060 Setting Off on the Expedition

Huarong was dead set against Lin Yan going. She couldn't bear the thought of her being away for a few days, let alone such a long time.

"Lin Yan, if you're gone for so long, what will your mother do if something happens?"

"Mother, I know you're worried," Lin Yan said, pressing her lips together. "But this matter is too important, and someone has to do it. Although I am young, I have my psychic energy to help me, and Heitu and the others will protect me."

Her psychic energy was now at C-rank, capable of extending six meters outward. Her perception of danger had improved, and it would definitely play a role at critical moments.

"Mother, I have to go this time."

Seeing her daughter's resolute expression, Huarong opened her mouth, having no idea how to persuade her otherwise.

She had grown up and had her own mind. Moreover, this trip was for smelting iron, which carried immense significance, and many others were joining the adventure as well.

Even though Huarong understood all of this, she simply couldn't bear to let Lin Yan take such risks, nor could she shoulder the danger of losing her daughter.

After a long silence, she muttered, "Lin Yan, Mother is going with you." Since she couldn't stop her, she would accompany her. Being able to look after her daughter personally would give her some peace of mind.

Lin Yan fell silent. The outside world was too dangerous, and Huarong wasn't particularly strong. She wouldn't be able to help much out there, yet if she forbade her from coming, she wouldn't be able to leave either.

After agonizing over it for a while, Lin Yan finally agreed. "All right, Mother will come along."

Since the journey was decided, preparations had to be made.

Huarong abandoned her other tasks and began packing the tools and food needed for the trip.

The next day, Lin Yan went to the laboratory, gathered Tuisheng and the others, and announced that she would be joining the expedition to find hematite.

The others immediately expressed their desire to follow.

Maomu shouted loudly, "I'm going with you! I'm older, in good health, and I can take care of you."

"No, your family needs you. You stay behind," Lin Yan refused instantly. He still had an elderly mother at home and couldn't leave.

Linyun hesitated for a moment. "I'll go. My father can take care of things at home."

Compared to Granny Mao, Old Lin was in relatively good health and could live quite well on his own. With his fishing skills, he would never lack for food or drink.

The rest of them were too young, completely unsuited for travel, and unable to help much; instead, they would only become a burden.

Lin Yan swept her gaze across the group. "Stop arguing, all of you stay. I still have tasks for you to do. Even once hematite is found, bringing it back will be extremely difficult. You need to prepare for what comes next. You've all learned how to smelt hematite into pig iron and then forge it into ironware; stay behind to prepare for the subsequent stages. When the hematite is brought back, it can be put to use as quickly as possible."

"Furthermore, spinning machines and papermaking cannot be neglected, and school matters cannot be delayed either. Each of you has your own responsibilities. When I'm not here, discuss and solve problems among yourselves."

Hearing Lin Yan speak thus, those who had been clamoring to go fell silent. She was right; many projects were currently underway, especially various experiments, which could not be halted midway. They needed to continue following up on them.

They had learned how to make ironware, but turning theory into practice still required a process, and Lin Yan was right to want them to prepare in advance.

After a moment, Tuisheng said, "Don't worry, we'll handle our duties well. You must protect yourself out there. Even if you can't find hematite, put your own safety above everything else."

Maomu chimed in, "Exactly, you are the most important one. Is this trip really necessary?"

Lin Yan nodded. "I must make this trip. Finding hematite is crucial, and I also want to go out and see what the world outside is like."

In truth, she had another motive: she urgently needed contribution points to unlock the next room.

Staying in Sun City accumulated contribution points far too slowly. Venturing out to witness a broader world was the only way to earn more contribution points.

Although everyone was reluctant to let Lin Yan take risks, her mind was made up. They could only repeatedly urge her to be cautious and to prioritize her own safety above all else.

With the follow-up matters properly arranged, Lin Yan felt confident that she could leave for a few months without any issues.

Tuisheng and the others had studied for so long and mastered various basic knowledge. Now that the laboratory was built, they could throw themselves into experiments, verify what they had learned, and apply that knowledge in practice.

Heitu was also making intensive preparations for the journey. He was definitely going and would act as the team leader.

After hearing Lin Yan and the others explain the importance of hematite, he held a meeting with Huangye, Alan, and the leaders of each group, conducting thorough analyses of the upcoming trip.

This was a massive adventure; success would bring tremendous rewards, while failure would result in heavy losses.

Through consultation, the exploration team selected one hundred and twenty people from various groups—individuals who were physically strong and quick-witted—along with Dashic and his nine companions to serve as guides.

They packed the tribe's sharpest weapons and various tools, prepared for a long expedition away from home, and placed the utmost importance on protecting Lin Yan.

On this final point, everyone was in absolute agreement: Lin Yan held a unique and irreplaceable significance in Sun City, and nothing must ever happen to her.

Although none of them approved of Lin Yan joining, her persistent determination eventually forced them to compromise.

February 5th was the day the exploration team set off.

On that day, adults and children throughout the city came to see them off, packing shoulder to shoulder along both sides of the central avenue to watch the exploration team depart.

Huarong entrusted her household affairs to Yezi, asking her to help feed the cavies and look after the two mu of farmland.

With the weather just beginning to warm up, Huarong had cleared the field and sown hemp seeds.

She had just finished the farm work and was preparing to clear more wasteland by expanding the plot outward when this matter arose, forcing her to temporarily put it aside.

She trusted Yezi completely. As neighbors, they were very familiar with each other, and Yezi's warm and straightforward nature meant she would surely look after their home well.

Huangye and Alan looked at Lin Yan, a thousand words resting on their lips, yet they didn't know how to express them.

Lin Yan smiled and said, "Don't worry about me. With Mother here, alongside Heitu and the others, everything will be fine."

"Right, you must take care of yourselves," Huangye urged. She turned to Huarong, "You don't need to do anything else; just watch over Lin Yan. Leave everything else to Heitu and the others."

Huarong nodded. "I know. I'll definitely keep a close eye on her."

Tuisheng and the rest of the children also squeezed to the front, looking at her with reluctant eyes.

Huamin and Shizhi were usually chatterboxes, but today they were unusually silent, their eyes filled with anxiety.

Yicong was the most reluctant of all, his eyes welling up with tears as he desperately wished he could go with Lin Yan.

Lin Yan waved goodbye to everyone with a smile and was carried by Huarong as she caught up with the procession.

Seeing their worried expressions, one might think she was marching to her doom. It wasn't as if they would never see each other again.

When she returned with the hematite, she would surely amaze them even more.

Dashi was also in the procession. Seeing how deeply everyone valued and relented toward Lin Yan, he was thoroughly baffled. What good could a little child like her possibly do by coming along?

Yet no one in Sun City had tried to stop her, and they treated her as exceptionally important. He had just heard Heitu's speech: their paramount task while searching for materials was to protect Lin Yan.