Chapter 46
Wen Ling's injury was more stubborn than expected.
Over the next three days, his temperature fluctuated, and his wounds healed slowly. Dr. Keith, using the remote diagnosis system, diagnosed him: in addition to the visible injuries, Wen Ling had also suffered nerve concussion from the explosion, requiring at least two weeks of rest.
"Any strenuous activity during these two weeks may result in permanent damage." Case's voice came through the communicator, with unquestionable professionalism.
Miao Weizhen stood outside the medical cabin, watching through the observation window as Wen Ling fell into a coma once again. The young prince's face was pale, and even in his sleep, he occasionally frowned in pain. Miao Weizhen's fingers unconsciously tightened, and his knuckles turned white.
"What medication do you need?" he asked Case, his voice calm as usual.
"I've already prepared a special potion and had Ayuan deliver it through secret channels. But," Kess paused, "the most important thing is to rest. His body needs time."
After the communication ended, Miao Weizhen stood in front of the observation window for a long time until Luo Yan's communication request broke the silence.
"Minister, Federation activity on the surface of the abandoned planet has intensified." Luo Yan's holographic image appeared on the console. "They seem to have found a way to enter the underground base."
Miao Weizhen's eyes suddenly became sharp: "Specific location?"
"Area B7, near the entrance to the Ancient Laboratory." Luo Yan pulled up the surveillance footage. "They've deployed a new type of drilling equipment, and our defense system is being gradually breached."
In the picture, the federal engineering team was busy in front of a huge metal structure. It was one of the entrances to the original laboratory of the Star Shuttle Project. It not only preserved the technology of ancient civilizations, but more importantly -
There is Xinglan's final research data.
"Activate Shadow Protocol," Miao Weizhen ordered, "and have Lao Lin activate all ancient defense systems."
"But Minister, those systems are not stable yet."
"Do as you are told." Miao Weizhen's voice left no room for doubt. "Also, prepare to transfer the base's core data. This place is no longer safe."
After the call ended, Miao Weizhen returned to the medical cabin. Wen Ling had already woken up and was trying to sit up.
"Don't move." Miao Weizhen stepped forward quickly and pressed his shoulders. "You need to rest."
"I heard your conversation," Wen Ling's voice was weak but clear, "Has the Federation found the entrance?"
Miao Weizhen did not deny it: "Old Lin will take care of it."
Wen Ling stared at Miao Weizhen's seemingly calm face, keenly catching the anxiety deep in his eyes. These days of getting along, he could already read the man's true emotions hidden beneath his calm exterior.
"You are worried about Xinglan's data." This is not a question, but an affirmation.
Miao Weizhen silently adjusted the infusion rate for Wen Ling. After a long while, he spoke: "Those data are Xinglan's final efforts."
"That's what the Federation wants most," Wen Ling continued. "If they truly crack the ancient civilization's technology..."
"Sailang will lose their last chance." Miao Weizhen's voice was low. "The Federation will completely seize the monopoly of consciousness technology."
The medical cabin fell silent. Wen Ling could feel the heavy pressure from Miao Weizhen.
Not only does she have to protect him who is seriously injured, but she also has to deal with the Federation's relentless pressure, and she also has to protect the legacy left by her sister.
"Let me help." Wen Ling said suddenly.
"Your current task is to recuperate."
"I can't participate in the operation, but I can help you analyze the data," Wen Ling insisted. "My research on ancient civilizations may be useful. I have full access to the Sailiang Palace Library."
Miao Weizhen wanted to refuse, but changed his mind when he saw Wen Ling's determined look. He fetched an encrypted data tablet: "These are the technical specifications of the drilling equipment used by the Federation."
Wen Ling took the datapad and began to study it carefully. Although his face was still pale, his eyes were bright again. Miao Weizhen noticed that when Wen Ling focused on his research, even his breathing became much calmer.
"Interesting," Wen Ling muttered to herself, "They're using resonance drilling technology, but this technology has a fatal weakness."
He calculated quickly on the data tablet, his fingers trembling slightly due to weakness, but the speed and accuracy of his calculations were still amazing.
"If we create interference on a specific frequency," Wen Ling looked up, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "we can disable their equipment without revealing our position."
Miao Weizhen took the data tablet and carefully examined Wen Ling's calculation results. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes - this plan was not only ingenious, but also completely feasible.
"How did you come up with that?" he couldn't help asking.
"There are similar records in the documents from the time of our home planet." Wen Ling raised the corner of her lips slightly. "During that glorious civilization, they used similar methods to protect their sacred sites."
Miao Weizhen immediately sent the plan to Lao Lin. Soon after, Luo Yan brought good news: the Federation's drilling equipment had indeed malfunctioned and was forced to suspend operations.
"They'll need at least two days to repair the equipment," Luo Yan reported. "We've gained valuable time."
Wen Ling felt much more energetic because of this news, but fatigue also set in. Miao Weizhen noticed the cold sweat oozing from his forehead and reached out to turn off the data board.
"Rest." His voice was firm. "Leave the rest to me."
This time, Wen Ling did not object.
The injury and the intense concentration he had just experienced had drained his energy, and under the influence of the drug, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Miao Weizhen stayed outside the medical bay, processing the constant influx of intelligence. The Federation clearly wouldn't give up easily; they were mobilizing more engineering equipment. Meanwhile, at the base, although Lao Lin had successfully activated some of the ancient defense systems, they were dilapidated and could fail at any moment.
"Minister, there's something going on." Ayuan's call came in. "I discovered a strange phenomenon while cultivating a new type of moss."
In the picture, A Yuan stands in front of the cultivation room, holding a pot of glowing moss in his hands. Surprisingly, the moss is flashing in a strange rhythm.
"They seem to be... conveying some kind of message," Ayuan said, confused. "This flashing pattern is too regular to be a natural phenomenon."
Miao Weizhen immediately thought of the legendary "biological communication technology" that was widely used in the era of the mother planet. It is said that at that time, some civilizations were able to use plants to transmit information.
"Send the sample to the analysis room," he ordered. "I want to examine it myself."
While waiting for the analysis results, Miao Weizhen noticed unusual fluctuations in the monitoring equipment in the medical cabin. Wen Ling's vital signs suddenly became unstable, especially her brainwave activity, which was unusually active.
"Keith," he immediately connected to the medical advisor, "Wen Ling is not feeling well."
Case checked the data remotely, his tone turning serious. "His mental activity is unusually high. This is not normal. I recommend an immediate deep scan."
Miao Weizhen hurried into the medical cabin and found that although Wen Ling was still asleep, her eyelids were twitching rapidly, a sign of deep dreaming. Even stranger, some of the equipment in the medical cabin began to interfere.
At this moment, news came from the analysis room: the mosses were indeed transmitting information, and the way the information was encoded was surprisingly similar to the consciousness encoding technology used by the Star Shuttle Project.
A surprising idea formed in Miao Weizhen's mind. He quickly walked to the control console in the medical cabin and adjusted the settings on the brain wave monitor.
When the new monitoring results appeared on the screen, Miao Weizhen held his breath.
Wen Ling's brain wave frequency is resonating with the information conveyed by the moss.
The waveform on the monitoring screen made Miao Weizhen stunned for a rare moment.
Wen Ling's brainwaves perfectly synchronized with the frequency of the information transmitted by the moss, a synchronization rate far beyond the scope of chance. Even more surprising, as the resonance intensified, some ancient instruments in the medical cabin began to activate automatically.
"Keith, did you see that?" Miao Weizhen's voice remained calm, but his speech was a little faster than usual.
"I see. This is impossible," Case's voice was filled with shock. "His consciousness is becoming quantum entangled with some external signal. I've only seen this described in Dr. Xinglan's research notes."
Miao Weizhen immediately retrieved the encrypted files of the Star Shuttle Project. Xinglan's research notes did mention the phenomenon of "consciousness resonance"—when a specific consciousness frequency matches the information carrier left by an ancient civilization, it can activate dormant technology.
But Xinglan also warned that this resonance is extremely dangerous and may cause irreversible damage to consciousness.
"How to interrupt this resonance?" asked Miao Weizhen.
"Theoretically, we need to block the signal source, but..." Case paused, "If we forcibly interrupt it, it might cause a shock to his consciousness."
At this moment, Wen Ling's body suddenly twitched violently and the monitoring equipment issued a shrill alarm.
Miao Weizhen reached out without hesitation to turn off the monitoring equipment, but just as his finger was about to touch the switch, Wen Ling suddenly opened his eyes.
Those emerald eyes shone with an unfamiliar light, as if carrying a thousand years of memories.
"The wisdom of the mother planet's era... has never disappeared..." Wen Ling's voice had a strange resonance, unlike his usual tone. "They are just waiting for... the right container."
Miao Weizhen immediately realized that the person talking to him at this moment might not just be Wen Ling himself.
"Who are you?" he asked calmly, quietly activating emergency protocols.
"We are the Watchers." Wen Ling's lips curled into an unfamiliar smile. "The last inheritors of ancient civilization. Your friends... have become the bridge connecting us to this era."
Miao Weizhen noticed that the vocabulary and grammatical structures used by Wen Ling when speaking were exactly the same as those recorded in ancient documents. This was definitely not the way Wen Ling would usually express himself.
"What do you want to do?"
"Help," Wen Ling—or rather, the being occupying his body—whispered softly. "The Federation is making the same mistake as its predecessor. The pursuit of absolute control will only lead to destruction."
The ancient instruments in the medical cabin suddenly lit up, and the holographic projection automatically unfolded, showing an ancient video. On the screen, representatives from ten countries were signing an agreement.
The background is a huge laboratory - the same laboratory deep in the Youji Waste Star.
"Behold," the being said, "this is the original covenant. Ten nations swore together to protect the freedom of consciousness."
In the video, representatives from the ten countries successively pressed their fingerprints on the agreement. When the representative from Sailiang stepped forward, Wen Ling's body suddenly trembled violently.
"No... they are cheating..." Wen Ling's voice suddenly returned to his own tone, full of pain, "Sailiang was excluded from the core research from the beginning..."
Miao Weizhen immediately stepped forward and held Wen Ling's shoulders: "Wen Ling? Can you hear me?"
A look of struggle flashed across Wen Ling's eyes, as if he was fighting against something invisible: "Weizhen... they are using me... to obtain ancient knowledge..."
At this moment, the door of the medical cabin suddenly opened and Ayuan rushed in: "Minister! Those mosses...they're all withered!"
Almost at the same time, Wen Ling's body softened and she fell into Miao Weizhen's arms.
Monitoring equipment showed that the strange resonance had disappeared.
"Wen Ling?" Miao Weizhen patted his cheek.
Wen Ling slowly opened her eyes, her eyes regaining clarity, but filled with confusion: "I just... had a very strange dream..."
"It's not just a dream." Miao Weizhen gently placed him back on the medical bed. "Your consciousness has connected with the information left by the ancient civilization."
Wen Ling tried hard to recall: "I saw the ten countries signing the agreement, but something was wrong..."
His brows furrowed. "The representative of Sailiang Country has a very strange expression..."
Miao Weizhen called up the brainwave data he had just recorded: "Can you remember more details?"
Wen Ling closed her eyes and tried to recall: "The agreement was not equal. Sairenguo concealed the key content."
He suddenly opened his eyes. "I remember there's a hidden area in the lab that even Xinglan doesn't know exists."
This discovery made Miao Weizhen look stern.
If there really is an area in the laboratory that even Xinglan doesn't know about, then it may contain the most core secrets of ancient civilization.
At this moment, Luo Yan's emergency call came in: "Minister, the Federation's repair work is faster than expected. They will resume operations within six hours."
Time is running out.
Wen Ling struggled to get up: "Take me to the laboratory. Only I can find that hidden area."
"Your physical condition doesn't allow it." Miao Weizhen flatly refused.
"but……"
"No buts," Miao Weizhen's tone brooked no argument, but at Wen Ling's disappointed look, his voice softened slightly. He leaned over and placed a feather-light kiss on Wen Ling's forehead.
"Let me finish this." His voice was low and firm. "All you have to do is recover well, and then."
His fingertips gently brushed Wen Ling's cheek: "Wait for me to come back."
Wen Ling grabbed his wrist, her strength slight due to her weakness, but her eyes were remarkably firm: "Be careful, that place makes me feel very... uneasy."
Miao Weizhen looked down at their clasped hands and gently returned the shake: "I promised to take you to see the place where I grew up. That promise has not yet been fulfilled."
This was the first time Miao Weizhen took the initiative to confirm the agreement. Wen Ling slightly widened his eyes and then revealed a weak smile:
"I remember that."
When Miao Weizhen left the medical cabin, his eyes had become extremely determined. No matter what was in that hidden area, he had to ensure that these secrets would not fall into the hands of the Federation.
Inside the medical cabin, Wen Ling caressed the remaining touch on his forehead, a mixture of unease and warmth in his heart. Fragments of that dream kept replaying in his mind—especially the strange smile of the Sailiang representative, which made him feel inexplicably palpitating.
The truth behind ancient civilization may be far darker than they imagined, and Miao Weizhen will face this secret buried by time.
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