Qinshu City

She smiled faintly. "You've arrived at just the right time. There's something that might catch your attention at the Qinshu Research Center, particularly related to the Resonance phenomenon you just witnessed. This city has always been the hub for observing such changes. If you're interested, I can arrange access for you."

Her gaze then shifted to Meixue, and she smiled again.

"Of course, Meixue, this invitation extends to you as well. Given your previous experience, I'm sure you could offer a valuable perspective to our research."

A holographic map appeared beside her, displaying the layout of Qinshu. A glowing dot emerged in the southern part of the city.

"The location is in the southern sector. We can leave at any time."

But before anyone could respond, Jiayi raised her hand slightly, as if signaling for them to pause.

"Before that, there's one thing you should be aware of." Her gaze now turned to Rover. "Someone is waiting for you at City Hall. They requested that you stop by before heading to the research facility."

Her hologram flickered and then displayed an image of a grand building in the city center—the Qinshu City Hall.

"I can't confirm who they are, but based on the way they made their request, it seems important. You may want to resolve it before we proceed."

Jiayi closed the hologram display and awaited their reaction, her expression calm yet full of the anticipation of a scientist eager to see how these variables would play out in a grander experiment.

"No."

Rover's voice was firm, without hesitation. He didn't even glance at the City Hall building shown in Jiayi's hologram.

Yinglian blinked, slightly surprised by the short answer. Meixue, standing beside her, let out a quiet sigh, as if she had already anticipated this response.

Jiayi, on the other hand, showed no signs of disappointment or surprise. As a scientist, she was used to encountering variables that didn't always align with expectations.

"I thought you'd answer that way." Jiayi tapped her hologram, and the City Hall display vanished. "In that case, we'll head directly to the research center. I doubt I need to explain much more. I'm sure you're more interested in seeing the results firsthand."

She then turned, or rather, her hologram shifted, indicating the direction they should head.

"Let's go. I'll show you something far more intriguing than a formal meeting."

Yinglian glanced at Rover. "Are you sure? It might be important."

Rover remained unmoved. "If it's important, they can wait."

Meixue flashed a thin smile. "I thought I was the most stubborn one here. Seems I was wrong."

Without further delay, they followed Jiayi toward the southern sector of Qinshu.

The city of Qinshu loomed in the distance, its silhouette reflecting a blend of futuristic technology and graceful classical architecture. Surrounded by calm waters, it looked like a floating island connected by long bridges and sophisticated mechanical structures. The majestic mountain standing firm behind it seemed to be the city's eternal guardian, with a thin mist hovering at its peak, lending an air of mystery yet tranquility.

As they walked in line with Jiayi's hologram, the path under their feet began to transition from rocky soil to a more orderly route, with metal panels glowing faintly along the sides of the road. In the distance, they could see the city's main structure—City Hall—a grand building with towering pillars and glowing ornaments that showcased the technological advancement of the city. Below it stretched the residential districts, houses with curved roofs reflecting traditional architecture yet equipped with modern technology, like energy panels and holographic communication networks.

On the edge of the city stood the research facility, their destination. This building had a more futuristic design compared to the rest of the city, with pulsing sensor towers as if reading changes in the atmosphere. Wires and energy pathways connected the research center to the city's main infrastructure, signaling that Qinshu was not just an ordinary city, but a center for experiments and observations on phenomena like the Resonance.

As they made their way, the streets of the city felt alive. Several drones hovered in the air, carrying packages or monitoring the surroundings. The citizens, dressed in attire that blended traditional culture with high technology, walked across the clean, tidy streets. Some paused to observe the newcomers, but there was no sign of displeasure or suspicion—only curiosity.

The river surrounding the city reflected the blue light from various energy sources scattered across Qinshu, creating an almost surreal view. A tall transmission tower on the city's edge pulsed with soft light, indicating that the communication and systems of the city remained stable.

Jiayi paused briefly, giving them time to absorb the scene. "Welcome to Qinshu," she said, her voice flat yet full of meaning. "This city is more than just a place to live. It's the meeting point of the past and the future."

Jiayi stepped forward, her hologram staying steady in front of them, guiding with the precision typical of a scientist. The light from its energy panels flickered softly each time she spoke, giving the impression that it wasn't just a projection, but an entity that truly understood every corner of the city.

"Qinshu is not just a settlement," she continued in an analytical tone. "It's a hub for research, observation, and development. Its history is long—before this era, it was a small town that grew rapidly thanks to Resonance technology and in-depth research on anomalies like the one you just experienced."

They continued walking across the long bridge spanning the calm waters. From here, they could see how the lower part of the city was neatly organized—markets with floating kiosks using gravity stabilizer systems, pedestrian pathways split into different levels, and canals carrying water from the mountains to various districts.

In the distance, a building with a sleeker, more modern design caught their attention. This structure seemed to be the research center Jiayi mentioned. With observation towers equipped with reflective panels and antennas pulsing gently, it clearly served as the center of more advanced experiments.

However, before they could move any further, Jiayi raised her hand slightly, halting their steps.

"There are some protocols we must follow before entering the research center," she said, her expression neutral yet full of calculation. "But before that, there's something that needs to be discussed. Someone is interested in speaking with you, particularly you, Rover."

She reactivated the City Hall hologram, displaying the building she had mentioned earlier. This time, the image appeared sharper, as if there was some pressure behind its message.

"As I said, someone is waiting for you there." Her gaze focused on Rover. "I'm not in a position to force you, but based on the information I've gathered, this conversation could have an impact on your journey here."

Rover stared at the hologram without expression, then shook his head.

"No," he repeated firmly.

Jiayi showed no reaction, simply closing the hologram with a swift motion. "Very well," she said without a hint of objection. "We'll head straight to the research center, if that's what you want."

Yinglian glanced at Rover with slightly furrowed brows but chose not to say anything. Meixue, on the other hand, flashed a grin.

"I like someone who knows what they want," she said lightly.

Without wasting any more time, they resumed their journey, heading deeper into Qinshu, closer to the heart of the research that held the answers to the Resonance phenomenon they had just encountered.