Genius Club

After sharing his flight details with Angelica, Lin Xian ended the call and pondered his next steps.

He thought to himself, “If I manage to get a gun in America, my ability to defend myself will increase tremendously. Even if I encounter her again, I’ll stand a better chance.”

In X Country, where strict gun laws prevent ordinary citizens from owning firearms, his expertise with guns was almost pointless. Angelica had hinted, though, that the situation would be different in America, the land of the free.

“The bullets from the gun I plan to get won’t be just for the time-space assassin,” he mused, considering the broader implications of his armament.

The decision to travel to America might have seemed abrupt, but it was the result of deliberate planning and consideration of various factors. Lin Xian had three main reasons for his decision.

First Reason: Safety.

The time-space assassin had never attacked him outside his home city but was relentless in pursuing him within Donghai City. This suggested that Donghai was currently a hotspot for danger. While the specific motivations of the assassin were unclear, the message was obvious: Donghai was unsafe, whereas abroad seemed safer. Lin Xian speculated on two reasons for this pattern:

The assassin might have been able to operate within Donghai because his demise or capture there did not significantly alter the permissible timeline, aligning instead with certain historical trajectories.

The assassin’s goal might have been to deliver him to a particular person or location in Donghai, making it more strategic to wait for him there rather than attempt to capture him abroad and transport him back.

Unable to determine which scenario was accurate, Lin Xian decided the safest option was to leave Donghai. His experiences in places like Copenhagen had shown that he was safer abroad. Valuing his life, he knew he had to prioritize his safety.

Thus, leaving Donghai immediately to evade the time-space assassin became his optimal safety strategy. Although time-space travelers like Yellow Finch could sense each other, Lin Xian, not being one, was invisible to the assassin on a global scale—except in Donghai, where his routines and relationships made him vulnerable to attacks, as today’s close call had shown.

Lin Xian considered seeking national protection due to the grave threat posed by the assassin, especially since he was friends with Liu An, the Director of the National Security Agency. The capital could offer him the highest security, potentially deterring the assassin.

But then what? Would hiding under the National Security Agency’s protection lead to a permanent resolution? Or would the assassin just temporarily disappear? In the ongoing cat-and-mouse game, a mouse trapped in a corner has no chance unless the cat loses interest. His past encounters, like those with the Seven Deadly Sins, had taught him that to truly be safe, he needed to confront his enemies directly.

Lin Xian planned to contact Director Liu An for an investigation into the time-space assassin. Capturing her could allow him to safely return to Donghai. But the unknown capabilities of the assassin, potentially enhanced by advanced technology from a far-future era like Yellow Finch’s, were a constant threat. Her physical capabilities seemed superhuman, her beauty otherworldly, reminiscent of the futuristic sculptures in New Donghai City and Rhine Sky City.

Yellow Finch, a time-traveler from decades in the future, paled in comparison to the assassin, who seemed to come from centuries ahead. This technological disparity made the assassin a formidable opponent. Lin Xian knew he couldn’t rely solely on the National Security Agency or local police; he needed his own strategies to survive and gain the upper hand.

Second Reason: Turning Passive into Active

Lin Xian was convinced that the assassin was not acting alone but was likely directed by influential figures such as Kevin Walker or Elon Musk, with the latter being more probable given recent events. Both were based abroad, compelling Lin Xian to venture outside Donghai to confront and dismantle the forces behind his predicaments. Remaining passive in Donghai wouldn’t draw his enemies to him; he had to actively seek them out.

Fortunately, he wasn’t alone in his quest. Angelica, an adversary of his enemies, shared his goals, driven by her desire for vengeance against the Genius Club members responsible for the deaths of Ji Xin Shui and Ji Lin, and to fulfill Ji Lin’s last wish to identify his parents’ killer. Lin Xian’s target was to eliminate Kevin Walker and likely the mastermind, Elon Musk.

Angelica, with her extensive connections in Hollywood and formidable resources, was a powerful ally. With shared objectives, they could forge a formidable team. Lin Xian valued her action-oriented approach, knowing that as a lone fighter, he needed decisive and ruthless partners.

Reflecting on his situation, Lin Xian smiled at the irony, “I never thought I’d ally with the Seven Deadly Sins.”

He remembered Yellow Finch’s words: “Do it if it’s right; keep doing it if it’s wrong. Hesitation is not an option.”

Embracing this philosophy, Lin Xian knew that hesitation meant retreat. Facing challenges head-on was the only way forward, leading to his third and crucial reason for going abroad:

Third Reason: Enhancing Combat Ability

As an ordinary person, Lin Xian recognized the limits of facing the assassin’s enhanced physical ability unarmed. A firearm, a simple yet powerful kinetic weapon, was essential. No biological creature, not even a robust elephant, could withstand a well-aimed bullet.

The assassin, despite her enhanced body, was not invincible. Her tissues and bones had limits; they could be tough, but not impenetrable. Lin Xian’s first encounter with the assassin had shown her vulnerability—she bled when thrown from a car, proving she was still human. If a fall could injure her, a bullet could be lethal.

Lin Xian had spent years in his dream world perfecting his marksmanship, facing life-and-death scenarios that sharpened his reflexes. This was why acquiring a gun in America was crucial for self-defense. With the laws of time-space on his side, he held a tactical advantage—he could shoot the assassin freely, while she could not kill him. This shifted the balance entirely in his favor.

“If only I knew the exact boundaries of time-space elasticity.”

….

As Lin Xian reflected on the concept of time-space elasticity and the notion of forced avoidance, he realized that the real key lay in understanding the elasticity itself. Yellow Finch had once mentioned that grasping this law of time-space was crucial, and Lin Xian now acknowledged he hadn’t fully mastered it yet. Originally, he thought it was tied strictly to preserving life, allowing time-space travelers to cause harm but not to take lives. However, this theory didn’t stand up to scrutiny. Yellow Finch had inadvertently caused the deaths of countless smaller creatures and contributed to the deaths of animals through her dietary choices. Clearly, the law of elasticity wasn’t as simple as life versus death.

Lin Xian hypothesized that time-space elasticity might work more like a range or spectrum. He envisioned it as a scale from -100 to +100, where actions that altered historical events within this range were permissible. For example, the death of a chicken might shift history by a value of +2, a change within the acceptable limits. But his own death could shift history by +105, a value outside the permissible range, triggering what he termed forced avoidance.

He pondered the different impacts individuals could have on history. Killing his friend Gao Yang might result in a historical shift of -80, still within the allowable range, thus making it a permissible action. However, manipulating Lin Xian without ending his life might register as a +70 on this hypothetical scale, also permissible. This line of thinking led Lin Xian to a chilling possibility:

“What if the effects of these disruptions to time-space could be accumulated or offset? If killing Gao Yang registers as -80 and my death is +105, their combined effect would only be +25, well within the permissible range.”

This insight led him to an epiphany. Perhaps it was possible to both disrupt and simultaneously correct history, effectively balancing out the changes?

Lin Xian recalled an incident where he corrected history himself. In his dreams, he had founded Rhine Company, causing Brother Wang to abandon his childhood dream, which altered the timeline and led to the disappearance of Time Bank. This was a significant disturbance in the fabric of time-space. However, by helping Brother Wang rediscover his dream, Lin Xian managed to restore Time Bank, effectively correcting the historical disturbance.

From this, Lin Xian derived a new principle he called Historical Correction: Actions that restored a disrupted historical trajectory back to its original path were corrective measures against time-space disturbances.

This revelation clarified why the assassin could attack him in Donghai but not in Copenhagen. It was a lesson Yellow Finch had been trying to teach him: the rules of time-space elasticity and forced avoidance weren’t absolute but could be manipulated and calculated to allow for historical corrections.

“That means, capturing or killing me in Donghai might be part of a historical correction, making such actions permissible without triggering forced avoidance.”

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian grasped the significance of historical correction as a means to counterbalance disruptive actions. Correcting history wasn’t as challenging as it seemed if one could identify the root cause. For example, simply renaming Rhine Cat back to Coco Cat could constitute a minor historical correction.

Yellow Finch was correct in saying that understanding the laws of time-space equated to wielding power. The more one understood these laws, the stronger they could become. This newfound knowledge confirmed that his decision to leave Donghai was prudent. If the enemy had complete mastery over historical corrections, they would have attacked him even in Copenhagen. Their inability to do so proved they were not as omnipotent as he had feared, giving him an edge to potentially reverse his fortunes.

“All fear stems from a lack of firepower. Now, I’ll finally have that firepower!”

“Mr. Lin Xian, we’ve arrived. The exit is just ahead,” the driver, Xiao Li, informed him.

“After the overpass, park in front of the terminal. I’ll use the VIP passage; no need for an early check-in,” Lin Xian instructed, cautious not to reveal his location prematurely.

He then made a call to Director Liu An of the National Security Agency. After a few rings, Liu An picked up.

“Director Liu, I apologize for calling so late.”

“It’s okay, Lin Xian. I haven’t gone to bed yet,” Liu An replied, his voice echoing over a backdrop of office noise.

Lin Xian briefed him on the recent attack. Concerned, Liu An advised, “Lin Xian, you should seek protection from the local security department in Donghai. I can arrange the highest level of security until we apprehend the assassin. Alternatively, we can arrange a special flight to bring you to the capital for even greater safety, though it would limit your freedom.”

Lin Xian declined, understanding that merely hiding under protection wouldn’t solve the underlying problem. The assassin could simply wait for an opportunity to strike again. And even if the National Security Agency managed to capture her, other threats might emerge. To truly break the deadlock, he needed to venture abroad and uncover more about Kevin Walker and Elon Musk.

“Be cautious and find a secure place to hide,” Liu An urged. “I’ll personally oversee the investigation in Donghai to capture the assassin.”

“Thank you, Director Liu. My driver, Xiao Li, witnessed the assassin. He’ll assist you with the investigation,” Lin Xian responded, appreciative of Liu An’s dedication.

“It’s our duty to protect our citizens,” Liu An declared earnestly before they ended the call.

Lin Xian stored his phone, leaned back in his seat, and glanced to the right where the car door had been violently removed by the assassin, turning his luxury van into a casualty of their confrontation.

“Xiao Li, it looks like we’ll be needing a new car when I return,” Lin Xian remarked.

Xiao Li, still visibly shaken, managed a smile. “What kind of car, Mr. Lin Xian?”

“A childhood friend of mine just became a manager at a car dealership. I promised to buy a car from him, but haven’t gotten around to it. We’ll choose one from his dealership when I’m back,” Lin Xian shared, thinking of Gao Yang. “Whatever car it is, no vehicle can withstand an attack from a killer like that unless it’s armored.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin Xian. The police will catch the killer, and you’ll be safe to return,” Xiao Li reassured him as they approached the airport.

….

An hour later, Lin Xian’s plane soared towards Princeton, New Jersey. As he gazed out the window at the clouds below, he contemplated whether this journey could indeed change the course of events.

“That assassin won’t follow me to America, will she?” Lin Xian wondered, haunted by her chilling blue eyes and the threat she posed. He peered out the window cautiously, vigilant for any sign of danger.

“Nothing,” he sighed in relief. The assassin’s reluctance to act in public spaces, as both previous attacks occurred under the cover of darkness, suggested she wasn’t completely fearless.

Upon landing in Princeton, Angelica was there to meet him. They boarded her much more luxurious van from the VIP exit, a stark contrast to his own recently damaged vehicle.

“Where’s the equipment I requested?” Lin Xian asked as soon as they settled in.

“Always so impatient,” Angelica chuckled, handing him a sleek black case.

Lin Xian opened the case to find two boxes of bullets, four magazines, and two different handguns. He picked up the first one, a Sig Sauer P320, an all-black large-caliber handgun renowned for its power and reliability.

“This is the latest model from Sig Sauer,” Angelica explained. “You wanted something powerful, and this 10mm caliber can pierce 5mm steel from 20 meters.”

Lin Xian nodded, impressed with the firearm’s specifications, then turned his attention to the other gun, a gleaming silver Desert Eagle.

“A Desert Eagle?” he inquired, surprised.

“Yes,” Angelica smiled, clearly pleased with his reaction. “This one’s from my personal collection. It’s tough to get because it uses custom Magnum rounds that pack a lot of power and recoil. Not everyone can handle it; some even break their wrists from the kickback. But since you insisted on powerful handguns, I thought you’d appreciate it.”

“Which one do you prefer?” she asked, intrigued by his response.

Lin Xian loaded the Desert Eagle, his smile broadening. “Both.”