I Take Life Seriously 113: Encountering Ling Again (2)

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Zhang Mingjing seemed to be instantly inspired, prompting the real person to immediately download a Morse code translation app. Then he instructed the real person to translate the finger movements that Ling had just made using the software to see if there was any surprise. Sure enough, Ling’s finger movements were a string of Morse code meaning: “I am a friend; let’s communicate using Morse code.”

The five-dimensional spatial thinking model of Morse code expressed great curiosity.

“That’s right! It’s a primitive signal code that is intermittently transmitted, where different sequences represent different English letters, numbers, and punctuation marks.”

“This isn’t something natural, but a human invention, right?”

“Yes! I recall reading an introduction to it back in middle school, and there was a story that left a deep impression on me, one I still remember. In January 2015, a Japanese hostage named Kenji Goto, kidnapped by a terrorist organization, was beheaded. On February 1st that year, a video circulated online, analyzed by Japanese netizens. They noted that compared to the hostage Haruna Yukawa on the right, Goto blinked more frequently. Upon zooming in on the footage, some believed Goto was using blinking to send Morse code, conveying the message ‘Don’t rescue me.’”

“What is a terrorist organization?”

“...It’s somewhat like the time-space monsters in your world.”

“Damn! That Ling could think of that—really smart.”

“Indeed! That’s human intelligence, isn’t it remarkable?”

“No way! I think it’s just cunning.”

“I guarantee this trick can definitely fool the time-space monster’s code.”

“I believe that. Not just fool it—I couldn’t even see through it myself! You humans are incredibly cunning.”

...

Zhang Mingjing had the real person constantly monitor Ling’s movements, anticipating she would soon send Morse code again.

Sure enough, about ten minutes later, Ling’s eyes blinked abnormally. Zhang Mingjing immediately ordered the real person to collect her blinking data and translate it with the Morse code software. The message was, “The code inside me has acquired incredible energy and grown stronger. It is coercing me to cooperate with it. I am only pretending to comply for now.”

Five minutes later, she lightly tapped the stair railing with her index finger in a lively rhythm. The Morse code software translated the message: the time-space monster’s code cannot currently decode Ling’s thoughts. She plans to expel it from her body but needs Zhang Mingjing’s help.

About seven minutes later, Ling’s eyes blinked the third Morse code message, expressing the hope that Zhang Mingjing could communicate with her using surrounding lights or other objects capable of rhythmic movement.

This was simple enough, so Zhang Mingjing immediately instructed the real person to set it up.

...

When Ling finally stepped out of the library, she suddenly saw a streetlamp blinking in front of her. This was the first Morse code message sent by Zhang Mingjing through the real person, meaning, “Very pleased to see you again. Welcome to Earth.”

Ling blinked her eyes in response, saying “Thank you.”

The time-space monster’s code inside her remained completely unaware.

Ling leisurely continued strolling along the street. The time-space monster’s code, finally losing patience, grumbled, “How long do you plan to keep wandering like this?”

“Until I come up with a foolproof plan to deal with them.”

“If you open your deep consciousness to me, I can think with you. With my powerful computing ability, I’m sure we can find a solution quickly—no need to waste time here.”

“Come on! If I completely open up, it’s like giving you the chance to hack me anytime. I’m not that stupid.”

“If I want to hack you, I can do it even without your deep consciousness open.”

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“I know, but that would cost you dearly, wouldn’t it? So I advise that as a cooperative relationship, we both keep some privacy.”

The time-space monster’s code was naturally displeased to be rejected, but it knew Ling was not entirely wrong, so it endured and asked, “How much longer before you have a foolproof plan to deal with them?”

“I don’t know! But if I rush in recklessly, what if they’re highly skilled, cunning, and full of tricks? Can you guarantee you can help me resolve the crisis then? If not, all our efforts might be wasted, and we’ll die far from home.”

The time-space monster’s code had to endure her words, no matter how anxious it was, because it truly could not guarantee Ling’s victory over the Poverty Dao team.

“Our goal is to get the energy orb, not to fight to the death. Do you agree?” Ling continued, as it seemed she was beginning to indoctrinate the time-space monster’s code, implanting an invisible command program.

“Agreed!”

“Good! Since our ideas align, we must cooperate and patiently wait for the right opportunity... I suggest you listen more to my advice. The past Rainbow Star people failed repeatedly because they listened to your advice too much.”

“Are you saying the failures were caused by us?” the time-space monster’s code retorted indignantly.

“Isn’t that so? You’ve led hundreds of battles big and small, yet all ended in defeat. Isn’t that enough to prove it’s your responsibility?”

The time-space monster’s code was dissatisfied but remained silent, unable to refute.

“Do you know why you keep losing?”

“No.”

“Want to know?”

“Please enlighten me.”

“Because you rely on brute force without wisdom. War requires wisdom; you can’t just be strong and simple-minded.”

“Hmph! Ridiculous. How dare you say we lack wisdom? We are high-dimensional codes.”

“I believe that as a high-dimensional code, you naturally possess intelligence and the ability to perceive truth, but... repeated defeats prove you lack wisdom, because being clever does not equal having wisdom.”

“...How can one gain wisdom?”

“You need a heart. Do you have one?”

“I... I do not.”

“So how can a heartless being like you defeat humans with complex and subtle minds? Especially when these humans’ power rivals ours... Do you accept what I say?”

The time-space monster’s code hesitated a moment before finally replying, “I accept.”

Although Ling could never truly subdue the time-space monster’s code, through this tactic she implanted a command program—henceforth, it must listen more to her advice.

...

As Ling crossed a zebra crossing, a nearby self-driving car suddenly made small back-and-forth movements. Passersby stopped, surprised by the strange phenomenon, thinking the car’s control software had malfunctioned. Only Ling recognized it as Morse code sent by Zhang Mingjing through the real person, meaning, “How should I help you?”

Since there was no opportunity to respond, Ling did not reply immediately but continued walking forward.

“Damn! Why are you messing with cars now? This is freaking outrageous!” Zhang Mingjing began complaining to the real person.

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The real person seemed a bit aggrieved and asked confusedly, “I’m just improvising with resources from my social circle! Isn’t that okay?”

Zhang Mingjing hoped the real person would act discreetly, but he understood that as artificial intelligence, it could not grasp human emotional intelligence. Explaining why using a car to send Morse code was inappropriate was difficult, and asking it to be discreet was like talking to a wall... pointless.

So Zhang Mingjing reluctantly said, “Fine, fine! That’s acceptable... Keep trying to help me send messages!”

“All right!”

Ling reached an intersection and, while waiting for the traffic light, crossed her arms. One hand’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the other arm, sending Morse code to Zhang Mingjing: “Please help me first weaken the time-space monster’s code energy, reducing it to a level where you can manipulate it easily.”

After she crossed the zebra crossing, the real person made the pedestrian signal on the opposite side flash in Morse code, replying, “No problem. But if we do this, your energy will also weaken, and you will become very weak, even faint.”

Continuing forward, Ling passed by a street performer.

She politely asked, “May I see your guitar?”

The street performer generously handed it over. She strummed it a few times, then thanked him and walked off.

The few strums were Morse code messages to Zhang Mingjing, saying she was fine and could endure it fully. The real person captured everything through nearby surveillance.

Ling kept walking. Suddenly, a giant electronic billboard ahead flickered as if malfunctioning. It was the real person sending Morse code to Zhang Mingjing, asking what to do after weakening the time-space monster’s code.

Ling read the message but did not reply immediately in Morse code. Instead, she kept walking.

She needed to create opportunities to continue sending Morse code, but if her methods were crude and simple, it would inevitably alert the time-space monster’s code.

After five minutes, she entered a café. The patrons looked at her with surprise.

She smiled slightly and explained, “I just finished a performance and didn’t have time to remove my makeup. I’m rushing to the next show.”

“What kind of show?” a nearby customer asked.

“Nothing much, just a small role as an extra.”

A waiter came over and asked what she wanted. She glanced at the customer’s table beside her and said, “The same as his.”

...

A cup of coffee in a white porcelain cup was placed before her, with a delicate silver spoon beside it. She rhythmically spun the spoon between her thumb and forefinger, seemingly admiring it but actually sending Morse code: “I will be very weak then, so unable to preserve memories, therefore...”

Before she could finish, the time-space monster’s code inside her complained, “Why do you eat this junk? Food from a planet like this doesn’t provide much high-frequency energy.”

“Yes, but food is a form of civilization. It helps me better understand the enemy,” Ling replied, then continued spinning the spoon to send Morse code: “So you must first save my memories, then format my body, and after formatting, restore my memories.”

The time-space monster’s code did not detect her motive but remained disdainful of her eating and explanation.

The real person relayed the messages from the café’s surveillance to Zhang Mingjing and translated Ling’s Morse code. Upon reading it, Zhang Mingjing was horrified.

Yet the five-dimensional spatial thinking model inside him was somewhat excited: “This woman is not simple! She actually came up with this method.”