"I was actually captured by Instructor Wu as an invader," Ye Ying said.
Gu Ya looked at Ye Ying in shock.
"About a month ago, I received a mercenary mission from a mysterious person to enter Wuhe City and search for a mysterious young man."
"My teammates were other mercenary organizations from the Yadaya region, and we didn't know each other. We were captured by the Wuhe City mech guard team during the mission. Later, I found out that the person who hired me was a Black Star Walker."
"After I was captured, I was protected by the Wuhe City mech team and became Instructor Wu's student."
"Are you a mercenary?" Gu Ya asked.
Ye Ying nodded.
Gu Ya was shocked again. This girl, who was about his age, was actually a mercenary from the Yadaya region.
In the original owner's memory, the Yadaya region had always been synonymous with hell. It was a land of broken nations, with only the Black Star Walker's troops and the resisters of the Yadaya mercenaries remaining. Civilians could not survive there.
Ye Ying continued, "When I was eleven, my village was destroyed by the Black Star Walkers, and my mother and brother went missing. I piloted a mech and fled to the southern part of the Yadaya region, joining a mercenary organization called 'Saint Coco'."
"I stayed there for three years," Ye Ying said softly.
Gu Ya quickly asked, "And then?"
Ye Ying glanced at Gu Ya, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and said softly, "I grew up."
Gu Ya didn't understand what leaving the mercenary group had to do with it.
Ye Ying continued, "They always thought I was a boy. As I got older, they noticed something was different and started discussing me in private."
"I knew that if I stayed any longer, it was likely..."
Gu Ya understood Ye Ying's meaning and asked, "So you escaped."
"Yes, I escaped in my mech. At first, to survive, I lived alone in the jungle for a while until I encountered a hidden village."
"They were a civilian guerrilla organization, and a big sister in the village took me in."
"And then?" Gu Ya continued to ask.
Ye Ying suddenly stopped talking. She lowered her head, as if recalling something, her expression becoming more and more pained.
Gu Ya gently comforted her, "It's okay, you don't have to say it if you don't want to."
Ye Ying calmed her emotions and revealed a fact that shocked Gu Ya.
"The reason Yadaya is called hell is not just because the Black Star Walkers commit atrocities there."
"Due to material scarcity, many mercenaries had no source of income and would rob villages."
"The Saint Coco organization found the village where I was hiding. Everyone in the village, except me, died."
"I'm sorry."
Ye Ying turned around and wiped away her tears.
Gu Ya began to pity and admire Ye Ying. It was hard to imagine that such a well-behaved and lovely young girl had survived in such a harsh environment for so many years.
"After escaping, I became a freelance mercenary, forged my identity, and took on bounty missions."
Gu Ya sighed and comforted her, "It's okay, it's all in the past."
Ye Ying shook her head and said, "You may never understand what those so-called comrades did."
"Human flesh was the only source of protein, and blood was a drink to replenish energy."
"They wouldn't let anyone go, especially women."
"And injured comrades."
"Even if only a pile of white bones remained, they would grind it into ash and smear it on their faces."
"I have seen mass graves, pools of corrupted blood, and countless deserted villages."
As Ye Ying said these words, her face showed no emotion, and her tone was devoid of any feeling.
Perhaps she had survived by numbing herself. Gu Ya thought it was no wonder she had a somewhat detached personality.
Gu Ya suddenly remembered something and asked, "What about before you were eleven? How did you learn to pilot a mech?"
A flicker of light finally appeared in Ye Ying's eyes. She smiled and said, "My father was a mech pilot in Xianxia City."
"Oh? No wonder you look, uh..."
"Yes, I am mixed-race."
"My mother said my father fought with the army in the Yadaya region. The troops were stationed in our village, teaching the villagers some farming knowledge. During that time, my father met my mother."
"In a battle, my father captured the 'Mountain Owl,' which is my mech, and gave it to my mother."
"Later, they got married."
Ye Ying smiled, a beautiful smile. Gu Ya gazed foolishly at the beautiful girl in front of him, wishing that her recounted experiences were made up.
Ye Ying continued, "My mother said I was born late at night, and my crying attracted the nearby nightingales, which circled our rooftop in flocks."
"The village elder said that the nightingales singing together was an auspicious sign. Later, my father named me Ye Ying."
"The year after I was born, the village was indeed very peaceful. The Black Star Walkers kept losing battles."
"But later, reinforcements arrived for the Black Star Walkers, and my father was seriously injured and sent to the rear. After that, my father never returned."
Gu Ya listened to Ye Ying's account and was silent for a long time, saying, "I hope your father is still alive."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ying's eyes immediately lit up. She said, "Instructor Wu said that my father is indeed still alive and is currently in the Xianxia City mech guard team."
Gu Ya smiled and said, "That's great."
"What are you two talking about? You've been chatting for so long, we didn't dare to come in," Liu Feng and Wu Chuyang walked over.
Gu Ya said, "We were talking about Ye Ying's past."
"Oh? That's a deep conversation!" Liu Feng sat down next to Gu Ya and said with a playful smile.
Wu Chuyang also said, "Ye Ying never reveals her past to anyone. I didn't realize, Gu Ya, you're quite good at talking to girls."
Gu Ya quickly changed the subject, saying, "Not at all. When it comes to talking to girls, Liu Feng is the expert. He managed to win over Fu Yafang in just two weeks."
As soon as Fu Yafang was mentioned, Liu Feng seemed to transform, becoming more somber.
Wu Chuyang smiled and said, "Alright, that's enough. Let's talk about the mech pilot assessment."
Liu Feng's eyes lit up. "Instructor Wu is going to give us some special coaching!"
Wu Chuyang sat on the sofa and said, "It's not that serious, I just want to chat with you about perceptual ability."
Gu Ya and Liu Feng quickly crowded around.
Wu Chuyang said, "Perceptual ability is an innate ability, but there are still ways to improve it."
"What ways?" Liu Feng asked.
Wu Chuyang smiled and said, "This is not a secret. I will announce it publicly after Mourning Day. But I can tell you in advance, so you can start training early."
"When you enter the equipment that tests perceptual ability, try to maintain a peaceful state of mind. No matter what you see, remember one thing: it's all an illusion, not reality."
Liu Feng said, "Instructor Wu, someone investigated and found that the illusions seen have a 28% chance of coming true."
Wu Chuyang chuckled and said, "Well, that's a bit more accurate than fortune-telling!"
Liu Feng smiled sheepishly and scratched his head.
Wu Chuyang continued, "Also, follow your inner feelings. Don't try to force yourself to change your mood."
Gu Ya asked, "What do you mean?"
Wu Chuyang said, "Surrender your body to your subconscious. Don't interfere with anything."
Liu Feng thought for a moment and said, "Is it like dreaming?"
Wu Chuyang replied, "Yes! You're quite smart! Just think of it as dreaming, and don't try to change the course of the dream. It feels like walking a tightrope."
"It's like a lucid dream, but don't try to change it," Gu Ya mused.
Wu Chuyang smiled at Gu Ya and Liu Feng.
Liu Feng checked the time and said excitedly, "Alright distinguished guests, it's time for dinner!"
Everyone cheered up at the mention of food, and even Ye Ying stood up expectantly.
Youyou ran in from outside, shouting, "Brother! Liu Feng brother's house is so big! An aunt took me around for a long time, and she still hasn't shown me everything!"
"Hahaha!"
"Dinner!"