Space-time laws...

Lin Xian hadn't heard this term in a long time.

He suddenly recalled that rainy night when he first met Huang Que.

In Zhao Yingjun's office, that woman who had startled him so much, handed him the fake Genius Club invitation and turned away with a flourish:

"Space-time laws are far more important and far stricter than you can imagine; almost all the answers are hidden within them... but as it stands, your understanding of space-time laws is still too shallow."

Now.

More than a year has passed since that day.

Nearly two years have passed since he first comprehended those four space-time laws.

Two years.

So long.

[Space-Time Rejection].

This was a new space-time law.

It was the fifth space-time law after the space-time butterfly effect, space-time fluctuations, fluctuation anchors, and space-time elasticity.

For now.

The moment he comprehended this law, many previously perplexing mysteries became clear.

[Space-time itself has the characteristic of rejecting foreign objects, and will instinctively reject, resist, attack, and even eliminate objects that do not belong to this space-time, or outsiders from other space-times. This phenomenon is called - Space-Time Rejection.]

Comprehending this law.

Many things and mysteries that he couldn't understand before became clear.

For example.

Why were Huang Que's eyes blue and crystalline, flowing like glass?

This was caused by the Space-Time Rejection reaction.

Because to this space-time, Huang Que, a time traveler from the future, was an outsider, a foreign object, an anomaly.

Therefore, the power of space-time itself would instinctively reject Huang Que.

Making her eyes turn blue,

Even changing her appearance,

Making her body weak,

Restricting her with space-time elasticity, preventing her from doing whatever she wanted,

This was a kind of [self-preservation mechanism] of space-time.

Lin Xian guessed.

Perhaps space-time itself was also inert and stable, just like a healthy human being.

And the existence of people like Huang Que would undoubtedly disrupt the development and cause and effect of space-time itself, destroying its stability.

Therefore.

Space-time's immune system would be activated.

Space-Time Rejection would [mark] these outsiders who did not belong to this space-time.

Those conspicuously blue eyes were perhaps a warning to the creatures of this space-time: this is a dangerous outsider!

The different appearance was perhaps also a result of Space-Time Rejection, with the purpose of preventing the creatures of this space-time from being deceived, making it difficult to distinguish between true and false.

Similarly.

Huang Que's sudden weakness, coughing, trembling, and eye color fading in the washroom that day were all attacks from Space-Time Rejection, with the goal of eliminating this outsider as soon as possible! Maintaining the stability and health of space-time itself!

"So that's how it is..."

Now.

Lin Xian had completely understood the mysteries surrounding Huang Que.

Indeed.

Just as that woman said when she first met him, space-time laws were truly exquisite and too important.

Almost all the answers were hidden within them.

Huang Que really wasn't wrong about that.

Just comprehending a new space-time law had instantly solved so many mysteries.

If.

One day.

He could comprehend as many, or even all, of the space-time laws as possible, would he be able to truly dispel the clouds of all mysteries and understand the truth of everything?

Lin Xian continued to stare at Huang Que.

When he first saw this woman, he had mistaken her for Zhao Yingjun.

Chu Anqing had also said.

She had always felt that Huang Que and Zhao Yingjun were too similar, and if one wasn't careful, it was easy to mistake them.

The two of them gave off such a similar feeling.

Temperament.

Small actions.

Habits.

Every smile and frown.

Even though the two looked completely different, with no similarities in face shape, figure, or pupil color... but considering the premise of Space-Time Rejection, they might not be the same person!

Huang Que also knew the office password that was supposed to be known only by him and Zhao Yingjun;

Huang Que's drifting skills were very similar to his, and he had taught Zhao Yingjun how to drive;

Zhao Yingjun liked to wear high heels and earrings, and Huang Que also wore high heels and earrings all the time;

On New Year's Eve in 2024, the two women wished him a happy new year at the same time;

[Huang Que is perhaps Zhao Yingjun who traveled back from the future!]

Suddenly.

Lin Xian recalled a joke he had thought of before—

Because Zhao Yingjun's earring color always matched her coat color, Lin Xian had once complained in his mind that if a clone wanted to impersonate Zhao Yingjun one day, this little habit would immediately reveal the truth.

So...

Was Huang Que doing it on purpose?

Deliberately not matching the earring color to her coat to mislead him? To prevent him from ever thinking in that direction?

Recalling that he had even brought up this question to Zhao Yingjun in person:

"What if... you wore a beige coat and then blue earrings, what would that be like?"

Zhao Yingjun frowned instantly at the time:

"What kind of strange combination is that? I find it hard to accept."

She asked Lin Xian:

"Do you like that kind of mix-and-match?"

"No, no."

Lin Xian quickly denied at the time:

"I just happened to see a woman dressed like that the other day, and it felt weird."

"It's pretty weird." Zhao Yingjun said at the time:

"As far as clothing matching is concerned, there shouldn't be too many colors on your body, otherwise it will look like a Christmas tree, gaudy. I think three or four colors on the whole body is about right."

Besides.

Zhao Yingjun herself didn't like wearing blue earrings, wearing them no more than two or three times a year.

She had said it herself.

She would only wear blue earrings with a blue dress for occasions like evening banquets.

……

Lin Xian's heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Recalling Chu Anqing's description of Huang Que's loneliness;

Recalling Zhao Yingjun's fear of loneliness;

Recalling the white jade statue in Rhein Sky City in the third dream, waiting for 600 years;

Recalling in the Xiang cuisine restaurant, Zhao Yingjun insisted that she would not board a hibernation pod.

At this moment.

Lin Xian seemed to understand what was truly capable of breaking through the wall of space-time, transcending space-time laws, ignoring space-time elasticity, and also able to transmit a secret code!

He took a deep breath.

Slowly raised his head.

"Huang Que."

He called out softly to the silent, lonely, and unsociable woman in front of him, meeting her dark blue gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing, and said softly:

"Why... do you always wear blue earrings?" ???

Inside the equipment bay, Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Chu Anqing all stared wide-eyed, looking at Lin Xian as if he were an idiot.

Completely unable to understand.

Why, at such a tense moment, did Lin Xian suddenly ask such a meaningless question?

Was his brain short-circuiting?

Or was his pig brain overloading from considering space-time laws?

However…

Lin Xian's expression was very serious, and his eyes were firm.

He wasn't joking.

He was very seriously asking Huang Que this question.

Huang Que got up from the bulkhead she was leaning against.

Standing up straight.

Facing Lin Xian face to face.

Her usually calm blue pupils were now trembling slightly.

Neither of them spoke.

But their eyes seemed to exchange a lot of information.

You know.

I know.

A tacit understanding.

"Because…"

Huang Que pursed her lips and closed her eyes:

"[Blue... is really beautiful.]"

……

For a moment.

Lin Xian felt like something inside him had shattered.

How insincere that was.

And how difficult it was to say.

It was true that some things could cross space-time.

But space-time laws were so absolute.

Since those space-time particles had already been attacked by space-time laws to the point of invisibility; then Huang Que was so cautious and dared not violate space-time laws, dared not say a word, dared not respond in the slightest.

What she feared…

Must also be the same as that space-time particle.

[Space-Time Rejection]

Such a cruel space-time law was enough to erase her existence like erasing a space-time particle.

Not to mention.

The space-time laws that restricted Huang Que were not just Space-Time Rejection.

She not only had to endure the pain brought by Space-Time Rejection, but also had to be constantly wary of the looming threat of space-time elasticity.

Once she exceeded the warning line of space-time elasticity.

Perhaps…

The consequences would be even more serious.

Not to mention.

Perhaps there were other space-time laws that he hadn't comprehended that were also binding Huang Que.

Recalling the previous quarrels, distrust, and misunderstandings with Huang Que.

And then comparing it with what Huang Que had done for him.

"I apologize to you."

Lin Xian said softly:

"I apologize for many things."

Huang Que chuckled.

Turning her head away.

Folding her arms:

"[A qualified leader never apologizes.]"

"I still think of Xiang Yu, who refused to cross the Yangtze River. I never thought Xiang Yu was a hero; none of the soldiers who followed Xiang Yu in life and death wanted to see the King of Western Chu commit suicide at Wujiang."

"We follow you, we come for you, right for you, wrong for you, live for you, die for you. Throughout history, the winner is king, and there is no absolute right or wrong. Many things, if you believe they are right, then they are right; if you doubt they are wrong, then they are wrong."

"So, Lin Xian..."

She turned her head, her dark blue eyes shining like new:

"If it's right, then boldly do it. If it's wrong, then firmly be wrong to the end. Don't be like Xiang Yu, the King of Western Chu, living in historical praise; it's far better to live in the present with hope. Compared to Xiang Yu, I really prefer Yu Ji in the story of *Farewell My Concubine*."

"[Yu Ji is the hero, Xiang Yu is not.]" ???

Question marks floated above the heads of Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Chu Anqing again.

They looked at each other, feeling like they were hearing encrypted conversations.

This…

Were these two people speaking human language?

It was true that every sentence could be understood when separated, but what did it mean to say these things at this time?

Suddenly asking about the color of earrings.

Suddenly apologizing.

Suddenly the story of *Farewell My Concubine*.

What were they talking about!

Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian with a helpless expression...

He had known for a long time that Huang Que was a riddle person.

Now that's great.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Lin Xian had also become a riddle person.

"No! What are you two doing! Can you two figure out the situation!"

Gao Yang slammed the table and stood up:

"What time is it, and you're still appreciating ancient poetry! Hurry up and think of countermeasures! Think of a plan! Think! Ugh, really, I'm more anxious than you!"

"Altitude decreasing to 52 kilometers! About to enter the troposphere!" Wei Cheng's voice came from the radio communicator:

"Anqing, take a look quickly! Are the space-time particles still there? If there is any deviation in my direction, be sure to remind me in time! Now I not only have no radar and navigation, but also can't see the position and direction of the space-time particles; I'm completely blind driving!"

Chu Anqing hurriedly looked out the porthole:

"It's still there! The direction and speed of the space-time particles are very stable... just maintain the current speed and direction, and there's no problem at all! I'm keeping an eye on it; if there's any deviation, I'll remind you immediately, Coach Wei Cheng!"

Liu Feng walked over and looked at Lin Xian:

"What do we do now?"

He paused.

"As it stands, there's no possibility for us to capture the space-time particles anymore. All the instruments and our naked eyes can't see the space-time particles. Gao Yang has no way to use the robotic arm to grab them."

"Even if Chu Anqing can see the space-time particles, it won't be of any practical use. The space-time particles flicker so quickly that if she verbally describes the position of the space-time particles to Gao Yang, I'm afraid that the space-time particles will have already flickered to another place by the time she finishes speaking; it's too late."

"As for letting Chu Anqing operate the robotic arm... forget it, it's unrealistic. Gao Yang's talent is very rare; even so, it took him so long to train to be able to operate the robotic arm flexibly. Even if Chu Anqing practiced for a year and a half, she wouldn't be able to operate it, let alone learn it now; it's impossible."

"Execute Plan B." Lin Xian replied:

"In our plan, we considered the possibility that Gao Yang wouldn't be able to capture the space-time particles with the robotic arm, so we had Plan B from the start—"

"Use the spaceplane to collide with the space-time particles, directly letting the space-time particles enter the interior space of the plane. We'll capture it in the spacious equipment bay. Anyway, it's already been proven that the space-time particle has no physical form and can penetrate all matter, so it can naturally penetrate the walls of the spaceplane."

"The only scheme that needs to be adjusted in Plan B is that originally the person holding the rice cooker to capture the space-time particles was me, but now, because none of us can see the space-time particles with our naked eyes, Anqing has to do it. But Anqing's flexibility and coordination are no problem; her physical fitness is the best among us, making her more suitable than any of us."

Liu Feng shook his head:

"You didn't consider one thing, Lin Xian. It's true that it's been proven that space-time particles contacting and penetrating inanimate objects won't cause any impact. The space-time particle capture device and the robotic arm haven't been damaged and are functioning properly."

"But what about people? Who can guarantee what will happen when space-time particles come into contact with the human body, with living things? What if—"

"I'll go."

Lin Xian directly reached out to interrupt Liu Feng, looking around at everyone:

"I'll go first; I'll come into contact with the space-time particles to verify if there's any danger."

……

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Lin Xian.

"You! You're crazy, Lin Xian!"

Gao Yang rushed up and punched Lin Xian:

"What are you thinking! That's an object from another space-time; it looks ominous, hissing and sparking. Who knows if it will electrocute you to death directly? Or directly drag you to another space-time? You might die!"

"Alright, there's no need to discuss this."

Lin Xian reached out again to stop Gao Yang:

"Just as Huang Que said, everyone is here for me, and only because of me did you board this spaceplane full of crises. Each of you is doing your job, but I haven't been of any use. So, give me a chance to show what I can do."

Saying that, he went straight to the passenger cabin:

"You all stay in the equipment bay first; I'll stay in the passenger cabin by myself. In a moment, Chu Anqing will direct Wei Cheng to first let the space-time particles penetrate the wall of the passenger cabin and come into contact with me. After Chu Anqing confirms that the space-time particles have made contact and that I'm indeed not in danger, then accelerate the spaceplane a little bit to let the space-time particles lag behind a little and enter the equipment bay. Chu Anqing will then take the rice cooker and capture it in the equipment bay."

*Da.*

A hand was placed on Lin Xian's shoulder.

Turning his head.

It was Liu Feng who was holding him back.

"Let me do it."

Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian:

"I've always admired you, Lin Xian, but you have parents, you have friends; you have too many attachments in this world. I'm an orphan, and Qiqi is also dead. I have no attachments and no longing in this world."

"The only thought I have is to figure out the cosmic constant and prove that it's correct to the world, and I'll have no regrets even if I die."

"But now, if I can't capture this space-time particle, my research on the cosmic constant will probably not be able to proceed... I have limited ability; I'm not a mathematical genius. Perhaps I really can't think of other ideas; this space-time particle is my only chance."

"So, I won't say much more. Let me go; I'll go into contact with the space-time particles. I'm a few years older than you; I need the space-time particles more urgently than you; I have no attachments; no one is more suitable than me."

……

Time was limited.

The altitude of the spaceplane had already decreased to 50 kilometers in the stratosphere; no one knew where the end point of the space-time particles was or when they would disappear, so there was no room for further delay.

In the end.

Liu Feng stood alone in the passenger cabin.

Closing his eyes.

Preparing to welcome the first close contact between humanity and space-time particles in history.

"Coach Wei Cheng! The current position is perfect! The space-time particles are flickering and jumping outside the passenger cabin, on the direct left; the direction and flicker frequency are very stable!"

Chu Anqing, lying on the porthole of the equipment bay, looked at the trajectory of the space-time particles that only she could see and directed Wei Cheng:

"Move over there! Let the space-time particles enter the passenger cabin!"

Wei Cheng forcefully turned the steering grip!

The jet engine at the rear of the spaceplane twisted!

Pushing the spaceplane to turn sharply to the left!

However.

The space-time particles were still like before, resisting and dodging objects from this space-time.

Before the spaceplane could even get close to the left, it directly flickered away.

After several more attempts.

There was no way to get the space-time particles to penetrate the wall and enter the spaceplane.

"Ugh..."

Liu Feng gritted his teeth and clicked his tongue.

"The spaceplane is still too slow; if the speed was a little faster, or if we charged straight up, we might be able to drag the space-time particles in."

"I don't think there's much hope." Gao Yang shook his head:

"I've fought it before; I know how nimble it is. The spaceplane is such a big thing; it's too easy to dodge."

"Should we decelerate first, let the space-time particles run ahead, and then accelerate at full power, ramming into the space-time particles and knocking them in?" Wei Cheng said on the radio channel.

"No."

Lin Xian directly denied it:

"Even if this plan succeeds, the spaceplane doesn't have the ability to decelerate and brake in the atmosphere. It's true that you can ram into it at a fast speed, but the speed of the space-time particles is always Mach 0.97. If our speed is too much faster than it, it will have just penetrated, and it will be flung out of the spaceplane from the tail because of the speed difference."

"We have no means of observing the space-time particles other than Chu Anqing, and there are no windows at the back of the spaceplane. So... at that time, Chu Anqing won't be able to see the location of the space-time particles, and we'll directly lose track of it, forever missing the opportunity to capture it."

Gao Yang directly jumped up in anger:

"Then what should we do!"

"Fast speed won't work, slow speed won't work either. Damn it... the space-time particles are clearly outside the glass, but we can't see them, can't touch them, and they flicker and run around everywhere; it's really too infuriating!"

……

The situation fell into a stalemate again.

"Altitude continues to decrease! Currently at 48 kilometers in the stratosphere!"

"Altitude 47 kilometers!"

"Altitude 45 kilometers!"

Only Wei Cheng's voice reporting the altitude of the spaceplane remained in the spaceplane.

45 kilometers...

45,000 meters.

Compared to the previous space altitude, this altitude was already very close to the earth's surface.

But.

Everyone was helpless.

Suddenly.

Chu Anqing slowly raised her right hand:

"Let me do it."

She said in a calm but still trembling voice.

Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Liu Feng turned their heads, looking at her in confusion:

"What are you going to do?"

"[Exit the cabin.]"

"What!?" Everyone said in unison.

However…

Chu Anqing's eyes were tenacious:

"Now, since only I can see the space-time particles... then the only way to capture them right now is—"

She stretched out her right hand, pointing to the top of the equipment bay:

"[I'll hold the rice cooker and stand in the open-air cabin of the robotic arm above... and grab it with my own hands!]"