We are all trying our best to live.

"According to the intelligence sent back by Chen Fei and others, Comrade Matthew, who is our only contact in the other world, will be summoned for the second time after nightfall tonight. So please be prepared, comrades, and be ready to begin this incredible journey at any time." Professor Zhou Zhe's gaze was firm, but he had a smile on his face, and his eyes could not hide his excitement and anticipation.

As a child, when he looked up at the starry sky in the countryside on summer nights, he also fantasized about the depth and vastness of the universe, and wondered if there were other forms of life and civilization on the other side of the starry sea.

Even after he devoted himself to scientific research, he still hoped that he could see humanity discover any trace of extraterrestrial civilizations in his lifetime—what a momentous occasion that would be!

But he never imagined that the answer would be presented in this way.

It wasn't electromagnetic waves from a distant galaxy, nor was it a mysterious image transmitted back by a deep space probe.

Instead, in such a direct and subversive way, in an ordinary high school classroom, at the cost of a student's life, the barrier between reality and fantasy was torn down, pushing a real, otherworldly realm to the forefront of all human civilization.

This is neither science fiction nor philosophical speculation.

It is an event in progress.

He, Zhou Zhe, was not only among the first witnesses, but also became a pioneer and bridge in this epic encounter.

This strong sense of historical participation and mission surged through his chest like a scalding torrent, making him feel the same youthful passion he once had.

He looked at the magic circle, the energy structure that defied the laws of physics he had learned all his life. At this moment, it was no longer a puzzle to be deciphered, but more like a door, a "miracle door" leading to infinite possibilities.

Behind the door lies a completely new universe with different rules and power systems.

At that moment, he was like a seeker of truth who had been searching for it and suddenly saw the "manifestation of the Great Way".

It evokes a feeling akin to "If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening."

"It's like a dream... We're standing on the blue planet of the 21st century, but this magic circle connects to another magical world," Zhao Lanxin exclaimed. From the moment she received the order until now, she still felt like she was in a dream.

"Yes, it feels like we've become the new era's 'Zhang Qian' or 'Zheng He,' except we're not traveling the Silk Road or the ocean, but... a magic circle," geologist Li Jianguo joked, his heart also surging with indescribable excitement.

At this moment, he couldn't wait to step into that new world, to see it with his own eyes, to touch it with his own hands, to examine that extraordinary existence with a scientific eye, and to unravel the mysteries behind it.

What an epic journey this will be!

"Ensuring the safety and stability of the bridge is our top priority. Only when Comrade Matthew establishes himself in that world can the connection between our two worlds continue." Sun Zhengwu, dressed in military uniform and standing ramrod straight, nodded and said with a serious expression.

"That's right, we have a very important responsibility..." Before Wang Lei finished speaking, the light of the magic circle suddenly brightened, and the surrounding instruments immediately started beeping, with visible energy fluctuations appearing.

The five experts gasped for breath, their hearts seemingly stopping at that moment. They stared intently at the magic circle, their eyes brimming with excitement and tension.

"Comrades, our fantastic journey is about to begin!" Zhou Zhe said excitedly.

……

Jinshi Ridge.

Under the cover of night, Jinshi Ridge was shrouded in darkness, with only scattered and faint points of light throughout the town.

Conrad stood in the simple, dilapidated stable, his rough, broad hands stroking the tall, black warhorse in front of him again and again, very slowly and gently.

The warhorse seemed to sense its master's somber mood, snorted uneasily, and gently rubbed its warm nose against Conrad's calloused palm, its hooves pawing the ground softly.

"Old friend..." Conrad's voice was hoarse and deep, almost blending into the night.

Looking into the warhorse's familiar and intelligent black eyes, he felt as if a boulder was blocking his heart, and even his breathing was filled with heavy pain.

This horse, named Nightshade, had been with him for over ten years and had accompanied him through many battles. For Conrad, it was more than just a horse; it was a close comrade-in-arms.

But now he has no choice but to sell this "old friend" in exchange for a glimmer of future for Emberstone Ridge.

As a knight, protecting his lord and his people was his duty, but he felt powerless in the face of the dire situation at Emberstone Ridge.

The threat from the Misty Mountains weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

As the saying goes, even a clever cook can't cook without rice. The town was severely short of labor, with fewer than twenty able-bodied men who could take up arms, and most of them were wounded.

The fortifications were practically useless, weapons were scarce, and most of the ironware had been looted by the goblin tribes...

Without money, it's impossible to hire craftsmen to repair the walls, to buy enough iron to forge weapons, or even to set up effective traps.

He didn't have much savings to begin with, and most of it was spent on this long "exile" journey. Now he was penniless and couldn't even afford to hire a few temporary workers.

The Emberstone Territory itself was extremely poor, making taxation impossible; they had to rely solely on themselves.

"Fifty gold coins...maybe more..." Conrad muttered to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

According to market prices, a superior warhorse with excellent bloodlines and good training can sell for one hundred gold coins.

Although his old friend was getting on in years, he could still fetch at least fifty gold coins.

If I sell all the belongings I brought with me, I might be able to scrape together seventy or eighty gold coins.

With this money as seed money, a group of refugees or day laborers can be hired immediately to reinforce the most critical defensive points.

You can buy a batch of timber and iron to make a decent batch of spears and shields.

They could even set aside a portion of the reward as a bounty to attract those money-grubbing adventurers in Ironrock City to wipe out the goblin tribes in the mountains near Emberstone Ridge, thus buying themselves more breathing time.

This thought, like a cold dagger, pierced through his last hesitation.

Reason told him that this was the only feasible and fastest way to achieve results.

Conrad closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cool night breeze carrying the scent of stable fodder.

He hugged Nightshade's neck tightly, buried his face in the horse's mane, feeling the familiar warmth and scent, as if he were saying a final goodbye.

Nightshade seemed to sense something and let out a low, uneasy hiss.

"I'm sorry, old friend..." Conrad's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

However, he was unaware that Will was quietly walking by in the darkness not far away.

With his keen intuition, he naturally guessed what Conrad wanted to do, so he did not disturb Conrad's farewell to Nightshade.

He could also understand that this was a choice Conrad had been forced to make.

Just like him at this moment, despite being timid since childhood and afraid of the dark, he still gritted his teeth and walked resolutely toward Old Sam's house.

He needed Old Sam's help to complete the registration of the people's situation overnight, and also to check on the patients currently suffering from water problems.

The population figures Will had previously compiled were only approximate and not precise. What he needed to do now was to know the exact name of everyone, how many mouths were in Elmstone Ridge to feed, how many able-bodied men could be mobilized, and how many artisans possessed a special skill.

There must be a clear and accurate account book for all of this.

Without accurate data, even if the lord possesses extraordinary abilities, he cannot make the most effective arrangements.

At the same time, we need to figure out just how serious the diseases caused by water pollution are.

How many people have only mild diarrhea? How many are bedridden with high fever? Are there any elderly people or children in particularly critical condition? This information is scattered across various families, like a pile of loose sand. Only by bringing these situations together can we identify those most in need of help and assess the health status and labor force recovery potential of the area.

These two things, though seemingly trivial and insignificant, are the foundation of all planning and rescue efforts.

During the day, people are busy making a living and it is difficult for them to gather together. At night, when everyone is at home, it is the best time to visit each household and find out the details.

The night at Jinshi Ridge was quiet and oppressive, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the dilapidated eaves.

Will was terrified and almost ran away, his heart pounding in his chest.

……