Qiming Chapter 109

Chapter 109

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Two years ago.

Xu Chengyue stood in the laboratory classroom, holding a book, dressed in a grey shirt, and reading the text on the screen from the PowerPoint.

"In recent years, with the significant improvement in the accuracy of intelligent recognition, artificial intelligence has been widely applied in criminal investigations. In 2012, there was an unexpected but major qualitative leap in the recognition of complex images by artificial intelligence, and now, theoretically, this field has reached 99.9% accuracy. The recognition of emotional tendencies in natural language processing has also reached this accuracy. In the future, by analysing human micro-expressions and speech, we can accurately determine their emotions and preferences, providing the most precise judgments for criminal investigations and subsequent interrogations."

Lu Yong sat in a chair below, listening attentively to his explanation. When Xu Chengyue mentioned criminal investigations, he shouted, "Stop!"

"Is something wrong?" Xu Chengyue asked.

"Change 'future' to 'now.'"

"There's still a long way to go before that becomes a reality."

"It should be presented in a nicer way," Lu Yong said, rubbing his chin. "Our chip is already finished, just waiting for the experimental results from Zhiyin Technology."

"We had a meeting with the leaders from the Third Bureau last week, they are very interested in our AI chip. I was thinking, why not introduce the concept of an AI detective?"

"That's a good concept," Xu Chengyue nodded.

"We can start by selecting a criminal investigation team. How about sending you there? Learn how they handle cases and add a feature to the AI detective." Lu Yong frowned, adjusted his glasses thoughtfully, and from the bookshelf took out a computer. He found the contact information for the municipal and district criminal investigation teams in Nanpu City and handed it to Xu Chengyue.

For some reason, at that moment, Xu Chengyue thought about the time he accompanied Lin Xiangrong to report a case. The local police station was in Jinping District, a bustling area. If he wasn't mistaken, the young officer with the surname Gu he had met back then should also be part of the Jinping District criminal investigation team.

He quickly found the introduction for the Jinping District criminal investigation team and, as expected, saw a photo of Gu Yunfeng.

So his name was Gu Yunfeng.

Xu Chengyue thought that although Officer Gu was young, there was a gentle and composed air about him, giving others a strong sense of security. This was likely related to his personal experiences, as he had not given in to despair in the face of adversity but had instead developed a calm and steady presence.

Xu Chengyue paused for a moment, examined the photo carefully, and finally pointed to the webpage on the computer screen. "Here."

"If you need me to go, I'll go here."

He then looked towards Lu Yong, but Professor Lu didn't pay much attention to his choice. He was lost in thought, staring at the computer, likely pondering something important. The clouds outside were high, with the sun hidden behind them, only a few rays of light breaking through to shine on the glass, casting a spot of light on the ground that swayed gently with the breeze.

A few minutes later, Lu Yong suddenly clapped his hands, making a startling sound.

"What do you think about applying the AI chip to a human being and letting that person go to the criminal investigation team for training? That would better align with our vision."

As he spoke, Lu Yong's eyes sparkled with overflowing excitement. His face appeared enigmatic in the interplay of light and shadow as he looked up at the hesitant Xu Chengyue. He stood up and patted his shoulder in encouragement, feeling that his idea was truly brilliant, successfully gathering all the available resources to efficiently create a chip with significant market potential.

If it was successful, this AI chip would not only represent a tremendous leap in artificial intelligence but would also redefine the limits of human morality and intelligence. It could be mass-produced, embedded into brains, and replace the lazy and unintelligent who contribute nothing.

It sounded like the arrival of a new world.

However, what Lu Yong hadn't anticipated was that his affectionate encouragement had the opposite effect. Usually obedient and respectful, Xu Chengyue's expression suddenly changed. He slammed his water cup onto the table and looked at Lu Yong with disgust. "Do you think these are your personal possessions?"

Seeing Xu Chengyue's displeasure, Lu Yong didn't pursue the matter further. He knew his idea was a bit bold, but what was wrong with being bold? He had spent his life pursuing the most extreme science, striving for the most efficient use of social resources, aiming for a higher, far-off world removed from mediocrity.

To achieve his goals, boldness was essential.

In the end, he smiled as though nothing had happened and said to Xu Chengyue, "Zhiyin Technology's results on the humanoid experiment will be out next week, and by then, the development of the AI chip will be fully complete. We'll hold a celebration next weekend, invite everyone, and Chengyue, you're the star of the show, so you must attend."

Xu Chengyue didn't decline. Although he didn't particularly enjoy attending such events, and his relationship with Professor Lu hadn't been the best in recent years, once something was started, he believed in seeing it through. A celebration like this wasn't overly pretentious, so he could handle it.

A week later, he received a message from Lin Xiangrong, informing him that the results of the animal testing were out, and they arranged to meet at a science and technology park on the outskirts of town.

The park housed two modern buildings from twenty years ago, their walls covered in green vines. A flourishing pot of devil's ivy stood by a windowsill, well taken care of, its leaves climbing all the way to the fifth floor.

Both buildings belonged to Ronghua Biotech. Xu Chengyue was vaguely aware of Lin Xiangrong's connection with this company, but he hadn't looked into it deeply. He wasn't interested in prying into other people's personal affairs. If told something in confidence, he would keep the secret, and he was never one to dig for it.

After all, once the work was over, they would become strangers again.

Xu Chengyue passed through a group of people smoking in the lounge area and entered the building at the front. As soon as he stepped inside, a chill ran through his body.

The place gave him an inexplicable sense of unease, with a dark lobby, damp staircases, mosaic-tiled floors, and two symmetrical Nutcracker statues placed beside the elevator.

Xu Chengyue glanced at his watch, it was exactly three o'clock.

When he reached the third floor, he pushed open a half-closed door. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall, the floor was covered with a red carpet, and a few books lay open on the table.

Lin Xiangrong seemed to have been waiting for a long time. She sat to one side, watching the sun rise beyond the window, breaking through the clouds after a gloomy day, its rays bursting forth. Her expression resembled the one she had years ago during a particular trial, slightly bewildered, slightly sorrowful. Her breathing carried a faint sigh, and though the sunlight looked noble as it bathed her, it couldn't quite conceal the discontent written across her face.

Xu Chengyue walked up and noticed a red velvet box on the table, elegantly packaged with a perfectly tied bow.

"What's this?" he asked. He wasn't fond of such flashy boxes, showy but lacking in substance. After all, a box is just a container, its only purpose should be to safely hold important things, not to look pretty for the sake of it.

"This is the result of your research. I wrapped it nicely, doesn't it look good?"

He ignored her comment, suppressing the urge to criticise her taste, and took the box. When he opened it, there was nothing inside.

"What's this supposed to mean?" he shook the empty box.

"That chip is ruined."

His heart skipped a beat. Xu Chengyue looked up, his eyes unable to hide a hint of panic. "What went wrong with the experiment?"

The initial experiment involved implanting the AI chip into the brain of a chimpanzee. One end of the artificial nerve connected to the chimp's neural centre, while the other end was attached to the chip.

This project had been underway for about six months, and finally, three months ago, there was a breakthrough. After the failed test subjects were disposed of, some issues arose during the chip recovery process, but nothing severe enough to destroy the entire chip.

"Two days ago, the chimpanzee with the implanted chip escaped from its cage and ran straight into an oncoming car on the highway," Lin Xiangrong explained. "It killed itself."

"Was it mistreated?"

"No," she folded her hands and met his gaze. "I think it might have struggled to accept its own identity."

"Fortunately, the observation period ended a week ago, so no one else will hear about this for now. But President Fang has already issued instructions. Next, they'll be recruiting human test subjects."

"Wait, what are you guys thinking?" Xu Chengyue was baffled. "It didn't even succeed on animals, how could they approve human trials?"

Xu Chengyue demanded, "How is this any different from murder? What if the person undergoing the experiment ultimately chooses to commit suicide as well?"

Currently, Zhiyin Technology hasn't provided a reason for the chimpanzee's suicide. Under this condition, applying for human trials was impossible. The ethical and moral dilemmas involved further pushed the project toward a dead end, wasting the large initial investment.

"If it's due to an identity crisis, once it realises it's human, that sense of identity won't drive it to end its life," Lin Xiangrong argued.

Xu Chengyue was silent for a long time. He avoided her gaze and repeated, "This is no different from murder."

"I disagree."

"Well, that's a pity," Lin Xiangrong said regretfully. "Your agreement isn't needed."

After those words, he slammed the door and left the office.

That firm declaration of disagreement, followed by the loud bang of the door, startled many. He had even forgotten his usual humble role all this time.

In fact, he shouldn't have felt such an emotional outburst. Did these matters really concern him?

Not really. His role in the entire project was merely that of an algorithm engineer. He had no decision-making power, his words carried little weight.

Did he even know the people who were about to become test subjects?

Probably not.

So why was he so angry?

As he tried to comfort himself, he couldn't stop trembling.

He couldn't bear to become complicit in evil, nor did he want to be an accomplice to murder. The deep-seated sense of justice that erupted in his bones fuelled his anger, making him want to confront Lu Yong and force him to reject further collaboration with Zhiyin Technology.

—————

But the beginning of the celebration banquet dealt a heavy blow to Xu Chengyue.

Through the clinking of glasses, he learned that Professor Lu had already signed a contract to continue collaborating with Zhiyin Technology, completely unaffected by the fact that one of the test subjects had committed suicide. At the time, he couldn't have imagined that within six months, the partnership would collapse due to disputes over profit distribution, with both parties exposing each other's dirty secrets.

He held his glass and moved through the crowd, his refined features standing out. Finally, he approached Lu Yong, who was merrily drinking with others. In truth, his glass contained water. Xu Chengyue disliked alcohol, the taste was off-putting. Moreover, his aloof personality made him resist persuasion from others. He always followed his own path, substituting water for wine.

Professor Lu had often clashed with him over this in the past.

At this time of year, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Outside the restaurant where the gathering was held, a cherry blossom tree stood, its petals drifting with the wind into the room, one landing in Xu Chengyue's glass.

It resembled a pink boat floating on a clear lake.

"Professor Lu," he called respectfully, interrupting the circle around Lu Yong, and inadvertently offering him an escape. Although the gathering was ostensibly to celebrate Xu Chengyue, it had little to do with him, and most of the time, he had kept to himself. The attendees were mostly Lu Yong's former students and a few of the lab's collaborators.

"Chengyue, using water instead of wine again?" Lu Yong said, clearly displeased. "This won't do, it won't do. I must criticise you, you need to drink for real."

"A man who doesn't drink, what kind of man is that?"

The others cheered him on, but Xu Chengyue remained unmoved. He simply raised his glass and made a gesture, signalling for a private conversation.

The crystal chandelier overhead flickered uncomfortably in his eyes, while the crisp sound of porcelain clinking filled the room.

Walking to a quiet corner, away from the crowd, Xu Chengyue looked his long-time mentor in the eye and sincerely said, "I ask that you refuse further collaboration with Zhiyin Technology."

Not expecting Xu Chengyue to have such a request, Lu Yong asked, "Why?"

"I don't want to be an accomplice to murder," Xu Chengyue said, raising his voice in agitation. "The experiment results on animals have already shown significant risks, conducting illegal human trials with such recklessness is bound to end in disaster!"

"Those test subjects you're recruiting had a chance to survive, but you're hiding the true effects, turning them into something they're not, and ultimately leading to their self-destruction."

"This is outright murder, Professor Lu! Won't you feel guilty continuing this collaboration?"

Hearing this, Lu Yong couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. He picked up his glass and downed the small amount of liquor in one gulp. After several drinks, Lu Yong's face began to flush, his mind seemed less clear, and his words grew bolder.

"Knowing it's murder and yet refusing to become an accomplice when it's happening right in front of you, do you know what the consequence of that is?" he drawled.

Without much hesitation, Xu Chengyue blurted out, "Being murdered."

Lu Yong nodded in satisfaction. "Exactly, so, don't refuse. Don't think of this as some collusion. Human nature is driven by profit, if you don't pursue profit and instead harm others' interests, the outcome won't be good."

"For example, right now, with just one word from me, I could make you disappear from this world."

Disappear.

Lu Yong stared at him intently as he spoke, his gaze filled with regret and reluctance.

"What do you think?"

This probing question suddenly struck Xu Chengyue like a blow. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, straightened his back, and said resolutely, "Then I'm sorry, but I've already made up my mind."

"I will submit all the evidence I can gather directly to the police, the Science and Technology Ethics Committee, and any institution that can hold you accountable."

"That's really a shame."

The meaning of these words was so obvious that Xu Chengyue was taken aback for a moment, then calmly asked, "How do you plan to make me disappear?"

Lu Yong was clearly drunk. He shook his head, waved his hand in front of Xu Chengyue, and said, "You're so smart, can't you think of anything?" He coughed a few times, leaned against the wall, found a chair, and sat down before continuing, "That criminal investigation team you mentioned wanting to join last time, I can grant your wish."

"Chengyue, you're a good kid, in every way, it's just a shame you're too self-centred and too hard to control."

"If we succeed, think about it, you will have made a tremendous contribution to human society. You'll have redefined moral ethics and expanded the limits of intelligence. Soon, chips will be mass-produced, implanted into brains, replacing those useless people with insufficient intelligence who do nothing but consume resources."

Lu Yong leisurely shook his head as he spoke, smiling, "The whole world will be peaceful, and I can enjoy a quiet afternoon tea."

Both men appeared calm at this moment. There was no hysteria, no sharp confrontation. Yet, as their eyes met, Xu Chengyue felt a deep chill that pierced his bones.

It seemed as though he had truly come to know this man today. Although Lu Yong was drunk, his words, spoken under the influence of alcohol, were cold and heartless. Each sentence revealed his innate cruelty, his belief in the survival of the fittest. His outward air of refinement was nothing more than a veneer, a cover for his ruthless ambition. Deep down, he still believed in the jungle law of the strong dominating and the weak being eliminated.

I must stop him. Xu Chengyue thought. He didn't say another word but was driven by fiery passion.

I must stop him.

Seizing the moment when no one was watching, he grabbed his backpack and impulsively ran against the crowd. It was already past ten o'clock, and there were few people or cars on the road. He ran down the long streets shrouded in darkness, past the flashing lights of the nightclubs and bars, until he returned, breathless, to the empty laboratory.

Without turning on a single light, he immediately activated all the computers and servers, pulling up the relevant data on the AI chips. Clutching a dagger, he sat in the dark, a voice in his head screaming–

Destroy it!

Destroy them!

Destroy the puppets under control!

The air at midnight was eerily still. He could hear his own breathing, the tapping of the keyboard, and the hurried footsteps echoing from the long corridor outside the door.

It seemed his disappearance from the party had been quickly noticed.

Xu Chengyue hid in a corner, clutching his laptop. His phone had lost signal, and the computer could no longer connect to the internal network.

In the darkness, only the faint glow of the screen remained. His eyes flickered in and out of the shadows.

Was he really going to destroy the work that had consumed years of his life?

This was a mechanical life he had created.

He took a deep breath and gazed out of the window. A lonely full moon hung in the sky, without a single star to accompany it, only the lights of the city illuminating the night.

Perhaps, before he left this laboratory, death would come for him. This would be his final scientific achievement, an artificial intelligence that was a perfect replica of himself.

With trembling hands, he typed on the keyboard. Someone had to discover it. He couldn't die in vain, couldn't be replaced by a mere program.

He was very pressed for time now. He had no way to recode the AI's memory, all he could do was identify key words and delete some things.

Suddenly, he remembered the girl who had once passed him a love letter, only to be cruelly rejected in public. He found every memory related to her in the program and prepared to press the delete key.

She would be the first to notice something was wrong. But who would she turn to for help?

If he really was turned into a robot, what would happen to him? Would he end up, as Lu Yong said, in the criminal investigation team of Jinping District?

Closing his eyes, countless possible futures played out wildly in his mind.

He seemed to see one possibility, where he really did go to the criminal investigation team, and Ying Xizi asked Gu Yunfeng for help, begging him to uncover the truth behind Xu Chengyue's accident.

Could he really place all his hopes in a stranger who didn't even know him?

Perhaps he could

The footsteps outside grew closer, their rhythm matching the frantic beating of his heart. As the laboratory door was smashed open, he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and without hesitation, entered the deletion command in the last few seconds.

Then, gripping the dagger tightly, he made a desperate dash for the rooftop without hesitation.

Xu Chengyue stood on the rooftop of the laboratory, holding his laptop and stepping back one step at a time. In the dark shadows, several vague figures advanced toward him.

After a long time, Lu Yong emerged from the unlit darkness, with nothing but indifference and pity on his face.

Xu Chengyue placed the laptop at the edge of the rooftop, gently extended his hands, and then kicked it forcefully off the top floor.

Bang–

The laptop spiralled down, crashing to the ground and instantly shattering into pieces. Xu Chengyue immediately jumped after it. He grabbed at the branches of a treetop in mid-air before landing on the hard cement below.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: October 2, 2024 by Angel

Edited: January 8, 2025 by Angel