Chapter 313: Growth
On the 647th floor, Room 14.
Long Yuehong held a lunch box and slurped down the tomato omelet noodles that were drenched with braised beef sauce.
âWhen itâs eaten like this... canned food isnât that disgusting anymore...â He expressed his thoughts. With that said, he picked a piece of cabbage that had been soaked in stock.
He found it refreshing and sweet, effectively removing the cloyed taste brought about by the canned meat.
At this moment, Shang Jianyao had already finished his last mouthful of soup and looked at Long Yuehongâs lunch box with bright eyes. âYou can give me whatever you canât finish.â
Long Yuehong immediately fell silent and focused on the noodles.
Jiang Baimian smiled and asked Shang Jianyao, âStill hungry? Shall I get some more food?â
Shang Jianyao shook his head. âThereâs only enough room for food snatched from others.â
âWhoa!â Jiang Baimian ignored him and lowered her head to take a small bite of the fried egg that had been infused with the stockâs alluring fragrance.
Bai Chenâs appetite couldnât compare to the three of them. Like Shang Jianyao, she had already finished eating and was peeling the remaining tomatoes as an after-meal fruit.
Since it was a feast, it had to look like a feast.
Before long, Jiang Baimian and Long Yuehong finished their dinner. They leaned back in their chairs and slumped, unwilling to move further.
âThe company is the best after all...â Long Yuehong sighed with emotion.
This was the feeling of home.
âThatâs right.â Jiang Baimian smiled. âI hope you wonât be bored after staying at home for too long.â
âNo, I donât think so...â Long Yuehongâs answer became less firm when he recalled his experiences on the surface in the past few months. It wasnât because he felt that the companyâs entertainment programs were monotonous. Compared to most settlements in the Ashlands, the leisure activities of Pangu Biologyâs employees were considered varied. However, all of them were very sterile.
Long Yuehong only felt that although he liked to stay at home and only interact with people he was familiar with, he might feel a little stifled and uncomfortable if he couldnât see the blue sky and experience open surroundings. He felt like a bird locked in a cage.
Shang Jianyao added, âAs long as he has enough Old World entertainment, he wonât be bored. He wonât even want to find a girlfriend.â
âNo way...â Long Yuehong protested weakly. He didnât continue because he was afraid that his team leader and Bai Chen would think that he only wanted to find a girlfriend and that his mind was filled with marriage and children.
Jiang Baimian laughed. âIf you canât get more of the Old Worldâs entertainment, it will get boring sooner or later. Sigh, didnât I say? Iâm the kind of person who wants to come back after being out for long but will want to go out when Iâm back for long. I hope you wonât become like me...â
As they jested, the four of them split up to wash the dishes and clean the office. This made Long Yuehong feel calm in both body and mind. Amidst the calmness, an indescribable joy slowly grew and echoed.
I wish I could be like this forever... He silently prayed.
...
After the meal, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong returned to the 495th floor together.
Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they saw their good friendâYang Zhenyuanâwalking over under the sun lamps.
âAh, are you here to welcome us?â Shang Jianyao was âshocked.â
Yang Zhenyuan was also surprised. âYou guys are finally back!â
There were very few outfield missions inside Pangu Biology that required months. Of course, it might take two years or even longer if they were deployed to certain places to do certain jobs. However, all of these had their excuses.
The Old Task Force was unlike any other; nobody in the neighborhood knew what they did outside.
As Long Yuehong denigrated Shang Jianyaoâs exaggerated act, he smiled at the tall, muscular, and fair Yang Zhenyuan. âThatâs right; weâre dead beat. We should be able to have a long vacation.â
He then asked, âBack to visit your old folks? Whereâs your wife?â
He still had a deep impression of Zhou Qi, a woman who was ten years older than Yang Zhenyuan. She had come knocking on the door to visit her future husband.
He remembered that they were always together after their marriage. Apart from work situations, it was rare to see only one or the other being absent.
Yang Zhenyuan smiled. âS-sheâs pregnant. I came back precisely to consult my mother for some experience.â
âCongratulations!â Long Yuehong was sincerely happy for his friend.
Shang Jianyao was the same. He even recommended himself. âYou can consult me.â
âHuh?â Yang Zhenyuan was confused. These are words from a fellow without a spouse?
Shang Jianyao explained seriously, âI have solid theoretical knowledge.â This was the confidence stemming from a Life Ritual parishioner.
Upon seeing that Yang Zhenyuan was still a little confused, Long Yuehong laughed and helped Shang Jianyao smooth things over. âHe has read Old World books on childbirth.â
âIs that so? Do you still have the books?â Yang Zhenyuan came to a realization.
âNo, we didnât bring them back.â Long Yuehong could already bullshit under his team leaderâs influence.
Yang Zhenyuan sighed regretfully and smiled at Shang Jianyao. âThen, Iâll consult you in the future.â
âNo problem!â Shang Jianyao smiled brightly and stretched out his hands.
Yang Zhenyuan looked at him in confusion and also stretched out his hands uncertainly.
Shang Jianyao clasped both his hands and shook them heavily.
Only then did Yang Zhenyuan realize that Shang Jianyao had changed quite a bit compared to before. It was a little strange.
Maybe itâs because he has encountered too much on the surface... Ever since Yang Zhenyuan graduated and got married, the chances of him interacting with Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong could be counted on one hand. Thus, he didnât think there was any major problem.
The three of them stood in the corridor and chatted for a while.
As he bade farewell, Yang Zhenyuan sized up Long Yuehong. âYouâre much more mature than before.â
âReally?â Long Yuehong was a little delighted.
Yang Zhenyuan nodded seriously. âMuch more confident, really.â
âHaha, it might be my tan.â Long Yuehong couldnât help saying this humbly, but the smile on his face betrayed him.
Beside him, Shang Jianyao didnât use words to undermine the situation. He only placed his hands by his mouth and forced the corners of his mouth up. This created an exaggerated and comical smile that made Long Yuehong feel a little guilty.
After watching Yang Zhenyuan get into the elevator, the two of themâwho no longer needed to wave to express their friendshipâturned around and returned home.
...
Zone B, No. 196.
Before the lights were switched off, Shang Jianyao cleaned the cramped room and lay on the wooden bed. He placed the pillow filled with grains vertically against the wall and leaned against it. He then raised his hand and massaged his temples.
In the Sea of Origins, on the island with mountains, rivers, and sunlight.
A pond had already appeared here, and it was surrounded by several acres of farmland with rice and wheat.
At this moment, the wheat was golden yellow, and the rice ears were heavy. It was a scene of harvest.
Above the island floated a green night pearl the size of a fish eye; it emitted specks of light.
Previously, when he passed the security check at the entrance, Shang Jianyao had directly transferred DiMarcoâs auraâwhich had solidified in the glass sphereâinto his mind world.
In any case, DiMarco was already dead. He didnât have to worry about anyone using this opportunity to âinvade.â
Shang Jianyao first created nine recliners before splitting into eight more of himself.
After they took their seats, the original Shang Jianyao raised his right hand and summoned the green night pearl.
After the pearl flew into his palm and emitted a brighter light than before, the Sea of Origins around the island immediately produced splashing sounds, stirring up a huge wave that was more than ten meters tall.
Within those waves, countless glimmers swelled and expanded, reflecting the different scenes Shang Jianyao had previously experienced.
Destiny Connectionâseeing the past of all living beings! This was the ability that DiMarcoâs residual aura could currently exert.
It could allow Shang Jianyao to recall his various memories in the mind world. After it was fixed to reality, it could allow Shang Jianyaoâs consciousness to temporarily leave his body and take on the legendary âghostâ form. It was the state DiMarco had been in back then.
However, there was a time limit and distance restriction.
Without his bodyâs protection, Shang Jianyaoâs consciousness would be exposed to the natural environment. He would be affected by all kinds of nasty elements. He couldnât last more than three seconds, or he would collapse uncontrollably.
Once the collapse happened, Jiang Baimian guessed that Shang Jianyao would become very weak after his consciousness returned to his body. If it were any worse, he might even become a vegetable.
After his consciousness left his body, Shang Jianyao could directly invade another personâs mind world like DiMarco and see their past. This required the target to be within 30 meters of him because his consciousness couldnât exceed this distance from his body.
It was obvious that this was much weaker than DiMarcoâs usage. This was the case, be it the duration as a consciousness lifeform or the abilityâs effective range. In addition, Shang Jianyao couldnât use the night pearl to assimilate the targetâs consciousness and occupy their body.
After the scenes in the gigantic wave appeared, the nine Shang Jianyaos began their work. They were each in charge of an area as they quickly browsed through the corresponding memories.
Soon, they found the target scene after repeatedly narrowing the range.
In the scene, Shang Jianyao dazedly stood in front of his door. A man wearing a dark cap, old leather shoes, a blue top, and black pants was bending down to pick up a metal pipe and a small dart from the ground.
This was the scene where Shang Jianyao was attacked by the Life Ritual parishâs Awakened.
Shang Jianyao rewound the memory and realized that a portion was indeed missing.
The corresponding memories had really been deleted. Even Destiny Connection couldnât replicate it.
Shang Jianyao wasnât discouraged. He began to examine the suspectâs side profile and back seriously, attempting to find characteristics.
After a while, in order not to waste the green night pearlâs power, they took the initiative to end this attempt and fuse back into one.
Shang Jianyao looked back at the harvest sceneâan island that was completely different from the past. He smiled brightly and jumped into the Sea of Origins, attempting to swim into the distance again.
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