Gu Xi still rembered it well. Many years ago, when she had just donned the mask of the Blood-colored Asura, a then-youthful Gu Yumin had co to find their squad several tis.
But each ti, Li Ming had quietly turned him away.
At first, she thought Gu Yumin was a genuinely nice guy. He was witty, humorous, and a great conversationalist. He brought gifts with every visit, including many rare items for her that couldn’t be bought anywhere else.
Gu Xi really liked down-to-earth people like him.
Besides, he shared her surna. ’Who knows,’ she thought, ’maybe we were family five hundred years ago.’
But Qee Ran told her that Gu Yumin’s surna wasn’t actually Gu; he was a child adopted by a branch of the Jingdu Gu Family...
Before the apocalypse, the Jingdu Gu Family had adopted many academically gifted orphans like Gu Yumin from all over the country. Once these children grew up, they would go on to serve the Gu Family.
As a result, the Gu Family had amassed a network of talented individuals even before the apocalypse, establishing themselves as the most prominent and powerful family in the Capital City.
Back then, their Doomsday Squad was already starting to make a na for itself, and Gu Yumin was rely a pawn sent by the Gu Family to probe the squad’s stance.
But at the ti, the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl only knew how to fight. What did she know of the Gu Family or any other family?
Let alone all the complex politics involved.
Li Ming, on the other hand, had despised Gu Yumin from the very start.
Gu Xi had asked him why back then, but Li Ming said nothing, only telling her, "Stay far away from that man from now on."
Gu Xi had listened to Li Ming ever since she was little. If Li Ming didn’t like Gu Yumin, she would simply keep her distance.
He wasn’t that important to her anyway.
Soon after, the Blood-colored Asura’s fa exploded across the major survivor bases. She beca a post-apocalyptic hero revered by all. At the sa ti, the number of missions requiring her to leave the base grew exponentially.
In those years, Gu Xi was constantly on the road. She was either on a mission or on her way to one. The amount of ti she spent at the base all year could be counted on one’s fingers, so she had even fewer chances to see Gu Yumin.
Later, she only vaguely heard that Gu Yumin had joined the managent of the Central Base.
She never expected that upon seeing him again after so many years, he would have beco the Base Commander of the Central Base—the public-facing leader.
’How interesting, though.’
According to what Qee Ran had said back then, the Gu Family was discreet and disliked publicity. After completing the base’s construction in the early days of the apocalypse, they had gradually receded from the forefront of power. ’So how did a Base Commander from their ranks suddenly appear?’
’More importantly, why is this Base Commander not from the Gu Family’s direct lineage, but a child adopted by a branch family?’
Gu Xi stared at the kind-faced, white-haired old man on the other side of the Light Screen, studying him intently.
On the other side, Gu Yumin was also observing Gu Xi covertly. She was young, delicate, and slender. Only her eyes, with their starkly defined whites and blacks, were crystal clear, yet possessed an unnatural calm and restraint.
Those were the eyes of the Blood-colored Asura.
Yet, they bore no resemblance to the ones in his mory.
For a mont, Gu Yumin gazed at the sowhat familiar face before him, a wave of complex emotions washing over him.
He had, in a way, watched with his own eyes as that quiet, withdrawn little girl was forced by the world, step by step, to beco the legendary Blood-colored Asura.
He just never thought that later... it would end the way it did.
"Gu, I heard it was you who healed Qi Xiang’s injuries?" Gu Yumin looked at the girl on the other side of the Light Screen, his tone slightly heavy. "Last night, a similar case appeared at the Central Base..."
Before he could finish, Gu Xi calmly cut him off. "Parasitic infections from this type of mutant plant can only be treated in the initial stages. Once a certain amount of ti has passed, the host can only survive in a symbiotic state with the plant."
Gu Xi wasn’t just making things up. This was the conclusion that Chen Jia and the other researchers had just reached.
Qi Xiang had been lucky. Although she was infected, it was just a small cut with minimal exposure. It was also discovered in ti, and with the help of Gu Xi’s ability, she beca one of the fortunate few.
As for why people at the Central Base were experiencing the sa thing...
Gu Xi had a faint suspicion.
Ever since entering the underground factory, Gu Xi had sensed that soone else had been there first.
That, combined with what Yang Chi had told her later and the recent directives Li Ming had sent to Ye Junhan... it was hard for Gu Xi not to let her mind wander.
That was why, after recognizing Gu Yumin, Gu Xi had voluntarily stepped forward.
She was once again making herself the bait.
After hearing her out, Gu Yumin mused, "You’re saying the patients at the Central Base have been infected for too long and can’t be saved?" ’What he really wanted to ask was—what if you handled it personally?’
"That’s a question for the professionals," Gu Xi replied.
Gu Xi turned her head. "Mr. Chen."
Mr. Chen didn’t expect Gu Xi to bring him up in front of the Base Commander. He couldn’t help but feel a little flattered.
He took a deep breath, stepped up to the Light Screen, and said, "Base Commander, I’m Chen Jia from the research team. Based on our preliminary analysis..." As soon as he started speaking about his area of expertise, the previously nervous Chen Jia beca poised and articulate.
"Thank you for your hard work." Gu Yumin looked at him with a gentle expression. He then offered a few words of encouragent to everyone, stating that he would personally host a celebration for them once they completed their mission and returned to the base.
As the Base Commander of the Central Base, Gu Yumin was undoubtedly a very busy man.
The video call didn’t last long. When it ended, the accompanying researchers on the team were all a little excited. Only Mr. Chen shot Gu Xi a thoughtful glance.
Gu Xi walked over to Shen Yue, thought for a mont, and asked, "Has the military taken over this place?"
Shen Yue nodded. "However, while the old man’s people have taken the personnel and equipnt, this area is ultimately still the Liu Family’s territory."
And the Liu Family... Shen Yue lifted his gaze, discreetly exchanging a look with Ye Junhan across from him.
Shen Yue was no fool. Seeing Gu Xi take the initiative to speak with Gu Yumin today was enough to tell him that there was more to this than t the eye.
After all, the Gu Xi he knew had always been a rather low-key person who hated getting into trouble.
Ye Junhan strode over and looked at Gu Xi. "What are you planning to do?"
Gu Xi t his gaze. "That depends on what *you’re* planning to do."
With that, she turned to look at Shen Yue. "If I rember correctly, the grain supply contract we signed has a specified delivery date, doesn’t it? When is the next delivery supposed to be?"
The sudden change in topic caught Shen Yue off guard for a second. He carefully recalled the contract’s details and said, a little uncertainly, "I think it’s in just a few days."
Gu Xi looked outside. "This place looks good. I’m thinking of setting up a temporary small farm here..."
’This factory is well-sealed and spacious. It would be a sha not to use it for grain storage.’
Shen Yue froze for a mont, then gave Gu Xi a thoughtful look.
The old man might have bypassed the Liu Family and sent people to take over this factory under ergency protocols.
But this was, at the end of the day, the Liu Family’s territory. They had suffered a loss in silence and definitely wouldn’t let it go so easily. Even with the old man’s people here, logistical support would always be an issue on soone else’s turf.
The Liu Family only needed to pull a few strings, and the n stationed here would likely face so hard tis ahead.
Besides, given the current climate, all the allied units were already tightening their belts. Even if they were getting the short end of the stick, so things couldn’t be aired out publicly.
But if Gu Xi turned this place into her granary, that would be a different story altogether.
’But is Gu Xi pulling this stunt now just to be lazy, or... does she have an ulterior motive?’
Shen Yue then thought about how the old man’s actions had beco increasingly unpredictable, and his eyes fell slightly.
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