God's Code

Chapter 5

After I got back, I called Liang Yingwu and asked him to check the emission angle of that high-energy particle beam and tell me. It was a completely spontaneous association at the time, and afterwards I started to wonder if there was really a connection between the two.

With a "nothing to lose" attitude, I sent the diagram and angle to Ye Tianjin via email, and of course, I told him to automatically replace the symbols on the diagram.

As time went on, I found the idea of linking the two together to be ridiculously absurd. It was a baseless speculation. In a moment of impulse, I ended up owing Ye Tianjin a huge favor, and I'm afraid I'll become a laughingstock from now on.

Three days later, I received a call from Ye Tianjin. This made me marvel at the wonder of inspiration.

"We've found the second quantum computer." Ye Tianjin's first sentence was abrupt and nonsensical, but I knew what he was talking about, and I immediately stood up from my seat.

"They really overlapped?"

"Yes, right from the angle you provided. If someone were to observe the solar system from that direction, ignoring Pluto, this pattern would appear every 536 years. The most recent one was 91 years ago. But I wonder if this is just a coincidence. The symbols in the original image are quite large, while the planets in the actual star chart are proportionally very small. I think there is still a possibility of coincidence."

"Great!" I slammed my fist on the table, startling everyone else in the office.

"Finally, we have a lead! Thank you so much!" I thanked him repeatedly.

After hanging up with Ye Tianjin, I immediately informed Liang Yingwu of the news.

"You want to borrow the power of Organization X?" Liang Yingwu flicked off his cigarette ash. The surprise on his face when he heard Ye Tianjin's calculation results had disappeared, and his tone was now somewhat mocking.

"Yes, although we have some clues now, it's impossible for me to solve the mystery by just thinking about it on my own. Only the strength of the X Agency can make it possible."

"Just to satisfy your curiosity?"

I was speechless for a moment. I was indeed incredibly curious about this matter, but of course, Organization X would not provide assistance for that reason.

Seeing that I was stumped by his question, Liang Yingwu continued, "I think you may have some misunderstandings about Organization X. Although it is basically an organization that studies strange events outside the current scientific framework, there are many strange things in the world, each one enough to make researchers rack their brains. So unless it happens to fit the main research direction, it is usually just recorded. So on behalf of our colleagues in the archives department, I thank you for adding a case to their records."

"Normally it's just recorded? Then what would constitute something unusual?"

"If something could have a serious impact on the country or even humanity as a whole, of course it would be taken seriously. Does this count? An alien being who died more than two thousand years ago left behind a strange pattern. Even if it really is a star map of the solar system, so what? Does it have scientific or practical value?"

"Of course!" I exclaimed.

Liang Yingwu thought I was putting on a brave face and laughed, "Oh, then tell me about it."

I wasn't originally in a position to be assertive, but after he provoked me, my mind raced, and I decided to come up with some unusual reasons.

"Let's set aside whether it's aliens for now and work backward. Earth couldn't possibly generate high-energy particle beams naturally, so the high-energy particle beam in the Java Trench on December 26, 2004, was man-made. Let's assume the high-energy particles were used for communication, which means there's a planet in that direction that has bred highly intelligent life. The pattern I obtained from the Mahabalipuram ruins is the same as the solar system star map observed from the direction of the high-energy particle beam's trajectory. Although Ye Tianjin said the symbols on the stone carving cover too large an area, and there's a possibility of coincidence, that possibility is very low. Don't you think so?"

When Liang Yingwu heard me begin my analysis in a logical and methodical manner, his expression turned serious. Following my train of thought, he must have guessed what I was going to say. At this point, he nodded and said, "Let's not consider it a coincidence for now."

This means that although coincidences are theoretically possible, the probability is too low. When conducting a responsible discussion, we should first rule out coincidences and take it seriously, which is the safest approach.

"There is reason to infer that the Hindu god and the being who created the high-energy particle beam have a deep connection. It could even be argued that they are the same type of intelligent beings. The fact that a major earthquake occurred immediately after the high-energy particle beam was generated in the Java Trench cannot help but raise doubts about whether the earthquake was natural. Many geologists believe that earthquakes are caused by the compression of continental plates, but many more geologists are skeptical of this claim. The reason why no one has questioned it is because there is no more reasonable explanation. In other words, this major earthquake came too suddenly and was quite unexpected in itself."

Following up on my words, Liang Yingwu said, "The ruins of Mahabalipuram also mention a great catastrophe, which corresponds to this tsunami. So now you are beginning to doubt your previous deductions and feel that the catastrophe in the prophecy specifically refers to this tsunami."

"Yes," I nodded. Talking to smart people is so effortless.

"Your idea is that this massive earthquake was man-made and premeditated for over two thousand years. Although the intention is still unclear, the earthquake has already caused a massive tsunami, resulting in enormous human casualties, and judging from the prophecies of the Mahabalipuram ruins, this may not be the end. If the so-called truth of the world is not found, this man-made disaster will be repeated."

"So do you still think this is just an ordinary incident that can be put into the archives and forgotten?" I asked Liang Yingwu slowly.

Liang Yingwu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I will report it."

"If you're going to take any action, don't abandon me. At least I still have my brains and can offer some advice," I added. That was my real intention.

“It’s not up to me to decide.” Liang Yingwu’s reaction to this kind of thing was always so annoying.

I know that if Organization X really gets involved, I'll probably have to step aside. But this matter hides a huge crisis. Without strong funding from the state apparatus, Organization X would have a hard time even following up on any leads, let alone resolving the issue properly.

At this moment, Liang Yingwu sighed.

"You know what, I have a feeling."

"You had a premonition too? You, a rational person, can have a premonition? Tell me, what did you have a premonition about?"

"The more I think about this, the more bizarre it seems. I'm afraid that even if the X Agency gets involved in the investigation, it might not be effective. There are plenty of unsolved cases within the X Agency as well."

"Are you that insecure?"

Liang Yingwu tapped the table repeatedly with his fingers: "This is a star map, so the other ones on the ruins could also be star maps, but not necessarily those of the solar system..."

“It should be the solar system,” I interjected. “Although those pictures are not clear, we can barely make out some of the symbols on them, which are the same as the symbols on this one. The symbols represent planets, so those pictures should all be star maps of the solar system.”

"Even though they are all star maps of the solar system, it still doesn't explain why these maps caused that ancient Hindu god so much contemplation. Unless..."

Liang Yingwu seemed to suddenly realize something, and I quickly asked, "Unless what?"

"Unless he wasn't an extraterrestrial visitor and didn't know that this was actually a star map of the solar system. You see, people in ancient times had many speculations about the world, such as the heavens being flat and the earth being square, or the land being carried on the back of a giant tortoise. So it's plausible that this star map of the solar system could explain the nature of the world. That person somehow obtained these maps, knew that these maps revealed the nature of the world, but couldn't figure it out, hence his deep contemplation."

I smiled wryly and said, "That's not a person. I've seen his skeleton. I've never seen the bones of any creature on Earth look like that."

“There are many Earth creatures you haven’t seen,” Liang Yingwu said in a low voice.

"Your statement has too many flaws. How did that creature finally figure it out? What was the purpose of the crystal ball? How did it predict the tsunami?"

"No, according to my reasoning, it has nothing to do with the tsunami, nor with the guy who emitted the high-energy particle beam. It just happened to get those few pictures, and we can't be sure whether it figured them out in the end. Maybe it just thought it had found the answer."

Liang Yingwu's conjecture returned to my initial judgment, but I was not satisfied. I frowned and said, "Your reasoning is based on coincidence. Aren't you used to ruling out the possibility of coincidence?"

Liang Yingwu murmured, "If it's not a coincidence, then what kind of thing would require two thousand years of planning, and what kind of truth would require a tsunami to find? I don't believe that these problems will be solved simply by the involvement of the X organization."

I held up a finger and shook it: "You can't say that. If I could get the skull or the crystal ball from Queen Wei and give them to you to study, I could have one of them anyway. If I went back to ask for it now, Queen Wei would definitely give it to me."

Liang Yingwu's face lit up with joy: "That would be different, especially with crystal balls. If there are any secrets inside, we have the best research equipment."

“The skull is also useful. You can compare it with the creatures in the species bank, and you might find something useful. Species bank, you should have something like that, right?”

Liang Yingwu remained silent.

"That kind of creature has lived for several hundred years according to tribal records, and its total lifespan must be even longer. If the one in the Java Trench is also the same creature, there might be a third or fourth hidden on Earth. Have you ever thought that their lifespan might be long enough for them to have lived from more than two thousand years ago to the present, or even longer? What you call a two-thousand-year-long plan is just the work they did during a certain period of their lives. Maybe after you see the skull, you will suddenly find that it looks a lot like some extraordinary person who is closely related to you."

Upon hearing my last sentence, Liang Yingwu smiled and said, "I hope it's that simple."

"If that's really the case, it's not simple. I know you didn't take in much of what I just said, and in fact, the chances aren't very high. But there's something I haven't told you: if you really get involved, it will be a very useful clue."

Then I told you about Zhang Ming's situation.

"He can't be alone; there must be a huge organization behind him. Do you think such an organization, Agency X, would be completely unaware of this? I believe you can uncover this organization with a little investigation. I can't do anything to him, but you can't. Hehe. Even if it's just him alone, I believe you can still find him."

The morning after my conversation with Liang Yingwu, a middle-aged man knocked on my door. Based on my description, Zhang Ming's ordinary face quickly appeared on his sketchbook. I recounted every detail of my interactions with Zhang Ming to him at least three times, and he meticulously recorded it all in his notebook.

The middle-aged man didn't say much; after asking all the necessary questions, he politely took his leave. I knew in my heart that Organization X had intervened.

However, I ran into trouble trying to contact Wei Hou; the phone number he gave me was always switched off. I had to call Wei, but he didn't answer. That's when I learned that Wei Hou had gone to Las Vegas to gamble heavily. Last time, I had no idea he was such a gambling addict; once he started gambling, he wouldn't stop for at least ten days, and he wouldn't even take his phone with him. It's kind of funny when I think about it—such a gambling addict, yet he's engaged in the extremely cautious profession of tomb raiding, and has even made such a name for himself.

The Wei family certainly has emergency contact methods to find Empress Wei, but I don't mind having a few more days, so I'll put aside the matter of borrowing the skull and crystal ball for now.

Every day I waited for good news from Liang Yingwu, and I was very curious about Zhang Ming's background. After waiting for a whole week, the news that came from Liang Yingwu left me speechless.

I wouldn't be so surprised no matter what Zhang Ming's background is.

Because the investigation results from Agency X were completely blank.

There were no entry or exit records for this person; there wasn't a single flight from China to India with such a person on board. His connections were also completely undetected. It's unclear how he accessed my information, or even in China Telecom's internal database, there was no record of our conversations. In other words, he didn't use the China Telecom network to contact me. If the staff at Gengduyuan hadn't also seen Zhang Ming, the investigators would almost certainly have thought Zhang Ming was a figment of my imagination, someone who didn't exist in reality.

Organization X's investigation was so thorough that they even located the father and daughter who had passed by the entrance of Gengdu Garden that day. The reason the girl suddenly cried was that she had touched something terrifying!

The girl accidentally touched Zhang Ming's face, and the strange touch felt nothing like a human face, which is why she burst into tears.

Because the girl was too young, she couldn't express her exact feelings, only saying that "she looked different." This made me wonder if this was the reason why Zhang Ming didn't shake my hand when we first met.

If I were to shake hands with him, I wonder what it would feel like to hold his hand.

Therefore, this investigation, which consumed a great deal of manpower and resources, can only conclude one thing: Zhang Ming is not an ordinary person, and the possibility that he is not human cannot be ruled out.

Only the X organization could come to such a bizarre conclusion.

What I thought was the most promising lead has gone cold. I can only wait for Queen Wei to return from her gambling spree.

On the morning of April 11th, I started my daily routine of checking my email at the newspaper office. When I opened my Sina VIP email, an unread email from an unfamiliar address was lying there quietly.

I opened the email.

Mr. Na Duo:

Hello, my trip to India wasn't very rewarding, but thank you for your help anyway.

Please forgive me for not being able to tell you what these patterns represent, nor who I am or why I am interested in them. They are incomprehensible to you and have no real meaning.

I'm sure telling you all this will only make you more dissatisfied with me. I know you're a person with a strong sense of curiosity, so I've restored those three illegible patterns from the Mahabalipuram ruins as a small compensation for my uninvited visit.

If one day you truly understand the meaning behind these four pictures, perhaps we can discuss it further.

I will be leaving soon, and I don't know if I will have such an opportunity again.

Zhang Ming

The attachment contains three images that appear to be direct photographs taken from the stone carvings at the Mahabalipuram ruins, but I know that...

These images have been digitally processed because they are clearer than the one I took.

The straight line representing the Cooper belt remains unchanged across all three diagrams, but the symbols representing the planets are different in each diagram.

What puzzled me was that I found two of the pictures had only eight symbols.

Ye Tianjin sent me an email. In it, he reiterated that it was most likely a coincidence, but at my request, he still labeled the planets corresponding to each symbol. I compared them and found that one image was missing the slanted M representing Mercury, and the other was missing the ">" representing Venus.

What's the deal with these two solar system star maps, each missing a planet? Could it be, as Ye Tianjin said, that the overlap with the solar system star map is just a coincidence, and the true meaning of these four maps is not a solar system star map at all?

The sudden appearance of the clues troubled me. I sent the three star charts to Ye Tianjin and asked him to go all the way and do the calculations again.

If his calculations are completely different from my predictions, then my discussion with Liang Yingwu will become a joke.

My curiosity about Zhang Ming grew stronger. It turned out he already knew about these four diagrams. The problem he faced was similar to that of the ancient Indian gods two thousand years ago, while I didn't even know the wording of the problem. The secrets represented by the solar system star map were far too distant for humanity, which didn't yet have the ability to visit any exoplanets.

But who exactly is Zhang Ming?

He came to me thinking I knew a clue to the solution, but after going to India, he found nothing and ended up completing three more diagrams, which benefited me instead. Thinking about this, I calmed down a bit. Perhaps if Zhang Ming knew there was another skull and a crystal ball, he might actually make some progress. This is the price he paid for his terrible attitude.

Zhang Ming must have thought I wasn't qualified to participate in the core content, since I didn't even know the question itself. Indeed, even if Ye Tianjin confirmed that these were star maps of the solar system, I still couldn't figure out their problem at all.

I felt like a starving person, knowing there was delicious food inside but unable to find the door, imagining what the food would look like and taste like. Curiosity, like hunger, burned fiercely, causing a burning, unbearable discomfort.

The thought of hunger made my stomach rumble. I'd gotten up early and, as usual, hadn't eaten breakfast, so my stomach was starting to rumble. A few colleagues suggested we go to a small restaurant near the newspaper office for a treat.

I only remembered that I hadn't turned off my computer halfway through the walk, but that didn't worry me. Nobody could understand those pictures anyway.

The small restaurant's chopped chili opium fish head was exceptional; the meat was tender and delicious, living up to its name. After a satisfying meal, I returned to the newspaper office, where Liu Tang, the new recruit, winked at me.

"Togo, a beautiful lady waited for you for twenty minutes."