Chapter 3630: Two Preparations

Wu Bolin, fleeing in panic, never imagined that he had originally planned to come to the American scientific outpost to recruit a few followers and strengthen his power, only to end up fleeing with his tail between his legs.

On the way back, he kept muttering under his breath: "Damn America, what's the big deal? Is it worth them making such a fuss? They even mobilized their army.

If this had happened a hundred years ago, he wouldn't have feared the army at all—just guns and cannons, which posed no real threat to someone of his cultivation.

But after a hundred years of seclusion, he realized that modern society's technological development far outpaces his own cultivation speed.

The firepower of modern armies has become so fierce it can level an entire city—something no cultivator could possibly match.

He had also heard of a baron who died horribly under close-in-defense gunfire; though the baron could withstand a few shells, he couldn't endure a minute of hundreds or thousands of rounds raining down.

So facing the American army, he didn't hesitate and chose to flee.

Kikuchi Kōhei, whose mind he controlled and who was utterly loyal to him, now frowned deeply, utterly bewildered.

He said to Wu Bolin: "Master, this situation doesn't feel right at all!"

Wu Bolin asked: "What's wrong?"

Kikuchi Kōhei explained: "Basically, all countries in the world have signed the Antarctic Treaty, promising not to send even a single soldier to Antarctica, nor to bring any weapons there. But just now, America has already dispatched paratroopers and even armored vehicles—clearly violating the treaty. We merely used the pretext of danger to ask for their help. Why would they send such overwhelming force?"

"Yeah, why?" Wu Bolin didn't understand either.

This feeling was like when he used to live in a village. Going to a neighbor's house to borrow some noodles, only to have the neighbor bring down dozens of bearded men from the mountain, armed with long spears and radiating hostility, ready to attack him—completely unnecessary.

Unless he knew you were pretending to borrow noodles while actually plotting to kill his whole family.

But I clearly didn't leak any information—how did they sense the danger?

Wu Bolin muttered: "Unless someone in my own household leaked the news!"

Kikuchi Kōhei heard him mutter something but didn't catch it clearly, so he quickly pressed: "Master, what did you just say about leaking information?"

Wu Bolin said coldly: "I suspect the Wu Han Palace people leaked the news—could it be that Japan already knows you're all loyal to me?"

Kikuchi Kōhei looked astonished: "Impossible, Master! Every member of the Wu Han Palace is utterly devoted to you—even if you told me to die now, I wouldn't frown, so how could I leak secrets?"

Wu Bolin slightly nodded and said: "You're right—you are all my loyal subordinates, and it's unlikely you'd betray me. But even if you haven't betrayed me, we can't absolutely prevent Japan from learning about this through other channels. After all, we've been openly exploring Antarctica for a long time—some oversight is inevitable."

Kikuchi Kōhei said earnestly: "We've only done what we could to try to deceive domestic authorities, but given our technical limitations, these measures aren't guaranteed to work."

Wu Bolin said with some tension: "If my guess is correct, and America knows this, then Japan surely knows too—they'll definitely come to investigate. That means these American troops might very well chase us all the way to Wu Han Palace, which would be truly troublesome..."

Kikuchi Kōhei sighed: "Master's concern is not unfounded—once the state learns of this, the nature of the offense is extremely serious, and the state will surely investigate to the very end."

Wu Bolin asked anxiously: "Then what should I do? If their army marches to Wu Han Palace, where should I go? If I stay, I can't explain myself and will inevitably face a fierce battle; if I leave, where in this vast Antarctic wilderness could I find a place to settle?"

Saying this, Wu Bolin felt deep regret, his Dao heart shaken, and he cursed furiously: "Damn it! If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have thought of attacking America. I came out to conquer cities and seize land—who would've thought the city wouldn't even fall before the backyard caught fire? It's infuriating!"

Kikuchi Kōhei said with a loyal expression: "Master, please rest assured—we are willing to follow you wholeheartedly, no matter where you go, we will follow you all the way."

Wu Bolin felt utterly stifled—these Japanese research team members, if they helped him explore Antarctica, would naturally be useful. But if they followed him in fleeing Antarctica, they would all become nothing but burdens.

First, the harsh environment here makes it impossible for anyone to survive long outside shelter.

Second, if they followed him in fleeing, their large numbers would only bring him trouble.

Now, if the Japanese and American governments join forces to investigate this thoroughly, the best solution is for him to withdraw first.

As for these Japanese research team members, their fate is predictable—they will surely be taken back to Japan for investigation.

But I'm not afraid either, because I've already implanted psychological suggestions in them, making them absolutely loyal—no matter who asks, they will never reveal anything related to me.

So in the end, this matter may leave the Japanese with an eternal mystery: why these people collectively betrayed their country, and what they were secretly searching for in Antarctica.

Thus, he asked Kikuchi Kōhei: "If one day you are taken back by the Japanese government for interrogation, and they ask what you were really doing in Antarctica during this time, how would you answer?"

Kikuchi Kōhei blurted out without hesitation: "Master, rest assured—I will never reveal any information related to you, even if a gun is pressed to my forehead, I will not utter a single word."

Wu Bolin was somewhat satisfied with his attitude and gave a slight nod.

Although he had already prepared for the worst, he wasn't sure what would happen yet, so Wu Bolin wasn't in a rush to leave. He thought he'd first retreat to Wu Han Palace with Kikuchi Kōhei; if the American military came knocking, he wouldn't need to worry—though he might not be their match, his cultivation would allow him to detect them early and withdraw before they found him.

Besides this, Wu Bolin had made another preparation: if conditions allowed, he would try to control an American soldier who could speak Chinese, first learn the enemy's plans, then see if he could find an opportunity to exploit.