Chapter 180

Ye Xi'an stared blankly at Gu Feng, the tip of her nose filled with a sharp burnt smell and scorching air.

"Are you okay?"

Gu Feng's voice came with rapid panting, confirming again.

He had originally been at the market in the Second Ring buying flowers and fruit to deliver to Ye Xi'an's home tomorrow morning, but didn't expect the insect race to invade at this time.

He should have found nearby shelter, but thinking that Ye Xi'an was still at home, he resolutely went against the insect tide back to the residential complex.

Fortunately, he wasn't late returning.

Ye Xi'an shook her head hard, her throat tightened, she couldn't utter a single word, tears uncontrollably fell, she was truly terrified; these countless insects were far scarier than vines.

"Where's your husband?"

Ye Xi'an still shook her head, unable to say a word.

"Come with me."

Gu Feng pulled Ye Xi'an up, felt she was moving slowly, and without hesitation hoisted her sideways in a firm embrace, protecting her tightly in his arms.

Flames burned around him; any flying insect that approached would be turned to ash, yet when this fire touched Ye Xi'an, it was like spring sunshine, not scorching at all.

Gu Feng carried Ye Xi'an rushing outward, and she inevitably saw her poor front door; the door, which had only a face printed on it before, was now half folded and piled in the living room, emitting black smoke.

Not knowing if she had just escaped death, Ye Xi'an somehow still had the mood to think, "Fortunately I haven't replaced this door yet."

Outside, the corridor was a wreck, walls charred black, and faint sharp screeches and explosions of the insect race could be heard from below the stairwell.

Gu Feng raised his hand, and the fingerprint verification on the recognizer beside the door passed quickly.

"Beep—welcome home—"

Gu Feng swiftly pulled Ye Xi'an inside and slammed the door shut.

"Bang!"

The metal door shut heavily, emitting a reassuring thud that completely cut off all outside sounds.

In an instant, the world was terrifyingly quiet.

Only the two of their slightly rapid breaths echoed in the cramped foyer.

Gu Feng fumbled in the dark and turned the light on.

Ye Xi'an immediately stepped forward and pressed his hand that was reaching for the switch: "Turning the light on will agitate the insects more!"

Gu Feng was startled, shyly biting his lower lip, staring blankly at Ye Xi'an's hand pressed on the back of his hand; this hand, he decided never to wash again.

"No... it's fine, my curtains are... high‑density blackout ones, the insects outside can't... can't see them."

Ye Xi'an awkwardly withdrew her hand: "I see."

When the light came on, Ye Xi'an saw clearly the furnishings in Gu Feng's home.

The walls were cold metallic raw steel, without any decoration, simple and sturdy, even somewhat like the interior of a vault.

The spacious living room was divided into only two areas: a kitchen and a bed?

Gu Feng, seeing Ye Xi'an's startled expression and thinking she was frightened by the insects, awkwardly comforted: "Don't... worry, this insect tide is only a small one; this place is safe enough."

Ye Xi'an leaned against the icy metal wall, as if all strength had been drained, her body slowly slipped down, finally collapsing onto the floor, her eyes a bit dazed; such a terrifying disaster was still only a small insect tide.

"By the way!" Ye Xi'an's somewhat relaxed expression suddenly turned tense again.

Bao Jing and the others are still in Xiao Shijie, injured so badly…

"I have to let them out."

In the next moment, four figures appeared without warning on the cold metal floor, lying neatly in a line, each with a pallid complexion and barely perceptible breath. If not for the slight rise and fall of their chests, Ye Xi'an would have thought they were dead.

Fortunately she had bought medicine earlier; she took out the medical kit and began bandaging the four.

Gu Feng stared blankly as Ye Xi'an bandaged their wounds, wondering if females also treat males.

"Let me." Gu Feng stepped forward and took the coagulating spray and bandages from Ye Xi'an's hands.

The coagulating spray is a medical aerosol from Zhu Shen Xing specifically for stopping bleeding; a single spray onto a wound stops the bleed instantly.

Before spraying, one must first disinfect the wound with antiseptic solution.

The antiseptic touched the wound, emitting a sharp "sizzle" sound; even in a coma, the few people let out painful moans, their bodies involuntarily twitching.

"All right, they should wake up after about another hour of sleep."

Looking at the four wrapped like mummies, Ye Xi'an felt both a pang of sympathy and a sense of amusement, wondering how they looked worse than in her laboratory.

"Thank you, Gu Feng. Even when I spoke to you like that before, you still came to help me."

Ye Xi'an's gratitude made Gu Feng a bit flustered; his wheat‑colored skin emitted a phosphorescent pink hue, especially noticeable on both cheeks.

"No... it's fine." He forced a smile, saying, "Good neighbors, helping each other."

"Mm!" Ye Xi'an sincerely laughed at Gu Feng, slapping his shoulder: "From now on we're the best‑hearted neighbors! If you ever have trouble, just come to me; I've got your back!"

Gu Feng looked at the snow‑white small hand on his shoulder, and his head began to feel dizzy; he thought, this shirt doesn't need washing anymore.

Time slipped by bit by bit in the quiet bustle.

Suddenly, a low, continuous hum seeped through the thick walls, growing clearer.

Gu Feng pressed his ear against the wall, listened for a moment, then walked to the window and carefully opened a crack.

Ye Xi'an, a bit nervous, thought another accident had occurred: "What's wrong?"

"The Federation's troops have arrived."

His voice carried a faint disappointment; with the troops coming, Ye Xi'an would have to leave.

Ye Xi'an jerked her head up; the troops... finally arrived.

She had never seen this world's troops; she widened her eyes slightly and leaned to the curtain edge to look outside.

Dozens of precisely engineered aircraft hovered in the sky in a regular circling pattern; their undersides sprayed white mist, enveloping the countless flying insects in white smoke. The planes then withdrew, and in the blink of an eye they transformed into spacecraft.

On the craft, a male stood with one foot on the edge, both hands spread toward the insects; fire dragons shot from his palms, and upon touching the insects, they ignited like cotton on a poplar tree, burning layer upon layer.

Black ash fell continuously from the sky, like a tragic meteor shower.

"How impressive!", Ye Xi'an's pupils were reflected bright red by the firelight, full of admiration and envy.

Speaking of what Ye Xi'an is reluctant to part with on Earth, it must be the Chinese soldiers; she has always held soldiers in high esteem.

Gu Feng felt a bit jealous: "I... I can too; my fire is twice as big as theirs."

Ye Xi'an froze, oh, Gu Feng's fire just now seemed indeed a bit more powerful.

"Why don't you go out and exterminate the bugs?" Ye Xi'an asked, then immediately regretted it; she felt her question came across as overbearing.