189: Unknown monster

"Very well. Go and return quickly, and stay safe!" Gu Yan said with a serious expression.

"Don't worry." Gu Xiheng left without looking back, his voice drifting from a distance: "Mom, please tell Siyu that the engagement ceremony is canceled. We'll just hold the wedding later."

Gu Xiheng led an Elite Squad and rushed to Nameless Mountain, finally arriving before nightfall.

But there was no sign of Nameless Mountain left.

Gu Xiheng briefly wondered if he had come to the wrong place.

This was clearly a wasteland following a massive earthquake; such sights were common everywhere else.

Furthermore, a thick, foul stench lingered in the air. Its source was unclear, but it seemed to emanate from every direction.

"Young General, we are in the right place. This is where Nameless Mountain used to be," said A-Ming, an Ability Warrior behind him who could hear people's inner thoughts.

Gu Xiheng's inner thoughts had been overheard and spoken aloud. He frowned, a chill spreading through his heart. With the place destroyed like this, was there any chance that Ai Yue and the others were still alive?

Gu Xiheng said heavily, "Enough talk. Everyone, listen up: search for survivors with everything you've got!"

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing the order, everyone dispersed to search for any signs of life.

But this trip was destined to be in vain. Aside from some severed limbs, they found nothing.

It was also unclear what had caused all of this.

Upon hearing the report from the Elite Squad...

Gu Xiheng felt as if a piece of his heart had been carved out, the pain making it hard to breathe.

"Young General, we've searched everywhere and haven't found Mo Li. I'm afraid... he has perished," Yan Li said with difficulty.

Gu Xiheng squeezed his eyes shut and pursed his lips tightly. "Let's head back," he said in a low voice. "There are no survivors."

Yan Li sighed silently and signaled for everyone to return to the base.

On the way back, they encountered some refugees. From them, Gu Xiheng learned that an unknown monster emitting a foul stench had appeared out of nowhere and was destroying mountain peaks one by one. Some forces outside the towers had been wiped out.

Gu Xiheng's solemn expression grew even heavier. It was truly a turbulent time. The damage from the previous earthquake hadn't been fully repaired yet, and now a monster had appeared from nowhere and was wreaking havoc across the world.

When Gu Xiheng returned to the base, Gu Yan gave him more bad news.

"Xiheng, I just received news. That unknown monster emerged from beneath Nameless Mountain. After leaving the mountain, it headed straight for Chiluo Safety Tower."

Gu Yan's face was grim. He paused before delivering a shocking piece of news.

"Chiluo Safety Tower has been destroyed by that Nameless Monster!"

"What? Chiluo Safety Tower was destroyed? That's a Safety Tower! Their military reserves are no less than ours, and they have many Ability Users. How could it be destroyed so easily?"

Gu Xiheng asked in disbelief.

"Yes, just like that. Xiheng, it seems that the previous natural disasters were nothing. This Nameless Monster is the true catastrophe of this world."

Gu Yan rubbed his temples and spoke in a low voice.

Hearing this, Gu Xiheng sat in his chair, speechless for a long time.

After a while, he finally spoke: "We will deal with whatever comes our way. Before that, we must investigate this monster's background and find its weaknesses so we can defeat it."

Gu Yan was very pleased with how Gu Xiheng remained calm and analyzed the problem logically without panicking.

Just then, the door to Gu Yan's office was suddenly pushed open with great force. Madam Gu, having lost her usual poise and drenched in sweat, ran in. She grabbed Gu Xiheng and looked at him with a glimmer of hope. "Xiheng, tell me, your cousin Mo Li is fine, isn't he? He's just being playful and doesn't want to come home, right?"

"Mom, calm down. Don't worry. If something happens to you because of your anxiety, what will we do?" Gu Xiheng quickly supported her and urged.

"Don't give me that. I'm asking you, where is your cousin Mo Li? Don't try to change the subject," Madam Gu said with a stern face.

"Mom!"

"Tell me the truth. I can take it," Madam Gu cried out, on the verge of a breakdown.

"Cousin is missing. I didn't find any trace of him at the scene," Gu Xiheng said quickly.

"Missing? So that means he's not dead, he's just somewhere else, right?" Madam Gu wiped away her tears and snot, a hopeful light gathering in her eyes. She gripped Gu Xiheng's sleeve tightly, staring at his lips.

She was terrified he would say no.

"That's right, Mom. Don't worry too much. Cousin is a lucky man; he'll turn misfortune into a blessing. Don't worry. As soon as he returns, I'll tell him to go see you!" Gu Xiheng said comfortingly.

"Good, good. That little rascal... Ever since his family's fortune declined and his parents passed away, he's been reluctant to tell me his whereabouts. He spent his days idling about with no ambition.

He finally became successful, but then he went abroad and stayed away for so many years. If it weren't for the natural disasters, he might not have even come back. Hehe, that rascal is quite naughty. This must be a joke he's playing on me!

Xiheng, when he comes back, tell him to come find me. See if I don't give him a good piece of my mind." Madam Gu babbled anxiously.

Gu Xiheng coaxed Madam Gu for a long time until she calmed down. After having someone escort her back, he returned to Gu Yan's office to continue their discussion.

"Dad, it seems we need to increase the defenses of the entire base to deal with this sudden turn of events."

"Very well. I'm leaving this matter entirely in your hands!"

"Yes, sir!"

...When Gu Xiheng left Gu Yan's office, it was already late at night. He didn't dare go back to rest, planning to implement all the measures before considering sleep.

Gu Xiheng walked with his head down, calculating what other preparations needed to be made.

Suddenly, in the silent night, a plaintive voice called out, "Xiheng."

Gu Xiheng looked up and saw Cheng Siyu standing in his path, dressed provocatively and looking at him affectionately.

Gu Xiheng's head was already throbbing; he truly had no mood or time to deal with Cheng Siyu.

He said calmly, "It's late. You should go back to sleep. Also, I'm truly sorry about today. Something urgent came up, which is why the engagement ceremony couldn't be held. We'll make it up when there's a chance in the future."

"Alright, I'll do as you say. But it's already late. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. You should go back and rest." As she spoke, she stepped forward to link her arm with Gu Xiheng's, pressing her whole body against him.

Her soft chest unintentionally brushed against Gu Xiheng's arm.

Gu Xiheng looked down and happened to see Cheng Siyu gazing at him with a smoldering look.