Brother Li had seen plants injure people before, but plants tearing themselves from the soil and chasing people down to attack? No matter how it was phrased, he simply could not believe it.
Brother Li explained, "I am not accusing you of lying. I just think this matter is too unbelievable."
Lan Jin said, "It is fine, being doubtful is normal. Before this, we also would not have believed plants could tear themselves from the earth and run down a mountain. But it happened exactly like that. At the gate, when Brother Zhang was injured, there were other staff members who saw the process.
That at least proves we are not making things up. As for the rest, once those people recover, you will know. But Brother Zhang was hurt relatively late, and he should still be conscious right now. You can go ask him directly and confirm it."
Looking at the calm expressions of Lan Jin, Ling Jiang, Huang Jinghe, and Lao Gao, for a moment Brother Li almost felt they truly were not lying.
But none of that was important now. None of the ability-users of the base had returned yet. If those maddened, delirious people went wild, the only ones who might control them were Lan Jin, Ling Jiang, Huang Jinghe, and Lao Gao. Letting them leave was impossible.
Brother Li had originally planned to question them first, then confirm things with Brother Zhang. Since Lan Jin had already brought it up, he followed along. "Alright, I will go ask him now. I will also ask how to arrange matters for you. Sit here for a little while."
But that "little while" stretched endlessly. Their talk with Brother Li had already taken two hours, and Brother Li spent nearly three more with Brother Zhang. Altogether five hours had passed. Outside, the sky was fully bright. A new day had begun.
The problem was, aside from yesterday morning's meal, they had gone another full day and night without food. Lao Gao's stomach growled at the wrong time. Just as Ling Jiang was about to tease him, Huang Jinghe's belly growled as well.
Huang Jinghe gave an awkward smile. "Sorry, I am hungry."
Lao Gao gave a bitter laugh and looked at Lan Jin and Ling Jiang. "I am hungry too. Is being hungry not allowed? Do I have to be scolded for that?"
Of course not. In truth, hearing their stomachs rumble made Lan Jin's and Ling Jiang's stomachs stir with hunger too. With no other choice, the four leaned back against the sofa and gnawed on compressed biscuits.
Lao Gao chewed while grumbling, "Why are we back at the base but still eating this stuff?"
"Because we cannot just pull other food out of thin air," Lan Jin replied. If she could, she would have already taken them into her space to eat their fill.
After an entire day and night without food, one biscuit was hardly enough. By the time Brother Li returned, they were eating their second.
When Brother Li saw the four of them eating, realization struck him. Good heavens, they had not eaten for an entire day and night.
He hurried forward and smiled. "My apologies, truly. I was so focused on questioning you that I completely forgot you had not eaten. I already spoke with Brother Zhang. How about we go have breakfast at the cafeteria? We can talk while we eat."
Brother Li's attitude was far warmer than before. Clearly, Brother Zhang had given him similar answers to what they had said. Realizing they had not lied, and seeing their formidable skills, his tone had changed entirely.
The four did not object and followed Brother Li.
…
This breakfast was not at the public cafeteria. Instead, they were served a carefully prepared nutritional meal. After tasting it, the four could not help sighing with emotion. The treatment for the leadership was truly good. The large cafeteria downstairs served decent food, but compared to these plates of nutrient-balanced meals, it fell far short.
But they had misunderstood.
Brother Li explained, "This was specially arranged by Brother Zhang. He told me to order this for you, since you have suffered greatly on this journey and need the nourishment. Eat first. Just listen while I talk."
His meaning was plain. Just as they guessed, he wanted the full story clarified. But on the matter of plants being able to run, he still held a half-believing, half-doubting attitude.
Lan Jin said, "There is nothing to be surprised about. Brother Li, you must have gone to that thick forest yourself? With plants able to emerge from the ground there, is it really so unbelievable?"
But Brother Li shook his head. "Sorry, I have never gone there myself. I have only seen the videos recorded by others. I cannot imagine the scene clearly. But since it has now been confirmed, and that forest has been destroyed, then the matter should not repeat."
Lan Jin paused with her chopsticks, then said, "We heard Brother Zhang mention there were many places with forests like that. We do not know how they form, or what dangers lie inside, but there are many."
Brother Li explained, "Many, yes. But not endless. Such forests only form under certain conditions. First, they must be in high mountain areas. You saw yourself that low-lying lands are already submerged underwater. There is no way such growth could appear there. That is why every discovered forest stands in mountain ranges like ours."
And the mountains that still stood above water were towering ones. But not every city was built at the foot of mountains, so even though many places had such forests, not all of them were equally dangerous.
What was more, these forests still carried research value. Why was the pollen unbearably itchy? Why did the plants drive people insane or awaken powers? These were things worth studying. But because this particular forest was far too close to human habitation, it had to be destroyed. The risk of someone sneaking in and exploiting it was worse than the plants themselves.
Thus the "weed-clearing" operation.
The four understood. Destroying the forest had been the right choice.
Still, Lan Jin had another question. "By rights, this mission was extremely dangerous. Why did they send a group with no powers at all? Mutated plants are immune to knives and guns. Sending people without powers could only mean sending them to die. Why not send ability-users?"
Lan Jin had struck the heart of the matter.
The reason was simple. That forest was too dangerous. Even ability-users going there might only be walking to their deaths. But ability-users bore more important responsibilities. Those without powers, Brother Zhang included, had simply been pushed out as sacrifices.
They had been sent to die.