Chapter 51: Apparitions and Shadows

Dean Lin Yizhou took over the conversation: "I wouldn't go that far. As things stand, the knowledge we humans have mastered remains quite limited, especially in the application fields of new technologies. We still have a long way to go, and further in-depth research and practice are urgently needed. Although Professor Su's scientific experiment encountered some unexpected issues this morning, we cannot simply conclude that this was a failure..."

"I think it's the legendary ghost shadow!" Wu Xiong suddenly said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Hearing Wu Xiong mention the ghost shadow, Han Gui hurriedly chimed in and asked, "Is it like the ghost shadow rumored to have appeared in the Forbidden City in Beijing?"

His question instantly disrupted the order of the conference.

The crowd began to buzz with discussion. "Indeed, after all these years, that mystery still hasn't been completely solved..." "Was that really a ghost shadow..." "Could someone be playing a prank..." Various voices rose and fell.

Everyone's curiosity about the mysterious phenomenon was thoroughly aroused.

Worried that his speculation might mislead everyone, Professor Su quickly emphasized with a serious expression: "However, if such a phenomenon truly occurs, it must be extremely unusual. Only under specific geomagnetic resonance conditions—such as the massive earthquakes and profound geological changes of ancient times—would it be possible to record, preserve, and seal away certain information. Moreover, these conditions are exceptionally harsh and not easily met."

His words were rigorous and professional, attempting to guide everyone to think from a scientific perspective.

Zhao Xinru took over, her expression solemn: "Species on Earth have undergone tens of thousands of years of prolonged evolution, and many have gradually vanished. Yet, after careful identification, the humans in that recorded video footage, regardless of their posture, form, or attire, do not look like simulations or fabrications. The surrounding vegetation also exhibits characteristics of the Mesozoic era, most of which we cannot even name. Such details are simply impossible to fabricate!" Her analysis was well-founded and convincing.

Professor Ding Bainian nodded slightly and concurred, "I believe Professor Zhao is entirely correct. In the Himalayan region, due to the drift of the Indian plate, the Eurasian continent has suffered compression for a prolonged period, which is why the ground has undergone such drastic uplift. From a geological standpoint, it is unlikely that complete stratigraphic memory exists there. However, it is possible for some undiscovered new mineral deposits to emerge, which will be one of the focal directions of our subsequent research."

Approaching from his professional geological background, he provided a new dimension of thought for everyone.

Lin Yizhou expressed his agreement and added, "I share the same view. Ancient people often said that the vital energies of heaven and earth must each remain in their proper places and must not be disordered; otherwise, if yang energy fails to rise and yin energy fails to discharge, earthquakes will be triggered. But for glacial strata to perfectly preserve millennia of memories, from current scientific understanding, the probability is negligible. Nonetheless, science is inherently a process of constantly exploring the unknown, and we cannot entirely rule out the existence of special circumstances." His remarks were both rational and open-minded toward the unknown.

The corners of Zhao Xinru's mouth curved up slightly, and she said half-jokingly, "Although the loss of anti-neutrino energy this time is quite bizarre, I suppose it hasn't escaped the spacetime we inhabit, has it? Otherwise, we might genuinely have to take a trip to the Mesozoic era ourselves to figure out what is actually going on. But that would truly turn into a fantastical adventure!"

Her words lightened the originally solemn atmosphere.

Despite the heated discussion among the experts, murmurs about "ghosts" continued to ripple through the audience: "I actually went to the Forbidden City in Beijing at 5 PM once, and at that moment, I really had an eerie feeling with goosebumps all over my body..." "Yeah, five o'clock happens to be when the Forbidden City closes and clears out visitors, and the entire atmosphere changes..." Everyone chimed in, immersing themselves in the discussion of the mysterious phenomenon.

Seeing that his remarks had provoked such a strong reaction, Wu Xiong could not help feeling a bit smug, a trace of an undetectable smile crossing his face.

Things are often quite fascinating this way: whenever serious business is discussed, everyone remains taciturn; but as soon as the topic shifts to something mysterious and novel, it immediately captures everyone's attention.

Seeing this, Wu Xiong grew even more spirited and embellished the tale further: "It is said that midnight is the time when the yin energy in the Forbidden City is at its peak. I've heard that in the past, late at night, duty security guards at the Forbidden City once witnessed a procession of ancient people dressed in historical attire, resembling court maids and eunuchs from the imperial palace of old. They walked in neat strides and then simply drifted away into the darkness, as if they had never existed at all..." His vivid and animated description left many listening, completely spellbound.

"Hasn't that already been scientifically explained?" someone questioned.

"What explanation?" Wu Xiong pressed.

"It's a physical phenomenon where three-dimensional images can be recorded by certain crystals or objects under specific conditions, such as lightning. The walls of the Forbidden City are red and contain ferric oxide, so the electrical charge of lightning can replay images previously recorded on the walls. That's why these kinds of occurrences mostly happen on nights with thunder and lightning..." that person explained clearly and logically.

Unconvinced, Wu Xiong waved his hand and said, "Hah, regardless of the explanation, just think about those intimidating dark red walls of the Forbidden City and those long, narrow corridors—just imagining it makes my spine chill!..." The more he spoke, the more excited he became, gesturing wildly.

Seeing that people kept chattering endlessly on the topic of ghosts, Zhao Xinru felt deeply disgusted. She struck the table heavily and raised her voice: "We are holding a scientific seminar here, so let's talk about science! I don't believe in ghosts and monsters at all!" Her gaze revealed firmness and dissatisfaction, attempting to pull everyone's attention back to scientific exploration.

Wu Xiong was not offended. He pointed toward the three-dimensional imagery still playing in a continuous loop and said unhurriedly, "The phenomenon Professor Su mentioned is actually quite similar to the imagery before our eyes."

Su Chunyang immediately spoke up to correct him, his attitude serious and earnest: "I don't believe in any ghost shadows! I am certain those were people who truly existed. If one must provide a scientific interpretation of this phenomenon, it is akin to utilizing holographic technology via lasers to record certain messages onto crystals or photosensitive media, and subsequently replaying them. But the current difficulty is that, after careful analysis, the three-dimensional imagery we received is not reflected imaging, but rather a real scene traversing tens of thousands of years of time—obtained through resonance at the exact same moment as us. The scientific principles behind this are far more complex than we can imagine."

His rigorous and professional explanation gave everyone a deeper understanding of this mysterious phenomenon.

Meanwhile, on the city streets, He Yunfei was still relentlessly pursuing the robber. That guy wearing a dinosaur costume acted like a madman, careening his flying motorcycle recklessly through the streets and alleys, completely disregarding the safety of pedestrians as he sprinted wildly and dashed madly past various obstacles. Teeth clenched, He Yunfei clung tightly behind him, his gaze filled with determination and persistence, vowing to recover the snatched briefcase.

Panicking and losing his way, the robber blundered straight into a bustling parade. The crowd fell into a flurry of panic, scattering in all directions to take cover. Realizing he could not shake off He Yunfei for the moment, the "dinosaur" had a flash of inspiration and suddenly veered into a narrow alley. Relying on his familiarity with the local road conditions, he maneuvered left and right through the alley, attempting to use the complex terrain to shake off his pursuer.

Spotting an antique-style building ahead with the prominent characters "Yunnan Home" inscribed on it, he hardened his heart, abandoned his motorcycle altogether, and bolted straight inside.

This was a fairly large restaurant with distinct Yunnan characteristics, featuring numerous rooms, a two-story layout, and an open stage in the center, typically used for performances during ordinary times. At this moment, during the lull between meal times, the restaurant was dimly lit with very few patrons, appearing exceptionally quiet.

He Yunfei followed cautiously inside, remaining secretly alert.

Suddenly, a plump girl rushed out from the interior, moving so fast she nearly collided head-on with Yunfei. With a startled shriek of "Ah!", He Yunfei was taken aback.

Before He Yunfei could even speak, the plump girl rattled off a stream of complaints: "I say, handsome, can't you walk slower? You scared the life out of me!"

He Yunfei was left dizzy and disoriented by this sudden scolding, wondering inwardly: What is going on? I've been careful enough. Just as he opened his mouth to explain, the plump girl relentlessly continued, "You've got to compensate me for emotional distress! Giving me a fright for no reason."

Burning with anxiety, He Yunfei had no time to entangle with her and simply stared anxiously into the depths of the restaurant. At that moment, he heard the girl say again, "Hey, I'm talking to you. Are you looking for that guy wearing the helmet just now?"

He Yunfei hastily uttered an "Yeah," his eyes filled with anticipation.

Casually pointing a finger, the girl said, "He ran off toward the jewelry store ages ago."

Hearing this, He Yunfei's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "Where is the jewelry store?"

Who would have thought the plump girl would deliberately play hard to get, replying leisurely, "I'm not telling you."

Angry and anxious, He Yunfei was just about to flare up when he suddenly heard the sound of a motorcycle engine roaring to life at the entrance.

As it turned out, this "Yunnan Home" restaurant was connected to the Jiulong Jewelry City, and the rider had already passed through the jewelry store and returned to the entrance. Without a moment to lose, He Yunfei rushed toward the door in pursuit.

Just then, the plump girl shouted at the top of her lungs from behind, "Remember, my name is Hao Xiaoyu! If you still have a conscience, come back and pay me for my emotional distress and informant fee!"

Mounting his motorcycle once again, He Yunfei dashed like lightning, tailing the robber through the streets and alleys. They sped furiously, nearly traversing more than half of Kunming city.