Luoyuan pulled Mu Xi across a narrow flight of stone steps, each step kicking up fine dust.
The temporary base was built on the highest point of this dried lake bed, consisting of several interconnected low buildings with outer walls weathered and mottled by wind and sand.
Mu Xi’s silver hair gleamed with an unnatural luster under the scorching sun.
Her steps remained mechanical, but a flicker of clarity occasionally flashed in her eyes.
Luoyuan sensed her hesitation, and her fingers tightened slightly.
“Don’t disappoint me, Little Xi,” Luoyuan leaned in close to her ear, her voice like a snake’s hiss.
“Remember your place, and remember who gave you a new life.”
Mu Xi’s body trembled slightly, her head hanging low.
“Yes, Sister.”
They ascended to a platform at the highest point of the temporary base, where a simple viewing stand had been erected.
The open space below the platform was filled with people — at least 100 men and women dressed in various types of clothing.
There were soldiers in worn-out gear holding various weapons; laborers in rags, their faces covered in dust; and some who looked like conscripted civilians, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.
In the center of the platform, a magnificent throne crafted from metal and leather looked particularly out of place, forming a sharp contrast with the crude surroundings.
Luoyuan pushed Mu Xi forward, and a tall man immediately stepped up to announce, “Welcome the arrival of the Princess of Wu City!”
The crowd below immediately knelt as one, shouting in unison, “Welcome the Princess of Wu City!”
Mu Xi was pressed onto the throne, her small hands gripping the armrests so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She looked around, seeing only desolation and despair.
The base was surrounded by weathered rocks and cracked earth.
In the distance, the wreckage of several buildings half-buried in the sand served as silent warnings.
Luoyuan stood beside Mu Xi, her blonde hair fluttering in the wind, her blue eyes scanning the crowd below.
She raised her hand for silence, and the crowd instantly grew quiet.
“Today, we welcome a new beginning.”
Luoyuan’s voice carried across the entire space without the need for amplification.
“The arrival of the Princess of Wu City, Mu Xi, signifies that we are no longer abandoned refugees, but pioneers with a sacred mission!”
From the crowd below, a middle-aged man in slightly better clothing stepped forward.
He was the head of the engineering team.
“My lady, we have completed the modification of the underground waterways according to your instructions. They can be activated at any time.”
Luoyuan nodded in satisfaction, her gaze sweeping over the uniformed soldiers in the crowd.
“What is the training status of the armed forces?”
A burly leader immediately responded, “300 men have completed basic training and are ready for deployment at any time. The weapon inventory is sufficient to support 1 month of combat.”
A cold sneer curled the corners of Luoyuan’s mouth.
“Very good. Our goal is not just Wu City, but to change this post-apocalyptic world.”
She turned to Mu Xi by announcing, “With the bloodline of the Princess of Wu City, we are a legitimate noble force, no longer pitiful civilians. Everyone will have their own land, manors, and property!”
The crowd erupted into enthusiastic cheers, but Mu Xi noticed that in some people’s eyes, there was no joy — only fear and forced obedience.
A thin girl squeezed out from the crowd.
She looked to be only 12 or 13 years old, her clothes tattered, yet she stared boldly at Mu Xi.
“Is she really the Princess of Wu City? She looks so weak.”
Luoyuan’s gaze instantly turned cold.
She signaled with her hand, and two soldiers immediately stepped forward to grab the girl.
“Release her,” Mu Xi suddenly spoke.
Her voice was light, yet exceptionally clear.
Luoyuan turned to look at Mu Xi, a flash of surprise and wariness crossing her eyes.
Mu Xi’s eyes remained hollow, but there was an imperceptible curve at the corner of her mouth.
It was as if some force were invisibly controlling her.
“I want to answer her question myself.”
Mu Xi slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the platform, “I am the Princess of Wu City. Though I am weak, the power to change the world flows through my bloodline.”
Her voice became increasingly firm, as if something were awakening inside her.
“I will lead you out of this desert and rebuild our home. But first, I need your loyalty.”
Luoyuan’s expression became complicated.
She did not interrupt Mu Xi but observed her every move.
Mu Xi’s performance was both expected and somewhat surprising.
The crowd below cheered again, even more enthusiastically this time.
The girl was released.
She stared at Mu Xi, her eyes shimmering with curiosity and a flicker of hope.
Mu Xi returned to the throne, her body leaning forward slightly.
“Tell me, how many of you joined voluntarily?”
The crowd suddenly fell silent, and the air grew thick with tension.
Luoyuan’s gaze became dangerous, and she quickly took a step forward.
“Little Xi, you are too tired.” Luoyuan placed her hand on Mu Xi’s shoulder, her fingertips applying slight pressure.
“Let me handle these matters.”
Mu Xi looked up at Luoyuan, a flash of struggle appearing in her eyes before they returned to their hollow state.
“Yes, Sister. I am too tired.”
Luoyuan turned back to the crowd, her voice regaining its composure.
“3 days later, we will begin the first phase of the operation. Team leaders stay behind; everyone else is dismissed.”
The crowd began to disperse, leaving only a dozen or so team leaders standing in place to begin discussing affairs.
Luoyuan leaned down and whispered in Mu Xi’s ear, “You performed well, but don’t forget your place. Without me, you are nothing.”
Mu Xi kept her head low, her silver hair obscuring her expression.
“I will never forget, Sister.”
Her voice was as light as a whisper, but it carried a determination that Luoyuan did not notice.
“Never.”
Afterward, Luoyuan led Mu Xi back to a room in the base.
She took out a mobile phone and started a remote video call.
Once the call connected, a woman appeared.
Luoyuan told her to transfer the video to Mu Yunzheng, stating that she had found Mu Tianhong’s daughter, Mu Xi.
Luoyuan led Mu Xi through the narrow corridors of the base, their footsteps echoing on the metal floor.
The desert wind whistled through the gaps in the walls, carrying the scent of sulfur.
Mu Xi’s silver hair gleamed coldly in the dim light.
Her fingers were icy, held tightly in Luoyuan’s grip.
“Get in.” Luoyuan pushed open a rusted iron door and brought Mu Xi into a cramped room.
A folding table stood in the center of the room, with a black mobile phone resting on it.
Luoyuan pulled over a chair and motioned for Mu Xi to sit.
She then picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number.
The screen lit up, showing the blurred face of a woman.
The woman was wearing a uniform unique to Wu City, and the background was a magnificently decorated office.
“Transfer the video to Mu Yunzheng,” Luoyuan commanded, her voice cold and hard.
“Tell him I found Mu Tianhong’s daughter.”
The woman froze for a moment, then nodded.
The screen temporarily went black.
Luoyuan turned toward Mu Xi, a smile playing on her lips.
She reached out and pulled Mu Xi into her embrace, her fingers suddenly squeezing Mu Xi’s breast.
“Don’t move,” Luoyuan whispered in Mu Xi’s ear, “I need to prove you’re the real thing.”
Mu Xi froze in place, her face remained expressionless, but her fingers trembled slightly.
The screen lit up again, this time revealing the face of a man in his late 40s or early 50s.
He had eyes and brows similar to Mu Xi’s, but his gaze was filled with calculation and greed.
“Mu Xi, this is your Uncle Mu Yunzheng, your father Mu Tianhong’s younger brother,” Luoyuan introduced, her fingers lightly stroking Mu Xi’s silver hair.
Mu Xi stared blankly at the screen and nodded mechanically.
“Uncle.”
Mu Yunzheng’s eyes suddenly grew moist, and his voice choked up, “I’ve finally found you, child. All these years, I’ve been searching for your whereabouts.”
He paused for a moment and said, “Hurry and send her to Wu City. I still have two sons; they’ve wanted to meet their cousin for a long time.”
Luoyuan let out a cold laugh and released Mu Xi.
“I don’t plan on sending her over just yet.”