Floating life reflects two lotuses

Chu Wanlian stood at the entrance to the core area of ​​the laboratory, looking through the heavy glass windows at the complex instruments and messy documents inside.

The rune energy analysis device emitted a faint blue light, and an inexplicable sense of oppression permeated the surroundings.

She looked around to make sure no one was watching, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The moment the door closed, she quickly walked to the computer and inserted the USB drive into the port.

The screen lit up, but what was displayed was not the usual experimental data, but a series of encrypted files hidden deep within the system.

Chu Wanlian frowned, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she tried to crack the encryption of the files.

"How could anyone use such an outdated encryption method?" she muttered to herself, a cold smile flashing in her eyes. "Do they think I'm an amateur?"

Within three minutes, a series of folders popped up. The folder titles were alarming—"Detailed Explanation of the Principles of Soul Channels," "Rune Stabilization Plan," and "Energy Flow Model."

Chu Wanlian gritted her teeth, opened one of the files, and a large number of experimental records and technical analyses immediately popped up on the screen.

As she flipped through the pages, her brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Her questions were gradually answered, but this also brought her an even greater shock.

The document explicitly states that the laboratory's true goal is to construct a "soul stability channel" through rune energy, break down the barriers of space and time, and make the exchange of souls across different timelines a controllable phenomenon.

The ultimate goal of this project is to use these technologies to achieve complete control over the rules of the soul.

"Controlling human souls..." she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

Cold sweat trickled down her forehead, and her finger hovered over the document page-turning button, hesitating to press it.

"What exactly do these people want to do..." Chu Wanlian muttered to herself, her palms beginning to grow cold.

Just then, she heard light footsteps behind her. She quickly unplugged the USB drive and turned around to see Li Chenyao standing in the doorway. He was holding a cup of coffee, his expression unchanged, but his deep eyes held a clear scrutiny.

"Xiao Jinlian, working overtime until so late?" His voice was deep and carried a hint of barely perceptible inquiry.

Chu Wanlian's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile: "Yes, Director Li, these data are a bit messy, I'd like to organize them."

Li Chenyao walked in, placed the coffee cup beside her, leaned against the edge of the table, crossed his arms, and looked at her face: "Your efforts are admirable, but going too far can easily cause problems, can it?"

Chu Wanlian's hand trembled slightly, but she quickly composed herself, quietly slipped the USB drive into her pocket, and said with a smile, "This project is so important, of course we have to treat it with care. Director Li, why aren't you home to rest so late? Are you worried about something?"

Li Chenyao's gaze shifted slightly, his tone carrying a subtle hint: "Worried? Perhaps. However, I'm more worried that some people will use the project to do things they shouldn't."

These words were like a sharp sword pointing directly at Chu Wanlian. Her heart sank, but she remained calm on the surface: "Then we do need to be more careful. After all, the things we deal with are too complicated, and it's inevitable that some people will have ulterior motives."

Li Chenyao stared at her, a half-smile on his face, and asked, "Including you?"

Chu Wanlian was taken aback for a moment, then looked up and stared directly at him: "Director Li, do you suspect me? If so, you might as well say so."

Their eyes met, and a tense and secretive atmosphere filled the air.

Finally, Li Chenyao chuckled softly, his tone softening: "I have no doubts, just a reminder. Every action in the lab involves too many interests, and mistakes cannot be tolerated. I hope you understand."

Chu Wanlian bowed her head and responded, but her heart was in turmoil. She knew that Li Chenyao was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Every word and action of his seemed to suggest that he did not fully support the laboratory project.

She said softly, "Thank you for reminding me, I will be careful."

Li Chenyao didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

The moment the door closed, Chu Wanlian breathed a sigh of relief; her back was soaked with sweat. She took out the USB drive, looked at the encryption symbol on it, and made up her mind to figure out the full picture of the lab's plan as soon as possible.

Back in her apartment, she plugged the USB drive into her computer. The screen lit up again, as if the unsolved mystery awaited her unraveling.

Chu Wanlian flipped through the documents bit by bit, gradually piecing together a complete plan.

The laboratory's goal is not merely to utilize runic energy, but to transform it into a "trans-temporal control tool" to achieve targeted soul exchange.

More importantly, they are trying to use this tool to make historical resources useful for modern times—whether it be ancient wisdom or technology.

"They've gone mad..." Chu Wanlian covered her mouth, her eyes filled with shock.

Xiao Jinlian's voice suddenly rang in his mind: "This sounds like... an invasion?"

“That’s right,” Chu Wanlian replied softly. “They want to change not only the present, but also the past. If they succeed, time and space will be completely out of balance.”

"So what do you plan to do?" Xiao Jinlian's voice carried a hint of anxiety.

Chu Wanlian took a deep breath, her gaze hardening: "I cannot let them succeed."

The next day, Chu Wanlian came to the laboratory, pretending to organize data, but she was always on guard against everything around her.

Li Chenyao remained calm, but Chu Wanlian could sense that his gaze would inadvertently fall on her, filled with inquiry and probing.

"Time is running out," she silently reminded herself. "I must find more evidence as soon as possible."

When she touched the runic device in the core area of ​​the laboratory again, that familiar energy fluctuation struck her once more.

Chu Wanlian closed her eyes, as if she could feel an invisible force trying to penetrate her consciousness and resonate with something within her.

"Xiao Jinlian," she whispered in her heart, "can you sense anything?"

“It’s a bit blurry… but the power of these runes is too dangerous.” Xiao Jinlian’s voice carried a hint of weariness.

"We must find a way to stop it." Chu Wanlian clenched her fists, her heart filled with determination.

No matter how complex the lab's plans are, she must do everything in her power to prevent them from being completed.

Because she knew that once the balance of spacetime was broken, not only her, but the entire world would fall into irreparable chaos.