Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

"Which two items?" Jiang Nian sat up straight.

“First, regarding the markings in your body.” Bai Yongxu pulled up a chart. “The in-depth analysis by Elder Qin’s team last night showed that those spontaneous fluctuations have a fixed cycle.”

Jiang Nian frowned slightly: "Periodic?"

“Yes.” Bai Yongxu zoomed in on the chart. “And the intensity of the fluctuations is slowly increasing.”

"Following this trend, the peak of the fluctuation may reach a level that can be detected by conventional biological detection equipment after 72 hours."

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

"In other words," Jiang Nian slowly began, "that even without actively sending a signal, my location might still be exposed seventy-two hours later?"

"That's the theory."

Bai Yongxu did not shy away from the question, saying, "So we need to find a way to block out these periodic fluctuations. Qin Lao's team is working hard on it, but they need your cooperation."

"How to cooperate?"

"More intensive data collection, and trying several new control schemes."

Bai Yongxu paused for a moment, then said, "This means you need to suspend filming and return to base."

Jiang Nian glanced at the calendar on the wall: "What did Director Zhang say?"

“We’ve already communicated with them,” Su Qing chimed in.

"And the second thing?" Jiang Nian asked.

Bai Yongxu switched the view, and the thermal image of the South China Sea reappeared.

He pointed to the circular area with the abnormal temperature, "We need to confirm what it is."

General Zhao's voice came through the communicator: "We plan to send a special reconnaissance team to conduct close reconnaissance. But we need you to be on standby at the base and provide the necessary biosignal references."

"Reference?"

“Yes.” Old Qin’s voice cut in. “Advisor Jiang, if your periodic fluctuations really do increase, then a similar frequency response might be detected near that heat source area.”

"We need you to conduct tests at the base simultaneously, and by comparing the data, determine whether there are also gene marker-related devices there."

Jiang Nian remained silent for a moment.
"When do we leave?" he asked.

"Tonight at eleven o'clock."

Bai Yongxu said, "Chen Meng and Su Qing will escort you to the backup airport, and a helicopter will pick you up directly and take you back to the base."

"The production crew will arrange for a stand-in to wear your hat and mask when entering and leaving the hotel to create the illusion that you are still recuperating."

"understood."

Communication ends.

Su Qing had already started packing the necessary items: "Teacher Jiang, I've packed my change of clothes and daily necessities. The base has everything, but it's better to bring your usual things."

Chen Meng walked in from outside, carrying a black briefcase.

"New identity documents, encryption devices, and emergency medicines. The flight route has been approved, weather conditions are good, and the estimated flight time is two hours and forty minutes."

10:50 PM, hotel underground parking garage.

After checking the vehicle's condition, Chen Meng nodded to Jiang Nian: "We can set off now."

The car drove out of the garage, not taking the usual route, but turning onto a secluded side road. The car windows were specially made, making it completely dark from the outside.

"The route was carefully designed to avoid security cameras on all the main roads."

Su Qing sat in the passenger seat, holding a tablet to monitor the surrounding road conditions. "The backup airport is in the suburbs. It is a temporary take-off and landing point for the military and is not open to the public."

The car drove through the night.

We drove into an abandoned industrial park.

Deep inside the park, in a disguised hangar.

The dark green medium-sized helicopter had started its rotors, emitting a deep roar.

"Consultant Jiang, please."

An officer in a flight suit approached and saluted.

Without any further pleasantries, Jiang Nian and the other two quickly boarded the plane.

Su Qing handed Jiang Nian an eye mask: "Teacher Jiang, why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you up when we get there."

Jiang Nian took the blindfold, but did not put it on immediately.

Through the porthole, he could see the city lights below gradually receding into the distance, eventually being swallowed by the darkness of the continuous mountain range.

A two-and-a-half-hour flight was enough for him to sort out his thoughts.

The periodic fluctuations of the markers, the heat source in the South China Sea, and the accelerated preparation of the organization.

These fragments are piecing together an increasingly clear picture.

In the early morning, the helicopter began its descent.

Through the porthole, Jiang Nian could see the base hidden among the mountains.

Bai Yongxu waited downstairs, with Elder Qin and General Zhao standing beside him.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Bai Yongxu stepped forward and shook hands with Jiang Nian, "Was the journey smooth?"

"smoothly."

The group quickly entered the main building of the base, passed through layers of security gates, and arrived at the biological laboratory on the third basement level.

On the huge circular screen, Jiang Nian's vital signs and marker activity data were displayed in real time.

Several curves representing different marked areas are now showing regular fluctuations.

“Jiang Nian,” Bai Yongxu walked up to him, “guidance training is very energy-consuming. You need to rest and recuperate first.”

"can."

Su Qing stepped forward: "Professor Jiang, your room is ready. It's on the upper floor of the laboratory, which is convenient for monitoring. I'll take you there."

The room wasn't big, but it was fully equipped.

One wall is a one-way glass wall, connected to the monitoring room outside, allowing for constant observation of the room's interior.

"There is an emergency call button by the bedside, which connects directly to the medical center and the command center."

Su Qing explained, "The water temperature and lighting in the bathroom can be adjusted by voice. If you need anything, just call me anytime; I'm right next door."

……

At the same time, in the South China Sea, at the edge of the target area.

A research vessel bearing the logo of the Oceanographic Institute is slowly cruising on the sea.

Inside the cabin, six special forces members dressed in dark blue combat uniforms were sitting around a tactical table.

The team leader's surname was Gao, he was in his early forties, and he had a scar on his face that ran from his brow bone to his chin.

"Let's review the mission briefing again," Captain Gao said in a hoarse voice. "We will descend to a depth of 800 meters in our submersible, and then release miniature reconnaissance robots to conduct close-range reconnaissance of the heat source area. The mission will last no more than 90 minutes."

The deputy captain pulled up a 3D nautical chart: "The heat source area is about 500 meters in diameter, and the temperature at the center is 0.5 degrees Celsius higher than the surrounding area. According to the sonar scan, there is the outline of a large artificial structure below, but the details are unclear."

"The organization's possible underwater defenses?"

One of the team members asked.

“Unknown,” Captain Gao said frankly, “but we’ll assume the worst.”

"anymore question?"

"What if we get discovered?" a young team member asked.

"The contingency plan is divided into three levels." Captain Gao pulled up another document. "Level 1: Minor exposure. Immediately abort the mission. The submersible should descend to a depth of 1,200 meters and use the seabed terrain to make a covert evacuation."

"Level 2: Organize units to pursue, use decoys and chaff, and request support from surface ships."

"Level 3, serious exposure. Initiate self-destruct procedure to ensure that technology and personnel do not fall into enemy hands."

The cabin was quiet for a few seconds.

"Do you understand everything?" Captain Gao asked.

"understand!"

"Alright." Captain Gao glanced at the time. "Set your watches now. We'll begin our dive at 3:00 AM sharp. The mission window is from 3:00 AM to 4:30 AM, when the ocean currents in the target area are most stable, which will be beneficial for concealment."

The group dispersed, each making their final preparations.

Captain Gao walked to the porthole and looked at the dark sea outside.

The moonlight was obscured by clouds, with only distant navigation lights casting faint patches of light on the sea.

What lies hidden beneath this seemingly calm sea?
he does not know.

But he knew that the results of this reconnaissance could affect the entire situation in the South China Sea. At 3:00 a.m., the submersible slid into the sea from the stern of the research vessel and silently descended.

Inside the cabin, Captain Gao stared at the constantly fluctuating numbers on the depth gauge.

The external camera feed gradually went from dim light to complete darkness, with only the submersible's own searchlight illuminating a small area ahead.

"Depth 500 meters, sonar background clear, no anomalies detected," the communications officer reported.

"Continue descending, target depth 800 meters," Captain Gao said.

The submersible descended smoothly.

700 meters, 750 meters, 800 meters.

"Reached the designated depth." The pilot hovered the submersible. "Release the reconnaissance robot."

The abdominal hatch opened, and six black spheres, each the size of a soccer ball, silently slid out, then unfolded into a fish shape and swam towards the heat source area.

On the screen in front of Captain Gao, a split-screen display showed real-time footage transmitted back by six robots.

"Robot, slow down and activate camouflage mode," Captain Gao ordered.

In the video, the colors of the six robots' shells begin to change, gradually blending into the surrounding seawater.

The thruster power was reduced, the speed was slowed down, and it swam slowly like a real deep-sea fish.

One minute later, the outer outline of the heat source area appeared on the screen.

The hemispherical structure, covered with a dark camouflage coating, is almost indistinguishable from seabed rocks.

But the thermal imager clearly shows that the structure is continuously emitting heat.

"The structure's diameter is estimated to be over 300 meters."

The correspondent whispered, "It's much larger than the satellite estimates."

"Is there an entrance or exit?"

"We found one at the bottom of the structure, about 20 meters wide, with a regular geometric shape, which is definitely man-made."

The camera zooms in.

The entrance was embedded in the base of the hemispherical structure, with smooth edges and obvious traces of mechanical tracks around it.

"What are the tracks for?" the vice-captain asked.

"It could be an underwater transport vehicle or maintenance equipment."

The reporter zoomed in on the footage, saying, "There are lights inside the entrance and exit, but it's too deep to see the details clearly."

"Can we put a robot in there?"

"The risk is too high. There are definitely surveillance cameras at the entrances and exits, and the robot will be detected as soon as it goes in."

Captain Gao stared at the dark entrance and pondered for a few seconds.

"Deploy vibration sensors around the entrance to collect frequency characteristics of vehicles entering and exiting. Then withdraw."

"clear."

Two robots quietly approached the entrance from both sides, extending slender mechanical arms from their abdomens to attach button-sized sensors to the rocks at the edge of the entrance.

The whole process took less than thirty seconds.

"Sensor deployment complete."

"Okay, all robots withdraw, we..."

Captain Gao's words came to an abrupt end.

On the screen, a faint blue light suddenly flashed at the edge of an image transmitted by a robot.

"What is that?" The vice-captain's voice tightened.

The camera quickly adjusted its direction, focusing on the spot where the light had disappeared.

There was nothing in the darkness.

But suddenly a clear signal point appeared on the sonar screen!
"Something's up! It's at a depth of 900 meters and is rising rapidly!"

The correspondent exclaimed in surprise.

"Evacuate everyone! Abandon the robots, and send the submersibles down at full speed!" Captain Gao roared.

Starfish pushed the control stick hard, the submersible's nose pointed downwards, and the thrusters started at full power.

But that signal point is faster!

"It's catching up!"

"Release the jammer!"

At the tail of the submersible, several chaff ejections were launched, bursting into large clusters of bubbles and acoustic decoys in the water.

The signal point paused noticeably, as if it was re-locking.

"It's still chasing!"

"Activate emergency response! Abandon all unnecessary loads!"

Several emergency thrusters on the submersible's hull ignited simultaneously, instantly increasing its speed.

However, the noise also increased several times over.

Captain Gao stared at the signal point on the screen as it drew closer, and pressed his hand on the self-destruct button.

at this time.

"and many more!"

The communications officer suddenly shouted, "It's slowing down!"

On the screen, the signal point, about 150 meters away from the submersible, suddenly stopped its pursuit.

Then, they began to slowly back away.

Sonar footage showed that the signal point was hovering in place.

"Continue descending, maintain maximum speed." Captain Gao's voice was frighteningly calm.

"Do not look back."

The submersible continued to descend and soon broke through the 1,200-meter depth.

The signal point finally disappeared from the sonar screen.

"They're gone?" The driver's voice trembled slightly.

"uncertain."

Captain Gao stared at the screen. "They've probably just retreated back to the warning range. We'll continue diving, and then turn back at 1,500 meters."

Ten minutes later, the submersible reached a depth of 1,500 meters and began horizontal navigation, heading towards the designated evacuation point.

Inside the cabin, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"What was that just now?" a team member asked, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "An organization patrol unit?"

"Possibly." Captain Gao pulled up the sonar signature data he had just captured.

"Has our reconnaissance been exposed?"

“We’ve definitely been exposed,” Captain Gao said calmly, “but we’ve also obtained crucial data.”

He glanced at the time: "Remain silent, return at full speed. We need to get the data back to base as soon as possible."

……

Xuanwu Base, Command Center.

Bai Yongxu didn't sleep all night, staring at the real-time data stream transmitted from the South China Sea on the big screen.

When he saw the submersible being pursued, his fists clenched involuntarily.

Fortunately, it ended without any serious harm.

"The deep-sea submersible has been safely recovered, and the reconnaissance team is on its way back."

General Zhao reported, "The preliminary data has been transmitted back and is being analyzed."

On the large screen, a three-dimensional model of the heat source area began to be constructed.

"This size can accommodate at least five hundred people to be stationed there long-term."

Old Qin pushed up his glasses. "Moreover, judging from the heat emission pattern, its energy system is very stable, unlike a temporary facility."

“The entrance and exit are here.” General Zhao zoomed in on the bottom of the model. “It’s 21 meters wide and has a track system. Judging from its size, it can accommodate large underwater transport vehicles.”

"What about the sonar signature of the patrol unit?"

"Already entered into the database." (End of Chapter)