Despite its limited use to him personally, Ye Fei couldn't help but think of Li Yun and the toll his injuries had taken. If only he'd discovered this newfound ability sooner, Li Yun might have avoided much of his suffering.
Realizing it was already late, Ye Fei decided to return to base and discuss the situation with Liu Junyi. Based on his experiences so far, finding the enemy's hideout was proving to be a difficult task, and he'd likely need her assistance once more.
When Ye Fei returned to the base, he noticed an unusual energy among the team. Curious, he approached a nearby member and asked, "What's got everyone so excited?"
By now, Ye Fei's reputation in the task force had grown significantly—rivaling Liu Junyi's own status. Though both had earned admiration, his display of strength resonated strongly among the members. While he found it amusing, he was grateful they continued to respect Liu Junyi, which kept the admiration from turning into competition.
The soldier laughed and replied, "We just got a message from the top brass! They finally called us out, saying we're taking too long and ordering us to finish off the enemy within a week!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Ye Fei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Only this SF team would cheer after being reprimanded. But he could understand their enthusiasm—after watching their comrades sacrifice so much, the chance to finally confront the enemy head-on was a welcome one.
Just then, Zhang Qiang, who had been chatting with some other team members, noticed Ye Fei and quickly approached him, pulling him aside. He spoke in a low voice, "The higher-ups just gave us a final deadline. Any progress finding the enemy's base?"
Ye Fei shook his head with a sigh. "Not much luck. I can search large areas pretty quickly, but they're hiding well, and I'm not trained in tracking. It'll be tough to locate them on my own."
Zhang Qiang nodded understandingly, offering a few words of encouragement. "Not your fault—you're new to the team, and we all know you haven't had the training we have. It's normal to miss things. I didn't expect this mission to be so high-pressure, though. I guess we'll have to settle for taking out the main forces and let the big fish slip away."
Seeing Zhang Qiang's defeated look, Ye Fei couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Zhang Qiang asked, slightly annoyed. "Don't you want to take them all down?"
"Of course I do, and we'll be able to," Ye Fei said confidently. "I'll just ask my aunt to go with me tomorrow. With her experience, we should be able to track down their base."
Zhang Qiang's face brightened as he realized the simplicity of Ye Fei's plan. "Why didn't I think of that? Clever thinking, Xiaoman!"
Ye Fei sighed and told her about the difficulties he'd encountered. "That's why I need you to join me. Together, we're more likely to find their base."
Liu Junyi listened thoughtfully. "So that's why we've struggled to pinpoint their location. With someone passing along information, it's no wonder they know our movements."
Ye Fei nodded, his thoughts turning to Li Si. "He's gone now, and I hope his disciples won't be dragged into this."
Understanding the bond he'd formed with Li Si, Liu Junyi added, "Still, there's a chance the person behind all this won't let them go. They could still be in danger."
Ye Fei thought it over. "True, but I don't think Li Si would leave his disciples completely unprotected. Their headquarters is in Linhai, far enough that they should be safe for now. If we can finish our mission quickly, we can reach them before the enemy does."
Liu Junyi nodded, relieved by his plan. "Let's find their base and put an end to this quickly. The sooner we do, the sooner we can ensure Xuanyin Sect's safety."
Ye Fei felt a surge of gratitude and pulled her into a hug. Taking out a handful of "recovery pills," he found an empty bottle in her room and carefully placed them inside, handing it to her. "Take these."
Liu Junyi examined the tiny, jelly bean-like pills in her palm, curious. "What are they?"
"These are recovery pills. If you're tired or injured, just take one, and you'll feel a lot better almost instantly. No side effects, either," he explained.
Liu Junyi's cheeks reddened, and she smacked him lightly. "You scoundrel! Isn't it enough to wear me out as it is?"
Ye Fei couldn't help but laugh. "You're getting it all wrong! These are for when we're in battle. They don't just help with energy—they heal injuries and restore internal strength too."
Realizing her mistake, Liu Junyi's blush deepened. "Oh... I misunderstood," she muttered, embarrassed.
Ye Fei laughed again and, with a mischievous grin, added, "But now that you mention it, you might want to keep a few for later—you can take as many as you need."
Flustered, Liu Junyi pushed him away, scolding him playfully. "You're impossible! Go on, you're on your own!"