Chapter 202: 202, Li's army

Back when the 109th Bastion still stood, Ren Xiaosu had heard the names Fang Yujing and Zhi Liao on the tram. At the time, with Luo Xinyu’s existence, he wondered if the stars of this Bastion might also be thugs.

But later he thought he was wrong. Surviving the great calamity of the 109th Bastion, Luo Xinyu and Lu Yuyan had waited in the wilderness for Yang Xiaojin for so long, yet no one else was seen on the tram. If these two stars were thugs, they would have been taken away long ago.

Moreover, if Fang Yujing were truly a thug, she would have no need to approach him in such a roundabout way. Just as Luo Xinyu had greeted him openly after discovering he was a neighbor.

Now it seemed those refugees, unknown how they learned of Fang Yujing’s identity, sought to seize her, prompting her to come to his side and play her little tricks.

He had to admit, whether this reasoning was right or wrong, Ren Xiaosu had no intention of meddling with Fang Yujing. This great star, if anyone dared lay hands on her upon returning, Chen Wudi would smash their heads open…

At this moment, Ren Xiaosu had already entrusted all matters of justice to Chen Wudi.

Yet he had warned Chen Wudi many times to avoid revealing their extraordinary abilities—a warning he had also given to Jiang Wu.

The day before, when Jiang Wu awakened to his powers, the refugees had fled in panic, unseen by anyone. In their eyes, they were merely a group of armed ordinary men.

Thus, even if they all reached the next Bastion, it would not draw the consortium’s special attention.

This was why Ren Xiaosu had preferred firearms to supernatural powers the night before.

After all, most consortiums were not particularly friendly toward the extraordinary.

But now, a faint rumble of car engines echoed ahead in the snowfield. Ren Xiaosu looked up and saw a convoy approaching, their vehicles emblazoned with the Li Clan’s white spider insignia.

In truth, it was not a spider but a spider-shaped nanobot, sharp-edged and angular.

Ren Xiaosu frowned—he least wanted to see Li Clan’s people.

Over a hundred armored vehicles slowly halted before the refugees, their tires fitted with anti-skid chains.

Ten or so combat squads descended from the convoy and approached cautiously. The refugees, wailing as if they had seen salvation, cried out for help, their voices trembling like those of kin.

The officer leading them spoke coldly: “Where have you come from?”

A refugee, tears and snot streaming, replied: “Sir, we are residents of the 109th Bastion, escaped from within.”

Another refugee, elated, exclaimed: “I told you so! We were bound to be rescued. Who would have thought the Li Clan hadn’t forgotten us? Sir, do you have food? We’re starving to death.”

The officer sneered: “I’m not here to rescue you. We’ve been ordered to exterminate the invaders in the 109th Bastion. We’ll only escort you back to the settlement. No food.”

The refugees were stunned: “Won’t you save us first?”

The officer glanced at them and barked to his adjutant: “Count the refugees.”

These armed consortium fighters swiftly began their tally, their rifle muzzles never straying from the refugees, lest they riot.

Seeing the weapons, the refugees, who had once planned to protest loudly, now crouched in silence like quail, daring not speak.

They had once rejoiced at the sight of soldiers, as if seeing family. Now they realized—these were no kin!

At last, a young man stepped forward: “My brother-in-law is the stockade captain of the 108th Bastion’s Order Division. Please take me back—he’ll be grateful.”

The officer smiled: “All Bastions now strictly prohibit non-military entry. Even if you return, you won’t enter. So keep your grand talk to yourself. A mere stockade captain daring to promise gratitude to the Li Clan’s army? Your tone is too bold.”

Ren Xiaosu grasped the implication: after the 109th Bastion’s downfall, the Li Clan had tightened control over Bastion access to prevent further dangers.

Yet this suited him perfectly—he had no desire to enter the Li Clan’s Bastion. Who knew what schemes the Li Shen Tan was plotting now?

From their exchange, Ren Xiaosu sensed that the so-called Bastion governance system meant nothing to these soldiers. It was enough to show the military’s paramount importance to the consortium.

A curious voice asked: “What if we return? Must we live as refugees outside the settlement? We are legitimate Bastion residents!”

The officer smiled: “Fear not—there’s a place for you. The Li Clan has begun a new recruitment drive. All eligible individuals must enlist. Perhaps you’ll serve under me someday. Women will be sent to factories to sew new uniforms. It’s wartime; no point in arguing.”

Ren Xiaosu’s brow furrowed—this Li Clan dared to conscript? Would it reach him?

After the Bastion’s collapse, the Li Clan had lost a combat unit. To face a more perilous world, recruitment was inevitable.

Moreover, the 109th Bastion’s destruction involved several consortiums. If the Li Clan sought vengeance, expanding their military was necessary.

Yet Ren Xiaosu never imagined he’d be caught in this!

“Brother, what do we do?” Yan Liuyuan whispered.

The officer told his adjutant: “Contact the private forces—say we’ve found refugees. Have them escort these people back and keep them under watch.”

Soon, over a dozen more armored trucks arrived. Ren Xiaosu said: “We can’t fight the stronger side. Let’s go to the 108th Bastion’s settlement first, then find a chance to leave.”

Fleeing now was futile. If only he alone, he could leave—but what of Yan Liuyuan and the others?

Men and women were separated into vehicles. Private soldiers held automatic rifles, watching them as if fearing escape.

Before parting, Ren Xiaosu looked at Jiang Wu and said: “Now it’s your turn to protect Xiaoyu. I’ll safeguard the male students. Take care of yourselves.”

Jiang Wu met his gaze and replied: “I will. Be careful too.”

With that, Ren Xiaosu, Yan Liuyuan, Chen Wudi, and the male students boarded one truck, while Xiaoyu and the others took another.