The Great Desert

When I got off the plane, my head still felt a little dizzy.

Of course, it wasn't airsickness. I was simply stunned by Lin Xue's organization.

I never imagined they could build an underground airport in such a concealed place! When I entered that futuristic underground structure, I even thought I had stepped into a science-fiction film. Then the shuttle-shaped "plane" we boarded left me marveling that human technology had advanced to such an extent!

Lin Xue explained, "In fact, humanity mastered many technologies that only appear in science-fiction films long ago. But to avoid causing too great an impact on people's existing way of life, those technologies have been carefully restricted. Only extremely important military departments and special organizations like ours can make use of this 'future' technology. Besides that, certain more unusual forces possess some special techniques as well, but that isn't something you or I should be discussing."

Compared with my amazement, Qian Qian was much less flustered. Although she looked around curiously the entire way, perhaps learning about Espers had made her immune to whatever might happen next. She was far calmer than I was.

As for Pandora... in her words, having grown accustomed to modern life, it was still quite entertaining to observe the primitive technology of the Ancients...

So I was the only country bumpkin here?

The shuttle-shaped plane flew directly into a massive building and stopped in a spacious hall. Lin Xue told me that this was a Secret Base established by their organization deep within the Taklamakan Desert.

"Lin Xue, it looks like you have quite a high position here?" Seeing every staff member we passed stop respectfully to greet Lin Xue, I asked in surprise.

"Of course," Lin Xue said proudly. "Did you forget what I told you? There are only a little over twenty Espers in our entire organization. In other words, the twenty-odd of us are the leaders of the whole organization!"

I had nearly forgotten. Espers were a rare species in this world. How could something like using Espers as common foot soldiers possibly happen in reality?

"So, Chen Jun, do you want to reconsider joining us? You've seen it yourself—we're pretty impressive."

"I'm sorry..." For the life and death of all humanity, I absolutely could not join any human organization.

"Um..." In such a heavily guarded base, Qian Qian finally reined in her usual personality and asked somewhat timidly, "When are we going to look for my dad?"

"No, we'll rest for a day first. Tomorrow, we'll meet a very special old man, and then we'll set off together."

"Is the place we're going very dangerous?" I keenly noticed a trace of gravity in Lin Xue's expression.

"Not especially dangerous." Lin Xue shook her head. "More accurately, it's a little strange."

"Strange?"

"Do you think something that requires Espers to handle could possibly be normal?" Lin Xue rolled her eyes at me. "Ever since I joined the organization, I've dealt with all kinds of strange things. This time is just a little stranger than usual—that's enough. Your rooms are up ahead. Go in and get some rest first. I'll come find you at dinner time. Chen Jun, why are you grinning like an idiot? There are separate rooms inside. Don't think I wouldn't have considered that!"

During the break

Pandora and I sat idly in the Living Room while the sound of Qian Qian showering came from the room next door.

"Does Brother want to watch?" Pandora asked quietly.

My gaze drifted toward the bathroom, and then I nodded firmly.

Pandora stood up, walked to the bathroom door, knocked on the glass, and said, "Sister Qian Qian, Brother says he wants to... mmph..."

I covered Pandora's mouth and dragged her back to the sofa. For an instant, I seemed to see a mischievous smile appear on her little face, which rarely showed any expression, as though her prank had succeeded. But when I looked carefully, Pandora had already returned to her usual icy expression.

Was it just my imagination?

Once I settled down, I stopped thinking about that nonsense and asked Pandora, "Did you find Uncle Xu? Did those satellites send back any clues?"

The little Loli in front of me shook her head. There was a barely noticeable hint of unwillingness in her voice. "No clues. No traces of human activity were found near the vague coordinates provided by Lin Xue, and energy scans did not detect any abnormal energy fluctuations."

"What about those commanders you mentioned who are especially skilled at searching? Did they find anything?"

"Nothing at all. The probes they deployed have already penetrated down to the underground magma layer, but they still have not found any traces of human activity."

...The magma layer? Was there really any need to go that far?

At that moment, I suddenly felt that this matter might not be so simple after all.

With their technology, Pandora's subordinates had surveyed the entire southern region of the Taklamakan Desert during this time. Pandora could now even give me an exact report on how many Sand Scorpions were underground in the southern desert, and how many were male or female. Yet they could not find a human expedition team that had been missing for less than two days?!

By then, Qian Qian had finished showering and changed into a loose white coat prepared by Lin Xue, the kind worn by the base staff. This clothing was said to be made of special materials. It offered a considerable degree of protection and could effectively withstand the desert's drastic temperature changes between day and night. Unfortunately, one of the substances in it interfered with an Esper's abilities, making it nothing but a burden to Lin Xue. For Qian Qian, though, it was just right.

"A Jun, what did Lily say you wanted just now?" Qian Qian asked as she dried her still-damp hair.

"Don't mind her. The little girl was bored. More importantly—Qian Qian, are you really going with us tomorrow?"

"Of course. I've already come all the way here, so how could I not go? That's my father! Besides, didn't Lin Xue say this operation needs my help?"

"Is that so..." I neither agreed nor disagreed. I had always doubted Lin Xue's claim. No matter how I looked at her, Qian Qian was just an ordinary girl. Her only connection to this incident was probably that one of the missing people was her father. So why did Lin Xue insist that Qian Qian would play a role in this matter? It was truly suspicious.

Just as Qian Qian and I were talking, there was a knock at the door, followed by Lin Xue's voice from outside. "Qian Qian, Lily, and what's-his-name—if you're free, come with me. I'll let you have a look at the Great Desert!"

...Why did I feel like Lin Xue had just looked down on me in some way?

Following behind Lin Xue, we finally left the Secret Base, whose interior was practically a maze, and arrived at the exit on the surface.

"Ah—" Qian Qian cried out. "This is the Great Desert?!"

"What a magnificent sight!" I exclaimed sincerely.

"..." Pandora's expression did not change as she perfectly played the part of a blind girl.

Before us stretched endless golden dunes. The unbroken dunes resembled motionless waves, reflecting beautiful golden-red light beneath the setting sun. Far away at the horizon, the boundless yellow sand seemed to connect with the sky, as though the entire world had been filled by this limitless desert. It could not help but make us feel our own insignificance and nature's greatness. Near the horizon, I also spotted several faint, short black lines and asked curiously, "Lin Xue, what are those?"

"A Populus euphratica forest," Lin Xue said with inexplicable reverence. "Alive for a thousand years without dying, dead for a thousand years without falling, fallen for a thousand years without decaying—the Tree of Heroes in the desert."

"The desert is so magnificent!" Qian Qian said in amazement. "Not merely magnificent—it should be called majestically beautiful!"

"Is that so?" Lin Xue smiled softly. "The desert is quiet right now. Once it becomes restless, you won't say that anymore. In fact, you need not even wait for it to become restless. The dunes in front of you are constantly moving. Some can shift hundreds of meters in a single night. If not for the special equipment around this base that can interfere with the dunes' paths, this underground base would become a giant tomb in just one day... I'm really grateful for my luck now. Thankfully, I wasn't assigned to be in charge of this damned place... All right, it's getting late. Let's go back and eat first."