The fatigue of the past few days was dispelled by the cool morning breeze. Ning Yu took a deep breath and looked at the bustling scene before her with satisfaction. The men worked together to clear the ruins, the clanging and hammering composing a symphony of hope; the women sowed seeds on the reclaimed land, dreaming of a future harvest; the children chased and played among the ruins, their clear laughter washing away the bitterness that permeated the air.

"It seems we are gradually emerging from that shadow," Ning Yu muttered to himself, but his brows furrowed slightly. For some time now, he had felt a pair of eyes watching them from the shadows, a feeling of unease that wouldn't go away.

"Captain, look over there..." a team member whispered, pointing into the distance. Ning Yu followed his gaze and saw several blurry figures flash by, moving so fast that he would have barely noticed them if he hadn't had exceptional eyesight.

Was it just his imagination? Ning Yu wondered to himself. Ever since that battle, he had become unusually sensitive. Perhaps he was just being too nervous.

"Strengthen vigilance, I'll be right back," Ning Yu said in a low voice to his team members, then walked in the direction where the suspicious figure had disappeared. He deliberately slowed his pace, pretending to patrol, but actually observing secretly.

However, by the time he reached the area, the suspicious figure had vanished, leaving only rows of weeds swaying in the wind, as if mocking his paranoia.

"Could it be that I'm overthinking things?" Ning Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Back at the base, Ning Yu's unease did not dissipate, so he decided to send a few agile team members to investigate the situation.

"Remember, safety is the top priority. If you encounter any danger, turn back immediately!" Ning Yu repeatedly reminded him.

Several team members accepted the order and left, but they disappeared without a trace and never returned.

As night fell, Ning Yu stood on high ground, gazing at the dark night sky in the distance. The unease in his heart gradually turned into solemnity. He realized that a mysterious force was operating in the shadows, and their target was likely him and his newly rebuilt team.

"Guards!" Ning Yu shouted in a deep voice, his tone carrying an undisguised anxiety...

"Captain! What's wrong?!" Hearing Ning Yu's call, several team members rushed over immediately, their faces filled with worry. In recent days, they had experienced too many life-and-death separations, and having finally rebuilt their homes from the ruins, none of them wanted to face the threat of death again.

Ning Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "We don't have much time," he said in a deep voice. "The brothers we sent out haven't returned. There must be dangers in this area that we don't know about. Now, immediately gather all the team members who can still fight, strengthen the defenses, and also gather all the lighting equipment. Tonight, we can't let any corner slip by!"

Although the team members were puzzled, they understood the urgency of the situation and immediately acted according to Ning Yu's instructions. In an instant, the once peaceful stronghold was once again shrouded in a tense atmosphere.

Ning Yu gazed at the bustling crowd, his heart growing heavier. The fortifications were not yet fully repaired, and many team members had not yet returned to their peak combat readiness. If they were attacked now, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"We must find out their background!" Ning Yu clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes. He realized that sitting idly by would only put him in a passive position; only by taking the initiative could he seize the upper hand.

Under the cover of night, Ning Yu left the stronghold alone. He deliberately avoided main roads, choosing to wander through ruins and forests, trying not to leave any trace.

After walking for about two hours, Ning Yu arrived at a valley. Under the moonlight, the valley entrance looked deep and quiet, no different from the surrounding environment. However, Ning Yu's intuition told him that this place was not safe.

He slowed his pace and cautiously probed forward. Suddenly, a strange sound came from beneath his feet. Before he could react, the ground collapsed, and Ning Yu fell down.

"Damn it!" Ning Yu cursed under his breath as his body plummeted through the air. He struggled to adjust his posture while simultaneously releasing his supernatural power, creating a protective shield around his body.

With a loud bang, Ning Yu crashed heavily onto a pile of dry branches. Although protected by the shield, he still felt a sharp pain, as if his chest was about to explode.

"Cough cough..." Ning Yu struggled to his feet, using the dim light to survey his surroundings. It was a huge trap, with smooth rock walls all around, impossible to climb. Scattered at the bottom of the trap were animal skeletons, indicating that no one had been here for a long time.

"It seems they were prepared..." Ning Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew this was not the time to despair; he had to find a way to escape as soon as possible.

He carefully surveyed his surroundings, hoping to find a glimmer of hope for escape. Suddenly, he noticed what appeared to be a crack in the rock face; perhaps he could climb out from there.

Ning Yu endured the excruciating pain and slowly made his way to the crevice. The crevice was narrow, barely wide enough for him to pass through. He took a deep breath and began to climb…

After an unknown amount of time, he finally climbed out of the trap. However, before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, a distant light instantly alerted him. He tiptoed towards the light.

Through the dense bushes, Ning Yu saw a clearing with a bonfire burning. Several people in black uniforms were sitting around the fire, talking in hushed tones.

These people exuded a dangerous aura, and Ning Yu had no doubt that they were the mysterious force he was looking for.

He lowered his breath and slowly approached, trying to hear what they were saying. However, at that moment, one of them suddenly raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping towards Ning Yu's direction... "Who?!" the man in black shouted, abruptly standing up, a ball of flame instantly igniting in his hand. The others reacted immediately, drawing their weapons and warily looking around.

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