Embers Ad Infinitum

"More than a month...three or four months..." Long Yuehong repeated these numbers in a daze.

Jiang Baimian looked at him a few times:

"It doesn't look like you're scared?

"What is the difficulty? Tell me and let's take a look at it. Maybe there is a solution?"

Before Long Yuehong could speak, Shang Jianyao said for him:

"During this period, he has been living a prosperous life relying on mechanical watches, candies, snacks, and drinks in glass bottles. He seems to be floating when he walks. How can he be willing to leave the company?"

"No way?" Long Yuehong retorted subconsciously.

Shang Jianyao immediately asked:

"After deducting the contribution points for changing rooms for your parents, how much of the compensation is left?"

This question hit the spot, and Long Yuehong hesitated to answer.

After receiving the compensation, he lived a very comfortable life indeed. He often ate ordinary snacks worth 60 contribution points per catty, and occasionally exchanged them for high-end snacks worth 720 per catty.

As for candies, pumpkin seeds, and drinks in glass bottles, they are commonplace.

This made him a hero to his younger siblings and the envy of his friends.

It seems a lot easier to get along with the target girl.

Long Yuehong, who was really embarrassed to reveal her balance, had to take the initiative and said:

"My mother just introduced me to a girl some time ago. We met a few times and we felt good about each other.

"Now if I go out for a month or two and then come back, the day lilies will be cold."

Jiang Baimian nodded in agreement:

"That's true. You and that girl are at best acquaintances and barely friends. You haven't heard from her for two or three months. How can she wait for you?"

"Team leader, is there a solution?" Long Yuehong asked eagerly, holding on to her last glimmer of hope.

He knew that he couldn't refuse the task assigned by the superior, and he just hoped that the team leader could teach him some practical skills so that he could confirm the relationship as soon as possible.

In any case, the team leader is also a young woman, so she should be able to grasp the mentality of similar people well, and she has a good mind.

Jiang Baimian thought carefully:

"No.

"Even if I try to bring you together now, without a deep emotional foundation, I'm afraid you'll be hurt even more if you come back in two or three months."

"Hey..." Long Yuehong sighed.

Seeing this, Jiang Baimian comforted him casually:

"That's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Ah?" Long Yuehong suddenly looked forward to it, wondering what the team leader would say.

Seeing how serious Long Yuehong was, Jiang Baimian could only laugh and said:

"The next one might be better."

At this time, Bai Chen didn't give Long Yuehong a chance to feel sad and asked:

"Team leader, why are you going to Weed City?"

"Go visit the glazed pure land of the monks' order." Shang Jianyao answered quickly.

Long Yuehong's face suddenly turned pale.

"Where is this from?" Jiang Baimian explained angrily, "It's like this..."

She told the story about the disappearance of an "old tune team" in Weed City, and explained clearly the mission of herself and others.

"Isn't this dangerous?" Long Yuehong blurted out and asked, "We passed through the Monk Wasteland again, and it was another incident that caused all the members of the 'Old Tune Team' to disappear..."

He is deeply jealous of the mechanical monk Jingfa Zen Master, and is worried that the next time he meets him, he will become a destined person.

Moreover, each of those mechanical monks has quirks and points of madness. What if the next time you meet is the type who will kill the target when he hears a bad name?

——The Monk Wasteland is a place where the glazed pure land of the Monk Order is rumored to be hidden. It was named because there are often mechanical monks operating in that area.

Hearing Monk Wasteland, Shang Jianyao's mind suddenly jumped:

"I wonder if Zen Master Jingfa has given Qiao Chu a good explanation of Buddhism..."

Jiang Baimian was amused:

“This kind of sinful man should be sent to become a mechanical monk.

"Think about it, an eagle, a group of hyenas, and a bunch of wild beasts are surrounding a metal robot, desperately getting close to him and rubbing against him, while the robot doesn't care, sitting on the stone, using electronics The synthesized voice was reciting scriptures seriously, talking about Buddhism, tut tut..."

After thinking about it for a while, Jiang Baimian recovered his thoughts in time and comforted Long Yuehong:

"Don't worry, we will plan a route that bypasses Monk Wasteland and enters Wild Grass City from the other side. Although it will be far, it is better than safety.

"When we get to Weedao City, we have the company's intelligence personnel to cooperate and have certain resources to mobilize, so it won't actually be that dangerous.

"and……"

Speaking of the word "and", Jiang Baimian showed a smiling expression:

“This is the most suitable occasion for Shang Jianyao to perform.

"His ability is limited on the firearms battlefield, but in a relatively peaceful environment where people often come into contact with each other, he is almost invincible."

After speaking, Jiang Baimian patted Shang Jianyao on the shoulder:

"It's time to make friends!"

Bai Chen listened intently and subconsciously thought about the scene where Shang Jianyao went crazy "making friends" after entering Weed Grass City.

This made her shiver inexplicably.

She was very worried that an organization called "Shang Jian Yao Brotherhood" would appear in Weed City.

Thinking of this, Bai Chen instinctively turned his head and looked at Shang Jianyao, and found that this guy's eyes were bright and he looked eager to try.

"Team leader, let's set off today." Shang Jianyao suggested.

Jiang Baimian gave him a look:

"Forget it.

"You have to cooperate with the investigation within these three days."

"Investigation?" Long Yuehong was a little confused.

Only then did Jiang Baimian mention the matter of the "Sacrifice of Life" cult, focusing on Shang Jianyao's contribution.

"This is how Uncle Shen's 'unintentional illness' came about..." Long Yuehong realized that during the period of his prosperity, there was an undercurrent under the water.

While talking to himself, he suddenly looked at Shang Jianyao:

"When did you join the cult?"

"July." Shang Jianyao answered calmly.

"Why did you take the initiative to join them?" Long Yuehong asked in confusion.

Shang Jianyao raised his eyebrows:

"It's fun, and you can leave clues to report at the same time."

"Then why do you have to participate so many times? If you had reported it earlier, nothing would have happened?" Long Yuehong always felt that there was something wrong with this.

Shang Jianyao's expression suddenly became heavy:

“Because it’s delicious.

"Holy Communion is particularly delicious."

There should be no more free communions after that.

"..." Long Yuehong's only reaction to this answer was a dull expression.

Jiang Baimian "comforted" Qi Shang Jianyao:

“Weed City must have many sects, either openly or secretly.

"When the time comes, you can add as many as you want, and you can buy Holy Communion from as many houses as you want. I think this won't be difficult for you, right?"

"Team leader, let's set off today." Shang Jianyao suggested again with unusual sincerity.

Jiang Baimian didn't even bother to answer him, and turned to Bai Chen and said:

"After reading the information later, you can cooperate with me in planning some routes to Wild Grass City."

Then, she said to Long Yuehong:

"In addition to playing as much as possible these days and spending more time with my family, I also need to be physically and mentally prepared."

"Yes, team leader!" Long Yuehong and Bai Chen answered loudly at the same time.

"Not bad, very energetic." Jiang Baimian nodded with satisfaction, and then said, "The special training is still the same. Once you leave the company, it won't be such a good environment. Well, the order will be changed, and those who perform well will not participate, for example , Bai Chen.”

When she said this, she looked at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao nodded seriously.

Jiang Baimian turned his eyes slightly and said as if he was thinking about something:

"I have to make more preparations myself..."

Without giving Long Yuehong a chance to ask, she clapped her palms and said:

"Okay, let's look at the information."

…………

At 9 o'clock in the evening the next day, it was already dark in the "old tune group" room.

Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao, who could not even see his outline, and asked with concern:

"How is it? There was nothing wrong with the investigation and questioning just now, right?"

"No." Shang Jianyao was very confident.

Jiang Baimian asked uneasily:

"What did they say?"

"Tell me that I speak nicely." Shang Jianyao relayed.

"What else?" Jiang Baimian frowned slightly.

Shang Jianyao replied without any hesitation:

"Praise me for my spirit."

"These don't seem to be good words..." Jiang Baimian said suspiciously.

Shang Jianyao recalled:

"At their request, I showed them my doctor's certificate, and then they said there was no problem. They also said that if they need further information, they would talk to me again."

Jiang Baimian immediately imagined the scene at that time.

"It's okay." She breathed out helplessly.

Then, she stood up and said to Shang Jianyao:

“I went next door to the next door.”

She added with a smile:

"This time, I may leave quietly, or I may not."

"Okay." Shang Jianyao didn't stop him.

Jiang Baimian walked to the door easily in the lightless darkness, then turned around, considered his words and said:

"I originally wanted to say that the only person you can rely on in the end is yourself, but at this time, saying this kind of thing, haha, it's a bit painful to stand and talk."

She was silent for a moment, and in an environment where she couldn't see her fingers or see the other person, she continued in a soft voice:

"Actually, no one can survive purely on their own. When we are young, we rely more on our parents. When we grow up, we may rely on relatives, spouses, friends and children.

"The four of us can be considered companions who have experienced life and death several times together. In most cases, I think we can all be trusted. We can protect each other's flanks and backs, and we can charge together.

"There is no shame in relying on others. You are also letting others rely on you, and you are also protecting your companions.

"The chick will eventually leave its parents and soar into the blue sky with its companions."

Shang Jianyao couldn't see Jiang Baimian, but he could hear her words. He was silent for a moment, his thoughts tumbling.

At this time, Jiang Baimian smiled self-deprecatingly:

"Haha, I accidentally said it too literary. Anyway, I just want to tell you:

"You have a companion. No matter what the circumstances, you will never walk alone."

The darkness became speechless again, but Jiang Baimian quickly broke it:

"Stop, don't talk, I'm afraid of disturbing the scenery."

She then smiled and said:

"If you are scared, remember to call me, but I might not be there."

Her voice faded and she disappeared down the corridor.