As Chi Yao expected, the original training grounds were abandoned and overgrown with weeds.

A row of low houses was dilapidated, with messy equipment piled on the ground, already decayed.

He picked up a military knife at his feet. Not knowing what corrosive substance it had been contaminated with, the entire blade was rotten.

He used to think this place was like a prison, a place he could never escape from no matter what, but it turned out to be nothing more than this.

“What’s over there?”

Jing Xi’s voice sounded in his ear. Chi Yao turned his head and looked in the direction he pointed.

On another clearing separated by a few trees, there was another row of low houses. A small convertible four-wheeler was parked in front of the house.

This kind of non-hovering car had long been eliminated by the market, but here, only people with a certain status could use it.

“Let’s go take a look.” Chi Yao played with the military knife and lifted his chin towards him.

Seeing that only half of the military knife remained in his hand, Jing Xi said, “Is the water quality here very bad?”

“Don’t know.”

Chi Yao sneered, “Everything in this base is allocated in limited quantities. Even water can’t be drunk freely.”

Jing Xi really couldn’t imagine how that soft dumpling in his memory could survive in such a place.

He wanted to comfort him, but thinking of what Chi Yao said before, he swallowed his words.

“Maybe they also know that you can’t drink too much water here,” Jing Xi said expressionlessly. “You’ll become stupid.”

Chi Yao laughed out loud: “Then I have to thank them.”

The two clearings were separated by a green belt about ten meters wide.

The condition of the houses here was also very poor, blocked by huge trees behind them, completely invisible from high altitudes.

The small door on the left was open. Chi Yao pushed it open with his toe.

“This is where we came to receive tasks every day. There’s no reward for completing tasks, and punishment for not completing them.”

The furnishings inside were very simple.

Electronic screens on all four sides of the hall, a small round table in the middle with a ticket dispenser.

Chi Yao explained: “Many different tasks scroll on the screen every day. After accepting a task, take the corresponding number tag here and pin it on yourself. After completing the task, come back and put the tag back.”

Jing Xi was puzzled: “Why take a number?”

Chi Yao: “Afraid of dying outside and not knowing whose corpse it is.”

A casual sentence made Jing Xi’s heart twitch violently.

“Can you choose the difficulty of the task yourself? By snatching?”

If there was no reward for completion and punishment for failure, everyone would pick the simplest ones to do.

“The total amount everyone has to complete each month is the same.”

Chi Yao sneered, “Even if you take the simplest ones every day and complete them all, you still have to be punished at the end of the month.”

Jing Xi’s voice tightened: “What punishments are there?”

“Depends on what you’re judged as. If your ability is insufficient, you might go back to the research lab for modification again. If you slack off, either go to the mining area to mine or be thrown into the forest to forcibly execute high-difficulty tasks.”

Speaking of this, Chi Yao smiled sarcastically, “I always thought the base was in a level 5 danger zone. Turns out the level is so low.”

The perspective as a child and now were completely different. Things that felt unreachable as a child might be within reach now.

The fear of this organization branded in his heart caused everything he saw to be cast with a terrible shadow.

“It’s not a matter of perspective. This place used to be a level 5 danger zone indeed.” Jing Xi said lightly, “If I remember correctly, this area was downgraded more than ten years ago. routine assessment might be due in the past two years, and it’s estimated to be downgraded further.”

Chi Yao turned his head to look at him: “Downgraded so fast, did the military intervene?”

The empire’s existing planets were sufficient for living. Considering military expenditure, the military initiated the reclamation of very few planets each year. Most were forced by the survival needs of local residents or immigrants, and the number of times they initiated wars against mutated beasts was even rarer.

Unless necessary, never take the initiative to fight.

“This used to be Li Bo’s territory. I don’t know much. It should be the sharp decrease in mutated beasts that led to the downgrade.”

Jing Xi recalled the relevant briefings he had seen long ago, “This planet is rich in minerals. The military specifically issued documents to attract investment.”

A planet going from uninhabited to inhabited was a long process.

Even if the danger rating was lowered, you couldn’t just drag a group of people over and throw them into the primeval forest to live.

Subsidized by the government, using minerals and various preferential policies to attract enterprises, then using enterprises to attract people, letting them settle down and become the first batch of residents on the planet—this was sustainable development.

“Fear not because we killed a lot.”

Chi Yao’s mood was subtle, “Fewer beasts, more people. This might be the main reason the organization abandoned this place.”

Jing Xi looked around.

“Where is the place you lived?”

Chi Yao: “Want to see?”

Jing Xi kept a straight face: “Mm.”

The two walked out of the low house and walked another hundred meters forward. An entrance covered by green plants appeared before their eyes.

Weeds at the entrance were two or three meters high. Through the gaps, Jing Xi could vaguely see the sensing device at the top of the tunnel.

Chi Yao unbuckled Xiao Hei and threw it casually.

“Go explore inside.”

Xiao Hei: [Rude.]

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “…”

In less than a minute, Xiao Hei flew back, executing this task very perfunctorily.

[No one.]

Chi Yao stood at the entrance, reached out to push aside the weeds, looking at the familiar yet strange tunnel in front of him, his eyes sinking.

“Yaoyao—” Jing Xi touched the back of his hand, holding the slightly cool fingertips in his palm.

“I used to think I would spend my whole life here.” Chi Yao smiled bitterly, “Looking back, it wasn’t even a few years.”

Jing Xi pulled out the pistol from the leg pouch, held it in his hand, and walked down with him.

The scene appearing before his eyes made Jing Xi frown slightly.

“The maze in the sky amusement park?”

The downward slope of the tunnel wasn’t steep and soon leveled out. Ahead were several branching paths in an arc shape, with many doors on both sides of each path.

“This place is much bigger than the one in the amusement park.”

Chi Yao led him into the right fork.

Passing a door, Chi Yao whispered: “The owner of this room is gone.”

Jing Xi turned his head. The number “A-013” was pasted beside the door.

“You knew him well?”

Chi Yao looked ahead, remembering the person he killed with his own hands on 820, his expression indifferent: “Used to think he was a rare good person in this trash heap. Didn’t expect—”

Reaching “A-188”, Chi Yao stopped.

Jing Xi’s eyes flashed: “Here?”

Chi Yao looked at his expression, somewhat amused: “Want to see it that much?”

Jing Xi: “What do you think?”

Chi Yao shook his head and laughed, looking at the iris sensor beside the door.

With a soft click, the iris scan was successful, and an AI voice sounded.

[Welcome back. You haven’t submitted your task today. Please go to the mission center to submit immediately.]

Hearing this voice instantly brought Chi Yao back to his childhood.

His face turned cold, and he raised his hand to rest on the sensor.

Bang!

Steel claws opened instantly, sharp hooks piercing through the metal panel.

Sensor scrapped.

“Every time I heard this voice before, it made me very irritable.”

Chi Yao withdrew his hand, fingers moving slightly, and the steel claws retracted, “I don’t like being supervised.”

Simply worse than being in prison.

Jing Xi added a sentence in his heart.

Prison at least gave time to rest, didn’t require mandatory completion of any tasks, and had a term limit. Good behavior could lead to early release.

Watching the door slowly open, Jing Xi said seriously: “Prison is much better than here.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “If you don’t want to be locked up, I’ll go accompany you.”

Chi Yao followed in: “You, a Major General, run off to go to jail with me?”

Jing Xi sized up the room, saying casually: “I’ll be the warden, you be the prisoner.”

Chi Yao: “…I thank you.”

The room was as cramped as Jing Xi imagined, receiving no special treatment because of Chi Yao’s good performance.

A small bed 1.2 meters wide, a table and wardrobe, inside was a small bathroom where turning around was difficult.

Prison was brighter and more spacious than here.

“How many times have you fallen off this bed?”

Hearing Jing Xi ask this, Chi Yao smiled: “Countless times. Later, waking up to find myself under the bed, I was too lazy to climb back up.”

Jing Xi walked to the small table. Two books were placed casually on it, one was an illustrated book of mutated wolves, the other a children’s book. Judging from the creases on them, they used to be frequently browsed by the owner.

“Relied on them for hypnosis when I couldn’t sleep.”

Chi Yao picked up the children’s book, “I sold my looks to get the female doctor at the research institute to buy this for me.”

Jing Xi’s sad mood dissipated instantly, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Sold looks? Female doctor?”

Chi Yao flipped to the chapter Jing Xi had read many times, reading with relish.

“Yeah, pouting and acting cute almost killed me.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Before his eyes automatically appeared the image of a fair, tender, and watery little Yaoyao pouting, blinking big innocent eyes he pretended to have, acting coquettishly to the female doctor.

Endured, couldn’t endure, Jing Xi said sourly: “I haven’t even seen you pout and act cute. Sell one to me too.”

Chi Yao looked up: “…You serious?”

Seeing him nod, Chi Yao: “Forget it. I’m afraid I’ll make you vomit your overnight meal.”

Jing Xi: “…”

The whole room was empty. Except for two books and a set of change of clothes in the wardrobe, there were almost no personal items.

Jing Xi took these two books and walked out of the room with him.

Chi Yao: “These books smell moldy. Don’t want them.”

Jing Xi avoided his reaching hand: “This is what you got by pouting and acting cute. Have to take them back and enshrine them.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Knew I shouldn’t have said it.

The two continued to walk forward along the tunnel.

In the enclosed space, all scenery was constantly repeating, as if time had paused.

Walked for a long time, yet seemed like just a blink of an eye, different structures finally appeared ahead.

“This is the center of the maze and where the research institute is located.”

Chi Yao led him towards that entire glass door, hand tightening unconsciously.

Knowing clearly this place was abandoned, smelling the disinfectant here still triggered a conditioned reflex in Chi Yao.

Cold medicine injected into the body, that fear of the unknown and death hadn’t disappeared after so many years.

The furnishings inside were similar to a general research lab. Jing Xi walked to the intelligent control terminal and put on gloves.

“Xiao Hong, connect to power.”

Xiao Hong: [Yes.]

Red small beans flew out, turning into liquid to wrap the entire terminal.

Jing Xi pressed the power button. The indicator light flickered, and an enlarged virtual screen appeared on the monitoring console.

Chi Yao stood beside him with hands in pockets.

“Those people are very cunning. They would definitely delete all information clean before running.”

Jing Xi swiped open the virtual keyboard.

“Try our luck.”

After booting up, a verification interface appeared. Jing Xi pressed a few times on the keyboard, cooperating with Xiao Hong to crack the password.

Chi Yao watched his serious expression, turned his head, and kissed him on the face.

“My wife is so good-looking.”

Jing Xi looked at the code on the screen, expression unrippled: “Not taking a photo for memory?”

Chi Yao: “Forget it. This place is unlucky.”

Jing Xi pressed the confirm key, turning his head to look at him: “Take it. I hope when you think of this place in the future, I’m in your memory.”

The sudden direct ball made Chi Yao stunned.

Jing Xi had always been cold and aloof, but always straightforward and passionate in expressing feelings.

For the first time, Chi Yao felt so strongly that he wanted to have this person.

Jing Xi must be fate’s compensation to him.

Chi Yao hugged him and rubbed against his face: “Even without photos, I already have you.”

Jing Xi touched his head, kissing his ear: “Still afraid?”

Chi Yao nodded: “So afraid. Need kisses to get better.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Being able to banter meant he was fine.

Shadows caused by childhood might accompany one for a lifetime. Even becoming stronger, it was hard to shake off.

Jing Xi wanted to heal him, even just a little bit.

[Crack successful—]

Xiao Hong’s notification sound rang in their ears, pulling both their thoughts back to reality.

The system interface appeared on the window, simply cleaner than their faces.

Jing Xi swept the storage space; there was nothing.

Chi Yao: “Expected.”

Li Bo was the supreme commander of the legion stationed in Cetus, also equivalent to the protective umbrella of this base. With him, this place was impossible to be discovered.

People in the organization transferring would definitely leave under the premise of full preparation.

Jing Xi looked at the blank window, fingers dancing on the keyboard a few times.

“Xiao Hong, try data recovery.”

Xiao Hong: [Starting recovery program—]

Five minutes passed, still nothing on the window.

Chi Yao: “Try the inner one.”

Jing Xi nodded. Just as he was about to leave, the window suddenly flashed, and folders popped out quickly one by one.

“Got it.”

Jing Xi turned back, importing this data into the system.

Clicking open the query system, the list of all experimental subjects and staff was there.

Jing Xi searched “A-188”, bringing up Chi Yao’s file.

His heart couldn’t help tightening.

At the top right of the file were three reduced portrait photos.

The first one looked only four or five years old, soft and squishy, looking at the camera with bewildered eyes, a face of innocence.

Seeing it instantly made Jing Xi recall that happy time in childhood, unable to control his eyes heating up.

The second one looked already seven or eight years old, opened up a lot, face unable to hide the greenness and un-faded baby fat, looking over with eyes revealing a wolf cub’s ruthlessness and killing intent.

The third one was two or three years older. He sat on a low wall looking over casually, the killing intent in his eyes faded, adding a bit of calmness and unruliness.

These three portrait photos were the microcosm of Chi Yao’s childhood.

Jing Xi took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions.

Information in the file was extremely detailed. What medicine was used at what time, what physical reactions occurred, all listed.

Which day what task was done, completion status was also there.

[Hidden data found. Retrieve?]

Xiao Hong’s voice sounded in Jing Xi’s mind.

“Hidden data?”

Through the connection between Xiao Hei and Xiao Hong, Chi Yao also heard this voice, a bit strange, “Bring it up to see.”

Everything he could think of was in this file. What secrets did they record?

“Can’t be registering even when I shower and use the toilet, right?”

Jing Xi: “Not impossible.”

As an experimental subject, everything about Chi Yao was within the monitoring range, completely without privacy.

Jing Xi frowned, feeling uncomfortable.

Spending a few minutes, Xiao Hong retrieved the hidden data.

A few more lines appeared under the basic information table at the top of the file.

Seeing the displayed content, Chi Yao and Jing Xi’s expressions changed.

[Father: Bo Jin]

[Note: Second generation mutated modified body, strong tolerance for beast genes—]