Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Sun Senwen has already researched an antidote for the Zombie Virus in the environment. Considering the differences between Earth and Blue Star, the required raw materials for the antidote can all be found on Earth. Sun Senwen had ten test tubes prepared and provided the formula to Bai Tang. Each test tube can neutralize toxins within a ten-square-kilometer area, with a duration of effectiveness lasting five years. However, as Bai Tang expected, while the poison can be neutralized, the issues of deteriorating soil and water quality cannot be completely resolved. The water problem is manageable; once boiled, it can be consumed, greatly alleviating the fatigue of Water Ability Users. However, land cultivation remains a significant challenge. Even with experienced farmers and skilled agricultural researchers working together, the yield from one acre of land is less than one-tenth of what it was before the apocalypse. Nevertheless, leaders of various bases should be very pleased, as there is at least some output now, unlike before when they could only consume mutated plants with mild toxicity. This is a good start; although the quantity that can be grown is small now, as long as research continues to improve, production will gradually increase. People are filled with hope, and those in the research institute are working overtime to study formulas and produce medicines.
Bai Tang happily put away the antidote and formula and took out a wooden box from his backpack to hand to Sun Senwen.
“No need!” Sun Senwen refused, knowing from the carvings on the box that it must be valuable.
“Take it! I can't let you work for free. Besides, this thing was obtained by chance without spending a dime!”
“Then I will graciously accept it!” Sun Senwen said without pretense as he took the box. “Let’s see what’s inside!”
Inside the box was a bound ancient book with yellowed pages, indicating it has quite a history. The cover had four traditional Chinese characters written in running script: Wu Mu's Handwritten Notes. Opening to the first page revealed a poem: “Looking far at Central Plains, beyond desolate smoke, many cities and fortresses. In those years, flowers shielded willows, phoenix towers and dragon pavilions. Precious jewels surround Mount Wansui; songs echo in Penghu Palace. Now, iron horses fill the outskirts; dust storms rage. Where are the soldiers? In what state are they? Where are the people? Filling ditches and ravines. Sighing at the state of affairs, thousands of villages lie desolate. When will I ask for permission to lead my elite troops across Qinghe and Luo? To return again and continue my journey in Hanyang? Riding on the Yellow Crane.”
Although this poem is relatively obscure, Sun Senwen happened to know its origin: it is Yue Fei's “Man Jiang Hong,” written earlier than “Man Jiang Hong: Anger Rising.” It dates back to the fourth year of Shaoxing (114). Yue Fei wrote it while leading troops to recover Xiangyang during his station in Ezhou. In October of Shaoxing's third year, Liu Yu's army occupied Xiangyang and several other prefectures of Southern Song, cutting off vital transportation routes to Sichuan and Shaanxi for the Southern Song court and directly threatening its control over Hunan and Hubei. Yue Fei continuously petitioned to recover Xiangyang's six prefectures. In May of the following year, he was officially appointed by the court as commander over Huangzhou and Fuzhou as well as military governor of Hanyang and De'an Prefecture. His army set out for battle. Due to strict military discipline and high morale, along with proper strategy deployment, Yue Fei's army quickly recaptured Xiangyang and Deng within three months, effectively safeguarding transportation routes between Sichuan and the court. Just at this opportune moment, however, the court ordered Yue Fei to recover these six prefectures under the pretext of “three provinces and the Privy Council jointly issuing a holy decree,” after which he was to return home. Thus, Yue Fei had no choice but to lead his troops back to Ezhou. At just thirty-two years old, he was granted the title of Duke of Wuchang due to his victory at Xiangyang-Deng; however, he was not one who sought fame or fortune. He remained focused on his northern expedition as part of his Great Undertaking. Therefore, he continued to petition for elite troops to directly strike at Central Plains to recover lost territories before missing opportunities. In Ezhou, Yue Fei climbed Yellow Crane Tower to gaze northward at Central Plains and penned this lyrical piece.
“Is this Yue Fei's own handwriting?” Sun Senwen exclaimed in astonishment. Wu Mu is indeed Yue Fei's posthumous title!
“The inside contains Yue Fei's handwriting,” Bai Tang replied, “and the outside is written by Han Shizhong.”
“Wow! Where did you get this?”
“From Middle Finger Peak on Iron Palm Mountain.”
“Huh? You’re not telling me this is from Martial Emperor's Legacy?”
“Yes!” Bai Tang said. “My disciple retrieved it personally from Iron Palm Mountain; that version found by Guo Jing and Huang Rong was copied by my disciple.”
“No wonder! Historically speaking, there’s no record of Martial Emperor's Legacy existing.” Although Martial Emperor's Legacy is traditionally attributed to Yue Fei as a military treatise, there are no related records in Song History. Furthermore, neither in lengthy narratives such as The Complete Biography of Yue nor in folk tales is Martial Emperor's Legacy mentioned. The martial arts attributed to Yue Fei along with Yue Family Spear and Mandarin Duck Formation were all fabricated later under his name; even Martial Emperor's Legacy itself originated from later fabrications.
“Not necessarily!” Bai Tang said. “There’s a theory that before Yue Fei passed away, he transmitted his boxing manual to Yue Zhen and Yue Ting; they lived in hiding at Huangmei Nie Family Bay and compiled Martial Emperor's Legacy secretly while training day and night. In 1986, Yue Fei’s twenty-seventh descendant Yue Jin participated in a national folk martial arts performance conference where his Yue Family Boxing overwhelmed all competitors and won a gold medal. The hidden Yue Family Boxing along with Martial Emperor's Legacy resurfaced after eight hundred years.”
“I’ve never heard of that!” Sun Senwen suddenly recalled the two names Bai Tang mentioned earlier and stared at him in shock. “You… you got this book from The Legend of Condor Heroes world? Have you met Guo Jing and Huang Rong? Are you kidding me?”
"I'm not joking! A Space-Time Rift has appeared over the sea between the Continent and Haidong Island. My apprentice and I accidentally fell into it and spent some time inside, where we had some interactions with the main characters."
"Really?" Sun Senwen's eyes lit up. "Did you see Huang Yaoshi? Is he really as versatile as described in the books? What about Hong Qigong? Did you learn the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms from him? Is Huang Rong really as beautiful as they say? Is Guo Jing really that foolish..."
"Huang Yaoshi truly deserves to be called the smartest person..." Bai Tang briefly recounted his and Yi Qian's experiences, making Sun Senwen feel envious and jealous.
"You guys have even outsmarted Yang Kang, impressive! But Mu Nianci is so different from what I imagined, it's a disaster!"
Bai Tang patted Sun Senwen on the shoulder and said without sincerity, "That's called pursuing true love. Although the methods were a bit underhanded, at least the plot of Divine Eagle: The Heroic Couple won't be disrupted."
Sun Senwen replied, "I'm not a big fan of the plot of Divine Eagle: The Heroic Couple, nor do I like the two main characters."
"Why?" Bai Tang was surprised. "Isn't Dragon Girl the dream girl of every man?"
"Yang Guo's character is too extreme; I don't like him. As for Dragon Girl, it's because she's too pure and ethereal that I don't like her. I prefer women like Huang Rong and Ren Yingying, who are wise and can help their husbands, rather than those who are so innocent that their husbands have to protect them." Sun Senwen said, "Women like Dragon Girl are suited for wealthy and idle men; ambitious men or those struggling won't choose such women; it would be exhausting!"
"You are quite practical!"
"What can I do? I was born in an Orphanage." Sun Senwen's smile carried a hint of melancholy.
"Speaking of the Orphanage, you can rest assured. I've visited once; aside from a few children who didn't survive due to health issues, everyone else is doing well. Those children who turned into Zombies were dealt with by the gatekeeper. The Orphanage is far from any dangerous zones and is self-sufficient, so it was safe in the early days. Later, your brothers and sisters who left the Orphanage returned, greatly increasing its defensive capabilities. After I went there, I helped your brothers and sisters send the children and teachers to the Survivor Base. Everyone is safe now!" Bai Tang said.
The Orphanage was what Sun Senwen cared about most; hearing this made him very happy, constantly thanking Bai Tang.
"I haven't done much; rather, what you've done has greatly helped the Nation and its people. It's a pity I can't give you proper recognition!"
Sun Senwen smiled, "What I've done pales in comparison to you; how could I let you recognize me!" Sun Senwen asked, "How many weapons and Mechas do we need to purchase this time?"
"How many has your Factory produced? Just give me all of them! The larger bases are pushing us; they've already formulated a counterattack plan and are just waiting for the Mechas and weapons to arrive!" Bai Tang recalled how he was always urged by O Haosheng every time he went to Beijing Base, feeling overwhelmed.
"Are there more than thirty? Is that enough?"
"Definitely not enough, keep producing!" Bai Tang stood up and stretched, "I should head back!"
Karen Adrian followed Bai Tang out the door, while Sun Senwen frowned at Karen Adrian's back. To him, Karen Adrian was a proud wolf, and he couldn't understand why Bai Tang would take him in, not fearing that he might turn against his master in the future.
Back in the Apocalyptic World, Bai Tang tossed the weapons purchased this time along with the Mecha to O Haosheng and went to find his disciple, checking to see if Yang Kang had truly adapted to modern life. He discovered that Yang Kang was doing well, having joined the army with Yi Qian and achieved several merits. Yang Kang's comrades teased him about his name, asking if his father named him "Yang Kang" because he liked watching "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." Yang Kang smiled but remained silent, internally shouting that he was indeed Yang Kang, but not the foolish Yang Kang from the story. He was a man destined to conquer the stars and the sea! Ahem, before conquering the stars and the sea, what he wanted to conquer most was his seemingly delicate Master!
After giving some instructions to his disciple and Disciple, Bai Tang returned to the Red Mansion World. Upon opening the courtyard door, he saw Xing Xiaokang and Ai Wanxi diligently squatting in horse stance in the yard. Bai Dad and Bai Ma were fond of their grandson and couldn't bear to see him suffer, so Bai Tang had entrusted Wu Xuemei to supervise their training.
"Aunt!" The two rushed towards Bai Tang upon seeing him, but Wu Xuemei shot them a glare. They pouted and obediently returned to their positions to continue their training!
"Back already? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" Wu Xuemei approached Bai Tang.
"Is there anything good to eat?" Bai Tang asked; no matter how delicious outside food was, it couldn't compare to home-cooked meals.
Wu Xuemei smiled with her lips pressed together: "The noodles are hand-rolled by your godfather. Do you want some?" (To be continued)
Comment 0 Comment Count