Enamorarse del diablo

Capítulo 11

Fang Yun chaired the meeting. Faced with the world's crisis, China is also trying to find a solution. At present, it seems that only by relying on the spirit of the United Nations, everyone can unite and fight against the evil of the third alien.

The meeting lasted a full day, during which documents on mutual support and assistance were signed, and structural data on the third variant that each party had collected were exchanged, with the hope of developing a serum for the virus as soon as possible.

The meeting also passed a major decision, and two days later, international news outlets decided to report on the matter, the military ceased its efforts to block and conceal the truth, and the world entered a state of war readiness.

After the meeting, dignitaries from various countries rushed back to their countries to prepare, while Fang Yun, with a solemn expression, arrived at the underground detention room of the Safety Supervision Bureau. In front of him were two white sheets covering two single beds. It was unclear what was under the white sheets, but the outlines that could be vaguely seen from the white sheets seemed to resemble people.

Fang Yun stood with his feet together, his face solemn. He quickly and forcefully raised one hand to his forehead and saluted the two white cloths in front of him. After a long while, Fang Yun lowered his hand and said with a guilty look, "Professor Lu, rest in peace! I will do my best to clear your name and exonerate you."

At this point, Fang Yun was on the verge of tears. She held back for a moment, then turned and left. With a loud bang, the door to the forbidden room slammed shut, and everything returned to a deathly silence.

In the conference room of the First War Zone, Fang Yun presided over the meeting. The conference room was filled with military commanders, as well as senior officials such as the mayor and party secretary of Wind City. Fang Yun read out the instructions issued by the national leaders. Starting today, Wind City will be designated as the First War Zone. All cadres and officials of Wind City must cooperate with the military to stabilize and protect the masses and to deal with unforeseen or sudden events in a timely manner.

Since the nation has not yet invented an instrument that can identify the third alien species, the military will temporarily be stationed in Wind City and various defense zones.

Upon hearing of the existence and threat of the Third Anomaly, the generals and officials present were astonished. When they learned that international news would broadcast the Third Anomaly's situation abroad in two days, they could not contain themselves and began to discuss it. They knew that if the public knew about such a terrifying event, wouldn't there be chaos? Thinking of this, the mayor and party secretary of Wind City and other high-ranking officials were sweating bullets. After all, civil officials did not have the same boldness as military officials.

Fang Yun looked at everyone in the room, then arranged all the matters and assigned responsibilities, and the meeting ended.

Fang Yun felt as heavy-hearted as everyone else. The thought of the prophecy in the tenth scroll sent chills down his spine. What worried Fang Yun even more was what Professor Lu had told him before he died: "There is already a third kind of anomaly in the national leadership, and that is the dark soul!"

For some reason, Professor Lu's words kept replaying in Fang Yun's dreams, followed by a bloody scene: a desolate wasteland before his eyes, as if he had experienced a nuclear war, barren and tragic.

Fang Yun decided to investigate further, so he sent people to keep a close eye on the movements of high-ranking leaders in Beijing. To his surprise, he discovered some clues, but he lacked strong evidence and could only lie low and wait for the right opportunity to act.

The most pressing concern was how to protect the people of Wind City. Thinking about how the Third Alien's attack had already begun overseas, and how this place would soon follow, Fang Yun stood by the window, gazing at the city view outside. The sunset was picturesque, and he gradually forgot his temporary worries, exclaiming, "So beautiful!"

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume One: Life's Encounters, Chapter Twenty-Nine: Everything is Ready, A Night's Lament

Chapter word count: 2056 Update time: 08-02-29 17:53

After bidding farewell to Company Commander Xie, Huang Hua drove the military vehicle and left the shooting range with everyone. It was dusk. For everyone, the shooting training over the past two days was just a review. Needless to say, the accuracy of the shooting was not important. The main thing was to familiarize themselves with the principles and use of various firearms. Of course, Lin Xiang was an exception when it came to being qualified.

Lin Xiang had never touched a gun. Even though there was military training at the beginning of the new semester in high school, he missed it because he was a transfer student in the first semester. He had only heard of firearms but never actually seen one.

The moment he touched the gun, he was incredibly excited. In two days of shooting training, Lin Xiang used 23,000 rounds of ammunition, almost emptying the entire magazine. Even Company Commander Xie had to give him a thumbs up and say, "Amazing! Young man, do you know you've broken the record!"

Just as Lin Xiang reached up to scratch the back of his head, Company Commander Xie continued, "So far, no soldier in the Chinese People's Liberation Army has ever fired that many bullets in two days. You, kid, 23,000 rounds, are the first. You almost emptied the entire ammunition depot."

Lin Xiang still looked bewildered after hearing this, leaving Company Commander Xie both amused and exasperated.

Lin Xiang hadn't had a proper rest during the two days of training, and now he had fallen asleep leaning against the car window.

At Lu Xiangxiang's house, Lin Xiang was carried on Huang Hua's back and thrown onto the bed, where he fell fast asleep. Lu Xiangxiang knew that Lin Xiang was exhausted, so she told everyone to sleep for two hours while she went to make dinner.

The six people sat around the dining table, eating and discussing tomorrow's plans.

Lu Xiangxiang decided to set off tomorrow morning. Everyone agreed that no one could leave tonight, so they would have to spend the night in Lu Xiangxiang's basement.

After dinner, it was already dark, and everyone began to busy themselves packing up their equipment and tools. Huang Hua opened the box, and everyone's eyes widened in surprise. The box was full of firearms. Huang Hua was very proud. "How about that? Surprised? All kinds of portable firearms, single shots, bursts, no matter which type, they all have strong penetrating power and low recoil."

After saying that, Huang Hua picked up a Desert Eagle double-barreled shotgun, played with it in his hand for a while, and aimed it at everyone. Fang Yetong quickly moved the muzzle away and said, "Come on, you really didn't aim the gun right. Be careful it doesn't go off!"

Huang Hua laughed and said, "Hey, Fang Yetong, you're usually fearless, why are you afraid of this guy? Besides, I haven't even loaded my bullets yet!"

"Okay...okay...okay! That's enough!" Liu Tao reminded him from the side, but his words seemed a little disjointed. It turned out that he had already reached for the weapon in the box. "Wow...this is really good!" Liu Tao's eyes lit up as he held a sniper rifle in his hand. The weapon chosen by the assassin was indeed different.

Lin Xiang, Liu Qingfang, Lu Xiangxiang, and Fang Yetong each chose their favorite and preferred weapons. Lin Xiang suddenly took a liking to a gleaming Swiss Army knife, about five inches long, with a smooth blade, a serrated back, and grooves on the surface. Huang Hua leaned over and said sarcastically, "Those grooves are for bleeding."

A sinister voice suddenly rang out, startling Lin Xiang so much that he almost lunged forward with his knife. Immediately afterward, Huang Hua opened the ammunition box and told everyone to load their ammunition. Then he instructed, "As for weapons, I suggest everyone take a rifle, a pistol, a Swiss Army knife, and grenades. Bring plenty of bullets, as many as you can carry."

Liu Qingfang rolled her eyes at Huang Hua and said, "Why bring so many weapons! It's not like we're going to war. Huang Hua, are you in such a hurry to die? I think you should bring more food so you don't go hungry!"

It seems that everyone is still unaware of the danger. After looking at all the supplies, Lu Xiangxiang said, "Do as Huang Hua said. Then, each person should be given an entrenching tool, plenty of rations and water, as well as torches, night vision goggles, grappling hooks, ropes, high-powered flashlights, lighting equipment, and medicine. Put everything into your equipment bag."

After Lu Xiangxiang said that, no one objected. They then set to work, placing all the necessary items in front of their bags one by one. Lu Xiangxiang checked each item and only agreed to pack them when she thought they were all in order. As a result, the bags were packed full, each weighing over 100 pounds! Good heavens! Carrying such heavy bags, let alone running, even walking seemed impossible, let alone with two girls in tow.

Lin Xiang tried to put the bag on his back, then shrugged, fastened the straps around his waist and chest, and felt a heavy weight pressing down on him, along with a wave of discomfort. Although the bag was a professional outdoor hiking backpack that could carry the entire weight around his waist, the load of over 100 pounds was still a bit of a strain for a young man who was only nineteen or twenty years old.

Lin Xiang took a few steps and saw everyone holding their breath for him. Apart from Lin Xiang, the other five people, although they had received grueling training since childhood, were born into wealthy families and could only shake their heads at manual labor. Lu Xiangxiang knew all too well that Lin Xiang was only carrying a bag at this moment, without his rifle or bulletproof vest. If he were fully armed, how heavy would that be?

Lu Xiangxiang stepped forward to help Lin Xiang unload his burdens, then said to everyone, "Take all these things with you for now. The dry rations and water are enough for ten people for twenty days. As for weapons, ammunition, and other supplies, as long as they are not lost along the way, it will be enough!"

Just as everyone was wondering how they would carry such a heavy bag, Lu Xiangxiang continued, "We'll use military vehicles to transport the equipment and packs, so don't worry about that! Everyone, get some rest! We'll set off together first thing tomorrow morning!"

Finally, it was time to set off. At night, Huang Hua, Fang Yetong, and Liu Tao were chatting about ancient artifacts, filled with excitement and a nameless longing for the ancient tomb. They completely forgot about the dangers they might encounter inside. The three of them talked non-stop until late into the night before finally falling asleep.

Lin Xiang couldn't sleep. Besides listening to the three of them talking nonsense, he kept thinking about what tomorrow would bring. After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, he turned his head and saw Liu Tao, Fang Yetong, and Huang Hua already fast asleep. Lin Xiang closed his eyes and gradually drifted off to sleep. In his dream, Lin Xiang dreamed of his mother...

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume 1: Life's Encounters, Chapter 30: A Lonely Village

Chapter word count: 2798 Update time: 08-02-29 17:54

Daylight broke.

Everyone was still fast asleep when Lin Xiang was pulled from his dream. He rubbed his eyes, opened them, and found Lu Xiangxiang standing in front of the bed with her hands on her hips, shouting, "Get up! You bunch of young masters, you're really sleeping soundly."

Lu Xiangxiang pinched each of their faces hard, making them wake up as if from a nightmare. They jumped out of bed, still shaken, and shouted, "Who...who...who?"

After regaining her senses, she realized it was a false alarm and couldn't help but complain, "Lu Xiangxiang, next time you greet someone, don't do it so suddenly! It scared me to death! I thought I'd run into a ghost..."

Fang Yetong interrupted Huang Hua, saying, "You call yourself a demon? I even dreamt about the Search for the Gods and was just about to delve into it, and look what happened! It's all gone now!"

Lin Xiang chuckled to himself as he listened, while Liu Tao simply yawned. Liu Qingfang came in, made a face, and then scolded everyone, "The sun's already high in the sky, why aren't you up yet? Still dreaming, huh?!" Then she picked up the Desert Eagle from the wall and glanced over.

This was terrible! There are no lazy people under the gun. Liu Tao was the first to jump up and quickly got dressed. No one else dared to hesitate and got up one after another. They really couldn't understand when Liu Qingfang, who was always known as a lady, had become more terrifying than Lu Xiangxiang!

Lu Xiangxiang secretly winked at Liu Qingfang, then gave her a thumbs up, and turned to the others to say, "Hurry up and wash up, have breakfast, and then we'll set off!"

The dining table was a mess, indicating that everyone had finished eating. Lu Xiangxiang tidied everything up and then shouted, "Let's go!"

And so, the burden was particularly heavy. Two people carried one bag and threw it into the car. The guns, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and the Chinese-made entrenching tool were all concealed and piled up in the car. Then everyone got into the car, the door slammed shut, the engine started, and the car slowly drove off. The group of six finally embarked on their unknown journey.

The vehicle was a military four-wheeled eight-seater jeep. Apart from the six seats for passengers, the rest of the space was filled with equipment. The interior space seemed quite large. Despite cramming so much stuff in, it didn't make anyone feel particularly depressed or suffocated. It seems that this vehicle had undergone special modifications.

In fact, regarding the space of the car, after Lu Xiangxiang reminded him, Huang Hua thought of this new type of eight-seater off-road jeep. He went to great lengths to borrow it from the military region division headquarters. According to him, he had an uncle who was a division commander in the military region. As for how he borrowed it, he smiled and gave everyone a riddle.

When traveling on the highway, military vehicles are the best choice. These days, many cars are smashed to death at checkpoints, but no one dares to smash a military vehicle. Besides, this vehicle is not just an ordinary symbol of status. The person riding in this vehicle is, at the very least, a division-level officer in the local military region. Moreover, the license plate number is so impressive that even soldiers would give it a wide berth. If it weren't for the military's martial law order, this vehicle would have no obstacles. No wonder there was no tense atmosphere inside the vehicle.

Lin Xiang thought about it. With so much weaponry, if it were an ordinary car, it would have been discovered long ago, and he would have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Every time they passed a checkpoint, Lin Xiang felt a chill in his heart. Seeing Huang Hua driving and Lu Xiangxiang pointing the way ahead, acting as if nothing had happened, he couldn't help but admire their composure.

The journey had been fraught with danger but ultimately safe. Apart from Lu Xiangxiang herself, no one else had a clue about the route or destination. Fang Yetong finally couldn't help but ask, "Lu Xiangxiang, where are we going?"

Lu Xiangxiang turned to look at Fang Yetong. Actually, Fang Yetong wasn't the only one asking; everyone wanted to know the same thing. Lu Xiangxiang thought for a moment and said, "Our destination today is a village called Gulu in the mountains north of Wind City, which should be over 300 kilometers from here!"

"The mountainous region north of Wind City?"

"A deserted village?"

No wonder the car kept heading north. It was a secluded village. The name was quite unique. Not only did Huang Hua not know about it, but even Fang Yetong, who was known as the "Know-It-All of Jianghu," was unaware of its existence. No one else knew about it either.

In fact, Lu Xiangxiang didn't know if this village existed. She only vaguely remembered that her father had mentioned it that night. When she woke up, her memories of what had happened were all blurry.

Lin Xiang wondered: Why would it be heading north? Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum is located south of Wind City, adjacent to Lintong County. This time, going more than 300 kilometers north, wouldn't that mean going further and further away? Lin Xiang really couldn't figure it out. The further north they went, the deeper the mountains became, which meant getting closer to primeval forests. Thinking about a place where no one lived, he really didn't know what kind of ferocious wild beasts might roam.

Unable to believe it, Lin Xiang turned his head and found that Liu Qingfang, Liu Tao, and Fang Yetong, who were sitting in the back of the car, had fallen asleep at some point. It seemed that none of them had slept well last night. Ever since the car entered the mountainous area, the bumpy ride had left them dizzy and listless. To prevent vomiting, they had no choice but to close their eyes and drift off to sleep.

The journey was originally planned to take only half a day, but with all the stops and starts, everyone was exhausted and felt like they were going to die. Even Liu Qingfang, who was usually known for her ladylike manners, couldn't help but curse out, "Damn it, what kind of road is this?! I'm almost dead from this! The road tax I usually pay is killing me!"

Fang Yetong was also vomiting badly, panting and saying, "No... I can't go on, I need to rest... I need to rest a bit before I leave..."

Lin Xiang also felt nauseous; the long, bumpy mountain road had left him feeling dizzy and disoriented. Liu Tao, on the other hand, stood there unharmed, shaking his head. It was truly difficult for these rich kids.

Huang Hua drove for five or six hours straight, thankfully without incident. He's used to driving this SUV all the time and is quite adept at navigating complex terrains. No wonder his father always wanted him to join the army, saying that the descendants of soldiers should inherit the will of their ancestors and defend their country. Huang Hua himself, however, insisted on going to university. Luckily, his mother was on his side, otherwise, he would have been forced to enlist.

Lu Xiangxiang frowned, glanced at the sky. It was already afternoon, and the sun was still blazing. She then called out to everyone to get on the bus. Just a little longer, and they would be almost at the village. Hearing this, everyone mustered their spirits, took a breath of fresh air, and continued to climb into the bus. Enduring the hellish ordeal, they knew that paradise was just around the corner, and they encouraged themselves more than once.

At dusk, under the shady trees of dawn, after traveling along countless roads, winding around several mountains, and traversing countless deep and distant forests, the car finally stopped just as the sun was about to set. Lu Xiangxiang said, "We've arrived. This should be the isolated village."

Lu Xiangxiang and Huang Hua turned around and saw that everyone behind them, including Liu Tao, had fallen asleep. The two shook their heads and continued driving into the village. As soon as they stopped the car, they were surrounded by a group of children who were making a fuss. It seemed that no strangers had been here for a long time.

Huang Hua and Lu Xiangxiang got out of the car and carefully looked around the village. The village was full of dilapidated brick houses that had weathered the vicissitudes of time and looked somewhat precarious. When the villagers saw strangers, they all stood up. When they saw Lu Xiangxiang, the villagers were surprised!

Encouraged by the children, Lu Xiangxiang stepped forward and asked, "Uncle! Auntie! Is this a secluded village?"

Upon hearing Lu Xiangxiang's question, the villagers were shocked. Suddenly, an elderly man with white hair stepped forward and asked, "Young lady, where did you hear that?"

The white-haired old man had a dignified expression. Upon his appearance, the restless villagers quieted down, indicating his high prestige in the village. Lu Xiangxiang wondered if the old man was probing her. It seemed this village held a great secret! So she stepped forward and replied, "My parents told me!"

Who is your mother?

"My mother, Tao Yanmei!"

"Tao Yanmei? You are the daughter of my benefactor!" The white-haired old man was extremely excited upon hearing this. In fact, when he first saw the two of them, he felt that the girl's face was very similar to that of his benefactor from more than ten years ago, but he was not sure. Now that he knew that she was his benefactor's daughter, he excitedly called on the villagers to come out and warmly welcome her.

Huang Hua was completely confused. What was going on here? Before he could react, he was already being ushered into the house by the enthusiastic villagers.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume 1: Life's Encounters, Chapter 31: Warm Hospitality

Chapter word count: 2391 Update time: 08-02-29 17:54

The house was packed with people, and even the area outside the door was crowded with people. Huang Hua looked up and realized that he and Lu Xiangxiang were surrounded by a crowd, being worshipped as if they were rare sacred objects. The villagers were pointing and talking around, but Huang Hua had no idea who their benefactor was.

The arrival of the benefactor's daughter spread like wildfire throughout the village. Word spread like wildfire, and villagers dropped what they were doing to come over.

Sure enough, the white-haired old man insisted on representing the entire village to kowtow to Lu Xiangxiang to express their gratitude. The old man's actions frightened Lu Xiangxiang and Huang Hua, who quickly stood up and helped him up, saying they could not accept such a grand gesture.

They talked back and forth for a long time before the white-haired old man finally gave up, still unwilling to give up, claiming that he would remember this act of gratitude and would definitely do it another day. The villagers all agreed, and then they started chatting casually.

Huang Hua found it quite interesting. Everyone said that the villagers in the farm were honest and simple, and their folk customs were always very good. This time it seemed that the reputation was indeed well-deserved.

Upon closer inspection of the surroundings, Huang Hua realized it was no ordinary dilapidated place. He frowned, thinking, "How can anyone live in such a run-down house?" The walls were made entirely of loose, fallen bricks, clearly weathered by time and neglected for years, putting them in imminent danger of collapse. Even more shocking was the large crack in the main wall—it looked like a bolt of lightning in the night, a truly terrifying sight.

Looking up at the roof, Huang Hua exclaimed in disbelief! It was all broken tiles, with many holes patched up with straw. Some of the holes were like skylights, letting in the last rays of the setting sun. Huang Hua couldn't believe that anyone lived in such a house. He remembered visiting Lin Xiang's house once and being left with a very poor impression of Lin Xiang's family. He never imagined that this place... Sigh! How to put it? It was simply not a place for a human to live.

During their conversation, they learned that the white-haired old man was the village chief, surnamed Zhang. No wonder the villagers' commotion was quelled as soon as he stepped forward to speak. At this moment, Lu Xiangxiang had already become very familiar with Village Chief Zhang, chatting and laughing together.

Before they knew it, it was getting dark. Village Chief Zhang stood up, looked outside the door, and then warmly invited Lu Xiangxiang and Huang Hua to stay at his house. He insisted that he had a thousand words to say and wanted to represent the whole village in welcoming their benefactor.

Huang Hua had wanted to leave this place for a long time. Looking at the dilapidated roof and the cracked main wall, Huang Hua felt a chill run down his spine. He was really afraid that if the wall and the roof were to collapse, everyone in the house would be sacrificed to meet Marxism. But the villagers were not afraid. They were chatting and laughing naturally, which made Huang Hua very nervous.

Speaking of dinner, Lu Xiangxiang suddenly remembered that some people were still in the car. Huang Hua had already pulled Lu Xiangxiang out to the jeep. When they opened the car door, they found that Liu Qingfang and the other three were still fast asleep, oblivious to the time and not feeling hungry. Lu Xiangxiang shouted loudly in their ears, and only then did they open their sleepy eyes, completely listless, as if they were sick.

Huang Hua knew it was motion sickness. It seemed he would need a good night's sleep, and might even have to rest here for two days to recover before going tomb raiding. Thinking of something exciting, Huang Hua became very alert and drove behind Village Chief Zhang all the way.

Village Chief Zhang's house wasn't far either, only fifty or sixty meters away. The car was parked right in the yard, and Huang Hua went inside to take a look. Hmm! Compared to the previous house, it didn't seem much better! Apart from the roof not looking hollow, there were still small cracks on the main wall. Fortunately! Compared to the previous house, which made one's heart tremble and feel like one might be discussing revolutionary theories with Marx at any moment.

Liu Qingfang and the other three were like ghosts, lying down on the bed and falling asleep. Village Chief Zhang hurriedly called on his wife to quickly prepare some good wine and food to entertain their benefactors.

And so, more than an hour later, the food was served. Liu Qingfang, Lu Xiangxiang, Lin Xiang, and three others sat around a large round table, on which sat a whole roasted suckling pig, weighing over thirty pounds! The six of them stared in disbelief, thinking repeatedly: "No way! Roasted suckling pig?"

Besides suckling pig, the table was filled with other side dishes such as wild rabbit, pheasant, and birds. Village Chief Zhang kept shouting: Dinner is served!

The aroma was irresistible, making everyone's mouths water. Such a variety of wild delicacies, made with the original, unprocessed ingredients, are something you can't find in the city.

Then, Zhang's two sons and daughters-in-law, along with his wife and two grandsons, took their seats. The group of fourteen people sat around a large round table in the courtyard to eat. Unfortunately, the village had been without power for a month. When asked why, the higher-ups replied that they were repairing the circuit, and so the matter was delayed.

Now they could only eat by the light of oil lamps and the headlights of their cars. The delicious wild game made everyone's mouths water. Even Liu Qingfang, who usually doesn't eat much, ate two bowls of rice today. The bowls in the village were much bigger than those in the city. Liu Tao picked up a Swiss Army knife and started slicing it into the suckling pig. His swift and skillful knife work impressed the village chief, who kept praising him. Liu Tao, on the other hand, ate with his mouth covered in grease. Lu Xiangxiang watched and chuckled to herself.