Chapter 102: The Urgent Mission

It seemed that every unforeseen event arrived without any warning, much like how one could never imagine what sudden occurrence tomorrow might bring to alter the entire course of one’s life.

Thinking of the mysteriously vanished Atlantis civilization, Hua Feng felt even more deeply that cherishing each day was perhaps the most important thing in life. Sometimes, when you wave goodbye to someone, it might well be a farewell for a lifetime—just as before many accidents, people believed it was merely an ordinary day, with time stretching endlessly ahead, allowing for a slow and steady journey. Yet who would have imagined that such an ordinary day could become an unforeseen parting?

As the evening sun gradually faded, the city began to glow with countless lights. Everyone stepped into the busy roles they were meant to fulfill. Towering apartment buildings in the community lit up unevenly, their shimmering halos filled with the lively bustle of everyday life.

“Xiao Meng, do you think our world now will gradually disappear like the Atlantis civilization?” Hua Feng, hearing the faint sounds of his parents preparing dinner outside, found his thoughts wandering and couldn’t help but ask Yun Meng this question.

“I can’t say for sure. Who can truly know what the future holds? But I once read a book by the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. He suggested that the universe might end in one of two ways: either a ‘Big Freeze’ or a ‘Big Crunch.’”

“Hawking’s uncertainty is because this matter is truly beyond grasp. The universe keeps expanding, expanding, expanding, but the amount of matter remains the same. So the ‘balloon’ of space grows thinner and thinner. If the density of matter falls below a certain threshold—a critical value—and stars like the sun have burnt out, then everything will drift apart. Gravity won’t be able to hold anything back, and the universe will fall into a ‘Big Freeze.’”

“But if, at some point, the matter in the universe is dense enough and the space not vast enough, and there are still enough ‘little chubby’ lively ones in the household, then gravity between galaxies will pull everyone together, slowing the expansion, even causing them to ‘huddle for warmth.’ The more they cluster, the denser they become, and the ‘chubby’ compresses upon ‘chubby,’ resulting in the ‘Big Crunch.’”

“Such events are likely billions of years away, so there’s no need for us to worry now,” Yun Meng shared the cosmic hypothesis she had once read about.

“But nowadays, we are very different from the past. Most people before were ordinary, but now we have begun cultivating ourselves, surpassing the limits of human life. Many things that once only appeared in myths and legends are gradually becoming reality. We can say we have the basic power to influence our own fate.”

“We can even resist the apocalyptic disasters known as world-ending catastrophes, though at great sacrifice,” Hua Feng said, unwilling to show weakness before Yun Meng or to compare humanity’s frailty with the vastness of the universe.

He thought that perhaps modern humans, facing so many unknowns and unpredictable futures, had more choices and could strive more effectively. They could dedicate and burn their energy for themselves, their loved ones, friends, and all they cared for.

Even if such efforts might seem futile, when that day truly came, no one would easily give up and resign to fate.

Yun Meng gently ruffled Hua Feng’s hair and softly asked, “Hua Feng, why are you suddenly saying so many strange things? Are you hiding something from me?”

Ah, the delicacy of a woman’s heart—many things could not be concealed, especially when sharing every day together. Hua Feng didn’t know how to tell Yun Meng about the urgent mission he received that morning, but since it was bound to be revealed sooner or later, he decided to be honest.

“I don’t know why, but just before you told me about your dream of Atlantis, I received news from the Flying Dragon Battalion. The United Nations has entrusted China to carry out a salvage operation, so the organization plans to send a task force to the site where Atlantis sank.”

“What salvage operation?” Yun Meng asked. “Why can’t you tell me more?”

“The detailed mission information hasn’t arrived yet. Captain Chen personally instructed that all other joint missions with the United Cultivators Association and the Xuanmen Alliance be put on hold. He will select a special task force from the Flying Dragon Battalion for this salvage mission.”

“Given the high risk, the captain decided that team members must be at least at the Yuan Emperor level of cultivation, and I am the chosen team leader. Much is still unknown. The captain believes we might encounter unexpected situations—perhaps the true cause of Atlantis’s sinking or remnants of prehistoric civilization’s powers,” Hua Feng said with a grave expression.

“Remnants of prehistoric civilization? You mean they haven’t completely vanished?” Yun Meng’s curiosity was piqued.

“Exactly. That’s why I don’t want you to get involved in such dangerous matters. If anything happened to you, I’d have an even harder time explaining to my father-in-law—the Snow Lord. So when the captain asked for my opinion, I hesitated about whether to tell you.”

“That’s nothing! Haven’t you heard that a united couple can cut through anything? As long as we’re together, I fear no fire or blade. Besides, this is only a salvage mission. Even if something happens, I trust that good fortune will protect us. If needed, I can ask my father to send Uncle Xue along,” Yun Meng said boldly. She believed that as long as it wasn’t beyond human capability, there was no need to worry.

Life is uncertain, but not every choice requires extreme caution. She firmly believed this and had always been a daring girl.

“Yes, you’re right!” Hua Feng’s mood lightened considerably. “Then let’s bring Bai Feng along. We might meet some long-lost friends on this mission. I heard Li Long, Wang Yue, and Shuang Ning are also assigned to it. Captain Lin Chong will be in charge of logistics support.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. I miss those days when we trained and went on missions together. Although receiving this mission alongside such a strange dream might just be a coincidence,” Yun Meng said without concern over the dream’s location coinciding with the mission site.

“Then let’s go meet the prehistoric civilization together and see what strange creatures we encounter during the salvage,” Hua Feng said, feeling much calmer seeing the fearless look in Yun Meng’s eyes.

At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted their heartfelt gaze.

“Xiao Meng, Xiao Feng, dinner’s ready! Come eat quickly!” It was Hua Feng’s mother’s voice.

“Okay… coming right away,” Hua Feng replied.

In the shifting shadows of the bedroom, the two exchanged a smile, held hands, and walked toward the living room.