CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 146: ARRIVAL AT THE BASE

"I understand, I promise not to look around! Even if I see, I’ll pretend I didn’t!"

Lin Xiaoyan guaranteed solemnly.

The car quickly came to a stop.

"We’re here."

After saying this, Lu Lan parked the car and got out.

He Qi’an glanced outside as soldiers came over, opened the door, and invited them out.

"Get out of the car."

He Qi’an said softly to Lin Xiaoyan.

Looking at the soldiers outside, Lin Xiaoyan felt nervous. She picked up her backpack and got out of the car with He Qi’an.

"Captain He, Miss Lin, this way please."

A soldier led the two of them inside.

Lu Lan handed the keys to another soldier and quickly walked over to Lin Xiaoyan’s side.

Lin Xiaoyan followed behind He Qi’an, her eyes not daring to look around.

"Hahaha, I knew it, you all can’t! Watch me!"

Suddenly, Lin Xiaoyan heard Xuan Shiyi’s voice. She looked up and saw the soldier ahead opening the door.

Upon hearing Xuan Shiyi’s voice, Lin Xiaoyan’s tense heart relaxed a bit.

"Commander, Captain He and Miss Lin have arrived."

Inside, many people were seated.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with slightly white hair and sharp eyes.

His gaze stopped on He Qi’an as he stood up and strode over.

He Qi’an tensed up and saluted the commander respectfully.

"Hello, Commander!"

Lu Lan also saluted and said, "Hello, Commander."

Lin Xiaoyan was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do. Should she salute?

After hesitating for two seconds, Lin Xiaoyan gave an awkward salute and followed with a "Hello, Commander."

"Pffft"

Xuan Shiyi couldn’t hold back his laughter when he saw Lin Xiaoyan’s flustered expression.

"Xiaoyan, come here quickly, your seat’s over here." Xuan Shiyi kindly helped Lin Xiaoyan out of the situation, urging her to come and sit down.

Lin Xiaoyan glanced at Xuan Shiyi but didn’t go over, since the commander hadn’t spoken yet.

She quietly looked to the commander, who smiled gently at her, making Lin Xiaoyan pause and awkwardly smile back.

The commander smiled at Lin Xiaoyan, saying, "This operation will be hard work for you. Please sit and rest for a while; we’ll have a small meeting once everyone arrives."

"Alright." Lin Xiaoyan glanced at He Qi’an and noticed his tense face, unmoving.

Lu Lan gently tugged at Lin Xiaoyan’s clothes, signaling her to leave.

Lin Xiaoyan looked at He Qi’an, who turned his gaze to her and his expression softened, "You should go over."

"Okay."

Lin Xiaoyan answered softly and walked towards Xuan Shiyi.

Inside, there was a large table, and aside from Xuan Shiyi’s group, there were several other uniformed soldiers.

Those people smiled at Lin Xiaoyan and nodded; Lin Xiaoyan smiled back and quickly walked over to Xuan Shiyi.

"Xiaoyan, was the journey smooth?"

Xuan Wu waved a talisman paper in his hand, smiling as he asked Lin Xiaoyan.

Lin Xiaoyan’s smile froze, "It was... alright."

She didn’t want to recall the awkwardness of the journey.

Realizing Lin Xiaoyan’s unusual expression, several people exchanged glances and silently took out their phones to transfer money to Xuan Shiyi.

"Hehe, I wasn’t wrong, was I!"

Xuan Shiyi happily received the money.

Lin Xiaoyan looked at Xuan Shiyi in confusion, not knowing what secret language they were communicating in.

After collecting the money, Xuan Shiyi smiled broadly at Lin Xiaoyan, whispering to her.

"Before you arrived, we made a bet."

Lin Xiaoyan’s face stiffened, sensing that his next words wouldn’t be pleasant.

"They calculated that you would arrive safely at the base."

Xuan Shiyi said proudly, "I calculated that although you’d arrive safely, some unpleasant things would happen along the way, like..."

Lin Xiaoyan quickly reached out to cover Xuan Shiyi’s mouth, her face flushed red as she warned, "Don’t say anymore!"

"Mmm mmm" (Why?)

"You can’t say! Or if you ever need help from me, I will definitely refuse!" Lin Xiaoyan warned quietly.

The incident of her having a stomach issue in the wild, besides Lu Lan and He Qi’an, must absolutely not be known by a fourth person!

It’s too shameful!

Xuan Shiyi paused and immediately nodded.

Seeing Xuan Shiyi nod repeatedly, Lin Xiaoyan confirmed multiple times whether he wouldn’t continue speaking, and Xuan Shiyi kept nodding.

Only then did she let go, taking a tissue from her backpack to wipe her hands.

Watching Lin Xiaoyan’s actions, Xuan Shiyi instantly felt insulted.

"Hey! You!"

Lin Xiaoyan glared at Xuan Shiyi angrily.

For the first time seeing Lin Xiaoyan so angry, Xuan Shiyi remembered his plan to seek Lin Xiaoyan’s help for "seeing" each time he took on a task, and he held back.

Xuan Er and others cheerfully watched Xuan Shiyi being humbled, while curiously wondering what happened during the journey.

Opposite them, the officers curiously watched Lin Xiaoyan’s group, but paid most attention to He Qi’an.

The man once hailed as the "King of Soldiers" in Hua Country, He Qi’an.

They had always thought he would spend his life in the army because he was so well-suited to it.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly retired, moved to a civilian role, without any warning.

He had such a bright future, but suddenly gave up everything and left the army.

No one knew the reason, and when everyone learned about it, they couldn’t help but feel shocked and regretful.

"This time, the Wild Wolf Squad will also participate in the rescue mission."

The commander looked at He Qi’an with a complex expression and spoke slowly.

Lin Xiaoyan turned her head, looking towards He Qi’an.

Xuan Shiyi glanced at Lin Xiaoyan and then at He Qi’an, then hesitated when he saw Lin Xiaoyan’s expression.

He gritted his teeth, "Has your merit increased again?"

Upon hearing Xuan Shiyi’s words, the gaze of Xuan Er and others immediately fell on Lin Xiaoyan.

For a moment, Lin Xiaoyan could clearly feel the envy emanating from them.

"I... don’t know!" Lin Xiaoyan leaned back slightly.

"Ahem..."

Xuan Er coughed once, looking at Lin Xiaoyan, "Lin Xiaoyou, are you interested in cultivation?"

Lin Xiaoyan’s face twitched uncontrollably upon hearing this, she laughed awkwardly, "I... I’m probably not suited for it, haha, I’m bad at sports!"

"Poor fitness can be improved with exercise, day after day, year after year, eventually your physique will be like ours," Xuan Wu seemed to think of something and immediately advised from the side.

Lin Xiaoyan warily watched them, feeling as if they were digging a pit for her.

She continued to refuse, "Isn’t it said that Xuan Sect only takes disciples based on talent? I’m just an ordinary person, and quite dumb, I couldn’t understand a bit when Shi Wu asked me to read Xuan Sect’s books before."

"If you don’t understand, you can learn. Besides, our Xuan Sect also has idiots, it’s a matter we can’t help with, since our founder favored..."

Lin Xiaoyan:......

In the end, Lin Xiaoyan refused Xuan Er’s invitation.

She definitely didn’t want a life that consisted of catching ghosts, practicing skills, memorizing books, drawing talismans, raising bugs...

Sleeping later than a dog and waking up earlier than a rooster...

Such a lifestyle was not for her!