Chapter 122: Who Exactly Is She

"Can you detect the direction?" Wanqi Weihao's face was as dark as water. They were almost at their destination; he was truly unwilling to return empty-handed now.

Lou Yitong pointed directly toward the center of the Zerg gathering place without the slightest hesitation. It was no wonder Xuan Xuan felt a twinge of jealousy toward her talent. "It's right over there. Its mental strength is higher than mine. As soon as the effect of our agent wears off, we will likely be discovered."

"How far away is it?" Wanqi Weihao asked.

Lou Yitong shook her head. She could only judge based on the sensitivity of her mental power; she had no way of knowing the specifics.

"We're pulling back," Wanqi Weihao said, gritting his teeth after weighing the pros and cons.

Safety was the most important thing. He could not accept the consequences if anything happened to any of them.

"We've already come this far, and the agent's effect hasn't worn off yet, has it?" Xiao Daopeng said. For someone who studied the Zerg, there was nothing more exciting than entering their gathering place for the first time. They were about to reach the innermost area where they could learn so much more; he really did not want to turn back. Who knew when they would have another chance to come here if they left now?

"No," Wanqi Weihao said, his face cold and firm. "We are retreating now. We already know the location, so we can notify Zhan Yu and the others after we return, and we can all come back together then."

"What a shame." Wanqi Weihan sighed slightly. Turning back after getting this far... but he had always listened to Wanqi Weihao. Even if he was a bit mischievous on ordinary days, he knew the gravity of the situation now. He nodded and walked behind Wanqi Weihao.

Lou Yitong followed closely behind Wanqi Weihao as well. Xuan Xuan had entrusted her to them, and she always followed Wanqi Weihao's instructions.

Although Zheng Chao felt it was a pity, he followed Wanqi Weihao's lead, looking back at Zuo Chen and Xiao Daopeng. "Let's go. There will always be opportunities in the future."

Zuo Chen hesitated slightly but still felt it was too dangerous. Xiao Daopeng was even more reluctant.

"Once we get out and tell Zhan Yu, they will definitely come to encircle and suppress them, and we can follow them then," Wanqi Weihao persuaded.

Zuo Chen's eyes lit up and he nodded. His senior uncle was still around; it shouldn't be a problem to ask her for help.

Since everyone was leaving, there was nothing Xiao Daopeng could do no matter how determined he was. He nodded and looked back fiercely, telling himself over and over that they would be back—they would definitely be back.

Suddenly, Zuo Chen said, "Oh no."

Before Zuo Chen could explain, everyone realized what had happened: the agent had worn off.

"They're coming," Lou Yitong said, her face turning pale as she pointed in the direction she had mentioned earlier.

Wanqi Weihao's expression changed. It was too late.

He scooped up Lou Yitong, carried her on his back, and shouted in a low voice, "Go!"

Though carrying Lou Yitong, Wanqi Weihao did not slow down. He glanced back to ensure everyone was following; Zuo Chen was being carried on Zheng Chao's back.

With Lou Yitong guiding them, the group kept retreating. But before they had gone far, the Zerg behind them caught up, and Lou Yitong signaled that more Zerg were approaching from the front as well.

Setting Lou Yitong down, Wanqi Weihao gritted his teeth and, in a moment of resolve, reached for the chain around his neck. Wanqi Weihan stepped forward to stop him. "No!"

"What time do you think it is? Why are you still arguing? Hurry and go!" Zuo Chen roared.

Wanqi Weihao pushed Wanqi Weihan's hand away and linked his mental power to the object in his hand.

In an instant, a black mecha appeared before them. Its surface was understated, yet it gave off an underlying sense of danger, looking somewhat similar to Wanqi Lianhao's mecha.

Wanqi Weihan protested, "The mecha grade is too high. Your mental strength isn't enough to control it freely, and you're too young—the burden on your body will be too great. Have you forgotten what Third Uncle said?"

"Do you think we have time to worry about that now?" Wanqi Weihao replied, opening his mecha and jumping inside.

Glancing at the mecha behind him and his companions, Wanqi Weihan gritted his teeth and deployed his own mecha—a gray version of the same model. "We'll clear the path; you stay behind us."

These two mechas were gifts from Wanqi Lianhao for their admission into the Federal First Military Academy. The reason for the age restriction on schooling was that the body could not withstand the internal pressure of a mecha while the bones were still developing. The academic age and curriculum were designed so that federal students could begin piloting training only after entering university, but both Wanqi Weihao and Wanqi Weihan had entered the school earlier than usual.

They were still far too young to pilot mechas. Although they had had some contact with them previously, Wanqi Lianhao had strictly controlled the duration and intensity of their time in the cockpits.

Watching the two of them board their mechas, Xiao Daopeng gritted his teeth, hoisted Lou Yitong onto his back without a word, and followed behind the mechas.

Lou Yitong's eyes were red; she knew she was holding them back. Xiao Daopeng, who was carrying her, felt even more guilty—if not for his insistence on pushing forward, they wouldn't have fallen into such danger.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lou Yitong began to sing in a low voice. This was the first song Xuan Xuan had taught her, and she had never sung with such intensity before. She had never felt such deep emotions. As the rhythm grew more impassioned, even Wanqi Weihao inside the mecha couldn't help but look back.

The Zerg were closing in; even Wanqi Weihao and the others could see their forms now. They were within reach, and the tension mounted. Lou Yitong remained unaffected, continuing to sing her song in a low, steady voice. It was the only way she could help them.

As the song reached its climax, the group moved even faster. Even Wanqi Weihao and Wanqi Weihan, who had been struggling, felt a surge of ease. Looking up at the Zerg now right before them, they fired their energy cannons. Checking the energy gauge, Wanqi Weihao saw they had enough for ten more shots.

Under the impact of the energy cannons, the Zerg in front hesitated and retreated slightly. Wanqi Weihan followed with another shot.

His mecha moved with agility, stepping forward to finish off a Zerg that had been hit but not immediately killed. Green blood splattered. Wanqi Weihan froze. Even though he had seen death and Zerg on screen and the StarNet many times, experiencing it firsthand and doing it himself was indescribable.

Yet, there was a faint trace of excitement—yes, excitement.

He, too, could strike down the Zerg.

The threat the Zerg posed to the Federation, all the losses they had caused, and everything they had done to humanity more than a decade ago—every federal citizen kept these things in their hearts. The Zerg were the Federation's greatest enemy, without exception. Destroying them was the responsibility of every citizen.

"Weihan!" Wanqi Weihao shouted, cleaving a Zerg next to Wanqi Weihan with his energy blade.

Wanqi Weihan snapped out of his daze and fired another energy cannon blast at the Zerg ahead.

"I'll take the rear, you clear the path." The mechas were faster than the four on foot, so Wanqi Weihao gave the order. Wanqi Weihan nodded, eyeing the Zerg closing in on the others.

"I didn't expect them to be so united," Zhan Yu remarked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of admiration.

Xuan Xuan nodded. She had been monitoring the entire situation with her mental power. Wanqi Weihao and the others were doing quite well, especially at their age and in such a life-or-death situation; they hadn't hesitated at all to choose not to abandon anyone. Even Kuang Shao, for once, refrained from making any sarcastic remarks.

They were all soldiers, and the thing they despised most was abandoning their own. Wanqi Weihao and his group had truly done well.

"A-Shao," Zhan Yu called out.

Years of unspoken synergy meant no extra words were needed. Both simultaneously deployed their mechas—one a brilliant red, the other a deep, somber black.

"You go out first?" Zhan Yu said to Xuan Xuan. Since a battle was about to begin, he worried he wouldn't be able to look after her. She was only in her teens and couldn't pilot a mecha, which made her vulnerable.

Xuan Xuan shook her head. "No need."

Seeing Zhan Yu looking after Xuan Xuan, Kuang Shao felt at ease. Without hesitation, he boarded his mecha, known for its speed and heavy firepower. Since he could reach the group faster, he said, "I'll go first."

Zhan Yu nodded. As Kuang Shao left, he turned to Xuan Xuan again. "You should go back."

"No, I can protect myself," Xuan Xuan replied.

Zhan Yu paused. She had said the same thing back then. He thought to himself, with such a teacher, perhaps she really did have her own capabilities.

"Be careful, then," Zhan Yu said. Wanqi Xuanxuan did indeed have an endless supply of mysterious methods.

After giving the instruction, Zhan Yu quickly climbed into his mecha. Just as he was about to engage, he saw Xuan Xuan on the ground, leaping lightly and landing on the shoulder of his mecha.

His mind went blank. Xuan Xuan wore the standard military uniform, her long black hair tied in a high ponytail. But why did every movement of hers seem so much like *her*? It wasn't the white dress, nor the flowing chestnut hair, yet…

"Are we going?" Xuan Xuan cast a wind shield on herself, and seeing the mecha beneath her remain motionless, she urged him through their mental link.

His chaotic mind regained a sliver of clarity, but he still couldn't untangle the confusion. His head was filled with questions. Who exactly was she? Zhan Yu knew it was absurd; there was such a large age gap, and they were teacher and student—it was possible for there to be some resemblance. Yet, he couldn't help but feel something was wrong. The question "Who are you?" stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.

"Hurry up!" Seeing Zhan Yu still unresponsive, Xuan Xuan urged him again. "What are you daydreaming about?"

Zhan Yu gritted his teeth and swallowed the question he was about to ask. He knew this was not the right time; Wanqi Weihao and the others were still in danger. He took a deep breath, clenching his trembling hands, and finally engaged the mecha.

It moved with increasing speed, heading straight for the location of the others.