Chapter 231: ‘Mythical Story’ and ‘Scientific Spirit’
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
To Dr. Steven who was obsessed with biology, he believed that the deaths of thousands of civilians and hundreds of US soldiers was not important compared to the mystery of ill.u.s.triously mysterious natural science.
His student, on the other hand, did not care less about the catastrophes suffered by strangers he barely knew. Immediately, he explained, “Professor, in the ancient Chinese book ‘Forest Cla.s.sic’, it’s recorded that a golden and silver light will fall like rain on a night every sixty years. The lucky plants and ores on the ground will be given life when they are exposed to this kind of brilliance. According to us Chinese, this is called ‘turning into a spirit’ or ‘becoming a mythical creature’…”
“Oh? Isn’t this a mythical story? Young man, what you read is most likely an old mythology storybook. Steven, is this the most appreciated student you’ve mentioned before? He does indeed have the courage and the ability to survive in the wild, and some strange luck on top of that. However, he doesn’t seem to have a ‘scientific spirit’.” All of a sudden, a high-spirited female voice interrupted Zhang Lisheng’s explanation from not far away.
Steven frowned and looked at that tall fat middle-aged woman who suddenly made impertinent remarks at Zhang Lisheng before saying loudly, “Shut up, Effiny! we’re not talking to you anyway…”
When many scientists who were deep in their thoughts by the surrounding heard the two academic elites’ bickering, they could not help but have a change of mind and looked over with an eased mind. Some of them even chuckled in the midst of work.
“Oh? Doesn’t the truth of science become more clarified as we argue? Can’t I even ask a question?” When the fat woman heard somebody laughing, she became even more proud. “Or do you think that my question is hard to be answered?”
Steven shook his head in annoyance and no longer said anything.
At this time, a seemingly young white boy who looked more like an artist singer than a scientist ran in the middle of the tall and fat woman and the Stanford Professor with a helpless expression. With an apologetic look, he said, “I’m sorry, Professor Steven. Miss Effiny is merely making a joke.”
At the same time, Zhang Lisheng suddenly ran towards the beach not far away and took off his s.h.i.+rt. He picked up a pile of sand carefully and returned to the sandman before shaking his clothes under the watchful gaze of others, throwing the sand onto the tied sandman.
After doing so, he watched the countless amount of supernatural realm sand that resembled metal particles rolling down under the sun, one by one, merging into the body of the sandman. Listening to the sandman who gradually turned powerless to roar, but who began to roar and struggle in desperation again, Zhang Lisheng smiled at the tall and fat woman. “Miss, this monster is just as I thought, it’s made of sand and it can recover by absorbing the sand into its body after it’s injured. Since you said that I don’t have a ‘scientific spirit’, can you explain with your ‘scientific spirit’ what the biological principle of the birth of this creature is?”
The tall and fat woman was stunned for a moment and opened her mouth but was turned speechless by Zhang Lisheng’s question. Instead, it was a major commanding officer in charge of the on-site vigilance who originally came to watch the show who turned stunned and shouted loudly after snapping back to his senses. “F*ck! That monster can recover when it touches sand! S-Sergeant Hunter! Bring your squadron and drive the armored car out! Isolate it from the beach…”
“Yes, sir!” In the distance, a strong sergeant who was patrolling to and fro replied and quickly brought his subordinates to run into the bunker.
After giving out a defensive order, this major heaved a sigh of relief and strode up to Zhang Lisheng. “Listen, Doctor. I know that you’re smart and you don’t need any lessons from others but it’s better if this monster on the ground is killed…”
“Don’t worry, Major. It’s going to die soon. You don’t have to isolate it from the beach.” Zhang Lisheng interrupted the things that the major was about to say.
“What? What did you say, Doctor? Who is going to die?”
“I’m not a Doctor yet, Major.” Zhang Lisheng suddenly walked to the place close to the sandman and unscrupulously reached out a hand to caress the monster’s smooth body. “This sand monster is going to die soon. A monster doesn’t have an immortal life and on top of that, this captive of yours has not produced any human-like wisdom yet. It doesn’t know that after suffering from serious injuries, the smartest way is to stay calm and recharge its own energy. Instead, it kept struggling and howling maniacally. Just imagine, what does it mean when a person who has lost both of his legs and one arm suddenly stops howling as much after he has shouted and struggled for a long time? It’s dying.”
“B-But it can’t die yet! This is the only inorganic living organism in the world that fell into human hands. It’s much more precious than all of us. We must save it!” At the instant Zhang Lisheng’s words left his mouth, an old bald scholar among the group of scientists shouted in panic.
“I don’t think so.” Zhang Lisheng smiled. “It’d be easy to save it if it has only been captured, for you can just slowly give it some sand in moderation. However, now that it’s dying, it’ll be a futile effort no matter how much sand you give. Looks like it can only be saved by directly burying it in the sand. However, if you do so, you’ll make it fully recovered. For this reason, if any of you want to save it, please let me know in advance so that I can go out of town to avoid accidents. ”
“Don’t worry, Doctor. n.o.body will save it. All of the US soldiers here are willing to watch it die.” The major looked at the sandman that is gradually turning stiff and said coldly all of a sudden.
“But, Major! We’ve made so much sacrifices to capture it…”
“It’s us who made so much sacrifices to capture it, not you, Professor!” In the face of the questioning of the bald scholar who was overwhelmed with emotions and the regrettable look on many of the scientists present on the scene, the major said with a blank expression.
The officer’s words rendered all of the scientists speechless. The sandman, on the other hand, gradually lost its vitality, just as predicted by Zhang Lisheng.
“It’s dying, it’s really dying…” Watching the sandman gradually shrinking and the l.u.s.ter on its skin gradually turning dull, the bald scholar was so anxious that his mouth twitched as he muttered to himself under his breath. All of a sudden, he s.h.i.+fted his gaze onto Zhang Lisheng. “There must be other methods, right? There must be other ways to save this monster. You know it so well, you must also know a safe way to save it. ”
“Hey, Professor, I don’t know about this monster, but because I like myths very much. I know all the monsters in the Chinese legend…”
“No matter what it is, stop speaking nonsense, Doctor! What else can we do to save this sand monster?”
Zhang Lisheng smiled noncommittally. As he was just about to open his mouth, Steven who was by the side also suddenly asked, “Do you have any method, Lisheng?”
Zhang Lisheng was stunned and just shrugged. “There may be another evil method that may work. Give it blood, either human blood or the supernatural realm’s aborigine’s blood. And I’ll say it again, I’m not a doctor yet.”
“Blood, blood… Why must it be a human or an aborigine’s blood? Why can’t the blood of other animals work?”
“No. In Chinese mythology, an intelligent creature and a non-intelligent creature are two kinds of life at completely different levels. Monsters rely on eating ordinary beasts to satisfy their hunger, but in order to gain more powerful strength or heal injuries, they would go by eating humans or similar flesh and blood beings, particularly, human beings are the most gentle medicinal herb for them. ”
“It’s scary! This is basically a devil-like story!” The bald scholar muttered and ran to the beach to grab a handful of supernatural realm beach sand, cutting both of his hands with countless tiny wounds.
When he returned to the sand monster, he placed his b.l.o.o.d.y hand onto the monster and in an instant, the monster skin around his palms — about half a square meter — began to restore its bright l.u.s.ter. “Oh, but it seems to be very effective. Everyone! We’re all scientists so you must know the value of this monster! What are you guys still waiting for? Come on and help!”
Upon hearing this bald scholar’s words, the scientists around the sandman were first stunned but eventually, somebody actually followed his example of running to the supernatural realm’s beach to grab a handful of sand, this included Steven.
Unfortunately, the injury of the sand monster was too serious and its body volume was just too big. Even though many scientists were willing to donate one or two hundred milliliters of their blood, it was still unable to save its life. In the end, with the on-site commander standing by the side doing nothing, the monster still lost its life.
“This is a crime! You’re a criminal, Major!” After the death of the sand monster, the bald scholar became dispirited and snarled towards the major in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
“There are so many injured people here in the gathering place and a rational person would never go make some blood paste to save a monster instead of saving their own compatriots!” In the face of the accusations, the officer who had been subdued by the crazy ‘scientific spirit’ of these scientists smiled wryly. “I’m sorry, Professor. Now that the sand monster is dead, my duty is over as well. I’m going to make my report now.” After that, he turned around and brought his soldiers with him as he left.
“Hey, Professor. There’s actually one more method to save this sand monster, which is by feeding it a human. However, I didn’t tell you this method for the sake of your safety so you should thank me instead of blaming me.” When Zhang Lisheng saw the bald scholar s.h.i.+fting his gaze onto himself, he hastily said.
Then, he strode up to his supervisor and whispered, “Even though there are not many monsters like this in the jungle outside the gathering place, they still exist outside. Take some time, spend some money and I believe that we can capture one for ourselves.”
“I don’t think so, Lisheng. This monster is just too incredible. Its power is simply…” Steven shook his head with a look of regret. However, when he saw Zhang Lisheng’s calm gaze, his heart gave a jolt as he blurted out, “Oh! But if it’s you, maybe there is such a possibility. Do you have a specific plan, child?”
“Of course not, Professor. I think there’s only one plan that we have to do, that is to quickly build up Stanford’s ‘biological laboratory’ on this island as soon as possible, taking advantage of the fact that the government needs help from us now. Oh yeah, speaking of ‘biological laboratory’, where is Dr. Shalin?”
“She has already left. Didn’t you notice that there are very few people in the gathering place today? Because of the accident that happened last night, the government arranged seven cruises in the New York Harbor and sent a large number of defensive battles.h.i.+ps to escort, already taking away all of those people who want to leave Shrimp B1 Island. She has gotten too scared and has already left early in the morning.”