592 Eternal Life (2/2)
He turned the lights on and drew open the curtains.
The titleless book was open, placed by the computer. A page fluttered in the breeze as Zhang Zian drew open the curtains, making him think of a line of a poem from the past: The breeze knew no words. But why did it make the pages turn?
In front of the book, he was the breeze that knew no words.
”Eek.” Pi scratched its head as if it suddenly realized something. It appeared to have forgotten about its surroundings, as it was too focused.
”Pi, get up and take a break. You can continue writing after getting some rest.” Zhang Zian pointed at the basket hammock.
Pi nodded, as Zhang Zian took it ito the hammock.
Although it wasn't the first time that he'd held it, Zhang Zian felt that it was too light, like a baby, small and fragile.
”Eek?”
Pi made a gesture to ask where he had went just now.
”I went to Sun Xiaomeng's pet clinic. You know it. Then I talked a bit with a math professor,” replied Zhang Zian. Pi had never met Sun Xiaomeng before. But since it knew everything about the past, it knew everything about Sun Xiaomeng.
Pi blinked, as if it was interested in the word math.
Zhang Zian picked up the untitled book. He wasn't wearing the glasses, and the pages were blank. He casually flipped through it, and switched to a more relaxed topic. ”Let me ask you a question.”
”Eek?” Pi tilted its head in confusion.
”This is a book about life, the universe, and everything else.” Zhang Zian handed the book to it, then asked half jokingly, ”Since it's about life, why did it never talk about how to extend one's life, or how to have an eternal life? You may not know this, but I'm afraid to die. So many emperors in ancient China have sought after the elixir of life, but why have none of them found it yet?”
Pi picked up the book, flipped the pages carefully, and then shook its head.
The answer was what Zhang Zian expected. There wasn't any proof of the elixir of life. If everybody could be immortal, the Earth's population would explode.
”How about elfins? Can elfins' lives be extended?” he asked casually.
Pi picked up the book again and flipped through it. This time it took a longer time. It scratched it head and frowned, as if it was encountering a difficult puzzle.
It didn't immediately deny the possibility, which gave Zhang Zian a little hope. If there wasn't any hope, he could only accept the fact that Old Time Tea was getting older. But now, with a slight chance, he cared about it even more, and was afraid of getting disappointed.
After another moment, Pi finally put the book down, and nodded yes with a serious expression.
”Oh? Really? An elfin's life can be extended?” Zhang Zian quickly got excited. ”How do you extend it?”
Pi pointed at the laptop, asking for Zhang Zian to bring it over.
It typed, The time has not come yet. The future is still undetermined.
Zhang Zian thought about these words back and forth. Although the time hadn't come yet, it was definitely good to know that life could be extended. It was like the difference between zero and one.
”Extendable by how much? Two years? Three?” he asked again, trying not to be too hopeful.
Pi typed, Indefinitely.