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“For example, if the time-space change is small and doesn’t impact the world much, then I think the change in the time-space curvature will also be small. Naturally, the numbers on the time-space clock will reflect that minor change.”

“But if the time-space change is significant, and the event has a massive impact on the future, sweeping across the world and creating drastic transformations, then the numbers on the time-space clock will change significantly too. That’s my belief. It could even be…”

Liu Feng extended his right index finger and pointed at the zero before the decimal on the time-space clock’s dial.

“If the time-space curvature change is large enough, even this zero before the decimal might change.”

“But right now, without any data to reference, it’s pointless to discuss these hypotheticals. Once the numbers on the time-space clock change for the first time, we’ll have some rough guidelines. After observing a few more times, we’ll naturally summarize the rules and fully grasp the laws of time-space curvature.”

“Alright,” Lin Xian nodded. “I came to see you this time to check on the time-space clock and see how you’re doing. Let’s leave it at that for now. Don’t stop the research on the Universal Constants either. We should approach this from multiple angles and not place all our hopes on the time-space clock and curvature.”

“Additionally…”

Lin Xian pointed to the corner of the lab table, at a time-space particle catcher shaped like a rice cooker.

“Have you done more research on the time-space particle inside? Any new progress or breakthroughs?”

Liu Feng sighed deeply. “No.”

“I know this result is hard for you to accept, but Lin Xian, this is the reality. It’s harsh, but it’s the truth. We’ve consumed all its energy because we touched the time-space particle too much when we captured it.”

“This lack of experience led to our mistake. No one knew that even slight collisions would cause it to assimilate with our time-space, rendering it worthless.”

“If we have another chance to capture one, I believe I can do better. I’ll improve the catcher and capture mechanisms to keep the internal energy of the time-space particle intact.”

“That way, we might gain something from our research. But as for this one… it’s really useless now. It has no energy, no value, no function.”

Lin Xian felt a pang of disappointment listening to Liu Feng’s explanation. “Can I take a look at it?”

“Of course,” Liu Feng said, spreading his hands. “As I mentioned before, the time-space particle has lost its activity. It won’t flash, jump, or follow any of our universe’s physical laws.”

“You can even touch it without anything happening. I’ve already done that. It doesn’t have a physical form, but there’s a faint, strange sensation when you touch it. I’ve also experimented with placing it on a table or the floor, and it doesn’t penetrate through.”

“This is what I mean by ‘assimilated with our time-space.’ At this point, this time-space particle is essentially part of our time-space, which is why it has no value or energy anymore. It’s a simple logic.”

As Liu Feng explained, Lin Xian walked to the lab table. He wiped the dust off the rice cooker-shaped catcher. The small display still showed two lines of text that seemed to have frozen in time:

Time-Space Particle: Capture Successful!

Capture Time: March 28, 2024, 00:42

This was Chu An Qing’s 20th birthday, a capture achieved through desperate efforts.

After cleaning the rice cooker, Lin Xian touched its cold stainless steel surface and sighed deeply. He pressed the button to lift the lid.

With a click, the lid popped open. Lin Xian peered inside and saw a crystal-blue time-space particle, floating silently in the center of the rice cooker’s inner chamber, untouched by the walls.

It was magical, like magnetic levitation, though it wasn’t. It simply used a similar principle of fields to confine the particle.

Now, the time-space particle had indeed lost its activity. The previously intense lightning, the turbulent core, and the crackling electric arcs were all gone. It looked as if it were asleep, utterly peaceful, docile, and lazy, with no hint of its once wild nature.

Lin Xian observed it closely. Although the time-space particle still resembled a small blue electric ball, it no longer had the fierce electric sparks or the turbulent core. The blue filaments inside spread out evenly, drifting slowly… very slowly… almost imperceptibly, appearing not only non-threatening but even timid.

This is what a time-space particle looks like after losing its activity and energy—a once-dominant alien force now reduced to a tame companion.

Lin Xian reached out his right hand and touched the particle inside the rice cooker. Since Liu Feng had already touched it without issues, Lin Xian had no reservations.

His fingers descended, touching the time-space particle. The sensation… was exactly as Liu Feng described.

Indeed, with closed eyes, one could feel something faintly there, a very slight touch, almost like a spider web or a breeze. But when you consciously tried to touch it, the sensation vanished. However, when you did so unconsciously, the faint contact returned—a feeling beyond words, perhaps better described as an illusion.

Now, with his entire hand inside the particle, Lin Xian felt it remain stable, almost lazily sleeping. The smooth spherical interior showed no reaction to his presence.

He tried to grasp the particle, but it wouldn’t cooperate. It stayed inert, unaffected by Lin Xian’s attempts to move it within the rice cooker.

“It seems that ordinary people touching a time-space particle won’t trigger any extreme reactions or cause them to awaken any memories or have information inserted into their brains, like Chu An Qing.”

“Of course not,” Liu Feng said, shrugging. “After all, we’re not Millennium Steles. I suspect that normal people and objects won’t react to time-space particles. Only Millennium Steles or other entities from outside this time-space might react.”

“But we can’t draw conclusions from a single instance. We can only say that based on Chu An Qing’s experience, Millennium Steles touching time-space particles will gain some memories and have extreme reactions. As for other things… without experimental data, we can’t make a definitive judgment.”

“You always suspected that Yellow Finch is a time traveler from the future, right? She doesn’t belong to this time-space either. Maybe you should let her touch the particle and see if something happens.”

“Forget it,” Lin Xian refused decisively. “If Yellow Finch thinks it’s necessary to touch the time-space particle, she would have done so already. She’s a decisive woman and doesn’t need our reminders.”

“Besides, her physical condition seems quite poor now. I don’t want to trouble her further. She’s already helped us with so many problems and given us numerous hints. We can’t rely on her forever, Liu Feng. We need to become strong ourselves.”

Liu Feng nodded in agreement. “You’re right. We can’t always trouble Yellow Finch. The time-space particles and Universal Constants are our responsibilities. She’s helped us enough.”

“Also, I’ve realized that my hypothesis was flawed. Not all external entities will react to time-space particles. For example, Chu An Qing isn’t an external entity. Her pupils are normal, and she’s never experienced time-space rejection. This proves she’s a native of our time-space.”

“I believe the laws of time-space are absolute, and no one can surpass them. Chu An Qing’s normal eyes and lack of rejection confirm she belongs here.”

“So, it seems that only Millennium Steles have the unique trait of gaining memories and extreme reactions from touching time-space particles, or perhaps it’s just an anomaly. Unfortunately, with Chu An Qing gone and the time-space particle inactive, we can’t investigate further.”

Listening to Liu Feng’s analysis, Lin Xian withdrew his hand from the rice cooker and stared intently at the ghostly blue time-space particle. “Are you really sure… this time-space particle is completely useless now?”

Lin Xian was unwilling to accept this fact and pressed further. “Isn’t it possible that our current knowledge and technology are inadequate, preventing us from discovering its uses?”

Liu Feng paused, then looked at Lin Xian meaningfully. “From a scientific standpoint, I can’t deny your view. I understand how you feel, Lin Xian. We’ve all sacrificed so much, and Chu An Qing even gave her life to capture this particle… it’s hard to accept this outcome.”

“But as your friend and the scientist supporting you, I can’t lie to you or deceive you for comfort. That would harm you and potentially lead you off the right path.”

“Please believe me. For now, this time-space particle… is indeed useless. It has fully assimilated with our time-space.”

“What should we do with it?” Lin Xian asked, closing the rice cooker lid with a bang and looking at Liu Feng. “This precious thing… even if it’s just a keepsake, we can’t leave it lying around here. This lab isn’t safe enough.”

“How about buying a couple of safes?” Liu Feng suggested. “But that wouldn’t solve much besides taking up space. Besides, safes aren’t absolutely secure. Since I don’t need the time-space particle for my current experiments, if you have a suitable warehouse or vault, you should take it and store it safely.”

A warehouse… a vault… Lin Xian immediately thought of Time Bank. He remembered the aluminum alloy safes and the note Chu An Qing left for him. After all, this time-space particle was captured by her for him. Even if Liu Feng believed it was useless, Lin Xian couldn’t bear to discard it.

“Alright, I’ll take it with me,” Lin Xian said, hugging the rice cooker as he left the lab at Donghai University. “If the numbers on the time-space clock change, indicating a shift in time-space curvature, let me know immediately.”

“Don’t worry, Lin Xian. I’ll keep an eye on it,” Liu Feng assured him.

In the back seat of the Alpha business car, Lin Xian hugged the rice cooker and gazed out at the bustling cityscape. This was Donghai City, 600 years into the future.

The city had undergone many changes, witnessing the sea turn into mulberry fields. The first dream remained stagnant in technology, the second saw a century of regression, the third showed a world in turmoil, and the fourth transformed into a sci-fi metropolis.

There was no clear pattern, confirming Lin Xian’s initial realization: time-space changes were uncontrollable and nearly illogical.

He began to worry. When the dream world changed again to the fifth dream, would the world become a better place? He pondered what constituted a better world. Initially, he thought a world with stagnant technology was terrible, but now he saw it as the best option. For Big Cat Face, the regressed Donghai of the second dream was his happiest and most fulfilling time.

What makes a world good? Lin Xian realized there might be no definitive answer. But one thing was certain: a world that required sacrificing a 20-year-old girl every 24 years to sustain the Millennium Steles was definitely not the best. That was undoubtedly wrong.

“If we could solve the Millennium Steles problem, letting these girls live normal lives and age naturally…”

Lin Xian thought about the sudden, all-consuming white light at the end of each dream. Without the Millennium Steles, would the white light still exist? Would the world 600 years into the future peacefully see the dawn of August 29?

Why must history be locked? This question always filled Lin Xian with disgust. Why? He had to find the true mastermind behind the Millennium Steles and ask why!

Screech—the Alpha business car came to a smooth stop. The driver turned back. “Mr. Lin Xian, we’ve arrived at Time Bank.”

As Lin Xian stepped out of the car, Brother Wang, who had been eagerly waiting, rushed over, his belly leading the way. “Hahaha, Lin Xian! You finally made it! We’ve been waiting for you since the trial opening!”

Brother Wang, living his dream, wanted to hug Lin Xian, but the rice cooker in Lin Xian’s arms prevented it.

“What’s this?” Brother Wang asked, puzzled. “Why did you bring a rice cooker?”

Lin Xian smiled slightly. “Brother Wang, this is what I need to store in the safe.”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Brother Wang exclaimed, understanding dawning. “A time capsule within a time capsule! This is clever, hiding it even more securely! I just didn’t expect the rice cooker trick… really ingenious!”

“Come on, come in. I’ve been dying to show you our bank,” Brother Wang said enthusiastically, pulling Lin Xian into Time Bank.

The impressive entrance and eye-catching sign clearly showed Time Bank’s financial strength. Inside the busy lobby, Lin Xian noticed people waiting in line for various services.

“These folks aren’t here for safes; they’re here for financial services,” Brother Wang explained, seeing Lin Xian’s curiosity. “You were worried we’d go out of business with a single service, so we added long-term financial services like investments, funds, and insurance, thanks to Ms. Zhao Ying Jun’s uncle’s help. It’s another revenue stream for us.”

“Not many clients are buying safes right now; we’ve sold about fifty, with some cancellations. But we’re not concerned about that. This is a long-term business meant for decades, even centuries. Our business will boom when hibernation pods become mainstream! By then, these hundreds of aluminum alloy safes won’t be enough. Who could resist opening a time capsule they buried centuries ago?”

As he spoke, Brother Wang led Lin Xian to the back storage area. Perhaps due to Time Bank’s substantial financial backing, the security level of the warehouse was top-notch.

The entire wall was thick alloy. Lin Xian wasn’t sure if it was aluminum alloy, but it looked strong enough that C4 wouldn’t blow it open.

This made him a bit worried. If he and CC needed to sneak into Time Bank 600 years in the future, how would they get past this?

However, seeing Brother Wang operate and unlock the metal door with an electronic password lock reassured Lin Xian. It was still just an electronic password lock, and with CC, the password expert, it would be manageable.

“Come on, Lin Xian, let me show you our aluminum alloy safes!” Brother Wang urged excitedly.

Inside, Lin Xian looked around. The sight was as grand as the photos Brother Wang had sent him: walls of concrete embedded with aluminum alloy safes.

Seeing it in person was impressive.

Brother Wang soon led him to the central area and pointed to Safe 66 with a grin. “Look! This is the one I reserved for you!”

“All the safes are identical in size, material, and craftsmanship, so there’s nothing customizable. But some clients like picking numbers, so I saved the best one for you!”

Brother Wang then pointed around. “For privacy, there are no cameras in the safe storage room. That’s essential because these aluminum alloy safes use mechanical password locks that can only be set once. The password can never be changed.”

“So we prioritize privacy over some security. This warehouse’s security and defense are high enough, and it’s in the city center, so thieves are unlikely. Even if they come, they’ll have to crack the safe’s password. Otherwise, these robust aluminum alloy safes can’t be blown open, even with large bombs. Most items here have sentimental value, not monetary worth, so stealing from here isn’t worth it.”

Brother Wang pulled open the safe labeled with Lin Xian’s name, removed the protective device from the lock, and reminded Lin Xian. “Remember, the password lock is extremely precise. Once you set the password, it can never be changed! Think carefully before setting it.”

“When you set the password, place the rice cooker inside, then set the password on the eight dials outside. Close the safe door, and the password lock will engage, completing the setup. The password will remain unchanged for a lifetime, centuries, or millennia.”

Brother Wang then pointed to the door. “I’ll wait outside. Our policy requires staff to leave when clients store items or set passwords. Knock on the door when you’re done, and I’ll open it for you.”

With that, Brother Wang left, and the door closed with a bang. In the vast space filled with safes, Lin Xian found himself alone again, spanning 600 years.

He pressed the button to open the rice cooker lid, revealing the quiet time-space particle glowing blue. He placed the neatly folded note from his pocket, which had stayed with him unseen, inside the rice cooker, next to the particle.

Bang. The lid closed, sealing the particle and the note for 600 years.

Lin Xian felt the rice cooker in his hands grow heavier, burdened with promises and fate.

“We’ll meet there,” he whispered, placing the rice cooker inside the aluminum alloy safe with a clink.

Lin Xian took a deep breath, recalling what VV once said. He had told VV he would set a new password for the Time Bank safe, curious about the original password and contents.

VV, the super AI, had thought for a few seconds before replying, “Lin Xian, there might not be any original items or passwords. The safe’s password and contents might have always been the same. You’ll understand when the historical loop closes.”

“In the moment you use the safe, set the password, and store items, history completes its loop. And you’ll realize that from your first sight of the safe to opening it 600 years later, it never changed.”

“No matter how time-space shifts, the safe’s contents and password remain the same.”

In this moment, Lin Xian seemed to understand. He pushed the heavy door of the aluminum alloy safe shut and looked at the eight shiny password dials below the lock, reflecting a bright silver light.

Almost without hesitation, he turned the dials to the first password that came to mind.

This was the note Chu An Qing wrote for him, the particle she sacrificed to capture, the answer she gave to verify the dream’s reality. Their shared secret, but ultimately, the note held Chu An Qing’s own secret…

Bang! The heavy aluminum alloy safe locked for the first time, sealing its eternal password. As timeless as history, never to change.

Time and years,

Space and worlds,

History and the future,

Closed in this moment.

Lin Xian stepped back and looked at the eight digits on the password dials:

20240328

He would always remember this day.