The raised sand dunes and the tenaciously growing Haloxylon ammodendron trees did not bring much vitality to this place. On the contrary, the withered and yellow branches of the Haloxylon ammodendron trees looked sparse and lifeless.
Ryan didn't urge Bandner to hurry up and take them underground. He followed him silently and walked in the desert, one foot deep and one foot shallow. The sand was dry, and it showed a flowing state when he stepped on it. Every step he took Need to regain the balance of the body. Ryan and Fan Huanting adapted quickly with their high-quality individual skills. As a native, Bandner did not need to adapt. His body was already accustomed to this environment.
"It's sunny during the day, but there are no wild beast attacks." Bandner's voice came from the front, "It's too lively here at night, and the starship can't get close at all."
People in the east used the high temperatures during the day and the dense concentration of wild animals at night to protect themselves from pirates in the west.
After walking about twenty meters with difficulty, Bandner squatted down on the mountainside of a tall sand dune. He stretched out his gloved hand and swept away the golden sand, revealing a metal cover with a diameter of one meter. He opened it a crack. The coolness that spreads out makes people fascinated. As the metal lid opened, a dark and deep passage was revealed. Bandner said, "Do you dare to go down first?"
Fan Huanting sighed, "What's so difficult about this? I'm a man who dares to go deep into the Zerg tribe." As a scout, there is no place he dares not go down. Exploring the unknown is what he should do, and he took the lead in climbing down the tunnel.
When Fan Huanting went down a little, Lane followed closely, and finally Bandner, who was responsible for closing the lid and activating a small device on the lid to let the sand cover the entrance and restore it to its original state.
The downward passage was longer than expected. It finally ended after descending for more than 200 meters. My eyes also adapted to the weak light, and I could see things clearly without the help of other lighting facilities.
Ryan raised his arm and glanced at his personal terminal. It showed that the temperature of the whole body was around 36 degrees. It would definitely be a high temperature in other places, but in the daytime on Manghuang Star, it was a cool "winter". Ryan touched the dark green wall and felt the touch of moisture and moss on his fingertips. There must be a source of water underground.
"Aren't you going to bring the two little robots down?" Bandner, who finally came down, asked doubtfully.
Ryan said: "No need." He made small palm-sized bodies for the original and Code Zero, and when Bandner didn't see it, he had introduced their two systems into the small bodies. The two small bodies were working in his In clothes pocket.
Since Ryan said there was no need, Bandner stopped asking any more questions. Finally returning home, Bandner happily sped up his walking speed, bypassing Fan Huanting who was exploring the terrain, and walked forward, "There is still a long way to go before we can reach our settlement. There are many underground roads. Follow me. , otherwise I won't be able to find you if you get lost in the fork in the road."
Lane: "Something like the underground passages on Planet Cranberry."
"It's somewhat similar, but the end of the passage leads to a completely different place. Over there is a paradise of pleasure." Bandner said, "Here we are, a place of struggle for survival."
After coming down from the nearly vertical passage, a crooked road emerged. After walking for about 20 meters, three forked roads appeared, each leading to unknown distances.
The underground air is flowing, windy, and dull but not hard to breathe. Bandner was born and raised here, and he knew which way to go without careful identification. He encountered such forked roads several times on the road thereafter, making it difficult for first timers to tell the direction, and the ground undulated from time to time. The uneven and sometimes rugged terrain makes it difficult for everyone on the road to consider the choice of route... If you are an ordinary person, being brought into this kind of place, as long as you lose your guide, you will definitely get lost, but Ryan and Fan Huanting are different. They have drawn a simple route map in their minds, and by walking alone with vague memories, they can find the place almost exactly.
Since we have chosen to cooperate, we are all partners, and we should trust and treat each other candidly. Bandner introduced the origin of the "East Side" without reservation, "My ancestors detected that the bottom of the desert was empty when they were looking for water sources. He found a way to get in here and discovered this natural cave, which has criss-crossing passages extending in all directions. It took us more than a hundred years to pack it up and move in one after another. Having a shelter saved us from being pirated. The fate of slavery has maintained a delicate balance with the 'West Side'. Oh, it should have been a stalemate until now. If the 'West Side' hadn't thought it was stupid to waste explosives on useless people like us, I think it would have been two or three hundred years ago. 'East Side' ceased to exist."
He spoke plainly and did not mention the hardships, blood and tears in the process, but the more prosaic the narrative, the more reminiscent of the hardships, blood and tears that he went through.
Struggling to survive in the mud and not collaborating with the pirates, the "east" is a flower growing in the wasteland, which will eventually bloom.
Only one can realize the beauty of flowers. The "West" has always looked at the "East" with contempt.
"West" is sure that "East" is just a group of rats hiding underground and not daring to see people. They pose no threat to themselves at all. It is very interesting to watch them hide and hide. The high-ranking West pirates just watch the rats. His eyes looked at the people from the east who were struggling to survive. Once they feel that the "east side" will pose a threat to themselves, they will definitely clean up without hesitation. Bloody massacre is a word that pirates from the west often mention when threatening.
Lane said: "Showing weakness is a strategic defense, just to find opportunities to give the enemy a fatal blow."
"You are talking about Emperor Qin Feng's famous sayings!"
Ryan: "...So be it." Qin Feng has said enough things in his life, and countless of them have been regarded as famous quotes by later generations. I really don't know which words he says now are the same as those he said before.
Bandner said firmly: "It's not that, it's that. By the way, if you mention Emperor Qin Feng after meeting my people, you must use the honorific title. If you show a little disrespect, you will be beaten. ."
What supports everyone struggling to survive and find light in the darkness is the faith given to everyone by Qin Feng Anderson. The emperor's will has infected generations of people to never give up, abandon, or be discouraged, and firmly believe that the darkness will always pass and light will come. It will definitely come. It can be said that in the "east", Emperor Qin Feng Anderson is not only a belief, but also a god-like existence in the hearts of everyone.
Fan Huanting nodded, "Don't worry, it's not just you, we outsiders also respect the Emperor."
Bandner looked at Ryan. He always felt that Ryan's attitude towards Emperor Qin Feng was very contemptuous. Even though he used the honorific title in his mouth, the expression on his face and the look in his eyes told others that Ryan did not regard the Emperor as a serious person at all. The thing is, this kind of indifferent attitude towards the emperor has always made Bandner dislike it. Even if Ryan showed extraordinary abilities and helped him and his companions get out of trouble, Bandner still didn't like this person.
Staring at Ryan closely, Bandner asked him to make a promise. What could Ryan do? He could only nod helplessly, "I got it." How could he respect himself? Do you still want to respect it from the bottom of your heart? This is difficult!
"Don't be so perfunctory...forget it." Bandner knew that this was a difficult thing, and no one would force others to change their beliefs. "You must not take the initiative to mention Emperor Qin Feng, and try to keep your expression calm when my people mention it. Seriously. I'm not forcing you to do anything, but it's about the future cooperation."
Because they live underground where there is no sunlight all year round, they are oppressed by cruel pirates, and they compete with the pirates for wits and courage. People in the "east" have character flaws and are prone to irritability and anger. Once they cause dissatisfaction among the tribe, cooperation may fail. sex.
Don't tell me why they don't care about the overall situation and are so impulsive, irritable and irrational?
Their world is the Wild Star, the east and west, and the underground villages. Many old people seek stability and have no concept of the universe. They just want to live peacefully now, while the young people are yearning for it under the influence of Bandner. Looking outside but not knowing what it is like outside, protecting everything now is fundamental.
Ryan is not a willful person and knows what he should do. "Don't worry, I will definitely cooperate."
Bandner: "Well, I trust you." Ryan's military qualities made him choose to believe it.
The underground passage sometimes climbs up and sometimes slides down. The winding serpentine road is simply a piece of cake. After sliding again, Fan Huanting asked in confusion: "It's so far, isn't it troublesome for you to transport supplies?"
"It's just very troublesome. Just look at where we live. You will know it. I don't mean to take you on a detour. If you trust me, you won't tell lies." Bandner leaned against the wall and took a breath. He was a little envious. With the physical fitness of Ryan and Fan Huanting, their breathing is smooth and not messy at all. Soldiers are worthy of being soldiers. "There is a huge underground cave down there, about a thousand meters above the ground. It is where we live. The reason we live so deep is to prevent pirate attacks and avoid some beasts that burrow into the ground. Moreover, there are water resources below, and the air is cool and moist. Very comfortable."
For those on the "east side" it's paradise.
While walking, Ryan touched the cave wall with his hands from time to time, feeling the rough texture of the cave wall. There were natural luminous ores inlaid on the cave wall, providing weak illumination so that it would not be dark.
Walking in the long and narrow passage will give people the illusion of being swallowed by a monster over time.
Survive from desperate situations, there is no sure way, the people who found this place must be grateful for the gift of nature.
"elder brother!"
A crisp voice came from the front. Ryan heard the sound and looked over. A short-haired girl of seventeen or eighteen years old gradually walked out of the darkness, with a vague shadow of Bandner on her face. When the girl saw "Renee" and "Kelly", her female intuition caused her to pause and tentatively called out, "Brother." She quietly placed her hand on the weapon on her waist and looked at it warily. "Renee" and "Kelly".
After entering the tunnel, Ryan and Fan Huanting did not deliberately disguise themselves and imitated the expressions and behaviors of Reni and Kelly. Anyone with a keen sense and familiarity with these two people would definitely feel the difference immediately.
Bandner made a reassuring gesture to let his sister not be nervous. He opened his arms towards the girl and said, "Brother's Ao Dai."
Ao Dai was still worried about the disguised "Renee" and "Kelly" and looked at them warily. She walked to Bandner and gave her brother a hug. "Brother, I will come back as soon as I get you." The notification was waiting next to the entrance, but you didn't come after waiting for two or three hours. If something happens, I'll go down and take a look."
"Something happened and we were delayed." A haze flashed in Bandner's eyes. What happened was that the group of people exploited him and took away a lot of supplies. These are things that everyone is too lazy to survive. After Bandner let go of Ao Dai, he introduced to his sister, "Lian, Fan Huanting, our partners." He didn't say me, he meant us. The next action requires everyone's cooperation.
Bandner is a good leader among the tribe, but he is young and cannot convince the people. Ryan and Fan Huanting must rely on their own strength to gain the trust of everyone. This is what Bandner said before he came. The tribesmen are stubborn and strong-willed. It depends on how Ryan and Fan Huanting do it to convince them.
"Reni" nodded towards Ao Dai, with a gentle smile on his face. The military camouflage material fit the skin perfectly, and the expression he made was very natural. Ao Dai was frightened for a moment and murmured: "It turns out that this is how Renee smiles."
Bandner went to see "Renee" and hit his sister on the head. "Even if Renee smiled, it wasn't like this. Shall we continue walking?"
He looked at Ryan, who nodded.
There was not much of a way to go, and we soon reached the exit. We could hear the sound of gurgling water, feel the air that was different from the dull air in the tunnel, and even smell the fragrance of flowers. The voices of young and old could be heard amidst the sound of water flow. "East" is about to appear before everyone's eyes.
"We're here," Bandner said.
Ryan stepped out and his eyes suddenly opened up. He thought of the "Peach Blossom Spring" he had read. It was a famous Chinese work from the ancient Earth period. It is still a masterpiece that students taking elective grammar courses in the Great Wall Star Region still need to study.
After coming out of the cave, there is a platform of seven or eight square meters. There are stones piled on the edge to serve as railings. There are downward paths on both sides, and you can walk to the small town less than ten meters away. The town has artificial auxiliary light sources and relies on hydroelectric power. Unexpectedly, there is an underground river with rapid water flow underground. It not only provides drinking water, but also drives the blades of the power generation device to rotate, providing power support to the town.
There is a bright light hanging over the town, which is their sun.
The houses in the town are built of stone and are not high. There are holes for doors and windows in the walls, which are covered with cloth. Symmetry was used at the beginning of the construction. The town is even and stable, and it can be seen clearly from a high place. The underground river passed around the town, and the stone bridge spanned the river. When he passed the stone bridge, Ryan looked down and saw the silhouette of a fish passing by in the rushing water.
"We call them white fish, which are hard to catch," Bandner said. "White fish are very nutritious. Families with babies born will try their best to catch them to replenish the mother's health."
Human beings can adapt to the environment. Human beings on the Wild Planet do not have incubation chambers or good medical care. The entire process of childbirth is borne by humans themselves, just like in the ancient Earth period. Furthermore, humans here have evolved a way to identify genetic sequences without the need for technology. Genes If the sequence is X, there will be a red birthmark on the shoulder, which is absolutely unmistakable.
It has to be said that human beings have very strong adaptability. But the harsh living environment also makes their life span short. Bandner said that one hundred and eighty years is already an old age in the "East".
"You can't catch a fish even if you sit by the river for a day." Ao Dai said, "But if you catch one and cook a pot of soup, the fragrance can fill the entire town."
The white fish is as big as a palm and has a flexible body. It can dive to the bottom of the water in just a short moment after it emerges from the water. The underground river has fast currents and countless undercurrents. If a person accidentally falls in, he will be swept away and disappear completely.
Following the brothers Bandner and Ao Dai, Ryan and Fan Huanting walked into this small town with a population of only more than 3,000. Walking in the town, you can see not many strong young men and women. Most of them are old and physically weak. The disabled middle-aged and elderly people live in a poor environment and have few children. The effect of the power generation equipment is limited. After providing overall lighting to the town, it cannot take care of each household. Walking on the street, you can see the dimness of the small and narrow interior through the opened curtains. All the people living here People prefer to go outside, work and chat with others in front of and behind the house.
A child who looked older than Tuantuan at the age of one or two chased a stone ball to Ryan's feet, shouting as he ran, "Ball, ball, ball."
Ryan bent down and held down the ball, picked it up and handed it to the child. The child was thin and small. Because he had not seen the sun, his skin was pale and bloodless, and his hair that should have been brown was thin and yellow. The child glanced at "Lenny" timidly with his big eyes open. He was afraid of Lenny because Lenny didn't smile and looked very fierce. But there was something different about this Lenny. The gentle smile in his eyes made the child put it down. He was wary, stretched out his little hand to catch the ball, and showed a sweet and shy smile to "Renee".
The stone ball is hollow inside and can be handled by children with little strength. It is their only toy and they cherish it very much.
The news of Bandner's return soon spread throughout the town. Everyone rushed to the street twice, scrambling to inquire about the purchase of supplies. The look of anticipation and anxiety made Ryan sigh in his heart.
The young children stood in the crowd, looking at Bandner and the others curiously and ignorantly, as if they were watching a victorious general, their hearts filled with yearning.
Bandner led everyone back home surrounded by his tribe, but did not enter the house. The leader's house did not have special power supply. Just outside the house, there were stone tables and chairs for people to sit. Bandner said a few words to the tribesmen and asked them to disperse. Then he said to his sister, "Ao Dai, call West and the others."
"Where's the elder?" Ao Dai asked. The supplies are back, shouldn't we call them?
"I'll speak to them personally," Bandner said.
Ao Dai looked at her brother worriedly and was patted on the head by Bandner, "Go ahead and watch what I do!"
Ao Dai said, "Brother, I always feel that you are going to do something big." She looked at Ryan and Fan Huanting. The arrival of these two outsiders was the best proof.
Bandner shrugged helplessly, "I must tell you before doing anything big."
He noticed that his sister's eyes had been falling on Ryan, and he turned his head to look over in confusion, and saw two palm-sized robots coming out of Ryan's pocket, which was sitting not far away. They looked very cute.