Miao Chengmin did not disturb An Xiaotian any further. After placing his battle sword on the ground, he silently flew out of the corridor and headed deep into the forest.
That same day, at nine o'clock in the evening, Xu Yicheng had a video conference with Chen Hao's research team at the M City Military Base. The brief meeting aimed to obtain the 3D blueprints for a custom-designed Battle Armor. Since it was meant for him, Xu Yicheng felt he should be involved in the design and research process.
After some discussion, Chen Hao's research team agreed that as long as Xu Yicheng had the capability to manufacture it independently, he could proceed without their assistance. This arrangement also relieved Chen Hao's team of some workload, allowing them to move on to their next project.
"Hey, hey, hey, I say," Xiao Zhongda remarked from his high stool beside Xu Yicheng in the Beverage House of the villa area, where yellow ambient lights hung above. Leaning close to the straw, he complained while sipping Fruit Wine, "You've been staring at that blueprint for a whole hour! Can't you just say something? Like me? Enjoy some Fruit Wine... Ah, it's delicious but a bit harsh on the nose."
However, it wasn't Xiao Zhongda who interrupted Xu Yicheng's concentration. After pondering for a moment, Xu Yicheng wrote down the Scattering Angle Distribution Function and its corresponding Energy Distribution Function from the L Series on the arm section of the Battle Armor blueprint.
A tempting scent of apples slowly enveloped him from the right side. Xu Yicheng could feel the warmth that only occurs when two people are close enough. Glancing at the red hair that fell before him, he couldn't take it anymore but still didn't look up. He commanded, "Lu Sha, don't get so close."
"Hey, can't I just take a look?" Lu Sha lifted her face and pouted.
Caught in the conversation, Xu Yicheng eventually followed Lu Sha's lead and raised his head. Having stared down at the blueprint for too long, a wave of neck pain surged into his mind as he distractedly inhaled deeply while looking at the LCD screen hanging from the wooden-decorated ceiling of the Beverage House.
"Sigh..." Xu Yicheng sat between two little guys and sighed as if speaking to them both. "It's so difficult. I'm trying to solve the Antimatter Annihilation Reaction using concepts from Nuclear Reactor theory, but the Positive Energy State Electrons involved need to complete an infinite number of Negative Energy Transitions; there are no stable energy levels..."
"Ah... I think I understand," Lu Sha said as she looked at Xiao Zhongda, seemingly confirming her thoughts. "So you're saying Antimatter reactions are very unstable, unlike Nuclear Fission or Controllable Nuclear Fusion, right?"
Xiao Zhongda nodded appreciatively and took another big sip of Fruit Wine through his straw. "To be honest, if we didn't have to use Antimatter, it would be easy for us to create Battle Armor. But the challenge lies in harnessing energy from Antimatter."
"Why not just use a different energy source?" Lu Sha wondered why they were so fixated on Antimatter.
"Oh dear sister," Xiao Zhongda replied with a flap of his wings to shake off some spilled Fruit Wine. "It seems you have no concept of the energy produced by Antimatter annihilation. If we can overcome this issue, even just 0.1 grams of Antimatter participating in a reaction would ensure your captain's 'Fierce Eagle' armor wouldn't have to worry about Thruster energy for most of its lifetime. If Dr. Xu's Battle Armor can utilize Antimatter, I’m sure it will usher in a new era."
"Not necessarily," Xu Yicheng said as he called for a bottle of Champagne from a servant. Just then, his neck was aching terribly; he looked up at the news broadcast on the LCD screen.
"Recently in Phoenix Village of City S, villagers have reported seeing groups of monsters moving through the forest again. Could this be a prelude to war? However, since The Celestial Warriors Alliance entered public view, reports of such strange occurrences have become increasingly frequent—many are unverified rumors that everyone should view rationally..."
The hostess on the news read her script smoothly. Hearing this made Xu Yicheng think of Aibo. It had been days since they last contacted each other; he wondered how Aibo and the Spirit Corps were faring in their secretive lives. The rumors in City S might very well involve Spirit Corps Family and Aibo. The Zombie War had ended; there shouldn't be any terrifying Mindless Corpses appearing again.
As the hostess continued her speech without interruption, Xu Yicheng was engrossed until he lowered his head to pour Champagne when suddenly her voice cut off.
"Huh?" Lu Sha looked at the live scene on TV where a man whispered something into the hostess's ear and placed a piece of paper on the table. "It seems there's an unexpected situation."
"Apologies everyone. We interrupt this program for an emergency news bulletin." The hostess glanced at her script and continued, "Earlier today, our country's space strategic defense line suffered a severe blow; all signals from 'Heavenly Eye' optics and its Armed Satellite Matrix have been lost, and central facilities have been destroyed. The police are currently conducting an intensive investigation; based on site assessments and deductions, it has been confirmed that Satellite Bureau Director has perished..."
"Ahhh... what?! 'Heavenly Eye' has been taken out?!" Xiao Zhongda exclaimed incredulously as he flapped up in disbelief. "This is humanity's first space defense line! Just like that?"
"This..." Lu Sha was also stunned as her pupils slowly dilated. Although she didn't understand what 'Heavenly Eye' Satellite System meant for them, both she and Xu Yicheng thought of Yang Meng.
"No way... how could 'Heavenly Eye' just..." Xiao Zhongda still couldn't believe it as he flew to look out at the deep black night sky behind him. "What is happening in this world..."
Xu Yicheng's demeanor was remarkably calm as he swirled his glass, furrowing his brow. His steady gaze pierced through the pale yellow liquid, as if he could see the future.
"Five months in total," Xu Yicheng began, "and now only four remain. Our team has not completed a single enhancement project, and they have already breached our first line of defense."
"And without a single soldier," he added.
Lu Sha looked at Xu Yicheng, her brows arched and her slightly parted lips seemed to hold countless questions. She was equally astonished and worried, yet she could only sit there, gripping her glass tightly.
"Can we truly rely solely on ourselves?" The noise from the television seemed to amplify the atmosphere of despair. Lu Sha sighed and voiced her concerns to Xu Yicheng.
"No," Xu Yicheng shook his head. "Humanity is not a race that fears strong enemies. I believe that the collapse of our first line of defense is not the collapse of human faith. Throughout history, we have endured every darkness. This time will be no exception."
In the darkness, Xiao Zhongda's expression grew increasingly serious. As a member of the Song Family, he was well aware of the history surrounding the Moon People. He felt a sense of responsibility; as a being on Earth, facing a global crisis, he could not simply stand by and watch.
"The Heavenly Eye has been destroyed, but we will not give up," Xu Yicheng said to Xiao Zhongda and Lu Sha. "Do you know about the Southern Gate plan? Trust me, we Celestial Warriors have never fought alone, nor will we succumb to despair."
Xiao Zhongda remained silent, turning back to glance at Xu Yicheng's silhouette as he swirled his drink. He faintly heard something outside the window. Before he could react, a sharp metallic sound echoed from the grass in front of the villa.
"The captain is back," Lu Sha said.
Both she and Xu Yicheng knew what An Xiaotian had gone to do; they feared something had indeed gone wrong at the Satellite Bureau.
Xu Yicheng and Lu Sha stepped out of the Beverage House and crossed the private court. On the grass before them knelt An Xiaotian in red and white armor, motionless like a statue, just as they had seen him at Fengta Biotechnology Center. Beside his kneeling form lay Yang Meng, lifeless.
"Brother Xiaotian..." Lu Sha tentatively called out softly, wanting to comfort him. Yet An Xiaotian remained unresponsive.
Xu Yicheng approached him and saw the severe injury to Yang Meng's heart; he already knew the answer. He dared not disturb An Xiaotian, whose consciousness seemed to be collapsing. Instead, he took Lu Sha's hand as she covered her mouth with tears in her eyes and mourned for the innocent girl alongside An Xiaotian.
Their hearts were heavy too, but certainly not as burdened as An Xiaotian's pain. Xiao Zhongda landed on the ground and seeing that An Xiaotian showed no signs of moving, he signaled for them to leave quietly and return to the villa.
Midnight
Before this moment, no fewer than twenty servants had attempted to lift An Xiaotian up. To onlookers, it was clear that Yang Meng had departed from this world. Yet An Xiaotian could not accept this reality. The night grew darker still; within the Fierce Eagle armor, the super-intelligence Xiao Ling activated all searchlights on An Xiaotian's armor. The lights reflected off the sharp edges of his armor, faintly illuminating his fragmented face in the night. His emotions were beyond description—was it sadness? Yet he did not cry. Was it heartache? Yet his expression remained blank.
Anyone would break down—after all, it was his war that had claimed his most beloved person.
Xu Yicheng stood under the eaves, a lit cigarette pinched between his fingers as wisps of smoke curled into the air. The searchlights on Fierce Eagle armor continued to illuminate An Xiaotian without any sign of movement. He knew An Xiaotian would likely remain kneeling on that grass all night long. Meanwhile, raindrops fell rhythmically with the breeze under the light; several servants hurriedly opened umbrellas and approached An Xiaotian to shield him from the rain.
"To grow stronger in order to protect the world while enduring pains beyond ordinary understanding," Mr. Song had somehow arrived beside Xu Yicheng, leaning on his cane as he watched over An Xiaotian shielded by servants. "But just when one believes they can protect everything, fate easily snatches away their loved ones. Such a blow is devastating to a hero's faith."
Xu Yicheng remained silent, letting go of his cigarette as smoke rings floated from his mouth into the sky, vanishing instantly into the misty rain—as if such things had never existed in this world at all.
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