Chapter 118: Splitting Up to Leave the City

“Xiaohui, I never expected you… hmm, I’ve received your feelings. Truly, you are worthy of being my dearest Xiaohui.” Upon hearing Wen Hui’s words, Zhuang Xiaoyuan was deeply moved. Moreover, Wen Hui’s words stirred the fragile emotions within her. The influence of Miyu Izayoi’s personality began to manifest once again.

“Wait, wait a moment. That’s not what I meant! I just… I just… Right, I was only speaking from the perspective of a friend and rival. Don’t misunderstand me, ahhh!” As Zhuang Xiaoyuan spoke, Wen Hui suddenly realized that her earlier words had sounded like a confession. Her face flushed crimson in an instant.

“Hehe, Xiaohui is truly adorable.” A radiant happiness blossomed across Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s face. With such a friend, what more could she possibly hope for?

“Ah, today’s newcomers really are becoming harder to manage. Xiaojing, take Mingyue, Qiying, and Yutong and board the spaceship to leave. Your crystal shield, combined with Mingyue’s invisibility and Yutong’s keen eyes, will allow you to evade the demons’ sight. Even if something happens, with Qiying there, part of the group can still escape. I’ll play the role of caretaker and look after these two willful troublemakers.” Hua Ze smiled as he pointed toward Zhuang Xiaoyuan, who wore a teasing grin, and Wen Hui, whose face was still flushed. He spoke to his sister Hua Jing with ease, even as he chose this path leading to hell.

“Yes, I believe big brother will arrive safely. Protect them well, and protect yourself too.” Hua Jing did not oppose Hua Ze’s decision. Having always been close to her brother, she understood him well. Once he made a choice, he would not waver. She also felt reassured about her brother. Moreover, she cared deeply for Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui.

In fact, this arrangement was quite sound. The strongest group and the weakest group were separated, with a middle-strength group in between. With Hua Ze leading the land route, they had no fear of encountering solitary powerful demons. With Zhuang Xiaoyuan present, they need not worry about low-level beast swarm tactics. Furthermore, the long march overland would be easier with Wen Hui’s wind spirit aiding them. Hua Jing’s group, as Hua Ze mentioned, possessed perfect stealth and reconnaissance abilities, making danger unlikely.

“Don’t worry. I’m quite strong.” Hua Ze raised his right hand, making a powerful gesture. Seeing this rare playful side of him, Hua Jing smiled gently as always. “I’ll go ahead and wait for big brother’s arrival.”

“Brilliant blue crystal, enchanting purple crystal.” Three large spaceships in total—every civilian and wounded person had boarded, along with some combat-capable command soldiers and members of the mech unit. Once everyone was on board, Hua Jing used her powers to cast protective wards on the ships, then employed illusions to conceal them.

“Then, farewell, Central City, big brother.” Standing at the ship’s exit, Hua Jing waved toward Hua Ze, who remained in the city.

“Safe travels. Farewell, Central City.” Hua Ze waved back in response.

“General Feng, the next phase is entrusted to you.” An elderly general stood at the ship’s entrance, saluting Feng Guoqing.

“Yes, I will ensure their safe arrival.” Feng Guoqing replied solemnly.

“Major Chu Yan, you really don’t intend to leave with them?” After speaking to Feng Guoqing, the elderly general turned to Chu Yan. This general was the supreme commander of the Maple City command center, and Chu Yan was one of his trusted aides and most promising young officers.

“I have made my decision, General.” Chu Yan saluted his superior with firm resolve.

After the brief farewells concluded, the spaceship doors slowly closed. Engines ignited, and the ships ascended into the sky. Hua Jing’s powers took effect, gradually blending the ships into the surrounding environment.

Hua Jing’s illusions induced hallucinations in observers, while Wang Mingyue rendered objects transparent and invisible. With their combined and alternating abilities, the ships were virtually undetectable. They were rare stealth specialists among the divine-armored warriors.

With the ships departed, the ground forces faced their own challenges.

“General Feng, how many remain behind?” The Guardians’ members, along with several military leaders who stayed, were gathered for their next operational meeting.

The remaining military leadership was sparse: aside from Lieutenant General Feng Guoqing, there was Major Chu Yan, Colonel Fan Qingyang of the mech regiment, Colonel Wang Tianshang of the transport regiment, and Colonel Yuan Chenggong of the medical regiment. The rest were lower-ranking officers. The actual number left behind was far less than expected; those who could fit on the ships had already boarded.

“Between the mech regiment, transport regiment, and medical regiment, there are about a thousand soldiers. Though fewer than anticipated, the objective remains significant. The journey ahead won’t be easy.” Feng Guoqing spread a detailed three-year-old map on the table, marking many areas in dangerous red. Changes since then were unclear due to humanity’s lack of detection means—many regions were shrouded in signal-interfering magnetic fields.

At this moment, over a thousand people had gathered in Maple City’s largest underground shelter. The original command center and spaceship docking areas had been occupied by demons. No digging-level demons were present, only soldier and general-class demons, with a few war vehicle-class among them.

Though these lower-ranked demons were no match for Zhuang Xiaoyuan, who regarded them as little more than practice targets, everyone still sought refuge in the shelter against the chance of surprise attacks by higher-level demons. Four digging-level demons had already appeared; no one could guarantee there were no more. Facing such pressure alone, even Hua Ze would struggle.

“Uncle Feng, if we focus on bypassing dangerous zones and possible high-level demons, that should suffice. If the demons we encounter later are just soldier- and general-class low-level ones, I can control them directly to clear the path.” Feng Guoqing likely hadn’t witnessed Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s current transformed abilities. To ensure the escape plan’s precision, she was the first to offer this suggestion.

Though uncertain whether Miyu Izayoi’s voice would be effective over the dangerous areas, Zhuang Xiaoyuan could guarantee that while transformed, no one could harm them if only low-level demons appeared.

Thus, the upcoming journey would require careful consideration of shifting danger zones and the potential presence of high-level demons.