Within Jiangnan Base City's main urban district, three people walked into an 88-story skyscraper under the guidance of a greeter.
"So, have you been here before?"
Liu Qingling asked with a smile.
The HR Alliance Mall, also known as the Underground Alliance Mall, was a building specifically meant to serve Martial Artists. Aside from Martial Artists, the only people normally allowed inside were HR Alliance staff.
Of course, the HR Alliance Mall wouldn't turn away powerful or influential people who wanted to visit, but there weren't many of those.
"I came a few times when I was little. Later, when my sister started working with the family business, I came along with her."
Xu Ai and Xu Xin were members of the Xu Family, after all. There was no reason they wouldn't be allowed into a mall their own family operated.
"Then I guess I don't have to show you around. Still, your family's property shouldn't be more unfamiliar to you than it is to an outsider like me."
"That's not necessarily true. You come here all the time, while we've hardly been here."
Xu Xin aside, Xu Ai wouldn't come here unless she had a reason. Wasn't it much more comfortable to spend her time in the Martial Arts Hall!?
The three chatted and laughed as a server led them to an empty spot on the third floor.
"Qingling, you three go ahead and talk. I have to get back to work." Liu Ting's generation rank: -1
Xu Xin greeted them before heading to her work station.
"Qingling, did you tell Ye Yu and the others where we are?"
Xu Ai sat down on the soft sofa, then remembered to ask.
The HR Alliance Mall was huge, with plenty of floors. If they didn't tell the others where they were, it would be hard to find them.
"Don't worry. I told the server just now. She'll guide Ye Yu and the others over when they arrive."
Liu Qingling replied lazily.
"We're regulars here, and that young lady has served us plenty of times. She knows us."
"That's good."
After a while, three beauties dressed in combat suits came over.
"You're finally here, sisters!"
Xu Ai greeted them happily.
The beauty with long black hair reaching her waist, who looked a little stern, was Ye Yu, the Willow Leaf Squad's deputy captain. She was an Advanced General-Level Martial Artist, and her standing in the squad... was higher than Liu Qingling's!
The beauty with short brown hair cut to her ears was Qin Yi. Petite as she was, she wielded a massive cleaver and carried a thick metal shield studded with spikes. She was an Intermediate War General and served as the squad's tank.
The beauty with shoulder-length red hair was Yu Fei. Tall and slender, she carried a sniper rifle, a heavy machine gun, a pistol, and two butterfly knives.
She also had a large backpack on her back. It was probably filled with ammunition and gun parts. She was a Low-level War General and the squad's firearms expert.
"Why aren't you wearing your combat suits?"
Ye Yu looked at Liu Qingling and Xu Ai and couldn't help frowning.
"No rush. We can put them on when we get to the Wilderness Zone."
Liu Qingling waved her hand with a smile. They'd stop at the military garrison on their way to the Wilderness Zone, and they could gear up there.
Ye Yu wasn't buying it. She glared at Liu Qingling.
"Can't you set a better example when you're leading a newcomer?"
"Don't be mad."
Liu Qingling pulled Ye Yu down beside her and, trying to appease her, held her hand and whispered something to her.
Well, that was why Ye Yu outranked Liu Qingling...
Just as the two were bickering, two more armed beauties came over.
"Xia, Zizhen."
The beauty with a braid hanging down over her chest was Jun Xia. She wielded a long saber and was also a Spirit Reader. She was a Low-level War General, with Intermediate War General-level Spirit Force.
The beauty with a high ponytail was Gu Zizhen. She wielded a Miao saber and a shield, and was a Low-level War General. She had systematically studied first aid and frontline battlefield trauma care, and was in charge of treating the squad's injuries as well as protecting Yu Fei and Jun Xia at close range.
With Liu Qingling and Ye Yu, both on the verge of becoming War Gods, the squad was indeed perfectly balanced.
Qin Yi was the tank, Jun Xia the mage, and Yu Fei the marksman. Gu Zizhen was a hands-on healer, while Liu Qingling and Ye Yu could fill the roles of both warriors and assassins!
Though every member of the squad was beautiful, they were all at least in their thirties... mature big sisters.
"Now that everyone's here, let's get going."
Liu Qingling stood and put an arm around Ye Yu's waist.
Xu Ai followed with two cases. On the first floor, they happened to run into Xu Xin... and Luo Feng!
"Ah, Luo Feng, you're a Martial Artist now?"
"Yeah. I'm heading to the Wilderness Zone soon."
Luo Feng smiled, then his smile suddenly froze.
"You... Xia Ai, are you leaving now?"
Xu Xin had also spotted Xu Ai's group about to leave. She immediately left Luo Feng and went over to them.
Seeing Xu Xin come over, Xu Ai finally stopped glaring at her with sister-obsessed resentment and smiled at her. "Yeah, our squad's all here, so we can set off."
"The Wilderness Zone is dangerous. Be careful, and listen to Qingling and the others. And make sure you..."
Xu Xin nagged like a mother, giving her one reminder after another.
"Yes, yes. Don't worry, Sister. I'll come back safe and sound."
Xu Ai smiled and nodded.
"We'll take good care of Xu Ai. You don't need to worry, Xu Xin."
Liu Qingling said with a smile, and the other sisters chimed in.
"Our squad ranks among the top five in Jiangnan Base City. All things considered, we might even make the top three. Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to Xu Ai."
"Exactly. You have to trust us."
"Even if we run into a monster tide, we can still retreat. Don't worry."
"Keep your jinxes to yourself!" ×5
"Oh..."
Seeing how well Xu Ai's new squad got along, Xu Xin felt much more at ease.
"Then I'm counting on you to look after Xu Ai."
They chatted for a while longer, then left the mall under Xu Xin's watchful gaze.
"Did I forget something?"
While she'd been happily chatting with Xu Ai and the others, she hadn't noticed anything. But as soon as they left, Xu Xin suddenly felt she'd overlooked something.
Only when she returned to the counter did she realize that Luo Feng was sitting there all alone...
Σ(°△°|||)︴
Xu Xin returned to the counter, feeling awkward.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My little sister's heading to the Wilderness Zone today, so I went to see her off."
"It's all right. I understand."
Luo Feng smiled. He didn't feel particularly neglected.
If Luo Hua became a Martial Artist and went to the Wilderness Zone for the first time, he'd leave Xu Xin behind to see his younger brother off, too.
That didn't mean Xu Xin wasn't important. But compared with family he'd lived with for over a decade, Xu Xin did rank a little lower.
For Xu Xin and Luo Hua to be equals, or for Xu Ai and Luo Feng to be equals, they'd have to start a new family together.
When it came to family, Luo Feng and Xu Xin felt the same way. Their personalities were a good match, and before long, they were chatting comfortably again.
An hour later, Xu Ai and the others boarded a train bound for the Wilderness Zone.
Their destination was 0551 City, west of the Base City—the provincial capital of Anhui Province, Hefei City.
Xu Ai had joined them because she knew the Willow Leaf Squad was headed there.
After all, the city was rather special. It was going to be the site of humanity's first probe in its counteroffensive against the monsters.
Over the past two months, the Xu Family had sent plenty of supplies and funds there. According to Xu Yan and what Hen Ren knew, the Huaxia Military had also been ramping up its operations.
"They'll probably launch an attack soon,"
Xu Yan had said.
Well, "soon" actually meant they'd still have to wait another month...
Another hour passed before they reached the military garrison.
This military garrison was more than twice as large as the one in Monster Town, and soldiers and Martial Artists were constantly coming and going.
"Huh? It's a lot livelier than before. Did something happen?"
Ye Yu watched the crowds and couldn't help commenting. Liu Qingling frowned as well.
"A lot?"
Xu Ai glanced at the crowds. They didn't seem like that many to her.
Compared with the HR Alliance Mall, this place wasn't lively at all.
"There really are a lot more. There are over half again as many as the last time we came."
Jun Xia explained to Xu Ai.
"Over half again as many..."
Xu Ai murmured.
It seemed the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and Thunder Dojo had started giving their full support.
"Let's go to the supply station first."
Liu Qingling led the squad to the reception desk at the Warrior Supply Base.
"Qingling, seeing you here tells me you've brought a newcomer again."
An officer at the Supply Base laughed as he took out a set of keys and handed them to Liu Qingling.
"Good timing. Your usual villa, A3, is still vacant. Here, take the keys."
"Thanks, Lao Gao. If we come across anything good, you'll be the first I think of."
Liu Qingling said with a smile. Her older brother and sister-in-law were both in the military, so even though she had ultimately chosen to join the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, she still had a good relationship with the military.
"Sure thing."
Lao Gao laughed heartily. Taking the opportunity, Liu Qingling asked,
"There seem to be a lot more Martial Artists here today than usual. Did something happen?"
"Nothing much. It seems the higher-ups are thinking of bringing all of 0551 City fully under human control, and they've already begun mobilizing. The Underground Alliance members around the country have responded to the national call by raising the price they pay for monsters here by 30%, which has attracted a lot of Martial Artists."
"That's good."
Liu Qingling breathed a sigh of relief. At least Yu Fei's jinx hadn't come true. Otherwise, they'd have to send Xu Ai back to the Base City.
If a monster tide attacked the military garrison, they could stay and help defend it. But Xu Ai, a "rookie Martial Artist," wasn't suited to staying here. They'd have to ask the military to send her back. If she stayed, she'd only be sending herself to her death.
"Word is, when the military launches its offensive, the Underground Alliance will probably raise its prices again. You can sell them anything that won't keep, but hold off on selling materials like bones, teeth, and feelers that can be stored long-term."
"Got it. Thanks, Lao Gao. We'll be off, then. See you around."
Liu Qingling waved, then led Xu Ai and the others away.
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