Genius Club

Lin Xian was still perplexed by Yellow Finch’s cryptic message: “The mirror holds what you seek.”

Logically, a mirror is merely a surface that reflects light. As long as a surface is polished enough, materials like copper, iron, plastic, ice, or even water can act as a mirror. In modern society, glass mirrors are the most commonly used. They are cheap and practical, indispensable in every household, whether in the bathroom, the wardrobe, or even on the vanity.

Lin Xian looked in the mirror many times a day, both intentionally and unintentionally. He never found anything special about it. Furthermore, from the mirror’s structure and physical principles, the idea of “inside the mirror” doesn’t exist. A mirror is just a thin layer of glass; there is no “inside.” Everything people see in the mirror is just an illusion created by the reflection of light on the retina, something that doesn’t actually exist.

Perhaps a large mirror in a room or an elevator can make the space seem larger, but that’s just a visual illusion. In reality, the space hasn’t expanded by even a centimeter. So, there can’t possibly be anything inside a mirror. Yellow Finch’s riddle seemed nonsensical.

Thus, Lin Xian figured that Yellow Finch’s “mirror” likely referred to the one in his dreams. The thing he wanted must be the clues or secrets Zhao Ying Jun painstakingly left for him in the third dream. This interpretation made more sense.

Lin Xian didn’t doubt that Yellow Finch knew about his dreams; she had shown that she knew too much about him since their first meeting. She even knew about his attempts to crack the Genius Club’s invitation and his summaries of time-space laws. There was no reason she wouldn’t know about his ability to dream of the future.

Despite this, Lin Xian remained wary of Yellow Finch. He didn’t fully trust her as a reliable friend. However, she hadn’t shown any ill intentions or harmed him. Instead, she often gave him cryptic hints. Although annoying, these pieces of information were free, so he might as well take them.

Since he had no other clues, it was time to explore Rhine Sky City in his dreams again.

“If Yellow Finch is right and Zhao Ying Jun left something for me 600 years in the future inside a mirror, the most likely place for this mirror would be in her personal exhibition hall at the Rhine Museum,” Lin Xian thought.

From his last exploration of Rhine Sky City, it was evident that Zhao Ying Jun held a very high status among the city’s residents. They had built a commemorative park for her, erected a statue, banned honking and flying near it, and even set up a personal exhibition hall for her in the Rhine Museum. This respect and reverence from the people were unmistakable.

This reverence was likely Zhao Ying Jun’s intention. Only if the people respected and loved her enough would her statue and personal exhibition hall remain for 600 years, allowing her to leave a gift across time—a gift that could change the future, the world, and destiny itself.

“Tonight’s mission in the dream is going to be tough,” Lin Xian calculated. The museum would be closed at night, so he would have to find a way to sneak in. The structure, security, and even the existence of a wall around the museum were unknowns. It would be challenging to navigate the city alone.

He thought of the Big Cat Gang. Although they weren’t the brightest, they were obedient and strong. Their human ladder technique had left a lasting impression on him.

“In any case, there’s strength in numbers. I should try to mobilize them,” he decided.

That night, after entering his dream, Lin Xian rushed to where the crowd and lights were gathered.

“Brother Face,” he called.

At that moment, Big Cat Face was still inflating his helium balloon and hadn’t changed into his handmade astronaut suit. Lin Xian walked up and patted his shoulder in greeting.

“Who are you?” Big Cat Face asked, looking puzzled, his chubby face scrunching up.

Lin Xian followed his usual script, explaining everything rapidly, but this time he added a crucial detail: “I know the exact location of the gap in the anti-aircraft net.”

Big Cat Face’s expression changed. This information was more compelling than anything else he could say. The surrounding crowd quickly gathered around.

Lin Xian told Big Cat Face and the others that the gap in the anti-aircraft net was directly above the square’s statue. However, it was impossible to see the statue from 10,000 meters up; even with strained eyes, the statue would appear no larger than a sesame seed.

Still, he could lead them and guide them through the gap. Although he had only succeeded once, he had found his visual reference point. He was 70-80% sure he could locate the gap again, and even if he failed, they could always try again the next day.

Lin Xian also shared many details about Rhine Sky City. There were indeed medicines for treating radiation sickness in the pharmacies, and the city’s security was very lax, almost nonexistent. The city had so many distractions that no one would notice their presence. The mission would be easy and enjoyable.

“So, just follow my lead while gliding in. In return, I ask for a simple favor: accompany me to the museum once. Help me access an exhibition hall, then we can grab the medicine and make our escape,” Lin Xian proposed with a hopeful tone.

The plan was straightforward, but Big Cat Face hesitated, his gaze sweeping over his small band of friends and the broader assembly of forlorn faces around them. “I can join you, but not everyone can take this risk,” he replied, his voice tinged with a weighty resolve. “Look around. We are few, and if we all fall, who will lead and teach the others—especially the women—how to continue our work?”

Big Cat Face’s concerns echoed the harsh reality of their situation. “If we don’t return with the medicine, our future is bleak. But if all of us men die, who remains to pass on our skills and keep our mission alive?”

Lin Xian observed a new depth in Big Cat Face, a maturity forged through the fires of loss and leadership. The once reckless youth had evolved into the community’s cornerstone, assuming a role far greater than any had anticipated.

Among the crowd, the absence of Big Cat Face’s family was painfully evident. He always embarked on his missions alone, receiving no farewell embraces, a stark reminder of the sacrifices already made.

Lin Xian felt the urge to ask about his family but restrained himself, knowing all too well the likely grim answers in this radiation-ravaged world.

Amid the somber mood, Ah Zhuang stepped forward, his determination clear. “I’ll go too. I trust him, and I’m ready to face the risks.”

Big Cat Face gave a solemn nod and addressed the others, “Er Zhuzi, San Pang, you two must stay. If we fail to return, it’s up to you to sustain the village, teach the women and children, and carry on until you can join us.”

He then turned to Lin Xian, conceding, “The two of us will accompany you. More would be ideal, but we must consider our community’s survival.”

Just then, a young, determined girl pushed through the crowd, her hand raised defiantly. “If you need more, I’m ready to join!”

It was Ning Ning, a girl who had grown up too fast in the shadow of her parents’ legacies. Big Cat Face immediately objected, “Ning Ning, you can’t. If we lose the women, then the older children must lead. Your parents were pioneers; our village owes them much. You must stay and continue their legacy.”

Ning Ning protested, her voice filled with a mix of bravery and desperation. “Why not? I’ve trained for this. I’m as ready as anyone.”

But Big Cat Face was firm, reflecting the gravity of their traditions and sacrifices. “This isn’t about readiness or desire. It’s not your turn. Your father was the first to dive into Sky City and made me promise to look after you. We’ve lost enough.”

The crowd murmured in agreement, a collective memory of sacrifices made by Ning Ning’s family grounding their resolve. Lin Xian watched, understanding the delicate balance between hope and duty that tethered each of them to their decaying world yet propelled them towards the clouds.

As the harsh reality of radiation sickness closed in, Li Cheng, a revered figure in the community, proposed a daring plan. He believed that since Sky City was the source of the radiation, its advanced inhabitants must have developed a cure. The only way to access this potential salvation was extreme—the community would need to skydive directly into the city, breach its defenses, and seize the medicine.

When Li Cheng first outlined his plan, it struck everyone as sheer folly, a suicide mission. Despite the overwhelming skepticism, he bravely volunteered to lead the effort.

The community gathered, their eyes fixed on Li Cheng as he ascended in a hot air balloon and glided toward Sky City. The mission ended in tragedy when he was instantly incinerated by laser beams. His daughter, Ning Ning, was only a toddler at the time, oblivious to the grim fate that had befallen her father.

The horrifying sight of Li Cheng’s demise only intensified the fear surrounding the prospect of skydiving into Sky City. However, propelled by a mix of desperation and resolve, Ning Ning’s mother stood up to speak.

“If 10,000 meters isn’t high enough, we’ll start from 20,000 meters. We cannot sit back and wait for a miracle. Our sickness will not cure itself,” she declared with a steely resolve. “I refuse to watch my family succumb to radiation when an alternative death, though perhaps equally grim, at least offers a sliver of hope for a cure.”

With trembling hands, she tied Ning Ning’s hair one last time. It was clear she was torn between her fear and the necessity of her actions. Her voice softened as she addressed the crowd, “I cannot stand by and watch my child suffer. If there’s a choice to be made, I choose the possibility of a cure, even if it means facing the lasers.”

Despite pleas to reconsider, she remained steadfast. After a tearful yet hopeful farewell to Ning Ning, she donned her astronaut helmet, her cheeks wet with tears that only Big Cat Face noticed as he helped her.

“Don’t tell Ning Ning,” she whispered quietly. “Her father faced his end bravely, and her mother didn’t cry.”

Moved by her courage and burdened by a new responsibility, Big Cat Face vowed silently to protect Ning Ning as his own, determined never to let her face the same perilous fate. As he released the ropes of the balloon, he turned to Ning Ning, who was oblivious to the gravity of the moment, and reassured her, “Your parents are heroes, Ning Ning.”

The community watched in silent resignation, convinced that no one could penetrate Sky City’s formidable defenses. Yet, against all odds, Ning Ning’s mother managed to avoid the lasers by jumping from an unprecedented height of 20,000 meters, successfully landing in a less guarded part of the city. Though she never returned, her successful descent provided a glimmer of hope that a gap in the defenses existed.

This act of bravery led to an influx of volunteers from surrounding villages, all eager to find the gap and retrieve the cure. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, and many lost their lives in the process, leaving only Big Cat Face, Ah Zhuang, Er Zhuzi, and San Pang.

Because of his promise and the heavy debt owed to Ning Ning’s parents, Big Cat Face was adamant about protecting her, refusing to let her take the risk. Yet, Ning Ning, now secretly skilled in skydiving and more determined than ever, couldn’t accept being sidelined. She felt it was her right, perhaps even her duty, to join the mission.

“Why can’t I go?” she protested, her frustration evident. “I’ve trained for this. I’m not afraid of dying from the lasers any more than I am of succumbing to this illness or living without purpose.”

Lin Xian’s arrival brought a new perspective. He knew where the gap was and was ready to lead a mission. Ning Ning saw this as her chance.

“Because you’re Li Cheng’s daughter!” Big Cat Face shouted back, his frustration matching hers. “We owe your family too much already!”

As he turned to leave with Lin Xian, Ning Ning grabbed his suit, her voice resolute, “If that’s the reason, then I must go!”

He raised his hand in a moment of anger but stopped, seeing in her the same determination that had defined her parents.

“Every woman here is someone’s wife or daughter,” Ning Ning argued passionately, pointing to the gathered crowd. “My parents sacrificed everything for us. If I don’t go, how can we ask anyone else to risk their lives?”

She met Big Cat Face’s gaze, her resolve unwavering, “Because I’m Li Cheng’s daughter, I have to go. It’s my responsibility.”