Chapter 2919

Huo Zhaoye wanted time that belonged entirely to him and Jin Chen.

No need to handle official duties, no need to deal with visitors, and not even need to speak.

Dating, kissing, or just sitting side by side, blowing the wild wind of the wilderness, doing nothing at all is fine.

Perhaps seeing Huo Zhaoye's expectation and unspoken thoughts in his eyes, as Lu Jun and Teng Gu walked out of the kitchen with bowls and chopsticks, before sitting down, Jin Chen quickly moved close and kissed the corner of Huo Zhaoye's mouth.

Then he pressed his lips to Huo Zhaoye's, speaking in a breathy whisper only the two could hear, with a hint of teasing and concealed indulgence.

"Lord Huo, what do you want... Remember to tell me beforehand."

Huo Zhaoye agreed, and later didn't know what he had thought of, "En."

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 10!】

Later, during the meal, Huo Zhaoye's expression remained good, and he even gave Jin Chen more servings of vegetables than usual.

Lu Jun looked at him from across the table, kicked Jin Chen's foot, and signaled with his eyes: What are you two up to?

Jin Chen gave him a "none of your business" look, then leisurely ate the meat Huo Zhaoye had given him.

Lu Jun: "……"

Lu Jun gazed eagerly at Teng Gu and successfully got fed.

Ling Gun Gun nibbled on delicacies and crystal chunks under the table, happily squinting his eyes.

——

In just two years, the rapid growth of Peace Base put pressure on many established forces in the wasteland.

It rose like a giant swiftly emerging from the wilderness, with Silence Bridge and Old World River as its lifelines, tightly connecting north and south, proclaiming the rebirth of this land.

Peace here is not just a name, but a practiced principle.

The base's main gate stands open to survivors willing to follow the rules and contribute labor, no matter where they come from or what their former status was.

Food, safety, education, medical care…… these luxuries of the wasteland are now guaranteed here.

Accordingly, everyone must contribute to this peace, whether by participating in construction, patrol defense, production, or providing services.

There are those who envy, those who watch and wait; many old bases inevitably feel sour, and some even sense a threat. Those who secretly cause trouble are not few, and the most restless, the most dissatisfied, is none other than Five Elements Base.

Five Elements Base constantly meddles on the trade routes—intercepting supplies, spreading rumors—but all are thwarted by Peace Base's countermoves.

Chu Ge harbored a bellyful of resentment, rummaging through boxes and cabinets somehow, and actually found some research notes and a few private letters left by Yan Teng Gu from his early days at Five Elements Base—items temporarily stored during the initial disaster when he had no choice but to flee.

These things are Yan Teng Gu's weak points, recording his former foundations and shortcomings, and also representing Five Elements Base's favor and control over him.

Chu Ge felt he had obtained a treasure, believing he had grasped a leverage point, and immediately assembled an elite squad, marching aggressively toward Peace Base.

His plan was beautiful: using these old items as leverage to force Yan Teng Gu to submit, he would surely take a big bite out of Peace Base, and at the very least make Huo Zhaoye and company bleed badly.

This was originally no big deal.

Given Teng Gu's disposition, an unfinished mundane research manuscript from a minor world and a few letters laced with scheming are hardly worth mentioning.

Destroy it, then destroy it; it does him no harm, and for Yan Teng Gu's identity, it's long been a thing of the past.

The problem is, Chu Ge thought it clever, feeling that merely using these items as leverage wasn't enough weight, so he also needed a hostage.

He put some thought into inquiring and learned that Huo Zhaoye often had a person named Jin Chen by his side, said to be the base's teacher, delicate-skinned and looking weak, yet Huo Zhaoye was very anxious about him, always trying to bring him along wherever he went.

In Chu Ge's view, this was a ready-made, excellent weak point.

So that afternoon, Jin Chen happened to be idle, wandering to a newly discovered crystal mineral point on the outskirts of the base.

The point wasn't large, the crystal quality average, but it was safe and convenient; Jin Chen would occasionally come over, knock out a few good pieces to bring back as teaching tools for the children, or as snacks for Ling Gun Gun.

He had just squatted down, tapping off a purplish-glowing crystal cluster with a small hammer, when Ling Gun Gun, playing in the dirt nearby, suddenly lifted his head.

【Hold it! An ambush!】

Jin Chen sensed something, but before he could rise, a shout went up and a dozen people sprang from the surrounding rock piles, weapons in hand, surrounding him.

Jin Chen: "?"

Jin Chen brushed off the dust on his hands, slowly rose, looked at the scene before him, and showed a look of just-right bewilderment.

Almost simultaneously, a patrol team of Peace Base guards on routine duty nearby noticed the abnormality, rushed to flank, saw that the person surrounded was actually Jin Chen, and then looked at the opposing side's posture……

Several young team members' faces lit up with amusement, trying to laugh but holding it in.

Chu Ge had no time to interpret those looks.

He felt he had the situation under control, lifted his chin at the patrol team, and said, "Go tell Huo Zhaoye and Yan Teng Gu! If you want to save this person, come out and negotiate willingly! Otherwise......" He paused deliberately, then tilted the gun barrel toward Jin Chen.

Jin Chen sighed and nodded at the young man leading the Patrol Team.

The Patrol Team turned and ran, their steps so light they almost bounced.

Chu Ge frowned, feeling this reaction was a bit off, but the arrow was already on the string—there was no time to think further.

【Hehehehe, a fat sheep delivered to the door~】 Ling Gun Gun laughed like a big villain.