Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng's car quickly left the town. Xiu Jie got out of the car and flinched at the scene before her.

Countless fully armed men in black stood in formation on either side of a plane. Yu Meng pulled Xiu Jie up, "Don't be afraid, they're just people who came to pick me up."

Xiu Jie felt her legs go weak. Yu Meng pulled her along, and she followed her onto the plane, trembling.

On the plane, a neatly dressed woman placed a stack of documents in front of Yu Meng. "Sir, this is all the information. Dean Qing has recalled three bone-drawing masters. The rest are a bit far away and will take some time."

Yu Meng nodded, took the documents, and read them carefully. "How many times a year does this happen?" Yu Meng asked softly.

"Normally, the local base can handle it. This is a new battlefield, and they were the first to enter; there's no information available," the woman said crisply.

Yu Meng looked at her, "You're doing research with Aunt Qing? I don't think I've seen you before."

"My name is Huang Yan. I went to the battlefield with my squad."

Yu Meng's eyes lit up. "Which squad are you in? Are you one of Granny Hua's subordinates?"

Huang Yan shook her head, "All my skills were taught by Aunt Qing. She's like a mentor to me. That's why I'm in Aunt Qing's team."

"Are you one of those three bone painters?" Yu Meng asked.

Huang Yan nodded. "I just got back, and the teacher let me participate, saying it would be good for me to broaden my horizons."

Yu Meng couldn't help but chuckle softly, wondering how she could have said those words.

Sister Xiu also looked at Huang Yan, thinking, "She's too naive. Talking about watching the drama so openly is a bit inappropriate."

Yu Meng could understand it somewhat. When you talk to Aunt Qing, you don't need to beat around the bush. Aunt Qing speaks very directly and never gossips behind people's backs.

The plane was very fast. Yu Meng left in the morning, but unexpectedly returned the next morning.

Qingyuan stood at the airport and saw Yu Meng get off the plane. She hurriedly came up to her and said, "Are you exhausted? I had someone make some meat porridge and side dishes. Go and eat something first. You'll be busy later."

Yu Meng nodded without refusing. She pulled Xiu Jie, who was behind her, along. "Aunt Qing, let Xiu Jie come along later too."

"Okay, you go and rest first. I'll take care of everything. I'll have her follow me from now on."

Yu Meng gave Sister Xiu a reassuring look, then turned and left with Secretary Wu.

Yu Meng stared at the photograph in Secretary Wu's hand. Could this still be called human? The human body resembled a piece of dead wood, with countless tentacles floating on it. Those tentacles moved without wind; clearly, this alien was a living being.

Secretary Wu pursed his lips for a long time before speaking. "It's rare for someone to ask all the bases for help like this. There must be something we don't know about this. Just do your best, Chief, and don't be careless. This is a new Xenomorph; nobody knows what its characteristics are."

Yu Meng glanced at him. Not bad, he knew to remind her not to risk her life.

"Send the parasite to the first laboratory. All soldiers, stand by inside. Two people are sufficient for the laboratory." Yu Meng gave her first order upon entering the base.

Secretary Wu hesitated for a moment, then quickly spoke up. "Sir, this is not in accordance with regulations. It will make the visitors think we don't take this matter seriously enough, and it will damage your reputation."

"They've sent a source of contamination. Am I supposed to add all my soldiers to it? Should our base even continue?" Yu Meng's voice was cold.

"One more thing, Secretary Wu, if we cure this person, can we agree on how the profits will be divided?"

Secretary Wu's mouth dropped open. "I hadn't thought about that. Chief, can we really cure him?"

"Who knows? But since they used my skills, I should be paid something. I can't work for free, can I?"

Secretary Wu's eyes lit up. "I'll go find our diplomats right away and negotiate with them to discuss profit sharing. The leader is right, we can't work for nothing!"

Secretary Wu left in high spirits.

Yu Meng watched Secretary Wu walk away, feeling a little puzzled. Li Yiqing offered her a high reward for even something as simple as peeling noodles. This was such a big matter, and Secretary Wu hadn't even thought to ask for any reward? Was Yu Meng a bit foolish as a secretary?

Back in her lounge, Yu Meng forced herself to clear her mind. Slowly, her breathing became long and even.

Yu Meng felt like she hadn't fallen into a deep sleep when she was startled awake by a knock on the door.

"Sir, the plane will arrive at our base in 5 minutes. We need to get up and prepare," Secretary Wu's voice rang out from outside.

Yu Meng responded. She washed her face, tidied her clothes, making herself look neat and tidy, before opening the door and going out.

"Sir, I talked to Lao Lei about wanting some benefits, and Lao Lei patted his chest and guaranteed that he would take care of it."

Yu Meng glared at him. "Isn't this mutual assistance between bases? We only did a little bit, how can we ask for benefits from them? Secretary Wu, you need to really learn the art of language."

Secretary Wu's eyes widened considerably. Then, with a broad smile, he said, "Yes, sir, you're right. We were just helping each other out, but since they wanted to give us a thank-you gift, we felt bad refusing them, don't you think?"

Yu Meng nodded with a tense expression. "In a little while, depending on the situation, if there's nothing else, you can lead them all away."

"Have them all leave. I'll wait outside in case you need anything, so I can run errands for you." Secretary Wu said earnestly.

Well, at least he's loyal.

Yu Meng arrived at the First Laboratory, where Qingyuan had already completed all the preparations.

Yu Meng frowned. "Why are there so many people?"

Qingyuan stepped forward. "They're here, we can't let them lose out. This is our territory."

"Aunt Qing, if that parasite spreads very quickly, are you trying to wipe out our entire base?"

Qingyuan's smile vanished. "Yu Meng, it's not as serious as you say, is it?"

"If it were an easy thing, they could send it to other bases. But this could be a huge bomb, and whoever lands on it will be unlucky."

"Aunt Qing, before they arrive, quickly hide all our soldiers, just leave two behind. Good things must be hidden; they can't see them."

Qingyuan hesitated for a moment.

"Aunt Qing, hurry up! If they come and we have to leave, it will be even worse," Yu Meng urged.

Qingyuan walked up to someone and said something to that person. The person looked up at Yu Meng and Yu Meng nodded.

With just a gesture, everyone followed the leader and withdrew.

Qingyuan looked at the group of people in front of the door, still somewhat worried. "Yu Meng, will this really work?"

"Fine, this is our territory, I call the shots. If they don't want to land, that's even better."

Yu Meng looked at the two bone painters and asked softly, "Aunt Qing, are they easy to get along with? Will they cause me trouble?"

Qingyuan led Yu Meng to the other three bone painters. "Let me introduce you. This is our base's new leader, highly recommended by Grandma. Yu Meng, you know Huang Yan, she picked you up. She's also my half-disciple, very talented, you'll have to give her a lot of guidance in the future. This is Teacher Wang and Teacher Sun, they are the base's bone painters, stationed in the alien battlefield, very powerful, and two of the four pillars of our base."

Both were in their forties, but very well-maintained. Their hands were fair and slender. Most importantly, their faces were always smiling, and they nodded kindly to Yu Meng. "Greetings, Chief. Please guide me in the future."

Yu Meng was very curious, "You all seem to agree with your mother-in-law's perspective."

Everyone laughed. "Does that mean we have to use our seniority to find fault with you for it to be considered normal?" Teacher Sun said with a smile.

"People who can be confidants with their mother-in-law are definitely not ordinary people. She once told me that she has four trusted advisors by her side, and she can entrust everything to them." Yu Meng's face was full of smiles. "I hope we can work together happily in the future."

Yu Meng pulled Xiu Jie aside, "This is Xiu Jie. I hope all the teachers will give me more guidance in the future. If my proposed experimental garden is successful, I will share the experimental results with all the teachers."

Teacher Sun and Teacher Wang exchanged a glance. "Are you really willing to share?"

Yu Meng smiled brightly. "We're in the same boat. If we're going to be together, we're going to be together; if we're going to be in trouble, we're in trouble together."