Chapter 222: Reunion After 600 Years

Lin Xian had no time to think before a massive red laser, as thick as a giant tree, sliced through the night sky. The beam struck Ah Zhuang, who was flying ahead, engulfing him in its intense heat.

In an instant, Ah Zhuang, along with his complex equipment and spacesuit, disappeared from sight. All that was left were several clusters of blackened carbon, faintly glowing with uncooled red embers. The sound of crackling followed as these tiny carbon particles, like reverse hail, pelted Lin Xian’s spacesuit.

Lin Xian realized in that chilling moment that these were the remains of Ah Zhuang, who had just been vaporized by the superheated laser. The fact that these remains were hitting him meant he was now flying at the same altitude as Ah Zhuang had been.

Suddenly, his vision turned red. It felt as if he was enveloped by a scorching red sun, and in that moment, he was obliterated. He didn’t even have time to register the pain.

....

“Huff,” Lin Xian gasped as he opened his eyes and found himself back in his bedroom. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand. It was still early, far from 00:42, the time he had died in his previous attempt.

“This is too hard; it’s practically impossible,” he muttered, reflecting on the experience.Reêad latest novels at noov/e/l/bin(.)com

Having actually done a parachute jump in reality, Lin Xian now realized he had drastically underestimated the challenge of this mission. The main problem was the height. The gap in the defense network was at 10,000 meters, while the altitude of Rhine Sky City was about two to three thousand meters. This left a 7,000-meter difference, making it impossible to find any reference point for his landing.

As he descended to 10,000 meters, Lin Xian had to strain his eyes to even glimpse the tiny plaza 7,000 meters below. Aiming accurately from such a height was a feat he could not achieve.

“It’s like being asked to hit a palm-sized target 7,000 meters away with a gun that has no scope. Even if you think you’re aiming correctly, you’re just guessing; the chances of hitting the target are almost zero,” he explained to himself.

Lin Xian got out of bed and moved to his desk where he carefully reviewed the parachuting plan he had developed with Big Cat Face and Ah Zhuang.

The plan was daunting:

1. Start the jump at an altitude of 20,000 meters.

2. Fall 10,000 meters and then glide horizontally about 2,000 meters to position themselves directly above the plaza.

3. Assuming they miraculously hit the gap, they would still need to open their parachutes at about 5,000 meters, roughly 2,000 meters above the ground of Rhine Sky City.

4. If everything went perfectly, and they found the medicine for radiation sickness, they would still need to find the right moment to jump off the edge of Sky City and use a second parachute to return to the ground safely.

“This isn’t just a risky plan, it’s a suicidal one. Saying it’s a thousand deaths for one life isn’t an exaggeration,” Lin Xian pondered.

He realized that the death toll was high because each failed attempt provided no useful feedback to those still alive; they couldn’t use the elimination method. This meant that many more might perish in the same way as their predecessors.

“So, why is that gap in the defense area intentionally left open?” Lin Xian wondered aloud. After much thought, he became more convinced of his earlier suspicion — that gap was specifically intended for him.

“Only I can repeatedly die and remember where the gaps are. This capability is unique to me. Even if I’m killed by lasers, I can recall where I died and avoid it in the next attempt,” he reasoned, his thoughts sharpening.

This almost impossible challenge, this puzzle, seemed designed specifically for him. But who would set such a trap or offer such an opportunity?

An enemy? A friend? Or perhaps a future version of himself?

“This is getting more and more intriguing,” Lin Xian chuckled to himself. Whether friend or foe, he was in a world of endless cycles of dreams. What was there to fear?

“I still don’t have a clear direction for Rhine Company’s future development,” Lin Xian declared with gravity. “But I sincerely hope that no matter how large Rhine Company becomes, or what fields it might explore, it will remain steadfast to one principle—the principle that defines our purpose: For a better future for humanity!”

His words echoed through the silence that enveloped the room, followed by an eruption of applause. It was rare, nearly unprecedented, for a leader to make such an earnest declaration without the usual corporate veneer.

“For a better future for humanity.”

Such declarations had become almost cliché, often avoided by modern entrepreneurs out of a sense of embarrassment. Yet, Lin Xian spoke with sincerity. Though everyone was aware that his speech deviated from the typical promotional script, it was clear he wasn’t just putting on an act. He spoke from the heart, making a profound impression on his audience, including many former colleagues from MX Company who had followed him to Rhine Company, drawn by his genuine charisma.

....

“Well said, Lin Xian.” The applause dwindled as Chu Shan He approached with a smile, extending his hand in congratulations. “I look forward to the day you realize this dream.”

“Thank you, Mr. Chu, for your support,” Lin Xian replied, shaking his hand.

“Oh, think nothing of it!” Chu Shan He dismissed with a wave as he departed. “But do keep in touch, and visit often.”

After he left in his Maybach, most of the crowd dispersed, leaving Lin Xian with Zhao Ying Jun, who approached him, her heels clicking on the floor.

“I’m really happy for you, Lin Xian,” she smiled warmly. “It seems you’ve truly found something worth dedicating your life to. You’re not just chasing success for the sake of it; you’ve found a genuine purpose.”

Lin Xian returned the smile, appreciating her presence and support. “I learned it all from you, and I’m grateful for everything.”

“Then let’s shake on it,” Zhao Ying Jun suggested, offering her hand with a light laugh.

As they shook hands, Lin Xian felt the weight of the moment, the significance of their shared journey towards something meaningful.

....

Suddenly, a red laser flashed to the right.

Lin Xian turned just in time to see Big Cat Face vaporized by the beam, reduced to charcoal—a scene that had repeated itself countless times. Lin Xian, clad in his spacesuit, braced for his turn.

But the expected blast didn’t come. Instead, as he fell, he noticed he was plummeting directly toward the central plaza of Rhine Sky City. The details of the ground rushed up to meet him.

“I found the gap!” Lin Xian exclaimed, realizing he had somehow navigated through a breach in the city’s defenses.

His descent slowed as he deployed his parachute, gliding down towards a giant statue. Landing with a thud, Lin Xian quickly freed himself from the parachute and approached the statue. It was a grand depiction of a woman carved in white jade.

Below it, an inscription read: “In memory of the builder of Rhine Sky City—Zhao Ying Jun.”

Lin Xian stood there, absorbing the revelation, his heart filled with a mix of awe and curiosity about the role Zhao Ying Jun would play in this envisioned future.

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation