Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

However, Chen Ming had another question: ”Why do you trust that I can save you? Don’t tell me it’s based on my appearance.”

Uncle Mao let out a bitter laugh: ”To be honest, I’m really quite afraid of you, but I have no choice, really just desperate for help. This godforsaken place doesn’t see outsiders for years, I can only rely on you.”

Chen Ming thought to himself, he had disguised himself quite well, so how could he constantly be thought of as a good person?

”I remember you said I’m the first person you’ve saved in more than half a year, what about before that?”

Uncle Mao suddenly recalled past events, a flash of fear crossing his eyes: ”The last time there was a distress signal from nearby Superspace. I went to bring the people back; they were disturbed by the virtual spirits from Superspace and ran into the clouds, just like you. In total, seven or eight survived, and the worst injury was a severed arm.”

”Then they all died. They said the spaceship had a pressure leak, they didn’t have time to put on the protective suits, they all had internal injuries, all died from pressure sickness.”

”They ordered me to dispose of the spaceship.”

”Do you know how scared I was back then?”

”I was terrified that after I dealt with the spaceship, I’d be the next to be dealt with.”

”Luckily, that didn’t happen, but I’m still scared. I don’t dare to do anything. I haven’t been home in years; I save just enough every month for food and cards, sending all the rest back.”

”So I’m begging you, let me go back.”

Uncle Mao’s voice already carried a touch of sobbing.

Chen Ming was silent for a moment, then said: ”Let me think about it. If you escape and get caught, we’re both doomed. Staying here might be safer.”

”No, I feel like my mind is going wrong these days.”

”I’ve been here for years, and even though I’ve always told myself that Zuo Jing is crazy, sometimes when I watch the news, like just then, I even feel that Zuo Jing is right. When I come to my senses later, I realize something’s wrong with my head.”

”I have to leave. I can’t stay any longer. If I stay, I...”

Uncle Mao swallowed hard, not daring to continue.

Hearing this, Chen Ming suddenly recalled Bai Quan’s previous suggestion, the guess that Zuo Jing possessed a brainwashing ability. This incident might be as real as Zuo Jing’s dimensional infection.

But Chen Ming’s purpose in coming this time wasn’t to save anyone, it was to investigate clues about Zuo Jing.

Now there’s a clue, which is the spaceship Uncle Mao mentioned.

So Chen Ming didn’t give an answer, just said: ”The spaceship will take another week to repair. At the latest, I’ll give you a reply by the sixth day. At least let me see some evidence, right?”

Uncle Mao immediately started to adjust his emotions and said: ”Fine, then you should head back first, or the deputy manager might come looking for us.”

”What about the others? How many are there like you?”

A look of hesitation and struggle flashed across Uncle Mao’s eyes.

After a moment, he shook his head and said: ”I don’t know.”

Time quickly shifted to nighttime.

Like during lunchtime, Chen Ming invited the same office mates for a meal.

Then he was the first to finish eating and returned earliest to the dorm Uncle Mao arranged.

He was sharing it with a few people from the distress signal management office.

Since Chen Ming was just an outsider, at least on his first night at the Space Station, it was impossible for him to help with the shift.

So, Chen Ming didn’t need to go to the office and went to bed early in the dorm to rest.

However, as soon as he closed his eyes, all his attention was focused on the metallic liquid he had separated and stuck to Brother Shi’s shoe sole.

Just as Chen Ming focused his attention on these metallic liquids.

He happened to see Brother Shi leaving the canteen, heading to the internal region of the Space Station.