236: With just a few words, they expect our whole family to risk their lives?

Hearing this, Ye Rui's small face turned pale with fear. She tightly gripped the hem of Ai Yue's clothes, staring at her with wide, nervous eyes.

Seeing Ye Rui's expression, Ai Yue patted her head and said comfortingly, "Don't worry, your sister is fine! Am I not standing here perfectly well?"

It would have been better if Ai Yue hadn't said anything; as soon as she did, Ye Rui's mouth twitched, and tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes.

"Sister, I knew this trip would be dangerous, but I didn't expect it to be that dangerous. Over three hundred people... how tragic that battlefield must have been."

"It's all in the past."

The smile on Gong Qiumu's face vanished as he muttered, "Sister Ai Yue, if that monster wasn't killed and escaped elsewhere, will it continue to produce the zombie virus?"

"Logically speaking, yes."

"Then we're still in danger. No, I'm going to go ask where the monster fled. We should take advantage of its weakness and finish it off. Sister Ai Yue, I'm leaving now."

Gong Qiumu muttered to himself and immediately took his leave.

Ai Yue stretched lazily, appearing unconcerned. "Alright, I'm tired. I'm going to rest for a bit."

After saying that, she pushed open the door to her room, threw herself onto the soft bed, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

Unlike Ai Yue's relaxed state, after returning to the base, Gong Qiuqiu and Gu Xiheng informed the major bases of the process and outcome of the events, causing a massive stir.

The various bases mobilized energy and personnel to go out and search for the Nameless Monster, intending to kill it while it was injured and settle the matter once and for all.

No matter how much commotion there was outside, Ai Yues family paid no attention to it.

Since Ai Yue's return, Ai Guosheng and Li Shilan no longer went out every day, happily staying home to keep Ai Yue company.

After returning, Ai Yue entered her space. Unfortunately, after the space swallowed two High-level Zombie crystal cores, it only grew a bit larger; it still hadn't leveled up enough to gain the ability to bring others inside.

Regarding this point, Ai Yue even began to doubt whether the space actually had such a function.

However, seeing Da Wang enter and exit the space freely, Ai Yue's conviction was reaffirmed; it wasn't impossible, it just lacked enough energy.

Every morning, Ai Yue would sit in the small courtyard to meditate, staying close to nature and relaxing.

Ye Rui, on the other hand, had a restless nature. Since Ai Yue's return and the lifting of her psychological burden, she had been running outside every day.

One day, when the sun was high in the sky, Ai Yue was quietly meditating in the courtyard when Ye Rui came rushing back in a flurry.

"Sister, Sister..."

Ai Yue took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and said, "What is it? Why are you in such a rush?"

"Sister, you wouldn't believe the news I just heard. The people sent out by the major bases to find the Nameless Monster a few days ago sent back word that they found it. However, none of them were a match for the Nameless Monster, and they suffered heavy casualties."

Ye Rui didn't even stop to catch her breath, rattling off everything like beans spilling from a bag.

Hearing this, Ai Yue's face remained expressionless; she wasn't surprised by such a result.

She asked calmly, "And then?"

"Then, the major bases mobilized all their remaining military power—cannons, missiles, everything. Unfortunately, none of it worked; it only caused the monster some superficial wounds."

Ye Rui smacked her lips, saying with a look of regret.

"Sister, tell me, if even that can't kill it, what possibly can?"

Ai Yue sighed in her heart. It seemed her peaceful days were coming to an end. She guessed that before long, someone would come looking for her to deal with the monster.

Sure enough, another week passed, and Gong Qiuqiu brought Gu Xiheng to Ai Yue's small courtyard.

The two stood outside the door, not venturing in uninvited. Seeing Ai Yue sitting in the courtyard, they called out, "Ai Yue, can we come in?"

Ai Yue slowly opened her eyes and nodded to them, signaling that they could enter.

"Are you here to bring me the level 3 crystal cores?"

Gong Qiuqiu paused; he had forgotten about that matter. However, he didn't panic and sat down calmly.

Gu Xiheng gave a helpless smile. "Yes, I brought them specifically for you."

As he spoke, he took off the backpack from his shoulders, pulled out a small pouch, and handed it to Ai Yue.

"Here, want to count them?"

Ai Yue took the pouch and set it aside. "No need. You wouldn't skimp on the count."

Then she turned to look at Gong Qiuqiu. "Where are yours?"

Gong Qiuqiu grinned and said, "You haven't forgotten the crystal cores I have stored with you, have you? I think the amount is more than just three hundred level 3 crystal cores."

Hearing this, Ai Yue suddenly realized. She had almost forgotten that when they entered the white mist area, she had taken all the crystal cores from Gong Qiuqiu's person to upgrade the space, leaving him with only three.

Ai Yue gave a slight, embarrassed cough. "Haha, right, right, that's true. After subtracting the three hundred level 3 crystal cores, there's still some left... are you... planning to take them back now?"

Ai Yue's heart skipped a beat as she asked cautiously.

She couldn't afford to pay him back right now; aside from the three hundred cores Gu Xiheng just gave her, she didn't have a single one left.

And those mere three hundred were not enough to pay back Gong Qiuqiu.

Seeing Gong Qiuqiu's pained expression, he shook his head and laughed. "No need. Just keep them stored with you; maybe they'll come in handy next time."

Hearing this, Ai Yue's heart finally settled back into her chest.

"Alright, then I'll keep them stored for you."

"Anyway, you two coming here together... is something the matter?"

Ai Yue asked bluntly.

Gu Xiheng nodded. "That's right. I think you've probably heard the news. The people the base sent out to hunt the monster have been almost entirely wiped out again. Furthermore, other conventional weapons are useless against it; only the ability gun and your Superpower can cause actual damage."

At this point, Gu Xiheng stopped talking.

Ai Yue asked expressionlessly, "Oh, and then?"

Gu Xiheng continued, "I know you just want to live a normal life with your family, but this time is different. If the Nameless Monster isn't eliminated, our world will eventually be finished."

"Yes, by then, no matter where we hide, we won't escape the fate of turning into zombies. So, we want to invite you, as well as your parents and Miss Ye Rui, to cooperate once more," Gong Qiuqiu added.

"To kill the monster?"

"Yes, it's injured now, making this the best opportunity to kill it."

"And you want to bring along my entire family?"

"Yes. Currently, your parents' and Miss Ye Rui's abilities are very powerful. With them there, killing the Nameless Monster will be much easier."

"Heh, you people certainly have it all figured out. With just a few words, you want my whole family to go risk our lives?"

Ai Yue sneered, her voice devoid of emotion.