Embers Ad Infinitum

A few days later, the afternoon training of the "old tune team" was about to begin.

Jiang Baimian walked back to the room from outside, with a slightly complicated expression.

She came to Long Yuehong, was silent for a moment and said:

"Your transfer application has been denied."

Long Yuehong's body suddenly swayed slightly, and she couldn't hide the disappointment on her face.

Jiang Baimian sighed softly:

"It is said above that we must not abandon or give up on the lagging team members. We cannot directly sentence them to death just because they show psychological discomfort during one training session.

"Moreover, no one has applied for the 'old transfer team' at present. Manpower is very scarce in various places. If you want to make a replacement, you can only wait for the next assignment."

"...I understand, I understand." Long Yuehong lowered her head and responded as if she was talking to herself.

Jiang Baimian said "hmm", smiled and comforted:

"I won't speak louder this time."

Long Yuehong was silent for a moment and said:

"Actually, I'm not that disappointed or in pain.

"At least I feel now that the work of the 'Old Tune Group' is still very meaningful."

Jiang Baimian smiled:

"Otherwise I wouldn't have formed the 'Old Tune Group'."

After speaking, she patted Long Yuehong on the shoulder:

"Exercise well, improve yourself, and try to survive until July next year. By then, I will be able to apply for a new team member and replace you."

Long Yuehong smiled uglier than crying:

"Team leader, your words are not very auspicious."

At this time, Shang Jianyao came closer and said with a smile:

"Team leader, you should say:

"I'll beat you up later to improve your survivability!"

Long Yuehong's face turned pale, inexplicably feeling that this was more terrifying than going out to investigate.

After all, it would be several months before the official start of the mission, facing all kinds of dangers, and the training was only ten minutes away.

"I'll beat you up later to improve your survivability!" Jiang Baimian repeated Shang Jianyao's words, but he didn't stare at Long Yuehong, but at Shang Jianyao.

She made it look like her hands were itchy.

Then, she said to Long Yuehong thoughtfully:

"If there is a chance, we will get another military exoskeleton device, which can effectively improve your strength."

"Okay, okay." Long Yue's eyes lit up.

Jiang Baimian thought for a while and then said:

“In fact, you can also consider biological prosthetic transplantation, which is much safer than genetic modification.

"If you have the romantic side of a man and like machines, you can try replacing certain parts of your body with machines. Some big forces are very good at this. I remember that there was a mechanical arm with so many functions that it was really eye-catching. "

"...This is not necessary for the time being." Long Yuehong still prefers her original body.

"Hey, I'm only 1.75 meters tall after genetic modification. I might as well replace it." Shang Jianyao "helped" with the voice.

The muscles on Long Yuehong's face twitched and he blurted out:

"Why don't you change it?"

"No chance yet." Shang Jianyao replied seriously.

Long Yuehong was speechless.

Seeing that the atmosphere had improved, Jiang Baimian turned his head and said to Bai Chen, who was watching quietly:

“The advice I gave you just now is also for you.

“The technologies of biological prosthetic transplantation and mechanical modification are relatively mature and not so dangerous.

"Would you like to pair up with me and become Lightning sisters?"

As soon as she finished speaking, before Bai Chen had time to speak, Shang Jianyao commented:

"Team leader, your name is so ugly.

"Must be that I listen to less radio programs!"

"...I think you were electrocuted too little." Jiang Baimian gritted his teeth.

Bai Chen slowly exhaled, nodded slightly and said:

"I will think about it."

"The only question is, who is the elder sister and who is the younger sister?" Shang Jianyao once again "helped" Bai Chen dub the voice.

Jiang Baimian didn't know how to answer for a moment, because Bai Chen was indeed older than her, and his mental age was also very mature.

But if she were asked to call herself her younger sister, she wouldn't be able to pull off the face of the team leader.

She has always positioned herself as the group's patron and protector.

Soon, Jiang Baimian woke up and glared at Shang Jianyao.

During this process, she laughed twice and changed the topic:

“After today’s training, there is another special training.

"That's training in courage."

"How to practice?" Long Yuehong was a little scared.

Jiang Baimian raised his chin slightly and said with a smile:

"You will be alone here tonight, and you are not allowed to bring flashlights or any other lighting tools."

"It sounds a bit scary..." Long Yuehong sighed sincerely.

Jiang Baimian nodded:

“This training can only be done one by one, otherwise it will be ineffective.

"Shang Jianyao, it's you tonight, Bai Chen, it's you tomorrow night, Long Yuehong, it's you the day after tomorrow."

Seeing that she was not the first, Long Yuehong breathed a sigh of relief:

"Yes, team leader!"

Shang Jianyao followed with a slightly serious tone:

"Yes, team leader!"

When Bai Chen responded, Shang Jianyao raised his hand and asked:

“Can I sleep while I’m staying behind?

"Can I turn on the speakers and listen to music?"

"No way!" Jiang Baimian replied decisively.

…………

After dinner, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen left Room 14 one after another and returned to their respective floors.

At the same time, Jiang Baimian also took away all the flashlights and batteries.

Shang Jianyao read the thick oral history by the light in the room, and from time to time he could hear the hourly time on the radio.

At 9 o'clock, all the light on the entire floor was extinguished at the same time, and Shang Jianyao's eyes became pitch black.

There is no natural light source here, and there are tables, chairs, and walls all around, so that Shang Jianyao can't even see his own fingers, let alone the outlines of various things.

He subconsciously wanted to turn on the desk lamp, but after pressing it, he found that it had no effect.

This is no different from the "living area". After the street lights go out, you can use your own energy distribution to regain the light source for your home. Once here, every room will be powered off. Unless the corresponding person in charge applies, you will have to work overtime until very late. Or work all night.

Shang Jianyao took back his hand and looked around again.

All he could see was the rich darkness.

In such darkness, he didn't know where the boundary was, and he didn't know if there was something else hidden around him besides the familiar things.

Moreover, unlike the "living area", the rooms there are densely packed and the sound insulation effect is average. Whenever it is quiet "at night", Shang Jianyao can always hear some whispers and hums.

Sometimes, there will be children crying, adults quarreling, and someone snoring.

Before Shang Jianyao falls asleep, the night is often not so absolutely quiet.

This kind of working place is quite busy during the day. After 7 o'clock, there may not be more than ten living people on the entire floor. When the lights go out, there are almost no humans at all.

Therefore, at this moment, Shang Jianyao felt that it was extremely quiet here, so quiet that it seemed to be frozen.

There was a sudden creaking sound, and Shang Jianyao took the initiative to move the stool, breaking this chilling feeling.

However, the movement could not be sustained, and the sound quickly fell back, as if it was swallowed up by the thick darkness around it.

Shang Jianyao sat there, staring into the darkness with his eyes wide open, trying to spot the ugly figure.

Such darkness and silence made him unsure of his own existence, and he felt like he would be engulfed by darkness anytime and anywhere.

I don’t know how long it took, but Shang Jianyao suddenly opened his mouth and sang:

"Recalling the past, the painful lovesickness cannot be forgotten..."

As he sang, he changed to a more intense type:

"Arise, hungry and cold slaves...

"Rise up, you who suffer all over the world..."

He roared at the top of his lungs, as if to break the current extreme darkness and silence.

Roaring and roaring, Shang Jianyao stopped and took a slight breath.

The entire room and entire floor became quiet again, and the darkness never changed.

Shang Jianyao calmed down for a while and started singing again.

He kept singing and singing, but he couldn't get a response and couldn't break the darkness.

After a while, Shang Jianyao suddenly spoke and shouted:

"Is there anyone?

"Is there anyone?"

All he got was an echo of himself.

Huh, huh, unconsciously, Shang Jianyao's breathing became heavier, as if he was using this method to prove that he still existed.

At this moment, he suddenly turned his head and looked at where the door should be.

Slight footsteps came from the side, approaching quickly.

A yellowish light beam then shone into the room.

The light beam immediately rose up, revealing a "bright white" face.

"Am I not scary?" A faint female voice echoed in the room.

Shang Jianyao glanced at Jiang Baimian, who was shining a flashlight on his face:

"You are so childish."

"..." Jiang Baimian responded angrily and funnyly, "I'm just caring about you and adjusting the atmosphere!"

Before Shang Jianyao could speak, she pouted:

"You don't really sing well."

"Have you been hiding next door?" Shang Jianyao asked directly.

"The next door is next door, otherwise you, as the awakened one, will find out." Jiang Baimian explained with a smile, walked to Shang Jianyao, pulled out a chair and sat down.

She shook the flashlight and watched the light dance around.

After a few seconds, she said casually:

“This special training is mainly designed for you.

"Your fear of closed darkness and extreme silence probably arose during your mother's long hospitalization after your father disappeared, right?

"At that time, you were only thirteen or fourteen years old. You woke up in the middle of the night, there was no one at home, and there was no sound around you... Then, you would sing to strengthen your courage?"

Shang Jianyao remained silent and did not answer.

Jiang Baimian laughed and continued:

"This kind of problem needs to be adapted step by step. It shouldn't be too exciting at the beginning, otherwise it will intensify the fear.

“So, for the first few times, I will accompany you and maybe chat with you for a few words, but I won’t turn on the flashlight.

“When you get used to this situation, I will stop talking and sit further away.

"After this stage, if you don't have any negative problems, then I will go to the next door and stay there so that you can't see or hear but know that there is someone nearby.

"When the time comes, maybe one time, I will go home quietly, but I won't tell you."

Shang Jianyao listened quietly and nodded in the light of the flashlight:

"good."

Jiang Baimian smiled and turned off the flashlight.

The whole room became extremely dark again, but there was an additional sound of breathing around him than before.