339: Chapter 119 In the end 339: Chapter 119 In the end The program left by the Eighth Martial God injected tens of thousands of needles into Xiang Shan’s biological brain.
These needles were the accumulated wealth of the Burrow Dragons from the Black Valley Lineage, created from a special crystal that could maintain extrely high electrical conductivity at the nanoscale.
These needles discharged between the neurons of Xiang Shan’s brain, according to a specific pattern.
The electric field energy from the isotope battery expelled the charged particles near the ion channels of Xiang Shan’s nerve cells, driving so sort of “program” within the brain.
All of Xiang Shan’s sensations were overtaken.
He lost perception of the outside world, but at the sa ti, the electric current flowing out of those needles surged between his brain’s neurons.
He still had “sensations” entering his consciousness.
These were visual signals, auditory signals, even tactile and olfactory signals…
It could be any signal.
Xiang Shan’s existing mories were forcefully evoked, one after another.
“Each generation does what it must.
As a mber of my generation, I develop new technologies, promote industrial upgrading, and extend peace for humanity by a few more years.
The next generation will do the sa.”
“This is one of our research projects, with the internal code ‘HXD126,’ an enzy that ‘maybe’ can repair the nervous system—a magic of life.”
“The state has a project that requires your participation.
Would you be willing?”
“They killed him!
They killed him!
They…
”
“Aren’t you going ho, boss?
Today is the Republic’s Lunar New Year’s Eve, I thought you were eager to return to the country to reunite with your family.”
“Ha!
You actually praise another woman in front of !
Stupid straight man!
Eat my Cross Impact Wave!
Awoo!”
“This is the taste of victory.”
“We are the ones who steal the Heavenly Fire…
”
“But I feel that history has turned a new page—our next generation’s view of the universe will be completely different from ours.”
“Mountains…
Mom always hoped that you could live a happy life.”
“You can’t win over everyone.
People are ultimately different…
and ‘righteous causes’ are different, too.
Different people will hold on to their own ‘righteousness’…
Speaking of which, haven’t you stopped driving?
I’m sleepy.”
“Let’s create a new technology.
Combine open access with decentralized production to make sothing that anyone can use once they have it.
I’ll call it ‘Martial Arts’.”
“Hey, boss…
Have I beco a person now?”
The Rama Project District, the alleys of Southeast Asia, the hospitals of Beiping, the research institutes, the bases of the Northern Country, ho…
The tender texture of roasted at, the spiciness of Erguotou…
That lecture, that outstretched hand.
All of these things erged in Xiang Shan’s consciousness, then blended together and began to spin rapidly.
All those sounds and all those images, even the sense of sll and taste, all swirled together, eventually forming a great void.
Xiang Shan fell into the hole.
Xiang Shan fell into Xiang Shan.
Xiang Shan plumted amid raging torrents.
It was just an illusion, so the fall would not stop.
He saw the direction he was falling—it was the bottomless Abyss of Heaven.
And then…
a strange music began to play.
It sounded a bit like a piano, but not quite the sa.
This was a note struck directly between the neurons in Xiang Shan’s brain, hitting his soul directly.
It gradually overwheld other lodies, becoming the background music amid the storm.
“It starts with one…
All I know…
so unreal…”
The faint sound of a song.
Xiang Shan felt his soul being struck entirely.
Tears…
perhaps the tears in the illusion.
He was completely shattered by this song.
This was the background music Xiang Shan chose for Xiang Shan.
Xiang Shan chose to evoke this song at this mont.
“I tried so hard and got so far…”
Xiang Shan’s soul responded.
This song from mory seed to burst from his chest: “But in the end, it doesn’t even matter.”
Emotions surged as if to break apart.
In the illusion, emotions beca literal force, sweeping Xiang Shan further downward.
In his descent, Xiang Shan saw an angelic figure above.
“Only after passing through seven layers of solitude can you beco a true warrior, ‘our world’ is thus born…” the Angel—Xiang Shan to Xiang Shan said, “Go on, break through the seven layers of solitude.”
—That sentence…
Xiang Shan continued to fall.
He vaguely rembered…
no…
It seed he understood.
The Abyss of Heaven below was sothing he had gazed into…
It was the bottomless dark abyss above human nature.
The Undead erged from the Abyss above and ran rampant in the world.
He had thought these Undead were the greatest enemy.
But the Abyss always existed.
It existed in the world, and also within his own heart.
Xiang Shan continued to fall, engulfed by darkness.
Then, he plunged into the ocean.
He was swimming.
The sun seed very toxic, and he could feel the scorching on his head.
He swam half a circle in the ocean and then reached the shore.
Jing Hongtu was sitting on the shore, wiping the seawater off his body with a towel.
Although the old man usually carried a cane, he was actually quite healthy, his arms even showing noticeable muscles.
Jing Hongtu greeted Xiang Shan, “Xiang, co and take a rest.”
Xiang Shan sat under the parasol.
Jing Hongtu stood next to him, stretching his upper body, “I heard you had a fight with Professor Vigette?
It was a big fuss.”
Xiang Shan touched his face, “I took a punch unilaterally.
I didn’t fight back.
Even if it causes a diplomatic dispute, it’s definitely not my fault.”
“Heh.
You kid…” Jing Hongtu chuckled, “How did you provoke that guy?”
“Wasn’t it because of the information leak?
We were isolated and under scrutiny.
He and I were put in the sa group.
He seed very agitated, always talking about his research, complaining that the higher-ups didn’t understand the importance of his ideas.
He detested those bureaucrats, showing so excessive rhetoric.”
“Uh-huh, and then?”
“I just said to him, ‘Hey, brother.
Think about it.
Look at it from a different angle, perhaps in their eyes, we are doing our best to destroy the world, while they are protecting the existing world’?”
“There’s so truth to that.”
“Then he got mad, and hit with a punch.
Everyone saw it.”
Jing Hongtu nodded, “Then in this case, you’re more in the right.
You do understand ‘the other side’s’ point of view pretty well.”
Xiang Shan sighed, his expression sowhat somber.
“What’s wrong?
Aren’t you happy to be complinted?”
“No.” Xiang Shan shook his head, “Actually…
the way Professor Yawgmoth was so resolute in expressing his opinions, it kindled a bit of passion in .
I envy that bold way of living.
These past few days I’ve also been reflecting…
is it really my problem?
I too detest bureaucracy…”
“Good for you.
You’re also skilled at considering your actions from other perspectives, even understanding the principle of ‘compromising with reality.'”
Xiang Shan touched his neck, “Teacher Jing, the way you put it…
I can’t tell if you’re praising or scolding .”
“Of course, I’m praising you,” Jing Hongtu said with a smile, “You actually have the qualities to beco a ‘manager.'”
Xiang Shan’s expression changed, “After all this talk, you’re also a lobbyist for the organization.”
“Ha, don’t make it sound so ugly,” Jing Hongtu replied, “Are you not happy to be given an official position?”
Xiang Shan shook his head, “Not happy.
Really not happy.
Any fool can see that after such a big incident with the information leak, the position of heading this research institute is about cleaning up a ss or even taking the bla.
Who dares to say they can certainly catch those top-level hackers who have backdoors everywhere?”
“Look on the bright side.
Since everyone knows it’s about taking the bla, if you actually end up taking it, no one will think it’s your fault.
There are many people who can’t even beg for a chance to take the bla for the organization.”
“Let those who seek it take over,” Xiang Shan spread his hands, “Let another person be appointed from within the country.”
“Heh,” Jing Hongtu shook his head, “Director Wang certainly wouldn’t be happy about that.”
“Director Wang…” Xiang Shan struggled to rember the na of the Republic’s top person in charge of the Rama Project, “He’s not happy?
Why not?”
“People inevitably have their own circles of intimacy.
The Rama Project has now beco a not-too-big, not-too-small, just right coveted position.
Director Wang definitely wouldn’t be happy if another uncontrollable dostic force reached out here.”
Xiang Shan frowned, “The Rama Project isn’t his personal property, right?
He can’t…
ignore national interests…”
“Who said that?
I didn’t,” Jing Hongtu appeared surprised, “This could be the very manifestation of his loyalty, couldn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“Consider this, the people who can form a faction are those recognized by each other.
Maybe in the eyes of this faction, only their own side are ‘Competent Officials,’ and all others are ‘sowhat capable but shortsighted’ or even possibly ‘corrupt officials.’ A project such as this must not be a place for those insufficient people to gold-plate their resus.
Director Wang would either entrust power only to those he can control or to those he deems competent and responsible.
That’s his way of being loyal to the country.”
Xiang Shan slapped his face, “Does using the clout of the United Nations count?”
“Well, in a sense, the collective within the Rama Project District could be considered an independent ‘force.’ Each one of the managent team you rarely interact with will do their utmost to fight for their country’s interests.
However, if soone from their own country cos to share the credit here, they would likely have a similar reaction, wouldn’t they?”
Xiang Shan muttered, “That really makes them easy to understand…
Is this more about public interest or personal interest for them?”
“As the saying goes, ‘you can’t see a person’s heart through their stomach.’ Who knows what their true intentions are?” Jing Hongtu shrugged, “Moreover, as I just said, the line between public and personal interests isn’t always so clear-cut.”
Xiang Shan slapped his head, “So why ?
Without your explanation, I wouldn’t have understood even this much.”
Jing Hongtu folded his arms across his chest, “The Republic also needs to expand its influence in this project.
With the research institute’s head changing, the Republic needs ‘one of its own.’ On top of that, Director Wang needs ‘soone who won’t oppose him,’ preferably ‘soone who is already in the district.’ Furthermore, the scholars insist on electing a ‘scholar’ and reject the managent by an outsider bureaucrat.”
“Taking everything into account, you are the most suitable candidate.”
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