civilization
The cave Gu Yan described was indeed in a remote location with little greenery and was extremely well hidden.
"Too much greenery makes you stand out, so it's not a good option for shelter. The smell near the landfill is too strong, and it's hard to sleep. This place is much better."
Indeed, by making a small adjustment to the terrain, most people would selectively ignore this corner.
Gu Yan jumped down first, then turned around and reached out to catch Ella Zero.
The latter remained squatting in the same spot.
To enter the cave, you have to go through a long trench and a steep slope. You can't see what kind of concealment has been done above, but it is indeed the most suitable place to go now.
Ella shook her head, ignored Gu Yan's hand, and jumped into the trench alone, waiting for Gu Yan's next move.
She did exactly the same thing as Gu Yan, so Gu Yan had no choice but to throw his backpack up, take a few steps back, and with a running start, easily climb the steep slope before turning back to wait for her.
The intense sunlight made the ground and Ella Zero's white overalls appear the same color, and her jet-black hair was neatly tucked into her matching boatman's hat, making her quite deceptive.
Ella retreated in the same posture, took a running start, and leaped up, this time firmly grasping Gu Yan's hand.
The steep slope presents a different scene. The man-made rock formations are magnificent yet decadent, like a forgotten wonder deep in the ocean.
"It must be a landscape from the old civilization period. You know this isn't popular now, but I really like it."
The staggered stone pillars form a natural shelter, like a masterpiece created by the hand of God who built a towering tower with boulders and then casually overturned it.
Gu Yan led her through the collapsed stone formation, occasionally turning back to make sure she was still behind him.
"It's been a long time since I've been here, but I still remember the way." This is his safe haven, so it's naturally unforgettable.
"There's still some time before lights out. Once I'm settled, I'll go check out the supplies nearby."
Ella Zero grabbed his hand: "Together."
He read determination in Ella Zero's eyes, hesitated briefly, then relaxed his brow and nodded.
"Then we'll need to bring infrared shielding."
Once inside the territory of the Federal Royal Family, the darkest place after the lights are turned off is the most unsafe place.
The cave was unfathomably deep. Gu Yan stopped somewhere and turned on the emergency light he carried with him, illuminating the entire room.
There must be other paths deeper inside. This place is well-ventilated, with only the inorganic smell unique to caves. Several yellowed books lie scattered on the ground, covered in dust along with the nearby blankets, untouched for who knows how many years.
Gu Yan coughed awkwardly, hooked the blanket with his toes and pushed it to the corner: "Use a sleeping bag, I brought a new one."
Ella picked up a book from the side and dusted it off.
"That is..."
Ella Zero, holding a book, sat down on the clean, soft cushions that Gu Yan had just laid out.
“I know this book, ‘The World,’ but I’ve never seen a physical copy. The Federal Royal Library doesn’t hold it.” She gently turned the title page, caressing the embossed print as if it were a rare treasure.
Gu Yan sat down beside her, turning his head slightly to watch her slowly turn the pages of the book.
"We got it from Yang Guang, so we'll just treat it as a myth. After all, we'll never have the chance to see the scenery described in the book."
The recent trek had left a blush on Ella Zero's cheeks. A strange light flashed in her eyes, and she nodded, pursing her lips as if she had finally understood what he meant.
Gu Yan knew what that beam of light was, and he and Yang Guang were overjoyed when they read the book.
"But this book has survived."
Ella Zero glanced at the book; the pages were printed with a vast ocean, faded to a deep blue, the ink blurred. She still read with great interest.
"If I could really see the ocean, that would be wonderful."
Ella Zero's gaze never left the book: "I never imagine things that are impossible."
That's impossible.
Gu Yan pondered those words carefully. Ella Zero never hinted at anything, but he would unconsciously think about it.
That makes a lot of sense.
Seemingly reluctant, Ella Zero closed the book and finally looked at him: "If you don't leave now, the lights will be turned off."
"Yes, don't turn off the light, leave it here."
As they headed towards the cave exit, the two remained silent for a long time. Ella Zero was still preoccupied with the contents of the book, and she would probably read it all night long by lamplight.
"If you like it, you can take it with you."
"Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What does it matter? It's been lying in there collecting dust for years."
Ella Zero probably felt she had declined enough, and decisively nodded: "Okay."
He was still a bit childish. Gu Yan chuckled softly. Ella tilted her head to look at him, determined to guess why he was laughing before he could say anything.
It was time to turn off the lights, much like the dawn and dusk described in the book. The light was just right, and Ella Zero had completely memorized the surrounding terrain, sometimes even walking ahead of Gu Yan to wait for him.
His expression also seemed impatient.
"Tomorrow, we can bypass the monitored area and sneak into the poplar forest again. Actually, we're not far from the poplar forest from here."
Ella nodded casually, and Gu Yan finally noticed something was wrong.
What are you looking at?
"It's nothing." But his tone didn't sound like nothing was wrong.
Following her gaze, Gu Yan only managed to catch a glimpse of a grayish-brown color.
"The supply station isn't far away. Looks like we'll have extra food tonight."
The dry food he carried was enough, but Gu Yan always felt that it was missing some beef, and coffee would be even better.
The dim light outlined Ella Zero's beautiful figure. She looked into the distance one last time and said quietly, "Okay."
Beef is, of course, wishful thinking.
But the fact that Gu Yan found canned beef is good news.
The coffee beans at the supply station had been sitting for a while and had become somewhat dry.
"Better than getting damp, right?"
He consoled himself.
There were even small boilers that could be used to boil water.
"You're not even sure you have anything to boil water before you say you want coffee?"
Gu Yan shrugged indifferently: "It's not that it's unsafe to drink if you mix it with cold water."
"In that case, you can enjoy it all by yourself." The water began to boil, and Ella Zero extinguished the flames and placed the small pot on the ground.
"What is this for?"
Ella slapped away his hand that was reaching for the handle: "Wait a minute, let it cool down to 90 degrees Celsius."
"……OK."
Gu Yan didn't quite understand the difference between 90 degrees and 100 degrees, so he casually picked up a can of beef, opened the aluminum lid, and ate while waiting.
"I heard that people in the old civilization mostly drink this during the day." Taking the small aluminum cup handed to him by Ella Zero, Gu Yan swirled the cup. The dark brown, crystalline liquid reflected the light, forming an elegant vortex in the cup.
"Probably, but humans have obviously evolved to eliminate this weakness."
Gu Yan touched his chin.
The downsides... well.
The aroma of coffee lingered in her nostrils as Ella Zero continued reading her newly acquired book.
Gu Yan put his hands behind his head and looked at the rock ceiling of the cave with its crisscrossing patterns.
The air flowed in the cramped space, and even the slightest sound was exceptionally jarring. The two of them instinctively softened their movements. After a short while, only faint breathing and the occasional turning of pages by Ella could be heard.
Even though Gu Yan had already drunk a cup of coffee and was feeling sleepy, Ella Ling was still reading tirelessly.
Gu Yan tried to speak, but his voice was already tinged with a dreamlike quality: "Take your time reading, there's no rush, you don't even have to return the book."
He thought Ella Zero hadn't heard him. After a long, long time, just as he was about to lose consciousness, he heard Ella Zero softly reply, "Mm."
When Gu Yan got up, Ella Zero had already packed her sleeping bag and was waiting beside her.
The copy of "The World" was completely closed, without any bookmarks or markings.
"You watched it all in one night?"
Ella Zero looked at him with a puzzled expression: "How could that be? I'm not an intelligent computer."
"That's true," Gu Yan said with a self-deprecating laugh. "He's probably still half asleep."
After receiving the toiletries bag thrown to him by Ella Zero, Gu Yan finally took out his sleeping bag as well.
When he finished packing, Ella Zero was sitting there in a daze, her fingers unconsciously tracing lines on the cover as if she were writing.
"The books are too heavy. Shall we get them when we come back from the cabin?" Gu Yan suggested.
“…Hmm.” Ella Zero’s voice was hesitant, but she ultimately said nothing.
Gu Yan assumed that she was just reluctant to put down the book she had only read halfway through.
The lights were already on outside. The moment Gu Yan left the cave, the bright light replaced the darkness and filled his vision, causing him to squint uncomfortably.
Immediately afterwards, a chill ran down his spine. Not only the hairs on his back, but Gu Yan felt as if his hair stood on end, and the top of his head went numb.
"Go! Go back!" he shouted as he turned around, completely disregarding who was standing behind him.
"Get out of here! Now! Move! Move! Move!"
He finally saw where Ella Zero was, and took a few steps forward to grab her shoulders tightly.
...is on the right.
He knew every single one of the rebels.
The sniper sent this time must be Nord. Every single one of his bullets never misses; that's his most unique signature.
Gu Yan didn't know if he could make it, but he was going to do it, and whether he succeeded or not was none of his business.
It happened in just one second, but time stretched out infinitely before his eyes. His body was being driven forward by a brute force, and he must be about to be torn apart.
The last thing he saw clearly was Ella Zero, who was right in front of him. He saw her expression at that moment.
No longer as calm as stagnant water, nor with an indifferent attitude that it doesn't concern them.
There was shock, panic, and... something else in her eyes that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
The piercing tinnitus made his temples ache; he felt like a drowning man, his senses gone, and he had no idea where he was going.
There was only one or two strange noises occasionally.
Yes, he drowned. That must have been the sound of him blowing bubbles.
Then he could see Ella Zero again, and she had never looked at him like that before. She must be worried.
Ella Zero's lips were moving, what was she saying? Gu Yan tried hard to listen, but how could a drowning person hear the calls of others?
He was just so curious.
What is she saying at this moment?
He was burning up.
It seems that the magazine *The World* mentioned that some groundwater is indeed hot. They're called hot springs.
Did he drown in the hot spring?
"Gu Yan... Gu Yan..." someone was calling him.
Could it be Ella Zero? No, she's never called him by that name before.
Who could it be?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
