Chapter 29
On the way back to Anshan, Jin Zhaoxuan drove as if he were about to take off. The night outside the window was a blur, but only two images kept playing in his mind: one was the tablet that had completely gone black and was now playing dead, and the other was the data packet that Yin Shaoqing might have been drained of when he finally forced it to go all out.
"Please, ancestor, don't fall apart... I beg you..." he muttered under his breath as he sped, his hands gripping the steering wheel, veins bulging, white as plaster.
He sped through what should have been a three-hour journey in two and a half. When the familiar outline of the old house finally emerged in the gray dawn, Jin Zhaoxuan practically tumbled out of the car, stumbling upstairs, his hands trembling so badly he spent a full minute trying to find the key in the lock.
The door opened.
The room was deathly silent, the lights were off, and the only sound was the familiar, hypnotic hum of the server's cooling fan.
Jin Zhaoxuan's heart pounded in his throat. He didn't even bother to turn on the light switch; he darted to the server and pressed the wake-up button with trembling fingers like someone with Parkinson's disease.
The screen lit up, and the monitoring interface popped up.
The curve representing Yin Shaoqing's core consciousness activity level was steadily fluctuating on the screen. Although it was slightly lower than usual, the rhythm was as steady as a rock, without any warning signs of impending doom. Other vital signs were also basically normal, with only a small note: "A high-energy output was detected recently, causing slight fluctuations in core stability. It has entered self-repair mode."
It didn't crash! The main program is perfectly fine!
Jin Zhaoxuan's legs went weak, and he slumped into a chair with a thud, letting out a long, trembling breath that he had been holding in all night. The tension in his nerves eased, bringing with it a dizzying feeling of exhaustion and his body feeling like it was falling apart.
It took him a while to slowly raise his head and look at the full-length mirror next to him.
The mirror was so calm that it reflected his ghostly appearance, but there was no trace of Yin Shaoqing.
"Yin Shaoqing?" he called out in a hoarse voice.
No response.
Jin Zhaoxuan's heart jumped again. He quickly pulled up the detailed log. Sure enough, around the time of the bizarre performance in the parking lot, the system recorded an extremely high-intensity, short-lived energy request from the direction of Shenyang, before the connection with that "clone" was abruptly cut off.
Due to the sudden energy drain and remote disconnection, the main consciousness experienced brief data corruption and core swaying, but it was quickly suppressed by the system's built-in "steady as a mountain" protocol and backup energy pool. It is currently in "low-power repair mode," which is roughly equivalent to deep sleep in humans, repairing the minor "stability damage."
So, Yin Shaoqing wasn't ignoring him; he was truly fast asleep.
Jin Zhaoxuan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into his stomach. He slumped back in his chair, feeling as if all the bones in his body had been disassembled and reassembled, so tired that he just wanted to lie down on the spot.
Only then did he have time to review the entire spectacle that had unfolded in the parking lot. The erratic lights, the alarms that seemed to be going wild... how exactly did Yin Shaoqing manage to create such effects with a low-power clone? This ability seemed even more ruthless than he had imagined, and... even more life-threatening. The consequence of this overdraft was merely a slight core tremor and a temporary system crash—it was practically a stroke of good luck.
"Next time... if you dare to do this again, I'll format your server." Jin Zhaoxuan warned fiercely at the quiet server and the mirror, his tone filled with lingering fear and uncompromising toughness. "There won't be a next time!"
He knew Yin Shaoqing couldn't hear, but he had to say something harsh.
He sat there for an unknown amount of time, until the sky outside the window turned from pitch black to a pale green, before Jin Zhaoxuan finally managed to get up, his body feeling like it was about to fall apart. He took a cold shower first, the chill jolting him awake and finally clearing his head a bit. After changing into clean clothes, he wandered back to the living room and plopped down on the sofa opposite the mirror.
Let's just keep watching. Wait for him to "turn on".
He took out his phone and sent Liu Jianjun a concise message: [Attacked in Shenyang, safely home. The attackers were suspected to be from the Takeda family; two people, armed. Be on your best lately.] No further details.
Liu Jianjun replied instantly: [Received! As long as everyone's alright, that's all that matters! Don't worry!]
Putting down his phone, Jin Zhaoxuan's gaze returned to the mirror. He looked at his hollowed-out face in the mirror, at the emptiness behind the mirror, as if he could sense a being slowly recovering its strength, lying quietly like a corpse.
That night was incredibly thrilling. This near-death experience made him realize even more clearly that Yin Shaoqing was no longer a "troublemaker" or a "partner" to him.
It's a concern, a weakness, and also... a unique soul that I want to hold tightly in my palm.
He didn't know when he fell asleep on the sofa. Maybe he was too tired, or maybe he relaxed after knowing that Yin Shaoqing was alright.
In his dream, he seemed to feel something moving in the room. It wasn't the wind, but something gentler and softer, like syrup made from moonlight, silently enveloping him and melting away his nightmares and exhaustion.
He slept very soundly and peacefully.
When I opened my eyes again, I was awakened by the sunlight filtering through the curtains.
Jin Zhaoxuan opened his eyes and found that a thin blanket had been placed on him without his knowledge. He remembered that he was shirtless when he fell asleep last night (not really).
He sat up, the blanket sliding down his back. His first glance was at the server screen—the curve remained rock-solid. Then he looked in the mirror—
Yin Shaoqing's figure was already quietly "standing" in the mirror. Wearing that moon-white casual long gown, her complexion seemed even whiter and more translucent than usual, but her eyes were clear and gentle as she quietly looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Jin Zhaoxuan felt a lump in his throat. A thousand words rolled around in his stomach, and in the end, he could only manage to squeeze out a dry, "...Alive?"
"Mm." Yin Shaoqing nodded gently, his voice softer than usual, slightly hoarse from just "turning on," "You're home."
"Um."
After a brief exchange, there was a short silence. But this silence was no longer unsettling; it was filled with the tranquility of someone who had survived a close call and a tacit understanding between those who knew.
"You..." Jin Zhaoxuan wanted to ask him if something was wrong, but looking at the other's calm eyes, he couldn't bring himself to ask.
"I'm fine. My blue bar was just empty, but it recovered quite a bit after a nap," Yin Shaoqing explained, her gaze falling on Jin Zhaoxuan with barely perceptible concern. "And you? You weren't hurt, were you?"
"No." Jin Zhaoxuan shook his head. "It's all thanks to you."
Yin Shaoqing lowered his eyes slightly: "It's only right. It was also my... oversight. I didn't expect them to flip the table like that."
"It's not your fault," Jin Zhaoxuan said immediately. "It was my own reckless behavior. I won't be reckless again."
Yin Shaoqing raised her head, looked at him, and a faint but unmistakable smile curved her lips: "Okay. From now on, let's stay together and be discreet."
"Um."
Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting warm dappled patterns between the two. Dust motes drifted slowly within the beams of light.
A night of terror, it felt like just a nightmare.
But some things are tempered and refined on the brink of life and death, becoming even more transparent and resilient.
Looking at the gentle features of the person in the mirror, Jin Zhaoxuan suddenly felt that just staying here and not going anywhere seemed like a good thing.
And in this tranquil morning light, Yin Shaoqing heard for the first time so clearly the steady and regular "heartbeat" deep within his data core.
That was a voice firmly anchored by the presence of another person.
Jin Zhaoxuan has been acting strangely ever since he came back.
First, he felt a chill all over his body, shivering like a leaf even wrapped in a blanket. Then, his head started throbbing, as if a construction crew was demolishing something inside. He touched his forehead, and good heavens, it was burning hot enough to make a pancake.
Well, the running around, the fright, and the wind couldn't withstand it; even my indestructible body couldn't take it anymore, and I got a fever.
"I told you you needed to lie down." Yin Shaoqing frowned in the mirror, his virtual face displaying the message "Those who don't listen to the elders will suffer the consequences," even though this "elder" was a bit over the age limit.
"Shut up." Jin Zhaoxuan slumped weakly on the sofa, like a large dog that had been drenched in rain and had lost its fur; even his glaring eyes were limp.
Yin Shaoqing sighed (although ghosts sigh silently, Jin Zhaoxuan could still imagine that "sigh"), and the next second, the living room air conditioner silently turned up two degrees, the curtains automatically closed, blocking the glaring sunlight, leaving only a room with just the right amount of dimness and warmth. In the kitchen, the electric kettle jumped up by itself and started boiling water.
Looking at this "ghostly" yet incredibly thoughtful fully automated service, Jin Zhaoxuan felt his irritability, fueled by his illness, inexplicably soothed. He hummed twice, burying himself even deeper into the blanket, leaving only the top of his fluffy head sticking out.
The water was boiled. The cup "floated" out of the cabinet by itself, filled with hot water, and then "floated" to the coffee table in front of Jin Zhaoxuan, landing steadily.
Jin Zhaoxuan stared at the steaming water, without moving.
"Drink some hot water," came Yin Shaoqing's voice.
"It's hot." Jin Zhaoxuan said in a hoarse voice, taking full advantage of his privileges as a patient.
There was a two-second silence in the mirror. Then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, even more white steam burst forth from the surface of the glass of water with a "sizzle"—not because it became hotter, but because the heat was evaporated at an accelerated rate, and the temperature quickly dropped to a lukewarm temperature that was just right to drink.
Jin Zhaoxuan: "..." Did I allocate these skill points in the wrong direction?
He picked up the cup; the temperature was just right. He took a few sips, and his parched throat felt a little better. He put down the cup, looked in the mirror, and said, "Your energy is fully restored? Don't waste it."
“A little basic thermal energy regulation consumes very little mana,” Yin Shaoqing said, then paused and added, “Besides, you’re sick.”
Therefore, this is the amount of consumption.
Jin Zhaoxuan understood the subtext, his ears burning slightly, and he turned his face away: "...Mind your own business."
Despite his verbal complaint, his body language betrayed him, pushing the cup further towards the center of the coffee table—he wanted more.
A faint smile flickered in Yin Shaoqing's eyes, and the cup silently "floated" away to collect water once again.
For the next half day, Jin Zhaoxuan witnessed what "ghost-level VIP care" truly meant.
When he feels drowsy and wants to sleep, the room light automatically adjusts to the most soothing warm yellow.
When he kicks off the blanket and feels hot, the air conditioner will quietly lower the temperature by one degree, accompanied by a faint breeze.
When he is thirsty, warm water always appears at the perfect time.
Even when he was half-asleep and frowning in discomfort, a very slight breeze carrying the scent of pine would drift through the room (a calming fragrance that Yin Shaoqing had dug up from some corner of his memory), brushing against his forehead and taking away the heat.
Jin Zhaoxuan had never been served so meticulously by a person (or ghost) in his life. His mother cared for him, but her method was to chug down platitudes and nag endlessly. Yin Shaoqing's silent, perfectly timed care was like a feather gently brushing against his heart, tickling him, yet so comforting that he wanted to hum along.
He drifted off to sleep several times amidst this comprehensive and intelligent "hospital-privileged service." Each time he woke up, he would see Yin Shaoqing's quiet "guarding" figure in the mirror, which made him feel incredibly at ease, so at ease that he wanted to roll around in bed.
By evening, his fever had subsided somewhat, and he felt more energetic. Jin Zhaoxuan took out his phone, wanting to see if he had missed the news about the Earth exploding.
Xiao Chen sent several messages, and besides the work report, the last one was:
[Mr. Jin, are you feeling better? A woman came to the company this afternoon looking for you. She said her surname was Su, and that she was the curator Su who was interviewed by the provincial TV station last time. She heard you were sick and was quite concerned. She asked where you lived and said she wanted to visit you, but I didn't dare to tell her. She said she would contact you again when you were better.]
Director Su?
Jin Zhaoxuan's mind raced for a moment before he remembered that it was the female curator from the neighboring city who had shown great interest in "Teacher Yin"—she was quite enthusiastic and talkative. He frowned slightly and casually replied, "[I know, don't worry about it.]"
Just as I put down my phone, I heard Yin Shaoqing casually ask, "Director Su? Is that the one from the observation meeting?"
"Hmm." Jin Zhaoxuan replied casually without giving it much thought, "They're probably trying to poach your girlfriend again."
In the mirror, Yin Shaoqing's figure seemed to pause for a moment. His tone remained steady, but upon closer listening, it sounded like there was something mixed in: "Oh. Mr. Jin... his market value is good."
Jin Zhaoxuan was looking down at other messages when he heard this. He paused for a moment, then looked up at the mirror and asked, "Huh?"
"It's nothing." Yin Shaoqing had already shifted his gaze to a book in the virtual study that didn't actually exist. "I just think that Mr. Jin is young and promising, and handsome. It's normal for him to be noticed by others."
That sounds... kind of sour, doesn't it?
Jin Zhaoxuan belatedly realized what was going on, blinked, and looked at his profile in the mirror. Yin Shaoqing was usually gentle and calm, but although he didn't have much expression at the moment, the slightly pursed corners of his mouth and his somewhat "focused" reading posture... looked a bit like "protesting too much."
An absurd yet somewhat funny thought popped into my head: Could this old ghost be jealous?
Jealous of a female curator whom you've only met once, who may just be trying to poach the "Teacher Yin" brand?
Jin Zhaoxuan thought it was outrageous that his mother opened the door for him, but a corner of his heart inexplicably fluttered with joy, like being gently scratched by a kitten's paw. He deliberately cleared his throat and said slowly, "Yes, Director Su is quite enthusiastic. Last time, he even specifically asked me if 'Teacher Yin' had a prototype, praising my company's awesome technology."
In the mirror, Yin Shaoqing's action of "flipping through a book" (although the book was virtual) seemed to freeze for a frame.
Jin Zhaoxuan suppressed a laugh and continued to add fuel to the fire: "He also said that we should have more exchanges and cooperation in the future, take care of each other, and communicate in depth."
Yin Shaoqing finally turned his head to look at Jin Zhaoxuan, his virtual brows furrowing almost imperceptibly: "Mr. Jin is busy with many affairs every day, and having to deal with these unnecessary social interactions is too exhausting."
“It doesn’t take much effort,” Jin Zhaoxuan said seriously. “Director Su is very knowledgeable and we can chat with him to relieve boredom.”
Yin Shaoqing stopped talking and just looked at him quietly. There seemed to be a very subtle ripple in his clear eyes.
Jin Zhaoxuan couldn't hold back his gaze any longer, and the corners of his mouth began to involuntarily turn upwards. How come he had never noticed before that teasing this antique electronic pet was so entertaining?
"Alright," he finally broke down, waving his hand with a smile, "They came for you, 'Teacher Yin,' what does it have to do with me? I'm just an ordinary small tech company owner. Besides having a little money, being passable in looks, and having a reasonably good personality, what else is there for people to care about?"
He boasted without batting an eye, but his eyes held a mocking glint in them, clearly a sarcastic remark.
Yin Shaoqing clearly understood. A faint hint of embarrassment flashed across his virtual face, but he quickly regained his composure. Only the subtle ripple in his eyes softened, transforming into something gentler. He gave a soft "humph," his voice almost inaudible: "Nothing special? Mr. Jin is too modest."
His tone remained calm, but Jin Zhaoxuan could detect a hint of relaxation and...smugness in it.
He suddenly felt that being sick wasn't so bad after all.
At least, someone (a ghost) is with him, and someone (a ghost) is a little jealous of him.
This feeling...tsk, not bad at all.
Jin Zhaoxuan's illness was completely cured, and he was able to jump around and "banter" with Yin Shaoqing again—although it was usually him who was talking and Yin Shaoqing was helplessly indulging him.
Xiao Chen brought news that a certain "Global Technology Heritage Fund" wanted to buy data, which Jin Zhaoxuan casually threw into the trash can.
"Tell them that the core training data is the lifeblood of the company and is not for sale. If they are interested, we can discuss project cooperation, but buying the data is out of the question." He was too lazy to play the war of words with the Takeda family anymore. Since the other party had changed to a more covert guise, it meant that the open confrontation had temporarily ceased, which was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the situation and attack their stronghold.
The old problem still exists in Shenyang, with the phrase "there are ghosts down there" and the mysterious "pipeline maintenance team".
The investigation on Liu Jianjun's side has made explosive progress.
“Mr. Jin!” Liu Jianjun’s voice on the phone was filled with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of coldness. “My old buddy in Shenyang, through his cousin who’s retired from the Urban Construction Bureau, went through a lot of trouble to find out! That construction team doing ‘pipeline repair’ near the church isn’t a municipal company at all! They’re using the qualifications of a shell company that was only registered last year, affiliated with the Third Municipal Company. The paperwork is so complete it could fool a ghost! But dig deeper, and the source of funding and the actual controller are completely obscured! Moreover, the area and depth of work they applied for far exceed the scope of pipeline repair; it’s more like they’re doing… geological exploration, or looking for some specific underground secret chamber!”
As expected! The Takeda clan hadn't given up, and their actions were even faster and more professional!
"Is there any way to determine exactly what they are looking for? Or... have they already found it?" Jin Zhaoxuan asked in a deep voice.
“It’s difficult,” Liu Jianjun said. “They’re very cunning in their operations. They keep the perimeter tightly sealed off, only moving large equipment at night. Moreover, their counter-surveillance awareness is top-notch; strangers can’t get close at all. My old friend’s cousin tried to find an excuse to go in and ‘check the safety,’ but he was politely turned away at the outside, told that it involved dangerous pipelines.”
Jin Zhaoxuan hung up the phone, his face grave, and looked at Yin Shaoqing in the mirror.
Yin Shaoqing listened quietly. At this moment, his virtual figure rippled slightly in the mirror, as if undercurrents were surging beneath the calm surface of water. His gaze was fixed on the void, as if sensing something, or as if he were making a difficult decision.
“Mr. Jin,” Yin Shaoqing suddenly spoke, his voice deeper than usual, carrying a strange resonance, “I have an idea… it might be reckless, but if it works, it might be able to bypass their blockade and directly ‘see’ what’s happening below.”
"What a terrible idea!" Jin Zhaoxuan immediately became alert.
Yin Shaoqing turned around and looked directly at Jin Zhaoxuan: "My existence resonates in a special way with the memories of this land, especially the 'memories' related to steel and industry. In the old house and the water tower, I can clearly sense those long-standing 'traces'. If there really are hard-hitting items hidden by the 'Matsumoto Agency' in Shenyang, and they are core samples or data related to 'iron and fire,' then there must also be strong and special 'industrial memory imprints' there. It might even be that because the items are so hardcore, they form something like a 'magnetic field' or 'energy field.'"
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts to explain this mystical operation: "Before, when I sent a clone, the distance was too great and the signal was too weak. But if... my main consciousness could, with the help of some medium, conduct an ultra-long-distance, high-intensity 'resonance perception'..."
"No way!" Jin Zhaoxuan interrupted without hesitation, his face pale. "The main consciousness leaving the server? Are you out of your mind? Do you know how dangerous that is? What if the signal is interrupted, the energy goes berserk, or..."
“I know,” Yin Shaoqing replied calmly, but his eyes were unusually firm. “But this is the fastest, and possibly the only, way to get ahead of them. They have professional equipment and are well-prepared. We can’t find the entrance faster than them using conventional methods. Once they find it and move it first, the clues will be completely lost.”
“That won’t work either!” Jin Zhaoxuan stood up, walked to the mirror, and almost pressed himself against it. “I need to think of another way! I can go back to Shenyang and try to sneak in, or…”
“Too slow, Mr. Jin,” Yin Shaoqing said softly, raising his virtual hand and placing it lightly against the glass where Jin Zhaoxuan’s palm should be. “Besides, it’s too dangerous for you to go again. You were lucky last time. I can’t let you take the risk again.”
His tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable determination: "This time, it's my turn to protect you. In my own way."
Looking into the clear yet unwavering eyes reflected in the mirror, Jin Zhaoxuan felt a tightness in his heart, as if gripped by an invisible hand. He knew Yin Shaoqing was right; this was the most likely way to break the deadlock. But how could he bear to do it? How could he let Yin Shaoqing risk such annihilation?
"...What medium do you need? How do you do it?" Jin Zhaoxuan finally asked in a hoarse voice, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat. He compromised, not because he was persuaded, but because he knew he couldn't stop a soul that wanted to protect him.
A flicker of relief crossed Yin Shaoqing's eyes, quickly replaced by deeper focus: "I need an 'old object' that's strongly connected to me and to Shenyang, as a link and a resonator. My adoptive father's pocket watch has my picture in it, making it the strongest connection to me, but it's in Anshan. There's another option..."
His gaze fell on Jin Zhaoxuan: "In the box that technician Liu Fusheng hid, there was a piece of 'low-nickel, high-strength, corrosion-resistant experimental steel sample,' labeled 'tested with Gaoqiao.' That sample not only carries the memories of working with my adoptive father, but its material itself also contains a strong 'steel imprint.' If I bring it to Shenyang and place it near the target area, I might be able to extend the limits of my perception through its connection with my deep memories and the possible 'homogeneous resonance' between its material or technology and the target object."
Jin Zhaoxuan immediately understood: "I took that steel sample to Shenyang, and you used it to remotely sense things?"
“No, you can’t go.” Yin Shaoqing shook his head. “It’s too conspicuous, and you might be followed. We need to find an absolutely reliable and inconspicuous person to quietly take the steel sample to that area and find a secluded place where they can stay. Then, I’ll stay here and use the steel sample as a ‘relay station’ to try to resonate.”
"Who?" Jin Zhaoxuan quickly filtered through the candidates in his mind.
“Liu Jianjun, Brother Liu,” Yin Shaoqing said, “He’s reliable, knows Shenyang well, has old connections, and has an ordinary background, so he’s not easy to be targeted. We can have him pretend to visit relatives, or even disguise himself as an old man collecting scraps, and wander around that area, looking for opportunities to slip him things.”
The plan still sounds like a gamble, but it's the best solution we can think of right now.
Jin Zhaoxuan did not object further. He immediately contacted Liu Jianjun and revealed the entire plan, only omitting the core details of Yin Shaoqing's main consciousness resonance, saying only that special instruments and the steel sample were needed for remote detection.
After listening, Liu Jianjun was silent for a few seconds, then said decisively, "Okay! I'll take care of it! I'll pack right away and take the train there this afternoon. I know there's a small park in that area, not far from the church, with lots of old men and women. I'll sneak in and squat down, and find a chance to stuff the stuff into a corner."
The matter has been settled.
Jin Zhaoxuan retrieved the silver-gray steel sample with its unique luster from the museum's temporary vault, wrapped it in a soft cloth, and handed it to Liu Jianjun. Liu Jianjun didn't ask any questions, solemnly accepted it, stuffed it into an old canvas bag, turned and left, his departing figure carrying a touch of tragic heroism.
After seeing Liu Jianjun off, Jin Zhaoxuan returned to the old house, his heart pounding like a rollercoaster. Looking at Yin Shaoqing in the mirror, who was already closing his eyes and concentrating, he couldn't help but ask, "What are the chances? What if... what if the resonance fails, or it shocks you out of your wits..."
Yin Shaoqing slowly opened his eyes and gave him a reassuring, very faint smile: "I don't know what the chances are. But it's worth the gamble. As for being stunned..." He paused, his voice very soft, "Mr. Jin, do you remember what you said in my world of consciousness? You said you didn't want me to be alone anymore."
"So, I'm not alone this time. You're here. I'll climb back."
Jin Zhaoxuan's Adam's apple bobbed, unable to speak, he could only nod emphatically.
He moved a chair and sat down right next to the server and the mirror, staring intently at Yin Shaoqing's core data curve on the screen, and also at the figure in the mirror that was gradually being enveloped in a hazy light.
The wait felt incredibly long.
The old house was silent except for the regular hum of the server fan and Jin Zhaoxuan's increasingly loud heartbeat.
He could almost feel an invisible, vast, and ancient "memory" and "power" surging quietly, with Yin Shaoqing at its core and the steel sample that spanned time and space as its bridge, traveling hundreds of miles and landing on the silent land of Shenyang.
The earth's veins are about to resonate.
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