Chapter 179: Reserve_1

Pei Yunqi continued his analysis, "As for the state of those 'Black Cuboid People' lying down, we suspect they might be hibernating.

"So the expression in the mural is that the 'Black Cuboid People' are lying there, and the depiction of the heart suggests that they are still alive."

Wu Zheng added, "According to carbon-14 dating results, the population in the Tianshan Ruins existed between seven thousand and twelve thousand years ago.

"Based on DNA tests, their genes were quite unique, clearly rarely interbreeding with Homo sapiens of that time.

"We surmise that seven thousand years ago, their last group of people split into three teams, also departing from the Tianshan Ruins in search of the 'Black Cube.'

"The Heifang Relic Site we previously discovered was simply the last landing spot of one such team.

"After thousands of years of drifting, they no longer knew what specifically to seek in the 'Black Cube.'

"The murals in the Heifang Relic Site only show the descendants' guesses that there were treasures inside the 'Black Cube,' things that could make one powerful.

"In reality, what they were searching for were the 'Black Cuboid People' and their knowledge.

"In a sense, advanced knowledge is indeed a treasure and a means to become powerful."

Wu Zheng paused and then explained, "Regarding the murals found in the Tianshan Ruins, we have only published a very small part.

"Following instructions from the Star Defense Department, we claimed to the PDC that due to insufficient information, the lead was lost."

Pei Yunqi adjusted his black-framed glasses and said, "To some extent, the lead really is lost because no textual information was found in the Tianshan Ruins, so the 'Heifang Cloth Manuscript' remains undecipherable.

"I have managed to guess the general meanings of a few words and terms, but the grammar of these texts is strange and the sentences don't cohere, so it might be necessary to wait for the discovery of new relevant literature before any interpretation can take place."

Wu Zheng sighed and said, "Additionally, we conducted other experiments on the 'Black Cube,' including firearms, cannons, bombs, and even neutron bullets, but none of these weapons made a scratch on the 'Black Cube.'

"The final conclusion of our several groups was that, with current human technology, research on the 'Black Cube' would yield no results.

"That's why we suggested suspending the research on the cube and restarting the project group when there are new breakthroughs in relevant technologies in the future.

"We were going to wait for you to wake up, then submit this report, but with domestic finances growing tighter each year, the Star Defense Department pre-emptively terminated the project."

Jiang Yu pinched his temples, "It can only be this way, then."

He asked the two men, "May I keep a copy of this project group's final report?"

Wu Zheng and Pei Yunqi exchanged a glance, and Wu Zheng said, "Since you are a Wallfacer and also in charge of this project, theoretically, you could keep a copy.

"However, this project has been over for several years now, so you see…"

The more straight-forward Pei Yunqi bluntly said, "You should ask the Star Defense Department for it; we don't have the authority."

It remains to be seen whether the Star Defense Department would agree. With the Wallfacer Plan gradually becoming marginalized, Wallfacers no longer can get away with saying, "This is part of the plan."

Jiang Yu smiled, "Now that the project group has been disbanded, where are you working now?"

Seeing that Jiang Yu had not persisted in asking for the documents, Wu Zheng firstly breathed a sigh of relief, "I've retired."

Pei Yunqi then sighed, "Teaching! Ha! Me, a researcher of ancient Chinese, they've got me teaching history classes."

Jiang Yu asked, "Would you, or your families, like to live in Moon City?"

Wu Zheng and Pei Yunqi both fell silent, life getting increasingly difficult day by day, obviously expecting it to get even tougher in the future.

Everyone knew that the standard of living in Moon City was high, but researchers of historical disciplines like them had no chance of living there.

The two men exchanged another glance, and Wu Zheng sighed, "Then make a copy, but please be discreet about it and don't let anyone trace it back to you."

Jiang Yu gave Number Three a look, and Number Three immediately took out a USB flash drive from his bag and copied the data brought by Pei Yunqi.

Wu Zheng said, "At my age, I can't handle the environment of Moon City anymore.

"However, my daughter and son-in-law have always wanted to go, but they've submitted several applications and failed to pass the assessment every time."

Pei Yunqi said, "I hope to complete my research on the Western Xia culture in Moon City. Alas, humanity no longer has the energy to treat its own history seriously.

"In a few years, some of the profound meanings in ancient texts, I'm afraid, might truly be lost."

Jiang Yu sighed, "We have worked together for a while, and it feels quite distant to put it like this, especially Professor Pei, whose talent I've always admired.

"It seems like I'm threatening the two of you, but actually, I have no choice, and I'm trying to leave a way out for humanity's future.

"I have a feeling that once this research stops, it might never be restarted.

"Perhaps the future will need me to restart this project, so I need your research data."

He paused, then continued, "I agree to the conditions of both of you, and I can even pay you a sum of money.

"If you wish to continue researching 'Black Square' in the future, I can finance your cryogenic hibernation.

"When the time is ripe, I will restart the research project."

Actually, this was his main objective, after all, data is inanimate, but these researchers are the real treasure.

Moreover, Pei Yunqi had been involved in the "Number Zero Plan" and made significant contributions. He knew too much; both for public and private reasons, Jiang Yu needed to keep him under control.

Wu Zheng's and Pei Yunqi's eyes immediately lit up with fervor. Even Wu Zheng, who was over sixty years old, felt a bit helpless about the dissolution of the 'Black Square' research team.

Who wouldn't want to thoroughly study something like "Black Square" before closing their eyes for good?

Wu Zheng cautiously said, "Actually, many researchers want to continue studying 'Black Square'."

Jiang Yu waved his hand grandly, "It doesn't matter how many people come; I can still afford the cost of cryogenic hibernation."

Watching Wu Zheng and Pei Yunqi leave with high spirits, Jiang Yu sighed, "Research on 'Black Square' is like a boundless dream, yet also like a pair of invisible wings.

"Always disappointed when the dream shatters, but still, always hoping to gain those wings and soar through the skies."

After his reflection, Jiang Yu asked Number Three, "I can be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, what are the arrangements?"

Number Three reported, "'Green Pastures Plan' has made new progress, and Professor Qi invites you to visit.

"There is also significant progress from Doctor Bai Xiangdong; he hopes you can take a look as well.

"Mayor Burton of Moon City sent an invitation yesterday, asking you to visit Moon City."

Jiang Yu said, "Good, let's go to Professor Qi's place first, and have Zhao Yun and Lu Qingfeng accompany me. We can discuss the current situation on the way.

"Yes, I've wanted to visit Moon City for a while, but let's put that at the end of the itinerary. I'll head to Doctor Bai Xiangdong's place from Professor Qi's."

Number Three nodded and immediately went to arrange Jiang Yu's itinerary.

The next day, Jiang Yu bid farewell to his parents and headed to the desert in the northwest by car.

In the comfort of the business car, Jiang Yu said to Zhao Yun and Lu Qingfeng, who were sitting opposite him, "As the Wallfacer plan becomes marginalized, I need to adjust the focus of my future work, so I'd like to hear your thoughts on contemporary issues."

Lu Qingfeng said, "As it stands, governments around the world are moving more quickly towards centralization, hoping to collect all wealth and invest it in the construction of space endeavors."

Zhao Yun laughed and said, "Of course, there are exceptions. While European countries were intensifying cooperation, the United Kingdom suddenly exited the European Union."