By the time he wanted to look again, Tong Wu had already entered the temple.
Qiu Chan poked his head out of the kitchen, "Master, who were you just talking to?"
Tong Wu sat down properly before replying, "A benefactor has arrived."
Qiu Chan's eyes lit up. The only benefactor who could make Master speak so nicely was Xu Qian!
"Master!! The benefactor is finally here."
Tong Wu closed his eyes slightly, his fingers caressing the prayer beads one by one. His lips moved, and he began to chant Buddhist scriptures.
Qiu Chan happily shook his head, "I want to make something delicious for the benefactor~"
The speed at which the monk chanted paused, and he suddenly interjected, "Qiu Chan, make sure the portions are generous."
"Yes!!"
The two followed the direction Tong Wu pointed and successfully found the entrance to the air-raid shelter.
The entrance was surrounded by sand, but it never managed to bury it.
The air-raid shelter was winding and twisting, but thankfully, the system provided a map.
This base must have been converted directly from an air-raid shelter, hence the layout.
The two followed the route to the innermost part.
In the farthest corner was an iron door, and behind it were over a dozen little green figures.
She reached out and touched the iron door. It was sealed and could only be opened from the inside.
"Sister, this way."
Xu Lü pointed to the large light bulb above.
Xu Qian looked carefully but still found nothing unusual.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Lü was tall. He could reach the light bulb and unscrew it by standing on tiptoe. The light instantly dimmed.
Her temples throbbed, and she prepared to get angry.
Then, with a "click—", the iron door opened automatically.
Blinding light poured down.
Upon hearing the sound, the little green figures immediately turned their heads.
Their eyes widened in panic, and they shouted, "Xu Qian is here!!"
Then, they turned and ran...
Xu Qian: "..."
She was wearing a mask!
Xu Qian raised her arm and shook the magic bell.
Instantly, everyone froze in place, most of them with expressions of extreme fear.
It seemed they were truly afraid of her.
The laboratory wasn't very large, and it wasn't researching zombies or mutated beasts, but actual plants.
From a tiny seedling to a tree as tall as a person, the entire laboratory was filled with flowers and grass.
Further inside were collective offices and dormitories.
Xu Qian raised an eyebrow. So rudimentary?
This was the second base, after Zhong Yang's, that was so run-down.
Xu Qian surveyed the area, her decision already made.
[Ding, system reminder: Given that they are wood-element ability researchers, please spare their lives.]
The system rarely agreed with her so readily.
Talented individuals who researched plants were rare, and plant research generally required wood-element abilities.
In the later stages, wood-element ability users would be even rarer than imagined...
Xu Qian stopped shaking the magic bell, but the fleeing people only picked up speed.
There was nothing they could do; the entrance was blocked by her, so they could only retreat further inside.
"Stop."
The group trembled with fear but dared not resist.
They turned around, afraid to speak, their heads bowed.
Xu Qian crossed her arms and stood before them.
"What are you researching?"
A leader in a white robe trembled and replied, "Plants. Plants no longer grow on the surface, so..."
"Just this?"
"Yes."
She closed her eyes, her mental power covering their crystal cores.
All wood-element ability users.
Xu Qian narrowed her eyes slightly and said coldly, "You may leave."
The group froze. Had they heard correctly?
They could leave?
"However."
Everyone shivered. As expected... there was a condition.
They wouldn't ask them to chop off a hand or a foot, would they...
Xu Qian scanned them and said sternly, "There is one condition. After you leave, you must go to the Bright Base for training and employment."
The group found it unbelievable. Wasn't Xu Qian a bloodthirsty killer?
It was widely rumored within the X Group; how could she let them go?
And even introduce them to a base?
Seeing that they were still standing there motionless, Xu Qian had lost patience.
"Get lost!"