Chapter 151: The Day the Code Fell in Love (21)

The black forest in the rain was even more treacherous than usual. Gu Mohan and Hua Xin fought their way back until they finally took refuge in a cave. It was a position easy to defend and hard to attack; they stood guard at the entrance with their weapons, firing whenever a monster drew near.

The monsters, which had previously charged forward in a mindless swarm, stopped after losing too many of their own. They no longer rushed in rashly, instead standing outside, staring fixedly at the cave entrance. It was as if they were waiting; they knew the humans could not hide inside forever. A stalemate ensued.

Hua Xin, exhausted from the fierce battle, struggled to catch her breath. Looking at the scene outside, she felt an ominous chill. "They used to just charge straight at us, but now they’ve learned to wait outside. Could these alien creatures actually be evolving in response to the environment?"

They had encountered many alien species before, but those had been low-level life forms without consciousness. If this were a population capable of evolution, the level of danger would be extraordinary.

Gu Mohan checked his remaining ammunition. He wiped the rainwater from his face and let out a dismissive laugh. "They’re just beasts. They have a long way to go if they think they can make a meal out of me."

For many years, Gu Mohan had held the highest position in the Vanguard Team without ever wavering; he certainly possessed exceptional qualities. No matter how dangerous the situation, he never felt fear, and consequently, he never let his attitude affect his subordinates or damage morale. Even now, with only the two of them facing an unknown number of man-eating monsters, his nonchalant demeanor kept Hua Xin remarkably calm.

Hua Xin stared at him. Gu Mohan, while keeping a wary eye on the situation outside, took a moment to ask, "What’s with that look?"

"As long as you’re not talking about Ruan Jiaojiao, you’re perfectly normal," Hua Xin replied.

A series of question marks seemed to drift through Gu Mohan's mind. "Am I not normal?"

Hua Xin and Gu Mohan had known each other since childhood. They grew up together and joined the Vanguard Team together. Although they held the title of fiancé and fiancée, they were, above all, comrades-in-arms. They shared the same professional pursuits, so when the authorities matched them as a suitable couple, Gu Mohan had no objections. Who could have foreseen the arrival of Ruan Jiaojiao? And so, they became former fiancés.

When Gu Mohan asked her where he was abnormal, Hua Xin had no desire to engage with him and couldn't be bothered to reply. It was the first time Gu Mohan had realized that Hua Xin had quite the temper.

The monsters outside gathered in greater numbers. It turned out they hadn't just been waiting; they had been communicating with their kin in their own way. Counting on their superior numbers, they began to slowly creep toward the cave entrance.

Gu Mohan spoke up. "Hiding like this isn't a solution. In a moment, I’ll draw them away—you run."

Hua Xin cast him a sidelong glance.

"If you run fast enough, and if that fellow Li Shenjue has even a shred of humanity left, you might even make it back to save me," Gu Mohan added.

Hua Xin disengaged the safety on her gun. "Too much talk. There’s no precedent for a commander covering the retreat of a foot soldier. There are many people in our department waiting for your return." She looked back at him. "Remember to file for a generous pension for me after you get back."

"Wait!" Gu Mohan reached out, but he was a step too slow. Hua Xin had already surged out with decisive speed.

The moment they caught sight of a living human, the gathered aliens swarmed toward her. Hua Xin moved with agility, dodging the sharp claws of several monsters and shooting down another that lunged from above. Her movements were clean and efficient. Gu Mohan rushed out as well, but there were too many monsters, and he could not reach her side. As time passed, their stamina began to wane.

Just then, several incendiary grenades were thrown into the swarm, scattering the dense mass of monsters and buying the trapped pair a moment to breathe.

Van Gogh, driving a junk-hauling vehicle, shouted at them, "Get in!"

Hua Xin didn't hesitate; she grabbed Van Gogh’s outstretched hand and climbed into the vehicle. Van Gogh drove a bit further, picked up Gu Mohan, and then tossed all his improvised incendiary grenades behind him. Under the cover of the fire, he sped the creaking junker away from the danger zone.

The cockpit was cramped—a two-seater originally, now packed with three. Van Gogh drove, with Hua Xin in the middle and Gu Mohan on her other side.

"How did you get here?" Gu Mohan asked.

"Miss Bai noticed it started to rain," Van Gogh replied. "I saw you hadn't returned and worried something might have happened, so I came to look for you."

Hua Xin stared at Van Gogh for a moment. "Thank you."

Van Gogh was taken aback. Because Li Shenjue and Gu Mohan were on bad terms, and the First Fleet and the Vanguard Team shared a mutual disdain, the two departments usually treated each other with contempt. Hua Xin had never been pleasant to him before, so hearing her say "thank you" left him feeling unaccustomed.

The vehicle jolted violently. Hua Xin was shoved against Van Gogh by Gu Mohan, her body pressing into him. She was wearing a tight-fitting uniform, and the sudden contact made Van Gogh acutely aware of the softness pressed against his arm. His face turned beet red.

Hua Xin didn't notice the man's flustered thoughts. Gu Mohan, however, as a man himself, keenly noticed Van Gogh’s uneasy expression. He reached out, grabbed Hua Xin’s arm, and pulled her toward himself.

Hua Xin slapped his hand away forcefully. "Don't touch me."

Gu Mohan: "..."

This woman had immense strength—she was nothing like the soft and delicate Ruan Jiaojiao!

Inside the spaceship, the atmosphere was pleasant. Without an internet connection or much in the way of entertainment, Bai Yao would sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows whenever it rained, watching the curtains of water. Shi Jiu had learned how to braid hair; he had already finished the left side of Bai Yao's long black hair into a fishtail braid and was now sitting on her right, his hands moving gently through her dark locks. His well-defined fingers wove through her soft hair, the contrast of black and white appearing like an intimate entanglement.

Bai Yao stifled a yawn, lazily relaxing her body as she leaned limply against him. Shi Jiu chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss her. Even with nothing to do, the two of them could spend every day quite happily just like this.

The others hurried into the spaceship. Gu Mohan and his two companions were all somewhat disheveled, a stark contrast to the couple sitting by the window, exuding the cloying scent of romance and enjoying a comfortable, cozy moment.