Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 778: Return

Translator: CKtalon

Maybe Xiaochong returned to hide there? Long Yuehong was alarmed and didn’t think that it was a good thing.

Although he had played with Xiaochong, helped the latter clean his room, and cooked for him, and he felt that this person was actually rather easy to get along with, things were different now—ignoring his great strength and mysterious origins, as well as how he was just an ordinary child who lacked

love, sense of security, and was obsessed with games. The Old Task Force had ‘broken into’ Master Zhuang’s dream and suspected that Xiaochong had a certain connection with this Kalendaria. He could be one of ‘His’ split personalities.

Therefore, if the Old Task Force really encountered Xiaochong again, they might not be meeting Xiaochong. Or perhaps they wouldn’t only be meeting Xiaochong.

This was filled with danger and the unknown.

As if sensing Long Yuehong’s mental activity, Shang Jianyao smiled and continued speaking. “Dajiang City’s Elite Middle School might be in Swamp Ruin 1.”

As for Dajiang City’s Linhe Village, it definitely didn’t wasn’t in a city.

Long Yuehong couldn’t help but tremble when he recalled Old Ge’s description of Dajiang City’s Elite Middle School.

At this moment, Bai Chen looked at Jiang Baimian and pursed her lips. “But the few entrances to Swamp Ruin 1 are basically controlled by the company or are under the company’s watch. It will probably be a little difficult for us to hide from the company and infiltrate the ruin to search for the

corresponding textual information.”

More importantly, the Old Task Force had no intention of fighting the company head-on yet.

“That’s right, that’s right.” Long Yuehong nodded in agreement.

Shang Jianyao smiled. “The city ruin is so large, and the company has limited manpower. How can they watch over every place? In the past few years, haven’t Ruin Hunters still entered and exited the city ruin? At most, we’ll abandon the car in advance and enter using a trail. Or we can play a lullaby for

Wang Beicheng and the others.”

Jiang Baimian laughed. “Why are you sure that it’s Wang Beicheng’s company on duty now?”

‘What she meant was: Why are you targeting Wang Beicheng again?

‘Without waiting for Shang Jianyao’s response, Jiang Baimian looked around and said, “Actually, there’s an entrance that the company doesn’t know about.”

“Which one?” Long Yuehong’s heart palpitated as he thought of the answer.

Jiang Baimian smiled and said, “The entrance Qiao Chu used when he brought us along previously.”

“You didn’t report it?” Shang Jianyao had a surprised’ expression, but Jiang Baimian felt that it was an exhibition of joy.

Jiang Baimian chuckled. “When we left Ruin 1, didn’t we find that path too winding and dangerous? Without Qiao Chu’s guidance, it was very easy to sink into the swamp. Hence, we switched to taking the path that An Ruxiang and the others took.”

“Yes.” Bai Chen nodded. She remembered that they had also encountered Wang Beicheng’s company on their return trip.

Jiang Baimian smiled and said, “I found it troublesome when writing the report, so I didn’t specify which path Qiao Chu used. The company probably tacitly acknowledged it as the one we used when leaving. Wang Beicheng and the others would also have confirmed it.”

Swamp Ruin 1 was large and dangerous. Pangu Biology had always taken it slow and steady; it pushed forward bit by bit and slowly explored. At present, at least two-thirds of the places had yet to be searched.

In other words, the possibility of them discovering the hidden entrance was relatively low.

‘As Long Yuehong came to a realization, he worriedly said, “Team Leader, I remember that the path is hidden deep in the swamp. Not only is it hidden and winding, making it easy to get lost inside, but it’s also very dangerous.”

The mutated creatures were fine; the Old Task Force currently had the ability to deal with them. The most troublesome thing was the swamp itself—a quagmire that could devour all life.

Jiang Baimian smiled and consoled him. “Have you forgotten what season it is? The Lunar New Year has just passed. The temperature in the Blackmarsh Wilderness’s depths and the northern area is still very low. The lakes and rivers have frozen, allowing vehicles to pass through.”

If the lakes and rivers were frozen, there was no need to mention the swamps.

In winter, it was equivalent to a smooth plain.

“That’s true.” Long Yuehong heaved a sigh of relief.

As long as he could enter Swamp Ruin 1 relatively safely and not meet Pangu Biology’s Security Department employees, he felt that this mission wasn’t too unacceptable as long as they could gather the textual information to determine if the ruin was in Dajiang City.

Jiang Baimian then asked Shang Jianyao, “How do you plan on dealing with this mine?”

At present, most of the bandits had started wandering, Only the people guarding the mines and the miners remained behind because they were too far away and weren’t affected by the small speaker. However, it was also because they were too far away that they had yet to realize the situation in the

headquarters.

Shang Jianyao immediately felt energized. “I want to distribute the bandits’ weapons to the miners and spend a few days training them on how to use firearms and cannons, how to form a defense line, deal with the enemy, and rely on the complicated terrain in the mountains to move.”

This was a relatively difficult matter for others. After all, most wilderness nomads had only seen but never used cannons, nor did they have the resources. However, Shang Jianyao could directly implant a set of thoughts into them to help them familiarize themselves with the corresponding actions as

soon as possible.

Although it was impossible to replace muscle memory and mass-produce warriors proficient in firearms, it saved them a lot of time.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “What do you plan on doing with the women and children left behind by those bandits?”

Shang Jianyao sincerely replied, “I’ll persuade both parties to forget the past and get along well.”

Hiss!

Long Yuehong secretly took a deep breath. As expected of an Awakened who has explored the Mind Corridor’s depths!

Jiang Baimian frowned and thought for a few seconds before sighing. “That’s all we can do for now.”

At the same time, she sighed with emotion inwardly. Jiang Baimian, Jiang Baimian, you’ve degenerated!

She had always disagreed with Shang Jianyao’s use of his abilities to create false peace. Back in Redstone Collection, she had rejected Shang Jianyao’s suggestion to ‘persuade’ the townsfolk to get along with the Subhumans.

But now, she could only relent in an emergency.

Sigh, only hope that Hey’s current ability is enough to maintain the effects for a long, long time… Repeat a lie often enough without being overturned, and it will become the truth… Jiang Baimian consoled herself.

Shang Jianyao—who had obtained permission—excitedly turned around and walked to the door.

He suddenly stopped, turned his head, and solemnly said to Jiang Baimian and the others, “Leave one for me. No, half will do.”

“What?” Long Yuehong was confused.

Shang Jianyao pointed at the sweet potatoes that the bandit leader was roasting above the coal stove and gulped. “They’re almost done.”

Only then did Long Yuchong smell the fragrance of roasted sweet potatoes in the air.

Eating one in such cold weather was definitely a top-notch enjoyment.

Jiang Baimian smiled and clapped. “Deal with everything else first. We’ll eat when you return.”

She didn’t forget that her goal this time was to get supplies. For this, she adjusted the sweet potatoes to prevent them from being charred by the time he returned.

“Alright!” Shang Jianyao replied excitedly.

Bai Chen and Long Yuehong nodded nonchalantly.

As for where the bandits would ultimately wander, whether they could escape the influence, and when they would escape, it wasn’t a question they needed to consider now.

In the white snow, the Old Task Force spent a lot of time finding the path that Qiao Chu had led them into Swamp Ruin 1 with.

Amid the cold, the bloodthirsty mosquitoes and mutated vines had either disappeared, were hidden deep under the ice, or were covered in white as if they had been dead for a long time.

Amidst the creaking sounds, the Old Task Force’s jeep drove through the snow. Apart from sliding across the ice from time to time, they didn’t encounter any sudden collapses.

Jiang Baimian sat in the passenger seat and pointed at a spot. “I think it’s over there.”

Shang Jianyao nodded. “Alright.”

He turned the steering wheel and drove the car to the other side.

“That’s not right.” Jiang Baimian quickly corrected him. “I’m talking about over there!”

“That’s right.” Shang Jianyao smiled. “When it comes to giving directions, I have to do the opposite of what you say. The effects should be pretty good.”

“So you’re doing it through a process of elimination?” Jiang Baimian laughed in exasperation.

She was already accustomed to suffering such blows and even began to mock herself.

“Something like that.” Shang Jianyao looked at the rearview mirror. “Little Red, point in a direction as well.”

I’m not directionally challenged… Long Yuehong felt a little guilty-conscience and ignored this fellow.

He did know the way, but his luck was always bad.

With Shang Jianyao doing this, the Old Task Force finally entered the tunnel that led to Swamp Ruin 1 when it was almost dark.

Jiang Baimian didn’t know if this was considered early or a delay.

The jeep soon drove out of the tunnel, and they saw the sleeping city again formed by dead high-rise buildings.

Long Yuehong stared at this scene and sighed with emotion. “We’re back again…”

Perhaps this was fate.

Jiang Baimian and Bai Chen shared the same feelings.

Shang Jianyao nodded and indignantly said, “Qiao Chu still owes us a military exoskeleton..”

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