Chapter 322 Preliminary Test

"In that case, I'd better go out first."

While Xie Ping'an was still confused, Ling Shu next to him took the initiative to suggest leaving.

Xie Pingan came back to his senses and nodded, "Okay. Then you can go out first. I'll call you after I finish talking to Captain Qiao and the others."

"yes."

Ling Shu responded with a crisp salute, then turned and left the office.

"Captain Qiao, you just..."

After Ling Shu left, Xie Pingan asked the doubts in his heart.

Qiao Yu pursed her lips and didn't rush to speak. She first glanced at Jiang Zhan. Seeing Jiang Zhan nodded at her, she spoke with confidence: "Xie Commander, when did Miss Ling come to the base?"

"Xiaoshu was transferred to City G with us before the apocalypse." Xie Pingan narrowed his eyes, a hint of suspicion and uneasiness in his eyes. "Captain Qiao, what do you mean by asking this?"

He had some vague guesses in his heart, but subconsciously he didn't want to believe it.

Qiao Yu did not answer Xie Ping'an's question immediately, but continued to ask: "Then do you know what the relationship between Miss Ling and Chu Yiping is like?"

The uneasiness in Xie Ping'an's eyes grew stronger, but after thinking for a moment, he continued, "I don't know about that. I don't usually pay attention to the private lives of my subordinates."

That’s right.

Qiao Yu believed that if Xie Ping'an knew about his subordinates' private lives, he would never have used Yin Ji.

"Then may I ask, what task did you assign to Miss Ling? And what about the investigation she just mentioned?"

Ling Shu probably didn't mention the specific content of the mission and investigation just now because Qiao Yu and others were present.

"It's a mission to collect samples. I received a message saying there seems to be a mutant plant in Xiajiang that can purify water resources, so I sent her to take people to collect samples."

"As for the investigation...it's what you mentioned last time regarding the 331st Legion."

Qiao Yu raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, and his gaze shifted to the document in front of Xie Ping'an. "So... this document is the result of her investigation into the 331st Legion?"

"That's right." Xie Pingan picked up the document from the table again and handed it directly to Qiao Yu, "Captain Qiao, you can take a look."

Qiao Yu took the document, opened it and glanced through it, his eyes finally stopping at the "Investigation Results" on the last page.

There were only three big words clearly marked there: No abnormalities.

Qiao Yu let out a light breath and handed the document back to Xie Ping'an with the open page.

Xie Ping'an looked at the contents of the document and remained silent.

Qiao Yu's tone was slightly solemn. "Thank you, Commander, through the questions just now and this document, I think you should have guessed my thoughts. It's just that I can't confirm it yet. This will take some time."

"But before that, I hope you can try to maintain your normal attitude towards Ling Shu, but please don't assign her any important tasks."

Xie Pingan stiffened upon hearing this, and leaned heavily against the back of his chair. He set the documents aside, closed his eyes, and then slowly opened them again, like a prisoner who had been suddenly sentenced to death, his face half sorrowful and half relieved.

"I understand. I'll send..."

Xie Pingan paused for a moment. After a long silence, he let out a wry smile. "I'm truly ashamed. I've lived through most of my life, and I've experienced all sorts of ups and downs, but now I find that there's no one around me I can trust or rely on..."

Qiao Yu and the others felt sorry for Xie Ping'an's dejected look. Cheng Sinian pursed his lips and said, "Commander Xie, if you trust us, leave this matter to us."

Commander Xie was silent for a long moment after hearing this. He then exhaled heavily and sat up straight again slowly and firmly. "Since that's the case, I'll trouble you all with the verification."

Qiao Yu nodded, "Thank you, Commander, for your courtesy."

--

When Qiao Yu and the other three came out of Commander Xie's office, they happened to see Ling Shu walking towards them with a young man who looked to be in his early thirties.

Seeing Qiao Yu, Ling Shu showed a very friendly smile on his face, "Captain Qiao, have you finished talking to the commander?"

"Yes, Miss Ling." Qiao Yu also smiled faintly, "Who is this...?"

"Oh, this is Researcher Li from the survivor base in City B. We met him by chance during our mission. His team was separated, and the fate of the other members is unknown, so I brought him back."

City B?

Qiao Yu was very sensitive to this place and subconsciously looked at the man a few times.

"Captain Qiao, where are you going next? I didn't see your car when I came back just now. Do you need me to take you there?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Ling. But it's not necessary. We are planning to take a walk. But if you are free, Miss Ling, I do have something I want to ask you."

"Captain Qiao, please don't be polite to me. Please speak."

"I'd like to ask, does the base now have cenotaphs for the martyrs who died?"

Ling Shu was slightly taken aback when he heard this, as if he hadn't expected Qiao Yu to ask this question, but he still smiled and replied, "Captain Qiao, you know, after the apocalypse, countless people died. If we were to build a cenotaph, the entire city of G might not be enough."

"But I don't know which friend you would like to commemorate? If you really need this, I can report to the commander and discuss it..."

"Oh, that's not necessary. Sigh... During our mission to the exchange meeting in City A, the mercenary group that went with us was completely wiped out."

"We are friends with Colonel Chu after all, so we thought of asking for him. If there are no arrangements at the base, we can find a clean place outside the base to build a cenotaph for him. There is no need to apply for a special application." Qiao Yu said the reason he just made up while observing Ling Shu's expression calmly.

Sure enough, after hearing the news, Ling Shu's eyes flickered slightly, and the smile on his face became a little stiff.

"Captain Qiao, are you saying that Chu Yi...sacrificed himself?"

Her tone was relatively calm, but her voice was so soft, so soft that if you didn't listen carefully, you would think she was talking in her sleep.

"Alas." Qiao Yu sighed with a heavy expression, "Yeah, it's also our fault for not protecting him well."

"Miss Ling, are you on good terms with Colonel Chu? If so, I'll let you know once the cenotaph is ready. We can go and pay our respects together, as a way of bidding him farewell."

Ling Shu was silent for a while after hearing this, as if she was in a daze. It was not until she heard the young man beside her cough twice that she suddenly came to her senses and forced a smile. "Okay, I, I may not be familiar with Colonel Chu, but we are from the same hometown. If you have found a place, please let me know and I will go with you to set up a tomb for him."