Chapter 234: 234, Each other's secrets

Ren Xiaosu and his companions had grown somewhat isolated from outside information within this outpost, even though Yang Liu Yuan kept probing for news, they only caught a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg.

So they had no idea that the war between the Li, Yang, and Qing factions was about to erupt.

It had been a long time since any war had occurred on this wasteland; humanity had only just begun to recover its vitality, and now war was descending upon them once more.

Sometimes, Ren Xiaosu wondered why people would slaughter each other when they had already struggled so hard to survive the catastrophe.

According to Hu Shuo, the Li faction had originally intended to eliminate the experimental subjects within Barrier 109 before launching the war, and had even dispatched an operational regiment there. However, time would not wait for the Li faction, nor would the Yang and Qing factions.

The experimental subjects within Barrier 109 were not merely a threat to the Li faction; they were equally close to the Qing faction's Barrier 111. Since everyone was going to fight anyway, they might as well bet on which side the experimental subjects would ultimately join.

Now, the most dangerous thing was that Ren Xiaosu and his group might be sent to the battlefield, and he could not simply abandon them here, as there were too many people he cared about.

Even if they hid deep in the mountains behind them, it would not be safe, for these very mountains and forests were part of the experimental subjects' attack routes—otherwise, the Li faction would not have expended manpower to station these outposts.

"If the experimental subjects attack the Li faction's barrier, what should we do?" Ren Xiaosu asked.

Hu Shuo looked at Ren Xiaosu and replied, "Actually, it's not so dangerous near Barrier 108. You could even consider sending them into the barrier itself. With proper defenses, the experimental subjects cannot forcefully breach it; the fall of Barrier 109 was merely due to lax security."

Although Barrier 109 had been destroyed, if the Li faction positioned heavy artillery on the walls of Barrier 108, the experimental subjects would indeed find it difficult to approach.

After all, the experimental subjects were still flesh and blood; their muscles could stop bullets, but not cannonballs. Even the Metal Storm Avalanche that Qing Zhen had brought could make them retreat three miles.

This was also why Qing Zhen said that only children would fear these experimental subjects.

For Qing Zhen, he understood all too well how terrifying humanity's current firearms were.

Therefore, everyone worried that if the experimental subjects launched a surprise attack on the wasteland battlefield, it would cause some trouble, but they were not so concerned about the siege warfare.

Ren Xiaosu asked Hu Shuo, "Can you help send them into the barrier to stay for a while?"

Hu Shuo chuckled, "You can do that yourself right now, with the authority of a Special Reconnaissance Department captain... quite significant..."

But then, he suddenly added, "However, I warn you not to abuse your power..."

"Mmm, you can rest assured. I won't investigate smuggling again," Ren Xiaosu only now realized that the Special Reconnaissance Department could actually send people into the barrier. That authority was considerable.

Yet this old man had not aligned himself with the Li faction, and no one knew whether the Li faction's high command would fear the truth if they discovered it.

Ren Xiaosu asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you?"

Hu Shuo smiled wryly, "You aren't afraid of telling the Li faction that you're hunting their nano warriors, are you?"

Both fell silent. Ren Xiaosu knew Hu Shuo was a sly old fox; his own anomalies must have been noticed, but he had not expected the other to suddenly tear through the veil.

But since they both had secrets, neither would speak of the other.

In Ren Xiaosu's view, Hu Shuo seemed more interested in establishing some form of friendship or alliance with him, a trust built on mutual secrets and the other's grandson—Li Shen Ta.

Hu Shuo had remained in the high ranks of the Special Reconnaissance Department for years. To prevent his family from being implicated, he had even concealed the fact that he had a daughter, never even inquiring about her.

Yet years later, his daughter had been driven to death by the Li faction.

The Li faction was too vast, too vast for even someone like Hu Shuo, a transcendent being and a high-ranking general, to shake. After all, the soldiers under his command were loyal to the Li consortium, not to him.

But this changed entirely after Li Shen Ta became a demon whisperer. That youth, who had emerged from a mental hospital, possessed extraordinary destructive power.

By the campfire, the female students began singing, and the rough old men nearby dared not make a sound, lest they interrupt the girls' song.

Xiao Yu Jie, tying on an apron, was frying dishes in the kitchen. When they arrived, they had brought many New Year goods from the settlement, along with a container of fish and shrimp that Old Wang had finally obtained from the barrier people.

Li Qingzheng suddenly sighed, "This is probably the most decent Spring Festival I've had since I was 29."

Ren Xiaosu glanced at him and smiled, "To be honest, our past Spring Festivals were quite miserable too."

"Not at all," Yang Liu Yuan said with a beaming smile, "We were actually very happy. We would run to a distant hillside and watch the fireworks inside the barrier. The fireworks were so beautiful."

Just then, a military officer arrived in an off-road vehicle from below the mountain and whispered to Hu Shuo for a moment. Hu Shuo's expression grew even more grim.

Ren Xiaosu looked at Hu Shuo and asked, "What's wrong?"

Hu Shuo looked at Ren Xiaosu and said, "After the New Year, we'll prepare to send the family into the barrier. The war has begun."

Ren Xiaosu was stunned. There was still an hour until the New Year—who would start fighting on New Year's Eve?

Hu Shuo said, "The Li faction's command headquarters has issued an assault order. Frontline troops are already advancing into the Yang-controlled area. In a few hours, that place will be engulfed in flames."

"Shall we eat first before leaving?" Ren Xiaosu asked calmly.

Hu Shuo chuckled, "I thought we could have a good year, but we didn't even get to eat the New Year's Eve dinner. What a pity, fear brings what comes."

Such is the way of the world—it never goes as one wishes.

At that moment, Xiao Yu Jie emerged from the kitchen, still holding a few lunch boxes: "Hu Shuo, I've packed all the food. You can eat some on the way."

Hu Shuo paused, then smiled warmly, "Thank you."

Suddenly, Hu Shuo looked at Ren Xiaosu and asked, "Ren Xiaosu, do you know what Murphy's Law is? If something can go wrong, it will, no matter how small the possibility. In simple terms, it's 'what you fear comes to pass.'"

Ren Xiaosu was taken aback, "Why bring that up?"

"Do you think we're living in a dream or in reality?" Hu Shuo laughed.

"Of course it's reality. If you don't believe me, I'll pinch you to test it," Ren Xiaosu said.

"But reality is about probabilities. Only in dreams do things come to pass as you fear, don't they?" Hu Shuo said, then turned and left with a smile, "I'd rather this be a dream right now."

Ren Xiaosu always felt that this old man harbored a trace of sorrow.