Chapter 140: The Information That Cannot Be Transmitted?

Bai Liqing sat behind her desk, her gaze somewhat vacant—perhaps not just her eyes were vacant.

After a long while, she muttered softly to herself: "How does he always manage to pull off something utterly unexpected?"

Song Cheng, seated across the desk, didn't know how to respond, so he kept his head down and pretended not to hear.

But two seconds later, Bai Liqing repeated it again: "How does he always manage to pull off something utterly unexpected?"

"After all… he's just inherently an unexpected presence," Song Cheng finally tugged at his lips and forced out a reply, "Regardless, we've found the cause of the anomalous spacetime displacement again, and the Technical Department's recorded 'characteristic parameters' will now be adjusted more accurately—so it's still a good thing."

"Yes, it's still a good thing—we also learned he can open passages even within anomalous otherworlds," Bai Liqing shook her head, "But let's drop that for now. Back to our previous topic: what was the conclusion on the last sample submitted for analysis?"

Upon hearing this, Song Cheng immediately adjusted his posture and pushed forward the file he had brought.

"This is the analysis report on those hairs—we sent the 'fox hairs' to three separate labs for independent analysis and shared the data with major organizations including the Academy. The conclusion… you can see for yourself."

Bai Liqing took the file and swiftly scanned its key contents; her expression gradually grew serious.

"Within the known universe, no matching species was found?" She lifted her head and stared into Song Cheng's eyes.

"Not only was no matching species found—we found no biological tissue at all that matched the microscopic structure of those hairs. In other words, had we not been certain they came from a sentient, mobile, humanoid being with thoughts and emotions, the analysts would have suspected these samples were a cruel prank."

Song Cheng pointed to a section in the file.

"The 'material' composing these hairs is not a metabolic or growth byproduct of any known biological organism. Furthermore, although over ninety percent of its composition is organic, it also contains multiple unexplained 'inorganic impurities.' Their function within a biological system is unknown, and…" Song Cheng paused, then, with a strange expression, continued, "To this day, we still haven't identified what elements they are."

Bai Liqing pressed her lips together and, after a long silence, whispered softly: "How does he always manage to pull off something utterly unexpected…"

Song Cheng wiped sweat from his forehead: "Uh, strictly speaking, this isn't something *he* caused…"

"But he's the one who brought the person out," Bai Liqing said wearily, pressing her fingers against her temple. "What about the other side? Any response from organizations like Qianfeng Lingshan?"

Song Cheng nodded: "Yes. They conducted a large-scale investigation in conjunction with several influential sects, screening every 'fox'-type spirit race. Considering the possibility of 'time tunneling' in that 'Huli's' history, their scope was extremely broad—they even checked anyone remotely connected, including those who 'flourished a thousand years ago' and those who 'might flourish a thousand years from now,' not just those already in the interstellar age."

"Their investigation sample list is here. Besides ordinary fox spirits and fox-like subhumans, it included beings with only partial beastly traits—like those with fox ears, fox tails, or even a few strands of fox-like fur. According to the envoy who handed over the materials, they nearly wanted to detain anyone with fox odor just to make them fill out the forms… The conclusion? Still no match."

Bai Liqing's movement of flipping through the file froze. She looked up at Song Cheng: "How did they manage such a massive operation? They've never been this thorough when we asked for help before."

"Simply put, rumors spread that a fox had achieved collective ascension—its entire clan could travel through heaven and earth, and its homeland was littered with immortals. Everyone is desperate to know who secretly achieved mass transcendence," Song Cheng spread his hands. "You know how fierce the competition is among them in this field. Though most cultivators now in the enlightened stage won't fight over this, Yu Sheng's description of Huli's homeland… it was still a huge shock to them."

"It's a shock to us too," Bai Liqing exhaled, setting the file down. "I've grasped the situation. Continue the investigation—it'll be a long-term mission. If that 'fox' truly comes from 'outside'…"

She paused, then gave Song Cheng a slight nod. "You understand what I mean."

"Yes, I understand."

…

On the way back from the west building of the orphanage to the east building, Yu Sheng told Little Red Riding Hood in detail about his solitary investigation in that dark room—including the carvings he found beneath the floorboards of the wooden hut, and the full account of his encounter with the hunter.

The many details left Little Red Riding Hood astonished.

"I've dealt with that Black Forest for many years, yet never before have I suddenly learned so much," she couldn't help but sigh. "In countless previous Little Red Riding Hoods, they were swallowed by the 'story' without ever knowing any of this…"

"Perhaps they did discover something—but were never able to pass the message back to the real world," Ailin, sitting on Yu Sheng's shoulder, swayed as she spoke. "Like those carvings under the bed—they were clearly left by some Little Red Riding Hood from long ago."

"Those carvings are deeply concerning," Yu Sheng said. "And I suspect similar traces exist elsewhere in the Black Forest—even… not just within the Black Forest."

Little Red Riding Hood pondered: "You mean…"

"Other 'subsets,'" Yu Sheng stopped walking. "Like the ones you mentioned—the Cinderella ball, the Rapunzel's Gao Ta… In those 'subsets,' aren't similar things happening? Perhaps other Cinderellas or Rapunzels discovered something at the end of their dreams—but just like in that room filled with red cloaks… those who uncovered the truth never got the chance to pass the message back to the real world."

Little Red Riding Hood fell into thought. Yu Sheng sighed after a moment, sounding reflective: "Thinking about it, this actually fits childhood patterns quite well."

Little Red Riding Hood didn't react at first: "Why say that?"

"You wrote your childhood secrets in a diary, carefully locked it with a password, then as an adult, you could never remember that password that once meant so much to you—childhood memories remain frozen at the end of childhood, unable to reach the grown-up self. Many people experience this."

Little Red Riding Hood's expression turned slightly blank: "Is… that really how it is?"

"Yes, it is," Yu Sheng smiled. "So at such times, you need a cruel, disruptive, unreasonable adult to violently open that diary—often, you yourself become that cruel adult. But since you all find it hard to grow up, I'll do it for you."

"... You're making yourself sound like a villain."

"To the 'fairy tale,' I am the villain—it doesn't like me."

At that moment, a commotion erupted from the corridor ahead, interrupting Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood's conversation.

A group of children were running down the corridor, shouting loudly, some even half-grown adolescents among them.

Yu Sheng and the others looked up and hurried toward the noise.

Little Red Riding Hood swiftly grabbed a half-grown girl running past her and asked with parental authority: "What's going on?"

The girl, visibly nervous, pointed in a direction: "Teacher Su fainted! She's been taken to the infirmary!"

Yu Sheng, listening nearby, was confused: "Teacher Su fainted? Why?"

"I don't know—I just heard," the girl, looking about thirteen or fourteen, spoke quickly. "She was playing with the other kids in the activity room when Xiao Xiao suddenly pushed the door open and greeted her, and then she just collapsed…"

Yu Sheng: "..."

Little Red Riding Hood: "..."

Ailin: "Oh no—"

"I… I didn't consider that. I was just too happy at the time," Little Red Riding Hood released the girl, looking embarrassed as she turned her face away. "I should've sent someone to warn Teacher Su first."

Yu Sheng didn't know what to say, so he could only shrug helplessly: "It's useless to talk about it now. Let's go see how she is."

The group changed course and headed to the infirmary. By the time they arrived, Rapunzel had already half-bribed, half-tricked all the curious children away.

The young council employee lay on the hospital bed, now awake. Aside from a slightly pale face, her condition seemed fine.

The girl named "Xiao Xiao" sat on a chair beside her, head drooping, neck hunched as if she'd committed a grave offense—and she looked like she'd been crying.

Yu Sheng suspected she had cried out of fright when Teacher Su collapsed.

"It's nothing serious," Rapunzel walked over. "The doctor checked her—just shock and emotional overload. Recommendation: rest a bit longer. Everything's been explained. Nothing to worry about. I'm also at fault—I shouldn't have let Xiao Xiao just burst in."

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Teacher Su quickly waved her hands from the bed. "I was startled at first, but now I'm just happy…"

As she spoke, she sat up, her gaze landing on Yu Sheng.

"I remember… you're called 'Yu Sheng,' right? I have something I want to tell you."

(End of Chapter)