Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 792 Ahead

On a weekend night, Room 12 of the 349th floor’s Zone C.

Jiang Baimian and her family sat around the dining table and enjoyed some leisure time after dinner.

Her nephew and niece worshiped her, who had always traveled far, and had all kinds of questions for her. From time to time, they would throw strange questions in an attempt to obtain an answer.

Upon seeing their usually smart and resourceful daughter stammering from two children’s questions, Jiang Wenfeng and Xue Sumei unconsciously smiled as if they could already see what Jiang Baimian would be like after her marriage.

Jiang Dening and his wife were happy that they didn’t have to deal with the young handfuls for the time being and pretended not to receive their sister’s pleading gaze.

Jiang Baimian quickly took the opportunity to look at her father and pretended to ask casually, “Dad, do you think the company will move to the surface one day?”

Jiang Wenfeng was stunned for a moment before he sighed slightly. “Although I don’t see the corresponding signs yet, and although the Indoor Ecosystem Zone has become increasingly perfected over the years and has formed a real cycle, and the cost of living for employees has reduced, making the burden more bearable, I have a nagging feeling that the company’s core will return to the surface sooner or later, leaving only some highly confidential projects in the building.

“You and your children still have to live under the blue sky and enjoy the natural breeze.”

As a member of management and a scientist in agricultural research and cotton enhancement, Jiang Wenfeng had been to the surface many times. After all, some wild species could bring sufficient benefits. Therefore, he was especially regretful that his wife, son, grandson, and granddaughter still didn’t have the chance. He also didn’t want his descendants to be trapped in Pangu Biology’s underground building forever and never see the sun.

If it weren’t for the fact that Jiang Baimian’s current job was too dangerous, Jiang Wenfeng would’ve supported her not to transfer internally, allowing her to still head aboveground from time to time.

“Auntie, Auntie, what’s the smell of natural wind?” the two children asked Jiang Baimian with widened eyes after hearing their grandfather’s words.

For some reason, the scene of the Old Task Force’s first trip to the Ashlands flashed across Jiang Baimian’s mind. She recalled Shang Jianyao’s words: “Smells like fresh shit.”

Jiang Baimian-who had entertained the children for a long time-felt more exhausted than dealing with Shang Jianyao. It was harder than when out executing missions. Therefore, she immediately washed up and went to bed after sending her brother’s family of four off.

But as a disciplined person, she still followed her habits and entered the Sea of Origins. She swam into the distance in the illusory sea formed by light and searched for the next island of fear.

As she swam, Jiang Baimian suddenly saw a black dot appear at the intersection of the sea and sky.

Finally… She couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. She then accelerated her paddling and swam toward the island.

As time passed, Jiang Baimian arrived at her destination.

The island had mountains and rivers covered in green, making it inexplicably familiar.

Thanks to the fact that being on the Sea of Origins’s island of fear would only result in mental exhaustion and a forced exit without leaving behind any repercussions even if she encountered redoubtable dangers, Jiang Baimian propped herself up with her hands and gently lifted herself onto the island.

She circled the edge of the island’s mountain for a while and saw a path that led into the mountain.

Jiang Baimian-who was sufficiently experienced in this-immediately conjured the Old Task Force’s jeep and drove into the mountain along the road.

Such an action was essentially the same as relying on her feet to go over; it would consume a certain amount of mental energyjust that one consumed more while the other less. The one that consumed more saved more time.

Jiang Baimian’s choice was that her time was more precious, considering how her mind could recover quickly.

After driving for more than ten minutes, Jiang Baimian increasingly found the scenery on both sides familiar. This made her wonder if she had lost her way or if she was trapped in a loop, resulting in her driving down the same path constantly.

ds

After careful thought, Jiang Baimian finally came to a realization: The reason she found this path familiar was that it was a necessary path used to return to the company from the Blackmarsh Wilderness. As expected, Jiang Baimian saw the silver-white metal door at Pangu Biology’s underground building’s entrance in just a few minutes.

She couldn’t help but mutter, “This psychological trauma is actually the company again…”

Her second island of fear was the empty Pangu Biology underground building. It was actually repeated this time! However, Jiang Baimian found it reasonable despite it being surprising when she recalled that she had spent most of her life in the underground building. Most of her experiences were related to Pangu Biology.

She didn’t hesitate to step on the accelerator again and drive the jeep to the silver-white door.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian suddenly saw a string of flames.

She suddenly turned the steering wheel and made the jeep swerve horizontally.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shells bombarded the area where the vehicle would’ve passed.

After the bombardment failed, lasers and electromagnetic rounds aimed at the fleeing jeep and fired.

Jiang Baimian floored the accelerator, but a mountain wall was not far away.

She instinctively stepped on the brakes and dodged a wave of attacks. She then unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed open the door, and rolled for cover.

She had just rolled halfway when her body inexplicably turned numb, making it difficult for her to exert any strength. The next second, a red laser shot over and penetrated her body.

Jiang Baimian’s face immediately warped. She immediately chose to leave the Sea of Origins.

In the bedroom, on the bed, she opened her eyes and touched her forehead, covered in cold sweat.

The company’s guards didn’t confirm anything and directly attacked me? Jiang Baimian muttered to herself silently. This means that I subconsciously treat the company as an enemy… This psychological trauma is essentially a result of my suspicion and worries about the company? This shouldn’t have been a big deal and won’t become a psychological trauma. However, Hey’s report worsened this fear…

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Jiang Baimian gradually sorted out her thoughts. She temporarily couldn’t think of a way to clear this island of fear.

The hometown in her heart had unknowingly become her psychological trauma.

On Monday morning, Jiang Baimian-who was late—had just walked into the office when she heard Bai Chen say, “Team Leader, Deputy Minister Xenny is looking for you.”

Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully. “It seems like she wants to inquire about the application.”

At this moment, Shang Jianyao stood up and volunteered. “Do you need me to lead the

way?”

“There’s no need.” Although Jiang Baimian could sense his concern, she wasn’t happy at all.

She thought for a moment and said, “Don’t make it obvious.”

She meant that he shouldn’t quietly follow behind her or use Thought Guidance, making it seem like meeting Deputy Minister Xenny was a very dangerous matter.

Shang Jianyao sighed in disappointment.

After three attempts at entering the deputy minister’s office from different doors, Jiang Baimian finally found her destination.

Upon seeing that she was alone, Xenny heaved a sigh of relief and pointed at the chair opposite the table. “Have a seat.”

Jiang Baimian had just sat down when she asked bluntly, “Minister, what’s the matter?”

Xenny smiled gently. “I was originally worried about which helpers to assign you for the subsequent missions, but you told me that Long Yuehong and Bai Chen could take up the last post.”

“Actually, Shang Jianyao and I are enough.” Jiang Baimian deliberately changed the topic, not wanting to discuss Long Yuehong and Bai Chen.

Xenny shook her head. “If there are too few people, many things will be inconvenient. Yes, with Shang Jianyao’s abilities, he can temporarily find some helpers.” Since this matter had been resolved, she didn’t say anything else. She then asked, “Don’t you think it’d be a rush to set off next month? Sticking to the plan, it won’t be summer when you reach Icefield. The climate will be quite bad.”

Jiang Baimian voiced the clear plan in mind confidently. “I just think it’s better to do it earlier than later. It’s relatively simple to find the city ruin where Shang Jianyao’s father last appeared, but it will definitely take a large amount of time to discover the clues. It’s the same for locking onto the Eighth Research Institute’s exact location. We have to have sufficient patience to catch the fox’s tail.

“Therefore, I’m worried that one summer isn’t enough. Compared to Icefield in October September, Icefield in May is relatively milder.”

Xenny thought for a moment and nodded slightly. “Then, prepare more winter protection equipment and high-caloric food.”

“Yes, Minister!” Jiang Baimian didn’t hide her smile.

After that, Xenny asked a few detailed questions and received satisfactory answers.

The Old Task Force’s schedule was confirmed.

One day in March, Shang Jianyao and the others drove the jeep out of Pangu Biology’s underground building. As fresh air blew in from the window, Jiang Baimian felt her heart broaden.

Upon seeing that the car was a little silent for a long time, with Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Shang Jianyao immersed in their own thoughts, she deliberately looked at the driver’s seat and casually asked, “Hey, have there been any changes to Xiaochong’s rift?’”

“No.” Shang Jianyao had a look of disappointment.

Jiang Baimian then asked, “Then, has Room 506’s owner recently been dreaming?” Shang Jianyao shook his head again. “She seems to have lost the ability to dream. I suspect that she got someone to hypnotize her so that she stops dreaming.”

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and asked, “Which periods have you tried?”

“9:30 p.m., midnight, three in the morning, and six in the morning.” Shang Jianyao didn’t realize that he had been working very hard.

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a moment before saying, “No dreams at night. Either she found a way to control herself from dreaming, or she doesn’t sleep at all.”

“Doesn’t sleep?” Shang Jianyao’s eyes lit up.

Jiang Baimian tersely grunted. “Give afternoon nap time a try in the future.” “Alright!” Shang Jianyao had an excited expression.

Jiang Baimian ended the topic and looked at the rearview mirror. She turned around and smiled at Long Yuehong and Bai Chen in the back row. “I know what’s troubling you, but this will only affect your focus. It won’t make the situation any better or worse.”

“Little Red, just say it,” Shang Jianyao interrupted.

Jiang Baimian glared at him and continued, “In that case, we might as well throw the problem to the back of our minds and seriously complete what’s at hand to see if there’s anything we want.”

Shang Jianyao shouted, “Yes, yes, yes. Listen to music! Listen to music!”

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen looked at each other and nodded. They then said, “Alright.”

“We’ll adjust.”

At this moment, the jeep drove into the wilderness like an arrow, going straight ahead.