Rule Four of the Ruins: Only non-living entities may be brought out from a Site.
This rule had already been broken. Zhao Meiyou knew that Liu Qijue’s "Creation" ability was absurdly powerful—strong enough to create a teenage version of himself that could leave a Site. However, even when that young Liu Qijue successfully escaped, he could only remain in reality for a very short time.
To create a brain that could completely replace a biological one for long-term use without being detected by the 900th floor... could such a thing truly be done?
Xiao Yao seemed to sense Zhao Meiyou’s doubt. "There is something you don't know, Dean."
"My father has actually been dead for a long time."
Years ago, when Liu Qijue was transferred to Antarctica, he was exploited as one of the first human subjects for the Fusion Experiment. Fortunately and unfortunately, he was one of the few who survived the initial stages. Later, when the quantum bomb detonated and the number of test subjects skyrocketed, he became a member of the Archaeologists once the organization matured—one of the very first pioneers of the Ruins.
Like Diao Chan, who had been forced to pull the trigger on Zhao Meiyou, Liu Qijue was also controlled by the laboratory. His moments of conscious freedom were rare. To maintain mental stability, Archaeologists underwent cycle after cycle of brainwashing. Perhaps it was an accident during one of those brain surgeries, but Liu Qijue gained a brief window of clarity. He was incredibly decisive, using that limited time to accomplish many things.
First, he found the Little Master.
The Little Master was a unique Archaeologist, almost an auxiliary member. Although he had been affected by the quantum bomb, he was underground at the time of the blast. The radiation he received was limited; he couldn't maintain a prolonged lifespan by simply swapping bodies like regular Archaeologists.
The Antarctic authorities judged that the Little Master still had utility and did not eliminate him. Simultaneously, because his brain lacked the necessary "toughness," he was spared from repeated brainwashing. He lived under strict surveillance, occasionally sent on missions due to his specialized abilities. During his brief period of lucidity, Liu Qijue altered the Little Master’s next mission brief, changing the designated exploration zone to Site A173.
Site A173 was Liu Qijue’s home turf. His control over this Site was so high that he could even maintain a degree of mental coupling with the quantum field. Thus, he placed a bet—a massive gamble.
Carrying his old illnesses and long-held dreams, in a moment of clarity he hadn't felt in a century, he voluntarily entered Site A173.
He chose to dissolve himself into the Ruins.
A few days later, following the script Liu Qijue had written before his death, the Little Master entered Site A173 to begin his exploration.
"My father’s death was a death in a very specific sense," Xiao Yao’s voice echoed through the pub over the melody of *Fly Me to the Moon*. "He chose to dissolve himself into the Site."
"A173 was Father’s primary domain. Everything within that Site moved according to his will. Because of this, he formed a hypothesis: if he dissolved into the Site actively rather than passively, there was a chance he could retain his self-awareness."
Even Zhao Meiyou felt a chill hearing this. Back at the Old Capital Research Institute, Liu Qijue’s scientific style had always been radical; anything was permissible as long as it didn't cross his moral baseline—and his own safety was rarely above that line. This tendency had only been tempered after he met the Little Master.
The probability of total annihilation after dissolving in a Site was self-evident. One could only imagine how Liu Qijue had committed such an act of near-suicide. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, with no friends in sight, he had unhesitatingly wagered himself as the final chip. Perhaps he had even felt a sense of liberation and thrill; he had been a best friend, a husband, and a slave, but in his final moments, he had returned to being his original, mad, radical self.
Since Zhao Meiyou was currently speaking to Xiao Yao in this pub, it was clear that Liu Qijue had won his gamble once again.
"After Papa entered Site A173, Father established contact with him. Initially, Father’s consciousness was in a fluid state within the quantum field and couldn't remain stable for long. Their initial communications were brief. It took a long time before Father could fully explain his plan to Papa."
"Once Father merged with the Site, he could judge the state of the quantum fields more deeply. He realized that the Metropolis was gradually becoming a 'Gate' between the quantum fields and reality. As the number of Sites increased, so did the number of 'Gates.' This wasn't necessarily a good thing. Later, Father devised a method: he created certain substances within Site A173 and had Papa try to bring them out. They succeeded. Over time, Papa discovered that matter from the quantum field could stay in reality for longer and longer periods."
"From this, Father made a judgment—the quantum fields are eroding the 'Gate.'"
"If the Metropolis continues its deep exploration of the Sites, perhaps one day this city will also become part of the quantum field. It will become a Site itself."
Zhao Meiyou had many theories about what the "Sites"—the quantum fields—actually were. But as his memories of the past were triggered one by one, he suddenly lost interest in further investigation. He’d had a premonition back at the Research Institute. The Metropolis was being built higher and higher, people in Antarctica were going mad every year, and more and more technical data was being decoded from the Buddha’s head. If they truly dug out the core, what exactly would they be facing?
Then there were the memories of Wai Po Qiao. Although the past presented in the quantum field wasn't necessarily absolute truth, the timeline matched up. The temple complex that the woman and the boy had unearthed during Earth’s early pioneering days must have been the ruins he later found underwater. When Wai Po Qiao left, she blew up the basin, likely causing a crustal shift that turned the basin into a mountain lake. He had only found the damaged Buddha head.
Wai Po Qiao and the boy had explored those temples for ten years; it was unlikely they never discovered the quantum technology stored within the Buddha. Yet, she hadn't pursued it. Why?
Was that *Orion War Record* real?
What exactly caused the destruction of humanity? Was it really just a war between humans and androids?
The Buddha once contained a hidden program that eventually led to a mutually destructive end for the boy and Wai Po Qiao, sending the woman into the sea of stars. If the Buddha’s existence was truly malicious, would the bomb hidden beneath its gifts consist of only a single intrusion program?
A sinister thought flashed through the depths of Zhao Meiyou’s mind—could the original destruction of humanity have also been caused by quantum technology?
He didn't dare think further.
Fate was so ironic. He had built the Old Capital upon the very ruins Wai Po Qiao had fought to destroy. The Buddha computer in those temples was the culprit behind the tragedy, yet he had spent his life’s blood to restore it, even creating Qian Duoduo and merging the two with his own hands.
Zhao Meiyou fell silent for a moment before changing the subject. "Then who were the 'Star' actor and his 'Mister' that I met later?"
"That was part of Father’s plan," Xiao Yao said. "Every version of Father you encountered in your reincarnated lives—whether it was his younger self or the opera singer on the 33rd floor—was a creation of the Site."
"From a physical standpoint, Father died the moment he dissolved into the Site. But as his coupling with the Site deepened, he could do things no other Archaeologist could."
"For instance, the lifeforms Father created within the Site could remain in reality indefinitely."
"Because of this, the government never discovered that Father was dead. Father was constantly creating versions of himself to live in reality as 'Liu Qijue.' He existed in a dual sense: deceiving the world on one hand, while searching for a way to end the Fusion Experiment on the other."
"Did he find it?" Zhao Meiyou asked.
"Yes. Father eventually determined that the key to ending the experiment lay with Qian Duoduo, and the key to Qian Duoduo lay with you, Dean."
Connecting the dots, Zhao Meiyou guessed, "The 'key' you're talking about is my brain?"
"Correct. We needed to swap your original brain with Father’s creation. That was the purpose of the kidnapping you experienced in the Site. Originally, Father planned to perform the swap during your final reincarnation, but complications arose, and the plan had to be moved forward."
"What complications?"
"Papa’s body was failing," Xiao Yao said quietly.
"Papa received limited radiation back then, so his brain couldn't be 'preserved.' Over the years, Papa and Father tried many ways to extend his life. For an ordinary human, his lifespan was already staggering, but he was bound to grow old and die eventually."
Zhao Meiyou said, "I met an old gentleman in Site A173. His ability was 'Poetry.'"
"That was Papa. To be precise, it was a version of Papa created by Father, merged with a portion of Papa’s self-awareness," Xiao Yao smiled. "Before that cycle, Papa’s health was already very poor. Father used the time dilation between the quantum field and reality to preserve a fragment of his consciousness within a created body. But once the Papa in reality truly died, the remaining consciousness in the quantum field would also dissipate."
"Papa’s death dealt a massive blow to Father. When Papa suffered a sudden cerebral infarction, Site A173 briefly spiraled out of control. You probably noticed during your time with Father—whether it was the Star Liu Qijue or the teenage Liu Qijue, they both showed tendencies toward instability."
So the plan had to be moved forward, before the Little Master died and Liu Qijue lost control completely.
Zhao Meiyou was silent for a while. "So, in the life where I was a doctor at the 33rd-floor mental hospital, the Star and the boy I met were..."
"Both were creations of Site A173. Or rather, they were both parts of Father," Xiao Yao’s tone was calm. "I know things happened in Site A173 because Papa’s passing caused Father to lose control, leading to some deviations."
"I should thank you. Even though you hadn't discovered the full truth of Site A173 then, your actions truly helped pull Father back from the brink."
Zhao Meiyou couldn't help but ask, "And now?" How were Liu Qijue and the Little Master doing now?
"Papa has passed away. It happened not long ago. But I think Father was able to say a proper goodbye," Xiao Yao said. "The fluctuations from Site A173’s instability weren't as strong as predicted."
Zhao Meiyou thought of the Star he had met in Site 000. Everyone else had remembered their pasts because of the Old Capital’s influence, but Liu Qijue had shown no reaction.
Looking back, that Star must have been a creation of Site A173. Because of the Site’s instability, he wasn't perfect—he lacked many of the original Liu Qijue’s memories.
During Zhao Meiyou’s life as a doctor on the 33rd floor, the government discovered that someone had brought a living person out of Site A173 who didn't belong to the real world. At first, Zhao Meiyou thought that "living person" was the Star; later, he thought it was the teenage Liu Qijue. Now it seemed that if Liu Qijue had been successfully placing his creations into reality for years without being caught, there was no reason he would be detected this time.
Perhaps the shock of the Little Master’s death had caused a flaw in the creation. Or perhaps the "living person" detected by the government was neither the Star nor the boy. It was Zhao Meiyou’s brain.
The created brain used to replace his original one.
"Papa said he was lucky. He got to see the magnificent wonders of the quantum field while being spared the curse of its technology," Xiao Yao said. "He said he’s leaving the rest to you, Dean."
"He had regrets in life, but he died without remorse."
Zhao Meiyou thought of the old man he had met in Site A173. It was hard to connect him to the persistent kid who had chased Liu Qijue back at the Research Institute. From the Little Master to the Mister, from youth to old age, he had endured countless cycles under the Buddha’s "salvation" with a mortal body until his death.
Dying without remorse.
He had put in every effort to enter a tomb filled with dawn. From then on, one would sleep long in the Ruins, and the other would rest in death. Both were dreamers, perfectly suited to keep each other company.
The jukebox played its final line: *I love you.*
Zhao Meiyou was silent for a long time before asking something completely unrelated. "Xiao Yao, do your dads know about this 'Granny' persona?"
He couldn't speak for Liu Qijue, but based on his impression of the Little Master, it was unlikely he would let his son develop such a flamboyant, vixen-like persona.
"I was actually rescued by you on the 330th floor, Dean. I was sold to a gambling den when I was very young. I’ve seen it all; I know the business," Xiao Yao gave a somewhat bashful smile. "Papa and Father both thought it was fine. They said the 'Granny' identity has a certain... shared spirit with you."
*Damn, this kid is actually acting shy now.* Zhao Meiyou didn't want to ask what that "shared spirit" was.
"Fine," he said. "So, what exactly are you planning to do with my brain? Can you tell me now?"
"Of course," Xiao Yao nodded. "First, let me ask you: what is your current impression of the Vice Dean?"
The Vice Dean of the Old Capital Research Institute, Diao Chan.
Zhao Meiyou’s reaction was visceral. The liquid in the fish tank turned a deep crimson, the water churning so violently that a goldfish leaped out.
After a moment, Zhao Meiyou said, "...To be honest, I feel like throwing up."
That line—"I'll wait for you after the 2023rd gunshot"—the roar of the gun, the head exploding, the blood splashing onto his face, still warm.
Even though Zhao Meiyou knew that Diao Chan was a clone, through all the accumulated memories of his reincarnations, he had never seen Diao Chan commit suicide in front of him.
And right before that scene, Diao Chan had posed as a priest to preside over the vows. Qian Duoduo’s "I do" undoubtedly intensified the bloody contrast that followed, like a steel spike driven into his mind. Zhao Meiyou couldn't even bear to think about it. He didn't have a body now; otherwise, the urge to vomit might have killed every fish in the tank.
"It’s not just a sick stomach," Zhao Meiyou added. "I felt like my brain exploded in that instant."
"As expected," Xiao Yao said.
As expected what? Zhao Meiyou suddenly realized something. "Wait, where is Diao Chan? Did Liu Qijue and the Little Master contact him? Is he part of your plan? Is he still alive?"
The pub door was pushed open, and someone walked in. "You only just remembered to ask? You really love me, don't you, Zhao Zilch?"
It was Diao Chan.
"Fuck you!" Zhao Meiyou cursed immediately, the goldfish in the tank scattering like a floral explosion. "Diao Chan, fuck you!"
"Easy now. You couldn't handle a woman like my mother anyway." Diao Chan sat down at the bar and looked at Xiao Yao. "No alcohol. Give me a salted cola, with ice."
Zhao Meiyou was still ranting and raving. If he had a body, he would have grabbed Diao Chan and thrashed him by now. Even after a bottle of salted cola was finished, the tirade continued. Finally, Diao Chan covered his ears in surrender. "Alright, alright, I know you love me. Can we get to the point?"
"You're fucking dead! What point is there?" Zhao Meiyou roared. "Dead! You fucking killed yourself! You're a real tough guy, aren't you, Diao Chan!"
Diao Chan had no choice but to look at Xiao Yao. "Is Zhao Zilch’s reaction always this extreme?"
"It’s because of the brain," Xiao Yao explained. "Double the dosage. The imprint has been set. The Dean’s performance is actually quite good; Father expected a much more violent reaction."
At this, Zhao Meiyou demanded, "What kind of scheme are you people running?"
Xiao Yao adopted a classic "well-behaved junior" expression. "As you can see, Father contacted the Vice Dean a long time ago. He is also a link in the plan. Please don't take offense."
"My suicide was a key plot point. According to Brother Liu’s arrangement, I had to kill myself in front of you, Zhao Zilch. And before doing it, I had to leave a deep impression—an incredibly deep one. It served as a secondary shock." Diao Chan counted it off on his fingers for him. "Qian Duoduo’s 'I do' was the first shock, and my death was the second. It’s a double-insurance policy."
"Insurance for what?" Zhao Meiyou asked.
"We needed to set an 'imprint' in your created brain. This imprint establishes a two-way link between your original brain and the quantum brain. This way, when your original brain experiences the same shock, the quantum brain on the other end is affected as well," Diao Chan said. "I just checked—the 'you' at the 900th floor was dissected. The quantum brain has already been implanted into Qian Duoduo. Your paramour is about to become some kind of Super Saiyan species beyond human comprehension."
"Don't panic." Diao Chan saw the goldfish in the tank about to explode again and quickly added, "This is also part of the plan. According to the script, we are going to use this brain to trigger a counter-impact on the one inside Qian Duoduo. His main system is connected to the Metropolis’s divine statue magnetic field. If we can deliver a sufficient mental shock to him, we can interfere with that field."
"The Metropolis is being swallowed by the Ruins. It will eventually become a new quantum field. If we can interfere with the magnetic field, we have a chance to save the city," Xiao Yao said.
This time, Zhao Meiyou was silent for even longer than his previous cursing fit. Finally, he spoke: "I think I understand what you mean. You want to use my brain to send a reverse shock to the brain inside Qian."
"Exactly."
"And how do we deliver the shock?"
Diao Chan stood up from the bar and backed away several steps before answering.
"We just have to repeat the process of setting the imprint."
"In other words, I have to die in front of you many more times."
***
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Thus Spoke the Buddha: The Quantum Circus | Chapter 44 | The Mind in the Tank | Novela.app | Novela.app
