Chapter 42: Gobi Exploration Team

Inside the confinement room, the sound of Lin Mo’s fingers tapping away on the notebook keyboard filled the air. He lay on the bed with a thick book about aviation in his hands. Ever since he crossed into this world, the gold giant dragon Gold Coin, which could no longer appear in its true dragon form, had taken on the guise of a liquid-like slime. It extended dozens of tentacles to strike the keys of Lin Mo’s keyboard non-stop.

This was an entirely new world, filled with countless fresh and unseen things for Gold Coin and Lin Mo. Without the constraints of being a Dragon Knight and having experienced the military power of this world, Gold Coin was now like an inquisitive child, too occupied with discovering new things to unleash its rebellious and bloodthirsty nature. There was so much to learn, and being left behind meant facing dire consequences. Whether in another world or this one, the gold giant dragon was eager to prepare and reclaim its territory.

Just like the laptop before him, Lin Mo briefly taught Gold Coin how to use it. Contrary to being empty-headed, Gold Coin was surprisingly intelligent and quickly mastered the laptop’s operation. At that moment, it looked like a thin layer of keyboard protector on the keyboard, covered with fine lines, using the computer to explore various interesting things online. This world was an age of information explosion, with an overwhelming abundance of technology, culture, entertainment, economics, and history that captivated Gold Coin, drowning it in a sea of knowledge.

Given its gold element nature, Gold Coin even considered transforming itself into a USB shape to connect directly to the laptop’s USB port, seeking a more direct means of operation. However, Lin Mo firmly stopped it. If Gold Coin attempted to learn and adapt to this electrical signal input-output system, it would likely short-circuit the computer before fully understanding it.

Although Gold Coin’s idea could grant it infinite potential in this new world, this level of luxury was beyond Lin Mo’s means, especially considering his limited funds and difficulties accessing the base.

A week of confinement passed swiftly, and the bond between Gold Coin and Lin Mo developed into a subtle companionship. The identity of the Dragon Knight was now a thing of the past; Gold Coin no longer needed to act as Lin Mo’s steed in battles. Instead, it ensured Lin Mo’s safety while relying on Lin Mo to secure a steady source of metal sustenance.

There was no choice. Although Gold Coin had once despised Lin Mo and even contemplated getting rid of him to escape the constraints of being a Dragon Knight’s mount, it now firmly believed that the moment it appeared in the line of sight of other humans in this world, it would likely end up displayed in a research lab and subjected to unimaginable tortures and dissection. Dying would not be easy, so Gold Coin accepted Lin Mo’s protection and formed a special symbiotic relationship with him.

Once out of confinement, Gold Coin was no longer in its egg-sized form following Lin Mo. Its new shape was that of a one-yuan coin, the currency of the country. To prevent Lin Mo from mistaking it for money, the coin shone a brilliant golden hue, just like its name: "Gold Coin."

In ordinary times, Gold Coin disguised itself as a one-yuan coin, rolling between Lin Mo’s fingers as a plaything. No one could discern any abnormality from Lin Mo’s words or actions, even if he accidentally mentioned Gold Coin. Most people would dismiss the conversation as mere mutterings or a quirky obsession, never suspecting that it was a fierce giant dragon from another world.

What a wonderful world this was! The gold giant dragon had no nostalgia for its original realm; it embraced the new environment. The advanced metallurgical industry refined various metallic elements and alloy formulas, akin to human delicacies with countless combinations and pure high quality that captivated Gold Coin.

The gold giant dragon was not indulgent without reason; it needed to occasionally monitor Lin Mo’s flight safety. If anything were to happen, it could only resort to Lin Mo’s protection as, per its disdainful words, Lin Mo’s new mount had speed and attack power but lacked the agility and safety of even a sparrow.

Although high-ranking officials at the base punished Lin Mo with a week of confinement, they privately envied this incredibly lucky individual. After extracting the flight data from the J-10, known as the "black box," everyone who reviewed the information was astounded. Lin Mo had made a recovery from an altitude of less than one meter, almost scraping the ground with the exhaust. He had pulled the aircraft from a stall state in sheer vertical ascent, creating an unprecedented miracle.

The report confirmed that Lin Mo’s risky maneuvering was witnessed by local villagers. It couldn’t be denied that he was no ordinary form of reckless; he believed one should not give up if there was altitude. Even the most experienced pilots at the base would not dare to attempt such a feat.

Lin Mo’s piloting skills elevated him to another level in the eyes of the base leaders.

Only an hour after being released from confinement, Lin Mo received a new mission. An international research team had gone missing in the Gobi Desert, and the Air Force was called upon to assist in the search. Colonel Jiang of the base selected Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing for this mission, recognizing them as the top pilots in the latest batch of fighter jet fliers. Lin Mo’s record of pulling off a low-altitude recovery undeniably leveled him with pilots having thousands of hours of experience at the base.

The dazzling sunlight bathed the vast Gobi Desert in the Junggar Basin. Scanning the surroundings, one could only see sparse wild grasses or moss plants dotted among stones, reflecting shimmering glimmers like scattered jewels. This seemingly lifeless desert concealed immense treasures, including lovely quartz, agate, and ancient flora and fauna fossils, even precious gems.

Numerous legends of treasures circulated in the Gobi. Many adventurers recklessly invaded the desert in search of wealth, with some finding precious gems and becoming instant millionaires, while others vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by the desert. The bleached bones of humans and livestock confirmed that not everyone became a fortunate treasure hunter in this harsh environment.

In the shade of a small hill in the Gobi, four rugged SUVs rested beside several red-and-white tents, with enough space for six to seven people. The tents, made of rough fabric over a bed of pebbles, provided no comfort, so thick padding lay within.

“Whew! Whew! Whew!” Lin Hui, a stunning beauty with an intelligent mind from Beijing University, felt as if her lungs were on fire. Even though she slathered on a thick layer of Avène 30+ physical sunscreen on her face and exposed arms, the acclaimed French brand could not withstand the harsh climate of the desert. Clearly, their research lab hadn’t accounted for the unique conditions of the Gobi. By the end of the second day, her originally fair skin showed signs of a sun-kissed tan.

The sunlight and heat in the vast desert were so intense that even the shade felt like standing in a furnace. The temperature gauge hanging outside the tent read fifty-one degrees, with a humidity of twenty percent. The oppressive heat and dryness meant that a cup of water would evaporate in seconds.

Outside the shadow, two Americans, Hark and Mike, were joyfully playing with a Chinese-made multifunctional military shovel, attempting to cook eggs without fire. Although it was past five in the afternoon, the scorching air in the Gobi allowed the eggs to solidify slowly, requiring only a little oil and salt to create a perfect fried egg.

Dr. Qiao, Lin Hui’s mentor, and several other foreign guests sat together in a tent, engaged in heated discussions, completely lacking the composed demeanor of scholars. Their flabby bodies made Lin Hui feel dizzy. How did these people have so much energy? If it weren’t for her goal of obtaining a master’s degree, she wouldn’t dare to risk her life by joining this American-led research team in such a so-called "death zone" as the vast Gobi Desert.

“Miss Lin, have some water!” A bottle of Nongfu Spring water appeared before Lin Hui, whose vision was almost blurry.

Lin Hui blinked her eyes, rubbed them, and realized it was no illusion when she quickly grabbed the precious water in this desert. She smiled sweetly at the young man who offered it, “Wu Peng, thank you so much.” A refreshing sensation rushed through her body, cooling her down significantly. However, after sipping just four or five times, she suppressed the urge to gulp it down in one go and reluctantly tightened the cap back on the bottle.

Even though everyone was aware of the dangers posed by the Gobi before setting out, with many who lost their way never returning, on the sixth day in the desert, the research team suddenly faced a fierce sandstorm. It blew relentlessly for two full days and nights, leaving the paint on their vehicles worn off and some windshields shattered into spiderweb-like cracks.