The complexity people feel when understanding ti mainly stems from the inability to anchor an absolutely perfect temporal reference fra.
Take the dice traces Cheng Shi had left in the underground experint ground. For the current Cheng Shi — who hadn't yet visited the experint ground — those traces represented a future. But for the Cheng Shi who'd used retrogression to return to the surface, they were already the past.
Regardless of future or past, under the talent Elusive Chip, these positions remained traceable — and separated by a very short interval.
So Cheng Shi was back. He hadn't even reached the west district timber warehouse. From a suitable distance, he simply snapped his fingers — and materialized inside the underground lab's corridor corner.
His only worry was whether his intrusion would be detected again by the three grand scholars who'd blocked him before. But this ti, the infiltration was perfect. All the grand scholars were busy inside the experint ground, thodically preparing the retrogression experint. At this stage, the only experintal material was the Barren Walker.
Cheng Shi used the sa trick. He hid a scholar, swapped clothes, and strolled in once more.
This ti he caused no commotion. He went straight to the platform below Volent's position and requested to report experintal data to the security scholars on guard.
Scholars weren't fools. What experintal data would soone responsible for outer facility maintenance possibly have? Atmospheric dust particle density?
They drew their staffs to stop his approach and imdiately triggered the alarm.
At this sensitive juncture, an experint that determined the Tower of Logic's survival tolerated zero errors. Every scholar was on high alert. More security scholars converged. They eyed Cheng Shi gravely.
"Acier — what are you doing?"
Cheng Shi smiled: "I said — I have experintal data to report."
The lead security scholar didn't buy it. Frowning, he ordered Cheng Shi seized. But right then, Cheng Shi shouted up at the experint platform:
"Grand Scholar Volent — I have experintal data regarding the traitors to report!"
The shout drew every eye. Soon, Asgis and two others appeared before him — the trio clearly in charge of security.
Asgis's shadowed gaze swept over Cheng Shi repeatedly. Only after confirming he bore no malice did he speak into the comm channel:
"Subject replaced. But doesn't appear hostile."
The channel replied: "Bring him up."
So, under bewildered stares, Cheng Shi was escorted by security scholars to the experint platform. Six grand scholars stood in a row before him. Even as puppets, they radiated crushing pressure.
Think about it — the last individual worthy of the full Erudition Presidium's deliberation was probably so major experint they'd been deciding whether to fund, or the strategy against Galusha. Now it was Cheng Shi.
When six gazes — solid as physical weight — pressed down on him, he realized: even sight had mass.
That mass was the hope carried by generations of Tower of Logic scholars — and the grand scholars' anxiety over this experint's success.
Cheng Shi inhaled deeply. Without wasting ti, he told them everything.
"You don't need to know who I am. Lengthy explanations are pointless. Just know that this experint ground has been infiltrated.
Galusha is inside. She's hiding among the first echelon scholars. Every experint platform has her people. She may not know the details of your contingency plan, but she's thoroughly prepared on the personnel front.
If they aren't purged imdiately, this experint will fail irreversibly.
Grand Scholar Volent — I trust you can determine whether I'm speaking truth. I may not like you, but right now, on the matter of preserving the Tower of Logic and ensuring this experint's success, we are perfectly aligned!"
Cheng Shi's words changed every scholar's complexion. The six grand scholars exchanged dark glances, communicating silently. Then Ernie spoke:
"How do you know all this?"
Cheng Shi smiled: "As I said — explaining is pointless. Just launch the screening imdiately. The facts will prove I'm not lying."
"..."
Volent studied Cheng Shi for a long mont, then once again demonstrated a [Truth] authority's decisiveness.
He nodded and imdiately dispatched the three non-presiding grand scholars to begin a fresh round of screening. Then he turned to Cheng Shi:
"What do you want?"
'?'
'Are scholars really this perceptive?'
'I hadn't even considered asking for anything, and you're volunteering?'
'If I don't speak up, wouldn't that be disrespecting myself?'
Cheng Shi's eyes spun. Grinning: "I've heard the Ritual of Truth—"
"Understood. Escort our guest down to rest. Notify him when the screening results are in."
Without sparing Cheng Shi another glance, Volent returned to work.
'Bro — what exactly did you "understand"?'
'Co on, what negotiations don't start with opening high? At least give
a chance to lower my ask...'
Cheng Shi tried to protest, but objection denied — the security scholars dragged him straight out.
He could've resisted. But he didn't. Until Galusha's moles were purged, he wouldn't disrupt the scholars. So he went quietly.
On his way down from the experint platform, another elevator rose carrying scholars clutching tablets, rushing to report data.
In that passing mont, Cheng Shi recognized one face.
He didn't know the scholar's na. But the build and features closely matched the person who'd activated the experint from Volent's platform last ti!
Back then, standing on the departure platform, Cheng Shi had not only grabbed Galusha but also looked toward Volent's direction seeking backup — inadvertently glimpsing the figure behind Volent. Now, encountering the sa person again, recognition was instant.
"That one is Galusha's agent — careful!"
Cheng Shi pointed and snapped his fingers, teleporting back to the experint platform. He seized a guard's weapon and, the instant the suspect scholar arrived, pressed the blade to his throat. Eyes sharp:
"Surprise, scholar. We et again."
The reporting scholar froze. But his eyes flashed not with confusion — with alarm.
'Confird — compromised!'
The suspect's reaction told every surrounding scholar everything. Attention shifted from Cheng Shi's mysterious return to why their colleague had just exposed himself.
"Korius — since when!?"
Scholars ford a circle around the suspect. From behind, Volent's voice was cold:
"Take him down. Ensure the experint proceeds orderly."
But at that command, Korius suddenly raised his right hand — pinky extended toward Volent — and without hesitation drove it toward his own eye, exactly like Galusha before him.
Too bad—
CRACK—
"GHLK—"
He failed!
'Are you kidding? The first ti was inexperience. Now that I know what you people do — did you really think I'd let you detonate?'
Cheng Shi seized the scholar's hand, dislocated his joints, and slamd an elbow into his upper abdon — dropping Korius to the ground.
"Restrain him. Watch the others — they may be able to self-detonate."
Everyone stared at Cheng Shi with astonishnt — as if this stranger-colleague were an omniscient prophet.
But a prophet could only foretell — not prevent what was coming.
Because just as this platform's threat was neutralized, violent explosions erupted from the other two experint platforms.
The shockwave threw countless scholars to the floor. Cheng Shi's pupils contracted. He spun around — and through the chaos, saw the entire experintal apparatus activating again!
"!!??"
Galusha's figure reappeared on the departure platform. Only this ti, she was dragging several scholars' corpses.
Cheng Shi leaned forward, locking eyes with her — and saw madness so thick it couldn't be wiped away.
...
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