Chapter 15: One Year Later

The main base in the northwest was situated halfway up a mountainside, perched on a cliff, with a small waterfall nearby. Each and every cave on the cliff had been cleared out, some adapted for habitation, some for storing food, others for collecting drinking water. Some had become offices and conference rooms, while others served as playgrounds and classrooms for the children.

Around the mountainside, various defensive weapons such as crossbows and spears had been installed. The tips of these weapons were all coated with a deadly mix of toxins. Numerous life-saving supplies were organized, including makeshift parachutes, lifebuoys, and first aid kits. The entire cliff was adorned with insect-repelling plants, and a multitude of rope ladders and ropes were set up. Additionally, several makeshift shelters were built on nearby slopes and in trees, learning from the lessons of the previous disaster – people realized they couldn't afford to lose again.

The former mayor of the small town had also disappeared, and the whereabouts of most young people were unknown.

In this new environment, one needed not only charisma and credibility but also the ability to thoroughly and accurately analyze the situation. These were qualities that even the most adept politicians would struggle to possess during stable times.

Thus, the survivors rallied around the surviving scholars from the institute and some of the town's public servants to establish a new administrative system.

The new social structure was a work in progress, with everything needing to start anew. First in line was the matter of measurement. After a collective vote, they decided to use the original world's units of measurement. People had no idea how much they had shrunk, or perhaps the world had expanded. So, they used their known heights and weights as a basis to re-calculate and redefine meters, kilograms, and other units. Using this framework, teams of scientists set to work on calculating the fundamental constants of physics and chemistry. Of course, aside from their own height remaining over a meter, everything else in this world was on a colossal scale. Grass could grow a hundred meters tall, and trees could reach tens of thousands of meters. With these statistics in hand, people truly grasped the meaning of "A huge bird spreads its wings for ninety thousand miles" and "In the Northern Ocean, there's a fish called the Kun. The Kun is so enormous, a pot of soup can't contain it."

Old Man Jin had become the new leader of the base. With his extensive knowledge and fairness, he led everyone in constructing this new homeland. Under his guidance, a new scientific team was formed, mostly comprised of former colleagues from the institute.

After multiple calculations and speculations, the scientific team arrived at a less optimistic conclusion. Airplanes were nowhere to be seen in the sky here, and there were no traces of human activity on the ground. Judging by the variety of flora and fauna, this place could very well be a secluded island world, or perhaps a new world beyond Earth. However, whether it was extraterrestrial was still a topic of debate and dissent; further exploration was needed to confirm. Regardless of the possibility, the chances of being found by the outside world were extremely slim. In other words, they might have to live here for many years. If this was Earth, developing technology, creating various devices, and establishing contact with the human world – with an abundance of mineral resources – would take at least five years to escape this island. As for returning to the town through reverse experimentation or restoration, it would require a technological accumulation of thirty to fifty years, assuming everything went smoothly.

The scientific team didn't hide this situation. These people, who had experienced separation and near-death encounters, had grown even stronger in their capacity to accept. Consequently, education became a priority for the next generation; schools were established since knowledge was something they didn't lack, and fostering civilization came naturally.

Facing the pressures of survival, the high-intellect individuals from the institute showcased their brilliance. Despite having primitive tools, they cleverly utilized the abundant wood resources, resulting in a diverse array of structures on the cliff platform. Large boiler rooms and cafeterias were also constructed, and within a few short months, the foundation of civilization seemed to grow like a soaring bird. The geological team was organizing survey teams to address the iron ore issue. From their experience, a civilization without iron tools would inevitably hit a bottleneck.

However, with the realization that an immediate return to their original world might not be feasible, the attitudes of some individuals began to subtly shift. Yet, Jin, busy with survival and construction, and the scientific team, engrossed in their pursuits, didn't have the capacity to address these issues. The security team focused solely on patrolling and safeguarding, directing most of their energy towards outwitting nature. Rarely did anyone find the time to ponder these concerns. However, social issues lingered, as those who had detached from the primary society saw the existing social system and hierarchical notions breaking down. Unbeknownst to them, a new, independent civilization was beginning to emerge in this new environment. But with the emergence of certain societal problems, more management personnel were promoted, joining discussions on daily matters. The previous scientist-centric structure was gradually being disrupted, and Jin found himself struggling to manage it all.

The base underwent rapid changes, and life moved at a brisk pace. Some individuals who had lost loved ones and struggled to let go of the past chose to depart. They displayed a more serene attitude, relocating to a secluded valley where they focused on agriculture and living in harmony with nature, forming a tranquil village that radiated peace both inside and out.

Time slipped away like water through fingers, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

During this year, Jun Ya had grown significantly. She had been quite content since arriving at the base. Most of her time was spent alongside Liu Xing. As an outstanding young man, Liu Xing seemed to attract attention wherever he went, and he proved his excellence through actions. Liu Xing primarily managed logistical tasks at the base. A math whiz, he also showed a knack for administrative management. He handled personnel matters with ease. Whenever conflicts arose between science and administration, he was often the one to mediate.

Jun Ya herself was a top-notch biologist and architect. Much of the cliff transformation and the construction of various buildings, from small meeting centers to grand ones, were crafted by her hands.

Amid the joy of enjoying Liu Xing's affection, Jun Ya never forgot to keep an eye on news about Xiao Guang. On quiet moonlit nights, memories of sitting on tree branches with Xiao Guang would resurface. They used to gaze at the stars, sipping dewdrops together. That not-so-bright but obedient Xiao Guang had been a source of happiness for her back then. Teasing and bothering him had become a daily routine, and she found delight in it each day. She maintained a ladylike and virtuous demeanor, as Liu Xing was diligent and carried the hopes of his family from a young age. He had always held leadership positions in school, possessing strong organizational skills that continued to serve him well. He radiated confidence every time he stood on a platform, engaging in debates with enthusiasm. As his partner, Jun Ya felt the need to match up to his image.

Liu Xing had garnered considerable respect now. Many girls were fond of him, and Jun Ya secretly observed, noticing several girls smiling in his direction. However, Jun Ya felt content; she had never seen Liu Xing acting inappropriately. On the contrary, he was gentle towards her in front of other girls, displaying affection openly. No matter how busy he was, he always personally escorted her home.

Over the course of the year, numerous individuals, along with those who had been located by Xiao Guang's searches, intermittently made their way back to the base. They brought with them various pieces of news.

Some were lists of people who had perished during their journey back, while others were accounts of individuals who had fallen ill and passed away before making it back. Naturally, there were also more rumors. One such rumor mentioned that nearly half of the people had been swept away by a strong current, carried far out into the vast ocean, even farther than the red mangrove forest on the coast. It was said that driftwood with distress signals carved on them had been found. However, the people who found these driftwood pieces were no longer around, turning the rumors into legends. Nonetheless, these tales ignited a spark of hope in those who had lost loved ones.

Jun Ya took on the role of organizing and managing the lists of missing individuals on top of her other responsibilities.

In truth, the search for missing individuals and maintaining the roster was not originally her concern, and there wasn't anyone specifically tasked with it. Every time someone returned, it was arranged on the fly for someone to update the list. But ever since she returned to the base half a year ago, that naive and foolish side of her had occasionally surfaced. And so, intentionally or not, Jun Ya took it upon herself to handle this matter within the administrative department.

When the reconnaissance team went to visit the stubborn residents who had stayed behind, they sent letters to Xiao Guang through intermediaries. Xiao Guang's father was clever in this regard. To avoid arousing suspicion about his daughter, he also sent some organized study materials for Xiao Guang. The reason he gave was that Xiao Guang was his student, and his studies couldn't be neglected. There was a period when he didn't reply to the letters because news from the outpost indicated that Xiao Guang hadn't returned for several months.

No one knew if Jun Ya had cried during this time, but she certainly wasn't as joyful as before.

While dining with Liu Xing, she would recall the simpleton who had stayed with the elderly and weak. The roasted bird eggs weren't as fragrant during these moments. During discussions with her father about construction, she would remember the young Xiao Guang who had made clothes for her out of silkworm cocoons. The new fabrics they developed didn't bring her as much delight anymore. Gazing at the moon outside, she might even see his smiling face in the moon, a somewhat mischievous grin.

It wasn't until good news finally arrived: people were returning intermittently. Sometimes one person, sometimes a few, and even small groups, numbering dozens. According to their accounts, a cool, wanderer-like young man found and brought them back.

The people rescued by Xiao Guang's search efforts had their stories widely spread. That miraculous young man who could control insects often appeared before people who needed help in crucial moments.

This young man led them to Old Wei's outpost and then hurriedly left.

Their stories of rescue and escape were diverse. Some had lost their way, surviving on dewdrops and fruit while hiding in caves. Some were trapped in water, some on cliffs, but without exception, they persevered, believing that rescuers would come.

Finally, someone followed faint clues, riding leaping grasshoppers and flying golden beetles to accurately locate them. The newcomer spoke very little and immediately brought the rescued individuals back to the outpost base, whether day or night. He was like a simple machine, settling the rescued people and then leaving. Only Old Wei, who interacted with him each time, would let out a sigh as he watched the man depart in haste every day.

For some reason, Jun Ya had an intuition that Xiao Guang's isolation was somewhat her doing. Consequently, she always felt a vague sense of guilt. Upon learning that he was safe, Jun Ya's spirits lifted.

From then on, whenever she wrote to Xiao Guang, she held nothing back.

She would jot down subjects her father wanted Xiao Guang to study, relay the new discoveries of the scientific group, and inform him of the base's development. She'd also share anecdotes and often tease him by calling him "Bird Dropping Guang." In recent times, she would also share her own happiness with Liu Xing, perhaps hinting at her desire to marry him in this new world. Finally, she always prepared some supplies and clothes, entrusting someone to deliver them to Xiao Guang.

At first, Xiao Guang's letters would discuss study-related matters with Jun Ya and recount his adventures in the forest, describing thrilling scenes. However, in recent times, he would only describe the terrain he passed through, leaving her to pass it on to the scientific group, and he wouldn't mention anything else.