Genius Playground

"Then what is the truth?" Jiang Ran asked earnestly.

"To put it nicely, this so-called Consciousness Upload experiment of yours ’transfers’ consciousness and memories."

"But in reality, isn’t it because the experiment causes irreversible damage to the brain, effectively ’killing’ the original volunteer?"

"So, it’s not that consciousness can’t be backed up and copied. It’s that the technology isn’t mature enough, turning this into a destructive choice where you can only save the mind by sacrificing the body."

"Of course, I recognize that your experiment is forward-thinking, and I acknowledge it’s a blessing for terminally ill patients or people on the verge of death. I have no intention of judging the right or wrong of a cutting-edge scientific achievement here. But ultimately, for me personally..."

Jiang Ran took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"I will always believe that only a consciousness and memory housed in its corresponding physical body can be considered a true life, a true person."

...

The laboratory fell silent.

Only the TICK-TOCK of a clock cut crisply through the air.

After a long moment.

Yan Chonghan clapped his left hand against his right, creating a slow, sporadic applause.

"Very good."

He nodded and said,

"Now *that’s* more like a genius."

"Jiang Ran, I hope you keep this up."

With that, he glanced at his watch and stood up.

"Class dismissed."

He came and went like the wind, a blur of motion.

By the time the three of them had stopped staring blankly at each other and processed what was happening, Teacher Yan was already gone. With a speed that defied logic, he had packed his things, capped his water bottle, grabbed his lesson plan, and walked out the door, disappearing from sight.

At the same time, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

"That... that was ridiculously fast!"

Cheng Mengxue exclaimed, dumbfounded.

"It’s like Teacher Yan hates class even more than we do... He calls it a day and just leaves, no warning whatsoever!"

Jiang Ran also let out a sigh, propping his chin on his hand.

"It’s not like this small class is mandatory. If he really doesn’t want to teach, he shouldn’t... It’s like we’re forcing him to be here."

...

「The next morning.」

Jiang Ran arrived early at the Film Club’s activity room, ready to make some more progress in the 2045 Future Prison.

It was as if they had an unspoken agreement.

Instead of climbing straight through the window, he first leaned on the sill and looked out at the flowerbed.

Sure enough.

Old Tian was standing in the flowerbed. He gave Jiang Ran an honest smile and a wave.

"Morning, Xiaojiang. I knew you’d be climbing through the window around this time."

Jiang Ran waved and smiled back.

And just like that, for reasons unknown, the two formed a "Sweeping Monk" bond.

He braced himself on the windowsill, vaulted over, and very naturally picked up the spare broom from the tricycle to sweep the ground with Old Tian...

After watching Old Tian ride away on his tricycle, Jiang Ran worked with Chi Xiaoguo to activate the Positron Cannon again, heading to the Future World 20 years from now.

The journey was smooth, the script identical to before.

Having sacrificed all his teammates, Jiang Ran once again arrived at the execution ground as planned, squeezed through the frenzied crowd, and got as close as he could to the execution platform.

His eyes were fixed on the Magician, who was kneeling on the platform, waiting for the moment the burlap hood would be removed.

Finally...

Amidst the expectant roars of the massive crowd, the man in the formal suit finally finished reading the execution order and ripped the hood from the Magician’s face!

A weary, weathered face. Matted, tangled hair and beard. A familiar yet aged visage.

Jiang Ran looked at the middle-aged Qin Feng from 20 years in the future, took a deep breath of air that had crossed two decades, and shouted with all his might:

"Qin Feng!!!!!!!"

In an instant, the face that had given up all hope and was calmly awaiting death snapped to attention, looking his way.

"42!! What is it!!"

In the noisy crowd, Jiang Ran screamed at the top of his lungs,

"Tell me!! What the hell is 42!"

Qin Feng faltered for a second.

But then his eyes became firm, filled with light.

"42 is correct!!"

His shout was just as hysterical.

"Believe in 42!! Follow 42!!"

???

Jiang Ran was dumbfounded.

’Seriously... did you have to start with those two lines?!’

"Don’t let him speak! Execute him now!"

The man in the suit who read the order turned pale with fright and frantically urged the executioner.

THUD...

The Ghost Head Saber fell with unstoppable force, and Qin Feng was decapitated in a shower of blood.

"..."

Jiang Ran’s eyes met the severed head as it rolled to the edge of the execution platform.

He couldn’t understand.

Why would the ever-brilliant Qin Feng insist on emphasizing those first two sentences, even on his deathbed? Couldn’t he have just given the final answer directly?

...

「The next day, another attempt.」

"Qin Feng!!!!!!"

Jiang Ran stood in his usual spot before the platform and yelled with all his might,

"I know 42 is correct! And I know to follow it! Just tell me what 42 actually is—"

"Don’t let him speak! Execute him now!" the man in the suit urged.

SPLURT!

Blood sprayed as Qin Feng’s head hit the ground.

"..."

Jiang Ran was speechless.

’This time *I* was the one who was too long-winded. The question was too long. Qin Feng croaked before he even had a chance to answer.’

’Fuck, I’ll try again tomorrow!’

...

He tried for several more days after that, but none of his attempts were successful.

There were two reasons for this.

First, the man in the suit and the executioner were, deep down, terrified of the Magician.

It was as if the moment he spoke, he would unleash a world-ending forbidden spell and destroy the world.

Therefore, the window of time for Jiang Ran and Qin Feng to communicate was only two precious seconds. The instant the man in the suit and the executioner reacted, they would immediately swing the Ghost Head Saber and physically silence him with a beheading.

Two seconds... it was hardly enough time for any effective communication.

Second, Qin Feng would invariably say the two phrases, "42 is correct," and "Follow 42."

Even when Jiang Ran asked him point-blank, Qin Feng absolutely had to say those two sentences first.

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