“Oh, so the things Sister Shen said earlier actually had that kind of meaning behind them.”
“What, Xiao Qi, is that look in your eyes supposed to mean you’re looking down on me?”
Noticing the change in Yan Qi’s expression, Shen An’an put her hands on her hips and deliberately spoke to her with a hint of feigned anger.
“I wouldn’t dare look down on you, Sister Shen—after all, you’re the captain of our team.”
Faced with Shen An’an, who seemed a bit upset, Yan Qi—who had always lived by the creed of not picking a fight she couldn’t win—quickly made the wise choice to back down.
“I figured you wouldn’t dare.”
Seeing Yan Qi yield to her, Shen An’an wore a smug expression as she spoke.
“Come to think of it, Xiao Qi, which shelter are your parents staying at right now?”
Suddenly remembering Yan Qi’s parents, Shen An’an asked her with a tone of concern.
In response, Yan Qi pointed to the underground bomb shelter not far behind her and replied.
“My mom and dad are in that shelter made from the underground bomb shelter right behind us.”
“Oh, so your parents are in that underground bomb shelter behind us? But I remember your home isn’t within that shelter’s coverage area.”
Recalling the time she had visited Yan Qi’s house, Shen An’an knew very well that her home was quite far from the bomb shelter, so she couldn’t help but ask with some curiosity.
On this question, Yan Qi didn’t intend to hide anything and quickly answered her.
“I called my parents yesterday.”
Hearing Yan Qi’s reply, Shen An’an—who was by no means slow-witted—quickly grasped the implication of her words and said with a tone of sudden realization.
“I see. No wonder your parents ended up in that underground bomb shelter so far from your home.”
After saying that, Shen An’an paused briefly, then looked up at the sky above—which should have been a brilliant blue but was now a murky gray—and said.
“Xiao Qi, after this Abyss Rift incident is over, how many of us in the Supernatural Affairs Bureau do you think will still be alive?”
Hearing this, Yan Qi froze for a moment, then chose not to directly answer her question. Instead, she replied with a reassuring tone.
“I’ll do my best to join in on your shelter operations, Sister Shen.”
Hearing Yan Qi’s non-answer, Shen An’an was taken aback for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“Mm, then let’s—the two of us and the rest of our colleagues at the Supernatural Affairs Bureau—give it our all together.”
——-
As noon drew nearer and nearer, the three-star Abyss Rift caused by the spiritual tide had yet to officially open, but all sorts of supernatural phenomena related to it had already begun to appear one after another.
“The situation really doesn’t look good.”
Staring at the sky that had shifted from gray to pitch black, and catching the putrid, decaying scent seeping through from the Abyss, Si Yexing—knowing that the rift’s opening was not far off—couldn’t help muttering to herself.
“Yeah, it really doesn’t. I wonder if all of us from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau, our sister departments, and your Free Life Association combined can protect so many civilians during the three hours the three-star Abyss Rift stays open.”
Hearing Si Yexing’s muttering, the Supernatural Affairs Bureau member standing beside her—wearing an equally grim expression—chimed in.
“Mortal, don’t be so pessimistic. Although this three-star Abyss Rift opening over Defensewind City is indeed dangerous, haven’t we already made ample preparations? I believe we can absolutely make it through the next three hours.”
Catching the pessimism in her colleague’s tone, Si Yexing—who disliked anyone approaching today’s mission with that kind of mindset—turned to her and said this, telling her not to let negative emotions drown her.
“Sorry, I lost my composure.”
Wiping the cold sweat from her brow brought on by nervousness, the Supernatural Affairs Bureau member beside Si Yexing apologized to her.
“Just make sure you know you lost your composure. Don’t make me—Death herself—have to remind you again.”
After saying that coldly to her colleague, Si Yexing stopped paying her any mind and walked out of the school grounds.
“Miss Yexing, where are you going?”
“Death is going outside to check on the defenses around the school campus. I don’t want any slip-ups here once the three-star Abyss Rift opens.”
With that, Si Yexing left the Fourth Middle School campus and stepped outside to inspect the surrounding defenses.
“Auntie Bai, how are the defenses around the prison shelter?”
Hu Yao’er, having just seen Bai Yuling return from outside, immediately asked her.
“Not bad—no major issues at least. Have you rested up?”
“I’ve been rested for a long time. I’m ready to head to the front lines and take down Abyss beasts anytime.”
Raising her two not-so-strong arms to show off her energy, Hu Yao’er replied to Bai Yuling.
Seeing Hu Yao’er lift her arms in such an adorable attempt to prove she was full of vigor, Bai Yuling smiled, reached out, and patted her head before saying.
“Good. That way, we’ll have even more confidence in protecting this prison shelter—which houses over thirty thousand people—over the next three hours.”
“Speaking of which, do we really have to keep protecting this shelter for the entire next three hours?”
Lowering her arms, Hu Yao’er—though she already knew the answer—pretended not to know and continued asking Bai Yuling.
To this, Bai Yuling sighed, then answered Yan Qi.
“There’s no way around it. These three-star Abyss Rifts caused by spiritual tides simply can’t be closed through ordinary means.”
“Ugh, I really don’t like this passive defensive state at all.”
Even though she had long expected Bai Yuling’s answer, Hu Yao’er still couldn’t help but show a hint of displeasure on her face.
Seeing that, Bai Yuling—who fully understood how Hu Yao’er felt—reached out and gently touched her cheek, saying comfortingly.
“There’s really no helping it.”
“Director Bai, what are you and little Hu up to?”
Having confirmed that no civilians had been left behind in the surrounding area, An Xiaoyu—riding the waves back to the prison shelter—looked at Hu Yao’er and Bai Yuling and asked.
