Tranxending Vision - Chapter 367

Chapter 367: 367

They drove for half an hour and came to a military base in the mountains . Long Bing showed her identification and gained entry .  

They alighted, and Xia Lei followed Long Bing to a cave . He looked around the military base as he walked and saw many of the newest models of fighter planes and tanks, as well as armoured vehicles . The base also had several anti-aircraft missiles and mobile missile vehicles and radar systems . It was apparent that this was a military base which protected the Jingdu region and was a very important place .  

There was a passageway in the cave and soldiers on guard . Though papers had been presented at the gates the soldiers in the cave still checked Long Bing’s identity and asked about Xia Lei’s status . Long Bing gave them a brief summary, then brought Xia Lei into the passageway in the cave .  

‘Bureau 101 sure has high clearance . Showing identification at a military place like this can gain us entry too,’ thought Xia Lei .  

Their footsteps echoed . Who knew how deep this cave was .  

“Lei, don’t probe into things when you’re in there,” said Long Bing as she walked . “I know you’re close with Ning Jing but I must remind you that you cannot ask her things . ”

Xia Lei wrinkled his brows . “I’m not the enemy . What’s the point of guarding against me like this?”

“It’s not guarding against you, it’s the system and limits,” said Long Bing . “This place has its own system and we are limited in what we can do here . It’s not just you - I can’t ask about what Doctor Ning Jing and the other experts are doing in here either . I will be punished if it’s discovered that I got information from them . ”

Xia Lei groaned to himself . How was he going to get information on the alloy if he could not ask Ning Jing about it? 

He had not insisted on coming here just to take a look around . He wanted to know the secret of the alloy and its link to AE, especially about AE . He was fairly disgruntled about not being able to get any information on the subject now that he was here .  

‘I’ll have to be pragmatic . It’s difficult enough to come to this military base so I must take something away from this,’ grumbled Xia Lei to himself .  

He memorised every single bit of surveillance and guards’ positions as they walked .  

There was a checkpoint at the end of the passageway . Long Bing and Xia Lei handed in their phones, car keys, wallets, watches and so on at this checkpoint . They also put on an anti-bacterial suit and were brought to a lift by one of the workers there .  

Long Bing nagged at Xia Lei again when they entered the lift . “Remember what I said . No asking . ”

Xia Lei nodded . “I know, don’t worry . ”

The lift descended for goodness knows how long and they were at the lowest level when it stopped . The lift doors opened and a space even bigger than a football field appeared in their field of vision . There was not a trace of dirt or stone in sight - the entire space was a silver-metal area . There were many pieces of scientific equipment and many researchers, giving one the impression that he had stepped into the hold of a spaceship . It all felt very scientific .  

Xia Lei said in surprise, “This place is . . . ”

Long Bing gave him a light kick .  

“Oh, I nearly forgot . Sorry . ” Xia Lei shrugged, then shut his mouth .  

They were led by the worker to an isolated area . They had to go through a identification-approved electric door before they could enter a large laboratory .  

The laboratory was isolated too, with all four of its walls made of special glass . The researchers working inside could be seen through the glass, and Ning Jing was one of them . She was examining a bronze artifact and looked very focused on her task; she did not notice the newly-arrived Xia Lei and Long Bing .  

Xia Lei’s gaze went to the bronze item and was struck by a thought, ‘Is that the bronze book she mentioned before?’

What was written in the bronze book? Xia Lei was full of curiosity and his imagination was fired up .  

The worker leading the way picked up the intercom by the door and said, “Scholar Wang, please come out for a bit . ”

The worker’s voice was carried over the speakers of the laboratory . A tall, skinny old man looked back at them, then stopped what he was doing and walked over .  

Ning Jing looked over too and she was stunned when she saw Xia Lei standing outside the door . A smile spread unbidden across her face . She put down the bronze book in her hands and walked towards the door too .  

At that moment, Xia Lei spotted the alloy he had brought back from Princess Yong-Mei’s tomb . There wasn’t just one piece, but two . Both the pieces of green alloy were placed on a silver-coloured metal table and were being scanned by a scanner . Two researchers were standing close by, keeping a close watch on the alloy pieces . The researchers were totally focused and the sound from the speakers did not affect them at all .  

‘Could they already have results with all this research equipment, manpower and technology available?’ thought Xia Lei to himself .  

The glass door opened and the tall, skinny old man walked out . A work badge with his position and name was clipped to his chest . He was from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a Doctor, and his name was Wang Lei .  

To be called ‘Scholar’ and be a Doctor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences must mean that he had outstanding achievements in scientific research in a particular field or representative of it . This showed how much importance this was to the nation to have a person like this here!

“Chief Long, I do apologise,” said Wang Lei apologetically, “for calling you over at this hour . It is a truly urgent matter . ”

“Don’t stand on ceremony, this is our job,” said Long Bing .  

Wang Lei looked at Xia Lei . “And this is?”

Xia Lei was about to introduce himself when Ning Jing, who’d just walked out of the glass door, said with a smile, “Scholar Wang, he’s the person I’ve told you about, Xia Lei . It was him who brought back what we needed from Afghanistan . " 

Wang Lei paused, then said in surprise, “So it’s Mr Xia . Doctor Ning talks about you often . This is our first time meeting but I already know a lot about you . You really are young and capable . That’s good . Our country needs more talents like you . ”

Xia Lei took the initiative to hold both hands out for a handshake, and said politely, “No, no, you praise me too highly, Scholar Wang . I just did what I should . Please don’t hesitate to ask if you need me to help with anything . ”

This was a way to remind Wang Lei, and give himself a way and a chance to get close to this research project .  

Long Bing glanced at Xia Lei with a hint of worry in her eyes .  

“Of course I’ll ask you for help if I need it, Mr Xia . But what we need are researchers, not a soldier . I am glad for you offer,” said Wang Lei . He then spoke to Long Bing, “Chief Long, let’s go take a look . ”

Long Bing nodded . Her voice was low as she said, “Please lead the way, Scholar Wang . ”

Xia Lei followed Long Bing, thinking, ‘This Scholar Wang obviously doesn’t want me to come in contact with this scientific project . He rejected me without even asking what I can do . How troublesome, him being so cautious in conducting scientific research . ’

Ning Jing quietly pulled at Xia Lei’s hand and said in a soft voice, “Why have you come?”

“I came to take a look,” replied Xia Lei quietly .  

Wang Lei looked back at Ning Jing and said sternly, “Doctor Ning, there’s no need for you to come with us . Go back to work . ”

“I…” Ning Jing did not want to return to the laboratory .  

Wang Lei wrinkled his brows . “No discussion . ”

No discussion - so it was an order .  

Ning Jing pursed her lips, then turned and went back to the laboratory .

“Please come with me, Chief Long, Mr Xia . ” Wang Lei led the way .  

Xia Lei looked back, and his gaze met with Ning Jing’s . He saw her lips move, saying something .  

Long Bing smacked Xia Lei on the hand . “Come on, women make a pass at you everywhere . Aren’t you tired of responding?”

Xia Lei was speechless .  

Long Bing glared at Ning Jing and she quickly turned to return to her workstation .  

Xia Lei ‘replayed’ what Ning Jing had said in his head and quickly deciphered it . ‘Don’t go . I’ll come find you tomorrow morning . ’

A faint smile appeared in the corners of Xia Lei’s mouth as he thought, ‘With our relationship, Ning Jing will tell me all she knows if I just ask . Looks like I’ll have to find some way to stay . ’

They went through a passageway and to the door of a room .  

A sign which read ‘Medical Room’ hung on the door .  

They entered the room and Xia Lei saw a person lying on a gurney . He was a middle-aged man, not yet fifty and fairly thin . He was tied, arms and legs to the bed and was unable to move .  

He was quiet but suddenly started getting agitated when Wang Lei brought Xia Lei and Long Bing into the room . He thrashed as his face filled with a look of terror, as if the ones who had entered were not three humans but three long-tongued demons with dishevelled hair .  

“His name’s Chen Kexue, one of the top Material Science experts in China and a Doctor in his field . He was fine at dinner tonight but changed soon after entering the laboratory . ”

“What happened?” asked Long Bing .  

At that moment, Chen Kexue suddenly quieted on the bed, then spoke in a strange voice, “Princess, go! Go! It will be too late if you don’t go now!”

Chen Kexue was silent after uttering those words . He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes dark, empty .

“See?” said Wang Lei, “Just like that . He started spouting some strange things and even took up a knife to hack at people . He was stopped, fortunately . ”

“Why wasn’t he sent to the hospital?”

“We have medical doctors here too, and our equipment are very advanced . There’s no need to send him to the hospital,” said Wang Lei . “I called you over to have an understanding of the situation . I need a copy of the report of your mission in Afghanistan . This happening is not a coincidence; we must study it . ”

“What sort of report?”

“How the alloy was excavated, what was in the tomb, whether anything strange happened during the process - everything . What did you experience, what did you see, what did you hear, what did you smell - write it all in the report, then hand it in to me . ” Wang Lei’s gaze went to Xia Lei as he spoke .  

Xia Lei then realised that Shi Boren had not relented and let him come out of the goodness of his heart . He probably contacted this Wang Lei after Long Bing called him and got permission from Wang Lei before allowing Xia Lei to come here . Who else could write the report Wang Lei wanted other than him? 

Long Bing’s gaze went to Xia Lei too .  

Xia Lei acted like he had not noticed and he looked at Chen Kexue lying on the bed .  

Just then, Chen Kexue suddenly started talking again .