After my recovery, a deep curiosity about the Fire Phoenix began to grow within me. It was this very device that almost ended my life with an arrow if not for the timely encounter with a master of traditional Chinese medicine. Though shrouded in the mystery of ancient mythology, I was always convinced that the Fire Phoenix was a man-made flying apparatus that embodies ancient wisdom and technology. Although unfamiliar with the technological levels of the age, I always believed that skillful craftsmen could create such marvels, akin to hot air balloons or kites. This was the first matter I yearned to investigate with my newly invigorated mind after the near-death experience.
In the initial stages of investigation, I sought out Li Hao. He was not only concerned about my injuries but equally intrigued by the conspiracy lurking behind the Fire Phoenix, which led those clad in black to attempt on my life. We struck a chord and decided to jointly embark on an adventure to unravel the enigma of the Fire Phoenix.
We first visited the nearby major woodworking workshops, admiring ancient artifacts carved with phoenix totems. Attempting to connect them to the Fire Phoenix, we did not overlook any oral traditions about woodworking. All these, like hidden threads, continuously guided us forward.
Subsequently, leveraging Li Hao's resources, a team of mysterious individuals was assembled, determined to reconstruct the Fire Phoenix based on their conceptualizations. They managed a rudimentary prototype that achieved a semblance of flight, albeit imperfectly using contemporary techniques. As we progressively refined our attempts, it felt as if prying eyes were observing us from a distance; the presence of the black-clad figures added an element of danger and shadow to our quest. It seemed we were wandering into one meticulously set trap after another, the deeper we investigated, the more intricate it all became.
We paid a visit to the site where the Fire Phoenix had crashed and burned. There was nothing left but the scorched remains of destruction. Li Hao and I stood amidst the remnants of what was once a blazing inferno, facing a landscape blackened and ruined, filled with complex emotions. The Fire Phoenix – the mysterious man-made flyer I deduced – was now ash, its secrets buried within these seemingly chaotic debris.
Initially, the air was thick with a choking smell of char and an indescribable scent of burning, which was almost suffocating, but curiosity spurred us to resist the urge to turn back. Equipped with necessary tools prepared beforehand, we commenced the excavation of the Fire Phoenix.
The burn site was like a cryptic tome, unraveling the mystery of the Fire Phoenix called not only for persistence and patience but also for wit and skill. We meticulously searched for every fragment that might carry clues, marking each peculiar burn mark.
Our diligent search soon gave us a preliminary understanding of the site. Based on the burn marks, we roughly discerned the orientation and condition of the Fire Phoenix upon its descent. We hypothesized that these relics must contain key information to decode the riddle of the Fire Phoenix. The main structure of the Phoenix was likely wood, with no traces of metal found, suggesting a joinery or an adhesive had been used in its assembly. The exterior was coated with lightweight white silk, and inside were residues of oil-like substances. Scraping a sample, I smelled something akin to gasoline but it was black in color, similar to asphalt. With my knowledge, this material should be crude oil, unrefined, and is supposed to be found only in the Western Regions, quite rare in ancient China.
The truth often lies veiled within layers of fog. Based on the lingering scent of gunpowder and the accompanying scent of singe in the air, I could imagine the heart-stopping howl as the Fire Phoenix plummeted that night. Amid the incineration debris, I was nearly certain that it was a man-made flying device capable of rising with hot air and gliding with the wind. Considering its size, it wasn't impossible that it could conceal a person inside, which would otherwise leave unexplained the ability to spout oil and fire mid-air. Li Hao shared this view, although I couldn't quite elucidate to him why heated air would be lighter than the surrounding air, creating an upward buoyancy. Yet, when I likened it to a large-scale Chinese sky lantern, or hot air balloon, he understood instantly, for he had witnessed such devices soaring into the heavens.
While we meticulously searched, an indescribable sense of foreboding crept over us. Not far off, the silhouette of a man dressed in black loomed like a silent threat, flickering in and out of view. His shadow moved with the wind, corporeal and chilling to the bone. A shiver ran down my spine, the coolness emanating from the unidentified man in black. My instinct told me, this man was no well-wisher; his purpose was closely tied to the secrets of the Fire Phoenix.
Throughout our investigation, Li Hao and I felt more than once that we were being followed, by a sinister black-clad figure who lingered like our shadow, silent yet suffocating. Every time we looked back, the figure was like a ghost in mist, seemingly nonexistent, yet in our consciousness, we could feel his very real presence.
With the information we gathered, it was confirmed that it was a large-scale version of a sky lantern, capable of concealing a person and being directed like a kite. Our next step was to seek the creator of this apparatus and the mastermind behind the scenes.
We decided to keep searching. I whispered to Li Hao that I felt we were being tracked, and he nodded in agreement. After my previous experience of being shot, Li Hao was even more vigilant in protecting both me and himself. As we left the site of the Fire Phoenix's combustion, a shadow quietly emerged in our wake like a gust of wind. My intuition was acutely sharp; I sensed that unusual atmosphere. Li Hao and I exchanged glances and quickened our pace, weaving seemingly nonchalantly through the woods, attempting to shake off the persistent pursuer in black. Emerging from the forest to the dimly-lit corners of the lanes, we could feel the man in black lurking nearby in the shadows. Even without direct confrontation, the silent but tangible threat made us both breathe cautiously.
Our next destination was a workshop on the outskirts of the city. After analyzing with Li Hao, we realized the fabric remnants there were similar to those found at the incineration site; the workshop space was large enough and the workers there more circumspect, almost as if they were holding back words.
Unveiling the ultimate secret of the Fire Phoenix would surely demand our perseverance and tackle through hardships, yet with our concerted efforts, we were sure to overcome all difficulties. Finally, with skillful navigation, we felt as if we had eluded the black-clad pursuer. At last, we arrived at this mysterious workshop hidden in the suburbs.
Pushing open the large wooden door, weathered by countless storms, we stepped into a world of silence. The scene inside was beyond imagination - the open yet shadowy storeroom was strewn with silent frameworks, like sleeping giants. The wall designs and every stroke in the sketches revealed a precision and creativity far ahead of its time.
The place felt deathly still, the air permeated with an indistinct scent of blood. A foreboding intuition struck me: "Something is wrong, the people here have been killed." Searching around, we found the craftsmen we had spoken with on our last visit to the workshop, now lying quietly in various positions on the ground, with blood pooled around them.
This spot was once a dream forge for a group of ancient artisans who, despite limited technological development, created the legendary Fire Phoenix with their extraordinary imagination. Touching the blood-stained equipment, I could almost feel the warmth and sweat of those dedicated craftsmen laboring in their craft. In this silent workshop, the precision of every meticulously assembled component, each water-powered grinding machine, all silently narrated the once glory and aspiration that filled this space.
We also found scattered blueprints; Li Hao and I seemed to be searching for a tunnel through time, slowly uncovering forgotten nodes. We discovered that the Fire Phoenix was not merely a mechanical product; it encompassed rich emotions and symbolism. Each design bespoke uniqueness, and every test flight carried the hopes and dreams of these craftsmen.
As Li Hao and I delved deeper into our search, the mystery of the Fire Phoenix dissipated like dust. It seemed to reveal its secrets to us. This was not merely the history of a flying machine; it symbolized the transformation of a spirit. The enormous frames, the precise blueprints… every innovation indicated the passionate saga of these ancient artisans.
To enable the Fire Phoenix to soar, the craftsmen had condensed their knowledge and wisdom into this workshop. Their continuous exploration of technology and fearless challenges to the unknown represented the very soul of the Fire Phoenix. Li Hao and I, in this advanced location for its time demonstrating wisdom and fervor, saw not only the power of technology but also the gripping narrative of lives that leapt through time, akin to a modern person stepping into SpaceX's initial operations and test facility in McGregor, Texas, where one can watch SpaceX's rocket engines being tested.
All the fog began to dissipate, and the truth slowly unfolded before us. The Fire Phoenix was not just a pinnacle of human craftsmanship at the time; it symbolized an impassioned pursuit of beauty and freedom by the wisest craftsmen of the era. Although time would eventually reduce the workshop to dust, the spirit and soul nurtured within it blazed eternal, like the undying flames that Li Hao and I sought on our quest.
After an arduous search, dawn gradually broke, clearing the historical haze in the morning light. In that secretive workshop, Li Hao and I pieced together the final pieces of the puzzle, discussing the ultimate version of events. The truth surged forth like a tide, revealing the motives and the grand conspiracy behind those in black that had long remained obscured.
Through analysis and discussion, we concluded that the source of all traced back to national interests and the confrontation of the times. The Turkic state, which once rose briefly in the northwest of the Tang Empire, aimed to reclaim its voice on the world's stage. They saw the budding friendship between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Tang Dynasty as a threat to their power.
In that era, the Fire Phoenix was more than a flying machine; it became the perfect tool and bargaining chip. The men in black from the Turkic state planned to fabricate a tragic accident to assassinate the visiting delegation from the Eastern Roman Empire. The calamity could easily be blamed on the Tang, sowing discord between the two powers while the Turkic state benefited amidst the chaos.
But they had not anticipated that Wu Zetian, who returned from the brink of death, and her companion Li Hao would unravel the mysteries and lay their plans bare. In the secret workshop, the truth of the Fire Phoenix was dissected, and the complicated conspiracies behind it were gradually laid bare.
As Li Hao and I gradually revealed the truth, the men in black realized their plot might be exposed. They attempted to halt the investigation with threats and violence, to erase their tracks. However, with our wisdom and determination, supported by Li Hao's intrepid courage, their efforts were in vain.
In the end, as the conspiracy neared exposure, the men in black of the Turkic state were forced to admit their failure. They knew that once the truth was revealed, they could no longer secure their positions.
Following that, we heard a series of well-trained and soft footsteps from behind. A dozen masked men in black, wielding swords gleaming with a chill light, began to aggressively encircle Li Hao and me.