Chapter 953: Be Brave

War Tiger named Gao Yang’s plan Operation: Fishing Lure Jia. Three days in, the operation proceeded according to plan.

Dr. Jia, ignorant of their scheme, remained immersed in his research, paying little attention to anything else. He had attempted to use other elite monsters below a pride monster's level as substitutes, but as expected, the experiments failed.

No matter. As long as Gao Yang lived, Dr. Jia would always have access to the most important material. He could experiment to his heart's content. The thought prompted him to hum happily, “

The one that gets away continues to tempt, and the favored fears not losing favor...

”

“Terrible, terrible, terrible!” squawked the parrot, preventing an audible disaster.

Only Chen Ying's rigid adherence to protocol frustrated Dr. Jia. When he requested some of her vital energy, she insisted on seeking permission from the higher-ups—in person, no less, refusing to handle it through a simple call. It would take two to three hours for her to return with the Black Gold batteries stored with her vital energy. Besides this inconvenience, the guards assigned to him remained quiet and unobtrusive.

...

The eighth day of Lunar New Year, evening.

Hong Xiaoxiao and Heavenly Dog, who had been keeping watch for enemies, briefly returned to the S Base with Fly and Invisibility.

Following Liao Liao's example, they carried large hiking backpacks filled with clean clothes for their teammates and collected trash from their stakeout in the wilderness.

After disposing of the trash and handing the clothes to Gao Xinxin and Quiet Book for washing, they restocked their packs with supplies before heading back to the frontline.

The mission had drawn most elite members away, leaving only a skeleton crew at S Base: Gao Xinxin, Gregor, Zhang Wei, Quiet Book, Lovely Lamb, Wang Weiyan, Vermilion Bird, and Zhong He.

Gregor had refused to participate, unwilling to endure the harsh conditions of freezing and starving in the cold wildland. Moreover, he had been blessed with inspiration recently, and he spent his time writing nonstop.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Zhang Wei stayed behind, knowing he would contribute little—they hadn't planned to confront Qilin this time. Instead, he focused on attempting to draw Vermilion Bird out of her catatonic state, following Gao Yang's suggestion, though without success.

Quiet Book remained to assist Gao Xinxin in caring for Vermilion Bird and the two girls. Holding down the fort at the rear.

Zhong He, despite being a tier 1 combatant who should have been at the frontline, also stayed behind. The battle at Qingyang Bridge had left him shell-shocked. While Adept Horse had recovered from similar trauma after inheriting Jump and receiving cybernetic legs, becoming stronger for it, Zhong He—usually full of bravado and affected indifference—remained trapped in the deep marsh of depression.

Hong Xiaoxiao quickly finished her preparations. While Heavenly Dog was still packing, she took two minutes to rush to Zhong He's bedroom.

The moment she opened the door, the sharp stench of stale whiskey hit her nostrils, nearly making her cough.

Light cut through the still darkness, revealing Zhong He, huddled in the corner. His clothes were rumpled, his hair greasy, his face covered in stubble. Empty liquor bottles formed a circle around him.

In Gregor’s words, the bastard had emptied his stash for one month in a week. He was a certified alcoholic now.

War Tiger, Gao Yang, Nine Frost, Gao Xinxin, Zhang Wei, and Lying Wood had all attempted to pull him from this darkness. Nothing worked.

Zhong He never showed obvious resistance, always answering with “yeah,” “right,” and “sure.” Yet every time, he returned to his bottles and drank himself to oblivion.

Yesterday, the base had run out of alcohol, but he didn't care. He continued to lie there like a heap of mud, refusing to stand.

Hong Xiaoxiao felt her heart constrict. She stood at the door, suddenly unsure.

A minute passed.

...

Bam! Hong Xiaoxiao kicked the door open and turned on the light.

“Ugh...” Zhong He shielded his eyes with a hand, his bloated face paling as he groaned weakly.

“Zhong He!” Hong Xiaoxiao strode up to him, hauling him to his feet. “Get up!”

“Right...” Zhong He staggered upright but collapsed within seconds. He found support on a chair and slumped down, about to slide to the floor like water when Hong Xiaoxiao slapped him.

“Wake up!” she growled. “Look at yourself! You don't even look human anymore!”

Zhong He's face snapped to the side. His vacant stare rippled slightly.

“Thick Earth and Yellow Lotus gave their lives to save you—not to watch you become

this

!” Hong Xiaoxiao's face and ears flushed with urgency and anger. “You're making their sacrifice meaningless!”

Zhong He lowered his head for a moment before sneering, “They shouldn't have saved me. Someone like me isn't worth—”

“Zhong He! You have no right to say that!” Hong Xiaoxiao's eyes reddened. “What did you tell me before? You said everyone was unique! You said we were all masters of our own fate, not dependent on anyone else! You said we should do right by those who saved us and ourselves!”

“Have you forgotten all that? Or were you lying then?! Answer me!” A warm tear streaked down Hong Xiaoxiao's face.

Zhong He stared at her.

“It doesn't matter if others look down on you, if fate looks down on you—but not yourself! We live for that!”

Hong Xiaoxiao grabbed his collar and shoved a Black Gold hairpin into his breast pocket. “Come! Go to the frontline with me! Stop being a coward! If you die, you die on the battlefield!”

Zhong He looked down at the girl who barely reached his shoulder, his broken gaze slowly mending before blazing with heat.

He pulled her in with an arm around her waist and a hand on the back of her head, drawing her into a rough kiss.

After a moment of startled panic, Hong Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and cupped his face, kissing back with equal fervor.

Lips pressed together, their breaths mingled.