Embers Ad Infinitum

Underground building, 349th floor.

Unlike most floors, there were still sporadic street lamps lit up along the corridors even after 9 p.m. It wasn’t completely dark and appeared a little dim—it didn’t affect the residents’ rest.

After Jiang Baimian entered her home in Zone C, Unit 12, she realized that her parents had yet to return. Therefore, she first went to the study and used her father’s computer and account to browse all kinds of news from the past few months.

Apart from the matter regarding the Naturalism Church, there’s nothing worth paying attention to… There’s also no subsequent investigation of the Life Ritual parish… Was it not released online because of confidentiality, or is Old Jiang’s authority insufficient? As Jiang Baimian spun the mouse’s middle wheel and scrolled down the web page, she sensed three weak electric signals approaching the door from outside.

Three? Jiang Baimian stood up in confusion and walked out of the study.

Just as she opened the door, she saw her father and her mother—Jiang Wenfeng and Xue Sumei. In addition, there was a middle-aged man she wasn’t familiar with.

The other party had thick black hair, but it was slightly messy. It was obvious that he was the kind of person who didn’t pay attention to his appearance. He also wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and had a refined bearing.

“Dad, Mom.” After exchanging greetings, Jiang Baimian cast her gaze at the stranger.

Jiang Wenfeng—whose black hair had some silver strands mixed in—understood what his daughter was alluding to and explained with a smile, “Call him Uncle Mei.”

“Hello, Uncle Mei.” Jiang Baimian had always been obedient in front of her elders.

The middle-aged man smiled and nodded. “It’s Mianmian, right?”

I don’t like being called by my childhood nickname… Jiang Baimian tried her best to maintain her smile and replied in a terse manner.

“She looks great. She seems to be a D7, right?” As the middle-aged man spoke, he cast his gaze at Jiang Wenfeng and Xue Sumei. “If it weren’t for the fact that my child is young and in his teens, I would really want your Mianmian to be my daughter-in-law.”

Jiang Baimian had heard such forms of praise many times, so she was no longer embarrassed.

Xue Sumei was just about to say something polite when the middle-aged Mei suddenly burped. It was as if a lot of gas was surging in his stomach.

He then explained with a bitter smile, “Heh heh, it’s an old problem with my stomach.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the middle-aged Mei waved goodbye to the Jiang family of three and walked to the other end of Zone C.

Jiang Baimian watched his back disappear around the corner and curiously asked, “Dad, why haven’t I seen this Uncle Mei before?”

“It’s strange if you’ve seen him. He’s a recently promoted M1, the deputy director of Vast Obscurity Institute,” Jiang Wenfeng said as he walked into the living room.

M represented management, and M1 was the lowest rank that covered the deputy positions of the various departments and the person-in-charge of important research projects.

Xenny—the Security Department’s deputy minister—and Jiang Baimian’s father, Jiang Wenfeng, were among those ranks.

“Oh, oh, he just moved here.” Jiang Baimian immediately came to a realization. In order not to be nagged by Xue Sumei, she asked, “Where did you guys go? Why are you only back now?”

Jiang Wenfeng—who was in his fifties—glanced at his younger daughter. “Not only are your ears failing, but your memory seems to be failing as well. Have you forgotten that it’s Elder Huang’s birthday today? Every year at this time, we will visit him with you.”

Jiang Baimian was stunned for a moment before she yelped. “I lost track of time.”

Elder Huang’s full name was Huang Renhui. He was a board member of Pangu Biology, the Chief Scientist, and M3 management.

Upon hearing this, Xue Sumei immediately glared at Jiang Baimian. “Look at you. You’re always so muddle-headed. How can you be the team leader of the Investigation Unit for the Cause of the Old World’s Destruction? Aren’t you afraid of harming those team members? It’s better to get a transfer and stay in the company. You’re not young anymore…”

The blood vessels on Jiang Baimian’s forehead throbbed when she heard that. She looked at Jiang Wenfeng pleadingly and shouted softly, “Dad…”

“Ah, what did you say? I didn’t hear you?” Jiang Wenfeng raised his hand and touched his ear. He mimicked Jiang Baimian’s usual behavior perfectly.

Jiang Baimian was peeved and amused. Her mind raced as she asked, “Was that Uncle Mei also a guest at Elder Huang’s? Where’s his wife?”

She knew that this topic was definitely something her mother was interested in.

Xue Sumei fell for it as expected and looked out the window. “I heard that she passed away before the Lunar New Year. Seriously, she couldn’t even wait for Mei Shou’an to be promoted to M1…”

“What does Uncle Mei study?” Jiang Baimian changed the topic to a topic that her father would converse in.

As Jiang Wenfeng sat in the recliner by the window, he smiled and said, “Actually, you met him a few times when you were young. However, it’s been too long, so you definitely don’t remember him. He used to be in botanical science, but he later switched to researching the secrets of the human body. He’s mainly in charge of this at the Vast Obscurity Institute.

“If you go through all kinds of reports, documents, and news, any project that starts with C—followed by numbers—is more or less related to him.”

“No wonder he knows my childhood nickname…” Jiang Baimian came to a realization.

Just as she said that, she suddenly froze.

She recalled something: the experiment that Shang Jianyao participated in as a volunteer was called C-14!

Research on the mysteries of the human body… C-14… Shang Jianyao became an Awakened… Uncle Mei was recently promoted to M1 management… Jiang Baimian combined this information and revealed a thoughtful expression.

Jiang Wenfeng glanced at her and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“Ah, what did you say?” Jiang Baimian habitually touched her cochlear implant.

Jiang Wenfeng repeated himself angrily.

“I’m wondering if I’ve seen a project that starts with C,” Jiang Baimian replied half-heartedly.

Jiang Wenfeng sighed. “It’s better to find time to implant a cochlear implant into your ear. If you’re really afraid, get a psychiatrist to treat you first.”

Xue Sumei also nagged about this matter.

Jiang Baimian forced a smile and went in circles with her parents. With her EQ and eloquence, she finally passed this hurdle.

…

The next day, Jiang Baimian woke up on time, washed up, and went out. She then took the elevator to the 647th floor.

She didn’t relax just because she was on leave. After all, she had nothing to do at home.

After changing into a fitting combat uniform and taking a clean towel, Jiang Baimian turned into the training room that the team often used.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Shang Jianyao standing inverted.

Inverted…

“What’s the use of practicing this?” Jiang Baimian asked with a slightly complicated expression. There were more and better ways to train one’s balance.

Shang Jianyao lowered his legs, exerted strength with his waist, and stood up. He seriously said, “I’m preparing for the day I encounter an Awakened of the same type. When I can’t do anything with my hands, I still have my feet.”

Although Jiang Baimian found it indescribably strange, she had to admit that Shang Jianyao’s logic was self-consistent.

She deliberated and said, “The better way is to get some weapons with auxiliary chips, like certain modules in Genava.”

Shang Jianyao’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! If I modify one hand into a machine, I won’t have to worry about Hands Immobility.”

Jiang Baimian instinctively believed that the topic would develop in a very dangerous direction, so she quickly asked about something else. “Didn’t you say that you were about to break through the third island?”

She had already confirmed that there were no surveillance cameras or hidden wires in the training room.

“I’ve already broken through,” Shang Jianyao replied in a tone like he was talking about what he had eaten for breakfast.

“What are the changes?” Jiang Baimian asked in pleasant surprise.

Shang Jianyao roughly described his experiment results and said, “The exact numbers can only be determined when Tester Little Red arrives, but they should be within the range I mentioned.”

“Why do you keep bullying Little Red?” Jiang Baimian laughed. “Come, I’ll volunteer.”

“Repeated trials are needed,” Shang Jianyao emphasized.

At this moment, Long Yuehong—who had changed into his training clothes—walked in and asked with a smile, “Why are you guys chatting so happily?”

Just as he said that, he saw Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian cast their gazes at him at the same time.

“W-what do you want?” Long Yuehong took a step back in fright and almost bumped into Bai Chen—who was about to enter.

After a while, the Old Task Force’s team activity ended.

Jiang Baimian nodded and said, “It increased by about 50%.”

Inference Clowning’s exact range was nine meters.

“I wonder what Shang Jianyao’s next island will be like…” Long Yuehong muttered to himself curiously.

Shang Jianyao thought about it seriously and replied, “I think the islands are the ones I should be afraid of.”

“How confident!” Jiang Baimian laughed. “Come, exercise your body and prepare for training!”

This didn’t include Bai Chen; the fracture in her shoulder hadn’t completely healed. The main reason she came to the training room was to maintain her physical condition.

At the end of the training, Jiang Baimian recalled Uncle Mei she had met last night and turned to look at Shang Jianyao. “Do you still remember who presided over the C-14 project you participated in? Have you met a person by the name ‘Mei Shou’an?'”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “There was only a bed when I entered. A nurse wearing a mask injected me with anesthetic before I fell asleep and entered Star Cluster Hall. When I woke up, I was questioned and examined by different researchers. However, I don’t know what Mei Shou’an looks like.”

Why didn’t you say so earlier? Jiang Baimian immediately described Mei Shou’an’s appearance.

At this moment, Long Yuehong and Bai Chen were looking at Shang Jianyao, waiting for his answer. They were rather interested in the research project Shang Jianyao had participated in.

Shang Jianyao quickly said with certainty, “I just flipped through my memories last night. There’s no such person.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian didn’t press on.

The four of them then separated and headed to the small bathhouse.

After washing themselves and changing their clothes, they met up in the corridor before returning to Room 14 together.

At the door, Jiang Baimian casually checked the mailbox. There was a letter lying inside.

She took it out and saw that the recipient was Shang Jianyao.

“Yours.” Jiang Baimian threw the letter to Shang Jianyao as she entered the room. She didn’t find this too strange because the Old Task Force’s room was Shang Jianyao’s ‘office.’ It was very normal for a letter to be sent here.

Shang Jianyao quickly opened it and glanced at it before calmly saying, “The C-14 project wants me to do a test. This is part of a six-month follow-up observation.”

He had gone to the surface at the half-year mark, so the letter arrived the moment he returned.