Embers Ad Infinitum

Time waited for no one, so Shang Jianyao volunteered and moved the radio transceiver out of the trunk of the jeep.

Jiang Baimian took this opportunity to quickly draft the manuscript.

She was converting words into codes and sending telegrams.

Amidst the clicking sound, Long Yuehong couldn't help but mutter:

"Would it be impossible to send it out at all..."

They are now trapped in "Zhuang Sheng's" dream, and the matter of sending the telegram may be just their illusion.

Hearing Long Yuehong's worries, the honest Shang Jianyao sneered:

“Why didn’t you say that later attempts to call the mystery number might not be valid because they were false?

"Why not say that detonating nuclear warheads only exists in our dreams and will not be reflected in reality?"

Long Yuehong, who was already irritable and restless, did not flinch and replied:

"I just haven't had a chance to say it yet."

At this moment, anything they do while shrouded in dreams may not be real.

"But no matter what, you have to work hard to save yourself. You can't just stay there and wait to die because it's useless." Bai Chen interrupted the conversation between the two and expressed his point of view.

Long Yuehong immediately agreed:

"Yeah, I'm just raising a question, not against doing it.

"You will have a chance of survival if you do it. If you don't do it, you will be lost."

"The main reason is that there is no other way." This was Gnawa's conclusion after careful analysis.

If the "Old Tune Group" could escape from the dreamland by evacuating Taicheng like before, things would be much simpler.

During their exchange, Jiang Baimian finished the telegram, straightened up, and waited for a reply.

She looked around and said:

"I said in the telegram just to wait a minute."

"One minute? It's too late for the telegraph operator to ask for instructions..." Long Yuehong didn't quite understand.

Not to mention drafting the manuscript and translating it into code, which all take a lot of time.

Jiang Baimian explained simply:

"My request is that if the company receives the telegram, it should immediately make a simple reply to let us know that it is effective, so that we can wait patiently for subsequent calls back."

As for whether "Pangu Biology" would take too much time to translate the telegraph code, causing the telegraph operator to time out before reading the content, Jiang Baimian was not worried at all, because it was connected to the corresponding computer and the processing was extremely fast.

At this time, Shang Jianyao rubbed his chin and said with a smile:

"Will dreams give us a false reply and make us waste time waiting?"

He shouldn't be that smart... Who can be so sinister and vicious in their dreams? Long Yuehong subconsciously flashed such an idea.

He didn't say such words because he didn't know whether Zhi Sui could do it. After all, it was fundamentally different from ordinary people.

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and said:

“There are limits to what I’m saying about waiting.

"If the situation is really urgent and countermeasures must be taken immediately, we will definitely not wait any longer!

"Dogs know how to jump over walls when they are anxious, let alone us humans?"

She did not specifically distinguish between carbon-based humans and intelligent humans.

Bai Chen, Gnawa and others nodded one after another, paying attention to the changes in each other:

The carbon-based humans are gradually changing into student attire, while the intelligent humans are disappearing inch by inch from bottom to top.

When this relatively slow change is completed, they will be completely lost in the dream of "Zhuang Sheng".

The students in blue and white school uniforms and the older and stronger teachers who passed by turned a blind eye to their changes, as if it didn't happen at all.

A minute passed quickly, and there was no movement from the radio transceiver of the "Old Tune Team".

Turning his wrist and looking at his watch, Jiang Baimian remained silent and seemed a little hesitant.

According to the previously discussed plan and booking process, it was time for Gnawa to call the mysterious number provided by Avia.

That was left by Aure, the chief scientist of the Third Research Institute and the former emperor of the "Primary City".

He told his descendants not to call unless absolutely necessary, considering it a very dangerous thing.

Once Gnawa dials that number, subsequent changes are completely out of the control of the "Old Tune Team". Life or death depends entirely on luck.

If the situation is critical and a decision must be made in the blink of an eye, Jiang Baimian will definitely give the order without hesitation. She is not a rookie who only knows hesitation and fear and is unwilling to risk her life.

But now, judging from the "assimilation" speed of the dream, the "Old Tune Group" still has about three or four minutes left, and there is still room to wait for changes.

At this time, you have to make a decision that is impossible to stop from the beginning, is full of danger, and has no way of knowing whether it is good or bad. Everyone will be under pressure and everyone will have a certain degree of swing.

Jiang Baimian knew that he was afraid of death. There were so many beautiful places in life. Who would want to die when he had a choice?

She was like this, and the same was true for everyone else. Long Yuehong's breathing became heavy. For a moment, she hoped that the team leader would quickly give an order to end it all, and wait for the outcome. At the same time, she thought that she could save her a little more and wait for the company. There was no need. Entering into a process full of tendency to perish together in such a hurry.

Only then did he feel that his future was bright and his days were full of expectations. He really didn't want to get lost in Taicheng like this and die bit by bit in a dream.

In the seemingly frozen atmosphere, someone suddenly said loudly:

"Everyone is destined to die. Death may be heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather."

Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Gnawa all turned their heads and saw Shang Jianyao reciting ancient prose with a solemn face.

He paused and said without changing his expression:

"We came to Taicheng today to investigate the cause of the destruction of the old world and the origin of the 'innocent disease', and to ensure that all mankind has a future. Even if we die here, we will die in a worthy way, and it will be more important than Mount Tai!

“The spirit of The Salvation Army will never fade!”

After saying that, Shang Jianyao stretched out his right hand and pressed it on his left chest:

"For all mankind!"

Death is heavier than Mount Tai, and lighter than a feather... Jiang Baimian frowned slightly and repeated this sentence in his heart.

It is impossible to say that she who has experienced so many dangers and is still active on the front line of investigating the cause of the destruction of the old world is very timid and extremely afraid of death.

The fact that she walked to Taicheng step by step shows that she has overcome her inner fear of death time and time again, or that she believes that certain things are more important than life.

She is not an unexperienced recruit. She has experienced the feeling of near-death and knows the feeling of despair. She chose to continue investigating the cause of the destruction of the old world because she clearly knew how dangerous it was, rather than blindly confident in her strength.

If she was extremely scared, given her background, she could have chosen to be transferred from her current position, but she did not do so.

What she was afraid of was dying meaninglessly. What she was afraid of was that nothing had been investigated yet, and she was like some employees in the company who suddenly suffered from "unintentional illness" and had no power to resist.

At this moment, Jiang Baimian's mind suddenly echoed with the song he had been listening to in recent months:

"Do you still remember the dream you had when you were young? Like a flower that never withers..."

While humming the melody silently, Jiang Baimian turned his head and looked at Long Yuehong and Bai Chen.

Long Yuehong was still a little uneasy, but his left hand had quietly grasped Bai Chen's right palm.

The two stood very close, as if they were facing unknown dangers and an unpredictable future together.

Sensing Jiang Baimian's gaze, Bai Chen pursed his lips, smiled slightly and said:

"Perhaps I should have died when I was in the original city. I am very satisfied to be able to survive until now. With so many companions accompanying me, and Xiaohong and I facing each other hand in hand, I am very satisfied."

Hearing this, Long Yuehong tightened her grip on Bai Chen's right palm.

Bai Chen increased the strength of his reverse grip, lowered his head slightly, looked at the ground in front of him and said:

"I won't let go."

Jiang Baimian withdrew his gaze, nodded to Shang Jianyao, and then said to Gnawa:

"Old Ge, call the mysterious number provided by Avia now. Hurry up and leave time for other methods."

Her tone was calm, her voice neither high nor low.

"Wait a minute!" Shang Jianyao suddenly spoke up and said expectantly, "Lao Ge, please remember to play the sound so that everyone can know which step is going on."

"Okay." Gennava retrieved the mysterious string of garbled codes from the database.

Beep...beep...beep...

The dialing voice came from Gnawa's mouth.

Jingle Bell!

Suddenly, a ringtone rang, which seemed to be connected to a certain phone, and the sky became darker and darker, as if it was going to be completely dark.

Jingle Bell! Jingle Bell! Jingle Bell!

The next second, Jiang Baimian and others felt cell phone ringtones coming from all directions.

They looked in shock and found that the students and teachers passing by stopped at the same time, put their hands into their trouser pockets, pockets, bags, etc., and took out mobile phones of different styles.

Those cell phones are emitting the exact same ringtone!

Shang Jianyao was stunned for a moment and said:

"'Zhuang Sheng's condition is more serious than mine..."

When Jiang Baimian heard this, an idea flashed and he knew what was going on:

The mysterious number given by Avia points to the year-old "Zhuang Sheng" who represents the whole year!

And everyone in the dream of Taicheng No. 1 Senior High School is "Zhuang Sheng", one of his personalities!

He has a more serious split personality than Shang Jianyao!