Genius Club

Chapter 1441: Chapter 8: Memories of the Past (Part 2)

"Just the things I said to CC earlier... ah..."

Lin Xian suddenly felt a bit powerless.

On the last day of the world apocalypse in 2624, he fought alongside CC in several dreams, all of which started with the vault at Tem Bank.

Originally, he thought, now that Tem Bank belongs to him, and the password is set by him, he could finally lead CC to open that vault.

Unexpectedly.

This time, the super disaster still played on stably, no one knew to where the vault was swept away.

"Ah."

He sighed again, covering his eyes with his hand.

"Wait, something’s not right."

Suddenly remembering something, Lin Xian sat up:

"In the crater, there’s still a Space-Time Particle in that secret research facility left by Jask!"

"I know."

Liu Feng answered calmly:

"From the beginning, we found that research facility. After all, the locals couldn’t get into that crater, but we had planes, we just went right in."

"Inside the receiver connected to 22 probe rockets, there’s indeed a Space-Time Particle. But... it’s crafted as one with a Hafnium Alloy structure, and you know better than anyone that it’s the hardest thing in the world; at our current level, we simply can’t pry it open."

"Moreover, the Space-Time Particle probe rockets are still operational. I suggest we don’t mess with them, even though one rocket has already detected a white light trajectory, but who knows if more situations will arise from other directions afterwards?"

Lin Xian nodded.

Yes.

Liu Feng is very cautious.

That’s Jask’s final legacy, if it’s still running, then there’s no need to dismantle it randomly.

After all...

In the post-disaster era, that might be humanity’s only method for exploring the universe.

"Alright."

Lin Xian agreed:

"Then Liu Feng, now tell me... what has happened over these years?"

...

The incident in Antarctica back then, was just as Lin Xian had guessed.

The impact caused by the collision of Space-Time Particles threw the world into a sudden catastrophic disaster, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tectonic movements... everything became unstable, nearly pushing human civilization towards extinction.

"Many people died."

Liu Feng’s tone was heavy:

"The same goes for the East Sea, many people died. Our school, teachers, students... too many have died."

Being the acting principal, even a hundred years later, recalling such devastation still left Liu Feng pale-faced:

"Jask and Gao Yang, they died immediately at Antarctica; it was the same on our side, leaving only me... just me..."

Liu Feng closed his eyes:

"It was Emperor Gao Wen who saved me, sacrificed himself to lift me out. Emperor Gao Wen said I was younger than him, that I could still do more things, and have more time."

Lin Xian listened silently.

Didn’t speak.

This was the ending he had anticipated long ago, but he never dared to ask directly, the most feared answer... was this obvious one.

After a brief silence, Liu Feng raised his head:

"The only good news is that Rhein University has many secret facilities that are very sturdy, so some usable high-tech equipment still remains."

"Like this plane, it’s one of the few legacies; I figured you must have gone to Mi Country’s Brooklyn, but I didn’t know the exact location, so after a brief repair, I urgently led people to Brooklyn to find you."

"Searched for a long time, but couldn’t find you. I didn’t know whether you were dead or alive, but regardless of life or death, I insisted on searching. I pondered on the possibility of you entering a Hibernation Pod, so if I couldn’t find the hibernation spot, I’d periodically visit Brooklyn to search."

"I’ve intermittently hibernated, maintained Rhein University, and visited Mi Country to find you... doing this over these hundred years."

"You’ve gone through so much."

Lin Xian looked at the familiar but stranger old man before him.

Now Liu Feng seems to be over 80 years old, already unbelievably aged, dry and wrinkled.

At this age, he should be enjoying family bliss, yet he was still running around for humanity’s future, searching for him.

A hundred years of loneliness and helplessness, thank goodness Liu Feng never gave up.

"Lin Xian..."

Having held on alone for over a hundred years, Liu Feng, finally seeing Lin Xian, felt his inner fortress beginning to crumble.

His cane quivered with a rattling sound:

"What do we do now? Do we... still have hope?"

Lin Xian stood up and patted Liu Feng’s shoulder:

"Believe in me."

Even in the most desperate situations, without a way out, throughout these hundreds of years of intersecting times, Lin Xian had thought of countless methods, but never once thought of giving up.

"Let’s head back to Rhein University first."

Lin Xian straightened up, looking out at the sea of clouds breaking through the stratosphere:

"Although it’s just the two of us now, don’t forget... when I first went to Xi’an to recruit you, it was also just the two of us."

"So, Liu Feng, there’s nothing to fear. It’s just starting all over again, so cheer up!"

Outside the porthole, the dazzling sun hung high above the clouds, warm as it was hundreds of years ago:

"As long as we are still alive, everything is still possible, and everything has hope!"

...

Several hours later, the plane landed on the campus of Rhein University.

The entire campus, although very orderly and clean, had completely lost its original appearance.

All the buildings were very low, with few reaching above three stories, and both the architectural style and details were very rough, like the craftsmanship of rural tile-roofed houses.

It seems Rhein University also suffered significant damage in the super disaster of 2504; but fortunately, it survived.

Looking up.

At the entrance, two white jade statues still stood against the wind, gazing into the distance, bright and holy.

"I have to say, this is truly a miracle."

Liu Feng, leaning on his cane, walked behind Lin Xian:

"The entire university collapsed, with countless fissures reaching deep into the lava, yet these two white jade statues miraculously stood firm, unscathed."

Lin Xian gazed at the sunset over Yingjun and Yu Xi:

"Perhaps it’s the two of them protecting Rhein University."

He said softly:

"Come on, let’s take a closer look."

Liu Feng walked slowly, leaning on his cane.

Lin Xian matched his pace, walking beside him, accompanying him step by step.

It took them some time to stand again beneath Zhao Yingjun and Yu Xi’s white jade statues.

Since the first time Lin Xian saw this statue, almost 300 years had passed by today.

The passage of time had turned Liu Feng into an old, withered man, and Lin Xian into a middle-aged man, while the Yingjun and Yu Xi before them remained at the peak of their youthful vigor, in their most valiant years.

Lin Xian looked up, observing Zhao Yingjun’s solemn expression on the statue.

That was Zhao Yingjun in her forties or fifties.

Probably... the same age as he was now.

It was truly a coincidence of time and space, a joke of fate, allowing middle-aged Lin Xian to meet middle-aged Zhao Yingjun in this way.

"She once said she didn’t want me to see her age."

Lin Xian pointed at the statue and said to Liu Feng:

"And now, we’re both old."

"Whereas, we will continue to age, but they will always remain this youthful."

"Yes..."

Liu Feng sighed:

"In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed."

"I never expected, that the journey from Xi’an to the East Sea to find you would be so long."

"Do you regret it?" Lin Xian smiled slightly.

"Of course not."

Liu Feng took a deep breath:

"I’m just worried... there’s only 8 years left until the white light descends in 2624, and right now, we’re practically in the worst situation."

"No."

Lin Xian shook his head, his gaze firm:

"This is indeed the worst of times, but at the same time... it’s also the best of times."

Liu Feng, puzzled, tilted his head:

"Why do you say that?"

Lin Xian withdrew his gaze from the white jade statue, looking into Liu Feng’s eyes:

"Because it is only in this era that we can finally meet the greatest genius in the world."

For a moment, Liu Feng was enlightened:

"You mean..."

"Exactly."

Lin Xian nodded:

"Liu Feng, although it seems like we’ve always been doing futile work, in reality, every step we’ve taken is meaningful."

"Newton’s death spared subsequent mathematicians from being killed; the early onset of the super disaster reduced its power, allowing humanity in 2616 to avoid extinction."

"Perhaps this time, we might truly meet that legendary, elusive man—"

"Chen, He, Ping."