Chapter 127: Chu, Xiao, Wang, and Yan Collaborate Once More!

After Chu Xiao left, he immediately called Wang Tao and asked him to arrange for three hundred people to accompany him in the search for the meteorite!

Although Wang Yan had set the coordinates to ensure the space capsule would land within Jiuzhou territory, the capsule was torn apart under immense pressure!

It split into two parts: one landed in Jiuzhou, while the other fell somewhere within Pluto’s domain, the exact location unknown!

They could only set out to search aimlessly. When Chu Xiao arrived at Wang Tao’s place, he saw a car had just pulled up, and a woman stepped out—Wang Yan herself!

Number One had specifically called Wang Yan over to assist Chu Xiao. She was the most familiar with the space capsule and could roughly estimate its crash site, preventing a blind search.

“Brother Xiao, I knew you’d definitely join this mission!” Wang Yan greeted Chu Xiao with delight. She had long wanted to find him but avoided hospital visits for fear of seeing Wang Lulu. When she finally mustered the courage to go, the nurse told her Chu Xiao had already been discharged.

“This mission will be extremely dangerous. I might not be able to watch over you closely. You must protect yourself!” Chu Xiao warned.

“It’s okay. I’ll take good care of myself and won’t be a burden,” Wang Yan replied confidently.

Chu Xiao had always underestimated Wang Yan. She was not only a top astronaut but also an expert marksman and a champion in hand-to-hand combat—a true all-rounder!

Soon, the two arrived at the training ground where Wang Tao’s troops were already prepared, waiting only for Chu Xiao.

“Everyone, bring only essential equipment. Take your weapons and leave everything else behind!” Chu Xiao instructed. Since they might have to cover long distances, traveling light was crucial to conserve the soldiers’ strength.

“Let’s move out!”

Everyone discarded their bedding, carrying only weapons, rations, and water—the essentials.

“Brother Xiao, you were so impressive just now, completely different from the usual you!” Wang Yan gushed, looking at Chu Xiao like a devoted fan, her eyes full of admiration and affection.

“Stay right behind me. No matter what dangers we face, don’t run off!” Chu Xiao warned firmly.

Since Number One had sent Wang Yan, Chu Xiao was determined to protect her at all costs. Wang Yan nodded obediently.

They left Jiuzhou and headed toward the approximate crash site of the space capsule. Along the way, Wang Yan calculated potential landing areas.

She pinpointed a forest about ten kilometers away. Chu Xiao checked the map; the forest wasn’t large, but finding the capsule there would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Eventually, Wang Yan narrowed the search radius to within fifty kilometers, making the task somewhat easier. However, Chu Xiao realized that to enter this forest, they would have to pass by Pluto’s factory.

This was where Pluto had once manufactured second-generation robots. Though production had ceased, a dozen or so robots still guarded the facility!

Bypassing the factory would mean a detour adding two days of travel. But if they didn’t and alarmed Pluto, it could spell disaster.

As Chu Xiao fretted, Wang Yan set down her computer and removed her jacket, revealing a combat suit underneath.

“Leave the two robots at the entrance to me. Once I take them out, you can move in silently,” she said.

Chu Xiao was stunned. Her frail appearance seemed incapable of handling two robots—he thought she’d be eliminated before getting close.

Before he could stop her, Wang Yan moved toward the robots with the grace of a swallow, rolling and ducking into the grass without making a sound.

She then drew a dagger, flicked it with her hand, and leapt forward. The dagger plunged into the control board of one robot, instantly disabling it.

Quickly withdrawing the dagger, she spun around and drove it into the control board of the second robot.

All this took barely two seconds. Before the robots could react, they were already unconscious. Chu Xiao watched, dumbfounded.

He had never realized Wang Yan was so skilled. He had always thought she only knew how to operate the space capsule. Now he saw her hand-to-hand combat was top-notch.

Recovering from his surprise, Chu Xiao ordered a swift, silent engagement—no gunfire, only cold weapons.

“How are you so formidable? I never noticed before!” Chu Xiao exclaimed.

“Astronauts undergo comprehensive training. To become a top astronaut, I had to excel in every discipline,” Wang Yan replied proudly.

Chu Xiao gained newfound respect for Wang Yan. He had always regarded her as someone to be protected, but she was far stronger than he had imagined.

Yet, in the end, she was still a woman. The dangerous frontline tasks were better suited for men. Chu Xiao told Wang Yan to stay behind him, leaving the rest to the troops.

The soldiers were elite special forces, all experts in hand-to-hand combat. They quickly neutralized the dozen or so robots.

Chu Xiao ordered the robots to be completely destroyed, fearing Pluto might reprogram them for battle with new control boards.

Without lingering, Chu Xiao led the group deeper into the forest. Though smaller than the Wildman Mountain, finding the capsule here without Wang Yan’s help could have taken them weeks.

“Brother Xiao, if we go another three kilometers ahead, we’ll enter the suspected crash zone,” Wang Yan informed him.

Chu Xiao instructed the troops to spread out, spacing themselves twenty meters apart, aiming to find the capsule before nightfall.

In the forest’s center lay a large swamp—the very heart of the search area. Chu Xiao split the troops into two teams to circle around the swamp, planning to enter it only as a last resort.

Swamps were perilous. One misstep could mean sinking in, and without help, escape would be nearly impossible.

Chu Xiao told Wang Yan to stay close so they could watch out for each other. Thus, three hundred men began a sweeping search.

As dusk fell, Chu Xiao’s team regrouped with the other squad. The capsule remained elusive, and now only the swamp lay ahead.

With darkness approaching, entering the swamp would be too risky. Chu Xiao decided to rest overnight and press on at dawn.

The night was cold, and without tents or bedding, the soldiers gathered dry wood to build fires on the grassland. Chu Xiao collected some himself and called Wang Yan over to warm up together.

Seeing her still trembling, he placed the kettle on the fire to boil water. Soon, steam rose, and he handed the warm kettle to Wang Yan.

“It’s cold at night. Drink some hot water to warm up.”

Wang Yan looked at Chu Xiao, surprised by his gentle care. Taking the kettle in her hands, she felt a comforting warmth spreading through her heart.