Chapter 901: The Origin of the Space Bugs

The Gu clan head cried out, "You're going to give up on us, the millions of lives right in front of you?"

The Yang clan head added, "You'll be able to save us right away—but who knows about the rest of the civilians here on Mars? Can you really save them all?"

In sync, the Gu clan head continued, "And if you can't even save those of us gathered here, how will you save the rest of the planet?"

Yang Ze, who had folded his arms and was watching the scene play out from the side, commented idly, "Don't their words really get your heart pumping?"

Sun Mengmeng passed around some roasted seeds. "Would anyone like any?"

"Ah, thank you." Yang Ze accepted her offer gratefully.

Li Feng crunched on some seeds. "If not for what happened with Yang Ze, I might even have believed their words, too… but now, I wish I'd let them try to flee Mars and be eaten by all the bugs!"

Yang Ze nibbled on some snacks that Hong Xi had provided. "Haha, it really isn't obvious, is it? That's probably why they managed to remain in power for so long."

Zhou Ying commented, "Their speeches are powerful. It's clear that they're experienced at this."

Hong Xi asked, "Is anyone recording?"

Sun Xiaowu raised his hand. "I am!"

Zhang Lie was speechless. He shot them a glare—what're you all doing there, watching the show? Aren't you going to come help me?

The members of Team Zenith all pumped their fists as they cheered Zhang Lie on. They were confident that Zhang Lie would be able to deal with the issue himself—these clan heads were nothing compared to him.

The Yang clan head requested, "Why don't you send us away before coming back here?"

Zhang Lie scoffed. "Do you understand what you're saying at all? If we leave Mars, the bugs will continue to terrorize it. We came over from Earth in order to rescue Mars—all of Mars, not a few pushy people on it! Once we leave, who's going to hold the bugs back? You?" Zhang Lie pointed at the Yang and Gu clan heads.

"Or you?" Zhang Lie turned to the other clan heads, who were standing farther back.

None of the clan heads responded. They looked away and pretended that they couldn't hear Zhang Lie.

"Drop this matter now. Anyone who brings it up will be court-martialed!" Zhang Lie turned around and marched off, quickly followed by everyone else from Team Zenith.

Next, Zhang Lie tasked everyone with a few responsibilities. "Zhang Hong and Hong Xi, you'll work together with the Martian military to arrange lodgings for the disciples of the Zenith Dojo. Furthermore, distribute some of the food and resources on the titan-class shuttle to the civilians in need."

"Fang Yi, you, Jun Jiuxiao, and Ye Xianchen will guard the shuttle. If anyone tries to take it over, I'm sure you know what to do."

"They'll die before they can get on board." His gaze filled with killing intent, Fang Yi stared at the various clan heads, ? causing them all to flinch.

Zhang Lie continued, "The rest of you disciples, clean up and scout around the encampment."

Hong Xiao asked, "Master, what about the prizes?"

"I'll leave you in charge of the reward distribution. Tally up how many bugs everyone has killed, then have the disciples pick up their rewards from you."

Hong Xiao nodded.

Zhang Lie continued, "Everyone else in Team Zenith, you'll accompany me to speak with Marshal Li."

They found Li Pu in the infirmary, but were stopped by the guards outside. "The marshal is resting."

.

Within the infirmary, however, Li Pu called out, "Let them enter! They're heroes of Mars, and I could hardly make them wait."

Zhang Lie walked in with the members of Team Zenith and saw Li Pu lying in bed. Even though he had consumed the upgraded Yeluo restorative, it was no miracle potion. Li Pu still had to rest in order for his body to heal.

"I apologize for disrupting your rest," Zhang Lie began.

"There's no need. I know you wouldn't have come for no reason. If our positions were reversed, I would have done the same. Furthermore, without all of you around, I wouldn't even have an opportunity to rest. I'm thankful enough that you didn't storm my guards," Li Pu joked, but his words didn't have the desired effect. His time in the military had given him a stern and aloof demeanor, and the way his face contorted could barely be identified as a smile.

Zhang Lie laughed awkwardly.

Li Pu continued, "The situation on Mars is still worsening, and I can't continue to rest much longer."

"We've identified a dozen or so bug nests in the vicinity, and they've been cleared by the disciples of the Zenith Dojo. The remaining bug forces around the encampment won't be a threat, but I'd like to know about what's going on beyond the encampment."

"Thank you for your hard work. If you hadn't arrived, we soldiers wouldn't have been able to hold out—I truly can't thank you enough. Now, the rest of Mars... You've probably seen it from your shuttle, but the rest of Mars is doing rather poorly.

"The fact that I was here in this encampment already makes it among the more fortunate, and I don't know how many other encampments have managed to survive the bug invasion, nor how many civilians are still living in fear of the bugs."

Yang Ze summarized Li Pu's words crisply, "In other words, the situation on Mars is terrible and worsening by the day, and you don't know just how bad it is."

Li Pu began to cough so violently it felt as though he were about to cough his lungs out. "As you know, I was so overwhelmed with defending this encampment that I didn't have time to worry about the others. We should be able to communicate with the other encampments, however, so that might be worth a try."

Zhang Lie raised a hand. "Yang Ze, you're being too rude! Marshal Li's a hero of Mars. Before he gasps his last breath, you have to show him commensurate respect!"

Li Pu glared at Zhang Lie, who laughed. "It's a joke, Marshal Li. Do you happen to know where all these bugs came from?"

Li Pu countered, "Have you found a clue as to their provenance?"

"No, Marshal. I had no clue, and I was hoping you did."

The origin of these space bugs was mysterious, and no one had ever identified from whence they came. Their larvae were affixed to meteorites. When these meteorites crashed into a planet, the larvae would quickly reproduce and evolve, devouring all the resources that it contained.

Li Pu sighed. "Each larva is only the size of a thumb, so they're fiendishly difficult to detect. By the time we learn of a bug invasion, they've already grown into a massive horde. It's unbelievable how quickly they can reproduce.

"They don't seem like natural biological lifeforms, and there were scholars who proposed that they represented a weapon of biological warfare developed by some race or another. However, none of the races of the Milky Way have the capability for such extensive bioengineering, not even the four prime races."

1. You'd think these Martians could just leave through the teleportation apparatus that the members of Team Zenith just set up…