“I’m just doing my best to soothe little Hu’s emotions. Speaking of which, Miss Xiaoyu, how are things looking outside?”
Hearing An Xiaoyu’s voice from behind her, Bai Yuling answered her question while also taking the opportunity to ask about the situation outside.
“All the civilians outside have been gathered into the prison shelter. Not a single one was left behind.”
“That’s good. Thank you for your help, Miss Xiaoyu. Otherwise, with such a large area, we really couldn’t have been sure if we’d missed anyone.”
“Don’t thank me, Director Bai. It’s what I should be doing. Also, what are my next orders?”
“Your next orders are to stay here and help the others protect the civilians.”
“Got it. Nothing else, right?”
“Nothing else.”
“Then I’ll head up to the prison tower now—the view up there is the clearest.”
“I’ll come over with little Hu in a bit.”
“See you then.”
“See you.”
With that, An Xiaoyu once again controlled the waves beneath her, dragging her mermaid body as she climbed up toward the tower not far away.
Watching An Xiaoyu, who hadn’t yet fully disappeared from her sight, and fixing her gaze on the fish tail beneath her, Bai Yuling asked Hu Yao’er with some curiosity.
“Little Hu, how did your Free Life Association manage to recruit Miss Xiaoyu as one of your members?”
“How did we recruit Sister Xiaoyu? It’s simple—our leader, Daoyan, showed off her immense and unparalleled strength, and after that, Sister Xiaoyu naturally became a member of our organization.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. What else could it be?”
“But Miss Xiaoyu—she doesn’t really seem suited for life on land. So before joining your organization, she must have lived in the water all along.”
Not getting the answer she wanted, Bai Yuling continued pressing Hu Yao’er.
Hearing this, Hu Yao’er replied with some confusion.
“Sister Xiaoyu did live in the water before. Is there a problem?”
“Of course there’s a problem. How exactly did your organization’s leader—Daoyan—manage to find Miss Xiaoyu across all the vast waters in the world?”
Seeing that Hu Yao’er still didn’t grasp what she was really asking, Bai Yuling directly voiced the doubt in her mind.
“Oh, so that’s what you’ve been wanting to ask, Auntie Bai.”
Hearing Bai Yuling put it that way, Hu Yao’er finally understood what she was getting at, and a look of realization dawned on her face as she spoke.
“So, little Hu, do you know the answer to that question?”
“Of course I do.”
“Since you know, then tell me quickly—I’m really curious about this.”
Hearing Hu Yao’er’s words, Bai Yuling urged her on.
Faced with Bai Yuling’s urging, Hu Yao’er didn’t rush to answer. After about ten seconds of thinking and organizing her thoughts, she finally replied.
“Auntie Bai, as it happens, it was quite a coincidence. Our leader found Sister Xiaoyu in such a vast body of water because that day, when she went out, she happened to run into Sister Xiaoyu sunbathing on the beach. Then, through the process I mentioned earlier, Sister Xiaoyu naturally became part of our organization.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. What else could it be? Hmm… didn’t we just say the same thing earlier?”
After answering Bai Yuling’s question, Hu Yao’er suddenly realized something and muttered that to herself.
“I never expected Miss Xiaoyu joining your organization to be such a coincidence. I thought your leader had some special ability to find exceptional supernaturals like her.”
“If Daoyan really had that kind of special ability, our organization wouldn’t be as small as it is now.”
“True.”
“Anyway, enough about that. Auntie Bai, I should go do the tasks you assigned me. I hope we all make it through today safely.”
“Mm, go on.”
After responding to Hu Yao’er, Bai Yuling watched her walk out of sight.
Withdrawing her gaze, knowing she still had things to do, Bai Yuling turned and headed toward where she was supposed to be.
“So many ghosts… Looks like the Abyss Rift is about to open. Right on time.”
Flying above Defensewind City, Daoyan looked down at the ghosts occasionally surfacing from the ground and felt the Abyss energy coming from all directions—she knew the rift’s opening was imminent.
“Daoyan, can you hear me?”
Hearing a voice come through the radio transceiver clipped to her chest, Daoyan quickly pressed the button and replied.
“Director Bai, I can hear you. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Hearing Daoyan’s voice from the transceiver, Bai Yuling wasted no time and said.
“Daoyan, once the Abyss Rift opens, please stay calm and don’t act rashly—unless the shelter’s defenses are overwhelmed or a three-star Abyss beast shows up.”
“Director Bai, haven’t you already told me all this before?”
“I know I’ve said this to you already, but given the serious situation we’re facing now, I think it’s necessary to repeat it. Otherwise, if you make a wrong judgment call, that wouldn’t be good.”
“Director Bai, do you see me as someone impulsive?”
Daoyan asked Bai Yuling through the transceiver.
“Of course not. I just want to be prepared.”
“Prepared, huh? Yeah, I can understand that, Director Bai.”
Understanding the concerns in Director Bai’s mind, Daoyan didn’t plan to say anything more after that. But just then, she noticed a thin black line appear in the distance, connecting heaven and earth. Her brow furrowed immediately, and she spoke into the transceiver.
“Director Bai, the Abyss Rift has opened.”
“The Abyss Rift has opened? That’s sooner than I expected.”
