Chapter 500: Chapter 494: What the Hell Is Going On?

In any case, she could provide a limitless supply of Replenishing Well Water, enough to seamlessly cover their superpower consumption.

After packing up the equipment and consumables in the lab, the group hurried to the workshop to meet up with the other team members.

"Auntie, are you all okay?" Song Shijun came forward and looked everyone over carefully.

A moment ago, the entire building had shaken violently, giving the group in the workshop a serious scare.

Chen Jiajia had even urged her father, Chen Chong, to grab their people and flee immediately, as they all thought the building was about to collapse.

Fortunately, Chen Chong was sensible enough not to agree to his daughter’s unreasonable demand.

Now, seeing Xie Ning and her group return safely, Chen Chong deliberately forced a smile onto his face.

"Leader, Leaders. You’ve all returned safely, this is just wonderful."

Gu Chen glanced at him, sizing him up. "How come you weren’t infested by the sand worms?"

Chen Chong was so angered by the man’s words he almost coughed up blood.

’What gives? Does everyone at Gushang Base have to be attacked by sand worms?’

Although he was fuming inside, he had to maintain a cheerful facade. "Leaders, there’s something you don’t know. We didn’t go with the main group when they transferred to the underground shelter."

"You’ve been here guarding the lab this whole time?" Xie Ning cut him off.

Chen Chong froze for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. "Ye-yes."

"Then you must know about those ugly mermaids being raised in the lab?" Yu Tianfeng raised an eyebrow. "Your base commander is going to all this trouble. What’s he planning?"

Chen Chong wanted to say he didn’t know. His eyes darted around, but seeing the expressions on the faces of Xie Ning and her team, he had to bite the bullet. "Yes, I know a little. But we’re generally not allowed to go over to the experiment area."

"We only patrol the outer sections," Chen Chong stammered. "Leader, we’re just low-level Superpower Users. We’re only following the orders given by the high-level management."

"That’s right." A few other Superpower Users beside Chen Chong, who looked vaguely familiar, chimed in. "We were all kept in the dark! We had no idea what they were doing."

Xie Ning recognized them vaguely.

Shen Wei, the dean of Su City Second Middle School, and a few of his colleagues, who were also colleagues of the Holy Mother, Xu Yu.

She had met all of them before.

But a long time had passed, so she only had a faint impression of them.

Song You’ai, however, saw their dishonest faces and couldn’t help but retort, "Don’t you people try to distance yourselves from this."

"Do you take us for fools?"

"Still trying to trick people!" Song You’ai sneered. "As if you wouldn’t know what shady business the lab is into."

"Otherwise, why aren’t there any sand worms on you?"

Xie Ning nodded. "The mutated insects in the sandstorm love to feed on the energy source of Superpower Users."

"The fact that you don’t have a single trace of sand worms on you can only mean one thing."

Chen Chong’s heart skipped a beat.

Chen Jiajia was the first to lose her composure, shouting, "Don’t talk nonsense! What are you trying to do? Are you trying to create a conflict between us and the other Superpower Users?"

She glanced nervously toward Sister Huang and the others. "Aunt Huang, Uncle Zhongping, don’t listen to this woman’s spouting nonsense. We’re all from the same base; we can’t let an outsider take advantage of us."

"What are you so nervous about?" Xie Ning gave her a look that was not quite a smile. "I haven’t even said anything yet."

’If this isn’t a guilty conscience, what is?’

At this point, Huang Genmei also realized something was off.

"Captain Xie, please speak plainly."

Xie Ning glanced at Chen Chong and his daughter. "If I’m not mistaken, Gushang Base has been experimenting with a potion that suppresses the development of Superpower Users."

This was something Xie Ning didn’t need to explain again.

Everyone was now well aware, as Dr. Yu had previously explained, that a type of mutated plant was grown around the base. It naturally controlled the development of Superpower Users, and its suppressive effect was very pronounced.

Moreover, this mutated plant was one of the main reasons the sand worms were able to proliferate and grow so large.

"The reason you don’t attract sand worms at all isn’t because you’re so formidable." Xie Ning swept her gaze over the father and daughter and gave an order, "Search them!"

"What are you doing? What are you doing!?" Chen Jiajia panicked and immediately turned to run.

But there was no way she could outrun the members of Team A. They grabbed her by the arm and twisted her around in a single, restraining hold.

Song Kexin bounced forward and punched her in the stomach.

Chen Jiajia’s eyes went wide. Before she could even cry out in pain, she watched helplessly as Song Kexin pulled a red cord from around her neck.

A small, thumb-sized vial was tied to the red cord.

A green liquid was clearly visible inside, sloshing gently.

Song Kexin handed the small vial to Yu Tianfeng.

Yu Tianfeng began analyzing it on the spot.

Meanwhile, Chen Chong, Shen Wei, and the others in their group were also restrained by the members of Team A, unable to move a muscle.

"What are you doing? What do you think you’re doing?" Chen Chong roared, craning his neck. "Don’t think there’s no law and order just because it’s the apocalypse! By what right can you search us? What right do you have to—Ugh."

Lu Wei released a circle of vines, binding the man tightly.

Identical small vials of green liquid were pulled from each of their pockets.

The expressions of Xie Xueli, Huang Genmei, Liang Zhongping, and the others changed drastically.

"Wh-what is this?" Xie Xueli demanded, his face filled with fury.

A few minutes later, Yu Tianfeng calmly packed away his analysis equipment, turned, and smiled at everyone. "It’s a type of insecticide. When worn on the body, it’s effective at preventing insect bites."

"In other words, this green liquid has a scent! We humans can’t smell it, but the sand worms find it very unpleasant."

"When sand worms smell this liquid, they stay far away."

Xie Ning’s lips curled into a smirk. "Xinxin, hit her!"

Song Kexin let loose with both hands, WHAM, BAM, landing several vicious punches on Chen Jiajia as if she were a punching bag for practice.

To top it off, the dolt Ji Taixian was standing to the side, a pained look on his face, muttering repeatedly, "Xinxin, don’t hurt your hands! Put on your gloves before you hit her!"

The others could barely stand to look at them.

Xie Ning’s face remained a stony, emotionless mask. She ignored Chen Jiajia’s wails and turned to Chen Chong, whose eyes were bulging with rage. "Ready to talk?"

"You woman!!" Chen Chong was driven nearly mad with rage.

’It’s happening again. A woman’s heart is the most venomous thing. She’s always beating my daughter to force me to submit.’

’Just like that time a year ago at the competition. It’s exactly the same—she’s targeting my daughter!’

’Her methods are despicable, absolutely appalling.’

"Keep hitting her," Xie Ning ordered coolly. "Beat her to death and throw her out to feed the sand worms."

"N-no! Don’t!" Chen Jiajia was scared out of her wits, her eyes wide with terror. "Dad, Dad! Save me, Dad!"

Enraged, Chen Chong struggled violently, but with his arms pinned down, he couldn’t move at all.

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