The Last 299 Days of Humanity

Yu Qing's efforts finally paid off. It was a quiet, almost dull night when he emerged from the box that had extracted his vital signs. The intense weakness made it almost impossible for him to stand, and he could only barely lie on the bed.

While battling physical exhaustion, he repeatedly considered in his mind the possible future development path of Wengshan and how to cope with the increasingly severe resource shortages and external pressures.

Just as he was lost in thought, suddenly, the hidden wall lamp embedded in the ceiling in his room, which usually emitted a constant and soft light, began to flicker without warning.

It's not the kind of brief, intermittent flickering caused by poor contact, but rather a bright and dark flashing with a clear rhythm!
It first flashed three times rapidly, like an alarm, paused for two seconds, then lit up twice slowly and for a longer period of time, as if emphasizing something, before plunging into brief darkness again. This cycle repeated for a full two minutes.

Yu Qing frowned, a sense of irritation rising in his heart. His first thought was of the aging infrastructure of Wengshan, or perhaps the independent power system, which had recently been overloaded to support his "signal project," was malfunctioning.

"Donghao, check the power supply lines in my room, especially the lighting circuit. See if there are any loose connections or overloads." He whispered the order through a miniature call button hidden under his collar, while alertly sensing any other unusual activity in his surroundings.

"Instructions received, Your Excellency. A full scan of your room's energy matrix and physical wiring is in progress..."

Dong Hao's calm electronic voice came quickly, but with a barely perceptible delay.

"...Scan complete. Preliminary diagnosis: Energy core readings are stable, line impedance is within normal thresholds, and no physical-level faults or abnormal energy loads were found. Log records show that energy output was stable during the flashing."

Just as Yu Qing thought it was some kind of deeper, transient interference that was difficult to detect by conventional scanning, or an illusion caused by his own excessive fatigue, the flickering stopped exactly at the two-minute mark, and the light returned to its constant and soft state.

He shook his head, trying to put this little episode behind him and continue to focus on future plans, but a strange doubt had quietly crept into his heart like a tiny vine.

About half an hour later, just as he calmed down and was about to attribute this minor anomaly to equipment aging or his own poor condition, the lights started flashing again without warning!

This time, the pattern was completely different from before, becoming more complex and varied. The rhythm of the flashing lights, the intervals between them, and even the subtle changes in the intensity of the light all seemed to follow some subtle and undeniable rules, and it lasted precisely for nearly two minutes.

This time, Yu Qing suddenly sat up in bed, the movement aggravating his weak body and triggering a violent cough, but his heart felt as if it had been suddenly clenched by an invisible hand, almost stopping its beating.

A long-dormant memory from past perilous situations was instantly awakened, as clear as if it were yesterday.

When he escaped from the perilous First Paradise, in that century-old hotel filled with historical dust and hidden rules, the hotel's old system cleverly used seemingly ordinary changes in the room's lighting to send warnings and information to Daji and the others that could not be detected by conventional eavesdropping in an emergency!
Light language! An extremely ancient form of communication based on the most basic optical principles, which has long been forgotten and eliminated in the era of energy communication and quantum transmission!
A mix of excitement, wariness, and disbelief washed over him. He hadn't been in contact with Daji for a long time, and now that she had voluntarily followed Dangui, he neither wanted to have any more entanglements with Dangui, nor could he, and was unwilling to, skip Dangui and directly summon Daji for questioning.

He immediately contacted Donghao again, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement and weakness.

"Donghao, do you...do you understand 'light language' in your database? It's an ancient communication method that uses the length, brightness, intervals, and rhythms of light to encode and transmit information."

"Light language?" Donghao's voice had a noticeable pause in his calculations, as if he were conducting a large-scale data retrieval.

"Your Excellency" is a communication method that was almost completely eliminated before the Great Collapse. It is recorded that it was often used for emergency communication in early navigation, military affairs, and some underground resistance organizations.

My basic general-purpose database module does not come pre-installed with a complete code table. This requires temporarily connecting to the historical document repository in the deep memory module, or attempting to access abandoned, older regional network archive nodes for cross-referencing and pattern comparison.

This may take some time, and there is a risk of errors and lost links when accessing such outdated nodes.

"As soon as possible! Prioritize this to the highest level! But do not alert anyone to search on public platforms, and do not ask other people casually," Yu Qing added, his heart filled with both anticipation of finding clues and deep unease about the source of this unknown signal.

He couldn't be sure whether the flickering light came from the reclusive person he had been hoping for and searching for, or from some unknown, possibly malicious, being that had set a trap.

Donghao's information processing and learning abilities are beyond doubt, especially when executing Yuqing's high-priority instructions.

After almost a full day of silence and seemingly normal data flow, on the second night, around the same time, when the lights in Yu Qing's room began flashing for the third time in that regular, and more complex pattern, they were anxiously waiting.

Dong Hao's voice rang in his ears almost simultaneously, and the calm electronic tone was unusually mixed with a subtle fluctuation of "excitement" data.

"Your Excellency, real-time pattern matching complete! I am decoding based on the repaired Morse extended code table and historical variants... The light signal is being converted into universal characters... The decoding result is..."

Yu Qing held his breath, seemingly ignoring even the weakness in his body, focusing all his attention on the message Dong Hao was about to convey.

"...The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving. It is deep and seems to be the origin of all things, and it is still and seems to exist. The spirit of the valley never dies; it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth. It is continuous and seems to exist, and it is inexhaustible in its use. Knowing the white and guarding the black, it is the model for the world. Being the model for the world, one's constant virtue will not err, and one will return to the limitless."

This is a continuous and complete mysterious text transmitted by the flickering of lights! It is not like a modern encrypted message, but more like a proverb containing ancient wisdom, or a poem with profound meaning.

Yu Qing's heart began to pound violently, and his blood rushed to his head, making him feel slightly dizzy.

His eyes were fixed on the decoded text that Donghao projected onto his retina through the neural link, especially the first four characters, which were like a key: "The highest good is like water"!
He could not be mistaken! When he first stepped into Professor Lu's mysterious courtyard with trepidation and determination, there was a couplet on the ground in front of the seemingly mottled gate that contained the phrase "The highest good is like water"!
It's no coincidence; there's absolutely no such coincidence. They must be the same person's usual phrases. These days, who would still quote such ancient classic sayings?

This was a clear, yet extremely subtle, indication of the source of the signal! It was confirming the contact's identity in a way that only Yu Qing, who had personally visited and carefully observed the details at the door, could instantly understand! It was Professor Lu! It really was him! He had not only received his clumsy yet persistent "natural signals," but had also chosen to respond in this incredibly secretive way, imbued with a certain classical elegance and a sense of testing!

This text is not a simple greeting or confirmation; it comes from the ancient Tao Te Ching and contains profound philosophy and guidance between the lines.

"Deep and mysterious, like the origin of all things; still and profound, like something that may still exist"—this seems to describe a state that is unfathomable, seemingly dead yet actually alive, beyond the perception of ordinary people. This perfectly matches Professor Lu's own situation of "feigning death and hiding," yet being omnipresent.

"The spirit of the valley never dies; it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth. It exists continuously, and its use is inexhaustible." This seems to be exploring the origin of life, the mystery of endless life, and the invisible power that nurtures all things. It is closely related to his life science research and the magical banished immortal tree.

The following phrase, "Knowing the white and guarding the black, becoming a model for the world... returning to the boundless," is more like a reminder, an implication of a philosophy of life and a strategy for action. Perhaps it is admonishing him that in this complex world, he needs to remain low-key and reserved, know how to conceal his sharpness and keep his simplicity, and return to the original way in order to last.

Yu Qing stood in the center of the room, his weak body leaning against the cold metal wall, letting the regular light cast flickering, ever-changing shadows on his pale and tired face.

He didn't speak, but took a deep, greedy breath, as if to etch this hopeful moment into his very being, and used all his strength to suppress the raging storm within him that was about to burst forth.

However, his usually taut lips slowly and uncontrollably curved into a smile that was a mixture of immense joy, boundless shock, exhaustion from the release of long-term pressure, and a sense of sudden enlightenment.

After a long wait, cautious probing, near-desperate persistence, and even the sacrifice of one's health, the response finally exceeded expectations.

A bridge of dialogue that transcends time, space, and the boundaries of technology and philosophy was quietly erected before him in such an unexpected way, full of wisdom and antiquity.

If they could receive the secret help or even just a little guidance from Professor Lu, who is almost a god and whose wisdom is as vast as the ocean, it would be of great significance to Wengshan, which is struggling to survive, and to the endangered spark of the original human race!

This is not just about technical or resource assistance, but more likely a directional guide, a real ray of light seen in a dark and difficult situation.

This response was like seeing the reflection of an oasis in a parched desert; Yu Qing's excitement was indescribable. He had to seize this opportunity! Suppressing the slight trembling from his physical weakness and mental excitement, he immediately issued new instructions to Dong Hao:
"Donghao, quick, respond using the same light signal! Ask him... no, beg him, can we meet in person? Let him decide the place and time, as long as it's safe and discreet. Tell him that the future of Wengshan may lie in his single thought."

He dictated a concise and earnest message, the core of which was to express his respect, state the pressing predicament faced by primitive humans, and express his hope for an opportunity to learn from them in person.

Dong Hao quickly compiled it into the corresponding light code, and then, through a very sophisticated method that simulated the natural fluctuations of environmental energy, he reversed the control of the wall lamp in Yu Qing's room, causing it to start flashing according to the coded pattern.

The lights flickered in the silent room, transforming Yu Qing's hopes and requests into silent pulses of light, which were sent to the unknown shore.

Each flicker tightened Yu Qing's already taut nerves. He stared intently at the light, as if he could see through the cold light source the expression on the recluse's face when he received the message.

After the message was sent, the room fell into an even deeper silence and darkness. Yu Qing slid down against the wall, waiting patiently; every second felt incredibly long.

He imagined all sorts of possibilities: perhaps Professor Lu would readily agree and arrange a secret meeting place; perhaps he would put forward some conditions; perhaps... he would ignore it.

About ten minutes later, just as Yu Qing's heart began to sink, thinking that the other party might not want to make any further contact, the wall lamp flickered again! This time, the rhythm seemed to be slower and more peaceful than ever before, even carrying a kind of... reassuring meaning?

Dong Hao's voice rang out promptly, bringing the analyzed results: "Your Excellency, we have received a reply. The decoded content is: 'The greatest sound is silent, the greatest form is formless. It is precisely because one does not contend that no one in the world can contend with one. It is better not to meet now than to meet now; it is better to remain silent than to speak now. Still waters run deep, and their time will come.'"

This reply, still rich in classical allusions, was profound in its meaning. Yu Qing carefully savored each word. "The greatest sound is silent, the greatest form is formless"... "It is precisely because he does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him"...

This seems to be a reaffirmation of his detached stance and state of being.

"It is better not to meet now than to meet now; it is better to remain silent than to speak now." This is a very clear refusal, directly responding to his request for a face-to-face meeting and politely declining immediate, direct contact.

The last line, "Still waters run deep, and their time will come," is like a comforting promise, implying that the time is not yet ripe, but there may be an opportunity in the future, and he should wait patiently.

A complex mix of disappointment and understanding welled up in Yu Qing's heart. He was disappointed because his longing for face-to-face communication and clear guidance had been dashed.

His understanding lay in the fact that someone like Professor Lu must have deep-seated reasons and unspoken concerns behind his actions. Such a direct refusal, while frustrating, at least proved that the communication channels were genuine and effective, and that the other party was not entirely indifferent.

He gave a wry smile, looking at the empty room as if whispering to an unseen interlocutor: "I understand... 'Still waters run deep, and their time will come.' I will wait patiently, and I will continue to work hard."

He didn't know if the other person could "hear" him, but it felt more like a warning to himself.

He then had Donghao send another short message, containing only two words: "I respectfully accept your instruction."

The light flickered one last time, conveying his response, before returning to its constant, gentle glow. A silent dialogue spanning time and space thus came to a temporary close. Although the most ideal goal had not been achieved, a more hidden, more peculiar bridge had been built.

Yu Qing knew he had to be even more patient, like a stealthy hunter waiting in still waters for the opportune moment. Until then, he needed to rely on his own strength to ensure Wengshan survived as tenaciously as possible amidst this silent anticipation. (End of Chapter)