138 Mystery of The End Times
Before nightfall, they arrived in Xi'an. Returning to this place once again, the hearts of the entire team were filled with mixed emotions.
When they left, it was still winter, but now spring had taken over, and the vegetation in the entire ancient city had come back to life. As they disembarked from the balloon airship, the wild grass had grown as tall as their thighs.
Local troops from Xi'an came to receive them and escorted them into the city. The city still appeared desolate, with few people seen on the streets. Occasionally, a few mutant creatures would scurry away upon seeing a crowd of people.
Zhuang Yao asked, "How many people are still left in Xi'an?"
The company commander named Wan replied, "There are still about two to three hundred thousand."
"Are there many mutant creatures here? What are your plans?"
Commander Wan nodded and replied, "There are many of them. We often organize squads of mutants or evolved humans to hunt down these man-eating creatures. However, it's challenging to eradicate them completely. Last year, when the earthquake struck, we were caught off guard. Now, we've recovered a bit, reestablished communication with the central authorities, and recently received their assistance. They provided us with seeds, piglets, and other things. Our plan now is to organize people and establish a city within the city, gathering everyone in a smaller area. We'll purify the environment and engage in agriculture and animal husbandry, striving for self-sufficiency. Many cities are planning to do the same. If people are too scattered, our strength will be diluted, and we'll perish even faster."
"That's a good plan. However, when establishing a city within the city, you must carefully select the location and plan accordingly. Otherwise, you'll be gradually squeezed by the mutant creatures and plants outside the city, and your living space will become smaller and smaller."
Commander Wan nodded, "We are currently preparing for that. The site selection is not what troubles us the most. Our biggest concern is still what lies within the Big Wild Goose Pagoda."
Commander Wan couldn't help but glance in the direction of the pagoda, although it was far away and couldn't be seen. He continued with a worried expression, "As long as the interior of the pagoda remains uncleared, we won't have peace. We need to plan our city within the city, and the pagoda is right at the heart of Xi'an. It contains the underground water supply system, drainage system, electricity, gas, and so on. Making any alterations would require a massive undertaking, something beyond human capacity. If we proceed with building the city within the city now, it's like enclosing a time bomb within our home."
"That's why we are here this time, to solve that problem. Tell us about the situation in the last two days."
"The number of missing persons is still increasing. We estimate there are already thirty to forty people missing, and there doesn't seem to be any common ground in the locations of their disappearance. It appears entirely random. Apart from that, there's nothing different from before. Despite you saying the pagoda is infested, we still haven't encountered anything yet."
"You will soon have the opportunity to see it for yourselves."
Commander Wan's heart sank and said, "We have already made operational plans based on Professor Cong's instructions. The location chosen is four kilometers west of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There's a foundation there, 18 meters deep and 200 meters in diameter. All explosives have been set up. Dr. Zhuang, when do you plan to visit and inspect it?"
"When it's bright tomorrow, if everything is fine, we'll take action," Zhuang Yao said.
"Tomorrow? Won't that be too rushed?" Chen Tianbi questioned.
"No, we must act as soon as possible," Zhuang Yao replied firmly.
If it weren't for the obstructed visibility, they would have preferred to act tonight. The other group of people must be rushing back to Xi'an day and night. With their formidable speed, if they didn't rest, they would likely arrive by tomorrow. They needed to launch their attack before those mutants returned.
At night, they rested within the military camp. The conditions were simple, with twenty people sleeping on bunk beds, but no one cared about the environment. They were all busy preparing for tomorrow's operation.
Those with weapons maintained and oiled their arms, while those without weapons found secluded corners to practice. Zhuang Yao, Chen Tianbi, Shen Changze, and Al were studying the strategy.
At this moment, Cong Xia was quietly absorbing the energy from the puppet jade. Then, one after another, he crafted energy storage jade charms (talismans). He felt a bit unsure, but having so many jade charms gave him some peace of mind. At least he wouldn't worry about facing an energy depletion crisis.
Deng Xiao walked over and sat beside him, letting out a sigh. "I miss Abu a bit. I wonder what it's doing now?"
Cong Xia chuckled, "At this hour, it's definitely sleeping."
Deng Xiao shook his head, "I'm sure it can't sleep; it must be thinking about us."
"We'll be back in a few days; you don't need to worry about it."
Deng Xiao looked somewhat melancholic, gazing blankly ahead. Suddenly, he straightened up, "Cong-ge, what are those Dragonblood people doing?"
Cong Xia followed his gaze and saw those people distributing something that looked like syringes. "Could that be injectable energy?"
Since they had Cong Xia, a large "energy transfer machine," they had never paid attention to this type of energy used as currency or equivalent exchange. Now, Cong Xia became a little curious, so he followed Deng Xiao to get a closer look.
Shen Ming glanced at him, "What's up?"
"Ming-ge, is this the energy you guys bought?"
"Yeah."
"Can I take a look?"
"Sure, have a seat."
The two of them sat amidst the group of people. Cong Xia took the syringe that Shen Ming handed him. The syringe was very small, about the size of a little finger, and contained a small amount of colorful liquid. He asked, "How many milligrams are in here?"
"20 or 30 milligrams, and it's hard to see any at 10 milligrams," Shen Ming replied.
"This energy is so precious. Injecting energy with this syringe, wouldn't there be any losses? Won't water droplets be left in the syringe during the injection, which can't be pushed out?" Cong Xia inquired.
"There are some losses, but for now, there's no better way to solve it." Shen Ming distributed one or two syringes to different people. If they knew Cong Xia could replenish their energy without any losses, they would probably want to keep him close at all times.
Cong Xia carefully observed the syringe. Although this item was of no use to them, it gave him inspiration. He couldn't guarantee that he would always be present with his companions. What if one day their energy depleted while he was away? He should prepare some energy injection devices similar to these syringes, which others could carry with them. However, syringes might not be the best choice; there might be other methods that would allow others to use the energy he stored more effectively. After this battle, he would surely research this thoroughly.
He then asked, "Can 20 or 30 milligrams of energy completely fill a person's energy?"
"It depends on the person. Shen Changze and Al would still be short of energy, and others would still lack some, but it can fully charge lower-level mutants."
Cong Xia nodded; now he could easily replenish energy for these people without arousing suspicion.
Shen Ming looked at Cong Xia and asked, "Hey, can you really heal people?"
"Yes, I can."
Shen Ming smiled and suddenly picked up a dagger, swiftly making a long cut on his own arm.
Cong Xia and Deng Xiao were both startled, watching the bright red blood flow from Shen Ming's arm. He didn't even blink.
Shen Changze hurried over and asked, "What's going on?"
Shen Ming raised his hand to stop him, then held up his arm in front of Cong Xia. "Let me see your ability."
Cong Xia felt a little perplexed.
Chen Tianbi also walked over and said coldly, "What do you mean by this?"
This provocative act created tension in both groups.
Shen Ming spoke seriously, "I have been on countless battlefields, and I never entrust my life and the lives of my brothers to someone I don't trust. Whether you really possess healing abilities has a significant impact on our strategy and morale. I need you to prove that you can heal, to prove that we can trust you, and to prove that you are worthy of being our primary protective target."
After Shen Ming finished speaking, there was silence all around.
After a moment, Cong Xia raised his hand and lightly placed his fingers on Shen Ming's wrist. In the blink of an eye, the bleeding wound slowly coagulated, and the exposed flesh and skin visibly healed at a rapid pace. In less than two minutes, the wound that was originally over a dozen centimeters long had completely repaired itself, and the skin returned to its normal state. If it weren't for the remaining blood on Shen Ming's arm, there would be no evidence that he had just been injured.
Shen Ming moved his arm and smiled, "Not bad, you weren’t bragging."
A Dragonblood person exclaimed, "Damn, that's incredible!"
Deng Xiao snorted, "Who asked you not to believe?"
Chen Tianbi pulled Cong Xia and Deng Xiao up from the ground and dragged them away without saying a word. Before leaving, Cong Xia heard Shen Changze sternly reprimanding, "Don't do that again!"
The three returned to their group, and Liu Fengyu sneered, deliberately mocking loudly, "I really don't know how these Dragonblood people are going to prove their abilities. Why not go out and kill a few chickens so we can see?"
Those Dragonblood people were all disciplined military personnel. Although they felt unhappy, they only glanced back at Liu Fengyu without saying a word.
Cong Xia smiled wryly, "Shen Ming was quite ruthless, making such a large cut."
Zhuang Yao said, "Shen Ming's considerations have merit. These people used to rely on guns and knives, and they have deep trust issues. What he did is like giving them a peace of mind pill and also building cohesion between the two teams. Chen Tianbi should understand."
Chen Tianbi nodded, "This way, they will be fully committed to protecting you, Cong Xia."
"Let's rest early. Tomorrow, we'll go and see the place where the explosives are buried. After familiarizing ourselves with the route, we'll take action."
With some unease, the group went to bed with the lights off.
Early the next morning, Commander Wan led them towards the direction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and stopped about four or five kilometers away from it.
As they got out of the vehicle and looked around, they saw a large foundation with a high layer of loose soil piled around it, making it appear normal on the surface.
Commander Wan said, "There used to be water inside. After we cleared it, we buried new soil, and the explosives are hidden underneath. We control the detonation device. You will notify us to detonate using the radio. We have calculated everything. The thirty tons of soil piled up around it will all collapse when detonated. The soil contains phosphorus, which, when combined with the explosives, will produce extremely high temperatures. The creatures inside won't be able to escape."
Zhuang Yao nodded, "Very well."
Commander Wan cautioned, "You must only give the detonation signal when you are completely sure of your escape. Once detonated, it will be uncontrollable, and the ground around here may collapse."
Zhuang Yao said, "If the creatures follow us out of the tower, we'll lure the majority of them here and then let the Dragonblood people fly everyone up. There's a 30% chance of unexpected incidents, but it's worth a try. However, we must eliminate the mutants inside the tower. For intelligent humans like us, this trap is too obvious."
Commander Wan said, "What if the mutants turn into creatures and hide inside? Or maybe they have other reasons not to leave the tower?"
Zhuang Yao looked up at him. "In that case, after we retrieve the puppet jade, we'll blow up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda."
Commander Wan's eyes widened, his lips trembled, and then he lowered his gaze.
A young soldier behind him exclaimed excitedly, "The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a thousands-year-old antique, an important national treasure, and a landmark of Xi'an. How could we blow it up!"
Several other soldiers beside him also echoed his sentiment.
Commander Wan roared, "Shut up!" His fist clenched, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Zhuang Yao looked at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the distance with a blank expression. It stood there quietly, as it had for thousands of years, witnessing the rise and fall of the ancient capital. The ancient capital was still alive, but it was now terminally ill. Zhuang Yao said in a low voice, "There's no other choice. If sacrificing it can completely resolve the insect infestation, it's the minimum cost."
Commander Wan gritted his teeth, "I understand. The pagoda is still a pagoda, and Xi'an still has 300,000 residents. We can't let them perish with the insects."
"Let's go back and prepare our equipment. We're moving now."
The group returned to the camp, donned protective suits, and carried their weapons. Commander Wan escorted them back to the vicinity of the foundation.
Zhuang Yao said, "We've already assigned the roles. Commander Wan and his troops will stay here to hold the fort. My and Liu Fengyu's abilities are not suitable for dealing with the creatures, so we'll stay here as well. Tang Yanqiu, Shen Changze, Al, Huang Ying, and Wu Ya are a team. They will enter the Big Wild Goose Pagoda from above and search downward. Cheng Tianbi and Shen Ming will lead the remaining team through the main entrance of the pagoda, that's your team. Shen Changze, check the puppet jade detection device on your body."
Shen Changze replied, "No problem." He glanced at Cheng Tianbi and asked, "What about their devices?"
Cong Xia said, "I can sense the puppet jade."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Shen Changze's eyes but disappeared quickly.
Zhuang Yao took a step forward and whispered, "Cheng Tianbi and Shen Ming cannot bring the puppet jade into the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. They will be surrounded by all the creatures if they do. Therefore, I am carrying all the puppet jades. As a precaution, I'll leave Liu Fengyu and a Dragonblood person to protect me. If anything happens here, depending on the severity, Shen Changze's team will need to allocate half of their forces to support us."
Cong Xia asked, "Are you worried that the two mutant creatures from Jiujiang Prefecture will come back?"
"Yes, they are a variable, but I have two platoons of soldiers here, so it should be fine. Just follow my radio instructions."
"Okay."
Zhuang Yao looked at each of them and said sternly, "Come back alive."
Liu Fengyu also gazed seriously at each person. Finally, his eyes settled on Tang Yanqiu, and he said uneasily, "Be careful, don't get eaten by those creatures."
Tang Yanqiu's gaze flickered, hesitated for a moment, and finally replied softly, "Okay."
Cheng Tianbi shouted, "Let's go!"
The group of people dressed in black protective suits, carrying heavy gas canisters and armed with flamethrowers and various weapons, headed towards the distant Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
On the way, Shen Ming teased, "Hey, we look like a sterilization team."
Ko Seki burst into laughter. "The boss has never worn such clothes to the battlefield before."
Huang Ying corrected him with a smile, "It's not boss, it's 'Laozi'."
"Huh? Oh, right, Laozi, hahaha, this Chinese stuff is damn hard to learn."
Qiao Bo mocked, "You seem to be pretty good at swearing though."
The group of Dragonblood people and mercenaries chatted and laughed along the way, seemingly not nervous at all. They were accustomed to life on the edge of death, and their psychological endurance was much stronger than Cong Xia and the others. Listening to their banter, Cong Xia felt slightly relieved.
After half an hour, they arrived at the foot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The gate of the pagoda was no different from when they left. The door that was knocked down by Deng Xiao was still lying on the ground, open wide without any barriers. They couldn't see what was inside, but everyone knew that there were countless creatures in there.
Shen Ming raised his gun and shouted, "F***ing creatures!"
The people behind him followed suit, yelling, "F***ing creatures!"
Cong Xia looked at the dark doorway, and his legs began to tremble.
Shen Ming glanced at him and poked his shoulder with the gun butt. "Hey, be a bit more courageous. What are you afraid of? If we die, we'll die together, and I want you to shout with me."
Cong Xia took a deep breath and joined the others, shouting, "F***ing creatures!"
Cong Xia looked at him in a daze, "Huh?"
"Just shout!"
Cong Xia swallowed hard, gathered his courage, and tremulously shouted, "F***ing creatures!"
Shen Ming burst into hearty laughter, "Good, let's go!"
The first team, consisting of individuals with flight abilities, ran around to the back of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Cheng Tianbi led the remaining people and started running towards the main entrance.
While running, Cheng Tianbi squeezed Cong Xia's arm, muffled by the protective suit, and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid, I'll be right by your side."
Though he couldn't feel Cheng Tianbi's skin or body temperature through the protective suit, the firm grip of the hand and the perpetually calm and steady voice gave him immense strength. He knew he was the weakest among them, but he could also empower himself, keep up with their pace, and fight without hesitation. He wouldn't hold anyone back and would provide everyone with his energy support.
One by one, they rushed into the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The half-open door was pitch-black, resembling the entrance to hell, devouring all light and shadows.
138 Mystery of The End Times
Before nightfall, they arrived in Xi'an. Returning to this place once again, the hearts of the entire team were filled with mixed emotions.
When they left, it was still winter, but now spring had taken over, and the vegetation in the entire ancient city had come back to life. As they disembarked from the balloon airship, the wild grass had grown as tall as their thighs.
Local troops from Xi'an came to receive them and escorted them into the city. The city still appeared desolate, with few people seen on the streets. Occasionally, a few mutant creatures would scurry away upon seeing a crowd of people.
Zhuang Yao asked, "How many people are still left in Xi'an?"
The company commander named Wan replied, "There are still about two to three hundred thousand."
"Are there many mutant creatures here? What are your plans?"
Commander Wan nodded and replied, "There are many of them. We often organize squads of mutants or evolved humans to hunt down these man-eating creatures. However, it's challenging to eradicate them completely. Last year, when the earthquake struck, we were caught off guard. Now, we've recovered a bit, reestablished communication with the central authorities, and recently received their assistance. They provided us with seeds, piglets, and other things. Our plan now is to organize people and establish a city within the city, gathering everyone in a smaller area. We'll purify the environment and engage in agriculture and animal husbandry, striving for self-sufficiency. Many cities are planning to do the same. If people are too scattered, our strength will be diluted, and we'll perish even faster."
"That's a good plan. However, when establishing a city within the city, you must carefully select the location and plan accordingly. Otherwise, you'll be gradually squeezed by the mutant creatures and plants outside the city, and your living space will become smaller and smaller."
Commander Wan nodded, "We are currently preparing for that. The site selection is not what troubles us the most. Our biggest concern is still what lies within the Big Wild Goose Pagoda."
Commander Wan couldn't help but glance in the direction of the pagoda, although it was far away and couldn't be seen. He continued with a worried expression, "As long as the interior of the pagoda remains uncleared, we won't have peace. We need to plan our city within the city, and the pagoda is right at the heart of Xi'an. It contains the underground water supply system, drainage system, electricity, gas, and so on. Making any alterations would require a massive undertaking, something beyond human capacity. If we proceed with building the city within the city now, it's like enclosing a time bomb within our home."
"That's why we are here this time, to solve that problem. Tell us about the situation in the last two days."
"The number of missing persons is still increasing. We estimate there are already thirty to forty people missing, and there doesn't seem to be any common ground in the locations of their disappearance. It appears entirely random. Apart from that, there's nothing different from before. Despite you saying the pagoda is infested, we still haven't encountered anything yet."
"You will soon have the opportunity to see it for yourselves."
Commander Wan's heart sank and said, "We have already made operational plans based on Professor Cong's instructions. The location chosen is four kilometers west of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There's a foundation there, 18 meters deep and 200 meters in diameter. All explosives have been set up. Dr. Zhuang, when do you plan to visit and inspect it?"
"When it's bright tomorrow, if everything is fine, we'll take action," Zhuang Yao said.
"Tomorrow? Won't that be too rushed?" Chen Tianbi questioned.
"No, we must act as soon as possible," Zhuang Yao replied firmly.
If it weren't for the obstructed visibility, they would have preferred to act tonight. The other group of people must be rushing back to Xi'an day and night. With their formidable speed, if they didn't rest, they would likely arrive by tomorrow. They needed to launch their attack before those mutants returned.
At night, they rested within the military camp. The conditions were simple, with twenty people sleeping on bunk beds, but no one cared about the environment. They were all busy preparing for tomorrow's operation.
Those with weapons maintained and oiled their arms, while those without weapons found secluded corners to practice. Zhuang Yao, Chen Tianbi, Shen Changze, and Al were studying the strategy.
At this moment, Cong Xia was quietly absorbing the energy from the puppet jade. Then, one after another, he crafted energy storage jade charms (talismans). He felt a bit unsure, but having so many jade charms gave him some peace of mind. At least he wouldn't worry about facing an energy depletion crisis.
Deng Xiao walked over and sat beside him, letting out a sigh. "I miss Abu a bit. I wonder what it's doing now?"
Cong Xia chuckled, "At this hour, it's definitely sleeping."
Deng Xiao shook his head, "I'm sure it can't sleep; it must be thinking about us."
"We'll be back in a few days; you don't need to worry about it."
Deng Xiao looked somewhat melancholic, gazing blankly ahead. Suddenly, he straightened up, "Cong-ge, what are those Dragonblood people doing?"
Cong Xia followed his gaze and saw those people distributing something that looked like syringes. "Could that be injectable energy?"
Since they had Cong Xia, a large "energy transfer machine," they had never paid attention to this type of energy used as currency or equivalent exchange. Now, Cong Xia became a little curious, so he followed Deng Xiao to get a closer look.
Shen Ming glanced at him, "What's up?"
"Ming-ge, is this the energy you guys bought?"
"Yeah."
"Can I take a look?"
"Sure, have a seat."
The two of them sat amidst the group of people. Cong Xia took the syringe that Shen Ming handed him. The syringe was very small, about the size of a little finger, and contained a small amount of colorful liquid. He asked, "How many milligrams are in here?"
"20 or 30 milligrams, and it's hard to see any at 10 milligrams," Shen Ming replied.
"This energy is so precious. Injecting energy with this syringe, wouldn't there be any losses? Won't water droplets be left in the syringe during the injection, which can't be pushed out?" Cong Xia inquired.
"There are some losses, but for now, there's no better way to solve it." Shen Ming distributed one or two syringes to different people. If they knew Cong Xia could replenish their energy without any losses, they would probably want to keep him close at all times.
Cong Xia carefully observed the syringe. Although this item was of no use to them, it gave him inspiration. He couldn't guarantee that he would always be present with his companions. What if one day their energy depleted while he was away? He should prepare some energy injection devices similar to these syringes, which others could carry with them. However, syringes might not be the best choice; there might be other methods that would allow others to use the energy he stored more effectively. After this battle, he would surely research this thoroughly.
He then asked, "Can 20 or 30 milligrams of energy completely fill a person's energy?"
"It depends on the person. Shen Changze and Al would still be short of energy, and others would still lack some, but it can fully charge lower-level mutants."
Cong Xia nodded; now he could easily replenish energy for these people without arousing suspicion.
Shen Ming looked at Cong Xia and asked, "Hey, can you really heal people?"
"Yes, I can."
Shen Ming smiled and suddenly picked up a dagger, swiftly making a long cut on his own arm.
Cong Xia and Deng Xiao were both startled, watching the bright red blood flow from Shen Ming's arm. He didn't even blink.
Shen Changze hurried over and asked, "What's going on?"
Shen Ming raised his hand to stop him, then held up his arm in front of Cong Xia. "Let me see your ability."
Cong Xia felt a little perplexed.
Chen Tianbi also walked over and said coldly, "What do you mean by this?"
This provocative act created tension in both groups.
Shen Ming spoke seriously, "I have been on countless battlefields, and I never entrust my life and the lives of my brothers to someone I don't trust. Whether you really possess healing abilities has a significant impact on our strategy and morale. I need you to prove that you can heal, to prove that we can trust you, and to prove that you are worthy of being our primary protective target."
After Shen Ming finished speaking, there was silence all around.
After a moment, Cong Xia raised his hand and lightly placed his fingers on Shen Ming's wrist. In the blink of an eye, the bleeding wound slowly coagulated, and the exposed flesh and skin visibly healed at a rapid pace. In less than two minutes, the wound that was originally over a dozen centimeters long had completely repaired itself, and the skin returned to its normal state. If it weren't for the remaining blood on Shen Ming's arm, there would be no evidence that he had just been injured.
Shen Ming moved his arm and smiled, "Not bad, you weren’t bragging."
A Dragonblood person exclaimed, "Damn, that's incredible!"
Deng Xiao snorted, "Who asked you not to believe?"
Chen Tianbi pulled Cong Xia and Deng Xiao up from the ground and dragged them away without saying a word. Before leaving, Cong Xia heard Shen Changze sternly reprimanding, "Don't do that again!"
The three returned to their group, and Liu Fengyu sneered, deliberately mocking loudly, "I really don't know how these Dragonblood people are going to prove their abilities. Why not go out and kill a few chickens so we can see?"
Those Dragonblood people were all disciplined military personnel. Although they felt unhappy, they only glanced back at Liu Fengyu without saying a word.
Cong Xia smiled wryly, "Shen Ming was quite ruthless, making such a large cut."
Zhuang Yao said, "Shen Ming's considerations have merit. These people used to rely on guns and knives, and they have deep trust issues. What he did is like giving them a peace of mind pill and also building cohesion between the two teams. Chen Tianbi should understand."
Chen Tianbi nodded, "This way, they will be fully committed to protecting you, Cong Xia."
"Let's rest early. Tomorrow, we'll go and see the place where the explosives are buried. After familiarizing ourselves with the route, we'll take action."
With some unease, the group went to bed with the lights off.
Early the next morning, Commander Wan led them towards the direction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and stopped about four or five kilometers away from it.
As they got out of the vehicle and looked around, they saw a large foundation with a high layer of loose soil piled around it, making it appear normal on the surface.
Commander Wan said, "There used to be water inside. After we cleared it, we buried new soil, and the explosives are hidden underneath. We control the detonation device. You will notify us to detonate using the radio. We have calculated everything. The thirty tons of soil piled up around it will all collapse when detonated. The soil contains phosphorus, which, when combined with the explosives, will produce extremely high temperatures. The creatures inside won't be able to escape."
Zhuang Yao nodded, "Very well."
Commander Wan cautioned, "You must only give the detonation signal when you are completely sure of your escape. Once detonated, it will be uncontrollable, and the ground around here may collapse."
Zhuang Yao said, "If the creatures follow us out of the tower, we'll lure the majority of them here and then let the Dragonblood people fly everyone up. There's a 30% chance of unexpected incidents, but it's worth a try. However, we must eliminate the mutants inside the tower. For intelligent humans like us, this trap is too obvious."
Commander Wan said, "What if the mutants turn into creatures and hide inside? Or maybe they have other reasons not to leave the tower?"
Zhuang Yao looked up at him. "In that case, after we retrieve the puppet jade, we'll blow up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda."
Commander Wan's eyes widened, his lips trembled, and then he lowered his gaze.
A young soldier behind him exclaimed excitedly, "The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a thousands-year-old antique, an important national treasure, and a landmark of Xi'an. How could we blow it up!"
Several other soldiers beside him also echoed his sentiment.
Commander Wan roared, "Shut up!" His fist clenched, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Zhuang Yao looked at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the distance with a blank expression. It stood there quietly, as it had for thousands of years, witnessing the rise and fall of the ancient capital. The ancient capital was still alive, but it was now terminally ill. Zhuang Yao said in a low voice, "There's no other choice. If sacrificing it can completely resolve the insect infestation, it's the minimum cost."
Commander Wan gritted his teeth, "I understand. The pagoda is still a pagoda, and Xi'an still has 300,000 residents. We can't let them perish with the insects."
"Let's go back and prepare our equipment. We're moving now."
The group returned to the camp, donned protective suits, and carried their weapons. Commander Wan escorted them back to the vicinity of the foundation.
Zhuang Yao said, "We've already assigned the roles. Commander Wan and his troops will stay here to hold the fort. My and Liu Fengyu's abilities are not suitable for dealing with the creatures, so we'll stay here as well. Tang Yanqiu, Shen Changze, Al, Huang Ying, and Wu Ya are a team. They will enter the Big Wild Goose Pagoda from above and search downward. Cheng Tianbi and Shen Ming will lead the remaining team through the main entrance of the pagoda, that's your team. Shen Changze, check the puppet jade detection device on your body."
Shen Changze replied, "No problem." He glanced at Cheng Tianbi and asked, "What about their devices?"
Cong Xia said, "I can sense the puppet jade."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Shen Changze's eyes but disappeared quickly.
Zhuang Yao took a step forward and whispered, "Cheng Tianbi and Shen Ming cannot bring the puppet jade into the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. They will be surrounded by all the creatures if they do. Therefore, I am carrying all the puppet jades. As a precaution, I'll leave Liu Fengyu and a Dragonblood person to protect me. If anything happens here, depending on the severity, Shen Changze's team will need to allocate half of their forces to support us."
Cong Xia asked, "Are you worried that the two mutant creatures from Jiujiang Prefecture will come back?"
"Yes, they are a variable, but I have two platoons of soldiers here, so it should be fine. Just follow my radio instructions."
"Okay."
Zhuang Yao looked at each of them and said sternly, "Come back alive."
Liu Fengyu also gazed seriously at each person. Finally, his eyes settled on Tang Yanqiu, and he said uneasily, "Be careful, don't get eaten by those creatures."
Tang Yanqiu's gaze flickered, hesitated for a moment, and finally replied softly, "Okay."
Cheng Tianbi shouted, "Let's go!"
The group of people dressed in black protective suits, carrying heavy gas canisters and armed with flamethrowers and various weapons, headed towards the distant Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
On the way, Shen Ming teased, "Hey, we look like a sterilization team."
Ko Seki burst into laughter. "The boss has never worn such clothes to the battlefield before."
Huang Ying corrected him with a smile, "It's not boss, it's 'Laozi'."
"Huh? Oh, right, Laozi, hahaha, this Chinese stuff is damn hard to learn."
Qiao Bo mocked, "You seem to be pretty good at swearing though."
The group of Dragonblood people and mercenaries chatted and laughed along the way, seemingly not nervous at all. They were accustomed to life on the edge of death, and their psychological endurance was much stronger than Cong Xia and the others. Listening to their banter, Cong Xia felt slightly relieved.
After half an hour, they arrived at the foot of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The gate of the pagoda was no different from when they left. The door that was knocked down by Deng Xiao was still lying on the ground, open wide without any barriers. They couldn't see what was inside, but everyone knew that there were countless creatures in there.
Shen Ming raised his gun and shouted, "F***ing creatures!"
The people behind him followed suit, yelling, "F***ing creatures!"
Cong Xia looked at the dark doorway, and his legs began to tremble.
Shen Ming glanced at him and poked his shoulder with the gun butt. "Hey, be a bit more courageous. What are you afraid of? If we die, we'll die together, and I want you to shout with me."
Cong Xia took a deep breath and joined the others, shouting, "F***ing creatures!"
Cong Xia looked at him in a daze, "Huh?"
"Just shout!"
Cong Xia swallowed hard, gathered his courage, and tremulously shouted, "F***ing creatures!"
Shen Ming burst into hearty laughter, "Good, let's go!"
The first team, consisting of individuals with flight abilities, ran around to the back of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Cheng Tianbi led the remaining people and started running towards the main entrance.
While running, Cheng Tianbi squeezed Cong Xia's arm, muffled by the protective suit, and said in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid, I'll be right by your side."
Though he couldn't feel Cheng Tianbi's skin or body temperature through the protective suit, the firm grip of the hand and the perpetually calm and steady voice gave him immense strength. He knew he was the weakest among them, but he could also empower himself, keep up with their pace, and fight without hesitation. He wouldn't hold anyone back and would provide everyone with his energy support.
One by one, they rushed into the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The half-open door was pitch-black, resembling the entrance to hell, devouring all light and shadows.
