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墨書 Inktalez
The passageway marked by the Brick Wall displayed clear Erosion Marks, revealing varying depths of impressions left by the uneven Pavement. I was puzzled; although there were signs of Moss having once grown here, everything was remarkably clean, unlike any Urban Drainage System I had encountered before. Whether modern or Ancient Drainage Systems, they could never be this pristine, and the Ancient Drainage Systems certainly wouldn’t separate sewage from rainwater. This network resembled a Surface Water Collection Channel more than anything else.
This was not entirely inexplicable; historically, this area had seen oases and even Fertile Marshlands. However, drought was the norm, and even during periods of ample water supply, it remained surrounded by wasteland. The civilization's desire for abundant water and fear of scarcity led to the establishment of a vast Underground Water Storage System, which made perfect sense.
As I moved forward, my conviction grew stronger. The smooth Ground showed no signs of dirt or sediment, just a thin layer of dust. It was evident that this civilization placed great importance on the quality of water introduced into their channels, filtering it before it reached underground.
After about an hour of careful exploration, I came across a Branch that was quite obvious. Our direction was upstream along the water channel, as indicated by the slight incline. The angle of the Branch was gentle, with two passages converging from different directions into the channel we were retracing our steps through. The design of the passage also indicated the flow of water.
We paused here to mark our spot on the Ground before heading back. We had agreed before our search that if we found any traces of Song Guilong or discovered the first Branch, we would return immediately.
Upon reaching the Escape Pod, I noticed Xiao Guolin's team had already returned and were engaged in a heated argument. I briefly reported my findings, and while they momentarily ceased their quarrel to listen, as soon as I finished speaking, the bickering resumed. I chose not to leave but sat quietly to listen. I had no intention of joining their dispute or vying for control; however, I had my own thoughts and a task to complete. Their argument aligned with my purpose.
I needed to find Song Guilong. I wanted to understand what was happening and bring him back! Not just for myself but also for Li Squad Leader. This decision had crystallized in my mind over these past two hours.
I silently repeated to myself that I would bring him back. Afterward, I was surprised that I did not include the words "alive." Those two words had always been sensitive for me; I had previously corrected Li Squad Leader's wording on this matter. Now I found myself doing the same—had I changed?
They were debating who would go in search of water sources, specifically arguing about Liu Squad Leader's fate.
Liu Squad Leader was adamant about going; he insisted he would do so unless he was executed on the spot. Given his condition, it would be difficult for him to survive this outing, leading everyone to strongly oppose his decision. The disagreement escalated into a tense standoff.
This highlighted Zhao Squad Leader's weakness; none of his tactics seemed effective against Liu Squad Leader. I wasn't sure how Li Squad Leader would handle this situation, but I believed he would soon manage to bring Liu Squad Leader into line.
I remained silent, instinctively hiding my face in the shadows while observing them closely—especially Liu Squad Leader. His face appeared flushed due to agitation, which was concerning for someone who had lost a significant amount of blood. I worried that his fragile skull injury might lead to further bleeding. However, compared to before, he seemed much calmer now; his facial expressions were straightforward and his speech concise and resolute.
I realized he was deliberately mimicking Li Squad Leader; though still immature in demeanor, there was a certain essence to it. Just as both sides fell into a tense silence, Liu Squad Leader suddenly shouted decisively: “Stop trying to persuade me! If you think I'm incapable, I'll go alone. That's final.”
The momentum was almost like that of Li Squad Leader manifesting.
From the very beginning, I knew Liu Squad Leader's purpose. He wasn't looking for a water source; he was after Song Guilong, just like me. I had been listening in, and no one opposed it because my name was definitely on the list for this outing. Among the three members of the Archaeology team here, I was the youngest, in good health, and without any obvious injuries, making me the top candidate for this mission. In this situation, I had a say and could influence the outcome. Of course, I would support Liu Squad Leader going; he was already determined to do so. Besides, I had always wanted to know what Li Squad Leader had discovered in those five minutes. As it stood, the only way to get that information was from Liu Squad Leader.
"I support Liu Squad Leader going," I said, immediately drawing several sharp gazes.
I didn't back down; I stepped out of the shadows and continued, "Unless you all are willing to let him go alone." I directed my gaze toward Zhao Squad Leader.
Zhao Squad Leader hesitated. He couldn't grasp the complex situation before him, and things were spiraling out of control. Seizing the opportunity, I added, "He won't be at ease staying here; I'm willing to take care of him on the way."
"I don't need anyone to take care of me," Liu Squad Leader replied dismissively, his expression calm. "I have no issues; I've dealt with worse injuries before."
What a show-off, I thought bitterly.
My interference created a divide in what had been a one-sided discussion. Liu Squad Leader's insistence and Zhao Squad Leader's weakness quickly turned the tide within a short time, shifting the focus of the discussion to specific candidates. There was no longer any need to debate whether Liu Squad Leader should go or stay.
In the end, the chosen ones to go out in search of water were me, Liu Squad Leader, Zhao Squad Leader, Xiao Guolin, and Xu Xinming. Later on, Cao Mingzhe insisted on joining us as well. Each person took a bit of water and could grab more compressed food; everyone was preparing for departure.
While a few soldiers were redistributing firearms, I found Medic and asked him for two doses of Morphine. Reluctantly, he handed them over and asked me, "What do you need this for? Where are you hurt?"
"This operation could have unknown dangers; it's better to be prepared," I replied.
Just as I was about to leave, Medic called out to me: "Is Liu Squad Leader going too?"
"Yes," I confirmed.
"I heard it, it was your idea."
"It seems this time you plan to kill him."
Damn. If I weren't busy bandaging the wounded, I could really go up and kick him to death.
"Come back alive." The Medic didn't look up when he said this.
These two doses of Morphine were prepared for Liu Squad Leader. I knew that if he wanted everyone to agree to let him participate in this operation, he had to show that his injuries were not serious enough to affect his performance, so he couldn't go to the Medic for Morphine. I was well aware of Liu Squad Leader's injuries; the reality was different. If I wanted things to go smoothly, I had to be well-prepared.
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