Zi Xi didn't speak, but her eyes were fixed intently on his back.

Wen Zhaoye felt extremely uncomfortable, as if his scales were about to explode from Zi Xi's gaze.

"Don't look at me anymore."

He abruptly turned his head, his voice cold and hard, with a hint of barely perceptible grievance.

Zi Xi felt like laughing for no reason.

She even found his current irritable and insecure demeanor clumsy yet somewhat endearing.

"Instructor Zhou, you weren't at the base for a while?"

She spoke softly, her tone gentle to the point that she herself didn't realize.

Wen Zhaoye's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and his scarlet pupils widened slightly.

Seemingly completely unprepared to hear Zhou Zixi say she knew he wasn't at the base under these circumstances.

I couldn't help but want to curl the corners of my mouth into a smile.

An indescribable sense of joy suddenly surged into his heart, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to react.

I could only feel a faint burning sensation on the skin beneath the scales.

Just as the atmosphere became delicate, a shrill scream accompanied by heart-wrenching cries came from Xu's parents, seemingly coming from behind the wall on the other side.

It was also mixed with the excited roar of some kind of monster!

Clearly, Meng Nan and his group found another path, but it seems they chose the wrong one.

Xu's parents are likely in grave danger.

Wen Zhaoye clicked his tongue.

Those traitors interfered with the world he created, recklessly altered the rules, and introduced these unwanted rubbishes, trying to disrupt everything.

It almost injured the human he cherished.

He led Zixi and Mona to a seemingly inconspicuous stone door.

He placed his palm on a spot on the stone gate and channeled a wisp of dark energy into it.

The stone door slid open silently, revealing a clean and tidy room.

A soft sofa, a small coffee table piled high with all sorts of beautifully packaged snacks and drinks, and even a small basket of fresh fruit.

The opposite wall is a smooth screen.

"Stay here and don't wander off."

Wen Zhaoye pushed the still somewhat dazed Zi Xi and Mona inside.

He walked to the screen and operated it a few times. The screen lit up and split into several images, the clearest of which was the real-time situation on Xu Tiantian's side.

Zi Xi suddenly had the illusion of being back in the monitoring room.

This time, however, VIP seating and movie snacks are provided.

"Holy crap! Potato chips! Coke! Strawberries?!"

"Sister Xi! I declare you're my god! Following Sister Xi really does bring rewards! And the boss treats you really well!"

Mona stared wide-eyed at the snacks and drinks spread across the coffee table, letting out a happy whimper.

With Zi Xi's permission, she eagerly grabbed a bag of potato chips, tore it open, and started crunching away, completely absorbed in watching the movie.

Wen Zhaoye felt uncomfortable after Mona's strangely nice comment, and the skin under the scales began to feel faintly hot again.

He looked at Zi Xi and said in a gentler tone, "You all stay here and take care. I'll be back soon."

After saying that, he turned around, walked to the corner of the room, tore through space again, stepped into the surging darkness, and disappeared.

The stone gate closed quietly after he left.

"Boss, the traitor's location has been pinpointed. They've exploited a loophole in the authorization system and are entrenched in..."

Outside the spatial rift, Assistant Wen was already waiting. Upon seeing Wen Zhaoye, he immediately bowed his head respectfully.

"lead the way."