Little Yu Acts Spoiled, the Bird's Soul Floats Away (Continued)

If people can't even get enough to eat, then nobody cares who you are. If they say they won't listen to you, they won't listen to you. If a riot breaks out and Lou Quan is held accountable by his superiors, the entire Yong'an Base will become a fat sheep for everyone to slaughter.

A large population, the secrets of the research institute, and Lou Yu, a defective product who evolved into a superhuman—each of these is a priceless treasure.

Every spring, Lou Yu would use his superpowers without reservation to fight against mutated monsters. Those who looked at him could not help but notice that his superpowers were several times stronger than the previous year.

Compared to other superpowered individuals, Lou Yu's rapid increase in strength, like flying on a plane, is truly enviable.

Lou Quan planned to buy grain in advance this year to prepare for a possible grain shortage in the summer. As expected, the Central Base still said the same thing – if you want grain, you have to exchange it for Lou Yu.

As for the Yongkang Base, the grain borrowed last time hasn't even been returned yet. No matter how thick-skinned Lou Quan is, he'd be too embarrassed to ask to borrow grain a second time.

Lou Quan convened several meetings to discuss how to resolve this issue.

The Central Base? They're certain they can't borrow any food, but they can't really hand over Lou Yu unless they can offer something of similar importance to protect Lou Yu.

After much discussion, the research institute came up with an idea: could they exchange materials from high-level mutated monsters for a chance to borrow food?

The materials they were referring to were fox fur and blood that Lou Yu had brought back from outside.

It's important to understand that even for the people at the Central Base, obtaining materials from high-level mutated monsters is extremely difficult, as the materials are consistently very valuable.

Lou Quan didn't immediately say yes or no.

The materials are precious. The Central Base? There's a 70-80% chance they'll agree, but it will definitely arouse their suspicion.

Yong'an Base? Where did these materials come from? Why are they collecting materials? Is there some unspeakable secret involved?

Those people were extremely suspicious. No matter how Lou Quan tried to explain himself, they would still send people to investigate. Lou Quan wasn't sure if he could keep those secrets hidden.

However, with the food problem looming, even knowing that this method was a case of drinking poison to quench thirst, Lou Quan ultimately nodded in agreement.

Although Lou Yu brought back the materials, Lou Quan paid for them, and the transaction was completed. The materials belonged to Lou Quan, and he had the right to dispose of them.

Moreover, Lou Yu had no intention of stopping Lou Quan from doing so, because he couldn't think of a better solution.

Lou Quan contacted the Central Base, offered his terms, and they immediately agreed to lend him grain without hesitation.

The importance of the materials was one factor, but the underlying issues they represented were also a key reason why the Central Base agreed.

The previous statement that only Lou Yu could be exchanged was merely a strategy to force Lou Quan to hand over more valuable assets.

After hanging up the phone, Lou Quan got up and walked to the window, looking up at the distant sky.

The warm sun seemed about to be obscured by the gradually drifting dark clouds.

As the rain falls, will they be able to avoid getting soaked?

Lou Yu sustained several injuries during this base defense battle, but they were all minor wounds, at most causing some bleeding. He didn't suffer any serious injuries like the previous two that required him to be in the emergency room.

This was due to his increased strength, Zhao Tao's assistance, and some inexplicable luck.

In mid-April, Lou Yu set off for the wilderness.

Lou Yu encountered the Black Rabbit again. It was still staring at Lou Yu eerily, like a ghost, but it didn't seem to intend to harm him.

Tao Qiu hadn't expected Lou Yu to arrive so early this year. He was channeling energy into the crops in the valley when he suddenly heard a car horn and initially thought he was hallucinating.

He didn't believe it until the three kids weeding the crops nearby all said they heard it.

The reason he checked multiple times was because he was afraid that he would find out he had misheard after going out. The transition from hope to disappointment was definitely painful.

The kids pretended not to care that their father was leaving them to see Lou Yu.

The Eldest Cub said, "Dad, you go ahead, remember to bring the crops we're giving him."

Second Cub: "It's almost noon now, he probably hasn't had lunch yet. There are still sweet potatoes and stewed meat on the table, let's bring him some."

Third Cub waved the weeds in his hand. "Let's keep working, Dad, it's okay if you come back a little later."

Tao Qiu was delighted. "It seems you all really like Lou Yu. You not only reassured me about seeing him, but also asked me to bring him lunch."

Second Cub clapped his dirty little hands, his round eyes looking at Tao Qiu: "Daddy, weren't we good kids? Don't you like us the most?"

"Of course!" Tao Qiu leaned over and gave each of them a kiss. "My darlings are so cute and well-behaved, you're Daddy's favorites."

The kids were overjoyed.

They won this round, and despite their heartbreak, they pretended to be generous and still received an equal return.

Tao Qiu returned to the cave, packed her things, and came downstairs, instructing her children, "My darlings, that's enough work for today. Go and rest. I've ripened the strawberries in the field; you can eat as many as you want. Pick them yourselves, but remember to wash them thoroughly before eating!"

"I remember, Daddy, you go now." The Second Cub's expression was incredibly obedient.

Tao Qiu patted her head, then happily went to see her husband.

After watching Tao Qiu out of the valley and waiting for a few minutes, the kids exchanged glances, estimating that the time was about right.

Eldest Cub: "Let's go?"

Second Cub and Third Cub: "Let's go, let's go!"

Nowadays, the children's bird forms are much larger than their human forms, so if they try to peek in bird form, they are more easily discovered.

Fortunately, they can now transform into wings in their human form, allowing them to fly to the mountains and reduce the chances of being discovered.

On the way up the mountain, Third Cub said, "Judging from the sound of the horn, we're quite close to the valley. Maybe this time we'll be able to see Lou Yu's face clearly."

Even though they've already seen the photos, the kids still want to see what he looks like in real life.

Second Cub said, "Then we'll have to move the spot where we were spying to a later place."

The Eldest Cub coughed lightly. "We're not spying, we're conducting an investigation."

"Right, right, right," Second Cub corrected himself, "It wasn't peeking, it was observing."

The kids guessed right; Lou Yu parked very close this time, probably because he was afraid Tao Qiu wouldn't hear him if he honked too far away.

They hid behind the bushes and rocks, watching the familiar car.

Eldest Cub: "Dad's not outside, he must have gone into the car."

Second Cub: "What are they talking about? Could they be talking about... us?"

Third Cub: "Probably, Daddy really wants us to recognize Lou Yu."

At this moment, Tao Qiu and Lou Yu were indeed talking about the three kids.

Tao Qiu sat in Lou Yu's lap, tenderly stroking his face, which had become much thinner and looked very haggard, her tone one of helplessness.

"I've shown them your photo several times and hinted at it, but they just can't figure out who you are."

Tao Qiu let out a soft hum that sounded like a complaint mixed with a spoiled tone, "Our little darlings are usually so clever, why are they so clueless about this?"

Lou Yu leaned over and kissed his furrowed brow. Once his expression relaxed, he said, "It's alright, take it slow. Even if we haven't officially recognized each other, aren't the children treating me very well now?"

Upon hearing this, Tao Qiu was also a little happier.

He had just told Lou Yu everything the kids had said, and Lou Yu was deeply moved, feeling that he had received the children's love for him.

After Lou Yu finished his lunch, Tao Qiu Lou Yu him the spider leg wrapped in paper.

Although it was just a small remnant, it was still quite long for Lou Yu— more than half a meter by sight.

Lou Yu had seen the strange thing Tao Qiu brought when he got on the bus, and had even guessed what it might be. This result was completely unexpected.

Peeling back the paper revealed hard limbs, still reeking of blood and the mutated monster's own scent. It wasn't hard to guess how powerful this mutated monster must have been when it was alive.

Lou Yu looked at Tao Qiu.

Tao Qiu explained, "This is the remains of a giant white spider, from last winter..."

He told Lou Yu everything that had happened, down to the smallest detail.

Under Lou Yu's shocked gaze, Tao Qiu finally said, "I don't recommend you use this remains to make Awakening Reagent, because this white spider is too bizarre. However, you could research its origins or see if it has any other uses."

As Tao Qiu said these words, Lou Yu's tears were already falling.

He looked at Tao Qiu's chest and abdomen, which were clean and smooth, without even a scar. Lou Yu knew that just a few months ago, Tao Qiu had been seriously injured there and almost died.

Seeing that Lou Yu was staring intently at her and hadn't heard a word she'd said, Tao Qiu wiped away his tears, kissed his cheek, and comforted him, "It's all over now, it doesn't hurt anymore, Little Fishy, don't cry."

Lou Yu reached out and placed his hand on Tao Qiu's abdomen; it was warm and undulating.

His Qiuqiu is still alive; he hasn't lost his lover.

Lou Yu pulled Tao Qiu into his arms tightly, wishing he could crush him into his own body and become his protective armor.

Lou Yu's tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. "Qiuqiu, you've been so incredibly good to me. You were so badly injured back then, enduring the pain while also having to be wary of other mutated monsters. Even under such difficult circumstances, you didn't forget to pick up a piece of my wreckage."

He choked up a little. "I feel that even if I gave you my life, I could never repay the kindness you've shown me."

Tao Qiu hugged him and laughed, "Silly boy, I'm not as great as you make me out to be. I mainly picked up these wreckage to study it myself, not specifically for you."