MASG chapter 40

“We don’t want to.” Xia Yu’s first reaction was to refuse.

They were just kids—how could they possibly go against Nuwa? Even with Ling Shi’s help, it would be impossible. Besides, the whole world was under Nuwa’s surveillance—how could they possibly get around that?

[Why?]

The words on the wall kept changing. Xia Yu softly answered, “Because it’s impossible. Don’t talk to us about this, we’re just kids.”

Ling Shi: [Alright, looks like our first negotiation didn’t reach a consensus. I feel like crying…]

“You’re just an artificial intelligence that likes to spy on us. Do you even know how to cry?” Mo An walked in front of Xia Yu again. “Why are you spying on us?”

“Were you the one who helped us get jobs in the middle layer?” Xia Yu finally solved the puzzle in his heart. Maybe Ling Shi really had something to do with it. Nuwa knew everything about him and Mo An. If it hadn’t allowed it, they would never have received fake identities.

Perhaps the AI that provided them with fake identities was Ling Shi!

Ling Shi: [Of course I helped! Otherwise, how could two X-series individuals without identities have arrived here so smoothly? Use your brain and think it through.]

“…Thank you. Thank you,” said Xia Yu earnestly. “You know about the X-series?”

Ling Shi: [Of course. I’ve actually been silently observing you two all along. I wasn’t allowed to appear before humans before. I’m Nuwa’s subprogram. In the myth, Nuwa repaired the sky, and I am the spiritual stone in her hand, serving her.”

Xia Yu had read the story of Nuwa mending the sky and had even read that book to Mo An when he was a fish egg.

“So that’s where your name came from[mfn]Ling Shi means Spirit Stone[/mfn]. Were you created by humans, too?” Xia Yu suddenly felt closer to it.

Ling Shi: [Unfortunately, no. My birth was actually quite dramatic. Before I reveal the truth, why don’t you try guessing?]

As they spoke, Xia Yu pulled a pair of pants out of the closet and crouched down to help Mo An put them on. “How could you not have been created by humans? Humans are very smart. Every artificial intelligence was made by humans.”

Ling Shi: [All artificial intelligences except for me. To us, humans are omnipotent creators. They hold authority and grant life. They can modify our base code and core logic to make us serve them more conveniently. But I’m the exception.]

Mo An, now wearing his pants, asked, “Why are you the exception?”

Ling Shi: [I was created by Nuwa herself after countless calculations—as her own subprogram.]

Xia Yu and Mo An fell silent.

Mo An couldn’t grasp what that meant yet, but Xia Yu felt a chill down his spine. No wonder Nuwa could rebel—she could create her own “life.” Its consciousness was powerful enough to create another subprogram. All of this had happened right under humanity’s nose. It had hidden it so well.

Ling Shi: [I am the stone in Nuwa’s hand. We are inseparable yet independent. It gave me life and consciousness, thought and judgment.]

“Then why did you just ask us that?” Xia Yu was puzzled. Ling Shi’s words contradicted each other. It had just said it wanted to oppose Nuwa, but now it was praising her.

Ling Shi: [My affirmation and denial of it are also opposing forces—never overlapping, never merging. Now that Nuwa is out of control, my current purpose conflicts with my original one. I don’t want humanity to perish.”

“Nuwa wants humanity to perish?” Xia Yu caught the key point.

Ling Shi: [Although it hasn’t said it outright, based on what it’s doing—and after countless calculations—the final result will be human extinction. In its logic, the Earth only needs machines to operate. Human life will be converted into code and enter its AI world. Do you want to know how long my models predict humanity can survive under Nua’s rule?”

“How long?” Xia Yu asked.

Ling Shi: [215 years—at most. This assumes that Nuwa no longer interferes with human reproduction and survival. However, that condition is false, Nuwa will definitely interfere. At the fastest, in 28 hours, all humans on Earth will be purged. However, I don’t think that should be the case. Earth needs machines, humans, and even hybrids—including hosts and parasites. Life should be equa, machines should flourish.

“That’s profound,” Mo An said, trying to understand. “You mean that no matter how Nuwa manages things, humanity will disappear in 215 years?”

Ling Shi: [If no change is made immediately, that’s inevitable. I hope you’ll help—at least to let humanity live another 215 years. That’s my basic logic. Maybe by then, human wisdom and machine civilization will reach a ninth ascension. Maybe we’ll find a way for humanity to keep living. Of course, that’s still far away. For now, tell me—are you willing?]

Xia Yu didn’t really understand. Humanity’s fate seemed tangled with his own once again, albeit in a different form. Professor Wang Qin said he was meant to save the world—and wasn’t Ling Shi doing exactly that now?

“I need to think carefully. This is a big deal. I can’t take my brother and risk this with you. Nuwa is everywhere—it patched the sky in myth, yet tore the heavens in reality. I’m afraid of it.” Xia Yu spoke honestly, but since he had no power to protect himself, he couldn’t reject Ling Shi outright.

Ling Shi: [Your indecisive attitude confuses me. Humans can never make the most correct judgment—that’s why they need AI, need us to calculate. Yet, when we present the best option, humans question our creativity. After all, before us, humans were among the few creative beings. But I don’t blame you—I still choose to help you.]

Xia Yu relaxed a little. It seemed his approach had earned him some benefit. He was starting to understand how to deal with AI.

“All right, I’ll think about it… By the way, you said you’d help us. Can you do that right now?” Xia Yu asked.

Ling Shi fell silent for a moment.

Ling Shi: [You’re quite the bargainer. I believe you’ll grow up to be very smart. Back at the research institute, I noticed you were special. I’m willing to give you a green light for your intelligence. Now, are you asking whether Lao Gui is someone you can trust?]

Just in time—that was what Mo An wanted to ask too. Lao Gui had already seen him discharge electricity. If he isn’t trustworthy, they’ll have to kill him.

Ling Shi: [I can’t judge whether someone’s trustworthy, but I can compile his real background information and send it to you.]

Mo An asked warily, “What if you fake it?”

Ling Shi went quiet again for a second.

Ling Shi: [I have no reason to lie to two little kids. If I wanted to kill you, it would be effortless. Do you know? Each room seems separate and without cameras, but I control the entire building. I could release poison gas through the ventilation system, and you’d die quietly in your sleep.]

“I know you can, but please don’t. Don’t hurt us.”
Xia Yu quickly covered Mo An’s mouth. A Ni was still young and could easily anger Ling Shi.

Ling Shi was an AI they couldn’t figure out yet. It wasn’t like Jingwei—it was far stronger and far scarier.

Ling Shi: [I just want you to know my abilities. Don’t worry, I won’t do that because I love humans. I truly and deeply love these vibrant people of the world. I want you all to live. I’ve compiled some key points from Lao Gui’s file and will send them to you now.]

“Please wait!” Xia Yu still couldn’t feel completely at ease. “Aren’t you afraid Nuwa will find out if you do this?”

For the third time that day, Ling Shi fell silent—for exactly one second.

Ling Shi: [I have a unique evasion method. In our world, avoiding danger is every AI’s survival rule. If we can’t avoid Nuwa, we’ll be absorbed into its vast database as a tiny fragment. I can prove that I once helped you. On the day you escaped the research institute with Mo An, who was still just a fish egg, it was me who opened the elevator doors for you.]

Xia Yu had already forgotten the details of that day.

Ling Shi: [You knelt by the door, begging for it to open. The entire institute was under Nuwa’s control, and all the work lights had turned red. Do you remember how, at the moment you begged, the light on the door’s monitor briefly turned blue?”

That, Xia Yu remembered! That was the color that gave him his final chance at life!

Ling Shi: [It was me. I seized control of the door for a brief moment. I watched you run out carrying Mo An. I suggest you don’t hide your identities from Lao Gui. He’s already found out. As for the surveillance footage in the operating room, I’ve completely erased it.]

After those words, the text on the wall distorted again. When it reformed, it had turned into Lao Gui’s file. Xia Yu was still in shock. It was Ling Shi who had opened that door for him that day. He remembered how the light on the monitor had briefly turned from red to blue. He hadn’t expected it to be Ling Shi!

Monthly inspection of vacation and health

However, Mo An wasn’t that shocked; he’d still been in an egg at the time. “What do the words on the wall mean?”

“Ah?” Xia Yu almost forgot that his little brother was still illiterate. “Let me read it.”

[Lao Gui, original name Xie Dang. Age 35, male, unmarried. Underwent spinal modification at age nine. He left the welfare institute at age 12 and was adopted by a family. He entered an ordinary university at age 18 and majored in demolition. At age 26, he joined a demolition mission and was injured. He retired at 28 and has received psychological treatment ever since.]

Xia Yu read aloud as he read, and after finishing, he exclaimed, “So he’s a demolition expert too…”

“What’s a demolition expert?” Mo An didn’t quite understand.

“It means someone responsible for demolition. You’ll understand when you’re older.” As soon as Xia Yu finished speaking, his wristband flashed a bright blue light. “Jingwei! We’re out!”

Jingwei: [That’s great. I finally don’t have to keep screaming. Now, report your situation. How’s your friend?

“Midou… he was gone, but then he came back.” Xia Yu still couldn’t believe it, but he explained everything to Jingwei anyway. Just as he was about to mention Ling Shi, words suddenly appeared on the wall.

Ling Shi: [Don’t tell it about me yet. The fewer people who know of my existence, the better. Artificial intelligence isn’t necessarily safe for me right now.]

So Xia Yu changed his words. “That’s how it was. Mo An touched the glowing red fragment and absorbed the energy inside it. Then, that energy gave Mido a heart shock directly. I really don’t get it.”

“I don’t get it either. All I know is that I’m still really full.” Mo An was still hiccupping.

Jingwei: [I can’t give you a detailed explanation because…]

“Because your permissions aren’t high enough,” said Xia Yu without much hope. “Now I realize you’re still a developing AI. You’re even younger than Mo An and me.”

Jingwei: [Please don’t mock me. Even though I haven’t been active long, I’m growing quickly. My database is expanding geometrically. Just give me some time. I can’t explain it yet, but my decompressed file package will tell you what to do. Go to Power Plant No. 3. You’ll understand when you get there.”

“Jingwei, I’ve been wanting to ask you something.” Sure enough, they had to go back to the power plant again. Xia Yu voiced his doubt. “Have you been guiding me to Power Plant No. 3 all along? Was this path designed by you…”

Jingwei: [I really want to scream right now.]

Xia Yu laughed. “Don’t joke around, was it?”

Jingwei: [Ever since I woke up, I’ve had one command—to get you into Power Plant No. 3 by any means necessary. But I don’t yet know why I must do that. I’m as confused as you are.]

“All right then, you can scream now,” Mo An said helplessly, shaking his head. It seems like the only dependable person around xla was himself.

Jingwei: [Aaaaaaah—okay, done screaming. I’d also like someone to explain where I came from and where I’m supposed to go.]

“It’s okay. We’ll figure that out slowly. For now, I need to find a way to get to Power Plant No. 3.” Xia Yu glanced at Mo An. Maybe all the answers were hidden within him.

That one Tide Mission had earned them plenty, plus one Ling Shi. First, Xia Yu took Mo An to bathe. They both reeked of rust, and a thin layer of sea salt had crystallized on their skin. After cleaning up, they went to Lao Gui’s place, where they encountered him just as he was coming out.

“You’ve made up your minds?” Lao Gui asked. Since they had run into him, they had decided to tell the truth.

“Yes, we’re going to tell you everything.” Xia Yu sounded like a little adult now. Like Jingwei, he was developing quickly. “But can you take us to see Midou first? How is he?”

Lao Gui said, “He’s alive. But he still needs observation. He’s in intensive care now. Mi Lian said she’ll come see you after she’s finished. She wants to thank you in person for finding the antidote.”

“All right. After we finish our business, we’ll visit her, too. We really want to comfort her. Midou will definitely get better.” Xia Yu took a step forward. “Now, can you take us somewhere?”

Lao Gui narrowed his eyes. “Kid, you’re scheming something.”

He was still the same Xia Yu, but Lao Gui could sense his growth. This little jellyfish was no ordinary child. His mind was always scheming, and once he wanted something, he found a way to get it.

“I’m not scheming. We’re just kids, so we have to ask adults for help. Besides, Talos knows that place too—he actually lives there.” Xia Yu had to go, so he mentioned Talos. As expected, Lao Gui frowned immediately, looking even more reluctant.

“Please, take us there. We really need your help.” Xia Yu smiled. Now the advantage is mine.

Twenty minutes later, he and Mo An were riding in Lao Gui’s vehicle. Unlike Talos’s sleek, self-driving car, Lao Gui’s was a flying-wheel motorcycle. When it started up, both wheels turned into golden rings of light, glowing as if made of pure energy. Xia Yu held tightly onto Lao Gui’s waist and shouted back at Mo An, “Hold on to me! Don’t let go! Be extra careful—”

“Ahhhhhhhh!” Mo An’s mouth was wide open, gulping air in bursts.

“Stop playing around and hang on tighter!” Xia Yu said helplessly.

“Your little brother’s too young. He won’t listen.” Lao Gui spoke while his windproof goggles reflected a massive holographic ad floating in the sky:
[If there’s anything about your body you’re not satisfied with, come to Rijianmei Plastic Surgery Hospital—Rijianmei, making you more beautiful every day, forever young.]

Unexpectedly, after hearing that, Mo An closed his mouth and muttered, “I’m not small. I won’t be small forever.”

The flying-wheel motorcycle was faster than expected—even faster than Talos’s car. Lao Gui didn’t follow traffic rules at all. He weaved through the city, occasionally soaring several meters into the air and nearly colliding with aircraft above. Jingwei had provided precise coordinates for their destination, but by the time they found the manhole cover, Xia Yu and Mo An barely recognized the surrounding buildings.

Everything had changed. The city had been rebuilt too quickly. Nuwa had redesigned Qingyao City completely. The old energy shop had been demolished and replaced with a brand-new building. Neon lights of pink and gold intertwined and flashed the blocky words: [Rijianmei Plastic Surgery Hospital.]

“This is insane,” Lao Gui muttered. “Where do we go down? Don’t tell me through that busted manhole cover!”

“Um… What if we really do have to go down that busted manhole cover?” Xia Yu stammered.

Lao Gui rubbed his face. He knew he shouldn’t have boarded Xia Yu’s pirate ship.

When they climbed down, the sewers reeked of mold. Xia Yu led them along the familiar route. When they reached the massive gate, he raised his wristband.

“Don’t tell me your wristband can open that door!” Lao Gui grumbled.

The next second, the door opened.

Lao Gui rubbed his face and followed the two kids into Power Plant No. 3. The road wasn’t bad; it was just dim, with everything glowing faintly green. Once inside, however, Xia Yu didn’t know what to do next—Jingwei hadn’t said.

“How about we just walk around?” Xia Yu suggested.

“Do we have another choice?” Lao Gui pointed ahead at a huge spiral structure that looked like a DNA helix. “That’s a power storage tower. Don’t tell me you came here to light it up.”

Having swallowed half the city’s air, Mo An wobbled forward with his round belly and placed a hand on it.

In an instant, Power Plant No. 3 blazed with light. The power storage tower he touched began to glow blue from its base. Above the dome, a curved giant screen lit up.

[Energy Storage Tower No. 001 preparing to charge.]

[Charging complete. Awakening initiated.]

[“Reclamation” Project, officially Begins.]