Chapter 376

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Chapter 376: There’s a Smell Called Home
Also on that day.
Ma Shuo from the Changping City Mecha Corps sat in the mecha transport vehicle, opened the window, and kept blowing on his hands to keep warm.
“So cold, so cold.”
“What a hardship, having to go on an outdoor mission in this weather.”
“After a few days back in the city, I need to go to the temple to burn incense and get rid of this bad luck.”
Sitting in the back, Mecha Master Little Rong, with a great figure in his driving suit, suddenly stood up and closed the window.
“You are sick.”
“You are crazy for opening the window and feeling cold instead of using the heater in the car.”
Ma Shuo chuckled and said, “Just wanted to breathe some fresh air.”
While they were talking, the transport vehicle stopped, and the driver in front shouted, “Team, we have reached the designated location.”
“Alright.” Ma Shuo stood up, patted Little Rong on the shoulder, and said, “Go, find that Mecha Master we met halfway, what was his name again… Qi Yuan.”
“Bring him down too.”
After Little Rong left, Ma Shuo picked up the communicator and said, “Team, be alert for giant beasts, keep a close eye on the radar.”
Only then he climbed into the cargo bay of the mecha transport vehicle.
After a moment, the cargo bay opened, a mecha stood up from inside, and left the transport vehicle.
In the cockpit, Ma Shuo guided the mecha forward and after a moment, he saw a pile of rubble.
“How dreadful.”
“Qi Yuan, can you hear me?”
“Is this your base?”
A weak voice came through the communication channel, “Yes, this is our base.”
Ma Shuo fell silent.
A few days ago, the ground monitoring department of Changping City’s army discovered a suspicious signal.
Based on the colors in the signal spectrum, it appeared to be an Overlord-level giant beast.
However, the signal disappeared after a few seconds. Since the signal was not far from Changping City, for safety reasons, the Changping Army Group sent a team to investigate the area where the signal appeared.
Ma Shuo was unlucky and drew a bad lot, so he had to leave the underground city with his partner, Little Rong.
Unexpectedly, they encountered an old-fashioned mecha with no more energy on the way and accidentally bumped into Qi Yuan who had escaped from the base.
Based on Qi Yuan’s description, Ma Shuo was almost certain that there was no malfunction in the monitoring department’s equipment at that time.
Now, upon arriving at the scene, he became even more certain.
Next, some personnel entered the base ruins to collect samples and started testing with various instruments.
The most important test here was to detect the special radiation emitted by the giant beast.
Once the radiation level reached the standard of Overlord level, it could be confirmed that the Overlord Giant Beast was present.
Before long, Ma Shuo received a message.
The giant beast’s radiation level had reached the Overlord level standard. He gave a bitter smile, took out his phone, and reported the situation to the underground city.
*
*
*
Unknowingly.
Winter solstice arrived.
On this night, Luo Yan went to the ‘Red Door’ where the streets were decorated with lights and colors.
Under the big banyan tree in the temple street square, red lanterns were hanging everywhere.
Little by little, the underground city started to feel festive.
Luo Yan arrived at Jude Building and entered the quiet room where Yang Tao and Wen Zou usually met.
Yang Tao held a plate of dumplings and placed it on the table, looking expectantly at Luo Yan.
“Teacher, we eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice. Please try these, I made them in the afternoon.”
Luo Yan felt a bit dazed, faded memories flashing before his eyes. In those memories, there were warm lights, shadows of kneading dough in a small house, and the sound of hearty laughter.
These once familiar scenes now felt like they belonged to another world.
“Teacher?” Seeing Luo Yan’s lack of response, Yang Tao softly called out.
Luo Yan snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and picked up the chopsticks.
Wen Zou tactfully left the room.
At that moment, Luo Yan picked up a dumpling, removed his mask with the other hand, revealing a young yet stern face.
He took a bite, testing it.
Feeling the soft and chewy dumpling skin, tasting the delicious mix of meat filling and vegetable juice, allowing the taste of ‘home’ to gradually spread on the taste buds.
Soon, one dumpling was finished.
Yang Tao blinked, “How is it, teacher?”
“Not bad.”
“Just the meat filling is slightly salty.”
Luo Yan rarely commented, then put on a mask, “You have laid a good foundation and awakened the ‘Divine Hidden Art’.”
“Tonight, I will teach you the basic technique ‘Drinking Dawn Skill’.”
“Get ready in the practice room, I will discuss some important matters with Wen Zou before coming to find you.”
Yang Tao glanced at the plate with many dumplings still left, not concerned about the technique, but interested in the food, “Teacher, aren’t you going to eat a few more?”
Luo Yan’s eyes sparkled with a hint of a smile.
“I’ll have someone wrap it up for us to bring back and eat later.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Tao’s eyes lit up, “I’ll go get ready first.”
After the little girl left, Wen Zou came in.
“Sir, after this period of hard work, we have more or less digested assets from various sources.”
“In addition, following your instructions, we have given ‘Iron Horse’ 1 million work points, and old Guan and the others have started planning to recruit soldiers and buy horses.”
“Also, ‘Black Owl’ and ‘Dark Blood’ jointly sent an invitation, inviting our ‘Red Gate’ to attend the ‘New Year Banquet’ held every New Year’s Eve.”
“Mountain Falcon mentioned that their ‘Flower Shirt’ group has also participated in the past.”
“It’s called a night banquet, but it’s actually a gathering of organizations, big and small, to meet and define their respective power structures for the new year.”
“This is an invitation.”
While talking, the fake Taoist took out a red invitation from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Luo Yan.
Luo Yan took it, glanced at it casually, and then put it aside, saying, “I will attend.”
The two of them discussed some internal organizational matters, such as future development directions.
After Wen Zou left, Luo Yan received a message on his phone.
It was a message sent internally from Heiwu.
The rewards for the last team mission had been distributed. Luo Yan received 1500 contribution points and a bonus of 5 million work points.
But those were just what was visible on the surface.
Beneath the surface, the gains included a survivor camp, some of Cheng Baisen’s private assets, and two supply trucks from the ‘Yellow Spring’ organization.
Inside there were guns and ammunition worth a lot. Luo Yan accepted them without hesitation and used them to arm his people.
Put away the phone and go to the practice room.
Luo Yan bought this beginner’s martial arts manual called “Drinking Mist Technique” for 200 contribution points from the ‘Heiwu’ online store. He explained the first layer of the technique to Yang Tao in detail and guided her in practicing it.
That’s how they spent the night, and the next morning, Luo Yan returned to the academy.
As soon as he entered the classroom, students inside were talking excitedly. As soon as Luo Yan walked in, Zeng Shan pulled him over.
“Old Luo, have you heard? Captain Di.”
“No, you should call him City Lord now.”
“Anyway, City Lord Di Zheng just announced something big.”
“He plans to popularize the Visualization Technique, lowering the age limit. Anyone over 12 years old can practice the ‘Building Element Book’.”
“If you meet the requirements, you can learn basic martial arts, and if you get into Mecha Academy, you can learn intermediate-level skills!”
“As a result, in ten years, most residents of the underground city will master Visualization Technique!”