Chapter 111.2 – Hot bath
Lu Tinghan quickly carried Shi Yuan out of the bathtub, wrapped him in a bath towel, and stuffed him on the bed, then put on a piece of clothing and opened the window for ventilation.
The hot water, coupled with emotional excitement, dizzied the abyss.
Shi Yuan lay dizzy for a long time, and after feeling the breeze for a while, he regained a little energy.
“You can’t wash in such hot water in the future,” Lu Tinghan told him and handed him a glass of water.
Shi Yuan: “Hmm.”
His tail was still limp, and he took a small sip of the water.
After drinking a glass of water, Shi Yuan was resurrected with blood again, put on his pajamas, and hugged his tail, rolling on the bed.
He said: “The bed at home is still comfortable!”
Lu Tinghan sat next to him, drinking a cup of black tea slowly: “There is a saying that ‘a golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as your own kennel’.”
“I know, this is a kennel.”
Lu Tinghan: “……”
It always felt a bit wrong.
Shi Yuan rolled a few more times, took the “History of War” at the head of the bed, and read it. After reading it for half an hour, his head tilted, and he fell asleep completely.
It was afternoon, the sunlight fell through the curtains and lightly fell on the side of his face, and the eyelashes cast shadows like small fans. The red from the hot bath had not yet dissipated, and it was hotly spread on the ears.
Lu Tinghan looked at him silently for a few seconds, then stretched out his hand and covered Shi Yuan with a thin blanket. He stayed in the cockpit all night last night, and he was tired from such a trip. He also lay down and closed his eyes.
After a few minutes, his breathing became slow and steady, and he fell asleep. A gust of wind blew from the wasteland, flicking the curtains, and the sky light danced on them.
The consequence of going to bed early was that the two woke up in the early hours of the morning.
Before dawn, Shi Yuan fried two eggs and served them with bread for breakfast.
He asked while eating: “Has my cooking skills improved?”
“Yes,” Lu Tinghan commented.
Shi Yuan was very satisfied.
As soon as the sun rose, he set out to find Cheng Youwen and the others. According to him, Qin Luoluo and Wolfgang would also come, and they all wanted to see him.
While Lu Tinghan went straight to the research center.
Numerous researchers were waiting for him, he met with Lieutenant General Fu Xiu, President Chai Yongning, and Professor Guan and discussed the “Deep Dive” plan.
In the past few months, Lu Tinghan had been paying attention to “Deep Dive” and often contacted the main city through optical brain, but some things were still more convenient to discuss in person.
Thanks to the small communicators they placed along the road, through the “Echo” channel, Di Wen was also able to participate in the meeting.
Professor Guan demonstrated various data, and finally said: “… as mentioned before, we believe that Abyss No.1 is the best object for ‘Deep Dive’.” He explained to Di Wen, “The infection characteristic of Abyss No.1 is ‘highly toxic contamination’. Its infected objects are groups with weaker mobility. We’ll head to Elton and conduct abyss signal simulation, and the mobility of the monster group is the primary consideration that needs to be taken into account.”
The core of “Deep Dive” was to use the mutual repulsion between abysses.
Mimicking the signal of Abyss No.1 and tricking the infected groups from other abysses, while the infected group from Abyss No.1 itself couldn’t get through, was their top strategy.
Professor Guan continued: “There is another point that is very important. Abyss No.1 is one of the earliest discovered abysses. We know more about it, which is more conducive to analog signals.”
Di Wen nodded and said hoarsely: “Understand.”
Professor Guan: “Another option is Abyss No.3, which is characterized by ‘white bones’. The mobility of its infected group is only slightly better than Abyss No.1.”
Lieutenant General Fu Xiu: “In the past few months, we have sent a number of teams to these two abysses for exploration. I have handed over the reports to General Lu for review.”
Lu Tinghan nodded, indicating that he knew.
“…” Di Wen turned her cloudy eyes and looked at Lu Tinghan, “General, what do you think?”
Lu Tinghan: “I also think Abyss No.1 is the best choice. Later, I will discuss the matter with Lieutenant General Fu Xiu and send more teams to explore.”
After that, Di Wen talked about Elton’s situation: the thunderstorms were still endless, and the “blazing sun” helped them resist a wave of monsters. The robot 0293 patrolled the streets every day, and the mole people were rushing to revitalize the city. They were busy in every energy plant. Energy savings had increased, and food and water sources had been accumulated to prepare for the upcoming people of the Alliance.
Two hours later, the meeting was over.
Lu Tinghan and Fu Xiu were about to leave when they were stopped by Professor Guan.
Professor Guan said that if he wanted to talk to him privately about some things, it would only take 10 minutes.
Fu Xiu nodded and said, “You guys talk, I’ll go to the conference room upstairs and wait.”
Lu Tinghan followed Professor Guan. The two stood at the end of the corridor, facing the open window. A team passed downstairs neatly.
Professor Guan’s white hair fluttered in the air. He pushed his reading glasses and asked, “…General, I still think you are the best person to implement the ‘Deep Dive’ plan. Counting the equipment load, the frigate can have 4 passengers, you, the driver Qi Hong, Academician Ke Zhenrong, and Academician Zhou Qian.”
Lu Tinghan naturally knew this list and waited for the following.
Professor Guan paused for a few seconds, and then said, “General Lu, we have known each other for so many years, and we can be regarded as friends in adversity. I admire you very much, and in the same way, I like Shi Yuan very much.” He looked at Lu Tinghan, “What are you going to tell him about ‘Deep Dive’?”
——No one had ever done something so crazy.
When he was a child, Lu Tinghan was supported by the black mist of Abyss No.0 and reached the bottom of the abyss safely. There was nothing there, just flat ground.
But other abysses were different.
In the past, all the “Deep Dive” equipment was torn to pieces by the black mist. Even if the frigate was strong enough, even if they did not run into turbulence, and even if they struggled hard to reach the bottom of the abyss, who could guarantee what was there?
“Three years,” Professor Guan said, “We did a model calculation of the infection value of the abyss, three years – this was the estimated survival time after you reach the bottom of the abyss.”
He continued: “You are in the place closest to the pollution source. The frigate’s filtration system and purification system have limited capabilities. Over time, it’s like a slow and chronic s**cide. Even if there are inhibitors to support it, the body will gradually weaken.” He paused, “If luck is not on our side and our estimates are wrong, then you can only live for a year or two, or even…only a few months and weeks.”
Lu Tinghan: “I know all this.”
“Of course, you know,” Professor Guan murmured, “But how do you tell Shi Yuan, how do you tell him properly? Or… you won’t tell him?”
“I will find time to tell him everything,” Lu Tinghan said.
“…” Professor Guan was silent.
The sky was clear and blue, Lu Tinghan looked into the distance: “Professor, do you remember that time when the rock snake attacked?”
“How could I forget it?” Professor Guan replied.
Lu Tinghan: “I wanted to use the ‘Heavy Hammer’ at the outpost to die with the rock snake. Twenty minutes before the “Heavy Hammer’ fell, I thought a lot, but in the end, I didn’t contact Shi Yuan. I was afraid that if I heard his voice, my heart would soften and I wouldn’t dare to die.”
Professor Guan never knew the original story and was a little surprised.
Lu Tinghan continued: “The ‘Heavy Hammer’ killed the rock snake, and Shi Yuan found me and rescued me from the ruins. I talked to him about this later, and he said he didn’t like leaving without saying goodbye. Besides, I had already left him once earlier when I wasn’t a watcher. I then promised him that if there was a next time, it would certainly be a decent goodbye.”
He said: “I will keep this promise.”
Professor Guan sighed: “You two are really…”
He did not speak further.
The sky light outlined his curved spine. He was very old and had seen many lives and deaths, but he was still moved by it.
Lu Tinghan thought of something, his gray-blue eyes flickered slightly: “Even if I don’t say it, do you think he doesn’t know? He is a very smart little devil. It is hard to imagine that when he first came to the city, he was able to learn and imitate human beings to such an extent. If any human imitates an alien race, it is impossible to do better than him.”
“Later he learned a lot – a lot more.” Lu Tinghan smiled, “Shi Yuan knows everything.”
At the same time.
The black-haired boy walking on the street seemed to feel something and looked back.
The blue sky was thousands of miles away, just as on the day he first entered the city, the busy streets were bustling, and the world was reflected in his eyes.
—— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——
**TN
A golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as your own kennel – there’s no place like home. No matter in a materially developed place, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and other first-tier cities, it is not as good as one’s hometown. Although the material is poor, it gives people a sense of belonging.
