Perhaps it was out of concern for the younger student, or perhaps it was a strange stir in his heart, but Chu Zihang couldn't help but walk over.
"Don't worry, this mission is well-prepared, there won't be any accidents," he said, offering a comforting word. After a brief pause, he added, "I've already asked Caesar to look after you. You only need to stay in the cabin and follow his orders."
To be honest, this mission was as simple as it gets, and there was basically no danger involved.
Although he didn't understand the principal's intentions, the people on this ship were not the type to fear death. They certainly wouldn't throw a new student into the most dangerous part of the battlefield.
In fact, the task assigned to Xia Mi was quite simple. She just had to wait for Caesar's orders, wait for the radar to lock onto the underwater target, and then press the fire button with her index finger. That was basically the whole mission.
She didn't need to risk diving underwater to enter the legendary Dragon King's forbidden zone. Nor did she need to stand on the deck and command the fully armed warship.
Xia Mi, holding onto the railing on the deck, listened to Chu Zihang's comforting words. The sadness in her eyes quickly faded, replaced by a mischievous, bright smile, just like usual.
She raised her hand, patted his shoulder, and with a serious tone, said, "I don't need to thank you, Senior. Your kindness, I truly can't repay. Maybe in the next life, I'll work like a mule for you!"
"And this life?"
Chu Zihang asked without thinking, purely out of instinct.
Usually, if one talks about being a mule in the next life, doesn't that imply they'll be indebted in this life?
However, as soon as that thought popped up, even Chu Zihang himself was surprised by it. Why on earth did he have such a thought?
Could it be because there was something vaguely familiar about Xia Mi, something that made him feel strangely close to her?
"Uh, you wouldn't have feelings for me, would you, Senior Chu?"
Seeing the strange look in Chu Zihang's eyes, Xia Mi took several steps back in fear. She tightly crossed her arms over her chest and made a trembling, scared face. "No! I'm very innocent, I don't like cold, icy guys like you!"
After saying that, as if to prove her determination, Xia Mi crossed her arms and showed a look of resistance. "Dame! Dame, dame!"
Chu Zihang nearly cracked up. Xia Mi's actions immediately attracted the attention of two busybodies.
Caesar, not far from the deck, gave her a suggestive look and mouthed, "Oh~ So you like this kind, huh?"
Chen Mo-tong, already in her diving suit, looked like she was watching a show. If there wasn't a task to be done soon, she probably couldn't hold back the burning gossip inside her.
Even Chu Zihang, with his ironclad face, couldn't stand the curious stares from these two. His usual cold demeanor started to crack just a little.
Luckily, Professor Manstein stepped in just in time. He glanced at his watch and called the others over, "Alright, kids, entertainment time is over. It's time to get to work."
"It's now July 28th, 2010, night. The Moniayeh ship is anchored at the Three Gorges Reservoir. The river is calm, and all equipment is normal." Manstein looked around at everyone and said, "The Bronze Project is about to begin. I'm the captain and the leader for this mission, Gerde Rudolph Manstein. This is my thirteenth captain's log for this voyage."
Then, after making an international phone call and getting approval from the school board, Manstein officially announced the start of the Bronze Project.
"Now, I will assign tasks. Chu Zihang and Chen Mo-tong, you two will infiltrate Bronze City and install the alchemical bombs."
Manstein paused for a moment, then looked at Caesar and Xia Mi, saying, "You two are in charge of guarding and ensuring the safety and support of the diving team. Once the 'Dragon King' surfaces, make sure to destroy it with the storm torpedo at the first opportunity. Got it?"
"Got it."
Caesar glanced at Chen Mo-tong, his concern clear in his eyes, but he swallowed the words in his throat.
He knew that Nono's personality wouldn't allow him to say anything caring, so he could only convey the rest of his feelings through his gaze to Chu Zihang.
It was a silent communication between men. Chu Zihang gave a subtle nod and said, "For this dive, I'm the team leader. No matter what happens, stay behind me, alright?"
"Why can't I be the team leader?" Nono asked, slightly dissatisfied.
"Because you can't beat me."
Chu Zihang's responses were always clear and easy to understand.
"Well said, but don't say it again next time." Chen Motong huffed, turning her head away, no longer bringing up the idea of becoming the team leader.
"Senior, this way, you won't be able to get any girls." Xia Mi muttered quietly from the side.
Chu Zihang pretended not to hear, quickly finishing putting on his custom diving suit. He and Chen Motong then dragged the lead weights and slowly descended into the water.
In the murky waters, visibility was very limited. Even with the professional floodlight, it didn't exceed five meters.
As they continued to sink, the water pressure increased, and the noisy sounds suddenly faded away, as if they had entered a lonely, desolate alien world. An overwhelming sense of isolation surrounded them.
"Report to the surface team, we've reached the designated location and are about to enter the crack."
After reporting, Chu Zihang continued to lead Chen Motong deeper, following the uneven stone walls, descending further.
When the depth gauge showed 80 meters, Nono whispered, "We're here."
What came into view was a massive wall extending endlessly upwards, downwards, left, and right. In the light of their floodlights, it shimmered with an ancient bluish-green hue.
The mottled copper rust covered the surface like a layer of cotton, and within the foam-like rust, plants of unknown names grew. Thin tendrils swayed gently with the current.
This was… the ancient bronze city created by the King of Bronze and Fire, the master of alchemy?
Only by witnessing it in person could one truly feel the might of the Dragon King's power over heaven and earth!
This grand and magnificent ancient structure, like a miracle, symbolized the pinnacle of alchemy. It was created by the King of Bronze and Fire, using the purest flames to burn the metal, killing the impurities and then reviving it to create a regenerating metal that could even imprison souls!
The souls trapped within the Bronze City followed the Dragon King's will, guarding the gates of the city.
Chu Zihang pulled out a vacuum tube from his lower back. After extracting the blood sample inside, he injected it into the human face on the bronze city's surface.
A heavy, thunderous sound shook the water, and ancient incantations directly entered his mind.
The mouth of the human face carved into the bronze grew wider and wider, resembling a giant snake capable of swallowing an African elephant.
In front of an ancient house cast in bronze, a figure stood still.
"Brother, you've finally come back."
It seemed as though a voice was calling out. The man in front of the house paused for a moment, as if summoned, and walked stiffly forward.
"Someone has intruded, Brother." A childish voice, carrying great sorrow, gently said, "Brother, eat me, just like you said. Cross the wasteland, raise the battle flag again, and bring me with you to return to our homeland."
The man fell silent and stepped into the house.
Inside, the furnishings were unusually simple. A small bronze lamp, where a palace maid would kneel, burned with a faint blue light.
Inside the hall, two steaming tea cups were placed on a low table. The clear tea in the cups had scattered leaves floating in it, still steaming as if freshly brewed.
A black-haired boy sat by the low table, picking up a tea cup and gazing at the man walking in.
His eyes, pure and clear like those of an infant, shimmered with a faint golden hue, as though waiting for a guest to arrive at a feast. He wore a gentle, warm smile. "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Ronald Tang."
"Damn! You scared me!"
The man pressed his chest, frightened, as he leaned against the door frame. He looked terrified. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"Me?"
The black-haired boy put down his tea cup, looked at the man with a knowing gaze, and smiled lightly. "I'm just a spectator."
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