Chapter 78: Temperature in the Embers

The mountain fire that had been raging for nearly two days and two nights.

Finally, as dawn arrived, it was forcibly pressed the stop button.

The open fire was extinguished, leaving large areas of scorched black land emitting wisps of blue smoke, like hideous scars on the body of the earth.

The air was filled with a strong and pungent burnt smell, mixed with the unique smell of water vapor and flame retardant.

Firefighters and volunteers who were exhausted to the extreme.

Either leaning against tree trunks that were only half left burned, or sitting directly on the muddy ground full of ashes.

They didn't even have the strength to move a finger.

Many people's faces were blackened by smoke and fire, only their eyes and the teeth revealed when they occasionally grinned were bright, and their protective suits were full of holes and stains.

The Feng Yan team was no exception.

When Li Yang came out of the Iron Wolf cockpit, his footsteps were a bit shaky.

Long-term high-intensity mental concentration and fine operation, even for him, felt unprecedented exhaustion.

Wang Hao was lying flat in the shadow of a transport vehicle, groaning:

"Can't do it, can't do it, my bones are falling apart... feel like my body has been hollowed out..."

Although Chen Guang sat straight, operating the terminal to perform final system status checks and data archiving.

But the eyes behind his lenses were also full of bloodshot, and his face was a bit pale.

Zhao Gong silently checked the various equipment recovered.

Especially the joints of the Iron Wolf and Mechanical Mantis, to see if there was any damage caused in the extreme environment.

The entire fire area was filled with a silence of exhaustion after a great battle.

Only the occasional report of safety coming from the walkie-talkie, and the sobbing sound of the wind blowing through the scorched earth.

Just then, a group of local people, led by the village cadre.

Carrying steaming buns, eggs, and porridge in large buckets, stepped on the scorched earth with deep and shallow steps and walked over.

Their faces also carried traces of smoke, but their eyes were full of simple gratitude.

"Comrades, you've worked hard! Quick, eat something while it's hot!"

"Nothing good, all made at home, don't dislike it!"

"Thank you! Thank you for saving our mountains, our homes!"

They stuffed food into the hands of every rescue worker without saying a word.

An old grandmother with silver hair trembling stuffed an egg that was still hot into the hand of Wang Hao who was lying down.

Wang Hao was stunned for a moment, then struggled to sit up and thanked her repeatedly.

Li Yang silently took a bun and took a bite, although it had no taste, it was more delicious than any big meal at this moment.

A bowl of porridge was placed in front of Chen Guang, he pushed up his glasses and whispered a thank you.

The most moving scene happened with a little boy led by his mother.

He was about four or five years old, his face was dirty, and he was holding tightly in his hand a few small things he had barely kneaded with scorched black mud.

He walked timidly to a firefighter who was resting, held up the thing that could barely be seen to have eight legs.

Said in a small voice: "Uncle, thank you... this, for you."

The firefighter was stunned for a moment, looking at the crooked mud sculpture, and then reacted.

This child wanted to knead, I'm afraid it was those "Mechanical Butterflies" that flew around in the sky they saw on the fire scene before.

Or the "Mechanical Spiders" that crawled between the rocks.

He squatted down, took the mud sculpture that still carried the warmth of the child's palm, and his voice was a bit hoarse: "Thank you, little friend, Uncle likes it very much."

The little boy looked at a spirited young guy who was checking his beloved motorcycle next to him.

Handed over another slightly rounder mud lump with a small handle.

It looked a bit like a motorcycle: "This, for the uncle riding the motorcycle..."

That guy, looking like a rough man, but at this moment looking at the immature "work."

His eye sockets turned red instantly, he took it solemnly and nodded forcefully.

The little boy was led by his mother and finally walked to Feng Yan and their side.

He curiously looked at Li Yang who was leaning on the Iron Wolf to rest, and looked at Wang Hao who was lying on the side.

Finally, his gaze fell on Chen Guang who was sitting on the instrument box, quiet and still, seemingly feeling that this uncle wearing glasses and quiet was more "like."

He let go of his mother's hand, ran to Chen Guang, and took out another smaller, equally crooked mud ball from his pocket.

Handed it over, his voice even smaller: "This... for... for the glowing Spider-Man uncle..."

The surroundings were quiet for a moment.

"Pfft—" Wang Hao who was lying down was the first to not hold back and laughed.

But immediately held it back, his shoulders just shrugging.

Even the corners of Li Yang's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

Chen Guang looked at the mud ball that was barely able to see a spherical "body" and several stick-like "legs" handed to him.

And looked at the child's clear eyes that were also a bit timid and expectant.

He was silent for a few seconds, and then, slowly stretched out his hand.

Very carefully, with his fingertips, he took the mud sculpture, as if it were some fragile treasure.

He didn't laugh, and didn't have extra words, just looked at the little boy.

Nodded very seriously and said: "Thank you. Kneaded very well."

At that moment, this physics genius who had always shown himself with calmness, rationality, and even some indifference.

The invisible technical shell around him seemed to have been quietly melted by the temperature of this immature mud.

The coldness of technology and the warmth of humanity reached the most moving reconciliation on this scorched earth after the disaster.

The little boy heard the praise, smiled happily, revealing a missing front tooth, turned and ran back to his mother's side.

Feng Yan watched this scene, watching the team members who were sitting or lying around, eating the food sent by the people.

Watching the firefighters and volunteers in the distance who were exhausted but had bright eyes, his heart was full of mixed feelings.

The technology they brought played a key role in this struggle with nature.

But what supported everyone to persist in the end was this human true feeling that transcended technology, and this common belief in guarding their homes.

He picked up a bun, took a bite, and chewed slowly.

The scorched air didn't seem so unbearable anymore.

Wang Hao didn't know when he leaned over, peeling an egg while looking at the small mud ball in Chen Guang's hand, and laughed in a low voice:

"Guangzi, your 'Spider-Man' title is considered confirmed, even the children have certified it."

Chen Guang didn't pay attention to his teasing, just carefully put the small mud sculpture.

Into the shock-absorbing box he carried with him, which was usually used to hold precision parts.

The afterglow of the sunset finally broke free from the shackles of the smoke and clouds, spilling on this devastated land.

Plating a layer of warm gold on all the exhausted figures.

Pain needs time to heal, but hope has already taken root again with this ray of light. ===== CHAPTER 79 =====