Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

As the light and shadow shifted, Zhu Feifei felt a slight sense of weightlessness before finding herself standing steadily in a pure white space. The walls were made of cold-looking metal, and various instruments and equipment flashed indicator lights in a regular pattern. The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant, mixed with a subtle sweet fragrance, like some kind of high-end perfume.

"This is... the lunar base?" Zhu Feifei's voice echoed in the empty room, tinged with disbelief. He subconsciously touched his white uniform, the name tag on his chest clearly reading: "Zhu Feifei, Lunar Base Life Science Research Institute, Researcher."

"Don't act like a country bumpkin, making a fool of yourself." The voice of the Ringwraith White echoed in his mind, as always with sarcasm.

"Hey, Xiaobai, can you stop putting me down? I'm a member of the Heavenly Court... cough, I've seen the world!" Zhu Feifei retorted inwardly.

"You've seen the world? I think you've been in the pigsty for too long and have forgotten what the outside world looks like!" Xiaobai retorted mercilessly.

"Hello, Researcher Zhu Feifei, I am the artificial intelligence assistant of the lunar base, 'Moon Goddess'." A sweet and gentle female voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Zhu Feifei and Xiaobai's "friendly exchange".

Zhu Feifei was startled and looked around, but didn't see a single person: "Who? Who's talking?"

"I am the 'Moon Goddess,' you don't need to look for my physical form, I am omnipresent." The voice sounded again, with a hint of playfulness, "You can think of me as your personal assistant, responsible for all your life and work matters at the base."

"Personal assistant...that's pretty high-class." Zhu Feifei muttered, her gaze falling on the wall. "Then...Moon Goddess, do you know where Chang Juan is?"

"Are you referring to Researcher Chang Juan from the Institute of Life Sciences?" The Moon Goddess's voice paused, as if she were conducting a data search. "She should be in the lab right now."

"Take me to her!" Zhu Feifei said without hesitation, her tone tinged with urgency.

"Okay, please follow me." As soon as the words were spoken, an arrow appeared on the wall and began to flash.

Zhu Feifei started walking, following the direction indicated by the arrow. The corridor was lined with tightly closed metal doors, and occasionally a few staff members in white uniforms could be seen hurrying past, each with a serious expression on their face.

"This place feels so cold and impersonal, there's no human warmth at all," Zhu Feifei couldn't help but complain to herself.

"This is a research base, not a resort. Why are you talking about hospitality?" Xiaobai retorted. "Find your target and complete the mission; that's the important thing!"

Zhu Feifei pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.

After walking for a few minutes, Zhu Feifei finally arrived at a metal door. The electronic display on the door read: "Institute of Life Sciences, Chang Juan Laboratory".

He took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

"Ding dong..."

The doorbell rang in the empty corridor, and after a moment, the metal door slowly opened.

Zhu Feifei walked in. The laboratory was more spacious than he had imagined. Various sophisticated instruments and equipment were neatly arranged, and some unknown plants were emitting a faint glow in the huge petri dishes.

A woman in a white uniform stood with her back to him in front of an experimental table, seemingly engrossed in performing something. She was tall, with long, black hair casually draped over her shoulders, and even from a distance, Zhu Feifei could sense the aloof and detached aura emanating from her.

"You... are Chang Juan?" Zhu Feifei asked tentatively.

The woman slowly turned around, revealing an exceptionally beautiful face. Her features were exquisitely sculpted, her brows exuding a heroic spirit, and her eyes were cool and deep, as if they could see through everything.

"Zhu Feifei?" Chang Juan's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Yes, it's me." Zhu Feifei nodded, feeling inexplicably nervous.

"I've already reviewed your file." Chang Juan's gaze swept over Zhu Feifei, then she said calmly, "From today onwards, you will be my assistant. I hope... we can work together smoothly."

"It's a pleasure to cooperate with you, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you," Zhu Feifei said quickly, her face full of smiles.

Chang Juan didn't say anything more, but turned around and continued operating the instruments on the lab bench.

Zhu Feifei stood to the side, watching Chang Juan's busy figure, secretly thinking: This woman is indeed like the legendary Chang'e, aloof and unapproachable. But, the tougher the bone, the more flavorful it is to gnaw on!

"What are you standing there for? Come and help." Chang Juan's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Zhu Feifei's thoughts.

"Oh, coming!" Zhu Feifei quickly responded and stepped forward.

"Send those samples to the analysis lab," Chang Juan said, pointing to a row of test tubes on the lab bench. "Be careful not to spill them."

"Don't worry, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Zhu Feifei picked up the test tube and carefully walked out of the laboratory.

"You idiot, don't forget your mission!" Little White Ringwraith's voice rang out again.

"Okay, okay, don't rush me!" Zhu Feifei thought to herself.

He walked down the corridor for a few minutes and arrived at the door of the analysis room. Just as he was about to push the door open, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Newcomer, stop right there!"

Zhu Feifei turned around and saw a burly man in a black uniform walking towards him with a serious expression.

"Who are you?" Zhu Feifei asked.

"I'm Wang Tiezhu, the base's security captain." The man walked up to Zhu Feifei, looked him up and down, and asked, "What are you holding in your hand?"

"This is a sample that Researcher Chang Juan asked me to send to the analysis lab," Zhu Feifei said.

"Sample? Let me see it!" Wang Tiezhu said, reaching out to snatch the test tube from Zhu Feifei's hand.

Zhu Feifei quickly took a step back, avoiding Wang Tiezhu's hand: "This belongs to Researcher Chang Juan, you can't just touch it!"

"I'm the security captain, I have the authority to inspect any suspicious items!" Wang Tiezhu's face darkened. "What, you dare disobey orders?"

"I..." Zhu Feifei hesitated, unsure of what to do.

"Give me the stuff!" Wang Tiezhu said again, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

Helpless, Zhu Feifei had no choice but to hand the test tube to Wang Tiezhu.

Wang Tiezhu took the test tube, examined it carefully, and then said, "There's no problem, you can go in now."

After saying that, he returned the test tube to Zhu Feifei and then turned and left.

As Zhu Feifei watched Wang Tiezhu's departing figure, she muttered to herself: "That guy looks fierce, I wonder if he's deliberately picking a fight."

He shook his head, didn't think much of it, and pushed open the door to the analysis room.

After handing the sample over to the staff in the analysis lab, Zhu Feifei returned to Chang Juan's laboratory.

"Did the sample arrive?" Chang Juan asked without looking up.

"Yes, it's been delivered," Zhu Feifei said. "By the way, Researcher Chang Juan, what about that security captain from earlier..."

“Wang Tiezhu?” Chang Juan seemed to know what Zhu Feifei was going to say. “That’s just his temper. You don’t need to pay attention to him.”

“Oh…” Zhu Feifei nodded.

“Now, let’s go to the moon,” Chang Juan suddenly said.

"The moon?!" Zhu Feifei was stunned. "We...we're going to the surface of the moon?"

“Yes.” Chang Juan nodded. “I need to collect some lunar soil samples for comparative analysis.”

"That's great!" Zhu Feifei exclaimed excitedly. "I've wanted to go see the surface of the moon for ages!"

"Don't get too excited yet. The surface of the moon is no fun place," Chang Juan said calmly. "The environment there is harsh and full of dangers. You must be vigilant at all times."

"Okay, okay," Zhu Feifei said nonchalantly. "With you here, what do I have to be afraid of?"

Chang Juan glanced at Zhu Feifei, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the changing room.

Zhu Feifei quickly followed.

The two changed into heavy spacesuits and arrived at one of the base's exits.

At the exit, there is a uniquely shaped lunar rover.

“This is our mode of transportation,” Chang Juan said. “Get on.”

The two boarded the lunar rover, and Chang Juan started the rover, heading towards the lunar surface.

The lunar rover drove out of the base and entered a huge airlock.

"Click..."

The airlock door closed slowly, and then decompression began.

Zhu Feifei felt a stuffiness in his ears, so he quickly followed Chang Juan's instructions, pinched his nose, and blew hard to relieve the discomfort.

"Are you ready? We're going out." Chang Juan's voice came through the communicator inside her spacesuit.

"Ready!" Zhu Feifei said excitedly.

"Okay, let's go!"

The other door of the airlock slowly opened, and the lunar rover slowly drove out and entered the lunar surface.

Looking at the desolate yet mysterious land before him through the visor of his spacesuit, Zhu Feifei was filled with excitement and curiosity.

"Wow, this is the moon!" he exclaimed in surprise. "It's completely different from what I imagined!"

"What's different?" Chang Juan asked.

“I thought there would be lots of craters on the moon, and aliens too!” Zhu Feifei said.

"Aliens?" Chang Juan couldn't help but laugh. "You've been watching too many movies, haven't you?"

"Hehe, I was just saying." Zhu Feifei scratched his head.

"Alright, stop talking, we need to hurry," Chang Juan said. "We only have enough oxygen for four hours."

"Okay, sure." Zhu Feifei quickly agreed.

Chang Juan drove the lunar rover across the lunar surface. All around was silent, save for the sound of the rover's movement.

Looking at the desolate scene outside the window, Zhu Feifei suddenly felt a strange sense of loneliness.

"Researcher Chang Juan, why...why did you choose to work at the lunar base?" he couldn't help but ask.

"In order to explore the mysteries of the universe." Chang Juan's voice was calm, but Zhu Feifei could feel the firmness and determination in her tone.

"Exploring the mysteries of the universe?" Zhu Feifei repeated, suddenly realizing that the woman in front of him was not as simple as he had imagined.

“Yes, exploring the mysteries of the universe.” Chang Juan nodded. “This is my dream, and it’s the meaning of my life.”

"Then...don't you miss home?" Zhu Feifei asked.

Chang Juan was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Yes."

Which home do you want to go to?

“Earth,” Chang Juan said, “that’s my hometown.”

"Then why don't you go back?"

Chang Juan did not answer, but silently drove the lunar rover forward.

Zhu Feifei stared at Chang Juan's profile, his heart filled with questions. He didn't know why Chang Juan had chosen to stay at the lunar base, nor what she was researching. But he could sense that Chang Juan was hiding a secret, a secret about herself and about the lunar base.

And this secret may be the key to his mission.

Just then, the lunar rover suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Feifei asked.

"We've arrived," Chang Juan said. "This is where we'll collect samples."

After the two got off the lunar rover, Zhu Feifei looked around and found that they were in a huge meteorite crater, with the bottom of the crater filled with all kinds of rocks and dust.

"Are we collecting samples right here?" Zhu Feifei asked.

“Yes.” Chang Juan nodded, then took a toolbox from the lunar rover. Inside were all sorts of collection tools.

“Use this collector to collect some lunar soil samples,” Chang Juan said, handing Zhu Feifei a shovel-like tool. “I’ll collect some rock samples.”

"Alright!" Zhu Feifei took the collector and began digging in the crater.

The gravity on the moon is only one-sixth that on Earth, so Zhu Feifei felt as light as a swallow and could jump very high with a light leap.