Chapter 188 Let's catch up on some sleep? That probably won't let us fall asleep.

Bruce's single sentence effectively shut down Ning Hai's attempt to persuade him.

Ning Hai knew that if he tried to persuade Bruce again under these circumstances, it would definitely make Bruce lose his temper.

Since that's the case...

Then we'll have to find another way.

"Professor, I support you." Ning Hai put on a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor. "That Mr. M did indeed want me to persuade you, but I refused on the spot!"

Upon hearing this, Bruce's expression relaxed, and a look of relief appeared in his eyes.

Ning Hai continued his impassioned speech, "I also told him that Professor Bruce was not only my mentor in the past, but also my savior now. I was framed in China and became a homeless dog, so I traveled thousands of miles to the United States. It was thanks to the professor that I was taken in and protected, otherwise I would have been finished long ago. There is a saying in China that a drop of water in need should be repaid with a spring of water. Professor Bruce's kindness to me is so great that I would not be too much to repay him with my life!"

These words deeply moved Bruce, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“Professor,” Ning Hai looked him in the eye, “let’s destroy the data for the time travel project today! Let Mr. M and his gang see our resolve! Let them know that not everyone is as cold-blooded and cruel as them! If the time portal will bring disaster to that world, then we’ll destroy the portal!”

Bruce was moved to tears. “Ninghai… if our world had more upright people like you, I believe the future of humanity would be much better, instead of the way it is now, where wars and killings are constantly being created for profit.”

Ning Hai nodded in agreement, his face maintaining an expression of righteous indignation.

Professor Bruce wiped away his tears, walked towards the glass wall, looked down at the teleportation station, and stared at the black sphere.

Ning Hai glanced furtively at the corner of the office wall.

There was a safe that was almost two meters tall.

If I remember correctly, it contains the core data that Professor Bruce possesses.

It contains the culmination of his life's research, most importantly, a set of complex calculation formulas that he invented.

This formula perfectly matches the activation and operation of the black ball.

Ning Hai was secretly plotting whether he could steal the safe.

The problem is that this safe was specially made by Professor Bruce. Not only is it made of special and exceptionally sturdy materials, but the combination lock is also very complex. He probably wouldn't be able to open it unless he gave it to Mr. M.

But if I do that, I won't be that important to Mr. M.

"Ninghai," Professor Bruce suddenly called out.

Ning Hai hurriedly looked away, feeling guilty, but thankfully Bruce didn't turn around.

Professor Bruce said softly, "Our world is not yet ready to use the portal, or rather, it is not qualified to use it."

Ning Hai was unsure of the professor's meaning, so he didn't rush to express his opinion and listened silently.

“Sigh…” Bruce sighed, “But this is a good project that will surely benefit all mankind if used properly, and I can’t just ruin it like this. The best way is to hide it away for now.”

Ning Hai's eyes lit up. "Professor, you mean..."

Bruce turned around, his expression complex and solemn. "Ninghai, you are the person who understands this project best besides me, and I trust you. I have decided to entrust you with the most important data. You must keep it safe. In the future, when our world is worthy of using the Time Gate, you can continue your research."

Ning Hai was overjoyed, but on the surface he still had to pretend to be incredulous. "Professor, that's your hard work! How can you give it to me? You should keep it safe yourself."

“No, that won’t work,” Professor Bruce shook his head with a wry smile. “I have to convince Mr. M and his people that I have destroyed the data.”

After saying that, he walked towards the safe.

Ning Hai swallowed hard and slowly followed.

Professor Bruce then opened the safe.

When Ning Hai saw that the cabinet contained a jumble of explosive devices, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Professor Bruce said, "If anyone other than me tries to open it, it will trigger the detonator and blow everything inside to smithereens. Now, I'm handing you the most important thing."

He took out an old notebook, about the size of his palm, held it in his hands and stroked it for a long time before solemnly handing it to Ning Hai.

Ning Hai's fingers trembled slightly as he tried his best to control his overwhelming joy and accepted it.

Professor Bruce explained, "Among them are the most important calculation formulas, as well as the core data I recorded each time the black ball was activated for the experiment."

"And what about these?" Ning Hai looked at the neatly stacked paper documents inside the safe.

Professor Bruce explained, "These are all drafts I used when calculating data. It's fine to destroy them. They can also be used to deceive Mr. M. If he can't even find the ashes, he will definitely suspect you."

“I see,” Ning Hai nodded. “Professor, you have really thought this through. Don’t worry, I will definitely take good care of your hard work.”

Professor Bruce smiled with relief and ease. "I'd like some coffee. Could you please get me a cup?"

"Okay, Professor."

Ning Hai put away his notebook and quickly left the office.

The moment he stepped out the door, a triumphant smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

Bruce is a brilliant researcher, but he lacks cunning and is an idealist who is too easy to fool. He obtained the core data and secret formula with almost no effort.

Just as Ninghai walked to the coffee machine at the end of the corridor.

boom!

A loud bang came from the professor's office.

Thick smoke and flames, along with debris from the explosion, burst through the office door.

The massive tremors and shockwaves even overturned Ninghai, which was more than ten meters away.

The piercing alarm sounded throughout the entire base.

Firefighters and security personnel rushed to the scene.

Ning Hai's mind was buzzing. It wasn't until he was helped up that he realized Professor Bruce's office had been engulfed in flames.

“Professor…” Ning Hai stared in astonishment at the hellish scene not far away.

Only then did he realize that Bruce was willing to risk his life to completely deceive the top leadership of the United States.

Ning Hai touched the laptop through his clothes, his feelings a mix of emotions.

He observed three seconds of silence facing the direction of the office, then took out his phone and called Mr. M.

"Mr. Ninghai, why are you calling me so soon? Do you have some good news to tell me?" Mr. M's voice came from the phone.

Ning Hai gazed at the raging fire in the distance, a smile gradually creeping onto his lips. “Dear Mr. M, Professor Bruce has committed suicide. I have obtained the core data he possessed. From now on, I will be the leader of the time travel project, and I will follow your arrangements in everything. I hope you will not forget the promise you just made to me.”

On that very day, Ning Hai replaced Professor Bruce.

Furthermore, the military of Country M also began to participate in the time travel operation, with only one goal: to plunder as many resources as possible from that world more than two thousand years ago through the time portal.

The top leadership of Country M will devote all national resources to this crucial project, which is related to the future of Country M, and give it top priority in all aspects of support.

At 7 p.m. that evening, Ninghai activated the black ball once again, opening the portal to time and space.

Currently, the portal can remain open for about an hour, and it takes at least a week to prepare enough power for this short hour.

Today, Ninghai and Luxingfeng's first manual exploration took half an hour and used up half of the battery.

This means it can be turned on again, and will last for another half hour.

Mr. M made a decisive move, bringing in several experts in mineral energy and ordering high-ranking military officials to select 500 special forces soldiers as a protection team to cross over tonight.

The portal has been open for half an hour, which is enough time for this many people to pass through.

They brought ample lethal weapons and equipment, as well as food and medicine, to conduct a seven-day exploration and establish the first base for the M country to enter that world on the other side of the time portal.

"Gentlemen, warriors, see you in seven days." Mr. M smiled and waved to the fully equipped exploration team, watching them enter the portal.

...

The other side of the earth.

Ning Jinli looked at the brilliant sunrise outside the warehouse gate and yawned widely.

I didn't sleep a wink last night, busy sending a large amount of supplies to Linxian City.

To date, the 110,000-strong Great Xuan Army, which is conquering the Yu Kingdom, has annihilated several vanguard armies dispatched from the Yu Kingdom's borders, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

Their rapid advance was not only due to their defeat of a small number of enemy vanguard troops and their overwhelming equipment advantage, but also inseparable from the logistical support provided by Ning Jinli.

Wherever the Great Xuan Army marched, the logistics team of Linxian City followed, setting up a grain depot at regular intervals to continuously send necessary supplies from Linxian City to the front lines.

In addition, the grain depots were equipped with modern wireless transmission equipment, and diesel generators were used to power the equipment.

Therefore, the person in charge of each stronghold could communicate with each other using walkie-talkies, thus connecting Linxian City with the front-line army through one supply stronghold after another.

This is much more time-saving and labor-saving than the previous combat operations that required people to run back and forth to relay military intelligence.

Ning Jinli had a tough time, since she was the only one who could arrange and prepare the supplies and equipment, and then transport them from the factory to Linxian City.

Fortunately, she had practiced the Heavenly Profound Heart Method, which provided her with strong enough internal energy to support her, preventing her from overexerting herself.

Ning Jinli glanced at the time, then took a shower, changed her clothes, bought some breakfast, and went directly to Xiao Qidi's residence in Linxian City through the teleportation portal.

Just as the two sat down at the table and were about to start eating, someone came to report the latest news from the front lines, saying that General Duan had led the Great Xuan Army to Huangsha Pass of the Yu Kingdom.

Previously, the border areas between Yu Kingdom and Xuan Kingdom were too barren and infertile, so the border posts set up by the two countries there were not taken seriously.

Huangsha Pass, like Xitun Pass in the past, had dilapidated walls and insufficient troops.

But this time, the two countries broke off relations, and Yu Kingdom also devoted all its efforts to the large-scale construction of Huangsha Pass.

With the addition of 300,000 troops already stationed at Huangsha Pass, Huangsha Pass suddenly became the most powerful place in the Yu Kingdom.

"Jinli, how long do you think it will take General Duan to capture Huangsha Pass?" Xiao Qidi asked.

While eating shumai, Ning Jinli said, "It should take a day or two, right?"

Xiao Qidi smiled and said, "I guess it should only take half a day."

"So fast?" Ning Jinli asked with some doubt. "Even if our equipment and tactics are overwhelming, the enemy has at least 300,000 troops."

Xiao Qidi said calmly, "Yu Kingdom was already severely weakened in the war several months ago when it launched its invasion. This time, the forced conscription and hasty deployment of soldiers have resulted in a serious lack of combat power and morale. Once they witness the power of our Great Xuan Army in battle, they will collapse in an instant. The number of 300,000 is only impressive in appearance; it is not even comparable to the 30,000 to 50,000 elite soldiers that Yu Kingdom used to have. Just wait and see."

"Alright, alright, eat up," Ning Jinli said with a smile. "You didn't sleep all night, so take a nap after breakfast."

Xiao Qidi blurted out, "You haven't slept either, why don't we catch up on some sleep together?"

"Want to catch up on some sleep together?" Ning Jinli's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Then I'm afraid we won't be able to fall asleep."

Xiao Qidi quickly explained, "What I mean is... let's all catch up on some sleep, not sleep together."

"Oh, so you don't want to sleep with me, you're disgusted by me?"

"No, no, how could I possibly dislike you!"

"So you want to sleep with me?"

"Um...I want to."

"You little rascal, you want to sleep with me!"

Xiao Qidi: ? ? ?

Seeing his bewildered, embarrassed, and speechless expression, Ning Jinli laughed so hard she almost fell over. "Hahaha! This is so funny!"

Xiao Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, "So you were just teasing me."

“Otherwise,” Ning Jinli wrinkled her nose, “if you have a boyfriend and don’t play around with him, what’s the point of dating?”

"I'm full." Xiao Qidi suddenly put down the meat bun he had half-eaten.

Ning Jinli frowned. "What's wrong? Are you angry already?"

Xiao Qidi remained silent.

"Oh, still so petty?" Ning Jinli picked up a steamed bun and put it to his mouth. "Good boy, little brother, eat up."

Xiao Qidi still ignored him.

Ning Jinli had no choice but to get up and walk to his side. "Open your mouth, I'll feed you."

Xiao Qidi suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

"Ah!" Ning Jinli exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing!"

Xiao Qidi looked down into her eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You're allowed to tease me, but I can't tease you?"

Ning Jinli was both amused and exasperated, and punched him in the chest, saying, "Little brother, you've gone astray."

"Is that so?" Xiao Qidi grinned mischievously and leaned closer.

Ning Jinli stared at the handsome face so close to her, unable to look away. No matter how many times she looked at him, or from any angle, Xiao Qidi's appearance was absolutely captivating, especially with his mischievous grin now.

It made her heart pound.

The next second, Xiao Qidi kissed her lips forcefully.

This forceful and sudden kiss almost made her weak in the knees. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around Xiao Qidi's neck and tilt her head back to respond with abandon...