Willow Leaf Squad

In the main urban area of Jiangnan Base City, beneath an 88-story skyscraper, three people were being ushered into the building by a receptionist.

"So? Have you two been here before?"

Liu Qingling asked with a smile.

The HR Alliance Mall, also known as the Underground Alliance Mall, was a building specifically designed to cater to martial artists. Aside from martial artists, the only other people usually allowed inside were the staff of the HR Alliance.

Of course, if someone with enough power and influence wanted to visit, the HR Alliance Mall wouldn't turn them away, though such people were rare.

"I came a few times when I was little. Later, when my sister started getting involved with the family business, I tagged along with her a few times too."

Xu Ai and Xu Xin were members of the Xu Family, so it made no sense for them to be unable to enter a mall operated by their own family.

"Then it seems I don't need to give you a tour. That makes sense; you shouldn't be less familiar with your own family's territory than an outsider like me."

"That's not necessarily true. You come here all the time, whereas we haven't been here that many times."

Not to mention Xu Xin, Xu Ai really wouldn't come here if she didn't have to—wasn't it much more comfortable to just stay in the Martial Arts Hall?

The three chatted and laughed as they were guided by a waiter to an unoccupied table on the third floor.

"Sister Qingling, you two go ahead and chat. I'm going to get to work."

Xu Xin greeted them before heading off to her workstation.

"Sister Qingling, did you tell Sister Ye Yu and the others where we're sitting?"

Xu Ai sat on the soft sofa and suddenly thought of this question.

The HR Alliance Mall was quite large and had many floors; she was worried it might be unusually difficult to find them without giving them a heads-up.

"Don't worry, I already told the waiter earlier. She'll guide Little Yu and the others over when they arrive at the entrance."

Liu Qingling said lazily.

"We're regulars at the HR Alliance Mall. That young lady has served us many times, so she recognizes us."

"That's good then."

After a long while, three beautiful women dressed in combat uniforms slowly approached.

"Three sisters, you're finally here."

Xu Ai greeted them happily.

The beauty with long, black hair reaching her waist and a somewhat stern appearance was Ye Yu, the vice-captain of the Willow Leaf Squad. She possessed the strength of a High-level War General, and her status within the team was... higher than Liu Qingling's!

The beauty with short, brown hair reaching her ears was Qin Yi. Despite her petite frame, she was skilled with a large broadsword and carried a thick, spiked metal shield. She had the strength of a Mid-level War General and served as the team's tank.

The beauty with short, red hair reaching her shoulders was Yu Fei. She was tall and slender, and her weapons included a sniper rifle, a heavy machine gun, a handgun, and two butterfly knives.

She also carried a large backpack on her back, which presumably contained ammunition and firearm accessories. She was a Low-level War General and the team's firearms expert.

"Why aren't you two wearing your combat uniforms?"

Ye Yu frowned as she looked at Liu Qingling and Xu Ai.

"No rush. It won't be too late to change once we reach the Wilderness."

Liu Qingling waved her hand with a smile. When they headed to the Wilderness, they would stop at the military base for a while, and that was when they could put on their gear.

However, Ye Yu wasn't buying it and glared fiercely at Liu Qingling.

"Can you set a better example when you're bringing in new recruits!?"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry."

Liu Qingling pulled Ye Yu over to sit beside her, coaxing her and whispering in her ear while holding her hand.

Yes, this was the reason why Ye Yu's status was higher than Liu Qingling's...

"Everyone is here, then."

Just as the two were bickering, two more armed beauties walked over.

"Sister Jun Xia, Sister Gu Zizhen."

The beauty with braids hanging over her chest was Jun Xia. She carried a dao and was also a Spirit Reader, a Low-level War General with the mental strength of a Mid-level War General.

The beauty with a high ponytail was Gu Zizhen. She carried a miao dao and a shield, and held the strength of a Low-level War General. She had systematically studied first aid and frontline trauma care, and was responsible for treating the team's injuries and providing close-range protection for Yu Fei and Jun Xia.

Added to Liu Qingling and Ye Yu, who could break through to the Wargod level at any moment, this team composition was truly perfect.

They had a tank in Qin Yi, a mage in Jun Xia, a marksman in Yu Fei, and a manual healer in Gu Zizhen, while Liu Qingling and Ye Yu could serve as both warriors and assassins!

Don't let the fact that they were all beauties fool you; in reality, they were all at least thirty-something... big sisters.

"Since everyone is here, let's set off."

Liu Qingling stood up, her arm around Ye Yu's waist.

Xu Ai followed behind carrying two cases, and just as they reached the first floor, she bumped into Xu Xin... and Luo Feng!

"Ah, Luo Feng, you've become a martial artist?"

"Yeah, I'm heading to the Wilderness right away."

Luo Feng smiled, but then his smile suddenly stiffened.

"How... wait, Xiao Ai, are you heading out now?"

Xu Xin spotted Xu Ai and her group preparing to depart and immediately abandoned Luo Feng to hurry over to them.

Seeing Xu Xin finally acknowledge her, Xu Ai withdrew her resentful, sister-obsessed gaze and smiled at Xu Xin. "Yeah, our squad is all here, so we can head out."

"The wilderness is very dangerous, so be careful. Make sure to listen to Qingling and the others, and also..."

Xu Xin began to nag incessantly, acting just like a mother hen.

"Yes, yes, don't worry, sister. I'll come back safely."

Xu Ai nodded with a smile.

"We'll take good care of Xiao Ai, so you don't need to worry, Xiao Xin."

Liu Qingling said with a smile, and the other sisters in the group chimed in as well.

"Our squad's combat power is ranked in the top five in Jiangnan Base City, and overall, we can even squeeze into the top three. Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to Xiao Ai."

"Exactly, exactly. You have to trust us."

"Even if we run into a monster horde, we have the confidence to retreat. Rest easy."

"Shut your crow's mouth!" ×5

"Oh..."

Seeing the great atmosphere in the squad Xu Ai had joined, Xu Xin felt much more at ease.

"Then I'll leave Xiao Ai in your hands."

The group chatted for a while longer before finally leaving the shopping mall under Xu Xin's watchful gaze.

"Did I forget something?"

She hadn't felt it while chatting happily with Xu Ai and the others, but the moment they left, Xu Xin suddenly had the feeling that she had overlooked something.

When she returned to the counter, she realized that Luo Feng was sitting there all alone...

Σ(°△°|||)︴

Xu Xin returned to the counter, feeling a bit awkward.

"Sorry, sorry. My sister is heading to the wilderness today, so I went to see her off."

"It's fine, I understand."

Luo Feng said with a smile, not feeling neglected in the slightest.

If Luo Hua were to become a martial artist and head to the wilderness for the first time, he would also abandon Xu Xin to see his younger brother off.

It wasn't that Xu Xin wasn't important, but compared to family members he had lived with for over a decade, Xu Xin's position was indeed slightly different.

For Xu Xin and Luo Hua to be on equal footing, or for Xu Ai and Luo Feng to be on equal footing, they would have to form a new family together.

When it came to their attitudes toward family, Luo Feng and Xu Xin were the same; their personalities were naturally compatible, and before long, the two were chatting familiarly once again.

An hour later, Xu Ai and her group boarded the train heading toward the wilderness.

Their destination was to the west of the base city: City 0551, the provincial capital of Anhui Province—Hefei City.

Xu Ai had specifically followed them because she knew that was the destination of the Willow Leaf Squad.

After all, this city was quite special; it was destined to become the site of humanity's first probing counterattack against the monsters.

Over the past two months, the Xu Family had already sent a significant amount of supplies and funding there. According to what Xu Yan had said and what Hen Ren knew, the movements of the Huaxia Military were becoming increasingly large-scale.

"It looks like a war is going to break out soon."

That was what Xu Yan had said.

Well, in reality, "soon" meant there was still another month to go...

Another hour passed before they reached the military base.

This military base was more than twice the size of the one at the Monster Town, with a constant stream of soldiers and martial artists coming and going.

"Huh? It's much livelier than before. Did something happen?"

Ye Yu looked at the bustling crowd and couldn't help but remark, and Liu Qingling frowned as well.

"Is it a lot?"

Xu Ai looked at the crowd; to her, it didn't seem like that many people.

Compared to the HR Alliance shopping mall, this place really wasn't that lively.

"It is a lot. Compared to when we came here before, there are more than half as many again."

Jun Xia said to Xu Ai.

"More than half again..."

Xu Ai muttered to herself.

It seemed the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and the Thunder Dojo had already begun to provide their full support.

"Let's head to the supply station first."

Liu Qingling led her team to the reception area of the Warrior Supply Base.

"Sister Qingling, seeing you here, I know you've brought another newcomer."

A military officer at the supply base smiled as he took out a set of keys and handed them to Liu Qingling.

"It just so happens that your usual Villa A3 is still vacant. Here, take the keys."

"Thanks, Lao Gao. If we come across any good loot later, I'll make sure to consider you guys first."

Liu Qingling said with a smile. Since her brother and sister-in-law were both in the military, she maintained a good relationship with them despite choosing to join the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

"Easy enough, easy enough."

Lao Gao laughed heartily, and Liu Qingling took the opportunity to ask:

"There seem to be quite a few more warriors here today than before. Has something happened?"

"Nothing much, it's just that the higher-ups seem to have the intention of bringing the entirety of City 0551 under human control, and mobilization has already begun. Members of the Underground Alliance across the country have responded to the national call and increased their purchase prices for monsters here by 30%, which has attracted quite a few warriors."

"That's good."

Liu Qingling breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing Yu Fei's jinx hadn't come true; otherwise, they would have had to send Xu Ai back to the base city.

If they encountered a beast tide attacking the military garrison, they could stay behind to help defend, but a 'rookie warrior' like Xu Ai would not be suited to stay here. They would have no choice but to entrust the military to send her back, as staying would only mean certain death.

"Word on the street is that when the military launches their offensive later, the Underground Alliance will likely raise prices even further. You can sell the materials that don't store well to them first, but remember to hold onto materials that can be kept long-term, like bones, teeth, and tentacles, until later."

"Got it, thanks Lao Gao. We'll be heading off now, see you later."

Liu Qingling waved her hand, then led Xu Ai and the others away.