This chapter was originally shared via n(0)vel(b)(j)(n).

Shi Lang turned off the engine after the chopper touched down on the ground. The rest of the people suddenly got off the chopper and began to look around. Rosa asked, “Major Lang, have you been here a lot during your time on this planet?”

“This is my first time.” his reply shocked everyone but Quinn.

Darcx asked, “Then the nose dive just now, how were you so sure about it?” his voice was shivering. That nosedive was a death stunt.

Quinn replied, “Simulation practice.” as she unloaded a few things from the chopper and said, “Come on, follow me. I have been here thrice in the past.”

The people understood what was going on and they walked behind Quinn. Shi Lang told Zysha to roam freely around the place. This hole was underground but it did have a lot of space and was enriched with an ecosystem of its own. After walking for over ten minutes, they found seven big wooden balls hanging between the trees.

Quinn said, “Welcome to the treehouse, this facility can accommodate six of us, and has one meeting and control room.” she sounded like a professional tour guide at the moment.

She came close to a tree and put down a box in her hands. She said, “There is only one exit and one entrance in this facility, I will carve some groves on the trunk of this tree so that each of us could climb and get inside.”

Jenkins asked, “We can jump up, can we not?”

The height where the balls were suspended was not too much for a Terran to reach with a jump. Quinn said, “Well if you are comfortable with that, but the bulk door will not open until you get a complete scan verification.”

A complete scan would require them to stand still. Amelia asked, “Any special reason to why the scan, after all, this is a secret location right?”

Quinn replied, “During my last visit here, we came to hunt down a deserter, and before we could subdue him, the guy had killed three of us. Thus the vacant of Card Class opened and Ace got in.”

Shi Lang finally got the answer to why he was suddenly called over. Quinn continued, “Thus X decided to put on the security measures on the place.”

The people nodded in understanding, quickly, using a machete Quinn carved ten groves on the sides of the tree and climbed up to the height of the wooden ball. In front of the bulk door, there was an extended plank for the people to stand up and get scanned.

As soon as Quinn stood up on the plank a light turned on at the top of the bulk door. Then after a few seconds, the door opened with a click. She said, “You all can come up, your details are all uploaded in the system already.”

That said, the people began to climb the tree and got inside the treehouse one by one. Shi Lang asked, “Quinn, can I call Zysha over as well?”

Quinn nodded and said, “I see no problem, I will use proxy to let her in, but make sure that you engrave a code on her equipment for the system to know her identity.”

Shi Lang nodded as he let out a whistle from his mouth. In reply, the big cat told him that she would like to stay out for a bit longer. He shrugged and got inside the treehouse. This place was better decorated than even some houses he had seen back in The Federation. The bulk door led them to a common area, which was used as both the control room and a meeting room.

This wooden ball had six more openings all leading to a separate room. Shi Lang choose the one next to Amelia and the rest of the people also began to settle in their own rooms. After they had gotten a feel of their rooms, they gathered back in the meeting room.

They were sitting around a table when Rosa asked, “So what is the plan we have?”

Shi Lang shook his head and said, “We have no idea what were are going into, we cannot develop a predefined strategy. It will be played by ear.”

The others nodded they understood that they had no data to work on, so if they made any strategy and became dependent on it, however, in the end, the situation turned out to be something completely different from their expectations, they will be left with no options.

Rosa said, “I suggest that we come up with a few rules inside the team, this way, it will be better for all of us to have an understanding of our circumstances in that place.” her idea was to share each and every detail within the group so that they all no about each other’s activity and would be able to cover up any problem they face.

Shi Lang nodded, “I agree with this. What about the rest?”

The people all nodded, and Shi Lang continued, “I have a few ideas, if any of you find something is missing, do step forward.”

After receiving a nod from the people, Shi Lang said, “I suggest that we message each other about everything that we do there. For instance, if Jenkins is asked to go out on a date, then he should inform us, this way we will be aware of whom he left with and we will also know who to nab if this guy did not make it back.”

The people surprisingly nodded. They did not think it was bad for them to be aware of each other’s activity status. The meeting continued and the people came up with various rules, such as not drinking or smoking anything that has not yet been tested. Who knows, what they might spike your drink with and you are killed.

One more thing they all decided was to stay in pairs. Darcx was given to be the aid to Rosa Blues, while Quinn got paired up with Jenkins. Amelia and Shi Lang were a team. As for Zysha, she was going to play the dumb mascot and act like spyware.

The team feasted on compressed food and when it was time to say good night, Shi Lang stood up and said, “Amy, let’s go.”

Amelia was stunned to see him act like this. She did not expect this guy to blatantly call her out like this. She blushed and heard the guy say, “What are you all looking at? She is my fiancee, and I have missed a lot, I need some time with her.”

The people did not have it in themselves to eye him after this, so they avoided looking at him, and slowly they went back to their own rooms. Shi Lang saw that Amelia did not get up from the chair so he smiled faintly and sat down next to her. He said, “I am sorry, to make you feel so embarrassed.”

Amelia shook her head and said, “It is not your fault, I am slightly happy that you missed me, but when people look at me like this, I cannot help but feel shy.” her voice was like a silky scarf.

Shi Lang gently placed his palm over hers and said, “You know, I have been holding back on a lot of things lately, I did not know, how and whom to share it all with. Now that you are here, I can speak what I have in my heart.”

Amelia raised her head and asked, “What happened?”

Shi Lang said, “After I came here, I found myself alone and away from home, we cannot go out of this place and they have a lot of restrictions on how to communicate back home. Sometimes I thought about what might happen if I died here. Will they tell you all, what will they tell you, and what if they did not say anything?”

Amelia was surprised and said, “Lang, why do you think such things. You know, this will not happen, if something happened to you, they will tell us. Do not think as such.” she raised her free hand to caress the side of his face gently.

Shi Lang shook his head and asked, “What will you do if I died? What will my parents do? Sometimes I had nightmares that you left me, and I woke up distressed. I have never feared anything, but those nightmares, I cannot handle them. I do not want to lose you, Amy. I do not know what words shall I use to express my feelings for you and the people whom I hold close. Quinn was right when she called me uptight.

I do not have a lot of space in my heart, just a few people, if anyone left, I will also not remain the same.”

Shi Lang was aware that he was having an emotional breakdown, the loneliness in this place had made him prone to this. Even if he was a cultivator and used to wander alone, now after getting a taste of family and emotions, he did not want to lose it all. This fear had overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, Amelia kissed his lips gently and said, “I am here now, am I not. I will not leave you alone, I love you, Lang.”

These few words, were enough to wash away the pent-up anxiety, and nervousness in his heart.