The room was silent. Tong Yang and Yang Miao sat facing each other on the sofa.
"Sister, you might not believe what I'm about to say, but I'm really not lying to you," Yang Miao said anxiously.
Tong Yang glanced up at her and said, "I heard the child of the first-generation android and a human had its body... pulverized."
Yang Miao hurriedly explained, "That's not true. My mother sent me to the slums long ago. I've lived there since I was little."
"Is that so," Tong Yang mused.
Yang Miao claimed to be the child born of a first-generation android and a human. While Tong Yang found it surprising, it also made a certain sense.
Hiding her in the slums wouldn't be easily discovered. Even if she could unintentionally control other androids, the slums were a place where electricity was a rarity, let alone androids, so no one would have been able to uncover her identity.
Yang Miao said, "Sister, I'm really not lying. I am..."
"I know. I believe you're not lying to me."
"Really?" Yang Miao asked in surprise.
"Mhm."
As if remembering something, Yang Miao's expression gradually grew uneasy. "Sister, can you promise not to tell anyone else? My mother said my identity must not be known by others, or it could bring fatal danger."
"Then why did you tell me? If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have asked," Tong Yang replied.
Yang Miao smiled shyly. "Because you saved me, sister. So you wouldn't hurt me."
Tong Yang neither confirmed nor denied this, simply stating, "I won't tell anyone about your identity."
"Thank you, sister."
Tong Yang thought for a few seconds before asking, "Do you know you've inherited the ability to control other androids?"
Yang Miao nodded. "I know."
"Since when?"
"Since I was little. I hadn't even come into contact with androids back then. I just felt I could control them."
Tong Yang asked, "Why do you get nosebleeds?"
Yang Miao wrinkled her nose. "I don't know."
"Does it only happen after you control an android?"
"Yeah, it's strange. Besides the nosebleed, there's no other discomfort."
Tong Yang thought for a moment. "Is it related to the number of androids you control?"
Yang Miao carefully recalled before answering after a long pause, "I don't know. I've only ever controlled one android at a time."
Even if first-generation androids could control others, as their descendant, Yang Miao had inherited a portion of that ability. However, being half-human naturally imposed limitations. The nosebleeds after each instance of control were her body suffering a backlash.
Tong Yang said, "From now on, don't control androids unless absolutely necessary. Your body won't be able to withstand it forever."
Yang Miao nodded. "I understand, sister."
Yang Miao's identity was ultimately unimportant to Tong Yang. It had no bearing on Tong Yang's plans, nor on the plans for the real world.
A week passed quickly. Yang Miao was enrolled in a middle school, staying in the dormitory during the term and only returning home on holidays.
On October 15th, Tong Yang entered the United Government building, led by Xue Wei.
"Let me remind you, newcomers are usually assigned elsewhere to adapt for a period of time," Xue Wei said.
"What kind of place?" Tong Yang asked.
Xue Wei replied, "It's not certain. Generally speaking, some families will actively seek to recruit you. 'Pioneers' hold a very high status. It's an opportunity for them to build connections."
Tong Yang nodded. "I see."
That didn't seem so bad. It might even be a chance to gather some information.
Xue Wei stopped with her at a corridor intersection, looking down one particular passageway. "That direction leads to the 'Pioneer' sector. I don't have clearance to enter. Wen Qin is already there. Go on by yourself."
"Mhm."
Tong Yang turned and walked into the passageway.
Tang Li had told her that, at this stage, what Wu Pingxue wanted them to do was integrate into upper-class society and continue gathering intelligence.
Tong Yang walked forward alone. Before long, she saw an open room.
Wen Qin was sitting inside. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
"You're here," Wen Qin greeted.
"Mhm," Tong Yang acknowledged with a nod.
"Which family do you plan to cooperate with?"
"Cooperate?" Tong Yang's brow furrowed slightly. "Isn't it about who actively recruits us?"
Wen Qin looked at her. "You don't know?"
"Know what?" Tong Yang was puzzled.
Wen Qin said, "Many families are actively trying to recruit us. We have to choose for ourselves."
Tong Yang raised her eyebrows in surprise. Having gone through the fourth round of arena matches, she had assumed the affluent district wouldn't give them a second glance. In their eyes, it was probably just an entertaining performance.
As if guessing Tong Yang's thoughts, Wen Qin continued, "Don't even mention those who participated in the fourth round of selection. In their eyes, there's a complete difference between regular trainees and 'Pioneers.' Otherwise, why do you think The Slayer can be so brazen, yet the United Government can't do anything about her?"
Tong Yang knew the status of 'Pioneers' was high in both the First World and the Parallel World. It was just that, having grown accustomed to the arrogance of the upper class, it was somewhat hard to imagine.
Tong Yang asked, "What do you mean by 'cooperate'?"
Wen Qin explained, "Some factions in the affluent district have their own jurisdictions to manage, related to androids. Since all first-generation androids were destroyed, the remaining ones are all controlled by humans. Although they were shielded from human emotions during subsequent manufacturing, some androids have a strong capacity for imitation. They can learn the behaviors of everything around them. Therefore, androids with varying degrees of awakened consciousness occasionally appear."
"So?"
"Our first assignment is to cooperate with some families to destroy all androids with awakened consciousness."
Tong Yang asked, "Since they can be controlled by humans, there should be a unified energy terminal. Why can't commands be issued through that terminal to destroy them?"
Aircraft, androids, and game programs all had an energy terminal to connect to the magnetic field energy.
The first-generation androids were essentially an energy terminal themselves. After they were destroyed, the United Government controlled the others through different energy terminals. Since the energy terminals are closely linked to the magnetic field energy, they should be able to control them completely.
Wen Qin was astonished. "You even know about energy terminals??"
Tong Yang said, "Haven't you heard about what happened on Hacker Island?"
Wen Qin was Armand's half-sibling and knew about Tong Yang and Tang Li's identities.
Wen Qin said, "I heard about it. You killed a 'Pioneer' officer."
Tong Yang raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"Is the lack of information flow really that severe?"
Wen Qin said, "What's strange about that? The upper class is divided into many factions. They generally don't interfere with each other."
Tong Yang shrugged and said no more.
Having been in contact with the Parallel World for so long, the only thing Tong Yang had ever seen used to transmit information was the broadcast system. Even in the safe zones, communication was via broadcast. Electronic devices seemed to be a luxury in the Parallel World.
Wen Qin snorted and steered the conversation back on track. "Logically speaking, after the first-generation bionics were decommissioned, the United Government artificially created an energy terminal system. All bionics should receive commands from this terminal, but for some reason, there are still bionics whose consciousness awakens and slip from control."
Hearing this, Tong Yang frowned slightly, suddenly thinking of something.
If we use the time anchor as an example, in the parallel world, Yan Qing, as the time anchor, can control the cycle of a magnetic energy loop. She is equivalent to an energy terminal. However, besides her, there exist other energy terminals in the parallel world capable of manipulating the cycle time, though the cycle time of the parallel world's Yan Qing takes priority.
Moreover, through the parallel world's Yan Qing, one can also see all the parallel world's humans located in the real world.
If we apply this analogy, the reason for bionics' awakened consciousness escaping control becomes very clear.
Because the first-generation bionics were not completely destroyed. The child born between a first-generation bionic and a human—Yang Miao—is still alive.
Yang Miao inherited a portion of the ability to control bionics, which is why the United Government cannot fully control them.
Those bionics with awakened consciousness are probably all subconsciously influenced by Yang Miao.
"What's wrong?" Wen Qin asked.
Tong Yang shook her head. "Nothing."
It's just that, this being the case, Yang Miao's existence absolutely must not be discovered, or she would be doomed.
Tong Yang felt conflicted. Perhaps keeping Yang Miao in the slums was the safest course of action.
After waiting a moment, a woman led them to another room.
The spacious room was occupied by quite a few people. The Slayer, wearing a cat-faced mask, sat at the head of the table, flanked by the parallel world's Ye Huai and Armand.
Additionally, there were some well-dressed, elegantly attired wealthy individuals in suits and fine gowns, including Tang Li.
As Tong Yang and the other woman entered the room, all eyes in the room gathered on them.
The parallel world's Ye Huai wore a gray trench coat, leaning back in his chair, his gaze coldly fixed on Tong Yang's face.
Compared to the real world's Ye Huai, he appeared somewhat more aloof.
"These are this year's two newcomers. Discuss it among yourselves and let me know once you have a result," The Slayer said before getting up and leaving the room.
Armand and the parallel world's Ye Huai remained in their seats.
"Miss Yang, I'm Hilda. Very pleased to meet you. If you don't mind, perhaps we could speak privately?"
"Why should you speak privately? Hilda, I've had enough of this; it was the same last year."
"Miss Yang, your capabilities are evident to all. We hope you'll make the right choice."
"What we can promise you, others may not be able to offer. If you would honor us with your attention..."
"What are you all arguing about?"
Just then, a somewhat childish voice rang out from the crowd.
Tong Yang glanced sideways. Zhan Zicheng stood with his arms crossed, chin raised, speaking arrogantly, "I knew her the earliest, of course she'll cooperate with our Zhan family."
Several months apart, and Zhan Zicheng still hadn't grown a brain.
"Yang Le, right?" Zhan Zicheng threw Tong Yang a look seeking agreement.
Tong Yang smiled ambiguously. "That's right."
"See, I told you!" Zhan Zicheng looked at the others triumphantly.
Ignoring the ongoing disputes, Wen Qin walked to stand behind Armand.
"Miss Wen choosing to cooperate with Mr. Armand is hardly surprising," someone in the room remarked with a sigh.
It seemed Wen Qin and Armand's relationship was no secret in the affluent district.
Tong Yang abruptly looked at the parallel world's Ye Huai and asked, "Does this gentleman also belong to a family?"
She didn't know which world this "Ye Huai" before her came from. If he was from the First World, the family behind him would be the Maynard family.
After the events on Hake Island, all members of the Maynard family returned to the First World. After all this time, it should no longer be a secret, yet the parallel world hadn't pursued Maynard's "betrayal" any further; the matter was simply dropped.
"Ye Huai" looked at her, his eyes deep, and asked, "What, are you interested in cooperating with me?"
"Not exactly. It's just that seeing you reminds me of a friend," Tong Yang said.
"Ye Huai" curled his lips in a cold smile. "Is that so? I wonder which world this friend is from?"
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. This guy was subtly threatening her.
After all, she had a weakness in his grasp. Although he was allied with the First World's Tong Yang, there was no guarantee he wouldn't suddenly turn on her, given there were few normal people here.
Tong Yang said, "No, it's nothing. I just felt an instant connection upon seeing you. It was merely a line for striking up a conversation."
"He's backed by the Maynard family. Are you interested?"
Suddenly, a voice came from the doorway.
Turning to look, the First World's Tong Yang leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, speaking leisurely.
After her words, the room's atmosphere froze. The air around "Ye Huai" noticeably chilled. Others sensed it, kept their eyes downcast, and remained silent.
After a long moment, Ye Huai said with a cold face, "So what if I am?"
Tong Yang gave a charming smile. "It has nothing to do with the backing family. I simply want to get closer to you."
"Ye Huai" stared at her, his expression darkening.
"Wait, you're not choosing me?" Zhan Zicheng pointed at himself, incredulous.
Tong Yang said, "Sorry, I forgot about you."
Zhan Zicheng: "..."
Zhan Zicheng glared at her furiously.
Tong Yang and Wen Qin each chose the families they would cooperate with. The others exchanged a few polite words before leaving somewhat disgruntled.
The First World's Tong Yang stood in the corridor, giving Tong Yang a meaningful look before turning and leaving.
She wouldn't easily interfere in Tong Yang's affairs before the agreed-upon time arrived.
"I'm leaving first. Let's keep in touch," Wen Qin waved to her, standing beside Armand and Tang Li.
Tang Li and Tong Yang exchanged a glance before leaving with Armand and the others.
"Where are we going?" Tong Yang asked proactively.
"Ye Huai" looked at her icily and said, "You are a detestable woman."
"Thank you, but please don't waste my time," Tong Yang replied flatly.
Since it was confirmed his backing was the Maynard family, it meant he, like Maynard, was from the First World—he was the First World's Ye Huai.
The First World's Ye Huai was in a foul mood, likely not solely because of Tong Yang. He had worn a scowl even before she entered the room.
Walking in silence down the long corridor, the First World's Ye Huai directly led her out of the United Government building. They boarded a vehicle and headed elsewhere.
Throughout the journey, the two did not exchange a single word.
Tong Yang could roughly guess their destination: the location of the Maynard family.
The closer they got, the more oppressive the aura around the First World's Ye Huai became. Inside the enclosed vehicle, the atmosphere was particularly tense.
Tong Yang remained completely unaffected, continuing as she pleased.
Finally, after driving for a while, the vehicle stopped in front of a villa on the mountainside.
"Mr. Ye."
Someone dressed like a butler opened the car door for them.
"Go in," the First World's Ye Huai said to Tong Yang.
Tong Yang asked, feigning ignorance, "Aren't you coming in?"
The First World's Ye Huai glanced at her. "None of your business."
Tong Yang pushed the car door open and got out. Since her objective had been achieved, she didn't plan to waste any more time.
"Wait a moment."
Just as Tong Yang was about to leave, Ye Huai from the First World suddenly called out to her.
Tong Yang turned back to look at him. "Is something the matter?"
Ye Huai from the First World sat inside the car, watching Tong Yang through the window. He raised a hand to cover his chest, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Tong Yang felt puzzled but didn't speak.
"How has the owner of this heart been all these years?"
Tong Yang's breath hitched. "What?"
The First World's Ye Huai didn't answer her question. He seemed to be in a much more pleasant mood. He raised his hand and gestured to the driver, who started the vehicle and drove away from the villa.
Tong Yang watched the receding car with a dark expression.
—How has the owner of this heart been all these years?
The meaning conveyed by those words was all too clear.
If he wasn't lying, the healthy heart beating in his chest originally belonged to the real-world Ye Huai.
"Please."
The butler stood in place, bowed to her, and made a gesture.
Following the butler into the villa, he led her directly to a study.
"The master is inside the room. Please enter."
It seemed the other party had long known Tong Yang would come seeking him.
Eager for the truth, Tong Yang pushed the door open and entered.
A bright study came into view. Before the floor-to-ceiling window stood a familiar face.
Ye Tianlin sat at the desk, looking at Tong Yang with a gentle gaze.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Ye Tianlin."
"It's not our first meeting. I was outside the window the night you appeared in the Ye family study."
"Is that so." Ye Tianlin nodded, seemingly unconcerned about Tong Yang's tone. "I apologize for not noticing you at the time."
Tong Yang didn't want to waste time with him and frowned. "Why did your son say that heart isn't his?"
Ye Tianlin smiled and signaled for the butler to close the door.
With the study door shut, only the two of them remained in the room.
Ye Tianlin said, "Please, have a seat. Rest assured, I have no intention of hiding anything from you."
Tong Yang walked to the desk and pulled out a chair to sit.
"Then tell me everything," Tong Yang said.
"Alright."
Ye Tianlin from the First World and the real-world Ye Tianlin were completely different people apart from their appearance. In him, Tong Yang could see some resemblance to Ye Huai.
You must have discovered that Ye Huai has organs from so-called "parallel-world" humans inside him, which is why he can take you through parallel worlds.
"Yes, I discovered that."
Ye Tianlin said, "That is precisely the case. He and my son, Menard, exchanged hearts."
Tong Yang's lips tightened into a line. "Why? Was there something wrong with Ye Huai's original heart?"
Ye Tianlin said, "There was, and it was no small problem."
Tong Yang couldn't help but frown. "Stop beating around the bush."
Ye Tianlin gave a wry smile and said, "Once, I made a deal with Ye Huai's father."
"What kind of deal?"
"I could revive his company, and in return, he needed to hand Ye Huai over to me for an experiment."
"An experiment?" Tong Yang said in a low voice.
"Twenty years ago, although medical standards in the First World were advanced, they were not foolproof. I didn't want to inject Menard with genetic medicine, so I had them find a way to cure his heart." Ye Tianlin sighed. "A method was found, but the risks could not be ignored."
Tong Yang understood the implication and sneered. "So, you made a deal with the real-world Ye Tianlin. You gave him resources to build the White Horse Group, and he gave you his son for the experiment. Ye Huai bore the risk of death, and after the surgery succeeded, you transplanted his healthy heart into your son's body?"
Ye Tianlin's gaze lowered. He nodded. "Yes, that is indeed what I did at the time."
Tong Yang said, "And then? Did you have a pang of conscience, regret it? So you pretended to be a benevolent father to compensate him?"
Ye Tianlin did not deny it. "In the years that followed, I observed Ye Huai's physical condition. For some reason, after Ye Huai's father achieved success in his career, his personality became increasingly stubborn. He wanted to stop supplying Ye Huai with the medication more than once. I did not allow him to do so."
Tong Yang silently watched Ye Tianlin, waiting for him to continue.
"Often, successful people, cloaked in glory, always want to erase what they perceive as stains. Ye Huai, whom we used in our transaction, after replacing Menard's heart, was seen by his father as the greatest stain on his own life. I couldn't understand it, nor could I interfere too much."
So, he could only choose this method.
The development of events was beyond Tong Yang's expectations, yet it made sense.
Ye Tianlin said, "If you have the chance, please convey a message to him for me: I am sorry for what happened in the past, but if given the choice again, I would still make the same decision."
Regarding the matter between Ye Huai and the First World's Ye Tianlin, Tong Yang couldn't pass judgment, nor could she dig out the First World Ye Huai's heart and return it to its true owner.
She could only, as the other said,
convey his words to Ye Huai.
Tong Yang asked about other matters: "Why are you helping us? Out of guilt?"
Ye Tianlin shook his head. "My thinking aligns with Wu Pingxue's. Only when the social system completely collapses will the First World be revitalized. Otherwise, no matter how many parallel worlds we occupy, we will ultimately head toward destruction. It's merely a matter of time."
"You will help us?"
"The existence of magnetic field energy will inevitably lead to competition and exploitation among the worlds. Immortality is the lifelong pursuit of humanity, yet truly achieving it is as difficult as climbing to heaven. Even if we fully exploit the magnetic field energy of all three existing worlds, it might not be enough. If the Third World fails, they will search for a fourth."
Tong Yang nodded. "So, that means our goals align, correct?"
Ye Tianlin said, "You could understand it that way."
The Menard family held considerable influence in the First World. With his help, it would naturally be twice as effective with half the effort.
"So, what exactly should we do? Is Wu Pingxue going to keep being cryptic?" Tong Yang said.
Ye Tianlin said, "If Wu Pingxue hasn't told you, he naturally has his reasons. However, you should know very soon."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together. She had thought she could learn something from him about destroying the magnetic field energy, but like Wu Pingxue, he left her with nothing.
How could the magnetic field energy be completely eradicated from the three worlds? What must be done to separate the magnetic field energy onto another timeline?
Tong Yang asked, "What next? What should I do?"
Ye Tianlin said, "You should know by now why you've appeared here."
"Yes. The Unified Government wants us to help destroy the androids who have gained consciousness."
"You don't need to do that."
Tong Yang was taken aback. "What?"
Ye Tianlin said, "The androids who have gained consciousness can become our greatest asset. We must not kill them."
Tong Yang frowned deeply. "How is that possible?"
"Your companion has already infiltrated the group of conscious androids ahead of you."
"Who?" Tong Yang asked.
"If I remember correctly, one of them has the surname Xu."