116: Chapter 116 Split Operations

"When are we going to start the pursuit? It looks like Tian Zining is in quite a hurry; he's running faster than a rabbit. By now, he's probably long gone."

Hearing this, Xiao Sinian was in no rush at all. Instead, a playful smirk curled the corner of his mouth.

He didn't answer but looked at Qi Yin with a smile.

"What about you? Are you in a hurry?"

Qi Yin was startled. Looking at the playful expression on his face, a thought occurred to her.

Xiao Sinian was truly someone after her own heart; he was thinking exactly what she was.

"Me? I'm not in much of a hurry either."

The two looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, an unspoken understanding flowing through the air.

"It seems," Qi Yin said, stifling a laugh as a small, exquisitely crafted Iron Dragonfly appeared in her hand.

"I also kept a trick up my sleeve."

Xiao Sinian smiled and reached into his inner pocket to pull out a miniature display screen the size of a matchbox.

The screen was dark, but when he pressed a button on the side, it instantly lit up. A clear red dot was moving slowly and steadily, with distinct coordinates displayed next to it.

Qi Yin walked over to take a look; the direction the red dot was moving in was the same as what her camera had captured—the direction in which Tian Zining's group had left.

It was about ten to twenty kilometers away from their current location.

"You're quite fast with your hands."

She hadn't even noticed when Xiao Sinian had planted it.

"Outside the cave, it was just convenient."

Xiao Sinian's tone was flat. "The signal penetration is decent; following them for three days shouldn't be a problem."

Looking at the Iron Dragonfly in her hand and then at the tracker screen in his, Qi Yin's shoulders shook slightly.

"President Xiao, I didn't realize you could be so crafty."

Xiao Sinian put away the display. Seeing her smiling eyes, the worry in his own gaze dissolved, and he countered.

"The feeling is mutual. You've prepared your little toys quite well too, my fiancée."

Since they now knew their location, they would let the team rest until tomorrow morning to recharge and then split up as planned.

In the dead of night, the cold wind carried snowflakes into her collar, making Qi Yin shiver.

Tomorrow would be the first time their team separated; as the captain, she needed to prepare more supplies for them.

Xiyin Base didn't lack supplies, but they were newcomers after all. Taking supplies without contributing to the base would make it hard to silence the critics.

Even with Xiao Sinian backing her, she wouldn't let her people suffer even the slightest grievance.

After looking around the space garage, Qi Yin decided to use a light truck. It had a large cargo bed and was easier to maneuver than a heavy truck.

"What should I pack?" Qi Yin pondered, rubbing her chin.

Food was definitely the priority. The outside world wasn't like her space, so it was better to pack items that were easy to store.

"Some instant noodles, bread, biscuits, and canned goods."

The potato chips and dried sweet potatoes that Wenwen liked.

The tea leaves and rice that Uncle Chen was fond of.

Dried noodles were essential for Brother Xu, the noodle fanatic.

Potatoes and fish mint, which Wen Yang wished he could eat for all three meals.

More leafy greens, which Wang Tianyu thought about three hundred times a day, to provide everyone with vitamins.

Jiang Yao didn't have any particular food preferences, so she'd give him plenty of miscellaneous parts to tinker with.

There were also fresh fruits from the space, two crates of each kind, which should last until she returned.

Right, right, spiritual spring water was indispensable; she'd pack a few more barrels...

After half an hour of busy work, the truck bed was neatly packed with various daily necessities, filled to the brim.

Qi Yin wiped the sweat from her forehead, checked everything once more, and added a few more items. Only when she was sure nothing was missing did she yawn in satisfaction.

"Now, even if I'm not around, they won't starve to death."

At dawn, the abandoned gas station was filled with bone-chilling cold and mist.

Chen Quan was checking the light truck with Qi Yin, his face solemn. "Be careful with everything."

Qi Yin always acted with discretion, and with Xiao Sinian by her side, he wasn't too worried about her safety.

Qi Yin curled her lips into a smile, patted his shoulder, and looked at Lu Jinwen's group, who were still packing in the distance.

"I'll leave them in your hands, Uncle Chen, especially Wenwen, Xiao Shi, and Xiao Yun."

Although Lu Jinwen had been with her for a long time, she was still young and sensitive, not to mention Li Shi and Li Yun.

Chen Quan nodded solemnly. "Don't worry."

All the researchers had quietly boarded the bus, waiting to depart.

On the other side, Xiao Sinian seemed to be announcing the news to his own team members; their expressions were also somewhat heavy.

Qi Yin stepped on the last ember to extinguish it and pulled out a bag of crystal cores to hand to Wang Tianyu.

"Here are two hundred second-level crystal cores. It should be enough for you for a while."

Wang Tianyu was stunned. He glanced at the others and asked in confusion, "Isn't it safer to keep these with you? We can just take them when we need them."

It had always been that way before.

Chen Quan threw the luggage onto the vehicle. "Yin Yin has another mission. We're responsible for escorting the people back to the base."

The veteran team members immediately erupted in a commotion.

"What? Sis, you're going to split up from us?" Lu Jinwen was the first to jump up, grabbing Qi Yin's arm with her eyes wide.

"No, no, we've never been apart. If you're not here, I won't feel at ease."

Her voice carried a hint of a sob, as if accusing Qi Yin of abandoning her.

This was exactly what Qi Yin worried about most; they were too dependent on her.

The usually steady Wang Tianyu also frowned, clutching the bag of crystal cores tightly. "How about I go with you?"

He was worried; having someone with a healing Supernatural Ability would be safer.

Qi Yin shook her head. This time, it was a growth opportunity for both herself and her team members.

Perhaps they could learn to stand on their own by taking this chance.

She had already explained everything that needed to be said to Uncle Chen.

"Why so sentimental? It's not like we're parting forever. We're just going to scout the way and will be back in a few days."

As she spoke, she pointed to the truck behind Chen Quan and pinched Lu Jinwen's bouncy little cheek.

"Look, see that? I put things you like in there. Keep it quiet, don't tell anyone else."

Just then, Lei Jun, who had been talking to Xiao Sinian, walked over with Meng Xichi behind him.

"Sister Yin, don't worry. We'll be there to meet you at the base. We know the way well and guarantee the researchers will arrive without a single hair out of place. You... be extra careful."

The concern in Meng Xichi's eyes was self-evident.

Xiao Sinian's people were all quite reliable, which made Qi Yin feel much more at ease.

She looked at Chen Quan again. "Uncle Chen, be very careful on the road. Avoid large hordes of zombies. If you run into trouble, don't force a fight. Safety first."

With their current strength, dealing with zombie hordes was easy, but with so many people, the target was too large, so it wasn't wise to linger in combat.

She gave the red-eyed Lu Jinwen a hug and tossed her into the vehicle.

The engines started, and the four vehicles slowly left the gas station.

Lu Jinwen leaned halfway out of the window, waving her arm vigorously until the vehicle turned a corner and completely disappeared from sight.

The snow of the farewell gradually fell, leaving only Qi Yin, Xiao Sinian, Lu Yanxiu, Mu Feng, and Qian Dong at the gas station.

Gazing in the direction where the vehicles had vanished, Qi Yin exhaled softly and turned around.

She held out her hand, palm up.

Xiao Sinian rested his hand lightly on her shoulder and, without hesitation, placed his palm over hers.

Lu Yanxiu and the other two looked at each other and reached out. Five hands were stacked together, an invisible power gathering in their palms.

Qi Yin's gaze swept across her four companions, her voice clear and strong.

"Alright, now it's our turn to go and confront that dog behind the scenes."