Xiangli Yao

Years later, I found myself standing at that door again.

The Xiangli family had always been a star in Jinzhou's journalistic circles. Back then, doing a piece on the family was considered an honor, and indeed, their scientific heritage continues to produce admirable accomplishments. The last time I stood on this doorstep, I was still a rookie, eager for recognition, and the Xianglis helped me with just that by allowing me to take their family portrait. A piece that ticked all the boxes.

The photo won me a small award and secured my job.

As the door opened, I looked down to see a boy with bright and clear eyes looking back at me. I flashed my press badge, and he ushered me inside.

Xiangli Yao, the "Son of the Genius" and "Paragon's Descendant." His father's brilliance had turned heads across Jinzhou, and his mother's perseverance saved the lives of countless children in the city.

This very house once drew the attention of many, and it remains that way to this day.

I prided myself on conducting interviews, but this young boy seemed more comfortable than I was. Xiangli Yao, like his parents, possessed a natural eloquence, his demeanor gentle and poised. The interview flowed smoothly, and after setting aside my notebook, he offered me a cup of tea. I thanked him, but he shook his head.

"I should thank you for visiting because of my parents," Xiangli Yao smiled, "I've heard a thing or two about what's been happening."

Jinzhou, with its vast lands and rich resources, is not without its share of discord.

The Xianglis had done me a favor in the past, one I felt compelled to repay, both professionally and personally by making sure their son was okay. Xiangli Yao smiled wistfully, his expression hinting at a memory relived. "My parents are always busy with work, so I'm glad someone remembers them. Your reports capture their moments, research results, words spoken, and many other details that I didn't even know about... When I read those news and interviews, I feel like I get to know them better."

I hesitated for a moment but still went on to ask.

"Do you think... it's unfair? Perhaps your parents should have spent more time with their child?"

"They both have their passions, and it's the same for me. I'm happy they're doing what they love."

"...Is that so."

I took a deep breath and prepared to leave, but Xiangli Yao asked me to stay. I forgot the exact reason he gave. However, I'm sure it must've been a good one. Xiangli Yao had a way with words that made refusing his hospitality difficult. I only remember having another cup of warm tea and continuing to chat for a while before finally taking my leave.

As I reached for the door, the boy remarked with a straight face, "If there's anything you want to confirm, it's best to do it in person. When I was little, my mother and I often talked about the importance of companionship—we even exchanged small notes. Though I was still very young then, those notes, with their few simple words... I find them just as comforting today."

I nodded and left the house, ready to pen my next piece.

But before that, I would send a message to my child, whom I had neglected to contact for several days.

Xiangli Yao leaned forward in his chair and stared resolutely at the elderly man in front of him.

The older man held a prestigious position in the education system and had personal connections with Xiangli Yao's father. Today, it was another attempt at persuasion, much like the previous ones.

"I am not attending a separate class. Regular school is fine for me," Xiangli Yao reiterated.

The elderly man tapped on the table, "Your current pace might not fit into the standard curriculum. Moving too quickly can bring challenges. You and your classmates are not on the same playing field."

Xiangli Yao shook his head.

"There's no point wasting resources opening a special class just for me. I already have access to the Jinzhou archives for study. Besides... I'm just like the others," he said, counting on his fingers, "I have a great time watching hero plays with them, and we trade cards... Oh, and when they invite me over for dinner, I get to test my gadgets out on them and get their feedback!"

The elder sighed deeply. "Your teacher has mentioned such things to me. He says you get along well with your classmates. But this isn't just about you, it's about getting you into the Academy faster," he said, staring at the young person before him. "Xiangli Yao, your father also accelerated his studies and had more time to conduct all the research he loved."

"I am not my father."

"Yet you share his talents and temperament. That I've noticed."

Xiangli Yao gripped the textbooks in his hands, as he slowly and firmly shook his head, "But that's not what I want. I want to take things slow, like the way it is now."

"Playing trivial games with your classmates won't do you any good... You'll tire of it sooner or later. It's a waste of time."

The elder stood by the window, looking out at students playing and laughing in the schoolyard. Xiangli Yao went to him, patting his shoulder.

"That won't happen," Xiangli Yao said softly, also looking at the same view.

They were his friends.

"I want to be like them, going to school, talking about snacks, catching fish in the river, and watching cool Echoes. Hey, they even taught me when and how to smile and compliment someone. That's important to me. I know you mean well, but... I get to decide what's best for me, right?"

Old and young faced each other in the silent office.

The elder sighed again. "You remind me of your father. But the two of you are not quite the same."

Xiangli Yao smiled, "Well, like I said... I'm not my father. I'm not the student you once had."

The door opened again.

The next day, Xiangli Yao returned to his regular classes.

"Here. Another package of yours."

His friend placed the box in a forgotten corner of the dorm, then sprawled out in bed, "Xiangli Yao, you should definitely sign up for Lollo Logistics membership. With how often you've been getting these deliveries, it's worth it."

Xiangli Yao turned his chair to face his friend, "Haha. I'll think about it."

"Latest issue?"

"Yeah, they sent me a sample."

"Jealous! I wish I could work that fast, popping out articles left and right while taking classes at the same time. Man." He waved his arms and grinned, "I guess you already have that Imperial Academy exam in the bag. So, where's it gonna be?"

With that, he tossed over a can of soda.

The can drew a perfect arc in the air, landing squarely in Xiangli Yao's hand.

"Too much sugar," sighed the model student, known for his healthy habits as his lips quirked into a smile, cracking open the can anyway. "About that..."

A brief silence followed. Then Xiangli shook his head softly. "I haven't decided yet."

His friend raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Well, that's new. I thought you made up your mind already. Professors must be fighting over you."

"There are a few things I haven't figured out yet."

"Which are...?"

"Boundaries. The boundaries of truth," Xiangli Yao said slowly, twisting a cube in his hands. "Pascar, do you suppose that humanity will hold itself back in pursuing the boundaries of truth?"

"Maybe. There are plenty of nut job scientists out there, so who knows."

"We chase after the stars, only to fall beneath them. Boundaries limit our scope... but without it, there's no way to tell whether you're progressing."

"Well... you and I have different opinions on this, and I'll keep mine to myself to avoid an argument. But what's all this got to do with your admission? You trying to change the subject on me?"

Xiangli Yao smiled softly. "It does. After my father pursued his own path, I've heard little about him. But I've uncovered some leads... Perhaps they'll lead me to the Court of Savantae, the place he went searching for."

"You sure you're going? After so many years, plenty of people have tried to find even a smither of hint related to the CSC, with little success."

"I feel that I must go. Even if I end up finding nothing. I want to know..."

The young scholar spoke slowly, his voice gradually softened, "I want to know... if my father crossed that boundary."

A month before exams, Xiangli vanished.

He left behind a video, revealing his confusion and the sense of emptiness he felt on his path of pursuing the truth. But whichever path he chose henceforth, he would embrace its outcome.

Empty seats lingered in the dorm, as life carried on.

It took over ten days to get inside the ruins.

At every step, remnants of the Court of Savantae's defenses were giving Xiangli Yao a hard time. Despite his meticulous preparations, some supplies and provisions had been lost along the way.

Xiangli Yao assessed what remained, weighing his options, and ultimately chose to press deeper into the ruins.

He had long since departed from the borders of Huanglong, and returning a second time to explore further would prove highly difficult. After surveying the soil upon arrival, the young scholar conjectured that these ruins, like those before, had little time left.

Internally, however, conditions were far better. The bulk of the instruments were well-preserved and intact. Cerulean fluids surged and circulated in the conduits of all the mechanisms with a vitality outlasting their creators. Each mechanism, precise, robust, and elegant, was meticulously cataloged by Xiangli Yao as he discerned subtle deviations from Huanglong's existing technologies.

The more he explored, the more an irrepressible thrill seized him. Like a poet enraptured by fine wine, Xiangli Yao felt drunk on the outpouring of knowledge that surrounded him.

His Terminal had lost its connection to the outside world, but he still did his best to record everything. His fascination with mechanics, a domain where Savantae had made unparalleled strides, led him to wonder whether his father had known of these innovations, and where he was now on the path of chasing the stars.

Yet amid the marvels, signs of a strange intrusion became apparent. Ever since the Lament, most technologies should have reverted back to their rudimentary states. But here, structures once familiar bore alien marks of alteration, defying erosion yet imbued with an elegance surpassing even Savantae's other creations.

The deeper Xiangli Yao went into the ruins, the anomalies intensified. Xiangli Yao's recordings slowed. The need to distinguish between anomalies and original designs demanded meticulous care. Eventually, he landed on a guess: The people here were trying to create some sort of door.

A door. A gateway. A... portal.

For the first time, Xiangli Yao hesitated.

Besides the danger, the doubt was about direction. So far, no alternate passage into the ruins had revealed itself, suggesting his father's departure had taken a different path. Had his father fallen here? Or...

If truth had a path, perhaps this was its nearest gateway.

Later, when Xiangli Yao reflected on his journey through the Court of Savantae ruins, he realized that parts of his memory had become foggy. He suspected it was due to the effects of the ancient mechanisms and force fields—devices that transcended current technological limits and boasted near-unfathomable levels of advancement. Creating them was clearly unwise, at least for the CSC researchers. Since the Lament, exploration beyond had halted due to the warping of the laws of physics. Yet, many scholars still yearned to traverse the skies again and explore interstellar space.

That portal might have been built for that very purpose: to leap into the sky, or perhaps even further, into the heart of the civilization that had transformed these ruins.

Xiangli Yao wasn't sure if they had succeeded, but he paid a steep price for his curiosity—his arm. He could only speculate that he had managed to solve the sequence and activate the mechanism. He recalled the marks etched into the enormous cavity. They were rugged and twisted, as if a huge Tacet Mark was carved onto it.

Then, crystalline, delicate butterflies emerged from the fracture. A strange power seeped from the gap, glowing with the mysteries of another civilization. As Xiangli Yao stared into it, past barriers that once seemed insurmountable now appeared solvable within this new framework. The waves of knowledge surged, capable of bending, subduing, and intertwining all frequencies in existence.

He took a step forward, almost forgetting the blood gushing from his torn flesh. The dizziness from blood loss and a faint euphoria blurred his senses.

At that moment, he noticed a familiar object lying dust-covered on the workstation. His childhood memories were hazy, but he recognized it immediately as a gift from his mother to his father. Xiangli Yan had once shown it to him as a child, a father and son photo of them together. Suddenly, he understood. Even at the end, his father held onto a memory of their family. He hadn't abandoned everything.

Beyond that threshold, could he still see himself progressing, at the end of pure theory where no one could observe…?

His father devoted everything to theoretical science, his mother to applied science. Xiangli Yao was like them, always longing to reach for the stars, even willing to burn himself in the process.

They had given their all.

And what about him?

Standing just a step away from the ultimate answer, the young scholar found himself thinking about trivial, unrelated things. He recalled how, after his parents' departure, friends and neighbors had dragged him out to join a Jinzhou festival. It was supposed to be the Moon-Chasing Festival, but the threat from the Threnodian had forced a simpler celebration. Yet, a festival is always a festival, a reminder to celebrate even in hard times. He had demonstrated one of his newest creations, a small gadget, which won applause from the crowd.

He was like his parents.

However, he was not their clone. Even as his shadow followed theirs, he found himself unable to journey the same roads they had traveled.

With trembling hands, the young scholar searched for scattered parts, trying to assemble a device to stop the bleeding. His newly acquired Forte gently surged and began to warp the metal structures according to his will.

As the bleeding ceased, so did the grand opportunity before him.

It was only a few steps away... but Xiangli Yao had already turned his back.

He knew he had found his own answer.