Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"He's a strange person," Jack said, not too surprised.
I glanced at Jack. "That's because you haven't seen him awaken his abilities; otherwise, you wouldn't think he's strange, but terrifying."
"I think there's nothing that can scare me anymore. The scariest thing in your hands right now is that Antimatter Bomb. Damn! You actually handed it to me!" Jack shook his head in agony. "This is your business; you promised to tell me what you know. Since you've told me this, you won't hold back on the information about Lop Nur Underground, right?"
I took a deep breath. "Yes, I will definitely tell you. Even without this deal, I would inform you about the situation in Lop Nur Underground and everyone who intends to enter it. However, this story is a bit long; are you ready?"
"Sure, I've been preparing for this for months."
Across the bar, under the dim light above the counter, after finishing a large bottle of red wine, I began my story just as sunlight streamed through the curtains.
I recounted our experiences in Lop Nur Underground clearly, but I focused most on the terrain I traversed and combined it with Ground to provide a rough location coordinate.
The only reference point for Ground could be the Yadan Landform Group. In the Lop Nur desert area, quicksand can change surface features at any moment; apart from that Yadan Landform Group, other places are shifting and cannot serve as reference points for determining coordinates on Ground.
However, the Yadan Landform Group is vast. Using it as a reference also fails to provide accurate positioning underground. I could only use the section of Yadan Landform Group closest to where we initially dug the Test Pit as a reference point. But this would lead to significant errors; there was no way around it—this was all I could do; it couldn't be more precise.
When mapping the Yadan Landform Group, I revisited places where I had once worked. I could even estimate the approximate location of my Test Pit excavation. Yet all I saw before me and beneath my feet was endless yellow sand; the once vibrant scene, with steel frames crisscrossing in the air and iron plates welded into Ground, had become mere memories.
I didn't know how much of that had been dismantled, but I believed that most—if not almost all—had vanished during that Black Sandstorm. They might have been swept away to distant places or buried underground.
If I could find that Test Pit I once excavated and pinpoint it there, that would yield the most accurate coordinates. From that coordinate to locate the Underground Passage's position on Ground, I believed the error could be measured in meters.
Jack was more concerned about how we emerged from the Underground Passage. To this, I truly had no answer; it remained a mystery to me as well. All I could share were my genuine feelings: it felt somewhat similar to emerging from the Hakka People's Underground Cavern but not entirely the same—like an even greater discomfort.
"Jack, you can experience it yourself. It's hard to explain to others who haven't gone through this. Even if you tell them a hundred times, they won't understand. You're different; you have experienced coming out of the Hakka People's Underground Cavern. You should be able to grasp it."
I had always thought that white people hadn't fully evolved; their excessive body hair was the most obvious characteristic. Jack was one of those examples. Just one night later, he had grown another layer of fuzzy beard and facial hair.
After staying up all night and drinking for hours, I could only imagine how haggard I looked. Without needing a mirror, I had Jack as my reference. His face was slightly swollen, pale, and his eyes were devoid of life. I probably looked the same.
But suddenly, Jack's pale face flushed bright red, the golden fuzz on his cheeks unable to conceal the anger that radiated from him.
"I don't understand! But I don't need you to tell me a hundred times! Just once is enough—your feelings. Not a comparison with the Hakka People or the Underground Cavern!"
"Isn't it more meaningful this way? Of course, I want my own feelings when talking to others, but comparing it to the Hakka People’s cavern makes it clearer for you!"
I noticed Jack's left lip twitch violently, and it struck me that at that moment, he had been unconscious—at least not fully aware. He hadn't seen the Eternal Gate of the Hakka People; how to leave the Hakka People's Underground Cavern was a mystery to him as well.
Of course, it was a mystery to me too, but at least I had that experience and memory; he only had unconsciousness.
A faint sadness welled up inside me. The American guy had fought hard to catch a glimpse of the Eternal Gate, only to see nothing at all; he had to learn about the experience from my words. No wonder he was so agitated and angry. It felt unjust for him.
"Alright, Jack, calm down. That expression of yours is quite frightening."
As I tried to soothe Jack, I shared my feelings with him, recounting both strange experiences of leaving the underground and comparing the subtle differences between them.
"Can you say that again?" My pace was slow, but Jack's complexion had returned to normal. However, he seemed to have forgotten his promise of wanting just one explanation.
I knew that even if I repeated myself a hundred times, he would never fully understand. Someone who hadn't experienced it could never grasp that feeling.
"Jack, I can repeat it again, but I think it won't mean much." After pondering for a moment, I continued, "Have you ever eaten black truffle risotto?"
"You probably think you've had black truffle. No need to brag; I don't like that taste—it reminds me of old bedsheets that haven't been washed in half a year."
I wasn't trying to brag; black truffles are more recognized by Europeans and North Americans, making this analogy easier for them to understand. I could have compared it to stinky tofu instead, but would the American guy even know what that is?
"Well then, it's good that you've eaten it. Since you've tried that dish, no matter how I explain it to you, you'll have your own feelings about it and can compare my description with your experience to discern the subtle differences in sensation. If you hadn't eaten black truffle, whether I said it once or a hundred times would make no difference—my words would still be the same. Would you understand after one time? Or after a hundred?"
Still, I repeated what I'd just said. As expected, Jack still looked bewildered; however, he didn't insist on hearing it a hundred times. It seemed he was disappointed in not being able to fully grasp my feelings.
"I want to go back." Jack made a decision that surprised me.
"Where are you going back to? You can't be seriously thinking of returning to the Underground Cavern of the Hakka People."
"Is that not allowed? The feeling you described is quite strange, more like breaking through a spatial barrier. Do you know how valuable such firsthand experience is for us professionals in Spatial Physics?"
"Weren't you studying medicine? When did you become an expert in Spatial Physics?"
"Medicine is my elective course; it's a family tradition. There are many medical experts in my family. My major is Fundamental Physics and Spatial Physics."
"You've got a degree in an elective? Your IQ must be 160."
"Not that high, just 1."
"Just 1," I gritted my teeth. (To Be Continued...)
Comment 0 Comment Count