I Get A Random New Occupation Every Week

Chapter 4182: Chapter 6170: What Did You See in Ailao Mountain

"Fuck!"

Now Lin Yi really felt a chill down his spine.

He wasn’t afraid of danger, but this was creepy as hell.

"With so many cases, is there really nothing special?"

"There was one who lived to sixty-two, relying on blood replacement dialysis and a ventilator. As for the rest, many died in their fifties. Most of them suffered from infectious diseases and blood disorders."

Zhao Wenwei’s smile grew even more mysterious. "When you put this whole series of things together, doesn’t this place feel even more uncanny?"

"It does. Even though you can barely explain it in scientific terms, the way it’s controlled so precisely really feels like there’s some invisible force manipulating and protecting Ailao Mountain."

"So over the years, I summed up the conclusion I just told you: that place is unobservable, like a photon—once you observe it, it changes its own state."

"Teacher Zhao, I thought of another possibility."

"Go on."

"If we used extreme methods, modern industrial means to level Ailao Mountain to the ground, would that unobservable state be broken?"

"Of course it would. But don’t forget one thing: everything in this world exists in balance. When you try to break that balance, you’ll trigger disasters you never saw coming."

Zhao Wenwei said:

"It’s like the current El Ni?o phenomenon—that’s the manifestation of humans disrupting nature’s balance. If we go back to Ailao Mountain, the experimental subject breaking into Ailao Mountain is the concrete example of that balance being broken."

Pausing for a moment, Zhao Wenwei went on:

"Over the years, we’ve discovered more than a hundred species in Ailao Mountain. Most of them carry pathogenic bacteria that modern medicine can’t cure. And those hundred-plus creatures are only the ones we’ve found—there are plenty more we still know nothing about. Once you use extreme modern methods to flatten Ailao Mountain, no one can guarantee what will happen."

"Just one biological experimental subject running inside was enough to trigger a chain reaction and cause a large-scale insect plague. If you really leveled Ailao Mountain, think about what that would lead to."

Some things can’t be dwelled on too much; the more you think, the more terrified you get.

The fear of the unknown, even of supernatural forces, filled people with a deep sense of helplessness.

Given all this, the authorities sealing off information became perfectly understandable.

"What about the future? Are you still going to keep studying Ailao Mountain?"

"Of course. Ailao Mountain is a mystery, and worth every scientist throwing themselves at it one after another."

What Zhao Wenwei said made Lin Yi feel a surge of respect; by comparison, he felt he lacked that level of dedication.

"Teacher Zhao, if one day I plan to enter Ailao Mountain, do you have any advice?"

"My advice is: don’t go."

"But I have my duty to carry out."

Zhao Wenwei thought of Lin Yi’s credentials—he was military, and his status was even more unusual than Zhao had imagined. In that case, Ailao Mountain was a place he basically had no choice but to go.

"If you’re going in to investigate, my advice is to wear a hazmat suit and be careful of the snakes, bugs, rats, and ants there." Zhao Wenwei said:

"All those people I mentioned who never lived past sixty died of blood disorders and infectious diseases. It’s highly possible they were poisoned or bitten by insects and mosquitoes without realizing it, and ended up with these conditions."

"Before you go, you must have a full physical exam, get serum injections, and then have yourself thoroughly checked again after you come back. The earlier you find something, the earlier you can treat it. Without a good body, you won’t be able to contribute to the country."

"You’re right, Teacher Zhao."

After they finished discussing business, the two chatted a bit more about other topics, and then Lin Yi got up to take his leave.

Because Zhao Wenwei had other matters to attend to, he asked Li Qingyue to see Lin Yi out.

"Li, you can stop here. I might have to bother you again in the future, so let’s not be too formal."

"Alright, if you have any more questions, just come straight over."

As she spoke, Li Qingyue handed over a business card. "You can contact me in advance. I’ll arrange a time for you to meet with the professor."

"Okay, thanks for the trouble, Li."

Lin Yi got in the car and left, heading toward Fenglin International.

But the conversation just now kept his mood from settling for a long time.

In other places, the danger is at least predictable; as long as you’re careful, there won’t be any major issues.

Even if danger does arise, with his abilities he can turn the tables.

But Ailao Mountain is different; danger is everywhere, and impossible to guard against.

It might hit you before you even feel anything.

And then there’s that unobservable state Zhao Wenwei talked about.

Because of quantum mechanics, Lin Yi believed there are things in this world that science just can’t explain.

Just like he said: the end of science is mysticism.

Plenty of scientists have stepped forward to say that gods exist in this world.

Then that place, Ailao Mountain, must have something to it.

Unobservable, unknowable...

What exactly did the Natives on the island do regarding that place?

Or is it that this isn’t even where the Natives lived in the first place, but rather a place that inherently possesses mysterious properties?

Lin Yi broke out in goosebumps, feeling vaguely at a loss.

With this in mind, Lin Yi dialed Lin Jingzhan’s number.

"Where are you guys now? Have you gone back to the island?"

"Not yet, we’re on vacation. Want to come hang out?"

"I don’t have time for that right now. I thought of something and wanted to ask you about it."

"Ask away."

"How old are you this year?"

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you asking me that? Did my daughter-in-law put you up to it?"

"I met an expert today who’s been doing long-term research on Ailao Mountain. He told me something really interesting: he said that anyone who’s been to Ailao Mountain has never lived past sixty. So I wanted to ask how old you are."

"Holy shit, seriously? So according to that, I’ve got four years left?"

"That’s what he said. He said most of them developed blood diseases or infectious diseases. The longest-lived made it to sixty-two, and that was only by relying on blood replacement and a ventilator."

"Goddamn it, I haven’t even retired yet, and I’m going to keel over because of something like this?"

"There’s no telling. That’s why I’m asking how old you are, so you’ll be mentally prepared."

"Preparation’s useless. A person’s fate is decided by heaven. When you die isn’t up to me."

Lin Jingzhan took it pretty well; he didn’t let it weigh on his mind.

"But I want to ask: back then in Ailao Mountain, what exactly did you see?"

On the other end of the line, Lin Jingzhan was silent for a moment.

"An Octopus Monster."