The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted slightly, and his body reacted passively to the word he had just heard.

"Mecha?"

seriously?
He Teng nodded: "Yes, mecha."

"You don't know what a mecha is? Mecha is a term for mobile armor. Simply put, it's a giant humanoid machine that requires a pilot to control. Generally speaking, these mecha evolved from exoskeletons because..."

Jiang Chuan interrupted him: "I know what mecha means..."

"I don't understand. Aren't people saying that mechs don't exist? There was even a case where someone was convicted of fraud involving mech blueprints?"

"Actually, these are all just doubts spread by the institutions?"

He Teng nodded as he ate: "I didn't know about what you're talking about, but a lot of new people did come here a few months ago."

"It's just that I haven't been paying much attention."

"As you can see, I don't actually interact with the outside world much."

Jiang Chuan nodded slowly, stunned.

However, he couldn't detect anything related to the mecha with his scattered mental energy. Could it be that the range of his scattered mental energy wasn't large enough? Currently, Jiang Chuan condensed his mental energy into a line, which could extend at least one kilometer. Even his perception range was fifty meters. It sounds small, but it was actually quite exaggerated.

Even so, Jiang Chuan remained completely unaware of everything about this secret research base until He Teng revealed the truth.

The answer might not be immediately apparent, but Jiang Chuan immediately raised his eyebrows, as if he had thought of something, and asked:
How is the research and development progressing here?

"Is it ready for use yet?"

Based on the information He Teng just provided, it can be inferred that a large number of people were gathered here a few months ago... So, the fact that I haven't discovered anything related to mechas is most likely related to this? Although they are researching mechas here, they are actually still some distance away from developing a finished product?
He Teng shook his head.

As expected, it was never put into use.

He Teng said, "I don't know."

Jiangchuan: "..."

Jiang Chuan said "Oh," and then said, "Okay."

But Jiang Chuan felt an immense curiosity growing within him. Had human technology already reached the point where it could manufacture mechs? Or was there somewhere he was unaware that human technology had surpassed all his imagination?
As they chatted, Jiang Chuan lowered his guard against He Teng. This guy was indeed a very sincere person with no ill intentions, as transparent as a clear spring. Although there were some things to be suspicious about, one can't completely shut oneself off in life.

Moreover, it was he who approached He Teng, not the other way around.

Mecha...

Jiang Chuan couldn't help but wonder... was he assigned here to pilot a mecha?
It seems I need to ask Xu Shan.

Is that guy keeping quiet because he wants to surprise me?

As Jiang Chuan was thinking this, his gaze fell on He Teng again.

Since this guy was so honest and revealed everything about the mecha, I can't just sell him out. If I want to find Xu Shan to find out the details, I'll have to find a good excuse.

While they were thinking this, they had already finished eating.

Jiang Chuan was preoccupied with the matter of the mecha, so he quickly said goodbye to He Teng and went to find Xu Shan.

Finding Xu Shan is proving very difficult. Since their first meeting at the underground research base, they haven't seen each other again, and Xu Shan hasn't given them his contact information, only saying that they could contact the staff there if they needed anything.

After Jiang Chuan inquired with the staff, he waited for a long time but received no response. Instead, Xu Shan himself arrived.

Xu Shan looked at Jiang Chuan, whose fatigue was even more pronounced than a few days ago. He asked rapidly, "What's wrong? Why did you have to call me over?"

He certainly looked very busy, and Jiang Chuan felt genuinely ashamed looking at the tired expression on his face. But since he was already there, he decided to ask the questions that needed to be asked.

Jiang Chuan looked at Xu Shan and said the opening line he had prepared: "I feel very depressed here."

"Without a goal, unable to connect with the outside world..."

“This feels like a prison, a cage. I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

Xu Shan shook her head: "No."

Jiang Chuan: "I want to stop training."

Xu Shan nodded: "Okay."

"But we can't leave."

"If you feel psychological problems, you can call a psychologist. We have a resident psychologist here who is responsible for the psychological issues of the entire base."

Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes upon hearing these words.

Training can be stopped, but leaving isn't allowed? This is quite different from what I initially thought. And then I remembered Xu Shan mentioning that my training time had been extended indefinitely…

I initially thought the training here would be more effective, but the physical benefits I've experienced so far haven't been any better than at headquarters. And then there's what Xu Shan said...

Something is wrong.

Jiang Chuan's brain was working at lightning speed.

Am I being held under house arrest here?
Jiang Chuan spoke again, feigning nonchalance: "I don't need a psychologist, I just need some fresh air... Why won't you let me leave here?"

Xu Shan was exhausted and had no guard against Jiang Chuan, so he didn't notice Jiang Chuan's unusual behavior or the complex emotions churning within him. Faced with Jiang Chuan's question, he simply replied:
"We can't leave; that's an order from above. And without special circumstances, not only you, but even I can't leave here. Currently, Brother Wang... that is, Wang Xuejun, isn't here, so our base is in a completely closed state."

Xu Shan rubbed his face, yawned widely, and then said:
"I advise you to focus on training."

"Don't think about going out anymore."

These words chilled Jiang Chuan's heart.

I am indeed under house arrest here.

Originally, Jiang Chuan wanted to know about mechs, but through this conversation, he realized that even though the base was indeed researching mechs, Xu Shan had no intention of considering himself a mech pilot.

"Ok."

Jiang Chuan looked at Xu Shan and nodded helplessly.

He said, "That's settled then... Sorry to bother you, Brother Xu."

Xu Shan shook his head: "It's nothing."

"You'll need time to get used to life at the base."

"It's perfectly normal to feel uncomfortable. I'll have someone come and give you a check-up... If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Jiang Chuan waved his hand repeatedly: "There's no need for a psychological diagnosis, Brother Xu. I can get through this if I persevere."

Xu Shan looked at Jiang Chuan and nodded: "It's human nature to resist seeing a doctor, I can understand."

"Then I'll be going."

"If something like this happens again... you can decide for yourself whether you need to call me."

Xu Shan left.

Jiang Chuan was left alone in the room, and he gradually frowned.

But in those last few words of conversation, Jiang Chuan could hear Xu Shan's concern in her words... So what exactly was the reason he was locked up here?
I came here by car with Yu Jinlai, and Old Master Yu didn't show anything unusual at the time. Thinking about it carefully, although I was under house arrest, it was actually some kind of...protection?
What's happening outside?

Regardless, the fact remains that he is under house arrest.

He quickly made up his mind. "I have to go out and take a look."

……

At the same time, on the other side.

Within the Kunlun Mountains.

The search operation has been ongoing for several days.

The eight people were jostled around in the car, and their faces all looked terrible.

Based on previous assessments, this should have been a task that could be completed in a day. However, as the beast tide's footprints continued eastward, they still couldn't find the end of these dense footprints.

This is absolutely wrong.

If the beast tide were so vast, the Kunlun command center wouldn't have waited until it was almost upon them to make preparations. But the footprints were right before their eyes, and this huge conflict between fact and theory caused a strange shift in everyone's mindset.

Holding the knife, Wu Zhen muttered, "I must consider this as the only chance I may have in my life..."

Zhong Huahua sat listlessly in the corner of the car, without saying a word.

Tang Songming, who was usually very talkative, remained silent at this moment.

The only sound in the car was Zhu Chengzhu's muttering, which was indistinct and sounded like chanting.

Cao Zhiqiang scratched the tattoo on his bald head, and Cao Zhigang cleared his throat as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. Even though the members of Group Three were seasoned veterans, they had never encountered such a bizarre situation before.

They were like a small boat drifting aimlessly in the deep sea, trying to find a fish they had never seen before in the boundless ocean. The footprints they left behind seemed endless, and they didn't know how long they would have to sail before reaching the end.

Moreover, the mountain paths were difficult to traverse, slowing them down considerably. Their initial ambitions were completely shattered; now, all they wanted was to find something and give it their all.

Suddenly, Zhong Huahua's eyes flickered.

She sat up straight and looked out the car window.

"That is……"

Her sudden voice caused the bored passengers in the car to immediately look up in the direction Zhong Huahua was looking, but all they could see was a vast expanse of bare mountains and nothing else.

Wu Zhen saw nothing and was somewhat disappointed:
"what?"

"Zhong Huahua, are you hallucinating?"

Zhong Huahua pointed to the mountain over there and said, "That's not a mountain..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yi immediately looked in that direction again.

He squinted, trying to make out the shape... He seemed to see the outline of a human figure?

Whether it was Fang Yi or not, everyone else immediately noticed this as well, and this sudden discovery during the long journey brought a hint of surprise to everyone's eyes. They hadn't expected to actually catch fish!

Cao Zhigang perked up and said, "It's that giant!?"

Chen Yufei checked the map and nodded: "According to the map, there shouldn't be a mountain like this here... but..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Chengzhu's mutterings abruptly stopped. He abruptly turned the steering wheel, changed direction, and headed straight for the mountain whirlwind that looked like a reclining figure.

"and many more!"

Chen Yufei's voice came through: "Calm down!"

"That's something even the boss can't handle!"

"Are you sure you want to just rush over there like that!?"

squeak--!
A sharp screech of brakes echoed across the open field, jolting everyone inside the vehicle. The sudden impact seemed to sharpen their senses.

Indeed, as Chen Yufei said... they are being too reckless now.

Zhu Chengzhu was taking deep breaths, muttering something under his breath, as if chanting a spell.
Chen Yufei continued, "Let's use the drone to check the situation first."

Then Chen Yufei looked to the other side: "Zhong Huahua... right? Did your mental power sense anything?"

Zhong Huahua frowned: "It feels very strange, I can't quite describe it. Although there are some fluctuations in mental energy, but... the feeling is different from what a normal individual perceives."

Wu Zhen frowned: "We finally found a clue, can't we go?"

Tang Songming looked at Wu Zhen and suddenly smiled: "Why don't you go ahead and investigate, Brother Wu?"

Wu Zhen's expression changed, and he was about to nod when Cao Zhigang stopped him: "Listen to orders! Otherwise, get back home!"

Wu Zhen's shoulders slumped at the stern shout, but he did not give up hope. Although Zhong Huahua had made a contribution in discovering the clue, the credit for the rest would certainly belong to him.

Chen Yufei continued, "If Zhong Huahua can sense the abnormality of that 'mountain,' then it means we've at least found the right direction."

Cao Zhiqiang nodded: "Three hundred kilometers."

"We drove 300 kilometers."

"This is our first discovery."

"..."

"No matter why it fell here... we should be able to find some clues."

Zhu Chengzhu also spoke up at the same time: "There are three directions for the investigation."

"First, the origin of this stone giant."

"Secondly, the reason he collapsed here."

"Third, the origin of these stone giants and the beast tide."

"Now that we know all this, we can head back home."

"That way... the rescue of the boss can begin as soon as possible."

Tang Songming and Zhong Huahua listened as the three teams quickly outlined what needed to be done, instantly clarifying their thoughts. They seemed thoughtful, as if they had learned something.

But Wu Zhen sat to the side, looking somewhat bored.

Cao Zhigang looked at Wu Zhen's expression and sighed.

This kid is clearly very talented, so why is he so dull?
He thought to himself:

“According to Wu Zhen’s awakened memories… he’s not this kind of idiot…”

"Could it be that this kind of simple-mindedness is what led to his talent?"

"..."

"That's really..."

Cao Zhigang didn't think much of it and got off the car with the others.

The drone took off, carrying with it the doubts and confusion of the crowd, who hoped to find the root cause of this strange beast tide phenomenon as soon as possible.

...(End of chapter)