The van bumped along the muddy road.
Led by the lead vehicle, we turned onto a hidden side road.
The dim headlights pierced the rain, illuminating the makeshift military camp ahead.
The warning lights on the barbed wire fence flashed red regularly as armed taxi drivers patrolled.
"Arrive."
Old Meng stepped on the brakes, and the car came to a steady stop at the campsite entrance.
Black Pipe pushed open the car door, the damp air, mixed with the smell of diesel, rushed out.
Looking up, they saw a tall figure in black combat uniform standing with his back to them in front of the command tent in the center of the camp.
Rainwater slid down the outline of the tactical vest, accumulating into small puddles at his feet.
"Sister Ren Fei!"
Wang Zhenqiu was the first to recognize the figure from behind and waved excitedly.
Ren Fei, who had noticed them earlier, turned around, nodded to the temporary workers, and waved, saying, "Follow me!"
The crowd filed in after her toward the tent.
The temperature inside the tent wasn't much higher than outside, and a few emergency lights cast a stark white light on the map table.
Ren Fei pulled a document from a waterproof file folder and pushed it in front of everyone.
"I know you have many questions. Take a look at this first; it has been authorized by higher-ups."
The document cover is stamped with a red seal that reads 'Special Operations-0724'.
Once activated, it showed a photograph taken by a space telescope.
Against the backdrop of the pitch-black universe, a streak of purple light sliced through the galaxy like a sharp blade, its tail flame displaying an eerie spiral pattern.
"An unusual celestial body detected two hours ago?" Xiao Zizai raised an eyebrow.
"It's not a celestial body." Ren Fei shook her head and raised her hand to bring up a video.
In the scene, the streak of light suddenly slowed down after entering the atmosphere, the energy fluctuations at its tail gradually subsided, and finally it transformed into a human-shaped silhouette and fell into Biyou Village.
Black Pipe frowned and asked, "Third kind of contact?"
Ren Fei shook her head and said, "It's impossible to be sure. The appearance we extracted is exactly the same as a normal person's, and it even has Chinese features."
"If his entrance hadn't been so shocking, perhaps no one would have questioned his identity if he appeared in the city."
Now everyone understood why the military had been present at this location.
Extraterrestrials came to this world, their appearance was almost identical to that of Chinese people, and they even landed in Hua Country.
Zhang Chulan frowned, his doubts deepening, but he didn't say anything. He simply moved closer to Feng Baobao, signaling her with his eyes not to make any rash moves.
Seeing the look Zhang Chulan gave her, Feng Baobao quickly nodded and gave an OK sign.
Among those present, there were quite a few intelligent people; apart from Zhang Chulan, the others had also thought of that question.
But the only one who dared to say it out loud was Wang Zhenqiu.
"I'm not trying to be mean, but shouldn't this level of 'anomaly' be the job of the military or some secretive department? How did our company get involved?"
Upon hearing this, Ren Fei took out another file, which contained a photo of another person.
She has long, slightly pinkish hair and appears to be around thirty years old.
There is a mole below each eye.
She wore a white robe, was barefoot, had red beaded bracelets on her wrists and ankles, and wore a necklace around her neck.
His head was wrapped in a bandage, and below it was a sunken scar that had formed after an injury healed.
It was Ma Xianhong, the village chief of Biyou Village, who became the company's target.
Ren Fei pasted the two photos side by side on the map.
The image of the extraterrestrial being and Ma Xianhong's ID photo were less than ten centimeters apart, yet they presented a strange symmetry, like looking in a mirror.
The same brow bone arch, consistent lip line direction, and even the fine wrinkles at the corner of the left eye are identical.
The only difference was that the extraterrestrial had a strange mark between his eyebrows, while Ma Xianhong's forehead was covered by bandages.
Given their similar appearances and landing locations, it's unlikely that the higher-ups would consider this a coincidence.
This is why the authorities allowed company personnel to enter the restricted area.
The military had long considered contact with extraterrestrials as a planned operation, but needed a 'litmus test' to ascertain the truth.
The company is essentially a semi-official, non-governmental organization that has not received formal administrative recognition, and the temporary workers are a special group that exists on the fringes of the system.
If any unexpected situation arises during the operation, they can quickly distance themselves from the company and blame all responsibility on these 'civilian forces'.
This perfectly avoids the risks and responsibilities that might arise from direct military intervention.
The air pressure inside the tent dropped sharply.
Everyone present could guess what Ren Fei was thinking, and Ren Fei didn't care about that.
Temporary workers are just tools, nothing more.
Zhang Chulan stared at the two overlapping photos on the map, a bitter feeling rising in his throat.
The company needs to prove its value to senior management, and these temporary workers are nothing more than pawns on the chessboard that can be discarded at any time.
However, once some things are said, they can make an already tense situation even more difficult to resolve.
"So what are the mission details?" Zhang Chulan broke the silence, his tone as calm as if he were discussing routine work.
Ren Fei's gaze swept over the crowd, and she said leisurely, "Enter Biyou Village, using the original mission as an excuse, to probe the connection between Ma Xianhong and the target."
Everyone nodded in silence, not daring to refuse.
Ren Fei continued, "We'll rest at the camp tonight, and operate at dawn tomorrow. Remember..."
She turned to look at the crowd, "Don't have any illusions about the 'target.' The enemy's individual combat strength is very strong, extremely strong, but we can't rule out the possibility of high-tech equipment as a factor!"
The group dispersed in silence and went to another tent to rest.
I don't know how much time passed.
The sound of rain outside the tent gradually subsided, and a sliver of light shone through the crack in the door.
Zhang Chulan sat up and found that the others were already awake and were silently organizing their equipment.
"Awake?" Black Pipe looked up at him. "We'll assemble in five minutes. Ren Fei, wait outside the tent."
As everyone filed out of the camp, the rain had stopped, and the outline of Biyou Village was faintly visible in the morning mist.
Ren Fei stood beside the off-road vehicle, wearing a tactical vest over a rain poncho.
"Just received word that the military completed the outer perimeter lockdown last night! One last thing: be careful, don't die."
In the morning light, everyone boarded the off-road vehicle.
Old Meng started the engine, and the car bumped and jolted as it drove into the mountains.
Before long, the archway of Biyou Village appeared prominently in front of them, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.
Looking at the corn drying at the village entrance and the chickens in the bamboo baskets, Wang Zhenqiu suddenly laughed and said, "Look at this lively atmosphere! Who would have thought an alien was hiding here?"
"Didn't I already say it might not be an alien? Maybe it's a time traveler? Have you read the novel?"
Xiao Zizai noticed Wang Zhenqiu's frustration and casually cracked a joke.
The off-road vehicle slowly drove into Biyou Village.
The tires rolled over the muddy dirt road after the rain, splashing up tiny droplets of water.
Under a tree at the village entrance, several elderly people were smoking pipes and playing chess. They looked up briefly when they heard the engine, then continued studying the game.
"This village looks pretty ordinary."
Zhang Chulan rolled down the car window and smelled the aroma of firewood and cooked rice wafting through the air.
On the threshing ground not far away, several women were turning over the newly harvested rice to dry, occasionally exchanging a few words and laughter in their local dialect.
Wang Zhenqiu laughed and said, "It's much more normal than I imagined. I thought I'd see some kind of alien base."
Upon reaching the center of the village, several figures appeared and stopped the car.
Some villagers dressed in simple clothes gathered around, their eyes filled with wariness and curiosity.
The three people at the head of the group slowly walked over.
The man was as muscular as an iron tower, with a bronze-colored face that gleamed with an oily sheen, and deep-set eyes characteristic of the Mongolian people.
The man was short and stocky, with dark skin, and a mud-covered Luoyang shovel was tucked into his waistband.
The remaining person looked like an ordinary little girl, with pigtails, round cheeks, and wearing a floral dress, looking at the people getting off the bus with curiosity.
Where do you come from?
Har Chagai first, his voice booming so loudly it made the car windows vibrate.
"We want to see Village Chief Ma."
Zhang Chulan didn't answer Har Chagai's question, but instead said, "I heard the village can cure strange diseases, and my brother here..."
He then stepped aside to make way for Xiao Zizai behind him, saying, "He's a patient."
Xiao Zizai adjusted his glasses in cooperation, a hint of crimson flashing in his eyes.
The three of them felt a murderous aura rushing towards them, as if countless blades were scraping against the panel.
"Patient?"
Har Chagai his hand on his waist and said in a low voice, "The village only treats heart wounds, not blood demons."
"Misunderstand."
Zhang Chulan stepped forward, blocking Xiao Zizai's view. "We've only heard that Village Chief Ma has great abilities and want to ask him for a solution, also in order to Biyou Village."
As he spoke, he emphasized, "We're all in the same circle!"
Har Chagai slowly removed his hand from his waist, a hint of surprise flashing across his bronze face.
"From the circle?"
He looked everyone up and down, his gaze lingering on Xiao Zizai for a moment before he suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.
"You should have said so earlier! These days, there aren't many extraordinary individuals willing to come to Biyou Village! Come with me, I'll take you to see Village Chief Ma!"
Har Chagai turned and led the way, his broad back like a moving wall, his footsteps making a 'plop' sound on the muddy ground.
The other two were standing nearby, clearly not yet fully trusting Zhang Chulan and the others.
After navigating several narrow dirt roads, the group arrived at a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles.
Har Chagai and knocked on the door; the clanging of the brass rings was particularly clear in the quiet village.
"Village Chief! A mysterious person has come seeking refuge!"
A moment later, soft footsteps came from inside the door, and the wooden door creaked open, releasing a waft of sandalwood fragrance.
The person who opened the door was a young man dressed in a white robe, with a faded bandage wrapped around his forehead. He was the same person in Ren Fei's photo, Ma Xianhong.
Ma Xianhong scanned the crowd, finally settling on Zhang Chulan, and then revealed a gentle smile.
Zhang Chulan!
Then, looking at the others, he asked, "So you're all employees of the company?"
Har Chagai's face instantly turned ashen; he realized he had been deceived and roared, "Liar!"
What good things could come from company employees coming to Biyou Village?
Ma Xianhong raised his hand and pressed Har Chagai's shoulder, "Guests are welcome. You go and take care of your business. I'll handle things here!"
The moment Har Chagai's shoulders were pressed down, he gradually relaxed like a tamed wild beast.
He glared at Zhang Chulan and the others, a muffled groan escaping his throat, before finally turning away and leaving with the other two.
"Please come in!"
Ma Xianhong stepped aside to make way, and Zhang Chulan and the others crossed the threshold.
The main room was simply furnished, with several landscape paintings hanging on the walls and medicine jars and ancient books on the table.
A greyish-white figure flashed past from behind the bamboo curtain on the east side.
The man sat quietly in the shadows, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the table, a complex mark faintly visible between his brows.
It is the 'person from outer space' in Ren Fei's photo.
"And this is...?" Zhang Chulan asked, feigning surprise.
"My brother, my own brother!" Ma Xianhong's voice trembled slightly.
I have been searching for my relatives for a long time.
To achieve this goal, he even betrayed his enemy and became his father. If it weren't for Hoshino's appearance, he might still be in that person's control.
Ma Xianhong turned sideways and lifted the bamboo curtain, revealing the person sitting quietly in the shadows.
Her long, gray hair fell to her waist; she had delicate features; her eyes were closed; and the purple mark between her brows gave her an exotic air.
The main room was completely silent.
Wang Zhenqiu's fingers hung in mid-air, as if nailed down and unable to move.
The legendary 'person from beyond the heavens' appeared before them so easily, sitting quietly behind a bamboo curtain, looking as handsome as an ordinary scholar.
"My younger brother?"
The Black Pipe frowned.
Ren Fei's warning still echoed in his ears: don't harbor any illusions about the target.
Hoshino, standing before me, had her eyes closed and her pale face radiated a sickly gentleness; she didn't look like a dangerous individual at all.
Feng Baobao tilted her head and suddenly reached out to touch Hoshino's long hair.
Just as Zhang Chulan was about to reach out and grab her, he saw Hoshino's eyelashes tremble slightly, and she didn't stop Feng Baobao's actions.
Feng Baobao's fingertips touched Hoshino's long hair.
The strands of hair seemed to flow like light, gently entwining in her palm, only to return to normal in the next instant.
Everyone held their breath, but Hoshino smiled faintly, and the mark between his brows glowed with a soft purple light, as if responding to this sudden act of kindness.
"Nice hair quality." Feng Baobao withdrew her hand. "Much smoother than the wild man hair I picked up in the mountains."
Wang Zhenqiu almost burst out laughing, but quickly covered it up with a cough, saying, " Feng Baobao, your way of greeting me is a bit too direct!"
He made a gesture as if to touch her hair, but stopped half an inch before touching the tip of Hoshino's hair. A subtle repulsive force rippled outwards, causing his wrist to unconsciously deflect half an inch.
"Hey, it even has automatic defense?"
" Feng Baobao's 'head pat' unlocks hidden storylines, so why did I trigger an alarm?"
Hoshino smiled faintly, "Because she's different! The immortals of this world must experience it firsthand!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the main room instantly became subtle.
Feng Baobao tilted her head, staring at the purple mark between Hoshino's eyebrows with a look of understanding but not quite, while Zhang Chulan subconsciously clenched his fist.
When it comes to immortals, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is immortality, and that is precisely Feng Baobao's biggest secret.
How did the other party find out? Was it just a coincidence?
No, impossible!
The fact that the other person said he was an immortal suggests that he likely knows Feng Baobao's true origins and has some understanding of him.
"Oh?"
Xiao Zizai pushed up his glasses. "What you said is interesting, young man. Have you perhaps seen a real immortal?"
Hoshino calmly replied, "I've never seen a true immortal! But if we're talking about a certain realm, I... I am one right now!"