MPWATMBC Chapter 103

After descending a nearly vertical passage, a crooked path branched out. Walking about twenty meters along it, three forks in the road appeared, each leading to an unknown distance.

The underground air was in motion, with a faint, eerie breeze—oppressive but not suffocating. Bandner, born and raised here, needed no careful discernment to know which path to take. Similar forks were encountered several more times along the way, making it impossible for newcomers to discern direction. The ground was sometimes uneven and sometimes rugged and difficult to traverse, leaving the travelers no time to carefully choose their routes. If it were ordinary people brought to such a place, losing their guide would inevitably result in getting lost. But Ryan and Fan Lanting were different; they had already mapped out a simple route in their minds. Relying on vague memories, they could independently retrace their steps and still find their way with reasonable accuracy.

Since they had chosen to cooperate, they were now partners, and mutual trust and openness were expected. Bandner introduced the origins of the “East” without reservation: “My ancestors, when searching for water sources, detected that the desert’s underside was hollow. They found a way to enter here and discovered this natural karst cave with its crisscrossing, interconnected passages. It took us over a hundred years to gradually tidy up this place and move in. Having this refuge spared us from the fate of being enslaved by pirates. We maintained a delicate balance with the ‘West’—well, I suppose it’s more of a stalemate to this day. If the ‘West’ didn’t think wasting explosives on us wretches was a foolish thing to do, I imagine the ‘East’ would’ve ceased to exist two or three hundred years ago.”

He spoke in a calm tone, without mentioning the hardships and tears of blood endured during the process. Yet, the calmer the narrative, the more it evoked thoughts of the suffering and sacrifices of those times.

Struggling to survive in the mire, the “East,” refusing to join forces with the pirates, was like a flower blooming from the wasteland, destined to one day reach full bloom.

The beauty of the flower was something only it could truly perceive. All along, the “West” had looked at the “East” with disdain.

The “West” was certain that the “East” was nothing more than a group of mice hiding underground, too cowardly to show themselves, posing no real threat. To them, it was amusing to watch these people scurry and cower in hiding. The lofty pirates of the “West” gazed upon the struggling people of the “East” with the same eyes they used for rodents. The moment the “East” was perceived as a threat, the pirates would not hesitate to act, ruthlessly eradicating them. Bloodshed and massacre were words the pirates of the “West” frequently invoked when speaking of threats.

Ryan said, “Feigning weakness is a strategy of defense, merely a way to create an opportunity for a fatal strike against the enemy.”

“You’re quoting Emperor Qin Feng’s famous saying!”

Ryan: “…You could say that.” Qin Feng had said countless things throughout his life, and an untold number of them had been turned into famous sayings by later generations. He couldn’t even tell which of his current words matched something he had said in the past.

Bandner affirmed, “It’s not ‘you could say that,’ it is that. Oh, and when you meet my clansmen, if you mention Emperor Qin Feng, you must use an honorific. If you show even the slightest disrespect, you’re definitely going to get beaten up.”

What sustained everyone as they struggled in the darkness, searching for the light, was the belief bestowed upon them by Emperor Qin Feng Anderson. The Emperor’s will inspired generation after generation to never give up, never abandon hope, and never lose heart, holding onto the conviction that the darkness would eventually pass, and the light would surely come.

It could be said that in the “East,” Emperor Qin Feng Anderson was not merely a symbol of belief; he was faith itself, a god-like presence in the hearts of the people.

Fan Lanting nodded. “Don’t worry. It’s not just your people; we outsiders hold great respect for the Emperor as well.”

Bandner looked at Ryan. He had always felt that Ryan’s attitude toward Emperor Qin Feng was overly casual. Even though Ryan used honorifics when speaking, his expression and the light in his eyes made it clear that he didn’t take the Emperor seriously. This dismissive attitude toward the Emperor constantly irked Bandner. Even though Ryan had displayed extraordinary abilities and helped him and his companions escape danger, Bandner still couldn’t bring himself to like the man.

Fixing his gaze on Ryan, Bandner demanded a promise from him. What could Ryan do? He could only nod helplessly. “Got it.” How was he supposed to show respect? From the heart? That was asking a lot!

“Don’t be so perfunctory… Forget it.” Bandner knew he was asking for the impossible—how could anyone force someone to change their beliefs? “Just make sure you don’t bring up Emperor Qin Feng on your own. And when my clansmen mention him, try to keep your expression serious. I’m not trying to force you into anything; this is about ensuring our upcoming cooperation goes smoothly.”

Living underground, where sunlight was a rarity, oppressed by the ruthless pirates and constantly battling them with both wits and strength, the people of the “East” had developed certain flaws in their personalities. They were prone to irritability and anger. If Ryan were to trigger the displeasure of Bandner’s clansmen, the cooperation could very well fall apart.

Don’t start questioning why they can’t look at the bigger picture, why they are so impulsive, irritable, and irrational.

Their world is the Savage Star, consisting of the East and the West, and the underground villages. Many of the elderly, seeking stability, have no concept of the wider universe and only wish to live their current lives peacefully. The young, influenced by Bandner, yearn for the outside world but have no real idea of what it’s like. Protecting everything they have now is their priority.

Ryan wasn’t a reckless person and knew what he needed to do. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely cooperate.”

Bandner replied, “Alright, I trust you.” Ryan’s military discipline led him to choose to believe in him.

The underground passage sometimes climbed upward and sometimes slid downward, winding like a serpent. Such a path was hardly a challenge. After one more descent, Fan Lanting asked in puzzlement, “With such a long distance, isn’t transporting supplies incredibly troublesome?”

“It is indeed troublesome. Just look at where we live, and you’ll see we’re not deliberately taking you on a roundabout route. Trust means not telling lies,” Bandner said, leaning against the wall and taking a deep breath. He couldn’t help but envy Ryan and Fan Lanting’s physical condition—they had walked this far and were still breathing evenly and steadily. Soldiers truly lived up to their reputation.

“Down below is a massive underground karst cave, about a thousand meters beneath the surface. That’s where we live. We reside this deep to avoid pirate attacks, escape burrowing beasts, and because there are water resources below. The air is cool, damp, and very comfortable.”

For the people of the “East,” this place was paradise.

As Ryan walked, he occasionally touched the cave walls, feeling their rough texture. The walls were embedded with naturally glowing minerals, providing faint illumination and preventing the area from being shrouded in total darkness.

Walking through the narrow, elongated passage for a long time could make one feel as if they were being swallowed into the belly of a monster.

To find life in the face of certain death—nature must have been seen as a benevolent gift by those who discovered this place back then.

“Brother!”

A crisp voice came from ahead. Ryan turned toward the sound and saw a short-haired girl of about seventeen or eighteen gradually emerging from the dim light. Her face bore faint traces of resemblance to Bandner.

When the girl saw “Rennie” and “Carrie,” her feminine intuition made her stop in her tracks. Tentatively, she called out again, “Brother.” Her hand quietly moved to the weapon strapped to her waist, her gaze filled with caution as she looked at “Rennie” and “Carrie.”

After entering the tunnel, Ryan and Fan Lanting had not deliberately disguised themselves or imitated Rennie and Carrie’s expressions or mannerisms. For someone with sharp senses and familiarity with the two, it was inevitable to immediately notice something was off.

Bandner made a reassuring gesture, signaling his sister not to be nervous. He opened his arms toward the girl. “It’s your brother, Audie.”

Audie still didn’t trust the disguised “Rennie” and “Carrie.” She looked at them warily and only gave her brother a hug when she reached his side. “Brother, as soon as I received the message that you were coming back, I waited by the tunnel entrance, but after two or three hours, you still hadn’t arrived. Since I had something to do, I decided to go down and take a look.”

“I ran into some trouble that delayed me.” A shadow flashed in Bandner’s eyes. The trouble he had encountered was the exploitation by that group of people, who had taken a lot of supplies—things that everyone relied on for survival. After letting go of Audie, Bandner introduced his sister. “Ryan, Fan Lanting, our partners.” He didn’t say “my,” but “our”—the upcoming actions would require everyone’s cooperation to proceed.

Bandner was indeed a leader among his people, but he was young and couldn’t win everyone’s respect just yet. Ryan and Fan Lanting had to earn the trust of the others through their own abilities, something Bandner had mentioned before. The people of his tribe were stubborn and admired strength. Persuading them was easy if you had the right words, but difficult if you didn’t. It all depended on what Ryan and Fan Lanting would do.

“Rennie” nodded at Audie, his face adorned with a gentle smile. The military-grade disguise material adhered perfectly to his skin, making the expression appear natural. Audie froze for a moment in shock and murmured, “So this is how Rennie looks when he smiles.”

Bandner looked at “Rennie” and gave his sister a light tap on the head. “Even if Rennie is smiling, it’s not like this. Shall we continue walking?”

He looked at Ryan, who nodded.

There wasn’t much more to go. Soon, they reached the exit. They could hear the gentle flow of water, feel the fresh air that was different from the damp, suffocating atmosphere of the tunnel, and even smell the fragrance of flowers. Amidst the sound of the flowing water, voices of both the elderly and the young could be heard. The “East” was about to appear before their eyes.

Bandner said, “We’re here.”

Ryan took a step outside. His vision opened up wide. He thought of the “Peach Blossom Spring,” a famous work from ancient Earth’s China, still a required read for students in the Great Wall Starfield’s elective literature and grammar courses.

Beyond the cave entrance was a platform of about seven or eight square meters. Stones were piled up along the edges to serve as makeshift railings. On both sides were narrow paths leading downward to a small town located a little under ten meters below. The town had artificial light sources powered by hydroelectricity. Unexpectedly, there was a fast-flowing underground river that not only provided drinking water but also drove the blades of a power generator, supplying electricity to the town.

A bright lamp hung above the small town, and this was their sun.

The houses in the town were made of stone, not tall, with holes left in the walls for doors and windows, covered by cloth. The town was built symmetrically from the beginning, balanced and orderly. From a high vantage point, the layout was clear and straightforward. The underground river wound around the town, and a stone bridge spanned across it. As Ryan walked across the stone bridge, he looked down and saw the quick-moving water, where the shadow of a fish briefly flashed by.

“We call them white fish; they’re hard to catch,” Bandner explained. “White fish are very nutritious. Families with newborns will do whatever they can to catch one to nourish the mother.”

Humans have the ability to adapt to their environment. On Savage Star, humans don’t have birthing pods or good medical care. Reproduction, like in ancient Earth times, is entirely carried out by humans themselves. Additionally, the humans here have evolved a method of distinguishing genetic sequences without the need for technology. If the genetic sequence is X, there will be a red birthmark on the shoulder, and it’s impossible to mistake it.

It must be said that humans’ ability to adapt is incredibly strong. However, the harsh living conditions also shorten their lifespans. Bandner had mentioned that in the “East,” 180 years old is already considered very old.

“You can sit by the river all day and not catch a single fish,” Audie said. “But if you catch one, you can make a pot of soup, and the aroma will fill the whole town.”

The white fish were the size of a palm, agile in movement. They would briefly surface before quickly diving back into the water. The underground river’s current was fast, with countless hidden streams. If a person wasn’t careful and fell in, they could easily be swept away and disappear without a trace.

As Bandner and Audie, along with Ryan and Fan Lanting, entered the small town with just over three thousand people, they could see that there weren’t many strong young men and women. The majority of the residents were elderly or middle-aged people with physical disabilities. Due to the harsh environment, there were also very few children. The power generation equipment had limited effectiveness. After providing the overall lighting for the town, it couldn’t supply individual households. Walking down the street, through the lifted cloth curtains, one could see the cramped and dimly lit interiors. Most people preferred to be outside, working and chatting in front of or behind their houses.

A child, about one or two years old, who appeared slightly bigger than a toddler, chased a stone ball and ran up to Ryan’s feet, shouting as he ran, “Ball, ball.”

Ryan bent down, held the ball, picked it up, and handed it to the child. The child was small and thin, with pale skin from not seeing sunlight. The hair, which should have been brown, was fine and yellowish. The child looked up at “Rennie” with large, fearful eyes. He was scared of Rennie because Rennie never smiled and looked fierce. But this Rennie seemed different, and the gentle smile in his eyes made the child drop his guard. He reached out his small hand to take the ball and gave “Rennie” a sweet, shy smile.

The small stone ball was hollow inside, light enough for the child to hold. It was the child’s only toy, and he cherished it dearly.

The news of Bandner’s return soon spread throughout the town. People rushed to the streets on both sides, eagerly asking about the procurement of supplies. Their expressions were full of both hope and anxiety, making Ryan sigh inwardly.

The young children stood in the crowd, looking at Bandner and the others with curiosity and innocence, as if they were looking at victorious generals, their hearts filled with longing.

Bandner led the group back to his home, surrounded by the clanspeople. They didn’t enter the house, as the chief’s house didn’t have a special power supply. Outside the house, there was a stone table and stone chairs for people to sit. Bandner said a few words to the clanspeople to disperse them, then turned to his sister and said, “Audie, call Vest and the others.”

“The elders?” Audie asked. Since the supplies had returned, shouldn’t she tell them?

Bandner said, “I’ll speak to them personally.”

Audie looked at her brother with concern, and Bandner tapped her on the head. “Go on, why are you staring at me?”

Audie said, “Brother, I always feel like you’re about to do something big.” She glanced at Ryan and Fan Lanting. The arrival of these two outsiders was the best proof.

Bandner shrugged helplessly. “I’ll definitely tell you before doing anything big.”

He noticed his sister’s gaze lingering on Ryan, puzzled. He turned his head to look and saw two palm-sized robots poking out of Ryan’s pocket, looking quite cute.