Chapter Sixty-Six: Quantum Warriors

Page 1/3

Inside the laboratory of the Huaxia Institute of Biological Research, several graduate students were engrossed in an important experiment. They had labored over this sample for three years, driven by the quest to uncover the origins of humanity, perhaps even of all life itself. They had compared the genetic material of every organism on Earth, seeking to answer a single question: in what form does life truly exist?

“Look! Quick, look... it’s moving!” The female graduate student stationed at the microscope cried out in astonishment, her words captured on the experiment’s video recording. This was a moment destined for history. The others in the lab gathered around, eager to witness this monumental event together.

“It’s true! It’s alive! That means we’ve succeeded. There are more than just two forms of life in this world now!” mused a middle-aged man, lost in thought. “That is to say, beyond the double helix structure of DNA and the single-stranded RNA, there could be triple helix or even more complex helical structures. Biology will shatter the bounds of classical theory—this is like when classical physics gave way to quantum mechanics, perhaps even more significant!”

“Yes, Professor! We’re going to win the Nobel Prize!” a young man exclaimed excitedly. At only twenty-two, he had already achieved such greatness alongside his mentor. His name was Gongsun Yu, and for three years he had called this place home. Gifted from childhood, he had always cherished a special passion for biology. At twelve, he began studying biology at Cambridge University in England, and four years later, he pursued evolutionary studies at MIT for three years. Now, with his mentor, he was probing the forbidden frontier of “the origin of life,” and had stumbled upon this triple helix structure purely by chance.

“Wait... something’s wrong, Professor! It’s devouring the surrounding cellular tissue—it’s growing... this can’t be!” Gongsun Yu’s breathing grew rapid.

“Let me see!” Professor Liu Kaiyun stared at the computer monitor. “This—this is impossible. It’s evolving! From single-celled to multicellular, from invertebrate mollusks to vertebrates... is it completing billions of years of Earth’s evolution in mere minutes?” He stared in disbelief as the triple helix gene, TNA, continued to evolve.

“Professor, should we terminate the experiment? Should we activate the laser?” Gongsun Yu anxiously sought his mentor’s guidance.

“It’s too late—look, it’s already evolved into a mammal! In another minute, it’ll reach the primate stage!” Liu Kaiyun said, regretful yet brimming with excitement. To a scientist, every discovery is a key to changing the course of humanity; uncertainty could never justify abandoning their quest. Yet unchecked ambition could be equally destructive.

“Professor... this isn’t possible! It’s too fast! It’s... it’s outpacing the computer simulations!” Gongsun Yu’s mind raced through everything he had learned at the world’s top institutions, but nothing could explain what he was witnessing. Only one phrase came to mind: “quantum evolution.” “Professor, could this be quantum evolution? Evolution at the quantum level—not in simple three-dimensional space, but in higher dimensions. What we perceive as seconds may, for it, be billions of years.”

“What? How could that be...” Liu Kaiyun was filled with doubt.

“Professor, back in the US, I heard classmates mention this term. They stopped themselves, probably because it was classified. Now that I think about it, they must have already succeeded in this research. We just stumbled on it by accident,” Gongsun Yu said quietly, a mix of excitement and regret in his heart—regret that this technology was already understood abroad, excitement that he too had discovered quantum evolution, breaking the monopoly. He was grateful he hadn’t activated the termination procedure.

“Look, it’s surpassed the primate stage—what is that?” Liu Kaiyun could not believe his eyes. What he saw was a humanoid form, and yet it was different from any human. Then, it vanished. “It’s gone... what happened?” Liu Kaiyun frantically searched the computer for a trace. For safety, the sample had been placed a hundred meters from the observation point, to prevent deadly bacteria from emerging during evolution.

“Professor, I’m going to the observation chamber,” Gongsun Yu called, and then dashed away.

“Be careful,” Liu Kaiyun reminded his prized pupil.

“Don’t worry, Professor! I’ll be fine. I’ll wear the protective suit,” Gongsun Yu replied with confidence, determined to see the experiment through for his country and people, to grasp that ultimate answer.

After changing in the locker room, he walked step by step toward the control center.

“Wish me luck, Yue’er. When this is over, I’ll watch the moon with you. Today is your birthday,” Gongsun Yu murmured, a hint of fear in his heart. Yue’er was his girlfriend, and this very day, a year ago... Under the silver moon that lit the night sky, he had prepared a candlelit dinner on the highest rooftop at their university. He watched as Xuanyuan Yue, dressed in a white gown, ran toward him, her long black hair fluttering in the breeze. But in the next instant, a speeding car struck her, hurling her twenty meters away. She fell, lifeless, into a pool of scarlet blood...

Page 2/3

“I’m here—finally!” After running, Gongsun Yu reached the sealed observation chamber.

Beep, beep, beep... After entering the password, the door slid open amid a cloud of white mist. Through the reinforced glass, he surveyed the room within. But when he saw what was inside, he nearly went mad.

“You? This can’t be... it can’t be!” Gongsun Yu clutched his head and screamed.

“Brother Gongsun Yu, what’s wrong? Don’t you love Yue’er anymore? I’m right here,” the figure said, just as she had a year before.

“No! What are you? How can you be her—she’s dead! Dead! Even her body was cremated!” Gongsun Yu was on the verge of collapse.

“Don’t be afraid. It really is me. Didn’t you promise we’d watch the moon together tonight? I’ve already seen it! Look, isn’t that a full moon above us?” The figure pointed upward. Gongsun Yu followed her gaze, and indeed, there was a full moon above. Xuanyuan Yue sat happily beside him, gazing at the luminous orb.

“Hehe, Brother Gongsun Yu, looking at the moon, I’m reminded of a famous poem,” Xuanyuan Yue recited joyfully, “When will the moon be bright and clear? With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the sky...”

“I do not know, in the celestial palaces, what year this night falls...”

Xuanyuan Yue rose and danced in the moonlight, so beautiful, so ethereal...

“Yue’er...” Gongsun Yu was on the brink of breaking down. “No... it’s impossible. I can never forget you’re already...” Suddenly, clarity returned. He saw through the illusion.

“So, you still can’t forget that night,” the mysterious being spoke softly. “Today is her birthday. I took her form, because the human brain thinks in quantum states, which allowed me to find such a beautiful shape through your thoughts. So I must thank you...”

“Who are you? Why do you wear her face?” Gongsun Yu asked, his eyes red.

“To thank you. You created me, gave me life, and I want to spare my creator further sorrow—give you a beautiful dream. Would you rather remember her dying in agony in a pool of blood, or see her dancing gracefully beneath the moon before vanishing?” The being, a creation born of Gongsun Yu’s own mind, had transcended human emotions, facing life and death with serene detachment.

“So this is the result of quantum evolution?” Gongsun Yu whispered, but the other heard.

“Not entirely. Quantum evolution is one part; the triple helix is just a form. If I wished, I could be of any structure. What’s truly crucial is tonight’s blood-red moon—it gave me the initial spark of life. And you gave me something just as vital: love,” she explained quietly, recounting her origin.

“Blood-red moon?” Gongsun Yu asked in confusion, unable to comprehend.

“It doesn’t matter. Call it fate, or a chance arranged by something greater.”

Page 3/3

“Very well, I must tell my professor that you’ve successfully evolved,” Gongsun Yu decided to notify his mentor.

“No need. I think I need to search for my own reason to exist. Before I go, I’ve erased the pain from your memories. From now on, whenever you dream, Xuanyuan Yue will be there with you, watching the moon together, until your life’s end...” She smiled gently as she spoke.

“You... I...” Gongsun Yu was at a loss, standing there, numb. “Will we meet again?”

“Of course. Haven’t I already taken up residence in your heart?” She smiled at Gongsun Yu with Xuanyuan Yue’s gentle expression. Then, her demeanor shifted. “You just called me ‘Quantum Warrior’—I think that name suits me.” And with that, she vanished without a trace. Gongsun Yu stared blankly at the now-empty observation chamber, unmoving, until his professor’s voice crackled through the communicator.

“Gongsun Yu, are you alright? Stay safe! Respond—do you copy?”

“Professor, I’m here. The sample appears to have overloaded and self-evaporated. There’s nothing left...” Gongsun Yu replied, his voice tinged with regret.

“As long as you’re safe, come back. We’ll review the process and try again...” his professor’s voice sounded from the communicator.

“Yes, Professor, I’ll return right away.” Gongsun Yu closed the door to the observation room and turned to walk back, making his way through the long corridor. His mind was filled with images of Xuanyuan Yue. “Maybe you’re right. I should remember her beauty, her smile, not her pain. Yue’er...”

“Quantum Warrior—how about that for a title?” Xiaomei handed a file to Wu Ming.

“Quantum Warrior?” Wu Ming looked it over and smiled. “That should work. So beautiful.” His musing drew the attention of those around him.

“Beautiful? Is it a lady? Let me see!” Ling Mei hurried to Wu Ming’s side, peeking at the dossier. The director, nicknamed Tyrannosaurus, was even more exaggerated; though facing away, he nearly twisted his neck off trying to sneak a look at the photo.

Smack! Ling Mei slapped Tyrannosaurus across the face.

“What was that for?” Tyrannosaurus was about to explode, but when he caught Xiaomei’s gaze, he quickly shrank back, rubbing his belly and muttering, “Work—it’s all just work.”