Thoughts swirling, Jiang Baimian said with a serious expression:

"There are two problems with this.

"First, your sect's 'Dream Protectors' may not arrive for another two or three days, and accidents could happen at any time in between, causing our defenses to fail.

"Second, we don't know what other changes that 'Advanced Heartless' has undergone. Perhaps he only has a few days left to live, which is why he's so determined to enter Tarnan, find the Nanke Temple, and inform his fellow believers of vital information."

Zhou Yue listened and nodded slightly, but still didn't express her opinion.

Jiang Baimian continued:

"Moreover, we don't need to take too many risks, just shrink the defense circle.

"Even if our guess is wrong, it won't affect the subsequent handling."

Zhou Yue finally spoke:

"What do you want to do?"

Hearing this, Long Yuehong couldn't help but glance at Shang Jianyao.

He suspected that the team leader had learned Shang Jianyao's "Reasoning Clown"!

She was getting close to persuading Abbot Zhou so quickly!

Shang Jianyao had a solemn expression, nodding to Long Yuehong, as if to say, "Yes, that's exactly how it is."

Jiang Baimian seized this opportunity and stated the "Old Task Force's" plan while the iron was hot:

"After dawn, evacuate everyone in Tarnan to Hexi and re-establish the defenses there.

"It's winter now, as long as everyone takes their important supplies, they don't have to worry about any losses. That 'Advanced Heartless' won't destroy houses, trample farmland, or damage utensils. And there are plenty of well-maintained empty houses in Hexi.

"In Hedong, we'll leave two or three observers, under the protection of the mirrors, to confirm whether the 'Advanced Heartless' is targeting a specific place in Tarnan or a specific person in Tarnan.

"In short, even if the verification ultimately fails, it won't affect the safety of Tarnan, and we can still wait for your sect's 'Dream Protectors' to arrive."

She couldn't be sure that the "Advanced Heartless" was coming for Nanke Temple. What if Jiang Xiaoyue was still alive and hiding in Tarnan?

After so many years, her appearance must have changed greatly, making it difficult to recognize her normally.

Zhou Yue listened quietly to these words and nodded slightly:

"This requires the permission of Commander Gewalt."

"We will try to persuade it," Jiang Baimian responded without hesitation.

"He is our friend," Shang Jianyao added.

"Friend?" Zhou Yue repeated the term in confusion.

She didn't ask further but instead said:

"I have to report to headquarters to see what the higher-ups mean."

"Please do," Jiang Baimian said sincerely.

"Be careful that the content of the telegram is distorted," Shang Jianyao deliberately reminded.

As for what circumstances would cause the content of the telegram to be distorted, it would definitely be if the "Sea Dragon Sect" didn't support the "Old Task Force's" plan.

Zhou Yue smiled upon hearing this:

"Don't worry, our sect has ways to verify the truth."

After saying that, she turned and walked into a door on the side of the hall.

The "Old Task Force" of four waited patiently.

"Really, no manners at all." After a few minutes, Shang Jianyao "complained", "At a time like this, shouldn't they offer a glass of honey water and some cookies?"

Long Yuehong subconsciously swallowed, then had a flash of inspiration and said:

"Everywhere is a dream, why take it seriously?"

Wow, Little Red has learned to fight back... Jiang Baimian found it amusing.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Bai Chen nodded almost imperceptibly, seeming a bit pleased.

Shang Jianyao nodded, expressing his agreement:

"That's right."

He then said:

"I used the name Gu Zhiyong before to represent you eating 'Honorable Balance's' fried chicken wings. Remember to join them later and fulfill your obligations."

"Wait, why me?" Long Yuehong asked in astonishment.

You were the one who ate the fried chicken wings!

Shang Jianyao smiled and glanced at him:

"Everywhere is a dream, why take it seriously?"

Such a strong desire for revenge, this guy... Long Yuehong closed his mouth and stopped provoking Shang Jianyao.

After waiting a few more minutes, Zhou Yue returned to the hall and said to the four members of the "Old Task Force":

"The higher-ups said we can try it."

It seems the "Sea Dragon Sect's" "Dream Protectors" also want to know what kind of intelligence that "Advanced Heartless" will convey... Jiang Baimian breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, saying:

"Then shall we go find Commander Gewalt together?"

She was quite proactive on this matter because it was likely related to one of the "Old Task Force's" main tasks, which was also one of her ideals—to figure out the cause and transmission mechanism of "Heartless Disease" and take down the sword of destruction hanging over humanity's head.

Moreover, this time, they might be able to take the opportunity to solve the hidden danger brought by that "Advanced Heartless", fulfill Gewalt's commission, and obtain the qualification to communicate with the "Source Brain."

At that time, the "Old Task Force" might be able to take a step further in investigating the cause of the Old World's destruction.

Zhou Yue thought for a moment and said:

"Don't rush yet, who will stay in Hedong and take on the role of observer?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the tall young man from the opposing team answer with a smile:

"Me."

Seems very confident... Zhou Yue subconsciously asked:

"Aren't you afraid?"

Shang Jianyao nodded solemnly:

"He is my friend."

"Ah?" Zhou Yue was confused, "Did you know each other before?"

"We just became friends," Shang Jianyao explained.

The more Zhou Yue heard, the more confused she became, eventually giving up on asking. Anyway, "Everywhere is a dream, why take it seriously?"

She considered it and said:

"I'll stay too. In Nanke Temple, I have the protection of the Year Star and the protection of the mirrors, so I don't have to worry about 'Death Experience'."

Jiang Baimian looked at her left arm:

"And me."

She immediately said to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen:

"You will serve as a reserve team and provide support at any time."

This was an appeasing remark to Long Yuehong—her philosophy in the vast illusion created by the "Advanced Heartless" was "Don't move if you don't have to."

This was equivalent to Zhou Yue's "The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make."

…………

Hexi, Gewalt's house.

Jiang Baimian and Zhou Yue worked together to explain the "observation plan", giving the same reasons as before.

Gewalt, still dressed in military uniform, stood up and paced back and forth:

"Indeed, the longer we delay, the more likely accidents are to occur.

"But organizing so many people to evacuate to Hexi is not a simple matter, and changes may occur in the process..."

The silver-black intelligent robot walked silently for a while and said:

"I will report to the 'Source Brain'."

After saying that, it stood there, motionless.

After only a minute or two, Gewalt opened its mouth and emitted a slightly synthetic, rich baritone voice:

"'Source Brain' replied that we can try, but I need to bear all the consequences."

Jiang Baimian opened her mouth, trying to persuade, but ultimately didn't make a sound.

She looked at Shang Jianyao and found that this companion had a similar expression.

In such matters, it was better to let Gewalt make the decision itself.

Gewalt looked around, glanced at the lawn bathed in the night outside the window, and said in a deep voice:

"Give it a try."

At that moment, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and others actually sensed a kind of trust from this intelligent robot.

Shang Jianyao got up without hesitation and responded:

"Don't worry."

…………

After a night of rest, the next morning, under the organization of a large number of robots, the local residents of Tarnan, foreign hunters, and caravan members evacuated to Hexi with their corresponding supplies and moved into the allocated temporary housing.

This matter didn't end until noon.

Afterward, the responsible teams from each defense zone contracted back and spent some time reorganizing the defense line.

At the entrance of Nanke Temple, Zhou Yue looked at the deserted streets and sincerely sighed:

"Compared to the past, this is like an illusion."

Before, in Hedong, Tarnan, although there were many uninhabited areas that were empty and silent, this side was still very lively, with people coming and going, a constant stream.

But now, fallen leaves fluttered in the wind, becoming the only protagonist.

"How do you know the past wasn't an illusion? Maybe now is the real reality," Shang Jianyao asked.

Zhou Yue frowned slightly:

"That's right."

She immediately corrected Shang Jianyao:

"Everything is an illusion, everything is a dream."

Jiang Baimian stretched her left arm:

"Let's go inside and wait."

At this time, the sky was already a bit dim, and that "Advanced Heartless" was coming soon.

——Under the daylight, Tarnan had too many buildings with mirror effects, so Zhou Yue believed that the other party would wait for a better opportunity unless they had no choice.

After entering Nanke Temple, because there were no rows of black-backed chairs, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao each found a futon and sat cross-legged.

"Abbot Zhou, actually, it's quite nice like this. Why did you create illusions before and put out some decorations that didn't quite match the style here?" Jiang Baimian looked at Zhou Yue with a smile and chatted casually.

The current Nanke Temple only had pillars, shrines, futons, and three people, the extreme emptiness bringing out a sense of sacredness.

Zhou Yue sighed:

"On the one hand, it's to practice my abilities and explore the little tricks in them. On the other hand, alas, many believers are not so pious now. I have to put on a show to make it seem like the 'Sea Dragon Sect' has a lot of people and is worth joining."

She looked like she had a lot of feelings about it.

Shang Jianyao made a suggestion:

"I think what needs to be reformed is the Eucharist. Honey water and cookies are good, but they are only suitable as snacks..."

Zhou Yue didn't find it strange and said with a smile:

"Every time 'Honorable Balance' puts out fried chicken wings on the street, I want to line up, but I'm afraid of being recognized."

"You can wear a mask," Jiang Baimian said before Shang Jianyao could.

"No, that's too self-deceptive," Zhou Yue shook her head.

While the three were chatting, the sky gradually darkened, and the wind gradually became cold.

Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Zhou Yue stopped talking at the same time and concentrated their attention.

After a while, the sky became darker and the wind became stronger. Even with Jiang Baimian's courage, her spirit was quite tense.

Zhou Yue half-raised her body, slightly opened her arms, looked at the void, and muttered to herself:

"Sea Dragon Supreme!"

After praying, she saw Shang Jianyao looking over and heard him ask with a smile:

"Can I sing?"

"You can, but..." Before Zhou Yue could finish speaking, Shang Jianyao, sitting cross-legged, lightly tapped his thigh and began to hum a ballad.

In the howling wind and approaching night, Jiang Baimian heard a broad and open melody beside her ears:

"The sea laughs, the tides surge on both sides..." (Note 1)

Note 1: "The Sea Laughs," by Mr. Wong Jim.