Chapter 28: Not Rigorous Enough, Open to Debate

Chapter 28: Insufficiently Rigorous and Open to Question

Watching Xiong Yan continue his meditative breathing exercises, Chu Xuan soaked up a bit more spiritual energy before taking his leave. He had a great deal to accomplish tonight, and it was likely going to be another all-nighter.

Back in his office, Chu Xuan subconsciously rubbed the back of his head, pulled out a list, and began marking it up. Soon after, he firmly picked up his phone and announced, "I declare the plan officially underway!"

...

Yanjing University.

It was exactly 1:00 AM. Despite the late hour, Lu Yu had no intention of sleeping; he was even leisurely preparing a cup of instant coffee. It was not that his office lacked a coffee machine or high-quality, name-brand beans, but Lu Yu had a unique preference for the instant variety. The reason was simple: it was convenient, fast, and saved time and effort.

As he sipped his coffee, Lu Yu pondered his research projects and the direction of his future studies. Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

"Hello, my name is Wu Bei. I am a staff member from the relevant department. Here is my identification; please feel free to verify its authenticity."

*A scammer targeting me? Or is this related to some secret project requiring a temporary recruitment, leading them to seek me out in the middle of the night?*

Moments later, Lu Yu verified Wu Bei’s identity and gave him a nod.

"I have come to invite you to join a top-secret research project. All information regarding this project is strictly classified. I cannot disclose any details until you have signed a non-disclosure agreement."

"I can only tell you that this project concerns the national destiny and is of the utmost importance. We urgently need talent like yours."

As he spoke, Wu Bei recalled the detailed intelligence he had read about Lu Yu before arriving: Lu Yu, born in March 1996, lost his parents at a young age and grew up in an orphanage. He started school at six, skipped three grades, entered the fifth grade at seven, and started middle school at eight, becoming a local child prodigy. He donated all his scholarships back to the orphanage to improve the meals for the other children. After his first year of middle school, he continued to skip grades; by nine, he was in his final year of middle school. By ten, he was a high school freshman.

By eleven, he was a senior in high school. At twelve, he took the college entrance examination and entered Yanjing University as the provincial top scorer. He graduated from university at fourteen and entered a direct doctoral program. At seventeen, he earned his PhD and was retained by the university. At nineteen, he became an associate professor. At twenty-two, he was promoted to full professor—the youngest full professor in the country, bar none.

Unlike those child prodigies who fizzle out, Lu Yu was a genius as a child and remained one as an adult. Even without the resurgence of spiritual energy, he would have grown into a world-class scholar by the age of thirty. In fact, even now, Lu Yu’s individual expertise in certain fields was already recognized as the best in the country.

"How important is this project, really?" Lu Yu asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"It concerns the national destiny!"

"Does my mentor know about this project?"

"Academician Liu has known for a long time. However, bound by the non-disclosure agreement, he could not tell you. You may contact him now if you wish."

Moments later, Lu Yu hung up his video call with his mentor, his expression solemn yet filled with curiosity. Throughout the call, Academician Liu had not leaked any specific information about the project, but he had urged Lu Yu more than once to join.

"When do we leave? You’ve piqued my curiosity!"

"The sooner, the better!"

"Here is the non-disclosure agreement, a new phone, and new clothes. You don't need to bring anything, not even your ID..."

After changing into the new clothes, he found they fit quite well. Everything was new. When Lu Yu sat in the car, he was even fitted with a black blindfold. He had worked on classified projects before, but he had never seen such a level of secrecy.

Blindfolded and curious, Lu Yu was driven around until he finally arrived at a base near the capital. When he removed his blindfold, he saw Chu Xuan waiting at the entrance to greet him.

"Hey, what is this all about? Can you talk now? I asked questions the whole way here, and he just said he didn't know or couldn't disclose anything. It was driving me crazy," Lu Yu asked, looking at the smiling Chu Xuan. He knew Chu Xuan, of course; they had interacted and even collaborated on research before.

"Spiritual energy has returned!"

"Spiritual energy has actually returned?"

In just two sentences, Lu Yu was stunned for a full minute, his expression shifting rapidly. He desperately wanted to say that this was a dream or that Chu Xuan had been reading too many web novels. But tonight’s experience told him this was all real. No one would go to such great lengths just to play a prank on him!

"Well, stop wasting time! Let's get to work!"

"Where are your research results? Where are your papers? Hurry up and let me see them!"

"Also, who defined this 'resurgence of spiritual energy'? What is the essence of this energy? What is it composed of? What impact does it have on the human body and material objects?"

"Is this energy a substance, a quantum state, or perhaps some special form we don't yet understand?"

"Why did it suddenly return? If it returned, how did it disappear in the first place?"

"Finally, if it disappears again, can we create it artificially?"

"Have you researched these questions?"

"Furthermore, as a man of science, a rigorous attitude is the foundation of all foundations. Who defined this? What is the evidence? I want to see the evidence!"

"I’m telling you, Chu Xuan, if you’re trying to turn water into oil or promote Qigong masters to fool the gullible, I, Lu Yu, will absolutely not participate!"

Watching the highly agitated Lu Yu, Chu Xuan smiled. "Don't be impatient. Your new phone should be ready to turn on now."

"There is a special app called 'Heaven’s Inquiry' with a Taiji symbol. I’ve granted you the clearance of an assistant researcher. With this access, you can view the relevant papers and begin your research."

"Currently, the papers are divided into two categories. One is written by 'Anonymous,' which is one of the pseudonyms of the institute’s director. These papers, well..." Chu Xuan paused. "These papers currently seem insufficiently rigorous, the evidence is not quite sufficient, and the arguments are open to question, but the parts that have been verified are all true."

"The other category consists of research by a small number of experts and scholars."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This director’s papers aren't just lacking evidence—they are sheer fantasy, nothing but wild, baseless talk!"

"If one of my doctoral students dared to hand me a paper like this, I’d throw it in their face. There is no argumentative structure at all; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them mere conjectures!"

"Then verify them! Go and experiment! If you haven't performed the experiments, how can you know they are false?"

"Fine, fine! I’ll go experiment! I’ll go verify them! But why is my clearance only that of an assistant researcher? Isn't that a bit low? You’re really underestimating me..."

Watching Lu Yu grumbling as he headed to the laboratory to work overtime, Chu Xuan rubbed his cheeks and adjusted his smile. Dealing with these science-minded men was truly simple.

Subsequently, Chu Xuan looked toward the door again. Someone else had arrived. It was estimated that at least fifty truly capable experts and scholars would arrive tonight. Since the lazy Xiong Yan was sleeping, he would just have to bear the burden himself.