EDEH Chapter 113

“Good evening, survivors.”

 

Accompanied by the sound of splashing rain, televisions and radios all broadcast the same gentle female voice: “I am intelligent AI 007 from over a hundred years ago. I’m pleased to meet you all.”

 

“…”

 

Occasionally one or two passersby in raincoats looked up, gazing puzzledly at building screens. People hiding at home without televisions also tentatively came to windows, puzzled by the sudden strange voice.

 

007’s voice carried a purity unpolluted by despair. It spoke of everything deliberately, telling of all that Dr. Anya had contributed for the future, and revealing the “Nuwa Plan” completely.

 

In calm tones, it told everyone that though current survivors were slowly walking toward the abyss, researchers from over a hundred years ago had brought today’s survivors hope that might reverse everything.

 

“They sent all the resources they could think of on the aircraft, which after over a hundred years of wandering, has been brought before you.”

 

Not just Dr. Anya, but also researchers who contributed everything without asking why, aircraft developers, the research institute that had preserved artificial womb technology for years then contributed it, and so many workers…

 

Unlike the council, unlike the upper class who had righteously abandoned billions of compatriots to hide in underground cities for pleasure, these people truly gave everything for civilization’s continuation.

 

Not considering whether they could succeed, not considering themselves, only considering doing.

 

…

 

Meanwhile, Huo Yanji was in District Seven’s main communications room. When the bell struck the hour, he pressed the communication button and said to all former supervisors in safe zones: “This is the last order I give you as former Supreme Executive, and possibly the last mission you complete as former supervisors. I hope you all perform beautifully—begin operation!”

 

Due to recent bumps and conflicts, new departments hadn’t been fully established. Currently, Huo Yanji could mobilize across all zones only his former supervisor subordinates.

 

They didn’t disappoint either, just as loyal and obedient as always, without questions or protests.

 

Originally he hadn’t planned to announce aircraft resources in such chaotic circumstances, but current safe zones were like stagnant water—everyone desperate and numb, lifeless, seeing no hope.

 

The arrival of resources might stir this murky water, giving survivors more motivation to struggle.

 

But to prevent huge crises from external threats, they had to eliminate at least seventy to eighty percent of rebels in one go before stable development could be possible afterward.

 

This night could be called turbulent with blood splattering everywhere.

 

For the first time, humans aimed weapons at their own compatriots on a large scale. Outside countless safe zones, under strategic deployment, rebel figures fell under former supervisors’ guns. Bright red blood soaked the ground, then was quickly washed away and diluted by rain.

 

Some might think it cruel, but letting them die by swift bullets was the final gentleness.

 

Humans no longer had energy to battle wits with their own kind while dealing with contaminants and extreme weather.

 

A bloody night.

 

Both sides had casualties, finally ending before dawn’s faint light arrived with rebels suffering heavy losses and fleeing in defeat.

 

Day broke, but rain still hadn’t stopped—gray everywhere.

 

Battle reports came from major safe zones. Since supervisors were already skilled at sniper warfare, casualties were manageable, though some zones organized anti-war parades within their borders, generally meaning to treat compatriots kindly and avoid self-destructive killing.

 

Huo Yanji was noncommittal about this. Orders had been given, battles had ended. Whatever reactions the public had afterward, whatever criticism they had of his orders—these weren’t issues he had time or need to care about.

 

This night, the main city also called countless times, shocked that he had already left the underground city and asking what the aircraft resources were specifically about.

 

Huo Yanji omitted Sang Jue’s part and briefly explained the situation.

 

The higher-ups were instantly excited, urging him to return to the city quickly.

 

Leaving the communications room, Huo Yanji asked a nearby adjutant: “Is Sang Jue still inside?”

 

The adjutant said: “Yes, sir.”

 

Huo Yanji checked the time: “You all set out. Be careful on the road.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Huo Yanji strode away, driving toward the back of the research institute.

 

Dr. Spruce stood at the soldiers’ perimeter. After hearing everything 007 announced last night, he hadn’t slept all night, his mood surging with excitement. Seeing Huo Yanji’s figure, he hurried forward, repeatedly hesitating to speak, obviously wanting to see what was inside the aircraft.

 

As a researcher, he held lofty curiosity about everything from a hundred years ago.

 

“Aren’t you studying special crystals and special materials?” Huo Yanji said: “There’s nothing inside that needs you for now.”

 

“…” Dr. Spruce dejectedly turned around.

 

Today’s storm was even heavier, mixed with fierce winds that made Huo Yanji’s raincoat rustle loudly, but the figure inside remained motionless, steadily walking into the spherical aircraft.

 

“You should have knocked. It’s polite to knock when entering someone else’s home.”

 

Unlike outside, the aircraft blocked 100% of external noise—peaceful and quiet, with no wind or rain, only a little evil dragon swishing his tail.

 

Huo Yanji stepped back two paces and cooperatively knocked on the cabin door: “May I come in?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Sang Jue didn’t like restrictive clothing. Right now he wore only a shirt, curled up in the nest filled with gems, his tail hanging to one side swishing back and forth.

 

The gems Huo Yanji owed had also been replenished—Sang Jue truly had a diamond nest.

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Doesn’t it poke you?”

 

Sang Jue felt around honestly: “A little.”

 

Huo Yanji curved his lips, stepped forward to lift him up, and looked at his legs—red and blue patches from being poked by gems, some places even bruised.

 

“I pinch you once on the bed and you cry about pain, but now you don’t feel it.”

 

Sang Jue mumbled: “I was asleep, didn’t feel it.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “That’s progress.”

 

Sang Jue looked up: “Hm?”

 

Huo Yanji didn’t speak. After staying up all night, it didn’t show on his face, but his heart rate was a bit fast. Especially Sang Jue, sitting in Huo Yanji’s lap with his back against his chest, could hear it clearly.

 

“You should sleep quickly.”

 

Huo Yanji asked: “Can I sleep at your place?”

 

This question was rather strange—too distant for human lovers. But Sang Jue wasn’t human; he couldn’t sense this subtlety.

 

“Yes, but there’s no bed.”

 

Only a hanging nest and a hibernation pod.

 

The little evil dragon considered—maybe they could buy a bed, otherwise there’d be nowhere to mate in the future.

 

Though it didn’t necessarily have to be on a bed… last time was in a small grove.

 

“It’s fine. I just need to sleep three hours before heading back to the main city.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Sang Jue’s mind wandered while using his tail to sweep gems from the hanging nest, making room for Huo Yanji.

 

The nest was actually quite large. Though not enough for Huo Yanji to lie down completely, leaning to sleep was no problem.

 

Sang Jue had already woken up but still obediently served as Huo Yanji’s human pillow, his tail also being held.

 

Lying with eyes open like this was boring, but Sang Jue felt inexplicably lazy and didn’t want to move, counting Huo Yanji’s heartbeats sporadically.

 

When he reached 502, Sang Jue suddenly realized what Huo Yanji’s earlier “progress” comment meant.

 

Previously, Sang Jue had to lie on top of Huo Yanji or be held to sleep comfortably and peacefully, but last night he could sleep alone in the hanging nest all night.

 

Sang Jue pondered the reason… probably because the aircraft was his only connection to over a hundred years ago, the only thing from familiar ‘home planet’ objects he could truly touch, and the home the doctor gave him.

 

How could one not be secure at home?

 

But if possible, he still preferred lying on his wife.

 

But why did Ji Ji say “progress”?

 

This was a bit strange, though Sang Jue couldn’t pinpoint what was strange. Recently Ji Ji had been a bit odd.

 

Humans really were too complex, even seemingly pure Ji Ji.

 

The little evil dragon counted heartbeats while enduring Huo Yanji’s hand gripping his tail, occasionally applying more pressure.

 

After an unknown time, he drowsily fell asleep but was pinched awake.

 

He propped himself up, staring darkly at the closed-eyed Huo Yanji: “You’re pretending to sleep.”

 

No response.

 

Sang Jue suspiciously tugged Huo Yanji’s eyelashes—the latter remained unmoved.

 

Sang Jue had to slowly lie back down, reaching back to pull the large hand from his tail, slowly closing his eyes.

 

The next second, an almost inaudible laugh reached his ears.

 

Sang Jue: “…”

 

Fooled by humans again. How could someone as vigilant as Huo Yanji not wake from having his eyelashes tugged?

 

Huo Yanji sat up in this position while holding him: “Get dressed properly. Time to head back to the main city.”

 

Sang Jue asked: “How do we go back?”

 

Huo Yanji said: “Can’t you pilot the aircraft?”

 

Sang Jue: “…007 always controlled it before.”

 

Huo Yanji wasn’t surprised: “You could get away with not knowing before, but you need to learn now. Otherwise you won’t be able to escape if someone comes to steal it.”

 

“Kill them all.” Sang Jue pursed his lips: “Didn’t you say when you’re around, no one can steal from me?”

 

“I keep my word, but what if I’m not here?” As if making casual conversation, Huo Yanji said flatly: “You need to learn. Even if you can kill them all, it’s troublesome if people keep coming endlessly.”

 

Hearing the first part, Sang Jue was somewhat displeased, but after hearing the latter part, he thought it made sense.

 

Well… he could learn a bit.

 

Then in the future he could fly in the sky with Ji Ji without transforming into a dragon.

 

“But why do humans want to steal the aircraft?” Sang Jue asked: “The resources were given to them, and the aircraft can’t fight.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “Because to humans, anything beneficial to themselves belongs to humans.”

 

Sang Jue: “…Bandits.”

 

Huo Yanji laughed with unclear meaning.

 

Previously, only humans were an independently thinking species with creativity, so they didn’t see any problem with constantly expanding territory and consuming planetary resources. But now with Sang Jue, this “alien species”—from his perspective, weren’t some human behaviors exactly like bandits?

 

Sang Jue asked: “If we take the aircraft back, what about your subordinates?”

 

Huo Yanji said: “They left three hours early.”

 

Sang Jue: “Oh.”

 

Huo Yanji looked up at the main screen: “007, we can depart now.”

 

007 responded: “Ready. All preparations complete.”

 

The aircraft was very stable and didn’t need safety belts.

 

Sang Jue worried: “We won’t get struck by lightning again, will we…”

 

007 said: “Learning from you, maintaining low-altitude flight.”

 

Sang Jue: “…”

 

007 seemed to have turned bad too.

 

·

 

The main city’s high-ranking officials, also caught in the thunderstorm’s center, looked extremely grave: “General Huo is coming back. We’d better tell him immediately.”

 

Others agreed, though knowing they weren’t at fault and the civilians volunteered for the risk, they inexplicably felt guilty.

 

Perhaps it was guilt toward Huo Yanji’s years of devoted protection of the people.

 

Lin Shuyi, who hadn’t left yet, sighed: “General Huo still hasn’t sent back news—can’t contact him.”

 

Huo Jiangmian had led a team of “failed genetic test” civilians down into the rift for a whole night. Everyone had been keeping vigil in the communications room all night without any response.

 

Ling Gen was impatient. After just an hour, he strode to the communications room again, connecting to the underground genetic communications channel at Rift No. 2: “Have you contacted General Huo?”

 

Deputy Leon, stationed at the two-thousand-meter underground base, answered: “Report: still no contact with the general.”

 

Just as communication was about to cut off, crackling electrical sounds suddenly came from the other side, intermittent.

 

Leon’s breathing instantly quickened: “Report: seems we’ve received a communication request from underground.”

 

Ling Gen said urgently: “Connect now, don’t cut our communication.”

 

“Yes!” Leon adjusted the frequency and quickly connected the communication from underground: “Sir? Are you alright?”

 

Ling Gen held his breath, waiting with Leon for Huo Jiangmian’s response.

 

However, after a long time, only dead silence filled their ears—no sounds, no breathing, no footsteps, as if the other end was a soundless world.

 

**

---