Chapter 072

Chapter 72: The Unveiled World

Yu Sheng’s question made Bai Li Qing lift her eyebrow a little, though the movement was small, as she said: “Borderland is of course only one, and a World Nexus is not something you can mass produce.”

Yu Sheng grew serious, then asked: “I mean Boundary City. There is only one Borderland, so what about Boundary City? This city inside the Borderland, could there be another city like it somewhere in the world?”

He paused, looked into Bai Li Qing’s eyes, and spoke slowly: “Very similar, but not quite the same. They share the same name, and some places share the same names too, but unlike here it is not extraordinary, just an ordinary place. If our universe can be observed across hundreds of billions of light years or even more, then within such a huge range, could there be a city like the one I described?”

Whether it was his imagination or not, Yu Sheng felt that Bai Li Qing’s face grew strangely serious as she heard this.

The Director stayed silent for several seconds before answering carefully: “About your idea, which I will call a hypothesis for now, scholars do have one assumption. It goes like this:

“If the universe’s span of space and time is infinite, or at least in a statistical sense is nearly infinite within what humans can imagine and model, then the universe could contain two identical or highly similar places, two worlds whose parameters are almost the same, two similar mountain peaks, and even two very similar stretches of history. The chance of these mirrors is not high, but given enough space and time, it is never zero.”

Yu Sheng thought for a moment, then nodded lightly as he said: “I think I have heard a theory like that.”

Bai Li Qing added, lowering her voice: “Now I will tell you a restriction on that assumption, the part that is not public. Even if the assumption is true, even if any place or event might have a mirror somewhere across infinite time and space, there are two exceptions that do not produce mirrors.

“First, a planet called Terra. It lies deep among the stars, far from here, but has some hidden links with the Borderland.

“Second, this Borderland itself.

“In other words, there will not be a second Boundary City, because this city is a main part of the Borderland, and the Borderland does not produce a mirror. Even if space is boundless and time unending, from the past to the future there will be only this one Borderland and this one Boundary City.”

Yu Sheng’s eyes opened wider, and he did not speak for a long time.

Seeing his reaction, Bai Li Qing adjusted her sitting posture, then asked: “You seem almost certain that there is another Boundary City in this world, and you have even seen it?”

Yu Sheng forced down the rush of thoughts. He took a deep breath and tapped the table with his finger as he said: “Yes, I have seen it. It is a small coastal city. To drive from the southern end of the city to the northern end takes only thirty minutes. There is no Otherworld there and no Special Affairs Bureau. People live very normal lives. The sunlight is always gentle and not harsh, and the evening glow is beautiful.”

He described the scenes in his memory to the woman across from him. He left nothing out. Since she already knew the truth of 66 Wutong Road, and since she was the one in charge of The Door and its Otherworld work, this Director seemed like the most likely person he could reach who might help him.

Bai Li Qing listened quietly. Those eyes that always seemed to lack color could forever hide her real feelings. No one could tell what she thought as she heard his picture of that place. Only when Yu Sheng finished did she speak suddenly and ask: “May I take a look?”

Yu Sheng was startled and asked: “Look? How would you look?”

The woman reached out and pressed her palm to his temple as she said: “This is my ability. If you do not mind, open your imagination to me for a while. If you are not comfortable, I will not force you.”

Yu Sheng frowned, weighed his options quickly, then gave a small nod. He closed his eyes a little and imagined his hometown, the look of that other Boundary City.

That plain coastal city rose in his mind. Then he felt as if another pair of eyes had joined his, watching the imagined scenes together as he recalled them.

A moment later, Yu Sheng opened his eyes. He saw that Bai Li Qing still had her eyes shut. Behind her, the café that stretched into infinity began to collapse in silence from far to near. The neat rows of repeating tables and chairs were swallowed by darkness at great speed, and the falling beams and walls looked as if they were dropping into an unseen abyss.

Yu Sheng froze and blurted out, not sure what was happening: “Hey, the place is falling apart. Hey, wake up, this is…”

He was halfway through when Bai Li Qing finally opened her eyes and said: “It is fine. Just a small aftereffect from using my ability.”

As she spoke, the fallen structures and furniture in the distance returned to how they were, without a sound. Yu Sheng felt a bit embarrassed, gave two awkward chuckles, and said: “Oh. Your ability is pretty cool.”

Bai Li Qing did not answer. She rubbed her forehead lightly, as if thinking hard.

Yu Sheng, curious, asked: “You saw it all? So, what do you think?”

Bai Li Qing cut in softly: “I saw it. Just as you said, a calm coastal city with many places that echo this one.” For some reason she hesitated when she started, but covered it quickly, then added: “I now believe you have seen such a Boundary City. I am curious though. Why are you so fixed on finding that place?”

Yu Sheng answered seriously: “For personal reasons, I want to find it. But from what you said just now…”

Bai Li Qing shook her head as she said: “A theory is still a theory. I still do not think there is a second Borderland. But if there is a place that happens to share some buildings and layout with this city, that is not completely impossible.”

Yu Sheng looked at her with doubt and asked: “Really?”

Bai Li Qing exhaled and said: “Who knows? Some scholars say our universe is still young, and some new laws of physics have not even been born yet. That means any human view of the world might be wrong, or might be overturned one day. I do believe the Boundary City you showed me is real. It is only that even the Borderland archives have not recorded it.”

Yu Sheng asked in a low voice: “If one day you find it…”

Bai Li Qing nodded with care as she said: “You will be the first to know.”

Yu Sheng thanked her, but [he did not really believe her. His gut told him this woman was not that sincere about the matter.] He did not know where this feeling came from, but he decided to drop the topic.

He switched quickly and said: “I have another question. I am asking for a friend.”

Bai Li Qing nodded and said: “Ask away. I have time today.”

Yu Sheng thought for a moment, organized his words, and asked: “About Alice’s Little House. Does your Special Affairs Bureau know this Organization?”

Bai Li Qing answered at once: “Alice’s Little House? Of course. Those Living Dolls are active in the extraordinary Domain and have dealt with us many times.”

Yu Sheng’s heart moved. He felt he had finally found an Organization for the little doll as he said: “You mean Alice’s Dolls? So the Little House is registered with the Special Affairs Bureau?”

Bai Li Qing shook her head and said: “No, you are mistaken. Alice’s Little House is not registered under the Special Affairs Bureau. It is an independent force outside the Borderland. They are low key, but their influence is not smaller than the Special Affairs Bureau.”

Yu Sheng could only blink and think: [So Irene’s background is that big. Looks like the little doll was not bragging.]

He did not hide the change on his face, and Bai Li Qing noticed quickly as she said: “I remember the report mentioned that you also have a Doll with you.”

Yu Sheng nodded and said: “Yes. Her name is Irene. She says she is one of Alice’s Dolls, only sealed for a long time by accident.”

Bai Li Qing thought, then said while raising her hand to show a height beside the table: “But I remember the report also said her height is about this tall.”

Yu Sheng touched his nose awkwardly and said: “Ah, that is another accident.”