391 Chapter: Sophon's Tea Party_1

Cheng Ping even subtly reminded the two Swordholders that if they could not get news to stabilize the public, they could create some.

As for Jiang Yu, no one had the right to instruct or criticize him.

However, Thirty-Six hoped he would use this conversation to verify some of the intelligence obtained from the Black Cuboid People and Venus.

After the war ended, Sophon was now living in a small villa in South America, and for a while, the First Legion had been tirelessly hunting her down.

She first "disappeared" for a while after the war between the Solar System State and Venus began.

At that time, the Commander-in-chief of the Earth Civilization Circle went from Zhuang Yue to Wu Xinghai, and Wu Xinghai, preoccupied with deterring Venus, hardly had Sophon on his radar.

Only then did she elude her fate of being hunted and reappeared in South America, leased by PDC.

Sophon greeted Jiang Yu and the others at the villa's entrance, which closely resembled her previous residence, complete with pine trees and a stream.

She put on a splendid kimono again, transforming back into a woman as refreshing as a spring in a bed of flowers.

With a sweet smile, Sophon said, "Welcome, welcome. I should have visited your residence, but then I would not be able to serve you with the tea ceremony. Please understand, I'm genuinely happy to see you."

Jiang Yu also rarely showed her a pleasant face, "After a struggle spanning three centuries, we have had our victories and defeats. Although I wish to kill all the Trisolarans, I also feel a sort of respect between adversaries."

Leading the way, Sophon walked ahead while Jiang Yu continued from behind, "So, when we meet again, I will still give my all in a fight to the death. That's the respect I have for you."

Sophon sincerely said, "Thank you; we feel the same."

Logic watched the two talking with a calm smile on his face, neither panicked like those from the Solar System State nor as lost as those from PDC.

It was serene, like still water, as if nothing in the universe could ruffle him anymore.

If one did not know the relationship between these three people, one might think they were old friends reunited after many years.

Jiang Yu's words instilled a chill in Cheng Xin, who walked last, but Logic's smile brought her warmth.

Both seemed to carry something mountainously strong from the Common Era, giving Cheng Xin a sense of reliance in this unfamiliar new era.

Once inside the living room, Sophon invited the three to sit on the tatami as she began with the tea ceremony preparations.

At that moment, Cheng Xin was overwhelmed with emotions. The Trisolarans could have succeeded, each time coming so close, but Humanity held on and turned around hopeless situations with stubborn resistance, cunning, and luck every single time.

Especially after the victory of the "Second Campaign," even though the Solar System State, having occupied most of Earth's territory, incurred scathing criticism from PDC.

But it was undeniable that by winning that battle, the Solar System State had given Humanity a tremendous morale boost.

For the Trisolarans, their three-century endeavor ended with their mother star's homeland extinguished in a sea of fire.

"What is that expression for?" Jiang Yu, leaning against the backrest, suddenly asked Cheng Xin: "Rather than feeling sorry for the Trisolarans, think about Humanity for a change!"

Cheng Xin was startled, "I, I wasn't..."

Jiang Yu waved her off, interrupting, "The Trisolarans chose to continue invading the Solar System instead of using lightspeed spaceships to migrate stealthily to other planetary systems; they should have foreseen today's outcome.

"Lusting after the lifeforms in the Solar System was a huge gamble. Humanity didn't win, but the Trisolarans have utterly lost."

Jiang Yu carefully observed each of Sophon's movements; her actions were still smooth and flowing, yet he keenly sensed a brief stillness in her figure.

When Jiang Shiliu speculated about counteracting Sophon's blocking during the thirteen years of deterrence, he guessed that during important conversations like this, the Trisolarans themselves must be controlling Sophon.

Therefore, any unnatural pause from Sophon indicated her backing Trisolarans encountering some issue, switching from "manual operation" to "automated operation."

Jiang Yu had confirmed this when Sophon blocked him; if his words overly surprised the Trisolarans behind her, unnatural pauses would occur.

```

Looking back, the intelligence about the true motives of the Trisolarans provided by Venus should be highly credible.

Sitting neatly on the tatami mat, Cheng Xin asked somewhat surprised, "Covet what? What bet?"

Jiang Yu, who was leaning back in his chair somewhat askew, smiled and didn't continue on that topic. Instead, he asked Logic, "How did you find the taste of the Dahongpao tea I had someone bring you?"

Logic, who was sitting cross-legged, stroked his short beard, "It was very good. Wasn't it said that the tea mountains were destroyed by an earthquake?"

Jiang Yu laughed, "As long as the tea trees are still there, they can be replanted."

Although the New Era offered an abundance of beverages, many people still enjoyed drinking tea, and Jiang Yu and Logic were among them.

Jiang Yu continued, "The tea trees have already started to be cultivated on Jupiter, so Earth's tea leaves will have to disappear for a while."

At that moment, Sophon, who was tinkering with the tea set, glanced at Jiang Yu distractedly, then continued to brew the tea.

But Jiang Yu went on, "When Earth can grow tea leaves again, that will mean humanity has found its footing in the Dark Forest."

Sophon's movements halted once again, "Please let me peacefully finish brewing this pot of tea."

Yet Jiang Yu shook his head with a smile, "Forget about these frivolous acts; I'm not foolish enough to use brewing tea as a sign of tranquility or openness. If you've got something to say, just say it."

Sophon heaved a sigh, "It seems you are destined not to drink the tea I brew."

"Even if you did, I wouldn't dare to drink it," Jiang Yu said. "The Solar System State has genuinely caused casualties among your people; I know how much you hate me.

"If I had the chance, I would poison you without hesitation, and I believe you would do the same."

Sophon stared into Jiang Yu's eyes, "Don't you feel the slightest bit of guilt? After all, it was you who destroyed our home."

"Do you think I should?" Jiang Yu responded coldly. "Seven years ago, weren't you also trying to destroy my home?"

The two locked eyes for two or three seconds, then suddenly both let out a cold laugh.

Next, Sophon began to recount the process of the Three-Body Star System suffering the Dark Forest Strike.

After listening to Sophon's account, Cheng Xin gently asked, "How many people managed to escape?"

"Including the fleet that had already set sail, less than one thousandth," Sophon said as she continued to brew the tea.

Cheng Xin then asked, "How much time do we have left?"

Sophon looked at Jiang Yu, "Aren't you curious?"

Jiang Yu, however, smiled and said, "We have already scattered the seeds of civilization in advance. Whether it's Starship Earth or the fleets I've sent out, they have all left the Solar System by 1.3 light-years.

"Even if the Solar System is gone, humanity will not be extinct."

Without any expression, Sophon answered Cheng Xin's question, "It cannot be determined; the strike could arrive at any time, but according to probability, there should be some time left."

It might have been an illusion, but Cheng Xin thought she discerned a hint of disappointment in Sophon's voice.

Sophon continued, "The situation of the Trisolaran World is different from that of the Solar System. From a distance, the Three-Body Star System seems more dangerous."

Cheng Xin looked at Logic and Jiang Yu in astonishment, and seeing that they remained calm, she quickly asked, "Why?"

Sophon shook her head firmly, "I can never tell you that."

Jiang Yu scoffed, "You already showed your hand, yet you're still holding back like it's a treasure. It's all because of the trajectory of the lightspeed spaceship!"

This time, it was Sophon who showed an expression of surprise.

```