Chapter 306: Coincidental Timing, Coincidental Age
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New Time-Space Laws.
Lin Xian pondered over what Yellow Finch had just said. Previously, while on the space shuttle, observing the characteristics of time-space particles, he and Liu Feng had concluded a time-space law they called “time-space repulsion.”
Now, Yellow Finch had introduced two new time-space laws based on phenomena she experienced herself.
One of them, known only by name, was “Historical Lock.” According to Yellow Finch, this time-space law was related to the Millennium Stake. The other law didn’t even have a name; it was only observed through spectacles.
When Yellow Finch tried to speak about certain things but was hindered by time-space elasticity, she experienced not just a simple repulsion but a stronger, more thorough form of silencing. This was the “unable to say” that Yellow Finch mentioned repeatedly.
This was not the kind of inability that could be controlled by fear of time-space repulsion; it was a true inability. As soon as you tried to speak, a mysterious time-space law would silence you, making it impossible to utter a sound.
Lin Xian could imagine that even writing would be similarly constrained under strict time-space laws, preventing any change in historical trajectory.
He had no doubt about this.
It seemed that time-space repulsion came in degrees. Minor repulsion occurred when the actions didn’t harm time-space stability or alter historical development significantly. This minor repulsion was almost negligible, akin to a harmless person who got lost.
A higher degree of time-space repulsion was exemplified by Yellow Finch’s previous behavior. Her actions, while impacting the future, were within the elastic range of time-space, thus the repulsion and backlash she faced were limited and bearable. This was evident in her weakness, trembling, and even transparency observed by Chu An Qing in the washroom and Gao Yang on the space shuttle.
Lin Xian believed that Yellow Finch had been battling time-space repulsion continuously.
But this kind of repulsion was like a chronic illness, draining life and time but not fatal within the elastic range of time-space laws.
He speculated that time-space wasn’t overly sensitive. Small, insignificant events would be smoothed over and ignored over long timescales, thus allowing minor changes within its elastic range.
This elasticity was a crucial time-space law, affecting what was permissible and what was not.
So, what would a more severe time-space repulsion look like?
It would resemble Yellow Finch’s behavior when she tried to reveal the true meaning of the Millennium Stake. This action exceeded time-space elasticity, resulting in maximum repulsion: forced silence, weakness, transparency, and the risk of being erased entirely.
However, normal time-space elasticity and repulsion wouldn’t be this intense. The underlying reason was the “Historical Lock” law.
Why would history lock itself? When did it happen?
Since history was locked, why could he still change history and rewrite the future?
“Wait,” Lin Xian suddenly realized, “I have never changed true history!”
What is true history?
Events like Qin Shi Huang unifying the six states, Xiang Yu committing suicide by the Wu River, graduating from Donghai University, founding Rhine Company, and even what he had for breakfast yesterday—these were true historical events.
He never changed them and never had the ability to change them.
What he had been altering were the developmental trajectories of the next 600 years.
To his current era, what’s changing wasn’t history but the future!
So, Yellow Finch’s actions indeed altered established history because she came from the future. No matter what time she traveled from, the present year of 2024 was already established history to her, just like if he traveled 2000 years back to Qin Shi Huang’s era.
But Lin Xian wondered, was established history the same as locked history?
He felt it wasn’t.
If established history equaled locked history, why would Yellow Finch specifically mention “Historical Lock”?
There had to be details he hadn’t grasped, likely related to the truth of the Millennium Stake term.
Lin Xian stood up and looked at Yellow Finch. Her body had recovered, at least for now.
“I think I understand,” Lin Xian said. “But I need to think it through. I have many things to do now. The most important is to find out what happened to Chu An Qing and understand the Millennium Stake. I must give Chu Shan He an explanation.”
“Although the time-space particle capture operation succeeded, the sacrifices were too great. VV vanished, and Chu An Qing is gone too… Yellow Finch, I really don’t want to see more companions sacrificed. Everything started because of me, so I must take responsibility.”
With that, he turned towards the office door.
“Your performance today surprised me,” Yellow Finch said with a light laugh, leaning against the desk. “I thought you’d argue with me or demand to know what happened to Chu An Qing, whether she’s alive, where she went…”
Creak—
Lin Xian pulled open the heavy door, looking back at Yellow Finch one last time. “I’ll find the answers myself.”
“Yellow Finch, when I say I don’t want to see more companions sacrificed, that includes you.”
Bang.
The heavy iron door closed. Lin Xian’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, fading away.
“Hmph,” Yellow Finch snorted softly, brushing her cheek with her right index finger, pushing stray hair behind her ear. Her delicate fingers touched the crystal blue earrings, which swayed, reflecting fragmented rainbows in the sunlight.
“He’s grown up,” she whispered, smiling slightly. “He’s starting to look like a leader.”
Lin Xian walked quickly down the hallway. He hadn’t slept for a long time, his eyes likely bloodshot, but he didn’t want to sleep. He needed to understand everything clearly…
What happened to Chu An Qing? Where is she? From Yellow Finch’s attitude, perhaps it wasn’t as bad as he thought.
Just as he expected, the chance of Chu An Qing dying was low. She must have gone somewhere!
Linking to the future world’s CC…
Twenty years ago, a young woman named Zhang Yu Qian had lived in this world.
These three women must be connected in some significant way!
The Millennium Stake. Though he didn’t know what it was or when Chu An Qing became the Millennium Stake, if she was indeed the Millennium Stake, then what about Zhang Yu Qian and CC?
Chu An Qing was born on March 28, 2004, and disappeared on March 28, 2024. Zhang Yu Qian was born in 1980 and disappeared in 2000. Both were 20 years old!
He never asked CC her age or birthdate, but she looked just like Chu An Qing! His recurring dream started on August 28, 2624, at 12:42 PM and ended on August 29, 2624, at 12:42 AM.
Chu An Qing likely disappeared at 12:42 AM on March 28, 2024, right on her 20th birthday!
These dates and times seemed interconnected!
If… Just if.
If CC was also 20 years old at 12:42 AM on August 29, 2624, then there was a real problem.
Because his dream world always ended at 12:42 AM.
A terrifying possibility struck him.
He never figured out what that world-ending white light was targeting. The Earth? Him? Or…
Was it targeting CC, who turned 20 at 12:42 AM on August 29, 2624?
“Why are the timing and the girls’ ages so coincidental?”
Lin Xian felt the answer lay here, with Chu An Qing, CC, and Zhang Yu Qian.
Now, Chu An Qing was gone, and CC was out of contact in the dream world. He didn’t know her age or birthdate, making it hard to judge.
The only clue left was with Zhang Yu Qian, who died in 2000!
Tap, tap, tap.
Lin Xian walked quickly to the hall where he had met Gao Yang earlier.
Seeing Lin Xian’s determined stride, Gao Yang stood up, “Lin Xian! What’s up?”
Lin Xian slapped Gao Yang’s back and pulled him along, “You’re coming with me to Qufu in Shandong.”
“Why?” Gao Yang asked, puzzled. “What are we doing there? Visiting Confucius?”
“No,” Lin Xian shook his head, his gaze firm. “We’re digging up a grave!”