Natural Cult

As the motorcycle sped through the desert, a blurry shadow suddenly appeared in the distance, accompanied by a cacophony that grew louder and clearer. It was a convoy, with every vehicle crudely camouflaged with rocks and mud, blending almost seamlessly with the appearance of mutated beasts from afar. Each vehicle in the convoy carried massive speakers, emitting piercing noise.

Wang Yanfei squinted, peering at the strange convoy through the billowing dust. He instinctively gripped the handlebars of the motorcycle (Goldwater's waist), and asked in a low voice, "Who are they?"

Goldwater gradually slowed the bike, bringing it to a stop in the shade of a large rock, her gaze fixed on the distant convoy. After a moment, she let out a light sigh and turned to Wang Yanfei. "Don't be alarmed. That's the Natural Cult."

"The Natural Cult?" Wang Yanfei frowned slightly, clearly unfamiliar with the name.

Goldwater nodded, her expression complicated as she looked in the direction of the approaching convoy. "The Natural Cult is a group of humans who coexist with mutated beasts in the wilderness. They revere these creatures and even try to establish some form of communication with them. To put it in terms you'd understand, they're lunatics. But I'll admit, they are quite adept at driving off mutant beasts."

She pointed to the piercing noise that kept coming from the convoy: "That sound is a frequency specially studied by the Natural Church, which has a disturbing effect on mutant beasts. When the herd hears this sound, it usually changes the direction of migration. As long as you encounter them, you don't have to worry about the threat of mutant beasts for the time being."

Wang Yanfei's eyes flickered slightly, watching the convoy heading towards the herd. He saw that the huge mutant beasts gradually slowed down their pace, and the migration route that originally rushed straight to the supply station was slowly shifting. The dust raised around the convoy almost completely submerged the vehicles, and the noise of the speakers caused an obvious commotion among the herd.

"Why are they doing this?" Wang Yanfei asked, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.

Goldwater shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe it's their faith, maybe it's to protect people in the wilderness, or maybe it's just to keep those creatures away from their territory. Whatever their motives, at least this time, they've helped us out."

Wang Yanfei said nothing more, silently watching the convoy. From his vantage point, the supply station in the distance was no more than a blurry shadow.

Goldwater started the motorcycle again, glancing back at him. "Let's take this opportunity to leave the area. They don't like strangers getting too close, so it's best not to test their patience."

Wang Yanfei nodded, pulling his cloak tighter as he climbed back onto the motorcycle. The engine roared to life, and Goldwater stepped on the accelerator. The bike kicked up a storm of sand as they sped away, leaving the supply station and the peculiar convoy behind.

The night deepened as the clock approached midnight. Under Goldwater's guidance, the motorcycle entered a flat expanse of land. In the center of the desert stood a massive base station, its cold metallic structure glinting faintly under the moonlight, surrounded by various camouflage nets. A weak blue light flickered at the top of the station.

Goldwater stopped the motorcycle, removed her cloak, and walked toward the station entrance. Several cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden in darkness, revealing only their chins. Goldwater pulled a metal badge from her pocket and flashed it. The cloaked figures exchanged a few whispered words before stepping aside to reveal the entrance.

"Follow me," Goldwater said to Wang Yanfei, her tone indifferent.

Wang Yanfei tightened his cloak and cautiously surveyed his surroundings. The cloaked figures stood silently around the station, clearly maintaining its security. Without asking questions, he followed Goldwater inside.

The interior of the station was surprisingly spacious. The ceiling was high enough to feel imposing, and the walls were lined with countless glowing energy conduits. At the center was a large platform covered with intricate circuits, emitting a faint blue light that filled the entire space.

Goldwater walked confidently to a control panel near the platform and spoke softly with one of the cloaked figures. After a brief exchange, the figure nodded and pressed a few buttons. The blue light in the space quickly faded, and small devices extended from the surroundings. High above, an unseen satellite slowly adjusted its angle, aligning itself with Station 204.

"Step onto the platform," Goldwater said, turning to Wang Yanfei.

Without hesitation, Wang Yanfei joined Goldwater on the platform. A faint vibration coursed through the ground as blue light descended from above, enveloping the station. The small devices on the platform emitted beams of blue light, gradually forming a net that wrapped around the two of them. In the next moment, W

ang Yanfei felt as if an invisible force was pulling him, his vision blurring, and his ears filled with a deep humming.

He couldn't tell how much time had passed before his feet finally touched solid ground. Opening his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar space. The surrounding scenery had yet to come into full focus, but he could sense a faint burnt aroma lingering in the air.

Just then, the familiar black mist appeared once more in his field of vision. Twelve cards hovered before him, and Wang Yanfei's fingers trembled slightly as he reached out, only to pull back quickly. He raised his head to glance at Goldwater, noting her calm expression as if she were completely unaware of the cards.

"This isn't the place to act," Wang Yanfei silently reminded himself, forcing down his curiosity and impulse, temporarily putting the matter of the cards aside.

Goldwater gave him a glance and motioned for him to follow. They walked through a complex network of corridors, the metallic walls glinting under dim lighting, and the faint scent of disinfectant hanging in the air. Wang Yanfei followed closely, observing the surroundings. The station's structure was meticulously designed, resembling an anthill in its layout.

"We're here," Goldwater said, stopping in front of a door labeled "014." She pushed it open and turned to Wang Yanfei. "This is your room. Get some rest. Someone will come to arrange the next steps tomorrow."

Wang Yanfei nodded and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

The room was small but well-equipped. The metallic walls were spotless, with a single bed set against one side. A small desk and a simple storage cabinet stood nearby, and a soft light hung in the center, providing a surprisingly pleasant environment.