Yuwu Expansion (2)

"We weren't here last time… but are you sure about this, Nandini? The people who might try to sabotage this place could just be regular civilians with no connection to anything supernatural," Yasushi said as he kept his eyes on Nandini's careful work on the ground.

"While that's usually the case, I believe this is the right call. Right now, we're handling something that could define humanity's future. I also plan to reach out to them afterward and ask if they've deployed any quantum tech that could assist with this detection process," Nandini replied, her attention fixed on the symbols she was inscribing.

They made their way slowly along the town's boundary, ensuring the area was covered with the necessary arrangements for Nandini to monitor effectively. The town wasn't excessively large but wasn't compact either, making the task time-consuming as they moved from one point to the next.

Yasushi thought back to the time he was brought to the Banquet of the Gods and how close he had come to dying. He hadn't had much of a chance to meet the other gods after the ordeal. Even though he earned some level of respect from a few, it was clear that many weren't comfortable with the idea of humans slowly approaching the power of gods. The introduction of quantum technology and AI into their domain wasn't helping matters either.

He could understand why. The shift in power wasn't just a possibility; it was inevitable. Gods, who had always sat at the pinnacle of existence, were beginning to face the idea of humans becoming their equals. Add to that the undeniable fact that some humans were outright awful — capable of betrayal, manipulation, and worse — and it wasn't hard to see why there might be hesitation. The fear of being overthrown wasn't far-fetched.

"Is it really something to be afraid of?" Yunxue asked, her tone carrying a genuine lack of certainty about where she stood on the matter.

"It's like this," Yasushi began. "Think of a master and their students. The master shares everything they know with those students, passing on all their skills and secrets. But here's the catch — they have no idea if the students are learning out of respect or if they're just waiting for the right moment to betray their teacher and take their place. What humans are doing now is a gamble for some of the gods. To them, it's a move that might flip everything in our favor."

"In many fictional works, it often plays out this way. Two students learning under a master's guidance — one follows the path laid out for them, trusting their teacher, while the other walks a darker road, using what they've learned to betray. It's unsettling for gods, especially now with what's happening to the queen in the UK…" Yasushi said, his focus fixed on Nandini.

"I've actually heard some updates about it from my coworkers back home," Nandini said as she rose from her seat.

"Wait, seriously? What's the situation?" Jingliu asked, the group turning their attention to her.

"It's a rogue group of mages dissatisfied with the state of things — how humans and the supernatural coexist. They've started targeting key figures across nations. They tried to assassinate the queen of England but failed. She's recovering, thanks to Merlin and a few other gods stepping in to help," Nandini explained.

"Any ideas who's next?" Jingliu asked, her expression tense but calm as her words broke the silence.

Nandini shook her head, exhaling before replying. "No… not yet. Anyway, we're done here for now. Let's keep checking the other parts of town."

Their questions remained unanswered, though they silently agreed to put those thoughts aside for the time being. Together, they turned back toward Yuwu. The added protections Nandini had placed earlier seemed to offer at least some reassurance, their presence giving the town a semblance of safety.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. At each of the sites they visited, they found nothing unusual, only the signs of a community moving toward rebuilding and recovery. However, their efforts covered only about half of the planned locations. Most of the ones they managed to inspect were nearing completion or required only minor work. The untouched sites, still in the early stages, would demand their attention another day.

+-+

That night, everyone rested in their rooms assigned by the Cheng family staff. Jingliu and Yasushi shared a room and were now unwinding after having dinner and finishing their showers.

"Back in China again, huh?" Yasushi said, placing his phone on the nightstand. "We didn't get to visit your hometown, but being in Yuwu again feels... different. There's a lot changing around here."

Jingliu, curled up with a book in hand, turned a page before glancing up. "It does feel that way," she replied. "My parents emailed me earlier. They're thinking about letting the same changes happen to Mengyinhu."

Yasushi paused, the news catching him off guard. He couldn't say he hadn't thought of the possibility, but hearing it spoken aloud made it real. The thought crossed his mind that maybe their home in Japan, Ginsukimura, wasn't immune either. Yuwu, Ginsukimura, and Mengyinhu all felt tied to them now in a way that was hard to explain.

"So, is it safe to say that mine will eventually push for Ginsukimura to adopt these changes too? They're probably planning to target our homes first before moving on to the larger world. But... I wonder — will the supernatural worlds try this as well? Shiva seemed pretty interested in what he tried out back in London a few months ago," said Yasushi, glancing at his phone before turning his attention back to Jingliu.

"We don't know. But since Lord Shiva is one of the strongest we're aware of, we can only hope that most others will follow his lead. Beyond that, it's impossible to say — after all, we're just human," Jingliu replied.

She closed her book and leaned into him. "Whatever happens, we'll just have to handle it. None of us have the ability to see the future — not even you, with your strange circumstances and unusual body, can do that."

Yasushi laughed at her remark, short but meaningful, and somehow spot-on. Her observation about his circumstances wasn't wrong. Despite being reborn into this world with memories from his past life intact and a body that came with extraordinary abilities, he lived a life that could almost pass as ordinary — at least compared to the chaos he faced.

Even after the supernatural battle he had endured, one against a devoted follower of Hades, his survival felt more like a fluke than a feat of skill. It wasn't just the challenge of facing someone from the otherworldly; it was the fact that it took a desperate, one-time move to turn the tide. If not for that gamble, there would have been no second chance.

He clenched his fist, staring at it for a moment. "Maybe I've got what they call plot armor, surviving Peter like that," he said, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and disbelief. A chuckle followed, lighter than the weight of the words themselves.

"If you do, then I'm grateful for it," Jingliu said. Her words were direct, but her expression betrayed deeper feelings as she frowned at him. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have you here now." That memory, seeing him brought so close to the end, had shattered her in ways she didn't think possible. She still thanked Shiva for stepping in, healing him after the fight when she had almost lost all hope.

The two of them kept the conversation alive, discussing the possible changes their parents might make to their respective homes. They speculated on how these changes could affect the wider world, especially considering that quantum technology and advanced AI were considered unattainable only a short time ago. Now, with advancements accelerating, the future seemed closer than they had ever imagined. College graduation felt like it might lead directly into a world shaped by these breakthroughs.

Even so, their excitement wasn't just about the possibilities ahead but also about sharing those experiences. They laughed about Xinyi's determination to stay close by, even while carving out their own path. Eventually, they both settled down to sleep, the discussions easing their minds and leaving them eager for the next day's plans.

+-+

"Alright, our first stop for the day is… this!" Xinyi announced, pointing toward a large building in the distance. Her tone carried the excitement of someone revealing a surprise.

"What is it?" Yasushi asked, his tone betraying the confusion he felt at her sudden declaration.

"It's going to be an office. The main one in China, actually. It'll be where we work whenever we decide to come here for any reason. The top floor — though it's not finished yet — will be our living space. Think of it as a big, luxurious apartment overlooking the entire area. Below that floor will be our office, and the levels under that will hold regular offices," Xinyi explained, her words flowing quickly as if eager to get everything out.

"It'll make more sense once we're there. Hold off on your questions for now since we'll be helping with a few tasks there today. Most of the work is being handled by the contractor and a few scientists we're already familiar with," she added.

Jingliu tilted her head and said, "But… we already have one. Isn't it the house your parents own behind us?" She gestured over her shoulder with a thumb.

Xinyi let out a deep breath. "I'm just passing on what my parents told me. They probably have their own plans for that house, so don't overthink it! Maybe they'll turn it into their private place, rent it, sell it, or even tear it down. I don't know, and it doesn't matter right now. Let's move already!"

Without waiting for a response, Xinyi sprang forward, skipping as if her eagerness couldn't be contained. The others exchanged a quick glance but chose to follow without questioning her further. The walk took around ten minutes. By the time they arrived, a crowd had already gathered, mostly workers focused on the construction.

"How many floors is it supposed to have?" Yasushi asked, his eyes locked on the structure as the work continued.

"Ten floors. Like I said earlier, the last floor is where our apartment is, and the one below it is our office space. Anyway, let's go and see if they need help," Xinyi said, already heading toward someone who seemed to be supervising the construction. The scientists weren't anywhere nearby.

When they got close, Xinyi opened her mouth to speak, but the woman in charge immediately cut her off. "Tch, who do you think you are? We don't need kids hanging around here, blocking everything and slowing us down. Get lost and enjoy your summer before you end up like the rest of us," she snapped.

The group froze, caught off guard by her outburst. A man nearby tried to step in, saying, "Wait, she's—" but the woman barked at him to get back to work, ignoring his attempt to explain. She turned back to Xinyi and her group, her scolding continuing without pause.

Xinyi clenched her fists, her irritation bubbling just beneath the surface. Before she could get a word out, a familiar scientist strode toward them, wearing a bright expression.

"Xinyi, Yasushi, Jingliu! You're here. I'm glad you made it safely. Can we head to that building over there? There are some things we need to discuss," the scientist said, gesturing toward a nearby structure.

The supervisor, who had been berating them moments ago, froze mid-sentence. Xinyi shot her a sly grin and replied, "Of course, Miss Jenkins. Lead the way. I've got a few things I'd like to discuss with you too."

Miss Jenkins tilted her head, a slight hesitation in her response, but she nodded and turned toward the small building near the construction site. The group followed her inside. Despite its modest appearance from the outside, the interior offered a surprising amount of space.

Nandini glanced around, her eyebrows lifting as she took in the unexpected dimensions. "Did you use spatial magic for this?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, something like that. We based it on spatial magic, but we used quantum technology to make it work. We call it Quantum Spatial Expansion. Like spatial magic, it lets you expand the interior space of objects or rooms, making the inside much larger than it appears from the outside. You could even use it on tents, making them ideal for camping — compact on the outside but spacious inside," Jenkins explained.

Nandini stopped examining the surroundings and said, "Usually, hiring a mage capable of performing this type of magic is very expensive. But now you've adapted it for quantum tech? What's the price?"

Jenkins crossed her arms and said proudly, "Right now, it's a product aimed at wealthy customers. However, once we figure out how to lower production costs and streamline the process to replicate the magic, it'll be much cheaper — about as affordable as buying a mattress."

"Some mattresses are actually pretty expensive, especially the high-quality ones," Yasushi pointed out without hesitation.

"Okay, you make a valid point, but it'll probably be like our storage rings and quantum glasses. There'll be categories for them. Naturally, the basic ones — those that expand the inside of objects — will cost less but still work as designed. We don't know exactly how the categories will be structured yet, but that information will come out eventually," Jenkins explained, her breath leaving her in a measured release.

"That tracks. It'd be strange if this didn't have some kind of tiered system," Yasushi said, leaning forward slightly. "So, what did you want to share with us?" All eyes settled on her, waiting.

Before Jenkins could answer, Xinyi interjected. "Who was that woman earlier? She didn't hold back on being rude."

Jenkins hesitated, her expression tightening briefly before she let out a deep breath. "She's... the supervisor overseeing the construction of this building. The others have been assigned to different locations in Yuwu, but for this one, she was the only option left. Please don't take her behavior too seriously," she added, bowing her head slightly in a gesture of apology.

Xinyi exhaled slowly, shaking her head once. "Fine, whatever. As long as she doesn't bother any of us and keeps to herself, I don't care. Anyway, you don't need to bow. Like Yasushi said, why did you call us here?" she asked, keeping her tone calm.

Jenkins straightened up from her bow and adjusted her stance slightly. "I came to let you know about someone else who'll be joining you during your summer break to help oversee this place. There's also one other matter."

"Start with the new person, then explain the other thing," Xinyi replied, giving Jenkins a small nod.

Jenkins hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Younger Master Guo Tianyu will arrive tomorrow to assist with supervising this building, along with two others," she said, watching as the group reacted with surprise. "And the other matter…well, it seems a god from Japan is coming here. They'll arrive at the same time as Guo Tianyu, as he's been informed about the supernatural as well." Her words left everyone momentarily silent.