Chapter 136 Test Passed
Ruan Ning returned to the outer city and relayed Qin Li's words to Sun Hong and the others. The women were both nervous and expectant.
"We will definitely do our best to pass the test!" Sun Hong declared on behalf of everyone.
A few days later, under Qin Li's arrangement, Sun Hong and fourteen other women with relatively good physical condition and strong will, including five superhumans, were taken to a military training ground at the border between the outer city and the inner city to participate in a secret entry test.
The tests are brutal and direct: extreme weight-bearing cross-country running, obstacle course, basic combat, superpower control and endurance, and psychological stress tests in the face of simulated extreme situations.
Ruan Ning, Zhou Min, and Lin Yan waited outside. They could hear commands, heavy breathing, and occasional suppressed groans coming from inside.
A whole day.
As evening fell, the training ground doors opened. Fifteen women emerged, supporting each other. Each was soaked to the bone, covered in dust and abrasions, and nearly exhausted, but their eyes shone with an astonishing light.
Qin Li followed behind and nodded to Ruan Ning: "Fifteen people, all passed the basic test. Their willpower is commendable, especially those few with special abilities, they have good potential. Next, they will enter the recruit preparation camp for three months of closed training. During the training period, they will be basically isolated from the outside world."
Sun Hong walked up to Ruan Ning, sweat dripping from her chin. She tried to stand up straight: "Captain Ruan, we...did it. Thank you."
Ruan Ning looked at them and said only one sentence: "Live well and become stronger."
The women were picked up by military trucks and taken to unknown training camps.
There were only a dozen or so people left in the prefab houses, most of them older or weaker. Ruan Ning left some points and supplies, telling them to support each other and that they could also try to find some relatively safe odd jobs within the base.
After dealing with Sun Hong's situation, Ruan Ning's life temporarily returned to normal. She began to frequently visit the inner city to see her grandparents and gradually learn more about the base through Qin Li. Zhou Min and Lin Yan, on the other hand, were active in the outer city, taking on missions, continuing to gather information, and steadily improving their abilities using the crystal cores Ruan Ning had brought.
Da Huo seemed to have adapted to life at the base. Wearing a control collar on its feet, it spent most of its time quietly in the yard, only following Ruan Ning when she went out.
Several seemingly peaceful days passed. One afternoon, Ruan Ning had just returned from the inner city when Zhou Min brought her some new news:
"The outer city has been rather unsettled lately. The 'Merchant Alliance' and the 'Hunter Alliance' have clashed several times at the border of several districts over a newly discovered underground warehouse that hasn't been fully looted yet. People have died on both sides. The patrols can't handle it, and the committee seems to be watching from the sidelines."
“Furthermore,” Zhou Min said gravely, “I’ve heard that the ‘research institute’ has been acquiring large quantities of mutated plant samples recently, especially those with psycho-interference properties or special life activities. The prices are very high. I suspect it’s related to the strange tree we encountered in the town.”
Ruan Ning's eyes narrowed.
Mutant plants, mental interference, special life activities... these keywords make it hard for her not to think of the absorbed emerald green crystal core, and the areas that the "Origin" project might involve.
A few days later, Qin Li took the initiative to find Ruan Ning in the small building she rented in the outer city.
He brought a sealed document bag.
“Take a look at this.” He pushed the file folder toward Ruan Ning.
Ruan Ning opened it; inside were several photos and a short report.
The photos show the remains of some mutated plants, located in a valley about 20 kilometers northwest of the outer city.
The report mentions that the area has unusually lush vegetation and signs of mental disturbance. A civilian exploration team strayed into the area and all members went insane, killing each other. Only one person escaped and returned with a small number of samples, but he too went insane. The samples were then bought by the "research institute" at a high price.
"It happened less than a week after we left Qinglin Town," Qin Li said, pointing to the report's date. "The location is different, but the characteristics are very similar. The research institute acted very quickly."
Ruan Ning put down the photo: "How much do they know? About that tree, about us?"
“Uncertain.” Qin Li shook his head. “The person who escaped back went mad and spoke incoherently. But the people at the research institute are very interested, especially in the descriptions of ‘mental interference’ and ‘abnormal life activity.’ They are now openly offering high prices to buy similar samples, but privately, I found out that they are also secretly inquiring whether other teams have encountered similar incidents, especially… whether any survivors brought back special spoils.”
Zhou Min frowned, "Are they looking for us? Or rather, for the crystal core of that tree?"
“Possibly,” Qin Li said. “The research institute has deep reach and many informants in the outer city. Although you exchanged crystal cores, rented houses, and Sun Hong and the others participated in the test through a fast track, it may not be entirely hidden. If they are determined to investigate, they will notice you sooner or later.”
Lin Yan asked, "What do you want to do?"
Qin Li looked at Ruan Ning: "Two paths. First, you keep a low profile for now, try not to take on any missions outside the city, and reduce public contact with the inner city until I have cleaned up the traces on my side. Second, take the initiative to contact the research institute."
"Take the initiative to make contact?" Ruan Ning looked up.
“Yes.” Qin Li leaned forward. “Approach them as a ‘survivor who accidentally obtained a special plant sample.’ On one hand, we can test their reactions and the information they have. On the other hand, we might be able to get more information about these mutated plants from them. Of course, the risk is very high.”
Ruan Ning paused for a moment: "You tend to favor the second option."
“Yes,” Qin Li admitted. “Passive hiding is not the solution. Since the research institute has already started investigating, instead of waiting for them to come to us, we should take the initiative. I will arrange for reliable people to create a plausible backstory of ‘discovering a sample.’ You just need to appear at the appropriate time with the ‘sample’—it could be a non-core part of that tree’s remains, or something else inconspicuous but with its characteristics.”
“What if their interest in the sample goes beyond the scope of ‘research’?” Zhou Min asked.
“That proves they really have a problem.” Qin Li’s eyes turned cold. “I will secretly deploy surveillance to ensure your safety. If necessary, I can use my connections with the military to exert pressure. No matter how special the research institute is, it must obey the overall management of the committee and the military.”
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