Ruan Xing couldn't comprehend Will's way of thinking. Did it mean that only if everyone in the world were dead would things align with his will?

Even if he was antisocial, when no one was left in the world, who would he oppose?

Even Fu Gui couldn't guess Will's thoughts, let alone Ruan Xing, who didn't know him at all.

Ming Rui: "When my mother and I escaped, the Investigation Corps had already gone to maintain order. But those moths kept coming, and I am afraid the energy barrier won't hold for long."

Both the inner and outer cities had energy barriers underground. They were not some mystical power, but rather a magnetic field interference that could block and intercept most pollutants. However, as Ming Rui had said, they couldn't block everything completely.

Sure enough, as soon as Ming Rui finished speaking, Bai Xu's video call came in. [Captain, are you all right? If you are fine, hurry over here. There are so many moths here, even biological weapons are useless!]

[Oh damn, why are these bugs biting people's butts?!]

Bai Xu was wearing a gas mask and helmet, but in the background, an overwhelming swarm of yellow insects was very obvious. They looked like a sandstorm, phosphor dust filling the sky, and bodies of moths falling down one after another.

A thick layer of powder, like yellow soil, covered Bai Xu's black helmet. It was precisely this powder that caused the infection, and the severity of the situation was clear at a glance.

Ruan Xing and Fu Zhi exchanged a glance. They could see the seriousness in each other's eyes.

This was clearly a premeditated attack. And the person behind it was far more malicious than they had imagined.

The target was not only the outer city!

The Tower was located at the center of the base, but when the moths were released, it didn't start from the inner city.

Ruan Xing guessed there were two possibilities. One was that if the outbreak started from the inside out, many people might try to escape outward. However, if it started from the outside and went in, it would be like wrapping dumplings.

With pollutants outside, who would dare to run out?

The other possibility was that they wanted to protect the people inside the Tower, giving the few of them enough time to catch their breath.

But judging from the current situation, where it seemed that they wanted to wipe out the entire base, the first possibility was more likely.

Fu Zhi asked, "Is Pei Ye over there?"

Bai Xu replied, "Yes, Brother Pei is amazing!"

Fu Zhi shook his head. "I can't come over. Don't let Pei Ye leave that area, no matter what."

Ruan Xing asked Fu Zhi where he was going.

"To find Pei Yi. He might know how to control these bugs."

At the inner city boundary.

This used to be the main route from the outer city, but now the Investigation Corps has already taken control here. With yellow powder filling the air, it was hard for humans to breathe. Even with tightly sealed protective gear like gas masks, under the monsters' wave after wave of attacks, people still kept getting hit.

"First Squad has already split up to guard two outer city entrances. The Second and Third Squads are culling the pollution source in the outer city. Internal staff from Fourth and Fifth Squad are in place, and logistics reserves are sufficient for now."

"What about the Quarantine Center?"

"They are responsible for inner city monitoring and emergency evacuation of the public. Director Gu has already sent elite members there. If they detect intruders, they will kill them immediately."

An Mao's expression was somber as he gazed at the numerous red dots before him. These marked facilities had sustained severe damage.

He asked his secretary beside him, "How long until Fu Zhi arrives?"

The secretary, dressed in a black uniform with neatly tied hair, replied, "The Major General… went to pursue Pei Yi. He suspects the other party might have a way to control the pollution."

The secretary bit her lip. "The Major General said the pollutants were released from the Tower. Minister, is that true?"

She had also seen the message Fu Zhi sent to An Mao.

An Mao paused, then sighed. "What difference would it make even if we knew?"

"Minister, we have to tell the public!" The secretary's expression was agitated. "They have the right to know!"

For most people, having their spiritual faith collapse was hard to accept. Even someone as loyal to the Enforcement Division as the secretary couldn't understand it, let alone ordinary citizens.

"And then what?" An Mao said in a deep voice. "Do you expect these people to storm out of their homes in anger to protest in the streets, or do you expect them to unite and attack the Tower?"

"We can't even do these things ourselves. Why let them go to their deaths for nothing?"

The secretary opened her mouth but swallowed her words in the end.

The minister clearly had his considerations, but could hiding the truth really fool themselves?

An Mao patted the secretary's shoulder. "We will inform the public about the truth, but not now. Let's deal with the current problem first. Once it's over, we'll announce it to everyone."

After a moment of thought, he said, "Bring Pei Ye over."

Ten minutes later, Pei Ye arrived, covered in dust and looking travel-worn. Seeing An Mao, he said bluntly, "Minister, I am very busy. Wind users are very useful in situations like this."

He was right. Earth element users or single-target fighters were slow to act. But wind element users could both attack and defend. A tornado mixed with wind blades could clear the field in one move.

It was no exaggeration to say that Pei Ye's contribution was a big reason why they could block the assault so easily now.

"I know you're busy," An Mao said with a grin. "But there are other wind element members too. And control-type users can also help."

In fact, the pressure here wasn't very high. That was why they had only stationed a small team to block the monsters. But wiping them out completely was definitely not An Mao's real goal.

He took out the message from Fu Zhi and smiled.

"Pei Ye, how long has it been since you saw your younger brother?"

Pei Ye's smile faded. "What do you mean?"

An Mao's smile also vanished. "Look at the message."

When Pei Ye read Fu Zhi's message, his pupils shrank. "How could this be?"

"Are you saying Will couldn't possibly go crazy, or that your younger brother couldn't possibly help the enemy?"

"I know that it's hard to believe. Fu Zhi asked me not to tell you and that he would handle it himself. But Pei Ye, you are the best one to deal with this."

An Mao looked at him. "After all, you might be the only one who can save him."

—

Ruan Xing drove to the place Ming Rui mentioned.

They were about to hang up, but Ming Chen's condition was very bad. Ruan Xing knew this child had a hidden illness, but he didn't expect it to flare so abruptly.

What was originally just exhaustion from overusing her ability had triggered the illness.

Ruan Xing didn't have many attachments in this world, but he had interacted with Ming Zhi's family quite a bit. He couldn't completely ignore them and leave a widow and orphans to die.

He drove fast. After all, with Fu Gui's remote coaching, his driving skills weren't bad. On the empty streets, there was nothing to fear. Every monster he hit and killed was one less.

On the way, he saw a boy of about seven or eight in the rearview mirror running out from the roadside greenery. He was chasing after the car with a face covered in dust.

Running around alone like this, didn't he know how dangerous it was?

Ruan Xing slammed on the brakes.

When he got out, the boy had already collapsed from exhaustion, his little face dirty from mixing with the dust around him.

Fu Gui muttered, "Where are his parents? This is way too dangerous!"

After thinking for a moment, Ruan Xing still brought him into the car.

Fortunately, he wasn't heavily polluted. One pill later, he recovered physically, though he still seemed a bit listless, curled up in the back seat.

When Ruan Xing got out, the boy woke up. Seeing him leave, he panicked and wanted to follow.

"I am scared."

Fu Gui tilted his head and met the boy's gaze, but the boy avoided it shyly.

"Then come along," Ruan Xing said, not feeling comfortable leaving him to wander alone.

They arrived at a small inn with its main door tightly shut. To prevent moths from getting in, they had even wedged a bench behind the door.

For Ruan Xing, this wasn't difficult to handle.

Blasting away the barricading furniture, he walked in first, with the boy following behind.

Ming Zhi and the others were on the third floor, easy to find. When the family saw him, they breathed a sigh of relief. "Was the road safe?"

"It was fine," Ruan Xing said.

He looked at the girl lying in bed. Ming Chen was already burning with fever, murmuring nonsense.

"Brother Xing! Do you have medicine?"

Ming Rui was clearly happy to see him. His lips were dry as they had left in a hurry and didn't find water.

Ruan Xing shook his head. Ming Zhi and Ming Rui's eyes dimmed.

"Even without medicine, I can still cure her."

Ming Zhi forced a smile. "Mr. Ruan Xing, please do not joke. I know your skills are great, but Chen Chen…"

But when she saw him start to prepare, she shut her mouth.

Ruan Xing was not joking. He placed his hand on Ming Chen's clothes. His healing magic could still handle illnesses like this, although it could not bring the dead back to life.

A faint green light spread from where they touched. Very quickly, the flush on Ming Chen's face faded.

Ming Zhi and Ming Rui realized he was serious.

Ming Chen slowly opened her eyes and looked at Ruan Xing. Her dark green eyes were so familiar. "Furball."

Ming Zhi's eyes filled with tears, not realizing what her daughter had said. But Ruan Xing had heard clearly.

Fu Gui's voice sounded in his mind: [Your disguise has failed, human.]

Not only Ming Zhi and Ming Chen, but even the boy behind Ruan Xing looked surprised. His eyes shone with admiration. "Was that how you saved me earlier?"

"No," Ruan Xing said.

Only then did Ming Rui notice the boy behind him.

"Who is this?"

"Picked him up on the way. I will drop him off with you later," Ruan Xing replied casually.

The boy gave Ming Rui a small smile.

For some reason, the curve of his lips made Ming Rui's heart skip a beat.

Maybe he was just too tense. After all, Ruan Xing had said nothing.

They moved quickly. Ming Zhi carried Ming Chen into the back seat, Ming Rui sat up front with Ruan Xing, and the car began to move.

Along the way, after killing who knew how many third-stage moths, they arrived at the Quarantine Center.

It was already getting dark.

Ming Rui and the others got out first. But as Ruan Xing was leaving, he didn't hear the boy moving.

When he went to the back seat, the boy's eyes were bright with moisture, looking timid. "Sir, can you help me?"

He lifted his pant leg, revealing a swollen ankle under the fabric. His head was bowed.

No wonder he walked so slowly.

Ruan Xing frowned. He didn't notice the injury earlier. Still, he reached out his hand. The boy held it, and it felt as if ice seeped into his body.

It wasn't the temperature of a living person.

Ruan Xing froze slightly and instinctively probed, but couldn't detect anything unusual.

He took a step forward, leaning down to lift the boy up.

When they touched, it was like holding a block of ice. Even through the clothing, Ruan Xing's skin broke out in goosebumps.

Had the boy been this cold when he rescued him earlier?

As Ruan Xing was distracted, the boy reached out and wrapped his arms around his neck, resting his head on Ruan Xing's shoulder.

He was very light.

With a slight effort, Ruan Xing picked him up and turned, bending down to put him down. Suddenly, a sharp pain spread violently through his back.

The boy met the eyes of the crow behind Ruan Xing.

A smile spread across his face, and in his eyes was a deep malice.

Fu Gui clearly saw it, the gleaming dagger stabbing straight into Ruan Xing's back.