Chapter 266 - 219: Time Club 2

Chu Bamboo was at a loss for words, but after thinking it over, he had to admit that Lin Xia had a point.

A "club" gives the first impression of a few people getting together to have fun with a shared hobby.

But "Celestial Court"... the first impression it gives is...

Of course, if an ordinary person used that name, people might just think they were memeing without any real reverence... But if, in the future, Chu Bamboo established this organization after gaining enough power to shake the world...

...then very few people who understood the meaning of "Celestial Court" would be laughing!

Because at some point in the future, Chu Bamboo really could have the power to conquer the world—for those in the know, that name would be nothing short of a declaration of his ambition.

Seeing Chu Bamboo’s tacit agreement, a smile touched Lin Xia’s lips as he continued, "In the future, we can use you to vet the most exceptional and trustworthy people of our time, one by one! Then, by gathering everyone’s strength... we can overcome the future!"

Lin Xia slammed his fist on the table, growing more excited as he spoke. "I’ve said it before... One person’s strength is ultimately limited. The harder you try on your own, the more suffocating it becomes!"

"Perhaps," Chu Bamboo said noncommittally. After much hesitation, he finally indulged Lin Xia. "Alright, then. If it’s really feasible... let’s form a Time Club."

"’Time’? For crossing timelines... that’s actually a pretty good name!" Lin Xia mulled it over for a moment before setting it aside. He looked earnestly into Chu Bamboo’s eyes and said sincerely, "Ah Zhu, you really don’t have to push yourself so hard, to shoulder the weight of everything all by yourself!"

"You don’t have to fight the entire Golden Dawn by yourself! Or even the forces behind it... You have to fight an organization with an organization! That’s the only way."

Chu Bamboo was silent for a very long time. He lowered his gaze and finally said, "Let me think it over."

Lin Xia made an OK sign and didn’t press the issue. The decision was ultimately Chu Bamboo’s to make... and no matter the outcome, he would support him unconditionally.

He walked toward the door, then suddenly stopped. "I can tell you’ve really been under a lot of pressure lately! In that other world... you must be dealing with a lot, huh?"

Chu Bamboo watched his retreating figure.

Lin Xia didn’t turn around, simply shrugging. "After all, I know you too well! I know I told you before that you could always talk to me if you were feeling stressed... but I honestly never expected you to actually do it!"

"I used to think that with an ability as incredible as yours, averting the disaster would be a piece of cake." Lin Xia’s tone was light. "Okay, fine, even now I still think it’ll be easy for you if you put your mind to it! After all, it hasn’t even been a month since this all started. Anyway, if you want to talk more in the future, we can! I don’t mind. And like I said, I’ll always be your emotional punching bag. See ya."

Watching until Lin Xia’s figure had completely disappeared and the door had clicked shut, Chu Bamboo stood silently in the room for a long, long time before letting out a sudden sigh. "This is really..."

After a long silence.

"Z! What’s your assessment of this situation?" Chu Bamboo asked on a whim.

"I think," Z paused briefly, "that Father and Uncle Lin are discussing the plot of a science fiction novel?"

Chu Bamboo froze, then couldn’t help but laugh. He realized how foolish he’d been to ask Z—who wasn’t a true artificial intelligence yet—such a question...

Then, he heard Z’s calm follow-up. "After deep consideration, I believe that if the contents of Father and Uncle Lin’s discussion are all true, and if Father really establishes this core organization... then regardless of whether Mother joins or not, I... want to join!"

"No matter what... I hope that, at the very least, Father and Mother can get through that hopeless future... Even if Father and Mother have to die, I hope they can at least die peacefully of old age!" Z’s voice was filled with a pure, simple innocence.

After a long silence, Chu Bamboo pressed a hand to his forehead and said softly, "Sometimes, I really wonder... if you’ve already developed your own emotions and become a true artificial intelligence... Never mind. You don’t need to answer. I already know."

And...

’It only cares about me and Zhao Shao? This is really...’

For a moment, Chu Bamboo was filled with a sense of melancholy.

’In the future, after I’m gone, will Z’s existence truly be more of a boon than a bane to humanity?’

"...Father." Z’s voice held a hint of grievance.

"Don’t worry, Z. If I do end up creating this... weird organization, then your involvement is a given." Shaking his head, Chu Bamboo’s expression grew serious. "Maybe... but before I actually establish it, let me see... let me see if it will cause any changes first."

’Just don’t let this throw me into the Ruin Timeline, or some other, even worse, worldline...’

After washing up, Chu Bamboo lay down on his bed.

As a matter of course, Z turned off the lights and drew the curtains. "Good night, Father... I hope you have sweet dreams."

"Good night, Z." Chu Bamboo slowly closed his eyes.

...

Chu Bamboo slowly opened his eyes, looked around, and froze, his face a mask of utter shock.

"What... what the hell! Where the hell did I end up now?!"

Around him.

...was a warm, peaceful wilderness, where countless flowers bloomed and the foliage was lush and vibrant.

Chu Bamboo’s first thought was, ’Oh, crap. It looks like I wasn’t sent to the Ruin Timeline... I was sent straight to the Uninhabited Wilderness Timeline...’