"More than a month... three or four months..." Long Yuehong repeated the numbers blankly.

Jiang Baimian sized him up:

"You don't seem scared?

"If there's anything troubling you, tell us and we can discuss it. Maybe there's a solution?"

Before Long Yuehong could speak, Shang Jianyao chimed in:

"He's been living the high life with his mechanical watch, candies, and bottled drinks. He's practically floating when he walks. How could he bear to leave the company?"

"No way!" Long Yuehong retorted instinctively.

Shang Jianyao immediately asked:

"After deducting the contribution points for your parents' room upgrade, how much compensation do you have left?"

This hit the nail on the head, and Long Yuehong stammered, unable to answer.

After receiving the compensation, he had indeed been living very lavishly, often eating ordinary snacks worth 60 contribution points per pound, and occasionally splurging on high-end goods worth 720 per pound.

As for candies, pumpkin seeds, and bottled drinks, they were staples.

This made him a hero in the eyes of his younger siblings and the envy of his friends.

His interactions with his crush also seemed to have become easier.

Reluctant to reveal his remaining balance, Long Yuehong took the initiative and said:

"My mom recently introduced me to a girl, and we've met a few times. We feel pretty good about each other.

"If I leave for a month or two and come back, that'll be the end of it."

Jiang Baimian nodded in agreement:

"That's true. You're barely acquaintances with that girl, not even friends. If you disappear for two or three months without a word, how could she possibly wait for you?"

"Team Leader, is there a way to solve this?" Long Yuehong asked hopefully, his eyes pleading.

He knew that the mission assigned by the higher-ups couldn't be refused, and he only hoped that the Team Leader could teach him some practical tips to help him establish a relationship as soon as possible.

After all, the Team Leader was a relatively young woman who should have a good grasp of the female mindset, and she was also very smart.

Jiang Baimian thought seriously for a moment:

"No.

"Even if I try to bring you together now, without a deep emotional foundation, you'll probably be hurt even more when you come back in two or three months."

"Sigh..." Long Yuehong sighed.

Seeing this, Jiang Baimian casually offered a word of comfort:

"This might not be a bad thing."

"Huh?" Long Yuehong suddenly felt a glimmer of hope, wondering what the Team Leader would say.

Seeing Long Yuehong's serious expression, Jiang Baimian forced a smile:

"The next one might be better."

At this moment, Bai Chen didn't give Long Yuehong a chance to be sad and asked:

"Team Leader, why are we going to Weed City?"

"To visit the Glass Pure Land of the Monastic Order," Shang Jianyao replied搶答.

Long Yuehong's face turned pale.

"That's completely irrelevant." Jiang Baimian explained impatiently, "Here's the thing..."

She recounted the story of a 'Old Task Force' that had gone missing in Weed City, explaining their mission.

"Is this going to be very dangerous?" Long Yuehong blurted out, "We're passing through the Monk Wastelands, and it's an event that can cause an entire 'Old Task Force' to disappear..."

He was deeply wary of the mechanical monk Jingfa Zen Master, fearing that he would become one of the destined people if they met again.

Moreover, those mechanical monks all had quirks and trigger points. What if the next one they encountered was the type who killed anyone who heard a bad name?

--The Monk Wastelands is rumored to be the location of the Monastic Order's Glass Pure Land and is named after the frequent activity of mechanical monks in that area.

Hearing about the Monk Wastelands, Shang Jianyao's thoughts immediately jumped:

"I wonder if Jingfa Zen Master has properly explained the Dharma to Qiao Chu..."

Jiang Baimian was amused:

"This kind of heavily sinful man should be sent to become a mechanical monk.

"Imagine, an eagle, a pack of hyenas, a bunch of wild beasts, surrounding a metal robot, desperately trying to get close to him, rubbing against him, while that robot doesn't care at all, sitting upright on a stone, seriously chanting scriptures in an electronic synthesized voice, preaching the Dharma, tsk tsk..."

After fantasizing for a moment, Jiang Baimian promptly pulled back her thoughts and comforted Long Yuehong:

"Don't worry, we'll plan a route to bypass the Monk Wastelands and enter Weed City from the other side. Although it will be much longer, it's safer.

"Once we get to Weed City, we'll have the cooperation of the company's intelligence personnel and some resources to mobilize, so it won't be that dangerous.

"And..."

Saying the word "and", Jiang Baimian revealed a smile:

"This is the most suitable occasion for Shang Jianyao to shine.

"His abilities are limited on the battlefield with guns. In a relatively peaceful environment where people often have to interact, he is almost invincible."

After speaking, Jiang Baimian patted Shang Jianyao's shoulder:

"Make good friends when the time comes!"

Bai Chen listened attentively, subconsciously imagining the scene of Shang Jianyao frantically "making friends" after entering Weed City.

This made her inexplicably shudder.

She was very worried that an organization called the "Shang Jianyao Brotherhood" would appear in Weed City.

Thinking of this, Bai Chen instinctively turned her head to look at Shang Jianyao and found that this guy's eyes were shining brightly, looking eager to try.

"Team Leader, let's set off today," Shang Jianyao suggested.

Jiang Baimian glared at him:

"Don't even think about it.

"You still have to cooperate with the investigation within these three days."

"Investigation?" Long Yuehong was confused.

Jiang Baimian then mentioned the matter of the "Life Ritual" cult, emphasizing Shang Jianyao's contribution.

"Uncle Shen's 'Heartless Disease' turned out to have come about in this way..." Long Yuehong realized that during the period he was living the high life, undercurrents were surging beneath the surface.

Muttering to himself, he suddenly looked at Shang Jianyao:

"When did you guys join the cult?"

"July," Shang Jianyao answered candidly.

"Why would you voluntarily join them?" Long Yuehong asked, puzzled.

Shang Jianyao raised an eyebrow:

"Fun, and I could leave clues to report them at the same time."

"Then why did you have to participate so many times? Wouldn't everything be fine if you reported them earlier?" Long Yuehong felt that something was wrong here.

Shang Jianyao's expression suddenly became serious:

"Because it's delicious.

"The Holy Communion is especially delicious."

There probably wouldn't be any free Holy Communion after this.

"..." Long Yuehong's only reaction to this answer was a dazed expression.

Jiang Baimian then "comforted" Shang Jianyao:

"Weed City definitely has many sects, either public or hidden.

"When the time comes, you can join as many as you want, and mooch as many Holy Communions as you want. I think that won't be difficult for you, right?"

"Team Leader, let's set off today," Shang Jianyao proposed again with unusual sincerity.

Jiang Baimian didn't even bother to answer him, turning her head to Bai Chen and saying:

"After reading the information later, cooperate with me to plan a few routes to Weed City."

Then, she said to Long Yuehong:

"In addition to trying to have fun as much as possible these few days, spend more time with your family and also prepare yourself physically and mentally."

"Yes, Team Leader!" Long Yuehong and Bai Chen answered loudly at the same time.

"Good, very spirited." Jiang Baimian nodded with satisfaction and then said, "That special training will continue as usual. Once we leave the company, there won't be such a good environment. Well, the order will be changed a bit. Those who perform well won't participate, for example, Bai Chen."

She looked at Shang Jianyao when she said this.

Shang Jianyao nodded seriously.

Jiang Baimian's eyes shifted slightly, as if she was thinking about something:

"I myself have to do more preparation..."

Not giving Long Yuehong a chance to ask, she clapped her hands and said:

"Alright, let's look at the information."

...

9 PM the next night, in the pitch-black "Old Task Force" room.

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao, whose outline was barely visible across from her, and asked with concern:

"How was it? Did the questioning go smoothly?"

"Yes," Shang Jianyao said with great confidence.

Jiang Baimian asked again, not too reassured:

"What did they say?"

"Said I have a nice voice," Shang Jianyao relayed.

"Anything else?" Jiang Baimian frowned slightly.

Shang Jianyao answered without hesitation:

"Praised my spirit."

"This doesn't seem like good words..." Jiang Baimian said suspiciously.

Shang Jianyao recalled for a moment:

"At their request, I showed them my doctor's certificate. Then, they said there were no problems, and that if they needed to understand the situation further, they would talk to me again."

Jiang Baimian immediately imagined the scene.

"Good that there were no problems," she sighed helplessly.

Then, she stood up and said to Shang Jianyao:

"I'm going to the next room over."

She added with a smile:

"This time, I might leave quietly, or I might not."

"Okay," Shang Jianyao did not stop her.

In the lightless darkness, Jiang Baimian easily walked to the door, then turned around, carefully considering her words:

"I originally wanted to say that the only person you can ultimately rely on is yourself, but at a time like this, saying that is a bit insensitive."

She paused for a moment, and in an environment where she couldn't see her fingers, and couldn't see the other person, she continued in a soft voice:

"Actually, no one can survive purely on their own. When we are young, we rely more on our parents. When we grow up, we may rely on relatives, spouses, friends, and children.

"The four of us can also be considered comrades who have experienced life and death together several times. In most cases, I think we can be trusted, we can protect each other's flanks and backs, and we can charge together.

"Relying on others is not shameful. You are also letting others rely on you. You are also protecting your comrades.

"Chicks will eventually leave their parents and soar in the blue sky with their companions."

Shang Jianyao couldn't see Jiang Baimian's figure, but he could hear her words. He was silent for a moment, his thoughts churning.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian laughed self-deprecatingly:

"Haha, I accidentally became too literary. In short, I just want to tell you:

"You have companions. No matter what the situation, you will not walk alone."

The darkness became silent again, but Jiang Baimian quickly broke it:

"Stop, don't speak. I'm afraid of ruining the mood."

She then laughed:

"If you're scared, remember to call me, but I might not be there, oh."

Her voice gradually faded and disappeared into the corridor.