Chapter 21 Great Desert

When I got off the plane, I still felt a bit dizzy.

Of course, it wasn't due to airsickness, but rather the amazement at Lin Xue's organization.

I really didn't expect them to have a hidden underground airport in such a concealed location! When I entered the futuristic underground building, I even thought I had entered a sci-fi movie. The shuttle-like "plane" we boarded next made me marvel at how advanced human technology had become!

Lin Xue explained, "In fact, many technologies that only appear in sci-fi movies have long been mastered by humans. To avoid causing too much disruption to human life, this portion of technology is carefully restricted and only very important military departments and special organizations like ours can enjoy this 'future' technology. Additionally, some special groups also possess some unique technologies, but that's not for you and me to discuss."

Compared to my astonishment, Qianqian wasn't as flustered. Though she curiously looked around the whole time, knowing about the existence of superpower users likely made her more immune to what was happening, making her calmer than I was.

As for Pandora... in her words, having lived in modernized environments, paying attention to the primitive technology of ancient people is quite interesting...

Was I the only one who seemed like a bumpkin?

The shuttle-like plane we boarded flew directly into a massive building and then stopped in a spacious hall. Lin Xue told me this was a secret base their organization had set up deep in the Taklamakan Desert.

"Lin Xue, it looks like you have a high status here?" I couldn't help but say in amazement, seeing every passing staff member respectfully stop to greet Lin Xue.

"Of course," Lin Xue said proudly, "Did you forget what I told you? Our entire organization has just over 20 superpower users, which means that the 20 of us are actually the leaders of this whole organization!"

I almost forgot that superpower users are rare in this world; how could they possibly be used as mere grunts in reality?

"So, Chen Jun, have you reconsidered joining us? You see how powerful we are."

"I'm sorry..." For the survival of all humanity, I would never join any human organization.

"Um," in this heavily guarded base, Qianqian finally held back her personality and said somewhat restrainedly, "When will we look for my dad?"

"No, we'll rest for a day first. Tomorrow, we will meet a very special elder, and then we'll head out together."

"The place we're going to, is it dangerous?" I keenly noticed a hint of seriousness in Lin Xue's expression.

"It's not very dangerous," Lin Xue shook her head, "Strictly speaking, it's a bit strange."

"Strange?"

"Do you think something that requires superpower users to handle wouldn't be strange?" Lin Xue gave me a sidelong glance, "Since I joined the organization, I've been dealing with various strange things. This time it's just a bit stranger - Alright, these are your rooms ahead. Go rest now. I'll come to get you at dinner time - Chen Jun, why are you grinning like an idiot? The rooms have separate compartments. Don't think I wouldn't have thought of that!"

*********************************************************Resting*********************************************************

Pandora and I sat idly in the living room, with the sound of Qianqian taking a shower coming from the adjacent room.

"Brother wants to see?" Pandora asked quietly.

My gaze floated to the bathroom, and then I firmly nodded.

Pandora stood up, walked to the bathroom door, knocked on the glass door, and said, "Sister Qianqian, brother said he wants to... mm..."

I covered Pandora's mouth and dragged her back to the sofa. Then I seemed to see a rare mischievous smile appear on Pandora's usual expressionless little face, but when I looked closely, Pandora had already returned to her usual cold demeanor.

Was it an illusion?

After settling down, I stopped thinking those random thoughts and instead asked Pandora, "Have you found Uncle Xu? Have the satellites returned any clues?"

The little loli in front of me shook her head with a hint of reluctance in her voice, "No clues at all. There are no traces of human activity near the vague coordinates provided by Lin Xue. Energy detection also hasn't found any abnormal energy fluctuations."

"What about the commanders who are good at searching? Have they found anything?"

"Nothing. Their detection terminals have even reached the underground magma layer but still haven't found any traces of human activity."

...Magma layer, did you need to be that exaggerated?

Now, I suddenly felt like this matter wasn't that simple.

With the technology of the Xyrin Empire, Pandora's subordinates had already scoured the southern region of the Taklamakan Desert during this period. Now, Pandora could even precisely report to me the exact number of sand scorpions in the southern region, how many males and how many females. Yet, they couldn't find a human expedition team that had been missing for less than two days?!

By this time, Qianqian had finished her shower and changed into a loose white outer garment worn by the base staff prepared by Lin Xue. This type of clothing, said to be made from special materials, had considerable defensive ability and could well resist the temperature differences between day and night in the desert. Unfortunately, some substance inside would interfere with superpower users' abilities, making it a burden for Lin Xue, but it was just right for Qianqian.

"Ah Jun, what did Lili say you wanted just now?" Qianqian asked while drying her still slightly damp hair.

"Don't mind her. The little girl is just bored. But you—Qianqian, are you really going with us tomorrow?"

"Of course! Now that I'm here, how can I not go? That's my dad we're talking about! Besides, Lin Xue already said we need my help for this operation."

"Really..." I withheld my judgment. I had always doubted Lin Xue's claim. Qianqian seemed like an ordinary girl, and the only link between her and this event seemed to be her missing father. Why did Lin Xue insist that Qianqian would play a role in this matter? It was very suspicious.

While Qianqian and I were chatting, there was a knock on the door, and Lin Xue's voice came from outside, "Qianqian, Lili, and uh, whoever, come with me if you have nothing else to do. I want to show you the Great Desert!"

...Why did I feel like Lin Xue had a certain disdain towards me just now?

Following Lin Xue, we finally left the secret base, which had an internal structure resembling a maze, and reached the ground-level exit.

"Ah—" Qianqian exclaimed, "Is this the Great Desert?!"

"Truly magnificent!" I praised sincerely.

"..." Pandora's expression didn't change, perfectly playing the role of a blind girl.

In front of us were endless golden sand dunes, stretching out like static waves, reflecting beautiful golden-red light under the setting sun. At the distant horizon, in the direction of the horizon, the infinite yellow sand seemed to merge with the sky, as if the whole world was filled with this boundless desert, making us feel our insignificance and nature's grandeur. Near the horizon, I noticed some faint black lines and curiously asked, "Lin Xue, what are those?"

"Poplar Forest," Lin Xue said with a mysterious respect, "Living for a thousand years without dying, dead for a thousand years without toppling, toppled for a thousand years without rotting, the hero tree of the desert."

"The desert is truly magnificent!" Qianqian exclaimed with admiration, "Not just magnificent—stunningly magnificent!"

"Is that so," Lin Xue gently smiled, "Now, the desert is calm. When the desert gets restless, you won't say that. You don't even need to wait for the desert to become restless; these sand dunes before you are constantly moving. Some can even shift hundreds of meters overnight. If it weren't for the special equipment around this base that can interfere with the movement of the sand dunes, this underground base would turn into a huge tomb in just a day... I really feel lucky for not being assigned as the person in charge of this ghostly place... Anyway, it's getting late, let's go back for dinner."

********************************************************Second Update********************************************************

Second update completed. Also, I've found it hard to concentrate lately. If there are any unintentional mistakes, feel free to point them out—if anyone is reading, that is...