Chapter 1005 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 1005: Descendants “Pfft—" What kind of nonsense is 'Progenitor'?! Ye Shi hadn't expected the old man to speak the human federation language, and the words that came out of his mouth left him utterly bamboozled. It reminded him of a time long ago when they first landed at Gingarun Harbor. The locals there were equally astonished by their equipment, exclaiming in surprise and calling them "Iron Men." However, they were at least approachable and quickly adjusted to the newcomers. “Hurry, just go along with it!” An urgent command came through the communication channel. Ye Shi could detect that Jiang Xuezhou, who was observing from synchronous orbit, was even more anxious than he was, standing bewildered on the ground. “I know…” Ye Shi replied, suppressing his voice, then coughed and turned on the speaker of his powered armor, addressing the old man and the surrounding young men who were bowing before him. “Stand up…and speak.” Most of them didn’t understand what he said, but the old man seemed to comprehend it, muttering something while shakily standing up. The young men crouched behind him followed suit. The bewilderment once written on their faces gradually transformed into solemn reverence as the old man continued his ramblings. “What exactly are they saying?” Ye Shi could maintain a calm façade, though inside he was panicking without a clue. Jiang Xuezhou: “I have no idea… but I previously developed a language behavior analysis model, which might be useful.” Hearing this, Ye Shi felt a wave of excitement. “Amazing! When did you make that?” Jiang Xuezhou: “A while back… it was because you kept talking nonsense!” Ye Shi chuckled. It seemed that indulging in idle chatter had its benefits, becoming useful now, didn't it? While he was inserting his bits of banter, more and more “little green men” emerged from the forest, eyeing the armor-clad figure by the river with both curiosity and fear. They were clad in garments woven from grass and flax, comprising both males and females—or perhaps, more accurately, male and female entities. Not all of them bore weapons; some carried woven baskets filled with berries and peculiar insects foraged from the vicinity. The old man continued his incessant chatter with the members of his tribe, his emotions growing more fervent as he spoke. The expressions of the young men gathering gradually evolved from fear and curiosity to devoutness. "…It seems they're perceiving you as some sort of religious totem," Jiang Xuezhou's voice whispered through the communication channel. "I’ve tried translating some of their language. Essentially, they believe in their culture that they are a race that descended from the heavens, originally arriving adorning suits made of ‘iron’." “They actually know about iron?” Ye Shi observed their primitive spears and expressed his amazement. In a tentative tone, Jiang Xuezhou replied. “Uh, that’s merely my translation; it could also be interpreted as metal or something similar. Of course, I doubt they’ve mastered the art of forging, but they’ve likely seen metals, especially given the wreckage of the Gemini is in this vicinity.” Translating it as wearing attire made from materials akin to that "starship" might be more accurate, but it would be terribly cumbersome if we were to nitpick the wording. Ye Shi tried to grasp the idea and somewhat understood Jiang Xuezhou's explanation. “I get it… so these people could be the descendants of the Gemini missile cruiser?” Jiang Xuezhou seemed equally confounded, giving a noncommittal answer. “Hard to say. I haven’t gleaned enough information from their discussions... They might also be survivors from a federation-era colony, given that the early colonizers arrived wearing protective gear similar to power armor from high orbit. The sentences can be interpreted in multiple ways." Rubbing his forehead in frustration, Ye Shi thought that both theories held considerable issues. After all, the former had endured a neutron torpedo, and the latter a neutron torpedo or an extermination device; logically, they should have all been wiped out. Yet, the situation before him told a different story. They had survived in another form, even evolving into a new kind of human. At this point, Jiang Xuezhou's voice returned in the communication channel. “The only certainty is that civilization here has regressed severely, returning to a tribal state. It might be a bit of a wild-goose chase, but I suggest visiting their settlement—you might find some answers.” Jiang Xuezhou ultimately left the decision up to Ye Shi, who had been contemplating the same thing. He had little understanding of the forest, continually stumbling into pitfalls; who knew what kind of bizarre troubles awaited him in the valley ahead? This was a one-life game, with the nearest resurrection point a light-year away; plowing face-first into unknown grasslands was not advisable. A local guide might just be the right approach. After all, these people here seemed to view him as their ancestor. After experiencing the Orion incident, Ye Shi realized he had gradually learned to use his brain to solve problems. While Ye Shi was secretly pleased with himself, the old man seemed to have reached a consensus with his tribesmen and earnestly invited him. "Respected Progenitor… would you please … accompany me to our tribe.” The old man knew little of the human federation language, his sentences interspersed with unfathomable words. Fortunately, Jiang Xuezhou assisted by using the behavior language model to piece together and translate those ambiguous words, providing simultaneous translation for Ye Shi. Watching the sincerely devout old man, Ye Shi nodded while donning his cumbersome helmet, responding in the most succinct manner. “Alright.” Seeing Ye Shi nod, the old man's face lit up with joy, as if receiving a tremendous honor, making Ye Shi wonder if universal human gestures held additional meanings here. Regardless, the accidental "first contact" went surprisingly well. The old man shouted something incomprehensible into the forest, soon followed by the melodious calls of nightingales. Amidst the chorus, the animals of the forest stirred and scurried away. Thus, accompanied by a singing and dancing troupe of little green men, Ye Shi traversed along the winding creek towards the elevated upstream areas. According to the elder, their settlement was built near a bend in the creek upstream. Throughout the journey, Ye Shi constantly observed his surroundings. He was amazed to find that the further upstream they went, the thicker the trees became, and the more abundant and bizarre the vegetation growing between them, revealing an unknown richness. Conversely, the pathways became fewer and narrower. Based on Earthly experience, such dense vegetation wouldn't typically support settlements, as wide, open lands by fertile waters were preferred for habitation. Yet Earthly wisdom seemed not to apply here, especially as those agile little green men appeared entirely undeterred by the dense forest, moving even more swiftly and nimbly than they did in open areas. The only one struggling was Ye Shi. Even with guides, squeezing his bulky frame through the dense woods was no easy task. Particularly with the half-person-high crate on his back; getting it through the trees seemed nothing short of a miracle! He couldn't help but suspect whether, without these guides, he’d even manage to make his way out again. He possessed some incendiary grenades. While these could fend off wildlife for individual combat, they were inadequate for forest-clearing endeavours. Let alone the lurking “Gaia.” He wasn’t willing to let it know that its adversary from two centuries ago had returned unless absolutely necessary. Pushing through a dense thicket, what greeted Ye Shi next made him widen his eyes in disbelief. But what astonished him more was yet to come— To his surprise, the city wall before him had grown from the earth itself! Row upon row of towering trunks fused seamlessly together, their sprawling roots intertwining as they spread below ground, resembling a hand firmly grasping the terrain. Involuntarily, Ye Shi lifted his head, finding the lush canopy interwoven like a skybound ocean. No wonder Jiang Xuezhou’s drones hadn’t discovered this settlement! Without a guide, he wouldn't have spotted this hidden community nestled deep within the forest, even if he had passed right by it! Noticing the commotion outside the city walls, a guard wielding a spear strode forward. He was clad in wooden armor woven with vines, with his elongated helmet and faceplate reminiscent of the wooden elf armor from medieval fantasy realms. Ye Shi stared in amazement; this world, located five light-years away, was entirely different from the wasteland of the solar system. Even if these people suddenly began chanting magic incantations, he wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Of course, that was unlikely. He preferred to think that these odd appearances were simply results of the local survivors adapting to the peculiar environment, evolving unique habits and traditions. "...I didn't expect there to be a city hidden here. I didn't see anything from above," Jiang Xuezhou whispered softly into his ear. "You might want to take a closer look... I have a feeling there might be more settlements hidden within this forest." Whether it was intuition or not, Ye Shi felt as if the spear-wielding guard turned a cautious gaze upon him just as Jiang Xuezhou spoke. The glance was brief. The guard soon redirected his gaze towards the seemingly esteemed elder instead. "What happened? Why did you bring an outsider back? What if he is...?" "...@%#!” The elder replied passionately, seeming to refute the guard's concerns, then fervently repeated the earlier words, “The Progenitor... our Progenitor has returned!” As the elder continued his animated explanation, Jiang Xuezhou was able to translate more of their vocabulary. Essentially, they were still using a form of the human federation language, albeit independently evolved into a new form over two centuries. Listening to the elder's explanation, the guard stationed at the camp entrance displayed a face of astonishment and quickly rushed back towards the city gates. In no time, a large group of little green men, clad in wooden armor, emerged from the tree wall's roots, looking at Ye Shi with a mix of apprehension and reverence. The attention from so many pairs of eyes made Ye Shi uncomfortable, but he showed no reaction. His gut told him that playing along was the best course of action until he understood the situation. As expected, after the elder finished his debate with the guards, he turned respectfully towards Ye Shi. “Honorable Progenitor, I am Saque Doma. We are your children.” Jiang Xuezhou quickly translated his words. Doma was probably the family name of the tribe, and Saque possibly a title akin to priest or monk. Ye Shi managed to swallow his urge to quip and, in the gentlest voice he seldom used, responded with a warm tone. “My children, you have waited long.” Whether they understood his words or felt the compassion in his tone, the elder's eyes filled with tears of excitement. Seeing their sincere piety, Ye Shi almost felt guilty for continuing the charade. He was not one to indulge in deception or playing god. Yet Jiang Xuezhou viewed things pragmatically, even complimenting his acting skills. "Playing along like this isn't a bad idea. Our technology is far beyond their comprehension. Rather than try to explain concepts outside their understanding, it'd be more efficient to have them regard us with reverence, reducing the communication barrier... That's something they taught in the Extraterrestrial Diplomatic Relations course." Despite their human semblance, it was hard to categorize these beings as part of human civilization. Because of this, Jiang Xuezhou wasn’t as conflicted as Ye Shi, especially when their intentions involved neither exploitation nor harm, merely obtaining fuel and gathering local intelligence to return home. Ye Shi muttered under his breath. “What sort of odd knowledge does your academy teach…” Jiang Xuezhou chuckled. “It’s not that odd. As I said, our aspiration is to explore distant worlds. Preparation is key, isn’t it?” “Whatever you say,” Ye Shi sighed. “We’re not deceiving them for anything malicious, just avoiding interference in their civilization. Just get what we need and go.” From a legal standpoint, the remnants of the Gemini missile cruiser belonged to Earth's survivors, so his statement wasn’t inappropriate. Suddenly, Jiang Xuezhou had an idea. “Wait, I just remembered something fun… Let me give you a little surprise.” Ye Shi wasn't intrigued, but cautiously curious instead. “What are you up to?” Jiang Xuezhou chuckled but offered no explanation, just encouraging him. “Don’t worry about it. Just raise your right hand over your head!” Ye Shi was bewildered. But trusting Jiang Xuezhou’s intentions, he complied and lifted his right hand. Not only was he confused by this unnecessary gesture, but the surrounding green people were also in a stir, unsure of what their Progenitor was doing. At that moment, a light drizzle began in the open sky above. The sound of raindrops hitting leaves! The dense tree trunks acted like a grand umbrella, holding the descending water in the air. But soon, the life-giving rain enveloped the entire settlement! All the green people were stunned. Especially the armored guards—their lingering vigilance was replaced by sheer awe. Water is the essence of life. For people living in a time of primitive worship, the ability to command the elements was unquestionable evidence of something divine. Since the downpour came from dry ice scattered by drones, it ended as suddenly as it started. A brilliant rainbow arced through the gaps in the dripping canopy. Witnessing this miraculous scene, the elder was moved to tears once again, reverently bowing to the ground. Even Ye Shi, caught off guard, felt puzzled. However, his armored helmet concealed his dazed expression, so he remained composed. After a moment, he whispered softly. “…Was that you?” A tinkling laugh echoed through the channel, and Jiang Xuezhou answered gleefully. “It just so happened that a raincloud was passing. I used the drones to scatter some dry ice… Just like they taught in textbooks, these people were awed.” Looking at the prostrated followers, Ye Shi couldn’t help but sport a bemused smile. As they spoke, another figure emerged from the imposing tree wall, a well-built man. He wore wooden armor adorned with dark green crystals and wore a crown made from crystal. His commanding presence revealed his status as a leader. What astonished Ye Shi the most was a familiar aura, a sense of pressure emanating from the man that hit straight to the core. That presence was eerily similar. Yet, perhaps due to differences in power, the aura wasn’t as pure or intense as that of the Administrator. Additionally, the man seemed unaware of his inherent talent, the raw energy coursing through him like untamed wild grass, neither mastered nor concealed. As Ye Shi studied the man, the latter also observed him in return. His gaze lingered on the sharply defined armor before placing his hand over his chest and speaking. “…Respected Progenitor, I am Tunnam Doma, leader of the Doma clan.” Remarkably, this person spoke more of the federation language than Saque, marking him as a noble among the people. Ye Shi nodded, meeting the astonished eyes, and solemnly replied. “Greetings, leader of the mortals. I am Ye Shi of the Federation, the one you refer to as the Progenitor.” Tunnam gazed at Ye Shi, seemingly puzzled by his words but nodded in acknowledgment. “May I ask why you have come here?” Ye Shi didn’t mince words and got straight to the point. “We left something on this world. It’s beyond your handling and could bring disaster. To prevent this, we must retrieve it.” Tunnam appeared to grasp the magnitude of Ye Shi’s statement, growing serious. “The Doma clan will do everything in our power to assist you!” Seeing this "mini-Administrator" so accommodating, Ye Shi couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. "We won't let your assistance go unrewarded. If you help us, we will not hesitate to repay your kindness." While things like steam engines and printing might be too advanced for them, sharing some basic metallurgy knowledge in an "Eureka" moment was certainly possible. As Ye Shi silently chuckled to himself, a voice came through the communication channel with a jesting remark. "Wasn't someone just talking about minimal interference in their civilization's development?" Ye Shi let out an embarrassed cough. "Did I say that? Alright, just pretend I didn’t." Jiang Xuezhou sighed: "..." After Ye Shi’s words, Tunnam exchanged a few sentences with several elder-looking tribe members, then a look of overwhelming joy spread across his face. He then turned to Ye Shi with a solemn expression and asked gravely, "May I ask what is that item, and where is it located?" "I can't describe its appearance. It should be in the valley about one or two thousand paces across the river... I'll need a guide to find it myself." Ye Shi attempted to articulate his needs. However, he was unprepared for the reaction upon mentioning the valley across the river—Tunnam, the chieftain, and the elders behind him all displayed expressions of utter fear. Saque, who had been bowing on the ground, also raised his head with a look of terror. "Respected Progenitor, that is the Forbidden Forest… We cannot go near it." "The Forbidden Forest?" Ye Shi frowned, sensing an ominous undertone in the name, pressing for more information. Saque, with a trembling voice, explained at length. Thanks to Jiang Xuezhou's simultaneous translation, Ye Shi managed to understand the gist. In short, the valley wasn’t unclaimed land; beneath those towering forty-to-fifty-meter trees lived a group whose culture and beliefs were entirely different from the “Forest People.” The forest tribes referred to those people as "Penitents." Not only were they numerous and physically formidable, but they also wore tough armor and had tamed fierce wild lizards, which they rode into battle. The "wild lizards" Saque mentioned seemed to be the same mutated creature Ye Shi had encountered earlier in the woods. Even though it sounded troublesome, and Ye Shi found it to be quite a hassle, fear wasn’t an issue. However, according to Jiang Xuezhou, the threat Saque described wasn’t solely these elements. Besides being skilled in warfare and forging, these people could wield a power unknown to the forest inhabitants. A power that truly instilled fear in them... "I hope it's nothing more than a few drones playing tricks…" Jiang Xuezhou murmured in the communication channel. "But working for two centuries in an oxygenated environment… their quality would be too good." Tunnam stared at the metal-clad figure before him with a serious expression, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. As the leader of the tribe, he needed to consider the future of his people pragmatically. Yet, the prophecy of the Progenitor was also part of that future. A disaster or a blessing. He had to choose. After discussing with the elders behind him, he solemnly replied. "The children of the Progenitor will always heed the Progenitor’s call. We will aid you in retrieving the ‘Heavenly Artifact’ from the Forbidden Forest and the Penitents." "But this will not be an easy task. We need to rally the other tribes in this forest." "We ask for your patience and some time." To be continued.