Chapter 58 First Steps into the Divine Strategy Palace Your friend Yonghai has logged off...

Shen Mi followed Jing Yuan all the way to Chang Le Tian, ​​where they encountered Yu Tie on patrol.

Seeing Shen Mi follow Jing Yuan into the gates of Shence Mansion, Yu Tie's eyes widened, and he silently mouthed a question to her.

Yu Tie: What's going on?

Shen Mi followed behind Jing Yuan, took out his phone, waved it at Yu Tie, and pointed at it, replying: I'll talk to you later.

Yu Tie nodded, but at the next corner, when no one was around, he excitedly took out his phone from his pocket and released this bombshell news in a group chat called "Shencefu Intelligence Bureau".

Fighting a bloody battle: Family members, don't be surprised no matter what you see in a little while.

Passerby Qing: What?

Yonghai: ?

Yonghai: What's so surprising? What were you all doing while I was away?

Fighting a bloody battle: You're the first person in the history of the Immortal Ship to drive the Starship into the ditch. You should probably think carefully about how to keep your job.

Yonghai: ...Don't scare me.

Fighting a bloody battle: "Hilarious"

Fighting a bloody battle: Yonghai, I suggest you stop registering your real name online, it's easy to get caught.

"Your friend, Yonghai, has gone offline."

After a brief hiccup, and after checking everyone's passes, Shen Mi finally stepped into the Shence Mansion.

Before everyone returned to their workstations, Jingyuan gathered them together and gave a brief introduction to Shen Mi.

Under the intense gazes of the crowd, Shen Mi bowed slightly and said some polite words. There was a person in the crowd who kept winking at Shen Mi. At first, Shen Mi didn't notice her, but she only realized it when she got annoyed by the person's stare.

Of course, Shen Mi wasn't foolish enough to think the other person had lost their mind; the other person's agitated expression was subtly hinting at something to Shen Mi.

Shen Mi suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a strategist working in the Shence Mansion in the small group that Yu Tiela had joined.

Could it be her?

Afterwards, Shen Mi naturally walked towards her, tentatively calling out her name with some uncertainty: "'Passerby Qing'?"

Aozu nodded: "Hello, 'Addicted to Firefighting'."

When Shen Mi heard the other person solemnly pronounce his name, he suddenly felt a sense of helplessness, like meeting up with a friend he usually jokes around with but being unable to say a word.

"It seems that this is what Yu Tie was talking about in the group," Qing Zu suddenly said.

Shen Mi frowned and asked, "What?"

Qingzu shook his head and said to Chen Mi, "It's nothing. Come with me. There's a lot of data to organize today."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mi immediately got to work.

Fortunately, there was a synesthetic beacon; otherwise, even with a genius brain, Shen Mi wouldn't have been able to learn the Xianzhou script so quickly, given the dense and unfamiliar text on the document.

Shen Mi scanned and digitized the paper documents one by one, following the classification list handed to her by Qing Zu, and then filed and categorized them one by one. During the process, many documents were stamped with a bright red "Confidential" seal, which stood out conspicuously, as if silently warning her: Do not leak, or the consequences will be serious.

Qingzu took out an electronic confidentiality agreement and sent it to Shen Mi's phone. Shen Mi opened it and saw her name printed on it, along with a complete set of prohibitions, each word firm and unquestionable.

Seeing Shen Mi staring blankly at the regulations for a long time, Qingzu seemed to realize something and explained, "Everyone working in the Shence Prefecture has to sign such a document. Don't feel guilty. It's not that we don't trust you; it's just a routine procedure."

Shen Mi's heart sank slightly. It wasn't because he was uncomfortable about signing the contract, but because he was worried about the hidden crises within the Shence Mansion and the shocking truths concealed behind the seal of secrecy.

She took a deep breath, finally put pen to paper, and signed her name. The instant she signed, it felt as if a broken thread in her heart had been reconnected, as if fate had been set in stone, leaving her powerless to change it.

*

At the agreed time, Shen Mi arrived at the training ground and saw Bai Xuan's figure from a distance.

Master Bai Xuan took out a helmet that fit Shen Mi's head shape: "When you first start practicing, you will inevitably feel dizzy. This can balance the pressure in your cochlea and also assist in driving. You can take it off when you become an experienced driver."

Shen Mi took the helmet and put it on, then walked steadily across the cobblestone path towards the Star Chariot training ground by the lake. Her breathing was even and rhythmic with each step, but a barely perceptible tension and anticipation surged within her.

On the tarmac of the training ground, several wooden starships stood quietly, their wheat ears swaying gently in the wind.

The wooden Starship has a simple overall design with smooth lines and a well-organized layout on the control panel. Every detail shows extremely high manufacturing precision and user-friendly design.

Stroking the smooth metal edge, Chen Mi could almost imagine the elegant trajectory he would take as he soared through the sea of ​​stars in it.

Chen Mi sat in the seat, fastened the seatbelt, and began to adjust the seat height and the position of the control lever to suit his height, based on the theoretical knowledge stored in his mind.

With no one around, Shen Mi didn't dare to light the engine, but that didn't stop her from pretending to drive it and indulging in the thrill. Her right hand gripped the control stick, the cool metallic touch sending a sensation through her palm, as if the starship was awaiting her command.

Footsteps approached slowly behind him. Shen Mi turned around and saw Bai Xuan stroking his beard as he walked towards him. Master Bai Xuan's silver hair was neatly combed, and his face, though aged, exuded a calm strength. His deep eyes were like ancient wells that had witnessed many vicissitudes, calm yet insightful.

To Shen Mi's surprise, he had actually combed his hair.

"Are you ready?" Bai Xuan sat in the passenger seat, his hands on the control panel. His voice was calm and firm, seemingly carrying an unquestionable authority.

“Ready,” Shen Mi replied respectfully, his voice carrying a hint of determination.

Bai Xuan nodded slightly, walked to the side, and held a yellowed notebook in his hand, which was filled with key points and precautions for the Starship flight. He said calmly, "Before takeoff, be sure to carefully check every instrument, fasten your seat belts tightly, and make sure the cockpit door is closed tightly. During operation, remain calm; composure is the most important quality."

Shen Mi nodded and checked everything as required. She skillfully adjusted the instrument parameters, feeling the subtle changes transmitted through the mechanical feedback. The Star Chariot emitted a soft hum when it started, like a sleeping beast slowly awakening.

Under Master Bai Xuan's guidance, the moment the Star Chariot took off, Chen Mi's heart pounded, and sweat seeped through his gloves from his fingertips. The Star Chariot slowly glided off the ramp and into the simulated flight path specially designated by Luofu.

She carefully adjusted the control lever, and the starship swooped down smoothly. Pulling the lever, she could even feel the starship steadily rising.

The actual operation of the Star Chariot was not as complicated as she had expected. Instead, it was somewhat similar to driving a motor vehicle, testing more on details and mindset.

Bai Xuan observed quietly from the side, occasionally whispering reminders: "The first time we will only practice straight flight. When taking off and landing, we must anticipate changes in airflow in advance."

"Okay." Shen Mi stared intently ahead. Although Master Bai Xuan could also control the Star Chariot from her position, she dared not be distracted for even a moment. Her hands gripped the control lever tightly, so nervous that her palms began to sweat.

After several takeoffs, landings, and straight-line flight training sessions, Shen Mi gradually began to experience the thrill of flying. Her body was no longer as stiff and tense as when she first sat in the pilot's seat, her breathing became steady, and she became more and more familiar with the operating procedures. The sound of the wind whistling past her ears during flight, and even through the glass, Shen Mi could feel a cool and refreshing breeze.

Only when she saw Master Bai Xuan nod and smile at her did Chen Mi finally breathe a sigh of relief. She had passed the test of flying in a straight line.

She took off her helmet and found that sweat had soaked her bangs, and her hair was disheveled by the wind, sticking wetly to her forehead. There was also a pink helmet mark on her skin, which, from a distance, looked like a drink with three claw marks on a freezer shelf.

However, Shen Mi didn't seem to feel the heat. Although her breathing was rapid, each breath was very strong.

Her heart was surging with excitement, as if an invisible force was lifting her up from the depths of her chest. The weightlessness during flight, the echoing howl of the wind, the vast and boundless sky before her eyes, and that moment of freedom in mid-air all made her too excited to calm down.

Bai Xuan seemed to understand Shen Mi's excitement at this moment, and gave Shen Mi enough time to process it. He smiled and said, "You flew well. Straight flight is passing. Tomorrow, practice before turning to consolidate your skills and try your best to participate in the flight test at the end of the month."

"The end of the month? Is it that soon?"

Bai Xuan stroked his beard and nodded: "The end of the month is the closest exam to now, and I'll pass it on the first try."

Shen Mi looked troubled; she still had some doubts about whether she could learn to pilot the star raft in such a short time.

Bai Xuan stood to the side and encouraged him, "Believe in yourself. With your abilities, you can actually do it in less than half a month."

After saying that, Bai Xuan smiled and praised Shen Mi's performance today—her control over the star raft during straight-line flight was excellent, her posture was stable, and all her operations were clean and efficient. This undoubtedly gave Shen Mi a boost of confidence, making her so flattered that she almost lost her bearings.

Shen Mi touched his head sheepishly, most of his nervousness and worries blown away.

I thanked Master Bai Xuan a few times.

After finishing his practice for the day, Chen Mi walked to the public starship waiting station. The small waiting station stood on a high platform overlooking the wind, surrounded by clouds that seemed within reach. At that moment, the twilight sky was tinged with pale yellow, and a sliver of light peeked out from the clouds, much like a soft-boiled egg cut in half, radiating a warm glow.

As she looked around, Chen Mi suddenly felt a pang of hunger in her stomach, which seemed to pound in the wind. The warm light of dusk shone on her face, and she couldn't help but lick her lips, swallowing the mouthful of saliva she had imagined. Unconsciously, all sorts of delicious food floated into her mind.

She patted her stomach, thinking of the incredibly delicious roast duck from Xia Muming's place in Changletian, its crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, and her craving grew stronger. Shen Mi smiled, making up her mind that she might as well go and buy one today, as a reward for herself.

The evening breeze gradually blew from the depths of the streets and alleys, dispelling the smile on her lips, but a small sense of contentment quietly sprouted in her heart. She turned gently and embarked on her journey home, feeling an indescribable sense of ease and joy.

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Author's Note: Shen Mi: A large-scale online meetup.

At the end, a character named Bao, who watered my plants, makes his appearance; you should be able to recognize his name. More Bao characters will appear later, in all sorts of bizarre and unexpected ways—the author can write anything you can imagine. [Facepalm peeking][Facepalm peeking][Facepalm peeking][Pigeon][Pigeon][Pigeon]