Chapter Nine: Calculated Results

After listening to Li Fengyin’s analysis of the existing real-world data, Shen Liangxin nodded. “There is still something valuable here. Current scientific research tends to focus on the small to understand the large, but if there were a worldview or hypothesis that encompassed everything, it might overturn all we know. However…”

“However?” Li Fengyin asked, puzzled.

“It feels a bit grandiose and hollow.”

Having said this, Shen Liangxin took a sip of coffee and was about to continue when suddenly a mechanical alert sounded: “bug, bug, bug.”

She glanced at the display interface of the super quantum computer. It showed a string of numbers—results from a command she had input three days earlier. But such results could only be considered a bug!

The entire screen displayed:

[0000000000000000000000000000000000.....]

“How could this be?!” Shen Liangxin’s composure faltered. According to her calculation instructions, the accurate result should have appeared by now. Instead, there was no conclusion—only an endless series of zeros.

Her fingers skillfully typed another command into the control interface, her heart heavy with anxiety. “If this string of numbers is the final result, it should at least show the number of zeros and the last digit calculated.”

“And if it’s not…” She instinctively pressed her lips together, feeling as though her understanding of the world might collapse.

Normally, a mathematical calculation result that reaches its final digit has only two possibilities: an infinite loop or a fully determined value. But this was highly abnormal. If the entire result was zero, wouldn’t that be meaningless?

Li Fengyin noticed Shen Liangxin’s tense expression and the seemingly endless zeros on the screen. He seemed to realize that this was an extremely unscientific answer.

Of course, the quantum computer could not be malfunctioning. Even when predicting past or future developments, it was rarely wrong.

After several seconds, the display changed again, but still only showed zeros. The only difference was that the zeros now flickered continuously between a single zero and a full screen of zeros.

Biting her lip until it almost bled, Shen Liangxin set down her purple coffee cup and pressed the pause button. Then she re-entered a simple addition problem that even a child could solve instantly:

[1+1]

The screen immediately responded:

[1+1=2]

Instinctively, Shen Liangxin entered the symbol for pi, and the answer appeared instantly:

[3.141592......]

“The computer isn’t broken,” Shen Liangxin murmured. “Then, where exactly is the problem?”

“Well,” Li Fengyin, somewhat unfamiliar with the operation, suddenly asked, “Is it that it can’t provide a definite number?”

Shen Liangxin adjusted her mindset and looked at him with complex eyes. Finally, she said softly, “If a precise numerical calculation yields only countless zeros, what does that mean?”

“Maybe it involves philosophy or a fundamental design flaw in the computer, or perhaps a paradox.”

Li Fengyin quickly offered this explanation and asked, “By the way, what were you calculating?”

Hearing his question, Shen Liangxin relaxed a little. The shock of reality had left her momentarily dazed, unable to immediately consider the causes or consequences. After a few seconds of silence, she whispered, “I was calculating the end of life, but I can’t tell you the exact data or details.”

“The end is countless zeros?”

Li Fengyin almost laughed. “Could it be that it all ends in the ‘zero’ realm?”

“The spirit realm?”

Shen Liangxin suddenly recalled that for the past three days she had been showing this young man the book Spirit Realm Chronicles. The so-called spirit realm might indeed be where life ends, but according to the book, the number of spirits in the spirit realm is finite.

Yet the result she obtained was only an endless string of zeros.

Taking a deep breath, her proud chest rising and falling slightly, Shen Liangxin stepped away from the quantum computer console and said to Li Fengyin, “You must be anxious too, having spent three days in this underground lab.”

‘No! I’m not anxious!’

For three consecutive days, watching a stunning scholar work diligently, still being able to access the internet, rest peacefully, and read widely, learning and thinking with solid reasoning—it was almost a pleasure for Li Fengyin.

Besides, Shen Liangxin had obtained the best medication in the world for schizophrenia, which made Li Fengyin quite happy.

Of course, he didn’t say this out loud. Instead, he replied, “Not really. Do you want to take a break and go out for a walk?”

“Mm.”

Shen Liangxin nodded slightly. “We can chat and stroll around.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

Spontaneously, he said these three words, sensing that his ability to communicate had improved. He just hoped Shen Liangxin wouldn’t mind.

“Great~”

With a faint smile, Shen Liangxin regained her vigor. “Let’s rest for two days and maybe find some inspiration.”

When the two stepped into the elevator and returned to the surface, arriving beside Fulong Lake at Huasheng University, a sense of relaxation finally washed over them. The sun rose in the east; it was around nine in the morning.

“You know,” Li Fengyin paused, looking seriously into Shen Liangxin’s eyes, “for those who push themselves relentlessly in research and study, occasional leisure often brings surprisingly great progress.”

“Mm, I know.”

Shen Liangxin nodded. “You seem to understand a lot.”

“After all, I’ve been thinking for eleven years.”

The composed young man tapped his head. “I’ve gained powerful thinking ability and answers about this world.”

“Hmm…”

A profound, unfathomable depth seemed to surge through Shen Liangxin’s mind. She understood that their quantum entanglement was deepening. “Sounds impressive.”

“The end of life might be nothingness.”

As they walked, Li Fengyin suddenly said this, causing a shock in Shen Liangxin’s heart. “You’ve thought this far already?”

“Heh heh.”

Li Fengyin playfully brushed her nose with his hand. Having been alone with her for three days, he knew this wouldn’t offend her, so he let himself be casual.

“Opposite to the chaotic heat death of everything, it should be the ultimate order, everything returning to nothingness. But that’s just my idea, for your reference only.”

“Very valuable reference!”

Shen Liangxin seemed to open another door in her mind. “Maybe you’re right. I chose you as the test subject for a reason.”

“Good, then.”

...

As the two left Huasheng University, elsewhere, Shen Liangxin’s father, Shen Wansan, finally obtained information about the employer who wanted to kidnap his daughter. As for the Luoyu Pavilion’s firearms, they were just mercenaries; even if he paid them to kill their previous employer, it likely wouldn’t be a problem.