As dawn broke, Old Wei got up and headed to the village entrance to take a look. Although there were now young folks on duty every day, Old Wei stuck to his habits. His son was a young chemist, a kind and unassuming person who had become the leader of this mountain base. He was already out with a team, collecting food and various materials early in the morning.
Even though the storeroom was well-stocked, Old Wei still felt the need for more reserves. He planned to open another cave to store food and prepare bedding. For the unknown future, Old Wei believed that the richer their reserves, the more secure they would feel.
In the distance, he spotted Xiao Guang flying over. The huge beetle's wings buzzed as it vibrated through the air, landing steadily on a nearby rock. Since becoming familiar with the beetle, Xiao Guang had been flying around on it in the sky, greatly increasing his efficiency.
"Uncle Wei," Xiao Guang settled the beetle and approached, greeting him.
"So early, have you had breakfast?" Old Wei asked.
"I've already eaten. I came to see if the equipment has arrived." Since deciding to head to the tidal flats, Mr. Jin had arranged for a batch of the latest weapons and gear to be prepared for him. They should be arriving in the next few days.
"They arrived last night," Old Wei replied.
Unlike those young folks who admired heroes, Old Wei only felt worry for him. In the eyes of others, every time Xiao Guang returned, whether through wind and rain or surging floods, he became a heroic figure. Those he saved had forgotten that Xiao Guang was flesh and blood too. He had become an immortal legend, as if he could freely come and go in the wild world forever.
Only two elderly people had been worrying about him all along. In his letters, Mr. Jin always urged caution, treating him like a nephew. Mr. Jin knew that what Xiao Guang was doing now was extremely dangerous. The hero that the girl admired, the hero that men dreamt of becoming—every time, he narrowly escaped the clutches of the Grim Reaper. What Old Wei saw in Xiao Guang was his loneliness, and looking at his thin face made his heart ache. Only heaven knew how much heartache this boy endured on the lonely nights in the wilderness, bearing the weight of longing.
"Ah…" Old Wei sighed in his heart.
Xiao Guang received the equipment and books sent by Mr. Jin, most of which were books. A few were tools that Xiao Guang couldn't make himself—sturdy nails, thin ropes, and so on.
Old Wei's son, Wei Mo Ran, had also crafted stable chemical weapons. These bombs were attached to arrows, concocted from a mixture of ingredients like liquid explosives. Normally, these chemicals were kept separate, and when in use, the fuse was pulled out, the liquids mixed, and within seconds, they would explode with considerable force. Xiao Guang carefully stored the bombs. These could be life-saving weapons in critical situations. Old Wei was one of the few who truly understood Xiao Guang. He knew that beneath the surface, Xiao Guang wasn't as flashy as he seemed; he was a person who faced death every day.
"I'm off," Xiao Guang said to Old Wei, looking at him. He also waved to some young friends who had come to bid him farewell. The people here had grown accustomed to his comings and goings, treating him with respect and admiration.
The humming sound resounded as the golden beetle flew higher and higher, heading towards the far southwest—the legendary tidal flats.
Flying intermittently, resting at night, Xiao Guang spent two days flying with the insects. On the morning of the third day, at the edge of the mangrove forest, Xiao Guang gazed towards the distant expanse of water.
According to the deductions made by the scientific team, as they flew over the expanse of water, the terrain ahead would rise slightly. However, it wasn't a stretch of sandy beach and crashing waves; it was a tidal flat formed by sediment and mud, bare and treacherous.
Xiao Guang perched on a sturdy, vibrant tree and placed the books and some unnecessary items in a tree hollow. The days ahead would be spent on the tidal flat, and who knew how long it would take to return. Carrying these items only added to his burden.
While placing the items, Xiao Guang scattered insect-repellent powder. Mr. Jin had sent him this powder, suitable for insect protection in the wild. The things Mr. Jin sent were all simple and practical, brimming with care. The more this was the case, the less Xiao Guang dared to dwell on those unrealistic emotions. He believed that one should have dreams but also be content. After gaining a valuable mentor and friend, he no longer engaged in heartless fantasies with Jun Ya. To him, that would be a desecration of those beautiful memories.
Once, Old Wei had talked to him for a long time on a night, both explicitly and implicitly suggesting he could start anew.
At the time, Old Wei said, "Sometimes, you might feel unworthy of certain beauty, but perhaps that beauty is only beautiful with you."
Xiao Guang contemplated and replied, "I feel very insignificant. I'm afraid of not living up to the beauty, and I'm afraid of being greedy and losing what I already have."
"The world has changed, at least for us. Our world is different now. Maybe from now on, we'll spend our lives here." Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang. "Don't doubt it. Look at them—they've already spent their lives here." Old Wei pointed at the monument.
Xiao Guang felt a bit disheartened.
"We might not be able to return to that world in this lifetime." Old Wei continued, "You see, people's mindsets, actually, everyone has probably accepted the reality. Those who adapted first have begun to think about and reshape this world."
"That's their business. I still believe I can go back soon. By that time, perhaps everything will fall into place, and we'll be ourselves again." Xiao Guang hugged his knees, gazing at the stars.
"Try to accept others. You're a bit like a lonely hero now!" Old Wei straightforwardly mentioned, showing his genuine concern for the young man.
Xiao Guang knew Old Wei was talking about Xu Zhen, Xu De Kai's sister, and her close friend Liu Jing. Both of these girls had shown some form of affection, whether openly or subtly, but Xiao Guang hadn't responded. Cleverly, the two girls had followed their families to the base.
"You probably don't know your position in the hearts of young people. You're a legend now, and even if you return to the original world, you won't be ordinary anymore." Old Wei looked at Xiao Guang's silent profile. Maybe he hadn't noticed it himself, but the events of this past year had changed everyone, with the most significant change seen in Xiao Guang.
The former Xiao Guang had been of average height, somewhat lean, with an appearance that suggested a bookish nature tinged with a touch of foolishness. He liked to play games and sneak in naps, had ideas, and fantasized about success. Every night, he'd outline a one-year or three-year plan for himself, only to be defeated by laziness and his phone the next day. So, he wasn't overly successful nor a complete failure, just a cultured individual who struggled with mental effort.
The present Xiao Guang hadn't experienced any genetic transformation into a tall, handsome man. On the contrary, his skin was darker, his hair longer, and he appeared even leaner. His facial features remained unchanged, not becoming more imposing or imposing, but what mattered most was his demeanor.
First and foremost was his studies. Over the past year, Xiaodou had been introduced by Mr. Jin and had engaged in continuous learning and self-improvement. Mr. Jin's knowledge was succinct yet profound, and Xiao Guang was able to apply it immediately, greatly enhancing his interest in learning. The toil and optimism during the day, coupled with the solitude of the night, made his demeanor seem melancholic and mysterious. Even an inadvertent glance contained a certain charm.
Because of the worries in his heart, Xiao Guang often sang loudly when he was alone at night, causing his voice to become richer. The nonchalant gestures he made would often draw the attention of young girls. This time, bidding farewell to Old Wei and heading to the perilous tidal flats, he heard Old Wei's advice from behind. Xiao Guang didn't turn back. With head held high and chest out, he walked down the slope with a cheerful smile and a raised hand to bid farewell, resolutely moving forward. The gesture was ineffably graceful.
In that moment, everyone present, whether saved by him or not, had a thought: "This person is worth following!"
At this moment, Xiao Guang didn't know, or perhaps hadn't thought about, how many people were concerned about and admired him. He was immersed in his own matters.
Xiao Guang held a letter in his hand and flipped through it. This letter was Mr. Jin's prediction about the tidal flats. Mr. Jin speculated that although the creatures here were far from the mainland, they must be replaced by various creatures similar to the tidal flats, and their habits might be quite similar. Thus, this book detailed safety concerns, where to set up camp, where to spend the night, and where the mud posed a danger. Normally tiny clams and sand worms were like huge monsters now in the presence of the diminutive humans, akin to the sea monsters of a sci-fi world, where one careless move could lead to being dragged underwater.
As he continued reading, Xiao Guang couldn't help but think of the warning note, so he took it out and read it again.
"...Crisis is imminent, the base needs you!" Xiao Guang turned over the note, and on the back was a detailed map of the northwest base. The tunnels were marked, as were the secret doors, all quite clear. This was clearly instructing him to infiltrate.
Previously, Mr. Jin's books had mentioned monarchies, the Book of Lord Shang, human civilization, beliefs, systems, advanced civilizations, autocracy, and more, clearly meant to make him ponder or hint at something. However, these topics had stopped being discussed later, and he just discussed scientific technology as before. It must have been to avoid some sort of scrutiny. Given Mr. Jin's status, why would the authorities of the scientific team be wary of anyone?
Xiao Guang pondered atop the treetop when suddenly a string of calls resounded from the sky.
Looking up, a seabird had just flown overhead, and there was a small dark object that seemed to have fallen from the seabird's body, descending closer and closer, calling out loudly.
"Human!" Xiao Guang squinted his eyes.
Without hesitation, Xiao Guang, who was already about to take off, activated the beetle and precisely intercepted the falling object in mid-air, spiraling back to the branch.
Xiao Guang took a closer look and found an exceptionally beautiful girl in his arms, staring at him in a state of shock.
The girl's gaze was vacant, and she murmured, "Am I dreaming or am I dead? Is the legend true? Have reinforcements really come?"