The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

"By the way, could I have the diary and photos?"

Chen Guan handed her the black hardcover diary and old photos.

Su Yuehe took it, her fingertips tracing the two characters "Lu Ming" on the cover, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She carefully put the items away and solemnly said to Chen Guan, "Thank you."

Chen Guan said nothing, just nodded, turned and walked into the door.

With one step, the dry, cold air of the North instantly filled my lungs.

The scene before them changed from a static camp to a wasteland covered in ice crystals, with the ominous blue rift still hanging in the night sky.

Behind them, the dark blue circular entrance quietly closed after the last person passed through, disappearing without a trace.

All twelve people, not one missing.

The relief of surviving the ordeal didn't linger on anyone's faces for long.

"How should I write the report on this mission?"

An Changqing's voice broke the silence.

The moment this question was raised, the atmosphere became tense.

"Report the facts truthfully."

Wang Shuo blurted it out almost without thinking, but he regretted it as soon as he finished speaking.

He glanced at Su Yuehe, whose face was calm, and then at Chen Guan, who seemed indifferent to the matter. His confidence inexplicably waned.

Chen Guan glanced at Wang Shuo and said, "Just say that we encountered an unexpected spacetime disorder during our exploration, which caused the soul beacons to collectively malfunction."

"We were trapped in a chaotic spacetime rift, barely escaping with our lives. We finally managed to escape by forcibly tearing open a stable node through the shifting of stars."

Chen Guan looked at An Changqing. The abilities of the mythology system were like a bug; they could shift any blame onto someone.

Don't believe me? Try awakening a mythological type yourself.

This explanation is reasonable and explains why they went missing.

Anyway, it's all for outsiders to see, so as long as it's acceptable, that's fine. The big boss can't possibly embarrass his own daughter.

"I agree."

Su Yuehe was the first to speak, her gaze sweeping over Wang Shuo and the other three students from Yenching Academy: "And you?"

"We...have no objections."

Who would dare to object? Wang Shuo had only just remembered the identities of the people in front of him.

We were just joking around.

Thus, an unspoken agreement was quietly established among the twelve people.

"Let's go, Captain Li Ce must be getting impatient."

An Changqing glanced at his watch and led the group back the way they came.

They hadn't gone far when the massive silhouettes of armored personnel carriers appeared in the night, and there was more than one; there were a bunch of them behind it.

A figure was leaning against the front of the car; it was Li Ce.

He saw everyone return and stood up straight.

Twelve figures emerged from the darkness, not one missing.

He turned around and waved to the person behind him.

"Mission terminated."

His voice remained cold and hard. "Everyone, get in the vehicles immediately and return to the camp."

This order stunned everyone.

No questioning, no on-site inspection, and it's over just like that?

Wang Shuo even suspected that he was experiencing auditory hallucinations due to mental trauma.

"What are you standing there for?"

Li Ce turned around, frowned, and said, "Get in the car."

The group then seemed to snap out of their daze and silently walked toward the armored vehicles.

As Chen Guan walked past Li Ce, the other man's gaze lingered on him briefly, but he said nothing.

However, Chen Guan understood Li Ce's meaning. He didn't ask anything, which meant someone must have made arrangements beforehand.

Who is it? It's so hard to guess.

The speaker was indeed spying.

……

The vehicle stopped, the rear door opened hydraulically, and bright lights and a cacophony of voices instantly filled the cabin.

"arrive."

Li Ce's voice rang out.

"Everyone get off the bus. Wang Shuo, you people from Yenching Academy, go to tent number seven for a separate report."

His orders were clearly given, directly assigning the crowd to different destinations.

Wang Shuo and his companions seemed to have been pardoned, scrambling out of the car and not wanting to stay a moment longer.

An Changqing stood up, looked at Su Yuehe, and his lips moved slightly.

"Captain An."

Li Ce's voice carried pressure.

"Your task is to submit the report. Now, everyone else, disperse."

An Changqing stopped in his tracks, glanced at Li Ce, and finally gave Su Yuehe a worried look before turning and walking to the other side.

Li Ce's gaze fell on Su Yuehe.

"Su, please wait a moment, the Speaker is waiting for you."

Su Yuehe's body trembled slightly, but she quickly recovered.

She nodded and got out of the car.

Su Yuehe walked straight to the Speaker's command tent at the very center of the camp, where security was tight and people were hurrying around with solemn expressions.

She stopped at the tent entrance, and a guard saluted: "Please wait a moment, His Excellency the Speaker is receiving guests."

Su Yuehe nodded and stood at the door to wait. After a while, even though no one came in or out, the guard seemed to receive some kind of signal and made a gesture to invite her, lifting the heavy curtain for her.

The tent was very warm, but it couldn't dispel the chill inside.

Su Yuehe saw her mother, Su Jin, standing in front of the huge holographic star map, with her back to the entrance. She was wearing a crisp, pure white uniform and looked slender, yet she exuded an authority that supported everything.

"I have already heard your report."

Su Jin didn't turn around; her voice echoed in the empty tent.

Su Yuehe stood a few meters behind her, without saying a word.

"The power of the 'shifting stars' technique is not enough to forcibly tear open a spacetime node; An Changqing's spiritual energy reserves are not yet sufficient for that."

Su Jin turned around, her face expressionless.

Su Yuehe looked into those eyes that were seven-tenths similar to her own, eyes that held the weight of years and power, unfathomable.

Su Yuehe met her gaze; this was the first time she hadn't looked away from her mother's eyes.

"It's all of us together."

"I used the power of words to temporarily stabilize the external structure of the node, which allowed An Changqing to find the weakest point."

This explanation places the most crucial and dangerous step on oneself, making the success of the entire operation seem possible.

Su Jin didn't ask any further questions. She walked to the table and picked up a data tablet.

"Your mental strength is much stronger than when we last met, and even your Word of Power shows signs of reconstruction."

She swiped the screen, and lines of data flowed by. Only then did Su Yuehe realize that in the short time she had been waiting at the door, her mother had obtained her current physical data.

"Your body cannot withstand this level of reconstruction, and the rejection reaction may recur at any time."

Su Yuehe listened quietly; clearly, Su Jin was no longer going to pretend to understand.

"I have already notified Dr. Zhou."

Su Jin put down the tablet and looked at her again.

"He will give you a full physical examination and psychological counseling first thing tomorrow morning."

This is not a discussion, it is a notification.

Just like before.

Silence fell inside the tent.

Su Yuehe clutched the diary in her arms even tighter, and suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

"I found my father's diary in the ruins."

Su Jin was not surprised at all. She looked at her daughter and gestured for her to continue.