Yang Lian was choked, yet dared not retort.
Xu Qian didn't spare him a glance, her voice cold, "Those willing to come with me, I will lead you. Those unwilling, stay here and wait for death. Now, those who want to go, come to my side. Those who don't, follow your leader Yang Lian."
The crowd hesitated for a moment. Most people valued their lives, and only a few remained by Yang Lian's side. Their unspoken thoughts, a cacophony of thousands, made Xu Qian's head nearly explode. Yang Lian's face darkened, filled with frustration.
For the sake of the mission, Xu Qian sighed and patiently advised, "Leader Yang, you yourself are aware that base mergers are inevitable. Do you think the leaders will allow you to develop freely here? If they cut off your water and electricity, wouldn't you have to beg them to join? Moreover, Hope Base has excellent protective measures and systems. Why wouldn't it be beneficial?"
Yang Lian's heart trembled, and he suddenly realized. Yang Lian Base's water and electricity were indeed supplied by Hope Base. Now that the base had collapsed, reconnecting them would be a massive undertaking. The leader might not even agree, and even if they did, it would likely cost a fortune. At that point, wouldn't they have to relocate anyway? He had been in charge for so long that he had become arrogant, unable to discern what was truly important. Human safety, human life, was paramount.
"Sister Qian, I agree to merge with Hope Base, but I have one request..."
Xu Qian's expression remained unchanged as she interrupted him, "You can take any requests to the official leader. I am not the leader of Hope Base and cannot make decisions for him on all matters."
With a thought, ten buses appeared outside the restaurant. "Use any stool to shield yourselves and charge through. If there aren't enough seats, stand. The buses have autopilot and will navigate directly to Hope Base. Don't try any clever tricks with the controls; you can't afford the consequences."
The crowd trembled, daring not to ask questions. They quickly grabbed chairs, held them over their heads, and rushed forward. Even as they were buffeted by the wind and splashed by acid rain on their legs, they dared not make a sound. Once everyone was aboard, the buses departed automatically.
Only after everyone was on board did Yang Lian secretly heave a sigh of relief. He straightened his back and sincerely apologized, "Sister Qian, what I said earlier was impulsive. I am truly sorry. I am already grateful that you are willing to help us. I shouldn't have made so many demands."
Xu Qian cast him a faint glance and opened her black umbrella. "Let's go, Leader Yang."
Yang Lian gave a wry smile, "I'm not a leader anymore. Just call me Yang Lian."
"Leader Yang, what was your initial intention in establishing this base?" Xu Qian believed that a base established in the apocalypse, one even recognized by Hope Base, must have been a good one. Their original intention was surely to rebuild a homeland for people, to build a home for them so they wouldn't be homeless. Then why had that original intention changed so drastically after three years?
Yang Lian was taken aback, unsure how to answer. They had already reached the buses. "Get on, Leader Yang." The young girl wore a black mask on half of her face, revealing only her beautiful eyebrows and a pair of unusually calm dark eyes. Yang Lian's brow relaxed, and his heart suddenly felt clear. "I never expected that at my age, I wouldn't be as open-minded as you, a young girl." The purpose of establishing the base was for the people. The purpose of relocating the base was also for the people, not for oneself.
Xu Qian's dark eyes flickered slightly, and she said calmly, "Maintain your original heart, and you will still be Leader Yang." With that, the young girl turned and walked into the heavy rain, her back straight, like a mighty tree standing proudly in the storm. Unyielding.