Chapter 94
The gray canvas on the tent ceiling made Jiangzhi's eyes refocus.
The blanket covering her was still warm, and the icy lake water from her dream seemed to still cling to her skin, causing her to shiver slightly involuntarily.
It was quiet outside, with no wind or insects chirping, only the low voices coming from afar, the soldiers on night watch changing shifts.
"...It gets a bit chilly in the middle of the night, so wear an extra layer of clothing."
"I know, you go and rest, I'll keep an eye on things here."
The voice was very soft, yet it was heard exceptionally clearly in the silence.
Jiang Zhi moved her arms and realized that her palms were still sweaty; the panic she felt in her dream, desperately searching for a way out, hadn't completely dissipated.
Thinking about the contents of that dream, Jiang Zhi's heart started to beat faster.
Is the exit of this space at the bottom of the lake?
I can't tell whether this is a hint from my own precognitive ability or just a dream I had after overthinking.
Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, and finally decided to keep the things in her dream to herself for now.
The situation outside Shashi is not entirely optimistic. They still have some time to explore this area.
If we really can't find another exit, it's not too late to explore the bottom of the lake later.
Thinking this, Jiangzhi lay back down.
Jiang Zhi slept soundly through the rest of the night without any more dreams.
Because there were so many people around, the brother and sister didn't need to keep watch at night, and Jiang Zhi was able to get a good night's sleep, which was a rare treat.
The next morning.
Everyone looked noticeably better.
As planned yesterday, today was another day of exploring this vast grassland.
This time, the search was much more thorough than yesterday's.
It was an almost exhaustive search.
In the end, after a rough calculation, the size of this entire alternate dimension was found to be the size of a third-tier city.
As for water sources, apart from the lake in the central area where the tamed animals live, there are no other sources.
Fortunately, they still have some stock, and if they are careful with their supplies, they can last for a few more days.
At first, no one was in a hurry.
Firstly, I don't know if the cold wave outside has subsided, and I'm afraid that even if I go out, I'll face a harsh environment.
Secondly, we have a sufficient amount of food on hand.
Over the course of a few days, the mutants from the two bases had become quite familiar with each other.
The professors also took advantage of this rare opportunity to successfully finalize and complete the transaction between the two parties.
In this transaction, Ancheng Base successfully exchanged a large quantity of grapes for some of the latest energy weapons developed by the Southern Base, as well as jerky made from moderately toxic mutated beasts.
The small mutant beasts in the southern base have become rampant, their numbers so great that they are a nuisance.
What's more troublesome is that powerful mutated plants are everywhere here, making it much more difficult to collect them than to capture mutated beasts.
As a result, the people at the southern base have long lacked a stable source of plant-based food.
Although those mutated plants that grow everywhere seem lush, most of them contain strong toxins or are aggressive. Accidental ingestion or rash contact can lead to serious consequences, making them unsuitable as everyday food or basic ingredients.
Ordinary plants that are safe and edible are difficult to survive due to the competition and encroachment of mutant plants, making their cultivation even more difficult.
Over time, the people in the southern base suffered from the physical burden caused by their single food source.
That's why I was interested in this batch of mutated grapes brought from the Ancheng base.
The brother and sister were present during the transaction.
They were all taken aback when they saw the people from the southern base take out several thousand kilograms of dried meat.
As expected of a transaction between bases, the scale of this deal is far beyond what ordinary people can compare to.
In addition to energy weapons and dried meat, some animal hides were also added to the trade list.
Jiang Zhi couldn't move her legs when she saw those animal hides.
The fur of some small mutant beasts looks like it would be perfect for making shoes.
Their family had been so focused on making clothes that they didn't have any extra fur to make small items like hats, shoes, and gloves.
Upon seeing this, Huang Xianming, who was in charge of the transaction, smiled and asked, "What? Have you taken a fancy to something?"
Jiang Zhi blushed slightly and explained softly, "My family is still short of some materials for making shoes."
Upon hearing this, Huang Xianming laughed loudly and waved his hand, saying, "What's so difficult about that? Pick whatever you like, don't be shy."
Jiang Zhi asked a little shyly, "Is it okay?"
Huang Xianming waved his hand, "There's plenty here, you won't be short of what you need."
Since Huang Xianming had said so, Jiang Zhi no longer stood on ceremony. Taking advantage of the gaps in the soldiers' piles, she squatted down in front of the mountain of furs and began to select them.
She knew how freezing it was to be in sub-zero temperatures, so she didn't dare to be careless when selecting furs.
With so many different kinds of fur, it was a little overwhelming to know where to begin.
She randomly picked out a fur coat that looked like that of a mutated fox; it looked dull and gray, not as beautiful as when it was alive.
As soon as you pick it up, you can smell a distinctive animal stench.
Fortunately, the fur was processed quite professionally.
If not handled properly, even the best fur can easily become stiff and shed, and its warmth retention will be greatly reduced.
She set aside the fur that was of decent quality and moved on to the next one.
After a moment, a piece of leather with light brown spots caught Jiang Zhi's attention.
She could feel the difference as soon as she touched it.
The underlayer is fluffy and soft, almost weightless when held in the hand, while the outer guard hairs are straight and have a natural sheen.
Jiang Zhi was overjoyed.
This is top-quality leather.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be marmot fur!
Jiang Shu didn't know how to choose these things, but seeing his sister happy, he also squatted down to look.
"Isn't this a marmot pelt? It looks pretty good."
Jiang Zhi nodded, "The marmot's fur is so dense that it can trap heat, and its guard hairs are waterproof and snowproof, making it perfect for making hats and earmuffs."
She happily placed the leather piece aside as well.
After selecting seven or eight pieces of leather enough for the family to make hats, Jiangzhi continued to select furs for gloves and shoes.
Jiang Shu was standing to the side, turning over and picking at things.
When Jiang Shu picked out a grayish-black short fur, it smelled rather fishy, and he was about to throw it back in disgust when his sister stopped him.
"Brother, wait a minute."
Seeing that Jiang Zhi's gaze was fixed on the fur in his hand, Jiang Shu said, "A-Zhi, this fur has a strong smell. Are you planning to keep it?"
"What's there to be afraid of? My second uncle knows about tanning. We can just ask him to help us process it when we get back!"
The skin on Jiang Shu's hands is thicker than that of a marmot, and the short but dense fur feels like being wrapped in a warm fleece, making it perfect for gloves.
"It looks a bit like muskrat fur."
Jiang Zhi remembered the old man saying that muskrat fur has an extremely high density of down and is highly waterproof, so it is not easy for the palm of the hand to slip when making gloves, and the sensitivity of the fingertips will not be affected.
She bent the hide to test its flexibility, and after confirming that there were no stiff parts, she put the pelt into the pool of candidates.
Jiang Zhi spent nearly an hour selecting more than thirty pelts.
When I was choosing, I didn't realize how much there was, but when I counted it, I found out that I actually wanted so much.
The brother and sister were somewhat embarrassed.
Unexpectedly, Huang Xianming looked at the number of people in the Jiang family and asked, "Aren't there many of you? Is this enough?"
Jiang Zhi quickly said, "That's enough, thank you, Colonel Huang."
Huang Xianming smiled and said, "In the past, I would have some travel expenses when I went on business trips. Consider this as some help for your winter living expenses."
Huang Xianming's words reassured Jiang Zhi.
After trading food and animal hides, the two bases quickly exchanged a number of weapons.
The Southern Base's defenses are not as complete as those of the Ancheng Base, but they have come up with quite a few practical traps and gadgets.
The individual weapons at Ancheng Base are even better.
Standing before the pile of weapons, Jiang Shu's eyes lit up, and his feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move.
Jiang Zhi, on the other hand, was interested in the animal trap at the southern base that could attract mutated animals to forage for food simply by being buried in the ground.
He secretly asked Tang Mao to exchange two for him.
The price was that he got to touch Ershun once.
This relaxed trading environment is much more reassuring than trading outside.
At least we don't have to worry about any mutated beasts carelessly running into us.
In short, apart from delivering the item teleportation device to the other side, the rest of the transaction between the two bases resembled an in-depth exchange between the bases.
Rather than a simple exchange of goods, it was more like using the guise of trade to share survival experiences, resource reserves, and strategies for dealing with the current environment.
By the time the information exchange was almost complete, three to five days had already passed.
Those who went out to investigate still couldn't find a place with a similar exit.
The previously calm professors also began to get anxious.
"It's been five days. The cold wave outside should have left Shashi by now. Even if the temperature drops, it should fluctuate within a stable range. We need to hurry up and get out."
Not to mention the professors were getting anxious.
Even Jiang Zhi herself was anxious.
In her dreams these past few days.
The cold wave outside Shashi has passed, and the temperature has actually returned to the level of seven or eight degrees Celsius.
She was worried about her family's situation.
It's uncertain whether the Jiang family will be able to weather this sudden cold wave.
The only places that haven't been explored are those two lakes.
But that place is the territory of beasts.
If we really have to go into the water, who knows if a fierce battle will break out.
The leaders of the two bases reunited to discuss their next steps.
People at the southern base advocated sending someone underwater to investigate.
Huang Xianming and the others felt the risk was too high and suggested waiting.
The two sides disagreed and reached a stalemate.
Lin Yuan frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "I'll go down and take a look first."
Almost at the same time, Jiang Zhi also spoke up, saying, "Why don't you let me go and investigate?"
As soon as they finished speaking, they both instinctively looked at each other.
Jiang Zhi felt she could manage on her own, so she said, "My special ability allows me to go into the water."
Lin Yuan smiled slightly, "Having one more person can help each other out."
Fearing that his daughter might be up to something adventurous again, Jiang Shan quickly said, "Azhi, why don't you let Captain Lin go with you? What if you need help if you go down alone?"
At this moment, Tang Mao also said, "Captain Qian and I will go too. We can't let all the people from your Ancheng base do the work."
Jiang Zhi:......
Okay.
She had originally intended to use this opportunity to explore whether the bottom of the lake was the same as what she had seen in her dream.
It looks like this plan is going to fall through now.
Seeing this, Huang Xianming had no choice but to say, "Since you've made your decision, let's get ready and set off. The sooner the better."
Afterwards, the group discussed the details of going into the water, packed some essential supplies, and then drove together to the center of the lake.
Once they reached the area where the beasts lived, Jiangzhi blew bubbles for Tang Mao and the other two so they could breathe underwater. Then, following the plan she had discussed with everyone, she summoned Qiuqiu.
With its sharp claws as precise as iron hooks, Qiuqiu snagged the clothes of the other three people and threw them cleanly into the shimmering lake water.
Jiang Zhi wanted to laugh.
Lin Yuan's posture was relatively calm, but the other two fell down in a crawling manner.
During this time, Jiang Zhi noticed that the beasts were all craning their necks and staring at them.
Despite being on guard, there were no further acts of attack.
Jiang Zhi's suspicions became even more certain—this place... seemed to indeed have some taboo that prevented these beasts from making any rash moves.
When Jiang Zhi finally entered the water, she was quickly enveloped by that familiar cool and damp sensation.
After a few seconds of getting used to it, Jiang Zhi slowly followed and sank to the bottom of the lake.
The lake bottom was much deeper than she had imagined.
One kilometer?
Two kilometers?
In short, this process of descending reminded Jiang Zhi of the process of going down into the sinkhole.
Both were equally long and difficult.
The depths of the lake did not exert any pressure on them.
The feeling of weightlessness as I continued to sink became increasingly clear.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiangzhi finally saw what was happening at the bottom of the lake.
Light shines through the shimmering water from above, and the sand and pebbles on the lakebed gleam in the dim light, slowly dispersing into smaller specks as the light recedes into the distance.
Tang Mao pointed downwards.
The group understood his meaning, nodded, and continued diving downwards.
However, when they reached the bottom of the lake, they immediately sensed that something was wrong.
The entire lakebed was completely still, without a single ripple. The fallen deadwood remained tilted and suspended in the water, and even the fine pebbles lay steadily on the mud, motionless.
Several skeletons of mutated beasts were scattered deep at the bottom of the lake. Upon closer inspection, the skeletons were found to be in the posture of their front paws pushing off the ground and their bodies leaning forward, as if they were suddenly frozen in time while trying to escape with all their might.
Tang Mao and Captain Qian exchanged a suspicious glance—there was definitely something strange going on here!
Before long, everyone clearly felt their limbs becoming heavy and their movements gradually becoming sluggish.
Lin Yuan immediately made a hand gesture, and the two people at the southern base understood and quickly changed direction to prepare to surface.
If the lakebed possesses a strange ability to freeze everything, then it is extremely dangerous!
No wonder the beasts didn't react much when we came down earlier.
We must leave immediately!!
Otherwise, there's a 90% chance they'll end up like those skeletons, forever trapped in this desolate place.
However, a sudden change occurred.
Tang Mao and the other man suddenly froze in place, as if they were firmly nailed down by invisible shackles.
We're doomed!
These two words flashed through Tang Mao's mind.
He desperately lowered his head to look at Jiang Zhi and Lin Yuan below.
Could it be that this time we're going to—
Died here?
As soon as the thought popped into Tang Mao's head, he found that his thoughts were like being wrapped in maltose, dragging and swaying in his mind.
He slowly widened his eyes, but the word "danger" wouldn't even cross his mind.
The next instant, Lin Yuan below also felt a heavy resistance covering him, and his limbs suddenly became stiff.
Jiang Zhi's heart tightened at the sight.
This can't go on!
She tried to move.
Amazingly, aside from feeling a slight resistance at first, Jiang Zhi was able to move freely very quickly.
What's going on here?
She subconsciously shook her wrist and tried to swing her legs. The water flowed smoothly over her body without any stagnation.
Whatever the reason she was still able to move, Jiang Zhi didn't hesitate for long and swam directly towards Lin Yuan.
I want to take him upstream.
But as soon as Jiangzhi touched the other person's arm, her fingers also began to feel a noticeable resistance.
Jiang Zhi's heart tightened, and she was so startled that she immediately let go of his hand.
The moment the fingertips were released, the feeling of restraint quickly faded, and the body regained its freedom.
Just as Jiang Zhi withdrew her hand in shock, the surrounding scenery suddenly began to distort.
The dark lakebed seemed to be smoothed by an invisible force; sand, bones, and withered branches gradually dissolved in the shimmering water, replaced by a smooth, mirror-like surface.
As the light pierced through the water and fell, it refracted into tiny spots of light on the mirror. In a daze, Jiang Zhi felt as if she were in a dream—the mirror was exactly the same as the scene in her dream.
Through the mirror, she saw the situation in Shashi again.
Sunlight was already filtering through the thick clouds, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
The remaining ice on the ground has not completely melted, but fine water marks have seeped out from the edges of the ice, and shallow puddles have accumulated in several melted areas, glistening in the sunlight.
Jiangzhi couldn't resist going over and touching it.
— It was cold and hard, and it really did feel exactly like a mirror.
Intuition told her that if she broke the mirror, they could go back.
but--
She subconsciously glanced at Lin Yuan, who was standing frozen to the side.
Her gaze met his eyes, and despite the swaying lake water and stagnant current, Jiang Zhi was able to read the meaning in his eyes.
There was no sound, no movement, only a single thought crashing into me—
Break it!
Just as Jiang Zhi hesitated, the scene in the mirror changed.
The entire grassland was laid out before my eyes.
at the same time.
Suddenly, a strong wind arose on the vast grassland.
The howling wind swept across the grassland, blowing large swathes of grass flat against the ground, and even turning the sky a hazy yellow.
The mutated beasts that were scattered around the lake suddenly became agitated.
The massive mutated beasts raised their heads and let out deep roars, their hooves pawing the ground restlessly.
The smaller mutated beasts were all so frightened that they didn't know which way to flee.
Even the mutated insects buried deep under the grass burst out of the ground, surging densely in the direction the wind was blowing.
Only the mutated rhinoceros glanced up at the center of the lake briefly before lying back down.
The skin on the faces of Luo Yonghui and the others stationed in the distance was deformed by the sudden hurricane.
"Something must have happened down below! Send someone back immediately to inform them! Be prepared for any unforeseen events!!"
The experienced Huang Xianming suddenly blew his whistle: "On alert!! Everyone gather together! Avoid being trampled by the beasts!!"
The group quickly formed a battle formation.
In the howling wind, the figures of the warriors and mutants appeared particularly thin against the dim light, yet they gritted their teeth and kept their defenses taut, staring intently at the restless mutant beasts.
Seeing that everyone outside was prepared, Jiang Zhi took a deep breath.
I don't know if I'll ever have another chance to go out like this.
The best option is to open this channel immediately!
His gaze swept one last time between Lin Yuan's frozen figure and the mirror.
The next second, she suddenly raised her arm and slammed her fist into the smooth surface with a splashing sound!
A sharp clang shattered the silence, and the mirror surface instantly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns, the gleaming fragments trembling in the water.
Immediately afterwards, the entire lake surface began to shake violently.
The once still light and shadow became distorted and deformed, and the mirror surface beneath their feet peeled away layer by layer.
The surrounding space suddenly shrank.
The sand, stones, and skeletons at the bottom of the lake appeared and exploded like phantoms, and the water became turbulent, carrying the four people uncontrollably.
The light overhead was completely distorted.
As light and darkness alternated, Jiang Zhi heard a series of sharp screechs, and the entire lakebed suddenly surged as if overturning a raging sea.
The shattered mirror fragments, carrying powerful air currents, would engulf everyone, including those remaining on the grassland, into a chaotic vortex.
The feeling of weightlessness made me suddenly grip the ginger stick.
She only had time to let out a muffled groan before the shards of glass, like fragments of light, flooded into her body.
Jiang Zhi vaguely thought—are they about to go out?
On the vast grassland.
Suddenly, the grassland beneath their feet cracked open, the grass and soil splitting apart by an invisible force, and they were caught off guard, falling directly into a black abyss.
Immediately afterwards.
Jiang Zhi, who was at the center of the vortex, felt the temperature around her drop sharply, and her wet clothes gradually froze.
A gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, whistled into my ears, making it impossible to open my eyes.
The change in the surrounding environment and the intense feeling of weightlessness startled Jiang Zhi.
They actually fell out of the lake and into the real world!
Once Tang Mao and Captain Qian realized they could move, they quickly lowered their heads.
Right beneath my feet was the same giant pit I had seen in Shashi before.
The difference is that, unlike the bottomless, dark depths they saw before, they were now only seeing a depth of seventy or eighty meters.
Even if it's seventy or eighty meters high, falling from that height would be enough to give them a hard time.
At a critical moment.
A clear "chirp" rang in Jiang Zhi's ear.
Jiang Zhi was overjoyed!
"Chirp chirp!"
A dark shadow suddenly darted down from the sky.
It really is a chirp!
It spread its wings, creating a gust of wind, its feathers still wet with lake water. Its claws flapped in mid-air to steady itself, and then it charged precisely towards Jiang Zhi.
Its powerful wings flapped so loudly that the surrounding wind was in disarray.
After regaining her balance on Chiu Chiu's back, Jiang Zhi immediately sent Chiu Chiu to the rescue.
It chirped in response, then flapped its wings and rushed towards the nearest Tangmao, carrying the wind with it.
With its last sharp claw, it precisely hooked Tang Mao's collar, lifted him onto its back like a chick, and with a slant of its wings, swooped down towards Captain Qian.
With its other claw, it reached out in time, grabbed the struggling arm, and used the momentum of the fall to lift it up.
Lin Yuan came out just as close to the pit wall.
He pulled a long stick directly from the spacecraft and threw it against the pit wall. The stick hit the rock with a "thud," and one end got stuck in the soft mud.
He then grabbed the stick with both hands, circled it once, and stood on it to steady himself.
At this point, the four of them had returned to Shashi safely.
They returned to the very spot where everyone had jumped into the sinkhole.
Gu Kaizhi's frozen body still stood not far away.
Jiang Zhi stared blankly at the ice surface that had melted halfway.
Tang Mao, who was standing to the side, did not notice her unusual behavior. He simply looked up and asked, "Sister Jiang, how did you open the passage just now? What about the others?"
He had barely finished speaking.
Suddenly, countless black dots appeared in the sky above the sinkhole, and the exclamations of the crowd could be faintly heard.
"Oh no! The others fell down too!!"
Tang Mao shouted, "Old Qian! Quickly use your superpowers to get them out!"
At this moment, the benefits of Captain Qian's superpower became apparent.
Captain Qian's forehead veins bulged, and he suddenly spread his arms, pushing his supernatural power to its limit.
The next second, thick vines suddenly sprouted from the pit wall, shooting upwards as if they had eyes. Some vines wrapped around people's waists, while others formed a net in mid-air, catching those who were about to fall hard.
"Comrade Xiao Jiang! There are three more on the upper left!" Captain Qian shouted at the top of his lungs, frantically adjusting the direction of the vines.
Jiangzhi blew a sharp whistle, and Chirp Chirp flapped its large wings and rushed over.
Using the power of flapping wings, they swept across a large area, directly leading more than a dozen people towards the vine net.
If it encounters one nearby, it will use its claws to hook the back of its collar and throw it onto the rattan net.
The other mutants realized their predicament and each used their own life-saving skills.
Before long, all sorts of supernatural abilities began to emerge above the sinkhole.
Some people's bodies suddenly became like sponges, slowly floating down as they fell into the air; others grew suction cups on their wrists, clinging to the rock face and inching their way down.
The sharp edges of the stones on the four walls rushed upwards, and people tumbled and crashed together. Muffled thuds and screams mingled in the wind. No one cared about anyone else, and some fell directly through the gaps in Captain Qian's vines.
Just then, Jiang Shu clung tightly to Er Shun's neck, and the two of them, along with the beast, plummeted downwards, enveloped in the wind.
Er Shun was so anxious in the air that it swung its tail wildly. When it was half a meter away from the vine, it suddenly arched its body, and its paws popped out to grab the thick vine with a "whoosh". The claws embedded themselves in the vine bark, and it swayed a couple of times due to inertia. Then it quickly put its hind paws on another vine and finally managed to steady itself.
Jiang Shu's hands were numb. He looked down at the huge pit, his legs trembling. He patted Er Shun on the back and said, "Good brother, thanks to you!"
Ershun let out a "woof," its tail still nervously gripping the vine.
As soon as Jiang Shu finished speaking, several medium-sized military pickup trucks and jeeps fell into the giant pit at the same time.
Everyone was shocked.
If several heavy vehicles fall, everyone will be doomed!
Having experienced so much, Luo Yonghui had never encountered such an unexpected situation before. He shouted anxiously, "Old Wu, hurry! It's up to you!"
Wu Bing didn't care about anything else. He stuck his head out of the car, spread his hands to the sides, and then pushed his arms forward hard.
With a muffled "whoosh" in the air, the falling cars seemed to be attracted by an invisible magnet, and their downward momentum stopped instantly.
He gritted his teeth and pulled several vehicles towards the edge of the pit at the same time. The vehicles scraped against the rock wall, sparks flying, and were moved up several meters. Finally, with a "thud," they were all sucked to the edge of the pit.
Once all the vehicles were back on land, Wu Bing let go of his grip, his legs suddenly went weak, and he fainted.
"Wu Bing!!" Chen Shaoting quickly caught him.
At this moment, everyone felt as if they had survived a catastrophe.
It was at this moment that everyone felt the chill of the icy, snowy landscape.
Huang Xianming immediately said to the people still in the sinkhole, "Hurry up! Don't waste time!"
As if waking from a dream, everyone mustered all their strength and climbed upwards.
Inside the vehicle, the oldest person, Professor Ning, immediately knelt down and vomited as soon as he got out of the car.
Jiangzhi quickly jumped off Qiuqiu's back and ran like the wind to the car where the professors were. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her father was only a little pale and not seriously injured.
She looked at the other professors: "Professors, are you all alright?"
Professor Yang looked shaken and his face was pale. "We're all fine, except for Lao Ning. He hit his head when he fell, and he probably has a concussion."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi was immediately relieved.
If it's just a minor injury, Dong Mingyu can handle it.
After the assistants inside the car recovered, they took out coats and gave them to the professors to wear.
Jiang Zhi then felt the biting cold.
After everyone climbed out of the pit, they hurriedly took out their winter clothes and put them on.
The wind howled at the bottom of the pit, and some people shivered from the cold. Scattered luggage and broken vines were piled up all over the ground. The wounded were being helped up, groaning, while the uninjured were frantically packing their things.
The scene was chaotic.
The team captains could only stand up and try to control the situation.
"Check the wounded first!" Huang Xianming shouted. "Carry those with serious hand injuries to Dr. Dong's office. Those with minor injuries can bandage themselves!"
Captain Qian of the Southern Base also directed his men: "Everyone, put on your winter clothes, don't get cold! Check if your teammates are all there, and report if anyone is missing!"
Everyone immediately sprang into action, some crawling, some lifting, and finally order was restored.
It took half a day of preparation before the more than 300 people were fully back to normal.
After seeing that they didn't need any help, Jiang Zhi and her brother returned to Luo Yonghui's car.
Seeing that Wu Bing's face was as white as paper, Jiang Shu quickly asked, "Uncle Luo, is Brother Wu alright?"
Luo Yonghui helped Wu Bing, who had just woken up, to his feet and said, "It's alright, it's just that his superpowers were overdrawn. He'll be fine after a rest."
When Chen Shaoting landed the car, she scraped her hands, and now that she's wearing her military overcoat, they sting.
She noticed that the pit had become shallower, allowing her to see the bottom, and called everyone over to take a look: "Come quickly, the pit has become smaller and shallower than before!"
Everyone quickly crowded around the edge of the pit and looked down, and sure enough, they could clearly see the scene at the bottom of the pit.
It was completely bare inside, with nothing but yellowish-brown soil.
Compared to the previous bottomless darkness, the bottom of this pit looked as if it had been forcibly dug open, and even the soil layers were clearly visible.
Jiang Zhi's heart stirred, and she inexplicably thought of that ball of light again.
Could it be...?
Has this alternate dimension really been hidden inside her body?
The cold wind seeped into the frozen shallow pit, swirling and howling as if it were crying against the ice.
Jiang Zhi shook her head, dismissing this unrealistic idea.
If that were the case, she should have been able to detect something amiss in her mental pool.
Many people have discovered the sinkhole.
Upon learning this, Professor Shen disregarded his own injuries and rushed over to check on him immediately.
Seeing that there was nothing at the bottom of the pit, they were dumbfounded.
"How...how did this deep pit disappear?! Could it be because we destroyed the passage, directly destroying the entire alternate dimension?"
Professor Shen felt heartbroken at the thought of the moderately toxic soil beneath the vast grassland.
That soil is moderately toxic!
Professor Liang also came over to find out what was going on. Upon hearing this, he said, "I think it's good that it was destroyed. If it hadn't been destroyed, we wouldn't have been able to get out. Do you think all three hundred of us would have died inside?"
Putting everything else aside, food alone is a major problem.
Professor Shen certainly understood this principle, but it was still painful to see something so good right in front of him but not be able to get his hands on it.
He stood by the pit for a long time, then sighed and went back to his car.
It was eight hours later when all 300-plus people had finished resting.
During this time, Jiang Zhi saw Gu Kaizhi's team dispose of the other party's body.
Throughout the entire process, the mutant named Zhang He remained silent.
The light is gone.
Jiangzhi had seen many such looks in the Great Cataclysm.
These are the eyes of someone who has lost hope.
Jiang Zhi pursed her lips and looked away.
In the afternoon, the furniture that everyone had searched out of the house was dismantled into firewood, and a roaring fire was lit in the open space.
The weariness on the faces of the others was replaced by the relief of surviving a disaster, and their gazes frequently fell on Jiang Zhi, who was with the white eagle.
Tang Mao was still talking animatedly, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement, and even his gestures exuded the vibrancy of someone in their early twenties.
"You wouldn't believe it, I thought we were going to die there. Lao Qian and I couldn't move at all, we couldn't even think straight. But guess what? Sister Jiang smashed the bottom of the lake with one punch!"
"Just as Guan Yu warmed wine before beheading Hua Xiong in ancient times, Sister Jiang can break an ice lake with her fists today. Without her, you would still be trapped in that vast grassland. So, tell me, isn't Sister Jiang our idol?!"
The people at the southern base immediately looked at Jiang Zhi with admiration.
That kid Tang Mao, really...
Jiang Zhi was so embarrassed she felt like she was going to have a seizure, and she wished she could get on the bus and escape their gaze.
Some team members even straightened their backs with pride and started telling the people from the Southern Base about Jiang Zhi's journey. As a result, Jiang Zhi became a "capital" for the soldiers at the Ancheng Base to boast about.
"And you know Comrade Jiang Zhi's brother, right?" someone said loudly, pointing to a ginger tree not far away. "He's pretty impressive too..."
Jiang Shu immediately stood tall and proud, like a peacock.
"Hey sis! They're all looking at us. Do I look handsome now?"
Jiang Zhi:......
never mind.
Destroy it.
However, it was only after hearing Tang Mao's words that Jiang Zhi realized that only she and Lin Yuan could see the changes at the bottom of the lake.
It's unclear what will happen to the mutated beasts inside... At least for now, those beasts haven't come out with them.
Just as Jiang Zhi was pondering what was going on, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a gaze out of the corner of her eye.
Jiang Zhi looked up and met Lin Yuan's deep, pool-like eyes.
The moment their eyes met, her thoughts paused.
Then, feeling guilty, he turned away.
Lin Yuan smiled silently.
Then I checked the temperature on the detector; it was 9 degrees Celsius.
It seems that this cold wave is just passing through and has not successfully ushered in winter. After it passes, the temperature will briefly warm up.
After all the warriors and mutants had their wounds treated, it was time to discuss the return journey.
The people at the southern base were worried about the situation at their base, and with the cold wave passing through, they didn't know if their vehicles had been damaged by the freezing temperatures, so they could only send people to check.
Upon hearing this, Huang Xianming and the others could only suppress their desire to return immediately.
After all, it's a brother base.
Even if they were eager to go back, they had to wait for the people at the southern base to confirm that there would be vehicles available to take them back.
Before long, all the arrangements for the return trip were completed, and Huang Xianming and the other team leaders bid farewell to the people from the Southern Base as representatives.
Huang Xianming shook Captain Qian's hand: "Old Qian, be careful on the road, and let me know when you arrive."
Captain Qian smiled and shook hands in return: "Take care, everyone! Once the item teleportation device is installed, don't forget to send some good stuff from your base over!"
Professor Liang cried his eyes out.
"Old Yang, waaaaah, why don't you come with me to the Southern Base? There's plenty of meat there, and even in winter it's not as cold as where you are..."
Professor Yang's eyes were slightly red, and he forced a laugh and said, "Come on, it's not this cold in winter, but it's still five or six degrees hotter than where we are in summer. My old bones are too old to bother with this."
Afraid that he would burst into tears, he quickly waved and got back into the car, saying, "Alright, alright, don't delay our return. You should go back too."
Tang Mao watched the Ancheng base convoy drive away, its hooves circling and chirping in the air, and felt a pang of regret.
Captain Qian wiped the sorrow from his face. "What are you looking at?"
Tang Mao said, "It's a pity I can't touch this big bird."
Captain Qian laughed and said, "Alright, we might have another chance to meet in the future. You can ask Comrade Xiao Jiang then."
A cold wind brushed past my shoulders.
Tang Mao stared in the direction the convoy had disappeared and touched his nose.
I don't know when we'll meet again.
*
Because of the cold wave, the road back was almost half frozen, and many mutated creatures died in this cold wave.
The road surface was covered with a partially melted crust of ice.
When tires are fitted with snow chains, they always make a "crunching" sound when they run over them, and they can easily slip if you're not careful.
Many frozen remains of mutated creatures were embedded in the ice along the roadside, blocking the way from time to time. The convoy had to slow down and move carefully on the icy road.
The road surface was a bit slippery, but it was still much better than when we came.
At least you don't have to keep staring at your surroundings to prevent mutated creatures from suddenly appearing, and there aren't so many other messy things that delay your trip.
Their journey here took seven or eight days, but the return trip went smoothly. At this rate, they should be back in three days.
The home that had been prepared for Ershun in Wuxu Town is now temporarily unusable.
Jiang Shu had originally agreed with the furry child to let it stay in Wuxu Town and to come back to see it when he had time.
Ershun responded with barks and watched the group leave.
The next day, everyone discovered that Er Shun had followed them again, wasting all of Jiang Shu's tears from the previous day.
Later, Ershun insisted on staying with the main group no matter what, and they couldn't be driven away.
Finally, Huang Xianming couldn't stand it anymore and took the initiative to say, "Ershun and Qiuqiu's situations are rather special. When we get back to the base, I'll ask the leaders how to arrange things for them."
Aside from Jiang Shu, the happiest people were actually Huang Xianming's soldiers.
"That's great! Ershun can stay with us now!" The young soldier stuffed a piece of jerky into Ershun's mouth. "Heaven knows how much it hurt me yesterday when I saw it sitting there so obediently watching us leave!"
“That’s right,” Gou An laughed. “Er Shun even helped me find the weapon I dropped in the ditch yesterday.”
"Go back to base and make it a dog tag, and call it 'Honorary Team Member'!"
The soldiers nodded in agreement as soon as the suggestion was made.
Er Shun stuck out his tongue and wagged his tail, looking at everyone obediently.
Er Shun isn't as aloof as Qiu Qiu.
I've gotten to know the soldiers quite well over the years and they like me a lot.
Huang Xianming shook his head. These kids.
We don't even know what the higher-ups mean yet, so we're getting excited so early. Aren't we afraid of being disappointed later?
Despite thinking this, Huang Xianming couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
Seeing the soldiers getting along well with each other, Hu Yang and his companions felt extremely resentful.
If Luo Yonghui hadn't rented both the dog and the person to Huang Xianming, Ershun wouldn't have become so familiar with them.
Now, they're acting like washed-up exes; Ershun doesn't even want to squeeze onto the bus with them anymore!
A day later, upon seeing the familiar hundred-meter-high city wall of the base, the expressions on everyone's faces instantly relaxed, their fatigue vanished, and their eyes shone with the warmth of returning home.
Just as everyone relaxed.
The previously quiet chirping bird suddenly flapped its wings and let out a clear cry.
"Chirp—!!"
It seemed particularly sensitive to the crowded and noisy area at the base entrance. After circling twice, it swooped down, gently picked up Ershun from the ground with its sharp claws, and before anyone could react, it took the golden retriever and flew straight into the sky, heading in another direction from the base.
"Hey? Sister Diao! Ershun!" Jiang Shu watched as Qiuqiu grabbed Ershun and flew further and further away, so she jumped up and down in a panic and took two steps forward to chase after them. "Wait!! Where are you two going?!"
The soldiers nearby were also stunned for a moment.
Someone scratched their head: "Why did Qiuqiu just leave like that? And even took Ershun with her? Was she scared by the base's walls?"
Jiang Zhi watched the departing figure with relative composure and patted Jiang Shu, who was pacing anxiously, saying, "Brother, don't chase after her. Qiu Qiu doesn't like being in crowded places; she's probably found somewhere nearby to stay."
Jiang Shu said with a mournful face, "Then don't take Er Shun away either!"
Thinking of how Er Shun struggled a few times before being taken away, then cowered and dared not move, Jiang Shu felt like crying.
Jiang Zhi smiled and comforted him, "Brother, don't worry. Qiu Qiu treats Er Shun like a little brother. With him around, Er Shun won't be bullied."
In fact, after everyone returned to the safe zone of the base, Jiang Zhi sensed an increasingly obvious restlessness from Qiu Qiu.
It seems there's something about the Qiling Mountains that's attracting it.
This sudden departure of Chiu Chiu was somewhat expected by Jiang Zhi.
Anyway, as long as Chiu Chiu is still alive.
Their connection will never be broken.
Huang Xianming, who was standing to the side, showed a rare hint of regret on his face.
But I didn't insist.
They were already incredibly lucky that Qiuqiu and Ershun could travel with them.
Huang Xianming gazed at the shadows of birds flying in the sky and sighed softly: "These two little guys have helped us a lot. Forcing them to stay will only stifle their nature. The outside world is more suitable for them."
He gestured for the soldiers to continue driving, saying, "Let's go, as long as they're happy."
I don't insist on anything else.
Having said all that, even if everyone felt a deep sense of regret, they could only suppress it.
Seeing that her brother still had a bitter face, Jiangzhi pinched him and gave him a wink.
Jiang Shu glanced at his sister suspiciously, paused for two seconds, then instantly realized what was happening, and the worry on his face mostly disappeared.
Seeing this, Luo Yonghui asked, "Young Jiang, will Ershun and the others come back?"
Jiang Shu glanced at his sister and nodded, saying, "Yes."
Hu Yang was overjoyed when he heard this. "Great! Brother Jiang Shu, remember to let me know when Er Shun comes back, and I'll prepare some delicious food for him."
Jiang Shu readily agreed.
Before long, the convoy returned to the city gate.
When they saw the remnants of ice on the city wall dripping water down the cracks in the bricks, everyone was stunned.
—Has the base been affected that much?
The edges of the thick, frozen ice shells on top were already damp with water, revealing the grayish-blue bricks underneath.
Just as everyone was stunned, a joyful voice suddenly came from the watchtower: "Colonel Huang and the others are back! Open the gate quickly!!"
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