Chapter 63 Arriving Home

Along both sides of the street, colorful lights and ribbons are hung everywhere, and red-crowned crane flags symbolizing the spirit of the Dawn Base can be seen everywhere.

There were more pedestrians on the street than usual.

Yun Zhao leaned against the car window, curiously observing.

On the exterior walls of some buildings, balloons, banners, and eye-catching slogans are hung, making them visible when you look up.

[Two decades on the road to enlightenment, together we paint a new chapter for the future!]

Remember history, cherish the present, look to the future, and celebrate two decades of glory!

[Never forget our original aspirations, forge ahead with determination. The darkness has passed, let us walk together, embrace the sunshine, and let hope endure!]

Such as these.

Xie Tu, gripping the steering wheel and keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead, smiled slightly. "You can come out and explore tomorrow. There will be all sorts of activities, and some of the prizes are pretty good."

Yun Zhao turned to look at him, "Aren't you going?"

Xie Tu: "I'm not going."

Team Zero rarely participates in such events in previous years; the extremely noisy atmosphere is not suitable for them.

Especially Xie Tu.

With his heightened senses, an S-class Sentinel would magnify every subtle sound, every wisp of scent, and every glimmer of light in the midst of such a celebration.

These invisible storms created a series of unseen tempests, making it difficult for him to find peace.

Yun Zhao seemed to understand something and said, "I can help you build a mental barrier."

I'm afraid he'll refuse again.

Yun Zhao added, "Staying inside the base and blocking some of your senses won't have any impact."

In contaminated areas, the five senses are impaired, which may lead to sentinels misjudging unknown dangers.

But they've all come back now.

There is no need to be constantly on high alert.

"Captain, how about we go shopping together tomorrow?"

The rabbit in the back seat couldn't help but interject, "It seems like it's been many years since I've seen it."

Tao Haohao declared in his loud voice, "Yeah, let's all go together, it'll be lively and fun."

"It's a rare opportunity like this," Song Liang nodded.

Duan Xi, still half-asleep, chimed in, "Yes, there's a guide named Yun..."

Xie Tu glanced at them, "I can't argue with you."

"Alright, let's meet at the operations department tomorrow morning. After we've done our sightseeing in the afternoon, we'll all have dinner together in the evening."

Team Zero's tradition.

Every time we return from a mission, we organize a get-together.

Yun Zhao thought for a moment, "Then I'll treat you tomorrow. Can I bring a friend?"

Tomorrow is her birthday, and she's earned so many points, so she wants to treat everyone to dinner.

"Sure." Xie Tu didn't ask who she wanted to bring, assuming they were just people from her small town. "But you don't need to pay, let the four of them pay."

The four people in the back seat immediately fell silent.

The captain still remembers.

Duan Xi woke up immediately after dozing off.

Points are a small matter. I earned quite a few points thanks to Yun Zhao this time, so it's only right that I treat him.

He was worried about something else.

He pointed a gun at the captain in the contaminated area; I hope the captain doesn't remember that...

Yun Zhao pursed her lips, "They can treat us another day, I'll treat you tomorrow."

Xie Tu turned his head slightly to look at her. Seeing her insistence, he lowered his voice, though he didn't know what she was thinking. "Alright, let them treat us another day."

Since we're already a team, dividing things too clearly will only make us seem distant.

During the conversation, the car arrived at East Third Street.

The armored vehicle stopped not far from the bus stop.

Next to the platform, there were also eye-catching red slogans.

Twenty years ago, we welcomed the dawn; twenty years later, we create a glorious future together!

Her teammates got out of the car and helped her unload her things.

It mostly consisted of milk, bread, foods with short shelf lives, and miscellaneous snacks.

The quantity wasn't too large, just seven or eight large boxes.

To avoid being seen and causing unnecessary trouble due to envy, Song Liang and his companions carried their belongings and quickly ran up the stone steps next to the platform.

It was a little after nine in the morning.

The residential compound at No. 128 Dongsan Street is shrouded in a faint tranquility. Residents are either staying in their homes or have already gone out to work, and the place is quiet all around.

Yun Zhao walked at the very back, empty-handed, following Xie Tu.

The man's tall figure, coupled with his long, slender legs, carried two heavy boxes, yet he seemed to be carrying insignificant little items.

Her teammates walked at the very front.

The group of people, familiar with the place, slipped into Building No. 1, opened the unit's iron gate, entered the elevator, and pressed the button for the twelfth floor.

It's obvious that everyone knows her home address.

"There's no room left, Guide Yun. You and the captain should take the other elevator," Tao Haohao said to the two people outside the elevator, carrying two large suitcases.

The boxes were huge, filling the narrow elevator to the brim.

Without waiting for her reply.

Duan Xi had already pressed the close button, and the elevator doors closed in front of the two of them.

Xie Tu remained calm and composed as he pressed the elevator button again, waiting for another elevator to arrive.

The two have developed a tacit understanding, unlike the initial awkwardness.

Yun Zhao spoke first: "Captain, what time should we report to the operations department tomorrow?"

On his way back, Xie Tu spoke with Minister Duan twice more by phone.

Minister Duan said that she would be holding a meeting with several other combat teams today to make pre-battle arrangements, and asked everyone to rest for a day first.

Tomorrow, all members of Team Zero will attend a meeting at the Operations Department to receive their mission rewards.

"No need too early, how about 9:30?"

Xie Tu seemed to remember something, and suddenly turned his head, looking at her with deep eyes. "When I come back this time, I will apply for an extension of the next mission, help you fill out the training courses, and do daily physical training. You need to be mentally prepared."

Yun Zhao didn't react: "Huh?"

"The training course mainly covers knowledge related to contaminated areas, analyzes case studies of missions carried out by the four bases, explains the worldview of the old era, and determines the level of contaminated areas and the attributes of gatekeepers, etc."

Xie Tu paused for a moment before saying, "As for physical training, I will be in charge of it."

She had only recently awakened to become a guide; before that, she was just an ordinary person.

The town where they lived was resource-scarce and very weak. It didn't even have an A-level sentinel. They could only make ends meet and survive.

Xie Tu suspected that her poor physical condition was due to long-term malnutrition.

As the team leader, he had a responsibility to supervise her to improve her physical fitness.

"Remember to drink the milk you take back every morning."

Xie Tu said, "Spend the points you earn when you should, don't be stingy. If you need anything, just tell us..."

This was the first time Yun Zhao had heard him speak so much in one breath.

She wasn't given a chance to interrupt at all.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

Xie Tu was the first to carry the box inside.

Yun Zhao followed her inside, and only after the elevator doors closed did she softly reply, "I know, I will train hard, and I will drink milk every day."

She replied earnestly, "I'm super rich now, I can buy the things I need myself, thank you for your concern, Captain."

The elevator space is cramped.

Xie Tu stood sideways by the door, carrying two large boxes.

Hearing this, he turned his head to look at her, and his eyes met hers.

Her small face, no bigger than a palm, showed a serious and focused expression. Her eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, and her nose was straight and delicate. She was a head shorter than him, and when she looked up to meet his gaze, she had to tilt her head slightly.

She looks well-behaved and quiet.

The weather is hot.

Xie Tu felt his palms were sticky and sweaty. His expression returned to normal, and he didn't say anything more.