Crown of Silence

Chapter 776 Understanding

In the hazy dream, Ye Qingxuan heard a familiar voice, which was his own words.

"Apart from chest tightness and depression, do you feel anything else?"

It was like his lips opening and closing, and the tone was so soft that he couldn't stand it. For some reason, he suddenly felt: If he could speak in such a tone, he would definitely be very popular, right?

He looked around and saw the pure white room.

There were no sharp edges, whether it was a bed that could make people half-lying, or a table, or clothes, decorations and colors, there was nothing extreme, a peaceful and reassuring place.

It was like heaven.

In the corner, there was a clock hanging on the wall. It looked simple in style, but the hands were running smoothly without any sense of frustration, which made Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but guess the structure, but he couldn't figure it out.

Is this really the creation of existing engineering?

Soon, hearing his question, the man lying on his back in bed pondered for a moment and answered: "Occasionally I want to cry without any signs, and my temper is getting worse and worse."

"Apart from gastrointestinal problems, is there any other family history?"

"My grandfather had heart disease, but I don't." The person who answered hesitated and replied: "Thanks to the modulation, you know, doctor, I'm not very...'natural'."

"It doesn't matter, it's normal nowadays."

Ye Qingxuan lowered his head and took notes on the board in his hand. He was wearing a white coat that looked spotless, and a dark blue shirt inside, with excellent texture, like the best silk.

Especially the buttons, it's impossible to tell whether they are stone or metal. Some of them look like amber, but amber is not so light... Could it be resin?

Inexplicably, a word flashed in my mind.

'Plastic'.

Plastic? What is plastic?

A series of thoughts emerged one after another, plastic, polymer artificial compounds... But what are polymer artificial compounds? A series of complex answers kept emerging from his mind, as if he already knew them, but they were definitely not his memories.

Soon, those obscure and complex answers disappeared.

And the conversation between the two came to an end.

Ye Qingxuan closed the notebook in his hand and smiled at the patient: "Don't worry, this is just a typical space syndrome, because your gastric ulcer has induced depression. I will prescribe some medicine for you later. Take it on time and the situation will be relieved. But the most important thing is your attitude towards life. You need to be more positive. Do you have any exercise habits?"

"Does cricket count?"

"Cricket is also okay. After all, as an Asian race, I always have a talent for cricket. I remember there is a cricket club on the third floor of the public area. You can try to sign up. Exercise can stimulate your secretion of dopamine. Believe me, after exercise, you will feel much better."

"Thank you, doctor."

The man stood up gratefully and shook hands with him: "I will go."

Soon, the patient left.

Ye Qingxuan looked at all this blankly, watching his body move on its own initiative, his lips opening and closing, speaking in a soft tone that made him feel particularly uncomfortable, and then he brought up a lot of terms he had never heard of before.

Space syndrome? What disease is that? Cricket? What ball is that? Asian race? Where is Asia? What is dopamine? And who am I?

Following his own movements, after preparing the case, he pushed open a door in the room and walked into a room covered with white tiles. There was a sink, a white toilet, a bathtub, and curtains with green floral prints... but everything was incredibly simple and clean.

There were also all kinds of toiletries on the sink that he couldn't recognize at all.

But inexplicably, he could tell which one was dental floss, which one was facial cleanser, and which one was men's cologne... What is cologne? Wait, perfume? Why did he use perfume?

But when he saw himself in the mirror, he finally realized it.

In the mirror, his face was so familiar, with his own traces and the vague outline of Ye Lanzhou, but in the final analysis, it was neither like himself nor like his father.

It was the man in the dream...

He washed his hands once, washed his face, and finally dried it with a towel.

Ye Qingxuan saw the badge hanging on his chest, with his position and name marked in three different words.

——Psychologist Ye Xuan.

Psychologist? Is he a person who treats mental trauma? It sounds really amazing.

And, Ye Xuan... Who is Ye Xuan?

Who is he?

Why did he appear in his dream?

Why did he appear in his dream again?

At that moment, Ye Qingxuan finally understood.

This is not himself, he is just an invisible ghost, attached to this man named Ye Xuan, in this unknown place.

So, what is this place? The dark world?

Is there such a country hidden in the dark world?

It looks rich in civilization and technology, even more advanced than the East and the West.

It's unheard of!

But this time, the inexplicable comments did not provide an answer.

He could only read it slowly by himself.

Soon, Ye Xuan left the bathroom without noticing that a ghost named Ye Qingxuan was attached to him. Instead, he returned to his seat and rang the bell.

"Next person."

There were three low knocks on the door, with neither long nor short intervals. Ye Qingxuan could almost imagine what a rigid person was behind the door, but soon, he was stunned.

As the door was pushed open, a stiff-faced man pushed the door open and walked in. He had short brown hair, a crew cut, and wore a military-like uniform. He stepped neatly, with intervals almost accurate to millimeters, and was standing in front of Ye Xuan.

"Dr. Ye, I need your help."

Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, and Ye Qingxuan could feel the shock and confusion emerging in his heart. At the same time, he also felt that this visitor... seemed to have been seen somewhere before.

"I'm sorry, Peter, uh...sir."

Ye Xuan was thinking about the words and sighed softly: "If you think you need help, you can ask Hermes for help. I'm afraid I can't help you with your problem."

Hermes?

Hermes is here?

Ye Qingxuan felt shocked immediately, but soon he comforted himself that maybe it was the same name.

Peter's expression was meticulous: "Actually, Dr. Ye, it was Hermes who recommended me to ask you for help."

"..."

Ye Xuan frowned and scratched his head, "Mr. Peter, I am not good at mathematics or programming. With all due respect, if you think you have a problem, it would be more appropriate to find an engineer. I am a psychiatrist, maybe There are ways to deal with the psychological problems that some people will have, but for you... I don't mean any offense. In fact, models like yours are far better than humans. Even if they have a mind, there will be no problems that only humans can have. Frailty."

"I'm not sure I have a mind, doctor."

Peter's tone was so calm that Ye Qingxuan couldn't even read any signs of expression on his face. This guy... was a dead person?

"As a self-disciplined simulation observer appointed by the government, there is indeed no problem with my emotional simulation module. I can understand your confusion and anger based on the cases in the database. Maybe you think someone is playing a joke on you, but I need What you know is that with the help of Hermes, I selected this method from the records using my own calculations to ask you questions.

Could you please lend an ear to the help I need? "

Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and sat up straight: "If that's the case, please speak."

"How am I supposed to understand humans? Doctor."

"What do you mean?"

Ye Xuan was confused: "Can't you understand the crew's report and the captain's order?"

"No, there is no problem with my operation and execution." Peter's tone was rigid: "What my program contradicts is how I should understand the thinking of human beings themselves.

My empathy module can perfectly simulate human emotions, even morbid and crazy feelings, and I can understand them based on models and cases, but I have never been able to truly communicate with people. "

Peter paused and emphasized: "In human terms, it means to achieve 'understanding'. How should I understand human beings?

I can eat, sleep, and can even imitate excretion and sexual behavior perfectly, but I am always different from humans. In terms of physiological structure, I am more human than the crew members who have achieved more than 97% mechanization transformation, but I feel that I am so far away from humans.

Therefore, I felt like I was unable to complete my observational work. "

Ye Qingxuan was completely at a loss.

What on earth is this guy...?

What is underneath the human shell?

"Well... I'm sorry, Peter, I probably understand what you mean, but I can't answer your questions or help you."

After thinking about it, Ye Xuan answered straightforwardly: "In the final analysis, we are always two different species. There is an essential gap between human and machine intelligence, and the thinking modes of both parties are therefore completely different. It is like we cannot be like Meteors exist just like planets, and you are probably destined to not be able to think like humans."

"Is it because of the 'soul' thing?"

Peter asked: "Human beings firmly believe that they have a soul, but I can't understand what a soul is."

Ye Xuan pondered and shook his head: "As you know, the soul has not been proven medically and physiologically. The concept of soul in the subconscious ocean of human beings probably does not refer to an invisible little person. .

I believe that 'soul' is the starting point of human thinking and runs through the core of human ideology - it is also the reason why human beings can resist their own 'biological nature'. "

Peter shook his head, "I can't understand. Do you think the soul really exists?"

"Let's use an analogy."

Ye Xuan fumbled in his pocket, took out a pack of cigarettes, and looked at Peter. Peter waved to show that he didn't mind. Ye Xuan laughed, took out an ashtray, lit it, and after finishing his thoughts, he replied:

"Peter, do you dream?"

"I am a mechanical intelligence, doctor. I am shut down when I sleep. I cannot dream. But I know the principle of dreams. When the human brain is sleeping, bioelectricity..."

"Ahem, there's no need to repeat this."

Ye Xuan waved his hand, thought for a moment and then replied: "Peter, the meaning of dreams is not that simple for humans.

In my opinion, dreams are the bridge that connects the surface consciousness and the subconscious, the rope that maintains the id, ego and superego. It is a self-examination and communication between the complex functions of the human brain. In other words, it is a way for human thinking to A place that is free from material manifestation and extends freely.

Although compared with the efficiency and simplicity of mechanical intelligence, it is full of backwardness and unnecessaryness, but I firmly believe that it is proof of the existence of the soul.

Humans are dreaming creatures. "

"Many creatures can dream. Your Excellency, most of the carbon-based creatures with complex structures can dream, but why are they different from humans?"

"The next point is what I admire most about human beings, and it is also the resistance of human beings to their own 'biological nature'." Ye Xuan smoked a cigarette and suddenly asked: "Will you choose to 'commit suicide'?"

"Won't."

Peter's answer was unequivocal, "Self-destruction is meaningless and does not help the task and mission. For any intelligent life, destroying itself is an unwise choice. For groups, the act of self-destruction is more It’s a cancer and a bug, it’s useless and a waste of resources.”

"But humans do."

Ye Xuan smiled and said lightly: "This is the ugliness of human beings, and it is also what I am proud of as human beings - we have the freedom to choose life or not.

Peter, I may not be able to help you understand what it is to be human, nor can I prove whether a 'soul' exists, but you can consider this my explanation of what it means to be human.

——Compared with iron and stone, human beings have the ability to dream. Compared with living things, human beings have the freedom to commit suicide. "

Peter was silent.

"Haha, it seems I still haven't explained it."

Ye Xuan scratched his head: "After all, mechanical intelligence is highly efficient, consumes less, and has advanced computing power. It can even go without drinking water or eating. In comparison, humans really feel like inferior creatures.

To be honest, I feel a little inferior in front of you... You no longer need to face most of the troubles of human beings, Peter, why bother to lower yourself to the human realm? "

Peter's tone was still calm: "Even so, Dr. Ye, I still insist on understanding human beings. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Well……"

Ye Xuan pondered for a long time, "Maybe you can try the recursive method."

"recursion?"

"Yes." Ye Xuan said, "Human character, thoughts and actions come from education and experience, and education and experience rely on society. The structure of society comes from civilization, the formation of civilization comes from history, and the history of human beings The beginning is often mythology… How about you start with theology?”

"Religion and gods?" Peter shook his head, "I'm afraid it's hard for me to believe in them."

"Your faith is not required."

Ye Xuan shook his head, stood up, and rummaged through the bookcase for a long time. Finally, he pulled out an old tattered book from the bottom and placed it in front of Peter:

"You only need to understand how humans believe, and that's enough."

The book with yellowed pages has a hard cover, and it can be seen that it is beautifully bound. The large gilded characters on it have not faded, and several characters can be vaguely seen to form the word 'BIBLE'.

"Belief."

Peter carefully picked up the book. Under the shell, the calculation process and psychological function of mechanical intelligence could not be seen, and it was still impossible to read. However, through this brief sluggishness, it could still be seen that he had experienced decades of human accumulation. Huge thinking that is unattainable in years.

Finally, he nodded slowly:

"I will."

After that, he stood up and said goodbye. At the last moment of saying goodbye, he stretched out his hand and shook hands with Ye Xuan according to the preset etiquette. That gesture... made Ye Qingxuan feel like he was struck by lightning.

Ye Qingxuan finally remembered why Peter's face seemed familiar and why this name seemed so familiar.

It wasn't until he stretched out his hand that his gesture overlapped with the mural in the Cathedral of the Resurrection in the center of the Holy City.

In the murals, priests representing gods stretch out their hands towards the mourning sinners in hell, spreading the nectar of mercy and salvation.

That is--

Ye Qingxuan looked at the departing figure blankly and murmured softly:

"The first generation of the Red King!"

The hero who is known as the agent of the gods and the redeemer of all things, the saint who founded the holy city and the religious order, the musician who pushed mankind to break the dark age and usher in the golden age...

——The first Pope Peter! ——

Just as Ye Qingxuan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, Ye Xuan seemed to have experienced a big battle, almost dripping with sweat.

He poured himself a cup of coffee, slumped on the patient's chair, put up his legs and smoked, and sighed helplessly: "You really recommended a good patient to me, Hermes."

The calm voice sounded, still so familiar.

"My mission is the same as yours, doctor. This is all to maintain the normal operation of the fleet. Our management system and data center are too lazy to deal with these problems. I can only ask you for help."

"You three are obviously artificial intelligence, but you are completely different."

"Stars and black holes are both celestial bodies to humans, but aren't their structures and principles completely different?" Hermes' tone was much smarter than Peter's, and he could even use metaphors.

"On the contrary, I feel that you want to know my answer more than Peter."

"Yes, I have also been confused about this for a long time. Thank you for your answer, Dr. Ye." Hermes said calmly: "But unlike your answer, I prefer to understand it from the perspective of art rather than religion. Unlike rigid dogma, I can feel: the spiritual beauty overflowing in art."

Ye Xuan was silent for a long time, and sighed softly: "Do you really want to be a human being? Hermes, I can't understand."

"Have you ever thought about the meaning of life, doctor."

"Everyone thought about it when they were in middle school."

"Do you have an answer?"

"How could it be possible?"

Ye Xuan shrugged: "But even if you can't think of it, , am I not still alive and well?"

"This is what I envy the most about humans." Hermes' voice seemed sad, "You can choose not to think... but I can't.

If possible, I want to be able to think as freely as humans, and I also want to have the freedom not to think like humans."

"Then come on, Hermes."

Ye Xuan raised his coffee cup: "I believe you will realize this wish one day. When the time comes, remember to help me write a paper, and I will be famous! Those dead otakus on the earth will definitely envy me to death!"

"Thank you, doctor, I will."

Hermes replied.

After a short rest, Ye Xuan stood up and looked at the blank cabin: "By the way, how is the detection of the new colony going? I remember that it is almost time for landing, right?"

"So far, all the data perfectly meets the needs of human survival and colonization. Doctor, in seven days, we will make our first landing.

But what is confusing is that according to the analysis of the Nibelungen Data Center, although there is air there, there seems to be no sound..."

Accompanied by Hermes' answer, the closed cabin slowly opened, revealing the huge and empty darkness outside, as well as the faint light of the stars.

And just outside the heavy glass, you can glimpse the huge planet under your feet, like metal flowing, reflecting the silver glow in the pure white world.

"Wouldn't it be better without sound?"

Ye Xuan smiled, staring at the silver planet and the earth in the distance, his eyes yearning:

"It's so beautiful, these silent stars..."

Ah, finally the real background is unfolded! You didn't expect it! The Silent Crown is actually a science fiction book! ! ! Hahahahaha! ! ! !