201. The Mystery of the Lost Territory, Qinghai
The group had some degree of aversion towards Lord Ming who had shown a hint of arrogance. However, realizing that this was likely Mr. Sun's intention, they couldn't afford to be dismissive. It was still the same group as last time, accompanying Meng Qing as they left the building.
Abu and a few other wolves were playing in the snowy landscape. Seeing them emerge, one of the wolves sprang up from the ground with a start and rushed toward them. It lay down in their path, indicating for them to climb on.
Zhuang Yao said, "Abu, you're not coming with us today."
Abu let out a "meow" and wagged its large tail, sending snow flying all around. It pretended not to understand.
Zhuang Yao turned and called out into the house, "Deng Xiao."
Deng Xiao pushed open the door, "Huh?"
"Play with Abu for a while."
Deng Xiao, who usually enjoyed playing with Abu, hesitated for a moment, murmuring softly, "I'm afraid of the cold." The nearly minus forty-degree temperature made him want to hibernate as soon as he stepped outside. Even though the layers of insulated clothing enabled him to withstand the winter, he still subconsciously thought of hibernation. Because of this, Abu had been playing with other mutated animals recently, seldom encountering people and feeling somewhat lonely.
Liu Fengyu walked out from the house, "I'll play with it. You guys go ahead." He waved to Abu, "Come on, I'll take you hunting."
Abu happily jumped up.
The group continued walking towards the governor's mansion.
This time, aside from the silver-haired and somewhat arrogant lord—namely, Rong Lan—there was also the tranquil Mr. Sun awaiting them. Upon seeing them, Mr. Sun appeared delighted, "Come in, come in, take a seat."
Rong Lan sat on the sofa, glanced faintly at them, and still wore a displeased expression. It seemed that Mr. Sun had discussed a lot with him. Anything related to the puppet jade was undoubtedly of utmost importance, and he couldn't possibly hold a favorable view towards these people who immediately asked about the puppet jade upon opening their mouths.
However, the group paid no mind. The destiny of the entire Qinghai was never held by one person's hand. Even if an individual possessed immense power, they still appeared feeble when faced with the treacherous challenges of Qinghai. In order to break the barrier of Qinghai, their shared goal, they had no trouble finding cooperative partners. If Rong Lan cooperated, that would be great. If not, they had other options. Everyone who came here was unafraid of death and certainly not afraid of one person.
Mr. Sun smiled, "I've discussed a lot with Rong Lan in these two days. Regarding Qinghai Lake, he's very willing to cooperate. Due to the increasingly cold weather and the difficulty of underground water supply, we've been hoping to permanently resolve the water supply issue within the Bright Wall through Qinghai Lake. Therefore, the Qinghai Lake issue will sooner or later need to be resolved. Having your cooperation is the best outcome. But as for the matter of the puppet jade in his possession, I suggest leaving it to address later."
Zhuang Yao said, "Is 'last' referring to when we leave Qinghai?"
Rong Lan coldly replied, "Try leaving first and see. You haven't done anything yet, but you're already setting conditions. I can't promise you anything now. Unless I see hope of breaking the barrier."
"We indeed haven't started anything, but the promises we're requesting from the lord are also conditional. Only if we successfully break the barrier will you give us the puppet jade. If we can't get out, the puppet jade will be yours forever. You think the lord would dare to make such a promise?"
"I promise, and you believe? Just like how you're saying now that you're definitely able to break the Qinghai barrier. Should I believe that?"
Cheng Tianbi coolly replied, "We believe in the lord's word. If the lord breaks it later, we won't hesitate to hold him accountable."
Rong Lan remained unmoved, "Letting me promise is one thing, but I'm adding another condition."
"Go on."
"The people from the west also need to hand over the puppet jade. Otherwise, there's no discussion."
Zhuang Yao had long expected that Rong Lan would say something like this, "I assume the people from the west will propose the same condition."
"I don't care about that. If I hand over the puppet jade and they still possess it, that's impossible."
Zhuang Yao stated seriously, "No one will possess the puppet jade. In the end, all the puppet jades will be centralized in the National Academy of Sciences and then completely sealed. So, your concern is groundless. If the people from the west refuse to hand it over, we'll take it by force."
Rong Lan taunted, "Hope you have the capability for that." He stood up, "Feel free to chat. I'll take my leave first." With that, he brushed his sleeves and departed.
After he left, Mr. Sun sighed with a wry smile, "His disposition has changed a lot. Please don't take offense."
Wu Yu remarked, "As expected. He definitely won't allow the people from the west to exclusively possess the puppet jade. It's really awkward how we keep saying 'the people from the west.' Can't we just call him by name?"
Mr. Sun said, "If you find it troublesome, just call the leader of the west as Xuan Master. But in front of Rong Lan, it's best to only say 'the people from the west.' As for what the Xuan Master’s name is, I promised Rong Lan that I won't mention that name in the east. We'll talk about it when we go west. You'll meet Xuan Master sooner or later."
Shen Changze raised an eyebrow, "Seems like there's a deep grudge."
Mr. Sun shook his head and sighed, "They were once the best of friends, but in the end, they turned out like this."
Although the others were curious, they didn't press further. They knew Mr. Sun wouldn't reveal more, and no one was interested in assisting in resolving conflicts between the east and the west.
Cheng Tianbi said, "We don't need the name, but we're curious about Xuan Master’s abilities."
Mr. Sun explained, "You've heard the rumors on the streets. You can probably guess? A natural force-evolved person with control over gravity. After elemental transformation, they can create immense black holes. Their ability contrasts with Rong Lan's—light versus darkness. Their ability is exceedingly exceptional and, in a sense, quite terrifying."
The term 'black hole' indeed ignited eerie and dark thoughts. The ability to manipulate gravity was incredibly abnormal. Yet, upon closer consideration, which natural force-evolved person wasn't extraordinary? There were no weak or strong natural forces, and it depended on timing, environment, and the individual controlling them. For instance, in Qinghai Lake, Yao Qianjiang could dive while Shen Changze couldn't. Similarly, regardless of how powerful the gravity-evolved person was, they must have their shortcomings.
Mr. Sun anticipated their thoughts, "Of course, there's no single natural force that's guaranteed to be the most powerful. It's just that with your current abilities, you're not capable of challenging anyone from either the east or the west. I also don't want to see humans battling amongst themselves, as we share a common enemy spread across the globe. So, be patient, and I'll assist you."
"As for Qinghai Lake, what does Rong Lan think?"
"I've discussed your plan with him, and he mostly agrees. If we can lure the Qinghai Dragon out of the lake, it will likely bring many large water monsters to the surface. We will cooperate with you to eliminate those water monsters, aiding you in obtaining the puppet jade."
Tang Tingzhi nodded, "Very well, those small and large water monsters might be more challenging to deal with than the Qinghai Dragon."
"When will the water natural force-evolved person among you be ready for your operation?"
Yao Qianjiang affirmed, "Within 20 days."
"Alright, I'll start preparing torpedoes. Torpedoes might not kill the dragon, but it'll definitely wake it up."
"What's the maximum effective range of your puppet jade detection device?"
Mr. Sun replied, "260 meters."
Zhuang Yao then looked at Cong Xia, "And you?"
"Over 400 meters."
"Good, then there's no need to bring the device."
Mr. Sun raised an eyebrow, "Oh, this young friend can also sense the puppet jade?"
Cong Xia nodded.
Mr. Sun appeared contemplative, "During your last trip to Qinghai Lake, did you sense anything?"
Cong Xia replied, "No. Firstly, we didn't dare to fly too low. Secondly, the Qinghai Dragon is massive. Even if the puppet jade is on it, it might be quite a distance away from where we were hovering. But if it's truly on it, as long as it surfaces, I should be able to sense it."
Mr. Sun pushed his glasses, "I'm becoming more and more curious about the source of your ability."
Cong Xia smiled without answering.
"We can discuss other details gradually. For now, let's tentatively set the operation for three weeks from now."
"Alright."
At that moment, Meng Qing approached, nodding politely, "Everyone, please join me for dinner."
The group followed him to the dining room, where Rong Lan was already seated in the main position, sipping tea. His silver hair, striking appearance, and the robe he wore exuded an otherworldly elegance, making him seem both aloof and refined.
Everyone took their seats. Zhuang Yao said, "I've always been curious about the lord's hair. Let me guess, is it a refraction of light? Or did you transform your hair into an element? It can't be premature graying, right?"
Rong Lan glanced at him, "No, it's the effect of light. I wanted you to see a certain color, and that's the color you see."
"So, silver is your personal preference?"
"No, it was suggested by Mr. Sun." His slender fingers slowly twirled his hair, bringing it close to his eyes for inspection. He then furrowed his brows slightly, "Leaving it long was also Mr. Sun's suggestion."
Mr. Sun chuckled, "The people in the east need a deity they can believe in, one to sustain them through the despair of winter. Light is something most inspiring in the darkness. Isn't Rong Lan's image suitable for shaping a deity? I believe there's a similar plan in Beijing, like for the natural force evolved humans?"
Yao Qianjiang smiled lightly, "Yes, there is. I initially thought the researchers at the Academy were already pushing it with us, but compared to the lord, it's like a minor trick."
Rong Lan let out a soft snort.
Zhuang Yao smiled, "So… what about the people from the west? What image did Mr. Sun create for them? A demon, perhaps?"
201. The Mystery of the Lost Territory, Qinghai
The group had some degree of aversion towards Lord Ming who had shown a hint of arrogance. However, realizing that this was likely Mr. Sun's intention, they couldn't afford to be dismissive. It was still the same group as last time, accompanying Meng Qing as they left the building.
Abu and a few other wolves were playing in the snowy landscape. Seeing them emerge, one of the wolves sprang up from the ground with a start and rushed toward them. It lay down in their path, indicating for them to climb on.
Zhuang Yao said, "Abu, you're not coming with us today."
Abu let out a "meow" and wagged its large tail, sending snow flying all around. It pretended not to understand.
Zhuang Yao turned and called out into the house, "Deng Xiao."
Deng Xiao pushed open the door, "Huh?"
"Play with Abu for a while."
Deng Xiao, who usually enjoyed playing with Abu, hesitated for a moment, murmuring softly, "I'm afraid of the cold." The nearly minus forty-degree temperature made him want to hibernate as soon as he stepped outside. Even though the layers of insulated clothing enabled him to withstand the winter, he still subconsciously thought of hibernation. Because of this, Abu had been playing with other mutated animals recently, seldom encountering people and feeling somewhat lonely.
Liu Fengyu walked out from the house, "I'll play with it. You guys go ahead." He waved to Abu, "Come on, I'll take you hunting."
Abu happily jumped up.
The group continued walking towards the governor's mansion.
This time, aside from the silver-haired and somewhat arrogant lord—namely, Rong Lan—there was also the tranquil Mr. Sun awaiting them. Upon seeing them, Mr. Sun appeared delighted, "Come in, come in, take a seat."
Rong Lan sat on the sofa, glanced faintly at them, and still wore a displeased expression. It seemed that Mr. Sun had discussed a lot with him. Anything related to the puppet jade was undoubtedly of utmost importance, and he couldn't possibly hold a favorable view towards these people who immediately asked about the puppet jade upon opening their mouths.
However, the group paid no mind. The destiny of the entire Qinghai was never held by one person's hand. Even if an individual possessed immense power, they still appeared feeble when faced with the treacherous challenges of Qinghai. In order to break the barrier of Qinghai, their shared goal, they had no trouble finding cooperative partners. If Rong Lan cooperated, that would be great. If not, they had other options. Everyone who came here was unafraid of death and certainly not afraid of one person.
Mr. Sun smiled, "I've discussed a lot with Rong Lan in these two days. Regarding Qinghai Lake, he's very willing to cooperate. Due to the increasingly cold weather and the difficulty of underground water supply, we've been hoping to permanently resolve the water supply issue within the Bright Wall through Qinghai Lake. Therefore, the Qinghai Lake issue will sooner or later need to be resolved. Having your cooperation is the best outcome. But as for the matter of the puppet jade in his possession, I suggest leaving it to address later."
Zhuang Yao said, "Is 'last' referring to when we leave Qinghai?"
Rong Lan coldly replied, "Try leaving first and see. You haven't done anything yet, but you're already setting conditions. I can't promise you anything now. Unless I see hope of breaking the barrier."
"We indeed haven't started anything, but the promises we're requesting from the lord are also conditional. Only if we successfully break the barrier will you give us the puppet jade. If we can't get out, the puppet jade will be yours forever. You think the lord would dare to make such a promise?"
"I promise, and you believe? Just like how you're saying now that you're definitely able to break the Qinghai barrier. Should I believe that?"
Cheng Tianbi coolly replied, "We believe in the lord's word. If the lord breaks it later, we won't hesitate to hold him accountable."
Rong Lan remained unmoved, "Letting me promise is one thing, but I'm adding another condition."
"Go on."
"The people from the west also need to hand over the puppet jade. Otherwise, there's no discussion."
Zhuang Yao had long expected that Rong Lan would say something like this, "I assume the people from the west will propose the same condition."
"I don't care about that. If I hand over the puppet jade and they still possess it, that's impossible."
Zhuang Yao stated seriously, "No one will possess the puppet jade. In the end, all the puppet jades will be centralized in the National Academy of Sciences and then completely sealed. So, your concern is groundless. If the people from the west refuse to hand it over, we'll take it by force."
Rong Lan taunted, "Hope you have the capability for that." He stood up, "Feel free to chat. I'll take my leave first." With that, he brushed his sleeves and departed.
After he left, Mr. Sun sighed with a wry smile, "His disposition has changed a lot. Please don't take offense."
Wu Yu remarked, "As expected. He definitely won't allow the people from the west to exclusively possess the puppet jade. It's really awkward how we keep saying 'the people from the west.' Can't we just call him by name?"
Mr. Sun said, "If you find it troublesome, just call the leader of the west as Xuan Master. But in front of Rong Lan, it's best to only say 'the people from the west.' As for what the Xuan Master’s name is, I promised Rong Lan that I won't mention that name in the east. We'll talk about it when we go west. You'll meet Xuan Master sooner or later."
Shen Changze raised an eyebrow, "Seems like there's a deep grudge."
Mr. Sun shook his head and sighed, "They were once the best of friends, but in the end, they turned out like this."
Although the others were curious, they didn't press further. They knew Mr. Sun wouldn't reveal more, and no one was interested in assisting in resolving conflicts between the east and the west.
Cheng Tianbi said, "We don't need the name, but we're curious about Xuan Master’s abilities."
Mr. Sun explained, "You've heard the rumors on the streets. You can probably guess? A natural force-evolved person with control over gravity. After elemental transformation, they can create immense black holes. Their ability contrasts with Rong Lan's—light versus darkness. Their ability is exceedingly exceptional and, in a sense, quite terrifying."
The term 'black hole' indeed ignited eerie and dark thoughts. The ability to manipulate gravity was incredibly abnormal. Yet, upon closer consideration, which natural force-evolved person wasn't extraordinary? There were no weak or strong natural forces, and it depended on timing, environment, and the individual controlling them. For instance, in Qinghai Lake, Yao Qianjiang could dive while Shen Changze couldn't. Similarly, regardless of how powerful the gravity-evolved person was, they must have their shortcomings.
Mr. Sun anticipated their thoughts, "Of course, there's no single natural force that's guaranteed to be the most powerful. It's just that with your current abilities, you're not capable of challenging anyone from either the east or the west. I also don't want to see humans battling amongst themselves, as we share a common enemy spread across the globe. So, be patient, and I'll assist you."
"As for Qinghai Lake, what does Rong Lan think?"
"I've discussed your plan with him, and he mostly agrees. If we can lure the Qinghai Dragon out of the lake, it will likely bring many large water monsters to the surface. We will cooperate with you to eliminate those water monsters, aiding you in obtaining the puppet jade."
Tang Tingzhi nodded, "Very well, those small and large water monsters might be more challenging to deal with than the Qinghai Dragon."
"When will the water natural force-evolved person among you be ready for your operation?"
Yao Qianjiang affirmed, "Within 20 days."
"Alright, I'll start preparing torpedoes. Torpedoes might not kill the dragon, but it'll definitely wake it up."
"What's the maximum effective range of your puppet jade detection device?"
Mr. Sun replied, "260 meters."
Zhuang Yao then looked at Cong Xia, "And you?"
"Over 400 meters."
"Good, then there's no need to bring the device."
Mr. Sun raised an eyebrow, "Oh, this young friend can also sense the puppet jade?"
Cong Xia nodded.
Mr. Sun appeared contemplative, "During your last trip to Qinghai Lake, did you sense anything?"
Cong Xia replied, "No. Firstly, we didn't dare to fly too low. Secondly, the Qinghai Dragon is massive. Even if the puppet jade is on it, it might be quite a distance away from where we were hovering. But if it's truly on it, as long as it surfaces, I should be able to sense it."
Mr. Sun pushed his glasses, "I'm becoming more and more curious about the source of your ability."
Cong Xia smiled without answering.
"We can discuss other details gradually. For now, let's tentatively set the operation for three weeks from now."
"Alright."
At that moment, Meng Qing approached, nodding politely, "Everyone, please join me for dinner."
The group followed him to the dining room, where Rong Lan was already seated in the main position, sipping tea. His silver hair, striking appearance, and the robe he wore exuded an otherworldly elegance, making him seem both aloof and refined.
Everyone took their seats. Zhuang Yao said, "I've always been curious about the lord's hair. Let me guess, is it a refraction of light? Or did you transform your hair into an element? It can't be premature graying, right?"
Rong Lan glanced at him, "No, it's the effect of light. I wanted you to see a certain color, and that's the color you see."
"So, silver is your personal preference?"
"No, it was suggested by Mr. Sun." His slender fingers slowly twirled his hair, bringing it close to his eyes for inspection. He then furrowed his brows slightly, "Leaving it long was also Mr. Sun's suggestion."
Mr. Sun chuckled, "The people in the east need a deity they can believe in, one to sustain them through the despair of winter. Light is something most inspiring in the darkness. Isn't Rong Lan's image suitable for shaping a deity? I believe there's a similar plan in Beijing, like for the natural force evolved humans?"
Yao Qianjiang smiled lightly, "Yes, there is. I initially thought the researchers at the Academy were already pushing it with us, but compared to the lord, it's like a minor trick."
Rong Lan let out a soft snort.
Zhuang Yao smiled, "So… what about the people from the west? What image did Mr. Sun create for them? A demon, perhaps?"
