Why did you provoke me?

Yu Meng wasn't dwelling on this matter. Because Xu Jie had brought back a group of soldiers infected with black spores on the alien battlefield.

"Aunt Xu, what's going on with them?"

Xu Jie seemed to have aged considerably. "Yu Meng, tell me, when I was at the base, I felt like I had already learned it, and the operation was going smoothly, so why is it that when I tried to operate these soldiers, I couldn't succeed with a single one?"

Five soldiers, completely concealed, gave Yu Meng a standard military salute. "We're willing to let Teacher Xu experiment on us."

"Let me see what's going on first," Yu Meng said, making them all sit on the ground. "Relax, don't resist."

As expected, the examination revealed that these black spore aberrations were all parasitizing the heart area. And there was more than one.

Yu Meng personally demonstrated how to remove the alien from a soldier. Xu Jie watched very carefully and asked many questions, but as soon as he tried to do it himself, he just couldn't get it right. Her lines couldn't even reach the heart area.

Xu Jie looked very unwell. She looked at Yu Meng and said, "Commander, please think of a solution! I'm really getting old, and I'm willing but unable to do it."

Yu Meng didn't know how to comfort people, so she silently removed the black spores from the bodies of these soldiers one by one. This was at the base, and she couldn't leave any hidden dangers.

Looking at Yu Meng's pale face, Xu Jie knew he had made a presumptuous decision. "Commander, you should go and rest. I'll arrange things for them."

When Yu Meng didn't wake up the next day, everyone panicked. Qingyuan, not knowing what had happened, pressed Xu Jie for answers. "What did the commander do again? Weren't you on the battlefield? Why are you back?"

Xu Jie, his face full of remorse, recounted what had happened.

"Yu Meng was already injured once when she tried to remove the alien from her mother-in-law's brain. She slept for three days afterward." Qingyuan said with a face full of pity, holding Yu Meng's small hand. "This child is too soft-hearted. Such a big thing, and you brought her back without notifying the base. Do you have something on your mind?"

Xu Jie looked at Qing Yuan with dissatisfaction, "Whatever my thoughts are, don't you feel sorry for those soldiers?"

"Sister Xu, this is the second time you've brought back such a dangerous alien. I'm asking you, why didn't you do it even once when Grandma was here?" Qingyuan's face was very unpleasant. "Are you trying to destroy this base, trying to destroy Yu Meng?"

Xu Jie stood up angrily, "Qingyuan, watch your mouth. This is a base that Hua Jie and I built together. How could I destroy it?"

Qingyuan refused to back down, saying, "Since it's not the base, then it must be Yu Meng."

Xu Jie sat down. "I wouldn't argue with a child."

Qingyuan sat on the edge of the bed, gently holding Yu Meng's hand. After a long while, she whispered, "When my mother-in-law passed away, she told me to treat Yu Meng with sincerity, otherwise Yu Meng would leave. She didn't want to stay at the base; it was my mother-in-law who used her death to keep Yu Meng here."

Xu Jie fell silent. She was a little angry. Granny Hua had given such a large base to an outsider without even a word. What about her sisters who had always followed her? Therefore, when Nangong Tianshou found her, she had ulterior motives. But she really didn't want to harm Yu Meng; she just wanted to get rid of her.

Yu Meng woke up on the seventh day. Qing Yuan was pale and tears were streaming down her face. "Yu Meng, you're finally awake."

Yu Meng's face remained calm. "Aunt Qing, I'm hungry."

"Okay, okay, Aunt Qing will bring you some porridge right away. Wait a moment." Qingyuan hurriedly wiped away her tears and ran out.

Yu Meng lay in bed. Although she had been asleep these past few days, she could actually hear Qingyuan and Xu Jie's conversation. Therefore, she made a decision: she would give up the Jingchuan base. Her mother-in-law had been running it for too long, leaving her mark everywhere, and there were also many people with too many thoughts in their hearts. She was very tired.

And look, she slept for seven days, and nothing happened.

Qingyuan carefully looked after Yu Meng. Her already thin face was now only the size of a palm. Her slender wrists looked as if they would break at the slightest touch.

Secretary Wu peeked in and saw that Yu Meng was awake before entering the room. "Sir, the trainees' situation is far from ideal; only three out of three batches have passed."

Yu Meng looked at him weakly, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Do you have the contact information for the Tian Shou Base? I need to see Nangong Tian Shou."

Secretary Wu paused for a moment, then nodded. "Of course, but you're not fully recovered yet. How about we wait a few days?"

Yu Meng nodded. "Make an appointment with him for ten days from now. I'll be ready by then."

Secretary Wu left, but he felt uneasy; Yu Meng's expression was very strange.

When she woke up, she didn't ask a single question about the base, let alone about the people Xu Jie brought back. This was definitely not the attitude of the base's leaders. Moreover, the trainees' advanced training program had actually been suspended; the last time they talked to her about it, she had frowned, looking as if it was impossible.

Qingyuan took good care of Yu Meng, and she was able to get out of bed three days later, recovering very well. However, Yu Meng didn't inquire about the base's affairs. Secretary Wu came again and asked a few questions, but Yu Meng didn't give any clear answers.

"Sir, the leader of the Sky Hunt Base will be visiting tomorrow. What preparations should we make?" Secretary Wu asked softly.

"It's not a formal meeting, no need for all that trouble. Once they arrive, just bring them over." Yu Meng's tone was indifferent, without any outward emotion.

Secretary Wu left with a heavy heart, finally realizing that something was very wrong with Yu Meng.

Nangong Tianshou was quite surprised to receive the invitation from Jingchuan Base. He didn't think Yu Meng would need to see him; she was just a cunning little fox with considerable strength. However, he didn't refuse. He wanted to know what Yu Meng wanted to see him about after only a few days.

When Nangong Tianshou sat down in front of Yu Meng, he looked at her in surprise, "I thought you wouldn't let yourself get this messy."

"There's nothing I can do, some things are beyond my control," Yu Meng said bluntly. "My body won't allow me to continue pushing it, otherwise my lifespan will be very short, and I really want to live."

Nangong Tianshou looked at her silently. "But that old woman chose you."

Yu Meng looked intently at Nangong Tianshou, "Will you destroy this base?"

Nangong Tianshou's face showed an expression of annoyance. "I don't know."

"But I know that if I continue to sit in this position, the base will be destroyed in my hands," Yu Meng said softly.

Nangong Tianshou placed his hands clasped together on the table. "With your intelligence, this shouldn't be a problem."

Yu Meng nodded, "But I don't want to ruin my body to protect the base. I was unconscious for seven days this time because I didn't want the base to be destroyed. If there is a next time, I can't guarantee that I won't take action. If I don't take action, the result will be the destruction of the base."

Yu Meng looked at Nangong Tianshou seriously, "You are the most suitable candidate, and you are the only one who can't bring yourself to destroy your mother-in-law's life's work."

"You're asking me to take advantage of someone in distress, which will make me look bad."

Yu Meng smiled, "No one would dare say that about you. You are also a person with great love."

"Flattery won't work. If you want me to take over, I have one condition: you have to lend a hand if I encounter any problems."

Yu Meng smiled and nodded, "As long as you can afford my fee, I won't refuse."

Nangong Tianshou agreed. He could tell that Yu Meng really didn't want to get involved in these matters anymore. The little bit of goodwill she had for her mother-in-law had been completely worn away by these people.

Yu Meng went to see Sister Xiu and told her her decision: she was going home to recuperate and would not be coming back.

Xiu Jie didn't say anything, but went back to pack her things. She was going home with Yu Meng.

Yu Meng also greeted Nangong Tianshou and mentioned Xia Xuan and Chu Qinghe's talents. As for how Nangong Tianshou treated them, that was beyond Yu Meng's control. Since the two were reluctant to give up the opportunity to become Bone Painters, Yu Meng understood and wished them well.