Chapter 522: Chapter 516: Missing

A trace of deep emotion flashed in Ji Xiuming’s eyes.

It had been over a year since the apocalypse began, and he had rarely felt such warmth from other people.

All he had ever seen before were the base commander’s lackeys, arrogant sycophants who threw their weight around.

As an ordinary person, he wanted to return to a normal society more than anyone.

Choosing to tip off the Jingji Base was probably the single best decision he had ever made in his life.

Over half an hour later, Xie Ning and Ji Xiuming could see the dilapidated main gate of the Gushang Base hanging crookedly in the distance.

Many people had already gathered at the gate.

It was now just after three in the morning, and Xie Ning spotted her mom in the crowd at first glance.

Song You’ai saw them too and quickly waved in their direction.

Xie Ning dragged the metal flatbed cart over, followed by Ji Xiuming with a backpack on.

When Song You’ai saw them, it was as if she didn’t notice anyone else; her attention was focused solely on her daughter.

She grabbed Xie Ning’s arm and said anxiously, "Ningning, what do we do now? We had just finished our mission and come out of the lab building when we turned around and realized Yueyue was gone."

Xie Ning’s heart sank. "When did you realize she was missing?"

Song Youxuan was already frantic with worry, her voice on the verge of tears as she said, "It was over an hour ago."

"Xiao Gu, Xiao Lu, Big Brother, and Yong split up with some people to search for her, but they haven’t come back yet."

"Any news in the group chat?"

"No news for now. We just don’t know what happened."

Xie Ning scanned the crowd and saw that Song Kexin, Song Shijun, and Uncle Yong were not there. They must have split up with Xiao Gu’s group to search for her.

Several other teams were also gathered at the gate.

Golden World Court, the Shark Team, and the Hungry Wolf Squad.

A portion of the members from the Women’s Superpower Team One and the Women’s Superpower Second Team.

The teams led by Li Dawei, Zheng Heng, and Zhuang Lei were also absent. Perhaps they hadn’t finished their missions yet, or they might have been delayed for other reasons.

Feng Jiamin of the Women’s Superpower Second Team stood off to the side with her arms crossed, completely unconcerned. She would occasionally toss out a sarcastic remark. "See? I told you. Why would you bring children and the elderly on such a dangerous mission?"

"And now look what’s happened. Tsk, tsk. If something really happens to that kid, I’d like to see which of you can live with yourselves."

Xie Ning’s gaze swept over them, finally landing on Ma Yu, who was cowering at the back of the crowd.

The moment Ma Yu met Xie Ning’s gaze, she immediately glared back defiantly. "What are you looking at?"

"Don’t you even think about wrongly accusing people. I don’t even know that kid of yours, so there’s no way I could have done anything to her."

’Hilarious. Is this Xie Ning blind or something? Does she just want to lash out at anyone she sees?’

’If I had grabbed that little brat, where would I even hide her?’

’Even if I wanted to get back at Xie Ning, I wouldn’t target some unremarkable teenage girl who’s barely a blip on the radar in the Starfire Team.’

Seeing this, Qu Lanping, the captain of Women’s Superpower Team One, frowned slightly and quickly spoke up to defend her teammate. "Captain Xie, this definitely has nothing to do with our team members."

"Ma Yu has been with us the entire time. I’m confident that no matter what personal grievances she might have with you, she would never do something like abducting a child. Besides, it’s not really a grudge, just some minor disagreements."

"That’s right," Feng Jiamin added with a mocking laugh. "Maybe your little kid was just being mischievous, ran off to play the second you turned your back."

Young Zhu Nanxing, who was being held by Song Youxuan’s side, couldn’t help but jump up at her words. "You’re the one who would just run off to play! Ms. Yueyue is super obedient and well-behaved! She would never just wander off. The only way this could happen is if someone deliberately tried to harm her!"

Feng Jiamin huffed. She wanted to say more, but Mo Wanrong, who was standing beside her, gave her a sharp tug, forcing her to sullenly shut her mouth.

Xie Ning had no desire to waste time arguing with an imbecile like Feng Jiamin. She turned to Song You’ai. "Did you hear anything else before Yueyue disappeared?"

’Could the perpetrator be a Superpower User with invisibility? Is that how they managed to snatch Su Xiyue away without anyone realizing?’

’But that seems unlikely. Cres was with the team at the time.’

’Once his spiritual power is active, nothing within a hundred-meter radius, including the airspace above, should be able to escape his notice.’

’Even if the person had an invisibility superpower, they couldn’t have hidden their dot on the minimap.’

"Wait, wait, there’s a message!" Song You’ai exclaimed, hurriedly opening her message list with an anxious expression. "Xiao Gu says it’s highly likely Yueyue was dragged into a burrow by some kind of mutated animal."

"They found a hole nearby. After jumping in, they discovered a trail of drag marks."

Xie Ning pressed her lips together tightly.

’That would explain it. Underground must be a blind spot for Cres’s spiritual power.’

’Damn it. What kind of mutated animal could it be?’

"Do they have a general direction?"

"It seems to be heading towards the underground shelter."

Song Youyi said frantically, "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go right now!"

Feng Jiamin couldn’t help but scoff again. "You guys can go if you want. We worked hard to get to the meeting point, and now you want us to backtrack? Who’d be happy about that?"

Xie Ning and her team paid her no mind, treating her as if she were thin air. They quickly conferred amongst themselves and prepared to head for the Gushang Base’s underground shelter.

Feng Jiamin was furious at the attitude of the Star Fire Team.

It was one thing for Xie Ning to look down on her, but what right did those ordinary people in the Star Fire Team have to look down on her, Feng Jiamin, as well?

’What’s so great about those regular people?’

’Didn’t they only tag along this time to leech Contribution Points? As if anyone doesn’t already know that.’

’It’s only because they’re with Xie Ning that they get so many perks.’

’On any other team, there’s no way an ordinary person could live so comfortably.’

Mo Wanrong, standing beside the chattering Feng Jiamin, helplessly tugged her sleeve. "Jia Min, stop rambling."

She lowered her voice and said, "If you offend Captain Xie while your brother isn’t around, and she decides to teach you a lesson, none of us will be able to stop her."

"She’d dare!" Feng Jiamin’s tone was shrill as she sneered.

Mo Wanrong’s attempt to soothe her backfired. Her words only made Feng Jiamin’s anger flare up, rushing straight to her head.

’Hmph. If I hadn’t already promised my brother I wouldn’t stir up trouble, I’d march right up there and give her a piece of my mind for that attitude.’

’I promised my brother I wouldn’t forcibly meddle in Chen’s family affairs anymore, but that doesn’t mean I acknowledge Xie Ning’s status.’

’To be blunt, someone like Xie Ning just got incredibly lucky and hit the jackpot.’

’Before the apocalypse, someone with her poor, country bumpkin background wouldn’t have even been allowed through the front door of the Gu Family.’

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