Story Reader / Main Story / 28 Polaris Bond / Story
At times, even Qu herself can't distinctly recall that night.
But she knows one thing: her chances of seeing her father are becoming fewer and fewer.
Everything her father said to her on that day is coming true one by one.
Yin... he was actually taking the blame for me today, and he did not let me down.
After today, you'll hear from many people that they dislike your older brother as well as they dislike your dad.
Since that night, her father has almost never appeared in the clan, and within the clan, it seems he is increasingly shunned. Even Xun, the clan leader, never mentions his name again.
Her older brother, who had always been highly regarded, seldom appears in the Chamber's inner courtyard except for necessary clan education.
However, she and Dai appear unaffected, despite the clan's growing demand for the two siblings to take turns studying in the inner courtyard.
Apart from all that, an indescribable sense of emptiness always lingers in Qu's heart, as if there is something she can never understand but tirelessly yearns for...
Qu.
The Suanni Crew member in the cyan robe extends his teaching stick and gently pokes Qu, who is spacing out.
I'm sorry.
Qu, lost in thought, responds and picks up the access terminal in her hand again.
Are you tired? You've been spacing out a lot lately.
Let's take a ten-minute break. We're making decent progress on "The Book of Lord Shang".
"When the distinction between public and private is clear, the petty will not envy the virtuous, and the unworthy will not be jealous of merit." That's where we left off.
Alright, let's stop here. We'll resume the class in ten minutes.
Wenlan, nearly in his fifties, gives a nod to Qu. He then turns off his own terminal and leans back in the armchair on the other side of the study.
Hmm... Master?
What's the matter?
It says here, "Thus, do not break word when promising generous rewards and make sure to carry out penalties though severe. Without neglecting the distant or favoring the close, subjects will not deceive the monarch, and subordinates will not mislead their superiors."
Yes, that's the opening of this section. Do you have any questions?
Offer generous rewards to establish trust and implement necessary severe punishments; include those with distant relations in rewards and not exempt those with close relations from penalties...
Is that how Father does it too?
...
Wenlan, who was reclining in his chair for a brief break, immediately straightens up in alertness.
Lord Zheng has always been fair in his rewards and punishments.
Does he also "not neglect the distant nor favor the close"?
What exactly happened... two years ago?
Well...
I asked Wenyuan and Wenjin, who are usually in the inner courtyard, but they refused to answer me.
Qu stares directly into Wenlan's eyes, making it impossible for him to evade.
If Wenyuan and Wenjin don't know, I naturally won't know either.
Wenyuan, Wenjin, Wenhui, Wenlan—our names align in order. I'm merely the last among the four scholars, undoubtedly not as good as the others—
They're always around Xun, and you're always with my father. How do you not know anything?
Well...
It's not really my place to discuss—
You must know something. Don't hide it from me.
Qu's relentless questioning visibly strains Wenlan.
He sighs deeply, as if making a decision, then stands and glances out the window cautiously.
Miss Qu, would you be interested in visiting the library?
The library?
But you haven't answered my question yet.
Let's say that's enough for today's lesson.
If you have further questions, I'll be in the library's council room assisting Lord Zheng.
You're welcome to join me there anytime.
Wenlan quickly gathers the ancient books and terminal into his bag, gives Qu a respectful bow, and leaves the study in a hurry.
What is he hiding...?
(You can come find me "anytime"...)
(Anytime...)
(Does he want to tell me something after all?)
She follows Wenlan to the entrance of the inner courtyard garden. Wenlan seems almost to be fleeing, quickly boarding the Chamber's exclusive transit line.
Qu doesn't hesitate and board the next car. Within minutes, she reaches the exclusive underground passage of the Central Library's inner courtyard, taking an elevator directly to the council chamber's library front hall.
She walks again through rows of bookshelves to the smaller council room where her father usually works.
The council room, though smaller than the main council hall, is still grander and more ornate than a regular study, filled with shelves and data panels, and a desk at the forefront cluttered with documents.
Contrary to common belief among Kowloong's residents, this is where the Monarch of Kowloong spends his quieter days.
Hmm?
Zheng looks up from his documents as he hears the door open.
Why are you here?
I... I'm here to see Master.
Wenlan? I believe Scholar Suanni mentioned he has a meeting.
You may come in.
Zheng sets down his pen and gestures for Qu, who lingers hesitantly at the door, to come closer.
Is it just you here, Father?
Yes, it is. Do you need something?
There's something I need to ask you.
I have some time now. Ask away.
I may not have Wenlan's breadth of knowledge, but I'll do my best.
What exactly happened... two years ago?
Why are the other family members, including Xun, avoiding you?
Zheng's expression changes subtly, a mix of surprise and concern.
Is that what you want to know, my daughter?
I came across a passage that said, "Rewards and punishments must be credible, severe punishments must be guaranteed, do not neglect those who are distant, and do not favor those who are close."
What does it mean for us?
Zheng silently looks at Qu, seemingly lost in thought.
His eyes are filled with love and a hint of guilt.
Walk with me, Qu.
It's been a while since our last casual walk together, hasn't it?
Yeah, I haven't really seen you around lately.
Zheng stands up from the worn-out chair that seems barely fit for the Monarch of Kowloong, takes Qu's hand, and offers a gentle smile.
Let's take a walk in the main hall.
Forget about work and duties for a bit.
It only takes a few minutes to walk from the library's administrative side hall to the main hall of the collection. Although both are in the same building, they present completely different scenes.
In contrast to the sparsely populated side hall, the main hall is bustling with tourists and Kowloong citizens engaged in reading and observing, serving both as a library and a museum.
Zheng and Qu, followed by two Yazi guards a few meters behind, are walking in the archival corridor on the top floor of the main hall. This area is not open to the public as it leads directly to the Chamber's administrative zone. From this corridor, they can overlook the entire library.
The father and daughter stop in front of the railing. Another Yazi guard approaches from the corridor behind them and whispers a few words to the two guards following Zheng, and they step aside, standing by with their hands down.
Zheng noticed this but says nothing, instead pointing out the crowd below to Qu.
Look at all those people down there.
They're not just Kowloong residents. We've got visitors from all over, not just locals.
Because this is the biggest library in the world, right?
Exactly, and that's something to be proud of.
But you should also know, I wasn't the one who built this library.
Eh?
But aren't you the one who decided to build it, Father?
Before the Chamber became what it is today, our family, our ancestors—every Monarch of Kowloong before me—they all collected these books, these artifacts. They gathered this knowledge.
Dynasties change, but great eras can be documented.
The weight of knowledge and history binds every generation of Kowloong's leaders along with our people.
All I did was create a vessel for it.
The Monarch of Kowloong is a bit like a vessel too.
A vessel?
Yes. Just like this library, which is a vessel containing all kinds of knowledge from the vast world.
The Monarch of Kowloong must bear the will of Kowloong and its people, serving as their vessel.
...
Have you ever seen this library empty?
No...
Doesn't it close at night?
No, it doesn't.
I've ordered it to be open 24/7.
Because books and knowledge are meaningless without people to engage with them.
I understand...
You're saying it's the people that matter.
Exactly, my daughter.
Zheng smiles and gently pats Qu's head.
But, Father.
Does that incident relate to this library?
...Sure.
I'll put it in this way.
Imagine a bottle filled with stones. If you pour water into it, how much can it hold?
It depends on the gaps between the stones.
But generally, not much.
Undoubtedly, it can only hold less water than a bottle without stones.
That night, I cleared the stones. A bottle for water should only hold water, right?
Father, I don't get what you mean...
Zheng notices the Yazi guards who had been standing not far away, now gone. He checks the time and crouches down beside his daughter.
Never mind, Qu. I will take care of everything.
I'm glad you are here with me today.
Zheng kneels beside Qu, embracing her.
Father...
I have to go now, there's an important meeting I must attend.
And someone might come looking for you here.
Hmm?
Just wait right here for that person.
Feel free to speak your mind, it's okay.
Just remember one thing, Qu.
Your mother and I... we've always loved you.
And I'm sorry I've let you down...
Love...?
I understand, father.
He releases the hug, gives Qu's shoulders a reassuring squeeze, and walks back the way they came, his figure gradually fading into the dim corridor.
At the same time, a wheelchair slowly emerges from the shadows.
...Qu.
Lord Xun.
In fact, Xun holds no official position in the Chamber and doesn't participate in actual decision-making.
But this old man, who rendered great service during the Chamber's unification wars, manages the entire family. Therefore, even Zheng must respectfully address him as "Lord" according to family etiquette.
He rarely makes public appearances, having stayed secluded in Kowloong's inner quarters ever since he took over the family's affairs.
In a way, he forged Kowloong with iron and fire. Without him, Kowloong could never have achieved unification and conquest.
Behind every facade, there's always someone managing the core.
How's your studying going?
We've reached the Zibu section.
Excellent, you are such a quick learner.
These lessons, including the ones about history...
They might seem tedious to you, but they are foundational.
As the old saying goes, a nine-story tower begins with a mound of dirt. If the foundation is unstable, it will eventually collapse. What we in Kowloong have always emphasized is a stable, rock-solid "foundation."
Understood.
Tell me, what do you see in those people?
Xun extends his withered hand from under the blanket, pointing to where Zheng and Qu just observed.
In Kowloong's hardest times, this hand punished those who succumbed to decay and selfishness, and pulled Kowloong out of the quagmire of war, completing the unification of the Chamber.
War, scars, and glory are etched in this aged hand.
They are... visitors to the library.
That's all?
The family, the history, and the advances and retreats of many people are all on this hand.
...
Didn't Zheng teach you to look deeper?
What else do you see?
Among those seeking knowledge, and those admiring the scenery.
Among those who relish the quiet, and those who immerse themselves in it.
Among countless people, amid these classics that bridge the ancient and the modern, the heavens and the earth.
Amid an endless ocean of knowledge, a vast treasure trove.
I saw...
She is here too. What did she see?
Are they just visitors touring the library?
Is this library just a simple library?
A vessel...
Water needs a bottle, books need a library.
Knowledge needs a mind to record it, money needs a bank to flow.
And people, they need someone to guide them.
Good.
Is it really a "vessel"?
A voice seems to echo in Qu's heart, questioning her, causing her heart to skip a beat.
But it is the only answer she could come up with.
Remember, Qu.
The essence of any structure lies in its foundation; the choice of stone sets the stage for the edifice that rises from it.
Kowloong is what it is because of its foundation. And only on that foundation can Kowloong's towers stand.
If you start dismantling the foundation once you've reached the top of the tower...
Xun slowly withdraws his hand, his eyes fixed intently on the horizon as if a war that shouldn't exist is igniting in the distance.
You'll lose everything.
Meanwhile...
In the vast council hall big enough to house an airplane, an antique conference table stands at the center.
Originally, this was where the Kowloong Crew and the Monarch of Kowloong would sit for discussions. This long table is equipped with numerous data components and terminal systems for their use at any time.
Today, however, it simply reverts to its foundational role.
For now, in this hall, there is no Monarch of Kowloong, no Kowloong Crew, only two people conversing in the name of humanity—
...Even so, this proposal can only be considered a suggestion.
The final decision on this initiative rests with Kowloong and your judgment.
A solitary figure sits in the hall's shadowy embrace, an unsigned, unmarked document before him on the barren table, its cover starkly dated.
At its core, this plan is merely an extension of the Human Genome Project, conceived before our descent into the Great Depression.
But this time, we aim to extend our reach to the entire planet, beyond the mere confines of human civilization.
Our goal is to employ artificial intelligence to map the genetics and physical characteristics of over nine million species on Earth, recording and safeguarding this biological data.
This task requires as much time and effort as interstellar travel.
So this remains merely a suggestion.
Given that Project Gestalt is still in its nascent stages, we simply lack the resources to propel this initiative forward at this time...
So, you're talking about a lack of funds...
Exactly. And the "Project Orient" currently underway primarily focuses on interstellar exploration.
This is but a small step for mankind.
Should interstellar exploration validate our propulsion and navigational methodologies, interstellar colonization will be our next frontier.
If only it were that simple.
What do you mean?
Order isn't established by incentives alone; sometimes, deterrents are necessary. It's like using both carrots and sticks, right?
To achieve world unity and successfully colonize other planets, relying solely on science and technology isn't enough.
Behind every facade, there's always someone managing the core. It's time to choose someone for this role.
Whoever is chosen will need to build from scratch a superstructure capable of uniting humanity—a task not for the faint-hearted.
This person needs to handle intense scrutiny and operate effectively behind the scenes. They must also be ready to make significant sacrifices, whether they are moral or physical, when required.
Do you have anyone in mind?
There is someone from the Transatlantic Economic Community who might fit the bill, but it will depend on his willingness. I'll discuss it with the leaders of the Arctic Route Union and the Transatlantic Economic Community.
This task cannot be accomplished by our generation alone.
The ambitions of the Science Council have always spanned beyond just one generation.
Zheng, looking out over the sprawling expanse of Kowloong, lets out a deep sigh.
The task spans beyond a single generation... but how many generations do we truly have left?
Even in Kowloong, mobilizing the full might of the Chamber to propel a project that can lead us into tomorrow is fraught with challenges.
But you are the capable one.
Because the Monarch of Kowloong is the one who makes the final judgment.
I lead because people trust me to do so. I could easily issue orders without thought for the consequences, but in the end, it's my people who have to carry them out.
So when I act, I consider not just whether I can, but whether I should.
Of course, my political acumen surely pales beside that of Kowloong...
Perhaps to you scientists, everything seems as calculable as an equation, solvable by balancing both sides of an equals sign. But humanity... humanity defies such simple measurement.
True unity among humans is an illusion—be it in Kowloong, the Arctic Route Union, the Transatlantic Economic Community, or anywhere else.
As long as there is inequality, as long as privileges exist, as long as people cannot earn what they rightfully deserve through their labor and effort...
Humanity will never achieve true unity.
Cold fusion technology has lifted us from the depths of the Great Depression and propelled global productivity to new heights. The peace we now enjoy owes much to the Science Council, which has illuminated the tangible benefits of these advancements for all to see.
However, we must be clear: introducing cold fusion also means potentially escalating military capabilities.
Even if we manage to unite the world one day, internal conflicts will persist...
As you've pointed out, resolving these issues is a task for more than one generation.
But I believe that if our descendants keep at it, they might finally achieve what we've been hoping for.
Yes, they will.
Zheng presses his hand against the towering glass of the council hall, his voice filled with unwavering determination.
There's another matter I've been hesitant to bring up...
Go ahead.
It appears Kowloong has replaced all its representatives at the Council and other global bodies recently...
Enough.
Zheng's calm tone filled the room with gravity.
That's not a concern for the Science Council.
Understood. But I wanted to mention that if Kowloong ever needs anything, the Science Council is always ready to help.
Help, you say?
A young man's face flashed through Zheng's mind.
It's not that you are helping us. Perhaps one day, he and you will help each other.
Then we'll address that when necessary. The decision is yours.
Anything else, we can discuss later.
Just leave the document there.
I'll have an answer for you by tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
As the last rays of sunset deepen, they catch the resolve in his eyes, bathing Kowloong in a gentle twilight.
Yes, tomorrow. Must be prepared by nightfall.
The sun will rise again tomorrow.
