151: Chapter 151 Leave Haicheng immediately!

After the meeting ended, everyone headed to the living area of the Research Base.

This place used to be a residence for researchers and related management staff. It had complete facilities and could accommodate up to ten thousand people, but in reality, the population had never exceeded three thousand.

Since the establishment of the Bureau of Investigation and Management of Abnormal Humans, the security clearance of this base had been raised further. With a battalion of soldiers stationed there long-term, the population had grown again.

With the reorganization of the Night Watchers today, a separate area was designated here, and over 1,200 additional soldiers were stationed; they were all in place by noon.

Not far away, a row of townhouses built by the lake served as the residences for official Night Watcher members. Each person had their own villa, which not only offered beautiful scenery but also came equipped with orderlies and medics.

Led by a female orderly, the group visited Zhao Hongchan, who had just given birth, in the living room.

As a Rank 8 Transcendent, giving birth—which was comparable to Undergoing Tribulation for an ordinary person—did not have much of an impact on Zhao Hongchan, though she still looked very weak.

"Deputy Captain Zhao, this is a recovery medicine I prepared for you. Don't be polite with me."

Bai Yunfei hand-rolled a [dirt pill] on the spot and handed it over with a sincere face. "This is the only one left today. I'll give you three more tomorrow."

"Get lost, I have my own!"

Zhao Hongchan glared fiercely at Bai Yunfei. In an instant, the temperature in the room rose and began to get scorching hot; Bai Yunfei's messy hair even started to curl slightly.

"Wait, stop your Divine Ability!" Bai Yunfei was startled and quickly hid behind the others.

Seeing this, Chu Xuan silently put back the [dirt pill] he had wrapped in a tissue.

He had originally intended to give it as a return gift for the [i just want to become stronger] potion Zhao Hongchan had given him, but now it seemed he should forget it.

After a brief chat and some well-wishes, everyone left.

Once outside, Tang Zheng's mouth twitched as if he wanted to ask something, but he ultimately remained silent and turned to look at Chu Xuan.

"Brother Xuan, don't you think it's strange?"

"What is?" Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Tang Zheng glanced at the villa and whispered, "A man... there's no man. She just had a baby, but there's no... aren't you curious?"

Chu Xuan had some guesses but didn't voice them.

"For those who awaken their talents naturally, there are two prerequisites: one is being an ordinary person, and the other is being present during the Early Stage of a Gloom convergence, just like the two of you."

Zhang Qiang sighed softly. "Xiao Lajiao encountered a Dark Rift opening during a family banquet ten months ago. Although it wasn't as extreme as Shouguo Temple, where the aura of The Gloom shrouded the entire village and directly birthed a B-rank Ghost like the Great Buddha..."

...for ordinary people, it was a total catastrophe. Her entire family met with disaster. That was when Xiao Lajiao awakened her flame talent and survived, but she was the only one. Everyone else died. At that time, she had only been married for a month."

Tang Zheng was stunned and stopped talking.

Next, they went to the neighboring villa to visit Qin Qing. She had clearly damaged her Origin Qi, and her condition was much worse than Zhao Hongchan's.

"You took too many Explosive Pills. Although your life was saved, your foundation has been damaged. Your stamina is temporarily reduced by 30 points, and ordinary medicines are useless. Unless you obtain a special grade life recovery potion during a mission, but those are too rare. What a pity..." Ming Xiucheng shook his head and sighed.

"Being able to keep my life is good enough."

Qin Qing shook her head, then looked at Chu Xuan and Tang Zheng nearby. A faint smile appeared on her cold face. "Your luck seems to be a bit better than mine."

"Everyone says we saved you, but in reality, it was you who saved us. Without you, we probably would have died at the school."

Chu Xuan stepped forward, took out the ghost-forbidden lamp from his bag, and said with a light smile, "It's been quite a hassle carrying this around. Now I can finally return it to its rightful owner."

Qin Qing took it, paused, then pushed it back, her finger lightly tracing a line across Chu Xuan's palm.

"I can't use it for now. You keep it."

[Detected that the item's binding has been removed. Spend 9 spirituality value points to authenticate?]

Chu Xuan was slightly taken aback, then nodded and put it back in his bag without performing the authentication for now.

A few minutes later, as they left the villa, Chu Xuan suddenly said, "I think it's better to return it to its owner."

With that, he went back to find Qin Qing, but the orderly said she was showering and asked him to wait.

Chu Xuan sat in the living room, his expression flickering.

He had felt Qin Qing trace his palm earlier; he naturally didn't think she had any romantic intentions but rather that she had something to say. However, with so many people present, it wasn't convenient.

So he found an excuse to return, but now Qin Qing was actually showering...

No way, right?

Chu Xuan's expression turned strange.

"Are they all gone?"

A cold voice suddenly rang in his mind. "Don't speak. Blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'. I'm not in good condition right now, and my spirit's coverage range is very small."

Realizing Qin Qing was being so cautious, using her talent to communicate mentally—was she afraid of someone eavesdropping?

Chu Xuan's heart immediately sank.

He didn't speak. Keeping his expression normal, he pulled out his phone and casually browsed short videos, playing the "Stepping Out of Mystery" program, and then blinked once.

"You shouldn't have joined the Night Watchers, or at least not the Haicheng Night Watchers."

A soft sigh echoed in his mind as Qin Qing said, "But since things have come to this, there's no use saying more. You should know that Han Cheng is dead, right?"

Chu Xuan blinked again.

"There's likely a problem within our Ranks. I can't be sure who it is. I'm telling you one thing now: leave Haicheng immediately. Leave tonight, and take Tang Zheng with you!"

"I don't know what kind of danger is here, but to be safe, you'd better leave and go to the Capital! That's where the Night Watchers' headquarters is, with Transcendent powerhouses who can match S-rank Specters. You'll only be safe once you're there."

"I've seen your files. Tang Zheng's family is still in Haicheng—don't worry about them! If you bring family along, they'll not only be a burden but you might end up harming them instead. Do you understand what I mean?"

Chu Xuan stared at the video on his phone, but he couldn't process any of it. His heart had sunk to the bottom. He narrowed his eyes slightly and blinked once.

Just then, Qin Qing finished her shower and changed into clean clothes, appearing even more elegant and ethereal. She gently dried her wet hair, her expression calm and showing no sign of worry as she asked indifferently:

"Why are you back again?"

Chu Xuan took out the ghost-forbidden lamp. "This is too valuable. I think it's better to return it to you."

"I only lent it to you; I didn't give it to you. If you feel bad about it, find a way to help me get a special grade life recovery potion."

Qin Qing pursed her red lips. "Hurry up and leave. I need to rest."

She deliberately emphasized the word "leave."

Chu Xuan gave Qin Qing a deep look and suddenly asked, "Do you know the truth about the Dark Place?"

Qin Qing raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

"I don't know either," Chu Xuan said softly. "But you told me that day that your family was eaten by Night Devils. You must really hate Specters, right?"

Qin Qing looked impatient. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to tell you..." Chu Xuan took a deep breath and finally spoke the words [Future Tang Zheng] had asked him to convey:

"Don't be obsessed with the truth. Only by living is there hope."

Qin Qing was stunned.

"Anyway... thanks!" Chu Xuan lifted the ghost-forbidden lamp, gave it a shake, and stood up to leave.