156 Mystery of the End Times Part 1
Liu Fengyu said, "Are you kidding? Such a massive creature, besides using missiles to kill it, what other possibilities are there for its elimination?"
"Perhaps there are." Tang Tingzhi replied, "The Devil Pine once spoke to us, even if it was just a warning. But that shows it is capable of communication, unlike the insects which, though having language abilities, refuse to communicate. As long as the Devil Pine is willing to talk, we have a chance to resolve the conflict without resorting to violent means. So, your main mission this time is to gather intelligence and find a way to communicate with it. Based on the information you bring back, we will decide on our next strategy."
Liu Fengyu mocked, "What if we don't come back?"
Tang Tingzhi remained expressionless and said, "That too would be valuable information."
Zhuang Yao said confidently, "I'm pretty sure that the Devil Pine is willing to communicate. It has assimilated a human, which means it possesses the wisdom and memories of that individual. Judging from the voice, that human was an adult male. The Devil Pine must have some concept of humanity's mass-destructive weapons. Despite its constant evolution, its current strength cannot withstand a nuclear attack. Any sentient being cannot be devoid of fear. The Devil Pine is expanding its forest area while warning reconnaissance aircraft; these are all signs of self-defense."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow and said, "Have you ever considered the purpose of the Devil Pine settling in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains? Originally, it lived in Yunnan, and the one it assimilated was probably a local. Even if not, now that the consciousness of the pine tree dominates, the human inside has no say in this decision. But with human wisdom, that person helped the Devil Pine achieve its goal. As powerful as the Devil Pine is, it can transform into a human at any time and leave. So why did it choose to take root in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains?
It could easily dominate anywhere else and have an endless supply of food. So, I speculate that maybe the Devil Pine doesn't have ambitions like we imagine. Despite its continuous evolution and expansion, evolution might not be something it can stop. The Puppet Jade is urging it, and it still hasn't displayed any overt intention of dominating the Northeast. Otherwise, with so many controllable animals and plants in the forest, it could have used them long ago, instead of just growing and regenerating quietly. What I mean is... what if the Devil Pine simply wants to stay there? Without any other purpose, it just chose a place to settle."
Zhuang Yao lightly tapped the table with his fingers, "Are you trying to tell me that the Devil Pine just wants to settle down?"
Seeing Zhuang Yao's slightly furrowed brow, Cong Xia immediately felt a little uneasy. He knew that Zhuang Yao often criticized his way of thinking as overly idealistic and emotionally-driven, and he understood Zhuang Yao's implication—that he was trying to delude himself with wishful thinking to numb his fear. Cong Xia ran his fingers through his hair, "It's just a speculation."
Zhuang Yao said, "In two months, it has expanded over a hundred meters, and the controlled forest area has grown over three hundred meters in diameter. Isn't that an 'obvious intention to dominate'? Of course, any speculation is possible before we obtain reliable information. If we can reach it alive, talk to it, we must remember to ask whether it plans to stay put forever."
Cong Xia had long grown used to Zhuang Yao's pointed way of speaking, so he didn't take it to heart. In fact, he realized that he might have been too idealistic. Could a pine tree with human wisdom really be content with remaining just a tree for its entire life?
Li Dao'ai said, "How do we approach this pine tree? We can't go through the air. Do we have to ride our pets through the forest?"
Cong Zhenzhong replied, "You're right, the air route is definitely impossible. Look at these black dots on the maps; they may seem like image noise, but they are all mutated birds. The forest coverage in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains is high, and it's rich in resources, making it especially suitable for the growth of animals and plants. The self-defense and hunting capabilities of flying birds are much stronger than ground animals, resulting in a highly developed aerial ecosystem in the area. Of course, your journey through the forest is also filled with dangers. However, there are only a few of you, and to the Devil Pine, you're as tiny as ants. At least until you approach its main trunk, it's unlikely to notice you. Dealing with the mutated flora and fauna in the forest shouldn't be too challenging for your team. The real difficulty lies in how you'll leave after direct contact with the Devil Pine."
Deng Xiao widened his eyes, "How do we leave?"
"As mentioned before, the area covered by the Devil Pine's root system is even larger than Hainan Island, with a current radius of about 150 kilometers. The main trunk has a diameter of two kilometers. However, we've conducted experiments, and despite its extensive root system, the energy begins to decline at a radius of 30 kilometers from the central trunk, becoming significantly weaker at 70 kilometers. If negotiations fail, you must run at least 30 kilometers away to escape the forest's attacks."
Cong Xia mumbled, "30 kilometers..." With Abu's speed, it would take at least 10-15 minutes to cover such a distance, assuming they faced no attacks. But with the possibility of being attacked, the long 30-kilometer run could be like navigating through a minefield. Furthermore, even after escaping 30 kilometers, they would still be in a dangerous area. The thought of it made Cong Xia's scalp tingle with fear.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "Where will we rendezvous?"
Tang Tingzhi replied, "We will organize a battalion of troops to meet you at a distance of 70 kilometers."
Tang Yanqiu asked Zhuang Yao, "You won't be participating in this operation, right?"
"I will participate. I'll accompany you into the heart of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains and face the Devil Pine directly."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow, "What? That's even more dangerous. You don't have to go with us."
"There has to be someone who communicates with the Devil Pine. Last time, I couldn't enter the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, and we missed the opportunity to gather more information. I deeply regret that. This time, I must have a close encounter with it, and I want to leave the communication to you, but I don't trust anyone else to do it. So, you'll need to allocate extra resources to protect me."
"Why not let Colonel Tang go? He has better self-defense capabilities than you."
Tang Tingzhi shook his head, "I need to mobilize armed forces locally. We will rendezvous outside the forest. It's not like Xi'an, where we already have contacts, and our communication with Beijing has only recently been restored. Without a military identity, this task cannot be accomplished. Besides, a young child like me can't possibly convince those people."
Zhuang Yao didn't agree with being called a "young child," but that was the reality. No matter how intelligent he might be, he still appeared as a little boy, and he hadn't yet established enough authority in Beijing, let alone trying to mobilize troops in an unfamiliar place.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "So, we have a total of 11 people... Which two Dragonblood Clan members will go? Shen Changze and Al?
Shen Changze nodded in agreement.
"What about your team?" Cheng Tianbi looked at Li Dao’ai.
Li Dao'ai replied, "I'll bring two squad leaders."
Zhuang Yao added, "They should be brought here today. At least, let us know their capabilities in advance."
Li Dao'ai said, "One is a Bald Eagle Variant, and the other is a Lion Variant. Both of them have extensive combat experience."
"And what about mounts? Will you be riding on the Lion?"
Li Dao'ai nodded, "Yes."
"Very good. The team should be as streamlined as possible."
The group continued studying the topographical maps and planned at least three retreat routes. They discussed many specific combat details and thoroughly reviewed all the information collected about the Devil Pine. They stayed in the meeting room for a long time without coming out.
Two days later, the long-awaited day arrived when they would meet their customized weapons. Over the next week, they would practice using them proficiently. Among the "many people," one person seemed uninterested in his weapon, and that was Liu Fengyu.
Everyone gathered in the underground training ground. Two staff members pushed in a large silver-white display cabinet and placed it in front of them before leaving the room.
Zhuang Yao played with the remote control in his hand, smiling as he looked at everyone. "How about it? Looking forward to it?"
Deng Xiao's eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. His greedy expression made him seem like he might pounce on the cabinet and lick it.
Liu Fengyu rolled his eyes and snorted coldly.
Zhuang Yao smirked and pressed a button on the remote control. The doors of the display cabinet immediately slid open, transforming the upright fridge-like cabinet into a long workbench, with several weapons displayed in front of them. Among these weapons, one with a huge controllable shower nozzle and two black water tanks on it instantly captured everyone's attention.
"Hahaha!" Deng Xiao couldn't control his laughter.
Tang Yanqiu and Cong Xia struggled to hold back their laughter, their expressions somewhat contorted. Even Cheng Tianbi's expression was peculiar.
Liu Fengyu instantly broke down, exploding with anger, "Zhuang Yao, I swear I'll kill you! What the f\*\*\* do you mean by giving me a \*ick with a shower head? What the hell is your intention?"
Zhuang Yao smiled and said, "I was worried that one water tank wouldn't be enough, so I added another. I'm actually surprised it turned out like this. But remember, the functionality of the weapon is what matters, and your weapon is quite expensive."
Liu Fengyu pounced at him, as if he wanted to bite Zhuang Yao to death.
Zhuang Yao quickly dodged behind Tang Yanqiu and calmly said, "After using it for a while, you'll realize its benefits. It will significantly enhance your combat power. In battle, the most important thing is staying alive. Do you really have time to worry about how it looks?"
Liu Fengyu cursed, "Then why did you make others' weapons look so cool? Even the two pipes of Cheng Tianbi look better than this thing. Today, I'm definitely going to beat you up!"
Tang Yanqiu tried to hold back his laughter and stood in front of Liu Fengyu, saying, "Alright, let's try out the weapons. Zhuang Yao is right, functionality is the most important."
Liu Fengyu's face twisted as he glared at Tang Yanqiu, "Your arrows and quivers look so cool, what the hell do you know?"
Deng Xiao couldn't stop laughing as he pounded the worktable, "Fengyu ge, hahaha! Look at my Gatling gun, isn't it handsome? Hahaha! How are you going to carry this \*ick-like liquid gun? You're killing me! Little Zhuang Yao, you're so talented, hahaha..."
Cong Xia patted Deng Xiao, laughing, "Okay, stop teasing Liu ge."
Liu Fengyu was so angry he wanted to smash into the wall. Standing on the side, he fumed silently. As someone who highly valued appearance, he couldn't bear using something that fell far below his aesthetic standards.
Zhuang Yao said, "Alright, let's all try out the weapons."
Deng Xiao couldn't wait and picked up his huge Gatling gun. It looked like a small cannon, with ten barrels on the firing tube, making it extremely imposing. Its destructive power was undoubtedly formidable. If anyone was hit by the barrage from this ten-barrel Gatling gun, they wouldn't escape without being riddled with holes, as long as they were made of flesh and blood. Deng Xiao's strong physique combined with this imposing weapon would make him an absolute super killer at medium and short range.
156 Mystery of the End Times Part 1
Liu Fengyu said, "Are you kidding? Such a massive creature, besides using missiles to kill it, what other possibilities are there for its elimination?"
"Perhaps there are." Tang Tingzhi replied, "The Devil Pine once spoke to us, even if it was just a warning. But that shows it is capable of communication, unlike the insects which, though having language abilities, refuse to communicate. As long as the Devil Pine is willing to talk, we have a chance to resolve the conflict without resorting to violent means. So, your main mission this time is to gather intelligence and find a way to communicate with it. Based on the information you bring back, we will decide on our next strategy."
Liu Fengyu mocked, "What if we don't come back?"
Tang Tingzhi remained expressionless and said, "That too would be valuable information."
Zhuang Yao said confidently, "I'm pretty sure that the Devil Pine is willing to communicate. It has assimilated a human, which means it possesses the wisdom and memories of that individual. Judging from the voice, that human was an adult male. The Devil Pine must have some concept of humanity's mass-destructive weapons. Despite its constant evolution, its current strength cannot withstand a nuclear attack. Any sentient being cannot be devoid of fear. The Devil Pine is expanding its forest area while warning reconnaissance aircraft; these are all signs of self-defense."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow and said, "Have you ever considered the purpose of the Devil Pine settling in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains? Originally, it lived in Yunnan, and the one it assimilated was probably a local. Even if not, now that the consciousness of the pine tree dominates, the human inside has no say in this decision. But with human wisdom, that person helped the Devil Pine achieve its goal. As powerful as the Devil Pine is, it can transform into a human at any time and leave. So why did it choose to take root in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains?
It could easily dominate anywhere else and have an endless supply of food. So, I speculate that maybe the Devil Pine doesn't have ambitions like we imagine. Despite its continuous evolution and expansion, evolution might not be something it can stop. The Puppet Jade is urging it, and it still hasn't displayed any overt intention of dominating the Northeast. Otherwise, with so many controllable animals and plants in the forest, it could have used them long ago, instead of just growing and regenerating quietly. What I mean is... what if the Devil Pine simply wants to stay there? Without any other purpose, it just chose a place to settle."
Zhuang Yao lightly tapped the table with his fingers, "Are you trying to tell me that the Devil Pine just wants to settle down?"
Seeing Zhuang Yao's slightly furrowed brow, Cong Xia immediately felt a little uneasy. He knew that Zhuang Yao often criticized his way of thinking as overly idealistic and emotionally-driven, and he understood Zhuang Yao's implication—that he was trying to delude himself with wishful thinking to numb his fear. Cong Xia ran his fingers through his hair, "It's just a speculation."
Zhuang Yao said, "In two months, it has expanded over a hundred meters, and the controlled forest area has grown over three hundred meters in diameter. Isn't that an 'obvious intention to dominate'? Of course, any speculation is possible before we obtain reliable information. If we can reach it alive, talk to it, we must remember to ask whether it plans to stay put forever."
Cong Xia had long grown used to Zhuang Yao's pointed way of speaking, so he didn't take it to heart. In fact, he realized that he might have been too idealistic. Could a pine tree with human wisdom really be content with remaining just a tree for its entire life?
Li Dao'ai said, "How do we approach this pine tree? We can't go through the air. Do we have to ride our pets through the forest?"
Cong Zhenzhong replied, "You're right, the air route is definitely impossible. Look at these black dots on the maps; they may seem like image noise, but they are all mutated birds. The forest coverage in the Lesser Xing'an Mountains is high, and it's rich in resources, making it especially suitable for the growth of animals and plants. The self-defense and hunting capabilities of flying birds are much stronger than ground animals, resulting in a highly developed aerial ecosystem in the area. Of course, your journey through the forest is also filled with dangers. However, there are only a few of you, and to the Devil Pine, you're as tiny as ants. At least until you approach its main trunk, it's unlikely to notice you. Dealing with the mutated flora and fauna in the forest shouldn't be too challenging for your team. The real difficulty lies in how you'll leave after direct contact with the Devil Pine."
Deng Xiao widened his eyes, "How do we leave?"
"As mentioned before, the area covered by the Devil Pine's root system is even larger than Hainan Island, with a current radius of about 150 kilometers. The main trunk has a diameter of two kilometers. However, we've conducted experiments, and despite its extensive root system, the energy begins to decline at a radius of 30 kilometers from the central trunk, becoming significantly weaker at 70 kilometers. If negotiations fail, you must run at least 30 kilometers away to escape the forest's attacks."
Cong Xia mumbled, "30 kilometers..." With Abu's speed, it would take at least 10-15 minutes to cover such a distance, assuming they faced no attacks. But with the possibility of being attacked, the long 30-kilometer run could be like navigating through a minefield. Furthermore, even after escaping 30 kilometers, they would still be in a dangerous area. The thought of it made Cong Xia's scalp tingle with fear.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "Where will we rendezvous?"
Tang Tingzhi replied, "We will organize a battalion of troops to meet you at a distance of 70 kilometers."
Tang Yanqiu asked Zhuang Yao, "You won't be participating in this operation, right?"
"I will participate. I'll accompany you into the heart of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains and face the Devil Pine directly."
Cong Xia furrowed his brow, "What? That's even more dangerous. You don't have to go with us."
"There has to be someone who communicates with the Devil Pine. Last time, I couldn't enter the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, and we missed the opportunity to gather more information. I deeply regret that. This time, I must have a close encounter with it, and I want to leave the communication to you, but I don't trust anyone else to do it. So, you'll need to allocate extra resources to protect me."
"Why not let Colonel Tang go? He has better self-defense capabilities than you."
Tang Tingzhi shook his head, "I need to mobilize armed forces locally. We will rendezvous outside the forest. It's not like Xi'an, where we already have contacts, and our communication with Beijing has only recently been restored. Without a military identity, this task cannot be accomplished. Besides, a young child like me can't possibly convince those people."
Zhuang Yao didn't agree with being called a "young child," but that was the reality. No matter how intelligent he might be, he still appeared as a little boy, and he hadn't yet established enough authority in Beijing, let alone trying to mobilize troops in an unfamiliar place.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "So, we have a total of 11 people... Which two Dragonblood Clan members will go? Shen Changze and Al?
Shen Changze nodded in agreement.
"What about your team?" Cheng Tianbi looked at Li Dao’ai.
Li Dao'ai replied, "I'll bring two squad leaders."
Zhuang Yao added, "They should be brought here today. At least, let us know their capabilities in advance."
Li Dao'ai said, "One is a Bald Eagle Variant, and the other is a Lion Variant. Both of them have extensive combat experience."
"And what about mounts? Will you be riding on the Lion?"
Li Dao'ai nodded, "Yes."
"Very good. The team should be as streamlined as possible."
The group continued studying the topographical maps and planned at least three retreat routes. They discussed many specific combat details and thoroughly reviewed all the information collected about the Devil Pine. They stayed in the meeting room for a long time without coming out.
Two days later, the long-awaited day arrived when they would meet their customized weapons. Over the next week, they would practice using them proficiently. Among the "many people," one person seemed uninterested in his weapon, and that was Liu Fengyu.
Everyone gathered in the underground training ground. Two staff members pushed in a large silver-white display cabinet and placed it in front of them before leaving the room.
Zhuang Yao played with the remote control in his hand, smiling as he looked at everyone. "How about it? Looking forward to it?"
Deng Xiao's eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. His greedy expression made him seem like he might pounce on the cabinet and lick it.
Liu Fengyu rolled his eyes and snorted coldly.
Zhuang Yao smirked and pressed a button on the remote control. The doors of the display cabinet immediately slid open, transforming the upright fridge-like cabinet into a long workbench, with several weapons displayed in front of them. Among these weapons, one with a huge controllable shower nozzle and two black water tanks on it instantly captured everyone's attention.
"Hahaha!" Deng Xiao couldn't control his laughter.
Tang Yanqiu and Cong Xia struggled to hold back their laughter, their expressions somewhat contorted. Even Cheng Tianbi's expression was peculiar.
Liu Fengyu instantly broke down, exploding with anger, "Zhuang Yao, I swear I'll kill you! What the f\*\*\* do you mean by giving me a \*ick with a shower head? What the hell is your intention?"
Zhuang Yao smiled and said, "I was worried that one water tank wouldn't be enough, so I added another. I'm actually surprised it turned out like this. But remember, the functionality of the weapon is what matters, and your weapon is quite expensive."
Liu Fengyu pounced at him, as if he wanted to bite Zhuang Yao to death.
Zhuang Yao quickly dodged behind Tang Yanqiu and calmly said, "After using it for a while, you'll realize its benefits. It will significantly enhance your combat power. In battle, the most important thing is staying alive. Do you really have time to worry about how it looks?"
Liu Fengyu cursed, "Then why did you make others' weapons look so cool? Even the two pipes of Cheng Tianbi look better than this thing. Today, I'm definitely going to beat you up!"
Tang Yanqiu tried to hold back his laughter and stood in front of Liu Fengyu, saying, "Alright, let's try out the weapons. Zhuang Yao is right, functionality is the most important."
Liu Fengyu's face twisted as he glared at Tang Yanqiu, "Your arrows and quivers look so cool, what the hell do you know?"
Deng Xiao couldn't stop laughing as he pounded the worktable, "Fengyu ge, hahaha! Look at my Gatling gun, isn't it handsome? Hahaha! How are you going to carry this \*ick-like liquid gun? You're killing me! Little Zhuang Yao, you're so talented, hahaha..."
Cong Xia patted Deng Xiao, laughing, "Okay, stop teasing Liu ge."
Liu Fengyu was so angry he wanted to smash into the wall. Standing on the side, he fumed silently. As someone who highly valued appearance, he couldn't bear using something that fell far below his aesthetic standards.
Zhuang Yao said, "Alright, let's all try out the weapons."
Deng Xiao couldn't wait and picked up his huge Gatling gun. It looked like a small cannon, with ten barrels on the firing tube, making it extremely imposing. Its destructive power was undoubtedly formidable. If anyone was hit by the barrage from this ten-barrel Gatling gun, they wouldn't escape without being riddled with holes, as long as they were made of flesh and blood. Deng Xiao's strong physique combined with this imposing weapon would make him an absolute super killer at medium and short range.
