novelraw Chapter 74 Anchor Point
Chapter 74 Anchor Point
Zhang Yang.
It really was Professor Zhang Yang!
When Jiang Ran had taken a closer look under the light just now, he had vaguely sensed a resemblance to an old acquaintance in the man’s brows and eyes.
But if Professor Zhang Yang hadn’t admitted it himself, Jiang Ran would never have dared to acknowledge it.
Because—
[He’s far too old.]
So old that it was impossible to believe this was once the young, promising, handsome Professor Zhang Yang.
Twenty years ago, in 2025, Professor Zhang Yang had already been teaching at Donghai University for many years and was highly renowned.
Almost all Donghai University students knew of this “elite with an illustrious lineage”—
Zhang Yang’s first degree was also from Donghai University. After graduating, he went on to the Dragon Country Academy of Sciences for his master’s and doctorate.There were many top students like this nationwide, but Zhang Yang’s advisor was no ordinary person… that was Academician Gao Yan, the director of the Dragon Country Academy of Sciences! Moreover, Professor Zhang Yang was Director Gao Yan’s last disciple—his value spoke for itself.
After earning his doctorate, Professor Zhang Yang returned to his alma mater, Donghai University, to teach at the School of Physics.
If Jiang Ran remembered correctly—
In 2025, Professor Zhang Yang shouldn’t even have been forty yet.
For a teacher under forty to have such academic credentials was undeniably remarkable.
And yet—
The stooped old man before him, with completely white hair.
Jiang Ran found it extremely difficult to believe this was Professor Zhang Yang twenty years later.
Too old…
Twenty years on, Professor Zhang Yang would be at most around sixty, not even at retirement age. But this elderly man already looked so old that one could mistake him for someone in his seventies.
Presumably, all those years in prison must have put Professor Zhang Yang through tremendous hardship.
Holding the other man’s dry, wrinkled hands, Jiang Ran couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
To be honest—
Toward everyone else he had encountered here, he felt no particular emotion, no sense of reality.
He didn’t know them. He didn’t understand them. Criminals going to prison felt only natural.
But Professor Zhang Yang…
This was truly a teacher he had once known at Donghai University.
On Worldline 0, Qin Feng had liked Zhang Yang’s general-education course very much, so he had dragged Jiang Ran and Cheng Mengxue along to take it together.
Although Jiang Ran hadn’t really listened in class—he was just there to pad credits—a teacher was still a teacher. For people of Dragon Country, there was an ingrained respect and reverence for teachers.
Later, after encountering the Positron Cannon and time-traveling text messages, the three of them had even gone to consult Zhang Yang specifically about [Worldline Theory]. Professor Zhang Yang had answered everything he knew and had even taken a particular liking to Jiang Ran, asking which school he was from and his name, saying he would give him a high score on the final exam.
Such a kind, erudite teacher with not a trace of malice…
How had he fallen to this state?
“Professor Zhang…”
Jiang Ran held the hand of the elderly man once called Bookworm. For the first time, he truly felt the vast changes wrought by time, his emotions in turmoil.
“Professor Zhang… how did you… end up here?”
Zhang Yang squinted his eyes.
He looked at Jiang Ran in confusion.
“You… young man, do you know me?”
Jiang Ran nodded.
“Professor Zhang, I once took your general-education course, Worldline Theory.”
Although that was long ago, a past that had already vanished along with Worldline 0.
But Zhang Yang had taught so many cohorts of students—how could he possibly remember every single one?
“Hm?”
Zhang Yang frowned, sizing up the eighteen- or nineteen-year-old before him.
“No, that can’t be right, can it?”
He had been imprisoned ten years ago. Back then, this kid would have been at most eight or nine. How could he possibly have attended his class?
But then another thought occurred to him.
What if it had been a video course?
Although he was indeed in prison, Donghai University and the internet still had many video lectures he had recorded. Perhaps this young man recognized him because of that.
Thinking of his days teaching at Donghai University, Zhang Yang couldn’t help sighing.
“Sigh… as I just said, I was more or less sent here because I went too deep into researching [quantum tunneling]. That theory that later won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics—the macroscopic manifestation of quantum properties—can overturn many areas of physical science.”
“Although the direct cause wasn’t the research itself, I know it in my heart. As a teacher of the people, I have my principles and bottom lines. How could I possibly do something that violates the law?”
Jiang Ran listened quietly.
He trusted Professor Zhang Yang’s words.
A man like this—uninterested in fame or fortune, the last disciple of the Dragon Country Academy of Sciences’ director, yet willing to return to his alma mater to teach and contribute—had clearly reached a very high moral plane. He would never commit a crime lightly.
Quantum tunneling.
What kind of power did this theory really hold?
Jiang Ran planned to study it carefully once he got back. Perhaps… he could even go ask Professor Zhang Yang in person.
Huh?
He suddenly held his breath.
That’s right!
[He could use Professor Zhang Yang to determine the authenticity of this 2045 world—and whether it lay on the same worldline!]
The operation would be incredibly simple!
Originally, he had thought he would have to wait until October 2025, when the Nobel Prize was announced, to verify the reality of this 2045 “time travel.”
But now—
With Zhang Yang as a “temporal anchor point,” this goal could be achieved very quickly!
All he had to do was interact with Professor Zhang Yang in 2025 and leave an impression on him;
Then, travel to the 2045 prison via the Positron Cannon and interact with Professor Zhang Yang again, to see whether Professor Zhang Yang could recognize him.
In this way, he could easily determine the reality of the current world.
To be honest—
Encountering Professor Zhang Yang in a prison meant only for holding people was extraordinarily lucky.
“Ahem!”
Behind them, Qi Biao coughed twice to draw attention.
“Well… hate to say it, but even if your teacher-student reunion is touching, shouldn’t we be hurrying up and breaking out right now?”
This time, Qi Biao was unusually polite and civilized.
If it were before, he would have already jumped up and started spewing curses.
Clearly, Jiang Ran’s presence alone had cowed him.
Although Jiang Ran also wanted to talk more with Professor Zhang Yang, now really wasn’t the right time.
Besides, after confirming the authenticity of this 2045 world, there would be plenty of time to talk.
So he turned around, scanned everyone, and nodded.
“Alright, then… let’s try again.”
After the previous two failed prison breaks, Jiang Ran honestly had little confidence left in this suicidal behavior. But it was still worth trying once more.
What if—
What if they really succeeded?
Wouldn’t he be able to see the outside world?
Wouldn’t he be able to see the Magician, Qin Feng, at the execution ground?
He was still deeply curious about the answers to both.
In a dim corner that went unnoticed,
the Killer narrowed his eyes slightly, staring hard at Jiang Ran, catching the word “again” in his speech.
No problem.
Jiang Ran had said it deliberately for him to hear.
In the previous future experience, at the very end, the Killer had posed a soul-piercing question to Jiang Ran:
“You’re a… time traveler, aren’t you?”
At that moment,
the expression on the Killer’s face hadn’t been one of inquiry, doubt, or suspicion, but rather a calmness of “I already knew.”
That meant the Killer had clearly known this from the very beginning, which was why he had supported and followed Jiang Ran all along.
Since that was the case,
it would be better to make things even more explicit—to confront the Killer directly later and obtain more information.
After that, just like falling into a movie replay or a looping plot, the five-man escape team once again arrived at the equipment room and began scavenging weapons.
Jiang Ran caught the stun baton Hothead tossed over, handed one to the Killer, then watched Qi Biao and the other two enter the inner room to search.
Now was a good opportunity.
“You guessed right,” Jiang Ran said suddenly.
“What?” The Killer looked up.
Jiang Ran met his gaze.
“[I am indeed… a time traveler.]”
Instantly.
A strange glint flashed through the Killer’s eyes.
But it vanished in an instant.
He said nothing, simply watching Jiang Ran, waiting for him to continue.
“Do you want to escape?” Jiang Ran asked.
The Killer blinked.
“Obviously.”
“Then I need more information.”
Jiang Ran toyed with the stun baton, flicking the switch back and forth.
“Killer, I need to ask you some questions. I hope you’ll answer truthfully.”
The Killer pondered for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Ask.”
Excellent.
Jiang Ran felt a surge of joy inside.
He had thought the Killer would stay tight-lipped like before, refusing to say anything unless on the brink of death. Unexpectedly, trust came easily this time.
This meant the Killer must have experienced or encountered something—at the very least, he clearly knew something about [time travel] and [time-travel machines]. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have believed such an absurd thing so readily.
After all—
For a normal person,
who would immediately think along these lines?
Let alone bet their life on a stranger they’d just met.
“First question.”
Jiang Ran looked at the Killer.
“How did you notice?”
After a pause, he added:
“Neither Qi Biao nor Bookworm ever questioned my identity. At most, they were just puzzled by the lack of a prison uniform or my hairstyle.” But you were different. From your very first impression, you were almost certain… so how did you notice?”
Hearing this, the Killer lowered his head and smiled.
It seemed the question Jiang Ran asked wasn’t as sharp as he had expected.
“There was nothing hard to notice,” the Killer said softly.
“I sleep very lightly. Any movement nearby wakes me. And my hearing, sense of smell, and eyesight are all excellent, so even while asleep, I don’t miss any detail around me.”
“Qi Biao and the others all assumed you were brought in late at night. The lack of a prison uniform and your improper hairstyle could be explained by not having had time to process you.”
“After all, the entire prison’s focus right now is on dealing with the Magician. Not having time to process a new inmate is entirely reasonable.” But I’m different. I know for a fact that last night, no one came here at all—not guards, not patrols, not security, not even a single rat. Let alone opening Cell No. 3 to bring someone in.”
“So…”
The Killer slowly lifted his head, looking at Jiang Ran.
“[You appeared suddenly this morning.]”
“[Like a transformation, like a magic trick—without any logic at all, like a ghost… suddenly appearing in Cell No. 3.]”
Jiang Ran said nothing.
Hearing the Killer put it that way, he himself felt a chill, even though he was the one being described.
No warning.
Sudden appearance.
This was clearly illogical.
At first, he had assumed it worked similarly to worldline transition—that on this worldline, he also had a continuous history, as Qi Biao and the others had said, that he had been locked up late at night.
This situation was similar to the common web-novel trope of [soul transfer].
That is, consciousness and soul crossing into a new body—common in rebirth and transmigration stories. One might cross into one’s past self, future self, or even someone else.
But—
What the Killer had just said negated that possibility.
In the previous future experience, Jiang Ran had confirmed in the mirror that his body was still his nineteen-year-old self, with no changes in appearance or details.
In 2045, he was still nineteen, and had appeared unreasonably out of nowhere in Cell No. 3.
In that case, this situation could only be explained as [body transfer].
Body transfer was also a common trope in web novels.
Unlike soul transfer, body transfer meant the physical body itself crossed time to the past or future.
This was common in science-fiction works, such as The Terminator, Predestination, Back to the Future, and the like.
But this raised two paradox-like questions:
In 2045, where was his thirty-nine-year-old self?
If he truly traveled through time with his body, why did he return to 2025 upon death?
“I’ve heard that the Magician has such abilities—appearing and disappearing at will,” the Killer continued.
“What?”
Jiang Ran stopped thinking.
“The Magician? You mean… something similar happened to Qin Feng too?”
“I’m not sure,” the Killer shook his head.
“By the time the Magician was captured, I was already in prison. I know nothing about his affairs—everything I’ve heard is secondhand.” In people’s stories, the Magician is always omnipotent. Some say he can do anything. Some say he can control everything. Some say he is like a [god]. Some say he can travel through time and change history.”
“I didn’t believe any of it before. But today… today, of all days, you appeared.”
It seemed the Killer was sorting something out in his mind.
He smiled faintly.
“Coincidentally, it’s today—two hours before the Magician’s public beheading.”
“Coincidentally, today, someone who can perform magic tricks like the Magician suddenly appeared.”
“Coincidentally, today, you appeared in the prison where the Magician is to be executed, and even single-handedly led us to break out.”
“So, if I’m not mistaken…”
He lifted his head and looked straight into Jiang Ran’s eyes.
“Jiang Ran.”
“You traveled through time to this point for the sake of saving the Magician, didn’t you?”
“Or perhaps… there’s another possibility.”
The Killer extended his long, pale right hand and pointed his index finger at Jiang Ran’s forehead.
“[You are the Magician.]”