Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Don’t Talk
"Commander-in-Chief, the spread of the poisonous miasma contamination has been brought under control. The affected area has been reduced by half, and the biochemical department has already run tests, confirming the environment is safe again," Lin Ye reported to Yang Lei.
"Commander-in-Chief, we were so lucky to have Major General Ning this time. Major General Ning is incredibly powerful. The credit for clearing the poisonous miasma contamination belongs to him alone," Lin Ye said excitedly.
However, despite this good news, Yang Lei’s brow remained furrowed. He showed no sign of relief.
"Ning Zhi’s ability to solve the poisonous miasma problem is indeed a great contribution. Unfortunately, the trouble we’re in this time is too great. Even with the miasma dealt with, I’m afraid it will be very difficult to overcome this crisis," Admiral Yang Lei said, his voice heavy with worry.
"How can that be? Didn’t we send out a distress call a long time ago? The terrain of the Black Mountain Plain is flat, and the subterranean environment is relatively stable. The recent wave of thunderstorms on the planet is mostly over. Now that the poisonous miasma problem is solved, once we finish building the temporary secure base, we should be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive," said Lin Ye.
They had already discussed contingency plans for the invasion of creatures from the Alien Space through the spatial rift. The greatest threat had been the spreading poisonous miasma. Now that this threat was eliminated, logically, all they needed to do was hold their ground and wait for reinforcements to arrive.
After all, any occurrence of spatial rifts, wormholes, and the like fell under the category of an Otherworld invasion. In such dangerous situations, they could request aid from the Military Department, which would dispatch the nearest available troops to the incident location in the shortest possible time.
"There are no reinforcements. We’ve already received a reply from the Military Department. Yesterday, in a single day, spatial rifts appeared on 23 planets, and wormhole crises erupted in seven Star Domain Battlefields. An S-Class wormhole has appeared above the Fifth Corps Headquarters Base, which is the closest to us. All available forces have been dispatched there. We will not be getting any support," Admiral Yang Lei said, his face haggard and his voice filled with despair.
"How could so many spatial anomalies erupt all at once? This is completely abnormal," Lin Ye said, looking at Yang Lei in disbelief.
Although Lin Ye didn’t want to believe it, he knew the Commander-in-Chief would never joke about something like this. At that thought, the color drained from Lin Ye’s face.
The danger level of a spatial rift was classified based on various metrics: its duration, the degree of spatial collapse, the intensity of its energy radiation, the biological threat index, and so on. The classifications were Low-Risk, Medium-Risk, High-Risk, and Extreme-Risk.
This danger level was usually calculated after the event had concluded. However, one could make a rough estimate of the basic situation from the spatial rift’s appearance and the power of the Otherworld creatures it teleported.
The spatial rift they encountered was immense, and the first creature to emerge, the Poison Abyss Beast, was S-Class. These factors indicated that the rift’s danger level was High-Risk at a minimum.
"The first thing to appear from this spatial rift was an S-Class Poison Abyss Beast. Based on my observations, the energy radiation released by the rift is already contaminating and altering the surrounding ecosystem. A situation like this carries an extremely high risk, and yet... we have no reinforcements."
"In three more months, our five-year term would have been up. We could have taken a break before being reassigned to another combat zone. A pity..." Yang Lei’s eyes were filled with pessimism. His assessment of the current situation was grim.
"Lin Ye, right now, I’ve only informed a few of you about the lack of reinforcements. We cannot let this information get out, or it will affect morale," Yang Lei instructed Lin Ye.
"On the other hand, we need to publicize the news of Ning Zhi clearing the poisonous miasma. Also, promote Ning Zhi by another rank. Once he has completely eliminated the miasma contamination, give him command of two sectors’ forces," Admiral Yang Lei said, quickly pulling himself together after revealing the grim reality to Lin Ye.
After all, even without reinforcements, and even with the grim outlook, as the base’s commander-in-chief, he couldn’t just wallow in self-pity and give up without a fight.
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief! Even if we can only rely on ourselves, it doesn’t mean we have no chance of breaking through this crisis. I believe that Major General Ning’s sudden appearance might be the very opportunity we need to turn the tide," Lin Ye said suddenly.
Hearing this, Yang Lei nodded slightly. Some of the pressure weighing on his heart lifted.
Ning Xuan was meditating and practicing her Cultivation in the tent assigned to her in the quarantine zone. About two hours later, her mental state and physical strength had fully recovered. It was then she heard a heated argument outside her tent.
"Our Major General is in seclusion. No one is to disturb him," Liu Linfeng said, his voice ice-cold.
"I won’t go in. I’ll just wait here," Yun Han replied calmly.
"No. This is too close. Move further away," Liu Linfeng said, his face grim as he tried to shoo him away.
Liu Linfeng had seen this man before at the underground base’s medical center. Two female Doctors had been fighting over him at the time, and his own general had taken the man away.
"What’s all the noise? Linfeng, let him in," Ning Xuan’s voice came from inside the tent.
Liu Linfeng immediately complied, then reluctantly let Yun Han inside.
The moment Yun Han stepped into the tent, a fragrant scent filled his nostrils. Before he could even speak, his waist was suddenly constricted—Ning Xuan’s vines coiled around him like nimble serpents and yanked him forward.
Yun Han fell into Ning Xuan’s embrace. "Contractor..." Before he could finish, Ning Xuan leaned over him, tilting his chin up with one hand and kissing him. Her lips were warm and soft, and her breath came in short, hurried gasps.
Yun Han was stunned for a moment by her passion, then completely engulfed by her almost aggressive fervor. She stole his breath away.
Her vines remained wrapped tightly around his waist, the pressure just right—enough to keep him from breaking free, but not enough to cause pain. Another slender vine crept up his wrist, gently clasping it, both restricting and guiding his movements.
Through their clothes, Yun Han could feel her heartbeat. It was fast but strong, its powerful rhythm infectious.
"Ning Xuan..." He turned his head slightly, finally finding a chance to catch his breath. His voice was low and raspy.
But she gave him no opportunity to speak. She pressed a fingertip to his lips, her eyes gleaming. "Don’t talk." Before the words had even faded, she kissed him again, this time with even more heat, a fierce and domineering possessiveness.
Her vines tightened, trapping him completely by her side. This was her domain, where refusal and escape were not options.
In truth, Yun Han was just worried that if Ning Xuan couldn’t control her passion, she might break her disguise and release her pheromones. If that happened, her identity as a woman would be exposed.
