Chapter 28

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Chapter 28: Only Fools Go Back

Luo Yu quickly replied, “Tomorrow is fine.”

Ying Zhao soon responded, “Response sent successfully.”

Luo Yu thought about the matters they had to share with Ying Zhao today, including what they needed to discuss with Zhu Long tomorrow, and the three of them needed to talk further. So she said to Ying Zhao, “Alright, if there’s nothing else, let’s head back early. We’re getting ready to leave as well.”

“Sure, see you in a bit.” Ying Zhao waved at them and ended the video call.

“I’ll also drop by tomorrow,” Mo Chuan said, and then asked Ao Ci, “Will you have time to join us?”

Ao Ci leaned back against the large soft cushions, waving her hand casually. “I won’t go; it’ll be too crowded for them to talk comfortably. Besides, my orchestra has an event tomorrow. Just let me know if there’s anything I need to pay attention to after your meeting.”

After that, Ao Ci got up to see them out. Luo Yu still had lingering thoughts about what Mo Chuan didn’t finish saying before Ying Zhao’s call, so while walking, she asked, “Professor Mo Chuan, what was that method you mentioned earlier?”

Mo Chuan gently shook her head. “I said it was ‘save’ but even if we used this method, only about thirty percent of people would likely survive the imminent thermonuclear war.”

“Thermonuclear war?”

“Yes, your world has many conflicts, and some regions still face ideological clashes. It seems the possibility of achieving a global consensus for peace is minimal. Coupled with the inherent predatory nature of certain groups, as natural resources become increasingly scarce and reach a critical point, a large-scale thermonuclear war is inevitable.”

Luo Yu pressed on, “So what is that method…?”

Mo Chuan glanced at Ao Ci and smiled, “We have radiation protection agents targeted at specific chromosomes that can shield some bodies from nuclear radiation damage.” After saying this, she added, “However, even so, after the thermonuclear war, the entire world would be akin to a reboot; so strictly speaking, it wouldn’t be considered saving the world.”

“But at least it wouldn’t mean total annihilation of humanity.” Luo Yu’s eyes lit up. “For our world, a restarting of civilization might not be such a bad thing.”

“Restarting civilization…” Mo Chuan paused, “This should also be the reason for the civilization gap between our two time spaces. Unfortunately, we still don’t know exactly what happened.”

Indeed, it was unfortunate, Luo Yu thought, as their exploration of history was currently limited to within five thousand years, while the over twenty thousand years in between remained a blind spot for both their time spaces.

However, Mo Chuan quickly perked up again. “It’s alright; at least we know this situation exists. One day, we will understand it.”

As they conversed, they arrived at the entrance of the Biological Research Station. The butler of the ninth cliff dwelling was waiting outside on the helipad for Luo Yu and Zhu Huai. After saying goodbye to Ao Ci and the assistant outside, they walked towards the helipad together. Mo Chuan arranged a time for tomorrow, and after they boarded their aircraft and took off, she headed towards her own vehicle.

At this point, dusk was approaching, and they had spent another day in this world.

When Luo Yu and Zhu Huai exited the aircraft at the dwelling’s entrance and returned to the cave villa, Ying Zhao had already arrived home. She was sitting in the lounge with a cup of summer specialty drink, gazing at the evening glow outside.

By the window hung a wind chime made from seashells, gently ringing in the soft breeze that came through the soft glass. This wind chime was a souvenir given to them by the event preparation team at the summer grand council they attended in the river valley last time. Ying Zhao liked it very much and hung it in the most prominent spot in the lounge.

After Luo Yu and Zhu Huai entered, they ordered two drinks at the control panel by the door before heading to the soft cushions and shared what had happened that afternoon at the Biological Research Station concerning 015.

Throughout, it was mainly Zhu Huai who spoke, while Luo Yu sat quietly to the side. Once Zhu Huai finished, Ying Zhao shook her head and remarked, “The organization behind this sky canopy is truly outrageous.”

Zhu Huai nodded in agreement. “After laying the groundwork for two years, I suspect the final personnel deployment plan might be coming up soon. At that point, the historical time spaces will be thrown into chaos, and everyone will think they’re saving the world before it all ends, ha.”

Just after she said this, a housekeeping robot entered to deliver their drinks. Seeing that Luo Yu hadn’t spoken yet, Ying Zhao waited for the robot to leave and then turned to her. “When we connect with Zhu Long tomorrow, what should we say?”

Luo Yu contemplated for a long time before suddenly asking Zhu Huai, “Earlier, because the sky canopy got out of control, we shut down the recovery panel’s deployment process. If we destroy the recovery panel as Zhu Long requested, can the sky canopy return to its previous time space?”

Zhu Huai paused, holding her drink for a moment. “That’s a good question.” After a moment, she continued, “Once the deployment process is forcibly closed, the sky canopy is sealed within the recovery system. If the panel is destroyed, it will be permanently lost and won’t return to its previous time space.”

After hearing this, Luo Yu and Ying Zhao fell silent, and the lounge quieted down, with just the gentle sound of the wind chime and Zhu Huai’s slurping of juice.

Zhu Huai finished her drink in one go and placed the cup heavily on the table. “If Zhu Long intends to send someone else to retrieve the failed sky canopy, that’s basically impossible. She might as well send someone here directly to take the recovery panel instead, which would be more efficient.”

Ying Zhao crossed her arms, frowning. “If she could send someone here, why would she need us to destroy the panel?”

Zhu Huai leaned back, resting her hands behind her head. “Let’s wait until tomorrow to see what she really means. In this situation, only a fool would go back.”

Ying Zhao secretly glanced at Luo Yu and simply said, “Whether we go back or not, we need to clarify things first before we can plan for the long term.”

The three of them chatted for a bit in the lounge, reviewing the matters they needed to confirm with Zhu Long the next day. It wasn’t until the sky outside turned completely dark that they ordered dinner at the control panel and, after eating, returned to their rooms to rest.

The next morning, Luo Yu followed her routine of checking on the maintenance progress of the power compartment of the Shan Hai Jing in the hangar. That day, it was just her and Ying Zhao, as Zhu Huai had left a message for both of them last night, saying she planned to stay in bed until noon and wouldn’t be going to the hangar, so they shouldn’t wake her up.

Luo Yu walked into the operation room and saw three engineering assistant robots working busily. They had completed three new engines, and they were now starting to assemble the final one. According to the timeline, they should finish today, but the nuclear reactor modifications beneath the engines still needed Zhu Huai’s personal design and supervision.

However, seeing Zhu Huai’s attitude today, she seemed determined not to return and had no intention of managing these tasks. At that moment, the robot responsible for recording the progress approached to inquire about the next steps. Luo Yu could only respond, “Just finish your current tasks.”

She thought it best to see what Zhu Long would say in the afternoon before determining the next steps.

Luo Yu and Ying Zhao didn’t stay too long in the hangar that morning. They took a look around the operation room and the hall outside, then checked inside the Shan Hai Jing and found that the inner cabin, including the seats, had been completely renovated. The three engineering assistant robots were quite efficient.

After looking around, they noticed it was near noon and returned to the cave villa. As they entered, they happened to see Zhu Huai just coming out of her room. The three of them had some snacks in the lounge when the control panel alerted them that Mo Chuan had arrived at the cave villa to pick them up.

When they stepped outside, Mo Chuan didn’t get out of the aircraft, but waved from the driver’s seat for them to come up. When they arrived at the communication station, Ti Ran also happened to arrive just then. The group greeted each other on the helipad and walked inside together.

In the cross-time communication research room at the communication station, the long table was set up with a communication device covered by a stabilization signal shield, surrounded by external screens and input panels. Zhu Long’s message from yesterday instructed them to wait for her to initiate communication. So, they all sat around the long table, waiting for news from the communication device.

As the clock struck two, the lights on the communication device began to flicker. The communication expert nearby quickly clicked to connect on the external operation panel. After about a minute, a figure appeared on the external screen above the communication device.

A sharp-looking middle-aged woman in a black turtleneck quickly scanned the room. Her eyes were different in color; one was a natural dark color while the other was a light gray with a purple-glowing electronic pupil.

“Zhu Long, long time no see,” Luo Yu was the first to speak.

The person on the screen quickly smiled at Luo Yu after glancing around at the group. “I sensed that there seemed to be quite a few of you during our last call. I wonder if we can speak privately today?”

Mo Chuan and Ti Ran, sitting at opposite ends of the long table, exchanged glances and stood up, signaling the communication expert and a couple of assistant robots to leave the room together. Before leaving, Mo Chuan gently patted Luo Yu’s shoulder, saying, “You all chat.”

Once everyone left the room and the sound of the door closing faded, Zhu Long spoke again, “It seems that you’ve received some support in the alternate time space. I’m glad, although I do not understand why there exists a historical time space with a higher civilization. However, clearly, we have more urgent matters to address right now, and we do not have the capacity to investigate these things at the moment.”

“We found that the two accompanying trainees have magnetic interference devices on them. Is Fuxi behind this?” Luo Yu asked directly.

Zhu Long appeared somewhat surprised, as if she hadn’t expected them to suspect Fuxi. After a moment, she nodded. “Yes, I have been investigating him for six months. The recent dismissal and leave were part of the final sweep. Unfortunately, the Special Operations Department didn’t coordinate properly with us, which allowed this old fool to act brazenly, dragging you into this mess. I also take responsibility for this.”

“The four sky canopies we have recovered are also very important clues and evidence. You previously ordered us to destroy the panels to retrieve them, right?”

“Correct. The evidence discovered in your office is quite unfavorable for you. To avoid worsening the situation, I still recommend that you don’t return for now. I will send someone else to retrieve the sky canopies.”

“But there’s an issue with the recovery panel. If it is destroyed, the sky canopies will completely vanish,” Luo Yu said, and Zhu Huai added some comments about shutting down the deployment process.

After hearing this, Zhu Long lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment before looking back at Luo Yu. “I know you still want to return. These four sky canopies are indeed very important. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll see if there’s a way to allow you to return. Until I contact you, do not reach out to the space station.”

“Understood.”

Zhu Long didn’t say anything else and reached out to cut the connection. The screen flickered and went dark.

The three of them sat in front of the communication device in silence for a moment. Luo Yu glanced over and noticed a small room nearby, so she pointed, saying, “Let’s talk in there.”

Once they all moved inside and Luo Yu closed the door, Zhu Huai let out a cold huff. “I don’t care what Zhu Long wants to do; anyway, I am not going back.”

Luo Yu looked at her. “Leaving the unfinished time capsule behind is not your style, Zhu Huai.”

Zhu Huai scoffed, “She clearly told you that world is beyond saving, yet you overestimate your abilities and want to risk your life to return. So, ‘one who tries to stop a chariot with the strength of a mantis’ is your style?”

Luo Yu took a deep breath. “I don’t want to explain too much, but I have my reasons for needing to go back. I expect you to complete the parts of the time capsule that you’re responsible for.”

“Don’t try to pressure me with such a captain’s tone,” Zhu Huai said, getting angry and pushing her shoulder. Luo Yu saw her lift her hand and turned her body to the side, grabbing Zhu Huai’s wrist.

Seeing this, Zhu Huai immediately swung her other hand forward in a fist. They began to push and shove each other, and soon got into a scuffle.

Ying Zhao, witnessing the scene, panicked and wanted to intervene. However, both of them were stronger than her, and she couldn’t separate them. Frantically, she shouted, “Stop fighting! Please don’t fight!”

But the more she shouted, the more intense their struggle became, knocking over two shelving units and rolling into a tangle on the floor.

Ying Zhao grew desperate and wanted to say, “You won’t solve anything this way,” and later thought to say, “You’ll end up hurting someone,” but somehow, when she spoke, her words came out wrong: “You’ll never end up hurting anyone by fighting like this!”

Both of them, who had been so engaged in their fight, paused at the sound of her words and turned to look at Ying Zhao.

Zhu Huai pressed Luo Yu’s arm down with her knee and was about to lift her hand but froze instead. Turning to look at Ying Zhao, then back to Luo Yu, she asked, “What did she just say?”

Feeling the pressure eased off, Luo Yu quickly pulled her hand back and swung a punch at Zhu Huai’s cheek, saying, “She thinks we’re being too gentle!”