Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Meeting
After passing through the massive complex, Ning Xuan looked ahead at the endless stream of variously shaped buildings, feeling dazzled.
They were clearly in space, yet she felt as if she had walked into a bustling city.
"Our base is just ahead, Miss Ning. See that tall furnace standing in the very center? That’s the energy reactor that provides energy for the entire base. All the buildings here, and our defensive shield, are all powered by that furnace."
"How are these glowing panels on the ground formed? I feel like they aren’t solid."
"I... I’m not too sure about that." Leng Yue was stumped.
Fortunately, Ning Xuan didn’t press the issue. Next, Leng Yue took Ning Xuan on a tour of the base.
"This is the recreational area for soldiers to rest after battle. It’s mostly games to pass the time and relieve some stress."
"Over here is the hospital. That building behind it is the Black Tower. It’s specifically for housing soldiers whose spiritual power has gone rampant or whose Mutated Degree has gone out of control, causing them to lose their minds."
"This is a plantation. A few dozen Plant Type Spirit Controllers are responsible for managing it. They mainly grow Jade Green Grass, which is the primary source of plant-based nutrients for making Energy Bars."
"And over here..." Leng Yue continued to introduce the main areas of the base to Ning Xuan one by one.
Finally, they stopped in front of a towering and magnificent complex not far from the energy reactor. After the Starship stabilized, Leng Yue got out first and reached out a hand to help Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan took Leng Yue’s hand and descended from the Starship. Outside, two rows of soldiers in combat uniforms snapped to attention, turned, and saluted her. They shouted in perfect unison, like a slogan, "Welcome to the Ten Thousand Meteor Star Domain Battlefield, Miss Ning!"
Ning Xuan looked up at the tall complex. On the outermost gate were two large words: "Military Department." Beside it was a sign with two more words: "No Entry."
Having been cooped up in the cramped Starship for the entire journey, Ning Xuan was long past bored. Now that she was at this high-tech space base, everything seemed novel and fascinating to her.
Leng Yue wanted to invite Ning Xuan into the Military Department to rest and wait for General Ying’s return. Once General Ying was back, Leng Yue could hand her over and his mission would be complete.
But after being confined for so long, Ning Xuan’s patience had run out. Now that she was at the base, there was no way she would let Leng Yue order her around.
Without even stepping through the gates of the Military Department, Ning Xuan slipped away to the nearest marketplace.
Ning Xuan arrived at the marketplace full of excitement. The moment she appeared, she instantly attracted numerous gazes, both overt and hidden.
On this space base, 99.99% of the personnel were male. The fraction of a percent who were female were either Plant Type Spirit Controllers from the plantation or healing-type Spirit Controllers from the hospital.
Regardless of their specialty, they were all highly respected.
Ning Xuan sensed someone staring and immediately looked over. The person hastily lowered their head, looking flustered.
"Miss Ning, whatever you want, the Marshal can find it for you. There’s really nothing much in this market, it’s all just..." Leng Yue followed beside Ning Xuan, trying to persuade her to leave.
"What’s this?" Ning Xuan walked up to the stall of the person who had been peeking at her and picked up a black object.
"The skull of a wormhole Exotic Beast, a Three-headed Dog," the stall owner said, looking a bit timid.
"How much? Do you take Star Gold or trade for other goods? I can see your spiritual power is turbulent. I’ll trade you a Spiritual Calming Potion for it. Deal?" Ning Xuan asked.
"Deal!" The stall owner nodded vigorously, never having imagined such a stroke of good luck.
He had just picked up the Three-headed Dog’s skull on the battlefield for fun. It wasn’t worth much on this base. He never thought this lady would be willing to trade a calming potion for it.
Leng Yue was about to speak but was stopped by a wave of Ning Xuan’s hand. She took a bottle of blue medicine from her Space Button, handed it to the stall owner, and put the black, semicircular Three-headed Dog skull into her Space Button.
Afterward, Ning Xuan continued to browse. She had brought a lot of medicine with her, especially Spiritual Calming Potions and Alienation Value Clearing Potions, which she had in the largest quantities.
Over the next while, Leng Yue watched numbly as Ning Xuan traded bottle after bottle of medicine for a pile of what he considered useless items, including the bones and teeth of various Exotic Beasts, and the skin, wings, and feathers of Starry Sky Beasts.
Word of Ning Xuan’s activities in the marketplace spread quickly throughout the base. Soldiers on leave rushed over after hearing the news. Who didn’t have one or two Exotic Beast Materials picked up from the battlefield? Even if they couldn’t trade for a potion, just giving the materials to the young lady would be great.
Just as the crowd in the marketplace was growing larger and larger, Leng Yue finally received a message: General Ying was back.
Leng Yue sent General Ying a message about Ning Xuan’s whereabouts. And so, Ying Yaoshi, who had just rushed back from the battlefield and hadn’t even had time to change out of his armor, arrived travel-worn at the marketplace to meet Ning Xuan.
The moment Ying Yaoshi appeared, the various officers and soldiers who had been crowding around Ning Xuan quickly scattered.
Ying Yaoshi looked at the young girl before him. She had grown taller, blossomed, and become even more radiant. The excitement in his heart was beyond words.
Although they had seen each other many times via video call, seeing her in person was a completely different feeling.
Ying Yaoshi raised a hand to smooth his chest, gave Ning Xuan a slight bow, and then strode over and swept her up into his arms.
Ying Yaoshi wanted to hide Ning Xuan away, so no one else could see her.
"What are you doing? Put me down." Being held by Ying Yaoshi, Ning Xuan’s soft body was pressed against his hard armor. The sensation made her very uncomfortable.
In his armor, Ying Yaoshi was like a child who had finally gotten a precious treasure, stubbornly refusing to let go. He carried Ning Xuan forward. The silver eagle insignia on the hem of his cape scraped against the back of her hand, instantly leaving a red mark.
"I said, let go! Put me down!" Ning Xuan angrily grabbed at Ying Yaoshi’s hair.
"Be good. So many people are watching. Give me some face," Ying Yaoshi said softly in her ear, catching her flailing hand.
Ning Xuan angrily turned her head away and snorted coldly.
Ying Yaoshi walked so fast while carrying Ning Xuan that she didn’t even have time to see his route before they entered his private quarters. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Ying Yaoshi took Ning Xuan directly to his residence. "Xuanyuan, I’m going to take a shower and change. Wait here for me for a bit."
’In his heart, Ying Yaoshi wished he could take Ning Xuan to shower and change with him. However, he could see she was quite displeased with him at the moment. If he were to make such a request, it would surely increase her animosity towards him. If he thoroughly angered Ning Xuan, his days ahead would certainly not be easy.’