Chapter 222 The vanished dragon has returned!
As the white light faded, Zhou Jue returned to the transmigration room.
Welcome back, host.
The system notification sounded in my mind, carrying a sense of relief that the task had been completed.
[Settling the mission world: China, 1937 (Republic of China Year 26)]
Side Quest 1: 'A Helping Hand in Times of Need' - Overachieved.
[Award distributed: "Space Elevator" technology package.]
Zhou Jue's breathing stopped for a moment.
A space elevator! Isn't this something out of science fiction? Alas!
[Side Mission 2: Reclaim all lost territories of China and achieve territorial integrity. Completed far beyond expectations.]
[Reward Distribution: Golden Dragon Guardian of National Fortune (to be bound), symbolizing national prosperity, favorable weather, and protection from external evils.]
Zhou Jue's heart pounded wildly.
Dragon! Which Chinese person isn't a descendant of the dragon!
Just as Zhou Jue was recovering from his great surprise, he saw several familiar figures standing at the door: Chief Zhang, Chen Jianguo, Qi Si, Cheng Gan, and others.
Chief Zhang's hair seemed to have turned whiter, and the wrinkles around his eyes had deepened, but his eyes were still incredibly bright.
“Xiao Jue, welcome home.” His voice trembled slightly.
Zhou Jue felt a lump in her throat, strode out, and stood at attention.
"Reporting to the commander, Zhou Jue has successfully completed his mission and returned safely!"
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"
Commander Zhang stepped forward and patted her shoulder with considerable force.
Chen Jianguo and Qi Si also gathered around, their faces showing a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.
Zhou Jue noticed that in the eyes of the three of them, besides relief and concern, there was also a kind of eager expectation that she had never seen before.
"Let's go to the conference room, the boss and the others are waiting."
Commander Zhang pulled her along and strode outside.
...
It was the same familiar conference room, but it had changed drastically.
The walls were replaced with huge screens that could display various data, and a three-dimensional holographic projection device was placed in the center of the table.
The room was full of people. In addition to the old generals who had seen her off last time, there were also many researchers wearing white coats and glasses.
On the video call screen, the boss's familiar face was clearly visible.
All eyes were on Zhou Jue.
Zhou Jue didn't stand on ceremony. She walked to the conference table and gently placed the wooden box she had brought back from the Republic of China era on it.
"Over there...the country has been unified, and the national name is now the 'People's Republic of China,' and the five-star red flag has been raised."
"These are some video materials."
She took out the calligraphy pieces again and carefully laid them out on the table.
"These were given to me by several leaders. When I left, the country was prosperous and the people were at peace. They had achieved that."
In the conference room, a group of gray-haired old generals all gathered around.
Looking at the video footage, at the familiar faces, and at the calligraphy, they reached out their calloused hands, wanting to touch the words, but stopped in mid-air, afraid of damaging this timeless entrustment.
"Good...good!" A scholar-general took off his glasses and vigorously rubbed his eyes.
"My grandfather... he can finally have enough to eat..."
"They... no longer need to fight..."
"No sacrifices were made; it's good that everyone is alive."
Suppressed sobs filled the conference room.
Zhou Jue didn't disturb them. By the time they calmed down, her mind was already preoccupied with other things.
"Brother Tongzi, please explain the details of the settlement rewards."
【Alright, host.】
['Space elevator': A physical link from a planet's surface to geostationary orbit, encompassing a complete set of technologies including base construction, cable material synthesis (carbon nanotube-reinforced composite material), climbing device design, and energy supply system.]
Zhou Jue's eyelid twitched.
Goodness! This is a complete tutorial, made as if they're afraid you won't understand any step or miss any step!
With this, is space travel still a long way off?
However, her attention was quickly drawn to the second reward.
[The Golden Dragon Guardian of National Fortune: A special energy life form bound to the national fortune, possessing multiple abilities such as protection, warning, and rallying the people's hearts. When the national fortune prospers, the Golden Dragon is strong, able to roam the heavens and awe all around; when the national fortune declines, the Golden Dragon weakens and may even fall into slumber. Once bound, it will transform into a totem, protecting the nation.]
Zhou Jue looked at the golden "Guardian Dragon of National Fortune" icon and frowned deeply. The spiritual energy was depleted. The Listening Sea Beast had to face extinction when it woke up. Would this golden dragon face the same fate? It would be better not to bind it and wait for the spiritual energy to recover!
Zhou Jue thought this way, and that's what he asked.
[Host, your understanding is flawed.]
This 'Golden Dragon Guardian of National Fortune' is not the same as that 'Spiritual Creature'.
Zhou Jue was taken aback: "What do you mean?"
Its core energy source is not spiritual energy, but rather the 'national destiny'.
The fate of the nation?
These two words are ethereal and intangible, yet as heavy as Mount Tai.
Zhou Jue's mind raced: "Is it tied to the fate of the nation?"
That's one way to understand it.
A nation's comprehensive national strength, its people's happiness index, the cohesion of its culture, the speed of its technological progress, its international influence... all these together constitute the macro concept of 'national destiny'.
The more prosperous and upward-moving a nation's fortunes, the more abundant the energy of the golden dragon, and the stronger its power. Conversely, if a nation is in turmoil and its people are suffering, it will become weak.
Zhou Jue's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly understood the meaning behind it.
This is not a simple guardian beast at all; it is a barometer that is completely tied to the fate of the nation, a living "national destiny indicator"!
It doesn't need any external energy supply; its power comes from the country itself! It comes from every person on this land who strives to live and work hard!
A thought flashed through her mind like lightning.
"Have we...been like this before?" Her voice trembled slightly, a tremor she herself was unaware of.
Yes, it has.
The system's answer was both affirmative and somber.
Throughout its long history, the destiny of the Chinese nation has been imbued with the spirit of the ancestral dragon, which has accompanied this nation to the pinnacle of the world and through countless trials and tribulations.
But during the century-long national calamity of modern times, foreign enemies invaded, the land was shattered, and the nation's fortunes declined to their lowest point. To prevent the last spark of civilization from dying out on this land, to protect that tiny flame from spreading, it exhausted its last ounce of strength, and ultimately… vanished into the world.
Zhou Jue's breathing stopped completely.
Before her eyes, she seemed to see that humiliating history.
I saw that once mighty dragon, growing weaker and weaker, more and more transparent amidst the lamentations of a shattered land, yet still using its last remaining body to protect the most unyielding backbone of this land.
It didn't die in battle; it was worn down to death for the sake of its offspring.
Zhou Jue's eyes instantly reddened. It wasn't a myth; it was a protection etched into his very bones.
Today, China's national fortunes are flourishing, and the people are united. It has already laid the foundation for the resurgence of the lost spirit of the ancestral dragon.
Therefore, host, what you have received is not a new reward.
Instead, it allows a hero who sacrificed himself for his country to return.
Boom! A deafening roar filled Zhou Jue's mind.
So that's how it is...
It turns out it didn't appear out of thin air.
It just... went home.
It has been waiting, waiting for its children to stand up again, waiting for the majestic national anthem to resound on this land once more, waiting for the mountains and rivers to be safe and sound, and for the country to be prosperous and the people at peace.
Today, it got what it had been waiting for.
An indescribable mix of bitterness and pride surged from the deepest part of Zhou Jue's heart, instantly shattering all her emotional defenses.
She thought of those predecessors in the Republic of China era who, full of vigor, spoke of "serving the people."
I thought of those old generals and scientists on Earth who devoted themselves to the country, their hair turning white from years of hard work.
It reminded me of the countless ordinary people who quietly dedicate themselves and strive to live their lives on this land.
It's them!
It was through their joint efforts that this oldest guardian was able to return to the world!
Zhou Jue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions.
She looked up.
Everyone in the conference room had fallen silent.
Chief Zhang, Chen Jianguo, Qi Si, the people in the video, and a group of scientific research giants—more than a dozen pairs of eyes were all focused on her.
They looked at Zhou Jue, whose eyes suddenly reddened for some reason, and looked at her with some concern.
"Xiao Jue," Chief Zhang spoke first, his voice tinged with a cautious probing, "What's wrong?"
Zhou Jue looked at them, at these lovely people who had dedicated their lives to the country and its people.
A bright smile slowly crept onto her lips.
"Grandpa Zhang, esteemed leaders."
"I also brought back two things." Zhou Jue's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire conference room.
"One-stop service".
"One elevator."
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