ã€ŠReverse Through Doomsdayã€‹


 1 - Opening

    According to the Mayan prophecy, the Fifth Sun Age, which spanned from 3112 BCE to 2024 CE, was nearing its end. On December 21, 2024, this era of human civilization was supposed to come to a complete close, ushering in a new epoch of civilization.

    As time passed and the date approached, none of the anticipated catastrophes¡ªavalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, or tornadoes¡ªoccurred.

    Nine days later, just as humanity had let down its guard and begun to celebrate the New Year of 2013, the apocalypse truly began.

    Tens of thousands of alien spacecraft emerged from the Peruvian plateau, spreading out across the globe. Humanity¡¯s radar systems had no time to issue a warning before Earth''s cities suffered devastating bombardments.

    For the first time, humanity faced extraterrestrial beings of advanced intelligence. In 2013, the United Nations officially designated these uninvited guests as the ¡°Maya Aliens¡± after discovering their initial landing site: an abandoned Mayan temple in Peru.

    Beyond this, humanity knew nothing about the Maya Aliens. By the fifth day of the war, all human radar systems and information networks had been crippled. Thousands of nuclear warheads were forcibly detonated by electromagnetic resonance waves, dealing a catastrophic blow to civilization.

    The first defensive war lasted five years. During this time, the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union fought individually but also formed a coalition to support one another. However, they all suffered devastating losses against the Maya Aliens¡¯ completely unknown technology.

    The Earth''s population plummeted from six billion. With no computers and no reference materials, human military officers were systematically assassinated¡ªclearly part of the Maya Aliens¡¯ strategy to eliminate Earth¡¯s leadership and intellectuals, thereby crippling humanity''s ability to fight back.

    This led to a vicious cycle: the age and experience of commanding officers declined, and the coalition was forced to retreat to hidden strongholds, resorting to primitive weapons like bayonets and guns for a futile, dogged resistance.

    Some, desperate for survival, defected to the Maya Aliens. They laid down their weapons, opened their arms, and walked towards the massive, brightly glowing ships. None of the humans who entered those ships ever returned.

    By 2031, the Mayan prophecy had proven incorrect¡ªcivilization had not ended, but humanity was on the brink of collapse. Only four underground cities remained, with fewer than 500 million people left. The coalition was still engaged in a grueling war.

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    By this time, Earth no longer had nations or governments. There were only two types of people: civilians and soldiers.

    A young military scientist stumbled upon a piece of alien technology during a battle¡ªa particle generator capable of manipulating positive and negative particles. This generator could produce immense energy, causing spatial and temporal distortions across cosmic dimensions.

    Every Maya Alien spacecraft was equipped with such a device, which was likely the key technology enabling them to use dimensional jumps to travel to Earth from a higher-dimensional universe.

    This technology was impossible to replicate because the particle generator required a high-dimensional element that humanity had never encountered and could not synthesize.

    After the scientists reported their findings, the military convened a secret meeting in eastern Siberia. During this meeting, an officer proposed an idea:

    Since the technology allowed for time-space manipulation, could it be used to send humans into the future to seek aid from future Earthlings?

    A young scientist regretfully clarified: Multidimensional universes are constrained by the fundamental laws governing their respective spaces. While time travel might be possible in the Maya Aliens¡¯ universe, it was not in ours.

    In our universe, light governs everything¡ªit dictates the relationship between time and space. No material can move faster than light. Humans can see into the past, much like a beam of light emitted from Earth 400 years ago, which, if caught, could recreate the scene from that time. By traveling through the spacetime of light, we can theoretically reset or copy history, but we cannot move forward into the future.

    Thus, the particle time machine had no functional principle, no viable materials, and no means of mass production. It was completely useless¡ªa mere curiosity.

    The attending officers abandoned this idea and proposed another plan.

    If we can¡¯t go to the future, could we focus on finding the source of it all?

    In the year the Mayan prophecy began, humanity knew nothing about it. Tracing back to its roots, no one knows where this mysterious prophecy originated.

    Perhaps the aliens had appeared on Earth long ago and left clues about their return in 2012. The ancient Maya might have been an offshoot of these extraterrestrials. Since they had appeared before, there was a strong possibility that humanity had once blocked their path of conquest. If the problem couldn¡¯t be solved, perhaps going back to the past and uncovering the truth could help change the current situation.

    The young scientists faced numerous challenges¡ªno one even knew how to locate a specific point in time, so they had to explore through trial and error.

    Moreover, the one-way transmission nature of the particle generator meant that modern humans couldn¡¯t go back in time. To find answers, they would need to select a precise time node from the era of the Mayan prophecy and forcibly bring back a knowledgeable individual to interrogate.

    Another issue arose: Would extracting historical conditions from the past create irreversible changes to the entire timeline?

    The scientists hypothesized that they could first run sampling experiments from other eras. Once the research was stable, they could progressively push the timeline further back. The ultimate goal was to return to the source¡ªthe day the Mayan prophecy was first recorded.

    This process was agreed upon by all and deemed worth trying¡ªthings couldn¡¯t get worse than they already were. At least it would be better than letting the technology gather dust in a warehouse.

    Thus, the military allocated the last research funding in human history, and the young scientists began preparations for this plan, which they named "Operation Smuggling."

    The obstacles were numerous. They began experimenting with items from just a few years ago, then expanded to animals and living organisms, and eventually to people from thousands of years in the past.

    The proposal came from Lance, a German commander of the United Human Army¡¯s 71st Division, while the young scientist leading the project was a Chinese man named Zheng Feng.

    In the nearly 2,000 years of time that had passed, the experiment finally encountered a catastrophic failure.

 2 - The Wanderer Among the Ruins

    In a North Ireland underground sanctuary, the phone rang within the Department of Human Refugees, amidst a historical relics museum.

    "Hello, this is the 71st Army Headquarters of the Human Alliance. Commander Lance will speak to you shortly."

    Zheng Rong closed the book in his hand and answered, "Lance?"

    Lance¡¯s voice was hoarse and weary. "Hello, Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong remained silent, sensing that if Lance was calling personally, something significant must have happened.

    "The research facility exploded," Lance said gravely. "I''m sorry, but I need you to come to Siberia. The North Ireland military will arrange a private jet for you. As the only relative of Zheng Feng, it''s crucial that you come immediately."

    By the time Zheng Rong arrived, the scientific research zone within the East Siberian underground military bunker had been completely obliterated. The first test of the particle generator had triggered an energy storm. All six researchers involved in the experiment, including his brother Zheng Feng, perished in the ensuing explosions, which also ignited a chain of blasts in nearby munitions storage. Nothing remained¡ªno bodies, no data, only a gaping hole connecting the underground chamber to the surface.

    At the underground airstrip, Lance and his aide personally greeted him.

    Zheng Rong asked coldly, "Where is my brother''s body?"

    "We don¡¯t have time for that," Lance replied. "We have less than an hour. The Mayans will soon discover this military base. Please come to the conference room. The military needs your opinion on some follow-up matters."

    Lance''s bloodshot eyes and the hardened scar on his face reflected the toll of recent events. The man beneath the navy-blue military uniform seemed more weary than ever.

    Zheng Rong was well-acquainted with Lance, having known him since his school days when Lance, still a cadet, often crossed paths with him and his brother Zheng Feng. Back then, Lance, just 18, often sneaked into the academy to meet Zheng Feng and occasionally brought gifts for Zheng Rong, who was then only 14. Lance had become like an older brother to the two of them. Over the years, while Lance rose through the military ranks, becoming a general, Zheng Rong had grown distant from him. He always felt that Lance shared a deeper bond with his brother, Zheng Feng, which diluted the affection his brother had for him.

    When their parents died during the Five-Year Defensive War, Zheng Feng became the only family Zheng Rong could rely on. Yet even that familial bond had to be shared with Lance, especially after Lance introduced Zheng Feng to a military scientific research institution, after which his brother almost never returned home.

    Lance stopped at the conference room door, waiting for Zheng Rong to catch up. His posture was stiff, resolute, like a banner that would never falter. Without turning his head, Lance said, "I''m deeply sorry for Zheng Feng''s death, Zheng Rong. From now on, if you''d like, I could be like a brother to you."

    Zheng Rong replied icily, "Everyone dies. Today it¡¯s him; in a few days, it will be us. Life is precarious in this era. I was prepared for this the day you convinced him to join the military. Worry about yourself."

    After a brief pause, Lance murmured, "I''m deeply saddened."

    He placed his finger on the fingerprint scanner outside the conference room, unlocking the heavy alloy doors to reveal seven people seated inside.

    Zheng Rong recognized a few of them, senior military personnel whose faces he''d seen in propaganda materials or giving speeches advocating resistance against the invaders. Lance pulled out a chair for him and introduced him: "This is Zheng Rong, Zheng Feng¡¯s brother."

    The meeting began without the usual formalities¡ªno briefing materials or slides. The group sat around a gray-white circular table under harsh lighting, as if in judgment.

    An elderly man spoke first. "Seven hours ago, an explosion occurred at this research facility."

    "This is General Peck, the lead of the human scientific research project," Lance interjected.

    "We only have an hour left," Zheng Rong interrupted abruptly, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. His voice was biting: "So, please, get to the point. The Mayans are about to find us."

    The crackle of the lighter and the waft of smoke punctuated the sudden silence in the room. Zheng Rong offered a cigarette to Lance, who refused, and said indifferently, "Please, show some understanding for his emotions."

    Zheng Rong smiled but said nothing more.

    A woman spoke next. "Mr. Zheng, how much do you know about your brother''s research?"

    "Nothing," Zheng Rong replied.

    Peck interjected, "Don¡¯t lie. Our military sources confirmed that Zheng Feng maintained monthly contact with you over the past few years."

    Zheng Rong took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling smoke before answering in a mocking tone, "You¡¯ve all heard the theory by now¡ªpositrons and quarks collide, causing annihilation and releasing enough energy to distort space-time. The resulting distortion can replicate every molecule, atom, and even memory of that moment in real time. If you want to hear it again, I don''t mind explaining. But the particle generator is destroyed, so what¡¯s the point?"

    Another officer spoke up. "It produced immense energy, causing the explosion that forces us to abandon this entire base. It¡¯s a grave consequence. Someone must take responsibility."

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    Zheng Rong shot back, "My brother already paid with his life. What more do you want him to bear?"

    Silence fell over the room. After a pause, the woman asked, "Do you know the historical coordinates your brother selected for the initial experiment?"

    Zheng Rong coldly replied, "No."

    "If the particle generator could be rebuilt, would you be willing to continue your brother¡¯s work?"

    Zheng Rong laughed. "He was a physicist. I study history and mysticism. If I could carry on his work, why would the military need to train officers at all?"

    "Why don¡¯t you send a three-year-old into battle next time?"

    General Peck declared, "Lance here is a martyr¡¯s son. After I die, my children and grandchildren will continue this fight. As long as there are Pecks, humanity will never surrender to the Mayans!"

    The woman added, "Zheng Feng was a genius. You¡¯re his brother. I believe you have it in you too. I know he taught you a lot about physics when you were younger, and his groundbreaking ideas are likely known only to you."

    Zheng Rong understood their implication. The military believed he knew something about his brother¡¯s research and hoped he would continue where Zheng Feng left off.

    Mockingly, he said, "You kept his work secret, imprisoned him here, and now, after his death, you hope I know his secrets. I have no clue what he was working on. Sorry, but I suggest you all start evacuating. It¡¯s already been half an hour."

    Zheng Rong stubbed out his cigarette and stood up to leave.

    "Please wait, Mr. Zheng," General Peck called after him.

    Zheng Rong stood before the cold steel door, unmoved, and after a pause, muttered, "Who said they¡¯d look after me like a brother?"

    Lance unlocked the door, and Zheng Rong stormed out. Lance hurried after him, their footsteps echoing through the freezing military base as soldiers prepared to evacuate. Despite the urgency, there was no panic among Lance''s well-disciplined troops.

    Catching up with Zheng Rong, Lance placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your brother left something behind."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes flickered with a barely noticeable shift. "Handle it for me. You were closest to him. I¡¯m tired. I want to go home," he said.

    "No," Lance replied. "This is important. Even the military doesn¡¯t know about it. Only you can take it."

    Lance led Zheng Rong to a sterile laboratory in the corner of the base. "This is what was left after the explosion," Lance explained. "It¡¯s the first sample from his experiment."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s heart skipped a beat. "He brought something back from the past?"

    Lance didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he input a 16-digit code and completed fingerprint, voice, and retinal scans to unlock a viewing wall.

    Inside the sterile room, bathed in blue disinfection light, lay a man.

    "A man from the past," Lance confirmed. "He¡¯s unconscious."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s pupils contracted slightly as he took in the scene.

    The man, stark naked, lay bound to a medical chair with alloy restraints on his wrists and ankles. His long black hair fanned out behind him.

    "When the energy from the explosion dissipated, all other matter was vaporized, but this man appeared in their place."

    Zheng Rong glanced at the heart monitor, noticing stable vital signs and a brainwave pattern indicative of dreaming.

    "This is a real person, with independent thoughts," Zheng Rong remarked. "The brainwave activity suggests intense dreaming."

    Lance nodded. From one perspective, Zheng Feng¡¯s experiment had been successful, but no one knew who this man from the past was.

    "He¡¯s in his prime," Zheng Rong observed, studying the muscular figure, "around thirty or slightly older. Judging by his physical condition, he might have been a general."

    The man¡¯s muscular frame bore scars from blades and faint red marks on his neck, shoulders, and waist.

    "It looks like he was facing death when he was brought here," Zheng Rong speculated. "The scar on his neck suggests he was about to be beheaded."

    Lance agreed silently.

    Zheng Rong continued, "He¡¯s well-built, likely a cavalry officer, not a strategist. His broad shoulders suggest long hours of archery practice."

    Lance looked at Zheng Rong, intrigued. "Do you have any guesses about who he might be? His era? Your brother must have discussed potential candidates with you."

    "I never talked to him about it," Zheng Rong replied, studying the man¡¯s feet and wrists. He realized who this man might be but chose not to reveal it.

    "His left forearm is slightly more developed," Zheng Rong continued. "He probably wielded heavy weapons. Judging by the calluses on his hands, he was likely proficient with spears or staves."

    "Chinese warriors loved to duel," Lance remarked. "But I doubt a brave general alone wins wars."

    Zheng Rong smiled faintly but said nothing more.

    Lance pressed further. "You know who he is, don¡¯t you?"

    Zheng Rong replied nonchalantly, "You¡¯re not familiar with Chinese history. Even if I told you, it wouldn¡¯t mean much."

    "Try me," Lance challenged.

    Zheng Rong listed a few names. "It could be King Zhou of Shang, or one of the Meng brothers, or Bai Qi, Li Mu, Xiang Yu, or Han Xin. You might recognize a few of them."

    Lance wasn¡¯t fooled by the distraction. "Who do you think it is?"

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer, instead making a cruder observation about the man¡¯s physique, intentionally irritating Lance. Finally, he asked, "Are you planning to turn him over to the military?"

    Lance thought for a moment, then remained noncommittal.

    Zheng Rong had expected this. An unidentified man would be of little use to the military, even if they were desperate for a war advisor. Yet, Zheng Rong didn¡¯t want to reveal who the man truly was. He simply wanted Lance to struggle with the dilemma a little longer.

    After all, this man was the result of his brother''s ultimate sacrifice.

    In a rare moment of vulnerability, Zheng Rong said, "Give him to me. I¡¯ll try to work with him."

    Lance asked, "When can he be of use to the military?"

    Zheng Rong''s eyes turned cold. "You still don¡¯t get it? He¡¯s a person."

    Lance sneered, "You are his descendant, not me."

    Zheng Rong shot back, "If you can¡¯t understand that his cooperation requires his consent, you¡¯re doomed to failure. His unwillingness could cost you an entire army¡ªor worse, end this war sooner than you think."

    Before Lance could respond, a nearby monitor beeped. The man in the sterile room was waking up.

    Zheng Rong and the man locked eyes through the glass. Despite his confusion, the man exuded an unmistakable aura of authority.

    "Quite handsome," Zheng Rong muttered. "Rugged, with character."

    Lance asked, "Do you understand ancient Chinese?"

    "I do, but I doubt he¡¯ll be in a talking mood," Zheng Rong replied.

    Suddenly, the base shook violently as the Mayan invaders launched their attack.

    "We need to move!" Lance shouted. "I¡¯ll arrange for him to be evacuated."

    Another blast rocked the base. As the danger escalated, Zheng Rong ordered, "Get him some clothes and bring him with us!"

    Inside the sterile room, the ancient man, sensing the imminent threat, struggled fiercely against his restraints, letting out an angry roar. His muscles bulged as he pulled with such force that the alloy restraints snapped.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes widened. Lance drew his knife, shouting, "Stand back!"

    But before he could act, the man broke free of his restraints and lunged at Lance, overpowering him with terrifying speed. Though Lance had once been a military academy champion in hand-to-hand combat, he was no match for this ancient warrior.

    "Run, Zheng Rong!" Lance yelled, barely holding his own.

    Zheng Rong was about to flee when the man, having overheard their brief exchange, realized who the true target was. He kicked Lance aside and seized Zheng Rong by the throat.

    Zheng Rong struggled, raising his head defiantly.

    The man narrowed his eyes and coldly demanded, "Who are you?"

 3 - War before the base

    Zheng Rong commanded, ¡°Disperse.¡±

    Lance, speaking in broken Chinese, shouted, "Let him go!"

    Hundreds of soldiers emerged, surrounding the open area outside the sterile room. The sound of guns cocking filled the air, and a line of black barrels pointed at the general holding Zheng Rong hostage.

    The man furrowed his brow, sensing the danger. He asked in a deep voice, ¡°What are those iron tubes?¡±

    Zheng Rong raised a hand, signaling everyone to calm down.

    Lance, confused, asked, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±

    Zheng Rong raised an eyebrow and mocked, ¡°Lance, you¡¯re an idiot. Do you really think an ancient person recognizes firearms? Get that man out of here.¡± His gaze shifted upward.

    Lance issued orders, and a sniper who had been positioned near a ventilation duct disappeared after stowing his rifle. Lance gave another command in French, and the soldiers lowered their guns and fixed bayonets. Bright white lights flashed around them as red alarms continued to blare, and the ground shook violently again.

    Zheng Rong instructed, ¡°Go handle your business, Lance. Give me a dagger and your military hat.¡±

    Lance, still struggling with the language, said clumsily in Chinese, ¡°Do you want freedom? We can talk.¡±

    Zheng Rong chuckled at the absurdity. ¡°Quickly, Lance.¡±

    The ancient man kept his arm tightly around Zheng Rong, pulling him back slightly. Lance retrieved a Swiss army knife from his waist, crouched, and placed it on the ground, spinning it towards them.

    Zheng Rong stomped his boot, flipping the knife up into the air. The ancient man reached out and caught it.

    The man¡¯s expression was one of confusion.

    Zheng Rong whispered a few words, leaving the man perplexed as he gripped the Swiss knife¡¯s handle.

    Zheng Rong carefully reached out, gripping the knife¡¯s edge, pulling out its sharp blade.

    The man understood and pressed the blade against Zheng Rong¡¯s neck.

    Lance stood silently.

    In English, Zheng Rong ordered, ¡°Remove the perimeter. Send a few men to follow us. Go take care of your responsibilities and meet us at the hangar in thirty minutes.¡± He then whispered to the man holding him, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Switching to a clumsy form of ancient dialect, Zheng Rong added, "There is no need for the great king to panic. Please, let me go."

    The man, speaking with a strong Hubei accent, narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What? Speak slowly and clearly so I can understand.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°If the great king kills me, no one else in this world will be like you. The men who just surrounded us were all blue-eyed and blonde. Have you seen anyone like you and me since you woke up?"

    The man was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Zheng Rong.

    ¡°You¡¯re from Jing?¡± the man asked.

    Zheng Rong nodded, his expression somewhat playful.

    After a moment of contemplation, the man released Zheng Rong in an empty corner, though he kept the knife at his throat. There was a hint of approval in his eyes as he asked, ¡°Why did those men chasing us retreat? Is there some trick at play? You have black hair and black eyes, but what if you¡¯re a demon in disguise?¡±

    Zheng Rong took off his coat and offered it to the man, who remained wary and did not accept it.

    Zheng Rong spoke again, ¡°At the Battle of Wujiang, the great king was defeated.¡±

    The man, taking a deep breath, grew solemn as the memory returned.

    ¡°At the Battle of Gaixia, the great king¡¯s body perished, but his soul remained. If you trust me, come with me. The past is irreversible, but the future can still be pursued. I swear on my life that I will protect you. Please, follow me.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions¡ªpity and a pleading sincerity. The man, who was none other than Xiang Yu, locked eyes with him for a long moment, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity in Zheng Rong¡¯s gaze.

    Finally, Xiang Yu accepted the coat. Zheng Rong helped him put it on, the long black coat hanging just to Xiang Yu¡¯s knees. On Zheng Rong, the coat had reached below the knee, but Xiang Yu¡¯s tall frame made it fit differently. The buttons fastened tightly, and the sleeves only reached his forearms, giving it a somewhat constricted appearance.

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    ¡°I¡¯ll find you some boots,¡± Zheng Rong offered.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for that, is there?¡± Xiang Yu replied.

    The harsh red light continued to flash, and the shrill alarms echoed through the base. Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no time.¡±

    ¡°How do we escape?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°This way,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    Following the flashing red emergency lights, Zheng Rong led Xiang Yu down a series of corridors into a safe passage. He adjusted the oversized military cap on his head, which kept slipping down. Frustrated, he eventually placed it on Xiang Yu¡¯s head instead.

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t protest. Clad only in the long woolen black coat and now wearing the military cap, he cut a strange figure. They walked in silence for nearly an hour until they reached the end of the fire escape tunnel. Zheng Rong turned the handle on a heavy iron door, and blinding sunlight poured in.

    The Siberian snowfields stretched out endlessly, the blinding white nearly painful to the eyes. Xiang Yu shielded his face with his arm as the deafening roar of explosions echoed in the sky.

    ¡°Please follow me, my king,¡± Zheng Rong said, stepping outside.

    Xiang Yu¡¯s bare feet crunched into the freezing snow as he looked up, his confused eyes reflecting the countless massive fireballs overhead.

    Mechs and ships streaked across the sky, their hulls painted with the emblems of the Human Alliance. Hovering crafts launched from the platform below, racing toward the Mayan ships to buy time for the human forces to retreat.

    On the ground, countless armored vehicles and missile trucks rumbled past, and the sound of machine gunfire was relentless.

    The entire snowfield had become a giant killing field. Everywhere, machines clashed and exploded in fiery bursts, with debris flying in all directions. Each aircraft that fell to the ground erupted into massive, earth-shaking blasts.

    Zheng Rong knew that this scene would do more to convince Xiang Yu than any words could.

    Xiang Yu stood stunned by the battlefield before him, his expression one of disbelief, as if he were caught in a dream.

    ¡°This is the 2,200th year since your defeat at Wujiang, my king,¡± Zheng Rong said quietly.

    ¡°And those¡­ iron beasts?¡± Xiang Yu asked, drawing a sharp breath.

    ¡°They are inhabited by beings from another world, unlike the people of our homeland,¡± Zheng Rong replied. He pointed upward. ¡°The iron birds, the crawling iron beasts¡ªthey¡¯re all filled with our people. You can think of them as advanced machines.¡±

    Xiang Yu shook his head. ¡°I fear they are destined to lose.¡±

    Zheng Rong blinked in surprise. Xiang Yu had barely glanced at the battlefield before reaching his conclusion. He continued, ¡°The iron birds should form a formation for an all-out charge. What¡¯s the use of this scattered fighting? The iron beasts are retreating across the field¡ªwhy not unite them for a single decisive battle? Their morale has already collapsed. No matter how many mechanical troops they have, they are doomed.¡±

    Suddenly, Zheng Rong shouted, ¡°Watch out!¡±

    A massive mechanical killing machine, nearly three meters tall, landed with a crash, aiming its cannon at the two of them. In an instant, Zheng Rong realized the danger and dove, pushing Xiang Yu several meters away before rolling toward the deadly machine.

    Xiang Yu let out an enraged roar and charged at the machine from the side, but it swung its steel arm, sending him flying.

    Zheng Rong pulled out his handgun and fired several shots at the machine¡¯s vulnerable points, while Xiang Yu, in midair, performed a backward somersault and landed nimbly on the bare rock. Despite the freezing cold, he sprang back like a leopard.

    ¡°What¡¯s its weak spot?!¡± Xiang Yu shouted.

    ¡°The chest! That¡¯s where the energy core is!¡± Zheng Rong called back.

    Xiang Yu climbed onto the machine¡¯s back, and as he reached the glowing cannon, the heat seared his skin, forcing him to cry out in pain.

    ¡°Be careful!¡± Zheng Rong warned.

    With veins bulging on his arms, Xiang Yu gritted his teeth and bellowed:

    ¡°Hah¡ª!¡±

    The sound was so loud it made Zheng Rong¡¯s ears ring. To his astonishment, Xiang Yu ripped one of the machine¡¯s shoulder cannons clean off!

    A loud rumble echoed across the battlefield as several other mechanical killing machines sensed the threat and turned their turrets toward them.

    ¡°How do I use this?¡± Xiang Yu roared, gripping the half-destroyed cannon.

    Zheng Rong was momentarily speechless.

    The machines pivoted toward Xiang Yu, who dodged quickly. ¡°It¡¯s useless! It¡¯s broken!¡± Zheng Rong shouted.

    Realizing this, Xiang Yu discarded the broken cannon, watching as the machines ignored Zheng Rong and instead charged toward him. Gathering his strength, Xiang Yu swung the steel pipe like a weapon and hurled it.

    It was a perfect throw¡ªan artful display of control and power. Zheng Rong¡¯s pupils dilated as he momentarily glimpsed the legendary Xiang Yu of two millennia ago, throwing his weapon in battle, spearing through ten enemies with one strike.

    The makeshift weapon, now a blackened alloy cannon barrel, spun through the air and struck the approaching mechanical killer in the chest, piercing it straight through. Blue energy burst from the impact, scattering in a brilliant flash.

    ¡°Run!¡± Zheng Rong rushed forward, grabbing Xiang Yu by the waist and rolling them both down the slope.

    Just as they reached the bottom, a massive explosion erupted at the top of the hill, sending them flying as the shockwave ripped through the air.

    Xiang Yu let out a grunt as he sprang to his feet and, in one swift motion, hauled Zheng Rong upright.

    Zheng Rong groaned in pain. He wasn¡¯t used to this level of physical exertion, having spent most of his time in research labs. His body felt like it was falling apart.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu smirked. Zheng Rong managed to stand, only to see four more mechanical killers closing in on them.

    He quickly reloaded his handgun and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off. You run back through the tunnel¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu snapped angrily, ¡°Do you take me for a coward?!¡±

    Zheng Rong replied flatly, ¡°Your life was bought with my brother¡¯s. You can¡¯t die. When I count to three, three, two¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, the rapid mechanical clatter of gunfire echoed in the distance. A giant helicopter unleashed a barrage of bullets, shredding the machines to pieces.

    ¡°Attention! Ten seconds until we drop the rope ladder! Prepare for extraction!¡± A familiar voice came through the helicopter¡¯s loudspeaker¡ªLance¡¯s reinforcements had arrived.

    More and more Alliance aircraft fell from the sky as the mechanical killers converged on the small hill where the two stood.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xiang Yu urged.

    Xiang Yu shielded Zheng Rong as they scrambled up the rope ladder. The long black coat billowed behind him as the massive military helicopter jolted and fired infrared-guided missiles, creating a safe zone for their escape.

    The charred ice fields receded into the distance as they flew away. The once expansive landscape was now littered with the wreckage of machines, slowly being buried under the relentless wind and snow.

    In just a few days, everything would be buried beneath the ice, and the East Siberian stronghold would become yet another chapter in the history of humanity.

 4 - Life in the Ivory Tower

    Northern Ireland Dungeon, Sector F, Human Cultural Heritage Research Center:

    ¡°You should go back.¡±

    Zheng Rong said coldly, "General Lance, humanity still needs you for many things."

    Lance handed a document to Zheng Rong and replied, ¡°Don''t forget, this man called Xiang Yu was once a soldier too.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°That was the past. He isn¡¯t one anymore. I¡¯ll welcome you when you retire as well. You¡¯ve entered the restricted area¡ªno soldiers are allowed here.¡±

    Lance stared into Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes, his voice steady, without emotion: ¡°Soldiers protect all of humanity.¡±

    Zheng Rong responded, ¡°This is the ivory tower, a place for scholars. They ensure the survival of the entire race, just like your responsibility. There¡¯s no such thing as who protects whom.¡±

    Zheng Rong glanced at Xiang Yu in the distance. Xiang Yu was now dressed in a deep blue military uniform, his boots polished to a shine, hunched over, inspecting a trash can.

    Lance softened his tone as much as possible, ¡°Zheng Rong, why do you hate soldiers so much?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°We develop civilization; you destroy it. Historians and soldiers have always been natural enemies.¡±

    Lance said, ¡°You''re biased.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Perhaps. Allow me to keep my bias. Goodbye, General Lance.¡±

    Zheng Rong shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    The guide light beeped as Xiang Yu, confused, walked swiftly over and asked, ¡°Was that person your friend?¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°He was a good friend of my brother.¡±

    Xiang Yu sighed and asked, ¡°Did your brother die because of me?¡±

    Standing by the boundary of the restricted zone, with his hands in his coat pockets, Zheng Rong went through an infrared scan. After a brief pause, he said softly, ¡°Actually, it had nothing to do with you¡ªor anyone else. He died purely¡­ for his beliefs.¡±

    ¡°For his faith in science¡­ his maddening faith,¡± Zheng Rong said, his expression dim.

    He led Xiang Yu into Sector F. Xiang Yu shifted his pack on his back and looked around at the buildings like a curious laborer.

    Zheng Rong had to admit that Xiang Yu was quite perceptive. He quickly adapted to his surroundings and observed changes with a keen eye.

    During their journey across Eurasia, from East Siberia to here, Xiang Yu would occasionally ask questions, sometimes thinking deeply, and he spent more time in silence than speaking.

    His language had also become closer to that of a modern person. He noticed that Zheng Rong didn¡¯t use many modal particles or inverted sentences, so he adjusted his way of speaking accordingly.

    ¡°This is your identification. In your era, it would be like a household registry, proving your identity.¡± Zheng Rong handed the ID that Lance had prepared to Xiang Yu, who took it and casually slipped it into his military uniform¡¯s chest pocket.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°You learn quickly.¡±

    Xiang Yu nonchalantly replied, ¡°When in Rome, do as the Romans do. No need to call me King anymore. I allow you to treat me as an equal.¡±

    Zheng Rong said nothing and got into an electromagnetic vehicle with Xiang Yu, slowly driving along the flat road.

    ¡°Do you want to try?¡± Zheng Rong noticed Xiang Yu glancing at him.

    Xiang Yu thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Why not.¡±

    They switched seats. Zheng Rong said, ¡°This is called a steering wheel. Press the left pedal to go, the right pedal to stop.¡±

    Xiang Yu stomped on the accelerator, and the car shot forward with a whoosh, crashing into a fountain with a loud bang.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°¡­¡±

    Sirens blared as Xiang Yu, drenched and disheveled, dragged Zheng Rong out of the water.

    <hr>

    At the 12th-floor apartment in the West Road Complex, Sector F, the elevator dinged and stopped. Zheng Rong stepped out, his face dark with anger, while Xiang Yu smiled awkwardly.

    Zheng Rong unlocked the door with a twist and said coldly, ¡°Come in, welcome.¡±

    Xiang Yu chuckled, stepped inside, and Zheng Rong slammed the door shut with a bang.

    ¡°This is your residence?¡± Xiang Yu asked, surveying the surroundings.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°It¡¯s small and shabby.¡±

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°Even a humble cottage can shelter a heart that cares for the world. Like a great bird, there will come a day when you soar. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Zheng Rong laughed helplessly, ¡°I think I¡¯ve been too modest. Your Majesty, in this entire research center, only those with at least a PhD and a certain level of title are eligible for a private apartment.¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    Zheng Rong gave up explaining and said, ¡°This is actually one of the best residences around.¡±

    Xiang Yu frowned and asked, ¡°Where are the other people?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Ordinary civilians¡­ many live together. You¡¯ll find out later.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s apartment was spacious enough for one person. With two single men, there was still plenty of room. The apartment had originally been allocated to take care of the orphaned brothers of Zheng Feng, thanks to the United Government.

    Most of the space was taken up by Zheng Rong¡¯s research materials, reports, and antiques. He cleared the stack of papers off an empty bed, roughly stuffed them onto a shelf, and made space. ¡°You¡¯ll sleep here. It was my brother¡¯s bed.¡±

    Xiang Yu glanced at the yellowed photos on the wall, showing two young children.

    Zheng Rong leaned close to Xiang Yu, their lips almost touching, as he pulled the photos down, tossed them into a box, and kicked it under the bed.

    ¡°The bathroom,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Bathing, everything¡¯s done there. There¡¯s hot water.¡± He turned on the heater¡¯s faucet, and Xiang Yu recoiled in shock, testing the water in disbelief, ¡°Hot water? From where?¡±

    Zheng Rong said nonchalantly, ¡°The Yellow River, from heaven.¡±

    Then he opened the fridge. ¡°Food¡¯s in here. It¡¯s called a fridge. Some is cooked, some raw. When you¡¯re hungry, you can take it out¡­¡± He pulled out a ready meal, waved it at Xiang Yu, and popped it into the microwave.

    ¡°This box is the stove.¡±

    Zheng Rong turned on the microwave. It hummed, and Xiang Yu observed it through the window as steam rose inside. The microwave beeped.

    Zheng Rong said flatly, ¡°Dinner is served, Your Majesty.¡±

    He took out the meal, unveiled it¡ªa dish of braised beef with rice¡ªpulled out a chair for Xiang Yu, and tore off a few napkins, placing them by his hand. ¡°The cups are over there. If you¡¯re thirsty, get your own water.¡±

    After explaining the essentials, Zheng Rong lay on the bed, returning to some unfinished work he¡¯d left behind before the journey.

    Xiang Yu devoured his meal, studying the napkins for a moment before using them to wipe his mouth.

    ¡°Well done,¡± Zheng Rong said with a hint of satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re very smart.¡±

    Xiang Yu asked, ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    Zheng Rong got up and said, ¡°Study. There¡¯s a lot to learn, starting with writing.¡±

    He brought out a literacy board, wrote a few characters, and taught Xiang Yu the basics of Chinese characters and pinyin. Handing over some materials, Zheng Rong said, ¡°Here are tapes for learning Chinese, used by historians, along with textbooks. You can use them to learn slowly.¡±

    Centuries later, Chinese characters had evolved, but Zheng Rong didn¡¯t explain why Xiang Yu needed to learn them, nor did Xiang Yu ask. He knew well enough that literacy was crucial for communication, understanding, and connecting with the times.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Zheng Rong was a quiet man, capable of going an entire day without speaking, cold to the point of isolation. His home, apart from the Mayan artifacts, Chinese antiques, and mountains of research papers, only housed a computer.

    Sometimes he¡¯d listen to old pop songs from a bygone era or government anthems promoting victory during the apocalypse.

    Occasionally, Xiang Yu would hum along. His learning speed astonished Zheng Rong. In less than three days, Xiang Yu had mastered all the pinyin and was now lying on the bed, engrossed in a book titled Picture Stories, awkwardly holding a pencil, carefully practicing writing Chinese characters.

    As Zheng Rong softly sang, ¡°Tears that pretend to fall¡­,¡± Xiang Yu glanced at the computer.

    Zheng Rong had never let him touch it. After showing a moderate level of curiosity, Xiang Yu courteously kept his distance from the glowing screen.

    Xiang Yu chimed in, ¡°The sky is grey, will you forget who I am¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You¡¯ve memorized the song already?¡±

    Xiang Yu asked curiously, ¡°Why do people cheer at this part?¡± This question had puzzled him for a long time.

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°Because halfway through the song, the singer started taking off his clothes. It was a concert.¡±

    Xiang Yu, not fully understanding what a concert was, nodded, understanding only the part about a man taking off his clothes.

    Zheng Rong turned away, sipping coffee while staring blankly at the totem-like figures on the screen.

    ¡°There¡¯s no global internet anymore,¡± Zheng Rong said suddenly. ¡°This computer is connected to the network of the entire research center. You can use it to learn more things.¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    Zheng Rong got up from his seat, pulling Xiang Yu over to the chair. ¡°Now, I want to teach you how to use it.¡±

    Zheng Rong logged into the research center¡¯s network, which contained three major categories: Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Xiang Yu was immediately captivated by the dazzling images.

    In a hushed voice, Zheng Rong said, ¡°I¡¯m using my personal ID code to log in. If any confidential information leaks, I will be punished. Xiang Yu, please keep this a secret while you learn.¡±

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t fully understand but thought for a moment and then nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve always been tight-lipped.¡±

    Zheng Rong taught him how to search. Xiang Yu took a deep breath.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with history. You may not recognize some characters; just hover the mouse over them, and it¡¯ll speak the words aloud.¡± Zheng Rong guided Xiang Yu¡¯s large hand to the mouse, showing him how to move it slowly.

    Xiang Yu turned his head and asked, ¡°How does this flat thing work?¡±

    Their breaths intermingled, and Zheng Rong shifted uncomfortably. ¡°The keyboard is too complex to use right now. You¡¯ll learn that once you know all the characters.¡±

    ¡°For now, just look. Don¡¯t make any comments,¡± Zheng Rong instructed. ¡°The login name is mine. If this little window starts blinking, it means someone¡¯s messaging me. Please don¡¯t respond.¡±

    Xiang Yu focused intently on the screen, and Zheng Rong collapsed into bed, falling asleep.

    Five minutes later, Xiang Yu glanced at Zheng Rong, pulled a blanket over him, and continued to immerse himself in the sea of history.

    Ten minutes later, Xiang Yu got up, fetched a carton of milk, and put it in the microwave. The ding sound briefly interrupted Zheng Rong¡¯s sleep, causing his breathing to hitch.

    Xiang Yu hurriedly walked over, gently patting Zheng Rong¡¯s chest.

    Zheng Rong settled back into sleep. Xiang Yu drank the milk while studying history. The light shone on his handsome, resolute face as he scrolled from the ancient days of Suiren, who first made fire, to the Hundred Schools of Thought before the Qin Dynasty, and on to the Chu-Han Contention.

    Xiang Yu used the mouse¡¯s scroll wheel and noticed comments about him at the bottom of the screen.

    The doorbell rang.

    Xiang Yu frowned, got up to answer, while Zheng Rong shifted in bed.

    Lance stood at the door, ¡°Hello, how have things been lately?¡± His Mandarin was clumsy. Xiang Yu responded, ¡°Hello, you¡¯re a German.¡±

    Lance nodded, ¡°Is Zheng Rong here?¡±

    Zheng Rong shot up from bed, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Lance remained expressionless, saying nothing.

    ¡°Have you finished the rations I brought you last time?¡± Lance asked from outside.

    Zheng Rong coldly replied, ¡°No need, my salary is enough to support us.¡±

    Lance pressed on, ¡°What are you two working on?¡±

    Xiang Yu understood something from Lance¡¯s words and went to open the door, inviting him in, ¡°Come, sit.¡±

    Zheng Rong, slightly displeased, had no choice but to let Lance enter. Lance sat on Xiang Yu¡¯s bed, saying, ¡°It¡¯s much tidier than last time.¡±

    Over the past few days, Xiang Yu had cleaned up the entire apartment. He fetched water and started making coffee, using the small appliances with practiced ease, which made Lance chuckle.

    But Zheng Rong¡¯s expression remained icy, his gaze filled with rejection, as if waiting for Lance to say his piece and leave.

    ¡°How do you plan to educate him?¡± Lance asked in English.

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°He¡¯s a person, not a war machine from your military.¡±

    Lance interlaced his fingers, thumbs pressed together in thought, then said, ¡°Listen, Zheng Rong, I¡¯m deeply sorry for your brother¡¯s death.¡±

    Zheng Rong responded, ¡°I¡¯m not. I don¡¯t even feel too sad. You don¡¯t need to comfort me so hard. I¡¯m doing just fine, really.¡±

    Lance said in a flat tone, ¡°Zheng Rong, I know you... Zheng Rong. You don¡¯t need to invite a stranger to live in your home just because you lost Zheng Feng. I hope you¡¯ll talk to me sometimes. I¡¯m willing to chat with you or¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong sneered, ¡°What is there to talk about with a cold piece of steel like you?¡±

    Lance struggled with expressing his emotions. Trying hard to show his concern for Zheng Rong, his eyes reddened before he could hold back the tears. He said, ¡°I want to do something for you. That person you¡¯re with¡ªI¡¯ve looked into him. He¡¯s a hero to your Chinese people.¡±

    ¡°But he shouldn¡¯t be a replacement¡ªa companion you keep just to fill the void.¡±

    Lance looked at Zheng Rong, his deep blue eyes filled with suppressed sadness, and saw his own handsome face reflected in Zheng Rong¡¯s clear pupils.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°Thank you for your concern, you can leave now.¡±

    Lance stayed silent for a moment, then took out a military bag, saying, ¡°I brought cigarettes.¡±

    Zheng Rong interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve quit smoking.¡±

    Lance continued, ¡°There¡¯s chocolate. You loved it as a child, and there¡¯s coffee, whiskey too.¡±

    Zheng Rong got up as Lance placed the bag on the bed, saying, ¡°Take care of yourself. I¡¯ll come back.¡±

    Xiang Yu hadn¡¯t finished brewing the coffee, but Zheng Rong had already lost the desire to keep Lance around.

    Xiang Yu glanced at the scene and immediately understood the tension in the room.

    He came out of the kitchen, his towering figure shielding Zheng Rong, as Lance said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Zheng Rong sat back on the bed, and Xiang Yu politely escorted Lance to the door, saying, ¡°Goodbye.¡±

    Lance: ¡°¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    Lance frowned, ¡°You speak English?¡±

    Lance repeated his words in Mandarin. Xiang Yu smiled and said, ¡°I only know that one phrase. Zheng Rong taught me.¡±

    Lance nodded, ¡°Goodbye.¡±

    Xiang Yu sniffed the air, catching the scent of smoke.

    Zheng Rong sat curled up on the bed, smoking. His hair was a mess, like a restless cat.

    Xiang Yu frowned and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    Zheng Rong whispered, ¡°Cigarettes. Want one?¡±

    Xiang Yu stared at him for a while, then took the cigarette Zheng Rong handed him. Zheng Rong lit it with a lighter, and Xiang Yu took a puff, immediately coughing hard.

    Zheng Rong burst into laughter.

    Cough¡­ cough. Xiang Yu gasped for air, not daring to toss the cigarette. He pointed at Zheng Rong, saying, ¡°What¡­ cough! What¡¯s so good¡­ about this?¡±

    After coughing for a bit, Xiang Yu caught his breath, looked at Zheng Rong, and said, ¡°You look nice when you smile. You should¡­ cough! Smile more often!¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes were red, and he stared at Xiang Yu, lost in thought.

    Xiang Yu stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, sighed, and gently patted Zheng Rong¡¯s head.

    ¡°Though the body perishes, the spirit lives on. The soul stands firm, becoming a hero among ghosts. Zheng Rong, the dead cannot be brought back to life. You must move on.¡±

    Thus spoke Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu.

 5 - The Subtle Bond Between Comrades

    History and Ancient Culture Research Center, 1F, World Civilization Artifacts Hall.

    The spacious hall had few visitors, with the Terracotta Warriors standing silently in a corner. Their gaze seemed to transcend millennia, examining the unfamiliar surroundings.

    In times of peace, each Terracotta Warrior was priceless, with their shapes and dimensions meticulously recorded and archived. These national treasures had been moved from Xi''an to Northern Ireland five years ago, a process that had cost the lives of several soldiers to protect them. Now, they were merely gathering dust in the research center¡¯s warehouse, occasionally brought out for display.

    ¡°The tea is nice. I haven¡¯t had black tea in ages,¡± Lin Siyin said softly.

    Zheng Rong put down his cup and responded, ¡°It¡¯s from Lance. You¡¯ve met him, that general.¡±

    Zheng Rong rubbed his temples, organizing his thoughts about what he wanted to discuss with the female doctor today. ¡°I¡¯ve been comparing ancient Chinese warfare with the fighting styles of the Mayans and Phoenicians¡­¡± He glanced at the Terracotta Warriors.

    ¡°Why were ancient Chinese men, on average, taller than modern men?¡± Zheng Rong suddenly asked. ¡°According to Dr. Sikamon''s report, Caucasians are generally stronger than Asians. Given the nutritional scarcity during the Qin Dynasty, this seems rather illogical.¡±

    Lin Siyin replied, ¡°In my view, the height of the Terracotta Warriors doesn¡¯t represent the average stature of men at that time. They were more likely created to serve as Emperor Qin¡¯s ceremonial guard.¡±

    Zheng Rong responded, ¡°But you can¡¯t deny that taller individuals did exist.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Lin Siyin said. ¡°From the Qin and Han dynasties through the Three Kingdoms period, descriptions of people often included height. Meng Tian was eight chi and seven cun tall, Xiang Yu was nine chi and seven cun, and even Zhuge Liang and Liu Biao were around nine chi. L¨¹ Bu stood out among them.¡±

    ¡°A ¡®seven-chi man¡¯ wasn¡¯t considered much. Many were called ¡®great men,¡¯ which suggests that some could reach one zhang in height.¡±

    Zheng Rong paused, thinking of Xiang Yu.

    Xiang Yu was nearly two meters tall, with a powerful physique. His muscles were filled with explosive strength, a kind that modern humans could barely achieve. Even Lance, a soldier with special forces training, wouldn¡¯t be able to break off a cannon from a killing machine and throw it through its alloy chest armor with sheer force.

    ¡°Could an ancient Chinese man, in his thirties, without structured exercise or proper nutrition, reach the strength of a modern special forces soldier?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Lin Siyin smiled, ¡°Your question is peculiar. You said ¡®an ancient Chinese man,¡¯ not ¡®ancient Chinese men.¡¯ Are you hiding one in your home?¡±

    Zheng Rong, embarrassed, replied, ¡°Don¡¯t get hung up on strange logic. Let¡¯s discuss the theory. Joseph, what do you think?¡±

    While Lin Siyin pondered, her husband, a Spanish historian, interrupted from behind an exhibit case. He was dancing with the mummy of Pharaoh Khufu, humming a tune as he joined their conversation.

    ¡°What¡¯s strange about that? The ancient Greeks had similar figures,¡± Joseph said, spinning gracefully with the millennium-old corpse in a tango dip. ¡°Hercules, son of Zeus and Alcmene, who rescued Prometheus¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Lin Siyin said with a laugh. ¡°Dear, he¡¯s just a mythological figure.¡±

    Zheng Rong added, ¡°Anything is possible. History itself is a mixture of myth, legend, and oral tradition.¡±

    ¡°But Chinese history is well-documented,¡± Lin Siyin noted.

    ¡°No, no, you have to consider The Iliad and The Odyssey¡­¡±

    ¡°No, listen to me,¡± Lin Siyin insisted.

    ¡°Dear, that¡¯s why I prefer studying mysterious cultures,¡± Joseph said, his tone serious. ¡°I bet Zheng Rong isn¡¯t like you, always buried in those thick, brick-sized history books, let alone in translations.¡±

    Zheng Rong chuckled, and Joseph tossed the mummy back into its golden sarcophagus, sitting down at the table. Lin Siyin, somewhat annoyed, asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s your point?¡±

    Zheng Rong thought for a moment and then spoke earnestly, ¡°What if ancient humans were physically stronger than modern humans?¡±

    Joseph, surprised, replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? Modern humans have been genetically altered by endless pollution, adapting to the environment, which has led to our physical decline in the radiation and industrial age.¡±

    Zheng Rong leaned in, squinting, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what puzzles me.¡±

    ¡°Dr. Sikamon and my father studied this. I¡¯m familiar with the conclusion, no need to repeat it,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°It¡¯s undeniable that industrial development has caused human degradation, but I think they¡¯ve overlooked something.¡±

    Joseph and Lin Siyin remained silent, listening closely. Zheng Rong gestured as he continued, ¡°Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have shifted toward intellectual development, gradually losing the independence that once allowed them to adapt to and dominate their environment. This shift, starting in the 18th century, marks the beginning of human decline.¡±

    Lin Siyin nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡±

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°So, when did the glorification of individual martial heroes in Chinese history begin to fade?¡±

    Lin Siyin thought carefully before responding, ¡°After the Wei and Jin dynasties, it became less common. Society leaned towards valuing intellectual labor, which was likely instilled by emperors to curb rebellion¡­¡±

    ¡°Leaving that aside,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted, ¡°by the time of the Qing Dynasty, we no longer see figures like those in the earlier periods, those capable of ¡®moving mountains and covering the world.¡¯¡±

    Lin Siyin smiled, ¡°Xiang Yu¡­ well, he¡¯s an exception. Many consider him to be the strongest figure in Chinese history, in terms of both martial skills and physical strength.¡±

    ¡°To put it simply, he was likely the strongest man ever recorded in history,¡± Lin Siyin concluded.

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Perhaps we could phrase it differently: if Xiang Yu were the greatest martial artist in 5,000 years, what kind of physical condition would be required for him to lift a bronze cauldron weighing a thousand pounds?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Zheng Rong,¡± Lin Siyin laughed. ¡°That was probably an exaggeration. Even Sima Qian¡¯s accounts aren¡¯t entirely reliable. A Dongfeng truck weighs 1.6 tons.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°But what if it were true?¡±

    Joseph added, ¡°Based on human strength alone, it¡¯s impossible to lift something weighing half a ton.¡±

    Zheng Rong said nothing. He had recently tested Xiang Yu¡¯s grip and pull strength, which measured twelve times that of an average person and four to six times that of a soldier.

    ¡°Ants can lift six times their weight. That¡¯s not surprising,¡± Zheng Rong noted.

    Joseph laughed, ¡°But ants are insects. For a human to have that kind of muscle strength, their upper limbs would have to be incredibly developed¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong wasn¡¯t joking and asked, ¡°How developed?¡±

    Joseph replied, ¡°First, the arms would need to be long. The muscles, acting as connective tissue, would need to be as strong as titanium alloy, and the bones¡­¡±

    ¡°The bone cross-section would need to be less than eight inches,¡± Lin Siyin interjected. ¡°Each upper arm bone would act as a lever, with the shoulder serving as the fulcrum. To support 125 kilograms, the bones would need to be as dense as diamonds.¡±

    Zheng Rong added, ¡°If we assume the hardness of alloy is nine on the Mohs scale, then converting that density to muscle density and calculating the volume¡­¡±

    Joseph laughed, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Unless his arms were as thick as barrels, two meters long, with a diameter of 120 centimeters¡ªhe¡¯d be a monster.¡±

    Lin Siyin and Joseph laughed together, but Zheng Rong remained contemplative.

    ¡°You¡¯ve taken quite an interest in Xiang Yu recently,¡± Lin Siyin remarked.

    Zheng Rong, slightly surprised, asked, ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°I saw your post about him on the research center¡¯s internal network yesterday. I was surprised at how much you know about Chinese history,¡± Lin Siyin said with a smile.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    Joseph said, ¡°You¡¯ve listened to us long enough. What are your thoughts?¡±

    Zheng Rong knew Xiang Yu had likely used his login to post something on the historians¡¯ BBS but chose to ignore it for now. ¡°Listen, I have a wild theory,¡± he said.

    ¡°All scientific breakthroughs begin with wild theories,¡± Joseph said nonchalantly.

    ¡°But history is different,¡± Lin Siyin interjected.

    Zheng Rong tapped his fingers on the coffee table. ¡°I suspect that ancient Chinese people and modern Chinese people are not the same species. Or at least, they look similar but are fundamentally different.¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Joseph was startled, while Lin Siyin laughed as if she had heard a joke.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t mind and continued, ¡°This hypothesis could be valid. Consider the combat styles and creatures in ancient Chinese legends, starting from the Yellow Emperor¡¯s war against Chi You. These are like nothing we¡¯ve ever seen or heard of before.¡±

    Lin Siyin sighed, ¡°Those could just be ancient animals that hadn¡¯t fully evolved. Their descendants are still around today. Besides, can you really treat the Classic of Mountains and Seas as historical fact? I find it hard to believe the Yellow Emperor¡¯s army rode into battle on pandas.¡±

    Zheng Rong countered, ¡°Why not? Every civilization¡¯s origin is shrouded in chaos. Before Pangu created the heavens, the world was an egg. The Bible says that on the first day, God said, ¡®Let there be light.¡¯¡±

    ¡°In ancient Mayan mythology, the world began in darkness. All creatures slept in the dark,¡± Joseph added. ¡°In Norse mythology, the Ginnungagap was a bottomless abyss of darkness, and when the eternal light appeared, the world began in an instant.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°Myths often mention the appearance of light at the beginning¡ªsomething that defines the rules of this world. If we treat certain myths as revelations left for Earth, they share a commonality. Could it all be a coincidence?¡±

    A spark of excitement flickered in Zheng Rong¡¯s clear eyes, as if his mind had stumbled upon a wild yet exhilarating idea.

    Lin Siyin and Joseph understood that look well. They had seen it in Zheng Feng¡¯s eyes before¡ªa scholar completely immersed in his own world, eagerly explaining his thought process and the thrill of venturing into uncharted intellectual territory. Zheng Rong¡¯s expressions and mannerisms were uncannily similar to those of his late brother.

    Joseph urged, ¡°Go on, this is getting interesting.¡±

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a stretch, but what if there were two kinds of humans on the ancient Eurasian continent? One represented by the Yellow Emperor, and another by the ¡®barbarians¡¯¡ªall those who evolved from primitive humans into civilized beings.¡±

    ¡°So, are you a barbarian or an advanced human?¡± Lin Siyin asked playfully.

    Zheng Rong thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Probably a mix. In fact, these two groups must have influenced and intermingled with each other since they lived in the same region.¡±

    Joseph said, ¡°Bold hypothesis, but it doesn¡¯t contradict known facts. Let¡¯s assume it¡¯s valid. Where did this advanced human race come from? Aliens?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Let¡¯s set that aside for now. The advanced humans had significantly superior physical strength and intelligence compared to the ordinary humans. After the Yellow Emperor¡¯s war, the two groups began to live together and interbreed.¡±

    Joseph traced a circle with his finger, ¡°Mixed lineage.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°They looked identical, so we might be their mixed descendants. As ordinary humans became more numerous, the genes of the advanced humans became recessive, and after several generations¡­¡±

    Lin Siyin commented, ¡°That¡¯s an interesting theory. So, is Xiang Yu the only one showing traces of this ancient gene? A modern-day ¡®warrior¡¯ of the advanced race?¡±

    Joseph added, ¡°The first major blending must have occurred in an undocumented period of Chinese history¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong corrected him, ¡°The first blending happened during the ¡®Battle of Zhuolu¡¯ between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You.¡±

    Joseph continued, ¡°Second question: in any society¡¯s history, when two distinct groups emerge¡ªregardless of whether they¡¯re the same species¡ªif one group develops a sense of superiority, it inevitably leads to the domination of the other. Look at the Romans, the Mongols, or the Germanic tribes. This isn¡¯t about societal morality; it¡¯s the natural law of the strong dominating the weak. As humanity progressed, we¡¯ve gradually moved away from such violent conquests and superiority complexes.¡±

    Zheng Rong, animated, replied, ¡°Exactly! To ensure the advancement of society, the advanced race probably established the idea of the ¡®Mandate of Heaven¡¯ for emperors¡ªessentially, a claim to pure bloodline.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd,¡± Lin Siyin objected.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Joseph remained silent before finally asking, ¡°What led to the current state of humanity, then?¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°History is full of coincidences. Countless accidents piled up to form the broader direction of development. At some point, ordinary humans gained the upper hand in the power struggle. This temporary victory pushed the two groups to further blend¡­¡±

    ¡°And here¡¯s the key point,¡± Zheng Rong said seriously. ¡°The second major interbreeding erased the possibility of any ¡®superhuman¡¯ figures from emerging. It happened during the period of the Five Barbarians¡¯ invasion of China. That¡¯s why we no longer see individuals like Xiang Yu recorded in history afterward.¡±

    Lin Siyin said nothing, understanding that Zheng Rong¡¯s repeated mention of inconsistencies in human physical evolution was difficult to refute, even for her.

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°The second blending occurred during the Industrial Revolution, a period of relative decline in physical strength. That explains why China, which didn¡¯t experience significant technological advancements, saw a gradual weakening of human physique.¡±

    ¡°Then came the third and fourth blends. Each time, the genes of the Yellow Emperor¡¯s line went into deeper dormancy within the human body¡­¡±

    Lin Siyin commented, ¡°That¡¯s impossible to verify. It involves knowledge of genetics, anthropology, and biological history¡ªtoo much to prove.¡±

    Joseph added, ¡°If the ¡®dormant gene¡¯ theory holds, there¡¯s another flaw: if advanced humans had such superior abilities, wouldn¡¯t they have passed down records or knowledge to maintain their dominance?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t Emperor Qin burn all the books?¡±

    Lin Siyin asked, ¡°How do you explain the fact that no major uprising or reversal occurred among these extraordinary individuals between the pre-Qin and Han dynasties?¡±

    Zheng Rong countered, ¡°Who says there wasn¡¯t? Wasn¡¯t Xiang Yu one of them?¡±

    Lin Siyin retorted, ¡°Xiang Yu¡¯s downfall was entirely his own doing. When he rebelled, he wasn¡¯t shouting about reclaiming the dominance of an advanced human race¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong interrupted, ¡°You¡¯re forgetting the question of alliances. Xiang Yu wasn¡¯t the only strong figure at the time. Han Xin and Xiao He might have been awakened individuals as well.¡±

    Joseph asked, ¡°So, has humanity ever realized that there are dormant genes within them?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong replied without hesitation. ¡°That¡¯s why they developed techniques to awaken these potentials. For example, the ¡®qigong¡¯ you Westerners find so mysterious.¡±

    Joseph burst into laughter, ¡°If you could go back in time and bring some ancient people here for experiments, maybe you could prove this theory.¡±

    ¡°My brother planned to do just that,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°It was my father¡¯s idea. I refined it, and my brother was supposed to put it into practice.¡±

    Joseph and Lin Siyin were dumbfounded.

    ¡°Unfortunately, it failed in the end,¡± Zheng Rong said calmly. ¡°The lab exploded, and everything was lost.¡±

    He adjusted his coat, donned his hat, and bowed as he said goodbye to Joseph and Lin Siyin.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zheng Rong,¡± Lin Siyin said as she stood up.

    Zheng Rong nodded, saying nothing more as he left the museum.

    ¡°Hey, listen, Zheng Rong,¡± Joseph called after him, catching up outside the museum. He placed a hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°I think your idea¡­ as crazy as it sounds, it makes some sense.¡±

    Zheng Rong sighed, and Joseph continued, ¡°You need help. You can¡¯t do this alone if you want to prove it.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°What can I do? Even if I had an ancient person, all I could do is confirm the theory.¡±

    Joseph said, ¡°This theory has profound implications. You can¡¯t think of it purely as a scientific hypothesis.¡±

    ¡°Think about it,¡± Joseph¡¯s eyes gleamed with an indescribable fervor. ¡°Why have we been driven into hiding by the Maya aliens? Why are we so afraid of them?¡±

    ¡°The Maya aliens maintain an aura of mystery. Their technology makes it painfully clear that the gap between humans and extraterrestrials is vast. We¡¯re not even on the same level.¡±

    Joseph¡¯s tone grew manic, ¡°We¡¯re ants! The Maya are gods! Do you understand? If your theory can be proven, it would be the greatest boost to humanity¡¯s spirit. Even if it¡¯s never applied in technology, just the idea alone¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong listened quietly. Joseph suddenly deflated, sighing, ¡°The real challenge is how to prove your hypothesis.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°What if I forge a research report in my brother¡¯s name and submit it to the Human Civilization Preservation Association?¡±

    Joseph shook his head.

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Once it¡¯s proven, what then?¡±

    Joseph rubbed his fingers together, saying, ¡°Awakening.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, his thoughts aligning with Joseph¡¯s.

    ¡°Awaken the blood of our ancestors. Awaken the fighting spirit within our genes,¡± Zheng Rong whispered. ¡°Awaken the will to resist alien invaders.¡±

    Joseph echoed, ¡°Yes. Whether it changes humanity or not doesn¡¯t matter anymore. What matters is making them believe¡­¡±

    Joseph glanced at a distant park, where a mother sat on a bench, cradling her baby, her expression blank, filled with despair and helplessness.

    ¡°Make them believe that every Earthling is a warrior,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Joseph patted Zheng Rong on the shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ll think of something. Don¡¯t give up. For your brother, for your father, keep this plan going.¡±

 6 - The argument in the research lab...

    ¡°I have a serious question and I want to talk to you about it,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Xiang Yu rubbed his forehead, relaxing his slightly furrowed brows as he leaned back in his swivel chair, ¡°It was my fault¡­ I acted on impulse.¡±

    Zheng Rong sat down beside the bed and said, ¡°I¡¯m not talking about your comments on the BBS¡­ Let me see what you said to them.¡±

    This was the forty-third day since Xiang Yu arrived in the modern world. His phrasing still felt somewhat awkward, but his grammar was close to that of most people. He had used homophones to replace many ancient characters he couldn¡¯t find in the pinyin system, assembling a lengthy piece of nearly ten thousand words, responding to historians¡¯ criticisms of him with reasoned arguments.

    The content was titled ¡°Refuting the Argument of Xiang Yu¡¯s Tragic Defeat at Wujiang,¡± and it was an extremely arrogant and convoluted piece that included:

    <ol>

    <li>Xiang Yu''s defeat did not signify a dead end; a counterattack could still be possible.</li>

    <li>Yu Ji did not commit suicide in Xiang Yu¡¯s camp; her whereabouts were unknown at the time of defeat, and during the night of the ¡°Songs of Chu,¡± they did not spend the night together.</li>

    </ol>

    The ancient ability to respond to criticisms in one¡¯s own voice was quite amusing. Zheng Rong scrolled through the text, enjoying Xiang Yu¡¯s grandiloquent claims, all published under his name. By the end, Zheng Rong narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°Was Yu Ji a fictional character?¡± Zheng Rong realized something significant: ¡°Yu Ji was made up?!¡±

    Xiang Yu nodded, taking a sip of coffee, a drink he enjoyed for its stimulating, slightly bitter, rich, and aromatic qualities, which was also addictive.

    ¡°This woman did not have the surname Yu; the name Yu Ji was given by later generations. She was a suitable match sought by my uncle, knowledgeable and polite.¡±

    Zheng Rong straightened in surprise and asked, ¡°And then?¡±

    Xiang Yu was evasive, but Zheng Rong¡¯s curiosity was piqued. The truths hidden in history always intrigued scholars. After repeated questioning, Xiang Yu had no choice but to say, ¡°Are you really a man? Why do you love to listen to gossip?¡±

    Zheng Rong responded bluntly, ¡°Men rarely gossip, but that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t enjoy it.¡±

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t understand and thought for a moment before explaining, ¡°Yu Ji was originally my nephew¡¯s wife¡­ well, at the time I kept her at home and didn¡¯t take her to battle. Let¡¯s not discuss this anymore.¡± Xiang Yu was slightly irritated but managed to control himself, ¡°Zheng Rong, I will tell you later.¡±

    Zheng Rong stopped pressing.

    Surrounded by enemies, trapped at Gaixia, Liu Bang laid siege for three months. When Yu Ji arrived at Xiang Yu¡¯s camp, she was met with the result of total defeat and the death of the overlord.

    Yu Ji covered her face with her sleeve, tears falling, as Xiang Yu lamented, ¡°With strength to move mountains and a spirit that covers the world,¡± he sighed deeply. Ultimately, Yu Ji took Xiang Yu¡¯s sword and ended her own life.

    Zheng Rong vaguely guessed something: ¡°In the Qin state before Shang Yang¡¯s reforms, even fathers and sons could share a wife. As long as she truly loves you, historians¡¯ judgments won¡¯t matter much.¡±

    Xiang Yu fell silent, and after a long time, said, ¡°At Gaixia, whoever it was could hardly escape death. If death is inevitable, so be it. Who hasn¡¯t died? The overlord knew this well; he was not afraid of defeat or death, and future generations need not shed any tears of sympathy for him.¡±

    ¡°Nor should there be multiple women acting as distractions in the chaotic world. Everything was a decision I made alone, and I alone bear the responsibility. Besides, if heaven intends to destroy me, what can be done? It¡¯s not anyone¡¯s fault.¡±

    Zheng Rong scrolled down, seeing a slew of responses from historians beneath Xiang Yu¡¯s lengthy discourse. He sighed inwardly; it seemed he had offended all his peers studying Chinese history.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to respond further?¡±

    Zheng Rong watched as Xiang Yu stirred up the scholars¡¯ anger, refuting their statements one by one, ignoring their barbs while targeting their wild speculations. His arguments flowed, provoking many to rage, yet after finishing his points, he would simply add a cryptic ¡°Hehe,¡± avoiding further entanglements.

    The scholars were left speechless, and many began to hurl insults.

    Xiang Yu remarked, ¡°These many literati mostly think they¡¯ve encountered a rogue.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Scholars and literati are ultimately just a bunch of rogues themselves.¡±

    Xiang Yu closed the webpage, looked into Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes, and asked, ¡°Are you satisfied now? By the way, at your age, you should be talking about marriage in our time. Is there a woman you fancy?¡±

    Zheng Rong pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve had a relationship, but¡­ let¡¯s not talk about that.¡±

    He suddenly remembered something important and changed the subject: ¡°Can I take a bit of your blood for testing?¡±

    Xiang Yu, who believed that one¡¯s body and skin are gifts from their parents and should not be easily given up, had made a big fuss when Zheng Rong previously asked him to cut his hair.

    Zheng Rong explained to Xiang Yu what he had told Joseph earlier, avoiding modern terms like ¡°gene¡± and ¡°genetics,¡± replacing them with ancient concepts like ¡°cultivation¡± and ¡°bloodline.¡± Xiang Yu furrowed his brow, listening for a long time, then said, ¡°Do you suspect I¡¯m not human?¡±

    Zheng Rong felt awkward and waved his hand, ¡°Not at all. This suspicion can¡¯t be explained to you. As you gradually understand modern technology, you¡¯ll come to understand.¡±

    Xiang Yu replied, ¡°Your life was saved by me; what¡¯s a little blood?¡± Saying this, he rolled up his pajama sleeves, ¡°Just get a knife and cut it.¡±

    Zheng Rong stood up to fetch a dropper and a small knife, casually saying, ¡°It¡¯s my brother, not me¡­ but he also brought you over for research purposes. I can only say you were just coincidentally chosen. You don¡¯t owe us anything, thank you, Xiang Yu.¡±

    Xiang Yu countered, ¡°No, the first moment I emerged from the underground, you stood in front of me, allowing me to go first.¡±

    Zheng Rong paused for a moment, then suddenly changed his mind: ¡°Let¡¯s not take the blood sample at home. Come with me to the genetic research base; let¡¯s take a look around outside and have a meal together.¡±

    After being reborn, Xiang Yu had become a recluse, spending each day at home, drinking coffee, surfing the internet, and eating microwave meals. Zheng Rong, who had also been both a recluse and socially awkward, hadn¡¯t thought to take Xiang Yu out.

    After all, the internet could help him understand the world more vividly and directly, so sightseeing could be postponed indefinitely.

    Thus, Xiang Yu, dressed in cotton pajamas and slippers, a tall figure of nearly two meters, moved about the house. Zheng Feng¡¯s pajamas made him look a bit tight; it was time to buy a new set.

    Wearing the clothes of the deceased wasn¡¯t ideal, but Zheng Rong had a particular attachment to some of Zheng Feng¡¯s belongings, so he said nothing, and Xiang Yu didn¡¯t ask.

    Zheng Rong called to make an appointment for a physical check-up at the medical school.

    The buzzing sound echoed as Xiang Yu used an electric razor to shave.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu admired his handsome reflection in the mirror, casually saying, ¡°Is this right?¡±

    Zheng Rong hung up and replied, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wearing this suit, which was made for my brother¡¯s graduation ceremony but was too large and has never been worn¡­¡± Zheng Rong pulled out a baggy suit and said displeased, ¡°Xiang Yu.¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times, please wear underwear. Modern people are¡­ oh, heavens! Go change in the bathroom!¡±

    Xiang Yu untied his pajama, revealing his strong chest, saying, ¡°Those ¡®underwear¡¯ are too tight; they¡¯re uncomfortable.¡±

    Zheng Rong was completely speechless: ¡°I¡¯ll buy you new ones later. My brother is already wearing a large size¡­ you can accept a toothbrush, but how come you don¡¯t have the habit of wearing underwear?¡±

    In front of Zheng Rong, Xiang Yu stripped off his pajamas. Though Zheng Rong had seen it before, it was still very awkward, so he turned to look at the monitor, waiting for Xiang Yu to get dressed.

    The mirror showed Xiang Yu¡¯s bronze skin and muscular physique. Zheng Rong glanced at him from the corner of his eye, noting there was nothing unusual.

    Xiang Yu looked at himself in confusion, evidently questioning Zheng Rong¡¯s previous statements, searching for differences between himself and ordinary people.

    He stood naked for a moment, then asked, ¡°Do I look good?¡±

    Zheng Rong finally snapped: ¡°Put on your clothes already!¡±

    Willing to wear shoes, socks, and a shirt, he stubbornly refused to wear tight underwear. Zheng Rong didn¡¯t know what to make of Xiang Yu¡¯s mindset. The suit looked very tight on him, and although it was slightly large on his brother, it still fit Xiang Yu snugly.

    However, this slightly small suit made him look great, elegant, and his slim waist and broad shoulders were quite alluring. Zheng Rong pulled out a pair of sunglasses for Xiang Yu to wear, preventing him from looking around and being questioned, and handed him a white scarf as they headed out.

    Northern Ireland Medical School, Genetics Department.

    A line of new recruits was waiting downstairs, with a sergeant loudly reprimanding them, causing the recruits to appear timid. Zheng Rong pushed through the crowd and went up the stairs, where several preparatory soldiers curiously glanced at Xiang Yu, only to be scolded by their superior.

    "How can you treat the defenders of our homeland so poorly?" Xiang Yu remarked dismissively.

    Zheng Rong said, "I''ve seen Lance reprimanding recruits, and he does it with a kick from his boot."

    "You don''t understand, Zheng Rong," Lance said, hearing Zheng Rong''s remarks but showing no anger, with a hint of expectation in his gaze.

    "Hello, Zheng Rong," a female doctor named Lainey exclaimed upon seeing Xiang Yu behind Zheng Rong, her eyes lighting up.

    "Hello, Lainey."

    Zheng Rong was surprised to find Lance with Lainey, caught off guard for speaking ill behind their backs. He nodded perfunctorily, but Xiang Yu politely extended his hand, "Hello, Lainey."

    Lainey smiled, shaking Xiang Yu''s hand as he asked, "Are you also German?"

    Zheng Rong frowned and whispered, "Don¡¯t say anything inappropriate."

    Lainey laughed, "I''m Australian. I learned Chinese while participating in an international rescue organization... Are you a friend of Zheng Rong?"

    Xiang Yu''s knowledge was still limited; in his understanding, apart from the descendants of Yan and Huang, everyone else was German. Now, he had added a new concept¡ªAustralian.

    Lainey pulled out a form, asking, "Do you have any news about Li Ying for the sixteen physical examinations?"

    Zheng Rong took the form, Xiang Yu removed his sunglasses gracefully and leaned over to look at the paper in Zheng Rong''s hand.

    Without looking up, Zheng Rong coldly replied, "No, I won''t pursue the matter of you notifying Lance privately..."

    "Who is Li Ying?" Xiang Yu asked.

    Ignoring Xiang Yu, Zheng Rong continued, "¡­Please don¡¯t mention that name in front of me."

    Lainey laughed, but Zheng Rong maintained his cold expression, creating an awkward atmosphere with only the sound of a pen on paper.

    Lainey crossed her arms and tapped her finger on her soft elbow, her gaze fixed on Xiang Yu, before softly asking, "Are you a good friend of Zheng Rong?"

    Xiang Yu replied, "I¡¯m his brother."

    Lance frowned but did not expose him. Zheng Rong hesitated for a moment but then smoothly continued writing.

    Xiang Yu looked at the name section, misreading the English as pinyin, and said, "Ri... Ri ah..."

    Zheng Rong nearly flipped the table.

    "This is your English name," Zheng Rong finally recovered from his breakdown after a long pause. "Repeat after me..."

    Zheng Rong struggled to compose himself and said, "R-A-I-N, Rain. It translates to ''rain'' in Chinese."

    Lance interjected, "Rain, feather¡ªthose are different in Chinese, right?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "I like this name. What business is it of yours regarding my brother?"

    Xiang Yu nodded, a bit awkwardly smiling, "I... I don¡¯t mind, but names are given by parents, so it¡¯s better to inform me next time."

    "There won''t be a next time," Zheng Rong said indifferently. He finished the form and casually tossed it on the table, rudely pointing at Lainey, "You go with her."

    Lainey smiled and led Xiang Yu inside for the examination. Lance remained standing while Zheng Rong sat down, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet.

    Lance said, "Why didn¡¯t you inform me? You and Zheng Feng are completely different; you have a plan for everything, which is good, but you never discuss things with anyone."

    Zheng Rong replied, "He is he, I am I. I have no need to report my thoughts to you, not about anything."

    Lance pulled up a chair, sitting opposite Zheng Rong, looking into his eyes earnestly, "Zheng Rong, why did you bring him for a physical examination? Did you discover something?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "I didn¡¯t know the doctor arranging the checkup was her; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have come at all. I didn¡¯t want you to know. Is Lainey watching my every move? Or is she acting on your orders? If I do any blood sample tests, will she notify you immediately?!"

    Lance whispered, "Zheng Rong, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean that. I just told her to notify me if you feel unwell and come to the hospital for an examination, and I¡¯ll arrive as soon as possible."

    Zheng Rong said, "Can you save some effort, General Lance? There are many other things waiting for you to deal with in this world."

    Lance interrupted Zheng Rong sharply, "But your feelings are my top priority; otherwise, I can never focus on my own matters, thinking about you every day, worried about your well-being, Zheng Rong!"

    At the same time, in the ultrasound room:

    Lainey, while adjusting the equipment, said, "Mr. Rain, please remove your shirt and pants."

    Xiang Yu: "¡­"

    Lainey: "?"

    Xiang Yu stood silent for a while, finally blushing and said, "I¡­ am not wearing anything underneath."

    Lainey laughed and explained, "It¡¯s okay; I¡¯ll close the curtains."

    Xiang Yu said, "Let¡¯s just forget it; can someone else come?"

    Lainey smiled, "I¡¯m the only doctor. Zheng Rong requested me to conduct your physical examination, Mr. Rain, so please cooperate with me."

    With no choice, Xiang Yu took off his pants and lay down in the machine.

    Outside:

    Lance said, "I don¡¯t hold a grudge against your hedgehog attitude. You trust no one and have no friends, but you¡¯ve always held hostility towards Lainey, which isn¡¯t fair to her!"

    Zheng Rong raised his voice slightly, "The examination results are obvious; she will definitely give you a copy privately. Someone who won¡¯t keep my secrets and uses my privacy as a bargaining chip¡ªwhat right does she have to be considered my friend?!"

    Lance replied, "I¡¯m not an outsider, Zheng Rong! Besides, Li Ying¡¯s matter is long past; you hold too much resentment. Li Ying was like this, and so is Zheng Feng..."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice turned icy, "Don¡¯t mention Li Ying in front of me again; this is the last time. Otherwise, Xiang Yu will beat you up for me; he just said he¡¯s willing to be my brother."

    Lance felt a pang in his heart, his eyes softening, and for a moment, he turned his head, avoiding Zheng Rong¡¯s cold gaze, his expression complicated as he looked towards the door of the ultrasound room.

    Inside:

    Lainey, with her voluptuous figure and beautiful face, resembled an angel with a devil''s body. Xiang Yu blushed, thankful that he hadn¡¯t become aroused.

    While operating the machine, Lainey asked softly, "When did you meet Zheng Rong? Are you living at his house?"

    Xiang Yu replied, "Mm," skillfully avoiding the timing question. Lainey drew a conclusion, "So you¡¯ve known each other for a long time, and we were all unaware."

    Xiang Yu frowned, "Who is Li Ying?"

    Lainey laughed, "You don¡¯t know him? Just arrived from the South Pacific base? Li Ying is also Chinese."

    Xiang Yu chuckled, "Not quite sure; I¡¯m a¡­ um, a homebody." ¡ª that was a new term he had just learned.

    The ultrasound slowly scanned over Xiang Yu''s waist, and Lainey¡¯s face flushed slightly. She answered, "Li Ying, the Scarlet Wolf, is the champion of federal military combat; he¡­ used to be my boyfriend."

    Xiang Yu squinted and asked, "Boyfriend?"

    Lainey misunderstood Xiang Yu¡¯s question and laughed, "He used to be; he¡¯s not anymore. Why? Want to grab dinner after work?"

    Xiang Yu shook his head, asking, "Was he also Zheng Rong¡¯s¡­ boyfriend?"

    Lainey¡¯s face turned pale as she asked, "Did Zheng Rong tell you?!"

    Xiang Yu was stunned, "What does boyfriend mean?"

    Lainey: "¡­"

    Xiang Yu laughed, "A friend is like family, brothers are like friends."

    Lainey frowned, "That¡¯s not the meaning; it¡¯s¡­ lovers, partners, a spouse."

    Xiang Yu understood the term "lover" and suddenly realized, "Sorry, it was an unintentional misunderstanding."

    Lainey paused the ultrasound, a bit wistfully saying, "He isn¡¯t anymore; he surrendered to the aliens three years ago, boarded that mothership, and never came out."

    Xiang Yu was moved, "He became a traitor?"

    Lainey shrugged, pouting, then smiled, "Get up; let¡¯s check your blood pressure and height."

    Xiang Yu awkwardly said, "Clothes¡­ let me put them on first."

    Lainey said nothing, so Xiang Yu quickly dressed, stood on the scale for height and weight, and sat at the table for his blood pressure.

    Xiang Yu''s face was still slightly flushed when Lainey suddenly asked, "What are you blushing about?"

    Xiang Yu was taken aback, feeling that this woman spoke rather oddly. Lainey smiled ambiguously but said nothing.

    Lainey¡¯s delicate fingers traced down Xiang Yu¡¯s arm and pressed against his ribs, causing him to frown, and then¡ª

    The door was kicked open by Zheng Rong.

    "You''ve been taking too long, Miss Lainey," Zheng Rong said coldly. "Can I take him away now?"

    Lainey withdrew her fingers and replied, "We still need to draw some blood."

    Zheng Rong sat at the table, observing Xiang Yu¡¯s disheveled shirt and open suit jacket, feeling irritated. Lainey smiled, "Aren''t you going to chat with Lance? Recently, everyone I''ve interacted with talks about you..."

    "Is it because my brother died?" Zheng Rong said dismissively. "Such topics are always worth discussing; General Lance can never keep his mouth shut..." As he spoke, he skillfully used tweezers to secure the cotton, wiped Xiang Yu''s fingertip, and then pricked it with a needle.

    "Hey!" Xiang Yu was caught off guard by the sudden poke and nearly jumped in pain.

    Lainey said unhappily, "I was measuring blood pressure!"

    Zheng Rong scoffed, drawing the blood from Xiang Yu¡¯s fingertip and mocking, "Someone who fears nothing would fear a blood draw? Lainey, you said ''we still need to draw some blood,'' so I¡¯ll take that as you¡¯re done measuring... I just need a DNA test from the blood sample..."

    Xiang Yu gently said, "Hold on; our fingers are connected to our hearts."

    Zheng Rong casually tossed the dropper on the table, hands in the pockets of his trench coat, and walked down the stairs.

    Xiang Yu hurriedly followed him with the sample receipt, saying nothing as they exited the door.

    "Zheng Rong!" Lance called out, "I¡¯m really sorry about earlier. I still want to talk to you. Where are you going? Or let him go back first; I want to invite you to dinner..."

    Xiang Yu, focused on the sample receipt and unable to understand it, recalled Zheng Rong¡¯s earlier arrangement. Without looking up, he loudly said, "We¡¯re planning to buy new underwear! German, what do you think?"

    Zheng Rong: "¡­"

 7 - The Plan After Farewell

    Although it''s the end of the world and the underground shelter is filled with victims of war, money is always universal.

    When the cannon fires, gold floods in, and among the traders are those who resell life supplies. Even as the Earth nears destruction, human nature remains unchanged. The federal government, aside from distributing materials to the survivors, tacitly allows trade within the territory to encourage more people to work and create material wealth.

    The four underground cities each cover tens of thousands of square kilometers, vast and as isolated from each other as underground lakes.

    Underground water has become the only usable energy source. The water can drive turbines, and with the weak energy, tritium elements can be extracted through nuclear fusion to generate power, supplying energy to the extensive main city network.

    Each area is buried with hundreds of nuclear warheads. If bombed, the citizens must retreat in the shortest time possible. The federal commander will decisively detonate the nuclear weapons, and the mushroom cloud will upend the surface, obliterating alien invaders. Those who cannot escape will serve as their own funerals.

    Residents plant crops on the nuclear weapons, utilizing limited space. The Japanese have endless wisdom in saving space, categorizing vegetables, wheat, and rice, growing them in trays of bio-synthetic soil, and stacking them like drawers. Americans provide billions of imitation solar lamps to facilitate photosynthesis.

    Animals that provide meat are similarly raised in cages as complex as small pharmacy drawers. After being dismembered, a large portion is sent to factories to be made into nutritional meal boxes for rations; a smaller part is sent to supermarkets for the wealthy to purchase.

    The universal consumption points are world currencies, with the EU, Southeast Asia, and the Americas each sending negotiating giants. They argue fiercely, slamming and flipping tables, tearing faces, pulling hair, and throwing shoes in a series of antics until they finally establish a measurement standard for the value of goods.

    Zheng Rong finds this laughable. With the Earth about to perish, what¡¯s the point of making money?

    Yet he can''t help but feel a genuine admiration for the merchants; perhaps they are the ones most eager to fight¡ªthough not directly. They spend money, buy lives, and manufacture weapons to resist, while they themselves hide far away, shouting encouragement.

    ¡°You¡¯re critical of everything,¡± Lance says.

    While squeezing instant noodles, Zheng Rong replies, ¡°Because this world doesn¡¯t look favorably upon me either.¡±

    Zheng Rong maliciously crushes two packs of instant noodles and puts them back on the shelf. Xiang Yu glances at him, says nothing, and follows behind, placing Zheng Rong¡¯s prank in the shopping basket.

    Lance asks, ¡°Have you finished the coffee and chocolate I brought you last time?¡±

    Zheng Rong coldly responds, ¡°Haven¡¯t touched them. You can take them back anytime.¡±

    Lance replies, ¡°You always say one thing and mean another. I won¡¯t expose you this time.¡±

    Xiang Yu nods, asking, ¡°Should we buy another can of coffee?¡±

    Zheng Rong is caught off guard but casually says, ¡°If you like it, buy it. I still have plenty of money.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how to eat this?¡± Zheng Rong tilts his head to look at Xiang Yu.

    Xiang Yu, like a migrant worker in the city, examines the instant noodle package and asks, ¡°Do you soak it in hot water?¡±

    Zheng Rong replies, ¡°Very smart. This flavor is good, buy more. It¡¯s not nutritious, but I enjoy it.¡±

    Xiang Yu asks, ¡°Where can we get money?¡±

    Zheng Rong answers, ¡°I have plenty; my brother¡¯s pension is enough for us to eat for a lifetime.¡±

    Lance''s eyes turn a bit red, and Xiang Yu continues, ¡°But that¡¯s just living off the past; there¡¯s no way to earn more?¡±

    Lance says, ¡°I can introduce you to enlist in the army; the pay is decent.¡±

    Zheng Rong takes a deep breath without responding.

    Lance realizes he has misspoken and stepped on Zheng Rong¡¯s toes but is relieved that Zheng Rong doesn¡¯t get angry.

    ¡°You need to wear bigger sizes.¡± Zheng Rong casually takes two boxes of bullet-shaped white underwear and unusually asks, ¡°Lance, do you want some?¡±

    Lance feels a bit embarrassed, but since Zheng Rong intends to give him something, he almost blurts out, ¡°Sure.¡±

    Zheng Rong picks out a pair of black sheer men¡¯s thongs, with thin strings and a small triangular piece in the middle, almost completely transparent silk. He takes a look, satisfied, and puts it back in the box.

    Lance¡¯s face turns crimson, embarrassed beyond measure.

    Xiang Yu has a pained expression, while Lance tries to say something but ultimately drops the idea, saying, ¡°Thanks, I really like it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay.¡± Lance pulls out his wallet.

    Zheng Rong says, ¡°I¡¯ll pay; I¡¯m giving you underwear, right?¡±

    Lance: ¡°¡­¡±

    Lance says, ¡°As the Chinese say, it¡¯s the thought that counts.¡±

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    Zheng Rong coldly replies, ¡°You treat me to dinner; I¡¯ll pay for my own stuff.¡±

    Lance concedes, and Zheng Rong pulls out his ID card, verifying it on the fingerprint machine. The cashier girl¡¯s face turns slightly red as she glances at the three men.

    Lance pulls down the brim of his military cap, not wanting to be recognized, while the girl¡¯s gaze falls on Xiang Yu for a moment, then flickers back to Zheng Rong with a hint of flirtation when scanning the thong.

    ¡°This is his,¡± Xiang Yu points at Zheng Rong and gestures to Lance: ¡°He gave it to him.¡±

    Lance: ¡°¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    The cashier suddenly exclaims, ¡°Ah, you¡¯re Mr. Zheng Rong! I know you; your news was in the paper the other day.¡±

    Zheng Rong says, ¡°Oh, so I made the news. My brother died in the explosion; can we get a discount for having lost family?¡±

    The cashier sympathizes, ¡°Your brother is a hero of humanity; you must take good care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Hero?¡± Zheng Rong hasn''t read the papers, having isolated himself for days, only accessing the institute¡¯s intranet and avoiding excessive contact with the outside world. He raises his eyebrows slightly at the mention.

    Lance deliberately chooses a dumpling restaurant. Zheng Rong withholds his comments, though his tone softens considerably.

    ¡°You could have chosen a European fast-food place.¡±

    Lance knows Zheng Rong likes dumplings and, after sitting down and taking off his military cap, says, ¡°Later, I¡¯ll buy Xiang Yu a burger to try; first, let¡¯s eat Chinese food.¡±

    Zheng Rong says, ¡°Boss, please get me a copy of the newspaper from the other day.¡±

    Lance hurriedly says, ¡°No need to look; there¡¯s nothing good in it.¡±

    Zheng Rong frowns, and Lance realizes something, quickly clarifying, ¡°No, it¡¯s all good reviews, but nothing worth reading.¡±

    Zheng Rong ignores him, takes the newspaper handed by the clerk, and sees the headline ¡°Son of Humanity Zheng Feng.¡±

    Inside are stories about Zheng Feng, starting from his parents, through Zheng Feng receiving a scholarship from the Human Survivors Association. The reporter¡¯s interviews have almost no criticism, all praises.

    Zheng Rong knows a large part of this report is due to Lance¡¯s efforts.

    Lance anxiously says, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zheng Rong; they wanted to interview you. I was worried that with your personality, it would be easy for you to clash with the reporters, so I took it upon myself to accept the interview.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes finally turn red.

    Lance is at a loss: ¡°I asked them to delete the parts about me, but they absolutely wouldn¡¯t remove this segment¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong quietly says, ¡°I can tell.¡±

    Lance¡¯s segment appears last, expressing his deep pain over Zheng Feng¡¯s passing, his dark mood. When asked about his plans, Lance is bewildered.

    Finally, realizing the reporters'' leading questions, he changes the topic, expressing he doesn¡¯t want to see Zheng Rong follow in Zheng Feng¡¯s footsteps and hopes he can live for himself.

    Lance repeatedly pleads with reporters and the public not to disturb Zheng Rong¡¯s life, and it¡¯s clear that both reporters and editors are somewhat critical, ending with a mockery of Lance¡¯s selfish mindset; Zheng Feng¡¯s description is simply ¡°hero.¡±

    Lance, like a big boy, sits in silence for a while and then says, ¡°I thought it was just a small corner of the paper; I didn¡¯t expect it to be the headline. I¡¯m really sorry, Zheng Rong.¡±

    Xiang Yu suddenly says, ¡°Cry it out; it¡¯ll feel better.¡±

    The food arrives, and Xiang Yu helps himself to chopsticks, eating noodles.

    Lance and Zheng Rong sit across from each other quietly. After a moment, Zheng Rong feels a bit better and says, ¡°Regarding the military¡¯s failed ¡®smuggling¡¯ plan, I have a new idea. Would you like to hear it?¡±

    Lance is taken aback: ¡°Zheng Rong, whatever you want to do, I¡¯ll fully support you; no, first you must think it through¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong replies, ¡°I¡¯m thinking.¡±

    Lance wisely remains silent, with only the sound of Xiang Yu slurping noodles filling the shop.

    ¡°The beef is thin,¡± Xiang Yu comments.

    ¡°The dumplings are also good.¡± Zheng Rong pushes a plate of dumplings toward him, clarifying his thoughts and telling Lance, ¡°I plan to apply for research funding from the Historical Research Institute to leave the main city of Ireland and conduct field research in several places.¡±

    Lance looked as if he had been struck by lightning, frowning, "What? Can you repeat your idea from the beginning?"

    Zheng Rong restated the hypothesis he had previously discussed with Joseph. Lance remained silent, casting a complicated glance at Xu Zhenqing, as if he found it hard to believe.

    "The blood sample report will be out soon," Zheng Rong said indifferently. "After comparing the DNA fragments, if my guess is confirmed, I plan to start searching for ways to enhance human combat abilities. Dr. Joseph calls this process ''Awakening.''"

    Xu Zhenqing paused his eating and chimed in, "That''s an apt description." Zheng Rong picked up a dumpling and fed it to Xu Zhenqing, silencing him. Lance remained silent, his expression darkening.

    "I need a lot of data and literature to explore this idea, so I need to search for ancient relics."

    Lance replied, "How will you find them? I don''t care about the feasibility of this project; the ground is crawling with Maya aliens¡¯ detection radars. It¡¯s too dangerous!"

    Zheng Rong said, "I''ve preliminarily identified five locations: around Xi''an, several pyramids in ancient Egypt, the Ganges River basin in India, the ruins of ancient Babylon, and most importantly, the Maya temples."

    Without thinking, Lance immediately rejected, "How large of an archaeological team do you need? Such undertakings require military escort, and even after reaching the destination, a lot of time is needed..."

    Zheng Rong coldly replied, "It''s a small-scale excavation¡ªno, it''s tomb raiding. No complex equipment, just the simplest tools, brainpower for puzzles, and digging. You should know, many things get messed up because of the military. Your so-called escort would only expose us once we leave the underground city''s protection; under the Maya aliens¡¯ detection, we would be annihilated immediately. Do you believe that?"

    Lance said, "Okay, after I return from my leave and report to the military, I''ll request support from higher-ups to give you the best equipment and funding, regardless of whether your idea is feasible..."

    Zheng Rong interjected, "I''m just sharing my opinion, not asking for your views."

    Lance replied, "I can''t condone you doing this alone, leaving the refuge for such a distant place. Zheng Rong, how did you even come up with this?!"

    Zheng Rong said, "I''m not alone; Xu Zhenqing will protect me. He''s capable of handling any emergencies."

    Xu Zhenqing nodded readily but frowned, "It''s always better to have more people; you''ve never talked to me about this..."

    Zheng Rong quickly picked up another dumpling and stuffed it in Xu Zhenqing''s mouth.

    "If you reveal my plan to the military, you, Lance," Zheng Rong warned, "you know my character; we won''t have any further contact after that."

    Lance acted as if he hadn''t heard, saying, "Let''s settle the bill."

    Zheng Rong shrugged, and the three walked out of the restaurant. Lance intentionally lagged a bit behind and whispered to Zheng Rong, "Zheng Rong, give me three days; I¡¯ll think it over seriously."

    "This has nothing to do with you," Zheng Rong replied without hesitation. "I¡¯m telling you this because I see you as my last family. After stepping out of the underground city, my personal survival is no longer important..."

    Lance said, "But if you all pay for this with your lives..."

    "There will be someone to continue this plan," Zheng Rong replied stiffly. "Maybe Lin Siyan or Joseph; scholars are very persistent, and this persistence is different from yours as soldiers."

    "We go with a belief, actively seeking death; soldiers are passively obedient..." Zheng Rong suddenly realized how cruel that sounded, and his tone softened again. For the first time since Zheng Feng''s death, he looked seriously into Lance''s eyes.

    "Lance, I know you love us and consider my brother and me family," Zheng Rong said. "This is the only thing I want to do."

    Lance replied, "Yes, I love you, Zheng Rong. You finally understand, and I¡¯m very happy."

    Zheng Rong took that brief conversation as a farewell to Lance and turned away. Xu Zhenqing was carrying a large bag of instant noodles and packed dumplings, while Zheng Rong grabbed him by the collar and dragged him home to start preparing for their archaeological journey.

 8 - Korean Expedition Team

    Xiang Yu had just finished bathing. His hair was half-wet, a white towel draped over his shoulder, and he was shirtless, wearing only a pair of pajama pants. He looked like a robust playboy or a virile drake.

    He was chewing on a fork, sitting in a swivel chair with his legs crossed, holding a bowl of instant noodles and reading a novel online.

    "Eat less," Zheng Rong said irritably. "You stay home all day, lacking exercise. You''re going to end up with a belly. I really don''t want to have to stop and wait for you to catch up when we''re digging up ancestral graves."

    Zheng Rong casually poked Xiang Yu''s toned abs with a military shovel. Xiang Yu played along, exaggeratedly making a "puff" sound.

    "Stop fooling around. I''m getting old," Xiang Yu laughed as he peeled back the aluminum lid of his noodles and began stirring them with the fork. The way he called himself "big brother" was natural and affectionate, without the slightest awkwardness.

    Zheng Rong liked him a lot. Unconsciously, he had projected all his expectations and feelings for an older brother onto Xiang Yu, who fulfilled them perfectly.

    Xiang Yu treated everyone with humility and respect, neither too humble nor too proud. In private with Zheng Rong, he never quarreled or caused issues. When it was time to speak, he would. Whenever Zheng Rong introduced Xiang Yu to his friends, the "Overlord of Western Chu" would greet them warmly¡ªnot too enthusiastic, but never cold.

    When it wasn''t his place to speak, Xiang Yu would remain silent, becoming a quiet listener. Lin Siyan described him as "a gentleman steeped in Chinese tradition."

    Zheng Rong attributed this to Xiang Yu''s good upbringing; after all, he had been a noble in the State of Chu.

    Xiang Yu chuckled and said, "These books talk as if they know everything."

    Zheng Rong replied, "In times of war, people like to project their hopes onto fantasy. When the army can''t win, the authors fantasize about leading troops themselves, fighting off aliens. It¡¯s understandable. Other than writing unrealistic things online, what else can they do?"

    Xiang Yu commented, "You''re a cynic, and that¡¯s not a good thing."

    Zheng Rong said, "You finally noticed. Congratulations."

    The phone rang. Xiang Yu was about to answer it, but Zheng Rong picked up the receiver first. "Joseph?"

    "Good," Zheng Rong said. "I have a blood sample report for you, but it¡¯s private and can''t be handed over to the institute. I¡¯ll come right over."

    Zheng Rong hung up the phone and put on his jacket. By this time, Xiang Yu had finished his large bowl of instant noodles and was getting up hurriedly. "A physical checkup?"

    Zheng Rong frowned. "Why do you ask?"

    While searching for the underwear he had bought a few days ago, Xiang Yu held them up to his waist and said, "If I¡¯m going for a checkup, I¡¯ll wear these."

    Zheng Rong: "..."

    It took a moment for Zheng Rong to realize what Xiang Yu was referring to regarding that day¡¯s physical, and then he roared in anger, "I swear, if I ever get the chance, I will kill Lenny! She will never be redeemed! Never!"

    As Zheng Rong walked down the empty street in the middle of the night, under the city¡¯s curfew, the entire underground city was dark except for the solitary glow of streetlights. Occasionally, a patrol of militia would pass by, and Zheng Rong would show the documents that Lance had arranged for him, and the guards would let him pass.

    "You didn''t have to come out," Zheng Rong said with his hands in his pockets.

    Xiang Yu, with his arm around Zheng Rong''s shoulders, casually replied, "How could I let you walk alone at night?"

    The ground temperature in Northern Ireland was already low, and the entire underground city switched to energy-saving mode at night. Cold air gusted from the vents, as sharp as a blade. Zheng Rong unconsciously shrank his neck, and Xiang Yu, noticing this, wrapped his coat around him as they hurried to the research facility.

    Inside the well-lit relic display room, a "No Visitors Allowed" sign was propped up at the door, while Joseph was in the middle of a flurry of activity. He was surrounded by a jumble of ropes and was holding an unusual iron tool, explaining something to two researchers.

    "Dean Sicamon, good evening." Zheng Rong didn¡¯t greet Joseph but instead walked straight through the crowd of researchers and students, politely extending his hand to an elderly man standing nearby.

    "Zheng Rong, I¡¯m deeply sorry for the loss of your brother," said the dean. "And this is¡­?"

    "Rain," Xiang Yu replied politely as he shook the dean¡¯s hand. His pronunciation was flawless, having clearly rehearsed it, and he sounded smooth and charming when introducing himself.

    The dean, holding a document, pulled out his glasses and put them on. "Joseph applied for some funding for you, for investigating the genetic traits of ancient humans¡­"

    "No, no, it''s not like that. When''s the press conference? I''ve already prepared everything and even drafted a speech to systematically explain my ideas."

    The dean was silent for a moment, then said, "That won¡¯t be necessary. After much discussion, the senior staff think your application is very unlikely to succeed."

    "What''s your opinion?" The dean put away the document and looked at Zheng Rong over his glasses. "Can you present solid evidence to prove your theory?"

    Zheng Rong felt uneasy. "With enough time, I could use ancient texts alongside biological analysis¡­"

    "No need," the dean interrupted.

    Zheng Rong frowned as the dean placed a hand on his shoulder and led him to the dark corner of the hall, walking slowly.

    "Ten years ago, your father and I submitted our first research proposal. Sadly, due to differing research directions, we didn''t continue working together."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s breath hitched, as if something in the darkness was obstructing his thoughts.

    "Your brother, Zheng Feng, found your father¡¯s notes and refined the hypothesis five years ago."

    "That was me," Zheng Rong whispered. "I was the one who finished it."

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    The dean smiled kindly. "I recognized your handwriting in the notebooks, Zheng Rong. Your Chinese characters are very similar to my wife¡¯s. She was the one who taught me."

    Suddenly, a new idea occurred to Zheng Rong. He reached into his coat pocket. "I also have something else¡ªa blood sample that can completely prove my father¡¯s hypothesis!"

    "No, no," the dean stopped him. "It''s not the right time, but I believe in you."

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath. The dean said, "Personally, I have no reservations about believing in your family¡¯s theory. Your father¡¯s thoughts live on through you and your brother. I deeply regret that as a brilliant scientist, Zheng Feng left us too soon."

    "I¡¯ll carry on his work and see this through," Zheng Rong said earnestly.

    The dean nodded. "The defense can be skipped. I look forward to the day you stand on the stage and announce your groundbreaking achievements. But until then, I doubt many in the review committee will support your endeavor."

    Zheng Rong rubbed his temples. "It doesn''t matter. I can fund it myself."

    The dean smiled. "I¡¯ve used my authority to allocate the largest amount of funding available for you to carry out your research on the surface."

    Zheng Rong was overjoyed. "Thank goodness! That¡¯s fantastic!"

    The dean chuckled. "Of course, my efforts alone wouldn¡¯t have been enough. A gentleman came to me yesterday afternoon, offering to sponsor your project¡ªon the condition that he accompanies you."

    Zheng Rong frowned. "Who?"

    "The person will meet with you before departure and has promised not to interfere with your work."

    Lance? Zheng Rong¡¯s first thought was of Lance. But that was impossible. Lance wouldn¡¯t have the guts to defy the military, nor would he have the time to follow him around digging up graves.

    Li Ying? Zheng Rong felt a chill as the terrifying thought crossed his mind, and he quickly shook it off. Just as his mind was becoming a jumbled mess, the dean continued:

    "Also, a group of talented young people are willing to join your expedition. They¡¯ll assist you on the surface, though they know nothing of your actual research. It¡¯s up to you whether to inform them of the details."

    "No need," Zheng Rong started to refuse, but then, seeing Joseph¡¯s eager expression, he changed his mind.

    Joseph was packing a large outdoor survival bag. He was an expert in wilderness survival and a veteran of navigating labyrinths. Having him on the team would significantly increase their chances of success. However, the two people next to Joseph didn¡¯t seem to be as well-prepared.

    "I only need Joseph," Zheng Rong said, casting a glance at Lin Siyan, who stood beside them, twisting a handkerchief and looking tearful.

    "I don¡¯t need anyone else. Thank you for your kindness," Zheng Rong said despondently.

    "You do," Xiang Yu interjected. "Why reject their help? Many hands make light work."

    Lin Siyan said, "We¡¯ve already discussed it. Joseph formally applied to the dean. There¡¯s no way we¡¯d leave you to handle this alone."

    "Siyan, you..." Zheng Rong¡¯s emotions were complex. Lin Siyan had sat next to his brother Zheng Feng during university and had almost become his sister-in-law. She had been married to Joseph for less than three years, and now she was sending her husband into danger.

    "Hey! What are you talking about?" Joseph said in his usual sarcastic tone. "It was Siyan who pushed me to go. Who else would want to accompany you on a tomb-raiding mission?"

    Zheng Rong could only give in. Joseph said, "Come on, let me introduce you to two members of the archaeology team."

    Zheng Rong nodded. Joseph stepped aside, revealing a man and a woman. "This is Zheng Rong, as you all know, the head of the Office of History and Mystical Cultures and Zheng Feng¡¯s younger brother."

    "This is Dr. Ugos Skorodovska, from the Continental Plate Research Association, an expert in forestry and geography."

    Joseph introduced a tall Polish man with gold-rimmed glasses. The man extended his hand, and Zheng Rong shook it, barely registering the man¡¯s name. "Hello¡­ Mr. Umlich¡­ Ubu¡­ Balaradolas."

    "This is senior computer programmer and kimchi expert, Miss Kim Puae."

    Zheng Rong: "..."

    If there had been a table nearby, Zheng Rong would have flipped it. The woman was in her early twenties, not tall, with a typical Korean appearance.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s mouth twitched, and he couldn''t find any words for a long time.

    Just let me die, he thought. This kind of expedition team... Zheng Rong cursed in his heart and decided to escape this hellhole by tonight.

    The Korean woman widened her almost nonexistent eyes and said, "Hello, Mr. Zheng Rong."

    Seeing through Zheng Rong¡¯s thoughts, Xiang Yu said, "How rude?"

    Zheng Rong had no choice but to shake her hand. Xiang Yu scolded him in Chinese, "These are your comrades, people entrusting their lives to you. How could you disrespect them?"

    Zheng Rong perfunctorily replied, "Hello, Miss Kim Puae."

    Kim Puae said, "I greatly admire your brother, ssi-bal-da."

    Zheng Rong muttered under his breath, "He''s actually a Korean, ssi-bal-da."

    Xiang Yu: "?"

    Joseph clapped his hands. "Alright, it¡¯s getting late. You all go rest. I need a bit more time... I have some things to explain to my students. We might be gone for a long time, and Miss Kim and Mr. Skorodovska need some time to say goodbye to their families."

    Xiang Yu suddenly said, "We¡¯ll be back."

    Lin Siyan smiled, "I believe you, gentleman. Please take care of them."

    Xiang Yu nodded. "I¡¯ll protect everyone. No need for any tearful goodbyes. It¡¯s just a field trip. Let¡¯s go home, Zheng Rong."

    Xiang Yu led Zheng Rong away like a caring older brother.

    "I hate Koreans!" Zheng Rong exclaimed as he slammed the door when they got home. "Don¡¯t lecture me. Sooner or later, you¡¯ll hate her too. Whatever you scold me for now, I¡¯ll give it all back to you. Thank you!"

    Xiang Yu laughed, threw a pillow at him, knocking Zheng Rong onto the bed, and bent down to unlace his boots. "Why do you hate her?"

    "The world belongs to Koreans, the universe to ¡®bbaengi.¡¯ Maybe the Maya were their descendants too..." Zheng Rong muttered from under the covers.

    Xiang Yu changed into slippers and walked around the room, tidying things up as if preparing for a trip.

    Zheng Rong lifted the blanket and asked, "Aren¡¯t you going to ask anything? How are you so calm?"

    Xiang Yu nonchalantly replied, "Didn¡¯t you explain everything earlier?"

    Zheng Rong said, "I¡¯m not talking about that... I mean, don¡¯t you have any of your own thoughts?"

    Xiang Yu replied in a serious tone, "Since I¡¯ve taken his place as your older brother, I must fulfill his unfinished duties. Besides, now that I¡¯m reborn, I need to find something to do. Why not?"

    His words were so natural, and his tone so familiar, that Zheng Rong¡¯s heart trembled. On the day his parents had died, his brother Zheng Feng had spoken in exactly the same way.

    Zheng Feng wasn¡¯t as gentle as Xiang Yu, nor as polite or cultured. But his tone had been identical¡ªunwavering and filled with conviction.

    Yet the scales tipped slowly, one side carrying his faith in science and his trust in Lance, the other, his promise to his younger brother. Finally, Zheng Feng said, "Zheng Rong, we¡¯ll keep working, and one day, we¡¯ll meet again."

    Then he packed his bags and left for Siberia, and was gone for five years.

    Xiang Yu, now folding clothes, overlapped in Zheng Rong¡¯s mind with the image of his brother Zheng Feng.

    Zheng Rong stared blankly at Xiang Yu for a while, and then Xiang Yu looked up, smiled, and asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"

    Zheng Rong closed his eyes, shook his head, and fell asleep in exhaustion.

    Half asleep, he could feel Xiang Yu¡¯s large, warm hand helping him take off his shirt and tucking him in. The blanket brushing against his bare chest felt comforting.

    Until the doorbell rang.

    Xiang Yu was sitting on the edge of the bed, smoking. When he heard the doorbell, he put out his cigarette and went to answer it.

    Zheng Rong groggily opened his eyes and saw that it was Lance. His mind was still foggy, and he struggled to sit up, wrapping the blanket around himself.

    "Go brush your teeth, Zheng Rong. It¡¯s time to go," Lance said.

    Zheng Rong stared into space for a while before regaining some clarity. "You¡¯re here to say goodbye?"

    "No, I¡¯m going with you," Lance replied, looking at Xiang Yu, who nodded understandingly and took out a lighter.

    Lance and Xiang Yu sat together, and the "Overlord of Western Chu" lit the German general¡¯s cigarette. The two of them puffed clouds of smoke.

    Watching this scene unfold, Zheng Rong felt as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning. He frowned and said, "What?! You¡¯re coming with us?"

    Lance replied, "I¡¯ve forcibly retired. No, to be exact, I¡¯ve decided to desert. I stole a helicopter and a few comrades from the United Forces. They¡¯re willing to help you complete this daunting task. The helicopter is on the roof of the research institute..."

    "Don¡¯t joke around!" Zheng Rong threw off the blanket, jumped out of bed, and scrambled to find his pants, hopping as he pulled them on.

    Lance said seriously, "I¡¯m not joking."

    Zheng Rong replied, "This is impossible! Xiang Yu, get rid of him!"

    Lance said, "I have no other choice, Zheng Rong. I made a deal with the institute. I¡¯m the one funding your plan. I handed over all my savings from my years in the military to Dean Sicamon, and he agreed, on the condition that I protect you."

    Zheng Rong: "..."

    Xiang Yu patted Lance¡¯s shoulder, as if they were old friends, and smiled, "Welcome aboard."

    Lance said, "We¡¯d better hurry. In no more than two hours, the military will realize I¡¯ve stolen a helicopter."

 9 - Moses Ten Commandments Pillar

    The helicopter went thud thud thud.

    Joseph¡¯s survival tools clanged bang bang bang.

    Zheng Rong''s mood was in chaos, swept away by the wind.

    He had never felt this bad before, so much so that even Xiang Yu didn¡¯t dare to scold him. Inside the military helicopter, seated on two facing benches, were:

    Zheng Rong, Xiang Yu, Lance, Joseph, the Polish man Ugos, the Korean woman Kim Puae, and the female doctor Lenny.

    Lance¡¯s two comrades were in the cockpit. After a brief greeting, they didn¡¯t speak further to the expedition team members.

    ¡°You¡¯d better explain this clearly¡­¡± Zheng Rong said, unable to bear it any longer. After a moment, he added, ¡°Forget it, just shut up, all of you.¡±

    Lenny yawned and said, ¡°Zheng Rong, I¡¯m so happy to be here, saving all of humanity with you.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s face darkened, and Lance earnestly explained, ¡°I thought having a doctor on the team was essential. Without one, it could be very dangerous. Lenny was more than willing to help us.¡±

    Zheng Rong remained silent. He knew Lance made a valid point, but he still didn¡¯t feel like talking, maintaining his silence throughout.

    Joseph said, ¡°Hey, Lenny! Long time no see! How have you been? Found a boyfriend yet?¡±

    Lenny gave a flirtatious smile and replied, ¡°The stars that have shone for five thousand years are leading me on a journey to find love.¡±

    That was an Australian folk song. Zheng Rong¡¯s face turned even darker. Lenny leaned closer to Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu, embarrassed, scooted over, nearly pushing Ugos off the bench.

    Xiang Yu awkwardly touched his nose and said, ¡°Joseph¡­ perhaps we should switch seats?¡±

    Lenny¡¯s expression soured, but Joseph said, ¡°No problem. I¡¯d be happy to look after the lady.¡±

    Relieved, Xiang Yu got up and sat next to Zheng Rong, casually putting an arm around his shoulder and crossing his legs. Lance and Ugos pulled the helicopter door shut, and the group officially set off.

    Whenever Zheng Rong was present, the atmosphere would turn awkwardly silent. From the moment he boarded the helicopter until takeoff, the previously lively expedition team fell quiet.

    Xiang Yu looked around, trying to start a new conversation to break the tense atmosphere caused by his younger brother.

    ¡°Anyone want some instant noodles?¡± Xiang Yu politely asked in Chinese.

    ¡°Instant noodles,¡± Lance repeated.

    Xiang Yu nodded. ¡°Beef-flavored noodles, but I searched for a long time and didn¡¯t find any beef. I don¡¯t get it.¡±

    Kim Puae smiled and said, ¡°Our Korean Shin Ramyun is very good, and there¡¯s plenty of kimchi. Mr. Rain, you might want to try it.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Ugos chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s too spicy. We Poles can¡¯t handle Eastern flavors.¡±

    Joseph added, ¡°Speaking of flavors, chili peppers originally came from South America¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong was on the verge of tears. No topic could be more idiotic than this.

    ¡°Chili peppers originally came from Korea,¡± Kim Puae corrected politely. ¡°Our ancestors started cultivating them five thousand years ago.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so your history is five thousand years old? That¡¯s quite the¡­ major discovery for archaeology!¡± Zheng Rong sarcastically retorted.

    ¡°No, no,¡± Joseph quickly interjected in a flattering tone, ¡°I believe it. After all, a Chinese person once said history is like a young lady, easily dressed up however people please.¡±

    Lenny lazily asked, ¡°Does anyone actually know where we¡¯re headed?¡±

    Most people had switched to speaking Chinese for Xiang Yu¡¯s benefit, though Ugos¡¯s Chinese was still halting and not very fluent.

    ¡°Egypt,¡± Ugos replied. ¡°The Arab Republic of Egypt, south of the Sahara Desert and west of the Suez Canal. I¡¯ve input the terrain map into the navigation system. We¡¯ll need to land twice, once at a military base and once at a human outpost for energy refueling.¡±

    Lance added, ¡°It¡¯s now called the Egyptian ruins, but according to the last military survey, there are still a lot of natives there. Zheng Rong, explain to everyone why we¡¯re heading to Egypt first.¡±

    Zheng Rong was finally rescued from the discussion about instant noodles, chili peppers, and Koreans. He said, ¡°This is the route Joseph and I planned.¡±

    Zheng Rong was hostile towards outsiders, but when it came to intellectual discussions, he was patient, like a mentor guiding graduate students.

    ¡°At the start of our expedition, we may find nothing,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°But I believe it won¡¯t be in vain.¡±

    ¡°All scientific research is like that, we understand,¡± Lance commented.

    ¡°No, they may not understand,¡± Zheng Rong replied, glancing distrustfully at Lenny. Ugos interjected, ¡°So, what¡¯s our objective in Egypt?¡±

    ¡°The Sphinx,¡± Zheng Rong said bluntly.

    Everyone was visibly moved. Joseph grinned and said, ¡°Raise your hand if you need a primer on that.¡±

    Kim Puae, Lenny, and Lance raised their hands, while Ugos hesitantly said, ¡°I know some of its secrets.¡±

    Zheng Rong ignored Ugos¡¯s words and instead looked at Xiang Yu in surprise. ¡°You know about the Sphinx?¡±

    Xiang Yu said with interest, ¡°In the morning, it walks on four legs; at noon, two legs; in the evening, three legs. I saw a statue of it on your bookshelf. There¡¯s also a book about it.¡±

    Zheng Rong was somewhat surprised. It was quite impressive for someone from ancient times like Xiang Yu to know the riddle of the Sphinx.

    However, he dismissed it and said, ¡°That¡¯s my brother¡¯s souvenir and translation. What you mentioned is related to the Sphinx, but it¡¯s not the reason Egypt is our first destination.¡±

    ¡°The question about recognizing humanity and the philosophy of reality is just one of the countless riddles posed by the Sphinx. It¡¯s part of Greek mythology, not Egyptian. It was created by the poet Sophocles in the tragedy Oedipus Rex.¡±

    Joseph nodded. ¡°The Sphinx is tied to many philosophical legends in ancient Egypt. The most famous isn¡¯t the question ¡®which came first, the chicken or the egg?¡¯ or ¡®which came first, light or shadow?¡¯¡ªit¡¯s the question of its existence.¡±

    ¡°There are three versions of the Sphinx, found in the tombs of three different pharaohs. This hypothesis was put forward by our expert in historical mysticism, Zheng Rong, so I¡¯ll let him explain.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Though he said that, he happily began speaking to the group. ¡°In the earliest pharaoh¡¯s tomb, the Sphinx had the head of a ram, not a human face, and its name was translated from ancient Egyptian as ¡®Guardian¡¯.¡±

    Lance seemed uninterested in Zheng Rong¡¯s explanation. He wasn¡¯t an impassioned orator, nor did his voice rise and fall dramatically like a military leader¡¯s. In fact, he was a poor speaker.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Still, Lance pretended to be interested since it had been so hard to get Zheng Rong to talk about anything. ¡°So, its true form is a ram-headed lion?¡±

    Zheng Rong shot Lance a look that said ¡°you¡¯re an idiot.¡± After a moment of thought, Xiang Yu asked, ¡°What does it guard?¡±

    ¡°It guards the Wheel of Fate,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°That¡¯s what we discovered from the rubbings submitted by a team of archaeologists.¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Wheel of Fate,¡± Joseph added with a mysterious smile.

    Xiang Yu frowned, not understanding.

    Lenny yawned and said, ¡°The Wheel¡ªlike the tarot card¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°It¡¯s pretty boring, right? Next to the Sphinx in the mural is a round disc. Since we don¡¯t have a projector, you can all pass around this photo.¡±

    He reached into his travel bag to retrieve it. Lance said, ¡°No need. You can just tell us.¡±

    But Zheng Rong insisted, ¡°You should all take a look. Oedipus¡¯s story teaches us that ignorance is the greatest tragedy.¡±

    Though they were used to Zheng Rong¡¯s sarcastic nature, Lance still found himself at a loss for words. Lenny, bored, glanced casually at the photo while filing her nails.

    Lance noticed a line of text at the bottom right corner of the photo: ¡°SS-Class Confidential Document from the Human Relics Research Institute.¡±

    ¡°SS-class confidential? This is the first time I¡¯ve encountered one. What¡¯s so unusual about it?¡± Kim Puae asked.

    She flipped the photo back and forth and found that the ¡°Wheel of Fate¡± next to the Sphinx had markings like clock hands, with strange symbols in each segment.

    Xiang Yu counted them and said, ¡°There are twelve segments, and the characters are very vivid.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°The characters were painted with a special kind of oil, making them stand out on the mural. They almost seem to glow. Now look at this one.¡±

    He pulled out another photo, but the group was already losing patience. Out of basic politeness, they passed the photo around.

    The photo showed a pitch-black disc with glowing symbols, almost identical to the ¡°Wheel of Fate¡± guarded by the Sphinx.

    Only Xiang Yu studied it seriously, while Lenny casually asked, ¡°Was this created using computer technology?¡±

    ¡°No, does no one recognize this?¡± Zheng Rong asked, sounding slightly disappointed.

    Joseph rubbed his nose and said, ¡°That¡¯s the mothership of the Mayan aliens.¡±

    Lance grabbed the photo, incredulous. ¡°What?!¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°From the upward angle, this is the bottom of the Mayan aliens¡¯ saucer-shaped mothership.¡±

    ¡°The glowing parts are particle cannons. They charge for three seconds and can pulverize an entire nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.¡±

    Lance: ¡°...¡±

    Now, everyone was intrigued. Ugos adjusted his glasses and said, ¡°I proposed the imaging theory of the Sphinx seven years ago.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve read your paper,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°We found it very convincing.¡±

    Ugos mumbled something quickly in Polish before realizing no one understood him and switched to English. ¡°But they thought it was absurd! I can¡¯t believe the results of years of hard work could be dismissed so unfairly.¡±

    Joseph patted his shoulder, urging him to calm down.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°According to your theory, the entire body of the Sphinx was once submerged by the flooding of the Nile.¡±

    Ugos, feeling like he had found a kindred spirit, said, ¡°Yes! When the Nile flooded, it reached the base of the Sphinx, but that only happened more than ten thousand years ago.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Ten thousand years ago, that happens to be when two of the most primitive tribes in China fought their first battle.¡±

    Ugos excitedly continued, ¡°At that time, no civilization had yet emerged! All of history was passed down through myth! The pharaohs only renovated it in later years. At least two pieces of evidence support my hypothesis¡ªcarbon-14 dating shows that the construction of the Sphinx¡¯s tail was completed six thousand years before the head was renovated! Do you know what that means? Six thousand years!¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Calm down, are you crazy?¡±

    Ugos gave a bitter smile. ¡°They treated my paper like trash! No one understood me! Where did you find it?¡±

    Zheng Rong sarcastically replied, ¡°I found it in a trash bin while cleaning the windows on the first floor, helping my professor with spring cleaning. Don¡¯t feel too bad¡ªnobody understands me either.¡±

    Ugos chuckled self-deprecatingly.

    Lance translated the conversation between Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu.

    ¡°Is the paper still around?¡± Xiang Yu asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°I used it to wipe the windows after I read it,¡± Zheng Rong said, giving Ugos no face.

    ¡°Ahem,¡± Joseph coughed, clapping his hands and gathering the photos. ¡°So, our first objective is to find the Sphinx¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Lance said in Chinese, ¡°No one understands me either.¡±

    He looked seriously into Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes, but Zheng Rong ignored him completely.

    ¡°I understand you all,¡± Xiang Yu nodded sympathetically.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    The group landed at the United Arab Oil Base for refueling before taking off again. This time, the military helicopter retracted its rotor blades and unfolded massive alloy jet wings, soaring out of the troposphere, skimming the clouds at high speed.

    The sealed cabin was closed tight, but the cold air at high altitudes still made everyone shiver.

    At 6 AM, a radiant golden beam of sunlight streamed in from the east, brushing Zheng Rong¡¯s hair with a layer of glittering dust as he slept.

    Lance had only slept for two hours. He had been watching Zheng Rong all night.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to cross Mount Sinai,¡± Ugos said, glancing at the electronic map. ¡°The place where Moses received the Ten Commandments, according to legend.¡±

    The expedition members began to wake up, yawning.

    Xiang Yu asked, ¡°What did he say?¡±

    Zheng Rong stretched and quietly explained it to Xiang Yu. The two whispered to each other, their faces close, their noses nearly touching.

    As Zheng Rong gazed at Xiang Yu¡¯s lips, he felt a strange sensation.

    Xiang Yu seemed to sense something too, but after hearing the story about Moses and the Ten Commandments, he didn¡¯t turn away. He simply replied, ¡°Hmm.¡±

    They stared at each other. After three seconds, Zheng Rong coldly said, ¡°Smoking before bed without brushing your teeth is a bad habit, dear brother.¡±

    Xiang Yu was mortified.

    Lance burst out laughing, took off his coat, and handed it to Zheng Rong, who accepted it without hesitation, curling up in it.

    Joseph handed out chewing gum, and everyone chewed as they moved to the window to look out.

    ¡°We¡¯re at an altitude of thirteen thousand meters,¡± the cockpit radio reported.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°I suggest we lower the altitude when we reach the top of Mount Sinai.¡±

    Lance asked, ¡°To what height?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°To a visible range.¡±

    Joseph asked, ¡°You want to see that pillar?¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer. Lance removed his headset, and the cockpit acknowledged.

    Lenny woke up, staring blankly at the breathtaking sunrise. The sun, like a ball of fire, rose in the east and set in the west, indifferent to who ruled the Earth for thousands or millions of years.

    Kim Puae heated several portions of packaged meals in the microwave and opened a trash bag for the team members to dispose of their chewing gum.

    Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong exchanged glances.

    Xiang Yu: ¡°...¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Zheng Rong suddenly said, ¡°Did you swallow your gum? You¡¯re not supposed to swallow it; otherwise, your intestines will stick together. Ten minutes later, you¡¯ll be writhing in pain¡­ and within an hour, you¡¯ll die.¡±

    Xiang Yu froze.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Prepare the scalpel. Sterilize it. We¡¯ll have to operate on him.¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°...¡±

    Sweat broke out on Xiang Yu¡¯s forehead, his eyes filled with fear. After a moment, he stammered, ¡°H-here?¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded gravely. Joseph was the first to crack, laughing out loud.

    Xiang Yu realized he¡¯d been tricked and felt a wave of embarrassment, his face darkening. Zheng Rong chuckled and reached out to pat his head, while Xiang Yu looked furious.

    Each person received a meal tray. Xiang Yu finished his in a few quick bites but still seemed unsatisfied.

    Zheng Rong ate only a little before casually passing his tray to Xiang Yu.

    Lance quickly said, ¡°Why not eat more? It¡¯s not limited. We can heat up another box.¡±

    Staring out the window, Zheng Rong replied, ¡°No, I just don¡¯t feel like eating.¡±

    Joseph leaned towards the window, looking tense.

    Lance asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    The helicopter gradually lowered its altitude. The rotor blades extended from the top, and the familiar thud thud thud sound resumed as they glided closer to the mountain.

    ¡°Main peak,¡± Zheng Rong said briefly.

    The snow-covered summit of Mount Sinai appeared, the thick snow that had covered the peak for thousands of years blown away by powerful convective winds, revealing the dark, bare rock beneath.

    The helicopter hovered in mid-air, and no one spoke.

    At the top of the mountain stood a massive white pillar pointing towards the sky, easily the size of ten men¡¯s arms wrapped around it.

    ¡°Moses¡¯ miracle,¡± Joseph muttered. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen it in person.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only seen it in photos before. Dr. Ugos,¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°can you tell what material the pillar is made of?¡±

    Lance, Ugos, Xiang Yu, and the others unbuckled their seat belts and crowded towards the window, causing the helicopter to tilt dangerously. The alarm sounded, and Zheng Rong snapped, ¡°Everyone not involved, sit back down and buckle up!¡±

    Ugos and Xiang Yu switched places, and Ugos said, ¡°It looks like granite. The age can¡¯t be determined without a sample.¡±

    ¡°Turn it around,¡± Zheng Rong instructed.

    The helicopter slowly circled the shadowed side of the pillar, and Zheng Rong, Joseph, and Ugos all froze.

    In the shadow of the pillar stood a human figure, surrounded by six Mayan alien mechanical harvesters.

    ¡°Ascend!¡± Joseph was the first to react, shouting, ¡°We have enemies!¡±

    The six mechanical harvesters, previously dormant, instantly powered up, their energy cores glowing blue. Twelve missiles spiraled towards the helicopter.

    ¡°Seat belts on! What¡¯s happening?!¡± Lance yelled.

    He lunged towards the window as the helicopter ascended at a steep ninety-degree angle, throwing everyone towards the rear. Two women screamed, and Xiang Yu grabbed the iron ring by the cabin door with one hand, holding Zheng Rong with the other. ¡°Hold on!¡±

    The helicopter, now a hundred feet above the icy peak, ascended through the clear blue sky. The missiles, trailing smoke, zoomed toward the nearly vertical aircraft, while six energy beams shot at its flight path.

    The helicopter ejected flashing metal chaff, intercepting the missiles. The explosion¡¯s shockwave sent the massive alloy craft rolling through the air before it stabilized, wings extended, and jets blasting as it sped away.

    A beam shot from the distance, grazing the edge of the wing, and the jet propulsion engine exploded.

    The accelerating helicopter immediately lost balance. Amid Lenny¡¯s terrified screams, it trailed black smoke as it plummeted toward the valley.

    Zheng Rong heard a loud crash, and then everything went black. He knew nothing more.

 10 - Reunion After Three Years

    ¡°Gukat, how long will it take to fix?¡± Lance''s voice echoed in the cabin.

    ¡°It''ll take at least seven hours, during which all power will be shut down. The anti-infrared system will be activated to avoid enemy radar detection. The sealed cabin may not have sufficient airflow for breathing¡­¡± said the pilot.

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes, seeing stars and feeling a swelling pain in his elbow.

    Xiang Yu held him tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±

    ¡°I suggest you all go out for a walk and breathe some fresh air,¡± Gukat said nonchalantly. ¡°And remember to take the heavy machine guns and the portable magnetic cannons.¡±

    The clanking of metal continued, and in the darkness came a groan from Laini, followed by a sharp intake of breath from Jin Puae, seemingly preparing to scream.

    Lance¡¯s voice remained steady: ¡°Let there be light.¡±

    Lance¡¯s words were like a sedative in the darkness. The side lamps of the cabin flickered, casting a faint red glow. Lance put on an anti-impact vest and adjusted the heavy cannon in his hands.

    ¡°Xiang Yu, stay here and protect everyone,¡± Lance said in a low voice.

    ¡°General Lance, I am the captain of this expedition team,¡± Zheng Rong retorted with displeasure. ¡°Once safety is confirmed, please escort me, Ugos, and Joseph to the main peak to investigate the Moses Pillar. The women will stay here.¡±

    Lance didn¡¯t argue. His strong arm pulled open the cabin door, and a blast of cold air rushed in.

    It was an ice world, a vast expanse of silver and white. The helicopter had crashed about three kilometers from the main peak, one wing scraping against the ice, leaving a charred crack in the glacier.

    Lance leapt into the snow. Ugos adjusted his glasses and put them on, ¡°The outdoor temperature is minus thirteen degrees.¡±

    Lance crouched down, his eyes squinting in the dazzling reflection of the snow, like a vigilant lion. His steps were light and slow as he moved through the snow, tilting his ear to discern the sounds coming from the peak.

    After a good five minutes, Lance said, ¡°You can come out.¡±

    Jin Puae jumped out of the cabin, and the majestic view made her let out a breath, feeling uplifted.

    ¡°Please keep quiet, so as not to...¡± Lance began.

    Jin Puae cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted into the vast valley, ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±

    Lance: ¡°...¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll trigger an avalanche and attract the enemy,¡± Zheng Rong kindly reminded. ¡°Kimchi girl, if it happens again, I¡¯ll leave you behind to walk back to Ireland by foot, sumida.¡±

    Jin Puae¡¯s face turned bright red.

    ¡°Catch this, kid.¡± Gukat tossed a grenade from the other side of the helicopter.

    Zheng Rong raised his hand and caught it accurately. ¡°Thanks, got any more? Do I know you?¡±

    ¡°Your brother knows me,¡± Gukat said.

    Xiang Yu caught a grenade mid-air. Zheng Rong instructed, ¡°When in danger, remove the safety pin here¡­ and then throw it at the enemy.¡±

    He mimicked a throwing motion, while Laini and Jin Puae playfully tossed snowballs at each other.

    Lance donned a single-lens infrared visor, the data flashing across his blue eyes until it finally locked onto the peak.

    ¡°Reporting to the captain, no nearby mechanical movement. Safety is confirmed for now,¡± Lance reported. ¡°Permission to proceed with the investigation.¡±

    Zheng Rong stowed the grenade in his coat pocket and started trekking towards the peak, his steps leaving deep and shallow prints in the snow.

    The terrain leveled out as they climbed higher, offering a panoramic view of the endless undulating mountains. Under the sunlight, the Red Sea resembled a dark, deep cloth. Lance led the way, carrying a shoulder-mounted magnetic cannon. His physique was strong, impervious to the cold, with his bare arms exposed outside his alloy vest and glistening sweat trickling down his neck.

    Zheng Rong followed closely behind Lance, walking alongside Xiang Yu.

    ¡°You should teach Xiang Yu how to use a gun,¡± Zheng Rong suggested.

    ¡°I will, but it¡¯ll take time,¡± Lance replied.

    After several hours of trekking, the tallest member, Ugos, was the first to succumb to fatigue, panting heavily.

    ¡°Control your breathing,¡± Zheng Rong advised. ¡°The oxygen here is thinner than at lower altitudes.¡±

    Joseph grabbed Ugos¡¯s arm, slinging it over his own shoulder as they fell to the back of the group. Joseph remarked enthusiastically, ¡°How do you think they climbed to the top over two thousand years ago? With no climbing gear, no grip on their shoes, just ropes and their own two feet.¡±

    Ugos pushed up his glasses, squinting at the glare of the snow. ¡°The granite makes it hard to climb. I guess Moses came during summer when the peak had less snow. The glacier erosion caused damage to the mountain¡­¡±

    ¡°Faith,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°The peak might be dangerous, so let¡¯s refrain from chatting.¡±

    Ugos slipped, almost falling, but Xiang Yu caught his wrist.

    Lance signaled for everyone to get down and then carefully climbed up the rocks to the open area at the top of the peak.

    As he landed, the magnetic cannon powered up, aimed at the stone pillar.

    ¡°Safe,¡± Lance whispered.

    Xiang Yu helped the other three up one by one. Lance pressed his fingers against his ear-mounted infrared visor, scanning the surroundings, then hesitated. ¡°Safe¡­ Wait, Zheng Rong.¡±

    The moment Lance declared safety for the second time, Zheng Rong was already walking toward the stone pillar in the center of the peak.

    ¡°Zheng Rong!¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s hands were in his coat pockets, the black coat flapping in the cold wind. ¡°What?¡± He paused.

    Lance felt something was off, while Zheng Rong raised his head to examine the massive stone pillar.

    Its surface was covered in ice, every inch reflecting the sunlight.

    ¡°Anyone got sunglasses? Or even mountain goggles?¡± Zheng Rong asked, feeling a bit dizzy from the light. ¡°The ice on the pillar is blocking the text inside¡­¡±

    ¡°Step aside,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    He channeled energy into his arm and struck the Moses Pillar with a punch, creating a muffled sound. The force was perfectly controlled. At the point of impact, a web-like crack spread out.

    With a "ding," the fissures swiftly expanded across the entire ice surface of the pillar, and with a crash, the thick ice crumbled away.

    The Moses Pillar was inscribed with countless glowing symbols, arranged in a spiral.

    ¡°My God¡­¡± Joseph murmured.

    Zheng Rong inspected the entire pillar. ¡°An oracle,¡± he said, tapping on the pillar¡¯s surface with his finger. ¡°Dr. Ugos, please collect a sample for lab analysis. Determine its age and composition. Joseph, look, beneath each symbol are smaller inscriptions.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Joseph moved closer. ¡°This isn¡¯t ancient Hebrew¡­ What language is this? Do you have a notebook?¡±

    While gazing up at the pillar, Zheng Rong slowly moved to its shadowed side.

    A massive mechanical reaper suddenly rose from its icy hiding place, shedding ice and snow as it stood.

    In less than a second, Lance shouted, ¡°Get down!¡±

    Zheng Rong, with incredible agility, tucked into a roll, evading the reaper¡¯s sharp front limb that swung down to skewer him.

    The magnetic cannon, fully charged, released a burst of white energy, striking the reaper¡¯s head and sending it crashing down the cliff.

    At the same time, five more mechanical reapers emerged from their snow-covered ambush!

    They had spider-like forms, with meat-grinding forelimbs and eight legs, quickly turning and rushing toward Lance!

    ¡°The weak point is underneath!¡± Zheng Rong called out, his shout meant for Xiang Yu. Lance turned the cannon around, the recoil slamming him back two meters, and another reaper was blown off the peak, exploding in midair.

    The spider reapers'' underbellies revealed machine guns, bullets whizzing around. Joseph and Ugos scrambled away in a panic while Zheng Rong darted behind the pillar. With four remaining, he pulled out a grenade from his coat pocket.

    Lance drew all the enemy fire but still found time to shout, ¡°Stay back! Leave it to me!¡±

    ¡°Be careful!¡± Xiang Yu warned, diving to tackle Joseph away from an oncoming reaper. They tumbled on the ground, ending up face-up.

    An alloy spider rushed past, and Xiang Yu deftly pulled the grenade¡¯s pin and tossed it into its underbelly.

    The electromagnetic grenade silently activated, crackling with electricity within three seconds, sending electric currents through the alloy spider''s limbs, propelling it into the mountainside and erupting into a massive fireball.

    Lance took down two more in quick succession. By the time he shot the last one off the peak, Zheng Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief and got up.

    He watched as the damaged reaper glided across the sky, its front limb hooking onto Zheng Rong''s coat collar, dragging him off the cliff as it fell.

    It all happened in less than three seconds.

    Lance felt a chill run through his body as Xiang Yu lunged behind the stone pillar.

    A shadow leapt out of the snow¡ªanother ambush!

    Lance¡¯s infrared visor emitted a piercing alarm: Danger! Combat power level: SS!

    A mysterious figure threw out a grappling hook, which latched onto the peak. As he descended, he swung in a graceful arc and grabbed Zheng Rong¡¯s wrist.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Zheng Rong exclaimed, but before he could finish, he was flung back onto the flat ground, slamming his shoulder against the stone pillar with a muffled grunt.

    The three-headed hook grated against the ice and snow, sliding toward the edge before finally dislodging a chunk of ice and falling into the valley.

    Lance was dumbfounded.

    Zheng Rong barely made it back to solid ground, with Xiang Yu gripping his collar.

    Zheng Rong looked down into the valley. Cold winds blew up, revealing nothing but emptiness.

    ¡°Was that a person?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong stared into the dim depths, remaining silent.

    ¡°A person... a man...¡± Xiang Yu murmured.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Zheng Rong said quietly.

    The group regrouped in front of the stone pillar.

    Ugos, still shaken by what had just happened, leaned against the pillar, panting to regain his composure.

    ¡°Those who are too frightened should return to the helicopter,¡± Zheng Rong ordered. ¡°The rest, continue.¡±

    Joseph chuckled, patting Ugos on the shoulder. ¡°What do you think they were doing here?¡±

    Zheng Rong eyed the stone pillar. ¡°Who knows?¡±

    Lance raised his magnetic cannon, and Zheng Rong taunted, ¡°There were only six mechanical spiders spotted in the air earlier. All have been destroyed. You can put the cannon away.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Lance replied but didn¡¯t stow his weapon, only deactivating its charge.

    Joseph examined the symbols. ¡°Each main symbol has a smaller one beneath it, providing explanation. What¡¯s being interpreted here? Are these the Ten Commandments?¡±

    ¡°The original ten symbols could be the source of the Ten Commandments,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Moses likely expanded upon their pronunciation and interpretation¡­ I think he might have missed a few of God''s intentions.¡±

    Joseph and Zheng Rong¡¯s gazes moved down the pillar, examining the symbols from top to bottom.

    ¡°Ten Commandments,¡± Joseph nodded.

    ¡°No, twelve commandments,¡± Zheng Rong corrected.

    They crouched down in unison, clearing the ice and snow from the base of the pillar with their hands.

    ¡°There are two more symbols buried underneath the ice,¡± Zheng Rong noted. ¡°Oh, this is¡­ great, they left us a gift.¡±

    Zheng Rong felt around the base of the pillar, uncovering a small black box with three blinking lights and a row of numbers jumping on its surface.

    ¡°Uh, L-L-L... Lance, I-I-I think you might¡­ need to drop your weapon,¡± Joseph stammered.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Lance said dismissively.

    Xiang Yu tilted his head, examining the box. ¡°Fifty-nine. What¡¯s that?¡±

    Zheng Rong straightened up, pulling out his notebook. ¡°It¡¯s a timed bomb, set to explode in fifty-nine seconds. Now it¡¯s fifty.¡±

    Joseph and Ugos screamed, fleeing for their lives, while Lance tossed his weapon aside and dove for the bomb at Zheng Rong¡¯s feet.

    Fifty seconds.

    Lance, shaking, swiftly opened the toolkit strapped to his leg, pulling out several screwdrivers and tweezers. He bit down on a blade as he quickly pried open the bomb''s outer casing.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you two?!¡± Xiang Yu shouted at Joseph.

    Without turning back, Zheng Rong continued to copy the symbols from the stone pillar into his notebook, saying, ¡°There¡¯s no point in running. This bomb will cover the entire Mount Saint Catherine. Even if the explosion doesn¡¯t kill you, the avalanche will bury you.¡±

    Joseph calmed down, while Ugos sat in the snow, breathing heavily in fear.

    Joseph knelt, making the sign of the cross on his chest, closing his eyes, and murmuring prayers to the sky.

    ¡°What can I do?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°Pray, to any god you like, on my behalf too,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    Xiang Yu: ¡°?¡±

    Thirty seconds.

    Lance unscrewed the metal sphere¡¯s core, revealing a small transparent tube filled with nitroglycerin. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he carefully tilted the hemisphere to an angle facing the sun, exposing the tangled wires inside.

    ¡°Brother, step aside,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Your shadow is in his way.¡±

    Twenty seconds.

    Lance twisted several wires around his fingers, cutting them with the blade.

    ¡°Is it stopped?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong glanced at the casing placed to the side, still holding its wires. The numbers were still counting down:

    Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen¡­

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong answered nonchalantly, stepping away to continue transcribing.

    Ten seconds.

    Lance knelt on one knee, head down, holding his breath. His fingers grasped the last two wires, one black and one red.

    He took a deep breath and looked up.

    Zheng Rong looked back down, their eyes meeting. There was a quiet, mutual trust in his gentle gaze.

    Swallowing hard, Lance cut the red wire with the blade.

    The countdown stopped at three.

    ¡°Stopped,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    Zheng Rong closed his notebook. ¡°Well done. Thank you, Lance.¡±

    Lance let out a long breath, collapsing onto the snow in exhaustion, closing his eyes to the brilliant sunlight in the sky. A contented smile played on his lips.

    ¡°A timed bomb? So there was real danger to our lives just now? Why didn¡¯t you react at all?¡± Xiang Yu asked, puzzled.

    Zheng Rong stared at Xiang Yu for a while, nodded, and didn¡¯t explain.

    Outside the helicopter, repairs were three hours away from completion. The power was fully restored, the aircraft entrenched on the ground, with several magnetic cannons deployed from its body and a high-energy spiral tower extending from its roof.

    This military helicopter, built over several years with the combined efforts of the United Army and enormous financial resources, was amphibious and could function as a small defensive artillery platform when grounded.

    The expedition team returned to the helicopter''s defensive perimeter, all drenched in sweat except for Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu, who remained composed.

    Laini crossed her arms. ¡°Are you feeling unwell? Do you need a sedative?¡±

    Lance wiped his sweat. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Zheng Rong handed his notebook to Joseph and sat aside in thought. Lance carefully put the metal sphere into his jacket pocket, tidied up his weapon, and pulled out a cigarette, offering it to Xiang Yu, Zheng Rong, and the others.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Joseph said without looking up. ¡°I quit smoking when my wife got pregnant.¡±

    Ugos laughed as he declined, ¡°Smoking is bad for your health. I need to contribute more to humanity.¡±

    Lance¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Who was the person hiding in the snow?¡±

    Zheng Rong shrugged. ¡°Since you already know, why ask me?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s only my guess¡­¡± Lance replied.

    Xiang Yu asked, ¡°I also felt something was off earlier. Do you know the person hiding in the snow?¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer. Lance raised a hand. ¡°Listen, the wires in the timed bomb were black and red, not blue and red.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Red and black, blood and darkness¡ªthat¡¯s his signature.¡±

    ¡°What black and red?¡± Laini asked, alarmed. ¡°Who did you encounter on the mountain?¡±

    Neither Lance nor Zheng Rong answered her. Lance pressed on, ¡°If he saved you, why plant a timed bomb at the pillar? If it exploded, you¡¯d be killed as well.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied impatiently, ¡°Why are you asking me? How could I know?¡±

    ¡°He could have warned you earlier. Did you hear him say anything when you were falling?¡± Lance pressed further.

    Zheng Rong coldly remained silent.

    ¡°That person is humanity¡¯s most wanted criminal. Zheng Rong, why did you lower the helicopter¡¯s altitude? Did you see him from the helicopter?¡± Lance asked.

    Laini gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief. ¡°Lance¡ª! Did you see Li Ying?!¡±

    Zheng Rong replied icily, ¡°Laini, I swear on my deceased brother¡¯s name. If you mention that name again, I¡¯ll shove this thing into your mouth...¡± He fished the spherical core of the timed bomb out of Lance¡¯s jacket pocket and raised it threateningly. ¡°It contains five milliliters of nitroglycerin.¡±

    Laini¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and she burst into tears.

    ¡°How can you do this¡ª!¡± she screamed hysterically at Zheng Rong.

    Zheng Rong responded coldly, ¡°You¡¯ll trigger an avalanche. Control your volume. You should give yourself a sedative and maybe treat your delusional disorder as well.¡±

    Laini¡¯s crying quickly died down. She turned, sobbing, to the other side of the helicopter, where Jin Puae held her hand, whispering comfort.

    Xiang Yu asked, ¡°Who is Li Ying? Please don¡¯t put that thing in my mouth.¡±

    Zheng Rong burst out laughing.

    ¡°Li Ying is my lover,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°The helicopter¡¯s been repaired. Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, he stood up.

    Lance added, ¡°He used to be, but not anymore.¡±

    Zheng Rong stood by the helicopter door. ¡°He is now, and always will be.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know the whole story, Zheng Rong!¡± Lance shouted. ¡°He used to be an undercover agent, but now he¡¯s surrendered to the Mayan invaders! He¡¯s killed over a thousand members of the United Army''s Special Forces!¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t turn around, only replying, ¡°I know, you¡¯ve emphasized that countless times. If there¡¯s ever a chance, I¡¯ll personally put a bullet in his head, but that doesn¡¯t change what he is in my heart¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, the helicopter¡¯s rotors deployed, and the deafening sound drowned out his voice, kicking up a whirlwind of snow.

    The expedition members quickly boarded the helicopter, which lifted off, skimming over the mountain range, crossing the Red Sea, and heading toward Egypt.

 11 - The Sphinx Chamber

    The air in Cairo was dry and dusty, with many residents in Giza yet to evacuate to the Mediterranean refuge cities. When the Mayans bombed the area heavily, the locals fled into the Sahara Desert, driven by their tenacious will to survive. They returned once the alien ships left.

    New plastic tents were erected on the scorched ruins of their homes. The people continued to farm and trade with caravans arriving from the Arabian desert. This was the land of their ancestors, and many Egyptians stubbornly guarded it, even if it meant being scorched to ashes by alien rays.

    In April, the water levels of the Nile River had dropped, awaiting the first flood season. A military helicopter brazenly skimmed close to the ground, heading southwest toward Cairo.

    Lance peered down, asking, ¡°Zheng Rong, want to check out the market? I could take you for a stroll¡ªthere might still be some souvenirs and specialties for sale.¡±

    ¡°They won''t welcome us,¡± Zheng Rong scoffed. ¡°Unless you plan to shop with a magnetic cannon in hand.¡±

    The Sphinx''s head had been mostly destroyed, leaving a shattered cross-section that seemed to have been sliced by a ray. Some villagers had tried to cover it with cloth.

    The helicopter gradually descended, immediately drawing the attention of a dozen men surrounding it, all wearing headscarves and shouting loudly.

    ¡°Nobody gets out,¡± Lance ordered.

    Lance pulled open the cabin door, and those in the surrounding circle raised their rifles, quickly loading them and aiming at the helicopter.

    Holding a pistol, Lance raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, his finger away from the trigger. The clamor of the helicopter''s blades ceased. He shouted in English, ¡°We¡¯re here to find a way to fight the aliens. We need to investigate the Sphinx.¡±

    He added with emphasis, ¡°It¡¯s vital for humanity¡­¡± When suddenly, he felt a buzzing at the back of his head.

    ¡°Move aside.¡±

    Zheng Rong lifted the magnetic cannon, its barrel amassing energy that condensed into a white light. The light quickly intensified, transforming into a yellow orb, then red, and finally purple.

    The cannon emitted an electronic warning: ¡°Warning: Barrel overheating. Please fire within ten seconds. Ten... nine...¡±

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Lance roared.

    Zheng Rong pulled the trigger, firing a blast at the base of the Sphinx. At maximum power, the Sphinx was blasted at a sharp angle into the air, fragments of stone flying everywhere. The shockwave flipped the Egyptian men in the circle upside down.

    The buzzing sound of electrical energy filled the air as the ancient statue, a witness to 4,000 years of Egyptian civilization, was blown skyward. A massive, dark hole appeared in the ground where it once stood.

    The electronic warning continued: ¡°Cooling of overcharged energy in progress. Cooling time: thirty minutes.¡±

    In English, Zheng Rong yelled, ¡°What you¡¯re trying to protect isn¡¯t here anymore. Go over there! Thanks for your cooperation.¡±

    The Sphinx, weighing over a hundred tons, flew almost a hundred meters away before crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom, shaking the earth.

    All around, people struggled to rise from the ground, staring at Zheng Rong in disbelief.

    Zheng Rong calmly put on gloves, instructing, ¡°Jin Puae, use ultrasound to examine the passageway. Computer, analyze the underground space. Lance, escort Ugos to collect and test the subterranean air samples. Joseph, organize the equipment. Once the entrance cools, we¡¯ll proceed.¡±

    The helicopter extended its support stands, anchoring into the ground, and deployed four machine-gun turrets, prompting all the Egyptians around to flee in panic.

    Lance gazed at the toppled Sphinx for a long while, speechless.

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong¡­ Do you know what you just did?!¡± Ugos demanded, still panting heavily.

    ¡°The Sphinx is sturdy; it won''t break, right?¡± Zheng Rong replied nonchalantly as he adjusted his gloves.

    Ugos struggled to breathe. ¡°You¡­ the Sphinx is a symbol of ancient civilization! It¡¯s... it¡¯s witnessed thousands of years of Egyptian history¡­ and you¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t look up. ¡°It¡¯s actually ten thousand years, not thousands, as you have argued yourself. We can just hang it back up later.¡±

    Lance wiped the sweat off his brow and asked, ¡°Is this going to be our approach from now on?¡±

    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Zheng Rong said, hands in the pockets of his coat as he stepped off the helicopter. ¡°Depends on whether the local residents cooperate.¡±

    The deep pit blown open by the blast revealed a dark stairwell.

    ¡°How did you know there was a hidden passage here?¡± Xiang Yu asked as he received a backpack from Joseph and slung it over his shoulder.

    ¡°Classified information,¡± Zheng Rong answered. ¡°It was discovered by an archaeological team many years ago. At the time, there were political and cultural heritage concerns, so they couldn¡¯t just open it.¡±

    Zheng Rong gazed into the stairwell, which resembled the gaping mouth of a giant beast, waiting to devour the group.

    Jin Puae positioned the probe, sat on a rock, ran her fingers through her hair, and opened her laptop. The display was pitch black.

    ¡°Nothing yet?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°The speed of the sound waves is 360 meters per second,¡± Jin Puae replied.

    Zheng Rong furrowed his brow. Nearly ten minutes passed before the computer beeped, displaying a mass of data that quickly compiled.

    Lance was teaching Xiang Yu how to use a pistol, aiming at a distant target. Noticing Zheng Rong¡¯s expression, Lance got up. ¡°What does that mean?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It means the underground space is vast,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    ¡°Very vast,¡± Jin Puae added, her expression grave.

    The screen displayed a large labyrinthine passage, like an underground city. Lance couldn¡¯t help but be moved. ¡°This is like a giant interconnected¡­¡±

    ¡°Underground city,¡± Joseph interjected. ¡°I think it connects to other places.¡±

    ¡°More precisely, I suspect it links to the underground sections of all the pyramids,¡± Zheng Rong nodded.

    The green grid lines intertwined, forming a 3D structure map with clear pathways. Zheng Rong continued, ¡°Switch to a 2D view and print six copies with scale measurements.¡±

    Jin Puae swiftly tapped on the keyboard. ¡°Am I going down with you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, you''ll stay here and guide us through the labyrinth,¡± Zheng Rong answered. ¡°Joseph, bring enough food and water for three days for everyone. Let''s move. Lance, issue each person a guided pistol.¡±

    Lance led the way, with Xiang Yu taking the rear. Zheng Rong, Ugos, Joseph, and Laini donned their gear and entered the bottomless underground passage.

    Lance opened a flare stick, which rolled down the stairs, the red light fading to a tiny dot in the distance.

    Zheng Rong toyed with a silver pistol as he followed behind Lance.

    ¡°You¡¯re a rogue, Dr. Zheng Rong,¡± Ugos muttered irritably.

    ¡°I¡¯m not; my brother is,¡± Zheng Rong replied, his attention fixed on the map. ¡°Physicists spend their days obsessing over ways to destroy civilizations, and politicians and soldiers bring their ideas to life.¡±

    Lance didn¡¯t say anything but chuckled after a moment. ¡°And who¡¯s destroying civilization now?¡±

    Zheng Rong coldly answered, ¡°Destruction to you, brute force decryption to me. Laini, stay away from my brother, or I¡¯ll send you back to the surface.¡±

    Laini¡¯s face turned dark, and she stopped whispering to Xiang Yu.

    It took almost two hours to descend the staircase. Ugos glanced at his luminous wristwatch and said, ¡°We¡¯re about 1,400 meters underground now.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you can''t dig through Cairo''s surface,¡± Joseph remarked.

    ¡°Listen up,¡± Zheng Rong said, gathering the team. Pointing to a spot on the map, he continued, ¡°This is the center of the entire underground area.¡±

    The location he indicated was a circular hall.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Zheng Rong pulled out a walkie-talkie and brought it close to his face. ¡°Jin Puae, do you read me?¡±

    A red dot flashed, and Jin Puae''s voice came through the comms, ¡°You''re at map coordinates 7, 39, all six beacons together. Confirmed.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Zheng Rong marked a point on the 2D map with a pencil. ¡°The walkie-talkies can track everyone¡¯s position. If you get lost, contact the surface. Let¡¯s keep moving.¡±

    In the darkness, nobody spoke as Lance¡¯s shoulder lamp guided their way.

    Laini whispered something to Xiang Yu and then laughed, her laughter clear and crisp. ¡°Shall I sing for everyone?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, Laini, please conserve your energy,¡± Joseph advised. ¡°Believe me, the more excited you are now, the sooner you¡¯ll tire.¡±

    ¡°Xiang Yu can carry her. Lance too,¡± Zheng Rong said sarcastically.

    At the back of the group, Xiang Yu asked, ¡°Are you tired?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong replied indifferently.

    Lance turned his head, and the walls of the passage were covered in murals. Rows of ancient Egyptians depicted in the same pose seemed to move toward them along the wall, their colors vivid in the low-power xenon lamp.

    Ugos scraped a piece of pigment from the wall and placed it into a small device hanging from his belt for analysis.

    He paused. ¡°How old is it?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°Over 11,000 years¡­¡± Ugos murmured, looking up at Zheng Rong.

    ¡°What do these people in the murals represent?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. It should be another major archaeological discovery,¡± Ugos answered.

    ¡°Except no one was ever allowed to come down here before. In fact, all these people look exactly the same¡ªit''s quite curious... But maybe we¡¯re overthinking it. They could just be decorations, or friezes?¡± Joseph suggested.

    ¡°No, I think it¡¯s different,¡± Zheng Rong disagreed.

    Staring at the murals for too long made Lance dizzy from the repetitive images of identical figures. He eventually gave up and said, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, I believe you.¡±

    ¡°In fact, I can¡¯t really pinpoint what''s different either,¡± Zheng Rong admitted innocently.

    The first three-way intersection appeared ahead. Ugos checked his watch. ¡°4 p.m., we¡¯ve been walking for six hours.¡±

    ¡°Rest for fifteen minutes, replenish food and water,¡± Zheng Rong ordered.

    Everyone sighed in relief and sat down. Xiang Yu shrugged off his backpack, dropping it with a heavy thud.

    ¡°You¡¯re really strong,¡± Laini remarked.

    Xiang Yu moved his arms and shoulders, smiling modestly.

    Zheng Rong frowned. Xiang Yu immediately scurried to Zheng Rong¡¯s side and sat down obediently, wagging his tail like a loyal dog. Zheng Rong took out his walkie-talkie. ¡°Jin Puae, respond.¡±

    A static hiss came from the walkie-talkie, and Lance quickly sensed that something was off.

    ¡°Jin Puae,¡± Zheng Rong repeated.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Suspicion filled Zheng Rong¡¯s mind, and Lance tensed up, pulling out a small military walkie-talkie. ¡°Gukat, Tostanra, respond.¡±

    ¡°Kimchi girl is probably in the bathroom,¡± Zheng Rong mocked.

    Gukat¡¯s voice, full of enthusiasm, came through on the other end. ¡°Got it, Boss. What¡¯s up?¡±

    Lance sighed in relief.

    Zheng Rong waited a moment before speaking into the walkie-talkie. ¡°Miss Kim, lonely kimchi everywhere, with no doors to open the way¡ªrespond.¡±

    Everyone chuckled.

    A man wearing red silk gloves pressed the walkie-talkie¡¯s speaker button, brought it close to his lips, and replied with a smile, ¡°Got it.¡±

    Jin Puae lay unconscious to the side, her hair disheveled.

    Zheng Rong found the voice a little strange. ¡°What were you doing? Report your coordinates,¡± he said after a pause.

    Jin Puae¡¯s voice came through the walkie-talkie: ¡°Umm¡­ 47, 118. You¡¯re at the first fork, six kilometers from the target.¡±

    Zheng Rong turned off the walkie-talkie and was lost in thought for a moment. Lance nudged him with his elbow, offering him dinner. ¡°Zheng Rong, you¡¯re not eating enough,¡± Lance said with concern. ¡°You¡¯ve hardly eaten since we started. Xiang Yu, is this normal for him?¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer, instead dumping his half-eaten meal into Lance¡¯s plate like he was feeding a dog, then got up to study the murals.

    The murals had indeed changed a bit.

    With a flashlight, Zheng Rong examined them inch by inch, noticing that the Egyptian figures¡¯ noses and mouths had altered significantly, and their hair had grown longer.

    ¡°You should take some mineral salts. You lose fluid and appetite with all this sweating¡­¡± Lance suggested.

    ¡°Doctor,¡± Zheng Rong commanded, ¡°give him a sedative. He¡¯s too noisy; it¡¯s disturbing my thinking.¡±

    Lance: ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t go on,¡± Laini complained, rubbing her knees. ¡°Let¡¯s rest a bit longer.¡±

    Zheng Rong grabbed her medical kit, slung it over his shoulder, and walked ahead.

    By now, even Joseph had noticed something off with the murals. ¡°These Egyptians are changing,¡± he said, furrowing his brow.

    Zheng Rong nodded, and the group slowed down to examine the murals as they walked. Suddenly, Xiang Yu turned around, shouting, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡±

    Almost hugging the tunnel wall, Lance swiftly yanked the leather strap on his shoulder, pulling the magnetic cannon to aim.

    ¡°Close your eyes!¡±

    With a "pop," Zheng Rong cranked the xenon lamp to its maximum setting, and the blinding light cut through nearly a mile of the tunnel.

    Lance, now backlit, shook his head.

    Zheng Rong dimmed the light. ¡°Anyone there?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No one,¡± Xiang Yu said. ¡°Just a breeze.¡±

    Lance let out a breath of relief.

    ¡°Look here!¡± Joseph shouted, cracking open a flare.

    The figure on the mural had its nose and mouth merged into an elongated bird beak, wings sprouting from its back, and four legs standing on the ground.

    ¡°Is this an ancient species?¡± Ugos wondered aloud.

    ¡°No, this is fusion. Humans gradually¡­ These murals depict the fusion of humans with special species...¡± Joseph surmised.

    ¡°No, this is evolution,¡± Zheng Rong corrected. ¡°You didn¡¯t notice they¡¯re moving away from this tunnel? This isn¡¯t fusion. They started evolving 10,000 years ago to become human.¡±

    Joseph took a deep breath.

    ¡°This could be the origin of the Egyptian race,¡± Zheng Rong continued. ¡°Ancient Egyptians were a branch of the Semitic people. Before Moses led them across the sea, the native people might have looked like this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd! Forget the origin of humans¡ªwhat is this bird-headed lion-bodied creature?¡± Joseph demanded.

    Zheng Rong glanced at the map before stowing it away. ¡°We¡¯re nearing the hall, and we¡¯ll find the answer soon.¡±

    At the end of the passage was a huge, wide-open space, about the size of a soccer field and over ten meters high. At the far end of the space was a stone wall with four sets of symbols arranged in groups of three.

    Lance raised his hand and fired a flare. It hissed as it struck the ceiling of the hall and fell, bouncing on the ground.

    ¡°Jin Puae,¡± Zheng Rong called into the walkie-talkie.

    No response came from the ground.

    ¡°We should be here,¡± Zheng Rong pointed to the large circle on the map, indicating the outer perimeter of the central hall, at the end of the stone passage.

    ¡°Correct,¡± Joseph agreed.

    Ugos approached the expansive wall, which resembled a massive prehistoric stone gate, flanked by two statues: one of a desert hawk with outstretched wings and the other of a roaring grassland lion.

    ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t touch them,¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s voice echoed through the hall.

    Ugos withdrew his hand from the statues and asked, ¡°Can I have a shovel?¡±

    Lance tossed him one, and Ugos knocked on the stone wall before pressing his ear against the door. ¡°It¡¯s hollow inside.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, looking up at the ancient symbols. ¡°Are those symbols the key to opening the door?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong replied approvingly as he pulled out his notebook. ¡°Now, listen to my instructions, gentlemen. Open the folding ladder and move the first symbol to the right, placing it over the blue one.¡±

    Xiang Yu shrugged off his backpack, crouched, and leaped almost two meters high, gripping a crack in the stone wall like an eagle''s claw. He bellowed, ¡°Lift!¡±

    The red stone block moved rapidly, sliding to the right and fitting perfectly into place with a boom.

    Laini gasped, but Zheng Rong remained unfazed. ¡°Next is the purple one,¡± he said.

    ¡°Is this a puzzle?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°The puzzle has already been solved,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°It¡¯s in Moses'' oracle. When he crossed the sea and left Egypt, the symbols on the pillar and this door must have an inseparable connection.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re smart,¡± Joseph remarked.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a guess¡­ And if I''m wrong, there''s no loss,¡± Zheng Rong murmured, a victorious smile curling at the corners of his mouth. In no time, Xiang Yu had pushed all twelve stone symbols back to their positions, and with a rumbling sound, dust fell from the massive gate.

    The ten-meter-tall stone door didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°The mechanism didn¡¯t activate,¡± Xiang Yu said, wiping sweat from his brow.

    ¡°Oh, it activated,¡± Zheng Rong countered. ¡°Otherwise, the dust wouldn¡¯t have fallen. The symbols you moved were the latches¡ªit¡¯s confirmed.¡±

    At this moment, both Lance and Xiang Yu admired Zheng Rong almost to the point of worship.

    ¡°What now? Wait for it to open?¡± Joseph asked.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer, hands in his pockets, tilting his head as if waiting for a sound.

    Ten minutes passed, and nothing moved.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s manual,¡± Zheng Rong concluded. ¡°Let¡¯s all push together.¡±

    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Can I take a picture?¡± Laini asked.

    ¡°I suggest¡­ you... bloody¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± Zheng Rong grunted as he pushed, yelling, ¡°Put your stupid camera away! Don¡¯t film us!¡±

    Lance set the spotlight high, shining it on the ancient door. All the men except Laini rolled up their sleeves and placed their hands on the door.

    ¡°On my mark,¡± Xiang Yu said, gritting his teeth. ¡°One¡­ two¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey ho!¡± Zheng Rong shouted in sync.

    They all pushed hard, shouting in unison.

    ¡°This is like... the legendary... Wailing Wall!¡± Joseph nearly slipped and fell.

    Ugos¡¯s face turned red as his glasses nearly fell off.

    Everyone panted heavily as they pushed, until Xiang Yu removed his combat boots, tied the laces together, and hung them around his neck. ¡°Step back! I¡¯ll do it!¡±

    Exhausted, Zheng Rong stepped back, having spent all his strength.

    Despite all his might, Xiang Yu couldn¡¯t budge the door.

    A chilling wind blew through the crack in the door.

    Leaning against the door, Xiang Yu panted before getting back up. ¡°Just how heavy is this door?!¡±

    Zheng Rong was just as puzzled. As Xiang Yu examined it, he noticed a small round hole at human height in the door.

    An idea struck him. He inserted his finger into the hole, hooked it, and pulled outward.

    The door opened slowly and silently.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    The door revealed a circular hall as wide as a stadium. Around the hall were twelve glowing symbols, seemingly made of some special crystalline material.

    In the center stood a black, mirror-like reflective surface with an altar at its heart, upon which was carved a symbol in an icy blue color.

    ¡°What¡¯s this material? Marble?¡± Zheng Rong wondered aloud.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s water,¡± Ugos corrected.

    Zheng Rong took a step forward, but Lance quickly warned, ¡°Careful.¡± He immediately drew a military-grade double-edged knife, stepping in front of Zheng Rong.

    Xiang Yu, still barefoot and sitting on the ground, called out, ¡°Wait.¡±

    Lance took the first step, his flashlight darting around. Zheng Rong, studying the ground beneath Lance''s feet, said, ¡°No traps. Congratulations, you got lucky.¡±

    Lance laughed awkwardly.

    ¡°Finally, a symbol I recognize,¡± Joseph said, pointing to the altar. ¡°Do you know what it is, Zheng Rong?¡±

    Zheng Rong shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s pronounced ¡®Nu,¡¯¡± Joseph said.

    ¡°Nu¡ªthe Egyptian god of water,¡± Zheng Rong understood.

    Joseph nodded. ¡°The Egyptians believed that water was the source of all things. It had no deity, no divinity, just an abstract concept.¡±

    ¡°So, this place is a shrine to the water god?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Zheng Rong and Lance entered the hall together, with the sound of a camera shutter clicking behind them as Laini took pictures. Joseph scrolled through data on a handheld computer, Xiang Yu put on his combat boots, and Ugos cleaned his glasses.

    The moment Zheng Rong stepped into the circular hall, it began to spin.

    Lance shouted in alarm, while Zheng Rong called out, ¡°Grab me¡ª!¡±

    Zheng Rong and Lance vanished from the team¡¯s view in an instant. With a thunderous crash, only a wall remained in front of Xiang Yu.

    The centrifugal force caused Zheng Rong to fall to the side. Lance quickly flipped his double-edged knife, offering the handle to Zheng Rong, but he was a split second too late¡ªZheng Rong¡¯s fingers missed the handle by barely a centimeter.

    Three seconds later, Lance was spun back to his original position while Zheng Rong was flung to a corner by the centrifugal force. A small hidden door on the opposite side opened, and Zheng Rong fell headfirst into the dark passageway.

    At the same time, a gray shadow darted from the opposite direction and dove into the passage.

    With another loud crash, Xiang Yu lunged at the stone wall but stumbled. The circular hall spun open to the expedition team once more, but Zheng Rong was gone.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s head slammed into the narrow passageway, and as his vision blurred, a strong arm wrapped around his waist.

    ¡°Careful, babe,¡± a soft, sexy, gentle voice whispered in his ear.

 12 - The Abyss of Loves Sea

    In the darkness. The first words Zheng Rong uttered upon waking were: "Li Ying, I know it''s you."

    Li Ying, in a magnetic, seductive voice, whispered into Zheng Rong¡¯s ear, ¡°What are you looking for, baby?¡± Zheng Rong took a deep breath. Li Ying reached into Zheng Rong¡¯s coat pocket, his fingers brushing against his.

    He retrieved the cold lighter from between Zheng Rong¡¯s fingers, and with a click, it flared to life. The dim flame flickered between them, revealing Li Ying¡¯s bloodied head. When he fell, he had shielded Zheng Rong¡¯s head with his arms, resulting in his own collision with a sharp stone edge. Zheng Rong reached into his coat again, but Li Ying stood up, placing the lighter on a protruding stone carving on the wall. As he turned, Zheng Rong raised a hand, pressing a gun against Li Ying¡¯s forehead, pinning him to the wall. ¡°One question at a time,¡± Zheng Rong said coldly. ¡°Since when have you been following us?¡±

    Li Ying tilted his handsome face, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he scrutinized Zheng Rong, an evil smile creeping onto his lips. The hand holding the gun trembled slightly. Li Ying looked just as he had in the past¡ªthick, dark eyebrows, eyes with the predator¡¯s gaze of a leopard, sharp, ruthless lips, and a lean profile. For a moment, Zheng Rong felt a sudden urge to place his hand on Li Ying¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re not cut out for this line of work, baby,¡± Li Ying commented with a hint of amusement. ¡°Careful not to misfire.¡±

    Zheng Rong spoke slowly and quietly, ¡°You think I won¡¯t pull the trigger.¡± He applied pressure gradually, his finger pulling back the trigger by a third, the faint sound cutting through the silence. Li Ying stopped smiling. ¡°Start talking. Don¡¯t waste my time,¡± Zheng Rong said. Li Ying raised his finger, signaling silence, and whispered mysteriously, ¡°Don¡¯t wake the dead.¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s peripheral vision caught sight of a stone coffin less than five steps away.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been following you ever since I spotted you on Mount Saint Catherine,¡± Li Ying said, staring into Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes, his hand tracing the line of Zheng Rong¡¯s neck with fascination. ¡°Baby, what are you doing here? Doesn¡¯t Lance know you¡¯re supposed to stay in the underground city? Is there something special about the Sphinx?¡± Zheng Rong released the trigger, resetting it. ¡°Did the Mayans send you to investigate the ruins of the Ten Commandments?¡± Li Ying¡¯s left hand wore a thin, red silk glove, and his palm was so warm that the heat seeped through the silk¡¯s smooth surface, making Zheng Rong¡¯s breath quicken. ¡°Do you miss me?¡± Li Ying placed his other hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, this time wearing a black silk glove. Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Why did you plant explosives under the pillar?¡± Ignoring the gun against his forehead, Li Ying placed both hands on Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulders, leaning close. ¡°I have a lot to tell you, Zheng Rong. But right now, I can¡¯t say a word. Trust me.¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s breath hitched as he met Li Ying¡¯s eyes. In a low voice, he said, ¡°I will kill you.¡± ¡°No, you won¡¯t,¡± Li Ying said in his deep, magnetic voice. ¡°I love you as I did before, and just like before... I¡¯ve never lied to you.¡± Zheng Rong took a deep breath, seeing in Li Ying¡¯s eyes the familiar lover from the past. Li Ying whispered, ¡°Otherwise, I could have killed that Korean woman you were communicating with in the car.¡±

    Before the last word even left his lips, Li Ying turned and pressed a kiss to Zheng Rong¡¯s lips. Zheng Rong completely lost; he lowered his gun.

    Li Ying wrapped his arm around Zheng Rong¡¯s waist, pulling him in tightly. With his long, powerful legs between Zheng Rong¡¯s, he buried his head in Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s so much I want to say¡­¡± Li Ying whispered slowly in his deep voice by his ear, ¡°but I can¡¯t let out a single word. I miss you so much I¡¯m going insane¡­¡± Li Ying¡¯s hand reached into the waistband of Zheng Rong¡¯s trousers, pulling out the shirt tucked under his belt. He kissed the corner of Zheng Rong¡¯s mouth repeatedly, his hand moving along his exposed back. The warmth of his palm, almost scorching, along with the touch of silk against his skin, made Zheng Rong shiver. He could clearly feel the lines of his palm, and the tangled lifeline in his hand. ¡°They implanted a very small bomb at the back of my head,¡± Li Ying whispered, pressing his nose against Zheng Rong¡¯s, staring into his eyes. ¡°If I talk about certain key things... triggering a certain thought process... the bomb will make a very small sound.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t blow my brains out, but it¡¯s enough to¡­¡± Li Ying said in a deep, slow voice, ¡°turn my brain into mush.¡± Zheng Rong closed his eyes. ¡°You almost killed me,¡± Zheng Rong said. Li Ying replied, ¡°The timed explosives under the pillar were just a joke. There¡¯s no nitroglycerin in them.¡± Having said this, Li Ying sealed Zheng Rong¡¯s lips with his own, forcefully.

    Zheng Rong raised his gun once more, pressing it to Li Ying¡¯s forehead, pushing him back a meter.

    This time, Zheng Rong did not look at him. His eyes showed hesitation as if he were deep in thought. ¡°What did you put in the bomb core?¡± Zheng Rong ignored Li Ying¡¯s request. ¡°Urine,¡± Li Ying responded with a provocative grin. ¡°Wanna try it? No need to wait¡ªI can make you drink some right now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Zheng Rong said coldly. ¡°You need to get help for your illness.¡± Li Ying squinted his eyes. ¡°Being away from you has only made it worse.¡±

    Zheng Rong sighed in exhaustion, finally holstering his gun. Li Ying smiled but said nothing. ¡°Explain,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to help you.¡± Li Ying replied, ¡°First, we need to find a way to get this thing...¡± He pointed to his temple. ¡°...out. I don¡¯t know what will trigger the bomb, so it¡¯s too dangerous to talk.¡± Zheng Rong knew he meant the biological bomb in his brain. ¡°Lainey¡¯s also here. Though I don¡¯t like her, I trust her surgical skills. Can we use a scalpel and tweezers when we get back to the base?¡± Li Ying shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s buried too deep.¡± Zheng Rong licked his lips, a habit whenever he thought about things related to Li Ying.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°First, we need to get back to the car... The others won¡¯t be difficult to convince, but Lance is as stubborn as a block of wood.¡± Li Ying¡¯s deep voice resonated, ¡°As long as one person in the world believes in me, I can be saved.¡± Zheng Rong responded indifferently, ¡°But what I want is not your salvation, but humanity¡¯s.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    In the darkness, they fell silent. Finally, Zheng Rong spoke, ¡°This is not a good time. Are you carrying out a disguise mission given to you by the aliens? You don¡¯t need to tell me the details, just answer yes or no¡ªwill it trigger the bomb?¡± Li Ying paused in silence, seemingly thinking, and finally answered, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Were you gambling with the last question?¡± Zheng Rong asked. Li Ying remained silent.

    Zheng Rong decided not to ask any more questions, but Li Ying said, ¡°All my tasks are complete. Now I¡¯m just a discarded pawn.¡± Zheng Rong wanted to ask if his last mission had something to do with Moses'' pillar, but he feared triggering the damn bomb. After a long moment of contemplation, he asked, ¡°Can the thing in your brain let the Mayans track your location?¡± Li Ying answered quickly, ¡°No, it can¡¯t send out any signals. It¡¯s not an electronic device.¡± Zheng Rong let out a sigh of relief; that made things much easier.

    From outside the stone chamber came Joseph¡¯s voice: ¡°...Mechanism...¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°You¡¯d better find a way to get out. Even if Lance can accept you, the moment the military sees you, you¡¯ll be put on the electric chair. I¡¯ll hypnotize Lance and reveal you when the time is right.¡± Li Ying chuckled, ¡°Where to?¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°Get in.¡± He bent over and pushed open the stone coffin, letting Li Ying hide inside. ¡°Lie down,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of the dark.¡± It was something they used to say to each other when they slept together in the war orphanage as children.

    From inside the coffin, Li Ying said, ¡°I love you.¡± Zheng Rong stiffly responded, ¡°I don¡¯t love you.¡± Li Ying replied, ¡°I know you do.¡± Zheng Rong didn¡¯t say anything further. He glanced around, sitting on the stone coffin, arms folded, beginning to plan how to explain Li Ying¡¯s presence to Lance. Even Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t explain why he believed him. Li Ying seemed the same as three years ago, yet entirely different.

    ¡°Did the Mayans modify your body?¡± Zheng Rong asked warily. ¡°Yes,¡± Li Ying answered from inside the coffin. ¡°Li Ying, swear to me you¡¯re not lying. Otherwise, I will die in front of you,¡± Zheng Rong demanded. Li Ying didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°Zheng Rong¡­¡± the voice came from inside the coffin, ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you, or I¡¯ll... die in front of you.¡±

    Suddenly, a narrow passageway burst open, and a bright light shone inside. Zheng Rong shielded his eyes with his arm and said, ¡°No danger, come in!¡± Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but Lance asked suspiciously, ¡°Zheng Rong, answer me¡ªwhat was the last thing you gave me? Wait! Xiang Yu!¡± ¡°Where is the injury?¡± Xiang Yu asked urgently. He was the first to slide down into the tomb, grabbing Zheng Rong¡¯s arm and pulling him aside as he landed. Zheng Rong had smeared quite a bit of Li Ying¡¯s blood on his face and suddenly realized his carelessness. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lance slid down after them, calling up through the passage, ¡°Lainey, come down! Ugos and Joseph, stay up top for support!¡± ¡°No need!¡± Zheng Rong called up the passage, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, I can move!¡±

    Lance scanned the tomb chamber before embedding a light in the shoulder-mounted gear pack. ¡°Black underwear,¡± Zheng Rong grumbled. Lance, being a well-trained soldier, had asked to confirm whether Zheng Rong was being held hostage. In other words, Lance had sensed something was off.

    Lance smiled slightly. ¡°Let me see.¡± He turned Zheng Rong¡¯s head to check the wound on his head. ¡°How long have you been awake?¡± Zheng Rong thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Less than three minutes.¡± Lance had Zheng Rong walk a few steps to make sure he wasn¡¯t concussed, then looked up to observe the narrow tomb chamber. ¡°Is there any other exit here?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong said. He suddenly realized something and corrected himself, ¡°I don¡¯t know! Wait! Lance, I have something to tell you!¡±

    Almost instantly, as Zheng Rong¡¯s words fell, Lance pulled a lever on his shoulder, readying the magnetic cannon, aiming it at the stone coffin in the center of the tomb. ¡°Xiang Yu, protect him!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll blow up the whole place!¡± Zheng Rong shouted.

    As if on cue, the coffin lid burst open with a loud boom. Lance shouted, his left fist punching out, shattering the lid to pieces. A figure, shrouded in flying dust, lunged at Lance.

    ¡°You¡¯re not my match,¡± Li Ying¡¯s dangerous, low voice sounded. He struck Lance¡¯s jaw with one fist, while the other hand extended two fingers arrogantly, hooking onto the inside of the magnetic cannon¡¯s white-hot muzzle, twisting it counterclockwise. The muzzle''s charging mechanism dimmed instantly.

    Lance was thrown back by the punch, his shoulder slamming hard into the stone wall. Using the force of the collision, he kicked both feet into the air, wrapping them around Li Ying¡¯s neck, and with a gritted-teeth twist, both of them crashed to the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lance roared like a mad lion. In a matter of seconds, Li Ying dismantled Lance¡¯s offensive. His black-gloved hand defended while his red-gloved hand attacked. Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t even make out how the fight began before Li Ying had already straightened up, locking Lance¡¯s throat with his fingers, pushing him against the wall.

    The tomb chamber fell deathly silent, only the anxious shouts of Ugos could be heard from the passage outside.

    Xiang Yu made his move. Li Ying flipped his left hand back, catching Xiang Yu¡¯s punch. Xiang Yu¡¯s strike came silently, his punch almost brushing the back of Li Ying¡¯s head before he could react. The light punch carried no wind, but when Li Ying tried to grab hold of the force, Xiang Yu¡¯s strength was as unyielding as a mountain. Li Ying turned in disbelief, and his wrist let out a faint ¡°crack.¡± ¡°Xiang Yu! Hold back!¡± Zheng Rong knew there was no suspense anymore. Xiang Yu transformed his punch into a palm strike, leaning forward and letting out a loud shout.

    In the narrow tomb chamber, Xiang Yu¡¯s yell made Zheng Rong¡¯s vision go black, almost causing him to spit blood. Li Ying bore the brunt of it, and in that brief moment of daze, his arm went limp, dislocated. Reflexively, his right hand rose to block, but Xiang Yu¡¯s palm had already struck his shoulder. Before Xiang Yu, Li Ying had no chance to fight back and was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing into the wall with a loud thud before collapsing to the ground, motionless.

    Zheng Rong watched the scene in a daze before rushing over, trembling as he cradled Li Ying. The not-yet-healed wound on his forehead broke open again, the stone floor staining with dark purple blood.

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°I used soft force. He¡¯s only temporarily unconscious, nothing serious.¡± Zheng Rong whispered, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Xiang Yu helped the blood-nosed Lance up and asked, ¡°Is this Li Ying?¡± ¡°Restrain him!¡± Zheng Rong shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t let Lance fire!¡± Lance pulled out his gun, panting heavily, but Xiang Yu placed a single hand on the weapon, making Lance put it away. Zheng Rong whispered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him.¡±

    With his fingers, he brushed aside the blood-soaked hair stuck to Li Ying¡¯s forehead and sighed deeply.

 13 - Dud Bomb

    Li Ying woke up. Zheng Rong rubbed his temples. ¡°Now...¡± Xiang Yu said in a serious voice, ¡°Are you Li Ying?¡±

    Li Ying raised his eyebrows and murmured, ¡°A withered, dead, and hollow shell, in my desolate chest...¡± He formed his hands into a fist and pressed it to his left chest. ¡°With its cold and silent repose, it mocks my still-burning heart.¡±

    The assassin stared intently at Zheng Rong, a sweet smile playing on his lips.

    Zheng Rong was completely speechless. Xiang Yu studied Li Ying, his head full of question marks. ¡°You can cry, but tears won¡¯t bring you back to life... He¡¯s always like this, neurotic,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him, Lance!¡± Lance clenched his fists, trembling as if trying hard to restrain himself from punching Li Ying in the face. Xiang Yu asked, ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    Zheng Rong said coldly, ¡°Put your fists away, Lance. Right now, I¡¯m the captain.¡± ¡°You must tie him up,¡± Lance said sternly. ¡°He¡¯s dangerous.¡± Zheng Rong replied indifferently, ¡°Later, but not now. Brother, take him up. Let¡¯s finish this investigation first.¡±

    Li Ying got up on his own, his gaze never leaving Zheng Rong. Zheng Rong reached out and tugged on the rope. ¡°Ugos! How¡¯s everything up there?!¡± Joseph called back, ¡°Everything¡¯s fine! How are you?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to introduce you to a new friend,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Zheng Rong climbed out of the hidden passage first. Lainey opened her medical kit, but Zheng Rong pushed her hand away, expressionless.

    ¡°While you still have time, block your ears.¡± Ugos and Joseph looked puzzled, just as Lance emerged from the hidden passage, followed by a blood-soaked man. Lainey screamed at the top of her lungs, her shriek echoing through the circular hall, causing Ugos to nearly foam at the mouth. She lunged toward Li Ying, but Li Ying stepped aside without a trace. ¡°Long time no see, Lainey.¡± Lainey fell to the ground, wailing.

    What a mess... Zheng Rong thought tiredly. He took some bandages from the medical kit and casually tossed them to Li Ying. The group fell silent except for Lainey¡¯s jarring cries.

    Those who knew the situation, Joseph and Lance, remained silent. The atmosphere grew awkward as Ugos asked, bewildered, ¡°Who is...¡± ¡°Please call him Mr. L,¡± Zheng Rong said. Ugos was even more confused, pushing up his glasses. Zheng Rong continued, ¡°Did you find anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Zheng Rong, I have to tell you,¡± Joseph said, scratching his nose as he motioned for Zheng Rong to come closer. He wrapped an arm around Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, but Li Ying suddenly shouted, ¡°Hey! Blondie! Get your claws off his shoulder!¡±

    Joseph jumped in fright, letting go as if electrocuted, and whispered, ¡°How is he here?¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°Oh, he¡¯s being controlled by aliens to kill us. Do you believe that?¡± Joseph wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced back at Li Ying, who sat in the corner, expressionless, staring at Zheng Rong.

    ¡°On the altar...¡± Joseph said uneasily. ¡°Pretend he¡¯s not there. Mr. Yu guarantees he can subdue him,¡± Zheng Rong said, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. ¡°What¡¯s on the altar?¡± Joseph replied, ¡°Possibly a relic of Moses. There¡¯s a small problem though. We can¡¯t reach it.¡±

    At the center of the hall was a vast body of water, as wide as a lake, spanning nearly a hectare. At the center of the water was a stone altar, standing silently. Zheng Rong took Joseph¡¯s binoculars and looked out to the center of the lake.

    ¡°No boat?¡± Joseph shrugged. Zheng Rong peered down at the water. ¡°Not corrosive.¡± Ugos interjected, ¡°Yes, but we can''t get into the water.¡±

    ¡°Why? Are there monsters in it?¡± Zheng Rong asked, knowing that wasn¡¯t possible. He removed his coat and swayed it over the water¡¯s surface, which remained mirror-smooth, without a ripple. ¡°It¡¯s a special liquid, unlike any known element sample,¡± Ugos said.

    Ugos pulled out a piece of paper, let go, and the paper floated gently toward the water¡¯s surface. The moment it touched, it seemed to pass through the entire lake, sinking silently.

    Zheng Rong was speechless. ¡°No buoyancy at all,¡± Ugos explained. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a sample to analyze later. Once a person enters the water, they¡¯ll sink straight to the bottom.¡± ¡°Mr. L,¡± Zheng Rong called, ¡°do you know what this is?¡± Li Ying was about to get up, but Lance said, ¡°Stay squatting, with your hands behind your head.¡±

    Li Ying had no choice but to hold his head and squat down again, looking up at Zheng Rong with a pitiful expression. ¡°I can¡¯t see.¡±

    Zheng Rong, visibly irritated, raised the binoculars again, looking toward the altar. ¡°What¡¯s on the altar?¡± Joseph said, ¡°A piece of paper held down by a stalactite.¡± Zheng Rong''s heart stirred. ¡°Lance, bring the rope. I need a favor.¡± Lance was silent for a moment before handing the gun to Xiang Yu.

    ¡°If he moves, shoot. I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± ¡°Can we not do this?¡± Zheng Rong said, looking earnestly at Lance. Lance¡¯s eyes were filled with pity and restraint as he gazed at Zheng Rong. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t convince Lance, Zheng Rong said, ¡°Use the grappling gun to retrieve the stalactite from the altar.¡±

    Lance didn¡¯t respond, staring blankly at the water. Zheng Rong took Joseph¡¯s grappling gun and shoved it into Lance¡¯s hands. Lance¡¯s emotions were unstable. He raised the gun, then lowered it, then raised it again. Finally, squinting his eyes, he turned his head, and at that moment, Zheng Rong saw a tear glisten down his cheek.

    Lance¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. After a moment, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zheng Rong. My comrades... too many of my brothers died by his hands... I can¡¯t forgive him.¡± His voice trembled as he stopped, and the grappling gun let out a low thud. The white line flew out, landing in the center of the altar. Lance stood still, then handed the gun to Zheng Rong. Zheng Rong pressed his lips together and retrieved the thin line.

    With a swish, it hooked onto the stone rod, and with a pulling force, it arced through the air. Joseph caught it in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s it made of?¡± Joseph and Ugos passed it around to examine. ¡°Is this what you Chinese call a ¡®jade ornament¡¯?¡± Joseph chuckled with amusement. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Zheng Rong coldly looked at Joseph. Embarrassed, Joseph chuckled, and Zheng Rong took the short stone rod. ¡°What do we do next?¡± Ugos asked in confusion.

    ¡°Retrieve the piece of paper too?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zheng Rong examined the stone rod carefully. ¡°It¡¯s 110 centimeters long and 7 centimeters thick. Solid. What does this remind you of?¡± ¡°Doesn''t seem like a stalactite in texture, but the shape... seems naturally formed,¡± Ugos said.

    ¡°Watch closely.¡± Zheng Rong tossed his coat aside and closed his eyes, thinking quietly. After three seconds, he raised his hand and unbuttoned his white shirt, revealing his collarbone. ¡°Are you going to swim across?¡± Lance asked. ¡°It¡¯s just hot. I¡¯m not undressing for you to watch!¡± Zheng Rong replied. He took a deep breath, pressed his hands down before him, and held the stone rod steady on the shore.

    In that instant, everyone¡¯s expressions were indescribably stunned.

    The dark lake water around the altar formed a giant whirlpool, and the once-quiet hall filled with the sound of rushing water.

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes and said, ¡°I understand.¡± As he spoke, the vast lake surface split with a roar, as if cleaved in two by a god¡¯s blade. The water receded to either side, revealing a corridor of water. Pillars of stone rose from the ground in succession, forming stepping-stones to the circular platform.

    The final platform connected to the altar''s pathway. After a loud thud, everything returned to silence. Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes shone with a joy that only comes from uncovering ancient secrets. He said slowly: ¡°The parting of the Red Sea.¡± ¡°How did you do that?!¡± Ugos asked in disbelief. ¡°The rod is seamless, with no protrusions or switches!¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Thought,¡± Zheng Rong tossed the rod to Joseph, leapt onto the circular platform, and walked toward the altar. ¡°Only thought and faith can activate it. Try focusing your willpower on imagining what the staff was used for.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t always act first,¡± Lance said as he jumped onto the platform to catch up to Zheng Rong.

    Lance leapt onto the first step as Zheng Rong hopped to the second, moving quickly from one platform to the next. Joseph said, ¡°This is really amazing... How did you know it was Moses?¡± ¡°I guessed. Now it''s confirmed... Joseph, come over,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    At the final tier of the platform sat an old man. Water flowed from his body like living oil, sliding off without leaving any wet marks. He wore a white Arab headscarf, his eyes tightly closed. His skin was cracked like dried bark, and he sat cross-legged at the center of the platform, resembling a guardian.

    Everyone held their breath. ¡°Don¡¯t go over there,¡± Lance said gravely. ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Zheng Rong replied briefly. ¡°Just a mummy.¡±

    Zheng Rong pulled a coin from his pocket, flicked it between his fingers, and sent it flying. It hit the old man squarely on the forehead and embedded itself deeply. A chilling sight¡ªthe old man¡¯s body began to rot visibly, as if corroded by a strong acid. His muscles peeled away, and his blood vessels dissolved into a dark, black liquid.

    The bleached bones of his forehead still bore Zheng Rong¡¯s coin. Three seconds later, the bones crumbled into powder, which drifted away in stillness. The coin flashed as it fell, clinking on the platform before rolling into the water.

    ¡°Moses, farewell,¡± Zheng Rong said, seemingly marking the end of a mythic era. Hands in his pockets, he walked toward the altar at the center of the lake. Joseph stepped forward, carefully scraping off a piece of Moses'' flesh with a knife and collecting it in a vial. ¡°Hope your guess was right,¡± Joseph said with concentration. ¡°Hard to believe that was Moses. Just for a moment, I thought he was still alive.¡±

    ¡°The records say he disappeared after leading the Israelites to Egypt,¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s footsteps echoed as he spoke. ¡°We can imagine that, following divine guidance, he brought the staff back here, sat quietly in this space, and waited for death, taking the secret with him into the darkness... Everyone, come here.¡±

    Zheng Rong ascended the altar, looking at the two items on it, as the rest of the expedition team gathered one by one onto the platform. Zheng Rong seemed to notice something¡ªtwo lights flashed at the bottom of the lake. He pressed his hand against the altar, peering into the darkness of the water.

    ¡°Don¡¯t come over!¡± Lance called out nervously. ¡°Zheng Rong asked me to come. Zheng Rong?¡± Xiang Yu replied. Everyone turned to Xiang Yu, who had climbed up onto the platform. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Ying?¡± Lance asked. Li Ying was still crouching with his head down in the corner of the hall.

    Then he looked up, smiling wickedly. ¡°Should I come too?¡± Distracted, Zheng Rong glanced at Li Ying. ¡°He won¡¯t run. Xiang Yu can catch him anytime.¡± Xiang Yu nodded in agreement, saying nothing.

    ¡°What material is this?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°Unidentifiable, primarily calcium carbonate...?¡± Ugos replied.

    The altar resembled a small pyramid, its sharp tip protruding from the water. The pyramid split at the top, revealing a stone tablet and a piece of parchment. ¡°Give me the camera,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Joseph fiddled with the camera, taking physical photos. ¡°Hebrew. It should be something Moses left behind. I can translate it when we return to base...¡± Lance turned his head and noticed the strange lights underwater.

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s a light?¡± Lance asked. Xiang Yu frowned, following Lance¡¯s magnetic cannon¡¯s aim. A flash from the camera¡¯s shutter. The ground trembled slightly. Joseph, Ugos, Lance, and Xiang Yu all stopped and looked up as dust fell from the hall¡¯s dome. Painted at the top was a griffin with outspread wings.

    ¡°Danger,¡± Lance assessed. ¡°Retreat immediately.¡± ¡°Let me take one more...¡± Joseph began. Another tremor shook the hall violently, and Lance shouted, ¡°Everyone, back to the entrance¡ª!¡± Without another word, Zheng Rong grabbed the camera, firing off several shots.

    Xiang Yu reached out to grab Zheng Rong¡¯s arm. ¡°Take the tablet! There''s another item!¡± Zheng Rong shouted. Xiang Yu pushed Zheng Rong back, grabbed the stone tablet, and wrenched it from the pyramid-like altar¡¯s crack. In an instant, the parchment crumbled, drifting down to the water as the water wall collapsed with a roar.

    Lainey screamed loudly. Xiang Yu held the tablet in one hand, his other powerful arm wrapping around Zheng Rong¡¯s waist, throwing him over his shoulder and rushing toward the main entrance. Zheng Rong showed no fear. The camera in his hand flashed continuously.

    ¡°Li Ying! Let¡¯s go!¡± he shouted. Li Ying lowered his hands, slowly stood, and looked up at the griffin painting on the dome. Zheng Rong felt a jolt in his heart. He raised his camera, aiming at the dome¡¯s mural. ¡°It¡¯s moving...¡± Zheng Rong muttered. The giant griffin in the mural opened its eyes. Its eagle eyes shone as its wings fluttered slightly. Zheng Rong stared at the lake in disbelief.

    ¡°There¡¯s something under the water!¡± Joseph cried. ¡°Run!¡± Zheng Rong finally understood. The image on the ceiling was a projection of the beast beneath the water! The pyramid altar slowly rose. Everyone froze at the entrance. The stone tablet and parchment had actually been embedded in a beak, and with a sharp screech, Zheng Rong felt as if an ultrasonic wave pierced his eardrums. The griffin surged from the water, lunging at the entrance! ¡°Run!¡± Lance roared, hoisting the magnetic cannon, firing with a blast that sent the griffin tumbling back into the lake. A female voice announced, ¡°Countdown to charge: fifty-nine seconds...¡± Lance drew his gun from behind, loading it skillfully, and a round of bullets was fired. The silence of the doorway erupted with bangs. The griffin lunged again, getting stuck at the entrance! ¡°My god!¡± Joseph said in shock, ¡°Such a big creature...¡± ¡°Xiang Yu, take them away!¡± Lance ordered. Zheng Rong flashed the camera again, the flash infuriating the griffin. It screeched, the sound waves reverberating through the corridor. Zheng Rong¡¯s head buzzed, nearly making him faint. Xiang Yu handed the stone tablet to Zheng Rong. ¡°You all go first!¡± he said. ¡°Li Ying!¡± Zheng Rong, leaning against the corridor wall, struggling to breathe, called out. Joseph and Ugos hurried to support Zheng Rong¡¯s arm, guiding him into the passage. Three seconds later, Lance and Xiang Yu shot into the corridor like bullets, crashing to the ground. The entrance was completely destroyed. The griffin¡¯s head crashed into the corridor, its eagle eyes nearly a meter wide, glowing as its beak opened, emitting a piercing sound wave.

    The griffin¡¯s eagle head was wedged in the corridor entrance. Its sharp claws clawed at the ground, each swipe tearing up the stone floor. Zheng Rong fell to the ground, panting heavily. His legs flailed as he struggled to stand. Lance and Xiang Yu, injured and in pain, barely managed to get to their feet. ¡°Where is Li Ying¡ª!¡± Before the words finished, a red hand appeared on the griffin¡¯s forehead, two fingers extending toward its left eye, plunging deep into it. The next second, a sound wave nearly knocked everyone down. A deafening crash came from the stone chamber outside the passage. Feathers flew, and the griffin lifted its head, causing the entire wall to collapse. Seizing the moment of the collapse, Li Ying darted into the corridor.

    Zheng Rong let out a sigh of relief, but the silence lasted only a few seconds before the griffin shrieked again, smashing half of the corridor wall as it pushed its head inside. Its remaining eye locked onto Zheng Rong. ¡°It wants this... It''s guarding the tablet?¡± Zheng Rong said, waving the tablet at the griffin. ¡°Stop looking! Run!¡± Lance urged.

    With a roar, Xiang Yu rushed forward, grabbing the giant beak. His left arm clenched the hooked upper beak, while his right hand gripped the lower jaw, his body trembling with effort. ¡°Argh¡ªah!¡± Xiang Yu let out a battle cry, forcefully twisting the massive beak 180 degrees, then wrenching his arms apart, ripping the hooked beak in half. Boiling blood splattered on everyone. ¡°Blow this place up! Don¡¯t let that thing get out!¡± Zheng Rong shouted. ¡°Get out first!¡± Lance ordered.

    In an instant, everyone ran for their lives down the corridor. Zheng Rong sprinted as fast as he could until his body felt light, being scooped up into Li Ying¡¯s arms. He didn¡¯t struggle, just took out his walkie-talkie.

    ¡°Pickle Girl! Answer me! Report our location! Get the pilot ready for takeoff...¡± Jin Puae¡¯s voice trembled anxiously. ¡°What are you doing?! The sand around you is collapsing!¡± Dust fell all around the corridor. ¡°Converge on me!¡± Zheng Rong ordered.

    Xiang Yu sprinted forward to catch up with the group. ¡°Where¡¯s Lance?! We¡¯ll wait here! Lainey, come back! You¡¯re running in the wrong direction!¡± Zheng Rong called. Ugos dashed to the intersection, grabbing the screaming Lainey and dragging her back.

    ¡°Your position is...¡± Jin Puae¡¯s voice came through. ¡°We¡¯re going to use a bomb to blow up the underground structure. Have the helicopter ready at the blast site. If anything comes out of the ground, focus all firepower on it!¡± Zheng Rong instructed. ¡°Li Ying, put me down.

    Can we blow this place up?¡± Zheng Rong asked, taking a deep breath. ¡°Will it bury us alive?¡± Leaning against the wall and panting heavily, Ugos said intermittently, ¡°No... the rocky terrain... could cause a collapse... We need to keep running.¡± A distant boom sounded. Zheng Rong¡¯s legs felt weak, and Xiang Yu shook out a coat, draping it.

    A loud explosion sounded in the distance, and Zheng Rong¡¯s legs went weak. Xiang Yu shook out a coat, draping it over Zheng Rong''s shoulders. ¡°Go on ahead,¡± Xiang Yu urged. Zheng Rong bent over, gasping for breath, and shook his finger. ¡°Wait for Lance...¡±

    The magnetic cannon exploded, and Lance was thrown back into the corridor by the recoil. He flipped over and charged toward them. ¡°The timer on the bomb has one minute left!¡± Lance shouted. Xiang Yu took the magnetic cannon, and everyone began to sprint for their lives.

    A minute later, loud booms echoed from the far end of the corridor, growing closer. ¡°Where did you place the timer bomb?¡± Zheng Rong asked. Lance, confused, said, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t it detonated? I threw the bomb into its mouth...¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me... you used Li Ying¡¯s last bomb.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all I had... The remaining detonators would¡¯ve taken too long to set up...¡± Lance replied. ¡°Great, let me give you some good news,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°That bomb... isn¡¯t filled with nitroglycerin.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°It¡¯s filled with Li Ying¡¯s urine! Stop resting! Get up! RUN!¡±

 14 - The Crippled Ancient God

    When the griffin broke out of the ground, everyone finally realized what a colossal creature it was. It was almost as large as the Sphinx statue, with its wings spread wide over a hundred meters. Blood spurted from its eagle beak, which had been split open by Xiang Yu, and it dragged an eyeball violently destroyed by Li Ying. The griffin writhed in agony on the ground, each movement raising clouds of sand and dust.

    The exploration team finally boarded the helicopter, all gasping for breath, yet the griffin still had strength left. Its four lion claws dug furiously into the ground, then it leapt into the air, flapped its wings, and charged toward the airborne helicopter!

    ¡°Ascend!¡± Lance shouted.

    The griffin was almost ten times the size of the helicopter. Egyptians in the distance fell to their knees in terror, praying to the heavens and shouting in panic.

    ¡°What are they screaming about? Get the civilians to assist in the attack!¡± Lance ordered. ¡°Open all magazines and bomb it! Don¡¯t let it escape!¡±

    Sand and dust filled the air as the griffin screeched in fury, its wings unfurled like the resurrection of the Sphinx amidst the sandstorm.

    Joseph muttered, ¡°They say we have angered a god.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Indeed. This creature is akin to a god.¡±

    The panicked civilians shouted, still able to make out the word ¡°Sphinx.¡±

    Kim Pu-ai stood with her mouth open, staring blankly at the scene. Zheng Rong snatched the laptop off her lap, no longer concerned about the beast outside the cabin, and connected it to the camera¡¯s data cable to search for the photos Joseph had taken.

    Lance fired another electromagnetic cannon shot, trailing a bolt of lightning that blasted the Sphinx back to the ground.

    The recoil was intense, and Zheng Rong impatiently shouted, ¡°Be careful!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s trying to escape,¡± Lance responded.

    Ugos said, ¡°We can¡¯t let it get away! Who knows if this creature can reproduce, or what it eats? It¡¯s best to find a way to capture it for research.¡±

    Lance took out a set of back armor, tested its strength, and said, ¡°You all stay here.¡±

    Then he put down the electromagnetic cannon, grabbed a grenade belt, slung it over his shoulder, and leapt out of the helicopter!

    Kim Pu-ai cried out loudly, and with a swoosh, a pair of glider wings unfolded from Lance¡¯s back as he flew toward the struggling griffin.

    ¡°What dumb thing is he doing now?¡± Zheng Rong asked distractedly as he casually connected a printer, the ancient Hebrew script on the parchment clearly visible.

    Everyone watched Lance, but Zheng Rong kept his head down, focusing on the computer, while Li Ying sat beside him, intently watching Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Baby, give me a kiss; I love the way you study so earnestly,¡± Li Ying said.

    ¡°Get lost,¡± Zheng Rong snapped.

    ¡°Take care of them,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    Xiang Yu bent down to pick up another piece of back armor, trying it on.

    Lance¡¯s voice came through the communicator: ¡°Requesting fire support; pin it back to the ground.¡±

    Gulcat''s enthusiastic voice responded, ¡°Roger that, boss. Ready to roast this big fella?¡±

    Three seconds later, Xiang Yu leaped into the air, mimicking Lance¡¯s glider wing deployment, and called out, ¡°I¡¯m here to assist you!¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    The two gliders of Lance and Xiang Yu spiraled in the air, converging and splitting behind the Sphinx.

    Lance said, ¡°Catch this! I¡¯ll distract it; you throw this...¡±

    Xiang Yu reached out and caught the grenade Lance threw to him. With a tilt of his body, he maneuvered the glider to skim sideways, dodging the griffin¡¯s sweeping wings.

    ¡°Hey! Over here!¡± Lance pulled out a flare gun, firing it off. The Sphinx roared furiously and pounced on him.

    Almost instantly, Zheng Rong felt a jolt, pushed aside the laptop, grabbed the electromagnetic cannon, and fired a sudden blast into the sandstorm!

    ¡°You¡¯re all risking your lives!¡± Zheng Rong shouted angrily.

    Lance¡¯s laughter came through the communicator. The Sphinx¡¯s wings fanned up and slapped Lance¡¯s glider hard, sending him plummeting to the ground!

    Xiang Yu turned around, seizing the final opportunity. He raised his hand, pulled the grenade pin, and threw it into the griffin¡¯s mouth. Then, with a powerful kick to the Sphinx¡¯s forehead, he flew away.

    Ten seconds later, the griffin¡¯s eagle neck exploded with a boom, splitting in two. The eagle head flew far away, crashing to the ground. Blood gushed wildly from the severed neck, dyeing nearly a mile of desert red, as if forming a lake of blood.

    The headless Sphinx lay quietly in the pool of blood, while in the distance, the statue that Zheng Rong had blasted with one shot lay shattered beyond recognition. The ground slowly collapsed with a thunderous noise, taking this ancient creature into darkness.

    The helicopter lowered a rope ladder to pick up Xiang Yu and Lance, then turned around mid-air and flew northeast.

    ¡°You, move to the other side,¡± Lance said roughly, pressing a gun against the back of Li Ying¡¯s head.

    Li Ying smiled and, without any resistance, moved to the bench on the opposite side.

    Covered in blood, Xiang Yu boarded the cabin and instinctively raised his arm to sniff.

    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zheng Rong asked without lifting his head.

    ¡°No harm done.¡±

    Xiang Yu waved his hand, scanned the cabin, then found a secluded corner to sit down, the smell of blood still pungent.

    No one spoke, as if still reliving those perilous moments.

    Lance bent down and took a pair of handcuffs out of a military bag, pondering in silence. Finally, he cuffed one of the rings around his own wrist.

    ¡°If you handcuff yourself to him and he wants to escape, he¡¯ll just cut off his own hand,¡± Zheng Rong said coldly.

    Lance had to change his plan, cuffing both handcuffs around Li Ying¡¯s wrists. ¡°Now where are we headed?¡±

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Li Ying remained silent.

    Zheng Rong sighed, rubbing his temples in exhaustion, and said, ¡°Find a place to settle down. We have too much information to process.¡±

    Lance spoke into the intercom, ¡°Proceed to the underground supply base in the Arab Oil Republic.¡±

    Gulcat''s voice came through, ¡°Roger that.¡±

    ¡°Rest up for a bit. Prepare dinner. I''ll formally introduce everyone,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°This is Mr. L, an expert in alien technology research who has come at my request to assist us. Let¡¯s welcome his joining us with a round of applause.¡±

    Sparse clapping followed.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Ugos greeted politely, still unsure why Lance had cuffed ¡°Mr. L.¡±

    Kim Pu-ai seemed to understand something and offered a friendly hand. Li Ying, with his wrists together, grasped her hand and shook it up and down to show goodwill.

    ¡°I¡¯m here voluntarily,¡± Li Ying said with a slight raise of his eyebrow and a devilish smile.

    Raine said coldly, ¡°If I had a lover who betrayed humanity and sided with the Maya aliens...¡±

    Zheng Rong stared provocatively at Raine.

    Raine remained unfazed. ¡°As long as he says, ¡®Raine, come with me,¡¯ I would abandon everything and follow love without hesitation.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°If I had a lover who betrayed humanity and sided with the Maya aliens...¡±

    He pulled out a gun from his pocket, raised it casually, and pointed it at Lance¡¯s temple.

    Lance¡¯s expression remained calm, his eyes warm.

    ¡°I would bid him farewell, and as he turned away... like this,¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°I¡¯d send him off with a bullet to the head.¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡± Zheng Rong firmly pulled the trigger.

    Lance seemed to understand some unspoken intimacy, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

    ¡°Jammed?¡±

    ¡°There were no bullets in it,¡± Zheng Rong replied, putting away the gun and ignoring everyone else as he curled up in his trench coat and dozed off.

    <hr>

    The Underground Base of the Arab Oil Republic

    ¡°This is not one of the four main human cities,¡± Lance explained to several team members. ¡°It¡¯s a small-scale human refuge settlement.¡±

    The ceiling of the underground city radiated a blinding light, like the scorching sun. The streets were wide and bright, lined with villa-style buildings. Ugos looked around, examining his surroundings.

    ¡°The Arabs are very wealthy,¡± Lance continued. ¡°They purchase a large number of nuclear warheads, exchanging them for oil. As you know, oil is as valuable as gold for industrial materials... I¡¯ve heard that this hotel is pretty good, and many Middle Easterners live here. You can rest in the lobby for a bit.¡±

    ¡°We can take a vacation for a while; hope you all enjoy your stay.¡±

    Covered in blood, Lance wore only an army green vest. He settled his teammates in the hotel lobby and excitedly went to the front desk to make arrangements.

    Staying one night in a place like this was extremely expensive. Zheng Rong took a quick look but didn¡¯t say much, sitting down on the lobby sofa, while Xiang Yu dutifully followed Lance.

    ¡°Where are you coming from? Ireland¡¯s main city?¡± a distant receptionist asked. ¡°What mission are you on?¡±

    Lance and Xiang Yu looked like two soldiers and had already been questioned once at the border.

    Li Ying sat beside Zheng Rong, who kicked him away slightly without any politeness.

    ¡°Mr. Lance seems very happy?¡± Ugos commented.

    ¡°Ahaha... yes,¡± Joseph replied absentmindedly, comparing photos in his hand. ¡°Because Zheng Rong just blew his head off.¡±

    ¡°Stop babbling,¡± Zheng Rong said unhappily.

    Li Ying turned his head and asked, ¡°What are you doing? Programming?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai brushed back her long hair, smiled, and said, ¡°I am creating a world.¡±

    ¡°The Koreans created the universe, you see,¡± Zheng Rong nodded.

    Kim Pu-ai turned to Li Ying, explaining:

    ¡°This is our latest technology in Korea, a groundbreaking project funded by the Samsung Consortium, hiring top computer programmers, archaeologists, and over a hundred experts in social sciences and natural sciences to collaborate on a study. It¡¯s a project exploring the unknown world.¡±

    Li Ying seemed quite interested and asked, ¡°So?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai¡¯s expression turned slightly somber. ¡°They all died... in the last East Asia Defense War... Now it''s just me, and the curator asked me to bring the core data and escape to Northern Ireland...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very sorry,¡± Zheng Rong said absentmindedly.

    ¡°So your computer holds the last...¡± Li Ying said.

    Kim Pu-ai nodded slowly. ¡°It is the crystallization of our nation¡¯s wisdom.¡±

    Li Ying thoughtfully cracked his knuckles, while Kim Pu-ai¡¯s eyes glistened with a faint tear. ¡°On behalf of the Korean Computer Science Association, I have backed up the main program and donated it to the Human Heritage Research Museum.¡±

    ¡°Oh... that''s really not a good idea,¡± Joseph said without looking up. ¡°The humidity is too high in the Heritage Museum; the chips might mold.¡±

    Li Ying remarked, ¡°That''s quite noble of you. Is the content classified?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not anymore. Would you like to hear about it?¡± Kim Pu-ai asked. ¡°I know you can understand how I feel.¡±

    She looked pleadingly at Li Ying, who politely inquired, ¡°Hmm, sounds interesting... what is it about?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai typed a few keys on the keyboard and explained to her teammates, ¡°This is a model of the Big Bang.¡±

    Zheng Rong glanced at it and said, ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°A model. What¡¯s its function?¡± Kim Pu-ai said, ¡°Hawking was the first to propose the idea of the Big Bang. You know, his ancestors were Korean...¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Kim Pu-ai: ¡°?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not laughing. Please continue,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Taking a deep breath, Kim Pu-ai continued, ¡°Let''s propose a hypothesis. Suppose you have a glass box, and the model inside can fully, without any deviation, demonstrate the entire process of the formation of the universe. What would you think?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. ¡°That means that in this glass box, from the moment the universe is born, every event will be faithfully reenacted.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°That is indeed the case, but can you collect such data?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai said, ¡°Every event that happens in the time stream is a real event, so we can establish the first model through the obtained ¡®conclusion,¡¯ then deduce backwards to find the ¡®cause¡¯ that triggered it.¡±

    Li Ying understood a bit. ¡°That would require an enormous amount of data.¡±

    ¡°Yes. The computation is very complex. By continuously speculating forward, eventually, it traces back to 20 billion years ago, to the moment the universe formed, finding the single cause that led to all events,¡± Kim Pu-ai said.

    ¡°Hmm... that¡¯s interesting,¡± Joseph said leisurely. ¡°The universe came into being, one cause leading to countless results, which then become the basis for more causes. You¡¯re replaying the world, the only difference being that it¡¯s in a computer, not the real world.¡±

    Li Ying understood. ¡°You intend to create a virtual universe inside a computer.¡±

    Zheng Rong was somewhat puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the point? Can you observe every corner of the universe? Even if you want to, can you keep up?¡±

    ¡°Dr. Zheng, you¡¯re being shallow. It¡¯s more than just observing! Think about it ¡ª from the birth of the universe until now, and even into the future ¡ª all the events in the time stream will follow the development rules of our world and continue to evolve autonomously.¡±

    ¡°In other words ¡ª the sun is born inside the computer, the Earth is born inside the computer, all things... life, humanity, they will all exist, develop, vanish, and perish inside this model!¡± Kim Pu-ai said.

    Li Ying pointed to the laptop. ¡°So in the world inside the program, there will also be aliens invading humans?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Humans will develop according to this trajectory, reaching this day, and there will be digital versions of us, busy looking for salvation ¡ª with exactly the same personalities, thoughts, and languages as Mr. L, Dr. Zheng, and myself, Kim Pu-ai,¡± Kim Pu-ai said.

    Zheng Rong was completely bewildered. He vaguely understood a bit of Kim Pu-ai¡¯s theory, but couldn¡¯t fully grasp it. Li Ying, on the other hand, had an exceptionally clear logic and asked, ¡°If this system is complete, I mean... if it really works... will all the people inside the computer...¡±

    Kim Pu-ai slowly said, ¡°We will all be reborn.¡±

    Suddenly, Ugos interjected, ¡°That¡¯s just a copy; they exist within their own program carrier.¡±

    ¡°That could be said...¡± Zheng Rong mumbled, unable to fully articulate his thoughts.

    Li Ying chuckled, ¡°The program version of Kim Pu-ai will also try to create such a world inside the computer?¡±

    Kim Pu-ai said, ¡°That''s the peculiar conclusion we reached. To be precise, yes. One world contains another world, and so on, endlessly.¡±

    ¡°Then perhaps you Koreans would need a computer core the size of the sun, with countless billions of storage chips,¡± Zheng Rong remarked.

    ¡°Far more than that. I fear the computer¡¯s central processing unit would need to be as large as the entire Milky Way,¡± Kim Pu-ai said sadly.

    ¡°But in the distant future, anything is possible,¡± she continued softly. ¡°What we can do now is to design this recursive rule and the simplest logic system, and the rest, after billions of years, leave it to the people of the future to complete. Ideas and visions are always passed from one generation to the next, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    In a few years, your computer causality theory will die along with you, just like the creation god of the Koreans ¡ª Zheng Rong thought dismissively.

    However, his own plan sounded just as vague and unrealistic as the Koreans'' delusions of creation.

    He could understand Kim Pu-ai¡¯s feelings, so he chose not to comment.

    ¡°What if it crashes?¡± Xiang Yu finished arranging accommodations and suddenly chimed in.

    Kim Pu-ai: ¡°...¡±

    ¡°What if the power goes out?¡± Xiang Yu asked, having only caught a bit of Kim Pu-ai¡¯s explanation and frowning.

    No one replied. Lance said, ¡°Everyone, our rooms are arranged.¡±

    They all packed their things and headed to the elevator.

    ¡°The Koreans don¡¯t have the power to create a world, but they sure have the ambition to do so,¡± Zheng Rong sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve really underestimated them.¡±

    Li Ying, intrigued, asked, ¡°If you could be reborn, would you still make the same choices?¡±

    A few people stood in the elevator. Li Ying¡¯s question was directed at Zheng Rong, who remained silent.

    Li Ying said, ¡°If I could live again, I would.¡±

    ¡°I would too,¡± Zheng Rong replied as the elevator doors opened. He snatched the key card from Lance¡¯s hand and entered the corridor.

 15 - A Hotel Vacation

    Lance booked five double rooms: one for the two pilots, one for the Korean girl and Lainey, and one for Joseph and Ugos. As for Xiang Yu...

    Zheng Rong stood in front of his room door, suddenly realizing that the person behind him was Lance. Xiang Yu fiddled with the door card in the next room for a while and finally handed it over to Li Ying, who took it with his bound hands and swiped it in the slot.

    Xiang Yu politely said, "Thank you." He then opened the door with a gesture of invitation for Li Ying to go inside before following him in.

    Zheng Rong, unable to bear it any longer, said, "I want to change my roommate. No, I¡¯m the captain of this expedition team, so I¡¯m ordering you to switch rooms with Xiang Yu."

    Lance pressed one hand against the door, half pinning Zheng Rong and preventing him from leaving. He leaned close to Zheng Rong''s ear and said in a low voice, "I can¡¯t keep an eye on him. We already discussed it at the front desk. Xiang Yu volunteered to room with Li Ying, saying he could easily restrain him and ensure he wouldn¡¯t escape."

    "Then please step aside; I''ll go switch rooms with Ugos," Zheng Rong replied.

    "I am responsible for your safety," Lance said firmly, his arm strong and steady, leaving no room for compromise. "Dr. Joseph is not capable of protecting you. I won¡¯t bother you. You¡¯re free to move around the room as you wish."

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath, feeling extremely uneasy with Lance¡¯s close physical proximity. Finally, he swiped the door card and entered the room.

    Lance said, "I''ve reserved a private room downstairs. In a bit, everyone will come down for some desert barbecue. For now, you can take a shower and rest."

    Reluctantly, Zheng Rong straightened his clothes and went into the bathroom. Lance contentedly sat on one of the beds, exhaled in relief, and said with a smile, "You can use the bathtub to relax."

    The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

    Lance lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling light, and said, ¡°Zheng Rong.¡±

    Zheng Rong lay in the bathtub, the steam rising around him. He was exhausted. The water was slightly too hot, soaking him to the point of drowsiness, and his skin turned red from the heat.

    The places where Li Ying had touched still felt like they were burning. Zheng Rong licked his lips, eyes glazed over, wondering, "Is he showering next door too?"

    Li Ying was also lying in a bathtub, his bare back against the wall, separated from Zheng Rong by only a thin wall.

    Zheng Rong exhaled, his legs spread apart as the hot water lapped over his body, enthralling him as he reminisced about the times he had tangled with Li Ying.

    Li Ying never held back in a fight. Whether it was a sparring match or a grudge fight, he always beat his opponent to a bloody pulp. Even in military-organized combat competitions, his eyes shone with a thirst for blood. Every time he fought, he wouldn''t stop until he saw blood, as if that was the true symbol of victory.

    Yet when he was in bed with Zheng Rong, he was careful, extremely gentle¡ªso gentle it was as if he were a completely different person.

    Zheng Rong often read online that same-sex intercourse frequently caused anal tearing and bleeding, but he never experienced that himself. Since the first time Li Ying slept with him, Zheng Rong had found himself thoroughly enjoying it, even becoming addicted.

    Li Ying¡¯s nails were trimmed short, his index and middle fingers long and slender. When he took off his gloves, his fingers were soft. Each time, after thoroughly lubricating Zheng Rong, his fingertips would explore inside, and Zheng Rong rarely felt any discomfort.

    Li Ying had a habit of kissing Zheng Rong while caressing his posterior with his left hand, his fingers gently probing deeper, while his right hand lightly stroked the length of Zheng Rong''s shaft, the thumb rubbing along the ridge of his glans.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes would glaze over with mist as he wrapped his arms around Li Ying¡¯s bare neck, pressing against his shoulder and allowing him to do as he pleased.

    Only when Li Ying felt it was time would he squeeze some lubricant onto Zheng Rong¡¯s fingers and have him coat Li Ying¡¯s painfully hard member.

    Then, Li Ying would lie down, letting Zheng Rong straddle him and ride on his waist. Once Zheng Rong got used to it, Li Ying would take the lead, holding him and thrusting from below.

    Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t help thinking of him, one hand wandering to his groin, recalling Li Ying¡¯s straight and lean figure. He was slender yet muscular, his erection like that of a lithe wild leopard.

    ¡°Zheng Rong?!¡± Lance called out anxiously, knocking on the bathroom door.

    ¡°What is it? Shut up!¡± Zheng Rong snapped irritably.

    ¡°Nothing. Just turn on the ventilation system,¡± Lance replied.

    Zheng Rong continued for a bit longer, but just as he was about to climax, Lance¡¯s knock ruined his mood. In a lackluster voice, he responded, ¡°Oh.¡±

    Li Ying was too thin, not as reassuring as Xiang Yu... Zheng Rong¡¯s thoughts wandered aimlessly.

    Worried, Lance sat outside the bathroom door and asked again, ¡°Zheng Rong?¡±

    Zheng Rong remained silent.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°I... I¡¯m fine! I demand to change rooms; I can¡¯t stand you...¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°I heard your breathing quicken and thought you were suffocating,¡± Lance said with a flustered face.

    ¡°Sir, I was about to come when you interrupted me,¡± Zheng Rong replied calmly.

    Lance¡¯s face flushed red, and he stammered, ¡°S-sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zheng Rong said leisurely.

    ¡°Were you thinking about him?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to know. I suggest you don¡¯t ask,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°I want to know,¡± Lance insisted.

    ¡°Oh, my sexual fantasy isn¡¯t about him. It¡¯s you, Xiang Yu, and my brother¡ªall four of us in the bathroom, with you behind me...¡± Zheng Rong started.

    Lance, blushing furiously, stood up and walked away.

    Zheng Rong abruptly pulled the door open, wearing only a bathrobe. His hair was soaked, and his neck and thighs flushed from the hot water.

    ¡°You...¡± Lance, his blood rushing, said, ¡°Dry your hair.¡±

    He grabbed a towel and started drying Zheng Rong¡¯s hair.

    ¡°I can do it myself. You should go shower,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance went into the bathroom.

    Zheng Rong decided to take his revenge.

    He glanced at the clock on the nightstand, and every thirty seconds, he loudly asked, ¡°Lance! Are you jerking off?!¡±

    ¡°...¡± Lance said nothing.

    By the seventh time Zheng Rong called out, Lance came out with his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. He was bare-chested, wearing only white boxer briefs, and he sat on the bed, wiping his feet with a towel.

    ¡°That was quick,¡± Zheng Rong commented.

    ¡°Soldiers always shower quickly,¡± Lance replied, head lowered as he dried his legs. His skin was fair, his face handsome¡ªa mix of Germanic and French ancestry, with eyes like the Aegean Sea.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d put on the thong I gave you,¡± Zheng Rong teased.

    Completely unfazed by the sarcasm, Lance romantically replied, ¡°If you want to see it, I¡¯ll wear it for you tonight.¡±

    Zheng Rong gave up, lying down on the bed and closing his eyes.

    He gradually fell asleep, and after who knows how long, Lance gently touched his head and said, ¡°Zheng Rong.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Rong...¡± Lance called softly.

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes in annoyance, and Lance patiently said, ¡°Eat dinner first. You can sleep when we get back. Everyone''s waiting.¡±

    Drowsy, Zheng Rong got up to change clothes and followed Lance out.

    Joseph was chatting animatedly with the team in front of the elevator. When Zheng Rong walked in, he asked, ¡°Did you finish translating the Hebrew?¡±

    ¡°Oh, almost there. I plan to work overtime tonight,¡± Joseph said.

    Xiang Yu glanced at the elevator buttons and thoughtfully pressed the one for the restaurant floor.

    Having been woken up after only a short nap, Zheng Rong was in a foul mood. He looked around irritably, searching for something to nitpick, and eventually fixed his gaze on Li Ying¡¯s handcuffs.

    With his hands bound, Li Ying hung his head low, standing in the elevator like a devout believer, his lips curling into his signature mischievous smile, as if knowing Zheng Rong was looking at him.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Lance, how do you plan for him to eat?¡± Zheng Rong asked coldly.

    Noticing Zheng Rong¡¯s hostile glare, Xiang Yu smiled, reached out his large palm, and patted Zheng Rong¡¯s head. ¡°You can feed him, Zheng Rong.¡±

    Everyone in the elevator laughed. Xiang Yu¡¯s touch seemed to have a calming magic, easing Zheng Rong¡¯s temper.

    The elevator dinged as the doors opened. Lance took a key out of his pocket, handed it to Zheng Rong, and said, ¡°Unlock him for now.¡± Then he walked into the restaurant.

    The restaurant was spacious, more so than the underground chamber of the Sphinx, and luxuriously decorated.

    The ceiling was painted with characters from Arabic mythology and "One Thousand and One Nights." Interwoven green grapevines draped down from the wooden trellises, dividing the restaurant into dozens of intimate

    Li Ying was too thin; he didn''t give the sense of security that Xiang Yu did, Zheng Rong thought to himself.

    Outside the bathroom, Lance sat down on the floor, restless. He asked again, "Zheng Rong?"

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°I... I¡¯m fine! I want to switch rooms; I can''t stand you...¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    Lance chuckled. ¡°I heard your breathing get a bit rough. I thought you were out of breath.¡±

    ¡°Sir, I was about to ejaculate when you interrupted me,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance¡¯s face turned bright red. ¡°S-sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zheng Rong said leisurely.

    ¡°Were you thinking about that guy?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know. I suggest you don''t ask,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°I want to know,¡± Lance insisted.

    ¡°Oh, my sexual fantasy isn''t about him. It''s you, Xiang Yu, and my brother¡ªall four of us in the bathroom, with you behind me...¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance¡¯s face flushed bright red as he quickly got up and left.

    Zheng Rong suddenly flung open the door, wearing a bathrobe. His hair was wet, and his neck and thighs were flushed from the hot water.

    ¡°You...¡± Lance felt his blood surge. ¡°Dry your hair.¡±

    He took a towel and started to dry Zheng Rong''s hair.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself. You go shower,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance went into the bathroom.

    Zheng Rong decided to retaliate.

    He looked at the clock on the nightstand, and every thirty seconds, he yelled, ¡°Lance! Are you jerking off?!¡±

    ¡°...¡± Lance stayed silent.

    By the seventh shout, Lance came out with both hands raised in surrender. He was bare-chested, wearing only white boxer briefs. He sat on the bed and dried his feet with a towel.

    ¡°That was quick,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°Soldiers always shower fast,¡± Lance replied, keeping his head down while drying his legs. His skin was fair, his face handsome¡ªa mix of Germanic and French descent. His eyes were famously Aegean blue.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d put on that thong I gave you,¡± Zheng Rong teased.

    Unbothered by the taunt, Lance replied romantically, ¡°If you want to see it, I¡¯ll wear it for you tonight.¡±

    Zheng Rong lost this exchange and resigned himself to lying down on the bed and closing his eyes.

    Gradually, he fell asleep. After a long while, Lance gently touched his head and said, ¡°Zheng Rong.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Rong...¡± Lance whispered.

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes impatiently. Lance said gently, ¡°Eat dinner first. You can sleep when we get back. Everyone is waiting.¡±

    Zheng Rong groggily got up, changed clothes, and followed Lance out.

    Joseph was at the elevator, chatting animatedly with the team. Zheng Rong walked in and asked, ¡°Did you finish translating the Hebrew?¡±

    ¡°Oh, almost. I decided to work late tonight,¡± Joseph replied.

    Xiang Yu glanced at the elevator buttons and sensibly pressed the one for the restaurant floor.

    Zheng Rong had only napped for a short while before being woken up, leaving him in a foul mood. He scanned around irritably, looking for something to nitpick, until his gaze landed on Li Ying¡¯s handcuffs.

    Li Ying stood quietly in the elevator with his hands cuffed, looking down like a devout believer. His lips curled into his trademark wicked smile as if he knew Zheng Rong was watching him.

    ¡°Lance, how do you plan for him to eat?¡± Zheng Rong asked coldly.

    Noticing Zheng Rong¡¯s hostile expression, Xiang Yu smiled and reached out his large hand to pat Zheng Rong¡¯s head. ¡°You can feed him, Zheng Rong.¡±

    Everyone in the elevator laughed. Xiang Yu''s touch seemed to have a calming magic, dissipating Zheng Rong''s foul mood.

    The elevator dinged as the doors opened. Lance pulled out a key, handed it to Zheng Rong, and said, ¡°Unlock him for now.¡± Then he walked into the restaurant.

    The restaurant was very spacious, even larger than the underground chamber of the Sphinx, and decorated luxuriously.

    The ceiling was painted with characters from Arabian mythology and "One Thousand and One Nights." Green grapevines interwove and draped down from wooden trellises, dividing the restaurant into dozens of intimate spaces.

    Each private booth lacked chairs, instead furnished with soft cushions and intricately woven wool carpets.

    The flash of a camera and the sound of clicking filled the air as Joseph took photos.

    Zheng Rong unlocked Li Ying¡¯s handcuffs.

    Li Ying looked down at Zheng Rong and whispered, ¡°Baby, can I kiss you?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied politely, ¡°I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t¡ªunless you¡¯re the one paying for dinner next time.¡±

    ¡°If you try to force it, I¡¯ll hit you,¡± Xiang Yu said sternly.

    Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t help but laugh. An Arabian woman, her face covered with a thin veil, checked their reservation and led them to a booth under the grape trellis.

    A cute boy quickly brought out an iron pot filled with burning charcoal, placing it on a copper stand in the center of the carpet. Kneeling properly in front of the fire, he watched as the server brought out a large plate of neatly arranged kebabs on skewers.

    ¡°Sit here, Zheng Rong.¡± It sounded like Lance was claiming ownership. Zheng Rong hesitated briefly before sitting next to Lance.

    ¡°Would the ladies and gentlemen like some wine?¡± Lance asked politely.

    The two women declined, while Xiang Yu, Joseph, and Ugos agreed to have a little.

    Zheng Rong didn''t give a definitive answer and sat hugging his knees between Lance and Li Ying. Between Zheng Rong and Li Ying sat the young Arabian boy who served them.

    The boy brought a chilled wine bottle, and Lance instructed, ¡°The ladies aren¡¯t drinking.¡±

    The boy smiled, nodded, and expertly filled the silver bowls of the men with a rose-red wine. He exchanged a glance with Zheng Rong, who said, ¡°Just a little for me, thanks.¡±

    The boy curiously studied Li Ying, who gave him an indifferent look in return.

    The boy filled Li Ying¡¯s bowl as well, then started grilling the meat.

    ¡°Look above; can any of you guess what story that is?¡± Joseph asked. He had a way of ensuring no conversation ever went flat; his knowledge was like an ocean, and every topic he brought up could spark the group''s interest.

    ¡°Aladdin?¡± Kim Pu-ai guessed eagerly.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the genie bottle. Did you know that ''One Thousand and One Nights'' is not what you think? It¡¯s not a bedtime story for children. The whole book is filled with gore, violence...¡± Zheng Rong started.

    ¡°Oh, please, Zheng Rong,¡± Joseph interrupted.

    ¡°...and sex. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Zheng Rong continued nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow.

    Li Ying laughed. ¡°That¡¯s what I like about him.¡±

    ¡°You probably should have come back sooner,¡± Lance said coldly.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s comment immediately quieted the room, and Xiang Yu intervened at the right time. ¡°Zheng Rong¡¯s views have always been unconventional.¡±

    ¡°I have to admit, though, sometimes he¡¯s right,¡± Joseph said.

    Nodding, Zheng Rong explained, ¡°Every night, King Shahrayar would kill a woman, like a demon. Every story involving the caliphs depicts their deeds as brutal¡ªlike beheading the queen and putting her head in a pot of roses.¡±

    The young Arabian boy said quietly, ¡°Yes, you know a lot.¡± He sprinkled salt and cumin on a skewer, carefully discerning who among the guests was the center of attention, and handed the first piece of grilled meat to Zheng Rong.

    ¡°That¡¯s why the version of ''One Thousand and One Nights'' we read as kids has been stripped of all the gory, age-inappropriate scenes,¡± Lance added.

    Kim Pu-ai¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise, and Joseph clapped his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s grill the meat ourselves and eat.¡±

    The boy gestured for them to proceed, and the team began grilling the kebabs.

    Pilot Wolf joked, ¡°It¡¯s an adult bedtime story, not one for kids.¡±

    Zheng Rong tasted the meat and said, ¡°Even children¡¯s stories are cruel. ''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' are among the worst.¡±

    ¡°How so? ''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' were bedtime stories my grandma used to read to me,¡± Lainey retorted sarcastically.

    ¡°The original version of ''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' includes a game of slaughter, where the children play the roles of chef, butcher, and... pig,¡± Zheng Rong replied nonchalantly.

    ¡°Okay, Miss Lainey, curiosity kills the cat. I wouldn''t recommend you dig any deeper,¡± Joseph advised.

    Lainey pouted. ¡°Is there anything he hasn¡¯t turned upside down? I¡¯m not surprised anymore.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true. The child playing the butcher slits the throat of the child playing the pig and collects the blood in a bowl,¡± Zheng Rong explained.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I read that one too, very intriguing. But I prefer Oscar Wilde¡¯s ''The Happy Prince,''¡± Li Ying said teasingly.

    ¡°His eyes are gone...¡± Zheng Rong said leisurely.

    ¡°His ears are gone...¡± Li Ying sang quietly.

    Zheng Rong made a gesture. ¡°His heart is gone...¡±

    The two played off each other seamlessly, acting out the parts, and their expressions were so earnest that, for a moment, the atmosphere beneath the grape trellis felt warm and cozy.

    Lance coughed. ¡°That¡¯s a sad fairy tale. Here¡¯s to our mission¡¯s success... Cheers.¡±

    ¡°Sit here, Zheng Rong.¡± Lance¡¯s voice carried an undertone of possessiveness. Zheng Rong was slightly disoriented but eventually took his seat beside Lance.

    Lance politely asked, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, would you like some wine?¡±

    The two women waved their hands to decline, but Xiang Yu, Joseph, and Ugos indicated they¡¯d have some.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t express a preference either way and sat hugging his knees between Lance and Li Ying. Between them was an Arabian boy, who was serving their table.

    The boy brought over a chilled wine bottle. Lance instructed, ¡°The ladies aren¡¯t drinking.¡±

    The boy smiled, nodded, and expertly poured the rose-colored wine into the silver bowls in front of the men. He exchanged a look with Zheng Rong, who said, ¡°Just a little for me, thank you.¡±

    The boy cast a curious glance at Li Ying, who met his gaze indifferently.

    Pouring a full glass for Li Ying as well, the boy then began to grill the meat.

    ¡°Look up,¡± Joseph said, ¡°can you guess what story is depicted on the ceiling?¡±

    Wherever Joseph was, conversation never went flat. His knowledge was vast, and every topic he brought up sparked interest among his companions.

    ¡°Aladdin?¡± Kim Pu-ai asked enthusiastically.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the genie¡¯s bottle. You know, ''One Thousand and One Nights'' isn¡¯t what you think it is. It¡¯s not really suitable as a bedtime story for children. The entire book is filled with bloodshed and violence...¡± Zheng Rong interjected.

    ¡°Oh, please, Zheng Rong,¡± Joseph sighed.

    Zheng Rong raised an eyebrow and continued, ¡°...and sex. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    Li Ying laughed, ¡°That¡¯s what I like about him.¡±

    Lance responded coldly, ¡°Maybe you should have come back sooner.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s words made the atmosphere awkwardly silent for a moment, but Xiang Yu broke it, saying, ¡°Zheng Rong¡¯s views have always been unconventional.¡±

    ¡°I have to admit,¡± Joseph chimed in, ¡°sometimes what he says is true.¡±

    Nodding, Zheng Rong elaborated, ¡°Every night, King Shahryar would kill a woman like a demon. Each story featuring a caliph paints their actions as incredibly cruel¡ªsuch as beheading the queen and placing her head in a rose pot.¡±

    The young Arabian boy softly said, ¡°Yes, you know a lot.¡± He sprinkled salt and cumin on a skewer, quickly identifying who held the group¡¯s attention, and handed the first piece of grilled meat to Zheng Rong.

    ¡°That¡¯s why the version of ''One Thousand and One Nights'' we read as children was stripped of the more age-inappropriate, gory scenes,¡± Lance explained.

    Kim Pu-ai¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise, and Joseph clapped his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s do the grilling ourselves and eat.¡±

    The boy made a "please help yourselves" gesture, and the team started to grill the kebabs.

    Helicopter pilot Wolf joked, ¡°That¡¯s an adult¡¯s bedtime story, not a kid¡¯s.¡±

    Zheng Rong took a bite of the kebab and said, ¡°Even children¡¯s stories are cruel¡ª''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' are among the most brutal.¡±

    ¡°How so? ''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' were the bedtime stories my grandma read to me,¡± Lainey said sarcastically.

    ¡°The original ''Grimm¡¯s Fairy Tales'' contains a story about a slaughtering game. The children take on roles as chef, butcher, and... pig,¡± Zheng Rong replied nonchalantly.

    ¡°Alright, Miss Lainey,¡± Joseph intervened, ¡°curiosity kills the cat. I¡¯d advise you not to ask any further.¡±

    Pouting, Lainey said, ¡°Is there anything he hasn¡¯t already turned upside down? I¡¯m not surprised anymore.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a fact. The child playing the butcher slits the throat of the child playing the pig and collects the dripping blood on a plate,¡± Zheng Rong continued.

    ¡°...¡±

    Li Ying, seeking to break the tension, teased, ¡°I¡¯ve read it¡ªvery thought-provoking. But I still prefer Wilde¡¯s ''The Happy Prince.''¡±

    ¡°His eyes are gone...¡± Zheng Rong said casually.

    ¡°His ears are gone...¡± Li Ying sang quietly.

    Zheng Rong made a gesture. ¡°His heart is gone...¡±

    The two played off each other seamlessly, mimicking the movements, their expressions fully in character. Under the grape trellis, the atmosphere felt warm and intimate for a fleeting moment.

    Lance cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s a sad fairy tale. Here¡¯s to the success of our mission... Cheers.¡±

    The group raised their silver bowls. Kim Pu-ai and Lainey had milk in theirs.

    ¡°The wine is quite good,¡± Joseph commented.

    Zheng Rong took a symbolic sip, then casually poured the rest into Lance¡¯s bowl. He tapped on his bowl and said to the boy, ¡°Pour me some milk, little handsome.¡±

    The boy picked up a silver jug and gracefully poured a stream of white milk into the bowl, never pausing from the start to the end of his service.

    As the team chatted with each other, Li Ying asked quietly, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Hackett,¡± the boy replied, focusing intently on grilling the meat.

    Li Ying nodded in understanding. ¡°Hackett.¡±

    Hackett nodded back, and Li Ying reached out to touch the boy¡¯s face, but his eyes were on Zheng Rong. Softly, he said, ¡°You¡¯re very pretty,¡± then smiled.

    ¡°What meat is this?¡± Zheng Rong asked lazily.

    ¡°Camel hump,¡± Hackett replied.

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°Are you the owner¡¯s son?¡±

    Hackett furrowed his brow in confusion, then shook his head and mumbled a word.

    Zheng Rong repeated it and asked, ¡°Joseph, what does that word mean in Arabic?¡±

    Joseph was in the middle of an animated discussion with the pilot and casually replied, ¡°Slave.¡±

    The group around the brazier went silent.

    Xiang Yu, however, wasn¡¯t surprised and commented, ¡°Born into slavery. So?¡±

    Lance explained, ¡°In our time, slavery is not permitted.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s as it should be; no one is born inherently better or worse than another,¡± Xiang Yu remarked.

    ¡°Why are you a slave at such a young age?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Li Ying took the kebab and patted Hackett¡¯s head. Hackett replied softly, ¡°My grandfather was a slave, my father was a slave, so I¡¯m a slave.¡±

    Zheng Rong wanted to say something comforting but felt that any words would be disrespectful. So, he simply praised, ¡°The camel hump is delicious. I like it a lot. Thank you.¡±

    Hackett¡¯s eyes brightened, and he smiled the lovely smile unique to a young boy. ¡°I¡¯m honored you like it.¡±

    ¡°Now, can you buy slaves?¡± Lainey asked with curiosity. ¡°A boy this pretty, and he grills meat too. How much for one? Can we buy a few to take back?¡±

    Xiang Yu, Lance, and Li Ying spoke in unison, ¡°Please shut up.¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t actually enjoy the camel hump, finding the combination of herbs, cumin, and milk too rich. Later, when he lay in bed, the heavy feeling remained, making him feel like vomiting.

    Lance turned off the main lights, leaving only the bedside lamp on. He lay on the bed, examining a document. ¡°You should have some wine.¡±

    ¡°No, thanks. What are you looking at? Let me see,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°Our bill, and the ammo and supplies,¡± Lance replied.

    ¡°You must¡¯ve spent a lot,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance chuckled. ¡°As long as it makes you happy, I¡¯ll spend as much as it takes.¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°You guys shouldn¡¯t have come with me,¡± Zheng Rong sighed. ¡°There are other things that you need to do.¡±

    ¡°Your safety and your ideals are what matter most to me,¡± Lance said.

    ¡°But you¡¯re selfish,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be in any danger. And as for my expedition, why involve Wolf and Gulcat? There¡¯s no need for them to sacrifice so much for me.¡±

    In a rare serious tone, Lance said, ¡°You finally speak honestly. Hearing that you care about my life makes me very touched, Zheng Rong.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re even more selfish than I am. My subordinates trust me blindly. I tell them that there¡¯s a mission to save humanity, to be carried out by you, yet you don¡¯t even let them know what you¡¯re actually doing.¡±

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t require your involvement in the first place! The chances of success are low, and even I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Zheng Rong said, visibly impatient.

    ¡°Zheng Rong, tomorrow the world may be destroyed. None of this matters. Just believe in yourself and your teammates. As long as we¡¯re all striving together, that¡¯s enough,¡± Lance said softly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a qualified leader... I don¡¯t even want to be a leader. I just want to be alone¡ªor no, just with Xiang Yu. I¡¯d wander around aimlessly, like buying a lottery ticket: if you win, you profit; if you lose... then just die somewhere. That¡¯s all I want.¡±

    ¡°Now, you all put so much pressure on me, and I can¡¯t take it.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Feng is watching over you from above. You can do this,¡± Lance reassured him.

    Zheng Rong was quiet for a long, long time. When Lance finished reviewing the budget, Zheng Rong lifted the blanket and sat up.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°To communicate with my team members...¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    Lance smiled approvingly. ¡°Yes, I think you¡¯re beginning to understand.¡±

    Zheng Rong, still in his pajamas, opened the door and started to ponder.

    Xiang Yu, Li Ying, Ugos, Joseph, Gulcat, Wolf, and the two women.

    It was eleven at night, and he could only choose one person to talk to. Which room should he go to?

    ...

    Not long from now, when the underground city in Northern Ireland was completely overrun, and one of humanity¡¯s four major cities became part of history¡ªonly eight members of the exploration team would make it out alive. It was then that Zheng Rong would recall, with deep intensity, how the conversation tonight had unknowingly decided the fate of ten team members¡ªwho would live and who would die.

    It was like a real wheel of destiny had begun to spin. Years later, as Zheng Rong looked back, it felt as if that first step he took out of the room was like casting dice for life or death, determining the lives of his nine teammates in that very moment.

 16 - Syriaâ€™s Will

    Zheng Rong knocked on the door of the room shared by two girls. Xiang Yu was sitting on the sofa, casually chatting with Jin Puae.

    Zheng Rong frowned without speaking, understanding immediately, and turned to leave.

    "Stay," Xiang Yu said, "I have something to say, Zheng Rong!"

    Zheng Rong turned back to Li Ying¡¯s room and said, "Laini, open the door. I know you''re in there!"

    The doorknob turned, and Li Ying lowered his head slightly, sizing up Zheng Rong with an ambiguous smile. "Darling, you missed me?"

    Zheng Rong said, "Laini, come out."

    Laini lazily brushed her hair, looking a bit displeased. She stepped out into the corridor, and Zheng Rong closed the door heavily. Li Ying let out a sigh, leaning against the door and listening to their exchange with his ear pressed against it.

    With her arms crossed over her chest, Laini said indifferently, "I was just asking him how it feels to have a biological bomb implanted in his brain, and where the surgical incision is."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s face was dark. Laini continued, "Save your usual talk; I want to save him more than you do."

    Only then did Zheng Rong¡¯s expression soften slightly. "What did you find out? That''s exactly what I''m here to ask you about."

    Laini fiddled with her ear, shrugging. "He told me he was anesthetized during the surgery; who knows? Maybe we should take him back to Northern Ireland for a check-up."

    Laini added, "At least for now, our goal is the same¡ªto keep him alive. Or maybe General Lance has another purpose, to extract some useful information from him."

    "But no matter what, you need to let go of your prejudices," Laini said again. "Otherwise, I won''t be able to communicate with you."

    Zheng Rong''s tone softened, though still somewhat stiff. "Okay, I trust you. I''ve been thinking about one thing these past few days: implanting anything into someone¡¯s brain will destroy brain cells."

    Laini nodded. "Yes, as far as current human technology goes, we still can''t identify which specific part of the brain generates thoughts or how they are produced. We only know that the cerebral cortex is crucial for humans. To put a solid object into the brain¡ªnot just the cranial cavity, but the very center of the brain, as he described it!"

    Zheng Rong said, "It could be very small."

    Laini replied, "No matter how small it is, as long as it meets the critical conditions to withstand cranial pressure and trigger an explosion, it will inevitably displace brain cells and break the intercellular matrix, causing irreparable damage to the brain."

    Zheng Rong said, "A trigger bomb could also be in a liquid state."

    Laini thought for a moment. "It''s possible. After all, we can''t use human technological standards to measure alien technology. But I doubt they could achieve that. Think about it¡ªthree years ago, a thousand undercover agents were sent from the Special Forces camp..."

    Zheng Rong immediately became tense. "Who told you that?"

    Laini looked seriously at Zheng Rong. "Lance also wants to save him. There''s emotion between them too, don''t think that only you and Li Ying share a deep bond."

    Zheng Rong said, "Continue."

    Laini asked, "If implanting a bomb was easy, why is he the only one who has returned to our side so far? They could have just let the undercover agents return to the underground city quietly, then detonate the bomb at a military hearing and turn the top brass into minced meat..."

    Zheng Rong fell into deep thought. After a long time, he asked, "Then what do you think is possible?"

    Laini seemed to struggle for the right words, and only after a while did she speak. "I think there are two possibilities. One is that the Mayan aliens have mastered some kind of technology that breaks through space¡ªthe bomb is there, but not there..."

    If Laini had said this to anyone else, few in the expedition team would have understood. But Zheng Rong immediately grasped the meaning. "Hyperspace technology, a bomb located in another virtual space that overlaps with his brain."

    Laini nodded.

    "And the second possibility?" Zheng Rong asked.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Laini shrugged. "The second one is even more absurd: his brain is newly created. A completely new brain, serving as a storage for his thoughts."

    Zheng Rong: "..."

    Laini said, "This is very tricky, Zheng Rong. It¡¯s not metal; with ordinary instruments, we can''t even find where the bomb is. I don¡¯t even know what it is. And even if we do find it, it would be extremely difficult to remove. Imagine cutting a person''s brain in half, like deboning a fish..."

    "Enough!" Zheng Rong rudely interrupted.

    "The best thing would be to let him go, to let him live his own life," Laini said.

    Zheng Rong was silent for a long time before finally replying, "I won''t let him go. I''ll personally send him to the operating table and watch him die."

    Leaning against the door in the room, Li Ying''s lips curled into a sweet smile.

    Laini pursed her lips, tears rolling in her eyes.

    "You men are all heartless, to yourselves and to those you love..." she said finally. "I''m tired. I''m going to sleep."

    She knocked on the door and went back to her room. Zheng Rong sighed, preparing to go back to rest. Xiang Yu walked out from the girls¡¯ room and said in a deep voice, "Zheng Rong."

    "What?" Zheng Rong said. "I''m in a really bad mood right now. Can it wait until tomorrow?"

    Xiang Yu said, "I¡¯ll stay with you."

    Zheng Rong crouched down, sitting on the carpet of the hotel corridor with his knees hugged to his chest.

    Xiang Yu sat cross-legged beside him, took off his coat to cover Zheng Rong, and extended an arm to wrap around his shoulders, letting him lean against his shoulder.

    Zheng Rong stared blankly at the elevator across the corridor as the floor numbers slid by one by one.

    Xiang Yu whispered, "Li Ying is lying."

    Zheng Rong replied, "Impossible. He¡¯s never lied to me."

    Xiang Yu said no more.

    After a moment of silence, Zheng Rong asked, "How do you know he''s lying?"

    "Liar¡¯s eyes always flicker," Xiang Yu said. "I''ve observed him many times. Every time I ask him a question, he doesn''t know how to answer..."

    "He¡¯s pitiful," Zheng Rong said. "He''s just trying to think of how to answer our endless questions without triggering the bomb in his brain."

    Xiang Yu said in a deep voice, "There is no bomb in his body. That alone is the lie."

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t have the strength to argue anymore. He said quietly, "Maybe he''s lying to you."

    "But he¡¯s never lied to me. We''ve fought over this many times. Sometimes, he doesn¡¯t even need to tell me the truth¡ªhe could make up any excuse and get away with it, and I wouldn¡¯t question him."

    "When we were dating, he even went to my brother and said, ''Zheng Feng, your brother has fallen in love with me, and I love him too...''"

    Xiang Yu interrupted, "In my lifetime, I will try my best to love him, to take care of your brother, until the day I no longer love him."

    Zheng Rong laughed. "Exactly. Did Li Ying tell you that?"

    Xiang Yu fell silent.

    "My brother was furious," Zheng Rong said, "not just because of our relationship, but also because of that so-called promise that didn''t sound like a promise. Actually, Li Ying should have said, ''I will love Zheng Rong for a lifetime.'' That would''ve been enough."

    Xiang Yu said lightly, "Vows of eternal love are empty words. People can¡¯t deceive their hearts. Who can make such grand promises of undying love?"

    Zheng Rong nodded. "That¡¯s why I think that although he''s a combat expert, a killer... at his core, he¡¯s like a knight. The last rule of the chivalric code is to vow: I will be loyal unto death to the one I love."

    Xiang Yu was noncommittal. Zheng Rong stood up. "But hardly anyone can do that. He only proves it with his actions. In that sense, I trust that he wouldn¡¯t lie to me."

    Xiang Yu escorted Zheng Rong to his door, looked into his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Zheng Rong, goodnight. What I said earlier was just casual talk; don''t dwell on it. I will protect you."

    Xiang Yu lightly kissed Zheng Rong on the forehead. Zheng Rong touched Xiang Yu¡¯s face, pushed open the door, and went to sleep.

    <hr>

    The Next Day:

    Joseph and Ugos sat down, and everyone exchanged good mornings.

    "Did everyone sleep well last night?" Zheng Rong reached for the coffee pot. Lance said, "No black coffee, add a little milk."

    Jin Puae: "Very well."

    "Quite well," Ugos said politely.

    Joseph''s hair was a mess, looking sleep-deprived. He yawned. "Aha, the bed here isn''t bad... though I didn''t sleep much. Miss Jin Puae, please pass me the sugar jar. Thank you. Would you like some, Ugos?"

    "Too much sugar is bad for your health," Ugos said. "I must stay healthy for humanity."

    They sliced ham and bacon, and the sound of knives and forks filled the room. Lance spread butter on Zheng Rong¡¯s bread.

    "Any new discoveries?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Joseph pointed with his fork. "Please call me a genius. I''ve translated Moses'' last words."

    Zheng Rong said sarcastically, "Give me a Hebrew dictionary, and I might only need one night."

    "Oh no," Joseph said, "You have to know that in their era, there were many homophones and metaphors. If you don¡¯t study the language, you wouldn¡¯t understand."

    "Like what?" Xiang Yu asked.

    Joseph turned to Xiang Yu. "I hear you''ve been learning English recently?"

    Xiang Yu smiled and spoke in broken English, "Yes, learning bit by bit."

    Lance said, "He¡¯s very quick to learn and adapt."

    Joseph used English with emphasis, "For example, ''I am the vine... my Father is the gardener. Every branch that does not bear fruit, I will cut off. Now that you hear my words, you are clean... You are in me, and I am in you...''"

    "Enough," Zheng Rong said. "Mr. Savior, I''m more curious about the words on the stone tablet."

    Joseph shrugged. "Nothing came of it. It¡¯s not like our words or characters¡ªjust twelve symbols arranged together. I even doubt it''s a sentence."

    Zheng Rong asked, "What was Moses'' will?"

    The room fell silent. Joseph thought for a moment before reciting it; his memory was excellent.

    "I climbed Mount Saint Catherine, and He showed me the Wheel of Fate. The wheel spun atop the heavens, emanating the light of life..."

    "Wait!" Zheng Rong keenly asked the first question. "The character for ''God''?"

    Joseph thought for a moment. "In Chinese, that''s correct. In Hebrew, the word for God is distinct from third-person singular. You can consider it a reference to the Creator. Yes, that''s exactly how Moses referred to Him."

    Zheng Rong asked, "So Moses saw God?!"

    "Oh, my dear," Joseph replied, "This is just the beginning. Maybe all he saw was a small spaceship. I promise you¡¯ll be even more excited after hearing the whole story, so be careful not to drink water."

    Everyone around the table fell silent, listening to Joseph recount Moses'' last words.

 17 - The Dispute Over the Destination

    "I traveled back and forth twice; He gazed down at me from the sky. I led the people of Egypt away from their homeland; they were cleansed of their slavery and settled in Canaan. He commanded me to return to the place of origin, to return the staff He had given."

    "I settled the people and set out again with Aaron, returning to the place of origin."

    Ugos said, "This is completely different from what''s written in Exodus!"

    Zheng Rong replied coldly, "Of course it¡¯s different. I thought you already understood. Does anyone know how Moses died?"

    Joseph lowered his head to cut his bacon, smiling. "No one knows."

    Zheng Rong said, "Since the staff is there, the body must be his. It''s clear¡ªMoses went east, passed down the Ten Commandments, and together with Aaron..."

    Joseph interrupted, "A bit of explanation: Aaron is Moses¡¯ brother and the first high priest of Israel. It''s said he could directly converse with God."

    Ugos was stunned. "This is a total overturning!"

    "Everything¡¯s an overturning," Zheng Rong said. "Ugos, you need to get used to overturning and being overturned. Now keep quiet and listen."

    "Joseph, why do you think ''He'' didn¡¯t choose Aaron?"

    Joseph shrugged and continued, "Aaron became His shell, dying on the way, and entrusted His soul to me. I returned to the place of origin, where the Sphinx was born, and Aaron completely perished."

    "What?" Zheng Rong didn¡¯t understand. "Say it again?"

    Joseph didn¡¯t repeat himself; he knew that Zheng Rong had heard it but just needed time to think. Everyone fell silent as Zheng Rong seemed to catch on to something faintly. "Go on."

    Joseph continued, "Offer yourself to God and be willing to serve Him. He will depart, and you will be saved."

    "God," Zheng Rong picked up on a newly mentioned word. "Which God?"

    Joseph replied, "Do not take the name of your God in vain."

    Zheng Rong understood. "And then?"

    Joseph said, "That''s all."

    Almost no one understood, each harboring their thoughts as they ate breakfast.

    "I''m full," Laini said politely, wiping her mouth with a napkin. Those who had finished their meal got up to leave. Lance went to organize the equipment, and both Ugos and Jin Puae walked away.

    Left at the table were Xiang Yu, Li Ying, Zheng Rong, and Joseph.

    Li Ying tapped a fingernail against his glass, producing a resonant hum that startled Zheng Rong back to attention.

    "Assuming," Zheng Rong said, "Moses led the slaves across the sea and then returned to Egypt without a doubt. Why did he come back?"

    Joseph replied, "''He'' asked Moses to return. It¡¯s very clear. We can only assume that the ''God'' mentioned in ''Offer yourself to God'' is the same as the ''He'' Moses referred to."

    "Yes," Zheng Rong agreed slowly.

    Joseph continued, "Moses mentioned at the beginning ''twice I traveled back and forth,'' but from Egypt to Canaan and back to Egypt is only once. What about the other time?"

    Zheng Rong said, "This is the biggest mystery. First, let''s piece together the timeline based on what we know."

    "One: Moses received divine guidance to lead the slaves out of Egypt. Two: He brought them to settle in Canaan, and then, according to ''His'' command, returned alone... No, he returned with Aaron. Three: They died in the Sphinx''s hidden chamber."

    Joseph nodded. "Or perhaps you could assume that Moses received the Ten Commandments after leading the slaves to Mount Saint Catherine, but that''s not crucial."

    "No, it¡¯s very important," Zheng Rong argued. "The first line mentions the ''Wheel of Fate'' and ''He gazed at me from the sky,'' and the second line starts with ''twice I traveled back and forth.'' I hope you didn¡¯t translate it wrong..."

    Joseph tapped his fork against the plate, producing a crisp sound, and laughed. "Impossible."

    "Then it''s obvious." Zheng Rong said, "Give me a cigarette..."

    Lighting up, he squinted at Joseph. "Moses'' two journeys: the first was his own escape from Egypt. Did you notice he first used ''I'' and only later used ''we''?"

    "In ancient Hebrew, there¡¯s no plural form for ''we.'' I inferred it from the context," Joseph explained.

    "Then why didn¡¯t you use ''we'' from the start?" Zheng Rong pressed.

    Joseph was stunned.

    "Trust your instincts. It all makes sense then," Zheng Rong said.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    "Moses first arrived at Mount Saint Catherine and saw the divine disk spinning in the sky¡ªit¡¯s that damned thing hovering over Peru¡ªthe Mayan aliens'' UFO."

    "Assume that the UFO could speak and relayed some of ''His'' information to Moses, giving him a staff that could part the waters so he could return to Egypt and lead the slaves away. That was the first journey¡ªthe journey to find the divine message."

    "The second time, he succeeded. After leading his people to find the Promised Land and settling them, he and his brother Aaron returned to Egypt the same way they came."

    "Why?" Joseph asked. "An exchange."

    "Very likely," Zheng Rong answered. "We don''t understand anything, nor do we have any records to refer to. The story of Moses after he left Canaan is a blank slate; we can only speculate."

    Joseph fell silent. Zheng Rong continued, "''He'' gave Moses the staff, along with those strange symbols and the stone tablet, to fulfill His wishes. The two sides exchanged terms, and Moses had to complete a task for Him."

    "It may not necessarily have been an exchange," Joseph suggested. "It¡¯s possible ''He'' wanted to demonstrate divine power to Moses to gain absolute faith."

    "Possibly," Zheng Rong nodded. "It doesn''t really matter. In any case, Moses and Aaron returned."

    "Aaron died on the way, entrusting His soul to me," Joseph repeated. "What does that mean? Aaron died?"

    The two fell silent until Li Ying suddenly pointed to his head and said, "He moved in."

    "What?" Zheng Rong frowned.

    Li Ying smiled ambiguously and said no more, creating an eerie atmosphere.

    A horrifying thought dawned on Zheng Rong. He stared at Li Ying in disbelief, as if trying to find a clue in him. But Li Ying only smiled gently and whispered, "Darling, you''re mistaken. I will always be the me I was before."

    "What are you talking about?" Joseph asked in confusion.

    Zheng Rong snapped back to reality, running through countless possibilities in his mind¡ªthe biological bomb, ''His'' host, a human shell... Zheng Rong¡¯s voice trembled. "''He'' is a Mayan alien."

    Joseph said, "I thought you already knew."

    "No, no," Zheng Rong sat up straight. "Aaron became His shell, meaning that after Aaron and Moses'' long journey, they reached the mountaintop again, where He inhabited Aaron¡¯s body."

    Joseph understood immediately. His first instinct was to jump up, knocking over his chair, and step back in fear, staring unblinking at Li Ying.

    Li Ying smiled dangerously at Joseph.

    "Sit down," Zheng Rong ordered. "Listen to what I have to say."

    Lance rushed into the dining room. "What is it? If it¡¯s nothing important, don¡¯t come over," Zheng Rong said.

    "You all can continue talking," Lance replied. "I plan to take him on the helicopter now." He attached a small alloy shackle to Li Ying¡¯s shoulder to prevent escape.

    Zheng Rong had wanted to keep Li Ying a little longer, but seeing Joseph¡¯s expression, he gave up.

    Lance led Li Ying away, and Joseph''s face was one of disbelief. Zheng Rong said, "Aaron died on the way. By then, his brother was no longer the same person."

    "Yes," Joseph confirmed.

    "Moses was able to realize Aaron was dead; that¡¯s the sign of a parasite. Li Ying is normal, without any abnormalities," Zheng Rong explained.

    Once Joseph understood the reasoning, he sighed in relief and sat back down.

    "So, we can deduce three conclusions," Zheng Rong continued.

    "One: ''He'' is a Mayan alien, or more accurately, some being or beings aboard the UFO. Two: ''He'' intends to use human bodies to accomplish something. It¡¯s possible He has no physical body, only a soul..."

    "Three: Aaron, as His host, soon died."

    Joseph''s forehead was covered in sweat. "This is terrifying."

    "Why choose Aaron and not Moses?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Joseph steadied himself and answered quickly, "There could be many reasons. The stronger one''s faith in Him, the easier it is for Him to... um, move in."

    "''I am in you, and you are in me...''" Zheng Rong repeated coldly. "You just said it yourself."

    Joseph finally calmed down. "Okay, let me organize my thoughts."

    "Wait," Zheng Rong said. "The last line: ''He will depart, and you will be saved.'' Do you think it has any further meaning? Where did He go? Did He tell Moses?"

    Joseph slowly shook his head. After a while, he replied, "Another meaning of ''saved'' is ''to gain eternal life.'' As for where He went, He didn¡¯t tell Moses."

    Zheng Rong nodded, signaling for Joseph to leave.

    The cigarette in the ashtray burned to its end, the butt breaking off.

    Zheng Rong pondered silently for a moment and then asked, "Did you understand any of that?"

    Xiang Yu shook his head.

    Zheng Rong laughed in frustration. "Then why sit here for half the day if you don¡¯t understand?"

    "I was protecting you," Xiang Yu smiled as he used his fingers to gently brush against Zheng Rong''s face.

    Zheng Rong enjoyed the intimate gesture, like a black cat bringing misfortune to someone under the desert sun.

    "I think I can piece it together," Zheng Rong said slowly.

    Xiang Yu wiped his mouth with a napkin like a gentleman, helped Zheng Rong put out his cigarette, and spread his coat open for him to wear.

    Zheng Rong slipped his hands into the coat pockets, his eyes a bit dazed, and walked towards the elevator.

    <hr>

    In the underground hangar, Gukat was performing a final preflight inspection as the helicopter''s rotor blades began to spin.

    Zheng Rong stood before the military helicopter and instructed, "Prepare about ten days'' worth of supplies."

    "Not heading back to Northern Ireland, boss?" Gukat asked in confusion.

    Lance opened the cabin door and asked, "What¡¯s going on?"

    Zheng Rong said coldly, "Who said we''re going back to the Northern Ireland underground city? Did you ask me?"

    "Right now, the most important thing is to bring Li Ying back and operate on him. He¡¯s the military''s number one wanted criminal..." Lance protested.

    ¡°What meal?¡± Jin Puae poked her head out from the cabin. ¡°Are we eating again?¡±

    Zheng Rong: "..."

    Lance told Jin Puae to go back inside, then turned to Zheng Rong, irritated. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

    "I have another place to go. You all go; I¡¯ll go by myself," Zheng Rong said.

    "We must return to Northern Ireland first," Lance insisted.

    "Those who are willing to follow me, get off the plane," Zheng Rong declared.

    "What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re not going home?" Joseph asked. "I need a massive computer language system to analyze the arrangement on that stone tablet..."

    Ugos leaned out. "I need to test the water samples we got from underground..."

    "Well, have a safe journey then." Zheng Rong turned. "Brother, let''s go."

    Xiang Yu glanced at Lance, then followed Zheng Rong.

    "Wait! Where are you going?" Lance stepped off the helicopter, shouting, "What are you trying to do?"

    Zheng Rong turned and looked at Lance, not saying a word.

    Lance asked, "You agreed to return to Northern Ireland first, for Li Ying¡¯s surgery."

    Zheng Rong replied coldly, "I changed my mind."

    Zheng Rong recalled his conversation with Laini last night¡ªsaving Li Ying was nearly impossible, and he wasn¡¯t ready to face that reality.

    "And so?" Lance asked, suppressing his anger.

    "I''m going to ancient China, Xi''an, Mount Li. It¡¯s up to you if you want to come," Zheng Rong said.

    Lance: "..."

    "Or I''ll go with Xiang Yu. He can guide me," Zheng Rong continued.

    Xiang Yu thought for a moment. "I¡¯m not very familiar with it... but I could try."

    Lance relented again. Three hours later, the helicopter left the hangar. The scorching sunlight poured down from the opening above the underground city, and the rotor blades churned golden dust, heading east.

    The next stop¡ªXi''an.

 18 - The Mechanism of the Emperorâ€™s Mausoleum

    The helicopter flew from the Cromwell Supply Station across the Taklamakan Desert, and the cabin was filled with silence. The sun beat down on the fuselage, making it scorching hot.

    Lainey said discontentedly, ¡°I think the most important task now is to return to the underground city.¡±

    Zheng Rong impatiently interrupted, ¡°You can just parachute out right here; it¡¯s less than ten thousand kilometers to get back, Miss Lainey.¡±

    In the scorching sun, Lance raised his head and reached for a button on the cabin roof, which let out a cool breeze, much to the relief of everyone. The helicopter lowered its altitude, and Li Ying turned his head to observe the ground through the thick observation window.

    The cracked, yellow soil of the land below was scarred, winding with gray-black rivers. In his deep, magnetic voice, Li Ying spoke softly, ¡°Zheng Rong, care to jump out with me? Let¡¯s go home together.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied coldly, ¡°Attention, team members, we are currently flying over China''s Gansu Province and will arrive at our destination in about two hours. Please be prepared.¡±

    Hugo said, ¡°Dusty weather,¡± as he glanced at the geographical coordinates. ¡°The outdoor temperature is 33 degrees Celsius, so you¡¯d better wear light clothing.¡±

    Li Ying¡¯s eyes were glued to the ground. Zheng Rong said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking; there are no memories left.¡±

    Li Ying smiled faintly, ¡°Dear, I¡¯ve never brought you back to my home.¡±

    The atmosphere in the cabin suddenly became ambiguous following Li Ying¡¯s words. Lance raised his hand, seemingly intending to hit him, but eventually abandoned the thought.

    ¡°Your home is in Liangzhou?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Li Ying nodded.

    Hugo looked sympathetically out of the cabin, ¡°There are no signs of human activity here anymore; it¡¯s all barren land.¡±

    On the ground, a few mechanical spiders crawled along the highway. The helicopter rose higher, its deafening engine noise carrying it eastward.

    <hr>

    At the foot of Mount Li...

    ¡°Continental climate, hilly terrain.¡±

    Hugo unfolded the map in his hand, glanced at it, and then rolled it back up. The team disembarked from the helicopter one after another, and Hugo said, ¡°Oh, Dr. Zheng Rong, I suggest you bring the helicopter a bit closer.¡±

    Zheng Rong responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a nice sightseeing trip?¡±

    Hugo protested, ¡°But if we walk from here, it will take at least half a day...¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°You can have Xiang Yu carry you. Not liking to walk is a bad habit for a geographer.¡±

    The team members all laughed. Lance asked, ¡°What¡¯s the intention behind this?¡±

    Zheng Rong shrugged, taking off his jacket to reveal a white shirt and suspenders. ¡°The aim is to travel light. We start from here and follow Hugo. Hugo, navigate using the map.¡±

    <hr>

    Half a day later, Hugo led the way, still passionately explaining, ¡°It''s said that nearly half of ancient China¡¯s historical sites are concentrated here...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just said,¡± Zheng Rong corrected. ¡°It¡¯s a fact. You¡¯re standing on the site where King You of Zhou set the beacon fires to fool the feudal lords.¡±

    The team stood on a massive platform, the walls stretching endlessly in both directions. Distant mountains rose and fell; from this vantage point, the plains unfolded in all their expanse. Lance set down the nuclear magnetic cannon, and the military helicopter became a mere black dot on the ground.

    ¡°The beacon tower,¡± Xiang Yu murmured, touching the wall, as if recalling something.

    ¡°Yes, the beacon tower and the Huaqing Palace were built here,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°Emperor Xuanzong of Tang even used leftover materials from building the Huaqing Palace to construct the Shi Weng Temple.¡±

    Zheng Rong led the way, explaining further, ¡°There¡¯s also the Li Mountain Mother Temple commemorating the ancient legend of N¨¹wa repairing the heavens. If that temple hadn¡¯t been destroyed, we might have had a chance to bathe in the Huaqing Pool...¡±

    ¡°Zheng Rong makes a better tour guide than Hugo,¡± Joseph laughed.

    Lance nodded with a smile, and Xiang Yu asked, ¡°Is the Huaqing Pool the one built by Emperor Xuanzong for his concubine?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°More or less. Your history lessons are decent. Wait, what¡¯s that?¡±

    Zheng Rong climbed to a higher point and looked northwest, furrowing his brows.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lance asked, alarmed.

    Lance and Xiang Yu quickly jumped onto the brick wall of the beacon tower. Lance exclaimed, ¡°Hide quickly!¡±

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    ¡°No, they haven¡¯t noticed us yet,¡± Zheng Rong stopped them.

    Several mechanical insects were buzzing as they transported equipment to the edge of a mausoleum. Squinting, Xiang Yu said, ¡°It''s different from when I came here years ago.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been renovated in later generations,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    As they conversed, a giant mechanical centipede with over a thousand segments crawled forth, and hundreds of mechanical spiders scavengers hauled out broken stone fragments. The mechanical centipede propped up its forelimbs, iron pincers aiming at the entrance, and with a thunderous boom, fired a shot that echoed across the plain.

    ¡°Calling the captain! Calling the captain!¡± the pilot¡¯s voice came over the communicator, ¡°We heard an explosion.¡±

    Lance pressed the communication button, ¡°We heard it too. We¡¯ve spotted the machines of the Mayan aliens. Don¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted, ¡°They¡¯ve gone inside. Don¡¯t let the helicopter come over. Stay put.¡±

    Lance relayed the message verbatim and turned to Zheng Rong, ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous; there are at least a hundred of them.¡±

    Zheng Rong glanced at Xiang Yu, ¡°Do you know any other entrances?¡±

    Xiang Yu understood and replied, ¡°Back then, I led soldiers inside seeking Ying Zheng¡¯s coffin, and there¡¯s more than one entrance.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Then lead us in. Start the action now.¡±

    Xiang Yu leaped off the brick wall of the beacon tower, pulling Zheng Rong along with one arm. With a sideways step, he slid down the slope, followed closely by Lance and the others. Xiang Yu led the team around the outskirts of the Qin Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, finally finding a spot where a giant horseman sculpture stood. He observed it for a moment, then shouldered it and gave it a strong push.

    The statue wobbled and then toppled over with a loud crash, leaving the surroundings in silence.

    ¡°Ultrasound test the passage,¡± Zheng Rong ordered. ¡°Quickly.¡±

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°I vaguely remember. Let¡¯s go down first.¡±

    Lance went first, Xiang Yu held the rear, and Jin Pu¡¯ai inserted a probe into the entrance of the tomb. Xiang Yu reached out from the tunnel, gripping the bottom of the toppled statue. With a shout of effort, he heaved it back up, restoring the entrance as it was.

    <hr>

    The tunnel was pitch black. The glow from the laptop screen reflected off Jin Pu¡¯ai¡¯s face as the sound of the sonar probe beeped continuously. A linear map of the labyrinth slowly unfolded on the screen.

    Lance shone his flashlight into the depths, dust swirling with every step they took.

    ¡°Can you explain what we¡¯re doing now?¡± Lance asked. ¡°Why are those mechanical warriors here as well? What¡¯s the connection between what you¡¯re looking for and the Mayan aliens?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°I¡¯m just a historian and mystic, not a detective. For that kind of question, you should ask Conan.¡±

    Lance handed Xiang Yu a set of grenades and a strangely shaped short gun, explaining, ¡°This is an electromagnetic gun. It emits a magnetic field that can temporarily paralyze the mechanical attackers. It¡¯s suitable for close combat in the tunnels.¡±

    A large map of the tomb appeared on Jin Pu¡¯ai¡¯s computer, with multiple dense dots indicating the locations of alien machines, which were slowly converging toward the central chamber.

    Zheng Rong glanced at it and pointed to the central chamber, ¡°We need to go here.¡±

    ¡°No, we should go here,¡± Xiang Yu countered, pointing to the farthest right corner of the tomb.

    Zheng Rong frowned. Xiang Yu asked, ¡°Are you seeking Ying Zheng¡¯s coffin?¡±

    After some thought, Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Not to open the coffin¡ªjust to find the burial artifacts.¡±

    Xiang Yu replied, ¡°Then it must be here. The central chamber is just a false tomb.¡±

    ¡°When I led my soldiers to explore, we opened the Emperor¡¯s coffin in the central hall and triggered a trap, resulting in nearly 400 casualties,¡± Xiang Yu said somberly. ¡°Only later did we realize that the real location was elsewhere.¡±

    Zheng Rong no longer hesitated, ¡°We¡¯ll listen to Xiang Yu. Let¡¯s move. Everyone, stay alert.¡±

    <hr>

    The tunnel was enveloped in darkness, with only the dim blue light from Jin Pu¡¯ai¡¯s laptop illuminating their path. The sonar mapping continued to unfold.

    ¡°This is just a small section,¡± Jin Pu¡¯ai murmured. ¡°Look, behind the central chamber, there¡¯s even more space. But why can¡¯t we detect it? Could it be that people thousands of years ago had mastered cloaking technology?¡±

    Xiang Yu frowned at the screen for a moment, then shook his head.

    ¡°Just get the initial passage mapped out,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°We¡¯ll bypass the central chamber and avoid the mechanical killers by heading to the side chamber.¡± He pointed to a Y-shaped path on the map.

    The tangled stairways and corridors were complex. Jin Pu¡¯ai tapped a few keys and outlined a red path that skillfully bypassed the flashing dots, leading to a side room on the right of the tomb. A large block sat at the center of the path.

    Lainey muttered, ¡°I feel like it was a mistake to come in here so rashly.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Yes, the mistake was that you wore a miniskirt.¡±

    Ignoring him, Lainey asked, ¡°Dr. Hugo, how long will it take to walk through here? Shouldn¡¯t someone explain?¡±

    ¡°The Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin has a total area of 56 million square meters, equivalent to four times the size of your Chinese Forbidden City,¡± Hugo said. ¡°It is the world¡¯s largest underground tomb, divided into the imperial tomb''s outer area, inner area, and the underground palace, which alone covers 180,000 square meters...¡±

    ¡°Hugo,¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°keep your voice down. You¡¯ll disturb...¡±

    Joseph laughed, ¡°Oh no, sound won¡¯t alert the mechanical scavengers¡ªthey use infrared to detect.¡±

    Zheng Rong said coldly, ¡°...the dead within the tomb.¡±

    Lainey screamed in fright.

    Xiang Yu turned slightly and whispered, ¡°Something is coming.¡±

    At the end of the long, dark tunnel, Lance reached back to hold down Jin Pu¡¯ai¡¯s laptop screen, slowly closing it, and gently pressed the power button to turn it off.

    ¡°Shut down all electronic devices,¡± Lance said, ¡°I hear it too.¡±

    ¡°Everyone, get behind me,¡± Lance commanded.

    In the darkness, the sound of metal scraping against the walls reverberated; it seemed something was burrowing through the tunnel walls. Lance activated the infrared heat shielding device on his right wrist. A blue web of light spread like rippling water, blocking the tunnel wall like a barrier.

    Zheng Rong remarked coldly, ¡°So you stole this thing too. No wonder you didn¡¯t protest for half a day when I decided to come down.¡±

    A secure smile formed on Lance¡¯s lips.

    With a loud boom, part of the stone wall collapsed, and a mechanical mantis burrowed into the tunnel, extending a metal probe that emitted red light, scanning back and forth in the passage.

    The scanning light paused at the blue barrier, then swung around a few times before moving on.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t discover us?¡± Lainey asked.

    Joseph said, ¡°According to military research reports, they don¡¯t have sound detectors, so no need to be so afraid.¡± Then he loudly sang toward the mechanical mantis, ¡°Mary had a little lamb...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Zheng Rong said in displeasure. ¡°Joseph, you¡¯re off-key!¡±

    The mechanical mantis, which had just withdrawn, began to crawl slowly forward into the tunnel again.

    Its sensor pointed at the team, the red light stopping on Joseph¡¯s forehead. A bright dot appeared on his forehead, and he looked quizzically at the mechanical killer.

    The mechanical insect opened its steel pincers, a crackling sound emanating as it extended a rapidly spinning drill.

 19 - The Everlasting Elixir of Life

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    ¡°That¡¯s the mechanism?¡± Xiang Yu said. ¡°I see...¡±

    Before he could finish speaking, the third team member, Li Ying, charged out of the tunnel and accidentally knocked Xiang Yu with his shoulder, sending Xiang Yu falling into the pit.

    Lance, dizzy from his fall, had just stood up when the tall Xiang Yu collided with him, knocking him back down again. He roared in anger, ¡°Zheng Rong!¡±

    Li Ying said regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Go on, jump onto the platform.¡±

    Still wearing handcuffs, Li Ying raised his arms, bent his body, closed his eyes, and muttered, ¡°Alright, baby.¡± Then, with a swift leap, he lunged at the wall about five meters away, his fingers hooking into the cracks between the bricks. With his long, agile body, he swung beautifully in an arc.

    Zheng Rong applauded and asked, ¡°What was the hand signal for a Qin dynasty military commander to issue a defense order?¡±

    ¡°Point the halberd horizontally toward the enemy,¡± Xiang Yu answered.

    Li Ying swung back and forth along the chamber wall, with the beam from Zheng Rong¡¯s flashlight following him until he bent his body in one fluid motion, landing on one knee on the stone platform.

    Zheng Rong glanced back into the tunnel and saw Joseph, Hugo, and two female team members finally rushing toward them, the sounds of machinery drawing closer behind them. Calculating the distance in his mind, Zheng Rong ordered, ¡°Li Ying! Activate the mechanism!¡±

    Li Ying elegantly spun around and kicked the commanding Qin soldier statue. Instantly, the halberd-holding statue¡¯s wrist rotated, its halberd pointing to the tunnel entrance.

    With a thunderous crash, a massive stone fell.

    ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡± Joseph screamed in terror, ¡°Zheng Rong! You bastard!¡±

    Joseph dashed into the stone chamber, with Hugo tumbling in behind him. The two of them rolled together into the pit of terracotta soldiers, as the two women shrieked and rushed in.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    The giant stone fell with a heavy thud, causing the ground to shake violently.

    Jin Pu¡¯ai fell forward, her laptop snatched mid-air by Zheng Rong. Lainey screamed, her slender leg doing a split as she slid down, the tearing sound of her skirt resounding¡ª¡°riiiip¡±¡ªas the fabric split.

    ¡°I told you not to wear a miniskirt,¡± Zheng Rong jeered.

    Behind the stone wall, the sound of a metal drill whirred constantly. A moment later, there was a loud boom, then silence as the mechanical mantis left.

    Walking along the edge of the pit, Zheng Rong ignored the angry shouts of his teammates below. Lighting a match, he said, ¡°We can rest here for the night.¡±

    He went around lighting the oil lamps around the stone chamber, and the others, having yelled enough, dusted themselves off and got up.

    One by one, the lamps lit up, illuminating the massive stone chamber¡ªa pit of terracotta soldiers the size of a football field, with ranks of soldiers and chariots standing in orderly rows, covered in dust. When the lights came on, the pit seemed like an overwhelming army of thousands, its grandeur unmatched.

    Lance leaned against one of the terracotta soldiers, catching his breath. ¡°No enemies chasing us?¡±

    ¡°That was the tomb¡¯s ten-ton stone of the gods,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°It¡¯s nearly ten meters thick, and there are twelve such stones throughout the entire Emperor¡¯s mausoleum. According to ancient records, once the severing stone is activated, the tomb is divided into many isolated spaces.¡±

    Li Ying squatted on the high stone platform. ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°Then,¡± Zheng Rong continued, ¡°according to legend, these terracotta soldiers will all come to life to attack any enemies who dare to disturb the Emperor¡¯s peace.¡±

    ¡°That joke isn¡¯t funny at all,¡± Hugo grumbled angrily as he got up, wiping his glasses. ¡°You¡¯ve dragged the entire expedition team into danger! You must apologize and pay compensation!¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°How about money?¡±

    Joseph, pale-faced, looked at Lance, who was leaning against a terracotta soldier. ¡°Dr. Hugo, I¡¯d advise you not to¡ªoh no...¡±

    The terracotta soldier supporting Hugo couldn¡¯t take the weight and toppled backward.

    Hugo let out another scream, barely steadying himself.

    The first terracotta soldier slowly toppled backward, crashing into the second.

    ¡°Perfect,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Crash! Crash! Crash!

    An ear-splitting clatter echoed through the stone chamber as one terracotta soldier after another fell like dominoes, a single misstep triggering a chain reaction that quickly spiraled out of control. In less than two minutes, the entire last row of soldiers had fallen, leaving the floor covered in debris.

    ¡°One hundred by one hundred,¡± Zheng Rong counted on his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s ten thousand soldiers. You destroyed a hundred of them, with each worth 400,000 universal currency. Dr. Hugo, you owe China 40 million.¡±

    Hugo, head spinning, stammered, ¡°I... I take back what I just said, Mr. Zheng Rong.¡±

    The expedition team huddled in a corner of the terracotta soldier pit as Lance started a fire with solid fuel. Zheng Rong handed the laptop back to Jin Pu¡¯ai, who angrily snatched it, sitting on a camping chair and rebooting the computer on her lap.

    Lainey glared at Zheng Rong as she used medical stitching thread to sew up the slit in her miniskirt.

    Xiang Yu handed a cup of coffee to Zheng Rong, who thoughtfully gazed at the terracotta soldiers.

    ¡°What were you looking for when you first came here?¡± Zheng Rong suddenly asked.

    Xiang Yu did not answer.

    Zheng Rong narrowed his eyes and pressed further, ¡°Were you also seeking the elixir of immortality?¡±

    Xiang Yu slowly shook his head.

    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing,¡± Joseph said helplessly. ¡°Immortality defies biological rules.¡±

    ¡°To be precise,¡± Hugo added, ¡°it defies the natural laws of Earth.¡±

    Lance¡¯s eyebrow twitched. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°Be quiet, Rain is thinking,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted.

    ¡°No, no, please continue,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    ¡°But from a biological perspective, it¡¯s entirely achievable,¡± Zheng Rong continued. ¡°Just modify a few small segments of DNA, decipher the genetic code...¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Lainey chimed in, ¡°Yes, there is indeed a theory; without external harm, not only humans but all living beings could theoretically achieve immortality or evolution or employ other means...¡±

    ¡°The reason we age is genetic,¡± Lainey said. ¡°This natural law has governed the world from the moment life began on Earth. Purines, pyrimidines, ribose, deoxyribose, and fatty acids¡ªthe moment the first cells formed through amino acid polymerization, the biological clock for aging was set.¡±

    ¡°What is this lock?¡± Xiang Yu asked. ¡°Unlock it, and humans could live forever?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Lainey interjected. ¡°Who knows? Our cells divide and regenerate, progressing through different stages as we age.¡±

    ¡°From birth to middle age, cells grow and divide. After middle age, the rate of new cells gradually falls behind the aging of existing cells. This constant decline eventually leads to death.¡±

    ¡°There are exceptions,¡± Zheng Rong added, ¡°such as cancer cells.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lainey nodded. ¡°So by altering genetics, controlling all cells to divide at a steady rate, balancing new and aging cells, one would never grow old or die.¡±

    ¡°So you mean humanity will move toward this in the future?¡± Lance asked in a deep voice.

    ¡°Most people believe so,¡± Lainey said, ¡°but personally, I think humans will never achieve immortality. A medical expert once wrote a report on this topic: if humans achieved eternal cellular division, that would also be the day when new births cease.¡±

    ¡°No one would die, and no one would be born. The entire species would gradually decrease in number due to other factors until they are completely extinct.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Xiang Yu asked in astonishment.

    ¡°Where there is life, there is death,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°It¡¯s fair¡ªa truth of the universe. If intelligent beings never die and continue to be born endlessly, they would fill the entire universe.¡±

    The team members chuckled, and Zheng Rong said blandly, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s also likely that they¡¯d end up destroying themselves on a planet too crowded to accommodate them. Now, back to my question, Brother, were you also searching for the elixir of immortality? Since we¡¯re in the Emperor¡¯s mausoleum, the only possibility is that thing. But Ying Zheng is already dead, which means it¡¯s useless...¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Xiang Yu interrupted. ¡°We weren¡¯t looking for Xu Fu¡¯s elixir of immortality. Xu Fu never returned in the end. We were searching for a drug that drives people mad, makes them bloodthirsty, and fearless in battle.¡±

    Zheng Rong frowned, muttering, ¡°Such a thing exists?!¡±

    Xiang Yu fell into distant memories and said slowly, ¡°It was said that Xu Fu sailed to find the Immortal Mountain, but even by the time of Ying Zheng¡¯s death, he had not returned.¡±

    ¡°In the years after Xu Fu¡¯s departure until Zhao Zheng¡¯s death, perhaps Ying Zheng received guidance from above.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I set the second exploration site as the Emperor¡¯s mausoleum,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°Do you truly believe in divine intervention?¡± Xiang Yu asked, rubbing his forehead.

    ¡°ÄãÏÈ¸æËßÎÒ£¬¡±Ö£ÈÝËµµÀ£¬¡°ÄãÒªµÄÒ©£¬Ò²ÊÇÉñÁé´Í¸øËûµÄÂð£¿¡±

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 20 - A Thousand-Year-Old Armor

    At the end of the pit of thousands of terracotta warriors, there was a hidden door. The door was covered with tiny squares, each engraved with symbols of bows, spears, swords, and axes. Xiang Yu stood in front of the door for a moment and said, "This time it¡¯s a push puzzle." Zheng Rong awkwardly replied, "Don¡¯t remind me of the Sphinx''s riddle... Hurry up." Xiang Yu stood before the door, silently calculating something, then reached out with his finger to push the tiles. All was quiet except for the sound of Xiang Yu''s fingers pushing the tiles; the noise of stone sliding was continuous, a succession of scraping sounds.

    After pushing ten thousand tiles, Xiang Yu arranged them into a perfect formation of an ancient military array. He stood like a monarch commanding the world, and in a deep voice, he said, "Open." The stone door rumbled backward, stopping with a loud thud, revealing a longer passageway inside. As soon as the air flowed into the tunnel, torches along the sides instantly lit up! Brilliant and magnificent, the pit of the terracotta warriors connected to an unexplored secret passage. Every ten steps along the passage, there was a lit torch. Zheng Rong explained, "According to historical records, the fuel for the lights in the First Emperor''s tomb was the oil of polar mermaids, capable of burning eternally..." "That¡¯s absolutely impossible, according to the law of conservation of energy..." Ugos interrupted. Zheng Rong replied irritably, "Come on, it¡¯s just a legend." Between each torch, there were weapon racks, each holding a weapon. Some were halberds, others spears; these kinds of weapons were already rare in modern times.

    "It''s called a wrist shield, and the edges are sharp, so don¡¯t touch it," Xiang Yu explained kindly as he led the group forward. Lannie was using a mirror-like small shield to groom her eyebrows. Ugos, seeing such a grand corridor for the first time, was stunned. Every weapon seemed to have weathered a thousand years yet remained as fresh as ever, not a speck of dust on them. Ugos reached out to touch a horizontally placed spear, but Joseph grabbed his hand, pulled out a strand of hair, and placed it on the spear. The hair floated gently through the air and, upon touching the blade, split in two. "Sharp enough to cut hair with a breeze, like slicing through mud," Xiang Yu said in a deep voice. Ugos looked on in disbelief. "The metallurgy of that time was already at this level?" He reached out and picked up the spear.

    "Please, respect the artifacts. The items you''re handling might just be the sword used by Li Mu, the spear of Meng Tian, or the halberd of Wang Jian," Zheng Rong cautioned. "Or perhaps the divine weapons crafted by Ou Yezi." Zheng Rong passed by the weapon rack near Lance, picking up a sword. Joseph asked nonchalantly, "Do you think we¡¯ll find that Chinese weapon hidden in a fish''s belly here?" "That weapon is called the Fish Intestine," Zheng Rong explained. "Even though it''s said that Ying Zheng melted down all the weapons in the world to make golden men... I think he wouldn¡¯t have destroyed everything."

    The passage was long and endless, leading to a staircase. The team was initially very curious, but as they kept going deeper, their interest gradually waned, and they started feeling bored. The stairs first descended, then ascended. The seemingly never-ending walk lasted almost five to six hours, wearing everyone out. When the weapon racks were gone, they encountered suits of armor hanging from iron rods. Some were rusty and mottled, others as bright as new. Under each suit of armor, it seemed as if a soul was watching the uninvited guests.

    Zheng Rong, however, remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the armor and weapons along the way, as if he were searching for something. Finally, they reached the end of the passage and arrived at the last stone chamber. The group halted. Inside the chamber, armor was scattered everywhere, mixed with piles of powder and white bones, as well as many arrows embedded in the ground. Xiang Yu stopped them, glanced at the ceiling, and then took the first step into the hall, which was silent as the grave. "This is where I stopped back then," Xiang Yu said. Lance asked, "Is there a trap?" Zheng Rong frowned, "There shouldn¡¯t be any left." He followed Xiang Yu into the chamber and looked up. The ceiling was full of round holes¡ªthe outlets from which the arrow mechanisms fired. Xiang Yu explained, "When I entered this hall years ago, moving that sword triggered the trap."

    Xiang Yu pointed to the opposite side of the chamber, where there was a deep green marble wall. In front of it was a wooden sword stand, and on it lay an ancient sheathed sword. The wall was covered in dense seal script. Zheng Rong instructed, "All of you, step back. Give me the grappling gun." The team retreated to the passage, and Zheng Rong fired a shot at the wooden stand, hooking the sword''s scabbard. With a swift tug, the sword arced through the air toward him, and Xiang Yu reached out to catch it. A few stray arrows clattered to the ground, their trap ammunition spent.

    Zheng Rong instructed, "Everyone, take an hour to rest. Joseph, translate the text." Joseph took out his notebook, pen in hand, reading and writing as he went. He chuckled, "I thought you knew how to read this." Zheng Rong said, "I learned a little, but I can¡¯t remember it clearly."

    The team sat down again, and after a while, Xiang Yu said, "I know how to read it. Should I recite it for you?" Joseph responded, "It¡¯s fine. I need to write it down first, and our translator will verify it later." Xiang Yu nodded, looked around, and walked to the side of the stone chamber.

    Zheng Rong drew the ancient sword from its scabbard; its blue blade was like a pool of autumn water, reflecting his eyes. "Is that the sword that seals the tomb?" Lance asked. "I know you Chinese really like these kinds of weapons." "I recognize these two characters," Zheng Rong murmured, holding the hilt of the sword in his left hand and revealing two large seal characters. Despite the similarity in names, the greater seal script and the lesser seal script were vastly different; even Joseph couldn¡¯t understand the stone drum script. Zheng Rong said, "This sword is the top of the Five Famous Swords of the Warring States period, named Zhanlu. I never expected to find it here."

    Lance asked with a frown, "It wasn''t taken to the historical and cultural heritage center?" Zheng Rong shook his head. "The path Xiang Yu led us on was a different secret route. In the archaeological history of the Qin Emperor¡¯s tomb, no one in China has ever been here." "They¡¯re the first, and the only ones." Zheng Rong added, "Where are you going?" Xiang Yu said, "I¡¯m looking for the item I left behind last time. Don¡¯t worry." Xiang Yu walked to a side of the passage wall, feeling around with his broad hand, and finally pushed open a hidden door to enter a secret chamber.

    Zheng Rong twirled the ancient sword in his hand, creating a flash of shining sword light, causing everyone to instinctively take a step back. He beckoned to Li Ying, crouching with Zhanlu held in both hands in a swordsman¡¯s ready position, and ordered, "Come here." Li Ying whispered, "Are you going to stab it into my chest?" Zheng Rong replied coldly, "Yes." Before Li Ying could respond, Zheng Rong raised the sword, and with a clang, the blade came down, slicing through the metal of the handcuffs. "Zheng Rong!" Lance exclaimed. Zheng Rong, with his back to Lance, sheathed the sword and silently mouthed the word: Run. Li Ying¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. After a long while, he silently mouthed back: No. He reached out as if to touch Zheng Rong''s face, but Zheng Rong swiftly sheathed the sword and tossed it to Lance, who was getting up. Lance was about to say something, but Zheng Rong said, "His skills can help us detect tomb traps. Cuff him again when we¡¯re out."

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    Zheng Rong turned and walked toward a small door on the other side of the passage, leaving Lance with no choice but to comply. "A pair of handcuffs can''t stop me." Li Ying said nonchalantly, then gave Lance a dangerous smile.

    Xiang Yu stood in a side room of the passage, and Zheng Rong pushed the door open and entered. The stone door rumbled shut. The dark room was small, and at its center was a suit of armor and a golden spear.

    "Whose is this?" Zheng Rong asked. Xiang Yu answered solemnly, "Mine."

    Zheng Rong frowned, examining it for a moment. Xiang Yu continued, "Years ago, when I led my soldiers into this place, we were nearly annihilated, leaving only me. After following Meng Tian¡¯s last words on the wall, I activated the mechanism, opening the path behind the wall, but I could go no further. So, I had to abandon my armor and spear to leave the Emperor¡¯s tomb." Zheng Rong was moved. "What lies beyond the wall?" Xiang Yu said nothing, gazing at the armor as if contemplating something. "Do you want to put it on again?" Zheng Rong asked, turning to inspect the armor on the rack. The copper armor, even after a thousand years, still gleamed. Xiang Yu said, "Forget it..." "Try it on," Zheng Rong insisted, "I¡¯ve never seen you in armor." Xiang Yu¡¯s handsome face showed a faint flush, and Zheng Rong stepped forward to help him unbutton his shirt. Xiang Yu removed his shirt, revealing a white vest beneath. His muscular arms and shoulders were strong and well-defined. Zheng Rong undid his belt, then suddenly paused. Xiang Yu chuckled. He was wearing boxer briefs under his jeans. Zheng Rong nodded approvingly, "That won''t get caught in the armor."

    Xiang Yu burst out laughing and put on the outer armor himself, fastening the straps. Qin armor resembled golden scale mail, styled like a vest, with thousands of small copper plates strung together with ox tendons, reflecting metallic glimmers like scales. "Like a bulletproof vest," Zheng Rong commented. The armor was connected to a battle skirt, and when donned, it hung down to the knees. However, Xiang Yu¡¯s tall frame only allowed it to cover the front of his legs, revealing his strong thighs, making his exposed shoulders and arms appear even more imposing. Zheng Rong knelt on one knee to fasten his knee guards.

    Xiang Yu sat down and put on iron boots. The wrist guards and battle boots were shaped like gluttonous beasts, with spiked heels to injure the enemy when kicking downward. Zheng Rong marveled at the weight of the armor, which must have been at least fifty to sixty pounds. Xiang Yu, fully armored, bent down to test his movement, landing steadily with a loud thud. He smiled, "Not a bit of rust."

    Zheng Rong nodded with satisfaction. "You look stunning."

    Once the armor was on, Xiang Yu seemed to return to his former glory, with the aura of a king who would advance regardless of the multitudes before him, exuding the valor and power of a hero. "Come here," Xiang Yu said softly. He reached out to Zheng Rong. In that moment, Zheng Rong almost had an illusion. Xiang Yu¡¯s gaze seemed to be inviting¡ªthe gaze of a warlord returning from the battlefield, inviting his beloved.

    "It fits well," Zheng Rong smiled without moving. Xiang Yu replied, "It was crafted by the swordsmiths of Longquan for me." Xiang Yu drew the golden Dragon Coiling Halberd, swirling it through the air, and then flipped it over, lightly pressing Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, pulling him close.

    Zheng Rong looked into Xiang Yu¡¯s eyes.

    "What are you doing? Oh my God! Get the camera, Lannie!" Joseph discovered the scene, excitedly examining it from all angles. Zheng Rong laughed helplessly and turned to leave the secret chamber. Xiang Yu said calmly, "The armor of the Conqueror has been worn once again." Joseph curiously touched the scale armor. "Can you take it off so I can have a look?" Xiang Yu removed a wrist guard and tossed it to Joseph, who reached out to catch it but was knocked to the ground by the ten-pound copper wrist guard. Xiang Yu laughed heartily as he exited the chamber.

    Lance was engrossed in studying Joseph¡¯s translation, glanced at Xiang Yu, and commented, "Impressive. You¡¯re a born warrior." Xiang Yu nodded.

    "I will sleep here, guarding the First Emperor for millennia," Xiang Yu recited in a deep voice. "From my ancestors to my descendants..." Zheng Rong continued, "Your translation is too archaic. I, Meng Tian, commanded an army of 300,000. The Meng family served the Qin State for three generations, but due to the scheming of traitors, my brother Yi died." "Meng Yi?" Lance asked. Zheng Rong nodded. "I should have died honorably, but I served the First Emperor for thirty-seven years... From when Ying Zheng ascended to the throne at the age of thirteen, to his death at Shaqiu, it was exactly thirty-seven years. The teachings of my ancestors have never left my mind for a moment, and now I entrust my life to Zhanlu..."

    "What does it mean?" Joseph asked, puzzled. "To entrust one¡¯s life to a sword?" Xiang Yu explained, "In those days, it was believed that if someone committed suicide with a weapon, their spirit would remain within that weapon forever, becoming a sword spirit." Zheng Rong nodded. "Yes, that¡¯s why Ou Yezi¡¯s swords Ganjiang and Moye got their names. Zhanlu carries the spirit of Meng Tian."

    "To guard the soul of the First Emperor for millennia, until the return of the Immortals, the twelve true words will awaken them," Zheng Rong murmured. "So there are immortals, and they¡¯re supposed to return."

    Xiang Yu said slowly, "If the souls of past warriors disturb this place, they must know that my spirit guards this area. They must surrender their armor and weapons and leave immediately." "So you left your armor here the last time you came?" Zheng Rong asked. Xiang Yu nodded, and Lance scoffed, "What bold words." Zheng Rong corrected him, "He certainly has the right to say them. Meng Tian was once hailed as China¡¯s greatest warrior. Though Xiang Yu came after him, before him, there was indeed none greater." Joseph rested his chin on his hand, squinting. "So there¡¯s a passage behind this wall, and the translation confirms it. But how do we get through? Do we forcefully break it?"

    Lance said, "We¡¯ve already checked thoroughly; there are no more mechanisms." Jin Pul-ai nodded, "Ultrasound has scanned all the walls as well. It seems the only way to get through is to destroy the wall." "What about the Maya mechanical soldiers?" Zheng Rong asked. Jin Pul-ai hesitantly replied, "They¡¯re... stationed in the central burial chamber with no movement."

    Lance said, "I¡¯ll try to break it open with a magnetic cannon." Xiang Yu waved his hand, "Listen."

    Xiang Yu turned the Dragon Coiling Halberd and knocked on the stone wall with its tail, producing a deep, resonant sound. Behind it was clearly a vast empty space. "Back then, I was the only one left, unable to proceed."

    Xiang Yu glanced at Zheng Rong and commanded, "Step back, everyone."

    Xiang Yu pressed a mechanism on his wrist guard, and five steel finger rings popped out. He put them on one by one, clenched his fist, testing his strength. A silver-white ring of protective iron appeared on the back of his hand. He weighed his fist for a moment before suddenly punching the stone wall!

    A muffled thud, and the wall stood firm. "It¡¯s still no use..." Lance muttered. Xiang Yu¡¯s fist remained against the wall, his body as unmoving as a mountain. After three seconds, spiderweb-like cracks spread from the center of his fist, covering the entire wall, which then collapsed with a boom. As the dust settled, Zheng Rong stepped over the rubble into the final chamber.

    Everyone felt an illusion, as if upon crossing the threshold, they¡¯d entered a bizarre space¡ªa space without end. The ceiling of the giant room was covered with sun, moon, and star patterns, and in front of them was a boundless silver sea of death. Following the coastline, where Lance¡¯s flashlight shone, a golden glint was reflected¡ªa towering bronze statue of a golden man. Zheng Rong threw a stone into the silver sea, but no sound of water came back. The stone bounced several times before quietly resting on the surface. "Mercury," Ugos said. "With a density of 13.6 grams per cubic centimeter, this is a... massive pool of liquid mercury."

    "We¡¯ve reached the legendary true burial chamber of the First Emperor¡¯s tomb," Zheng Rong said. "And the coffin of the First Emperor most likely lies submerged in this sea."

 21 - The Stone Coffin in the Pool of Mercury

    ¡°Wait.¡± Zheng Rong stopped Xiang Yu. ¡°Going in like this could be fatal.¡± Ugos crouched down, took a small sample of mercury, and carefully sealed it. ¡°Looks like we can¡¯t go any further. We need to go back and get gas masks...¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°I have a solution.¡±

    He reached for a cylindrical staff on the side of Lance¡¯s pack, resembling the kind of scepter used by ancient shamans. Slinging the staff behind his back, Zheng Rong drew out the Staff of Moses. ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± Ugos said in disbelief. ¡°No,¡± Joseph interjected. ¡°Not at all.¡± The head of the Staff of Moses emitted a faint glow. Zheng Rong explained, ¡°It can part liquids, so it should also repel any vapors. Stay close to me.¡± The mercury reading on Ugos¡¯s air analyzer dropped steadily until it reached zero.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stray too far from me. I suspect the Staff of Moses has a limited range of effect,¡± Zheng Rong warned. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± The group advanced slowly along the edge of the mercury sea. Xiang Yu¡¯s armor, with its tightly bound scales, clinked softly as they walked. ¡°I wonder how he managed to gather so much mercury,¡± Lannie remarked. ¡°Mercury has always been mysterious,¡± Joseph replied. ¡°In the West, it was used for alchemy. In Asia, it was used in medicine. Emperors loved to collect it, and it¡¯s quite beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Joseph lifted Ugos¡¯s small glass vial, and the mercury inside rolled like a living liquid.

    ¡°The enemies are starting to approach us; it seems they¡¯ve found another way in,¡± Jin Pul-ai said worriedly, staring at the computer screen where dots of light were moving ever so slowly toward the hidden tomb chamber. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zheng Rong assured her. On the edge of the mercury sea stood a massive bronze figure, towering above them, holding a large stone broadsword that pointed to the center of the sea. Lance shone his xenon flashlight. ¡°I think we¡¯re standing by a circular lake. Look across.¡± ¡°Yes, the mercury pool is surrounded by twelve golden figures,¡± Zheng Rong confirmed, adjusting Lance¡¯s wrist to change the angle of the light. The team gasped in unison. ¡°I think we¡¯re in the right place,¡± Zheng Rong murmured.

    The chest of the golden figure in front of them bore carvings of the symbols from the Ten Commandments. ¡°Symbols from the Wheel of Fortune, here?¡± Joseph exclaimed. ¡°I thought they were just a pattern.¡± ¡°They are,¡± Zheng Rong muttered. ¡°The place on the chest where the symbol is carved... seems like it can be pressed. Li Ying, if you please.¡± Zheng Rong handed the grappling gun to Li Ying, who fired it upwards, hooking it around the arm of the golden figure. Li Ying leaped, swinging from the rope in an arc. ¡°Press it?¡± ¡°Everyone back up,¡± Zheng Rong instructed. ¡°Give it a try.¡± Li Ying swung like a pendulum across the chest of the golden figure and kicked the symbol, forcing it to sink inward with a rumbling sound.

    ¡°Get down!¡± Zheng Rong ordered. The team backed away, and Jin Pul-ai said, ¡°They¡¯re getting closer to the hidden tomb chamber, but why are they all stopping outside?¡± In the next moment, the deafening sound of mechanisms activating drowned out the voice of the Korean girl, as the chests of all twelve giant golden figures lit up simultaneously. The ground shook, and the golden figures all extended their hands. ¡°Oh... this can¡¯t be a good sign.¡± The scene trembled, and Joseph stumbled backward, nearly falling. With another loud crash, all the golden figures released their weapons, which plunged into the mercury sea, sending up pillars of silver spray. The ripples from where the stone weapons fell spread outward, intersecting and then dissipating. The surface of the sea glimmered with silver light.

    The giant stone broadsword that sank into the sea resurfaced like a raft. ¡°Go!¡± Zheng Rong commanded. ¡°Get on.¡± The team leaped onto the massive sword, which was 20 meters long and 5 meters wide, like a narrow ship. It carried everyone slowly toward the center of the sea.

    Simultaneously, twelve stone weapons surfaced from different directions and moved toward the center of the sea at the same pace.

    ¡°As long as we¡¯re in the mercury sea, we¡¯re safe,¡± Zheng Rong said. Lance nodded. ¡°Mechanical killers could be corroded and melted by mercury. The sea conducts electricity and magnetism.¡± Lance fired the magnetic cannon at the surface of the sea, the blue light of the blast rolling across the endless expanse of mercury like a tangled electric web, spreading clusters of magnetic energy that surged back and forth. ¡°They haven¡¯t entered; they¡¯re all gathering outside the chamber,¡± Jin Pul-ai observed. ¡°Smart,¡± Zheng Rong commented.

    A large mechanical moth landed outside the tomb chamber, retracting its wings, and lowered an alloy pupa from its abdomen. The alloy pupa squirmed to the edge of the mercury sea, burrowing in and slowly sinking.

    ¡°I''ve always found it hard to understand why the Mayan weapons are all insect-like,¡± Jin Pul-ai said as she closed her laptop, shivering. ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Ugos said sympathetically. ¡°Though they may look disgusting, it''s an inevitable result of billions of years of evolution on Earth.¡± ¡°Insect ancestors existed on Earth long before humans evolved,¡± Ugos said, pulling out an amber fossil with a trapped fly inside. ¡°Amber from the Amazon basin,¡± Zheng Rong noted. Ugos nodded. ¡°Their survival strategies are highly scientific and easily adaptable to changing environments. Insect compound eyes can capture information from multiple directions, their flying speed is incredibly fast¡ªalmost unattainable for humans. Even if one day all humans go extinct, insects will still survive.¡± ¡°Like ants,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°An ant can lift six times its body weight, which is unheard of among mammals.¡± ¡°There are exceptions,¡± Joseph joked. ¡°Humans, for instance. Like our friend Rain¡ªhe¡¯s a strong ant.¡± Everyone laughed, and Xiang Yu smiled without a word.

    The twelve weapons¡ªa bow, halberd, spear, axe, sword... all of them¡ªslid across the surface of the mercury sea at the same pace, heading to the exact center. Zheng Rong looked up, noticing the stars moving across the ceiling of the tomb chamber, twinkling brightly. ¡°The raft we¡¯re on,¡± Zheng Rong remarked, ¡°might be guided by the forces on the ceiling.¡± As he spoke, everyone looked up. They saw twelve glowing symbols slowly moving toward the center of the ceiling, their target being the center point. ¡°Where are they getting their energy?¡± Joseph asked, puzzled. Zheng Rong shrugged. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s magnetic energy, or kinetic energy generated by the flowing mercury. Who knows.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Ugos said. ¡°If the flowing mercury in the tomb is generating cyclical kinetic energy, it would be a perpetual motion machine, which is absolutely unattainable.¡± Zheng Rong nodded. The twelve weapons slid toward the same point, colliding with a thud. The stone weapons leaned against each other and became still on the sea¡¯s surface. The stone blades interlocked to form an outer ring, leaving a hollow space in the center.

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    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Lance frowned. Zheng Rong looked up and saw that the symbols on the ceiling were converging at a single point, overlapping, and casting a beam of light. ¡°Shhh¡ª¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Everyone step back. Something¡¯s about to come out.¡±

    The beam of light from the ceiling pierced into the mercury sea, making the liquid boil like a pot of bubbling water. Jin Pul-ai¡¯s computer showed a massive light point converging at the center of the circular mercury pool. But she was no longer looking at her screen. She was staring at the sea in stunned silence. The mercury poured down like a waterfall, forming lines that revealed a large stone platform.

    The stone platform, supported by its base, rose with a rumble from the sea.

    ¡°Take photos,¡± Zheng Rong ordered. The white lights behind them flashed repeatedly. The stone coffin was square-shaped, and as the mercury flowed away, symbols etched into its sides were revealed¡ªstrange and foreign runes covered its entire surface.

    It was like a mysterious, unsolvable letter, accompanying them throughout their adventure. Joseph diligently copied the markings while the other team members curiously examined the stone coffin. ¡°There isn¡¯t the medicine you¡¯re looking for,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Only this coffin.¡± Xiang Yu shook his head. ¡°That item is not medicine.¡± After copying all the symbols around the coffin, Joseph said, ¡°Now we have two rubbings for comparison. Once we leave the Qin Emperor¡¯s tomb, we must head back to Northern Ireland immediately.¡± ¡°You think there¡¯s a connection between the two texts?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Joseph replied. ¡°But it¡¯s best to refer to them as ¡®patterns.¡¯ I suspect they might not actually be writing.¡± Zheng Rong frowned, and Joseph shook his head slowly, hesitating. ¡°It... lacks the basic characteristics of written language used by intelligent beings. This is my area of expertise. It¡¯s difficult to explain.¡± ¡°So, they might just be decorative flourishes? Even the stuff on the columns with the Ten Commandments¡ªjust the playful designs of alien gods...¡± Zheng Rong speculated. Joseph gave up arguing. ¡°Fine, call it what you will. Deciphering this might take a long time, and we¡¯ll need computer assistance. Anyway, once this expedition is over, you¡¯d better head back immediately.¡± Zheng Rong did not respond. He glanced at Li Ying, and their eyes met briefly before turning away.

    After Joseph finished taking photos, everyone¡¯s curious gazes turned to Zheng Rong, as if expecting him to announce a new decision. Zheng Rong stared at the stone coffin and calmly asked, ¡°Shall we open it?¡± Xiang Yu¡¯s voice was deep, ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°Oh no¡ª¡± Lannie couldn¡¯t take it any longer. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to grave-rob! This is insane.¡± ¡°I also advise against it...¡± Ugos said hesitantly. ¡°We¡¯ve already damaged enough of one of the world¡¯s eight great heritage sites...¡± Zheng Rong turned his gaze to Joseph, who propped his chin on his hand, deep in thought. ¡°What do you think is in the coffin?¡± ¡°The medicine Xiang Yu is looking for, isn¡¯t it?¡± Zheng Rong said coldly. ¡°That¡¯s disrespectful to the dead... but I don¡¯t know him anyway. Aren¡¯t you afraid there could be a terrible trap inside... or...¡± Joseph trailed off. ¡°I¡¯ll open it myself,¡± Xiang Yu declared. ¡°Why are you so insistent on disturbing his grave?¡± Li Ying asked suddenly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Xiang Yu replied coldly. ¡°He does,¡± Zheng Rong said, aimlessly flicking his flashlight. ¡°He once also wanted to dig up the military¡¯s ancestral graves...¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Lance interrupted. ¡°Ladies, please step back,¡± Zheng Rong instructed. ¡°Open the coffin.¡±

    Lance used a laser to cut the four corners of the stone coffin, and with a hiss, mercury spilled out, forcing everyone to step back. ¡°You¡¯re too rough,¡± Ugos muttered. ¡°Talk to us about roughness when you pay for the terracotta warriors you smashed,¡± Zheng Rong retorted. ¡°Move the lid.¡± Xiang Yu strained, his muscles bulging, and lifted the lid of the coffin, tossing it through the air. It flew with a whoosh and splashed down onto the mercury sea. After the loud crash, Li Ying frowned as if hearing something unusual, causing everyone to pause. ¡°Death Knight, did you hear something?¡± Zheng Rong asked. Li Ying pointed to the ground, lost in thought.

    ¡°Continue opening.¡± The stone coffin was broken open, revealing a second layer. The coffin consisted of twelve layers, each with a cover engraved with an alien rune. Xiang Yu pried open each layer and threw the covers into the mercury sea, one layer after another. ¡°Did you record the sequence of the symbols?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°I¡¯ve got photos of them. My memory¡¯s pretty good too,¡± Joseph replied. ¡°I think I might have a guess about what these symbols mean.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°Not sure yet, just a preliminary hypothesis. I¡¯ll analyze it more carefully when we¡¯re back,¡± Joseph said.

    When the final layer of the stone coffin was broken, Joseph suddenly realized something and turned to look. ¡°Oh... no, Zheng Rong, look at this.¡± Joseph nudged Zheng Rong with his elbow. All the coffin lids that Xiang Yu had thrown into the sea, each with its twelve symbols, were now quietly floating on the surface, circling the central stone coffin to form an eerie ring.

    Zheng Rong stepped forward. In the final layer of the coffin, the mercury slowly drained away, like a living liquid, flowing down from the edges of the stone platform into the sea. At the center of the stone platform lay a silver corpse.

    The camera shutter clicked with a flash, a blinding white light reflecting off the body. Zheng Rong angrily shouted, ¡°No photos!¡± Joseph was stunned as Zheng Rong¡¯s heart pounded violently. He took a deep breath. All around them was a deathly silence. Xiang Yu, in one swift motion, drew the Dragon Coiling Halberd from his back and said in a low voice, ¡°Move aside.¡± ¡°Are you going to desecrate the corpse?¡± Zheng Rong murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t. He¡¯s been dead for two thousand years.¡± ¡°Is that Ying Zheng?¡± Lance asked suddenly. ¡°The First Emperor who unified all of China?¡± Zheng Rong hesitantly looked at the corpse. ¡°Maybe. I can¡¯t tell the age.¡±

    The mercury slowly receded, revealing the face of the corpse. Soaked in mercury for nearly two thousand years, the skin showed large patches of rust spots, with a considerable amount of mercury remaining inside the body. This preserved the contours of the eyelids, facial features, ears, and lips as they were thousands of years ago. The corpse¡¯s hands were folded over its chest, holding an object. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Li Ying raised his hand. ¡°What is that?¡± The mercury slowly flowed away from the body¡¯s feet, and as it receded, a hint of gold was revealed in the object the corpse held. ¡°Gold?¡± Lance frowned. ¡°No, it¡¯s not gold,¡± Ugos murmured. ¡°Gold dissolves in mercury; it couldn''t be preserved like this.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s an alloy. It looks like a helmet?¡± Zheng Rong suggested. ¡°Surprisingly, there aren¡¯t any traps.¡± ¡°That item is a Qin Dynasty royal helmet,¡± Xiang Yu said. ¡°Let me shatter the corpse, and you can examine it.¡± ¡°Should I take it off and see? Maybe when you pull it, the mercury corpse will pounce on you,¡± Li Ying suggested. Zheng Rong¡¯s hair stood on end, terrified that the corpse of Ying Zheng might suddenly open its eyes, just as Li Ying said. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Li Ying taunted. Li Ying stepped forward, reaching to pull the metal object from the corpse¡¯s grasp. Zheng Rong took a deep breath. ¡°No, Li Ying, come back.¡±

    Xiang Yu shouted in a deep voice, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡±

    The corpse¡¯s ten fingers were tightly clenched. Li Ying hooked his index and middle fingers around the edge of the metal helmet and gave it a pull.

    With a slight tug, bright red blood flowed slowly from the corpse¡¯s nostrils, ears, the corners of its mouth, and under its eyelids. The droplets trailed down the silver face, dripping onto the stone platform.

 22 - The Traitors Announcement

    Strange noises rose from beneath the stone platform, as if something were gnawing at the stone slabs.

    "Step back, Li Ying," Zheng Rong said.

    Li Ying pulled forcefully, grabbing the golden helmet into his hand, murmuring, "Blood."

    A strong sense of foreboding surged through Zheng Rong. He decisively ordered, "Everyone, leave this place! Get on the stone ship, all of you! Hurry!"

    "What is that?"

    "I don¡¯t know!" Zheng Rong responded, "Don¡¯t attack it! We might still have time to escape! Han Guomei, conduct a sonic test of the terrain outside!"

    The twelve stone soldiers slowly retreated toward the coast, and Xiang Yu stood solemnly at the stern of the ship. Behind the male corpse, a mechanism seemed to prop it up, making it rise slowly like a statue.

    The mercury corpse stood in the center of the coffin, with startling red blood dripping down its face as the stone ship gradually sailed away.

    Laine screamed in terror, and Joseph rapidly took several photos. Zheng Rong finally realized something was wrong.

    "What¡¯s that on its back?" Zheng Rong frowned.

    A shining bulge had formed on the back of the Qin Emperor''s corpse, with hundreds of metallic tendrils wrapped around its face. Each tendril, resembling a metal tube, seemed to be injecting a blood-like red liquid into its body.

    The tendrils of the mechanical cocoon extended further and further, spreading across the sea''s surface and probing into the Mercury Sea.

    The sea beneath them suddenly shook violently.

    "Be careful!" Lance shouted. Everyone bent down into a half-squat to stabilize themselves.

    Xiang Yu brandished the Panlong Gold Halberd, holding it in a reverse grip, taking a stance with his bow and arrow, his arm turning in alignment with his shoulder. With his head bowed, he said, "Ying Zheng, back then, your army invaded Chu, slaughtered my people of Wuzhong, and tore my grandfather apart in the marketplace. This enmity has not been forgotten for a thousand years."

    "Xiang Yu, wait!" Zheng Rong said in alarm.

    Xiang Yu raised his head. In the center of the distant stone platform stood the solitary mercury corpse that had slept for a millennium.

    Xiang Yu waved his hand, and the Panlong Halberd spun into a golden wheel, flying toward Ying Zheng and piercing his chest.

    The mercury corpse spewed bright red blood, and the tendrils on its back thrashed wildly. The halberd not only pierced the mercury corpse but also sent the parasitic cocoon attached to its back flying!

    The team cried out in shock, and Joseph even forgot to take pictures. Stunned, he said, "What is that?!"

    Li Ying answered, "That''s an advanced composite directive device from the Maya Star machinery."

    "What does it do?" Zheng Rong frowned.

    Li Ying shook his head. "Repair, collect biological materials. Its other functions are still unclear. Those metal tubes have absorbed the blood of thousands from our ambushed special forces. I suspect it was planning to do something with that mercury corpse, but fortunately, it was disrupted."

    In that instant, a profound fear extended through everyone''s hearts.

    Zheng Rong sensed something. "Is it the commander of the mechanical swarm?"

    Lance spoke in a deep voice, "Do you plan to take it back for study?"

    Li Ying replied, "No, that''s not the point. Their actions are unified; they follow all orders from the spaceship''s central command. However, this particular type of insect¡ªor perhaps cocoon¡ªhas the ability to make its own decisions."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice trembled. "Does that mean... there''s an alien inside?"

    Li Ying tilted his head, carefully examining the metallic cocoon, and slowly said, "I don''t think so."

    "Let¡¯s go back," Lance said.

    "It¡¯s trying to escape," Zheng Rong said. "If we can¡¯t catch it, we¡¯ve already obtained our objective this time. Let¡¯s leave now. I have a feeling things aren¡¯t that simple."

    The metal cocoon retracted all its tendrils and slowly slithered across the stone platform before once again submerging into the water.

    Meanwhile, the weaponized stone boat reached the shore.

    "Between the two golden statues, there''s a secret passageway leading outside..." Kim Pak-ai began mapping the labyrinth.

    With a loud boom, the stone chamber quaked again.

    Zheng Rong raised his staff and turned to retreat. "Xiang Yu, open the path! Get us out of here immediately!"

    Thousands of tendrils gleaming with silver light burst from the water¡¯s surface, and the entire Mercury Sea roared in an instant!

    "Move now!" Zheng Rong commanded. "I¡¯ll stay behind! Retreat!"

    The Mercury Sea churned wildly, as if controlled by the cocoon¡¯s tendrils, its liquid silver coalescing into a massive wave that rushed toward the shore. Zheng Rong pointed the Moses staff at the tidal wave, which was as massive as a building.

    With a crash, the stream of mercury split into two under an invisible force, crashing toward the stone wall and collapsing it.

    Lance shouted, "Get out of here quickly! The place is going to be destroyed! Damn... what on earth is that thing?!"

    Laine screamed loudly, and everyone forgot to run, staring dumbfoundedly as the sticky sea surface bulged, revealing a gigantic cocoon-like monster.

    "Thank goodness we destroyed the mercury corpse, otherwise we''d be facing a person right now," Li Ying said sarcastically.

    Even Xiang Yu, at this moment, felt a chill run down his spine. Lance kicked away debris and shouted, "Move! Hand me the staff!"

    "You can¡¯t control it!" Zheng Rong yelled, holding up the staff while retreating. Taking advantage of the moment when the giant mercury cocoon slightly dipped, he turned as it lunged, shouting, "Run!"

    The group dashed into the passageway, covering their heads as more mechanical killers surged forward. The mercury cocoon leaped fiercely, and a metal-water arrow smashed the secret passage of the tomb, sending bricks and tiles flying, accompanied by an earth-shattering crash.

    Zheng Rong ran at the back of the group, taking deep breaths as he calculated the advancing mercury¡¯s distance: thirty meters, twenty meters...

    With a sudden drift, Zheng Rong elegantly turned, pointing his staff toward the passageway.

    The sound of machinery was piercing, as if thousands of gears were spinning and grinding within the mercury. In an instant, the tendrils of the mercury sea froze under that point, forming an eerie cross-section.

    Li Ying laughed. "Baby, let me help you."

    "Move quickly!" Zheng Rong shouted. "Stop talking!"

    The liquid mercury scattered, rolling back along the cave walls, and merged into the Mercury Sea. Li Ying stepped forward, lowering himself, picked up Zheng Rong, and followed the group, running.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The helicopter blades whirred constantly, the vast plains stretching far and wide under the midday sun.

    On the side of Li Mountain, a giant bulge swelled. Pressure from beneath the ground erupted like a geyser, sending thousands of tons of soil and boulders blasting into the sky.

    The members of the exploration team were flung into the air by the immense force. Zheng Rong, being closest to the Mercury Sea, bore the brunt of the pressure, spitting out a mouthful of blood as the staff slipped from his hand, spinning through the air.

    Xiang Yu let out a long shout, somersaulting in mid-air, stepping on flying rocks, and leveraging his position to leap back, catching Zheng Rong just in time.

    Li Ying leaped across the debris and grabbed hold of the Moses staff firmly.

    "Attention, those below: your movements have been exposed."

    Seven military helicopters and an airborne cruiser roared as they surrounded the group.

    "Boss, they''re here! It''s the Fourth Corps!" Gukat''s voice sounded through a loudspeaker.

    The cruiser cast down several ropes, accurately pulling up every individual.

    "Seventy-First Army, Major General Lance, your mission is complete," a man''s voice came from the loudspeaker. "Please lay down your weapons and await further instructions from the Northern Ireland Parliament of the Human Alliance."

    "Zheng Rong!" Xiang Yu struggled in the net, holding Zheng Rong, whose eyes were unfocused as he looked upward, motionless.

    Zheng Rong called out, "Lance!"

    The military helicopters, each carrying a net, slowly flew toward the central cruiser.

    "You are now safe," the voice from the high-flying ship announced over the loudspeaker. "Please remain calm. Leave the rest to us. Every scientist is under protection. Rescue team, confirm the activation of the anti-gravity shield. Prepare the magnetic field cannon."

    "Warning, SS-class dangerous individual confirmed, special forces close-combat fighter, code number 002, Li Ying."

    Lance stood on the net, struggling to keep upright as he slung the nuclear magnetic cannon over his back, avoiding Zheng Rong¡¯s gaze in guilt.

    "Lance¡ª!" Zheng Rong roared, "You betrayed me! You leaked information about Li Ying to the military!"

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were blank and unfamiliar. Li Ying stared obsessively at the distant Zheng Rong, while Lance fixed his eyes on the cave entrance, saying nothing.

    "Lance¡ª!" Zheng Rong furiously grabbed the net, shouting in rage, "You bastard!"

    "Secure the targets. Prepare to fire," came the emotionless order from the flagship.

    "Zheng Rong!" Xiang Yu yelled, "Calm down!"

    The airship extended two metal wings, deploying six rotating silver probes. Blue electric light shone from the probes, connecting them together.

    "Charging complete."

    From the dark entrance of the cave, three seconds later, a burst of mercury shot out, piercing the head of the airship in an instant!

    Everyone screamed in terror. Li Ying roared loudly, "Zheng Rong¡ª!"

    The massive flying carrier sounded a piercing alarm. The scattered mercury reassembled, and two streams of powerful liquid shot out, snapping the carrier¡¯s wings. It spun backward, crashing into an evading helicopter and exploding with a deafening boom!

    The carrier turned into a roaring fireball, crashing to the ground. Xiang Yu drew his Zhanlu Sword from his waist, decisively slashing through the net, and plunged downward, shouting, "Release the rope!"

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath, fired at another helicopter, and the grappling hook latched onto its landing gear. Xiang Yu held Zheng Rong, swinging in an arc through the air.

    The mercury sea spilled over the slopes of Li Mountain, and wherever it went, the vegetation was coated in a silver layer. The giant insect cocoon reformed, aiming at the sky. The cocoon¡¯s abdomen swelled as if preparing to fire a mercury arrow.

    "Quickly retreat! Gain altitude and fire downward!" Lance shouted.

    The helicopters, dragging their nets, began to ascend. Xiang Yu said, "Zheng Rong, retract the hook."

    On the other side, Li Ying watched briefly, stroking the alloy net with his palm, tearing it apart, and then swooping down like a night owl spreading its wings.

    "Li Ying!" Lance shouted.

    Li Ying wielded the Moses staff, pointing it at the mercury cocoon. Its head split open, and the mercury solidified in mid-air at an eerie angle.

    The cocoon''s body shone with a dazzling silver light, revealing a smooth inner wall. Li Ying, leveraging his descent, hooked his left hand into the mercury barrier, sliding down until he steadied himself.

    "Come out," Li Ying said coldly.

    The mercury cocoon extended thousands of silver tendrils, tightly entangling Li Ying''s body, pulling his arms and legs straight.

    Struggling, Li Ying reached his hand into the center of the mercury sea, grasping something and dragging it out with gritted teeth.

    His long body was nearly torn apart. Zheng Rong screamed in anguish, "No¡ª! Don¡¯t do it!"

    Li Ying grabbed the core of the metal cocoon and pulled out its tail.

    A metallic segment coiled backward, strangling Li Ying¡¯s neck. His eyes turned an eerie red as another metal tube emitted a red light, scanning his pupils.

    Li Ying trembled uncontrollably, trying to retreat, but countless pieces of data flickered in his eyes.

    Xiang Yu instructed Zheng Rong, "Hold on tight."

    He had Zheng Rong cling to the landing gear, raised the ancient sword with both hands, and, using the helicopter as a springboard, shot out like an arrow, flying toward the center of the Mercury Sea.

    "Ahhhh¡ª!" Xiang Yu roared.

    The Zhanlu Sword, sharp beyond measure, cleaved downward along his descending path, splitting the metal cocoon in half.

    With a crash, the mercury sea scattered, and its tendrils flung Li Ying into the air.

    Xiang Yu landed in a crouch, looking up.

    The field was silent.

    Li Ying staggered to his feet, his finger bones fractured, and his palms covered in blood. He swayed unsteadily before falling down again.

    Xiang Yu watched Zheng Rong for a moment before decisively turning and disappearing into the mountain forest.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The military helicopters landed, inspecting the wreckage of the carrier. Li Ying was handcuffed and escorted onto a helicopter.

    The scientists were taken away one by one. Zheng Rong said, "Put me and Li Ying together."

    With the carrier destroyed, Lance took over as commander, ordering, "No. Keep them separate."

    Zheng Rong said coldly, "Lance, you betrayed my brother."

    A shadow of near-desperate sorrow crossed Lance''s resolute eyes. He whispered, "Zheng Rong, if Li Ying is innocent, I trust the Parliament will clear his name soon."

    "You know!" Zheng Rong, like a madman, lunged forward to shove Lance, yelling, "You know¡ª! Even if he¡¯s innocent! Special forces killing their comrades is enough to get him the electric chair! Why didn''t you ask for my opinion first?!"

    "Lock me up with him!" Zheng Rong screamed almost hysterically. "Let me watch him face the military tribunal''s electric chair with my own eyes! Let me collect his corpse!"

    "I entrusted my brother to you! You didn¡¯t even return his body! This time I won¡¯t let Li Ying leave! Never!"

    Lance was pushed back repeatedly by Zheng Rong, nearly speechless. After a long time, he said, "Give him a sedative."

    Laine pressed her lips together, tears welling in her eyes.

    Zheng Rong and Li Ying were forcibly loaded onto separate helicopters, Xiang Yu disappeared into the mountain slopes, and several military helicopters took off, returning to Northern Ireland.

 23 â€“ The Dance of the Asura

    Five military helicopters escorted Zheng Rong and Lance''s main aircraft across the English Channel, heading toward the snow-covered underground city of Northern Ireland.

    In the center of the barren island, a wide passage opened in the marble mountains, and the helicopters entered.

    "Central Council requests a communication with General Lance. Over."

    "Received," Lance replied in a deep voice.

    "The following are instructions from the military and the council."

    The static of electromagnetic interference buzzed, followed by the voice of an elderly man: "General Lance, the council requires the immediate trial of the scientific expedition team. However, the military has other plans."

    Lance pressed the communication button and answered, "As long as Zheng Rong and Li Ying''s personal safety is guaranteed, my loyalty is with the military."

    "General Lance," the old man¡¯s voice grew stern, "a soldier¡¯s duty is to obey orders!"

    Lance remained silent for a long time, and eventually, the elder conceded, coldly saying, "Then, hand over everyone in your custody to the council. Return everything obtained from the ancient ruins, including the Moses Stone Tablet, immediately!"

    Lance responded slowly, "Orders acknowledged."

    "Take him to the administrative district," Lance instructed. "He can only be handed over with the written signature of the council president. Keep in touch at all times."

    The soldiers stood to attention and saluted.

    Lance sighed. "Zheng Rong, take some time to rest. I swear on my life that I won''t let Li Ying face the electric chair."

    Zheng Rong looked at Lance as if he were a stranger.

    Lance said nothing further. He picked up his briefcase, disembarked from the helicopter, and the hem of his military coat fluttered in the downdraft from the rotor blades.

    The military helicopters landed one by one in the hangar, coming to a standstill, and Lance left in a ground armored vehicle.

    The final helicopter came to a stop, its warning lights flashing red.

    "Attention, SS-class dangerous individual: Second Corps, close-combat fighter unit, code 002. All units prepare."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s hands were cuffed as he coldly watched the helicopter carrying Li Ying. Liquid seeped from the cabin, and black blood seemed to be dripping down the landing gear.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s sharp instincts detected something unusual.

    The soldiers approached, and as they opened the cabin door, everything changed in an instant! The first soldier who pulled open the door collapsed without a sound.

    "Fire!" the hangar commander shouted. "Alert..."

    Before he could finish, a gleaming dagger flew from inside the cabin, piercing his throat and pinning him to the wall!

    Li Ying held a pistol in each hand, firing rapidly as he walked. The soldiers pushed the scholars aside, shouting, "Hands on your head, get down!"

    Xiang Yu called out, "Zheng Rong!"

    "Why are you in the helicopter?!" Zheng Rong asked.

    Without missing a step, Li Ying walked forward coldly, his eyes sharp. He alternated between both pistols, each shot accurately hitting a target.

    A soldier to the side raised his gun, but Xiang Yu swung his Zhanlu Sword in a backhand motion, causing him to stagger backward as the bullet fell to the ground. "Come with us!" Xiang Yu said.

    "Surround him!"

    "Wear your helmets!"

    The soldiers shouted in panic.

    "Call for special forces support!"

    With a wicked smile, Li Ying bent his body, arched his back, and spread his arms wide, spinning elegantly on one foot like a dancer hidden in darkness and blood.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" He fired over a dozen rounds in quick succession, bullets whistling through the air, instantly clearing out everyone around the perimeter!

    "Get down!" Zheng Rong yelled, tackling Xiang Yu to the ground.

    Li Ying spun once, twice, and thrice on the spot. The gunshots were deafening, and when he finally steadied himself, the surroundings fell into utter silence.

    Joseph stood up in disbelief.

    Bang! Bang! Two loud shots sounded, causing Joseph to crouch down again in fear.

    In a flash, Li Ying raised both hands, his wrists positioned in front of his temples. From both corners of the hangar, sniper rifles fired loudly! Bullets struck Li Ying''s hands!

    Li Ying flicked his wrists, causing the alloy bullets embedded in his gloves to fall out. Without even looking, he raised his guns and pulled the triggers simultaneously!

    Two snipers perched high above had their heads blown open by Li Ying''s precise shots from over a hundred paces away!

    Li Ying panted slightly, his hands trembling uncontrollably, seemingly in pain.

    The hangar was deadly quiet, and Zheng Rong whispered, "It¡¯s safe now."

    "He... all along... Oh my God..." Laine¡¯s eyes were brimming with tears, and she was trembling uncontrollably. The hangar was littered with dead soldiers, every one of them slaughtered.

    "He used to be strong, but not like this..." Zheng Rong said slowly, "Li Ying."

    Li Ying stood silently, staring at the ground, as if deep in thought.

    "Li Ying?" Zheng Rong took a step forward, but Xiang Yu alertly shielded him.

    "Li Ying! Can you hear us?" Xiang Yu called out.

    "How did you get here? I thought you escaped?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Xiang Yu replied, "I hid in the tail cabin of one of the helicopters when they were inspecting the battlefield at the foot of Li Mountain."

    Zheng Rong asked, "You killed everyone?"

    Xiang Yu said, "While exiting, Li Ying somehow killed all the soldiers on the helicopter, and I emerged."

    "Li Ying!" A strange feeling overtook Zheng Rong. "Wake up! What are you doing?"

    Li Ying lowered his head slightly, his tall, slender figure standing amidst the pool of blood like a thorny bush.

    The hangar¡¯s lights flashed red, and the alarms blared urgently.

    Zheng Rong pushed past Xiang Yu, taking one step forward, and then another.

    "Li Ying..." Zheng Rong whispered.

    A thin line of blood opened on the back of Li Ying''s neck, and a silver beetle crawled out.

    In an instant, Zheng Rong¡¯s blood seemed to freeze. The parasitic beetle left Li Ying¡¯s body, spread its wings, and buzzed as it flew rapidly into the hangar''s ventilation system.

    Li Ying finally snapped back to reality, yelling, "Stop it!"

    Xiang Yu threw his ancient sword, and Li Ying fired several rapid shots, but the beetle slipped into the iron grille of the ventilation shaft and disappeared.

    Zheng Rong trembled uncontrollably. "Li Ying... you..."

    Li Ying seemed like a different person, frantically saying, "Get out of here! Everyone, leave immediately! They¡¯re coming!"

    "Who? The Maya aliens are coming?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Li Ying answered, "Listen, Zheng Rong, there''s no time to explain."

    "Are you truly a traitor?!" Zheng Rong demanded.

    "No! No, trust me, the information-gathering insect that just left my body completed its final mission. They now have the map of the Northern Ireland Human Refuge! Zheng Rong!"

    "Get them out!" Zheng Rong ordered decisively. "Joseph! Xiang Yu, escort them to the council, spread the message! Go!"

    Joseph took a deep breath and started running.

    Xiang Yu hesitated, but Zheng Rong shouted, "Hurry! Tell Lance to evacuate the underground city immediately!"

    Zheng Rong tossed a communicator, and Xiang Yu caught it, following Joseph as he led the team out of the hangar.

    "What about you?" Li Ying asked softly.

    "I''m staying here, to die with you and atone for your sins," Zheng Rong said, standing before Li Ying and touching his face.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.They stood at the center of the hangar, and Li Ying held Zheng Rong¡¯s hand.

    "Listen, darling," Li Ying whispered. "You can¡¯t die; I still have things to tell you."

    Zheng Rong replied, "I have to die. This place is about to become history. I''ve witnessed the fall of several underground cities¡ªwhat else do you expect me to do?"

    "Joseph will sort out the useful information," Zheng Rong''s tone was as calm as if discussing something trivial. "My brother is dead, Lance betrayed me... if I could die with you..."

    "I can understand Lance, but it¡¯s not time yet," Li Ying interrupted. "Listen to me, darling. Don¡¯t interrupt."

    Li Ying turned his head slightly, his handsome profile as perfect as it had been years ago, taking Zheng Rong¡¯s breath away.

    "I am not your Li Ying," Li Ying said in a low voice. "The original Li Ying is already dead. Look."

    He took a Swiss army knife from his thigh pocket, slicing slowly from beneath his ear down to his neck, revealing a chip.

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath. "What did they do to you?!"

    Li Ying smiled, handing the chip to Zheng Rong, and pulled him closer by the waist. Their noses touched, foreheads pressed together.

    "They transformed me, enabling my body to heal quickly after being injured. They also altered my will, my subconscious..." Li Ying murmured. "For a long time, I didn¡¯t even know if I was still the same person, whether I was the killer 0639 or the special forces soldier Li Ying... My memory was rewritten countless times by them, but I still hid this chip and set up three trigger mechanisms. When Zheng Feng died, and when Lance attacked me without even listening to my explanation... You, darling, were the only one who believed in me."

    Zheng Rong asked in confusion, "What? What do you mean?"

    Li Ying gave Zheng Rong a long kiss, and as their lips parted, he said slowly, "This chip holds the last confidential information about ''them'' from the human soldier Li Ying, for you."

    "It stored brainwave data for four years. When you get back, make sure to convert it to a viewable format."

    "Wait, is it a record in brainwave form?" Zheng Rong asked.

    The hangar doors shook violently.

    Li Ying said gently, "Yes, it was once written in memory. I slaughtered a human military base, found a way to analyze bioelectric waves, and performed surgery on myself to implant it. But since it was converted into chip form, those memories have already been erased from my mind. I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you what¡¯s on the chip."

    "So, you expect that one day I¡¯ll dissect your body myself?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Li Ying smiled. "Maybe. But now it¡¯s finally in your hands, isn¡¯t it?"

    Zheng Rong muttered, "Northern Ireland has a brainwave spectrum analyzer. The one at the Indian Ocean military base was destroyed by you. This is the last one in the world."

    Li Ying¡¯s expression became grave for a moment. "Where is it?"

    "Stop talking and come with me!" Zheng Rong said.

    The hangar doors shook violently again, turning the alloy doors a burning yellow. Meanwhile, the massive gate leading to the inner city of the underground city slowly lowered.

    Zheng Rong grabbed Li Ying¡¯s hand, and they sprinted through the streets of Ireland.

    Alarms blared everywhere, and the ceiling of the underground city projected a holographic map of the city.

    "Emergency evacuation, emergency evacuation. All local residents, please proceed to Zone Z according to your ID color grade to board the Ark for evacuation."

    "Emergency evacuation. The nuclear self-destruct system will activate in two hours."

    "Everyone, look up. Above you are pathways indicating the direction of the red dots, which are the positions of the Maya Star mechanical killers. Follow the map and do not approach red-dot clusters."

    "Local defense forces, gather outside Zone C."

    "Emergency evacuation..."

    Explosions rang out everywhere as mechanical spiders swarmed in. The cries and screams of panicked humans filled the air. Zheng Rong paused at a fork in the road, catching his breath for a moment. He pulled out his ID card, inserted it into a roadside terminal, and pressed several buttons.

    The screen displayed the situation on the surface.

    Above Northern Ireland, the Maya Star mothership rotated slowly, with twelve runes emitting lights of various colors. The spaceship released tens of thousands of spider-like orbs, which upon landing, unfolded their eight sharp alloy legs and swarmed toward the underground city¡¯s hangar entrance.

    The red dots on the map multiplied, covering Zone C and advancing further inward.

    In the distance, the human defense forces fired the first shot, darkening the entire sky.

    "Warning, underground city nuclear self-destruct system activated. Countdown: 1,800 seconds..."

    "No time left! Thirty minutes remaining!" Zheng Rong pulled out his ID card and ran toward Zone F.

    Li Ying lifted Zheng Rong by the waist. One by one, the streetlights went out as they headed toward the computing and information center in Zone F. The building¡¯s glass-domed roof, glowing blue, resembled a massive sphere.

    The researchers had already fled, leaving the hall scattered with discarded papers.

    The elevator chimed as it reached the first floor. Zheng Rong and Li Ying dashed inside, colliding with Jin Pak-ai, who was running out. They crashed into each other, scattering analysis papers everywhere, and Jin Pak-ai screamed.

    Zheng Rong was furious. "Didn¡¯t Xiang Yu take you all away? What are you doing back here?!"

    Jin Pak-ai scrambled on the floor, searching for something. Li Ying reached out his long fingers, gently brushing across the tiles, and picked up a pair of pale blue contact lenses, holding them out to her. Jin Pak-ai went cross-eyed trying to see them.

    Zheng Rong was exasperated.

    "I-I-I... Dr. Zheng Rong, I came back to retrieve some data," Jin Pak-ai stammered. "This computer information is very precious..."

    A loud explosion shook the information center, and alarms blared around them. Jin Pak-ai screamed, sitting down on the floor in fright.

    "You¡¯re risking your life for data, seriously?" Zheng Rong shouted into her ear amidst the deafening noise.

    The mechanical killers broke through the human defensive line, and Zones C and A fell in succession. "Do you know where the brainwave spectrum analyzer is?" Li Ying asked.

    Jin Pak-ai regained her composure and answered, "It¡¯s on the top floor... What do we do now?"

    "Follow me," Zheng Rong said.

    The elevator ascended to the top. "Access code!" Zheng Rong demanded.

    "What are you trying to do?" Jin Pak-ai asked. She took out her ID card, inserted it into the card reader, and leaned forward to let the light scan her eyes. Several alloy doors swung open, revealing a massive machine at the center of the top-floor hall.

    "The power still works." Jin Pak-ai pulled down the lever, and the central computer processor lit up.

    "Let me see..." Jin Pak-ai took the chip, muttering, "This type of interface is from the Indian Ocean Computer Center... Where did you get it? And why is there blood on it?"

    Li Ying held Zheng Rong close, and neither answered her.

    "Can you convert it into visual and audio information?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Jin Pak-ai removed a key from around her neck and opened a hidden safe on the side of the hall, retrieving a card reader.

    "Such an important thing wasn¡¯t moved to safety?" Zheng Rong asked, touched.

    Jin Pak-ai¡¯s face remained calm. "It¡¯s my personal belonging." She inserted the chip into the card reader and connected it to the central computer.

    The ground trembled again, and the warning lights switched to blue.

    "They¡¯re here," Li Ying said.

    Countless electrical waveforms flickered across the massive display wall, intertwining like a stunningly intricate world.

    Jin Pak-ai input a few commands. "This is the latest achievement from last year: the Bio-Consciousness Data Research Project... How did you even get this chip?"

    "You know about this project too?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "My husband is Indian," Jin Pak-ai said. "He was in charge of the research team, but the Indian Ocean military base was attacked by the Maya..."

    Li Ying interjected, "I killed an Indian man and took the neural central metal probes and the entire chip set from his lab."

    "Shut up!" Zheng Rong snapped in displeasure.

    Jin Pak-ai paused but did not respond.

    The explosions drew closer, and none of the three spoke. Li Ying whispered, "Kiss me, darling."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes reddened, ignoring Li Ying, clearly angered by his poorly timed confession.

    "I¡¯m truly sorry, Ms. Jin Pak-ai," Li Ying said softly.

    Jin Pak-ai''s hands clenched tightly, and she sobbed quietly.

    Li Ying said again, "Kiss me."

    Zheng Rong sighed. Li Ying turned his head, brushing his cheek against Zheng Rong¡¯s ear, a low, murmuring whimper escaping his throat, like a dog seeking forgiveness.

    Zheng Rong turned away, placing a light kiss on his lips.

    Li Ying glanced at the screen, where the data transfer was only 7% complete. He released his hold. "I¡¯ll go down to stop them."

    "Are you crazy?!" Zheng Rong shouted, grabbing Li Ying¡¯s wrist firmly.

    Li Ying swept his hand across Zheng Rong¡¯s wrist, lightly cutting it, and when Zheng Rong reached to grab his collar, Li Ying suddenly rolled away to dodge.

    Li Ying smiled. "I¡¯ll survive."

    He turned and rushed out of the computer information processing center.

 24 - Sea of Inferno

    The room was silent, with only Kim Puae¡¯s sobs breaking the stillness as the ¡°LOADING¡± bar on the screen slowly crept upwards.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Kim Puae wiped away her tears and shook her head.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of this research project before,¡± Zheng Rong continued. ¡°Does it have any special significance?¡±

    Kim Puae choked up, ¡°It doesn¡¯t have any wartime assistance applications. It¡¯s just a supplement to the Black Book.¡±

    ¡°Supplement to the Black Book?¡±

    Zheng Rong furrowed his brows. He knew the nature of the content in the Black Book¡ªit contained hypotheses and contingency plans for the aftermath of a catastrophic defeat in the war. The worst-case scenario foresaw humanity being wiped out entirely by the Mayan invaders, forever vanishing from the Earth.

    Kim Puae¡¯s voice steadied slightly as she explained, ¡°It stores the most beautiful memories of our lives, preserved through the subconscious of the brain, then collects all human memories together, stores them in a vacuum box, and buries it underground.¡±

    Zheng Rong understood. ¡°So, if new intelligent life emerges in the future, they might unearth it in billions of years and glimpse the stories of our time.¡±

    Kim Puae nodded silently.

    She activated another screen on the side, staring at it blankly. It displayed a photo of her and an Indian man on a beach.

    ¡°This is my husband,¡± Kim Puae murmured. ¡°He died three years ago. Your lover killed him.¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Zheng Rong didn''t know what to say, his guilt rendering him unable to stay in front of Kim Puae any longer.

    Xiang Yu¡¯s anxious voice crackled through the communicator, ¡°Zheng Rong! Are you guys still in the hangar?! Zheng Rong, answer me!¡±

    It was as if Zheng Rong had been granted a reprieve. ¡°Brother! We¡¯re in Section F! Can you get here?!¡± He glanced at the screen, ¡°The place is crawling with mech-spiders! Where is everyone else?¡±

    Xiang Yu replied, ¡°Joseph and Shiyin have already boarded the ship! The others are safe! I¡¯ll alert Lance immediately! Kim Puae got separated!¡±

    Zheng Rong practically shouted, ¡°Kim Puae is with me, and Li Ying is downstairs protecting us! Hurry up and come over!¡±

    Xiang Yu cut off the communication. Zheng Rong saw a glimmer of hope and asked, ¡°Is there any defense system here?!¡±

    Kim Puae answered, ¡°It¡¯s at the glass dome. Go up that staircase over there.¡±

    Zheng Rong ran swiftly to the dome and connected the power to the cannon. A transparent sphere distorted the surrounding view, slowly enveloping the turret.

    Zheng Rong felt a wave of dizziness as his body began to float slowly.

    ¡°Damn, it''s a force-field cannon,¡± he muttered.

    From his vantage point, he saw Li Ying, now just a small black speck, darting around amidst the swarm of hundreds of mechanical spiders.

    The force-field cannon finished charging, creating a zero-gravity zone. A massive mechanical centipede burst through the F Zone¡¯s entrance. Zheng Rong adjusted his aim, firmly locking on to the towering destroyer, and fired the first shot.

    The transparent force-field sphere shot out silently.

    ¡°Death Knight! Watch out!¡± Zheng Rong laughed through the loudspeaker.

    Li Ying evaded swiftly, dodging the oncoming force-field sphere. As soon as it made contact with the mechanical centipede, its alloy body silently collapsed, all its limbs sparking uncontrollably.

    Under the effect of the gravity wave, the mechanical weapon exploded, fire and smoke compressed within the sphere, and, in an instant, everything was compacted to an infinitesimally small size¡ªa metal cube no bigger than half a liter.

    The metal block thudded to the ground, shattering the floor upon impact.

    Through his scope, Zheng Rong magnified the entire battlefield. Li Ying blew a kiss towards the scope, bowed with intense focus, and leaped into action once more.

    ¡°Stop running around! I¡¯ll cover you!¡± Zheng Rong yelled.

    Li Ying''s red left hand waved dismissively, signaling he didn¡¯t need cover. Zheng Rong redirected the cannon and fired a series of transparent force-field balls.

    Everywhere, there were flashes of light and explosions, yet before each explosion could unfold, the gravity cannon compressed it into a small bundle.

    The ground was littered with metal blocks, an eerie silence reigning over the battlefield¡ªall the mechanical destroyers were eliminated. In the distance, the earth rumbled as if warning of an even greater danger approaching.

    With a loud crash, the F Zone¡¯s entrance was shattered as a massive beetle crawled in.

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath, flipped the power valve, and pushed it to its maximum.

    ¡°Warning,¡± the synthesized female voice of the computer announced. ¡°Surpassing maximum critical level. 50% probability of black hole formation.¡±

    The gravity cannon began to charge maniacally, draining the majority of the power from the computer center. The elevator halted midway between floors, and all the lights went out, leaving only the faint blue glow of the turret¡¯s monitor reflecting on Zheng Rong''s handsome face.

    Li Ying glanced up.

    A metal pupa on the beetle¡¯s shell extended its antennae, sending out invisible waves.

    The giant beetle opened its wings, releasing two flying insects from within!

    Li Ying suddenly trembled and roared, ¡°Zheng Rong! Watch out¡ª!¡±

    Leaping through the air, Li Ying grabbed one of the metal flying insects and soared toward the top of the information center.

    Zheng Rong fired the last shot from the gravity cannon! The beetle raised its forelimbs as blue light converged in its mandibles and shot out a bolt of electricity!

    The gravity sphere collided with the energy cannon, and the beetle spat out a second burst of blinding white light, grazing the trajectory of the projectile and crashing directly into the center of the dome!

    The explosion was deafening, sending Zheng Rong flying. Li Ying punched into the flying insect¡¯s abdomen, flipped around, and grabbed Zheng Rong mid-air.

    ¡°Dying wouldn¡¯t be... too bad,¡± Zheng Rong mumbled, his body covered in cuts from shattered glass.

    ¡°You won''t die,¡± Li Ying whispered, then extended his hand, fiercely gripping the information center¡¯s exterior wall.

    With a loud crack, the glass wall shattered, shards flying everywhere, glistening with a deadly sheen. Another flying insect streaked by at high speed, intercepting their descent.

    ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± Li Ying howled in agony as one of his legs was torn off!

    ¡°Li Ying!¡± Zheng Rong shouted.

    Li Ying clenched his teeth, hooking his fingers into the glass exterior as they continued to fall, sending a shower of glass fragments in every direction, tracing an icy blue path through the air.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Another insect zipped past, slicing off Li Ying¡¯s left arm, spraying blood all over Zheng Rong. With one arm gone, they lost their leverage and plummeted headfirst.

    Xiang Yu rushed into Zone F, witnessing their kite-like descent. He bellowed, ¡°Zheng Rong!¡±

    A laser shot out, and Xiang Yu, with perfect precision, flipped the Zhanlu Sword, reflecting the laser back and destroying the insect in a burst of flames.

    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª!¡± Xiang Yu gripped the sword with both hands, roaring in fury as he charged at the massive beetle from behind. The Zhanlu Sword¡¯s blade sparked wildly as it split the entire beetle in half, resulting in an explosive burst.

    Xiang Yu jumped, throwing the long sword with all his might. Like a meteor, it flew towards the falling Zheng Rong and Li Ying, embedding itself in the wall. Li Ying released his grip around Zheng Rong''s waist, managing to catch the sword hilt just in time, while Zheng Rong grasped Li Ying¡¯s waist in return.

    In that split second, the two were suspended two meters above the ground.

    Li Ying let go of the sword and descended, allowing Zheng Rong to land safely.

    Panting, Kim Puae descended the stairs, clutching a storage drive.

    Xiang Yu¡¯s breathing slowly steadied. Li Ying¡¯s body was drenched in blood, held in Zheng Rong''s arms. Zheng Rong cried out in anguish, shaking Li Ying frantically, and eventually laying him flat, his head buried in Li Ying¡¯s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

    ¡°My... task is complete,¡± Li Ying said, staring blankly at Zheng Rong, his voice weak. ¡°Babe, go.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°There¡¯s still a chance, there¡¯s... still a chance. Hold on, Li Ying, don¡¯t die. You can get fitted with mechanical prosthetics...¡±

    Kim Puae covered her mouth, unable to suppress her sobs.

    Li Ying whispered, ¡°I... am already in self-destruct mode. Feel...¡±

    Li Ying¡¯s tight assassin suit had already been torn apart during their fall, exposing his blood-soaked chest, which rose and fell faintly, accompanied by the faint beeping of electronic instruments.

    ¡°No¡ª!¡± Zheng Rong cried out in desperation, holding Li Ying tightly.

    Li Ying smiled weakly. ¡°Take... your brother and leave. They... are closing in.¡±

    Silently, Xiang Yu lifted Zheng Rong. Zheng Rong, overcome with grief and madness, screamed and struggled, but Xiang Yu held him tightly, dragging him away from the entrance of the information center.

    ¡°I love you, Zheng Rong,¡± Li Ying murmured, closing his eyes. ¡°Live well... We will win...¡±

    ¡°Farewell, Li Ying,¡± Xiang Yu said in a deep voice. ¡°Go! There¡¯s no time to delay!¡±

    Li Ying lay on the steps of the information center, blood pooling beneath him. His eyes remained fixed in the direction Zheng Rong was taken, his pupils slowly dilating as his breathing stopped.

    Thousands of mech-spiders swarmed into the information center. A silver-glinting metal pupa crawled onto the steps, extending two antennae to scan Li Ying¡¯s lifeless eyes.

    A red glow pulsed faintly from his chest.

    Three seconds later, a massive sonic boom spread outwards, vaporizing the assassin''s body into dust. An energy storm ravaged Zone F, shattering buildings into countless pieces, while all the mech-spiders exploded in a deafening chain reaction.

    ¡°Warning: Nuclear self-destruct mode activated. 300 seconds remaining.¡±

    Xiang Yu carried Zheng Rong on his back, struggling through the underground waterway, treading on an uneven path. The waterway was the first layer of energy that powered the entire underground city¡ªthe tidal power generation channel. Tides converted into a small amount of electricity, then deuterium was extracted from seawater, enabling nuclear fusion to supply stable electricity to the entire underground city.

    Now, all nuclear reactors had ceased operation. Only the seawater continued to flow through the channels, which, in five minutes, would serve as the last energy source to detonate the entire underground city. The shelter, operated since the year 2000, would be destroyed in a mushroom cloud, reduced to ash, becoming eternal history.

    ¡°He''s paid with his life...¡± Zheng Rong murmured, grief-stricken. ¡°He finally died.¡±

    ¡°Return, return! Spirit, return!¡± Xiang Yu sang the ancient song of summoning souls loudly in the waterway.

    ¡°Zheng Rong,¡± Xiang Yu said, pausing at the end of the waterway. ¡°He¡¯s not dead. He¡¯s walking with us.¡±

    The waterway was silent, and the water gradually stilled.

    ¡°Your brother,¡± Xiang Yu continued. ¡°Li Ying, and all those who died in battle¡ªthey walk with us, their spirits always by your side.¡±

    Time seemed endless, the underground tides began to move once more, and water from the North Atlantic flowed again, driving the massive turbines to spin slowly, casting pale light as they swept through the darkness.

    Xiang Yu pressed the communicator, ¡°Calling Lance.¡±

    Lance, like a raging tiger, roared into the communicator, ¡°There are less than three minutes left before the underground city blows up! Where are you?!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re at the exit of the underground waterway. Where are you?¡± Xiang Yu replied.

    ¡°Exit through the side door immediately,¡± Lance urged. ¡°There¡¯s a submersible lifeboat at the end. The surface is swarming with Mayan surveillance drones. Don¡¯t surface; follow the coordinates underwater...¡± He frantically relayed the position, then urgently asked, ¡°How many are with you? The lifeboat might not have enough room. Let me speak to Li Ying...¡±

    Xiang Yu spoke solemnly, ¡°Li Ying is dead. It¡¯s just me, Zheng Rong, and Miss Kim alive.¡±

    There was a moment of silence on the communicator.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Lance said wearily. ¡°Leave the underground city immediately. The submarine is waiting one kilometer out.¡±

    Xiang Yu pushed open a small door.

    ¡°Warning: Nuclear self-destruct mode activated. 160 seconds remaining.¡±

    Everywhere, blinding red lights flashed, illuminating the turbine chamber where two underwater lifeboats sat side by side. Zheng Rong stood, despondent, in front of the lifeboats.

    ¡°Take this back with you.¡± Zheng Rong handed the memory drive to Xiang Yu but was slapped across the face in return. He staggered, the world spinning as his vision went black.

    ¡°Ambition unfulfilled! How can you let yourself die!¡± Xiang Yu scolded.

    ¡°What were the coordinates Lance reported?¡± Kim Puae quickly set the launch direction of the underwater lifeboats, opening their outer shells.

    Zheng Rong closed his eyes in despair. Xiang Yu said, ¡°Miss Kim, take one for yourself.¡±

    Kim Puae climbed into a lifeboat, the door closed, and it slowly sank before shooting out of the underground city.

    ¡°Warning: Nuclear self-destruct mode activated. 60 seconds remaining.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Rong, don¡¯t you want to hear Li Ying¡¯s last words?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Zheng Rong was silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

    ¡°Then get in,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    ¡°And you?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you,¡± Xiang Yu answered.

    ¡°Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight...¡±

    Zheng Rong lay down sideways, curling up in the tight space. Xiang Yu¡¯s broad frame also squeezed in, extending his arm for Zheng Rong to rest his head on.

    The lifeboat door shut. Zheng Rong leaned against Xiang Yu¡¯s armored chest. The armor was cold, but the heartbeat beneath it made him feel safe and secure.

    Xiang Yu patted Zheng Rong¡¯s head and said gravely, ¡°Live on.¡±

    ¡°Ten, nine...¡±

    The lifeboat slid through the waterway, accelerating as it went. Tears streamed down Zheng Rong¡¯s face as he looked up, and Xiang Yu kissed his forehead.

    A magnificent blue light enveloped them as the lifeboat shot out from the continental shelf of the sea island. The turbine at the back began to spin, propelling them toward their pre-set destination.

    ¡°One. Self-destruct sequence initiated.¡±

    High in the distant cosmos, the blue planet rotated slowly. At the twilight boundary, west of Greenwich, in the North Irish Sea, a nuclear fusion explosion equivalent to 240 million tons of TNT obliterated one of humanity''s four great cities, reducing it to ruins.

    It was the largest self-destruct explosion since the disarmament of the 60-million-ton hydrogen bombs by the former Soviet Union after the end of the arms race. The nuclear self-destruction in Northern Ireland caused uranium radiation pollution that lasted for 80 years, spreading across the entire English Channel.

    Yet, it was far from over.

    Millions of underwater lifeboats drifted without their searchlights, slowly floating amidst the tides under the radar detection of nuclear submarines. The survivors in the lifeboats stared skyward, their eyes filled with fear or despair.

    The sky was covered with Mayan flying saucers rotating slowly, their twelve hieroglyphic symbols emitting beautiful light, and then, beams of light shot down into the sea with an earth-shaking roar!

    Boom!

    The beams pierced through the earth¡¯s crust, boring into the depths of the mantle, each laser easily piercing through and creating dark, bottomless pits.

    The sea churned violently as the water rushed into the gaping holes, and the sky¡¯s deity-like saucers spun again, unleashing a second round of giant light beams!

    The lifeboats were swept into the debris, and magma surging from below incinerated them like larvae.

    Human submarines launched their missiles toward the surface. The missiles flew up, trailing white smoke as they shot towards the saucers in the sky.

    Lights flashed in succession, turning the sea a fiery red.

    Detecting the location of the submarines, the mechanical insect swarm plunged into the sea, retracting their wings and deploying propulsion systems. Whenever they captured a lifeboat, they dragged it out of the water and sent it skyward toward the saucers.

    Submarines fired torpedoes, each leaving a trail of bubbles in the sea as they sought out the mechanical insects.

    At dusk, the endless sea surface was filled with whistling missiles, countless falling fireballs, and the dazzling laser beams from the space saucers.

    Tens of thousands of metal appendages reached into the sea, snatching up the floating human lifeboats like slugs feeding on insect eggs. Whenever they caught one, they pulled it towards the sky.

    A metal tentacle wrapped around the lifeboat containing Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong, its pressure causing the transparent cover to crack.

    Xiang Yu held Zheng Rong close as they both stared at the metal appendage.

    ¡°Do you know how to swim?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Sea of Inferno...

    Zheng Rong nodded.

    ¡°Once we breach the surface, I¡¯ll slash open the lifeboat,¡± Xiang Yu instructed. ¡°Hold on to me. Once we hit the water, we¡¯ll figure out a way to escape. Stay calm.¡±

    Zheng Rong steadied himself, and Xiang Yu added, ¡°Take off my armor.¡±

    Zheng Rong helped Xiang Yu remove the scales. Xiang Yu¡¯s bare arms were hot to the touch, radiating a sense of security.

    Just then, an underwater reconnaissance boat flew over, its laser cutting through the tentacle that was entwining their lifeboat.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Zheng Rong asked, frowning.

    ¡°Calling Xiang Yu.¡± Lance¡¯s voice came through the communicator.

    ¡°Received!¡± Xiang Yu responded.

    ¡°We''re under attack!¡± Lance¡¯s voice was urgent. ¡°Prepare to abandon ship and escape, change your course immediately!¡±

    Xiang Yu was utterly confused as Lance quickly relayed the coordinates. Zheng Rong entered the new location into the control panel, and the lifeboat changed direction, heading west at high speed.

    ¡°Is Zheng Rong alright?¡± Lance asked anxiously. ¡°Zheng Rong, Li Ying is dead, but you have to take care of yourself. I¡¯ve always...¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t respond, and the sound of explosions echoed through Lance¡¯s communicator.

    In that moment, Zheng Rong felt his entire body go cold.

    ¡°Lance?¡± he whispered, his voice trembling.

    The communicator crackled.

    Tears welled up as Zheng Rong¡¯s voice broke. ¡°Lance?!¡±

    ¡°Lance¡ª!¡± Zheng Rong cried out in despair.

 25 - The Priest in the Wheelchair

    Location: Air-Land-Water Mobile Carrier "Timeship."

    The door rumbled open as Lance stood at the entrance of the lifeboat.

    ¡°Thank God,¡± Zheng Rong thought as he let out a sigh of relief. The intense series of events had left him dizzy, almost to the point of fainting.

    ¡°I brought him back,¡± Xiang Yu announced.

    Zheng Rong stood there, stunned. He should have walked up and given Lance a punch right in his handsome face, yet he didn¡¯t have the strength to move even a finger.

    Lance approached, knelt before Zheng Rong, took his hand, and kissed it.

    Tears streamed down Lance¡¯s face. Zheng Rong crouched down, knowing that Lance was suffering too. After a moment of silence, he reached out and embraced him.

    ¡°I thought you were dead too,¡± Zheng Rong whispered.

    ¡°It was Laini,¡± Lance explained slowly. ¡°When she heard about Li Ying¡¯s death, she lost her mind. I tried to take the reconnaissance boat to save you, but she locked the hatch before I could.¡±

    ¡°She finally won,¡± Zheng Rong mumbled, standing up tiredly.

    ¡°They¡¯re both dead¡ªLi Ying and Laini. Now she can pursue him in another world, and I¡¯m the one left alive,¡± Zheng Rong said bleakly.

    <hr>

    Three Months Later, Alaska Underground Main City, Military Tribunal

    After the nuclear explosion in Northern Ireland¡¯s main city, only three human shelters remained on Earth. Hundreds of millions of people had failed to escape and died beneath the ocean. The 74th Army was nearly wiped out, disbanded from its establishment.

    The exposure of their location and the ensuing attack were nearly apocalyptic.

    ¡°We are now reviewing the case of Lance Wallock, Zheng Rong, Joseph Cader, Xiang Yu, Kim Puae, and Ugos Sklodowska.¡±

    ¡°The Human Remnant Alliance has brought a lawsuit before this court, alleging that these individuals communicated with the traitor Li Ying, revealing the location of the Northern Ireland human shelter and leading to a devastating attack by the Mayans.¡±

    Zheng Rong noticed that Lin Siyin was pregnant, sitting in the audience.

    An elderly commander wearing glasses said, ¡°We will now hear from the defendant, General Lance Wallock.¡±

    Lance wore a meticulously pressed dark blue military uniform with a stiff collar, standing at the defendant¡¯s stand.

    ¡°Please state your case.¡±

    Lance replied, ¡°The accident stemmed from a decision made by the high command of the Northern Ireland military and had nothing to do with the research team formed by several scholars.¡±

    ¡°The East Siberian military base was destroyed because of the failure of the White Book ¡®Smuggling¡¯ plan. Physicist Zheng Feng sacrificed his life during this failure. Zheng Rong, as his brother, inherited his legacy and continued with the latter part of the mission.¡±

    ¡°General Lance, the White Book plan has been terminated,¡± the commander responded.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t terminated. Marshal Peck, as the chief officer, authorized me to continue it,¡± Lance countered.

    The audience and jury members whispered among themselves, and the commander spoke again, ¡°Marshal Peck is deceased. You have no written records to prove your claim.¡±

    A member of the jury said coldly, ¡°Despite knowing Li Ying was a traitor, they brought him into the human underground city, costing 90 million human lives. And in return, all we got was a piece of footage no one can decipher. They deserve the death penalty.¡±

    Zheng Rong shouted, ¡°You won¡¯t let me see it, how can I interpret it?! Everything Li Ying wanted to tell me is in that storage drive! I have to see it before I can explain it to you!¡±

    ¡°Order!¡± the commander barked.

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, when you encountered Li Ying in the Arab Republic of Egypt, do you have any evidence to prove that he was not a traitor?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Zheng Rong admitted.

    ¡°Three years ago, he slaughtered 1,440 members of the Second Army Special Forces and blew up the Indian Ocean human military base. Were you aware of this?¡±

    ¡°He did it to find a memory transfer device¡ª¡±

    ¡°You need only answer yes or no!¡±

    ¡°His final mission wasn¡¯t complete at the time!¡± Zheng Rong exclaimed angrily. ¡°He couldn¡¯t reveal any information under the Mayan surveillance, or else the bomb in his chest would blow him to pieces! He needed that item and had no choice but to use the massacre to cover his tracks temporarily!¡±

    ¡°He could have contacted the military!¡±

    ¡°He later tried to reach Lance! But the Special Forces attacked him, not even giving him a chance to speak!¡±

    ¡°The people who died at his hands were our best soldiers! And all we have now is a piece of footage that no one can understand!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because you won¡¯t let me see it! No one understood him¡ªonly I did! Only I do!¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s voice trembled with fury.

    A colonel rushed into the room and whispered a few words into the commander¡¯s ear.

    ¡°The Association of Scientists has no right to take custody of military prisoners,¡± the commander said impatiently.

    The colonel pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and placed it in front of the commander.

    The commander leaned back in his chair, appearing hesitant.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have that authority either,¡± the commander muttered to himself before glancing at Zheng Rong.

    ¡°I am Zheng Feng¡¯s brother,¡± Zheng Rong said coldly. ¡°Ugos Sklodowska is Polish, a descendant of the Curie family. Our ancestors, unlike you military men, didn¡¯t sacrifice their lives directly for the continuation of humanity. But their contributions were equivalent.¡±

    The commander pondered for a long time before finally pulling out a pen and signing the paper.

    ¡°Take the two individuals listed on the paper. Detain the others. Court is adjourned.¡±

    The commander struck his gavel. The jury exited, and Lin Siyin¡¯s pale face showed a hint of relief. Zheng Rong moved towards Lance, but the commander interrupted, ¡°Not him¡ªthe other one.¡±

    <hr>

    The Alaska shelter was a massive, ring-shaped main city, dug out by American convicts exiled to the extreme north in 1947. Over time, it expanded. Every brick, every corridor had been built with the blood and lives of tens of thousands of people.

    Now, it had become one of humanity¡¯s last three refuges.

    The ring-shaped main city was divided into three areas: the outer ring, the inner ring, and the central pillar.

    The outer ring was a military zone, housing most of the North American and Russian armies. The inner ring was a civilian residential area. Even in such times, Americans held fast to their rights.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Zheng Rong, handcuffed, was escorted by soldiers onto a maglev transport belt. Protesters were everywhere¡ªAmericans held up doomsday signs, and junkies and the impoverished lay on the roadside.

    ¡°Hey¡ª¡± a man shouted weirdly, ¡°The world¡¯s coming to an end!¡±

    A soldier raised his rifle and shot him in the forehead, leaving a bloody hole.

    ¡°Why did you kill him? He was just speaking the truth,¡± Zheng Rong said expressionlessly.

    The soldier glanced at him. ¡°You killed hundreds of millions; I only killed one.¡±

    Zheng Rong said nothing more.

    The transport belt stopped in front of the central pillar. Covering 40,000 hectares, it was the largest research facility for humanity. Zheng Rong had visited it as a child, brought here by his brother, Zheng Feng.

    Over a decade ago, Zheng Feng had once served as a translator for a prominent master. With his sharp mind and training in physics, Zheng Feng quickly grasped scientific terms and ideas.

    When Zheng Rong first saw the central pillar as a child, he thought, ¡°This is a wizard¡¯s tower.¡±

    Many called it the Ivory Tower of Humanity, but Zheng Rong felt that calling the scholars inside wizards was more fitting. Both he and Zheng Feng once dreamed of entering the central pillar of Alaska to conduct research.

    But neither fulfilled their dreams. Zheng Feng joined the military, and Zheng Rong shifted from natural sciences to follow in their father¡¯s footsteps¡ªstudying history and the occult.

    The master who once wanted Zheng Feng as his assistant deeply regretted not getting him, even appealing to the military. When he learned of Zheng Feng¡¯s plans, he kept silent but gave him a notebook filled with physics research notes.

    That notebook greatly helped Zheng Feng. And now, with Zheng Rong branded as a criminal, the master requested his bail¡ªto meet and talk.

    ¡°My brother and I both owe him a debt,¡± Zheng Rong thought.

    A soldier pulled out a key card and inserted it into the top-floor reader marked ¡°Special Floor.¡±

    A long ascent of almost half an hour later, the elevator stopped on the 1,092nd floor¡ªthe very top of the central pillar.

    This floor was reserved for a single person.

    He had proposed the concept of the Nuclear Magnetic Energy Cannon and developed the theoretical model for the Gravity Field Cannon. These weapons were used in warfare against extraterrestrials and earned him the unanimous reverence of the military.

    The soldier removed Zheng Rong¡¯s handcuffs and signaled him to proceed.

    The expansive hall was carpeted in red, with bird-of-paradise flowers blooming in vases.

    Xiang Yu had changed into a black coat that reached below his knees and wore sunglasses, looking tall, handsome, and dashing.

    Standing in a corner of the hall, he sipped distilled water from a transparent glass, observing the tropical fish in an aquarium.

    ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°You know the professor?¡±

    Xiang Yu looked puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Who¡¯s asked to see me? They only said you¡¯d be here, so I came.¡±

    Xiang Yu offered Zheng Rong some water, and he took a few sips.

    Xiang Yu removed his sunglasses, tucked them into his coat pocket, and rested his hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder. Together, they gazed at the colorful tropical fish in the tank.

    Their full reflection appeared in the tall glass tank. Zheng Rong remembered it clearly¡ªwhen he visited more than ten years ago, Zheng Feng held his hand, and they stood there, looking at the fish. The master even treated the two brothers to an exquisite Western meal.

    Sixteen years had flown by in a blink.

    Zheng Rong looked at Xiang Yu¡¯s imposing figure reflected in the tank and softly called, ¡°Brother.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Xiang Yu responded. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu stood shoulder to shoulder, and after a moment, Xiang Yu took Zheng Rong¡¯s hand and led him around the hall, just as Zheng Feng once led the young Zheng Rong.

    A nurse emerged from a small room at the far end of the hall, closing the door behind her.

    Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong both turned to look at her.

    ¡°The professor is in good health today,¡± she said softly. ¡°He can have visitors for an hour and forty minutes, though we may need to administer IV fluids during the meeting. Hopefully, he will last without needing them.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll keep the conversation short.¡±

    The nurse added, ¡°If you find that he hasn¡¯t responded for more than five minutes, please remember to press the bell on the wall.¡±

    ¡°Are you not coming in with us?¡± Zheng Rong asked, startled.

    ¡°He insisted on meeting you alone,¡± the nurse replied, gesturing for them to enter.

    ¡°Who is this person?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°You probably don¡¯t know him,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°But once inside, remember to keep your voice low and be polite. He¡¯s the closest to a god among humans¡ªour professor.¡±

    ¡°Does he know God? Do you mean the Mayans?¡± Xiang Yu asked, confused.

    A slight smile appeared on Zheng Rong¡¯s lips. ¡°No. I mean the God who created the universe¡ªthe one who existed before time and space.¡±

    <hr>

    Pushing open the door, they entered a room with two chairs and a small round table that held a bottle of red wine and nearly ten varieties of cheese with different flavors.

    The room was decorated in a European style, spacious but dimly lit. Three walls were filled with categorized memory storage drives, while the fourth was covered by a giant LCD screen.

    The screen flickered with static, producing a faint hissing sound. In front of the screen was a wheelchair, facing away from Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu.

    Seated in the wheelchair was a solitary old man, who did not turn around.

    ¡°Professor, hello,¡± Zheng Rong greeted gently.

    The room dimmed further until the screen went black, and a moment later, a line of English text appeared: ¡°Greetings, young men. We meet again.¡±

    Zheng Rong said to Xiang Yu, ¡°Go and have some wine, try the cheese.¡±

    The old man slowly typed on a small keyboard by his side, and words appeared on the screen at an agonizingly slow pace: ¡°The cheese pairs well with the wine. I suggest you try a little of each; they¡¯re quite delicious. I imagine our conversation might be difficult for you to follow.¡±

    Xiang Yu nodded, took a seat, and began sampling the wine and snacks, while Zheng Rong remained standing.

    Zheng Rong looked at the screen. ¡°Thank you for saving me. My brother is already dead. This man was brought over from ancient China after the successful smuggling experiment.¡±

    ¡°I know the full details of the plan,¡± the old man typed. ¡°The White Book entrusted me with a final backup. Moreover, at my request, the Northern Ireland military has handed over all the data from your investigation. I¡¯ve reviewed everything thoroughly.¡±

    Zheng Rong pulled out a small notebook. ¡°Wonderful. I have so many questions for you. Could you turn up the lights a bit? I¡¯ve prepared a memo on my way here.¡±

    ¡°Let me be the one to ask the questions. My time is shorter than yours,¡± the old man¡¯s response appeared on the screen.

    Zheng Rong put away his notebook and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°How was the Gravity Field Cannon¡¯s performance? The one installed atop the Northern Ireland Information Hall was merely a prototype,¡± the old man inquired.

    ¡°It worked very well, but when I pushed it to maximum power, it warned me that a black hole might form,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    ¡°At the black hole''s critical point, could it fully eliminate all particle wave interference?¡±

    Zheng Rong furrowed his brows, not quite grasping the question.

    ¡°The electronic ¡®brain¡¯ you encountered in the Chinese tomb was disrupted after you fired the Gravity Field Cannon. Is that correct, Y/N?¡±

    Zheng Rong suddenly recalled that after the shot, the metal pupa on the head of that giant beetle seemed to have vanished.

    ¡°Yes!¡± he answered with delight.

    The old man fell silent.

    A long while passed, and Zheng Rong grew uneasy, recalling the nurse¡¯s instructions. Just as he was about to walk over and press the bell, more text appeared on the screen.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the warrior¡¯s memories you brought back. I believe you haven¡¯t had the chance to view them yet.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Alright.¡±

    A video lasting twenty minutes played, and Xiang Yu looked up as the light on the screen shifted. Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and he couldn¡¯t stop sobbing.

    The image froze on the final frame. Zheng Rong stared at it in a daze, muttering, ¡°I never knew... He hid all of this in his thoughts of me. Every day away from me, Li Ying must have been thinking of me¡­¡±

    The screen dimmed.

    ¡°I¡¯m deeply moved. Regarding this footage, I believe you understand most of it,¡± the old man typed.

    ¡°I do. But there¡¯s a part, that ten-minute span under the spotlight, that I completely don¡¯t understand,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ve recorded my hypothesis in a document. You can reference it when you return.¡±

    Zheng Rong wiped away his tears and nodded.

    ¡°Professor, do you believe in the existence of souls?¡± Zheng Rong murmured.

    The old man¡¯s text appeared on the screen: ¡°Pope Paul once asked me if I believed in God. I told him I never denied the existence of God; I merely added the limitations of time and space to His creation of the universe.¡±

    ¡°Now, I must answer you sincerely: in my eyes, a soul is memory, consciousness, a chaotic brainwave. The human body is a vessel that can both emit and receive.

    ¡°When an individual dies, the species continues to evolve. The destruction of a body may simply strip consciousness of its container, leaving it to drift in the vast universe, cycling through time and space. One day, it will return.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zheng Rong whispered.

    ¡°I need your help with something,¡± the old man typed.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°I have bailed out the two of you in the name of the Association of Scientists, as well as on my own behalf. Three days from now, the central pillar will hold a symposium. Please return and read the materials I give you. With the knowledge of physics you inherited from Zheng Feng, you should understand most of it.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice trembled slightly, ¡°What... What kind of report am I to give them?¡±

    ¡°An analytical report on this memory footage. You represent my views, as well as your own. After the symposium, the military might continue to support your investigation. Hopefully, they will forgive the hero for the mistakes he made along the path of saving the world.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded.

    ¡°Live on,¡± the old man said through the screen. ¡°You carry Zheng Feng¡¯s ideals¡ªthe continuation of countless people''s will.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Zheng Rong promised softly.

    Realizing that the conversation was coming to an end, Xiang Yu stood and asked, ¡°What did you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°To confirm a hypothesis of mine,¡± the old man replied.

    ¡°What hypothesis?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°Just a hypothesis, one that will take time to verify,¡± the old man said.

    The nurse knocked on the door, then entered. ¡°Time¡¯s up, professor.¡±

    ¡°Wishing you good health, professor, and may you live long,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    The old man in the wheelchair nodded slowly.

    <hr>

    Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong bade farewell to the old man and left the hall. Xiang Yu pulled out a piece of cheese from his pocket, grinning. ¡°This cheese is pretty good.¡±

    He offered Zheng Rong a piece, and he ate it, smiling. ¡°I saw several kinds on the plate.¡±

    ¡°This one¡¯s just right,¡± Xiang Yu replied.

    ¡°My brother also only liked Parma cheese. Let¡¯s go,¡± Zheng Rong said.

 26 - The God Enslaved

    Alaska¡¯s Underground Main City ¡¤ Central Stone Tower ¡¤ Panoramic Science Auditorium

    Three years had passed since the last meeting, which had been a memorial for the thousands of scholars who had perished across the Eurasian continent.

    ¡°I propose a moment of silence for our lost history and all those who gave their lives at the Northern Ireland refuge,¡± said a man''s voice.

    The mournful sound of a violin resonated through the room, and the attendees fell silent. A young scientist sat at the front, gently drawing his bow across the strings of a violin. The scholars seated themselves, women removing hats draped in black veils, and men displaying white flowers in their suit pockets. Nameplates were arranged on the tables, and over a hundred seats were set aside for military observers, who formed a distinct faction from the scholars.

    Lights gradually dimmed from the back of the hall to the front, leaving only a thin beam of light on the podium. A large screen flickered on.

    Zheng Rong stepped up to the central podium, quietly listening until the violin fell silent. After a brief hum from the microphone, an indicator light signaled that it was ready for use.

    ¡°I am the one who caused all of this,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    An elderly woman sitting in the back row spoke slowly, ¡°The invaders from the Maya Star were the cause. Please don¡¯t blame yourself too much, my child. I speak for myself, but I trust you will explain the events to us.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zheng Rong replied softly.

    Joseph and a few others, who had been granted temporary release, sat in the military observation section. Xiang Yu encouraged him, ¡°Zheng Rong, do your best.¡±

    Scattered applause rippled through the hall.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.¡±

    Zheng Rong wore a white shirt with a black armband. His voice remained cold, devoid of tension or excitement.

    ¡°I bring to you a tale of adventure from the past month and some insider details regarding the fall of the Northern Ireland region. I speak on behalf of ¡®The Teacher,¡¯ who, regrettably, is not in good enough health to attend personally. He has asked me to convey his wish for your forgiveness.¡±

    The hall was silent.

    ¡°I am Zheng Rong, a Chinese citizen and a member of the Northern Ireland Association of Survivors. I hold a Ph.D. in history and esoteric phenomena. Perhaps many of my colleagues here have never heard of such a discipline¡ªit primarily focuses on deducing prehistoric civilizations through human relics and searching for the origins of the Mayan prophecy.¡±

    ¡°You are Zheng Feng¡¯s brother,¡± a young scholar interjected.

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Yes. Our research directions differ, but our goals are aligned.¡±

    ¡°This research center was established in 2013, with my father and Sikamon, the curator of the Northern Ireland Museum of History and Culture, as its earliest leaders. Unfortunately, both have since perished. Another victim was a female doctor, Lanie. Once again, we mourn the fallen.¡±

    ¡°Now, please allow me to introduce someone who served as the collector of the subsequent data. My knight, Li Ying.¡±

    Zheng Rong paused briefly and pressed a button, and a line of text appeared on the screen.

    ¡°Li Ying, born in Gansu, China. All of his relatives died in an alien invasion in 2015. He has been an orphan since childhood.¡±

    ¡°Li Ying enlisted in 2029 as a reserve member of the Human Joint Resistance Force and joined the Allied Special Forces in 2033. He achieved excellent academic results and earned a first-class merit citation for his role in covering the North Atlantic strategic retreat. He was the four-time champion of the military¡¯s hand-to-hand combat competition.¡±

    ¡°He was an experimental subject in the high-molecular electrofusion material deployment program and a pioneer of the first human undercover project.¡±

    ¡°And the only one,¡± someone added.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong continued, ¡°The ¡®Seed Team¡¯ consisted of 1,400 individuals. All perished during that covert mission. He was their captain and the sole survivor. Now, let¡¯s take a look at the information he retrieved from the Mayan mothership.¡±

    ¡°These messages are preserved as memory fragments, filtered through ¡®The Teacher,¡¯ and presented as direct images and sounds. I will act as your commentator.¡±

    Zheng Rong pressed a second button, and all the lights went out. The screen showed a scatter of white static before fading to blank whiteness.

    Li Ying¡¯s Memories:¡°Today marks the first day of our mission to enter the mothership. We are making our way into the spacecraft amidst the Mayan searchlights.¡±

    The screen displayed a vast, white room. The perspective moved as Li Ying looked around.

    ¡°This seems to be the edge of the ship. I wonder how the others who surrendered are doing. What news might they bring to the gods? I am the chosen servant.¡±

    ¡°Please note,¡± Zheng Rong added, ¡°Special forces receive training in self-hypnosis to guard against Mayan brainwave detection. It¡¯s a form of disguise.¡±

    ¡°Understandable,¡± a man seated at the far left of the audience agreed.

    Li Ying pressed forward through the endless corridors. Silver doors of the spacecraft automatically opened as he approached.

    ¡°Where is the god?¡±Li Ying¡¯s view scanned the circular pathway. The lengthy duration showed him walking continuously through smooth, alloy-covered walls and corners. The corridor seemed endless.

    ¡°During this time, he didn¡¯t speak a word,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°This means he wasn¡¯t thinking anything, maintaining a state of pure unconsciousness to avoid detection by the Mayans.¡±

    Li Ying grew tired, sitting against a wall. His view showed his cowboy jacket, from which he took out a wallet and opened it, revealing a photo of four young men.

    ¡°Please take note,¡± Zheng Rong pointed with a laser pointer to a piece of paper falling in the corner of the screen. ¡°This serves as a marker to prevent him from walking in circles within the ring-shaped pathway.¡±

    Li Ying removed the photo and folded it to reveal another¡ªone of him affectionately holding Zheng Rong by the shoulder.

    ¡°When I attain immortality, I¡¯ll come back for my sweetheart. Can¡¯t even obtain refugee status, stuck living at a Malaysian military base.¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice remained cold. ¡°This was the first lie he used to test. Mentioning the Malaysian base was bait set by the military.¡±

    The screen changed to blue sky and sea, stretching to the horizon. The sea breeze was gentle as Li Ying held Zheng Rong¡¯s hand, climbing over rocks to find a cave by the coast.

    Li Ying patted Zheng Rong¡¯s head, saying, ¡°Sweetheart, there¡¯s only one form left. You go inside. I¡¯ll think of another way.¡±

    Zheng Rong commented, ¡°Using a memory of our past vacation, they created false information, revealing the bait¡¯s location. This was the first test. If the Mayans could intercept brainwaves to analyze thoughts, they would deploy machines to scout the Malaysian base. The estimated response time was seven hours. But regardless of whether they investigated or not, they would likely grant Li Ying a face-to-face meeting. But they didn¡¯t.¡±

    The silver corridor seemed endless as Li Ying continued his walk.

    The screen went black, then lit up again, this time focusing on a wristwatch.

    ¡°I¡¯ve tested the location, the magnetic cannon¡¯s effects, and the electromagnetic-controlled mechanical killers. No Mayan has come to see me.¡±

    Zheng Rong narrated, ¡°He tried three probing methods, ultimately confirming that the Mayans couldn¡¯t analyze human brainwaves. Two days had passed since he entered the craft. Much of the memory was scattered, fragmented.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Safe for now. Rations are running low. Thirsty. Why am I like a rat in a maze? Where is everyone else? No one is communicating.¡±Li Ying frequently checked his watch.

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°The watch had a secret signal that would display a code if any teammates were nearby.¡±The hands of the watch began to rotate slowly at first, then faster and faster.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±Li Ying started running through the corridor, shouting, ¡°Is anyone there?¡±The view blurred.

    A scholar raised their hand. ¡°Please, go on,¡± Zheng Rong encouraged.

    The scholar observed, ¡°The maze effect is starting to take hold. The circumference of the circular path seems to be shrinking.¡±

    ¡°Yes, he realized this problem as well,¡± Zheng Rong confirmed.Li Ying stopped walking.

    ¡°It¡¯s spiral-shaped. Good.¡±He continued forward.

    ¡°This was the afternoon of his third day on the Mayan mothership,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Finally, he walked the entire spiral corridor and reached a place with ¡®people.¡¯¡±

    Li Ying, panting, entered a spacious hall lined with over ten thousand metallic cocoons.

    The audience collectively gasped.Each silver cocoon was housed inside a transparent sphere with strange patterns on its surface.

    Li Ying skeptically approached one of the metallic cocoons and pulled out two silk gloves¡ªone black and one red¡ªfrom his pocket.

    ¡°This is a type of weapon submitted seven years ago,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°High-molecular resonant gloves, which can be controlled with conscious thought to resonate at the molecular level, allowing them to easily slice through any solid material.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re sleeping?¡±A slight click was heard as Li Ying quickly turned his head, seeing a cocoon emerge from a sphere in the corner.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Li Ying shouted, rushing over.

    More clicks followed, and five or six cocoons opened, releasing insect-like creatures.Li Ying retreated in fear, backing toward the entrance as the insectoid cocoons swiveled to surround him.Zheng Rong paused the footage, saying slowly, ¡°We can infer that these cocoons possess a self-awareness.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± one attendee agreed. ¡°This is speculation, not confirmation. From his perspective, all the cocoons appear identical, without any distinguishing features. If they were merely tools, they would have emerged in a specific sequence. Moreover¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°Moreover, upon leaving the spheres, they should have simultaneously turned in one direction. By rewinding and zooming in, we see that the insects didn¡¯t turn toward Li Ying simultaneously; there were differences in timing, which rules out a central command giving orders to the cocoons.¡±

    Zheng Rong added thoughtfully, ¡°This raises the first question: How can machines possess their own thoughts?¡±

    Six metallic cocoons extended their limbs toward Li Ying, flashing with red light.¡°They¡¯re scanning his pupils,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°He lost consciousness.¡±The screen gradually faded to black.

    ¡°This is consistent with the cocoons we encountered during our expedition. It is very likely this is the true face of the Mayans,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°Maybe we should call them ¡®Maya Insectoids,¡¯¡± someone suggested.¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong shook his head. ¡°What follows may upend that idea.¡±

    After a brief moment of darkness, the view gradually brightened. Li Ying opened his eyes, squinting against a blinding light.

    He lay before a large door, surrounded by a sea of blue.

    Li Ying sat up abruptly.¡°What¡¯s behind that door?¡± Li Ying wondered, feeling the smooth metal beneath his hands and quickly scrambling back.

    A cocoon extended a metallic limb, pressing a button next to the door.

    ¡°Wait!¡± a scholar exclaimed.¡°Good observation,¡± Zheng Rong acknowledged.

    The footage rewound, freezing on the moment the cocoon¡¯s limb reached for the button, revealing twelve flashing symbols.

    Scholars started whispering among themselves. Zheng Rong added, ¡°¡®The Teacher¡¯ has constructed a complex hypothesis regarding this, but I¡¯d like to hear your thoughts first to refine it.¡±

    After some discussion, a Black woman was chosen to speak.

    ¡°Liz Akashir, specialist in human-machine ergonomics,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°I¡¯ve closely reviewed the symbols in your report,¡± she gestured with the booklet. ¡°Each symbol of the Mayan Star language appears to hold a unique symbolic meaning. However, I believe that the most revealing clue lies in the process of opening the door.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°I think so too.¡±

    ¡°Judging from the height of the buttons in comparison to Mr. Li Ying, they are positioned around 140 centimeters above the ground¡ªnot designed for the cocoons to press. And, look at the height of the door itself; it¡¯s not meant for cocoons to pass through.¡±

    Zheng Rong confirmed, ¡°It¡¯s a device meant for human use, or more precisely, humanoid intelligent beings.¡±Liz nodded and sat down.

    A young man who had spoken earlier commented, ¡°I¡¯m more curious about what¡¯s behind the door. Please continue.¡±

    ¡°The information coming next is critical,¡± Zheng Rong pressed play as the door opened slowly.

    More cocoons gathered¡ªover ten of them¡ªguiding Li Ying gently forward.

    ¡°Calm down. Are you finally going to meet me?¡±

    In the darkness, a glowing disc hovered at the center of a hall, roughly one meter in diameter. A figure floated on top of it.

    ¡°Antigravity technology,¡± Zheng Rong noted. ¡°Humans have made some preliminary breakthroughs.¡±

    As Li Ying stepped into the circular hall, he quickly scanned his surroundings. The hall was lined with six green capsules embedded in the walls. Each capsule held a blurry, featureless humanoid form, all about twice the height of a normal person¡ªclose to two meters tall.

    The figure floating on the central disc was naked, with waxy yellow skin, no hair, no facial features, and no genitalia.

    Zheng Rong paused the footage. ¡°We finally meet the main characters. I believe these creatures, which appear human but are not, are the Mayans. Now, what do you think the cocoons are?¡±

    The discussions grew louder until Zheng Rong signaled for silence.

    ¡°Our hypothesis is that they are not simply electronic tools. ¡®The Teacher¡¯ posits that if consciousness exists as a composite wave of particles in a virtual space, then we can put forward a hypothesis: The ¡®soul¡¯ of the aliens can travel freely between different carriers.¡±

    A person raised their hand. ¡°So, do you think the special creatures in this room are the true bodies of the Mayans? They don¡¯t dare to use the vulnerable bodies stored in the capsules and instead use the cocoons as proxies for action to avoid damaging their physical forms?¡±

    An older scientist added, ¡°Such a theory is entirely possible within the realm of highly advanced technology. Just as humans could transfer consciousness into a machine carrier and then switch back after completing tasks.¡±

    ¡°In other words,¡± Zheng Rong said slowly, ¡°Each cocoon is essentially a small operation unit housing a Mayan consciousness. Now, let¡¯s consider another question.¡±

    ¡°There are already twenty-three metallic cocoons around Li Ying. Let¡¯s count: One, two... six.¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°The bodies in the capsules number only six. According to the radar¡¯s detected points of light, this room is the endpoint of the spiral corridor¡ªthe central hub of the entire craft.¡±

    A military officer spoke, ¡°The central location, with no operating consoles or screens... I believe it is the leader on the floating disc that controls the entire craft and slaughters humans.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°That¡¯s our initial hypothesis. So, what exactly are these cocoons? Let¡¯s keep watching.¡±

    He pressed play, and Li Ying, bewildered, drew closer to the disc. The Mayan turned to face him.

    A close-up shot showed the Mayan¡¯s skin and head.

    ¡°Pay attention to its skin and head,¡± Zheng Rong said quietly.

    The head of the Mayan leader, initially devoid of features, began to change. Eyes emerged, eye sockets receded, a slit opened for a mouth, ears slowly formed, and nostrils appeared as the nose took shape.

    It opened its mouth, and Li Ying asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±

    In a dry, rasping voice, like a struggling voice box, the Mayan uttered two syllables: ¡°Li... Da.¡±

    Li Ying stepped back slowly.¡°Pause!¡± another person shouted.

    ¡°We need to see more,¡± Zheng Rong insisted.

    The Mayan¡¯s face contorted into an array of expressions¡ªsmiling, crying, frowning¡ªbefore all the features disappeared again.

    The screen went black once more, and Zheng Rong paused the footage. ¡°Li Ying lost consciousness again. Now we can begin our discussion, but first, let¡¯s replay that scene.¡±

    Zheng Rong slowed down the footage to eight times slower than normal, capturing the expressions that followed the Mayan¡¯s first words and the way it looked at Li Ying.

    The room was silent, everyone holding their breath as the screen displayed the grotesque face cycling through dozens of expressions.

    ¡°This is eight times slower. Let¡¯s make it even slower,¡± Zheng Rong suggested, adjusting it to thirty-two times slower, revealing each movement clearly.

    In just over four seconds, the alien¡¯s face displayed a mix of conflicting expressions, as if combining all human emotions at once.

    ¡°What does it look like?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    The young scholar who had spoken several times raised his hand. Zheng Rong recognized him¡ªit was the young man who played the violin earlier.

    ¡°Anthony Sides, a specialist in psychology and behavioral biology,¡± the young man introduced himself.

    The scholars quieted down as Anthony began to speak.

    ¡°It looks like a patient with schizophrenia, producing nearly ten contradictory expressions in a little over four seconds. The speed of thought must have been extremely fast, making thousands of assumptions and negations, likely deducing Li Ying¡¯s identity.¡±

    Zheng Rong was silent for a moment before replying, ¡°That is very close to our guess. The alien¡¯s thought process differs from that of humans.¡±

    ¡°Not just humans,¡± Anthony continued. ¡°Earth¡¯s biological thought patterns are sequential. For example, when we think and express logically, we can unify multiple aspects of consciousness within one personality. Divergent thinking is characterized by a lack of sequentiality.¡±

    Zheng Rong confirmed, ¡°So a schizophrenic person is completely unable to control their series of actions because of this?¡±

    Anthony nodded. ¡°In layman¡¯s terms, yes.¡±

    ¡°¡¯The Teacher¡¯ hypothesized that the way they think is fundamentally different from ours,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°When humans attempt to understand something, the process is: Organize the information obtained, compare it to references in memory, filter, and deduce¡ªjust as we are doing now.¡±

    ¡°It,¡± Zheng Rong pointed with his laser, fixing on the last odd expression of the Mayan, ¡°may have split its thinking center into multiple independent modules upon seeing Li Ying, simultaneously making countless assumptions and hypotheses, then eliminating conflicts before finally reaching a conclusion. The myriad expressions it displayed reflect its thoughts.¡±

    Anthony commented, ¡°I cannot infer its final thoughts based on those expressions.¡±

    Zheng Rong clarified, ¡°We don¡¯t need to. ¡®The Teacher¡¯ proposed two possible hypotheses for this expression. The first possibility is that, in those few seconds, its consciousness split into countless independent entities that debated and persuaded each other, finally reaching a complex conclusion.¡±

    ¡°The second possibility,¡± Zheng Rong continued slowly, ¡°is that many souls live within its mind.¡±

    Everyone was struck with a chilling realization as Zheng Rong resumed the footage, leaving the screen dark. ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss the first words it said when meeting Li Ying.¡±

    In the darkness, Li Ying¡¯s voice echoed repeatedly: ¡°Li Da, Li Da.¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°This is part of Li Ying¡¯s deep self-hypnosis, reminding himself repeatedly that the word is of utmost importance.¡±

    ¡°What does it mean? A name?¡± someone finally asked, unable to contain their curiosity.

    ¡°During our analysis, we cross-referenced nearly three thousand languages, ultimately returning to the Mayan language. Dr. Joseph, a specialist in linguistic and cultural studies, confirmed our hypothesis¡ª¡±

    ¡°In ancient Mayan,¡± Zheng Rong said slowly, ¡°Li Da¡± means¡­

    ¡°Save me.¡±

 27 - The Ballad of the Martyr

    Zheng Rong stood in the darkness, putting away his laser pointer. "This memory ends here, the first part has come to a conclusion. Based on all this information, ''Teacher'' made a third hypothesis and integrated it with the other two to arrive at a deduction that fits the assumptions."

    "Let''s assume that thought is a form of particle wave," Zheng Rong continued. "At the moment Li Ying reached the chrysalis chamber, five or six particle waves dispersed from behind the door and entered the metal cocoons, as if a few invisible ''people'' emerged and sat inside their moving machines¡ªthe metal cocoons."

    "Under the control of these unseen individuals, the metal cocoons brought Li Ying to the core of the spaceship to meet the being on the glowing disc¡ªa Mayan."

    "The Mayan''s mind houses many invisible, independent entities. In other words, his body contains countless souls."

    "They have invaded his thoughts, engaging in heated discussion, turning him into a tool for their actions."

    "This makes all phenomena understandable. Why did ''he'' say ''Save me''?"

    Zheng Rong spoke in a deep voice: "In fact, at the moment when the Mayan first opened his eyes, he briefly regained control of his body, which is why he sent a distress signal to Li Ying, saying ''Save me.''"

    "It becomes clear, then, that there are two kinds of Mayans. Or perhaps I should say, one kind is the original Mayan, who, many years ago, came to Earth and were the owners of this spaceship¡ªthe first passengers..." Zheng Rong raised the information folder in his hand. "I¡¯ve recorded this speculation in the data."

    "The ones invading Earth are a different alien race. They seized the original Mayans'' bodies and usurped control, committing massacres against humanity. However, we still can¡¯t determine the reason for these massacres."

    A dead silence followed as the attendees sank into shock.

    After a long pause, Anthony spoke, "As long as it doesn''t contradict the facts, I can accept this. What happened to Li Ying afterward?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "The subsequent events may further confirm the entire hypothesis. But before that, I want to ask all of you a question. It¡¯s a question I have always struggled with, and I believe that you, my predecessors and colleagues, can help me figure it out."

    "A person," Zheng Rong pressed both hands on the lectern and said quietly into the microphone, "What determines how we distinguish ourselves from other individuals within our species?"

    Someone answered, "Personality."

    Anthony added, "Specifically, innate genetics and acquired environmental influences."

    The scholars, knowing that Zheng Rong''s focus was not on external appearances, all overlooked the factor of physical looks.

    "So, you mean to say, it¡¯s the soul? But what exactly is the soul?" asked Zheng Rong.

    Anthony replied regretfully, "The concept of a soul is not realistic. In our understanding, there is only consciousness."

    "You mean brainwaves?" Zheng Rong asked.

    After a moment of thought, Anthony replied, "Modern science has yet to define consciousness precisely, but a research topic from a few years ago mentioned that behavioral consciousness and cognitive consciousness depend on two key elements: the first is bodily hormones, enzymes, and genetic influences¡ªinnate factors."

    "The second is environmental influences on a person¡¯s development, affecting their thoughts, judgments, and actions."

    "Without a doubt, subconsciousness, dreams, and all factors affecting human behavior stem from these two sources."

    "So, you''re saying that if human technology evolves to a certain level, we could use techniques to fully replicate a person¡ªappearance, body, even soul¡ªeverything could be perfectly copied?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "That¡¯s impossible," Anthony replied.

    "What I mean is an atom-by-atom replication," Zheng Rong clarified. "Every atom in our body becomes a mirror image, projected to another place at a certain instant, creating an identical copy. The hormones, enzymes, and even every segment of the genes in the cell nucleus¡ªall consist of atoms..."

    A biologist interjected, "Replicating a real human body, that idea is theoretically feasible, but Dr. Zheng, you''re an outsider in this field and don''t grasp its complexities. Let me give you the simplest example¡ªatoms are constantly moving. Every minute, every second, they aren¡¯t where they originally were. Their trajectories change in unpredictable ways. Even the slightest movement could cause drastic differences in the replication."

    "How would you capture them? This would require another type of technical support¡ªstopping the flow of time. According to the principles of relativity, such technology is pure fantasy."

    Zheng Rong pressed on, "Let¡¯s assume, just hypothetically, that time could come to a standstill, and all the atoms that constitute our body could be projected simultaneously and reformed at another location. Then, would a completely identical individual be replicated?"

    Anthony, displeased, replied, "Even if this process occurred smoothly, the replica would only reach a state of material consistency with the original. However, memory and thoughts stored in the brain cannot be copied, as they are not regular waves."

    "Are you saying memory, as a form of brainwave, cannot be copied?" Zheng Rong frowned.

    A female physicist spoke up, "Brainwaves aren¡¯t like regular radio waves, which can be reproduced through spectral analysis and three basic elements. To detect a complete thought, you need to emit another particle to interfere with it."

    "In layman¡¯s terms, under the constraints of the uncertainty principle, particles collide with one another, and you can never measure both their mass and location simultaneously."

    "So you mean that even if I recall something, and the surrounding instruments capture my brain''s activity, they still can''t make a replica of that memory to save somewhere else? The only way to retrieve it would be to extract it from my brain and place it somewhere else?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Anthony nodded, "Theoretically, yes. An Indian scholar once pursued this topic, but before a research report could be released, the Indian Ocean military base was completely destroyed."

    Zheng Rong fell silent for a long time before finally nodding.

    "Thank you. Let¡¯s continue watching," Zheng Rong finally said, pressing the play button.

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    A milky white glow emerged around them.

    The scene shifted to an external perspective. Li Ying sat quietly with his eyes closed in a chair.

    [I am going to die.] ¡ª Li Ying¡¯s voice.

    [What are they planning? Oh, they intend to send me back to the humans as a double agent. I need to find a way to pass this message on.]

    ¡°This was the last time he opened his eyes,¡± Zheng Rong said softly.

    "But isn¡¯t he still sitting there with his eyes closed?" Anthony asked in confusion.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t respond. Someone suddenly understood and shouted, ¡°The mirror replication you mentioned just now!¡±

    Gasps filled the room, and a wave of disbelief swept through the audience.

    Zheng Rong nodded, simply stating, "Yes, a duplicate."

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a break,¡± suggested Xiang Yu from the audience.

    "No, it¡¯s fine. Right now, our perspective is still from Li Ying''s eyes. The person sitting opposite, with closed eyes, is his duplicate¡ªan exact, identical copy," Zheng Rong explained.

    "Look." Zheng Rong¡¯s voice wavered slightly as he pointed his laser pen at Li Ying''s denim jacket. The red circle zoomed in, and the frame was magnified rapidly, fixed on a tiny detail.

    It was a zipper pull, frozen in an odd curve in mid-air.

    The duplicate Li Ying was shrouded in light.

    "What is this¡­" an elderly scholar mumbled. "My God! The time here is¡­"

    ¡°Stopped,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°What we¡¯re seeing is the last batch of light reflected before the time came to a standstill. When the light hit, the duplicate Li Ying was surrounded by a frozen time flow, but the perception of the original Li Ying continued.¡±

    "This is a breakthrough in quantum physics!" another physicist exclaimed, "It defies the rules of our universe!"

    "In practice, their technology proves this is achievable. A few years ago, the military seized a particle generator, but it was limited by our universe and couldn¡¯t reverse time. It could only recreate, in real-time, scenes and material structures from the past."

    "The machine was handed over to my brother. Later, it caused the explosion in East Siberia. Everything was destroyed, and the entire plan was sealed in the Stowaway White Paper. ''Teacher'' once read it in detail and gave his opinion."

    Everyone stared in disbelief at the screen. Zheng Rong murmured, "But memories cannot be duplicated. They can only be extracted and transferred. So he is still himself."

    He fast-forwarded, his eyes pained as he watched the images.

    The light dimmed, flickering once to reveal a disjointed scene¡ªZheng Rong and Li Ying holding hands while shopping at a supermarket.

    In the darkness, the scene shattered and disappeared.

    [They¡¯re extracting my memories, Zheng Rong!]

    [I understand now. Hopefully, this message can be delivered to Lance, Zheng Feng, and, if absolutely necessary, to Zheng Rong.]

    [Take care, my love. Live a strong and good life.]

    Another flicker¡ªthe moment Li Ying received his medal, Zheng Rong carefully pinned the badge to his chest.

    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Anthony asked, bewildered.

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°His memories were extracted and inserted into the duplicate¡¯s brain.¡±

    Another flash¡ªan unspoken scene of young Li Ying and Zheng Rong, wrapped in blankets, huddled together in ruins, with snow falling all around them.

    A helicopter descended from the sky, and Lance extended his hand, shouting something to them.

    The scenes flashed quicker and quicker, sweeping through the memories of Li Ying and Zheng Rong¡¯s life together.

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, in his memories, what do you represent? His obsession?¡± someone asked.

    Zheng Rong replied, "He hid the information meant for humanity within his thoughts of me. These fragmented memories were his discarded thoughts, camouflaged."

    ¡°When he saw his double appear before him, he knew his death was near,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Before he left me to carry out his undercover mission, we made countless hypotheses.¡±

    "If the Mayans'' hypnosis technology could break through his steely resolve..." Zheng Rong''s voice trailed off.

    After a pause, Zheng Rong regained control of his emotions. "If they could control him, brainwash him, and turn him into a killing machine, the only way to counter this would be to seal our shared memories deeply in his subconscious, setting a trigger mechanism, and using his thoughts of me as the key to unlock it..."

    ¡°Freud proposed it initially, and psychologist Decam¨¦ Dallas perfected the method of subconscious sealing,¡± Anthony added.

    ¡°Yes, but we never anticipated that the Mayans would create a duplicate and gradually extract and transfer his memories,¡± Zheng Rong said, finding it hard to continue.

    ¡°This¡­ confirms... our previous hypothesis,¡± Zheng Rong eventually managed to say.

    "Thank you," Zheng Rong said, taking a cup of water, sipping a few times before taking a deep breath. "''Teacher'' believes that those¡ªthe unwelcome intruders, the invaders residing in the Mayans'' brains¡ªare currently researching human brainwaves and consciousness. From what we know, there are two questions to consider."

    ¡°First: If consciousness can be emitted as brainwaves, forcibly invade, and take over the brain of a sentient being, why don¡¯t they just occupy human bodies directly?¡±

    "''Teacher''s'' assumption is: similar to the issue of matching the frequencies of emitted brainwaves and receiving devices, human brainwave frequencies have not yet reached a level that the invaders can utilize. In other words, humans, in their current form, cannot be hosts for these ''soul-like alien beings'' without bodies."

    ¡°Second: If humans are unsuitable, why don''t they go to another planet to find new hosts?¡±

    "Considering the body that Li Ying saw, the Mayan appeared to be aging, with signs of deterioration on his skin. The ''people'' sealed within the incubation pods were most likely corpses, with no brain activity left to offer a habitat."

    ¡°In other words!¡± someone exclaimed, ¡°They cannot affect this planet in the form of free-floating brainwaves!¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Perhaps, which is why they¡¯re attempting to explore the relationship between human bodies and consciousness. Li Ying is one of their test subjects.¡±

    Over the course of ten minutes, the scene played back slowly, each moment filled with thoughts of Zheng Rong. Li Ying, like a child, protected Zheng Rong at all times, watching him grow up until he held him close.

    In the underground city of Northern Ireland during summer, the underground park was warm, the flowers blossomed, and the tulip pond shimmered. Li Ying held Zheng Rong¡¯s hand and lowered his head.

    That year, Li Ying was twenty-one, and Zheng Rong was nineteen. It was the first time they kissed.

    ¡°I love you,¡± Li Ying whispered.

    Zheng Rong stood on the stage, tears welling in his eyes as he replied, ¡°I love you too.¡±

    "I''m sorry, Dr. Zheng Rong, I know now is not the right time to ask this, but this is very important. Since Li Ying had already isolated these memories, how did he recognize that you weren''t the enemy when you met again?" Anthony asked.

    Zheng Rong replied blankly, "He... yes, he had forgotten."

    "He forgot... all our memories together, completely forgot... But... he only remembered one thing, which he repeated to himself... that he loved me."

    "He didn¡¯t even know why he loved me, just vaguely remembered that I was the most important person and that he had something to pass on to me."

    ¡°It was this memory chip.¡± Zheng Rong pulled a thin string from around his neck, whispering, "Please allow me to keep it until the end of my life, as a lifetime memento."

    A decade of time, a decade of love, a plain yet unforgettable romance, all flashed by within these ten short minutes, encapsulating Li Ying¡¯s entire life.

    All his joys, his goals, and his pursuits sank into endless darkness as the images ended.

    The lights came on, and no one in the auditorium spoke.

    ¡°I... hope humanity can forgive him,¡± Zheng Rong said sorrowfully. "After all, he wasn¡¯t a bad person; the one with blood on his hands was just a duplicate, following the original commands of those aliens. Only when he saw me again did he regain his former beliefs. The real Li Ying... had died three years ago, when this footage ended."

    The screen went dark.

    ¡°That concludes the report,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Farewell, everyone.¡±

    The side door opened, but the scholars remained still. After a long time, an elderly woman stepped forward, hugged Zheng Rong, and then left.

    The scholars walked past the lectern, tipping their hats to Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Thank you. Please don''t hug him anymore. Let him be,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    ¡°Zheng Rong, let¡¯s go back,¡± Xiang Yu suggested.

    Standing at the center of the stage, Zheng Rong began to sob, quietly and brokenly.

    The audience cleared out, leaving only the two of them. Xiang Yu held Zheng Rong in his arms, and Zheng Rong leaned against Xiang Yu¡¯s shoulder, turning his teary eyes toward the black screen.

    [My love.]

    The screen lit up one last time, showing Li Ying lying comfortably on a park bench, resting his head on Zheng Rong¡¯s lap, surrounded by a sea of flowers in full bloom.

    Li Ying looked up, gazing affectionately at Zheng Rong.

    He raised his hand, gently caressing Zheng Rong¡¯s face with his bare, warm palm, whispering, "If one day I die in battle to protect you, please forget me, fall in love with someone else, and live strongly."

    Zheng Rong was reading a book, and answered coolly, "Cockroaches never die. We¡¯ll be together forever."

    Li Ying smiled softly, "I''ll remember your words forever, and you must also always remember mine."

 28 - The Beginning of a New Plan

    Two months after the end of the briefing.

    After discussions among the military high command, a unanimous decision was made to erase all traces of Li Ying''s existence. Every memory, story, background, and deed related to Li Ying would be sealed as top-secret files. The last brainwave spectrum analysis computer was destroyed with the fall of Northern Ireland. To reproduce it from scratch would take humanity at least several decades, and the information from the original chip could no longer be transcribed into images.

    Upon Lance¡¯s insistent request, the military reluctantly agreed to allow Zheng Rong to keep the only memento he had of Li Ying.

    All information about Li Ying was stamped with an SS-class confidentiality seal and stored in the military¡¯s black box, with all media outlets ceasing any reports, and those involved maintaining complete silence.

    The exploration team handed over all the relics from the ancient ruins¡ªthe Staff of Moses, the golden helmet of the First Emperor, two stone tablets, and all photographs. The team members were released without charges, and Lance was reinstated to his military position, awaiting the results of the military¡¯s research.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t argue on Li Ying¡¯s behalf. From the moment he let go of Li Ying¡¯s hand, bid him farewell, and watched him walk out of the underground city to go undercover on the Mayan mothership, he knew very well that special forces were different from ordinary soldiers. They trained for humanity, and they died for humanity. Many died only to bear disgrace posthumously, and some died without any meaning, just like Li Ying¡¯s team members, who became live dissection subjects the moment they boarded the mothership.

    Compared to Zheng Feng''s title as the "Son of Humanity," it was already fortunate that Li Ying did not end up as a criminal against humanity. Zheng Rong dared not ask for more. Perhaps one day, Li Ying¡¯s name could be carved onto a monument. For now, no matter how much he fought, there was nothing more he could gain. Zheng Rong fashioned the metal chip left by Li Ying into a pendant and wore it around his neck, keeping it close to his skin.

    Memories are part of the soul, and at least this way, a piece of Li Ying''s soul would always be with him.

    Alaska''s underground city welcomed its coldest winter since 2012. Zheng Rong was given a warm room on the four hundredth floor of the central stone tower, awaiting further orders from the military. In the darkness, everywhere was lit by fires kindled by civilians for warmth; central heating was only available in parts of the stone tower and the outer military zone. Near the Arctic Circle, the surface temperature was no higher than minus forty degrees Celsius.

    The new year was approaching. On New Year''s Eve, Zheng Rong¡¯s residence was quite warm, the lighting a comforting orange-yellow hue. He sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony, wearing only sleep shorts and baring his pale upper body as he played a harmonica.

    There was a knock on the door.

    Zheng Rong put away the harmonica and said, "Come in."

    Xiang Yu pushed open the door, carrying a military-green cotton blanket. "Have you had dinner?" he asked.

    Zheng Rong looked at the reflection in the glass window and said, "I thought it was Lance."

    Xiang Yu smiled slightly. "Brother is back."

    Xiang Yu laid the blanket on the floor and made a makeshift bed. Zheng Rong smiled, saying, ¡°Finished your military training?¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Xiang Yu nodded, tossing a golden object. Zheng Rong reached out to catch it.

    Two months ago, Lance arranged for Xiang Yu to join a new recruit training camp within the military, which Xiang Yu accepted without surprise. He changed into an American soldier¡¯s uniform and went to train alongside a group of sixteen- or seventeen-year-old white recruits, practicing with pistols and doing cross-country drills in simulated environments. In temperatures of minus thirty degrees Celsius, they had to go up to the surface of Alaska to chop wood, run through the snow, engage in realistic combat simulations, and learn military techniques. Although Xiang Yu had extraordinary stamina, the modern recruit training still took a toll on him.

    It was a closed training camp, and once Xiang Yu left, Zheng Rong didn¡¯t see anyone, locking himself in his room for two months.

    Xiang Yu had always been a soldier, carrying an air of solemnity in his movements. After participating in training and wearing a beret, he seemed to have fully integrated into modern times, displaying even more of a commanding presence than Lance.

    After being gone for two months, he brought Zheng Rong a gift¡ªthe new recruit hand-to-hand combat championship medal.

    Zheng Rong smiled, saying, "Not bad. Li Ying once gave me one too, but unfortunately, I didn''t bring it out when Northern Ireland blew up."

    He carefully stored away Xiang Yu''s medal. Xiang Yu finished making the bed and said, "I haven¡¯t been assigned any tasks yet. A stray soldier for now. Lance has instructed me to stay close and protect you, awaiting orders from the military."

    Zheng Rong said, "Sleep on the bed. It''s big enough, no need to make a bed on the floor."

    Xiang Yu sat on the edge of the bed, lowered his head to remove his military boots, and casually said, "Lance doesn''t dare come to see you."

    Zheng Rong said, "I don''t hate him, truly."

    "Why not?" Xiang Yu asked nonchalantly as he switched to slippers, folded his coat neatly, and helped tidy up Zheng Rong¡¯s messy room, putting the boots away in order and jogging to take a bath. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Xiang Yu¡¯s strong, masculine silhouette was projected on the frosted glass as he washed, forming an athletic shadow.

    Zheng Rong said, "From the day Li Ying returned to us, Lance also believed in him."

    Xiang Yu, with his head shaved close to the scalp, let the hot water run down his head and breathed in deeply. "I didn¡¯t see it."

    ¡°Li Ying said there was a bomb inside him. Lance believed him without asking more questions,¡± Zheng Rong continued. ¡°I asked Li Ying if there was a tracker in his body, whether it would expose the location of the underground city. He told me there wasn¡¯t, and Lance believed that as well.¡±

    Xiang Yu¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°Lance believed him, but Li Ying lied to Lance.¡±

    Zheng Rong shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say who was right and who was wrong. If Lance hadn¡¯t trusted him and insisted on checking Li Ying on the surface, we would all have been blown up by his bomb.¡±

    Xiang Yu hummed in acknowledgment. Zheng Rong added, ¡°The chip wouldn''t have been handed to me either. Lance brought Li Ying back himself, still hoping to save him. After all, they shared a deep bond¡ªthey were comrades...¡±

    ¡°And rivals in love,¡± Xiang Yu interjected suddenly.

    Zheng Rong frowned, ¡°Where did you learn that phrase?¡±

    Xiang Yu laughed heartily, wiping his body with a dry towel. He stepped out in boxer briefs and a tank top. On the table, a steaming bowl of instant noodles awaited.

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    Xiang Yu sat down at the table to eat the noodles while Zheng Rong, wrapped in a blanket, watched him from the bed. A sudden pang of pain struck his heart, reminiscent of the days spent with his elder brother, thinking that no matter what, the two brothers would rely on each other for life.

    But one day, without him realizing it, Zheng Feng had completely left.

    And later, Li Ying left too.

    Zheng Rong suddenly asked, ¡°Will you leave me?¡±

    Xiang Yu, eating with the joy of someone who had endured the horrors of army meals, said with a smile, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Never?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Xiang Yu nodded, then changed the subject. ¡°Any news?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°None. They took away the tablets, the staff, and the helmet. They¡¯re studying them. I don¡¯t think there will be any chance for me to be involved in the near future.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your plan then?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll grow old in this small room. Who knows,¡± Zheng Rong shrugged. ¡°What about you? What¡¯s your plan?¡±

    Xiang Yu imitated Zheng Rong¡¯s shrug and, mimicking the accents of the black soldiers, yelled, ¡°Hey, baby! Another bowl!¡±

    Zheng Rong said angrily, ¡°No more for you!¡±

    Xiang Yu laughed, drinking all the soup in his bowl, then cleaned up the trash.

    Suddenly, the surroundings plunged into darkness as the city lights went out in a flash.

    ¡°What happened?!¡± Zheng Rong got up.

    Panic broke out in the inner residential area, and an announcement blared: "The central stone tower¡¯s core computer is undergoing a large-scale operation, consuming excessive power. Temporarily diverting the city¡¯s electricity."

    Zheng Rong leaned out from the balcony. The top of the central stone tower glowed blue, with twelve runes projecting beams of light, slowly rotating around the massive tower.

    It was the latest analysis technology, the central computer system of the entire tower coming to life, like countless mages peering into the secrets of the universe.

    Zheng Rong said, "Teacher has started analyzing the runes... I hope he succeeds."

    ¡°Why tonight?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°Today is a special day. The Mayan calendar is different from ours. They use the Tzolkin and Haab calendars, which interweave, and when the long count aligns, it¡¯s called a calendar cycle¡ªexactly today.¡±

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t fully understand but nodded in acknowledgment.

    Zheng Rong silently prayed, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

    Xiang Yu opened the nightstand drawer, rummaged through it, and said, ¡°You smoke too much; it¡¯s bad for your health.¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t respond. Xiang Yu took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, handed one to Zheng Rong, and flicked open the lighter with a snap. The two leaned in, the flickering flame illuminating their lips.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes were bright, reflecting Xiang Yu¡¯s handsome, resolute face. Xiang Yu¡¯s gaze was familiar; it was the same look Zheng Feng had many years ago.

    Xiang Yu closed the lighter, and the room fell back into darkness.

    ¡°Zheng Rong,¡± Xiang Yu took a drag and asked, ¡°What did you do when Brother wasn¡¯t around?¡±

    Zheng Rong thought for a moment and smiled, ¡°Thinking.¡±

    ¡°What about?¡± Xiang Yu paused, then asked.

    ¡°About the Mayans, the life of humanity, the world, and my own heart,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°The place you came from was also a chaotic world. Now, it seems you¡¯ve gotten used to our world?¡±

    Xiang Yu sighed. ¡°Back then, when I started the uprising at Kuaiji to resist the tyrannical Qin, brothers were falling every day. I pressed forward with each step, and fewer and fewer familiar faces remained. More strangers joined the ranks. By the time of the Battle of Julu, when I had an army of a hundred thousand, down to the final battle at Gaixia, I didn''t recognize a single person anymore.¡±

    ¡°Those who originally followed me from my hometown had long since died on the battlefield.¡±

    Zheng Rong quietly listened. In the darkness, Xiang Yu struck the lighter again, the flame flickering as his eyes, deep in past memories, shone.

    Eyes with double pupils, a symbol of a sage-king, as Sima Qian described Xiang Yu.

    Xiang Yu''s "double pupils" seemed to contain endless galaxies, turning ceaselessly, as deep as the vast universe.

    Historical records mention only six people with double pupils: the ancient form of Laozi transformed into Cangjie, Emperor Shun, Xiang Yu of Chu, Former Liang ruler L¨¹ Guang, the famous Sui general Fish Ju Luo, and the last ruler of Southern Tang, Li Yu.

    Those born with double pupils were all figures who could change the world, either ancient deities reborn, supreme generals, or unparalleled geniuses.

    ¡°There was a period of time when I was also lost,¡± Xiang Yu said, staring at Zheng Rong¡¯s lips and speaking slowly. ¡°Fighting for the world, but once I gained it, the old faces around me were gone. What was the point? Victory or defeat, power and the country¡ªall those years of killing, only to wear the emperor¡¯s robe and rule the world. But for whom?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied indifferently, ¡°They only wanted a peaceful time. They believed you could open up a new world and represented a collective spirit, not an individual. They died without regret because that spirit would continue. Even if they sacrificed their lives under your command, others would continue their will, fighting for a stable life for their wives, children, and kin.¡±

    Xiang Yu said deeply, ¡°Precisely. Yet, after the Battle of Gaixia, I failed them.¡±

    Zheng Rong raised his hand and touched Xiang Yu¡¯s face, understanding his meaning.

    ¡°Li Ying, Lance, Zheng Feng.¡± Xiang Yu said, ¡°You are different from me. My failure was already destined, but your future can still be fought for. They have all placed their hopes on you.¡±

    Zheng Rong was silent for a long time before finally nodding. Xiang Yu said, ¡°Sleep well. Think it over.¡±

    On New Year''s Eve, the central stone tower cut off the power supply, and the cold set in. The distilled water in the cup by the window froze into ice.

    Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong lay under a thick blanket together. Xiang Yu¡¯s robust physique provided warmth and security. In the distance, the sound of the New Year¡¯s bell rang twelve times. Another year had passed.

    The next day, when power was restored, Zheng Rong left his self-imposed seclusion for the first time in two months.

    Xiang Yu followed behind him, asking nothing of his destination and merely accompanying him silently.

    Zheng Rong, with his hands in the pockets of his trench coat, entered the outer ring and showed his pass to the soldiers.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to see General Lance,¡± Zheng Rong said indifferently.

    In the military observation room.

    Lance had his feet up on the table, his leather boots polished to a shine. The general stared blankly at a photo frame, his eyes red-rimmed. On the table was a photograph of him, Li Ying, and the brothers Zheng Feng and Zheng Rong when they were children.

    ¡°Zheng Rong,¡± Lance quickly stood when he saw him enter.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t say anything, glanced at the photo on the table, and said, ¡°You kept this picture.¡±

    Lance instructed the orderly to leave and personally made coffee for Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Yes, I¡­¡± Lance stammered, ¡°I have it stored in my safe at the original Swiss bank, right here in Alaska''s underground city¡­ Even though Northern Ireland was destroyed¡­ a small part of my assets remained¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu straddled a chair, hugging its back and jokingly asked, ¡°What assets?¡±

    Lance replied, ¡°Just a few photos and some¡­ family mementos.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Can you print a copy of the photo for me? I don¡¯t have a copy.¡±

    ¡°Of course! Of course I can,¡± Lance said enthusiastically.

    Lance pulled the photo out of the frame and asked the orderly to make a copy. He offered his chair to Zheng Rong and stood aside, noticing the red cord around Zheng Rong¡¯s neck.

    Zheng Rong glanced at Lance and pulled out the chip pendant. Lance smiled softly, ¡°It looks nice.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Thank you for speaking up to the military on my behalf so I could keep it.¡±

    When Zheng Rong was so polite, Lance mistook it for sarcasm and, feeling guilty, said, ¡°Zheng Rong, I know you hate me... but...¡±

    Zheng Rong quickly said, ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡±

    ¡°Please listen, Zheng Rong¡­¡± Lance began.

    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted.

    ¡°I know you hate me, and I don¡¯t mind,¡± Lance said. ¡°If it makes you feel a bit better¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong, rendered speechless, finally said, ¡°Yes, I hate you!¡±

    ¡°I love you,¡± Lance replied.

    An awkward silence filled the room, broken only by Xiang Yu¡¯s faint cough of displeasure.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s faint blush quickly faded, and he said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not here to talk about these trivial matters. What decision has the military made?¡±

    Lance, not getting the response he had hoped for, said disappointedly, ¡°Last night, Teacher requested to activate the large-scale central computer, ¡®Tide,¡¯ and began analyzing the stone tablets we brought back.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Apart from Teacher, who is the military official in charge? Help me contact him. I have the next step of the plan.¡±

    ¡°No, you can¡¯t go out again,¡± Lance said. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. After the underground city in Northern Ireland was destroyed, many humans were captured. It¡¯s still unclear whether there might be traitors who would betray us.¡±

    ¡°Staying in the Alaska underground city doesn¡¯t guarantee safety either¡­¡± Zheng Rong countered.

    ¡°It¡¯s different! At least by my side, I can ensure your safety!¡± Lance said.

    ¡°Save it!¡± Zheng Rong said angrily. ¡°If you had such capabilities, Li Ying wouldn¡¯t have died.¡±

    Another silence descended, with Lance¡¯s rapid, pained breathing resembling that of a tormented beast. A moment later, Zheng Rong said, ¡°I apologize. I represent myself and Li Ying in reconciling with you, but what follows is of utmost importance, and I hope you will support me.¡±

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath, locking eyes with Lance¡¯s bloodshot ones, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s protection. My brother¡¯s legacy is not yet complete. I intend to carry it through.¡±

    Lance said nothing, and after a long consideration, he nodded. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Contact the military leader and gather all the exploration team members. I will explain my final plan to them. I permit you to listen in, Lance. You were also a member of the exploration team. Let¡¯s not dwell on the past. Now, the most important thing is to finish what we started.¡±

    ¡°Take a seat. I¡¯ll think of a way,¡± Lance said, donning his military coat and going to contact the military high command.

 29 - The Prelude of the Visionary

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, you¡¯re just in time. The military was planning to talk with you¡ªit''s been scheduled for the next few days.¡±

    Zheng Rong was led into a quiet room, where only Lance and an older commander were present. Lance introduced them: ¡°This is General Peck¡¯s comrade, from the Allied Operations Command, the American General Westcoss.¡±

    Westcoss said, ¡°Go ahead, as you Chinese say, let¡¯s cut to the chase¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong, displeased, replied, ¡°Could you not share part of the contents of the writings on the tablet with me?¡±

    Westcoss shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we haven¡¯t found any usable information yet. The professor suspects that it¡¯s not a language at all, but merely a set of symbolic figures.¡±

    Zheng Rong frowned and after a moment of contemplation said, ¡°I request that the military support me in completing my investigation plan. Perhaps I can acquire more tablets for comparison.¡± Without waiting for Westcoss¡¯s response, Zheng Rong rose, hands in his coat pockets. ¡°You¡¯ve already read the files, but they¡¯re just a record of our exploration process. The real theories and conjectures are here.¡± He pointed to his head. ¡°Would you like to hear them?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Westcoss said, pulling out a cigarette, and Lance lit his lighter. Zheng Rong took one too.

    ¡°Where to start¡­¡± Zheng Rong murmured. ¡°This is a complex and expansive theory, one that overthrows...¡±

    ¡°Start with the five places you¡¯ve mentioned before,¡± Westcoss interrupted. ¡°Xi¡¯an, Egypt, ancient Babylon, the Indus Valley, and the Mayan temples.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Alright, except for the Indus Valley, which contradicts my earlier assumptions.¡±

    ¡°Why exclude the Indus Valley?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°After the first encounter with ¡®It,¡¯ I understood a bit of its thought process,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°I¡¯ll elaborate on that later. The remaining ancient sites, in my theory, are all places where ¡®It¡¯ once visited.¡±

    Outside the small room, several high-ranking military officers watched Zheng Rong through the observation wall.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± one asked.

    Anthony replied, ¡°He seems like a madman¡ªan obsessive yet rational one.¡±

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°Let¡¯s play a role-playing game. Let¡¯s say you arrive in a completely unfamiliar world, and your power far surpasses that of the local species. You can easily control their lives and deaths. What would you do? Start slaughtering them indiscriminately?¡±

    Westcoss pondered this for a moment and shook his head. ¡°No, there would be no motivation for that. I would observe them for a while first.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°Exactly, you would first observe their life forms before making any decisions. Thus, we have the footprints of the gods. Wherever ¡®It¡¯ went, legends of the wheel of fate and divine descent spread among humans. Out of curiosity, ¡®It¡¯ tried to communicate with us, these insignificant creatures, telling our ancestors certain things. It took some humans as research subjects, gave them little gifts, and watched how they used them.¡±

    ¡°But if it were me,¡± Westcoss interjected, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t use a lower species as test subjects. Out of humanitarian principles¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong coldly retorted, ¡°It¡¯s not human. Its civilization differs from humanity¡¯s, so why would it hold humanitarian principles? Besides, remember the first group of settlers on the American continent two hundred years ago¡­¡±

    Westcoss¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he coughed. ¡°Please don¡¯t equate the two.¡±

    ¡°Stay on topic,¡± Lance said.

    Zheng Rong, not holding back, sneered, ¡°You Germans aren¡¯t any better.¡±

    Unfazed, Lance responded flatly, ¡°Humanity is one collective whole.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°So, have you figured out the effects of Moses¡¯ staff and the First Emperor¡¯s golden helmet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Westcoss replied. ¡°We¡¯ve tried several types of radiation detection...¡±

    ¡°To tell you the truth,¡± Zheng Rong placed his hand on the table and faced General Westcoss, ¡°I don¡¯t even need to look at that helmet to know what it is.¡±

    Westcoss frowned. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a brainwave transmitter!¡± Zheng Rong said definitively. ¡°It amplifies a person¡¯s brainwaves and sends them out. Combine this with what Xiang Yu mentioned in the tomb¡ªa medicine that removes fear of death and sacrifice. Doesn¡¯t it all make sense?¡±

    ¡°The emperor wore it on his head, and the brainwaves were instantly amplified a trillionfold to hypnotize his soldiers, turning them into fearless killing machines.¡±

    Anthony chuckled. ¡°Impressive. He¡¯s getting closer to the truth through deduction, and have you noticed? He¡¯s gradually gaining the upper hand in this negotiation.¡±

    Zheng Rong said calmly, ¡°You already knew this.¡±

    Westcoss looked into Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes and nodded after a moment. ¡°Indeed, some physicists have reached similar conclusions. There¡¯s a wave amplifier hidden within the helmet, but it¡¯s lost its energy and can no longer operate.¡±

    ¡°So, long ago, ¡®It¡¯ began researching the connection between thoughts, consciousness, and physical bodies,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Why? It¡¯s likely that when ¡®It¡¯ first arrived on Earth, ¡®It¡¯ was already alone.¡±

    ¡°Loneliness¡ªeternal loneliness,¡± Zheng Rong murmured.

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue our role-playing game. If I were ¡®It,¡¯ and Earth was being destroyed, and I piloted a spaceship to escape with the corpses of my dead companions, what would I do first?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯d venture into the vast universe, trying to find life forms similar to myself on other star systems. Or, rather, a life vessel. ¡®It¡¯ wanted to resurrect ¡®Its¡¯ companions¡ªthose lifeless bodies that barely survived in cultivation chambers.¡±

    ¡°So, it becomes understandable¡ª¡®It¡¯ sought new soul vessels and perpetuated this idea through ¡®Its¡¯ actions. Humans imitated ¡®Its¡¯ thought process and inherited this point. Hence, the underground palace of the First Emperor and the kingdom of tombs in ancient Egypt.¡±

    ¡°All this stems from the god¡¯s belief that life can be resurrected, and death is only temporary. Another world is an eternal realm. This eternal realm after death has been mythologized by humanity as the underworld, the road of the dead, or even the heavenly realm.¡±

    ¡°But they are none of those! In reality, it¡¯s where ¡®It¡¯ came from! It¡¯s a place far beyond billions of light years, crossing through countless dark matter and hyperspace tunnels, the home of the Mayan beings! A galaxy we don¡¯t even know, perhaps not even in our universe, a place beyond human comprehension and knowledge.¡±

    Lance¡¯s deep voice asked, ¡°Then why did ¡®It¡¯ leave Earth again?¡±

    ¡°Humans on Earth didn¡¯t meet ¡®Its¡¯ requirements,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°¡®It¡¯ is searching for a more eternal body¡ªbiological entities that live for thousands of years without dying or being extinguished for tens of thousands of years.¡±

    Westcoss said, ¡°That¡¯s unrealistic. What life form could be immortal? Even ¡®It¡¯ itself...¡±

    Zheng Rong said softly, ¡°No, why not think in another direction? What if they are truly immortal?¡±

    ¡°Your assumption contradicts the laws of the universe,¡± Westcoss argued. ¡°All things evolve and perish¡­¡±

    ¡°Energy is neither created nor destroyed; matter is conserved, and only entropy increases infinitely,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°The existence and evolution of all things is an endless cycle. Life and death are a circle. All consciousness exists as particle waves. They are energy, and they move within this circle, slowly revolving along their trajectories.¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°According to the professor¡¯s model,¡± Zheng Rong continued, ¡°from the moment of the Big Bang, the universe has been expanding. Space and time stretch with the expansion until a critical point is reached, and then it collapses and contracts.¡±

    ¡°The entire universe is like a heart, pulsing in a cycle. Based on reversed imaginary time and space, the professor calculated each heartbeat of the universe to be a period of 47.6 billion years.¡±

    ¡°Until everything falls silent, and the starry sky, with all its stars, planets, and particles, collapses into a singularity, starting the next expansion.¡±

    ¡°We are but a few thousand years in one of countless cycles, a fleeting instant in the heartbeat of the universe,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°If ¡®They¡¯ are not originally from our spatial dimension, not within the cycle of our universe, then they are tourists who entered our world through a point in the multiverse¡¯s continuum to search for another form of life. Is that so hard to understand?¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Westcoss conceded. ¡°What do you think, Lance?¡±

    Lance looked perplexed. Zheng Rong, impatient, said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask him. I need to conduct investigations to prove my hypothesis.¡±

    ¡°When the Mayan beings first arrived on Earth, what exactly happened?¡± Zheng Rong said bluntly. ¡°¡®It¡¯ must have, under the guise of a god, performed some form of genetic modification on humans, attempting to guide the evolution of creatures on Earth toward ¡®Its¡¯ desired standards.¡±

    ¡°While waiting, ¡®It¡¯ left Earth to seek other possibilities.¡±

    ¡°Before returning, ¡®It¡¯ encountered an unexpected incident, becoming parasitized and controlled on another planet. So, after receiving a series of messages, our ultimate goal is the Mayan prophecy from 3,000 years ago¡ªto find the parasite¡¯s weakness and understand the connection between these ¡®wave beings¡¯ and the main body.¡±

    ¡°Why choose the Mesopotamian plain? Do you know?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°Because in ancient language, ¡®Babylon¡¯ means ¡®The Gate of the Gods.¡¯¡±

    ¡°There are a few possibilities for the Gate of the Gods. First, it could be the gate to the home of the gods. Perhaps we¡¯ll find another rusty particle generator that can open the path to the Mayan beings¡¯ homeland.¡±

    ¡°Or it could be that the Mayan beings piloted their spaceship to Earth and opened the first transport point from their ship to the surface. When the god emerged from Babylon, there must have been records of ¡®It¡¯ in the area.¡±

    Westcoss said, ¡°Our forces are extremely weak now. The fall of Northern Ireland prevents us from organizing any effective resistance.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need that,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°I¡¯ll pick the team members myself. As I said, I only need one military helicopter and a small team. I¡¯ll bring back useful materials.¡±

    After saying this, Zheng Rong left Westcoss to his thoughts, pushed open the door, and exited. Xiang Yu was waiting in the corridor. Without speaking, they walked downstairs together, only to be followed a moment later by someone.

    ¡°Hello, Dr. Zheng Rong.¡± The man extended his hand, but Zheng Rong did not shake it. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes, instantly guessing something.

    ¡°Mr. Anthony, you monitored my conversation with the military?¡±

    Anthony nodded. ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong is a wise man. I¡¯m glad you remember my name.¡±

    Zheng Rong coldly looked at him.

    Xiang Yu watched for a while as Anthony¡¯s hand remained extended, unwavering. Finally, Xiang Yu chuckled and shook his hand.

    Anthony gratefully introduced himself. ¡°Anthony Jean. A specialist in psychology and medicine. Shall we talk while we walk?¡±

    Anthony reached out to pat Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, but Zheng Rong deftly avoided it.

    Seeing Zheng Rong¡¯s hostility, Xiang Yu automatically moved to stand between them. Anthony smiled and said, ¡°You withheld something from the military, didn¡¯t you? About the metal cocoon and the host¡ªyou have another theory?¡±

    Anthony was a true psychologist. Knowing that trying to warm up to someone like Zheng Rong would backfire, he cut straight to the point.

    Under Anthony¡¯s scrutiny, Zheng Rong calmly replied, ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s uncertain. This theory stems from something Lainey said in the First Emperor¡¯s tomb.¡±

    Zheng Rong originally intended to tell Anthony and then dismiss him. However, Anthony quickly waved his hand and said, ¡°No, no, I believe you completely. But the military required me to listen in¡ªyou understand.¡±

    Zheng Rong was slightly surprised, and Anthony switched to Chinese, smiling. ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain your unverified theories to me. And you¡¯re not obligated to. May I have the honor of treating you two to lunch? Speaking of Lainey, we used to be in the same research program under a professor. I know her quite well.¡±

    Zheng Rong paused in thought and glanced at Xiang Yu for confirmation. Xiang Yu said, ¡°Sure, but we need to buy a few things first.¡±

    Zheng Rong had nearly run out of money; his research funds were tied up in gold and other hard currencies in Northern Ireland. Now, he was penniless.

    Xiang Yu, who had received a generous military allowance, took Zheng Rong shopping.

    The First Day of the New Year.

    ¡°Happy New Year!¡± A scholar exiting the inner residential zone tipped their hat to Zheng Rong in greeting.

    Zheng Rong recognized the elderly woman. She was a scholar of religion and philosophy. He politely responded, ¡°Happy New Year. How is the professor¡¯s health?¡±

    ¡°Oh, not great,¡± she replied. ¡°But last night he stayed to the end, though we didn¡¯t reach any useful conclusions.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded understandingly. ¡°Scientific research is a process of twists and turns.¡±

    The elderly woman smiled kindly. ¡°As Marx said, the laws of development for all things are such. We will prevail, my child.¡±

    The situation had worsened compared to a few months ago. Most supermarkets were closed, having gone bankrupt. The military had implemented material rationing¡ªprioritizing scholars and soldiers.

    The only place where supplies circulated was a black market hidden in a secluded corner of the inner zone. It operated with military consent, using bartering to restore a primitive form of goods exchange.

    Xiang Yu pulled out a few items from his pocket to assess their value at the market entrance. A few small boxes of anti-frostbite ointment, a small box of bullets, and a solar-powered universal energy storage board that could connect to various household appliances for energy transfer.

    Anthony said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Rain, I have some chips left. I could support you¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu shook his head. ¡°No need. I can take care of him.¡±

    The three of them moved through the noisy black market, where merchants and customers argued loudly. Xiang Yu went to buy coffee.

    ¡°About Lainey,¡± Anthony said. ¡°We used to be in the same class. About Li Ying, all I can say is... it¡¯s a pity.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°I¡¯m just puzzled as to why she killed herself. I couldn¡¯t see that her love was that deep.¡±

    Anthony gestured. ¡°You know, in psychology, there¡¯s a condition called...¡±

    ¡°Hysteria,¡± Zheng Rong cut him off. ¡°But she didn¡¯t exhibit any hysterical symptoms. She wasn¡¯t easily influenced or agitated.¡±

    Anthony replied earnestly, ¡°She did have mild hysteria. She often told us things she imagined as if they were real. I remember it well. One day, when Li Ying¡¯s combat match caused a stir at the Indian Ocean military base, she came back extremely excited and told us Li Ying had accepted her confession.¡±

    Zheng Rong said helplessly, ¡°They¡¯re both dead now.¡±

    ¡°True enough,¡± Anthony said, ¡°but she couldn¡¯t distinguish fantasy from reality.¡±

    Zheng Rong understood. Quietly, he looked to a corner of the market and greeted, ¡°Hey!¡±

    Joseph was holding Lin Siyen¡¯s hand while shopping. Lin Siyen¡¯s belly was heavily pregnant; the due date seemed near.

    Joseph whistled and called out from afar, ¡°Ohoho!¡±

    Zheng Rong gestured for him not to come over, choosing to stand where he was to avoid the crowd pushing around Lin Siyen.

    Anthony reached out, finally succeeding in patting Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder. Zheng Rong became slightly less resistant to him.

    Psychologists are always clever¡ªthey know when to speak and when to let the other person think. Their body language always has a purpose. After two consecutive attempts, when Anthony¡¯s hand touched Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, Zheng Rong¡¯s hostility had already dissipated.

    Waiting for Xiang Yu, Zheng Rong spoke after a long silence. ¡°So, you mean to say she lived in her own world, and in her mind, there was another Li Ying. She lived for this person in her mind. No wonder¡ªI never understood where she got the courage to keep going, especially since Li Ying never responded to her advances.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but it seems that¡¯s the case,¡± Anthony said. ¡°It¡¯s a manifestation of self-isolation in one¡¯s personality.¡±

    ¡°But then how do you explain her sacrifice?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°If Li Ying was still alive in her mind, she didn¡¯t need to die.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely the detail I wanted to ask you about,¡± Anthony murmured. ¡°I suspect that at some point during your expedition, when Li Ying reappeared, the mental image of him in Lainey¡¯s mind overlapped to some extent with the real one.¡±

    Zheng Rong immediately recalled that night when he entered Lainey¡¯s room and saw Xiang Yu and Jin Piai.

    Lainey must have spoken to Li Ying then, Zheng Rong thought.

    Anthony added, ¡°This is just one possibility. I suspect she might have learned something you didn¡¯t know¡ªlike the bomb planted in Li Ying¡¯s body. Given her inability to distinguish fantasy from reality, the shock must have been overwhelming. It could have driven her to act out of guilt when he died...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Anthony nodded and added, ¡°I know this discussion doesn¡¯t mean much, but since you¡¯re that hero¡¯s only living relative, I thought it necessary to analyze it carefully for you.¡±

    Zheng Rong smiled. ¡°Thank you. Your mind is very clear.¡±

    Anthony replied at the perfect moment, ¡°Please let me join your next investigation. I know medical techniques, and I¡¯d like to help.¡±

    ¡°You should come up with a better reason,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Xiang Yu returned with coffee, cigarettes, chocolates, several bottles of alcohol, a large piece of frozen tender beef, and even, surprisingly, a box of baby formula.

    ¡°I really love you,¡± Zheng Rong said happily.

    Xiang Yu laughed heartily and handed over the baby formula.

    ¡°Siyen!¡± Zheng Rong walked over to Joseph and his wife, handing the baby formula to them.

    Joseph declined. ¡°Oh no, this is very expensive¡­¡±

    Lin Siyen smiled gently. ¡°You¡¯re very thoughtful.¡±

    ¡°My brother bought it for you,¡± Zheng Rong said with a smile. ¡°Please accept it.¡±

    ¡°I just came from the outer ring,¡± Joseph said. ¡°I heard news¡ªthe expedition team is setting off again? I¡¯m ready.¡±

    Lin Siyen looked worried. Zheng Rong said, ¡°No, you¡¯re not going. You need to stay in Alaska and help the professor with his research on the tablets.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Joseph insisted.

    ¡°You must stay,¡± Zheng Rong said firmly.

    Joseph tried to explain, ¡°Listen to me¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, you listen to me,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted.

    ¡°Warriors fall, children are born,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°That¡¯s what gives us hope. There¡¯s no room for debate, Joseph. Please stay and take care of Siyen and your child.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat lunch,¡± Zheng Rong said, taking Xiang Yu away with him. Anthony continued to follow behind them. ¡°I¡¯m fascinated by your imaginative ideas,¡± he said to Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Try another one,¡± Zheng Rong replied coldly.

    With resignation, Anthony said, ¡°Alright, I want to go on an archaeological expedition with you. I chose the wrong major. Actually, I¡¯m quite interested in Babylonian history.¡±

    Xiang Yu burst out laughing, and Zheng Rong said, ¡°It could be dangerous.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid,¡± Anthony said.

    Zheng Rong turned, extended his hand to Anthony, and said, ¡°Welcome aboard. We¡¯ll be counting on you in the future.¡±

 30 - Scholars Have No Nationality

    Zheng Rong¡¯s second expedition caused quite a stir, and three days later, the Alaskan Ground Command provided six helicopters for him. After the main helicopter took off, the other six would escort him along the way.

    Lance was still responsible for protection, but this time there was a difference: Zheng Rong accepted the military¡¯s final request to carry a miniature camera and communication equipment to Babylon, maintaining contact at all times.

    "We respect every scholar and will not interfere with any of your actions," said General Sikos solemnly. "However, the images and sounds you transmit might help us judge some more important matters."

    Zheng Rong wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to think that he represented the truth itself. After much deliberation, he accepted the proposal.

    When the expedition team arrived at the Mesopotamian plain in Iran, Zheng Rong would selectively activate the image transmission equipment, sending filtered information back to the Central Pillar, where a temporary team of scholars would analyze it and provide in-depth recommendations.

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t quite like the feeling of being watched, but Zheng Rong understood.

    Zheng Rong crouched down and broke off a large piece of ice, looking through it towards the sky. Alaska¡¯s winter sun was bright yet not warm, rising in the east and setting in the west, unchanged for millions of years¡ªregardless of who ruled the Earth.

    Lance and the soldiers loaded the supplies onto the helicopters. The wilderness stretched endlessly, covered in snow, with white as far as the eye could see and dark rock ridges protruding from the ground.

    The team still included Ugos, Jin Puae, and the new addition of Anthony, replacing the deceased Lenny. A group of people escorted an old woman toward the military helicopter preparing to depart.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t funny at all,¡± Zheng Rong said coldly. ¡°I just need a linguist, not a grandmother who tells bedtime stories.¡±

    The old woman raised her cane and tapped the pine tree beside her. "Life begins at eighty. When I was fifty-two, I won the Cross-Country Medal from the Geological Exploration Society, young man."

    "Yevchenko Zabaluyeva," the old lady introduced herself kindly. "I won¡¯t hold you back."

    "Oh, come on!" Zheng Rong was at a loss for words. "Lance, what¡¯s going on?!"

    Lance replied, "She¡¯s been sent by the Scientists¡¯ Association."

    Ugos added, ¡°She¡¯s a legendary living dictionary, Dr. Zheng Rong. You know, she¡¯s proficient in nearly a thousand ancient languages and is familiar with almost every religious story and myth, from Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, Islam, and Catholicism to Chinese Taoism and some ancient Native American totem secrets. She¡¯s a living fossil of the worlds of religion and linguistics. Even Dr. Joseph is her student.¡±

    Zheng Rong was exasperated. ¡°Thank you very much! I know she¡¯s highly knowledgeable, but she¡¯s at least seventy years old!¡±

    Yev corrected him, ¡°Sixty-eight, Mr. Zheng Rong.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Xiang Yu chuckled, ¡°Old but vigorous!¡±

    The Russian lady, fluent in Chinese, leaned on her cane with both hands and nodded. ¡°An old hero still has the will to strive.¡±

    Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He felt utterly defeated by her. After careful thought, he said, ¡°This won¡¯t do. We have a long journey ahead, and it¡¯s dangerous...¡±

    Yev replied, ¡°I can take care of myself. Don¡¯t underestimate old ladies.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Zheng Rong!¡± Joseph¡¯s voice came through the communicator. ¡°Teacher Yev will replace me on the expedition to Babylon, and I¡¯ll stay at the Central Pillar. Old friend, I¡¯ll always support you from behind¡ª¡±

    Joseph joyfully whistled.

    Zheng Rong felt utterly hopeless about the world.

    ¡°Let her come,¡± Xiang Yu said with a smile. ¡°Respect the old and cherish the young.¡±

    Zheng Rong grabbed Xiang Yu by the neck. ¡°This isn¡¯t camping!¡±

    Xiang Yu raised his eyebrows, amusement in his eyes, as if to say that he had a feeling the old woman¡¯s participation would be an immense asset to the team.

    Zheng Rong understood and could only nod in agreement after a moment.

    ¡°Hi, Dr. Zheng Rong.¡±

    ¡°Hello.¡±

    Anthony shook hands with each of the team members, and Lance harbored a faint sense of caution toward this man.

    ¡°We can set off now,¡± Lance said.

    Zheng Rong reluctantly pushed the wheelchair onto the military helicopter, settling in Madam Yev. Lance pulled up the cabin door, and the helicopter emitted a deafening roar, blowing snow in all directions as it took off into the air.

    ¡°Zheng Rong, are you alright?¡± Lin Siyen¡¯s voice came from the communicator.

    Zheng Rong said coldly, ¡°Not at all, pregnant lady. You¡¯d better go rest.¡±

    Lin Siyen¡¯s laugh was pleasant, and she passed the communicator to Joseph, who said, ¡°Wow¡ªI''d suggest you keep the wireless communicator on in the helicopter. It¡¯s been so long since I heard¡ª¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Without thinking, Zheng Rong shut off the communicator.

    Jin Puae distributed microwave meals as the helicopter ascended into the clouds, flying against the cold wind above the peaks.

    Ugos snapped his fingers, and after a moment, said, ¡°Uh, okay, Mr. Rain, would you like some rum?¡±

    Xiang Yu accepted Ugos¡¯s bottle and casually asked, ¡°Have you figured out the results of the underground liquid you brought back from Egypt?¡±

    Ugos glanced at Madam Yev, seemingly in doubt, and both Anthony and Zheng Rong keenly caught this moment.

    ¡°No...no,¡± Ugos said uneasily.

    Anthony frowned slightly, and Zheng Rong nodded, saying, ¡°Nothing at all?¡±

    Ugos relented, ¡°Okay, the chemists reached one conclusion¡ªit¡¯s not something from our world.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°The liquid that soaked the Sphinx isn¡¯t from our world?¡±

    Pushing his glasses, Ugos said helplessly, ¡°Yes, its molecular composition is very peculiar. It¡¯s something extraterrestrial. Its atoms are made up of twelve kinds of spinning particles, without electrons and...¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°No need to explain. That¡¯s not my field.¡±

    Ugos nodded in return.

    Jin Puae was tapping on a keyboard, and Madam Yev, wrapped in a blanket, turned to ask, ¡°What is this?¡±

    Jin Puae smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a little game I coded myself. Would you like to play it?¡±

    ¡°These are mountains, these are rivers... You can use materials to build things here, and once you make a planet...¡±

    Anthony and Zheng Rong both laughed.

    ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Anthony asked.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°They never forget to create a world, ssi-mida.¡±

    Yev tried tapping the touchscreen a few times but was dissatisfied with what she made. ¡°So, if I don¡¯t like the layout and civilization...¡±

    Jin Puae replied, ¡°Press this button, and a flood will wash them away.¡± She pressed a key, and the planet was repeatedly flooded. Zheng Rong stared thoughtfully at the 3D projection on the screen and muttered, ¡°Flood.¡±

    ¡°Our destination is Babylon,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°The data packets in your hands contain just the brief outline General Sikos put together. Now, let¡¯s delve into the real plan.¡±

    Madam Yev said, ¡°You know that flood story?¡±

    Zheng Rong frowned. ¡°Our research is incomplete. Do you know more?¡± He gestured for her to continue.

    Yev pondered for a while and said, ¡°Do you know the flood recorded in the Bible?¡±

    All team members nodded, except for Xiang Yu, who was utterly baffled.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°According to the Bible¡¯s ¡®Genesis,¡¯ the first humans populated the earth, living sinful lives. In an era that cannot be dated¡ªperhaps tens of thousands of years ago¡ªGod conveyed a divine message to Noah, telling him to build a great ark, to bring on board pairs of clean and unclean animals, and after seven days, a flood would engulf the whole world, destroying civilization and starting anew.¡±

    Ugos commented, ¡°There¡¯s no historical evidence for this. According to the Bible, Noah¡¯s ark¡¯s final resting place is Turkey¡¯s Mount Ararat, yet no signs of a flood that submerged an entire mountain range have ever been found on Earth.¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t respond. Madam Yev said, ¡°In our research, we believe that a flood did happen, but not near the Black Sea. Some have even explored the ancient sites of the Phoenician Empire, but I think it¡¯s simply a story passed down by word of mouth.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Since it¡¯s a story, there must be an original source. Where do you think it started?¡±

    Yev said, ¡°I believe it originated from ancient Babylon, from the Mesopotamian plain in Iran.¡±

    ¡°A king of Babylon, it¡¯s not clear whether it was the king of Ur or the king of Akkad, once saw a deity in his dream, who personally conveyed a divine message to him, warning that a flood would soon submerge the entire Mesopotamian plain. The king was instructed to bring animals, seeds, and family members onto an ark.¡±

    ¡°I believe the story of Noah in ¡®Genesis¡¯ originates here. According to geological analysis... Dr. Ugos?¡±

    Ugos pushed his glasses again and added, ¡°Between 4000 and 3000 BC, at the end of the last Ice Age, the Mesopotamian plain was warm and moist. At that time, the Euphrates River indeed experienced a flood, or perhaps it was a massive flood caused by the flooding of both rivers.¡±

    Zheng Rong frowned in thought; this line of reasoning was far from his own.

    ¡°I¡¯m merely suspicious about the ¡®Gate of the Gods,¡¯¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Also, their legends predate the creation of the images of the gods, which is very peculiar.¡±

    Yev said, ¡°Young man, the ¡®Gate of the Gods¡¯ indeed existed at one time. Ancient legends speak of the construction of the Tower of Babel, which defied God. It was rebuilt several times but was completely destroyed by foreign invaders. When Alexander the Great¡¯s restoration plan failed, it became a complete ruin.¡±

    ¡°Yes, our goal is the Tower of Babel,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Additionally, we¡¯re looking for a supposedly nonexistent structure¡ªthe Hanging Gardens.¡±

    Ugos couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exist, Dr. Zheng Rong,¡± Ugos said bluntly. ¡°The World Heritage Exploration Association has conducted a carpet search of Iran, and there¡¯s absolutely no record of the Hanging Gardens.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Not necessarily.¡±

    Yev asked, ¡°What drives you to search for something that doesn¡¯t exist? As far as I know, the Hanging Gardens aren¡¯t even mentioned in Babylon¡¯s own history. They¡¯re merely the fantasy of the Greeks, who weren¡¯t serious...¡±

    Anthony finally found a point to jump into the conversation, teasing, ¡°Just because you can¡¯t see something doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Ugos asked, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s invisible?¡±

    Anthony replied, ¡°We can¡¯t see it. Perhaps it¡¯s invisible, or it could be due to a blind spot in human perception, like a small stone by the roadside, cleverly disguised or distorting your vision... Humans are sensory creatures.¡±

    ¡°The world is materialistic,¡± Yev said politely.

    Anthony did not argue, simply smiling.

    Days later, the helicopter arrived at an Arabian military base for fuel replenishment. The team members disembarked to stretch and rest, while Zheng Rong stood outside the helicopter, lost in thought.

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, I have something very important to tell you,¡± Anthony whispered from behind him.

    Zheng Rong turned, frowning. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Anthony said, ¡°Yevchenko Zabaluyeva¡ªdo you know who she is?¡±

    Zheng Rong looked at Anthony silently. With a serious expression, Anthony said, ¡°She¡¯s a KGB member, an important member of the Federal Security Service of Russia. Please be very careful with your words and actions.¡±

    Zheng Rong was shocked. For days, Yev had acted entirely like an elderly scholar, yet since Anthony brought it up, he had to take it seriously.

    ¡°I thought that after Eurasia completely fell, there was no such organization anymore.¡±

    Anthony replied, ¡°No, they still exist, disguising themselves as all sorts of people and infiltrating the West, among whom are many elites in various fields.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Why would they send a KGB agent to investigate with me?¡±

    Zheng Rong remained silent, and Anthony kept quiet, leaving him to his thoughts.

    Zheng Rong then asked, ¡°You¡¯re American.¡±

    Anthony nodded. ¡°Yes, Dr. Zheng Rong.¡±

    Zheng Rong sensed something odd. This clue seemed to lead to many more reasons, and after finding the first answer, countless assumptions flooded his mind.

    ¡°What¡¯s your connection to the CIA?¡±

    Anthony didn¡¯t answer, and Zheng Rong spoke softly, ¡°Is the United States and Russia already planning for the post-war power structure? The human alliance is still intact, and nothing has been settled...¡±

    Anthony said, ¡°You¡¯re very perceptive.¡±

    Zheng Rong suddenly realized the ultimate answer.

    ¡°They¡¯ve already figured out a way to eradicate the Mayan aliens?!¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s voice had an almost imperceptible tremor. ¡°They¡¯re that confident?¡±

    Anthony said, ¡°No, this is just a proposal from the teacher. Science knows no borders, but politics does. The teacher¡¯s hypothesis has not been confirmed, and he announced it freely to the top military leaders of various countries. Now, everyone is closely monitoring your actions.¡±

    ¡°And ultimately, whether it can be put into practice rests in your hands.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve thought long and hard, and I trust you,¡± Anthony said. ¡°In light of my honesty, please consult with me if you find anything amiss.¡±

    Zheng Rong neither agreed nor disagreed, and Anthony patted him on the shoulder before turning to leave.

    Zheng Rong walked slowly, hands in his coat pockets.

 31 - A Generals Perspective on Love

    Southern Mesopotamian Plain, the expedition camp.

    In Hebrew, "Babel" means "chaos and disaster." In Babylonian, however, "Babel" means the "Gate of the Gods," a sign of where a god will descend.

    In 586 B.C., the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar waged war, sweeping through all of Jerusalem and burning the Jewish temple to ashes, taking the king captive to Babylon¡ªa historical event known as the "Babylonian Captivity." It was a great humiliation in Jewish history, and the Old Testament of the Bible contains curses against the Babylonians, mentioning the Tower of Babel.

    The Jewish people created a new story: the ancestors of humanity initially spoke a single language. They built a tower to reach the heavens, seeking to approach the gods. When the tower reached the clouds, the deities became furious and used their divine power to scatter the builders, making them speak different languages with divergent purposes and thoughts. Thus, they argued loudly and were divided.

    At dusk, in the warm and humid climate of early spring, two giant statues covered in moss stood at the entrance to the jungle.

    By the pond, a military helicopter deployed its supports, raised its radar, and extended its electromagnetic machine guns.

    Zheng Rong looked up at the two nearly three-meter-high black stone statues, whose surfaces were weathered and worn by the passage of time. They were the oldest mythical beasts in legend¡ªminotaurs, with bull heads, human bodies, giant hammers in their hands, cloven hooves for feet, and a pair of massive black wings on their backs, half of which had crumbled due to wind and rain.

    ¡°Brother, what are you thinking?¡± Zheng Rong examined them briefly, teasing.

    At the sight of the minotaurs'' muscular chests, Zheng Rong immediately thought of Xiang Yu.

    Xiang Yu could only laugh, knowing Zheng Rong was trying to mock him. He turned toward the pond, picked up a fishing rod, and cast it into the water.

    Ugos and Jin Puae were looking at the terrain map on the computer screen, while Old Yev napped under a blanket in a wheelchair. Zheng Rong went to the stone edge of the pond, pulled out a notebook and a sketch, and studied them carefully.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Lance walked over.

    ¡°I¡¯m planning our route for tomorrow and the exterior of the Tower of Babel from the legends,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°This is some information about ancient Babylon.¡± He picked up a photo, holding it against the last rays of light before dusk, and explained to Lance, ¡°This is a painting by an Israeli artist. It used to be in Egypt¡¯s National Art Museum, but it''s been destroyed now.¡±

    ¡°Is the tower real?¡± Lance asked earnestly.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Zheng Rong said with a chuckle. ¡°He just recreated the scene based on the biblical description.¡±

    Lance awkwardly said, ¡°I understand. So what''s the purpose of finding the ruins of this tower?¡±

    Zheng Rong put the photo away and tucked the sketch into his notebook. ¡°To search for places in the ancient ruins that match our theories.¡±

    ¡°Why don''t we go to the Hanging Gardens first?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Lance: ¡°?¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing, Lance. It¡¯s just a legend.¡±

    Lance became even more embarrassed. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t quite understand these mystical things.¡±

    Zheng Rong was about to stand up, but Lance added, ¡°Zheng Rong, wait.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°?¡±

    Lance: ¡°I... Although I don¡¯t understand, I like listening to you talk about these things. Could you tell me more stories?¡±

    Zheng Rong sat back down, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Look at this.¡±

    He took out an envelope sealed with an SS confidential wax seal, opened it, and handed Lance another photo.

    Lance was very interested and asked, ¡°What are these arrows?¡±

    ¡°Cuneiform, Sumerian language,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°It¡¯s very hard to translate¡ªa language of agglutinated words. Even a linguist like Yev can''t fluently read its meaning.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s different from Hebrew, German, and Chinese. It¡¯s a unique and very strange language family. I suspect it might be close to those twelve symbols we found.¡±

    Lance asked, ¡°Different in form but similar in substance?¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. Lance held three photos in his hand, and Zheng Rong had been waiting for him to look past the first one to see the others.

    But Lance didn¡¯t. He kept his head down, staring intently at the cuneiform, prompting Zheng Rong to be speechless. Lance couldn¡¯t understand it at all, so why was he pretending to be so serious?

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lance nodded. ¡°It looks a bit like... a German artist¡¯s work.¡±

    Lance was babbling nonsense, and Zheng Rong frowned. ¡°A German artist? Which one?¡±

    ¡°I... I don¡¯t quite remember. I¡¯m not very familiar with art either,¡± Lance stammered.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Zheng Rong kept waiting for Lance to turn the photo over, but Lance was clumsy and kept staring at it for a while. Finally, Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t hold back and asked, ¡°Can you translate Sumerian?¡±

    Lance looked up, bewildered, his handsome face blushing. ¡°What? No, I mean... If you¡¯re willing to teach, I could try to learn.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Lance: ¡°...¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°I thought you''d be curious about the next photo.¡±

    Lance: ¡°Oh, right!¡±

    When Lance looked at the next photo, he was immediately stunned.

    ¡°The Wheel of Fate,¡± Zheng Rong said indifferently.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    It was a Sumerian mural with a round object at the top of a tower.

    ¡°The ancient Babylonians hadn¡¯t fully mastered perspective techniques,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°To depict the bottom of a flying saucer, they flipped it to face outside the painting. Just like the Wheel of Fate we saw on top of the Sphinx¡¯s head, you can see the twelve symbols clearly.¡±

    Lance was amazed and kept staring at the photo for a long time. Zheng Rong added, ¡°This is an archaeological record from the relic museum. It¡¯s very important, so please don''t leak it.¡±

    Lance immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep my lips sealed.¡±

    Zheng Rong whispered, ¡°Now look at the cuneiform in the previous photo, like this one.¡±

    The last glimmer of dusk turned toward the end of the Mesopotamian plain. Xiang Yu put away his fishing rod and sat down.

    Zheng Rong glanced at Xiang Yu and smiled. Picking up a tree branch, he drew a symbol in the wet soil, one of the twelve runes.

    ¡°Look, if you break this symbol into eighths, you¡¯ll see it in fragments.¡±

    ¡°Is this rune the origin of ancient Babylonian writing?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong glanced across the pond and made a shushing gesture, confirming that Old Yev hadn¡¯t noticed them.

    ¡°The Mayan aliens¡¯ native language is very peculiar, and the Sumerian language is also agglutinative. You must judge its meaning in context, without a precise reference standard. And in cuneiform records, if they found a word they couldn¡¯t describe, they would substitute it with ¡®any random character,¡¯¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°This might be derived from splitting the twelve runes.¡±

    ¡°Did Joseph tell you this?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°So I think that the story of a ¡®god¡¯ dividing human languages so that people spoke different tongues and couldn¡¯t communicate¡ªthis might have actually happened. But it''s been misinterpreted over time as the story was passed down. In reality, perhaps¡ªand I''m only saying perhaps¡ªthe original meaning was: a god split the language and taught mortals His writing.¡±

    Xiang Yu took the photos, flipped through them casually, and asked, ¡°What is this?¡±

    The third photo showed a minotaur statue.

    ¡°That¡¯s you,¡± Zheng Rong teased.

    Xiang Yu laughed. The minotaur¡¯s bare chest and muscular arms were indeed very similar to Xiang Yu¡¯s physique, ignoring the face.

    ¡°They guard something,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°There¡¯s a spiral corridor inside, leading to the deepest underground chamber. But when the archaeological team entered the corridor years ago, they all disappeared. A single scholar at the command post saved some transmitted images and sealed them.¡±

    ¡°They all vanished?¡± Lance frowned.

    Zheng Rong looked up at the minotaur statue. Its silent eyes gazed into the distance, and the stone hammer in its hand seemed to warn intruders.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°But we have sonic probes to map the entire maze''s path, so it shouldn''t be difficult. Tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll head into the forest to have a look. If it doesn''t work out, we''ll call in the military helicopters, and we can open fire to collapse some of the maze¡¯s broken and branching paths. Letting sunlight in might make it easier to navigate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s too crude, Dr. Zheng Rong,¡± Anthony interjected, appearing out of nowhere.

    Zheng Rong put away the photos, packed them, and said casually, ¡°Give me a nuclear magnetic cannon, and I could solve all of humanity¡¯s mysteries.¡±

    Lance and Xiang Yu both laughed.

    After dinner, the expedition team set up camp. Wrapped in a blanket, Zheng Rong leaned on Xiang Yu¡¯s shoulder as he dozed off.

    Zheng Rong slept lightly, resting by the fire until around five in the morning. As soon as he moved, Xiang Yu woke up.

    ¡°Get the equipment ready,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Everyone, up!¡±

    Lance didn¡¯t look very spirited, yawning as if exhausted, yet in high spirits, he whistled at Zheng Rong.

    Xiang Yu and Lance carried their backpacks, and Zheng Rong led the way into the forest.

    The entire Mesopotamian plain was covered with waist-high grass. North of the Euphrates River, the climate was even more humid. The dense jungle, preserved for over two thousand years, seemed blessed by Babylon¡¯s ancestors, rich in moisture.

    The sun hadn''t risen, and blue glimmers were everywhere. Strange flowers and plants in the shrubs made everyone feel like they were stepping into another world.

    Tiny insects climbed onto the leaves, absorbing the essence of nature amidst the morning dew.

    ¡°According to the data report, if we cross this forest and reach the central area surrounded by trees, we¡¯ll arrive at the ancient city of Babylon,¡± Ugos said. ¡°Oh, Anthony, if I were you, I wouldn''t touch that flower.¡±

    Anthony put away his knife. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The more vibrant the color of a flower, the more dangerous it is,¡± Lance interjected.

    Zheng Rong observed the strange flower in front of Anthony. Its petals were covered with barbs, and the stamens twisted in a sinister manner. Xiang Yu said, ¡°I recognize this. I saw it when my army passed through the wetlands of Xiangdi. It has a beautiful name¡ªcalled ¡®Underworld Path.¡¯¡±

    Ugos adjusted his glasses, uneasy. ¡°Korsor flower, a primitive plant. The stamens are sharp spikes with a strong anesthetic effect that induces hallucinations if they pierce the skin.¡±

    Anthony nodded. The group continued forward, with Ugos pushing the wheelchair behind them. Madam Yev said, ¡°It¡¯s said that the ancient Babylonians used a flower, dried it, and made a drink from it for rituals. After drinking it, they could deliver divine messages. Perhaps it¡¯s this flower.¡±

    ¡°Then that¡¯s just a hallucinogen,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°It¡¯s the same effect as the Oracle of Delphi.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the Oracle of Delphi?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    As they walked, Zheng Rong explained, ¡°In Greek mythology, Apollo had a priestess named Delphi. She communicated with the gods by sitting on a chair near a steam vent on a mountaintop. The heat and steam clouded her mind, making her utter cryptic words that were considered divine messages.¡±

    ¡°Quite similar to the rituals of spirit mediums and divinations,¡± Xiang Yu remarked.

    They walked past the edge of the forest and into its core area.

    The ruins of the ancient city of Babylon appeared before them. It was an old-world site comparable to ancient Rome. Despite thousands of years of weathering, it still retained its original, primitive grandeur.

    Each massive stone seemed like the work of gods. The abandoned city gates were covered in vines, and flocks of birds, startled from their nests, flew over the heights.

    The palace complex was towering and magnificent, with temples rising one after another. The ancient river channels of the Euphrates and Tigris converged in the city, revealing brown-black riverbeds after three thousand years of dry seasons.

    ¡°We¡¯re standing on the western side of the city now,¡± Zheng Rong said slowly. ¡°The route that the previous archaeological team took is this one, supposedly built by King Hammurabi according to legend.¡±

    The stone-paved road was barely visible, extending into the distance and leading up the hill to the city''s center.

    Thousands of ancient temples clustered around a giant palace, and behind the palace stood a mostly destroyed stone tower.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Their destination was that tower. Let¡¯s rest here for a while. Jin Puae, start using the sonic probe to scan all the buildings and terrain of the city.¡±

    A round sun rose from the eastern mountains, and the morning glow illuminated the entire forest region.

    The expedition team had a strange illusion, as if the city was still alive, souls walking under the sunlight, and the marketplace bustling, never having been abandoned over the past millennia.

    Jin Puae handed over the probe, and Xiang Yu leaped up, fixing a small radar emitter to the top of a stone pillar, aiming it toward the ancient city ruins, and embedding the probe into the radar¡¯s center.

    Jin Puae¡¯s computer screen displayed a fan-shaped detection area covering the entire city, beeping incessantly. After a moment, Jin Puae¡¯s face showed hesitation.

    ¡°Captain,¡± Jin Puae said in confusion, ¡°there seems to be a problem. You should come take a look.¡±

    Taking the water bottle Lance handed him, Zheng Rong asked, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°This city has... Although I know it doesn¡¯t make sense, the feedback is strange. It doesn¡¯t match what we¡¯re seeing,¡± Jin Puae said.

    Xiang Yu jumped down, and he and Lance gathered around to see the complex, dense linear map on the screen.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Zheng Rong asked with a frown.

    ¡°This is the street in front of us,¡± Jin Puae explained. ¡°Look, in our sight, it¡¯s not this complicated... including the buildings on both sides.¡±

    Jin Puae pointed to a structure not far from them. ¡°By our estimation, this house has only two floors and is about six meters high. But... the sonic probe shows it¡¯s twelve meters high.¡±

    Xiang Yu turned to look at the abandoned house nearest to the street.

    After a moment, he bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it onto the roof with force.

    ¡°It¡¯s only two stories high, no doubt about it,¡± Xiang Yu said.

    ¡°Is the probe broken?¡± Lance asked.

    Jin Puae was perplexed, and Xiang Yu came closer to inspect.

    Zheng Rong suddenly had a thought, one that even he found unbelievable.

    ¡°Take all the lines except for the outlines of the buildings, move them into another virtual space, and create a new model,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Jin Puae quickly tapped on the keyboard, and after a long while, the shapes detected by the sonic probe were separated into two diagrams.

    ¡°The complex map you saw is actually two cities¡¯ architectural blueprints overlaid on each other,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Jin Puae took a deep breath. ¡°This... how is that possible? But we don¡¯t see another city at all!¡±

 32 - The Tides of Time

    ¡°Only two possibilities,¡± Eve said. ¡°One: there¡¯s some sort of sonic interference. Two: there¡¯s a phenomenon happening beyond our current knowledge that¡¯s causing these two cities to overlap.¡±

    A strange fear welled up in the hearts of all the team members.

    Anthony chuckled, ¡°Or a third possibility: the program¡¯s broken.¡±

    ¡°Impossible!¡± Jin Puai retorted indignantly.

    ¡°So, what now?¡± Lance asked.

    All eyes turned to Zheng Rong, waiting for his decision.

    What could they do? Zheng Rong, noncommittal, had considered countless scenarios before coming here, but all within the realm of human cognition. Now faced with an inexplicable and seemingly unsolvable problem, it felt like an inextricable mess.

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°Just go in, what¡¯s to be afraid of? ¡®If you don¡¯t enter the tiger¡¯s den, how can you get the cub?¡¯¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°This must be the most unique maze never recorded in human history. I can''t let the team fall into danger.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything to be afraid of.¡± Eve smiled gently.

    ¡°It¡¯s different,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Our knowledge system can¡¯t explain this phenomenon.¡±

    Zheng Rong fell silent for a moment. Then he switched on his communicator and said, ¡°This is the Babylon Expedition Team, making our final report before entering the ruins.¡±

    A clear female voice came from the communicator:

    ¡°This is the Alaska Military Headquarters. We have received your message.¡±

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, your report will be forwarded directly to the following recipients: Dr. Joseph of the Institute of Language and Historical Studies, General Sikos of the Military Command Center, and the Honorary Chairman of the Human Scientist Association, located on the top floor of the Central Stone Tower. Please proceed.¡±

    Zheng Rong made a brief report of the situation, concluding, ¡°This situation is entirely different from what we¡¯ve encountered before, but stopping here won¡¯t lead to any conclusions. I request assistance from the teacher for analysis.¡±

    ¡°Please wait a moment,¡± replied the female voice.

    After a long while, the voice returned, ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, the teacher says that there¡¯s insufficient data for analysis.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡± Zheng Rong turned off the communicator. ¡°We can¡¯t turn back now.¡±

    ¡°Brother, take out the climbing rope,¡± Zheng Rong decided. ¡°Everyone, buckle your harnesses, use the rope to tie us together, and go into the city one by one. If anything seems off, get out immediately.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how it should be,¡± Xiang Yu said. ¡°I¡¯m right behind you.¡±

    So Lance led the way as usual. Everyone held their communicators, fastened their belts, and Jin Puai moved forward with the team.

    Behind Lance, who was leading the way, was Hugos, pushing Eve¡¯s wheelchair, followed by Jin Puai and Anthony, then Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu at the rear. The climbing rope connected them all as they moved like a train into the ruins of Babylon.

    The first step¡ªno anomalies.

    Lance took another nervous step forward. The city was no different from any other deserted one: broken bricks, collapsed houses, ivy on moss-covered walls, birds chirping in the forest.

    ¡°You see, there are animals, which means the city¡¯s not too unusual,¡± Anthony said. ¡°Small animals are more sensitive to danger than humans.¡±

    He whistled at some jungle birds perched on the rooftop, and three beautiful orioles spread their wings and flew away.

    Lance nodded, accepting Anthony¡¯s hypothesis.

    Zheng Rong remained silent. The group walked deeper into the streets, where all was quiet. The sun slowly climbed to its zenith, and the team found a place to sit in a circle.

    ¡°Next, we begin investigating the ruins of the Tower of Babel.¡±

    Zheng Rong looked up and pointed to the ruined tower on the western side of the abandoned city.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we check out the temple first?¡± Anthony asked. ¡°We have an expert in cuneiform.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong flatly refused. ¡°Today¡¯s mission is to map out the terrain, take a walk around, see what¡¯s going on, and then leave the city. We¡¯ve already used half a day. If nothing unusual happens, we¡¯ll¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s words trailed off as he activated his communicator, stunned. He saw the three orioles spread their wings from the rooftop and leave the ruins, flying down the same path they had taken earlier.

    ¡°What were you saying?¡± Lance asked. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    Zheng Rong snapped back to his senses. ¡°Then we¡¯ll call for the helicopter to land in the middle of the tower for a survey. Those three birds¡­ are they the same as before? They look exactly the same.¡±

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, you¡¯re too tense,¡± Anthony said. ¡°I know they¡¯re not hallucinations. Birds flying from one place and then flying away again is normal.¡±

    The communicator buzzed. ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, the teacher asks you to stay calm.¡±

    The team members laughed, and Zheng Rong nodded. Everyone stood up, and Hugos chuckled, ¡°No one can see three exactly identical birds.¡±

    The team moved again, with Xiang Yu bringing up the rear, idly playing with a military knife. He sighed, ¡°As the ancient saying goes: ¡®The passing of time is like the flowing river, never ceasing day or night.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong responded. ¡°Heraclitus also said, ¡®No man ever steps in the same river twice.¡¯¡±

    Xiang Yu patted Zheng Rong¡¯s head, and Lance, at the front of the team, asked, ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means that time is constantly flowing,¡± Zheng Rong, wearing his Boy Scout hat, walked slowly. ¡°It takes everything from birth to death. For example, if I see you this second, and then look at you the next second, you are no longer the exact person you were at that moment.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all aging,¡± Lance said with a smile.

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Zheng Rong replied indifferently. ¡°As long as there¡¯s light, everyone is constantly changing in the flow of time.¡±

    Suddenly, Zheng Rong vaguely grasped something¡ªabout those three birds, and about the two cities overlapping each other. He halted, and the rope linking the team tugged him slightly forward.

    ¡°What now?¡± Hugos asked, bewildered, turning back.

    Zheng Rong waved it off, signaling to keep moving. They reached the Tower of Babel, and Lance asked, ¡°Go in?¡±

    ¡°Is your watch still ticking?¡± Zheng Rong had a bold and absurd thought.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s showing local longitude time, 12:07 PM,¡± Lance replied. ¡°Rolex, 2009 model, military anti-magnetic, waterproof, pressure-resistant. Want to see?¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Zheng Rong let out a sigh of relief, dismissing his hypothesis.

    He adjusted his hat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside for a bit, and then start heading back in half an hour.¡±

    The expedition team stepped into the Tower of Babel, and instantly, they were all stunned.

    This legendary tower was even more magnificent than described by Greek poets. Though half of its body had been destroyed, it was still nearly fifty stories tall. The vast inner space of the tower covered over ten thousand square meters, and the spiral staircases on the outer walls were wide enough for four horse-drawn carriages to move side by side.

    The inside of the tower was dim. Broken bricks and tiles blocked out the sunlight. Two massive minotaur sculptures stood at the entrance, and within was a well-preserved bridge leading upward.

    Lance raised his flare gun and fired a shot towards the high reaches of the tower. A bright red light ignited, dragging flames as it flew high, illuminating the dimly lit path.

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    An aerial bridge stretched from where they stood to a height of ten meters, following the curve of the tower¡¯s body. At the bridge¡¯s end, another bridge arched upwards, leading to even greater heights.

    One bridge after another, slanted and crisscrossing each other, formed a complex network, building a path spiraling toward the tower¡¯s top.

    ¡°This is probably an example of Sumerian architectural mechanics,¡± Hugos commented. ¡°The exterior is built with bricks, while the interior has complex stone bridges to handle the inward-leaning forces. Such a construction method allows a round tower to last for a long time without collapsing.¡±

    He took out his camera and snapped photos of the interior bridges. The white flash lit up the darkness.

    In the blackness, the minotaur sculptures, caught in the bright flash, appeared grim and terrifying.

    Zheng Rong felt an indescribable sensation in his heart. Lance led the expedition team up the bridge, and Zheng Rong cautioned, ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s old, it might not hold our weight.¡±

    Lance peered downward and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on down there?¡±

    On the tower¡¯s floor, there were twelve minotaur sculptures at the perimeter, each holding different weapons, as if they were all observing something.

    ¡°They¡¯re the guardians in the photos,¡± Zheng Rong said indifferently. ¡°The last message we received from the archaeological team had one person left behind to take photos¡­¡±

    Lance furrowed his brow warily.

    What was the most likely thing for the missing archaeologists to do after taking photos?

    ¡°What now?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°Keep going. We¡¯re tied together with ropes. We won¡¯t get lost,¡± Zheng Rong reassured.

    Lance relaxed and took a step forward, then another. The entire expedition team stepped onto the curved bridge. Lance turned on his military communicator. ¡°Gukat, come in.¡±

    Gukat¡¯s enthusiastic voice answered, ¡°Got you, boss!¡±

    ¡°Bring the helicopter over to hover above the ruined tower in Babylon,¡± Lance ordered.

    Gukat whistled and switched off his communicator.

    They continued to wind their way upward, following the curved bridge to the second floor, then hugging the inner wall to reach the next bridge, turning and ascending higher.

    After crossing six floating bridges, they were forty meters high, almost halfway up the ruined tower.

    Jin Puai said, ¡°I¡¯m getting a little dizzy from the height¡­¡±

    Eve kindly reassured, ¡°Kid, don¡¯t look down.¡±

    Zheng Rong couldn''t help but glance downward.

    In that moment, he felt his entire body¡¯s blood freeze as he was overcome with an indescribable fear.

    ¡°What is that?¡± In an instant, Zheng Rong¡¯s scalp tingled, and goosebumps rose. He stopped in his tracks, staring down at the floating bridge below him. It was like a gaping maw of a giant beast, a gray void with a faint trace of light.

    On the floating bridge beneath his feet, it felt as if even a resurrected minotaur wouldn¡¯t be more terrifying than what he saw now¡ªZheng Rong saw himself.

    An identical expedition team was slowly ascending the floating bridge below. No sound could be heard, but people were visible.

    The person wearing a scout hat was none other than Zheng Rong.

    Xiang Yu followed Zheng Rong''s gaze, then quickly turned his head to find the team members who had just been talking to each other. Alarmed, he asked, ¡°Where did everyone go?¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s thoughts were a tangled mess. He didn''t even notice that the team members tied together with the rope had vanished. He was completely dumbfounded.

    ¡°They¡¯re all down there? How could they be down there¡­¡± Xiang Yu¡¯s voice trailed off abruptly as he, too, saw himself thirty meters below.

    All the team members were gone; only Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong remained on the bridge. And directly below them was another identical team heading upward.

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath, lifting his hand to tightly clasp Xiang Yu¡¯s. Both their palms were sweaty.

    ¡°Stay calm. What¡¯s happening? Did the rope snap?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    Zheng Rong picked up the soft, dangling climbing rope at his waist. Its cut was smooth, as if a sharp blade had sliced it cleanly, the severed edge visible.

    Unconsciously, Xiang Yu reached out to touch where Anthony was supposed to be¡ªthere was nothing unusual.

    In those few seconds, Zheng Rong gathered his thoughts, pressed the communicator, and said, ¡°This is Zheng Rong, please respond.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± the female voice replied.

    The communicator still worked. Zheng Rong gave a halting report of their situation, including the disappearance of his teammates and the identical team he saw.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes stayed fixed on the floating bridge below, where the team members¡¯ faces could be distinguished. He felt an overwhelming panic. Xiang Yu shouted downwards, ¡°Hey¡ª!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make any noise!¡± Zheng Rong cautioned. ¡°It might be a holographic projection!¡±

    The communicator¡¯s female voice answered, ¡°The Central Stone Tower has issued a message. Please remain calm, Dr. Zheng Rong. All phenomena have a cause. There is nothing in this world that is truly inexplicable.¡±

    Zheng Rong steadied himself slightly. The voice continued, ¡°The teacher asks you to throw something down towards them.¡±

    Without hesitation, Zheng Rong removed his hat and threw it downward.

    ¡°It... disappeared,¡± Zheng Rong reported.

    He tugged Xiang Yu along and ran downwards. When they reached where the other team had been, all the previous sights had vanished.

    ¡°What should I do¡ª¡± Zheng Rong felt on the brink of insanity.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Xiang Yu assured him, his grip tightening.

    The female voice spoke again, ¡°The teacher asks you to keep moving forward, Dr. Zheng Rong.¡±

    Zheng Rong took several deep breaths. Xiang Yu, with no foundation in physics, categorized everything simply as ¡°unusual.¡± But Zheng Rong had been raised in a scientific environment, and he struggled to believe what he was witnessing.

    ¡°One possibility is that I¡¯m hallucinating,¡± Zheng Rong finally organized his thoughts, giving Xiang Yu a strange look. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re an illusion, the voice in the communicator is an illusion, everything is my hallucination¡­ auditory hallucinations¡­¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Xiang Yu said firmly. ¡°Zheng Rong! Don¡¯t overthink it!¡±

    The female voice in the communicator said, ¡°The teacher believes your analysis is generally correct, but this is not a hallucination. Please trust yourself and keep moving.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, lacing his fingers with Xiang Yu¡¯s, and continued to walk upward.

    ¡°Please watch your step at all times, Dr. Zheng Rong,¡± the operator said.

    Zheng Rong continued walking slowly, periodically glancing downward.

    He saw himself a second time.

    This time, he and Xiang Yu were standing in the spot where they had first stopped, with only the two of them present.

    The team had vanished. ¡°I¡¯m seeing that illusion again,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    ¡°Now transferring you to the top floor of the Central Stone Tower,¡± the female voice said.

    ¡°Analysis confirmed,¡± a man¡¯s voice came through the communicator. ¡°This is the top floor of the Central Stone Tower, Physics and Quantum Mechanics Institute.¡±

    ¡°I just threw my hat down, and it vanished mid-air¡­¡± Zheng Rong, unable to control his fear, looked upward, as if expecting to see another version of himself observing their movements from above.

    The man asked, ¡°The reappeared temporal image, was the person wearing a hat?¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice shook, ¡°No... I¡¯m losing my mind! Damn it!¡±

    ¡°Stay calm, doctor. You¡¯re one of us!¡± the man said.

    Xiang Yu grabbed Zheng Rong''s shoulders. ¡°Zheng Rong, wait. Put down the communicator, listen to me.¡±

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes, panting heavily. Xiang Yu bent down slightly to level with Zheng Rong and make eye contact. Staring into his eyes, Xiang Yu said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m real. I¡¯m here.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded repeatedly. Xiang Yu placed his hands on the sides of Zheng Rong¡¯s face and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±

    Before Zheng Rong could react, Xiang Yu leaned forward and gently kissed him on the lips.

    His lips were warm, and the light touch was enough to bring Zheng Rong back to his senses.

    ¡°This is Zheng Rong,¡± he exhaled deeply and turned on the communicator again. ¡°Should I keep moving forward? What is going on here?¡±

    The communicator responded, ¡°Please recount the anomalies you encountered outside the tower once more. We need to confirm you¡¯re not under the influence of hallucinogens.¡±

    Zheng Rong carefully reviewed in his mind what he thought was off.

    The city¡¯s architectural blueprint, the complex soundwave patterns of two overlapping cities.

    The three red birds taking flight from the same place repeatedly.

    Inside the Tower of Babel, seeing himself from minutes before.

    ¡°What time is it now?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°My watch has stopped,¡± Xiang Yu answered.

    Tense, hushed discussions were heard from the communicator, then, ¡°Please stay where you are, keep the communicator on, Dr. Zheng Rong, and stay calm.¡±

    Exhausted, Zheng Rong leaned against Xiang Yu, who wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Zheng Rong embraced Xiang Yu¡¯s waist. Xiang Yu, still burdened by his heavy pack, looked down and said, ¡°They¡¯ll find a way.¡±

    Zheng Rong listened to Xiang Yu¡¯s steady heartbeat, feeling somewhat reassured.

    The scholars behind the communicator reached a conclusion, and it crackled back to life:

    ¡°Dr. Zheng Rong, the teacher believes that you¡¯ve encountered a theoretical model known as a Time Tide.¡±

    Zheng Rong felt as if he were granted a reprieve and relaxed. As long as there was an explanation, he was no longer afraid.

    ¡°Tell me,¡± Zheng Rong urged.

    ¡°The two cities you observed are not overlapping sonic reflections in separate spaces, as sonic detection can¡¯t penetrate space; it must be based on the existence of an actual city to generate the diagram.¡±

    ¡°The repeating birds you saw¡ªthey are real.¡±

    ¡°Including me as well?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°Yes. Did you notice, when Mr. Yu threw a stone the first time, how long it took to hear the sound of it landing?¡± the communicator asked.

    Zheng Rong suddenly recalled, ¡°There wasn¡¯t one! The stone passed through a space in the roof and vanished! And so did my hat! So those people are our replicas in the time stream?!¡±

    The communicator said, ¡°The hypothesis is valid. It¡¯s indeed a Time Tide model.¡± Those words seemed directed to others, and scholars around began to exclaim excitedly.

    ¡°Wait, so right now...¡± Zheng Rong started.

    Amidst excited shouting, the person in charge of the conversation regained control and explained, ¡°Sir! You are in real space, and you¡¯re not under the influence of any hallucinogens. Please stay calm. The other city detected earlier exists in a different time stream. It does exist, and because the sonic waves dispersed and were received in two cycles, they coincidentally aligned with the tide frequency...¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Zheng Rong asked in confusion. ¡°Explain it more simply!¡±

    ¡°Put plainly,¡± the communicator replied, ¡°you emitted a sonic wave, and that wave dispersed across two parallel time axes, producing results upon its return. As they returned, they happened to pass through the lowest point of a pendulum, so they merged back into one wave.¡±

    ¡°This is a very strange phenomenon, which can only occur when two opposing, non-overlapping mirror-like spaces collapse to a single point¡ªmuch like a horizontally placed hourglass or two opposing conical funnels. It causes light to spiral down the first surface, get absorbed into a singularity, and then, once gravity is removed, it disperses out from the other side. After space collapses again, the absorption happens anew.¡±

    ¡°Particles oscillate harmonically between the two funnel-shaped spaces, repeatedly traversing according to a set frequency...¡±

    ¡°I think I get it,¡± Zheng Rong interjected. ¡°So, we¡¯re real? And what about time?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you are in a tidal or pendulum-type time stream, which oscillates back and forth at regular intervals. My God! I wish I could experience this myself...¡± the voice in the communicator enthused.

    Zheng Rong, unable to contain his frustration, said, ¡°What caused it? Can it be stopped? What about my companions...¡±

    ¡°Such a situation, once initiated, has its energy fixed and doesn¡¯t need to be recharged to maintain¡ªonly the coordinates need to be locked, because...¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Zheng Rong snapped. ¡°Quit the theory talk! No nonsense! How do I find my companions?! How do I stop it?! Can I get out of this tower?!¡±

    The communicator urgently replied, ¡°Yes, yes! Please don¡¯t act rashly. Where there is a Time Tide, there must be one or more devices anchoring time to restrict this space...¡±

    Zheng Rong frowned. ¡°Outside the city? Inside?¡±

    ¡°Unclear,¡± came the reply. ¡°Perhaps inside the tower...¡±

    Zheng Rong shut off the communicator and said solemnly, ¡°I understand. There should be twelve of these devices.¡±

 33 - The Laboratory of the Gods

    Zheng Rong quickly descended the floating bridge with Xiang Yu.

    "I..." Xiang Yu asked, "I still don''t understand. Are we in two different locations than where we were standing just now?"

    ¡°No, let me use a metaphor,¡± Zheng Rong explained as he walked. ¡°Imagine you''re standing in an open field. You close your eyes, and when you open them, you find yourself in a city. Would you feel like you¡¯ve been transported?¡±

    Xiang Yu nodded in confusion. Zheng Rong continued, ¡°Now assume you¡¯re standing in one spot, never taking a step. Thousands of years ago, it was a city that was later destroyed, leaving flat land that eventually became overgrown with plants. If time were to shift, what you''d see is the scenery from thousands of years ago.¡±

    Xiang Yu finally understood. ¡°So, the place doesn''t change¡ªonly time does.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Zheng Rong gestured. ¡°Time is like a river, and when we step into it, it washes back and forth. This movement could span minutes, years, or even thousands of years.¡±

    ¡°But then why don¡¯t we disappear?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°In all theoretical models of time, there¡¯s a paradox, and that paradox is what makes time travel impossible,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    ¡°When a closed model is constructed, and an external variable enters¡ªlike a person who starts to observe¡ªit raises the question of whether this new variable will interact with the model¡¯s time or remain independent.¡±

    ¡°At the moment, time in our bodies and in the space within the tower are two separate systems. The time flowing through us is forward-moving; using you and me as a point of reference, we don''t grow younger or vanish as the tower''s time rewinds. On the other hand, the tower¡¯s time affects only things that originally exist within it.¡±

    ¡°To put it more simply, you might see a brick from thirty years ago...¡± Zheng Rong pointed to the tiles in front of the two sculptures near the floating bridge, ¡°...and another one from a hundred years ago.¡±

    ¡°And we are still the people who entered the tower at that moment. What we just saw was not ourselves, but the light reflecting off our bodies after we stepped into the tower.¡±

    Xiang Yu finally understood fully, and Zheng Rong continued:

    ¡°When we moved up ten meters, light reflected off our bodies and was temporarily caught by the tower¡¯s cyclic time. It wasn''t until we reached the fifty-meter mark that we observed ourselves again from a specific angle. Since the speed of light and sound are different, we could only see people, but couldn¡¯t hear any sound.¡±

    ¡°The disappearance of Lance and the others happened because we were standing at the central point of the tower at a high elevation.¡±

    ¡°They passed the tower¡¯s center,¡± Zheng Rong explained further. ¡°With the whole tower''s center as the focal point, the time at the far end of the floating bridge reached its limit and reversed for the first time. That''s why we couldn''t see the light reflecting off their bodies or hear their voices. The rope was cut cleanly, leaving a small portion in our time and the majority in theirs.¡±

    Zheng Rong stood at the tower entrance. The time outside had shifted. He took a telescopic stand from Xiang Yu¡¯s military bag and placed it at the center of the tower¡¯s entrance. The setting sun cast its shadow slanted across the ground.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Zheng Rong instructed. ¡°Use the angle of the sundial as our reference point. Connect me to the teacher,¡± he said into the communicator.

    ¡°Copy,¡± came the reply.

    Xiang Yu held the communicator for him, and Zheng Rong asked, ¡°What¡¯s the cycle of a single time flow reversal?¡±

    ¡°The cycle is twenty-four hours, relative to external time,¡± the communicator responded. ¡°The closer you are to the tower''s center, the shorter the oscillation period.¡±

    Zheng Rong exhaled. ¡°Connect me to Joseph. I¡¯m near the first machine.¡±

    They stood beside the closest sculpture.

    ¡°We entered at noon,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°So we need to stop all the machines when the sundial¡¯s shadow is shortest... Joseph, can you hear me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Zheng Rong,¡± Joseph said, laughing. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re having some trouble.¡±

    ¡°Believe me, I can handle it,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°We need to turn off the machines now. I think there might be a switch... Please find the 2007 edition of the Sumerian Vocabulary Handbook. Damn, it¡¯s a book Eve compiled.¡±

    Joseph answered from the other end, ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve attended her lectures. What page?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one line of cuneiform here,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°There''s a symbol on the base¡ªit''s the Wheel of Fate¡­ orange-yellow. What does that represent? The cuneiform symbols are on page eleven, line six, character three, and page seventeen, line one, character five¡­¡±

    Joseph noted it down as Zheng Rong quickly dictated the rest of the symbols on the base.

    Joseph struggled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be instructions... This is quite puzzling¡­¡±

    ¡°Translate it literally,¡± Zheng Rong insisted.

    Joseph hesitated. ¡°Path, god, dwelling, attempt¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu studied it for a moment and then abruptly turned his head.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zheng Rong sensed something was amiss.

    Xiang Yu was staring intently at the sculpture on the opposite side of the tower. ¡°There... is someone over there?¡±

    Zheng Rong stood up and followed Xiang Yu¡¯s line of sight, but saw nothing.

    Xiang Yu observed for a while longer, then squatted down. He noticed that the orange symbol on the sculpture¡¯s base seemed to move, so he tried pushing it with his finger. The switch recessed into the base, and a deep rumbling sounded as all twelve sculptures simultaneously rotated.

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    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°...¡±

    Joseph: ¡°What was that noise?¡±

    Zheng Rong closed his notebook, tossed it to Xiang Yu, and said into the communicator, ¡°You¡¯re done here, Joseph.¡±

    ¡°Activate all the mechanisms,¡± Zheng Rong commanded, running toward the next sculpture.

    ¡°Wait! Zheng Rong!¡± Xiang Yu shouted suddenly.

    Zheng Rong and Xiang Yu''s steps overlapped as they stepped over two different floor tiles. As Zheng Rong turned back, his expression froze in surprise as if he suddenly remembered something.

    But he was already in motion, unable to stop. He stepped into a different zone and vanished before Xiang Yu''s eyes.

    Xiang Yu stood stunned, staring blankly for a long moment before yelling, ¡°Zheng Rong!¡±

    No one answered; only Xiang Yu remained.

    The communicator crackled faintly, along with a distant rumbling. Xiang Yu furrowed his brow, squinting into the distance.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening over there?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Joseph¡¯s voice was trembling. ¡°It¡¯s not good. Zheng Rong, are you there?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s gone!¡± Xiang Yu shouted.

    Collecting his thoughts, Xiang Yu shut off the communicator and ran to the next sculpture. He recalled Zheng Rong¡¯s words repeatedly in his mind.

    He pressed the second symbol, then immediately stood up, racing back and forth between the twelve sculptures inside the tower. Every time he activated a mechanism, the sculpture would rotate by a small degree, until finally reaching the last one.

    Xiang Yu clearly remembered Zheng Rong¡¯s instructions about the time and the sundial. He nervously watched the night outside the tower.

    The night faded, and dusk fell. Time began to flow strangely backward, and the sundial''s shadow lengthened. Xiang Yu knelt before the statue and suddenly looked back.

    He saw himself and Zheng Rong standing at the first sculpture.

    ¡°Zheng Rong!¡± Xiang Yu couldn''t hold back and shouted.

    The past Xiang Yu seemed to hear, suddenly turning his head, looking across time, and locking eyes with the present Xiang Yu.

    Regaining his composure, Xiang Yu called out to them, ¡°Press the mechanism under the pedestal!¡±

    Then, the past Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong vanished.

    As the sundial¡¯s shadow shortened, reaching noon, Xiang Yu pressed the final symbol.

    With a loud boom, all twelve sculptures returned to their original positions.

    Xiang Yu quickly stepped aside, and the symbols on the bases of the sculptures emitted different colors of light, all converging toward the center of the Tower of Babel. The beams formed a sparkling ring, crackling with electric energy, and within the ring, a pedestal-like altar appeared!

    A silver-glowing circular box materialized on top of the pedestal.

    ¡°Did you activate all the mechanisms?¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s voice came.

    Xiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, glancing around and looking up before shouting, ¡°Lance!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    The helicopter engine roared as it hovered above the Tower of Babel. ¡°Zheng Rong, Xiang Yu, do you hear me?¡± Lance called.

    ¡°We¡¯re fine!¡± Zheng Rong looked up and said. ¡°What about you? Come down!¡±

    ¡°We left the tower as soon as you disappeared! We¡¯re searching by helicopter!¡± Lance shouted back.

    Zheng Rong walked over to Xiang Yu, who asked, ¡°Is it really you now?¡±

    Zheng Rong smiled. ¡°Of course.¡±

    Wiping away sweat, Xiang Yu explained, ¡°I remembered you said to turn everything on. What are you doing? Is it all finished now?¡±

    ¡°This device connects the focal points of the two light cones. It collects all the light and particles, gathering time towards itself. Originally, it was invisible, but now that we see it, the time tide should have stopped.¡±

    Xiang Yu gripped Zheng Rong¡¯s hand firmly to confirm it was really him. ¡°What were you doing when you disappeared?¡±

    ¡°Waiting,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Waiting for you to turn off the machines.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were shutting them down too,¡± Xiang Yu replied.

    Zheng Rong chuckled. ¡°I knew you¡¯d turn them off. I didn¡¯t dare intervene¡­ If we both operated them at the same time, toggling the mechanisms on and off could have¡­ well, it¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t sit around.¡±

    ¡°What would have happened?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°It would¡¯ve caused an explosion,¡± Zheng Rong explained. ¡°A massive one, destroying everything¡ªsimilar to a particle generator my brother once found.¡±

    As the rest of the team descended, Zheng Rong announced, ¡°It¡¯s safe now. The anomaly was caused by this, and there will be no more mazes in the city.¡±

    They quietly stared at the circular box on the altar. It wasn¡¯t even the size of a palm. Zheng Rong approached it, observing closely.

    ¡°Should we take it down?¡± Xiang Yu asked.

    ¡°Is this a particle converter?¡± Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve seen one too? My brother speculated that it was an alien device left in history when he first saw it.¡±

    ¡°This needs to be handed over to the military right away. It¡¯s extremely important,¡± Lance said.

    ¡°Hold on a moment. Give me the communicator,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    When he pressed the communicator, only static crackled from the other side. Frowning, Zheng Rong spoke, ¡°This is Zheng Rong. The exploration of the Tower of Babel is over. Alaska, please respond.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve found another particle converter. Alaska, please provide the next instructions.¡±

    Only dissonant static replied, as if something on the other end was shrieking. The sound of metal grinding was endless, as if the transmission was being jammed.

    ¡°Interference?¡± Zheng Rong put away the communicator and examined the metal box before reaching out to take it¡ªonly to be stopped by Xiang Yu.

    Lance stepped forward and picked up the metal box, which felt surprisingly light.

    Where the box had been, the altar revealed a movable disk engraved with twelve symbols.

    ¡°This might be the most important thing,¡± Zheng Rong murmured.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mess with it,¡± Hugos said, wiping sweat from his forehead.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the old lady?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    ¡°She... wasn¡¯t feeling well and stayed in the helicopter,¡± Anthony replied.

    Zheng Rong shrugged regretfully. Jin Puai examined the disk carefully. ¡°This seems to be a kind of activator.¡±

    Nodding, Zheng Rong observed the bases of the minotaur sculptures around them. He adjusted the disk''s angle to align the symbols on the disk with those on the sculptures. With a click, it sounded as if some mechanism had been triggered underneath the altar.

    ¡°Careful!¡± Xiang Yu warned.

    Zheng Rong stepped back, but nothing happened.

    The surroundings remained silent, and Zheng Rong said, ¡°Put the box back and see what happens.¡±

    Xiang Yu placed the metal box back at the center of the altar.

    The box hummed, reactivating as the tower began to rotate rapidly. Bricks scattered and crumbled, disappearing into the void beyond. The sky cleared, sunlight poured down, and the indistinct scenery faded, revealing an endless expanse of fertile land.

    At last, the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon appeared before them. Floating terraces came into view, surrounded by birds, flowers, and crystal-clear skies. The vast plains were covered in the green of spring.

    Floating buildings hung suspended in the air, waterfalls shimmering with sunlight cascaded freely, and all around were beautiful stone pools. The area was so tranquil it resembled Eden itself.

    The team stood around the altar, looking around in amazement.

    ¡°Welcome to four-thousand-year-old... ancient Babylon¡¯s Hanging Gardens,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Set up camp. We¡¯ll rest for a bit before continuing the exploration.¡±

    Lance stowed away the particle converter. ¡°Careful with that; don¡¯t damage it. We¡¯ll need it to open the channel when we leave.¡±

    ¡°Joseph, can you hear me?¡± Zheng Rong pressed the communicator.

    Only static answered.

    Hugos took out his camera, the flash flickering continuously. Zheng Rong stood before a large gate supported by white stone columns, examining the cuneiform written on it.

    ¡°Brother, do you remember those characters?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°The words on the statue bases are almost identical to these. How did Joseph translate them?¡±

    Xiang Yu thought for a moment. ¡°God, dwelling.¡±

    ¡°Attempt, path,¡± Zheng Rong added, furrowing his brow in thought. ¡°But there¡¯s one character missing. Which one is it? I think it should be ¡®path.¡¯¡±

    The team gathered around, looking up at the majestic stone gate. Beyond it was a high bridge that soared into the air, connecting to the grand plaza of the Hanging Gardens.

    ¡°Guess the wordplay. God, dwelling, attempt¡ªwhat could it form?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Anthony shrugged. ¡°Those who attempt to enter the gods¡¯ dwelling are cursed?¡±

    ¡°No, I think it¡¯s...¡± Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°The Laboratory of the Gods.¡±

 34 - Silent night

    Alaska¡¯s Underground Main City, Central Stone Tower.

    "Merry Christmas!" Scholars removed their hats and bowed in greeting.

    Zheng Rong squeezed himself out of a group of graduate students wearing Christmas hats. They were passionately discussing the banquet at the Central Stone Tower that evening and had all agreed that the professor would make a speech.

    "This is ridiculous," Zheng Rong said dismissively. "Fine, Merry Christmas, now please let me through."

    "Oh, Zheng Rong," Joseph noticed him in the hallway and hurried over. "Hey! Why don¡¯t we have dinner together in the hall? Xiang Yu probably won¡¯t make it back tonight. This morning, he told us to spend the evening with you."

    Zheng Rong, holding a stack of documents, replied, "No thanks, Joseph. I don¡¯t buy into the nonsense about getting pregnant by staring at the night sky. Sure, I study the occult, but I can tell the difference..."

    "Oh, come on, Zheng Rong," Joseph said, both amused and exasperated. He knew that Zheng Rong was about to make a joke.

    As expected, Zheng Rong quipped, "If you hurry home to your stable now, you might still catch a glimpse of the three wise men coming from the East. Merry Christmas, carpenter."

    Zheng Rong pressed the elevator button. As the doors closed, Joseph shook his head with a wry smile.

    Zheng Rong stared blankly at his reflection in the elevator door. His eyes were clear, and a chip was tied around his neck.

    With a ding, the elevator reached his floor. Zheng Rong returned to his room with a pile of materials, tossed the books onto the bed, fetched some water, and started brewing coffee.

    Outside the Central Stone Tower, the music of "Silent Night" played. Despite the lively holiday night, many scholars remained in their rooms, choosing not to join in the celebration. Zheng Rong was one of them.

    Xiang Yu had gone for military training, and Zheng Rong had barely left his room for almost three months.

    He was reading a document on his computer when, after a while, he leaned back in his chair and took a sip of coffee. Suddenly, a group of cartoon characters appeared on the screen, dragging a sleigh that came to a halt. Zheng Rong almost spat out his coffee.

    In one corner of the screen, the cartoon characters set up a Christmas tree, and glowing words appeared in a corner of the screen: Merry Christmas, Zheng Rong.

    Zheng Rong stared quietly. The program had been written years ago by Zheng Feng, still in Chinese. He moved the mouse to close the program, but it wouldn¡¯t shut down. He gave up trying.

    Another line of text appeared: I won¡¯t be able to come home for New Year¡¯s, so you should go out and get some fresh air. Don¡¯t stay cooped up inside.

    Zheng Rong sighed. The cartoon characters on the screen began setting off fireworks, and suddenly another message popped up.

    Zheng Rong, I¡¯ve made time for you. I¡¯m waiting by the fountain at the Science Hall. Let¡¯s spend Christmas Eve together.

    ¡°Lance?¡± Zheng Rong sneered coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not a Christian.¡±

    The words changed again: You don¡¯t have to be a Christian to celebrate this holiday. I¡¯m not one either. Would you go on a date with me?

    "..."

    Zheng Rong raised an eyebrow. Who could it be? The tone sounded a little like Xiang Yu.

    He stood up, found a formal jacket, and put it on, skipping the tie. He donned a beret and stood at the door for a moment, hesitating. Finally, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

    At the Science Hall, a giant Christmas tree stood tall, and the sound of a piano filled the air. Among the scholars were some musical geniuses. Perhaps, since ancient times, science and art have shared a subtle connection. No hired musicians were needed; the scientists had formed their own classical orchestra. As Bach¡¯s Air on the G String played, Zheng Rong felt his mood lighten considerably.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said politely to a server as he took a cocktail from a tray.

    ¡°Hey, Zheng Rong! You actually came!¡± Joseph, with his arm around Lin Siyin, called out from afar with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s roast turkey and steak at the table over there, really delicious.¡±

    Zheng Rong gave a half-hearted nod.

    An American singer was on stage, her voice as sweet as a nightingale. After hearing nothing but military songs for so long, Zheng Rong found the love song surprisingly refreshing. He walked along the fountain¡¯s edge as the singer¡¯s soft voice drifted through the air.

    ¡°I wait for the day we discover truth and lies...¡±

    Zheng Rong saw someone standing on the other side of the fountain.

    ¡°That day, you will gently kiss me... send me to my death...¡±

    The mist from the fountain obscured his view. The man wore a sharp blue military uniform and held a wine glass, his back to Zheng Rong.

    ¡°In my lifetime, I will love you with all I have, until the day I must leave you...¡±

    The singer ended her song on a perfect note, and the scholars applauded. Zheng Rong stopped in his tracks.

    It was Lance, surrounded by several beautiful women who were chatting softly, while Lance politely responded to them.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Sensing something, Lance turned around and saw Zheng Rong.

    ¡°I thought it was Xiang Yu,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Lance took Zheng Rong¡¯s glass, looking into his eyes. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you.¡±

    Zheng Rong said nothing and stood quietly. Lance suggested, ¡°How about... a cocktail?¡±

    He handed Zheng Rong a fresh drink, and they clinked glasses. ¡°Merry Christmas. You¡¯re not a Christian?¡±

    Lance smiled, shrugging.

    Standing alone, Lance was undeniably a handsome man. His mixed heritage combined the beauty of the French with the strength of the Germans. However, the men around him had always outshone him¡ªLi Ying¡¯s decisiveness, Xiang Yu¡¯s boldness, all dimming Lance¡¯s light.

    Lance had never complained about his lot, always fulfilling his duties quietly, at just the right time.

    Zheng Rong thought, If I weren¡¯t Zheng Feng¡¯s brother, just some insignificant person, this guy would probably kick me around now and then.

    ¡°Xiang Yu¡¯s in the barracks. After today¡¯s training, the officers will organize some holiday activities for them,¡± Lance said, sipping his drink. ¡°The next five days are assessments, then they¡¯ll be home for New Year¡¯s.¡±

    Zheng Rong gave a noncommittal nod.

    Lance asked, ¡°Where do you want to go? Should we check out the small theater for a movie?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°I have no opinion.¡±

    Lance reached out his hand, expecting something. Finally, Zheng Rong took Lance¡¯s pinky finger, letting him symbolically lead them toward the small theater.

    On Christmas Eve, the small theater at the Science Hall offered private rooms where guests could buy tickets and stay for two hours, watching a film of their choice.

    ¡°What kind of service do you need, General?¡±

    Lance looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°A couple¡¯s booth.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    The attendant glanced at Zheng Rong, then smiled knowingly.

    Lance quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll go... get some popcorn.¡±

    Zheng Rong stood coldly, like an iceberg radiating chill. When Lance returned with the popcorn, he asked, ¡°Picked a movie yet?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Well... we...¡±

    The attendant suggested, ¡°I can recommend some classic films, perfect for the occasion. We have past Oscar and Golden Globe winners...¡±

    Lance, emboldened, asked, ¡°What would you like to watch, darling?¡±

    Zheng Rong almost lost his temper.

    Lance chuckled. ¡°A romance movie...¡±

    ¡°Schindler¡¯s List.¡±

    Lance: ¡°...¡±

    Attendant: ¡°...¡±

    Lance muttered, ¡°That¡¯s... Zheng Rong, I don¡¯t want to watch that!¡±

    ¡°Why? Because you¡¯re German?¡±

    Lance, slightly drunk and bolder, nodded. ¡°How about Men Behind the Sun?¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°...¡±

    Lance quickly added, ¡°Okay, sorry, bad joke. Let¡¯s...¡±

    Zheng Rong threw the popcorn at Lance¡¯s head and stormed off.

    Ten minutes later, they returned, with Lance having caught up.

    Other patrons whispered, ¡°That¡¯s the rich gay couple from earlier...¡±

    Zheng Rong grumbled, ¡°Let¡¯s watch Castle in the Sky by Miyazaki.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    Zheng Rong took off his jacket, sank into the sofa, and replied, ¡°It¡¯s an animated film based on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It might give me some inspiration. Sit down.¡±

    Lance and Zheng Rong sat in the dark. Lance fidgeted for a moment, then tried to put his arm around Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t resist and rested his head on Lance¡¯s shoulder. The screen lit up, and the projector cast light onto the silver screen.

    Zheng Rong focused intently on the film, and soon Lance, too, was absorbed, forgetting his original intentions. The two sat together, and the blue in Lance¡¯s eyes reflected the destruction of Laputa, the Castle in the Sky. The boy and girl held their glowing pendants and recited the spell of destruction.

    The film¡¯s ending was breathtaking. The ruins of Laputa fell into the sea, and a massive tree glowing green slowly ascended into the atmosphere. Joe Hisaishi¡¯s music swelled, haunting and beautiful.

    When the movie ended, Zheng Rong was still lost in thought. Lance, too, was struck by the film¡¯s simplicity, and the adventures on screen seemed as though he and Zheng Rong had experienced them together.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to bed,¡± Zheng Rong sighed.

    Lance said, ¡°I¡¯d like to keep walking.¡±

    For once, Zheng Rong agreed, ¡°Let¡¯s take a lap around the inner ring.¡±

    Lance shook out his coat and helped Zheng Rong into it. ¡°Are you thinking about the Hanging Gardens?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong replied. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about the robots...¡±

    Lance murmured, ¡°I was thinking about that moment when the girl jumped from the tower, and the boy caught her...¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask what you were thinking. Thanks, Lance.¡±

    Lance smiled awkwardly and muttered to himself, ¡°She trusted him, so she was willing to jump from the tower.¡±

    They walked around the inner ring and stopped where it connected with the outer ring. Zheng Rong smiled and called out, ¡°Brother!¡±

    Xiang Yu was standing guard at the entrance to the outer ring. He glanced at them and saluted.

    Lance said, ¡°At ease, Corporal Xiang Yu.¡±

    Xiang Yu placed his hands behind his back and stood at attention.

    That¡¯s enough, Zheng Rong thought, tempted to give Lance a slap.

    Xiang Yu smiled. ¡°Why are you here? Did you give it to him?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Lance replied.

    Zheng Rong: ¡°?¡±

    Xiang Yu ruffled Zheng Rong¡¯s hair. ¡°Training ends after the New Year. I¡¯ll be home soon to spend time with you. You go ahead and get some rest.¡±

    Xiang Yu¡¯s neck was stained with dirt, and his face looked tired¡ªit was clear he¡¯d come to stand guard right after training. Zheng Rong frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they were having entertainment activities?¡±

    Lance hesitated, but Xiang Yu smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t participate, traded it for an extra day off. I¡¯ll be home by New Year¡¯s Eve, no need to wait until after.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, half-convinced. Lance said, ¡°We should go, don¡¯t want to get the sentinel in trouble for talking too much.¡±

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°Take him back.¡±

    Zheng Rong added, ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold, take care of yourself.¡±

    Xiang Yu waved them off, and Lance escorted Zheng Rong back to the Central Stone Tower.

    At Zheng Rong¡¯s door, he casually said, ¡°Thanks, Lance. I had a good time today, even though I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±

    Lance: ¡°...¡±

    Zheng Rong continued, ¡°I¡¯ll just go make some instant noodles.¡±

    Lance protested, ¡°No, no, I¡¯ll have them send something up. I¡¯m really sorry, Zheng Rong. I was too nervous.¡±

    As Zheng Rong moved to close the door, Lance tried to hold it open, getting his hand caught in the process and crying out in pain. Zheng Rong grabbed something from a shelf, shoved it into Lance¡¯s hand, and pushed him out, saying, ¡°Goodnight, Lance. Merry Christmas.¡±

    Lance called out, ¡°Wait!¡±

    Zheng Rong was growing impatient. Lance reached into his inner pocket, close to his chest, and pulled out a small box. He handed it to Zheng Rong. ¡°This one¡¯s from me.¡±

    He then retrieved another small package from his coat. ¡°This one¡¯s from Xiang Yu. I¡¯ll go arrange dinner for you, it¡¯ll be up shortly.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Oh,¡± and then shut the door without hesitation.

    Half an hour later, dinner arrived: roasted chicken with chestnuts, medium-rare steak, and a glass of French red wine¡ªa sumptuous meal.

    Zheng Rong ate while unwrapping their Christmas gifts. Lance¡¯s gift was a platinum ring engraved with the symbol for Scorpio. Xiang Yu¡¯s gift was a stone he had likely picked up during a snow-crossing expedition, meticulously carved into a small figurine of a dog¡ªZheng Rong¡¯s zodiac sign.

    Back in his dorm, Lance carefully unwrapped the crumpled paper and hung the mistletoe decoration on his wall. He placed it next to a photo of Zheng Feng, Li Ying, Zheng Rong, and himself. He folded the wrapping paper neatly and placed it in a drawer. Zheng Rong¡¯s gift to him was a book¡ªa collection of poems by Pet?fi.

    On the title page, in beautiful English script, was written:

    I dream of the days of bloodshed, when the world will be destroyed,

    And on the ruins of the old world, a new one will be built.

 35 - A Precise Sniper Rifle

    According to Lance, they should immediately send Eve back by helicopter to deliver the particle converter to Alaska¡¯s underground city.

    This suggestion was unanimously opposed by the expedition team, including Anthony.

    Lance, clearly displeased, said, "Zheng Rong, this device is extremely important. Your brother..."

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t reveal Eve¡¯s true identity to Lance. Under such uncertain circumstances, handing over the particle converter to Eve and sending her back was unwise; no one knew whose hands it might fall into.

    The expedition team rested for two hours in the Hanging Gardens, and after a heated debate, they all voted to follow the captain¡¯s lead.

    "Oh? What¡¯s it for?"

    Zheng Rong walked along a floating bridge lined with various sculptures¡ªMinotaurs with bull heads and human bodies, sphinxes with eagle wings and lion feet, and winged humans.

    "Angels," Zheng Rong said.

    Lance glanced back and spoke in a low voice, "Zheng Rong, listen to me."

    He placed his hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, deliberately walking at the front of the group. "What Zheng Feng got his hands on was exactly this type of machine."

    "The particle generator was destroyed," Zheng Rong whispered.

    Lance nodded, "The one we¡¯ve obtained can continue your brother¡¯s experiment. Xiang Yu was the first... product of its trials."

    Lance glanced at Xiang Yu. He had been present at the first explosion, so there was no point in hiding anything from him.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s heart skipped a beat. "With this machine, can I bring people from the past back?"

    In that moment, the chip left behind by Li Ying seemed to burn on his chest, like a branding iron scorching his heart.

    Lance said, "Think about it, Zheng Rong. If we could properly use this machine, we could resurrect Zheng Feng, Li Ying, and the others, or gain the upper hand once and for all."

    It was a strong, terrifying thought, one that momentarily consumed Zheng Rong¡¯s mind. But within seconds, Xiang Yu broke through the thought.

    Xiang Yu said, "No, it¡¯s not about bringing back people from the past; it¡¯s about recreating them."

    Lance and Zheng Rong both stopped in their tracks, looking at Xiang Yu in surprise.

    Xiang Yu stood silently for a moment before speaking seriously. "When I was about to die at Wujiang, I vaguely heard a man¡¯s voice, discussing this very thing."

    He pointed to the backpack Lance was carrying.

    "Have you met my brother?" Zheng Rong asked suddenly.

    Lance frowned. "Do you understand what he¡¯s talking about?"

    Xiang Yu shook his head, narrowing his eyes in thought. "I didn¡¯t know at the time, but after spending time with Zheng Rong, I¡¯ve come to understand a bit more. Your brother was studying the principles of all things..."

    "Physics, you could say. The fundamental principles of the world. What you heard must have been their conversation when they first arrived in our time," Zheng Rong said.

    Xiang Yu nodded, "It¡¯s not about going back in time; it¡¯s a recreation. The original Xiang Yu has long since died. What stands before you now is merely a recreation."

    Zheng Rong was stunned.

    Lance added, "I only partially understood his plan. What Zheng Feng explained to me is similar to what Xiang Yu just said. The particle generator can truly replicate past scenes, people, and the composition of all matter, and recreate them in the present..."

    Zheng Rong looked up at the grand, floating buildings before him and asked, "So, everything we see isn¡¯t from thousands of years ago. It¡¯s just a replica, created by the particle generator. Including Xiang Yu, who is merely a projection and copy of molecular and atomic information from the Battle of Gaixia, crossing thousands of years of time?"

    Something suddenly felt off to Zheng Rong.

    The rest of the team caught up. Anthony, puzzled, asked, "What are you talking about?"

    Zheng Rong waved them off, his mind racing. He vaguely realized something but couldn¡¯t quite articulate it. According to Anthony¡¯s hypothesis at the Central Stone Tower conference, humans could only replicate the composition of matter but could not replicate memories. If he used the particle generator to recreate an identical Li Ying or his brother Zheng Feng, their personalities would be encoded in their brain cells, but they would have lost all memories.

    What did this imply?

    Zheng Rong glanced at Xiang Yu. For the first time, Xiang Yu avoided Zheng Rong¡¯s gaze, as if he were hiding some unknown secret.

    "Shall we keep going?" Ugos asked.

    "Continue," Zheng Rong said. "Kim Po-Ai, have the sonic scans revealed anything?"

    Kim Po-Ai packed up her probe and replied, "The map is complete. According to the computer¡¯s analysis, these small areas might be residential zones. I suggest we check out the central area."

    She pointed to a massive floating island, with streams of water endlessly cascading down its edges. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, and every step they took seemed to pass through a sea of blossoms.

    "It¡¯s beautiful," Ugos remarked, looking up in awe. "This granite was imported from the Mediterranean. God knows how much manpower it took to build this garden."

    Zheng Rong remained silent as they crossed the floating bridge and stopped in front of a stone monument.

    It was densely covered with cuneiform writing.

    Zheng Rong took out a dictionary manual and flipped through it, his head starting to ache.

    "Call Eve over," Zheng Rong said. "Who¡¯s going to fetch her?"

    "I¡¯ll go," Ugos volunteered.

    As he turned, Zheng Rong suddenly said, "Lance has the ''key.'' Send him back to the Tower of Babel and bring them here."

    Ugos and Lance left to fetch the old woman. Zheng Rong brushed past the stone monument and continued inspecting the wide platform.

    "You were right, Dr. Zheng Rong." Anthony, standing next to a massive green crystal, said, "Look at this."

    The green crystal stood three meters tall, with a frozen corpse inside.

    There were twelve such green crystals, scattered around the platform¡¯s edges. From a distance, they all appeared to be decorative. But up close, they contained strange creatures.

    "Like amber, with insects trapped inside," Zheng Rong murmured, tapping the surface of the crystal. Inside, a Minotaur-like creature was silently frozen in place.

    In the center of the platform, there was a structure resembling an operating table. Water gushed from a basin at its side, while a blackened bone lay in another basin. Judging by its appearance, it had been there for centuries.

    On one side of the platform lay a stone tablet filled with twelve runes.

    Anthony inspected them one by one. "This is the third one we¡¯ve found... Everyone, don¡¯t wander too far!"

    He picked up a bone. "A cow¡¯s leg bone."

    Zheng Rong stored the stone tablet and asked, "What about this?"

    Using another bone, he prodded the blackened bones at the bottom of the basin. Both he and Anthony fell silent when they saw a human skull.

    "This skull doesn¡¯t quite resemble a modern human¡¯s," Anthony remarked, frowning as he examined the skull. Kim Po-Ai screamed and backed away.

    "It must have been his operating table," Zheng Rong said. "The creatures trapped in the crystals may have been his experimental subjects, combining humans with animals..."

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.Anthony shuddered. "Dr. Zheng Rong, what do you think his goal was with these experiments? To improve humanity?"

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer immediately. After a pause, he speculated, "Maybe he was just doing it for fun. Who knows?"

    He turned and continued examining the crystal pillars, each containing grotesque creatures, until he stopped in front of Xiang Yu.

    The crystal in front of Xiang Yu housed an especially terrifying creature.

    It resembled a human infant, but its head was ten times the size of a normal adult¡¯s, with no eyebrows, and two massive eyes taking up its entire forehead, gleaming like wheels.

    "It looks like a forest spirit from Norse mythology," Zheng Rong commented.

    Anthony came over, studied it briefly, and said, "More like an alien... in the usual sense."

    The huge head and massive eyes were exactly how aliens were commonly depicted.

    Xiang Yu stared at the creature¡¯s eyes, lost in thought. "What are you looking at?" Zheng Rong asked. "Interested in this thing? Let¡¯s go."

    Xiang Yu replied, "Zheng Rong, look at its eyes."

    Zheng Rong felt a shiver down his spine and examined the giant infant¡¯s eyes closely. They were unnervingly strange¡ªtwo pupils fused together in an infinity (¡Þ) shape.

    A cold sweat broke out on Zheng Rong¡¯s back. He knew it was foolish to do so, but he couldn¡¯t help turning to glance at Xiang Yu.

    There was a peculiar look in Xiang Yu¡¯s heavy-pupiled eyes.

    "Brother, you¡¯re overthinking this," Zheng Rong said. "Stop staring at the monster."

    Xiang Yu nodded, "Alright, let¡¯s go."

    Eve had returned. She smiled and said, "Finally reached the point where the grandmother can be of help?" She put on her reading glasses and took the cuneiform dictionary Zheng Rong handed her, carefully examining the stone monument. "Hmm, let¡¯s see..."

    Ugos was busy snapping photos of the crystal pillars.

    "I think you really shouldn¡¯t..." Kim Po-Ai said, worried.

    Ugos shrugged and snapped the camera¡¯s shutter at one of the pillars. A bright white flash lit up the room.

    The giant infant¡¯s pupils reacted to the light, shrinking slightly.

    "Smile for the camera, monster?" Ugos joked, but his expression suddenly turned serious as he moved closer to inspect the creature¡¯s eyes.

    The pupils, which had been fused together, began slowly merging into one.

    "Oh no, that¡¯s not good. It¡¯s still alive?" Ugos muttered. "Dr. Zheng Rong? Captain?"

    Zheng Rong, clearly irritated, shouted, "Stop messing around! Everyone, gather here!"

    Several people gathered around Eve as she slowly explained, "This is a garden of transformation."

    "Modification," Zheng Rong corrected.

    Eve nodded. "The cuneiform text is strange. I can only translate it based on my interpretation. I can¡¯t render it word-for-word."

    "Just explain it in your own words," Zheng Rong said.

    Eve closed the manual, removed her glasses, and leaned back in her wheelchair, thinking. After a moment, she said, "According to the inscription, only a select few Babylonian priests were allowed to enter the Hanging Gardens. Every so often, they would offer sacrifices to the gods, usually at the central altar of the Tower of Babel."

    "Not hard to imagine," Zheng Rong remarked. "I think they were providing him with biological research material¡ªcows, eagles, lions, even humans."

    Eve nodded. "That might explain the diversity of offerings in Sumerian culture. The stone tablet was left behind by the gods themselves. One day, they temporarily left the garden, instructing their followers to await their return. But they never came back."

    "They intended to use this experiment to create one or more ¡®vessels¡¯ for the gods. These grafted beings... forgive me, I can¡¯t think of a better word..."

    Zheng Rong interrupted, "Failed experiments, meant to serve as hosts for the same kind as those on his ship? Do you think they were the original Mayan beings, or bodies for the second wave of alien invaders?"

    "I think they were for the first wave¡ªthe ones from the film Li Ying brought back, the bodies that survived in the nutrient pods, similar to the original Mayans. He was looking for suitable bodies for his six companions."

    Zheng Rong fell silent. It made sense.

    Eve added, "The text also mentions the eyes. He was searching for suitable eyes and a head capable of accepting a god. This is important, Dr. Zheng Rong. What do you think it means?"

    "The eyes... perhaps they have a special function for them. I can¡¯t say for sure yet, but the brain¡¯s role is obvious. It¡¯s meant to be a vessel for the soul of a Mayan god, forcibly entering and occupying it long-term."

    Eve said nothing further, and Zheng Rong looked up, locking eyes with Anthony.

    Anthony¡¯s expression was clear¡ªhe knew that Eve was hiding something.

    Ugos, meanwhile, stared straight at the monster¡¯s pupils. Moments later, the creature¡¯s pupils shrank to a point, while Ugos¡¯s pupils slowly dilated.

    He turned, took a step forward.

    Xiang Yu stood behind Zheng Rong, with the expedition¡¯s travel pack leaning against another crystal pillar.

    Ugos bent down, rummaged through the travel pack, and pulled out an ancient, sharp sword¡ªthe legendary Zhanlu, which Xiang Yu had taken from Qin Shi Huang¡¯s tomb, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud.

    Zheng Rong pointed at the lower section of the stone tablet. "What do the lines down here mean?"

    "They¡¯re connected to the rest. The full translation is what I just explained," Eve said.

    Anthony spoke up, "Excuse me, but I didn¡¯t see you consult the dictionary for the last few lines. In fact, you closed the dictionary before those lines. Is it because they¡¯re written in a script that can¡¯t be translated?"

    Eve quickly changed her story, smiling. "Let me take another look. The text is a bit low, and my glasses aren¡¯t very clear..."

    "Should we copy it down?" Anthony suggested.

    Eve opened the manual again. "This part is also difficult to understand. It says something about sharing his blood with humans, hoping that one day they will..."

    "Will what?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "It¡¯s a word that has never appeared before. A variant of the cuneiform symbol. I suppose the dictionary needs to be updated..." Eve replied.

    Zheng Rong pressed, "I asked what it hopes humans will eventually do."

    Eve, irritated, said, "That¡¯s as far as the text goes, young man. The meaning ends there."

    Zheng Rong said, "It¡¯s cyclical, isn¡¯t it? The end of the sentence refers back to the beginning of the inscription, where it talks about searching for a suitable vessel. The meaning of the final word ties to the start¡ªit hopes that one day, humans will have the blood of gods and evolve into suitable beings to serve as ¡®vessels¡¯ for the gods¡¯ companions."

    Eve frowned. "Do you understand cuneiform?"

    "I know this symbol. Joseph taught me. I also know the word you couldn¡¯t translate¡ªit has only one explanation: ¡®God¡¯s gene.¡¯"

    "He altered human DNA, using surgery or molecular replication to merge Mayan characteristics into the human race..."

    Anthony quickly cut in, "Dr. Zheng Rong, I think that¡¯s enough. This is all baseless speculation."

    "It¡¯s not baseless..." Zheng Rong realized something and backed down. "Fine. We¡¯ll discuss it later. Ugos, come over... Ugos, what are you doing?"

    "Ugos?" Zheng Rong stared at the geologist¡¯s back in confusion. Three seconds later, he shouted, "Stop him!"

    Ugos, wielding the sharp ancient sword, cleaved the crystal pillar in two. A splash of glowing green liquid gushed out. Kim Po-Ai screamed, Eve gripped her wheelchair tightly, backing away, while Lance and Xiang Yu leapt forward. Anthony shielded Zheng Rong.

    With a thunderous crash, the first sphinx broke free, pouncing toward a stone pillar, sending Ugos crashing to the ground.

    "Run! Get out of here!" Xiang Yu commanded.

    "Save Ugos!"

    Lance shouted, "Forget it! Run!"

    One by one, the crystal pillars shattered, each one releasing a torrent of green nutrient fluid. Eleven different beasts, each more monstrous than the last, were freed, attacking the team. Xiang Yu grabbed Ugos¡¯s sword, swung it in a wide arc, and neatly sliced off a griffin¡¯s wing!

    The griffin screeched in agony. Zheng Rong pushed Anthony aside, rushed forward, and grabbed Ugos. "Retreat to the entrance of the Hanging Garden!"

    Lance mounted a magnetic wrist cannon and fired a shot at the charging Minotaur.

    With a deafening explosion, the massive creature was blasted backward.

    Zheng Rong and Anthony, each supporting one of Ugos¡¯s arms, stumbled as they fled. Suddenly, Zheng Rong¡¯s mind was overwhelmed by a sharp, piercing pain, as if he¡¯d been struck by a hammer on the back of his head. He collapsed to the ground.

    "Zheng Rong!" Lance shouted.

    Only one crystal pillar remained standing. Xiang Yu paused, staring curiously at the giant infant inside.

    He flipped the sword in his hand, the blade gleaming as it reflected the sunlight, and a beam of white light shot toward the infant¡¯s eyes, causing its pupils to contract violently.

    The pain in Zheng Rong¡¯s head subsided. He struggled to his feet, waving his hand. "I¡¯m fine!"

    They retreated back to the Hanging Garden¡¯s entrance. Lance threw the particle generator to Zheng Rong, who caught it with trembling hands and placed it on the platform.

    With a click, the machine whirred into action. In just fifty seconds, Lance assembled a long-range sniper rifle, mounting it on his shoulder and dropping to one knee.

    Xiang Yu covered the rear, swinging his sword as he retreated, fending off the attacking beasts.

    The last crystal pillar shattered. Through the sniper¡¯s scope, the giant infant crawled toward the platform.

    It struggled to prop itself up, lifting its head. Lance¡¯s hands trembled as he held the rifle.

    "Lance?" Zheng Rong called out.

    In an instant, Lance pulled the trigger.

    With a deafening bang, two seconds later, the giant infant¡¯s head, nearly 500 meters away, exploded into pieces. Red and white brain matter splattered across the sky.

    The particle generator spun again, and the team was transported back to the Tower of Babel.

    Ugos collapsed, twitching violently as his pupils slowly dilated.

 36 - Alaska Has Fallen

    Military helicopters roared through the sky, their rotors thundering. Xiang Yu shut the cabin door, while Ugos lay trembling uncontrollably on the bench, his gaze unfocused.

    Anthony shone a small flashlight into Ugos'' pupils and inserted an electric needle into his wrist.

    "Ugos?" Zheng Rong called softly.

    Ugos didn¡¯t respond. Anthony said, "Hand me the syringe."

    Zheng Rong rolled up Ugos'' sleeve and injected him with a sedative. Anthony retrieved a portable transillumination device from a medical kit, fixing it to Ugos'' temples before powering it up.

    With a click, an image of a brain scan appeared on Jin Pu-ai''s computer.

    "Is this an X-ray?" Zheng Rong frowned. "What happened to him?"

    Anthony replied, "No, this is one of my research devices. It can detect his brainwave activity."

    A yellow-green gradient covered Ugos'' left cerebral cortex, shifting to blue around his cerebellum and brainstem.

    "This part is active," Anthony pointed at the upper region, "but here, it''s dormant. His brainwaves are in disarray."

    Zheng Rong''s breath hitched. Anthony pushed the control lever forward, taking another scan. The blue spread across Ugos'' entire brain.

    Anthony said, "The sedative is working. He needs further treatment with medication back in Alaska."

    Ugos¡¯ gaze remained blank. Zheng Rong closed his eyes and asked, "What''s the worst-case scenario? Be honest."

    Anthony hesitated, "I... I¡¯m not sure. He could end up in a vegetative state. It¡¯s similar to brain damage caused by a car accident. His brain cells experienced a surge of intense activity, overheating and possibly destroying some cells."

    Zheng Rong shuddered. "What could have caused this?"

    Anthony didn¡¯t respond. Zheng Rong recalled the terrifying giant infant. Anthony nodded.

    "That creature took control of him," Xiang Yu said gravely.

    Zheng Rong asked, "You... you looked at it for so long, why aren¡¯t you affected?"

    Xiang Yu replied, "I don¡¯t know. When I looked into its eyes, it felt like something was trying to invade my mind." He tapped his head, "But it couldn¡¯t get in, and it didn¡¯t hurt, so I dismissed it as a stray thought."

    Anthony speculated, "Maybe it¡¯s related to willpower, or the strength of brainwaves. That creature''s brainwave energy was too strong, causing Ugos'' brain cells to overreact, speeding up cognitive and motor functions. This led to cell damage, like a short circuit."

    Zheng Rong sighed in exhaustion and gently patted Ugos'' head.

    Eve remarked, "He¡¯s just a curious boy, full of a thirst for knowledge."

    Zheng Rong whispered, "Let¡¯s hope everything turns out okay."

    The sun had set, leaving the cabin dim. Lance turned on the overhead light, and the helicopter took off into the night.

    "Calling Alaska HQ, calling Alaska HQ..."

    The airwaves crackled with static. Zheng Rong, agitated, snapped, "Stop for a moment, Lance. I can¡¯t think."

    Lance replied, "What¡¯s going on? Can you reach anyone?"

    The voice of Captain Gukart came over the intercom, "No, sir. Since we boarded, HQ hasn¡¯t responded."

    "Maybe it¡¯s interference," Zheng Rong said. "The particle generator could be blocking the signal. Or worse, the main city has fallen. Let''s hope it¡¯s not the worst-case scenario."

    Lance threw down the communicator, rubbing his disheveled hair. After a pause, he suggested, "Let¡¯s eat dinner and rest."

    Gukart asked, "Should we change course, sir?"

    Lance replied, "Let''s go see first. Once we cross the Canadian border, slow down and deploy the mechanical detectors. Stay alert."

    Jin Pu-ai softly hummed a Korean folk song. Ugos slept peacefully, and Anthony took a crucifix from his medical kit, placing it in Ugos'' hands over his chest.

    "The devil will stay away from you," Anthony said.

    Zheng Rong commented, "Psychologist, doctor, and priest?"

    Anthony smiled, "Yes, when life can''t be saved, the soul still needs redemption."

    Zheng Rong quipped, "All-in-one service, huh?"

    Anthony chuckled, "He¡¯ll be alright."

    Zheng Rong nodded, "I believe that too."

    The vast snowy landscape stretched below as six helicopters hovered in the air. Lance pressed the communication button again, "Requesting response from the main city."

    A static-laden voice finally answered, "Received. General Lance, please enter from the west hangar. Escort helicopters, return to the northern hangar. Immediate execution."

    The team breathed a sigh of relief. Zheng Rong said, "We have a patient. We need medical support immediately..."

    The communicator shut off.

    Zheng Rong frowned. Lance reassured him, "Let¡¯s get inside first."

    A dark, automatic door opened in the snow-covered ground as the helicopter slowly descended into the hangar and came to a stop.

    Surrounded by pitch blackness, Lance opened the cabin door, sensing something was wrong.

    "What¡¯s going on?" Xiang Yu asked gravely.

    Lance signaled for silence and whispered, "I¡¯ll check it out. You stay in the helicopter and keep the lights off."

    Lance stepped cautiously onto the ground. His boots splashed into a sticky liquid.

    Xiang Yu disembarked as well, and something cold was pressed into Zheng Rong''s palm¡ªit was a handgun from Anthony.

    Zheng Rong ordered, "Turn on the searchlight."

    "Don¡¯t!" Lance whispered urgently.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.Zheng Rong countered, "If it¡¯s a trap, keeping the lights off will only put us at a disadvantage."

    Anthony agreed, "I¡¯m with him."

    The helicopter¡¯s front light flicked on, but two metallic tendrils shot from the darkness, smashing it to pieces!

    Panic erupted. "Get out of here now!" Zheng Rong shouted.

    Lance and Xiang Yu hurled grenades while Zheng Rong jumped to the ground, pulling out a magnetic cannon. He charged it to maximum power and fired straight upwards.

    With a loud buzz, the blast threw everyone off their feet, warping the steel plates beneath the snow. Zheng Rong fired again, blasting a hole in the hangar roof, letting sunlight pour in.

    Metal tendrils fired beams of red light, scanning Xiang Yu''s eyes, emitting rapid beeping sounds.

    "What¡¯s happening?!" Jin Pu-ai screamed.

    "No time to explain!" Zheng Rong yelled, "Women first! Move!"

    Metallic tentacles coiled out of the shadows. Lance fired his electromagnetic gun, but it only briefly stalled the attack. Xiang Yu swung his sword, cutting down the first wave of tendrils.

    Anthony shot a grappling hook and hoisted Jin Pu-ai onto the ground, urging, "Go, now!"

    Zheng Rong commanded, "You go first!"

    Anthony leaped from the helicopter, climbing out of the snow, while Xiang Yu helped Zheng Rong up. As Zheng Rong glanced back, he saw that the thick liquid covering the hangar floor was blood, slowly seeping through the underground tunnels, flooding the Alaskan underground city.

    Xiang Yu carried Ugos out as Jin Pu-ai closed her laptop, backing away. "Don¡¯t run!" Zheng Rong yelled, "Stay together..."

    But it was too late.

    A massive mechanical creature emerged behind Jin Pu-ai, its sharp limbs pinning her to the ground, spraying blood everywhere.

    Jin Pu-ai screamed in agony. "We¡¯ve... walked into a trap," Zheng Rong said grimly.

    Suddenly, about ten mechanical killers emerged. Two of the helicopter pilots were dragged back into the underground city by the metal tendrils, screaming in pain.

    "Get out of here!" Zheng Rong shouted.

    With mechanical spiders closing in, Xiang Yu and Lance fought their way to the surface. Lance used a magnetic cannon to cover their retreat, yelling, "Head west!"

    Xiang Yu threw an electromagnetic grenade, disabling over a dozen mechanical killers. The group broke through the first wave of the ambush and began a desperate escape across the snowy plains.

    Jin Pu-ai''s laptop was recovered by Zheng Rong. There was no time to mourn their fallen comrade; their minds were blank as Lance urged them to keep moving, heading toward the forest.

    From the hole in the hangar roof, a swarm of metallic tendrils stretched out, searching across the snow-covered ground. Hidden metal spiders were everywhere. Lance shouted, "Xiang Yu! Ditch the backpack!"

    "No! Wait!" Zheng Rong exclaimed, pulling a stone tablet from the military pack and slipping it under Eve''s wheelchair. Xiang Yu glanced at Zheng Rong, who gave him a barely perceptible pleading look.

    "Follow me!" Eve called, leading them to a narrow crevice. "Jump down!"

    The icy wind howled, the abyss below pitch black.

    Anthony hesitated, "You... you must be joking, right, grandma?"

    "This is no joke!" Eve declared, and with a push of her joystick, she and her wheelchair plunged into the crevice.

    The group stood at the edge of the cliff, with mechanical spiders closing in from behind.

    Zheng Rong listened for a long moment, not hearing the sound of a body hitting the ground. "Jump!" he commanded, holding Ugos as he leaped.

    Xiang Yu reached out, shouting, "Zheng Rong!"

    Zheng Rong was caught by Xiang Yu¡¯s powerful grip just as they fell. A sudden reversal of force yanked them back; the world flipped upside down. Zheng Rong realized a small anti-gravity generator had been placed at the bottom of the ravine.

    Before he could adjust, a second gravity field propelled them forward. A sequence of gravity projectors was built into the canyon walls, flinging them through the air with increasing speed, each turn more disorienting than the last. By the time they reached the final gravity shift, Zheng Rong''s head pounded, and his body ached from the intense force pulling at him.

    Zheng Rong, Xiang Yu, Anthony, Lance, and the unconscious Ugos were all hurtling through the air, finally shooting toward the cliffside''s mouth.

    A red net stretched across the entrance. Zheng Rong passed through, and when Lance followed, the magnetic cannon he was carrying was caught in the net, detonating in a fiery explosion.

    Inside the cave, a final gravity decelerator buzzed to life. Zheng Rong felt an invisible force slowing his body until they tumbled onto a thickly carpeted floor.

    "That was..." Zheng Rong coughed, as Xiang Yu crashed down on top of him, the nearly 200-pound man knocking the wind out of him.

    "...an interesting trip," he wheezed. A young scholar, sitting nearby, remarked, "Dr. Zheng, you¡¯re back? That was faster than expected."

    Zheng Rong dodged Lance and Anthony, who both collapsed in front of the gravity machine.

    "What¡¯s going on?" Zheng Rong asked, still dizzy.

    The young scholar responded, "You¡¯re lucky to have found this place. Follow me. I have a question for you."

    Xiang Yu half-supported Zheng Rong as they followed the scholar through the narrow tunnel, eventually entering a spacious hall lit by oil lamps.

    The room was filled with refugees, huddled in corners. At the sound of the door, many looked up.

    "Has Alaska fallen? When?" Zheng Rong asked.

    The scholar replied, "Yes, five days after you left. The Mayans intercepted a signal and tracked it to the outskirts of Alaska."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s limbs went cold. "Was it... because of my communication with you?" he asked, his voice trembling.

    The scholar shook his head, "No, that¡¯s my question. Our communications were encrypted using the latest wave-camouflage technology, synced with the solar magnetic field fluctuations. All the data was scrambled. It couldn¡¯t have been intercepted."

    Zheng Rong was stunned. "Then what was the cause?"

    The scholar replied, "During your exploration, did anyone else send a signal to the main city? We analyzed the Mayan transmissions while fleeing. They intercepted something they considered valuable, but without a computer, we can¡¯t reverse-engineer the signal."

 37 - Flying Bento Everywhere

    In the dim cave, the flickering firelight illuminated Zheng Rong''s cold, emotionless face. All the remaining forces of the Stone Tower were gathered here.

    The president of the Stone Tower, an elderly man hunched over, lay at the deepest part of the cave, wrapped in a blanket, looking like a candle about to melt. His hands were covered in dried IV marks, and his arms were as shriveled as old wood.

    Zheng Rong sighed deeply.

    Someone responded, "We were in too much of a hurry. When we evacuated the underground city through the emergency passage, we couldn¡¯t bring any survival equipment."

    "How is the teacher?" Zheng Rong asked quietly.

    Another person answered, "To be honest, not well."

    "And what about Joseph?" Zheng Rong asked, "Joseph Kedell, the linguist..."

    A woman replied, "He¡¯s dead. When the Mayan forces attacked, it was Lin Siyin¡¯s delivery time. Dr. Joseph stayed at the communications center until the last moment, waiting for your signal."

    Someone else added, "His wife was weak after childbirth. Upon hearing of Joseph¡¯s sacrifice, she gave up her chance to survive and insisted others take their child and escape the underground city."

    "It¡¯s a tragedy. When their child was born, Dr. Joseph had already died a hero. After careful consideration, she left a will on behalf of herself and Dr. Joseph, entrusting the child to their best friend¡ªyou, Dr. Zheng. After the war, you¡¯re to raise him to adulthood."

    Tears slid down Zheng Rong¡¯s face.

    "Siyin... she lay on her deathbed... waiting to die? Why didn¡¯t you save her!" Zheng Rong cried out in disbelief. He rushed forward, but Xiang Yu grabbed him with one arm, shouting, "Calm down!"

    "I¡¯m so sorry," a young man said. "We did our best. The military was completely wiped out, and she lost too much blood after giving birth. Even if we had brought her out, we couldn¡¯t carry more blood transfusion equipment. We couldn¡¯t even bring the teacher''s life-support wheelchair... I¡¯m truly sorry, Dr. Zheng."

    Zheng Rong collapsed against the cave wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

    After a long time, he regained some composure and asked, "Where¡¯s the baby?"

    The man answered, "A healthy baby boy. Tell us about your situation."

    "We lost two helicopter pilots and one computer programmer," Zheng Rong said. "We brought back a few things. Maybe you can make use of them, but we don¡¯t have a computer right now..."

    Lance pushed through the crowd, "Did you send a distress signal?"

    A young leader from the scholar¡¯s group responded regretfully, "Seventy-two hours ago, we sent a signal to the underground city at the Cape of Good Hope. But to avoid detection, we haven¡¯t dared to confirm it since. We hope they¡¯ll find us."

    Zheng Rong paused in thought, "There are four underground cities, right?"

    "Yes," the young leader sighed, "but much of that information is classified. Even we don¡¯t know how to contact the other cities."

    "What can we do now?" Xiang Yu asked.

    "Wait," the young leader replied. "Wait for the rescue team from Cape of Good Hope. Keep the valuable data you brought safe, stay calm, and trust that we will get our chance to fight back. Oh, and take this."

    He handed Zheng Rong a bottle of whiskey. "This was one of the teacher''s prized collections. Trust us, trust yourself. We are all in this together."

    Zheng Rong nodded. The expedition team found a small corner to rest, where they settled Ugos.

    Anthony, stethoscope around his neck, listened to Ugos'' heartbeat with a furrowed brow.

    Eve had disappeared somewhere. Zheng Rong observed for a moment. Only Xiang Yu, Lance, and Anthony remained by his side, along with the unconscious Ugos.

    Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong maintained a near-terrifying silence. Zheng Rong used the Mayan stone tablet as a makeshift pillow for Ugos to rest more comfortably. Lance handed over a small bag containing the particle generator.

    Zheng Rong was still undecided about whether to hand it over.

    Breaking the silence, Anthony sipped from a small enamel cup. "People in the Third World countries are generally very friendly. We¡¯ll make it out."

    Lance pursed his lips, nodding slightly. He turned to Xiang Yu, explaining, "Most of the Chinese are with the Cape of Good Hope underground city, alongside the Africans. China¡¯s military strength rivals that of Russia and the U.S., but it suffered the most casualties during the first five-year defense war. What''s the phrase again..."

    "¡®Hide your strength, bide your time,¡¯" Zheng Rong replied indifferently. "I remember there are four underground cities, right? Lance, at this point, shouldn¡¯t you reveal some of those damn classified secrets?"

    "Taking away the bases in the Indian Ocean, East Siberia, and Arabia, the U.S. and Russia were stationed in Alaska¡¯s underground city. The European forces were concentrated in Northern Ireland. Both regions have fallen¡ªthe fourth underground city, where is it?"

    Lance remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "No one is in the last underground city."

    "The Antarctic underground city is where humanity¡¯s black box is stored. All of Earth''s ancient civilizations and historical records are kept there."

    Zheng Rong asked, "Are there weapons?"

    Lance shook his head.

    Zheng Rong said, "So, all we have left is the military power at Cape of Good Hope."

    Lance remained silent.

    "We..." Anthony looked Zheng Rong straight in the eye, "we can¡¯t give in to despair. Listen, Zheng Rong, my homeland has fallen too... but at least your country still stands. This isn¡¯t the worst possible outcome."

    Zheng Rong nodded quietly after a pause. "I¡¯m truly sorry, Dr. Anthony."

    Anthony thought for a moment and said, "Let¡¯s forget about this for a bit. Let¡¯s play a psychological game."

    "Lion, sheep, dog, snake," Anthony said. "Try to associate these animals with people close to you, for example..." He gestured toward Xiang Yu. "What animal do you think he resembles? You two are like brothers, right?"

    Xiang Yu smiled. "Yes."

    Zheng Rong thought for a moment. "He¡¯s like a big dog."

    Lance chimed in, "You¡¯re like a sheep, Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong twitched at the comment. Xiang Yu laughed, "I think Zheng Rong¡¯s more like a dog."

    Zheng Rong lazily remarked, "Lance is like a lion, isn¡¯t he?"

    Lance couldn¡¯t help but laugh, then asked Anthony, "What does it mean?"

    Anthony explained, "Okay, Zheng Rong thinks Mr. Yu is a dog, and General Lance is a lion. Lance thinks Zheng Rong is a sheep, and Xiang Yu is a dog."

    Xiang Yu teased, "I also think Lance is like a dog."

    Lance laughed, while a woman nearby joked, "The lion represents your lover..."

    Anthony quickly said, "Oh no, Dr. Hilda, you¡¯re giving too much away! Let me explain."

    "The lion represents someone you love, someone you want to be dominated by. A lion symbolizes strength and control in a romantic relationship."

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings."That¡¯s ridiculous," Zheng Rong said bluntly.

    Anthony chuckled, "The sheep represents someone you feel needs your protection, usually symbolizing a one-sided relationship."

    Zheng Rong mockingly replied, "This is getting even dumber."

    Xiang Yu asked, "And the dog?"

    Anthony answered, "The dog represents loyalty, symbolizing family or close friends, fitting your brotherly bond. The snake represents danger, someone you¡¯d avoid at all costs."

    Zheng Rong said nothing and stood up, walking away.

    After a moment of silence, Xiang Yu stood as well. "Where are you going?"

    Zheng Rong walked into a side passage of the cave.

    Lance turned to Anthony, shaking his hand earnestly. "Thank you, Dr. Anthony."

    Anthony looked puzzled. "You¡¯re welcome, but isn¡¯t this something you all already knew?"

    Lance finished his whiskey and, after looking around, walked another direction to find the leader of the refugee scientists.

    Joseph''s son was being cared for by the widows of the fallen scholars. They stopped Zheng Rong, advising him that the newborn should not be disturbed too often.

    Zheng Rong stopped outside the corner, leaning against the cave wall, hands in his pockets, lost in thought.

    "Are you angry?" Xiang Yu stood with his arms crossed, looking at Zheng Rong.

    "No," Zheng Rong replied curtly.

    The firelight reflected in Xiang Yu''s eyes. In that dim, ancient world beneath the glaciers, Zheng Rong suddenly found his once-familiar face strangely unfamiliar.

    Xiang Yu said, "Big dog."

    Zheng Rong shot him an annoyed look.

    Then Xiang Yu suddenly barked, "Woof! Woof woof woof!"

    Zheng Rong jumped in surprise before bursting into laughter.

    Xiang Yu''s expression was hard to read. After a moment, Zheng Rong pulled a piece of liquor-filled chocolate from his coat pocket, unwrapping it. "This stuff tastes good."

    He fed the chocolate to Xiang Yu, who leaned against the cave wall. The whiskey from earlier had made Xiang Yu''s face slightly flushed, adding a touch of intoxication to his eyes.

    In a deep voice, Xiang Yu said, "Zheng Rong, try to let it go. I''m grieving too."

    Zheng Rong nodded weakly. Xiang Yu added, "We can raise Joseph¡¯s child together."

    Zheng Rong said, "Joseph died because of us. He could¡¯ve escaped. He stayed to wait for our signal and held on in the tower until the end..."

    Xiang Yu responded, "No, he wouldn¡¯t have left. Even if not for us, he would¡¯ve stayed to be with Siyin."

    Zheng Rong, exhausted, nodded. "After the war... if we make it through, let¡¯s give it everything we¡¯ve got. For our son we haven''t yet met, let¡¯s survive."

    Xiang Yu nodded. "Exactly. We need to figure out a way to save everyone."

    Zheng Rong said, "It¡¯s impossible. The army¡¯s gone. We only have a few hundred scholars here, none of whom are trained to fight."

    Xiang Yu smiled. "There¡¯s always a way. Let me check what resources we can use."

    Xiang Yu asked Zheng Rong to rest, but Zheng Rong followed him, thinking of the historical account where Xiang Yu broke through the siege at Gaixia, escaping to Yinling with only a few dozen soldiers. They charged through the swamps, and with just 28 men, Xiang Yu broke through Liu Bang¡¯s heavily fortified lines, successfully retreating to Yinling. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way out too.

    Lance was standing in front of an iron door, discussing something with the leader.

    Xiang Yu called out loudly, "What¡¯s the plan?"

    Lance replied, "You¡¯re just in time. I¡¯ve been thinking, and I can¡¯t just sit here waiting to die."

    The leader said, "The reinforcements from Cape of Good Hope have likely reached Alaska, but this cave is well hidden behind anti-gravity fields and metal-destroying barriers, so they probably haven¡¯t found us."

    Xiang Yu asked, "Can we establish communication?"

    Lance shook his head gravely. "We didn¡¯t bring any signal-camouflage equipment. The moment we open radio communication, we¡¯ll expose our location."

    Xiang Yu pondered and asked, "What if the machines find us? We could hold them off with the barriers until reinforcements arrive..."

    Lance said, "That¡¯s too dangerous. If reinforcements aren¡¯t already here as we hope, we¡¯ll be throwing away everyone¡¯s lives. I¡¯ve thought of another way. Look here."

    "Inside this storage room, there should be two humanoid ground combat mechs from Russia, built a decade ago," Lance explained. "The only soldiers left are you and me."

    The leader added, "I can¡¯t unlock the door without the code. The military has it."

    "Step aside," Zheng Rong said.

    Lance immediately shouted, "Get down!"

    Zheng Rong aimed his magnetic cannon, blasting a hole through the door.

    Dust filled the air, and Lance coughed as he got up. Xiang Yu signaled to the leader not to worry, as he was used to Zheng Rong''s recklessness.

    "Dr. Zheng, you''re too... violent," Anthony remarked, startled by the sound as he arrived.

    Two combat mechs, each four meters tall, stood silently in the center of the warehouse. Xiang Yu grabbed the steel door and yanked hard while Zheng Rong blasted the welded joints. Together, they removed the door.

    Lance explained, "These mechs have specialized radar and radio transmitters, but they need to be within a kilometer to connect with military helicopter frequencies."

    Xiang Yu nodded. "I¡¯ve done some simulator training on these."

    Lance sighed, "I¡¯m not too familiar either, but we¡¯ll give it a try."

    A female scholar standing outside the warehouse said, "My mentor helped design these mechs. I can help you understand their internal structure, but there¡¯s a flaw¡ªthe manual control system is too complex. They require signals from a control tower to navigate along a designated path. That¡¯s why they were never mass-produced."

    Zheng Rong asked, "So what does that mean?"

    The female scholar explained, "If the operator has to handle both firing and close combat, they can¡¯t simultaneously control evasive maneuvers or monitor rear positions. That¡¯s why they need external guidance."

    She pressed a few buttons on the side of the warehouse, activating a series of blinking lights. The mechanical hums filled the air as the energy transfer pipes detached from the back of the black mechs.

    "The energy levels are full," she said. "You can see the power readings here. Each mech is equipped with a small magnetic cannon." She pressed another button, and the black alloy mech gradually shifted to a silver protective color.

    Zheng Rong asked, "Are you two taking one each?"

    Lance responded, "Yes, you stay behind to protect them."

    Zheng Rong said, "Without tower signals, how are you going to fight?"

    Lance replied, "I¡¯ll do my best to avoid the Mayan machines."

    Zheng Rong snapped, "Leave Xiang Yu out of this. If you want to go die, fine, but don¡¯t drag him along."

    Lance laughed, "Yes, as you wish, I¡¯m heading to my death right now."

    Zheng Rong had nothing more to say. Lance thought for a moment and then climbed onto one of the mechs. Zheng Rong said, "Equip me with a magnetic cannon. I¡¯ll go to the mountain peak and direct the fight."

    Both Xiang Yu and Lance¡¯s faces changed as they shouted in unison, "No!"

    Zheng Rong countered, "Short-range ground radio waves won¡¯t be intercepted. Plus, with a specialized transmitter, where do you plan on going without knowing the terrain?"

    Lance replied, "You¡¯re insane! How do you plan to navigate us?"

    Zheng Rong said, "I still have Jin Pu-ai¡¯s computer. Its sonic probe can scan the canyon and surrounding areas, detecting where the metal killers are hiding. I¡¯ll find a high, hidden spot to send you signals so you can avoid the Mayan machines and locate reinforcements from Cape of Good Hope¡ªif they exist."

    "Jin Pu-ai¡¯s high-powered laptop battery will last for eight hours. You¡¯ll have four hours to search, and four hours to follow another route back. Once you get a response from the military, transmit the coordinates of this location to them."

    Lance and Xiang Yu were both frustrated. The mechanic went to consult others and soon returned, saying, "The Physics Association has decided to give you the quantum gravity defense device, Dr. Zheng. Please be careful."

    Zheng Rong said, "Great, now there are no more objections. Let¡¯s go, get ready, and move out."

    Lance protested, "Wait, this is too dangerous, I object..."

    Zheng Rong shouted in anger, "Shut up! You sheep in lion¡¯s clothing!"

 38 - Song of the Knight: Lance

    Under the cold lights stood two massive mecha giants. Their control pods located in the abdomen allowed room for a single pilot. Made of high-density alloy, the arms were equipped with six-barrel heavy flamethrowers and nuclear-powered cannons on the back of each hand, with a laser cutter embedded in the index finger. On the back were jet thrusters, and sharp, serrated steel wheels protruded from their heels.

    Lance and Xiang Yu were familiarizing themselves with the mechas while Zheng Rong received a crescent-shaped long case. Inside was a lightweight alloy frame.

    ¡°As long as you pull open the metal outer ring and activate the core energy,¡± the physicist explained, ¡°it generates a gravitational field that can reverse any energy or matter attacking you.¡±

    Zheng Rong pointed at a button on the ringed frame. ¡°How does this work?¡±

    The physicist responded, ¡°Uh, that¡¯s for connecting additional equipment. It was personally designed by my mentor, but it lacks the most important device. Please don¡¯t touch it yet.¡±

    Zheng Rong pulled out the two-meter-long frame from the box. It was a half-circle that, when opened and fitted together, formed a ring.

    ¡°I mean¡­¡± Zheng Rong held the ring in front of him. ¡°This is just terrible taste. Can¡¯t you design something that looks better? Are all the industrial designers dead? Or do you want me to go to the mountaintop and play hula hoop? Let me see the manual.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please... It¡¯s not a rice cooker. Don¡¯t expect too much.¡±

    ¡°No, seriously. Who came up with the idea of a hula hoop energy device?¡±

    ¡°Professor, the sketch was drawn by your brother.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    The observing scholars burst into laughter and then dispersed.

    Holding the metal hula hoop, Zheng Rong gave it a shake. The physicist said, ¡°It can last for six to eight hours, depending on external conditions.¡±

    Xiang Yu glanced at the hula hoop and asked, ¡°Will it explode?¡±

    The physicist replied, ¡°Absolutely not. We guarantee that much. Though it¡¯s hard to explain the principles to you, trust me¡ªit doesn¡¯t rely on filling it with massive amounts of electricity. Its basic energy source is the Earth¡¯s magnetic field, so only a small amount of traction energy is needed.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to remove your coats and pants, or the internal scanner won¡¯t be able to detect your body contours,¡± the female mechanic said before tactfully exiting the room.

    Xiang Yu and Lance began to undress. Lance, blushing furiously, removed his military pants. Zheng Rong burst into laughter.

    Without responding, Lance swiftly leaped into his cockpit. He was wearing a pair of black silk thong underwear that Zheng Rong had given him long ago, and his handsome face flushed all the way to his ears. Xiang Yu, wearing boxer briefs, hadn¡¯t noticed Lance and asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    Leaning against the wall, Zheng Rong waved his hand, laughing so hard he cried. Lance, embarrassed, mouthed silently for him to stop.

    ¡°I bought both of your underwear,¡± Zheng Rong suddenly felt a strange warmth in his heart.

    Xiang Yu and Lance climbed into their mechas as the protective hatches closed. With a notebook tucked under his arm, Zheng Rong knocked on the mechas with his metal ring.

    ¡°Can you hear me?¡±

    Almost completely naked, Lance and Xiang Yu stood still inside their mechas. The iron waist belts clicked, fastening around their well-built waists, while cold alloy braces supported their feet at the ankles. They stretched their hands, sliding their fingers into the hollow alloy gloves that reached out in front of them. Xiang Yu clenched his fist uncomfortably, and the mecha¡¯s wrist extended a short blade.

    The helmets descended slowly, with a dark red chip positioned over their left eyes.

    The female mechanic returned and spoke into a headset: ¡°The left eye reads environmental variables, and the right eye sees the outside world directly.¡±

    The hatch had transparent viewing windows. Xiang Yu glanced outside and nodded.

    Lance pointed at his ear and said something.

    ¡°The broadcast system is built-in; you don¡¯t need to wear a headset,¡± the female mechanic explained. ¡°The small device on your left hand is a miniature communicator. When it detects nearby acceptable frequencies, it will automatically adjust and connect. You can communicate directly by speaking to the back of your hand.¡±

    ¡°Good luck, and please return safely.¡± With that, she placed a headset on Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Both Lance and Xiang Yu responded in unison, ¡°We can hear you.¡±

    The loudness of their voices almost deafened Zheng Rong. The female mechanic added, ¡°They can hear your instructions, but they can¡¯t hear each other. You¡¯ll have to coordinate between them, so please don¡¯t mix things up. The light blue door is T10, and the red one is T4.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    Female mechanic: ¡°?¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°This is specifically designed to confuse Chinese people when read aloud. Forget it¡ªlet¡¯s begin.¡±

    ¡°How do we tell them apart?¡± Xiang Yu chuckled.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Big dog, carry me out.¡±

    One of the mechas stepped forward, extending its massive alloy arm to gently lift Zheng Rong and place him on its shoulder. Scholars gathered behind a metal safety net, removing their hats and saluting Zheng Rong and the two mecha warriors inside.

    Anthony said, ¡°Please come back safely.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Anthony, I¡¯m counting on you to take care of Ugoss.¡±

    With a flourish, Anthony removed his hat as the two mechas activated their jet thrusters and flew out of the canyon.

    Along the way, the anti-gravity generators were deactivated, and the metallic shielding once again radiated blue light, sealing the cave¡¯s entrance.

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°We need to move farther away¡­ Let¡¯s head for that mountain. Brother, fly steady! I¡¯m going to fall!¡±

    Lance said in a low voice, ¡°I am a lion.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°¡­¡±

    They found a hidden spot in the woods at the top of the mountain, where the mecha gently set Zheng Rong down. Kneeling on one knee, he spread out the metal ring on the snow and activated the button. With a press on his headset, he instructed, ¡°Move back a few steps.¡±

    The gravitational field shield was activated with a hum, and the thin alloy sheets unfolded again, transforming into four separate rings that slowly rotated around Zheng Rong in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

    The four steel rings spun around the central axis, layer by layer, creating a blue energy net that isolated the two-meter diameter sphere from the outside world. Inside the sphere, Zheng Rong floated weightlessly, adjusting his posture uncomfortably before pressing another button and securing himself to a fixture on the alloy frame.

    Snowflakes gently fell toward the light sphere, only to be redirected upward, floating back into the sky.

    Zheng Rong used a safety strap to anchor himself to the axis line. He opened his notebook, inserted a probe behind him, and tucked it into his collar.

    Beeping noises filled the air as a topographical map spanning nearly a thousand miles appeared on the screen, dotted with tens of thousands of glowing points.

    ¡°There are too many,¡± Zheng Rong muttered. ¡°Be careful, you two. Xiang Yu, you go first. Your route has been transmitted to your navigator.¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡± Lance asked.

    ¡°You wait here for a few minutes,¡± Zheng Rong said, staring intently at the screen as Xiang Yu¡¯s red marker slowly moved away from the command point.

    ¡°Xiang Yu,¡± Lance called out, ¡°can you hear me?¡±

    Zheng Rong interjected, ¡°He can¡¯t hear you. All communication must go through me. Do you have a message for him?¡±

    Lance replied, ¡°Tell him, if I die¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth! You can move now. The route¡¯s in your navigator.¡±

    Lance: ¡°Okay, Zheng Rong, I love you.¡±

    The mecha warrior leaped down the slope.

    Floating within the anti-gravity field, Zheng Rong stared at the screen, lost in thought. Li Ying¡¯s chip, pressed against his chest, burned almost unbearably hot.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Li Ying,¡± Zheng Rong murmured, ¡°may your spirit in heaven watch over them.¡±

    Xiang Yu and Lance¡¯s mechas diverged, each following their designated paths. Zheng Rong split the computer screen in two, forcing himself to simultaneously monitor two completely different scenes. Each view was further divided between the snowfield topographical map and the real-time feeds from Lance and Xiang Yu¡¯s mechas.

    This meant that he had to manage four different displays at once, all while staying sharp enough to make immediate decisions, issue orders, and remain vigilant for the presence of mechanical assassins nearby. Zheng Rong closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, forcibly concentrating and clearing his mind of all distractions.

    ¡°Lance, four enemies are approaching from your right. Power down all systems and wait.¡±

    ¡°Xiang Yu, there¡¯s a single enemy behind the slope. Avoid direct confrontation¡­¡±

    A distant explosion rang out, and Zheng Rong shouted angrily, ¡°Follow orders!¡±

    Xiang Yu chuckled, ¡°Alright, alright, I was just too quick and destroyed it before you could finish.¡±

    Lance stood in the snow for a while, sweating profusely in the sealed cockpit.

    Zheng Rong instructed, ¡°You can move now. Be cautious¡ªthere¡¯s a patrol of machines coming at your ten o¡¯clock.¡±

    Xiang Yu teased, ¡°Don¡¯t be so tense. Sing us a song, will you? You should learn from Gu Carter.¡±

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°What do you want to hear?¡±

    Lance interjected, ¡°What¡¯s this about singing?¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Not your concern.¡±

    Lance: ¡°¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong then started, ¡°I can pull mountains with my strength, and my spirit covers the world¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°I take it back.¡±

    Zheng Rong smiled. ¡°Lance, scan carefully in the low area. There¡¯s metal debris down there.¡±

    Lance: ¡°I¡¯ve reached the area. What is it?¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°Lower your view. Let me see. What caliber are these shells? Xiang Yu, don¡¯t go into the woods¡ªthere¡¯s an ambush. It¡¯s a dense energy beam! You can¡¯t handle it! Turn back now!¡±

    Lance: ¡°These aren¡¯t American or Russian weapons; they¡¯re Chinese-made.¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°They¡¯ve arrived. But where could they be? Keep moving. Don¡¯t stop.¡±

    Lance: ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d start by searching the underground city for any survivors¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°I¡¯m at the northern hangar of the underground city, the place we escaped from. Should I go in?¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°Zheng Rong!¡± Xiang Yu shouted.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking. Don¡¯t panic. Turn your camera to the ground. Lance, continue exploring the lowlands until you reach the ice crevice a kilometer ahead.¡±

    Xiang Yu crouched slightly, and Zheng Rong warned, ¡°Xiang Yu, watch your back!¡±

    Xiang Yu leaped, his mecha carving a graceful arc in the air, slicing a mechanical spider in half with the blade in his heel wheel!

    The explosion alerted nearby spiders. Zheng Rong estimated their numbers and time of arrival, his voice trembling slightly, ¡°Hold on, let me check the ground.¡±

    A metal pipe, uncovered by the nuclear blast, glistened with purple-black frozen blood under the sunlight. Data flickered across the crystal display in Xiang Yu¡¯s helmet as infrared scans and long-range analysis focused on a protruding metal tube.

    ¡°No signs of human entry. Head right at three o¡¯clock and begin your escape¡ªnow!¡±

    The metal pipe extended, firing a beam of red light that pierced Xiang Yu¡¯s right eye through the mecha¡¯s viewport.

    Xiang Yu stood still.

    ¡°What are you doing? Brother! Run now!¡± Zheng Rong shouted.

    Jolted by the shout, Xiang Yu snapped out of it, turned, and leaped into the air, running eastward.

    ¡°Don¡¯t use the thrusters¡ªthere are flying bugs in the sky!¡± Zheng Rong ordered.

    Panting heavily, Xiang Yu¡¯s voice came through the headset. Zheng Rong focused on the screen. ¡°Lance, search along the crevice. Zoom in and check for¡­ Xiang Yu! The east is blocked! Change your escape route to one o¡¯clock!¡±

    The mecha giant planted a foot in the snow, kicking up a blizzard as it swung its massive polymer alloy sword, sending six compressed bombs from the wrist cannon.

    Mechanical spiders were blown away as a metal pipe over a kilometer long lashed out from the hangar¡¯s opening, coiling around the mecha¡¯s ankle, dragging it to the ground with a crash.

    More and more metal tentacles emerged, slithering toward the downed mecha.

    Explosions erupted one after another. Lance reported, ¡°I¡¯ve reached the crevice.¡±

    The magnified image appeared on the screen, and Zheng Rong barked, ¡°Xiang Yu! What are you doing? Don¡¯t go back to the hangar!¡±

    Xiang Yu responded, ¡°I¡¯m trapped!¡±

    ¡°Fire the magnetic cannon!¡± Zheng Rong commanded.

    Another explosion followed. ¡°Aim at the high ridge on your right!¡±

    A massive blue electromagnetic energy orb roared toward the mountain, triggering a landslide. With a roar, Xiang Yu swung back and severed the metal tendrils entangling him. Lance exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve found them! It¡¯s the Hope Cape armed forces, with forty military helicopters stationed in the crevice!¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°Lance, start frequency scanning. Xiang Yu! Fire another shot!¡±

    Xiang Yu let out a defiant roar, executed a flawless backflip with the mecha, and landed with a thud. Unleashing rapid volleys from the six-barrel cannon, the recoil drove the mecha back. The final magnetic cannon blast was fully charged, glowing brilliantly blue as it was fired into the hangar.

    ¡°Head west¡­¡± Zheng Rong said, ¡°Lance! Hold your position! Don¡¯t advance any further! There are over a thousand mechanical killers ambushed along the crevice edge!¡±

    Lance: ¡°What about the other side?¡±

    Zheng Rong: ¡°The other side too!¡±

    Lance: ¡°What should we do?! I¡¯ve already picked up the frequency. Should I start the communication?¡±

    Zheng Rong decisively replied, ¡°No, you¡¯re too close. They¡¯ll intercept it! Keep moving west along the crevice¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu said, ¡°I¡¯ll draw them away! Lance, call for reinforcements!¡±

    The explosion rocked the area for miles around, stirring thousands of mechanical spiders out of their snowy hiding spots, all converging on the blast¡¯s epicenter. Lance activated his thrusters and leaped toward Xiang Yu.

    Zheng Rong called out, ¡°You¡­¡±

    Lance: ¡°Tell him to run toward me!¡±

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath as the sound of six mechanical mantises hovered above him. The whirring of drills echoed¡ªtheir position had been exposed.

    Lance: ¡°Zheng Rong? What¡¯s that sound?¡±

    Zheng Rong glanced up briefly as the anti-gravity field deflected the incoming claws, flipping the first wave of attackers. The magnetic field interference caused static to hiss over the communication link.

    ¡°No problem! Now, follow my lead!¡±

    ¡°Your positions are exposed! Xiang Yu, activate your thrusters and head west at full speed! Lance, charge your magnetic cannon and move east to intercept! When I say fire, Xiang Yu will turn, and Lance will target the flying machines behind him¡­¡±

    More static crackled as the approaching machines closed in on Zheng Rong.

    ¡°Did you hear me clearly?!¡±

    Xiang Yu¡¯s thrusters roared, propelling him skyward. With a graceful turn, he slashed through an incoming mechanical insect with his alloy sword.

    Lance shouted, ¡°You go for reinforcements! Leave this to me!¡±

    The two mechas crossed paths in the air, Lance fully charged, firing a powerful electromagnetic blast at the ground below. The mountains shook, triggering an avalanche like a tidal wave of snow.

    ¡°No need for reinforcements,¡± Zheng Rong said. ¡°Anyone alive must have heard that!¡±

    Helicopters buzzed from the depths of the crevice. Lance shouted, ¡°No! I must lure all these machines away! Only then can they rescue the survivors! Xiang Yu, take Zheng Rong back!¡±

    Zheng Rong¡¯s vision blurred as he gasped, ¡°Lance¡­ you¡­¡±

    Lance replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent them the coordinates of the cave!¡±

    Lance¡¯s mecha plunged into the swarm of mechanical killers, while Zheng Rong¡¯s anti-gravity field rapidly depleted its energy.

    ¡°Warning: Anti-gravity field energy depleting rapidly. Three minutes remaining.¡±

    The communicator fell into dead silence.

    Lance¡¯s voice came through: ¡°Zheng Rong.¡±

    Xiang Yu: ¡°Zheng Rong!¡±

    Zheng Rong removed his headset, staring blankly into the distance.

    One mecha gestured to its companion, pointing upward.

    The other mecha understood, turning and activating its thrusters, flying toward the mountain peaks.

    They appeared within view. A massive golden beetle broke through the ground, extending thousands of tendrils that ensnared the retreating Lance.

    Lance clenched his fists, then abruptly released them, stretching out his limbs and tilting his head back.

    His clear blue eyes gazed at the top of the cockpit, where an ocular device emitted an invisible beam that scanned Lance¡¯s right eye, confirming his identity as the pilot.

    ¡°Commander of the 71st Army of the Human Federation, General Lance. High-level intelligent system activated. Switching to voice command mode.¡±

    Lance commanded, ¡°Emergency plan SS. Federation program code 079042. Confirm execution.¡±

    A robotic female voice responded, ¡°Mecha damage at 65%. Irreparable. Self-destruct sequence initiated. Sixty seconds remaining.¡±

    ¡°Zheng Rong!¡± Xiang Yu¡¯s mecha flew toward the mountaintop.

    ¡°Anti-gravity field energy remaining: sixty seconds, fifty-nine, fifty-eight¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong sensed something. He turned and saw a small silver metal cocoon crouching in the snow.

    ¡°How long have you been watching me?¡± Zheng Rong muttered. ¡°Are you going to take me back for experiments?¡±

    He closed his eyes, tilting his head back in exhaustion.

    The mechanical swarm overwhelmed Lance¡¯s mecha, metal tendrils lashing out, toppling it to the ground. Lance drew his alloy sword, struggling fiercely, slashing at the oncoming killers. He activated the thrusters again.

    ¡°Forty-seven, forty-six¡­¡±

    Lance¡¯s furious roar echoed through the headset, snapping Zheng Rong out of his daze. The rotating alloy ring froze, and gravity slowly returned. The widest ring passed over his head, bearing a circular insignia.

    What was that? Zheng Rong vaguely remembered seeing the same insignia before.

    Twelve strange symbols were engraved on the side of the alloy ring.

    Zheng Rong quickly pulled out a particle generator from his pocket¡ªa small circular device¡ªhis hands trembling as he slotted it into the disc. With a light touch, clamps extended from the sides, locking it in place.

    ¡°Thirty-three, thirty-two¡­¡± The electronic voice announced, ¡°Unknown device acquired. Converting particle energy. Confirmed: Beta-type particle disintegration cannon charging.¡±

    The spherical device lit up, emitting a beautiful glow like the aurora blending day and night.

    ¡°Retreat toward me!¡± Zheng Rong frantically grabbed the headset and shouted, ¡°Lance! There¡¯s hope! Come back! Everyone, come back!¡±

    Inside Lance¡¯s mecha, the self-destruct countdown continued. The cockpit canopy was cracked with countless fissures from the slashing mechanical killers. Lance struggled desperately, pushing the thrusters to their limit.

    ¡°Lance¡ªcome back!¡± Zheng Rong screamed, shaking as his finger hovered over the firing button.

    The thrusters roared at full power, turning the mecha into a blazing fireball in the twilight.

    The brave knight burned his armor, melting all nearby enemies in the blood-colored dusk.

    Lance¡¯s golden hair, drenched in sweat, clung to his body, and sweat ran down his taut muscles as he listened to the countdown.

    ¡°Ten, nine, eight¡­¡±

    A sharp metal spike suddenly shot up from the ground, spanning a thousand meters in an instant, piercing through the mecha and shattering the cockpit canopy.

    The thrusters sputtered and fell silent as Lance, along with his mecha, was skewered on the sharp spike. Purple-red blood flowed out, trickling down the sleek silver alloy frame and dripping onto the snow.

    The sun slipped behind the mountains, vanishing, leaving the land in eternal darkness.

    ¡°The polar night is long¡­ the sunlight fleeting,¡± Zheng Rong muttered, his vacant eyes reflecting the final scene.

    He pressed the firing button.

    ¡°Zheng Rong¡ª!¡± Xiang Yu finally reached him.

    The light sphere erupted in a blinding white beam, shooting straight into the sky. Earth¡¯s magnetic field scrambled at that moment, cutting off all communication signals. Massive auroras gathered at both poles, and a surge of solar wind particles streamed toward Alaska like a primordial flood.

    The metal orb emitted an unbearably bright silver light as a white ring of energy obliterated the alloy rings, sweeping horizontally across the mountains. The solar wind tore through everything in its path, causing a cataclysmic storm that pulverized all metal into dust.

    The first mecha took the brunt of the blast. Its metallic shell disintegrated into nothingness. Xiang Yu, still rushing forward, grabbed Zheng Rong and shielded his head as they tumbled into the snow.

    As the light ring swept through, all the mechanical killers, conduits, and tendrils¡ªevery alloy weapon of the Mayan invaders¡ªwas reduced to dust, blown away by the raging winds.

    The blood-stained mecha shell crumbled, leaving no trace, even the sharp blade that had impaled it dissolved into white powder.

    The particle generator lay quietly in the snow, emitting a faint glow.

    Lance¡¯s nearly naked body lay in the snow, resting gently in the cold, soft white.

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice grew closer as he called out. Lance coughed a few times, revealing a bleeding wound on his shoulder.

    The helicopters roared incessantly as they emerged from the depths of the crevice. Zheng Rong took off his coat, wrapping it around Lance, then cried out desperately, holding Lance¡¯s body and pleading frantically.

    Anthony, handcuffed, rushed down from one of the helicopters, followed by several Chinese medics who quickly placed an oxygen mask over Lance¡¯s face, pressing cloth tightly against his wound.

    Xiang Yu held Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulder, guiding him onto the rescue helicopter. Forty helicopters in total carried the last two hundred remaining human scholars toward the underground city at Hope Cape.

 39 - The Ladder of the West Wind City

    Cape of Good Hope, the City of the West Wind.

    Helicopters flew over the sea, cutting through the dark sky as the fierce west wind swirled the clouds into vortices. A storm raged, and waves surged, with the Antarctic currents heading north, creating waves over a hundred meters high in the ship graveyard. Shrouded in Earth''s chaotic magnetic fields and perpetual storm belts, the Cape of Good Hope was undoubtedly the safest refuge in the world. This storm-ridden fortress, standing defiantly on the sea, had survived through natural climatic barriers and humanity¡¯s most resilient will.

    The City of the West Wind was divided into two parts: above and below the sea. The surface city was a desolate ruin¡ªbuilt by the most notorious pirate of the 18th century, who had monopolized the shipping lanes from Spain to South Africa. Using nearly a hundred thousand slaves'' blood and sweat, he constructed a fortress kingdom within the Cape''s storm belt. At the end of the 20th century, explorers discovered a far more complex underground space, sprawling across the continental shelf, vast and interconnected, covering nearly five hundred thousand hectares.

    During the First Five-Year War, China¡¯s military sacrificed countless lives, retreating from the Malacca Strait to the Indian Ocean base, before falling back to the Cape of Good Hope and forming an alliance with African nations.

    Forty helicopters, piloted with exceptional skill, navigated the storm barrier and landed in the underground hangar. The militia, armed and ready, spread out to secure key points. The hangar was vast and empty, with stark white lights glaring down.

    Zheng Rong glanced around and asked, "Is this all that remains of China¡¯s forces?"

    ¡°Not just China,¡± corrected a soldier as he inspected the hangar doors. ¡°Doctor, there are also sovereign African nations.¡±

    Lance was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and placed in an ambulance. Zheng Rong moved to follow, but the officer made a polite gesture. "Dr. Zheng, he¡¯s not in critical danger. The doctors will be able to treat him."

    ¡°Our helicopters were dispatched to rescue survivors after we received the news of Northern Ireland¡¯s fall,¡± the officer explained as he led the scholars out of the hangar. ¡°Many were destroyed in the process, and only about seventy percent have returned.¡±

    Zheng Rong walked at the head of the group, seemingly becoming the de facto liaison between the two systems.

    "General Wei Rong immediately deployed all our air forces when we received Alaska¡¯s distress signal, with orders to bring you back at any cost¡­" The officer paused at the hangar¡¯s end, pressing the door¡¯s open button. ¡°I hope you bring us some better news.¡±

    The door groaned as it slowly opened, revealing an underground square filled with people. A dark mass of bodies¡ªAsians, whites, and blacks¡ªstood silently. The crowd, along with the military in formation, was utterly still. Nearly a million people wore white armbands, mourning the fall of Alaska and the collapse of the central tower.

    At the forefront of the military stood an old man in a general¡¯s uniform, leaning on a saber. Zheng Rong took a deep breath.

    "Is that¡­?"

    "General Wei Rong, I recognize you," Zheng Rong said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡±

    He removed his hat and saluted. The old man¡¯s voice was hoarse but still strong. "Zheng Hong¡¯s son, it¡¯s been a long time. Welcome to the City of the West Wind."

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Things are dire. Alaska has fallen. They didn¡¯t even have time to activate the self-destruct mechanism. But we¡¯ve brought back a lot of data. All hope now rests here.¡±

    General Wei asked, "How is ¡®The Teacher¡¯?"

    ¡°He¡¯s just been taken to the ICU,¡± Zheng Rong answered.

    As they shook hands, a soft click echoed, but there were no flashbulbs or cheers. The moment was frozen in black and white.

    <hr>

    The scholars were settled in, and by the next day, the final group of over two hundred survivors had already begun the detailed work of organizing the materials. Everywhere in the City of the West Wind, the militia enforced a state of universal conscription. General Wei did not pry into any internal matters but provided the best medical care for the wounded. Lance¡¯s injuries were manageable, but ¡°The Teacher¡¯s¡± condition continued to deteriorate.

    Even in his coma, the old man conveyed one message: that Zheng Rong should inherit his research, organize the physicists, and perfect the report until the right moment to present it. That moment was for Zheng Rong to decide.

    Zheng Rong had no time for anything else, but Xiang Yu did. During the three consecutive days Zheng Rong worked overtime, Xiang Yu found General Wei Rong and made a request.

    "I need to see Anthony and that old woman," Xiang Yu said.

    General Wei looked into Xiang Yu¡¯s eyes and asked, "You¡¯re Chinese too? Where are your ancestors from?"

    Xiang Yu smirked and answered, "I¡¯m a soldier."

    Xiang Yu¡¯s natural military aura made it impossible for General Wei to refuse him. The old general pondered for a long time before finally speaking. "Anthony and Eve Zabalueva are about to stand trial before the United Military Tribunal. You don¡¯t know the whole story. When Anthony contacted Alaska, our experts intercepted¡­¡±

    Xiang Yu interrupted, "Yes, I guessed as much afterward. At that time, he was reporting something to the U.S. military commander in Alaska."

    General Wei nodded.

    Xiang Yu continued, ¡°The report was about a person.¡±

    The general straightened. ¡°You overheard their conversation?¡±

    Xiang Yu didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°That person was me.¡±

    General Wei furrowed his brow, and Xiang Yu said, ¡°Let me get to the bottom of this. I¡¯ll report everything truthfully, or¡­ you can listen in.¡±

    General Wei said, "This information must remain classified. Dr. Zheng Rong¡¯s team also..."

    Xiang Yu replied firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t tell him¡ªif my suspicions are correct.¡±

    General Wei signed the authorization for the interrogation.

    <hr>

    "Let¡¯s wrap up for today. Everyone, go out for a walk, and after dinner, sit outside for a while. You might find some inspiration." Zheng Rong removed his rainbow-tinted glasses and tossed them on the table.

    The scholars nodded in agreement, tidying up their documents. Zheng Rong apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m almost useless when it comes to physics. I can¡¯t help much.¡±

    One of them responded, ¡°Doctor, you¡¯re too modest. You may not come from a background in natural sciences or mathematics, but you can understand some of our more obscure terms. That¡¯s impressive enough.¡±

    Zheng Rong smiled ruefully. ¡°My brother explained quite a bit to me before¡­ Dismissed, everyone. See you tonight.¡±

    He leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts a tangled mess.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Yu?¡± Zheng Rong stepped out of the scientific hall, asking a soldier to find Xiang Yu through military communications, but there was no trace of him.

    Zheng Rong headed to the hospital. The Cape of Good Hope¡¯s hospital had very few patients. Since the arrival of the refugees, an unspoken rule had circulated among them.

    The elderly, the injured, the Africans, the Asians¡ªwhen someone became too old or too sick to move, or when their illness was beyond treatment, the refugees would leave the City of the West Wind. They would take a blanket, a little food, and water, and ascend to the surface, waiting in the storm city above to die.

    Tibetan monks had established a celestial burial platform there. After people died on the rocky islands, their bodies were cut apart, their bones shattered, and the remains were cleaned with bran and dough. Seagulls and cliffside vultures would come to devour their bodies.

    A few African tribes, however, conducted cremations or sea burials among the ruins, believing that life returned to the sky, the sea, and nature. This allowed the next generation a chance at survival. The elderly departed, each returning to their own gods, leaving behind no attachment.

    Medicine was scarce and expensive, but the scholars were well taken care of, including Joseph and Si Yan''s orphaned son.

    Zheng Rong stood by the nursery for a while, unable to identify which of the multi-colored babies was his child.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to see my son,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    The nurse asked, ¡°Please wait a moment. The name of the guardian is¡­?¡±

    ¡°Xiang Yu and Zheng Rong,¡± he answered.

    The nurse glanced through the records.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Is it this one?¡± Zheng Rong smiled, playfully teasing a Chinese child through the glass.

    ¡°No, no, Dr. Zheng, that¡¯s not him,¡± the nurse said, laughing. ¡°Let me bring him out for you. He¡¯s barely a month old and very fragile. Please wear these sanitized gloves. Where¡¯s his mother?¡±

    The nurse made her way through the rows of cribs¡ªeach child, regardless of skin color or parental status, received the same care. She gently lifted a sleeping baby boy, carrying him over to Zheng Rong.

    Drool trickled from the baby¡¯s mouth, and Zheng Rong smiled softly, making small gestures. The baby was so small, almost small enough to fit in Xiang Yu¡¯s hands.

    ¡°You can touch him,¡± the nurse said, ¡°but be very gentle. Baby skin is delicate, and they don¡¯t like the feel of adult hands.¡±

    Zheng Rong declined, ¡°No, I¡¯ll just look. That¡¯s enough. The hospital asked me to come fill out a form the other day, but I was too busy. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    The nurse gently returned the baby to his crib. ¡°Mr. Xiang Yu already filled it out for you.¡±

    ¡°What was it about?¡± Zheng Rong asked, suddenly curious.

    The nurse explained, ¡°It was about what happens to the child if both guardians are killed in the war. It¡¯s a detailed document outlining custody arrangements.¡±

    ¡°That gentleman was very kind. I remember clearly. Two days ago, he signed on your behalf. If both of you are gone, the army will take custody of the child. When he comes of age, he¡¯ll be required to serve in the military for five years before deciding his future.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good. And his name¡­¡±

    The nurse flipped through the records again. ¡°His name is Xifeng Kaide¡¯er (West Wind Cadel).¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy lately. Please¡­ take good care of him. His parents were martyrs in Alaska.¡±

    The nurse smiled, ¡°We treat all the children the same. Don¡¯t worry¡ªhe¡¯ll grow up healthy here.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, tipped his hat to the nurse, and left for the ICU.

    <hr>

    Lance was lying in bed, reading a book.

    ¡°Feeling better?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Lance put the book away, smiling. ¡°What brings you here? Any progress?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied coolly, ¡°Just checking on you. We¡¯re one step away from the truth.¡±

    Lance breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s great news.¡±

    Zheng Rong, still distant, said, ¡°But sometimes, that last step requires crossing thousands of years and light-years of space. Don¡¯t get too excited yet.¡±

    Lance: "..."

    Zheng Rong laughed.

    Lance laughed as well, giving Zheng Rong a knowing look.

    Zheng Rong frowned. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    Lance shook his head with a smile. Zheng Rong¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°I asked, what are you reading?¡±

    Lance lifted the book¡¯s cover. ¡°The poetry collection you gave me... Have you eaten yet?¡±

    Zheng Rong had his hands in his pockets, and Lance, thinking he was about to leave, hurriedly tried to reach for his hand but winced in pain as his injury flared up.

    Zheng Rong, at a loss for words, asked, ¡°Do you want to take a walk?¡±

    Lance hesitated. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t move right now. Do you¡­ want to eat here? I mean, if you¡¯re not too busy¡­ Have you been getting any rest?¡±

    Lance''s shoulder was still bandaged from the injury, and his foot had suffered a minor fracture in the last battle, leaving him bedridden. He wanted to chat more with Zheng Rong but didn¡¯t want to take up too much of his time.

    Zheng Rong brought over a wheelchair. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m stuck on something in my thinking. I want to walk around the city.¡±

    Lance considered it for a moment, but Zheng Rong had already unceremoniously taken Lance¡¯s arm and slung it over his shoulder. ¡°Move¡­ and use your strength.¡±

    Lance, gritting his teeth in pain, managed to sit in the wheelchair with a heavy sigh.

    Zheng Rong fetched a blanket, covered Lance with it, and pushed him out of the hospital.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Xiang Yu?¡±

    Zheng Rong shrugged. After briefly informing a nurse, he pushed the wheelchair toward the underground city exit.

    <hr>

    Outside the hospital lay a seemingly endless flight of stairs, a ladder to the sky. There was also a handrail elevator slowly moving upward.

    ¡°Where to?¡± Lance asked, confused.

    ¡°A pilgrimage,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    ¡°This ladder only goes up. It¡¯s a one-way journey, a path of no return. Look¡­¡±

    Lance leaned back in the wheelchair, quietly watching the procession of people ascending the stairs.

    The elderly, the sick, women, and the disabled.

    The handrails of the stairs were adorned with sculptures depicting gods in various forms and postures: Hel, the Norse goddess of death, cloaked and bearing a scythe; Anubis, the Egyptian god of death; Shiva, the Hindu god of life and death; Tibet¡¯s Buddha; and China¡¯s Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

    A man, leaning on a cane, climbed a few steps at a time before placing down his cane and prostrating himself in reverence.

    Lance and Zheng Rong slowly ascended with the escalator, watching the man¡¯s pious expression as he gradually disappeared into the distance, bowing his head to the ground in worship toward the top of the ladder.

    ¡°They have a tradition,¡± Zheng Rong said softly. ¡°Those who feel they can no longer live go to the surface to die, giving their place in life to their children.¡±

    Lance reached back and gently placed his hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s, which gripped the wheelchair. "So, are we also going to wait for death?"

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t pull his hand away, nor did he respond.

    <hr>

    One by one, the pilgrims on the ladder straightened up, some casting curious or complex glances at them.

    Lance said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, my dear. Perhaps once you find the truth, they won¡¯t have to walk this painful path to death anymore.¡±

    Zheng Rong murmured, ¡°I¡¯m lost too¡­ I don¡¯t know. My thoughts are stuck here.¡±

    ¡°What is life, after all?¡±

    The escalator reached the top, and Zheng Rong pushed Lance onto a platform. ¡°We¡¯ve deciphered most of the Mayan glyphs, but there¡¯s one thing we still can¡¯t understand¡­ something crucial.¡±

    ¡°Their lives are already eternal,¡± Zheng Rong said as he stood at the platform¡¯s edge, gazing at the countless tiny figures in the underground city far below. ¡°What more are they seeking?¡±

    ¡°In the universe, all forms of life should evolve toward eternity,¡± Zheng Rong muttered. ¡°They¡¯re the end of that journey, but why have they begun to fear death?¡±

    <hr>

    They stopped in front of a massive sculpture.

    The statue was a blend of Eastern and Western deities, its face indistinct, with towering wings stretching upward, seemingly ready to take flight. Hundreds of arms each held symbolic objects: crosses, rosaries, swords, and flowers. The stone figure¡¯s skirt floated, frozen mid-movement.

    ¡°God of Hope,¡± Lance read one of the many languages inscribed at the base.

    ¡°A fictional god of hope,¡± Zheng Rong realized. ¡°A place for the promise of rebirth.¡±

    Lance uneasily asked, ¡°Is this the surface?¡±

    Zheng Rong turned and pushed open a small door at the end of the platform. A sea breeze rushed in, carrying the brilliant golden light of the setting sun.

    He wheeled Lance out of the underground city of the West Wind. They stood on the edge of a thousand-foot cliff, with the sun sinking slowly behind the mountains, casting its grand light across the entire ocean.

    Seagulls cried out as they spread their wings and flew, and along the endless coastline, people sat or lay down. For millions of years, Earth¡¯s tides had lashed against cliffs and rocks, stirring a faint, salty scent into the air.

    ¡°Teacher once said that the ultimate purpose of the universe could never be answered by physics or any other discipline because we exist within the universe.¡± Zheng Rong sighed, sitting down next to Lance¡¯s wheelchair, arms folded behind his head as he lay down on the cliff¡¯s flat ground.

    He murmured, ¡°Even that so-called ¡®god,¡¯ the first captain of the Mayan mothership, couldn¡¯t glimpse even a fraction of the meaning of his existence. What do you think, Lance?¡±

    ¡°Teacher said that souls and thoughts are infinite and everlasting¡­ They drift through the vast universe and will one day return to our world¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong gazed at the strange sky in the east, its colors shifting from the receding sunlight to a brilliant crimson, then a deep rose, and finally, darkness.

    The stars rose over the sea, and the vast Milky Way stretched across the sky, shining brightly over the City of the West Wind.

    Lance sat in his wheelchair, looking up at the stars. The sea breeze had calmed, and bonfires blazed across the land, their flames reflecting each other.

    ¡°Zheng Rong,¡± Lance said, ¡°I think we humans¡­¡±

    ¡°We humans,¡± Zheng Rong repeated absentmindedly.

    Lance continued, ¡°Our species has been incredibly resilient since its inception. It¡¯s made up of the Chinese people, the Germans, and countless martyrs from nations unafraid of death.¡±

    Zheng Rong said, ¡°But now, death is a way to live better.¡±

    Lance disagreed. ¡°No, immortality has always been the pursuit of only a small portion of people¡­¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zheng Rong interrupted. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Lance. The ultimate goal of life¡¯s evolution is eternity. They continually modify their bodies, extending their lifespans.¡±

    Lance didn¡¯t argue. After a long pause, he said, ¡°We¡¯ve replaced the existence of each individual with the immortality of the collective. New babies are constantly born, while the old blood fades away. When the species faces the threat of extinction, more people step forward to fight. You have a saying in China¡­¡±

    Zheng Rong pondered for a moment, his pupils reflecting the dazzling stars.

    ¡°¡®Though thousands may oppose me, I will go forward alone,¡¯¡± Zheng Rong quoted.

    ¡°Zheng Feng and Li Ying,¡± Lance said gravely. ¡°We are all just parts of the collective, like cells in the human body¡ªconstantly renewing, aging, dying. Including you. You¡¯ve inherited Zheng Feng¡¯s will, his memories passed on to you. Li Ying¡¯s memories passed on to you.¡±

    ¡°In your last research report, didn¡¯t you say this? Memories are the soul. Their souls will one day fade away, but humanity, like a flourishing tree, will still possess unparalleled vitality. The Mayan people have only one lonely individual left, so they can never defeat us.¡±

    ¡°They can never defeat a species full of wisdom and courage.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Zheng Rong muttered, closing his eyes as if he had understood something.

    Lance said no more. The waves crashed against the cliffs, spraying white foam. Memories of his childhood with Zheng Feng floated through Zheng Rong¡¯s mind.

    <hr>

    When China began its full-scale retreat, Zheng Rong and Zheng Feng were following the army west.

    Zheng Feng carried Zheng Rong, crossing mountains and rivers with the refugees until they reached the Cape of Good Hope. Their parents had been dispatched by the United Nations Defense Alliance to Northern Ireland.

    As far as the eye could see, the long coastline was filled with black refugees. Zheng Rong, exhausted, sat at the end of the rocky shore, unable to go any further. Zheng Feng turned back and carried him, struggling to keep up with the fleeing crowd.

    ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t want to go in,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Zheng Feng reassured him, ¡°It¡¯s dangerous outside. Be good.¡±

    Zheng Rong, crying and complaining about missing their parents, was inconsolable. Zheng Feng, still just a teenager himself, couldn¡¯t calm him down. After a long time, he stood up, let Zheng Rong down, took off his little brother¡¯s shoes, and told him to sit on the rocks while he went to find the military to negotiate.

    Someone came over, trying to take Zheng Rong away, but Zheng Rong coldly and hatefully stared at the stranger. The well-meaning African resident, unable to communicate, had no choice but to leave.

    Zheng Rong fell asleep curled up under the rocks, and Zheng Feng returned to carry him.

    ¡°Brother¡­ let me sleep a little longer,¡± Zheng Rong murmured.

    Zheng Feng said, ¡°It¡¯s time to go. I¡¯ll take you to Northern Ireland to find our parents.¡±

    <hr>

    Xiang Yu¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°It¡¯s cold out here. Why¡¯d you come all the way out here?¡±

    Zheng Rong opened his eyes and saw Xiang Yu.

    ¡°I dreamt about my brother,¡± Zheng Rong said.

    Xiang Yu carried Zheng Rong on his back, Lance¡¯s wheelchair following behind them. A military search team escorted them back into the underground city.

    ¡°What did you dream about?¡± Xiang Yu asked with a smile.

    Zheng Rong answered quietly, ¡°I dreamt that he was taking me to Northern Ireland to find our parents¡­ waiting for the International Humanitarian Rescue Organization¡¯s ship in the English Channel¡­¡±

    Lance asked, ¡°Was this before we met?¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded, ¡°Long before you met my brother. We boarded the ship and found a little boy, dirty all over, hiding in the corner of the cabin¡ªa stowaway. That was Li Ying. Later, we waited in Northern Ireland for a long, long time¡­ nearly a month.¡±

    The three children had waited for the underground city to open in the snow-covered entrance, and finally, Zheng Feng had brought his little brother back to their parents.

    In the blink of an eye, nearly twenty years had passed silently.

    <hr>

    Back at the research center that night:

    Zheng Rong asked, ¡°Any new insights? Sorry I¡¯m late.¡±

    The scholars all shook their heads, weary and without much to offer.

    Zheng Rong began to lead the sixth meeting. Just as they were sorting the materials, there was a knock on the door. A soldier stood waiting outside.

    ¡°The Teacher wants to see you, Dr. Zheng. It¡¯s something very important,¡± the soldier said.

 40 - The Eternal Rest of the High Priest

    The elderly man''s hunched figure resembled a flickering candle in the wind. The IV needle was inserted into the withered vein on his forehead. He slumped to one side, drowsy. A heart monitor was connected beside him, while several nurses and doctors hovered around with tense expressions.

    Zheng Rong took off his coat and hung it up, glancing at the IV bag, which bore the label of a drug called Piroxicam.

    Bowing slightly, Zheng Rong said, "Teacher, I¡¯m here."

    The old man tapped a few words on his keyboard: Hello, Zheng Rong. This new keyboard is a bit awkward to use.

    Zheng Rong smiled. The old man struggled to type another line: Please, let¡¯s talk alone.

    The doctor interjected, "That¡¯s absolutely not allowed. General Wei Rong gave explicit instructions¡­"

    The old man typed: There won¡¯t be any issues. I know my health better than anyone.

    The nurses and doctors hesitated, then exchanged glances before reluctantly leaving the room.

    "If anything happens, I¡¯ll call for you right away," Zheng Rong reassured them.

    Zheng Rong turned back to his teacher. "Teacher, there¡¯s still something I don¡¯t quite understand, or perhaps I can¡¯t be certain about."

    The old man typed: Watch the video first, child. It¡¯s alright.

    He pressed a few keys on the armrest of his wheelchair. The lights dimmed, and the screen flickered to life, revealing a vast starry sky¡ªa projection of the Milky Way and beyond.

    The old man typed again: I¡¯m very pleased. You¡¯re a genius, and your hypotheses have nearly all hit the mark.

    Zheng Rong responded, "Actually, I think you already knew the answer long before this."

    The old man typed: Child, the more you know, the more your thinking becomes constrained.

    Zheng Rong said softly, "This is my first time seeing the real Milky Way... It¡¯s not how I imagined it."

    They sat side by side, watching the majestic and strange film unfold like a beautiful dream.

    The images shifted rapidly, pausing at a specific moment.

    The old man typed: The report they gave you contains a detailed analysis of prehistoric civilizations.

    Zheng Rong nodded. "Yes, up to this point, I¡¯ve been able to understand everything."

    The old man typed: I think you may have missed this.

    He tapped a few more keys, and the video rewound quickly, settling on a sequence showing the Maya altering biological life forms. A strange sense of unease stirred in Zheng Rong¡¯s heart.

    "I understand," Zheng Rong said. "They used certain methods to alter the genetic code of Earth¡¯s life forms¡­"

    The old man said nothing further and pressed the play button.

    The giant Mayan spaceship embarked on its journey once again, leaving Earth, skimming the surface of the sun, collecting solar samples, and then exiting the solar system.

    The endless expanse of stars stretched on. The captain of the Mayan spacecraft stood silently at the center of the ship.

    Zheng Rong murmured, "We¡¯ve watched this recording many times. Sometimes I wonder, are we the only species in the galaxy that feels out of place?"

    The old man typed: It¡¯s hard to say. If his life could continue indefinitely, perhaps he could eventually examine every planet in this confined universe.

    Zheng Rong added, "But that¡¯s what I don¡¯t understand. Why did he start aging? According to the analysis, this species is not subject to the natural laws of aging."

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    The old man typed: The answer may already be present.

    Zheng Rong fell into silence.

    The old man typed: What do you think the highest form of life is?

    Zheng Rong replied, "Immortality. Like them. A single individual can represent an entire species. They have no internal conflicts or dissension, and their endless lifespans would give them ample time to explore their environment and pursue the ultimate purpose of the universe, along with the unification of all knowledge."

    The old man typed: If that¡¯s true, why are there only seven of them left? And why did six of them die one by one?

    Zheng Rong said, "It¡¯s hard to say¡­ Maybe¡­ there are many rules in the universe we¡¯re still unaware of."

    The old man typed: What is the eternal law that governs planets, stars, and nebulae?

    He answered his own question: Annihilation. The collapse from a red giant to a white dwarf, eventually turning into a black hole that consumes all light. When the mass becomes dense enough, it heads toward death¡ªan eternal silence.

    Zheng Rong countered, "But it will be reborn during the universe¡¯s re-expansion. The reason we can¡¯t see its rebirth is that the universe hasn¡¯t expanded to its critical point yet."

    The old man typed: So, the interchange between existence and destruction is the law that governs all things.

    Zheng Rong sank into deep contemplation.

    "I don¡¯t understand," he finally said. "His form of life has been predetermined, so why would he start aging here?"

    The old man typed: He doesn¡¯t understand it either. All we can say is that it¡¯s a rule we don¡¯t yet grasp. There¡¯s a strange and inevitable connection here. The moment he extracted his genetic material and implanted it into Earth¡¯s life forms, he became connected to us, and to the entire planet.

    He continued: That¡¯s why the parasites will assume that suitable hosts exist among the people of Earth.

    The screen paused again, showing a quiet, glowing rose-colored nebula in the depths of space.

    The old man typed: He has used particle generators and tractor beams to travel through the central channel of the Milky Way into a second layer of the universe.

    Zheng Rong exhaled deeply.

    "There are indeed strange forms of life in the universe," Zheng Rong remarked. "Will humans also evolve into pure energy forms one day?"

    The old man typed: It¡¯s hard to say. Is that what you would wish for?

    Zheng Rong could not answer. The concept of eternal, indestructible consciousness was beyond his understanding. If humans transformed into souls drifting through the cosmos, what would they do? All pursuits would seem meaningless in the face of eternity.

    The silver mothership began its return journey to Earth.

    The old man typed: This is the final content of the last stone tablet.

    Zheng Rong straightened up uneasily. "You didn¡¯t give me that part."

    The old man typed: When you went to the Mesopotamian plains, the Russian and American forces had already secured the final stone tablet from the Peruvian temple. It contains the last prophecy of the Mayans. Or perhaps it¡¯s better described as a reflection on their own form of life, as well as a reinterpretation of life on Earth.

    Countless images flashed across the screen¡ªwars, conflicts, humanity reclaiming vast lands at the end of the Ice Age, the migration of animals, birds soaring through the sky, mothers weeping, children dying, thousands of tribes engulfed in flames and smoke, slaughter. And the roaring waves of humanity¡¯s cheers.

    The scene before the captain of the Mayan ship gradually faded. A small device emitted a faint glow.

    It was divided into two layers, tightly fitted together in a round box shape.

    Suddenly, Zheng Rong asked, "Teacher, the particle generator has two components."

    The old man typed: Yes. Your brother, Zheng Feng, once obtained one of them¡ªthe component that separates and emits particles. The other part is in your hands. It can attract all particles, guiding them along a set trajectory. This is crucial. Everything we do next will depend on these two components.

    Zheng Rong said, "I remember my brother¡¯s research project mentioned this. He said the particle generator was missing a component, so the ¡®smuggling experiment¡¯ couldn¡¯t bring people from the past into our time for real."

    The old man did not respond.

    Zheng Rong continued, "If the particle attractor is functional, it can pull in all waves, even summoning the souls of the dead, those wandering spirits?"

    Zheng Rong mumbled, "The particle generator mirrors and accurately reproduces past events and entities in spacetime. The attractor captures thoughts, memories, and inserts them into a person''s mind¡­ Teacher, is my hypothesis correct? You didn¡¯t finish explaining the sketch on the last page of your report! After the war¡­ Teacher¡­ What was your final speculation?"

    "Teacher?" Zheng Rong suddenly sensed something was wrong.

    The IV had stopped.

    The old man¡¯s heart monitor had become a flat line.

    Zheng Rong sprang to his feet and pressed the emergency button, calling for the medical staff.

    Chaos ensued in the observation room. Oxygen readings blinked on the mask, and someone outside dialed a phone, urgently reporting to the military.

    The old man remained with his eyes closed. Zheng Rong stood nearby, staring blankly.

    After a long while, the medical personnel removed the oxygen mask, disconnected the heart monitor, and wheeled away the equipment and the IV apparatus.

    "I¡¯m sorry, Dr. Zheng," said the attending physician. "His life was nearing its end when he returned to the underground city. Today¡­ he may have sensed something and insisted on seeing you."

    Zheng Rong said, "It¡¯s alright. The priest has completed his mission."

    "From now on, there will be no more gods in this world."

    Zheng Rong bowed deeply and knelt in front of the wheelchair, performing the respectful rites of a disciple. He solemnly kowtowed three times to the body of his teacher.

 41 - The Conscious Waves of Stars

    On the third day after the Master¡¯s passing, the City of the West Wind held the grandest funeral since the Earth was invaded. Everyone wore black armbands as they watched helicopters scatter the old man¡¯s ashes into the hurricane over the ocean. The storm carried his remains into the sky, spreading them across every corner of the Earth, as if he had become one with the planet¡ªlife endlessly cycling, as always.

    After the funeral, a classified military meeting was held in the science hall. Attendees included representatives from all the fallen sovereign nations under the United Nations, people of various races. The front three rows were reserved for surviving scholars, while behind them sat military personnel¡ªonly military personnel.

    Zheng Rong was, as usual, the one hosting the briefing.

    Standing uneasily at the podium, he faced an audience of hundreds, all unfamiliar, heads bowed, the hall silent except for the sound of breathing. After three minutes of mourning, Zheng Rong finally spoke: "Gentlemen, good day. We are now in the darkest moment before dawn."

    "It¡¯s an honor to once again be the one hosting this report. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all seen the last recording from the Central Stone Tower briefing. Over the past period, we¡¯ve been consolidating all available data, referencing the insights of many predecessors and martyrs, and have finally uncovered most of the truth about the Mayans¡ªand ourselves, the people of Earth."

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath. "Next, I, Zheng Rong, head of the Human History and Mysticism Research Office, will give you a detailed report of what transpired."

    "But before that, I would like you all to observe a visual record."

    The room went dark.

    Zheng Rong pressed a button, and on the massive screen appeared four stone tablets. Strange symbols on the tablets flickered with varying colors of light.

    "These were found in prehistoric ruins and certain tombs. They document the earliest records of extraterrestrials arriving on Earth. At first, we couldn¡¯t even assert that these were written languages, as their mode of expression is unlike ours. Our languages rely on memory," Zheng Rong pointed to his temple, "and on established concepts, which in turn convey clear meaning. However, the Mayan way of transmitting information relies on only twelve symbols."

    A faint murmur rippled through the audience, with attendees whispering among themselves.

    Zheng Rong calmly continued, "Difficult to understand, isn¡¯t it? This concept lies beyond the human knowledge system. Please, go ahead and ask."

    As Zheng Rong spoke, the screen displayed a distant starry sky, revealing a strange galaxy cluster, causing another stir in the room.

    "What is this place?" someone asked.

    Zheng Rong shook his head. "It¡¯s outside our star charts, an unexplored region of space. It may be near the edge of the universe or in a higher-dimensional one. Please watch."

    He pressed a key, and within the vast nebula, electronic rings of light illuminated twelve positions within the nebula.

    The shapes and colors of the circled areas stood distinct within the nebula. As the blurry images were magnified, twelve symbols emerged, detached from the rest of the cloud.

    "This," Zheng Rong said, "is their¡­ we can call it a totem."

    He continued, "The history of the Mayan aliens is riddled with countless mysteries, especially regarding their origins before coming to Earth. We can only speculate about their past. First and foremost: their form of life is entirely different from that on Earth."

    "Look at this nebula. The position of each symbol marks a vortex, constantly ejecting endless particles that sustain the Mayans'' life. We can imagine it this way: One day, in the midst of chaos, it opened its eyes. With no past or future, the nebula provided all the nutrients necessary for its survival the moment it began to think."

    General Wei Rong asked gravely, "Was it the only individual?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "My teacher believed so, and I think so too. If it were to die, no similar intelligent life would come from Earth."

    The General asked again, "Is this a simulated scene from your teacher¡¯s calculations?"

    Zheng Rong shook his head. "No, this is entirely real¡ªa re-creation of its memories of its home. As for how this was re-created, I¡¯ll explain shortly."

    The entire room was stunned. Zheng Rong took out a pen from his pocket and drew a circle on the projection screen. "Please pay attention, everyone. These twelve symbols are extremely important."

    "We¡¯ve come to call this nebula the ¡®Mayan Nebula.¡¯ Within this system, all matter is composed of twelve types of particles, which are emitted by the mother symbols here. We don¡¯t yet understand what phenomenon this represents, but for now, let¡¯s think of it as the source of life in the universe."

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    "From the moment the Mayans gained self-awareness, they observed these twelve particles. Difficult to grasp, right? Let me give a simple analogy. The water in this nebula is different from the water on Earth. Our water consists of molecules made from two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and these molecules are arranged according to a set of rules to form a macroscopic substance."

    "In this nebula, however, the twelve particles follow different orbits, each with a unique spin angle. They combine to form the electric rivers, mountains, and streams of the nebula, as well as the Mayans themselves."

    "This hypothesis was proposed by the United Nations Geography Association. Dr. Ugoss analyzed a water sample from a pyramid¡¯s underground reservoir and¡ªplease, go ahead."

    Someone inquired, "So, in their world, there are only these twelve symbols?"

    Zheng Rong nodded. "Before they left their homeland, yes. Imagine a creator god waking from eternal slumber, and the only things visible in its field of vision are these twelve primordial totems. Everything in its world is built from these blocks¡ªincluding itself. What would happen to this solitary being?"

    "Dr. Joseph, a linguist, began simulating this scenario four months ago, attempting a complex series of guesses. Ms. Kim Park-ae from Korea developed software that helped refine the simulation."

    Zheng Rong added solemnly, "I pay my respects to my teammates."

    He paused for a moment, then continued, "Human speculation and computer algorithms helped us reconstruct the scene. But the real analysis came from these four stone tablets. Let¡¯s go back and see how the Mayans left behind these four pieces of information."

    Zheng Rong pressed another button, freezing the image brought back by Li Ying¡ªthe moment when the Mayan alien opened its eyes.

    The image zoomed in, focusing on its pupils, revealing a blurred haze. Zheng Rong zoomed in further. In its enlarged pupil, twelve slowly rotating symbols could be seen.

    Zheng Rong said, "At this point, I hope things are becoming a bit clearer. Their way of transmitting information is different from ours. All written language on Earth transmits concepts. For humans to read unknown information from a book, they must first learn the language that contains this information. Correct?"

    "But the Mayans are different. Their pupils, which fuse two layers together, act as an image filter. Light reflected off the symbols enters their pupils, gets filtered through their vision, and directly forms images on their retinas."

    The room erupted in murmurs. Zheng Rong shrugged. "It¡¯s an incredibly difficult information technology to comprehend. They possess peculiar pupils, and when the symbols rotate, they become a series of scene images in the mind. It took us a very long time to verify and debate just this one point."

    "Finally, Dr. Joseph used Korean computer systems to simulate two pupil models. Through reverse tracing and regression, he produced the video we see now, allowing us to crack the language of this otherworldly civilization."

    "Their core information all comes from these four stone tablets," Zheng Rong said. "Any questions?"

    No one raised their hands. A few scholars conversed in low tones.

    Zheng Rong said, "Now that we¡¯ve clarified this point, let¡¯s continue and explore why the Mayan left these stone tablets. I think I can explain this next."

    Zheng Rong pressed play, and the radiant symbols burst into streams of life-giving matter, like a brilliant cosmic river. The vision floated and drifted, with matter coalescing around the camera.

    "It¡¯s thinking," Zheng Rong said. "What it¡¯s thinking about, we can¡¯t know. Perhaps it¡¯s wondering if it¡¯s the only one in the universe. Next, it will do something familiar to humans¡ªit will explore the space around it."

    As the video continued, the camera followed the entity¡¯s movements, scanning the surroundings.

    "It found the first life form," Zheng Rong said.

    The image paused over a body in the nebula. The entity inspected it closely, turning the body over and over. Zheng Rong explained, "It may have felt some joy in finding one of its kind, but that kindred spirit was already dead."

    "It found six of its kind over an immeasurably long period. Please note," Zheng Rong pointed to the dust and matter floating nearby, "these particles were always surrounding it, constantly coalescing."

    Someone interrupted, asking, "How did it do that?"

    Zheng Rong shook his head. "Perhaps through brainwave resonance, or what we call ¡®thought materialization.¡¯ It could use its thoughts to gather matter and form it into whatever shape it desired."

    The silvery matter gathered more and more, forming beside it.

    "It built itself a home¡ªor perhaps a ¡®cocoon,¡¯" Zheng Rong said calmly. "This is the way a new individual seeks to protect itself."

    Zheng Rong paused the video.

    "This is as far as its homeland''s past goes. What do you think it is?"

    The attendees discussed among themselves, but they could not reach a definitive conclusion.

    Zheng Rong said, "According to my teacher''s concept, it was a solitary being in the Mayan Nebula¡ªa single entity representing an entire race. This form of life has never been heard of among intelligent species. My teacher believed that it might not be appropriate to define its existence as ¡®biological.¡¯ Perhaps defining it as a ¡®star¡¯ is more fitting."

    The room stirred once again. Zheng Rong nodded. "Yes, we believe it was a unique life-bearing celestial body. And the corpses it discovered were other stars¡ªdead stellar life forms from its cosmic system."

    "Are you saying that planets are alive?! Stars, planets¡ªthese things have life?" someone asked loudly.

    Zheng Rong responded, "How can you prove that stars aren¡¯t alive?"

    Someone else countered, "The sun is composed of tritium, hydrogen, and other elements. Can those elements form life?"

    Zheng Rong asked, "What is life?"

    General Wei Rong replied, "Metabolism, reproduction."

    Zheng Rong said, "I¡¯m not referring to the narrow sense of life based on Earth''s biological systems. That''s just Earth life, not interstellar life. Astrophysics has given us the broader principle for distinguishing life in the universe: any entity that emits self-conscious waves is life."

    The hall fell silent.

    Zheng Rong continued, "When a star can emit non-rhythmic conscious waves, it proves that it¡¯s thinking. As for why we can¡¯t understand it, that¡¯s simply because we have no way of communicating with it."

    General Wei Rong asked, "According to your explanation, then, are all the stars in the universe intelligent beings?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "Perhaps they are. Perhaps they aren¡¯t. With the current level of human technology, we can¡¯t prove it either way. Let¡¯s continue watching."

 42 - The Genetic Chain of the Maya

    The interstellar journey flashed by in an instant, and when the screen lit up again, they had already arrived at the outer edge of the Milky Way.

    The entire Milky Way resembled a massive spiral, with hundreds of billions of stars gleaming within it.

    "It¡¯s impossible to trace how long It took to reach our world, but from the edge of the Milky Way to the Orion Arm where we are, it¡¯s about seventy thousand light-years," said Zheng Rong.

    General Wei Rong asked, "How did It know there was intelligent life on Earth? I mean, even traveling at the speed of light, it would take seventy thousand years. During that long period, human civilization has existed for less than ten thousand years."

    Zheng Rong replied, "That involves some knowledge of physics, and it¡¯s quite complex."

    General Wei Rong said, "This is crucial for our upcoming actions."

    "Alright," said Zheng Rong. "Most of the data was lost when Northern Ireland and Alaska fell, so I can only give a simple explanation using basic physics."

    "Particle generators and particle attractors." Zheng Rong picked up a metal box from the podium. "Its function is quite peculiar. This is an instrument the Mayans acquired during their interstellar travels."

    "There¡¯s no record of it in this footage, and It likely couldn¡¯t have built such precise spatial equipment by Its own means. The only theory is that after leaving Its homeland, It stumbled upon an abandoned spaceship from another intelligent species in the vastness of space¡­ Did you notice?"

    "From the initial misty cocoon to the current silver disc-shaped mothership, Its appearance has changed significantly. The only possibility is that the ship isn¡¯t Its own but something It picked up along the way."

    "It acquired these two instruments and figured out some of their uses¡­ sending out a gravitational field into space."

    Zheng Rong said, "Light travels in a straight line through space, which doesn¡¯t need repeating. However, the spatial fabric can warp due to high-mass objects within it. For example, here is a flat, empty space."

    He picked up a piece of paper, laying it flat over a cup¡¯s opening, and rolled a small steel bead from the edge of the paper: "Imagine this steel bead¡¯s path is the light."

    He said, "Now, if there is a massive object in this space¡­" He placed a set of keys on the paper, pressing it down to form a bowl-shaped depression. He rolled the bead again, and it circled around in the dent before smoothly rolling out.

    "The bead¡¯s trajectory is lengthened due to the spatial distortion," Zheng Rong explained. "If a spaceship travels from one side of the paper to the other, and a gravitational field appears in the middle, the path can be greatly shortened. If the gravitational field becomes strong enough, it could even fold the paper, bringing two points together. This is the principle behind hyperspace travel in science fiction. But to make the paper fold into an infinitely deep funnel of gravity, you¡¯d have to create a black hole at the spatial positioning point, which would pull in all light¡ªso it couldn¡¯t exist."

    General Wei Rong said, "I see. But you still haven¡¯t explained why this seventy-thousand-light-year gap would..."

    "No," Zheng Rong said, "you still don¡¯t understand. What is time?"

    "The Sun is eight light-minutes away from us," Zheng Rong said. "If the Sun were to go out right now, what would happen to Earth?"

    General Wei Rong frowned and didn¡¯t answer.

    "The Sun¡¯s gravitational influence would dissipate, and all planets in the solar system would drift outward¡­" someone answered in place of the General.

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    Zheng Rong asked, "Now? Are you sure it¡¯s now?"

    Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Everything will happen eight minutes and forty-four seconds later. Even if the Sun were to be destroyed right now, Earth would continue as normal because we aren¡¯t within the Sun¡¯s current light cone. After the Sun goes out, the last bit of light from its surface will still shine on Earth. We are in the Sun¡¯s future light cone. If we were to chase that last beam of light after the Sun¡¯s destruction and keep up with it, then to us, the Sun would never go out. If we remain here, we won¡¯t experience the effects of its destruction until eight minutes later."

    "So," Zheng Rong said, "time arises from the general propagation of light. The Earth¡¯s state was captured by It. The Earth It saw was from the past, and by the time It reached Earth, It arrived at a point in time after what It had observed. But this time gap wasn¡¯t very long."

    "So It came to the wrong place," General Wei Rong said gravely.

    Zheng Rong nodded, "That¡¯s right, but let me correct that. It didn¡¯t come to the wrong place¡ªit came at the wrong time."

    General Wei Rong asked, "What time did It actually want to arrive?"

    Zheng Rong said, "That¡¯s hard to say. Perhaps It wanted to alter early humans before intelligent life appeared, as the earlier in development It intervened, the more malleable the genetic and intellectual foundations would be. This period is controllable."

    "In other words, from the moment It observed the light from seventy thousand years ago, It could use spatial gravitational field theory to choose any point in the light cone between that moment and now to land. The closer to the initial observation point, the harder it becomes, until it becomes impossible."

    "The time It arrived on Earth coincided with the last Ice Age, when primitive human society had just emerged. But we don¡¯t know exactly when It observed Earth. Perhaps, to It, the timing was still suitable."

    "Ancient Babylon, ancient Egypt¡­ Maya civilization, and so on," Zheng Rong said. "Our survey reports cover this in detail, so I won¡¯t elaborate. In any case, It came to our home."

    General Wei Rong sat up uneasily. "What was Its purpose in coming?"

    "To find others like It, or at least similar entities," Zheng Rong said. "We still don¡¯t fully know Its true purpose. If I could meet It face-to-face again, I would have countless questions to ask."

    "Its way of thinking is very similar to humans¡¯. It believes that the physical body is merely a vessel for consciousness waves, and after the body¡¯s metabolism stops, the consciousness wave can seek a new vessel to inhabit," Zheng Rong explained. "From Its ability to gather matter through conscious thought, Its consciousness waves must be extremely powerful."

    "Try comparing the pulses generated by a star to the brainwaves of a human, and you¡¯ll get a rough idea. It started searching among humans for vessels that could serve as a ''shell''." Zheng Rong pressed a button, and an image of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon appeared: "This is what we found in our last expedition¡ªthe laboratory of the gods."

    "It had the Sumerians offer sacrifices and conducted research in this subspace, combining and modifying different organisms. The first target was their eyes."

    "Eyes were crucial to It because they determine whether information can be understood," Zheng Rong continued. "It tried to resurrect Its companions, but the eye experiments failed, or rather, It found it extremely difficult. Two fused pupils could never fully merge."

    "Then It began studying the relationship between brainwaves and the vessel," Zheng Rong said. "This is similar to the Eastern concept of ¡®spirit possession.¡¯ Unfortunately, the human brain structure cannot withstand such strong consciousness waves. Even the most strong-willed individuals would die from overheating brain cells in a short time."

    General Wei Rong said, "No suitable hosts."

    Zheng Rong sighed and replied, "No suitable hosts have been found so far."

    "To It, human life forms are both fascinating and bizarre," Zheng Rong explained. "We can try to imagine Its mindset¡ªa being that never ages, or whose lifespan rivals that of cosmic nebulae, watching unknown species, where generation after generation dies, and newborns keep replacing them. How would It react to seeing a species exchange individual death for collective immortality?"

    General Wei Rong said, "It would see such creatures as inferior."

    Zheng Rong nodded, "Yes. Like ants, endless to kill. Every moment in the universe, thousands die and more are born, like Amazonian frogs, salmon, termites¡­ This is characteristic of lower life forms. It must have simply categorized humans in the same way."

    "In order to create a suitable individual," Zheng Rong said, pressing another button, the image slowing down. "It made a decision. It believed that the entire human race needed to be advanced, so that in the future, a suitable ''shell'' could be selected. So It took a portion of Its own genes¡­"

    On the screen, the Maya entity separated a drop of rose-red blood in front of a crystal. The crystal magnified the blood countless times, revealing a myriad of intricate symbols, interlocking and interwoven with exquisite precision, as though they were the pinnacle of cosmic craftsmanship.

    The entire audience held their breath.

    "It used a part of Its own blood, extracting over a billion gene fragments and implanting them into human bodies. This part here," Zheng Rong said, pressing a few buttons to show a small section of a spiraling genetic chain.

    That segment was blurry. Zheng Rong explained, "This is a decoded human genetic sample provided by the Medical Association. After nearly a month of searching, we finally found Its mutated fragment."

    The foreign symbols on the gene chain had dimmed, entangled and covered by other genes, almost indistinguishable.

    "Whose genes are these?" General Wei Rong asked.

    "Everyone''s," Zheng Rong replied. "Thousands of years later, every human carries Its genes in their blood. We sampled a thousand individuals, and all had the same result, located in this very section."

    "The genetics group concluded in their report," Zheng Rong continued, "that human genes have suppressed the foreign genes, making them recessive. So far¡­ no dominant carriers have been found."

    General Wei Rong remained silent, and so did Zheng Rong.

    "In Its plan, a long wait was required," Zheng Rong said emotionlessly. "So It left Earth again, heading toward the center of the galaxy. The content of the fourth tablet comes next. This is crucial¡ªthe reason for the Maya invasion lies in the final tablet. Do any of you need a break?"

    General Wei Rong asked, "One more question. Why did It leave the tablets?"

    Zheng Rong said, "Perhaps It feared that Its return would take too long. Or maybe It hoped that in Its absence, human pupils and bodies would evolve into suitable vessels over time. So It left the tablets, so that anyone who met the conditions could understand them. Let''s take a short break."

 43 - The Destruction of the Milky Way

    Zheng Rong walked to the corridor at the back of the auditorium, pulled out a cigarette, but couldn''t find a lighter.

    With a click, a lighter ignited in front of him. Zheng leaned forward to light his cigarette and exhaled.

    Xiang Yu''s pupils reflected the dancing flame as he pocketed the lighter, quietly watching Zheng Rong.

    "Have you seen Xifeng?" Xiang Yu asked, leaning against the wall, lost in thought.

    Zheng smiled, "A good name. He''s healthy."

    Zheng glanced up, and Xiang Yu subtly avoided his gaze. Both men had things they were hiding from each other, a tacit understanding hanging between them.

    "My brother admired you all his life," Zheng Rong said. "He knew you better than you know yourself. So when the particle generator started working, you were its first target."

    Xiang Yu, intrigued, asked, "What did he know about me?"

    Zheng replied, "Almost everything. He idolized you¡ªthought of you as a hero."

    Xiang Yu was silent for a long time before speaking. "Zheng Rong, in your opinion, what makes a person a hero?"

    This question even stumped Zheng Rong.

    Xiang Yu sneered, "Aren''t you a scholar of history and the occult?"

    Zheng responded, "The more you know, the harder it is to come to a conclusion."

    Xiang Yu was a myth of invincibility. He led an army of 30,000 and crushed the 560,000-strong forces of Han Wang at the Battle of Pengcheng. He had once dismantled the mighty Qin Empire with his unparalleled bravery and noble bloodline, commanding armies so vast that the entire Yellow and Yangtze River basins submitted to him. Yet despite his military prowess, he met his defeat at the Battle of Gaixia, declaring that he could no longer face his people and choosing death over crossing the river to safety.

    The history books recounted these events in great detail, knowledge that Zheng Rong had long since internalized. Lin Siyin, his fellow student, had a low opinion of Xiang Yu. But Xiang Yu wasn¡¯t seeking historical praise. What answer did he want from Zheng?

    "Brother," Zheng Rong said, "you are a..."

    Before he could finish, Xiang Yu interrupted, "I am not your brother."

    Zheng smiled, but Xiang Yu raised his hand, gently brushing Zheng¡¯s face with the back of his fingers. "You''ve always treated me kindly, as if I were Zheng Feng. If he were still alive, I¡¯d just be a stranger to you, wouldn¡¯t I? Like Lance?"

    "I don¡¯t know," Zheng said softly. "I¡¯ve always been this way, not fond of smiling or talking to others."

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    "And yet, you smile at me because you find me reassuring."

    "Do you know," Zheng continued, "my brother and I think differently. He admired you for your military genius, your daring gamble on the battlefield at Julu, pitting tens of thousands of lives against the 400,000-strong Qin army¡ªa reckless, all-or-nothing wager. But I admire you for your character."

    "Character?" Xiang Yu echoed.

    Zheng took a drag from his cigarette, smiling, "I think you¡¯re a romantic hero, deep down."

    "I¡¯ve read historical records that say, when you broke ties with Liu Bang, you proposed a duel, a one-on-one fight to decide the fate of the empire. You were tired of the long years of war and wanted a final showdown."

    Xiang Yu recited, "After years of strife across the land, the people are weary. Let us settle this with sword and spear in a single duel for the fate of the empire."

    Zheng smiled knowingly, "That¡¯s it. Many historians call it childish, but I think¡­ it¡¯s romantic."

    Xiang Yu sighed. Zheng added, "Who would have thought that the greatest military genius in history would suggest such a duel¡ªfighting in place of the people to decide the empire¡¯s fate."

    Xiang Yu asked, "Is that how you see me?"

    Zheng said, "Your wars were a form of art, filled with beauty, even your death¡­ You are a romantic hero."

    Xiang Yu chuckled, "Thank you."

    Zheng said, "Shall we head back? What do you think they¡¯ll decide after hearing the report?"

    Xiang Yu hesitated before answering, "It depends. Maybe in a few days, they¡¯ll have a plan."

    Zheng waved dismissively, "No, they¡¯ve already made their decision. The report today, Wei Rong and the military leaders already knew everything."

    Xiang Yu¡¯s eyebrow twitched. "Why?"

    Zheng replied, "They just wanted to hear me confirm it. The entire research process, my mentor¡¯s theories¡ªeverything was under their watch. I represent my mentor¡¯s legacy, and they fear I might still have¡­"

    Xiang Yu finished the thought, "¡­something left unsaid."

    Zheng stubbed out his cigarette, hands in his coat pockets, and walked away without answering. His figure, though slender, carried a will and resolve beyond that of most human scholars. He had decided to bury this secret deep within himself, even if it led to humanity¡¯s extinction.

    ¡°I am no martyr, and neither is Xiang Yu,¡± a voice inside Zheng¡¯s mind whispered. "I¡¯ve given enough for humanity¡ªmy brother, my lover. Let me keep something for myself, to protect those few I cannot lose."

    When Zheng stepped onto the stage, the lights in the hall dimmed, and Xiang Yu quietly took a seat in the back.

    Zheng¡¯s silhouette was shrouded in shadow, his expression unreadable.

    "Let¡¯s continue," Zheng said. "We left off at the fourth tablet. What comes next, I assure you, is a story none of you have ever heard."

    He pressed play, and a brilliant white light filled the screen. The light flickered as Zheng said, "Keep your eyes open¡ªthe hyperspace journey is about to end."

    Suddenly, all the stars gently faded away in space, revealing a vast nebula before them. The ship passed through it, and no stars appeared in view.

    A massive black sphere slowly rotated in the void. Its core was pitch black, surrounded by a faint halo of white light, like the sun during an eclipse.

    "This is the center of the Milky Way¡ªthe ¡®core¡¯ of the galaxy," Zheng explained.

    The room erupted in gasps. Zheng continued, "What we¡¯re seeing is the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The ship is observing it from a great distance. According to my mentor¡¯s calculations, this black hole has a diameter of 14,000 light-years. It formed from the matter expelled during the Big Bang and drives the slow rotation of the entire galaxy¡ªits four spiral arms and everything we know as the Milky Way. The solar system takes about 140 million years to complete one orbit around it."

    He pointed to the screen, "The light around the black hole is called the ¡®event horizon.¡¯ The further from it you are, the weaker its gravitational pull, allowing some light to escape."

    "This black hole likely formed around 14 billion years ago, making it the ancestor of our galaxy. Initially, the galaxy was a chaotic, formless mass of material, and this black hole was the only thing holding it together. Over billions of years, it ejected particles, possibly causing another Big Bang, flinging out stars, planets, and nebulae. Eventually, the black hole collapsed in on itself, creating the dense singularity we see now."

    Zheng continued his explanation, mapping out the scientific principles of gravitational forces and the effects of black holes, detailing how their immense pull can warp time and space. As the video slowed to a crawl, the spaceship on the screen unleashed a beam of energy at the black hole. The audience gasped in fear as they witnessed this unfathomable act, with Wei Rong remaining impassive.

    Zheng explained, "The Mayans used their particle generator and attractor to fire a shot at the black hole. What happened next caused the collapse of known physical laws. The energy accelerated light particles beyond their natural speed, triggering chaos in the surrounding matter."

    In the wake of the blast, the black hole began to disintegrate, its material spreading into a cosmic storm of dust and energy, creating a cataclysmic chain reaction across the galaxy. Stars began to explode, and planets were torn apart as the entire Milky Way started to unravel.

    "It¡¯s over," Zheng finally declared. "The Milky Way is dying."

    The audience was left in stunned silence as Zheng laid out the grim reality: the core of the galaxy had been destroyed, setting off a wave of destruction that would eventually reach Earth. Though it would take 50,000 years for the effects to reach the solar system, the fate of the galaxy was sealed.

    The screen showed the last, desperate moments of the Mayan entity, a decaying figure whose final words echoed in the dark: "The world is ending. I have destroyed the core. You will face a new era, a new age¡ªlife or death."

 44 - The Corridor of Time

    "A long time ago, I left my home," Zheng Rong said softly. "I traveled through the vastness of the universe and arrived among you."

    The attendees all sat up straight, knowing that Zheng Rong was about to explain, in his own unique way, the great calamity that had ravaged Earth for decades. The survival of future humanity and the continuation of life on Earth hung in the balance of this conversation. Many years later, when historians compiled the detailed records of the Cape of Good Hope Conference, they couldn''t help but marvel at the boundless intelligence of humanity. This was not just the work of Zheng Rong but the result of countless scholars¡ªliving and dead¡ªstanding on the shoulders of giants, contemplating the vastness of the universe and engaging in a dialogue with the stars.

    Zheng Rong''s self-narration, when reflected upon after the dust of war had settled, far exceeded the practical level, touching on the ultimate purpose of cosmic life and the essence of existence itself.

    In that question-and-answer session, there was only one true questioner¡ªGeneral Wei Rong, who later historians referred to as "the mortal¡¯s inquisitor." There was also only one true respondent¡ªZheng Rong, known as "the answerer of time."

    ¡°Why did you come here?¡± General Wei Rong asked gravely.

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. From the moment I opened my eyes in the nebula of my homeland, the singularity of my consciousness made me a solitary being. I found the corpses of my companions and developed an insatiable curiosity about survival and death, existence and destruction.¡±

    ¡°On my long interstellar journey, I arrived at the solar system on the edge of the Milky Way,¡± Zheng Rong removed his hat, placing it over his chest, ¡°and met you, humans.¡±

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°What impression do you have of us?¡±

    Zheng Rong responded, ¡°You are a highly peculiar existence. In all my journeys through the stars, this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered life like yours.¡±

    The room was silent. Wei Rong asked, ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°Before I encountered you, I had never understood the concept of ¡®community.¡¯ You are not the only intelligent life in the universe, but the universe operates under the law of singularity. Every planet and celestial body is an independent entity, evolving for billions of years after the Big Bang, with almost no end.¡±

    ¡°The spin of celestial bodies generates pulses, molecules, and particles create consciousness waves. I once believed that, among the vastness of the stars, Earth was my only similar companion.¡±

    ¡°But I was wrong. Upon arriving on Earth, when I attempted to communicate directly with the planet through thought, there was no response. The only ones who answered me were you¡ªhumans. You are parasites, derivatives, a strange phenomenon.¡±

    ¡°You do not have the long, solitary existence of independent celestial bodies. You resemble an asteroid belt, dependent on your parent star. Individuals are born, age, and die within the collective, only to be replaced by new ones. Your species undergoes a process of renewal, like an unending virus¡ªresilient and constantly evolving.¡±

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to imagine what your form of life is like.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied politely, ¡°It¡¯s like explaining ice to a summer insect¡ªyou will never be able to understand my existence and death.¡±

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°So what do you plan to do with us humans?¡±

    Zheng Rong answered, ¡°Study, seek answers, explore the relationship between your weak consciousness and its vessel. I aim to elevate lower life forms toward higher evolution and discover the connection between the soul and its vessel in the macro world.¡±

    ¡°The soul is a dispersible wave of energy, dependent on the original composition of life and the memories it accumulates during existence. Given practical limitations, I cannot dissect an entire planet to prove my hypothesis. Humans are like miniature stars¡ªthey exist, collapse, and undergo what you call ¡®aging,¡¯ making you ideal subjects for my research.¡±

    Wei Rong, uneasy, said, ¡°So you implanted your genetic fragments into human bodies.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded slowly, ¡°Yes. I wanted to lead you toward immortality, to extend your lives indefinitely, just like your parent star.¡±

    Wei Rong responded, ¡°But you failed.¡±

    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t realize this,¡± Zheng said. ¡°After observing your society, I left Earth once again to seek new companions. But during my travels, I discovered a serious problem.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°What problem?¡±

    Zheng Rong answered softly, ¡°I began to age.¡±

    Wei Rong, startled, asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    Zheng Rong shook his head slowly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, even I cannot answer that question. During my journey, I developed a hypothesis: All things follow their own unique evolutionary rules. When I implanted my genetic fragments into humans, I divided my body into billions of parts, becoming intertwined with Earth¡¯s life forms. This caused a subtle change in my essence, accelerating my aging process.¡±

    Wei Rong found this hard to believe, ¡°This is unbelievable.¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°There is a strange but inevitable connection between your vessels and mine. By using my body as a price, I finally discovered this link.¡±

    ¡°Life is an ongoing evolution from lower forms to higher ones,¡± Zheng Rong finally concluded. ¡°Humans have replaced individual survival with the eternal continuity of their species. By absorbing my genetic fragments, you¡¯ve caused me to age throughout my journey. This is a transition from lower to higher life. I am the inferior alien life form.¡±

    Wei Rong replied slowly, ¡°You¡¯re saying that humans, as a life form, are superior to you, an alien god.¡±

    Zheng Rong remained silent.

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°You are an independent interstellar entity. Are you implying that the life form of a planet is the lowest?¡±

    Zheng Rong answered, ¡°Yes. One of your scholars once called the first life forms after the Big Bang¡ªthe stars and their consciousness¡ªthe ¡®primeval life forms.¡¯ These gave birth to planets like Earth and those in the solar system, which are known as secondary life forms.¡±

    ¡°The natural environment, which depends on planets, is a tertiary life form¡ªmountains, rivers, oceans.¡±

    ¡°Earth¡¯s environment gave rise to a fourth form of life: higher life forms, such as humans.¡±

    ¡°When I arrived at the center of the galaxy, I saw evidence that reinforced my theory. From the explosion of the singularity, to galaxies, to stars, and finally to the ant-like species on the surface of planets, the entire universe evolves from the macro to the micro, constantly transforming from lower to higher forms.¡±

    Wei Rong responded, ¡°This is a paradox.¡±

    Zheng Rong corrected him, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. What truly differentiates the levels of life? Is it the complexity of their structures or their vitality and sustainability? It¡¯s neither. I once thought the same, but that was a narrow view.¡±

    "The real marker that distinguishes life forms," Zheng Rong continued, "is not their structure. A virus is structurally simpler than a human body¡ªit has only DNA and a shell. According to human logic, a virus is undoubtedly a lower life form."

    Wei Rong, still unsettled, asked, "Then, is it their ability to reproduce?"

    Zheng Rong shook his head, "No. The measure of life in the universe is determined by the causal branches of the cosmic tree."

    "From the moment of the Big Bang, an invisible cosmic tree of causality formed. The main branches are galaxies, the sub-branches are stars, and from those, solar systems and planets emerge. This is a higher level of evolution."

    "The tree continues to grow, eventually giving rise to self-aware life forms on the surfaces of planets¡ªpushing ever further along its branches."

    "This is the ultimate result of causality, stemming from the ¡®cause¡¯ of the Big Bang. The more distant a life form is from the root of the cosmic tree, the more advanced it is. Even viruses represent the ultimate evolution of life forms, closer to the branches'' end. This is the true rule for defining life forms in the universe."

    The hall fell into a long silence.

    Wei Rong finally asked, ¡°What did you see at the center of the galaxy?¡±

    Zheng Rong replied, ¡°Stars. Countless star souls. After they perished, their consciousness waves were pulled into the ''core'' of the galaxy, trapped on the surface of the black hole, unable to escape¡ªdrifting as imprisoned thoughts."

    "These stars were born, aged, and exploded throughout the evolution of the galaxy. After their physical forms died, their souls drifted toward the galactic core, where they existed for eons in darkness, unable to escape."

    "When I fired that shot at the core, I released many star souls similar to mine. After their escape, they found new vessels¡ªmy body."

    Wei Rong couldn¡¯t respond. A scholar in the audience spoke in his place, ¡°What did it feel like to have your body taken over?¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Zheng Rong smiled, ¡°It felt awful. They learned about my journey and didn¡¯t want to leave my body.¡±

    Someone joked, ¡°So, are there millions of planets having a meeting inside you?¡±

    Many laughed, and Zheng Rong replied, "To be precise, they are star souls. They¡¯ve taken over my body and replaced me. This experience is far more interesting than drifting through space, following a set orbit and waiting to absorb light."

    "Being able to move freely through the universe without worrying about the constraints of physical laws¡ªnow that''s a new experience."

    ¡°But your body is about to die,¡± Wei Rong pointed out.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng Rong admitted, ¡°and that¡¯s the problem. That¡¯s why they manipulated me to return to Earth.¡±

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. If your body dies, what will happen?¡±

    Zheng Rong explained, ¡°It¡¯s simple. Once I die, my body will no longer be able to contain these many consciousness waves. They will scatter again, drifting through the universe. If they encounter a black hole, they will be trapped once more, unable to escape for eternity.¡±

    ¡°So, to ensure their freedom, they must keep your body alive,¡± Wei Rong clarified.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Zheng confirmed.

    ¡°Or they could find a new vessel,¡± Wei Rong suggested.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Zheng replied. ¡°Earth¡¯s humans do not have the physical conditions to house powerful star souls.¡±

    Wei Rong said, ¡°In any case, you¡¯ve returned.¡±

    ¡°To be precise, I¡¯ve been driven back to Earth by countless new souls,¡± Zheng corrected.

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°And the purpose of your return?¡±

    ¡°To reverse the evolutionary process,¡± Zheng said.

    Wei Rong was speechless.

    Zheng pointed to his temple, smiling slightly, "As we discussed earlier, I divided my body¡¯s life essence among all the people of Earth, which accelerated my own aging and led to my imminent death. They believe that to save my body, this process must be reversed¡ªby destroying all humans carrying my genetic material."

    This revelation was far more shocking than the first, but Zheng continued in a calm tone, as if discussing something unrelated to him:

    "Whether the process can be reversed or not, it¡¯s the only option left."

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°You want to kill all of us to restore your life?¡±

    Zheng simply replied, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Someone interjected, "Dr. Zheng mentioned earlier that this is a process of lower life forms evolving into higher ones. The entities in the Mayan ship are lower life forms compared to us, and by merging with us, they initiated an evolution toward higher forms. According to Darwin¡¯s theory, this process is irreversible. This touches on two principles that our research group has laid out for our next actions."

    "Perhaps," Zheng agreed, "There are too many unsolvable mysteries in the universe, even for me."

    Wei Rong asked, "What do you expect us to do?"

    "You have two choices, both simple," Zheng answered.

    "One, rescue me by killing me."

    "Or two, wait. Let my body age naturally. After my death, the star souls will lose their vessel and eventually dissipate. Without my consciousness to modify them, the metal cocoons they use as temporary vessels will rust and break down. When the last one fails, the star souls will disappear, leaving Earth, and humanity will no longer be affected."

    Wei Rong asked, ¡°If we do nothing, how long will that take?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zheng said. ¡°When my ship crashes and the last cocoon rusts away, you¡¯ll be safe. It could take years, centuries, thousands of years, or even longer. In 50,000 years, the destruction of the galactic core will trigger a chain reaction, and the universe will begin a new cycle of collapse, starting with the Milky Way. Who knows?¡±

    "In the face of time, all existence will perish. None of them last longer than the others." Zheng concluded his speech with an elegant finality. "My report is finished, and my task is done."

    "Let us mourn the comrades we lost in this war. Until we meet again in heaven." Zheng bowed slightly, put on his hat, tucked his hands into his coat pockets, and left the hall.

    No one stood up, and no one clapped. Everyone sat in quiet reflection.

 45 - Dawn of the Heroes

    It was the darkest hour before dawn.

    Humanity was barely holding on, with nearly all of its military forces suffering devastating blows. The fall of Northern Ireland and Alaska left Earth''s military unable to mount any effective resistance.

    The truth had come too late. If this report had happened a few years earlier, or even just one year earlier, the Earth Defense Coalition might have made a desperate last stand. Now, however, all that remained at the Cape of Good Hope were fewer than twenty nuclear warheads, a hundred tanks, and several dozen military helicopters.

    The scholars completed their final tasks, each gathering their materials and reports before retreating to their new research labs to work on last-minute projects in preparation for the end. Everyone was focused on their own tasks, not interfering with one another. Zheng Rong disbanded his research team, locked himself in his room with a copy of the Zizhi Tongjian, and ceased all interaction with the military. Even if Earth was to be destroyed tomorrow, there was still work to be done. Zheng Rong didn¡¯t know what else to do, so he read.

    He delved into human history, perhaps inspired by the story of the Maya star beings. From the moment the first primitive human stood upright 750,000 years ago to the societal transformations of the modern era, Zheng Rong found himself constantly wondering: Did the Maya star beings leave humanity with only that hazy fragment of recessive genes?

    From the end of the Ice Age, 10,000 years ago, to the 21st century, human development had accelerated at an astonishing pace¡ªfar faster than the slow evolution that had governed human existence since its dawn. If one were to plot a graph of human intellectual evolution, it would show a sudden sharp rise 10,000 years ago, followed by another steep climb at the Industrial Revolution, culminating in a peak around 2012. When humanity first looked up at the stars and began asking questions about the universe, their thoughts exploded like a nebula, unstoppable.

    Wise individuals began emerging in droves¡ªfrom Newton to Einstein, and finally to the priests of the end times. Knowledge expanded exponentially, pushing society to new heights, with each new era building on the last at an ever-accelerating pace. This rapid evolution far surpassed the developmental "infancy" of early humanity.

    Three days later, Wei Rong visited.

    "Good day, Doctor," he said.

    Zheng Rong nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit but remained silent, knowing the general had something to say.

    Wei Rong removed his military cap, placing it on the table, and asked, "What have you been up to lately?"

    Zheng Rong replied, "Reading. Do you have something to say? Is there anything left that I can do for the military?"

    "No, nothing specific. I was passing by and thought I''d stop in for a chat. What have you been reading? Any insights?" Wei Rong asked.

    Zheng Rong had known General Wei Rong since he was a child, back when the general was much younger and had helped lead the mass migration of the Chinese people. He had taken special care of Zheng Rong and his brother, Zheng Feng, as the children of scientists.

    "I¡¯ve been reading about the history of human development," Zheng replied. "And recently, I¡¯ve had a question."

    Wei Rong nodded in acknowledgment, and Zheng continued, "Sometimes I wonder¡ªif the Maya star beings had never appeared, and if Earth had not suffered this catastrophe in 2012, what direction would humanity have taken?"

    "Medical technology would have continued to evolve, improving living conditions. We would have conquered the Earth, cultivated barren lands, and sought self-fulfillment. Civilization would have reached new spiritual heights. But what then? Where would humanity go next?"

    Wei Rong replied, "I remember a famous sociologist who made predictions for a thousand years into the future. He believed that human development was progressing far too quickly¡ªespecially in the last 10,000 years, from the Mesopotamian civilization to today, at a speed that surpassed any other period in Earth''s history."

    Zheng Rong agreed. "Exactly. We didn¡¯t just change ourselves; we changed the Earth. It¡¯s unfortunate that the scholar didn¡¯t account for extraterrestrial interference. He died in the disaster."

    Wei Rong asked, "Do you think we still have a chance?"

    Zheng Rong smiled faintly, "That¡¯s a question for you. We scientists don¡¯t deal with that."

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Wei Rong sighed, running a hand through his greying hair.

    Zheng Rong continued, "We had a teammate, a female doctor, who died during the fall of Northern Ireland. She once made an interesting prediction about the future of humanity."

    "What was the prediction?" Wei Rong asked, curious.

    Zheng replied, "She speculated that if medical technology advanced to its peak, it might be possible¡ªjust might¡ªfor the process of cell regeneration to never cease. The genetic code could be repaired indefinitely, and humans would never age. Immortality would be within reach."

    Wei Rong, intrigued, said, "Just like the gift the Maya star beings intended to implant in humanity?"

    Zheng nodded. "There might be a component of immortality in there."

    Wei Rong asked, "And what does that imply?"

    Zheng shrugged, "She believed that the day humanity achieves immortality could also be the day most of humanity perishes. Infinite lifespans would destroy Earth, and likely, humanity itself."

    "Life and death, existence and extinction¡ªthese are the ultimate laws of the universe. They are intricately connected, though we cannot fully understand how. But their connection is undeniable. If human individuals were to achieve eternal life, then the species as a whole would face total extinction. Countless people would die, one after the other, until only one solitary human remained on Earth."

    "That individual would replace the entire species, achieving immortality in the same way the Maya star beings and the stars themselves¡ªwhose lifespans span billions of years¡ªhave devolved into a form of regression."

    Wei Rong pondered, then asked, "Do you truly believe that our form of life is the most advanced in the universe?"

    Zheng Rong smiled, "Why not? At the very least, our ambitions are vast, and our goals are far-reaching. My brother died, but his legacy supports me, driving me to continue our mission."

    Wei Rong pointed a finger at Zheng Rong and said, "I remember your father. He passed his vision on to Zheng Feng, and now your brother has passed his unfinished work on to you..."

    Zheng nodded, "In a way, that¡¯s another form of immortality¡ªwhere the soul and will live on, carried through the beliefs of different people."

    Zheng fell silent after saying this, his hand instinctively reaching for the pendant he wore around his neck.

    Wei Rong put his cap back on and stood up, extending a hand to Zheng Rong.

    "You¡¯ve sacrificed so much¡ªyour brother, your family, and your¡­ lover," Wei Rong said. "You, Li Ying the bloodthirsty wolf, and the rest are all children of humanity."

    Zheng Rong shook his hand, saying nothing.

    As Wei Rong left, Zheng Rong said, "If there¡¯s anything else you need me to do, please let me know."

    "Not for now," Wei Rong replied. "Please rest well. We¡¯ll need your expertise in rebuilding after the war."

    A strange feeling stirred in Zheng Rong¡¯s heart as Wei Rong departed.

    He thought over the general''s final words, standing by the window and looking out. The square was deserted, and the patrolling soldiers had all been called away.

    Frowning, Zheng grabbed his coat and rushed toward the military base. Flashing his ID card, he passed through the defense checkpoints and entered the Allied headquarters.

    The atmosphere was oddly relaxed. Soldiers were gathered in the recreational room, drinking and chatting. Zheng stood for a moment before pulling aside one of the soldiers. "What¡¯s going on?" he asked.

    The soldier nodded politely. "The defense department announced a three-day leave starting today."

    Zheng was baffled, unable to get more answers. "Has General Lance returned?"

    The soldier¡¯s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! You¡¯re Dr. Zheng Rong! General Lance returned two days ago and is now commanding the newly reorganized 72nd Army. His office is in the east wing."

    Zheng nodded and headed east.

    In the living quarters, there was a bar behind the mess hall for the soldiers, normally off-limits to lower-ranked officers, but it was unusually crowded today.

    Lance and Xiang Yu were sitting at the farthest bar counter.

    "What¡¯s going on outside?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Lance replied, "I thought you were used to it by now. How do you expect me to answer that?"

    Lance''s injury had healed considerably, though his shoulder was still bandaged, with a strip of white gauze visible at his neck.

    Xiang Yu smirked, "Classified. Can¡¯t disclose it."

    Zheng Rong chuckled.

    He stood by the bar and noticed that both Lance and Xiang Yu were seated sideways, each with a glass of whiskey, seemingly chatting and drinking. A dice cup sat overturned on the bar.

    "Odd number," Lance said.

    Xiang Yu replied, "In that case, I¡¯ll choose even."

    "What are you two doing?" Zheng Rong asked again. "Surely this isn''t classified, is it?"

    Lance grinned at Xiang Yu, "We¡¯re gambling, just like I used to with your brother."

    Xiang Yu smiled, "Who do you think will win?"

    He playfully tapped Zheng Rong¡¯s cheek with his finger.

    Zheng Rong answered, "Definitely my brother. Lance never won a dice game when drinking."

    Neither Lance nor Xiang Yu responded.

    Frowning slightly, Zheng Rong asked, "What are you gambling on?"

    Lance asked, "Do you want me to lose, Zheng Rong?"

    Sensing something off in the air, Zheng Rong replied, "What is it you¡¯re betting on?"

    Lance said, "Who do you want to win, Zheng Rong? You have one more chance."

    Zheng Rong sensed a shift in the atmosphere and remarked, "You aren¡¯t betting on life and death, are you? That¡¯s absurd."

    Xiang Yu laughed softly, "He said you lost. Didn¡¯t you hear him?"

    Lance spoke quietly, "It doesn¡¯t matter what he said. Let¡¯s see if the dice is odd or even."

    Xiang Yu downed his whiskey, "No need to check. I¡¯ve won. He wants me to win."

    Lance remained silent for a long time, then pushed the glass aside and turned away from the bar.

    "Where are you going, Lance?" Zheng Rong called out.

    For the first time, Lance ignored him. He adjusted his military cap, pushed past the noisy soldiers, and left the bar without looking back.

    Xiang Yu said, "We were betting on who would take the mission. The loser goes, the winner¡­ stays to look after you."

    "What does that mean?!" Zheng Rong demanded. "What mission are you talking about?"

    Xiang Yu shrugged, smiling as if he were teasing a younger brother. "Neither of us can go," Zheng Rong said, losing his patience. "I¡¯m going to find General Wei Rong."

    Xiang Yu reached out to ruffle Zheng Rong¡¯s hair, still smiling. After a long pause, he said, "Zheng Rong..."

    "I¡¯ll be back after I talk to him," Zheng replied, turning and chasing after Lance as he left the east wing.

    Xiang Yu ordered another whiskey and lifted the dice cup, revealing two blood-red dice showing four pips each¡ªa perfect pair.

    Zheng hurried to the central district, outside the high-ranking officers'' offices. He ran up the spiral stone stairs, out of breath, pausing on the platform to catch his breath, leaning against the wall.

    "I need to see General Wei Rong," he told the guard.

    "The General is busy, Dr. Zheng. Please wait," the guard replied, recognizing Zheng''s credentials.

    Lance spoke from the other side of the platform, "He¡¯s in a meeting, Zheng. Did Xiang Yu tell you everything?"

    Zheng hadn¡¯t noticed Lance standing there, waiting. Perhaps they shared the same purpose, or perhaps Lance had known Zheng would come.

    Lance turned to face him, his clear blue eyes reminiscent of the Aegean Sea, and his golden hair shining like the morning sun.

    "You¡¯re here too," Zheng Rong said stiffly.

    Lance smiled, "Yes, let¡¯s have a real talk, Zheng. There are a few things I¡¯ve been meaning to say to you."

 46 - The Knights Mission

    Zheng Rong gazed at Lance, an indescribable mix of emotions welling up inside him. The most important people in his life¡ªZheng Feng, Li Ying, Lance, and later Xiang Yu¡ªall shared a deep bond. In a way, they were all orphans, including Zheng Rong himself. Li Ying had lost his parents at a young age, Zheng Feng and Zheng Rong were the orphans of scientists, and Lance was their most loyal friend. They treated each other like family, relying on one another to survive the apocalypse. One by one, Zheng Rong had sent them off to the battlefield, only to later retrieve their bodies. Sometimes, he wished he could have sacrificed himself to the Maya star beings instead.

    But the responsibilities of a scholar and a soldier were different. Zheng Rong had realized this the moment Zheng Feng joined the military. Today, he was facing the departure of yet another loved one.

    Looking back, he had never treated Lance fairly. Yet, Lance had always accepted this, even embracing it. Lance was bold in expressing his feelings, willingly facing rejection or evasive responses. They had walked a seemingly endless road together. Zheng Rong pursued the spirits of his brother and Li Ying, while Lance followed behind, chasing after Zheng Rong¡¯s shadow. Finally, they had reached this dead end.

    "I guess..." Zheng Rong said bitterly, "I¡¯m the last one left alive. How absurd. How cruel."

    Lance laughed. "What did Xiang Yu tell you? At least you still have him."

    Zheng Rong walked to the edge of the platform, sitting against the railing, tears brimming in his eyes as he finally spoke. "Can¡¯t someone else go on this mission?"

    Lance didn¡¯t approach him. Uncharacteristically, he didn¡¯t offer any comfort. Instead, he spoke seriously. "Listen, Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong continued, "Does Wei Rong really believe this mission will turn the tide?"

    Lance replied, "No, it¡¯s not like that... Zheng Rong, I don¡¯t even know all the details of the plan. I think they¡ª"

    "Forget it," Zheng Rong interrupted. "I need to talk to him."

    "Wait!" Lance called out.

    "I can¡¯t accept this!" Zheng Rong declared.

    Lance suddenly said, "I don¡¯t love you, Zheng Rong."

    The silence between them lingered. After a while, Lance smiled. "Or rather, I don¡¯t love you the way you think I do."

    Zheng Rong, half-amused, half-exasperated, replied, "That doesn¡¯t matter. Even if we don¡¯t have... that kind of relationship, you¡¯re still family to me, like Xiang Yu, Li Ying, and my brother."

    Lance chuckled. "It does matter. You need to understand¡ªI¡¯m not going on this mission because I love you. Besides, the survival odds aren¡¯t as bad as you think. I¡¯ll try my best to come back alive."

    "Our relationship has nothing to do with romance. I know this sounds... silly."

    Zheng Rong remained silent.

    Lance sighed, "I know you don¡¯t care about this stuff, but I wanted to say it anyway. Maybe I made you misunderstand..."

    Zheng Rong interrupted, "Come on, Lance. Do you really think your actions would only lead to misunderstandings?"

    Lance laughed, pausing before saying, "Yeah, I guess I¡¯ve been telling myself¡ªconvincing myself¡ªever since Zheng Feng left us, that I had to be the one to take care of you. It¡¯s like Anthony said¡ªit¡¯s self-hypnosis. You repeat something in your mind enough times, trying to make it happen."

    "You¡¯ve talked to Anthony?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "Yes," Lance answered, avoiding Zheng Rong¡¯s gaze. "I feel guilty. Li Ying and Zheng Feng died because of me. I wanted to take their place in looking after you. So, I kept convincing myself that I should do everything a lover would do. But the truth is, I don¡¯t love you. Now I can finally admit it. I deceived you."

    Zheng Rong responded, "Li Ying forgave you. I understood what he was thinking in his final moments. He didn¡¯t even care¡ªhe had already died on the spaceship. The one you attacked was just a copy of him."

    Lance nodded, his expression somber. "Maybe so. Thank you, Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong stood up. "Love and family don¡¯t matter much to me, either. You can let it go, Lance. Our bond doesn¡¯t need such clear distinctions. I love you all. I know it sounds cheesy, but it¡¯s true. I can¡¯t afford to lose any of you... but I¡¯ve already lost too many."

    Lance¡¯s voice deepened. "You¡¯ve always been stronger and braver than the rest of us, Zheng Rong. Please, be our foundation. Help us finish this mission."

    Zheng Rong gazed at Lance, who slowly knelt down on one knee and took Zheng Rong¡¯s hand. His voice softened, "I vow to protect the weak."

    He unfastened his military sword from his belt and handed it to Zheng Rong.

    The distant past and uncertain future drifted away from them. Zheng Rong stood in silence for a long time before finally accepting the sword, pressing it to Lance¡¯s shoulder.

    "I vow to fight tyranny."

    "I vow to combat and correct all wrongs."

    "I vow to fight for the defenseless," Lance declared solemnly.

    "Zheng Feng and Li Ying¡¯s spirits will protect you," Zheng Rong said quietly. "Fight for me. I¡¯ll be waiting for your victorious return at Westwind City¡¯s coast."

    Lance bowed his head. "I vow to remain loyal until death."

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    Lance smiled faintly as he stood up.

    "Goodbye, Lance. Please come back alive," Zheng Rong said. "I¡¯ve lost too much already."

    Lance nodded silently, then extended his arms and embraced Zheng Rong. As the command meeting ended, officers began streaming out of the hall. Zheng Rong turned to leave, while Lance hurried inside to take on his mission.

    That night, Zheng Rong, his hair damp with sweat, sat curled up in a corner playing the harmonica. The music faltered and stopped as he finally broke down in tears, just as he had done many years ago on a dark ship while crossing the Suez Canal with Zheng Feng. The boat gently rocked on the night tide, accompanied by young Zheng Rong¡¯s quiet sobbing.

    Xiang Yu approached, draping a warm blanket over Zheng Rong¡¯s shoulders.

    He said nothing, as always, silently tidying the room, marking pages in scattered books, folding clothes, and arranging everything neatly. Finally, he entered the bathroom to brush his teeth.

    After washing up, Xiang Yu used a towel to dry Zheng Rong¡¯s hair. He seemed like he wanted to say something but remained silent.

    Zheng Rong, nestled in Xiang Yu¡¯s arms, gradually drifted off to sleep.

    The next morning, when Zheng Rong awoke, the pillow beside him still carried Xiang Yu¡¯s warmth, but he was gone.

    Zheng assumed Xiang Yu had gone to report in at the East District as usual and didn¡¯t think much of it. His hair was a mess as he sat on the bed for a while. He made himself some coffee, then sat down at the table. A note was stuck to the monitor screen:

    Forgive me, Zheng Rong. I have to go.

    "Go where?" Zheng Rong muttered, furrowing his brow. "Where do you all think you''re going?"

    He took a deep breath, standing in the empty room for a moment before dialing the intercom.

    No one answered at Lance¡¯s office.

    Zheng walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. In the distance, the staircases were crowded with people, helping each other as they left the underground city and ascended to the surface.

    Westwind City was eerily empty, with no sign of military personnel. Armed militia escorted the remaining civilians up the stairs, maintaining order.

    Zheng Rong packed up his things, powered down his devices, and hurried out into the corridor. He grabbed a militia member and demanded, "What¡¯s going on?"

    The black militia member nodded politely and replied, "General Wei Rong issued a command from the control center. Scholars are to stay in the underground city, but everyone else is allowed to go to the surface and wait."

    "Wait for what? What¡¯s the plan? Has the military deployed? Where have they gone?" Zheng Rong pressed.

    "The higher-ups didn¡¯t explain," the soldier replied. "They just said that, as of today, the lockdown is over."

    Zheng Rong pulled on his coat and ran through the central district. He passed several young scholars sitting in the empty cafeteria, casually discussing mathematical problems over coffee.

    Zheng Rong shouted, "Has the military taken action?"

    One scholar, recognizing Zheng Rong, replied, "Who knows? Whatever they¡¯re doing, it¡¯s their business. Haven¡¯t we already completed our task?"

    Zheng Rong stood in the cafeteria for a moment before suddenly remembering someone. He turned and headed toward the northern district.

    There, in the underground city¡¯s detention area, all the guards had been removed, and the prison corridors were empty. The inmates banged on their cell bars, shouting loudly.

    Each prisoner had a private cell. Zheng Rong glanced at each one as he passed. There weren¡¯t many prisoners in Westwind City. Resources were scarce, and most criminals had been sent to hard labor or executed to conserve survival resources. Those who were held here were considered too difficult to deal with¡ªpeople the military couldn¡¯t kill but didn¡¯t know how to handle.

    "Let us out!" someone shouted. "The apocalypse is coming! Humanity is going extinct! Why won¡¯t you let us escape?"

    "Chinese man! You¡¯re all running away!"

    "Quiet!" Zheng Rong barked.

    For a moment, the cell block fell silent, but then the clamor resumed, almost drowning Zheng Rong in a wave of anger and despair. His voice cut through the noise, calm and clear.

    "I am Zheng Rong."

    The prison block fell quiet again.

    "You¡¯re the occult scholar?" one inmate said in surprise. "I¡¯ve seen you on the broadcasts."

    "Yes, I¡¯m Zheng Feng¡¯s brother," Zheng Rong replied. "Please be quiet. I¡¯m looking for someone named Anthony. He¡¯s an American. Do you know him?"

    "He¡¯s in cell A7," someone pointed toward the end of the corridor. Zheng Rong passed by that person¡¯s cell, and the inmate hurriedly asked, "Are we going to die?"

    "What¡¯s happening outside?!"

    "Is the military launching a suicide attack?"

    The prisoners bombarded Zheng with questions, but he snapped, "Shut up! I don¡¯t know either."

    "I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll die," came the voice of an old woman from the end of the row.

    "Oh, old granny," Zheng Rong replied coldly. "They haven¡¯t executed you yet?"

    Zheng Rong moved to the window of a cell and saw Eve, the old woman, sitting in a wheelchair, calmly knitting.

    "They haven¡¯t," Eve replied lightly. "I still have to finish this scarf for my grandson. It¡¯s a Christmas gift."

    "Your grandson¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t he?" someone in the neighboring cell jeered.

    The prisoners erupted in noise again, but Zheng Rong silenced them. "I have questions for you, about the details of our last operation."

    Anthony¡¯s voice came from the cell across the corridor. "She won¡¯t tell you anything."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s footsteps echoed as he approached another cell. Inside, Anthony was sitting on his bed, closing the book he had been reading and placing it on the nightstand.

    "I thought you¡¯d come sooner," Anthony said.

    "You¡¯ve been waiting for a long time?" Zheng Rong asked. "Xiang Yu and Lance already talked to you."

    Anthony grunted noncommittally.

    Zheng Rong studied Anthony from behind the cell bars, noticing how much weaker he looked. He had many questions but didn¡¯t know where to begin.

    "You know a lot," Zheng Rong said. "Where should I start? Let me think."

    Anthony gazed up at Zheng Rong. "What¡¯s happening outside?"

    Zheng replied, "They¡¯ve launched the final counteroffensive. It might end in victory, or it might end in complete failure."

    The prison erupted into noise again. Zheng Rong said, "If I¡¯m going to die with you all, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ve done so much, and you¡¯ve done nothing. We¡¯re all stuck in these little rooms, with the same fate. We can¡¯t escape death."

    The noise faded again into a tense silence.

    Anthony smiled. "You¡¯re a born leader. You can rile people up with a few words or quiet them down just as easily."

    Zheng Rong took a deep breath. "Let¡¯s start from the fall of Alaska. If you want to know any interesting information, shut your mouths and don¡¯t interrupt."

    Eve¡¯s voice drifted from her cell. "Humanity will never go extinct."

    "We¡¯re close," Zheng Rong replied sharply. "It¡¯s your fault¡ªand his."

    Anthony asked, "What do you want to hear? That expedition to Mesopotamia was a gamble with the fate of the entire underground city. Even the mastermind behind it believed there was a good chance it would cost billions of lives."

    Zheng Rong pressed, "I didn¡¯t know beforehand that you were secretly using your radio frequencies to contact the underground city. Do you have any idea what consequences that could¡¯ve caused?"

    Anthony smiled. "If you knew who planned that operation, you wouldn¡¯t think it was so foolish."

    Zheng retorted, "It doesn¡¯t matter who it was. It was reckless¡ª"

    Anthony interrupted, "It was the teacher."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s world went black, his body cold. He clutched the iron bars, struggling to breathe.

    "Yes, you heard right," Eve said casually from her cell. "That old man knew everything."

    At the same time, the massive Maya mothership rotated slowly, the twelve symbols on its base glowing as it released billions of metal spheres. These transformed into flying machines, each with a silver cocoon embedded inside. Divided into squads, they began their descent toward Earth¡¯s five continents.

    The final battle was about to begin. The surviving humans left the Cape of Good Hope, returning to long-abandoned surface outposts. Military helicopters descended¡ªover the ruins of Alaska, the blast site in Northern Ireland, the military center in the English Channel. Large forces began migrating toward the underground city in Antarctica.

    The endless expanse of ice cracked open as the nuclear-powered underground city raised towering magnet towers from the permafrost. The towers¡¯ electrical fields formed bright white rings of energy around the central tower.

    Nikola Tesla¡¯s research had led to the creation of high-powered Tesla coils, which generated intense energy, spreading through hundreds of smaller towers. These towers redistributed the power, extending the electrical defense perimeter outward.

    From space, a blinding white light surrounded the South Pole, ionizing the air and causing the Earth¡¯s magnetic field to fluctuate wildly. Gravity around Antarctica increased, churning the seas and moving icebergs toward the extreme south.

    The auroras dissipated in the magnetic chaos, while thousands of icebergs converged, forming a magnificent city of ice and snow. Amidst the desolation, the main gates of Antarctica¡¯s underground city slowly opened, covered in frost.

    High above the Peruvian plateau, the Maya mothership tilted slightly, pulled by the increasing gravitational force.

    In the Andes, thousands of llamas sprinted across the plains.

    A military helicopter touched down in a clearing. Xiang Yu set the smart navigation system, pulling out a golden medal¡ªthe hero¡¯s badge that General Wei Rong had personally awarded him before departure.

    He tied it to the helicopter¡¯s control stick, then leaped out. The helicopter, with its deafening roar, took off again, unmanned, heading back to Westwind City.

    Xiang Yu¡¯s hair had grown longer, his bangs covering his left eyebrow. His eyes were sharp and handsome. He checked his sword again¡ªan ancient blade named Zhanlu¡ªand adjusted his armor, which resembled fish scales. His boots were made of bone and steel. He looked like a general about to lead thousands into battle.

    Though the ancient armor seemed out of place and almost comical, there were no onlookers to judge.

    Xiang Yu gazed toward the distant temple and began walking.

    In the grass near the temple, he found a keychain shaped like a small black stone snake¡ªone of the twelve zodiac animals. He recognized it; Zheng Rong had owned one just like it, shaped like a dog.

    This must have been left here four years ago, the place where Li Ying had once boarded the spaceship.

    Xiang Yu looked up. A beam of light shone from the top of the temple, connecting the flying saucer to the stone structure below.

    He entered the temple.

    Inside, a massive statue loomed, carved from rough stone. The figure¡¯s eyes were half-closed, its form abstract, its hands clasped before its chest. It was a god of the ancient Maya, symbolizing rebirth. The temple had long been overgrown with vines, though four years ago, Li Ying and his special forces had cleared away some of the plants.

    A soft light descended from the top of the temple, illuminating the area in front of the statue.

    Xiang Yu stepped into the light and was slowly lifted off the ground, rising toward the center of the mothership above.

 47 - The Interrogation in the Prison

    In the prison.

    "This goes back a long time," Anthony began slowly. "After all, your teacher started getting involved in your research project several years ago..."

    Zheng Rong nodded. "Back when my brother was still alive."

    Eve, knitting without raising her head, added, "Your brother has always been alive. Haven¡¯t you felt anything?"

    Zheng Rong¡¯s heart clenched at her remark, unsure how to respond. Eve¡¯s question touched on a topic he had been avoiding¡ªone that haunted him.

    Anthony continued, "Do you remember the first research report, the one where you posed a question: What distinguishes us from others?"

    Zheng Rong calmly replied, "I remember."

    Anthony nodded. "You meant to ask that question to Li Ying, didn¡¯t you?"

    Zheng Rong answered, "Not just him. Later, I realized something else..."

    Anthony interjected, "Xiang Yu."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s tone grew more reflective. "Yes, but I wanted to believe he came with his own memories. My brother died in that explosion, and yet Xiang Yu seemed to remember everything so clearly before he arrived¡ªlike the Battle of Wujiang. Speaking of that... how did you know about Xiang Yu¡¯s origins?"

    Anthony smirked. "After the experiment failed, the teacher compiled everything, and the military shared information about Xiang Yu. With the army¡¯s intelligence system, what¡¯s impossible to find out?"

    Eve added cryptically, "People always think they know everything, but no one can know it all."

    Anthony ignored her and continued. "Anyway, he came. He was replicated from the past and brought into the present, but without any original memories. The teacher mentioned this in his ¡®failed experiment report.¡¯ Li Ying¡¯s replica was a prime example."

    "They could replicate a person, but not their memories. The new being shares the same personality and, given the same environment, their body¡¯s enzymes and hormones would push them to make similar choices."

    Zheng Rong nodded, "In essence, he¡¯s still himself."

    "Yes, you could say that," Anthony agreed. "Your brother was brilliant. He had already drafted a preliminary report explaining this. You made similar guesses when you reviewed the images Li Ying transmitted. In this regard, you and your brother are both geniuses."

    "But there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand," Zheng Rong interjected. "If he doesn¡¯t have his original memories, how could he recall events from the Battle of Wujiang or the siege at Gaixia? Even his use of ancient language and dialect was spot on."

    Anthony replied, "Those aren¡¯t his memories¡ªthey¡¯re your brother¡¯s."

    Maya Mothership

    Xiang Yu¡¯s footsteps echoed with steady confidence as he walked out of the teleportation chamber. The ship was deathly silent, the spiral corridor reflecting his tall, imposing figure.

    He walked for a long time before finally sitting against the wall. Xiang Yu pulled out his wallet and looked at a photo: a reproduction Lance had made. In it were Zheng Feng, Lance, Li Ying, and a much younger Zheng Rong, held by Zheng Feng with a wide smile, flashing a peace sign at the camera.

    After a brief rest, Xiang Yu drank some water and secured his sword on his back before sprinting down the corridor.

    "Brother, I can¡¯t walk anymore."

    "I¡¯ll carry you."

    "Brother, why are the aliens killing humans? Will they leave?"

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "They will. Someday, we¡¯ll find a way to avenge ourselves. Don¡¯t think too much about it, Zheng Rong."

    "Will everything return to normal after the aliens leave?"

    "Yes, Zheng Rong. Everything will get better. Don¡¯t lose hope. Look, we¡¯re still walking alongside them. The ship will come soon."

    "Will the dead ever come back?"

    Zheng Feng smiled but did not answer.

    Zheng Rong pressed on, "If they know so much more than us... can they travel through time, or...?"

    "I don¡¯t think so, Zheng Rong," Zheng Feng replied gently. "But I promise you, once we defeat the aliens, we¡¯ll live in a new world. But the dead will never return..."

    "...Don¡¯t cry, Zheng Rong. We keep moving forward. The souls of the departed are watching over us. The teacher always said that when a body dies, it¡¯s just the temporary separation of consciousness from its vessel. It drifts through the vast universe and will return someday."

    "What do you think, Zheng Rong? I believe memories and faith make up a person¡¯s soul. You and I, we share the same memories. So in your life, you carry half of my soul."

    In the Prison

    "So, Xiang Yu carries many of my brother¡¯s memories, but... I don¡¯t feel like he is my brother," Zheng Rong said.

    "Of course not," Anthony replied. "I also don¡¯t think he¡¯s entirely Zheng Feng. He¡¯s just a man¡ªone who lost his original memories but has learned new things."

    "Zheng Feng¡¯s memories might give him some behavioral guidance, but ultimately, his actions are still based on his own personality," Anthony explained.

    Zheng Rong closed his eyes, weary. "Did you talk to him about all this?"

    "No," Anthony said, shaking his head. "The military¡¯s reports refer to him as ¡®The Confused One.¡¯ What he asked me about was something else¡ªhis body. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured that out by now."

    Zheng Rong sighed. "I don¡¯t think he can do anything significant."

    "The military disagrees," Anthony said flatly. "Xiang Yu¡¯s genes are dominant. Based on your own theories, the teacher made detailed hypotheses last winter. He¡¯s the closest we¡¯ve found to a perfect Maya specimen."

    Zheng Rong suddenly shouted, "That¡¯s impossible! He¡¯s just... different!"

    Eve interjected calmly, "He¡¯s a suitable candidate, a vessel capable of replacing the Maya. Trust me, child. After Alaska received that hypothesis, they conducted another experiment¡ªattempting to activate a Maya baby¡¯s dominant genes to create a new vessel that could host powerful consciousness waves."

    Anthony, uncharacteristically agreeing with Eve, added, "But that would take too long¡ªnearly twenty years. The longer we wait, the more unpredictable things become. Humanity can¡¯t afford that risk."

    "What do we need a vessel for?" Zheng Rong demanded.

    "As bait," Anthony explained. "Only a suitable vessel can safely reach the core of the saucer and meet the captain."

    Maya Mothership

    Xiang Yu bent over, panting, in front of a massive sealed door. The metal cocoons that Li Ying had once captured on camera were mostly gone from the empty hall.

    A few remaining cocoons seemed to sense Xiang Yu¡¯s presence. One of them moved closer, extending a metallic tube, its tip glowing red as a scanning light shot into Xiang Yu¡¯s eyes.

    Xiang Yu¡¯s expression remained stoic as he slowly unsheathed the ancient Zhanlu sword from his back.

    As the sword emerged, the cocoons retracted their tendrils, almost as if in fear.

    "Open the door," Xiang Yu ordered in a deep voice.

    He struck the sword¡¯s scabbard against the rune switches beside the door several times. The alloy gate slowly opened, revealing the circular central control room.

    In the center, lying on a disk, was a withered figure connected to countless life-support tubes. The being¡¯s skin had shriveled, marked with countless wrinkles. The being was no longer the figure it had been three years ago.

    Dozens of tubes connected to large nutrient tanks, filled with dismembered human limbs suspended in green liquid. These proteins sustained the being¡¯s frail existence.

    "I have arrived," Xiang Yu said.

    The being¡¯s wrinkled, faceless visage formed a mouth, trying to utter a few syllables.

    "I... have arrived."

    Xiang Yu inhaled deeply.

    The being¡¯s voice was a grating, metallic rasp. Then, a clear voice rang directly in Xiang Yu¡¯s mind.

    "Huaxia man."

    Xiang Yu closed his eyes, recognizing the mental communication.

    "Yes, I am Huaxia, and my name is Xiang Yu."

    "The humans have finally come. They... have left my body. Soon, I will... lose consciousness again."

    Xiang Yu: "This is part of a planned operation. What is your name?"

    "My name is Maya."

    In the Prison

    "A suitable vessel," Zheng Rong murmured.

    Anthony nodded. "Yes. This was all part of your brother¡¯s plan. Or rather, it was the result of your brother and the teacher working together. General Lance was merely a participant¡ªan unwitting one at that."

    Zheng Rong said, "He knows he¡¯s going to die, doesn¡¯t he?"

    Eve replied coolly, "He certainly doesn¡¯t know."

    Zheng Rong sighed. Anthony continued, "After Zheng Feng¡¯s death, Xiang Yu survived. General Lance was given a second mission: to observe Xiang Yu¡¯s behavior."

    "Xiang Yu became aware of this, but Li Ying¡¯s involvement caused a small shift in the plan. The teacher began to focus on Li Ying and used Lance¡¯s reports to conduct analyses, which led to a new theory."

    "The theory of memory extraction," Zheng Rong said quietly.

    Anthony nodded. "In the instant the particle generator exploded, everyone present died. Zheng Feng¡¯s drifting consciousness wave was closest to Xiang Yu, and most of his memories were transferred into Xiang Yu¡¯s blank mind."

    Zheng Rong remained silent. Anthony added, "Xiang Yu is quite remarkable."

    "At the beginning, his thoughts must have been incredibly confused," Zheng Rong said softly.

    "Yes," Anthony agreed. "He was disoriented, carrying fragments of someone else¡¯s memories, which clashed with his own personality. Zheng Feng¡¯s memory fragments were incomplete, but what was the first thing Xiang Yu said to you when you met him?"

    Zheng Rong frowned, thinking back. "He spoke in ancient language¡ªhis native dialect."

    "That shows how smart he is," Anthony said. "After receiving part of Zheng Feng¡¯s memories, Xiang Yu immediately understood his new identity and adapted to it. He made the right decisions. Does he still retain Zheng Feng¡¯s knowledge?"

    Zheng Rong shook his head slowly. "It¡¯s hard to say. But his capacity to learn is remarkable. He¡¯s absorbed almost everything about physics."

    "That means he knows he¡¯s Zheng Feng¡¯s duplicate, he knows who Zheng Feng was, and he understands what he needs to do with his new life."

    "Enough," Zheng Rong said, slumping against the cell door in sorrow. "I didn¡¯t think about all this so clearly. It was just... a vague guess."

    "The true confirmation of his role came from that broadcast," Eve interjected.

    Zheng Rong murmured, "You all orchestrated it¡ªletting the Maya intercept that transmission, then..."

    "We followed orders," Anthony said. "Initially, the transmission was supposed to go to a place near the Alaskan underground city¡ªRefuge Valley."

    "Then why was the location compromised?!" Zheng Rong asked, panic rising. "Something¡¯s wrong."

    Anthony explained calmly, "Another consciousness wave interfered with the signal, redirecting it to the central stone tower."

    Zheng Rong was alarmed. "Who was it?!"

    Anthony¡¯s voice remained flat. "I killed him with my own hands."

    Zheng Rong felt his whole body go cold. After a tense moment, a chilling realization dawned on him. "Are you saying... Hugo?"

    Anthony nodded. "To be precise, it was a strange lifeform residing in Hugo¡¯s brain. After it escaped the nutrient pod, it had survived until I connected the device to his brain."

    Zheng Rong gasped for breath, too stunned to speak.

 48 - Memories of the Boys

    Xiang Yu pressed a button on the device strapped to his wrist. A red light blinked, and the recording began.

    Xiang Yu: Do you have anything to say?

    Xiang Yu: I received the distress signal you sent through Li Ying, that human. I came here in response to it.

    Xiang Yu: It wasn¡¯t just a pure consciousness wave. You could say there¡¯s another person residing in my body.

    Xiang Yu: Before what? Before saving you? No, I came here with a story to tell you¡ªabout another person who lives within my soul.

    Xiang Yu: Zheng Feng is dead. The soul that truly governs this body is mine.

    Xiang Yu: Zheng Feng was a man who entrusted his life¡¯s mission to me, along with his younger brother. If you want to erase his memories from me and leave me with a blank consciousness, perhaps you should see these first. They are the promises made between brothers.

    In the darkness of a silent ship...

    "Brother," whispered five-year-old Zheng Rong, "that kid is dirty."

    Zheng Feng hushed him gently, shielding Zheng Rong from the jostling crowd of adults. He waved at a young, grimy Li Ying, who was huddled in a corner, staring back with the wary eyes of a mistrustful wolf cub.

    "Zheng Rong, take this over to him," Zheng Feng handed his younger brother a bottle of water and a piece of bread.

    Zheng Rong crawled cautiously toward Li Ying as the ship swayed. "Be careful, the boat¡¯s rocking," Zheng Feng reminded him.

    Though Li Ying¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t glowing green, Zheng Rong still felt a chill run down his spine. He placed the water and bread by Li Ying¡¯s feet before scurrying back to Zheng Feng¡¯s arms. After watching them for a while, Li Ying grabbed the bread, tore it open, and devoured it ravenously, choking on water in the process.

    He drank every last drop, then carefully placed the empty bottle aside, planning to steal another portion of water during the next distribution.

    Zheng Feng said, "Come over here. It¡¯s cold where you are."

    "What''s your name?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Li Ying didn¡¯t answer right away. After a while, Zheng Feng fell asleep, but Zheng Rong stayed awake, still watching the wolfish boy.

    Li Ying eventually crawled over and, in a small, nervous voice, whispered, "My name is Li Ying. Where is this boat going? Do you know?"

    Zheng Rong answered in a low voice, "To Northern Ireland. Stick with us, and you won¡¯t die."

    Li Ying nodded and leaned against him. Zheng Feng¡¯s lips curled into a gentle smile as he opened his eyes and shared part of their blanket with Li Ying. Li Ying initially flinched but, realizing Zheng Feng meant no harm, nestled into the blanket.

    "When we land, I¡¯ll go contact the rescue center. Li Ying, please take care of my brother. Don¡¯t wander off. He¡¯ll be in your care from now on," Zheng Feng instructed.

    Zheng Rong walked out of the prison. Westwind City¡¯s lights were nearly all extinguished. He stood at the foot of the pilgrimage steps and approached a soldier. "Lend me a gun."

    The soldier stared at him for a long time. "What do you plan to do? Please, for the sake of humanity, cherish your life."

    Zheng Rong smiled. "I¡¯m not going to kill myself."

    He took the electromagnetic gun from the soldier and returned to the prison.

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    In the dark, submerged tunnels.

    The freezing water made the lips of the hundred boys who swam into the tunnel turn purple. Zheng Rong trembled uncontrollably from the cold as he huddled at the entrance, embraced by Li Ying.

    Zheng Feng, gripping a magnetic cannon in one hand, shouted, "Let us in! The city can afford to take in a few more! They¡¯re just children!"

    Terror filled Zheng Rong¡¯s eyes as he looked at his brother. An hour ago, Zheng Feng had killed several guards, stolen an electromagnetic cannon, and led the fleeing boys into the water, blasting open the escape door at the bottom of the tunnel.

    In the distance, the red alert lights of the Northern Ireland tunnels flashed, accompanied by ear-splitting alarms.

    Lance and over a hundred reserve soldiers charged through the passageway, yelling, "Drop your weapons! You¡¯re surrounded!"

    Blinding lights illuminated Zheng Feng¡¯s resolute face. He crouched down, placing the magnetic cannon on the ground, and raised his hands.

    "They¡¯ve been waiting outside for a month," Zheng Feng said. "Execute me if you must, but let them into the underground city."

    "Enough talk! Hands behind your neck and move!" Lance barked, roughly pressing the gun to Zheng Feng¡¯s temple.

    "Brother!" Zheng Rong cried out.

    Lance turned his gun toward Zheng Rong, and in a sudden burst of strength, Zheng Rong lunged forward, shouting, "Don¡¯t touch him!"

    Taken by surprise, Lance was knocked off balance as Zheng Rong bit into his wrist with all his might. Lance screamed in pain, and Zheng Rong clung fiercely to his arm. Zheng Feng¡¯s face turned pale as he yelled, "Don¡¯t do anything rash!"

    Li Ying growled and leaped at Lance, but Lance kicked Zheng Rong off and, in the ensuing chaos, Zheng Feng screamed, "They¡¯re just children! Don¡¯t shoot!"

    Zheng Rong tested the magnetic gun, recalling the blood-soaked wound on Lance¡¯s wrist from years ago.

    He fired the gun, shattering the door lock, and freed the first prisoner.

    The blaring alarm echoed as Zheng Rong strode through the prison halls bathed in red light. "You¡¯re free. Don¡¯t kill anyone. Find a way to survive," he said.

    "Hands behind your neck," Zheng Feng instructed. "You¡¯ll be saved. Li Ying, remember what I told you."

    Li Ying shielded Zheng Rong, preventing Lance from approaching. He watched in confusion as Zheng Feng was led away by Lance and his soldiers, all while clutching a screaming and struggling Zheng Rong tightly.

    Xiang Yu: Later, I was released. Yes, it¡¯s a blessing to have comrades. We entrust each other with our lives¡ªone may die, but the lives of millions are carried forward, leaving no regrets in death.

    Northern Ireland. In the scientific apartment complex, ten years had passed since the death of Zheng Feng and Zheng Rong¡¯s parents.

    Zheng Rong, now nineteen, lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

    "Brother, are you going to the army?" he asked coldly.

    "Do you want me to?" Zheng Feng replied.

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer.

    Neither did Zheng Feng. He finished brushing his teeth and tidying the room, while Zheng Rong lay in bed eating chocolate.

    "Don¡¯t eat sweets before bed," Zheng Feng advised.

    "None of your business," Zheng Rong retorted.

    "Your teacher complained to me again today," Zheng Feng said, "You turned in something nonsensical for your exam?"

    "What was I supposed to write for those questions?" Zheng Rong snapped. "I¡¯m interested in practical work, in finding ways to bring the dead back to life. In ancient India and China, there are stories¡ª"

    "That¡¯s just fantasy," Zheng Feng interrupted. "I¡¯ve told you before¡ªyour theories about brainwaves, souls, and bodies can¡¯t be explained within the modern scientific framework¡ª"

    "Then how do you explain your particle generator?!" Zheng Rong shouted.

    "Listen to me, little brother," Zheng Feng said, his tone calm but firm. "I told you when you were a kid¡ªimmortality itself holds no meaning. The reason we humans¡ª"

    "Shut up, thank you," Zheng Rong said, turning to face the wall.

    The next morning, when he woke, the room was tidy, and a note was stuck to the screen: Please forgive me, Zheng Rong. I have to go.

    In Eastern Siberia¡¯s underground military base, alarms blared incessantly.

    "Get out of here, now!" Zheng Feng shouted. "Go!"

    One of the researchers yelled, "Doctor, cut the power!"

    "You all leave first!"

    Zheng Feng ran out of the particle lab, but the particle energy surged out of control, creating a massive explosion. A blinding white light shot into the sky, expanding in a shockwave that sent snow and ice flying like ocean waves, revealing the bare black bedrock beneath.

    Amidst the blinding light, Zheng Feng saw a man.

    Xiang Yu, his eyes full of confusion, clutched his head in agony as electrical sparks crackled around him. A surge of voltage knocked him to the ground.

    Xiang Yu: It¡¯s called consciousness wave teleportation. Yes, sometimes I wonder¡ªwhat am I?

    "You''re free!" Zheng Rong shouted. "Get out of here!"

    The prisoners poured out, flooding into the streets. Zheng Rong opened the last two doors and said, "I have something else to do. Help me."

    Eve continued knitting without lifting her head.

    Anthony remarked, "What are you planning? Spare the old lady¡ªI doubt she has much time left before she passes away in that wheelchair."

    Zheng Rong glanced at Eve, then abandoned his plan. "Fine. Dr. Anthony, let¡¯s go."

    "Do you know their military plan?" Zheng Rong asked as they ascended the escalator together.

    Dusk had fallen, and the doors of the underground city opened, revealing the stunning beauty of the sunset beyond. The statues of gods stood tall in the fading light.

    Anthony remarked, "When was this escalator built?"

    Zheng Rong shrugged. Anthony continued, "Another day is ending."

    Zheng Rong said calmly, "After the darkness, the sun will still rise tomorrow."

    Anthony seemed moved by this. After a moment, he spoke again. "From what Lance said, I can piece together some things, though it¡¯s mostly speculation. Do you want to hear?"

    "Lance talked to you?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "Yes," Anthony replied. "He saw me as a sort of counselor and felt very troubled."

    Zheng Rong scoffed, "Troubled about not knowing how to reject me?"

    Anthony was momentarily startled, then laughed. "No, not at all. Why would you think that? He loves you deeply and firmly believes that you love him, too. He¡¯s more worried about what will happen to you if he dies. He feels powerless..."

    "That¡¯s enough," Zheng Rong¡¯s voice turned cold. "Thank you, Dr. Anthony."

    Anthony smiled and said, "He¡¯s in the Antarctic underground capital."

    "What¡¯s he doing there?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "Serving as the first wave of bait," Anthony replied. "He¡¯s leading the metal cocoons away from the ship, allowing their hosts to briefly escape control."

    "Then Xiang Yu will kill it?" Zheng Rong asked.

    Anthony replied, "Not just that. Before our teacher died, he set up three stages. First, to force those damned waves out of the hosts¡¯ bodies and into the metal cocoons. Then, those cocoons will leave the ship to launch their final assault on humanity."

    "Next, Xiang Yu will serve as the second bait, drawing the hosts¡¯ souls into himself. At that moment, all the parasitic waves will feel the resonance of their origin and find their next host."

    "The original vessels will be abandoned, and the waves will race to Xiang Yu¡¯s body in an attempt to take it over."

    Zheng Rong¡¯s voice trembled. "And then?"

    "And then," Anthony said, "Xiang Yu will activate a self-destruct mechanism, taking the original entity down with him."

 49 - The Sword of the Conqueror

    Antarctica Main City.

    "They''re here!" a soldier shouted, "General Lance!"

    Lance responded with sharp precision, "Report to General Wei immediately!"

    The biting cold, at forty-five degrees below zero, turned everything into ice. The sky remained perpetually dark, the sunlight brief, and the polar night endless. As the last sliver of twilight slipped below the horizon, Lance removed his snow-reflective goggles. Thick gloves covered his hands, and a hood encased his head. The soldiers clutched their guns, trembling beneath the flickering light of the Tesla coils.

    Lance spoke into his communicator, "Radar online! A massive wave of metal killers has landed on the Amundsen Coast! All forces, prepare for battle!"

    A thousand nuclear magnetic cannons rose from the towers, aimed toward the vast, white expanse of the ice-bound coast. Nothing could be seen, but the radar was filled with countless blips.

    Lance held his breath as he awkwardly pulled a photograph from his thick coat pocket. In it, Zheng Feng cradled Zheng Rong, who flashed a bright smile and gave a "peace" sign. Lance remembered that day vividly¡ªten minutes before the picture was taken, Zheng Rong had been in tears.

    "You better give me back my brother!" a furious Zheng Rong, resembling a wild child, furiously grabbed at Lance.

    Lance cursed in German, kicking Zheng Rong into a corner. Zheng Rong, undeterred, switched to English, loudly swearing back. Lance was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

    "You speak English too?" Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong panted heavily, his head bleeding from the impact.

    Lance swung a whip across Zheng Rong''s neck, splitting the skin open. Zheng Rong let out a sharp cry, tears flowing down his face, while Li Ying, in the adjacent cell, violently shook the iron bars, shouting, "Let him go! Let him go!"

    Suddenly, Lance felt a tight grip around his collar as he was slammed against the bars. His head smashed into the metal with a loud clang, and his vision went black. A strong arm constricted his throat, choking him. It was Li Ying, like a raging tiger, his arm wrapped around Lance¡¯s neck. Zheng Rong then grabbed Lance¡¯s pistol and pointed it at his temple.

    Lance froze. He had come to torment Zheng Rong but was instead subdued by two Chinese boys¡ªone of them only six years old¡ªholding a gun to his head.

    All three remained still. The prison guard laughed hysterically, taunting, "Shoot him! Don¡¯t be afraid, Chinese kid! You know kung fu!"

    Lance''s chest heaved as he struggled for air and passed out.

    Finally, Zheng Rong holstered the gun. "We can''t kill him," he muttered.

    Li Ying let out a simple "Oh," releasing his grip, and Lance crumpled to the floor.

    "What now?" Li Ying asked.

    Zheng Rong replied, "Nothing."

    Li Ying didn¡¯t understand but didn¡¯t question it further. Zheng Rong then struggled to drag Lance to the edge of the cell, sat down against the wall, and soon broke into sobs.

    "Don''t cry, Zheng Rong," Li Ying said from the other side of the bars. "Come here."

    Zheng Rong ignored him.

    "Zheng Rong," Li Ying continued, "men don''t cry. You need to be cold. Like this, look at them¡ªlook at the bad guys."

    Zheng Rong remained silent.

    Lance, who had been pretending to be unconscious, finally couldn¡¯t hold back and opened his eyes. In English, he asked, "Why are you crying?"

    In broken English, Zheng Rong replied, "Dad, mom, they''re gone. And my brother was taken away too."

    Lance frowned. "Your accent... It''s strange."

    Li Ying snapped, "Zheng Rong, don¡¯t talk to him! Stop talking!"

    Zheng Rong fell silent and pressed the gun harder against Lance''s head.

    "Did you learn English from a Black guy?" Lance asked.

    Zheng Rong nodded.

    "Give me back my gun. Be good. Listen to me," Lance said cautiously, slipping his thumb through the trigger guard and deftly removing the gun from Zheng Rong¡¯s hand.

    "You forgot to disengage the safety," Lance chuckled.

    Zheng Rong blinked. "I forgot."

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    Lance sighed. "..."

    "What did he say?" Li Ying asked.

    "He said I forgot to disengage the safety," Zheng Rong replied in Chinese, "but I did it on purpose."

    Li Ying, puzzled, asked, "What safety?"

    Zheng Rong explained, "I was scared my hands would shake, and the gun would go off."

    Li Ying didn¡¯t get it.

    Lance understood Chinese but couldn¡¯t speak it. He quickly got up, pushed Zheng Rong aside, holstered his gun, and ran off without looking back.

    "Remember," Li Ying instructed, "you have to look at them coldly."

    Zheng Rong nodded, signaling he understood.

    The next time Lance came around, both boys stared at him with intense hostility.

    "Zheng Feng has posted bail," Lance announced.

    Zheng Rong was dumbfounded but maintained the "cold" expression Li Ying had taught him. He coolly said, "Thank you."

    "What are you thanking him for?" Li Ying asked.

    "You two can leave now," Lance continued, taking out a set of keys to unlock the cell.

    Li Ying took Zheng Rong¡¯s hand, and they followed Lance out. Zheng Feng was waiting for them outside the children¡¯s shelter. The moment Zheng Rong saw his brother, he broke into tears again, throwing himself into Zheng Feng¡¯s arms. Li Ying let out a sigh of relief.

    "Come on, crybaby," Zheng Feng teased, "can¡¯t you stop crying?"

    "He didn¡¯t cry while inside," Li Ying remarked.

    Zheng Rong wiped his tears away as Zheng Feng took his hand. Turning to Lance, Zheng Feng said, "Thank you."

    "You¡¯re welcome," Lance mumbled, his face flushing red like a monkey¡¯s bottom. Thankfully, neither Li Ying nor Zheng Rong mentioned the earlier incident. Li Ying kept his "cold" demeanor, while Zheng Rong had already forgotten.

    Zheng Feng smiled, "Let¡¯s take a picture. We¡¯re Irish citizens now. This man is a journalist covering our story."

    "Stop crying, Zheng Rong. You need to grow up. If you cry again, I¡¯ll really have to leave."

    Zheng Feng lifted Zheng Rong in his arms while Li Ying stood beside them. "Come on, join us," Zheng Feng beckoned Lance.

    Lance approached, and a photographer clicked the shutter. The moment was immortalized in front of the fountain garden in Northern Ireland. The next day, the newspaper¡¯s headline read: "Orphaned Scientists Settle in Northern Ireland: United Nations Grants Green Cards and Funding for Their Care."

    That year, Zheng Feng was sixteen, Lance was fourteen, Li Ying was nine, and Zheng Rong was six.

    "Brother, where are we going?" Zheng Rong asked.

    "We have a place to live now. I¡¯ll go earn money to take care of you, all of you, until the world is at peace."

    Northern Ireland, Scientists¡¯ Apartment.

    Xiang Yu had returned, looking at Zheng Rong. Zheng Rong frowned, "What are you staring at?"

    With a gentle smile, Xiang Yu said, "You can call me brother from now on."

    Zheng Rong shrugged, heading to the coffee maker. "Watch closely. Put the water and coffee grounds in here, press this button, place it on this base..."

    Xiang Yu carefully observed his every move, then glanced at Zheng Rong. "You really like this stuff?"

    Zheng Rong, slightly surprised, asked, "How did you know?"

    Xiang Yu replied, "It¡¯s the first thing you taught me how to use."

    Zheng Rong chuckled, somewhat self-deprecating, "You know me well."

    Xiang Yu nodded in agreement, then followed Zheng Rong¡¯s instructions, brewing the coffee. Zheng Rong sat at his computer, while Xiang Yu watched him intently. Zheng Rong suddenly turned, "You can¡¯t use this yet. Learn Chinese first, then I¡¯ll teach you."

    "Understood," Xiang Yu said, standing to find two cups, pouring coffee into each, and handing one to Zheng Rong.

    "Wow, you catch on quick," Zheng Rong remarked, unable to hide his amusement. "Lance is so hopeless with survival skills, he might as well die."

    Xiang Yu took a sip of the black coffee and immediately spat it out, his face contorted in disgust.

    Zheng Rong burst into laughter. "I like my coffee black, but you probably can¡¯t handle it. Try adding some sugar and creamer¡ªit¡¯ll taste better."

    Xiang Yu nodded and accepted the revised cup of coffee. Then he asked, "What now?"

    "You should laugh more," Xiang Yu observed, "you always look so serious."

    Zheng Rong replied nonchalantly, "That¡¯s just my personality. If you don¡¯t like it, find someone else."

    Xiang Yu knew Zheng Rong was just being defensive and smiled knowingly.

    A few days later, while helping Zheng Rong clean the apartment, Xiang Yu found a box under the bed. He opened it, finding a dog-shaped keychain and an old notebook. It was a gift from Zheng Feng, given to Zheng Rong while he was still a student.

    Xiang Yu flipped through the pages, which were filled with a strange mix of handwriting styles. The notebook had been passed around between Li Ying, Zheng Rong, and Lance. They had written back and forth during class, talking about what they ate for lunch, where they planned to hang out after school, or nearly getting caught while climbing over walls. Zheng Feng had occasionally caught sight of it in Zheng Rong¡¯s school bag but only ever corrected Lance¡¯s grammatical mistakes.

    A photograph fell from between the pages. It was the group photo from the day Zheng Feng was released on bail.

    Xiang Yu put the photo into the wallet Zheng Rong had given him. The wallet contained only his ID, so he tucked the picture inside, photo side down.

    When Zheng Rong returned, he saw the box and snapped, "What are you doing with my stuff? I told you not to touch it!"

    Xiang Yu, caught off guard, tried to explain, "It was under your bed..."

    But Zheng Rong, without even glancing at the contents, slammed the lid shut and kicked the box back under the bed. He sat silently on the edge for a long time, muttering, "I can¡¯t cry. If I cry again, brother will really leave."

    "Zheng Rong..." Xiang Yu started.

    But Zheng Rong grabbed the box again and stormed out of the room.

    "Zheng Rong!" Xiang Yu shouted, running after him, shirtless, down the stairs.

    Zheng Rong crouched in the stairwell, setting the contents of the box on fire.

    It was his darkest, most sorrowful moment. Zheng Feng was dead, Li Ying had been missing for three years, and Lance, wracked with guilt, barely dared to visit him. When he did, his eyes were always red with tears.

    Xiang Yu knelt beside Zheng Rong, his voice low. "Why burn it?"

    "The past is dead," Zheng Rong said.

    Xiang Yu placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, lifting him into his arms and carrying him back home. Behind them, the flames in the stairwell flickered and consumed the last of the memories.

    Antarctica:

    "Positions!" Lance yelled. "Prepare for combat!"

    The first wave of ground attacks began. Tanks rumbled out from the defensive positions, and the main city¡¯s countless turret guns unleashed a barrage, lighting up the dark Antarctic sky. Electromagnetic projectiles streaked through the night, as explosions erupted across the continent, and more mechanized killers swarmed forward.

    Armored vehicles and bombers followed the missiles, the bombers dropping sonic bombs into the fray.

    Explosions filled the battlefield as mechanical spiders fired blue lasers, creating a crisscrossing web of destruction. Bombers fell from the sky, one after another, while armored vehicles were torn apart. Lance shouted, "Retreat into the defensive fortifications!"

    Tesla coils sparked, flooding the battlefield with blinding light. The electric arcs spread out, disintegrating the mechanical killers on the icy plains.

    Mothership:

    Xiang Yu: "The dead have entrusted me with their memories, but their will and desires conflict. I¡¯ve pondered long and hard, unsure what to do."

    Xiang Yu: "Yes, if I stay, I can care for Zheng Rong, but I can¡¯t protect him. I can¡¯t give him a safe world or fertile ground to live in. But if I die to protect him, I¡¯ll leave him forever. If it were you, what would you do?"

    Xiang Yu: "Zheng Rong is right. If one lives a life without achieving their heart¡¯s desires, then perhaps it¡¯s better to die at the most romantic moment."

    Maya lay on the central control panel, eyes dull.

    Maya: [Tell me about yourself. Those memories I saw¡ªthey¡¯re just fragments.]

    Xiang Yu: [There¡¯s nothing much to say. I¡¯m not even truly myself. All the feelings I have for Zheng Rong are tied to Zheng Feng¡¯s memories.]

    Maya: [Then you are merely a fragment of a soul drifting through time.]

    Xiang Yu closed his eyes and released his sword, letting it fall to the ground. He reached out with his left hand, his finger hovering over the device on his right wrist.

    Maya¡¯s eyes snapped open, growing tenfold in size, filling nearly half its face. Symbols spun in its enlarged pupils, glowing with energy.

    Maya: [What are you doing?]

    Xiang Yu: [Ending this.]

    Suddenly, it was as if Xiang Yu had been struck by a hammer. His mind buzzed, and his hand trembled, freezing in midair as countless memories shattered and reformed. Echoing screams and agonizing cries flooded his consciousness.

    On the plains of Mesopotamia, beneath a setting sun.

    Xiang Yu leaned against a dead tree by the riverbank, casting a fishing line into the water. Zheng Rong crept up behind him, wrapping his arms around Xiang Yu¡¯s neck and resting his head on his shoulder.

    "Shh," Xiang Yu smiled gently, "you¡¯ll scare away the fish, Zheng Rong."

    "Brother," Zheng Rong mumbled sleepily, "you¡¯ve been sitting here fishing all day. Aren¡¯t you bored? Let me tell you a story."

    "Alright," Xiang Yu agreed.

    He gently pulled Zheng Rong into his lap, letting him lie down on the deadwood. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the wind blew softly. Zheng Rong felt comfortable, his eyes slowly closing as sleep overtook him.

    He forgot to tell his story, and Xiang Yu didn¡¯t remind him.

    Moments later, Zheng Rong was fast asleep. Xiang Yu glanced down at his peaceful face, reaching out to gently ruffle his hair.

    "Brother," Zheng Rong¡¯s voice echoed in Xiang Yu¡¯s mind, a buried memory resurfacing, drifting away like fragments in the wind.

    Xiang Yu whispered softly, "I hear you, Zheng Rong."

    With that, Xiang Yu pressed the self-destruct button.

 50 - Epilogue: The Battle for Dawn

    July 19, 2032

    In the skies above the ancient Peruvian temple, the Mayan mothership turned into a massive fireball, illuminating half the Earth''s sky as it ascended into the atmosphere. Its immense force generated an unstoppable whirlwind in the stratosphere, bringing the sun back to the night sky. As dusk settled over the Cape of Good Hope and midnight cloaked South America, a radiant celestial body shone brighter than any star.

    An orange-yellow ring of light rippled outward, causing waves across the atmosphere like the crown of a brilliant blue planet.

    In Antarctica¡¯s main city, towering structures of steel and iron stretched upwards. The towering poles extended skyward, narrowing as they reached into the atmosphere until they became thin, shimmering spires almost 30,000 meters high. At the top of one of these spires sat a gleaming particle conductor.

    "Charging complete."

    General Wei pressed the activation button. It was a historic moment¡ªone that marked not only 4.6 billion years since Earth¡¯s birth, but also 700,000 years since humanity first walked upon it. The past had been filled with despair, while the future remained uncertain. A white-haired, dark-eyed old man initiated a new era, paving the way for humanity with the blood and sacrifice of heroes.

    As the particle generator released its radiant energy, the mothership exploded, hurtling toward the ground. Earth''s magnetic poles instantly reversed. In the darkness of that fateful night, a powerful particle stream spanned the North and South Poles, covering the sky in a luminous river of light. Blue, red, purple, and orange auroras danced across every corner of the planet, visible from every place on Earth.

    The Eastern Hemisphere¡¯s atmosphere churned with dust, casting the Earth into prolonged darkness. The sky was filled with auroras, with a glowing band spanning the equator, a reminder of the star souls that had perished.

    ¡°They did it,¡± Zheng Rong said, gazing at the sky. ¡°Xiang Yu is gone.¡±

    Anthony responded, ¡°Your brother finally achieved his life''s goal.¡±

    Zheng Rong replied softly, ¡°That was Xiang Yu¡¯s decision.¡±

    ¡°Humanity will be forever grateful to him,¡± Anthony remarked.

    Zheng Rong lowered his voice, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have cared.¡±

    ¡°The auroras,¡± Zheng Rong continued, ¡°they are the souls of the stars. Born 20 billion years ago, they perished on Earth. We¡¯re saved.¡±

    Zheng Rong stood in the darkness for a long time, watching the celestial lights swirl above like fireworks. The storms ceased, and the tides of the oceans ebbed and flowed, washing over the Earth¡¯s surface. A military helicopter approached from the west, landing at the hangar doors.

    ¡°Brother!¡± Zheng Rong instinctively shouted.

    He rushed toward the hangar but slowed his pace when he realized the cockpit was empty. It was an unmanned aircraft. Tied to the control stick was a golden medal. Zheng Rong picked it up¡ªit was Xiang Yu¡¯s hero medal.

    He had seen it many times before. This medal was only awarded to those who had achieved legendary feats in humanity''s defense. Typically, hero medals were posthumously awarded by the highest-ranking military official of the deceased¡¯s unit. Zheng Feng had received one, as had Li Ying. This one belonged to Xiang Yu, and Zheng Rong recognized the character "Yu" engraved at the center.

    Flipping the medal over, he found the same inscription written on the back, almost identical to those of Zheng Feng and Li Ying:

    "To my dearest: Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong closed his eyes, wiping away tears. After a moment, he asked, ¡°Anthony, can you fly a military helicopter?¡±

    ¡°Yes, what do you need, Doctor?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Activate the radar. We¡¯re heading to Peru.¡±

    Three days later, Earth¡¯s magnetic poles had fully reversed. The particle conductor caused a chaotic shift in the planetary magnetic field, rotating the equator counterclockwise until it aligned with the poles. As the dust in the atmosphere dissipated, the remnants of the Mayan consciousness dispersed into basic particles, fading into the air. The ice sheets of the Arctic and Antarctic melted, flooding the planet. The auroras converged over the Malaysian archipelago and the western Pacific, forming a new magnetic pole.

    Earth, like a sleeping giant, stirred and slowly adjusted its position on its axis before settling back into another long slumber. The new equator crossed the Tibetan Plateau and passed through Antarctica. In the British Isles, the sun began to rise from the south and set in the north.

    Survivors didn¡¯t have time to adjust to these changes. Helicopters flew over the oceans, carrying rescue teams from the Arabian military base. Survivors were relocated to the roof of the world¡ªthe Tibetan Plateau. Although the war continued in some places, Lance led his troops, chasing down the lingering star souls that had survived the mothership¡¯s explosion and were still controlling the mechanical killers.

    When the skies were fully covered by auroras, the remaining metal pods finally left, rising into the atmosphere. Lance¡¯s air force engaged in fierce battles in the troposphere, explosions lighting up the night sky like fireworks. In the final battle, the main enemy aircraft crashed, and Lance parachuted to safety.

    Over the vast ocean, a helicopter skimmed the surface. Zheng Rong sat in the co-pilot seat, pressing the search key. The radar showed no more enemy signals¡ªall the machines had been destroyed.

    ¡°Calling Antarctic Base, this is the Westwind City survey helicopter, currently over the Peruvian highlands,¡± Zheng Rong spoke into the communicator.

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    The radio crackled with interference from the magnetic disruption. All aircraft had lost contact and were operating independently.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± Zheng Rong muttered. ¡°When will communications be restored?¡±

    The radio hissed before a faint voice broke through: ¡°Mayday, mayday, requesting rescue...¡±

    ¡°A stranded pilot?¡± Zheng Rong asked. ¡°Change course. Let¡¯s find the signal.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we heading to Peru?¡± Anthony asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll rescue the pilot first,¡± Zheng Rong replied.

    Lance had been adrift in the ocean for nearly a week, bobbing in and out of consciousness in his life vest. Dehydrated and exhausted, he pressed the distress signal.

    A helicopter appeared overhead, lowering a rope ladder. As Lance climbed up, he felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. It reminded him of the time years ago when the Mediterranean military base had been destroyed, and Zheng Feng had been forcefully evacuated to safety.

    At that time, Lance had commandeered a rescue plane to save Li Ying and Zheng Rong, who were trapped amidst the rubble. Snow fell lightly from the sky as they huddled under blankets, waiting for rescue.

    Now, Zheng Rong reached out from the helicopter, frantically shouting to Lance below.

    Anthony asked, ¡°Are we still going to investigate Peru?¡±

    Zheng Rong didn¡¯t answer immediately. He forced open Lance¡¯s mouth, administering medicine and injecting him with a powerful stimulant.

    ¡°It hurts,¡± Lance muttered, trembling.

    Zheng Rong held him close. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright.¡±

    Five years later, in Northern Ireland.

    ¡°No one¡¯s answering? Fine, class dismissed. Your grades are abysmal,¡± Zheng Rong said as the bell rang.

    Students groaned, protesting, ¡°Come on, professor, you haven¡¯t even told us what¡¯s going to be on the exam!¡±

    Zheng Rong gathered his books, smiling. ¡°The entire four-volume History of Human Evolution is your exam material. You can either go back and study or pray.¡±

    ¡°Pray to who, the demon professor?¡± one student joked.

    Zheng Rong replied dryly, ¡°Pray to any god you believe in. If they think it¡¯s worth it, they can negotiate with me. Maybe they¡¯ll offer their soul in exchange for your passing grade.¡±

    The students laughed and chattered as they left, but Zheng Rong paid them no mind. He walked out of the school, books in hand.

    The world had been reborn from the apocalypse, though the drastic population decline brought many challenges. Laborers were scarce, and civilization had to start anew. Much of the land was uninhabited, and nature quickly erased the scars of human destruction. With the magnetic poles stabilizing, the world was once again covered in lush greenery and wildflowers.

    The air was pristine, like something out of a paradise. Humanity slowly rebuilt, and Northern Ireland became one of the most desirable places to live. After the floods receded, soldiers led the remaining population in finding suitable lands for farming. Northern Ireland became the focal point from which humanity began to expand once more.

    A year after the floods subsided, Zheng Rong left the Tibetan Plateau, only returning to Northern Ireland two years later. He had earned two hero medals¡ªone for himself, and one for Lance. By the time Zheng Rong returned, Lance had already left the main city, leading a team to cultivate new lands in Africa. News soon came that they had found a fertile plain suitable for human habitation.

    Humanity''s resilience proved unparalleled. In just a few short years, thousands of new babies were born. In Hope City, the local area network was restored, and life slowly returned to normal. Zheng Rong took up a post as a high school teacher, known for his strictness and earning the nickname "Demon Professor."

    During these two years, Lance sent a flurry of letters. After Zheng Rong replied to the first, Lance sent back a hero medal inscribed: "To my dearest, Zheng Rong."

    Zheng Rong chose to stay. He applied for residence in Hope City and secured both a home and a salary. The surviving population, scattered across the world, began to rebuild. Nearly 300 million people were eventually found, proving that humanity was indeed a species impossible to exterminate. Hidden underground, in caves, they had outwitted the mechanical killers. When the crisis passed, they reemerged, dragging their families along.

    Zheng Rong focused on passing knowledge to the next generation, teaching students of all races and colors. His high standards made him feared by the students, who referred to him as the "Demon Professor." Despite their best efforts, they couldn''t find a way to challenge his lessons, nor could they file complaints¡ªno one dared accuse a hero of discrimination. All they could do was endure his tough grading.

    Snow fell in Northern Ireland. Standing at the school gates, Zheng Rong waited. Watching the students leave, he thought back to his days in the refugee school. On weekends, Li Ying and Lance would sneak out of military school, meeting little Zheng Rong at the gates.

    Zheng Feng would arrive late, taking them all out to eat and wander the streets. Afterward, Li Ying and Lance would sneak back into school while Zheng Feng took Zheng Rong home.

    Zheng Rong could barely remember his brother¡¯s face and voice anymore. The image of Xiang Yu seemed to have merged with that of his brother.

    The sound of a tram bell echoed as it approached. Lance stood on the other side of the street, wearing a long coat. He stared at Zheng Rong for a long time, until Zheng Rong finally took a step forward.

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t move!¡± Lance called, smiling. ¡°I¡¯ll come to you.¡±

    Lance crossed the street, a little unsure of himself.

    ¡°Back for good?¡± Zheng Rong asked coolly.

    Lance smiled, ¡°I hardly recognize you anymore.¡±

    Zheng Rong hailed a cab as Lance took his books. ¡°Did the military give you housing?¡± Zheng Rong asked.

    Lance hesitated, then said, ¡°Uh, they gave me a form to apply at the refugee bureau.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded. ¡°You can stay with me for now. My place... it¡¯s small.¡±

    Lance fidgeted nervously, rubbing his hands together. After a moment, he took Zheng Rong¡¯s cold hand, warming it between his own.

    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten dumber, Zheng Rong,¡± Lance teased, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯m just joking.¡±

    Zheng Rong stayed silent, shaking his head slightly.

    After a pause, he asked, ¡°They¡¯re sending you to the refugee bureau... Does that mean you¡¯ve retired?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lance replied. ¡°And you?¡±

    Zheng Rong chuckled, ¡°What else would I do but teach?¡±

    Lance added, ¡°Yeah, about that...¡±

    Zheng Rong pressed further, ¡°What did they give you when you retired?¡±

    ¡°A form for a house, a car, and, um, a medal. I already gave that to you.¡±

    Zheng Rong nodded.

    Lance grew anxious again. Zheng Rong couldn¡¯t help but smile at his awkwardness.

    Switching topics, he said, ¡°I need to find that medal. Westwind¡¯s been playing with it, moving it around. I¡¯ll have to go back and look for it.¡±

    Lance smiled uneasily.

    ¡°I told him not to take it out, or put it in his mouth,¡± Zheng Rong added, laughing softly.

    Lance thought for a moment before asking seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve retired, Zheng Rong. Do you want to live with me?¡±

    Zheng Rong raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your house, is it big?¡±

    Lance nodded, ¡°It¡¯s huge. We can check it out, see if you like it.¡±

    Zheng Rong added, ¡°Westwind¡¯s been asking for his own room. He¡¯s fought me on it more than once.¡±

    Lance assured him, ¡°He¡¯ll have his own room. I promise I¡¯ll fulfill my duty... as a father.¡±

    Zheng Rong was speechless.

    ¡°Are you going to say it again?¡± Zheng Rong asked, finally breaking the silence. ¡°You¡¯ve said it so many times, my answer is yes!¡±

    Lance stammered, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, I... I want... I want to live with you.¡±

    Zheng Rong yanked his hand away, snapping, ¡°I know exactly what you mean! And I¡¯m saying I want to live with you too, Lance! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s gotten dumber!¡±

    Lance smiled, ¡°I love you, Zheng Rong.¡±

    Lance placed his hand on Zheng Rong¡¯s knee, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder, pulling him close. He kissed Zheng Rong¡¯s cheek, and Zheng Rong didn¡¯t resist. He rested his head on Lance¡¯s shoulder, gazing out the car window.

    It was the first snowfall of the winter. Children played along the streets, hurling snowballs at one another, their laughter filling the air.

    A new world¡ªone blanketed in silver, warm, and full of promise.

    Classified SS-Level File 4071, Custodian: Human Refugee Bureau

    Filed by: Dr. Zheng Rong

    Report Details:

    During the two-decade-long war, a survey of the East Siberian Military Base yielded a groundbreaking discovery. Contrary to previous belief, the particle generator had not been destroyed. Instead, it had been buried underground during the unstable explosion from the first experiment. I found the upper part of the generator at the site. Based on my late mentor¡¯s hypothesis, the particle conductor can pull free-floating consciousness waves from the universe. Meanwhile, the particle generator is capable of replicating individual entities that once existed in the time stream.

    Research Proposal:

    I propose a study on consciousness waves and host bodies, with the hope that military resources can assist in cracking this mystery. One day, all of our heroes may be reborn.

    Military Directive:

    The timing is not yet right. This research touches upon the secrets of the universe, which may destabilize or collapse known physical laws. It is an unpredictable, long-term project, and cannot be approved at this time.

    Refugee Bureau Response:

    Approved.

    Scientific Instruments Acquired:

    The particle generator and converter have been stored in the secure data vault beneath Antarctica, in humanity¡¯s black box.

    Classified SS-Level File 4072, Custodian: Human Refugee Bureau

    Filed by: Dr. Zheng Rong

    Report Details:

    A black box was found beneath the ruins of the Mayan spacecraft crash site. It belonged to the human hero Xiang Yu. The black box is currently locked and has been handed over to the Refugee Bureau for decryption. It may be linked to Xiang Yu¡¯s consciousness.

    Military Directive:

    The translation has been completed. The contents pertain to the transfer of life across the universe. Classified.

    Refugee Bureau Directive:

    Zheng Rong has not been informed. Both parties agree to keep this confidential. Stored in the archives.