Qin Tao knew that Lu Cai was unwilling to talk so he tactfully stopped asking. Although Lu Cai's identity was confirmed he also had a tube of blood drawn for testing like Feng Li and the others.
All people who returned to the base from outside missions had to undergo such a thorough examination. This was the rule and no one questioned it. Every base had similar rules.
It took 24 hours for the test results to be conclusive which was considered fast because the infection period of dark matter was up to 35 days. 24 hours was the fastest result catalyzed by existing science.
During these 24 hours Lu Cai would not be allowed to enter the base's living area but would stay in the buffer zone living alone in a single room for observation.
If the test results were good he would be released within 24 hours and allowed to enter the base. If not he would be immediately shot dead in that small room.
Qin Tao patted his chest and took the initiative to take on the task of sending Lu Cai to the small room.
After the inspection at the gate was nearly complete Lu Cai bid farewell to Yu Xingyan and the others then turned and followed Qin Tao.
"My spiritual power is exhausted so I might have to stay here for a while. I'll be back as soon as I recover."
Qin Tao smiled, "What's the big deal? If a big shot like you wants to stay here I'll report to both sides. You can stay as long as you want."
Lu Cai shook his head slightly, his expression a little serious. "No, if it weren't for the lack of spiritual power I'd actually be back right away."
Qin Tao noticed his expression and whispered, "What happened?"
"I remember several bases synchronising their information daily. Didn't you receive any abnormal notifications from the northern base?" Lu Cai asked.
Qin Tao frowned. "No, aside from knowing you were coming I synchronized your information with them once and I received confirmation that you were indeed missing. That's all there is to it."
Lu Cai fell silent.
When he disappeared, he, his senior brother and several members of the Foundation team were dispatching a monster infestation. They had reached an abandoned mine believed to be the monsters' lair and were subsequently attacked fiercely.
There was something fishy about those monsters so fishy that Lu Cai and his senior brother couldn't confront them head-on which was why Lu Cai impulsively considered summoning them.
He didn't intend to summon a divine bird like his master nor did he dream of summoning a dragon like his senior brother. He simply wanted to summon something to provide them with some combat power.
He had been pushed to this point.
So when Lu Cai's summoning array backfired he thought his senior brother and the team were doomed. Their small elite group was to be wiped out here, a serious matter.
But he hadn't expected the Northern Base to prioritize this matter.
"Is my older brother okay?" Lu Cai hesitated for a moment before whispering.
Qin Tao raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking about Gu Mingze? He's fine. I heard he'd been looking for you lately but he only stopped after hearing the news from me."
Is my older brother actually okay?
Lu Cai was a little stunned. It wasn't that he wanted his senior brother to be in trouble but in that situation with the loss of a combatant how could he be okay?
He suddenly fell into deep self-doubt.
The two of them walked to the quarantine observation area, the entrance to the single room in the buffer zone. Qin Tao skillfully opened a door and walked in first.
Lu Cai followed in only to find Qin Tao inspecting his surroundings. He heard him sigh, "The environment is okay now. I heard that when this place was first built many people died here every day. Oh, it shouldn't be monsters, it's always bloody."
Lu Cai twitched his nose slightly and he could still smell a hint of blood.
But given the situation he could overcome it. He turned and thanked Qin Tao.
Qin Tao continued to smile, "Why thank me? I'll thank you tomorrow when I take you out."
Lu Cai nodded. Seeing Qin Tao turning to leave he quickly called out, "Junior Brother Qin!"
Qin Tao's towering frame seemed to threaten to collapse the small doorway of the cell. He uttered a confused "Ah" and turned back.
Lu Cai coughed twice and explained expressionlessly, "I found a wolf on the plains. You should have read the report. It's intelligent. If the final inspection is OK, I want to take it with me."
"Yeah, it's fine. What's wrong?" Qin Tao was stunned.
Lu Cai: "Cultivating relationships starts from a young age. Can you get me a bigger house? Ideally one with a large basement?"
Qin Tao was shocked to recall the wolf described in the report: 15.5 tons!
Cultivating from a young age?
What was so small about it?
Little brain?
But Qin Tao didn't question it. After all, with fewer people and more housing these days Lu Cai's request wasn't difficult to fulfill. Half a football field would definitely be enough.
He nodded, rubbing his forehead. "Okay, you can stay there when you get out tomorrow. However, places that large are usually found in the outer city so security might be a problem even outside a minefield."
But it was only within the range of the base's dispersal devices so such an area wasn't a big deal for psychics like them.
Lu Cai wondered, "Is there such a good deal?"
If it were too secure he might even have to worry about bringing Zeshia in. This would be the perfect place for him to hide his secrets.
He immediately told Qin Tao: "The one that's the farthest away!"
Qin Tao: "Alright."
Qin Tao left and locked the door. Lu Cai returned to the small room alone, glanced around and chose the cleanest-looking bed to sit cross-legged on.
Surveillance cameras were closely monitoring him from all directions overhead. Besides these the walls were densely perforated with poison gas pipes and gun barrels used to execute any infected individuals who attempted to infiltrate the base with ulterior motives.
This was to protect the surviving humans.
The human population had already dwindled significantly. Furthermore, due to environmental changes and the persistent presence of dark matter the birth rate had plummeted in recent years and many children were born with varying degrees of disability and deformity.
To preserve the species even more people had to be killed even though those killed might no longer be called human.
This was the tragedy of this era but also the inevitable verdict of humanity's self-preservation.
Seeing these traces Lu Cai inevitably thought of these things and soon felt his mind wavering. He quickly calmed down and meditated.
There was no point in overthinking. All he could do now was to quickly recover his spiritual power and return to the northern base.
Time slipped by unnoticed in the enclosed environment. Lu Cai's meditation practice allowed him to both rest and restore his spiritual energy. He would call it a brilliant invention of his ancestors.
It felt like nearly 24 hours had passed but Qin Tao, who had promised to pick him up, hadn't shown up.
Not only that he even heard subtle movements on the other side of the wall.
He suddenly opened his eyes and gazed at the holes in disbelief his blood test failed? Were these people going to kill him?
Impossible!
As a Taoist disciple Lu Cai's most unique feature compared to ordinary psychics might not be the strength of his powers but his ability to sense the balance of power.
It's said that Tai Chi gives rise to the two opposites and the two opposites give rise to the four images. Taoist principles are one with heaven and earth allowing them to perceive forces that contradict the laws of nature and the principles of heaven and earth.
Dark matter is this kind of power.
Although unlike technology which could clearly detect the type and proportion of power Lu Cai was familiar with dark matter. He knew that if a person was infected with dark matter the energy within their body would roughly form two opposing camps.
Lu Cai knew for sure that there was absolutely no dark matter lurking within him; he was not infected.
But the movement in the wall was not fake. Lu Cai could even hear the sound of a bullet being loaded.
His face darkened. He sat up in bed and stared intently at the hole where the bullet was about to be fired.
This place was also equipped with a magic suppression device so his spells would be ineffective. However, with his agility he should be able to dodge the bullet's trajectory.
But after dodging this attack what would happen next?
If he was truly diagnosed as infected the entire base would confront him.
Lu Cai was momentarily bewildered even a little annoyed they had decided to kill him?
For what?
But his tension and unusual counterattack had only risen for a moment when a violent roar suddenly erupted throughout the base and the ground beneath his feet trembled.
Then all around him fell silent. Lu Cai waited for a long moment, his guard high before the door was roughly unlocked.
Qin Tao flung the door open: "Follow me!"
Lu Cai paused, a look of surprise on his face. Not attacking him anymore?
"What's wrong?" Lu Cai asked calmly but he didn't stop. Following Qin Tao's gesture of making way he stepped out of the room and immediately calculated his escape route.
Qin Tao didn't give him a chance to pause. He grabbed him and continued walking, saying:
"A strange creature has appeared. It suddenly passed through the minefield and dispersal zone. Preliminary analysis suggests it can fly. It's unaffected by the radiation from the powerful dispersal device and is desperately attacking the base's protective shield!"
Lu Cai paused causing Qin Tao to stop and shout hurriedly:
"What's going on? Time's running out! Hurry! That thing's attack is too fierce. The city walls can't hold up!"
Lu Cai, unsure of why his heart was racing, asked hoarsely, "What does it look like?"
Qin Tao, a little annoyed, said, "I didn't see it! It seems to have invisibility. Except for the energy fluctuations during each attack I can't detect it at all!"
Lu Cai was speechless.
For a moment he actually thought it was Zeshia.
Countless soldiers and residents hurried past most of them scrambling through the city with fear written on their faces.
The base was supposed to be humanity's safest fortress having not suffered such an attack in years. Those who had experienced a dark matter explosion thought doom had come again trembling and crawling on the ground powerless even to escape, weeping and begging for divine intervention.
Humanity had suffered a devastating blow and was sensitive and fearful of pain.
Lu Cai gritted his teeth and looked at Qin Tao with a complicated expression.
The sound of bullets being loaded in the wall was still faintly audible and now those who wanted to kill him suddenly turned around and hoped to help him.
Qin Tao seemed to realize something. He looked at Lu Cai his expression solemn for a moment.