to look at himself, Yue Feichen couldn’t help but jest. “Why do you look like a Christmas tree?”
Although he didn’t quite understand the first part of what Yue Feichen said, the second part hit Ji Jiu’s sore spot.
You’re the tree! Your whole family is a tree!
Unable to hit back and feeling angry, Ji Jiu released a black mist, manipulating it to chase Yue Feichen and bite him.
Outside, the cold wind blew fiercely, and Yue Feichen found himself sweating from the pursuit. The neat and tidy clothes on his body were also partially swallowed by the black mist.
Unlike him, Li Chao appeared more composed, holding a report in his hand. A rare, relaxed smile appeared on his usually serious face. “Congratulations.”
After a night, the news of the guild chief becoming the first leader of the base was no longer a secret.
Guan Yin, with a simple and honest demeanor, scratched his head with four hands. “I’m still used to calling you Captain Si.”
Si Yin Yuan replied, “Call me whatever you want.”
Suddenly, an extremely loud impact sound came from outside.
Sensing something amiss, Ji Jiu raised his head keenly.
Something was approaching the direction of the base.
Before anyone could react, Si Yin Yuan abruptly opened the communicator, contacting the guards at the base. “What’s happening?”
The guard on duty was the closest to the outer wall of the base.
Their responsibilities included registering entries and exits from the base, as well as constantly monitoring the Gama Defense Barrier.
Every half hour, they recorded fluctuations in the Gama elements of the defense barrier.
Gama element fluctuations within 0.012 were considered normal.
The crackling sound of electricity was extremely unstable, and the guard’s voice came through distorted, “The Gama elements in the defense barrier have a fluctuation of 0.15. It was normal until half an hour ago, and just a minute ago, it dropped to an unprecedented low.”
“What was that sound just now?”
“There’s a mutant… invasion…”
One reason these communicators could only be used within the base was because the magnetic field within the Gama Defense Barrier was relatively stable. Once abnormal fluctuations occurred in the defense barrier, these devices would immediately be damaged.
The external communicator transmitted the unfortunate news to nearby hunters.
Yue Feichen slapped the guild’s table. “I’ll go check it out!”
The guard’s voice continued to be heard, “It has been cleared.”
The loud noise just now was caused by a guard with the ability “Explosion.” He had blown all the mutants to ashes.
The signal was then cut off, and Si Yin Yuan’s expression remained grave.
If the Gama Defense Barrier collapsed, the many people in the base would become live targets. Like before, it would continuously attract mutants, and people would die daily at the base’s outer wall, defending their homeland.
The mutants kept evolving, and human evolution couldn’t keep up with the constant consumption by the mutants. Before he could speak, a group of determined hunters gathered around, all resolute in their eyes.
San Mang, with wolf ears on his head, smiled and said, “Let’s go check it out first.”
The others didn’t say anything but silently expressed their determination with their eyes.
“Alright, stay safe,” Si Yin Yuan nodded and pulled Ji Jiu closer to himself.
Ji Jiu obediently followed, asking, “Where are we going?”
“The research institute.”
With such a significant event, surprisingly, no one from Hu Yan’s side had come over. There must be issues at the research institute.
When they arrived at the research institute, it was bustling like a boiling pot. Everyone seemed to wish they had five hands to work with. Even when the newly appointed leader approached, few bothered to greet him.
Ji Jiu looked at the temporarily unattended specimens and almost drooled saliva from the corner of his mouth.
Si Yin Yuan grabbed Hu Yan, who had abandoned his refined appearance, with disheveled clothes and uncombed hair. “What happened?”
“We were urgently checking what happened to the Gama Defense Barrier. By the way, we also received a segment of images from the satellite that received the distress signal from the island last time. I’ll send it to you later! Also, the research institute lost something.”
Listening to this, it indeed sounded busy.
Ji Jiu looked at the specimens and pulled out a dried fruit to satisfy his craving.
Si Yin Yuan asked, “What was lost?”
“Experimental subjects…”
Si Yin Yuan squinted his eyes. “I remember last time the laboratory was reinforced, and you promised it wouldn’t let the mutants escape again.”
“It didn’t escape.” Hu Yan’s eyes showed a hint of anger. “It’s that damn Luminous Lilies again! Someone took it!”
He began to pace anxiously. “And it happened two days ago. With so many problems in the base recently, it was only discovered today during the routine check. The world without surveillance is troublesome.”
Hearing the familiar name, Ji Jiu finally spared his gaze from those seemingly delicious mutant samples.
He tilted his head. “Blood Sect’s people. Last time, it seemed like they told me they wanted to reconnect with someone I knew.”
It was self-evident who took the Luminous Lilies.
Hu Yan took a deep breath and patted Si Yin Yuan on the shoulder, smiling with great restraint. “Promise me one thing. Help me rescue my precious experimental subject, okay?”
His current feelings towards the Blood Sect were close to tearing it apart.
Si Yin Yuan remained expressionless. “If it has defected to the Blood Sect, I can’t guarantee one hundred percent that I’ll bring it back for you.”
There was another possibility—directly killing it.
The base wouldn’t allow any mutants that had killed humans to survive, even if it was a precious experimental subject. This was a bottom line and a principle.
Hu Yan sighed. “Understood.”
“Captain Si, Director Hu, something bad has happened again. The fluctuations in the defense barrier have dropped!” The assistant interrupted their conversation, poking his head out. “The southern guard reported that another batch of mutants are attacking the base. The survivors are currently seeking shelter, and we can’t conduct a direct evacuation.”
An air raid alarm-like bell rang outside.
Everyone in the research institute stopped in their tracks, raising their heads, panic evident on their faces simultaneously.
This was Ji Jiu’s first time hearing such a sound, but for some in the base, it was not unfamiliar. It was the enemy-evading bell from before the formation of the Gama Defense Barrier. Once distorted entities crossed the safety line and started attacking the base, this sound would play.
It served to remind survivors to take cover and inform everyone that someone was fighting desperately for the base.
As the alarm sounded, the snow outside intensified. The open streets were filled with raging snowflakes, blending with the alarm to create a crisis symphony.
Ji Jiu closed his eyes and sensed it.
Hmm, more and more mutants are approaching the base.
The speed seems a bit off. Even if the abnormal fluctuations in the Gama Defense Barrier allow mutants to sense human presence, there shouldn’t be this many coming simultaneously. It’s as if they’ve been stimulated by something.
Si Yin Yuan raised his hand to tidy up Ji Jiu’s scarf, which had become messy due to eating dried fruit. Despite the alarm, he appeared calm. “Let’s go. The defense barrier is composed of Gama. As long as there’s a gap, we can certainly block it.”
Hu Yan’s expression darkened. “The Gama Defense Barrier itself is a presence that goes against nature and human morality. It’s built with human lives. Those people were exceptionally talented Awakened Ones. If nothing happened to them, their strength would be closest to yours. You wouldn’t be thinking of—”
Ji Jiu turned around with difficulty, looking at Hu Yan and then at his owner.
He had no idea what riddle they were playing.
After less than half a minute of contemplation, Si Yin Yuan suddenly laughed. “Don’t overthink it. If I leave, who will feed this little chubby ball?”
He was never one to sacrifice himself for others.
Ji Jiu: ???
Who? Who is the chubby ball?
Certainly not this little grass.
Unexpectedly, even in such a serious situation, he would be fed dog food. Hu Yan took a slow breath, sighed, and hammered a fist onto Si Yin Yuan’s shoulder.
The tension unexpectedly eased, and Hu Yan resumed his usual strategic demeanor. “If you trust the research institute, give us one more day. During this time, no matter what happens, don’t touch the Gama Defense Barrier. Just focus on blocking those mutants.”
Si Yin Yuan picked up Ji Jiu, not looking back. “Understood.”