In the mountainous southwest of Yuejiang Province, it was the second month since the backup base of Research Institute 2 of the Azure Huaxia Front had been brought into operation.
Morning, the start of the workday.
One half of the roadway had just been poured with concrete the night before and was not yet fully cured; on the other half, a track of sand mixed with river pebbles, combat boots crunched rhythmically.
"Major Xin, Major Xin, wait up!"
A new researcher from the same department, who had just joined the previous year, called out cheerfully from behind, trotting to catch up.
Normally, in units like research institutes, people addressed each other by administrative post rather than military rank. Xin Yaoqiao's case, however, was somewhat special. Her commission was with the Sole Witness Legion, and she wore the uniform of the combat branch.
What was more, all of this had been signed personally by Legion Commander Chen Buer.
She was the sole exception in the entire Huaxia research establishment.
Xin Yaoqiao stopped and turned to wait for her.
Once she caught up, the two walked side by side through the main entrance of the working area.
Ahead, on the stone screening wall directly facing the gates, a fresh slogan had been put up in the last couple of days:
[Give Everything for Victory in the Zenith War.]
Not long ago, Azure had officially designated this invasion crisis—in which Great Spikes hung canopy-like over twenty-seven cities worldwide—as the "Zenith War."
Following the Flag War at Xilang Peak four years earlier and the Icebound War in Antarctica that began more than two years ago, this was the third named war in humanity's history of resisting the Great Spikes.
Of course, Huaxia had not lost its habit of putting up slogans.
It was a good thing; seeing it every day coming and going from work served as a constant reminder, keeping the researchers' sense of urgency and combat mindset sharp.
"I dreamed about that talking Daie last night," the junior researcher said suddenly as they walked.
"Huh? Why would you dream about that?" Xin Yaoqiao turned to look at her.
"I dreamed it was hovering in the sky, and I looked up and started hurling insults at it... Of course I won in the end! When it comes to arguing, how could it ever be a match for me? Then it dove down to kill me, and at that critical moment, guess who showed up in my dream?"
"Who?" Xin Yaoqiao played along.
"Major The Qing! Heehee, he leaped down from a craft and swept his arm around my waist! Just like in the TV dramas—holding a blade in one hand and holding me with the other, swooshing away in a flash, putting me down in a safe spot, and then going back to fight..."
The junior researcher chattered on without stopping.
Having joined only the previous year, she was unaware of the past friendship between Xin Yaoqiao and Major Qing, or the rumors surrounding them.
Back then, Han Qingyu and his companions had been on the run as presumed fugitives; to avoid controversy and suspicion, all ties between her and Han Qingyu had been wiped away by the joint efforts of her grandfather and maternal grandfather, and mentioning them had been strictly forbidden ever since.
The distance from the entrance to the office building wasn't far. Xin Yaoqiao listened quietly all the way, smiling.
After finishing her happy recount with a laugh, the junior researcher turned, studied her closely for a moment, and suddenly said, "Major Xin, you seem to have been in a much better mood lately."
"Hmm? Really?" Xin Yaoqiao countered with a smile.
"Really. Before, you were always spacing out, and whenever you did, you looked thoroughly unhappy. And I heard people say you seemed to be in a cold war with your family. But lately, there's always a sparkle in your eyes, your complexion has a better glow, and you look even prettier... Hmm, according to my deduction, Major Xin, you haven't fallen in love, have you?!"
Having asked, the junior researcher looked at Xin Yaoqiao expectantly.
"Uh," Xin Yaoqiao thought to herself, *is it really that obvious?* It had only been a brief, hurried meeting, knowing that the bracelet from his mother was still there, and that the hair tie had been carefully kept all along... Thinking seriously about it, she mumbled under her breath, "Dating is out of the question. If we dated, I'd probably be angered to death before making it to marriage."
Because this last sentence was muttered vaguely, the junior researcher didn't catch it clearly and asked with a puzzled look, "What did you say, Major Xin? What's out of the question?"
"Nothing... I just mean, compared to taking things slow with dating, going on a blind date sounds more fun. A blind date, straight to marriage, and right into the bridal chamber. Yeah, that's what I'll do."
The junior researcher's mouth dropped open. "Whoa!"
"What's 'whoa' about that?"
"That's so thrilling!"
"Right? ...Haha." Xin Yaoqiao thought so too.
*Doesn't a certain someone always say he's going to go home for blind dates after victory? Then that's how we'll do it. When the time comes, I'll just appear right in front of him and be his blind date.*
*Though if I do that, Qingzi's parents will have to like me too.*
*If the two of them know what their son is like in that department, they shouldn't dare to be too picky, right? Exactly. If Qingzi's parents knew, they'd probably be secretly overjoyed and thanking the girl for being blind. Besides, I'm pretty. Mhm.*
*Maybe once things look up, before victory arrives, I should start learning some housework?*
Xin Yaoqiao thought all this over as she climbed the stairs.
At this moment, she had not realized that where she was right now was actually very close to Han Qingyu's old home; two months ago, the convoy relocating Institute 2 had driven right past the roadside shop of the Han family, which had already suspended business.
The two of them chatted and laughed as they went upstairs and into the office.
Inside, several senior researchers were already there, and from the look on their faces, the mood was quite somber first thing in the morning.
"What's wrong?" Xin Yaoqiao put away her smile and asked with concern.
Bad news had been arriving far too frequently lately. As far as the twenty-seven cities were concerned, the only place that had managed to force the Great Spikes into a defensive posture so far was Shenghai.
"The latest news: we're preparing to withdraw our forces from Antarctica," a colleague said.
Azure had ample reasons to withdraw from Antarctica.
For instance, the current war situation and pressure no longer permitted Azure to commit heavy forces there. Moreover, as early as two months ago, there were already no pinnacle experts anchoring the front there; those combat assets had to be recalled and concentrated on defending densely populated regions.
Another reason was that the supply conditions and natural environment there were ill-suited for large-scale human combat operations.
And furthermore, no people lived there to begin with.
Yet this also meant that Azure was officially conceding defeat in the Icebound War, marking the first time humanity had surrendered planetary territory on a massive scale.
Humanity had begun to lose its land.
Symbolically, this carried immense weight and was hard for many people to accept all at once.
Conversely, the Great Spikes would henceforth possess a ground base for invasion.
"Give up Antarctica, and then...?" The subsequent issue was that the Great Spikes would unlikely stay holed up there; they would launch further strikes from that foothold. Xin Yaoqiao thought for a moment. "And then Oceania?"
"Azure is currently in discussions with national governments about the possibility of a full human evacuation from Oceania."
"Actually, the practical organizational preparations are already underway. It's estimated that as troops pull back from Antarctica, they will evacuate the first wave of civilians."
Another senior colleague spoke up. With preparations actively being made, this development was impossible to conceal: humanity was planning to abandon Oceania.
Oceania lay too close to Antarctica.
At the same time, it was vast yet sparsely populated, dotted with countless islands, and with insufficient troops, defending it was exceedingly difficult.
"Then what about South America? It seems even closer to Antarctica, but there are so many people..." Apparently finding such a "defeat" hard to take in, the somewhat emotional junior researcher already had tears in her eyes when she looked up.
"Over there? Word is General Bochen has personally led troops there. Humanity will defend South America to the death."
"It's different there. The population exceeds three hundred million, and it connects directly to North America, so organizing an evacuation is out of the question."
"Once we evacuate from there, it means Azure has begun choosing to abandon densely populated regions as well... In that case, we truly won't be able to answer to the world."
"Yeah. In fact, right now, some branches of Pure Purgatory and Snow Lotus out there have already started spreading propaganda like that among the public. Places kept in the dark are fine, but where people know, panic set in long ago."
"..."
The situation was far bleaker than imagined, and deteriorating much faster.
Throughout the entire morning, the office remained heavy and oppressive.
***
Around the same time, at the Azure Council.
A confidential combat conference of the core leadership.
"Based on current assessments, once we completely concede Oceania, the Great Spike forces in Antarctica will definitely move in. At the same time, we expect that a large portion of the Great Spike swarms hovering above the core cities will head there as well to land and resupply... It is impossible that they don't require resupply."
"Then, we will choose our moment to stage a large-scale decisive battle right there."
The generals of Alliance Command looked at the map together. On the map, Oceania had been heavily circled, with numerous arrows pointing inward from the deserts and surrounding islands toward the central region of Oceania.
"To that end, it would be best if we can eliminate that Daie before the decisive battle begins."
Azure's current judgment was that the Daie served as the supreme commander of the invading Great Spike forces, as well as their greatest combat asset.
If it could be destroyed.
If this decisive battle could subsequently be won.
Humanity might win back time and room to grow.
At the same time, they would secure immense resources and rebuild faith, thereby establishing all necessary conditions for worldwide degree of fusion screening, selection, and comprehensive conscription.
"...Daie, Daie," Kemore muttered, then looked up. "What does Legion Commander Chen say? Has he responded?"
The confidential secretary beside him shook his head.
"He has given no personal reply. The response from the Huaxia Sole Witness Legion states that Legion Commander Chen still requires at least two years. He is currently... in a waning cycle."
The secretary stated that Legion Commander Chen Buer was in a waning cycle.
The term sounded bizarre, but the core Azure personnel present showed no surprise, for they already knew about it.
Ever since thirteen years ago, this condition had existed for Chen Buer, the undefeated mortal.
A cycle of three waning years and three waxing years—no one could explain the reason behind it.
They only understood that even in his waning cycle, Chen Buer remained unrivaled under the heavens, and that after every waning cycle, he would emerge even stronger.
And yet, none of them knew that thirteen years ago, Chen Buer had already died.
Chapter 638