novelraw Chapter 290 - 282: Underground City Plan 2
Chapter 290 - 282: Underground City Plan 2
The members of the 132th Regiment all nodded in agreement; they had no objections and would do whatever the captain said.
At this moment, Yang Fan spoke up, "It’s not that we don’t believe Mr. Cheng’s words, it’s just that building an underground city to house nearly ten thousand of us, with just our manpower and tools, is not easy to complete in a short time."
"Isn’t the cold wave already upon us? We certainly don’t have enough time," Xu Zhilin confirmed.
"That’s right, Mr. Cheng, we have no problem working, but even building a camp-like dwelling on the surface takes two to three months, let alone underground. How could we finish in less than a year or two?"
Niu Lizheng was worried. His team was a group of downcast civilians, without highly skilled martial artists, literate scholars, or people with special abilities. Joining the 132th Regiment quickly was easier said than done.
Originally, manual labor like building houses was something his squad could handle, but constructing an underground city required stone carving, and his team simply couldn’t manage that.
Niu Lizheng had been so anxious the past few days that his mouth was breaking out.
"Mr. Cheng’s idea is indeed good, but where will this underground city be built? How deep will it be dug? How large an area is planned?" Quan Bin was much more direct, asking all the critical questions.
Unexpectedly, Quan Bin was a practical person. "Captain Quan’s questions are well-asked."
Several new teams were preparing to join the 132th Regiment, but they hadn’t formally joined yet, so Cheng Xiaoxiao had them lead their own teams, temporarily acting as group leaders with external status.
Once they passed the assessment, they could officially join the 132th Regiment.
So, to ensure that everyone in their teams could become official members of the 132th Regiment, they were putting in all their efforts, as seen by how quickly the new houses in Taoyuan Village were built.
"The exact location still needs to be checked in the mountains. This is my drawing of the underground city; take a look and see if there’s anything that needs improvement. Once we find a location, we’ll start immediately."
Those looking at Cheng Xiaoxiao’s drawings for the first time were deeply shocked, although some concealed their astonishment.
On the drawing paper, an independent city stood vividly with simple black lines sketching out a sense of layering that was so lively and real. Rows of houses were neat and orderly, crisscrossed by streets, and there were even two-story buildings—it was truly eye-opening.
Every house was marked with a name and purpose, such as residential homes, shops, and pharmaceutical workshops, everything was included.
How long would it take to build such a large-scale city?
Previously, they thought it would just involve digging a few large caves to accommodate so many people.
Unexpectedly, it was such an exquisite underground city.
"This, this city looks so beautiful and has so many houses. When would it ever be completed? I’m afraid even three to five years won’t be enough," Lin Yiqiu couldn’t help but marvel at such a grand vision, feeling that it was impossible with just their manpower. This was a task for master craftsmen.
Cheng Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. "I never thought of building it all in a short time. What we need to construct first is this section," she said, circling a part of the residential area.
"Start from this center point and spread out in all directions. The first phase of the project is to open the tunnels and build the residential houses first."
Everyone was discussing how to build the underground city when, unexpectedly, the Han Family Master bluntly asked, "Mr. Cheng is so sure that the cold wave will be so severe? So severe that we’d freeze into ice sculptures even staying at home. And according to you, wouldn’t the entire Tianqi or even the entire continent face such a disaster? How many would be left alive?
Such a dire disaster is unheard of—could Mr. Cheng be exaggerating?"
Even if the other party spoke convincingly, the Han Family Master always felt something was off, as if being led by the nose. Moreover, talk of gods and spirits was vague and nebulous, and causing such a commotion over something nonexistent didn’t seem wise.
As soon as the Han Family Master said this, the others began to doubt as well. Yeah, if it were truly this severe, how would the people on the surface survive?
Moreover, building an underground city is no overnight task; such a massive project would consume vast human and material resources—what if it turned out to be for nothing?
"Does the Han Family Master think I am being groundless?" Cheng Xiaoxiao retorted, her tone unfriendly.
"Mr. Cheng speaks so adamantly, does he have proof?"
"Haha, I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I’m just someone who dearly values life. Every life in the 132th Regiment is precious. As their leader, do you think I would make a joke of their lives? If you think your lives are worthless, you can choose not to participate in the underground city construction, after all, we were never on the same path to begin with."
These words were quite blunt, the intention to drive him away was obvious.
At this point, the Han Family Master felt somewhat trapped. If he intended to withdraw, he wouldn’t be sitting here. Though he didn’t believe it, he’d rather trust its existence; if true, he couldn’t harm the lives of his entire clan.
All he could do now was to suppress his anger and, with patience, say, "It’s just that what Mr. Cheng says is too shocking and incredible. It’s only natural for Han to have concerns, and Mr. Cheng’s words are too aggressive. No matter what, we’ve been fighting side by side..."
Cheng Xiaoxiao interrupted the Han Family Master’s justification, "The Han Family Master is truly forgetful. Before entering the city, we agreed it was a temporary cooperation—now that the battle’s over, we are two separate entities. Since the Han Family Master looks down on the 132th Regiment, why not seek your own path?"
The person seated tightly clenched his fist. Being the family head for so many years, he had never been so sarcastically belittled by a junior, his face practically rubbed in the dirt.
The current situation was very unfavorable to him. If not for the recognition that the 132th Regiment had some capability, he wouldn’t conspire with a group of civilians. He had initially hoped to subdue this group for his use, not expecting someone else to beat him to it.
Cheng Xiaoxiao understood the Han Family Master’s dilemma well. As someone from an aristocratic background, he considered himself superior, yet he was stuck in a limbo, too low for the true elite families but too high for ordinary folks.
Out of humanitarianism, Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t wish to create further issues at this critical juncture, leaving it up to the Han Family Master to choose his path.
The Han Family Master slowly released his clenched fists, managing a strained smile and cupped his hands toward Cheng Xiaoxiao, saying, "Han was merely anxious and worried about the safety of his clan. I have no intention of leaving the group and hope Mr. Cheng can be forgiving."
"It better be so."
Reality will teach you how to behave—what of your noble status? Unless you can transcend into an immortal and do without food or drink, you’ll end up nothing but a grounded majestic dragon, much less a lowly, destitute flood dragon.