Chapter 119: Discovery.

In the vast plains of nothingness in the west, a team of scientists were conducting sanctioned experiments.

This had been a three year journey for them so far. But what they had discovered was a find of a life time.

The scientists there nicknamed the discovery Nüwā. Carbon dating on the items found in the tomb predated human life before the establishment of dynasty's.

But astonishing still was the same went for the body that lay inside the coffin.

The body of the woman inside the coffin was perfect in every way. There was no blemishes, she was well endowed and proportioned that it rivalled international models.

But the most unexplainable of all was that the preservation of body made it so she was still alive.

There was zero signs of deterioration.

If the scientists were able to unlock the secret of this, then they could engineer a serum for eternal youth among other thing and this was what they've been working on for the last few years.

Everyone involved all wanted something out of it.

The government wanted to boost the country's economic growth by exporting watered down versions of the proposed serum as a premium product for beauty care or as a supplement to reduce ageing. A true anti-ageing product.

The military wanted a "pushback" version of the serum to keep their elite warriors at their peak. This would stunt the ageing process of their most elite soldiers keeping them in their prime for longer.

And the scientists, they just wanted more funding to unlock more secrets of the known world and all its glory.

Especially with finds like Nüwā. To them, in the realm of science, if there's one, then there's another.

They all dreamed of finding their very own Nüwā and unlocking all of its secrets.

That was their initial thoughts about the serum until they realised the potential for, and of it, to access more areas of the brain.

In a purpose built facility surrounding the unnamed tomb of Nüwā, the team of scientists for the project and their backers were meeting to discuss future plans.

The lead archaeologist in charge of everything was Hao Zhang, father to Hao Zhiming.

"Thank you everyone for coming. I won't go on about why we are all meeting here, so I'll just get right into it. These here are the only three serums of its kind in the world."

He says as he pointed out three vials filled with a clear coloured solution.

"Why three?"

"They are to cater to the demands placed on us."

"The one on the right, is for the government, on the left for the military and the one in the middle is for the scientists."

Hao Zhang explained the the one on the right could be watered down to produce up to 5 billion individual pills.

The one on the left can produce a squadron of enhanced warriors via inoculation, per the military's request.

And the last one will go to a single scientist as it was made with the remaining synthesised materials from Nüwā.

"Can't you make anymore?"

"Unfortunately as of now, that is impossible. With everyone's wants this is truly the best we could do after three years of work. And this breakthrough was only possible because of the formula that dr Wen sent us."

Hao Zhang says as he pointed out the images of the formula.

This was what Dr Wen Wenxiong had been working tirelessly on for the past year.

He finally got this breakthrough thanks to Qin Qianyu's aid when she made corrections on the whiteboard during the first time she had entered Shenlong base.

"And these three here were all made with the remnants of the materials."

Hao Zhang uttered again. The scientists in attendance showed looks of perturbation.

The disconcerting stares towards each other became stronger because there were 37 of them there and only one could use the serum.

"But why only one for us scientists? . . We did all the work and this is all we get in return?"

A middle aged scientist uttered annoyedly. Everyone turns to the man, he cared nothing for their stares, in his mind he wasn't wrong.

Another voice sounded out and answered the doctor's query.

"Remuneration for your work has been paid to you! There was nothing that stated the thing you'd be working on would go to you, any of you for that matter."

" . . . "

That irate doctor felt as though he just shit in his own mouth with his interjected comment.

He, along with the others there were already paid enormously for their contributions to the project.

It is as the elderly man had said. He had no claim to the thing that they were paid to make.

"If none of you can't take it, then reimburse what was paid, and we'll also take back the knowledge that you have gained from this."

" . . . "

The scientists there weren't dumb to the threat that was just uttered. They received it loud and clear. To give back that knowledge meant to lose one's head both figuratively and literally.

"That serum will go to the person with the highest IQ in this room, end of story."

" . . . "

Hao Zhang nodded and added to that,

"Besides the serum made for the government, the other two have already been allocated to specific peoples, they have been notified of this already."

"Wait! . . So those that didn't get a notification luck out!? . . Isn't that bullshit!? . . Who made the cut!? Don't we deserve to know that at the very least!"

A disgruntled soldier uttered out. He had been with this team since the beginning and felt he should have been one those that have been selected.

When he heard how those chosen had already been notified he was pissed. He missed out on promotions, advancements in ranking and more with him taking the post out in the middle of nowhere. Yet, he wasn't even given a spot in the participating group.

An elderly looking man that stood in the back was given a nod.

He stepped forwards and rushed the soldier that spoke out his grievances. That soldier saw the elder coming at him and immediately went for his side arm.

"Back off old mah . . Guh frshbah . . "

He didn't get to finish off what he was trying to say. That soldier's body fell to the ground as the elder held the man's head by his hair.

The elder flicked his wrist, shaking the blood off the blade he held in his other hand. Then he wiped the residual blood still on the blade on the dead soldier's cheeks before tossing the head to the side.

He quickly returned to the left side of a man wearing a silver wolf mask.

The man in the wolf mask looked to the dead soldier then to all the others in attendance and uttered our nonchalantly,

"There's a reason why you weren't chosen, and that's because you're a simple soldier.

Let this be a timely reminder to the rest of you. You, all of you, you're simply here to fulfil a purpose so just simply be simple people. If any of you over step your simple standing again, then I have no problems stepping on any or all of you."

If both Qin Qianyu and Wú Haodong were there, they would have been familiar with these faces.

The elder with the blade was the same man from the auction that wanted the furnace and apothecary book that Qin Qianyu now has in her possession.

The very same man that had sent Owen Xi to embarrass both Wú Haodong and his disciple.

The man in the wolf mask turned to his right and spoke with the other person there.

"You've been chosen as the recipient of the serum. Just so you know, it'll be given to you after this meeting."

"I . . I understand."

The person with the bunny mask replied.

That person was Wen Wú Ling. The reason she was unreachable of late is because she was here with her grandfather, Xi Jiangshan, the man wearing the silver wolf mask.

All of this had taken place during SIC.

Lin Xie passed all the information he was able to gather and sent it to Wú Haodong.

All the information Wú Haodong was able to get only told him of certain particulars but not what had gone on at that site of the unknown tomb, especially the meeting that had went on.

He told Qin Qianyu all of this as the pair sat outside Wú Haodong's courtyard.

"The Luther project?"

Wú Haodong nodded.

That thing that had attacked him that other night seemed to be a culmination of science and military ingenuity, all of it funded by the government.

"You were spot on with your thinking."

"It wasn't hard, really, but what on earth are they trying to do?"

"Who knows, but it was being hunted down by TNT that night, so it begs to question if the project has gotten out of their control now if it came all the way to the city."

"Could that thing that attacked you be a researcher from the team of scientists?"

"Either that or it could be a soldier that they've been testing on."

"Genetically enhancing humans . . "

Qin Qianyu had never heard of such a thing, even when she lived her former life. This was odd to her.

Soon a thought crossed her mind,

"Could me coming back here from the future have some sort of influence on the way events are forming now? . . . A butterfly effect!?"

" . . . "

Qin Qianyu looked to Wú Haodong with a worried expression. She was thinking that her intervention into certain circumstances have altered the directions of many other lives.

Wú Haodong didn't notice any of this as he uttered out,

"If this involves both the government and the military, then it stands to reason that the four winds are definitely involved, well, all except UQT and PIT that is."

Qin Qianyu nodded as she pet Bai Saan. She then replied,

"If I were in charge and needed to test on anyone, then I'd choose someone extremely loyal and obedient."

Wú Haodong couldn't find fault in her words. Qin Qianyu then continued,

"The military and government are truly scary in that aspect. It's always the innocent that get dragged into the whimsical musings of those in power with their own politics and agendas."

" . . . "

Wú Haodong didn't say anything. He knew all this, all too well. He was once a "yes man". He would do all that was required of him and more because the government or the military asked him to.

"Will you go visit the Xiong family soon?"

Wú Haodong felt his wounds. Since Qin Qianyu applied that new ointment on him, the wounds had disappeared as if they never existed in the first place.

He had woken to find the sutures sandwiched between his skin and the bandage, and after he checked, the wounds were fully closed.

This was due to the mixture of the Asura pond water and the properties of the ointment.

He was truly amazed.

Wú Haodong turned to Qin Qianyu petting Bai Saan and answered the question she asked earlier,

"Hmm, I don't know yet. At the moment, what I do know now is that the other families seem to be involved with this Luther project, along side Xi Jiangshan."

"Well if you go to see them, make it a time when my parents are asleep. I'll come with you."

"No, you're to stay here."

"You're not the boss of me!"

"You're my one and only disciple! . . Of course I'm the boss of you!"

"No! . . I'm the disciple of Wú Haodong, not Wú Xiaodong."

" . . . "

Wú Haodong twisted his face and scowled at Qin Qianyu as she smiled cheekily before he popped a vain and uttered aloud,

"Nothing but a technicality! Listen here girl! I am the boss! . . All of you belongs to me!"

" . . . "

Qin Qianyu stared at Wú Haodong wide eyed and incredulously, she was about to retort when another firm and low voice beat her to it.

"Oh! . . I think you should wait till my daughter is a little older, and wait till you've gained our permission first young man!"

The pair turned to see Qin Haoran in an apron and his hands on his hips as he stared intense eye daggers at Wú Haodong.

Wú Haodong sighed at the misunderstanding his words had created in Qin Haoran's mind.

"You hear 'brother' Xiaodong! . . I know I'm truly irresistible even in your eyes, but if my father doesn't hold you in his then it's all for nought. Work hard to win my family's approval, Bai Saan included."

"Who'd like you!? . . "

Qin Qianyu smirked then leans in close and whispered,

"Heh! . . Who was it that wanted to peep on me while I changed?"

"Awoar!"

Bai Saan whined intermittently as he heard the whisper. It was as if he were joining in on the conversation.

" . . . "

"You . . You, didn't even try! You actually did peep!?"

Wú Haodong complained angrily. He wasn't the only angry man there.

Qin Haoran was of the same mind, he watched the playful whispers happening between the two youngsters. Qin Qianyu saw this and started laughing aloud,

"Pfft! . . Bahahaha!"

"Why are you laughing!? . . This isn't funny Yu'er!"

"But it is Dad, . . I was only joking. You've misunderstood brother Xiaodong. He'll be taking over my training in Grandpa Wú's place, his words were actually in reference to that."

"Oh! . . Oh really!?"

"Of course, anyway, how could that old man like me!?"

" . . . "

Qin Haoran looked to Wú Haodong puzzled. To him, Wú Xiaodong was only a couple of years older than Qin Qianyu. Maybe no more than 5.

"Oh, ah . . That's a shame then,"

"Huh!?"

"Ehh!?"

Both Qin Qianyu and Wú Haodong looked to Qin Haoran with a questioning look of disbelief.

Qin Haoran paid no mind to the "children" and told them that lunch was ready.