"Report! The locals call this creature a brain-eating ghoul. It likes to eat brains, and its teeth are very hard, capable of biting through a person's skull." shouted the mecha soldier from the front vehicle. "Brain-eating ghouls usually forage at night. Those few were sleeping in the trees, and I eliminated them just in case."
Jiang Ye muttered a low curse, "Isabel is toxic. Why did she come all the way here?"
The vehicle continued forward, following a winding mountain road through the dense forest.
Finally, a checkpoint appeared.
Two mecha soldiers stood by the roadside, holding their guns.
Upon seeing the special vehicle convoy, they quickly snapped to attention, puffing out their chests to show respect.
The convoy passed through the checkpoint without slowing down, continuing into the dense forest.
Jiang Ye thought they were almost there, but the vehicle drove for another half hour, passing six checkpoints in succession before finally spotting the villa on the hillside.
The villa was quite rustic, a house built of white and red giant stones, with a thick chimney spewing wood smoke. It was likely heated by a fireplace, not just retro, but possibly built by a wealthy local mountain resident. Outside the villa was a beautiful cobblestone wall, with armed mecha soldiers on guard. Piles of animal carcasses of various fur colors were stacked at the corners, frozen into a single mass, likely killed by the mecha soldiers while on duty. This area was quite wild and remote, yet so many wild animals were visible.
The special convoy stopped, and Jiang Ye got out, stepping onto the stone steps to enter the villa's perimeter. An Xiaowen followed behind, carrying a briefcase and looking around curiously.
Soon, Jiang Ye saw a hot spring, as large as a swimming pool, on the east side of the villa.
The hot spring water was very hot; even from a distance, a wave of heat could be felt in the air. Majestic white steam rose from the water's surface, like a giant pot of boiling dumplings.
A pale figure floated at the edge of the hot spring, with a touch of pink.
Jiang Ye found it somewhat familiar. As he walked along the edge of the hot spring, he confirmed it was Isabel.
She stood comfortably at the edge of the hot spring, wearing a pink three-piece swimsuit, her well-proportioned, hot body fully displayed. Her hair was wet, water droplets slid down her face, and her fair profile was flushed red.
She could no longer be described as just sexy or beautiful; she was at a level that could grace the cover of a fashion magazine.
In the water, besides Isabel, there were two little monkeys, holding washcloths and diligently scrubbing Isabel's arms. They had also lathered a lot of bath foam, which slowly bloomed in the hot water.
The little monkeys were about the size of cats, with golden-brown fur, a very beautiful breed, floating nimbly on the water. Their fur was wet and also coated with bath foam.
"Old Yi, you really know how to enjoy yourself," Jiang Ye squatted by the hot spring, clicking his tongue in admiration.
Isabel smiled happily, "Come down and join me for a soak? It snowed heavily last night, and soaking in a hot spring at this time is really refreshing."
Jiang Ye reached out to touch the water in the hot spring, retracting his hand as if shocked, his face showing surprise.
"Is this boiling water? It's so hot!" Jiang Ye took two steps back, "Old Yi, are you soaking in a hot spring? Are you trying to scald pigs here?"
"It's very hot at first, but it's comfortable once you get used to it," Isabel smiled. "Actually, it's not that hot. It's just that you've been in minus ten degrees all the way here, and the temperature difference is too great, so you feel it's scalding."
"Who is this?" Isabel suddenly noticed An Xiaowen behind him.
"Greetings, Commander. My name is An Xiaowen, and I am Commander Jiang's secretary," An Xiaowen stepped forward and respectfully introduced himself.
"Oh, where is Su Yueming?" Isabel asked, surprised.
"Old Su is too busy to accompany me all the time, so I arranged for An Xiaowen to come," Jiang Ye said. "We have to train new people. An Xiaowen is a top student, with several doctoral and master's degrees; her academic qualifications are much higher than Old Su's."
"The old ones are more considerate," Isabel smiled at An Xiaowen. "Would you like to come down for a soak?"
"Thank you, Commander. I won't," An Xiaowen shook her head repeatedly.
"Then go inside and wait. It's too cold out here," Isabel said. "Old Jiang will call you if he needs anything."
An Xiaowen hesitated, looking at Jiang Ye.
"Go ahead. Old Yi and I will chat here for a while. You don't need to work for now, go and rest," Jiang Ye smiled. "See if there's anything good to eat in Old Yi's place, and eat your fill. Don't be polite."
"Then I'll go wait inside, Commanders. Call me if you need anything," An Xiaowen trotted away.
"Come on, come down and soak," Isabel raised an eyebrow. "Let the scrubbing monkeys give you a scrub. It's incredibly comfortable."
"No, I feel like this pool will cook a person," Jiang Ye looked at the center of the hot spring and his expression suddenly changed. "Look over there, it's bubbling. Are you sure you won't be cooked in here?"
"That's not boiling water bubbling. There's a sterilization pack at the bottom. It bubbles after being heated, and then the sterilizing substances spread out," Isabel laughed. "If I really get cooked, you can bring some soy sauce and vinegar to dip me in."
"No way, I wouldn't want to eat that. Anyway, I'm not soaking. Let's talk business," Jiang Ye's expression turned serious. "Do you want to speak first, or should I?"
"You go first," Isabel lay comfortably on the rock at the edge of the pool, her body floating on the water, and the two scrubbing monkeys began to rub her back.
"I want to give you Pingdao Star," Jiang Ye said.
Isabel's eyes widened. "What about Exile Star?"
"Huang Bingyan. Let her take over from you. You go to Pingdao Star to be the planet governor, and then you can pick a commander yourself. I'll review it, issue a commission, and Pingdao Star will be open for business."
"No, why choose me?" Isabel looked bewildered.
"You're more useful," Jiang Ye said. "Mengmeng told me you have good work ability. Although she feels it's pleasant working with you, considering the overall situation, you can be assigned to Pingdao Star. I also think you can handle it, so I'm asking for your opinion."
"I don't really want to go," Isabel frowned. "Pingdao Star is so far away. It takes me two days just to come back. It's very troublesome."
"Why would you come back? That planet is all yours, just live there," Jiang Ye looked up at the villa. "Speaking of which, where did you get this house?"
"This house is related to what I want to talk to you about. I'll explain later," Isabel said. "Pingdao Star is so desolate. It will take many years to develop. My social connections are all here, my good friends and acquaintances are all here, and I have my company and house here. I have to come back. I'm still going to Jiangye Star regularly. Jiangye Star, Birong Star, and Exile Star are now my first, second, and third homelands!"
"It hasn't been that long. Add Pingdao Star as your fourth homeland," Jiang Ye said.
"No, I don't want to go. I've finally adapted to Exile Star," Isabel pouted.
The monkeys scrubbing her back became restless. Suddenly, a monkey claw reached out, pulled down the strap of Isabel's swimsuit, and then yanked it off.