213: Chapter 212 Mysterious Light Destroys the Enemy! Dawn Breaks the Darkness to Secure the Nation, Power Warms the Hearts of the People (4)

Director Zhou and his colleagues were very reluctant to see him go, their faces showing expressions of loss. Master Wang stepped forward, patted Mu Li on the shoulder, and said sincerely, "Little Li, why are you leaving so suddenly? We are all sad to see you go. You have done so much for our Qingshan Power Supply Station and helped us solve many difficult problems; we haven't even had a chance to properly thank you yet. No matter where you go in the future, take care of yourself and come back to visit us often."

"That's right, Little Li, we really hate to see you go. If you leave, what will we do when we encounter complex faults in the future?" other staff members also chimed in, their tones full of reluctance.

Mu Li smiled and said, "Thank you all for your recognition and reluctance to see me go; I am also very sad to leave everyone. Although I am leaving, I will continue to follow the development of the Qingshan Power Supply Station. If you need anything in the future, I will definitely do my best to help. Please keep these Xuanguang emergency repair devices and the remaining supplies for your use. I hope they can help you speed up repair progress and better serve the villagers."

Residents from surrounding villages learned the news that Mu Li was leaving and flocked to the power station to see him off. Uncle Zhang held Mu Li's hand, his eyes slightly moist, and said, "Young man, thank you for everything you have done for us. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't know how long our Home would have been without power. You are truly a good child. You must come back to see us often; we will all be thinking of you."

"Uncle Zhang, I will. I will definitely come back to see everyone often." Mu Li's eyes were also slightly moist as he held Uncle Zhang's hand, speaking with a sincere tone. He looked at everyone before him, at this land where he had poured his sweat and heart, his heart full of reluctance. The moment he turned around, he secretly made up his mind that he would complete the mission at the base as soon as possible and return early to continue bringing light and warmth to the people here.

After leaving the Qingshan Power Supply Station, Mu Li took the high-speed rail and quickly returned to the Xuanguang Energy Base. Inside the base, Zhao Gang and Li Rui were already waiting for him at the entrance of the Command Center. Seeing Mu Li return, the two immediately went up to greet him, with relieved smiles on their faces. "Engineer Mu, welcome back! You're finally back; we were all very worried about you."

Mu Li nodded and said, "I made you worry. You have worked hard during this time; thanks to you for handling things at the base."

Subsequently, Mu Li shared all the materials he had collected, the experience he had summarized, and the actual needs and pain points of grassroots power work during his time there with everyone on the Xuanguang Team. Sitting at the center of the conference table, he said with a firm tone, "Through this experience working in grassroots power, I have deeply realized that the application prospects for Xuanguang Technology in the grassroots power field are vast, but also face many challenges. Our future technology research and development must pay more attention to the actual needs of the grassroots, discard complex operating procedures, and develop more miniaturized, portable, and easy-to-operate Xuanguang power equipment so that grassroots power personnel can easily master and use them. At the same time, we must strengthen technical training for grassroots power personnel to improve their professional skills, allowing Xuanguang Technology to truly serve the grassroots, bring more light and warmth to the people, and truly realize the original intention of 'Xuanguang Benefiting the People'."

The team members all highly agreed with Mu Li's viewpoint and expressed that they would incorporate grassroots power needs into technology R&D, fully promote the application and popularization of Xuanguang Technology in the power field, develop more Xuanguang power equipment suitable for grassroots use, help grassroots power personnel solve practical difficulties, and serve more of the public.

In the days that followed, Mu Li led the Xuanguang Team, guided by the needs of grassroots power, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to technology R&D work. Combining the materials and experience Mu Li collected at the grassroots level, they conducted repeated tests and continuous optimizations, developing a miniaturized Xuanguang power emergency repair kit, including xuanguang insulating tape, Xuanguang Energy removal equipment, and Xuanguang lightweight hoisting equipment. These devices were small in size and lightweight, making them convenient for grassroots power personnel to carry and use. Furthermore, they were simple to operate, requiring no complex professional knowledge, which greatly improved the efficiency of grassroots power repairs. They also developed an intelligent power facility monitoring system capable of real-time monitoring of the operating status of power lines and equipment, providing early warnings for faults and reducing fault rates. At the same time, they developed xuanguang emergency power supply equipment capable of quickly providing temporary power to residents and important locations (such as schools and hospitals) during power outages, ensuring the normal life and work of the public.

After these technologies and devices were put into use, they received widespread praise from grassroots power personnel and the public. They greatly improved the efficiency of grassroots power repairs, reduced maintenance costs, solved many problems in grassroots power work, and provided powerful support for the development of the grassroots power industry. Mu Li would also frequently find time to return to the Qingshan Power Supply Station to understand the usage of the technology and equipment, collect feedback from grassroots power personnel and the public, and continuously optimize and improve the technology to ensure that Xuanguang Technology could better adapt to grassroots power scenarios and serve the grassroots public.

During one return visit to the Qingshan Power Supply Station for research, Mu Li saw Master Wang and his colleagues using the Xuanguang power emergency repair kit to repair lines. The repair work that originally would have taken half a day to complete was finished smoothly in just one hour. A relaxed smile appeared on Master Wang's face, and he no longer showed his previous fatigue. The principal of the Qingshan Town Central Primary School also told Mu Li that since installing the xuanguang emergency power supply equipment, they no longer had to worry about power outages affecting teaching; students' online classes could proceed normally, and teaching work had returned to normal.

Seeing this scene, a gratified smile appeared on Mu Li's face. He knew that his decision to work in the grassroots power industry was correct; only by going deep into the grassroots and understanding the real needs of the people could technology truly serve the public, could Xuanguang Technology unleash its true value, and could this world become a better place.

Director Zhou saw Mu Li and warmly went up to greet him, a gratified smile on his face: "Little Li, you're back! The equipment you developed is truly so useful; it has solved many problems for us. Now our repair efficiency has improved a lot, and the villagers are increasingly satisfied with our work. Everyone misses you and often asks when you will be back."

Mu Li smiled and said, "Director Zhou, this is all what we should do. As long as it can help everyone, our efforts have not been in vain. In the future, we will continue to develop more Xuanguang power equipment suitable for the grassroots, continuously optimize the technology, and contribute more strength to the development of the grassroots power industry, allowing more people to use safe, stable, and convenient electricity."

The sunset descended, and the golden afterglow sprinkled over the courtyard of the Qingshan Power Supply Station and over the distant village. The lights of ten thousand Homes lit up one by one, warm and bright. Standing in the courtyard and looking at the scene before him, Mu Li felt filled with a sense of achievement and mission. He knew that protecting his Home was not just about defending against external invasions, but also about protecting the daily lives of the people, protecting every single light, and protecting every bit of warmth. In the future, he would continue to lead the Xuanguang Team to deeply cultivate the grassroots power field, allowing more people in remote areas to use safe and stable electricity, and letting the light of Xuanguang illuminate every corner.

Just at this moment, a burst of urgent shouting broke the tranquility: "Help! Someone has fallen into the water! Come quickly!" The voice came from the nearby Qingshan River, a place where villagers would daily fetch water and wash clothes. Recently, following heavy rains, the river water was rushing, and the riverbed had become slippery, making it extremely prone to danger. Mu Li's heart tightened; without time to think, he immediately dashed in the direction of the shouts, with Director Zhou and Master Wang and others following closely behind.

When they arrived at the riverbank, Mu Li saw a seven or eight-year-old boy struggling in the rushing river water, being swept downstream by the current. His face was pale, his lips purple, and he was already too terrified to cry out. Standing on the bank was a panicked woman—the little boy's mother—who was crying and shouting while trying to rush into the water, only to be held back tightly by the surrounding villagers. "My child! Save my child!" The woman's wails were heart-wrenching and distressing.

At this moment, the river was rushing with surging undercurrents, and the bank was slippery and difficult to traverse. Furthermore, having just experienced heavy rain, the river water was bone-chillingly cold, making it extremely dangerous to enter the water rashly. Master Wang hurriedly said, "Little Li, don't be impulsive! The river is too fast; let's find a rope first and then figure out a way!" But Mu Li, looking at the increasingly weak little boy in the river, had no time to hesitate—one step later, and the child might be swept away by the current, never to be found again.

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"It's too late!" Mu Li shouted, quickly shedding his work jacket. Ignoring the freezing river water and the danger of undercurrents, he took a leap and dived into the rushing river. The icy water instantly enveloped his body, and a bone-chilling cold spread through his skin to his entire being, making him shudder uncontrollably. His physical strength had not fully recovered from the exhaustion of recent days and the bodily damage left by the previous battle, and the freezing river water only added to his body's burden.

Mu Li clenched his teeth and, relying on his powerful willpower, struggled through the turbulent water toward the young boy. The current constantly battered his body, nearly knocking him down several times. He could only stabilize himself with all his might, using both hands and feet to inch closer to his target. The boy was on the verge of losing consciousness, his body gradually sinking. In a moment of urgency, Mu Li pushed himself to the limit to speed up, finally grabbing the boy's arm.

He held the boy tightly and turned to swim toward the shore, but at that moment, a piece of gravel at the riverbed was moved by the current and slammed hard into his left leg. A piercing pain shot through him instantly. Mu Li couldn't help but groan as the strength in his left leg vanished, allowing the current to sweep the two of them downstream again. He could feel the intense pain in his left leg, as if the bone had been cracked; every movement was accompanied by a tearing sensation. Because he had consumed too much Xuanguang Energy in the previous battle, he could now only barely maintain enough strength to keep his body from being completely swept away by the current.

"Xiao Li! Hold on! We're coming to help you!" On the shore, Director Zhou and Master Wang had found a rope. One end was tied to a large tree on the bank, while Master Wang held the other end, carefully walking down the riverbank to try and hand the rope to Mu Li. Looking at the rope extended from the shore, Mu Li gritted his teeth and endured the sharp pain in his left leg. He used all his strength to protect the boy in his arms while freeing one hand to grab the rope.

The impact of the river water grew stronger, and Mu Li's physical strength was rapidly depleting. His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his face was as pale as paper, and blood seeped from the wound on his left leg, staining the surrounding water red. He gripped the rope tightly, letting the villagers on the shore pull with all their might as he moved closer to the bank bit by bit. Just a meter away from the shore, his foot slipped, and the current hit him again. The pain in his left leg intensified, and his vision went black, nearly causing him to lose consciousness. However, he never let go of the boy—he knew that if he did, the child would lose all hope.

"Give it one more push! We're almost at the shore!" Director Zhou shouted, leading the villagers to pull together, finally bringing Mu Li and the boy onto the bank. As soon as they reached the shore, Mu Li could no longer support himself; his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, still shielding the boy in his arms. Once rescued, although the boy was soaked and pale, his breathing gradually stabilized; he was merely frightened and continued to shiver.

"The child is okay! He's okay!" The woman rushed over, hugging the boy and weeping loudly. Between her sobs, she kowtowed to Mu Li in thanks. "Thank you! Thank you for saving my child! You are our family's savior!"

Director Zhou and Master Wang quickly knelt down to check on Mu Li. They saw that his left trouser leg was soaked with blood, revealing a gruesome and heavily swollen wound. His face was pale as paper, and his breathing was faint. "Xiao Li! How are you? Hold on!" Master Wang said urgently, quickly taking out a first-aid kit to treat the wound. "It's our fault for not pulling you in time. If anything happens to you, how will we ever explain ourselves?"

Mu Li gave a weak smile and shook his head, saying hoarsely, "It's fine... as long as the child is okay... this little injury is nothing..." The pain in his left leg was unbearable, and every word he spoke required immense effort. His Xuanguang Energy was now completely exhausted, leaving him unable to heal himself and forced to endure the spreading pain from his wound.

Director Zhou immediately arranged for people to carry Mu Li onto the power station's emergency vehicle, rushing him to the hospital in Yuzhou City for treatment. Along the way, Master Wang stayed close by Mu Li's side, his face full of worry and self-reproach, constantly comforting him: "Xiao Li, hang in there. We'll be at the hospital soon. You'll be fine. You've done so much for us; the heavens will surely protect you."

The news quickly spread through every village in Qingshan Town. Villagers spontaneously went to the hospital to visit Mu Li, some bringing Home-grown vegetables, others bringing prepared chicken soup, and some bringing their savings to help him recover. Uncle Zhang also came to the hospital to see Mu Li, leaning on his cane and supported by other villagers. Holding Mu Li's hand with moist eyes, he said, "Young man, you are truly a good person. You saved the child but got hurt yourself. You must rest well and recover soon; we're still waiting for you to come fix our lines."

Lying on the hospital bed and looking at the villagers gathered around him, seeing their concerned eyes, Mu Li felt a warmth in his heart, and all the pain seemed to lessen significantly. He knew his efforts were not in vain. Whether it was resisting the invasion of the Void Temple or repairing power lines and helping people at the grassroots level, it was all about protecting Home and guarding every bit of warmth.

Meanwhile, Zhao Gang and Li Rui at the Xuanguang Energy Base also learned of Mu Li's injury. The two immediately dropped their work and rushed to the hospital in Yuzhou City. Seeing Mu Li lying on the bed with his left leg wrapped in thick bandages, they were filled with heartache and worry. "Engineer Mu, how could you be so careless? How could you disregard your own safety and jump into the water to save someone like that!" Li Rui's tone was urgent, filled with reproach, but even more so with concern.

Mu Li smiled and said, "I'm fine, it's just a minor injury. I'll be better after a few days of rest. That child couldn't wait. As the leader of the Xuanguang Team and a 'guardians of the homeland,' protecting the lives and safety of the people is my responsibility. No matter the time, I will never stand by and watch someone die."

Zhao Gang nodded, a look of relief appearing on his face. "Engineer Mu, you're right. This is the original intention of our Xuanguang Team. Rest easy and recover; we will continue to push forward with the base's affairs and technical research and development. We won't let the progress be delayed, don't worry."

After the doctor's examination, it was found that Mu Li's left leg had a slight fracture and multiple soft tissue injuries. He needed to stay in bed for a month to recover. Furthermore, because he had forcibly output Xuanguang Energy and his body was already weak, his recovery would be slower than that of an ordinary person. However, Mu Li did not stop his pace. Even lying in the hospital bed, he did not forget the grassroots power industry and the research of Xuanguang Technology. Every day, he would use a communicator to learn about the status of grassroots power repairs, guide the Xuanguang Team in optimizing the R&D plans for power equipment, and collect feedback from the local people.

A month later, Mu Li was finally discharged from the hospital. When he returned to the Qingshan Power Supply Station, the villagers gathered around to welcome him warmly, their faces full of joy. Director Zhou patted Mu Li on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Li, welcome back! You've finally recovered; we've all been looking forward to your return. After this incident, everyone admires you even more. You not only have great skills and a hard-working spirit but also a kind heart and a self-sacrificing nature. You are truly a role model for us all."

Mu Li smiled and said, "Thank you all for your concern. I only did what I should have done. Moving forward, I will continue to work with everyone on power repairs and facility maintenance. I will also speed up the optimization of Xuanguang power equipment so that more villagers can benefit, allowing the light of Xuanguang to forever illuminate this land."

The sun set once again, its golden afterglow filling the earth. In the courtyard of the Qingshan Power Supply Station, Mu Li chatted and laughed with his colleagues. In the distant villages, the lights of thousands of Homes remained bright, warm, and peaceful. Looking at everything before him, Mu Li became even more firm in his belief: protecting Home was never just a slogan; it was hidden in every rescue where one stepped forward, in every post where one silently stood guard, and in every effort to bring light to the people. Defeating enemies with Xuanguang was to protect the peace of Home; dedicating oneself to power was to warm the hearts of the people. In the future, he would carry this original intention and mission forward, using the power of Xuanguang to guard every lamp, every bit of warmth, and this land and its people that he loved so dearly.