Assistant Chen said, "I've already notified the client for your escort mission. The schedule is tomorrow at 6 PM at the front gate of BASE J. As for the Transport Mission, they've been notified that the team will move out tomorrow as well—just a heads-up since the collection is complete and it's only a matter of delivery now. You'll be the leader for the military-based mission, and for the escort mission, the leader will be the client. Bring your own car—I'll handle it. Come three hours early to get the car and meet your team on the road to BASE J."
Han Yue and Shadow 8 nodded and headed off to resume training—especially Shadow 8, who still had 2,800 laps to finish.
Later that night, Han Yue texted Shadow 2:
"I forgot to drop off the pickles. Where should I put them?"
An instant reply came back with his dorm number and door password.
Han Yue chuckled and headed to his dorm, dropping off the box of pickles. Feeling generous, she added two extra boxes and some pickle-flavored snacks. Then she went back to training.
After dinner with the others, she went to bed early. She needed to report to Assistant Chen three hours ahead of schedule. The trip down from Hidden Dragon Peak to BASE J took three hours. She made a mental note to text Secretary Wen later—this car ride was getting old.
The next day, Han Yue woke up feeling refreshed. It was 2:00 PM—her body clock was finally adjusting. After a quick shower, she headed downstairs for a solo breakfast. Midway through, Grandpa Long joined her.
"Are you busy today?" he asked.
"I have a mission. I'll pick up the client at BASE J. Why?"
"Oh, then I'll tag along for the ride! I want to hang out at Xiao He's house."
"Sure, I'll drop you off. Just let Assistant Chen know if you want to be picked up later."
"Don't worry, don't worry~ I've got secret guards watching me whenever I go out," Grandpa Long said proudly.
They took the train together to the admin hall, where Han Yue met her teammates: Shadow 8, Guard Lei, and Guard Tian. It was just the four of them for this mission.
Assistant Chen briefed them:"Since Han Yue can store everything in her space, there's no need to waste resources going to BASE H for supply transport."
Everyone nodded and greeted Han Yue, their designated mission leader.
Shadow 8, already in sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, and a straw hat, looked like he was heading on vacation. Assistant Chen handed out equipment, weapons, and supplies. Guards Lei and Tian went ahead to prep the vehicle.
On the side, Grandpa Long said, "Xiao Chen, I'll ride with them to BASE J and hang out at Xiao He's house."
"Understood, Old Master," Assistant Chen replied.
They all loaded into the car: Han Yue in the front passenger seat, Shadow 8 lounging in the back, Grandpa Long and Guard Tian beside him, and Guard Lei behind the wheel.
On the three-hour drive down, Han Yue texted Secretary Wen:
"Can you add a railway down the mountain? These 3-hour drives are exhausting!"
Secretary Wen immediately called:"Miss Han Yue, don't worry. We're in the final stages of the railway project. Secretary Xu and Qiao are overseeing it. It should be done in five days. It's all underground—that's why it took so long. Once complete, it'll connect directly to the Dragon Peak base, and the trip will only take 1 hour."
"Okay, good to hear. I'm on a mission—tell Long Yi not to miss me too much. Byeee~"
As she hung up, Shadow 8 muttered from the back,"Hmph. I bet he won't be able to sleep knowing his wife is out on the road."
Grandpa Long chimed in, "Right? I bet he can't even eat properly without his little wife around."
They continued teasing until Han Yue rolled her eyes with amusement.
After arriving at Base J first, they dropped Grandpa Long off at Grandpa He's house. Then, they headed to the front gate to wait for the client.
The client's team arrived around 6:20pm in four black off-road vehicles. When the team leader Captain Rong got out, Han Yue and Shadow 8 stepped forward for formalities.
Captain Rong asked,"Who among you are the two Awakeners? Please display your powers before we begin."
Han Yue casually said, "Us," and launched an ice ball beside the client's car.
Not to be outdone, Shadow 8 shot a firework directly at the car.
Guards Lei and Tian, watching from the side, exchanged a look and silently twitched their mouths.
Captain Rong sighed with a twitching eye,"Cough… Okay, confirmed. Your car will stay at the back. Make sure the client is safe in case of ambushes or surprises."
"Understood," Han Yue said and returned to the car.
Shadow 8 followed her back with a satisfied grin on his face.
Part 2
While en route to City I, the convoy of black off-road's moved steadily down the cracked highway. The heat from the scorched earth still lingered, rising in shimmering waves even under the fading sky. Inside one of the lead vehicles, a man leaned back against his leather seat, gazing lazily out the window.
Wei Xinyan, the client, adjusted the sleeves of his crisp shirt before glancing toward the bodyguard seated beside him, "Is that small-framed awakener… a woman?"
The leader of his personal security, Captain Rong, gave a short nod. "Yes, sir. The ice-type awakener is female. The fire-type beside her is male."
Wei Xinyan smirked with interest. "Mmm."
In his mind, calculations had already begun. With Base H as his home turf and access to abundant supplies, influence, and credits, it wouldn't be hard to sway a few powerful awakeners—especially if they were new or wandering. That female ice-type in particular... he'd find a way to convince her. Money talked, and he had plenty of it.
Further down the convoy, Han Yue's group quietly observed the outside world through her half-lowered window.
On the sides of the road, civilians in ragged gear salvaged metal scraps and wood from dismantled buildings. Some were hammering, others hauling recyclables toward military outposts. Patrol officers and uniformed soldiers moved through the area, keeping order.
Beyond the rubble, large fields stretched out—clearly part of a reclaimed farming initiative. Crops were growing in neat lines, monitored by drones and guarded fences. It was an impressive scale of reconstruction, a glimpse of civilization clawing its way back.
Still, Han Yue didn't lower her guard.
Her eyes flicked forward.
A suspicious gleam reflected off the road up ahead.
"Spike strips," she murmured.
She grabbed the walkie-talkie that had been handed to her earlier and pressed the button calmly.
"There are spike strips ahead. Collision in approximately five minutes."
A beat passed. Then the radio crackled.
"Understood. We'll pull over immediately."
The convoy slowed and parked to the side of the highway.
A few minutes later, Captain Rong walked briskly toward the last and knocked on the tinted window. Han Yue rolled it down, expression cool and unreadable.
"Thank you for the warning," he said professionally. "We'll dispatch ten men and one awakener to scout the situation. The rest will remain here to guard the convoy."
He added, "One of your awakeners will need to stay behind and assist with security."
Han Yue nodded. "Understood."
She and her team stepped out. With a glance, she issued orders.
"Shadow 8, you go. Lei, Tian, and I will remain here."
Shadow 8 didn't reply. He simply gave a light nod and followed the departing scout team alongside Captain Rong.
The rest of the group positioned themselves near Wei Xinyan's car, forming a protective perimeter.
Han Yue, meanwhile, stood quietly, eyes closed.
Without drawing attention, she extended her spiritual sense outward—like invisible threads brushing across the surrounding terrain.
Within seconds, she located the scouts up ahead… and frowned.
An ambush.
Half a dozen armed thugs lay in wait. A short skirmish had already begun.
Then, she spotted Shadow 8.
Instead of helping… he was crouched calmly behind a charred tree, chewing on dried crackers and watching the chaos like it was an afternoon drama.
Han Yue blinked, lips twitching.
"WTF is wrong with him... Even now, he'd rather watch the fun?" she thought, then quietly covered her mouth with a hand, suppressing a laugh "Sigh…"
Shortly after, Captain Rong returned from coordinating the defense and approached her again with a diplomatic smile.
"The client invites you to join him for tea and conversation in his vehicle."
Han Yue's face turned cold. "Our task is to escort the client safely to Base H. Nothing more."
Captain Rong tried again, tone polite but persuasive. "Miss Han, this could be a good opportunity for you to—"
Click.
He froze.
A pistol barrel was suddenly pressed to his temple.
In an instant, half the convoy's guards raised their weapons in alarm, pointing them toward Han Yue's team.
Tension snapped through the air like a stretched wire.
Before anyone could speak, Han Yue stepped closer.
Her voice was low and cold.
"If you try to push this again, your client's next opportunity will be at a medical tent."
Captain Rong stood still, cold sweat beading at his temple.
"…Understood."
He slowly stepped back, and Han Yue lowered the gun without a word.
The stand-off dissipated. The convoy remained intact.
But from that moment on, no one tried to get too close to Han Yue again.