Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng followed Fu Ke to the fifth squad's rest room. Fu Ke was the officer in charge of receiving all the squads under Granny's command as they returned to base for rest. Therefore, Fu Ke was always the first to know about each squad's return.

"Fuke, tell me, what's wrong with this fifth squad?"

Fu Ke nodded. "First, in the past, when the squads returned, their eyes were always red, and there was a violent look in their eyes. But when the fifth squad returned, their eyes were normal, very calm, just a kind of bottomless darkness. When I saw them, I felt uneasy, as if something was staring at me."

Secondly, when I went up to greet the team leader, he seemed not to recognize me and walked right past me. The other team members did the same.

Yu Meng nodded. "Did you check the things they brought back? Was there anything unusual?"

"The collection vehicle was put entirely into the warehouse, and nothing was moved out, so I don't know yet."

"Sir, I've assigned a squad of soldiers to guard outside. I'm worried they might do something out of line."

Before Yu Meng even got close, she heard a shout. "Stop! This is the third warning. If you take another step forward, we will open fire."

The synchronized clanging of rifle bolts rang out at that moment.

Yu Meng's heart skipped a beat for no reason. The two groups had now clashed.

"Commander, wait a moment before you go over there. I'll go see what's going on first." Fu Ke stopped Yu Meng, who was walking forward.

"Let's go. If it's an alien, you won't be able to solve the problem even if you go." Yu Meng didn't stop walking. But she untied the threads and protected them on her left and right sides.

The captain of the fifth team was named Yan Lei, a young man in his early twenties. His eyes were calm and deep. Even when he saw Fu Ke and Yu Meng approaching, he did not lower his weapon.

Yu Meng looked at him and said, "I'm in charge of this base. You can tell me anything."

Yan Lei looked at Yu Meng, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. "You're the heir chosen by your mother-in-law?"

Yu Meng nodded. "It's me."

"We're infected with black spore aberration. We can do live experiments in the lab, we just hope..." He paused, "...don't give up on us."

Yu Meng was stunned, then nodded. "I need to check to be sure."

Yu Meng waved her hand, "Put down your weapons. They're for fighting aliens, not for our own people."

Fu Ke hurriedly stepped forward and pressed down both sides' weapons. "The commander is here. Let's talk things over calmly. Don't be impulsive."

The guard captain stepped forward. "Reporting, sir. If this black spore mutant can't be controlled, the entire base may be infected."

Yu Meng nodded. "I've read about this black spore aberration and know how serious it is. But they're still conscious. I promised my mother-in-law I'd take care of them."

Then Yu Meng looked at Fu Ke and said, "Defend this rest room. Go and bring them the necessary living supplies they need."

Fu Ke glanced at Yan Lei, but Yan Lei kept his head down and didn't even look at Fu Ke.

Yu Meng walked into the rest room, casually pointed at Yan Lei, and said, "Sit down, let me see what's going on."

Yan Lei obediently sat down, and Yu Meng carefully scanned his brain but found nothing.

"Commander, Black Spore's stealth skills are top-notch. When we left the Alien Battlefield, the instructor in charge said our condition resembled that of Black Spore aliens, but she was willing to let us come back to try our luck." Yan Lei's voice was low. "According to normal procedures, we would be sealed in the Alien Battlefield until we die."

Yu Meng didn't speak. She examined his brain a second time, but still found nothing.

The biggest problem with black spore heteromorphs is that they can't be found. If you can locate them, the rest is much easier to deal with.

Yu Meng examined Yan Lei's body, her eyes slowly moving to Yan Lei's heart, where there was plenty of blood and energy, which should also be a good place for parasites to take hold.

After watching for a while, Yu Meng smiled. "I think I've found it. Relax, don't resist. It's best to close your eyes and not have any emotional fluctuations."

Yan Lei blinked. They found it. So he wouldn't have to die, right? Then he heard Yu Meng's last words: "Don't let your emotions get the better of you."

Yan Lei took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, trying hard to suppress the overwhelming joy in his heart.

Fu Ke naturally heard Yu Meng's voice as well. "Commander, if it succeeds, will all the Black Spore Warriors on the battlefield be able to return?"

Yu Meng glanced at him but remained silent. He was dreaming; who knew what those people were really like? Besides, even if they all came back, she couldn't do so much by herself.

Fu Ke felt uneasy under Yu Meng's gaze, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He had heard that this new leader had some taboos. Could it be that what he had just said had touched on the leader's taboos?

Yan Lei obediently closed his eyes. Yu Meng looked at the others. "You all close your eyes too. No one is allowed to peek. Fu Ke, you go out too."

Although Yu Meng had kicked him out, Fu Ke was still very happy. As long as they could find the location of the Black Spore Xenomorph, none of them would have to die.

As for the leader's taboos, the words have already been spoken, and he's been dismissed. The leader probably isn't that petty.

Yu Meng looked at the black dot that had shifted position due to Yan Lei's emotional fluctuations. A sudden impulse arose in her mind. Should she test whether this black dot would move away from the heart area when emotions surged violently?

Yu Meng looked at Yan Lei and said, "I think I saw it wrong just now. That wasn't a black spore alien."

Yan Lei's eyes widened suddenly. "What did you say?" He even forgot to use honorifics.

Yu Meng's expression turned serious. "I said, I misread it just now."

Yan Lei's breathing was a little unsteady. "Commander, your joke is not funny at all."

Yu Meng nodded. "It really wasn't a funny joke."

Yan Lei was a little confused by Yu Meng's words. "Commander, do you mean you were joking with me just now?"

Yu Meng nodded again. "Close your eyes. I just conducted a small experiment."

Yan Lei stared at Yu Meng for a long while. "Commander, is there any hope for me?"

"You won't die for now. As long as you don't do anything reckless, you should be able to live for a long time." Yu Meng's fingers twitched slightly. "Now close your eyes and shut your mouth."

Yan Lei felt a little helpless; their leader seemed a bit mischievous. But judging from her relaxed demeanor, it shouldn't be a big problem.

The mind is the home of lines, so lines can come and go freely. But the heart is not the home of lines. The moment Yu Meng's lines touched Yan Lei's skin, she immediately encountered resistance.

Yu Meng stopped; she couldn't use brute force, this wasn't surgery.

Yu Meng sighed and looked at Yan Lei, "It seems like I can't get it out."

Yan Lei opened his eyes. He asked cautiously, "Commander, are you joking this time?"

Yu Meng's face turned serious. "As a leader, when have I ever joked?"

Yan Lei choked.