The wasteland is full of treasures, but the people living here don't realize it.
Their knowledge has experienced a severe disconnect, so much so that they can't even recognize the most standard coordinate format.
To them, it might just be a kind of jumble created by a mysterious force, similar to what they see in torn books and papers.
Perhaps it holds value, perhaps it represents some kind of treasure, but because it can't be deciphered, it ultimately can only be reduced to a child's toy.
Chen Jian found an excuse to get some fresh air and stepped out of the cabin onto the deck, and a few minutes later, Shen Yue also came to their side.
The two leaned against the simple railing on the deck, gazing at the river scenery, like those members of the Mechanical God Sect who had nothing to do after singing their hymns, chatting in low voices with a bored expression.
"Where are the coordinates?"
Shen Yue asked.
"There are two coordinates."
"30.528427N, 114.349564E."
"31.970967N, 118.816572E."
"Do you know where this is?"
After Chen Jian finished speaking, Shen Yue thought for a moment and then replied:
"Han Shui, Jinling, both are within the city area, the exact location needs to be checked on a map."
"No need to check."
Chen Jian lightly tapped the railing and said:
"The first is near the Han Shui Military Armament Officer School, the second is near the Army Engineering University in Jinling."
"Behind each coordinate, there's a 32-digit code that refreshes at unknown times, but it definitely will refresh."
As soon as the words were spoken, Shen Yue's expression changed.
He was not familiar with these two schools, but he knew very well that if these two coordinates appeared on an origin-unknown, century-old, still perfectly functional cypher, it would definitely mean there's something unusual at the coordinate locations.
What could it be?
Equipment, fortifications, a shelter, or some kind of weapon?
After a moment of silence, Shen Yue spoke again:
"I don't remember any important fortifications there, but the Military Armament Officer School indeed has some training equipment preserved."
"Is it possible that after our era, new fortifications were built there, preserving important equipment or strategic resources?"
"It's possible."
Chen Jian sighed deeply, with a slightly amused tone, and said:
"Now, we have another reason to go to Jinling."
"Initially, I thought if the situation at Han Shui was good, we could stay there for a while and slowly develop."
"But now it seems, we must go to Jinling eventually."
"Indeed."
Shen Yue also sighed, then said:
"Going there is good; after all, the more people, the safer it is."
"Our combat power is still too weak. To establish ourselves on this wasteland, we eventually have to follow the path like the Mechanical God Sect and the Holy Blood Temple."
"The support of the masses is most important... or else, when will we be able to eliminate all the monsters on this ground by fighting alone with just a few of us?"
"Even if we emptied the nuclear arsenal, dropping one nuke after another, it's impossible to wipe them all out..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jian chuckled and said:
"Don't talk about nukes; to be honest, I'm a bit doubtful if the nuclear arsenal still exists at all."
"That tactical nuclear warhead on 1102 was clearly readied for launch. Under what circumstances would they be so impatient to fire even a tactical nuke?"
"I think the Dongfeng-5B might have been used up too, that great catastrophe must have been a desperate fight for all humanity..."
"Not necessarily."
Shen Yue shook his head, refuting:
"Preparedness doesn't mean war. If the so-called great cataclysm was indeed caused by some virus, it's possible humanity lost the most basic organizational ability before they could react effectively."
"Otherwise, how would you explain how those large cities, which obviously haven't suffered catastrophic damage, still stand? If there was a nuclear war, Chuansha would have been leveled to the ground by now."
"True indeed..."
Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully, his mind drifting far away.
He couldn't imagine what the scene was like when the apocalypse descended, just as these members of the Mechanical God Sect couldn't imagine what true technological prowess is either.
But such questions should be left to the future.
The most important thing now is to collect resources at all costs, gather stronger equipment and supplies, and find a way to survive!
First go to Han Shui, to the coordinate location, and see what's there!
With his mind set, Chen Jian's emotions instantly returned to calm.
He looked up in the direction the steamboat was heading, intending only to gaze into the distance to rest his eyes, but his sight swept past and he noticed an unusual black dot.
The black dot was rapidly expanding, gradually taking on the shape of a ship.
Chen Jian patted Shen Yue on the shoulder, signaling him to follow to the bow.
Just as they were stepping forward, the lookout from the Mechanical God Sect on the bow suddenly cried out.
"Water ghosts! The water ghosts are coming!"
Chen Jian's heart tightened.
Water ghosts?
What kind of monster is that?!
The whistle sounded urgently, and a few civilians on the deck quickly withdrew into the cabin, while the crew members emerged from every corner, armed and ready.
Following them, the four from the Holy Blood Team, as well as Lei Jie and He Shuo, also emerged from the cabin.
Everyone stared intently at the rapidly approaching, tattered yet fast-moving skiff, their expressions somewhat tense.
"How can that thing be so fast? Aren't they going against the current?"
Chen Jian asked in astonishment.
"Something's under the water, water ghosts towing the boat!"
Xu Lie simply answered, then drew his pistol and dagger.
"You'd best not reveal any equipment; water ghosts are not hard to deal with, there's just too many of them, which makes it troublesome."
"Leave it to us, stand behind us!"
Hearing this, Chen Jian obediently took a step back.
He's not the type to play hero recklessly; why do it yourself when others can handle it?
Just watch!
A mere two minutes later, the skiff cobbled together with planks and iron sheets was right in front of them.
The crew members of the Mechanical God Sect at the bow raised their makeshift weapons and fired the first volley.
"Bang!"
Small-caliber single-shot rifled guns, smoothbore guns loaded with lead pellets, and even a muzzle-loading smoothbore cannon commonly seen in the age of sails!
However, these underpowered weapons couldn't harm the swiftly moving skiff, probably just a 12-pound cannonball raising a splash of water over ten meters away from the skiff at best.
In an instant, the skiff was closing in on the steamboat.
Then.
"Boom!"
A loud explosion followed by a teeth-clenching scraping sound as the skiff collided with the steamboat.
"They've grappled."
"They're going to board!"
In that instant, all the fighters on board sprang into action, rushing to meet the enemies climbing onto the deck from the side.
Only then did Chen Jian realize that the skiff wasn't meant for "sailing"; it was merely a simple springboard.
A seemingly countless number of water ghosts swarmed in, and even though Mechanical God Sect crew members wielded firearms, their slow rate of fire was powerless to stop them.
It was only the formidable melee skills of the four Holy Bloods that barely held them off.
But their line of defense was nearing collapse.
Chen Jian continued to observe quietly from the back.
Moments later, he spoke:
"These water ghosts aren't very combat effective, weaker even than those converts we fought."
"And they almost have no weapons, relying purely on numbers."
"We can't let them into the cabin; even one slipping in would cause a lot of trouble."
"Let's go help out."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other three of the team responded and moved.
Chen Jian pressed down on Shen Yue's hand as he was about to pull his gun, and said:
"Don't use guns."
"No guns?"
Shen Yue was momentarily puzzled and asked, "Should we use daggers?"
Chen Jian chuckled and replied:
"Am I crazy to use daggers? You think I'm a fool?"
"Didn't we just find a few thermobaric grenades?"
"Throw a couple down there!"