The world doesn't need succubi to save it.

Sitting opposite each other, Ning Feng became increasingly confused about Yan Rulong's true intentions.

Because no matter how he looked at it, the other party was only doing business as required, without any personal feelings involved.

However, I always felt that something was not right.

It felt like a fishbone stuck in my throat.

crunch.

The chair groaned beneath him, and Yan Rulong seemed much more relaxed back in his room, rubbing his tired eyes.

He is just an ordinary person, and since the incident, he has not only not rested, but has been dealing with high-intensity mental work.

He also took care of some issues that should have been handled by the branch manager...

He was very tired.

Yan Rulong took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer and was about to light it, but put it back in after seeing Ning Feng.

Finally, he chose to replace the nicotine patch with a new one and put it on his arm.

Forcing himself to speak, Yan Rulong slowly began:

"In short, to sum it up, they applied for a short leave of one month."

Leave without accepting mandatory tasks, completely removed from frontline duties.

With a slight narrowing of his eyes, Ning Feng was somewhat surprised by the result, but it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Can you tell me why?

Instead of answering directly, Yan Rulong took out a stack of documents from his left and placed them in front of Ning Feng.

Ok?

With a quick glance, Ning Feng saw the contents: medical test reports of various awakened individuals.

As Ning Feng rapidly flipped through the report, Yan Rulong calmly explained:

"These are all the Awakened teams that came to Bincheng to assist us on this mission."

"Although no real casualties occurred thanks to the final support, nine people were deemed 'recommended for retirement'."

Ning Feng frowned, not because he thought the number was low.

On the contrary, this number is actually quite high.

If the teams are split up, that's a reorganization of 9 teams, which would be an absolute ordeal for the remaining members.

Moreover, these teams should have been quite skilled, so how could something like this have happened?

With the Watchers' medical expertise, they should be able to treat any physical injuries, unless they are fatal.

unless……

"You guessed it? That's right, they were contaminated."

Pollution.

The most difficult problem.

This influence is imperceptible and, to a large extent, difficult to contain.

It's not that there are no treatments available, but they either take too long, consume too many resources, or cause some irreversible damage.

If these people don't want to retire, then they need to find ways to suppress and eliminate the pollution.

"This time, those extraordinary creatures... except for a few who still retain their rationality, the will of the rest has been corrupted."

"Their will was destroyed long ago, and all that remains in their bodies is the most primitive killing instinct."

Their bodies are manipulated to attack Awakened Ones, but once they see them, they relinquish control and begin chasing the enemy on their own.

"At the moment of death, the pollution stored in their bodies will erupt outward, causing casualties."

Those dark creatures cause destruction when they are alive, and when they die, they are like bombs that emit pollution.

It was a very cruel method.

This completely disregards the supernatural beings as living beings, treating them purely as props for use.

Ning Feng knew whose handiwork this was.

Li Tiandu.

Even after falling into the abyss, his hatred for supernatural beings did not diminish.

He was corrupted and hated everyone, including the Watchers and the supernatural beings.

Yan Rulong should have been furious at the mastermind's underhanded tactics, but he didn't dwell on it. He simply turned the page and concluded:

"Okay, I just want you to be careful in the future when you encounter this kind of thing, not for you to overthink it."

"The matter is over. All we can do is reflect on our mistakes and avoid falling into the same trap in the future."

Yan Rulong wearily raised his head and said in a deep voice:

"This situation is due to my failed command, and I will take full responsibility."

!!!

Raising his hand, Yan Rulong interrupted Ning Feng's hesitant expression and calmly said:

"Don't try to persuade me, I've already submitted the report."

"If someone has to take the blame for all of this, that person is me, and it can only be me."

Yan Rulong said this calmly, leaving no room for rebuttal.

After meeting Yan Rulong's firm gaze for a moment, Ning Feng silently nodded.

Yan Rulong had his own principles, and Ning Feng couldn't change them.

"However, Chai Ya and the others are not on the list of those nine people. Even Luo Da, who was the most seriously injured, only needs to rest for half a month."

"But they still asked me for a month's leave. Do you understand what that means?"

meaning?

Ning Feng understood what the three of them meant after a moment's thought.

This is a notification and a statement of attitude.

Chai Ya and her group were not part of the team under Bincheng, so even if they wanted to ask for leave, they shouldn't have submitted it to Yan Rulong.

Unless it was to inform Yan Rulong and then pass it on to Ning Feng through him.

They gave Ning Feng an opportunity—a legitimate reason for him to switch teams while they were on vacation.

Good gathering and good dispersal.

Before they fully gel, let him find better teammates.

The reason for this situation is quite simple.

Because Chai Ya and the others felt that their strength was no longer a good match for Ning Feng's, and that it was not suitable for them to continue forming a team.

Chai Ya and Lu Qing were unaware of what Ning Feng had done or his strength.

But just by reviewing the battle afterward, they could tell just how much of a contribution Ning Feng had made.

Given his achievements, you can't possibly say he's just an ordinary first-tier awakened individual.

Please stop lying to us.

Luo Da understood even more clearly; he had truly witnessed Ning Feng's displayed strength.

The moment Ning Feng saved him, Ning Feng's strength had already shocked him, not to mention his subsequent achievements.

Ning Feng definitely has a secret.

But Rhoda didn't tell anyone about his findings, and his report also concealed his eyewitness account of Ning Feng, attributing everything to the Lake of Consciousness...

Don't ask me!

I didn't see anything!

Then, he used the excuse of feeling unwell to have Chai Ya submit an application to Yan Rulong.

Such talent is an irresistible temptation for any team, and holding onto him tightly is the best choice.

But Rhoda still chose to let go.

Because he was very clear about the level of his group.

They're perfectly capable of mentoring newcomers, but they're not qualified for high-level adventures.

Chai Ya was somewhat surprised, but trusting Rhoda, she submitted the application without asking for a reason, following his instructions.

Looking at Ning Feng's slightly complicated expression, Yan Rulong remained calm and said softly:

"I think you understand what they mean. As for how to decide, I can't give you advice. I can only say..."

"For us soldiers, this kind of thing happens often, so don't feel guilty."

"On this road, we are always meeting and always losing."

"Some people will always be left behind, but all we can do is keep looking forward and keep moving forward."

Ning Feng was originally one of the group of people who were left behind, but now Yan Rulong naturally excluded him.

"You'll definitely encounter similar situations again in the future, and you need to learn to get used to it."

It seems that Yan Rulong has more confidence in Ning Feng's future than Ning Feng himself.

He had finished speaking and said softly to Ning Feng, who was deep in thought:

"Alright, let's go, Ning Feng."

Yan Rulong's expression remained unchanged; he gestured for Ning Feng to leave with his eyes.

"Let's go find your teammates."

"I have other things to take care of, so I won't be able to go with you."

After saying that, he lowered his head and picked up the documents on the table again, silently reading them.

Is this really the end?