Ye Wenjie, watch my moves closely.

Chapter 60 Ball Lightning

In the National Security Bureau's green park, Shi Qiang was puffing on his cigarette.

As an Englishman once said, after eliminating all the impossibilities, the remaining answer, no matter how outrageous, is the truth.

He couldn't remember the exact words, but that was roughly the gist of it.

Since there is a scientific explanation for ghost stories, the possibility is quite high.

Assuming the physical identity of the perpetrator has been determined, Shi Qiang then needs to consider the next question:

Ghosts are what people become after they die, so who was this quantum ghost when it was alive?

How does one become a quantum ghost?

Shi Qiang wanted to start his investigation from this angle.

"There are two types, one is ball lightning."

Li Youyu said.

"Ball lightning?" Shi Qiang asked. "What is that?"

"It is a natural phenomenon that appears as blue plasma and can occur in any weather."

According to the original work, a macro-atom is an atom that is visible to the naked eye in the macroscopic world. Like atoms in the microscopic state, macro-atoms are also divided into atomic nuclei and electrons. Ball lightning is an observable phenomenon that occurs when macro-electrons transition between energy levels.

If matter in the macroscopic world is struck by ball lightning, it will be assimilated at the same moment, becoming a probability cloud with microscopic particle properties, also known as a quantum ghost.

After Earth entered the Crisis Era, the Wallfacer Taylor proposed using macro-atomic fusion weapons to attack the space fleet, turning it into an untouchable quantum ghost, in order to deal with the Trisolarans. After this plan was thwarted by the ETO, Taylor became disheartened and committed suicide by shooting himself in Luo Ji's Garden of Eden.

At this point in time, macroatoms are not yet widely recognized, and the phenomenon of ball lightning has not yet received sufficient attention.

To become a quantum ghost, ball lightning is one very likely way.

"What's the other one?"

Shi Qiang asked.

"Project 3141".

Li Youyu said, "In the 50s, the Russians were conducting secret research on ball lightning in Siberia. They wanted to create this thing by manpower."

Shi Qiang scratched his stubble and clicked his tongue, saying, "If it's the second one, then it'll be difficult. We can't even get our hands on Russian territory."

"Let's investigate using the ball lightning approach first," Li Youyu said. "I'll figure something out with the Russians."

"Hey, don't you think this is still a little strange?"

Da Shi slapped his forehead. "Since this ghost can destroy electronic equipment when it appears, why doesn't it just appear near your so-called collider, or even among your researchers? Wouldn't that be even more destructive? Why does it need to control others from behind?"

"I think it's the price,"

Li Youyu closed his eyes, recalling the locations where the letter appeared twice. "The first time was in the town where Cheng Lihua lived, and the second time was in the county seat. The density of electronic devices was different in the two places. Didn't you notice that the more densely populated the area, the smaller the impact range?"

The radius of influence has decreased from 500 kilometers to 100 kilometers, which is a reduction of several tens of times. In the areas where the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Liangxiang Collider are located, the number of electronic devices increases exponentially.

The presence of electronic devices is a constraint on the quantum ghost; if it were to appear rashly, it would most likely have no effect on anything.

If that's the case, Li Youyu isn't afraid of the simple quantum ghost. This thing disappears when it's observed, and it's indeed as afraid of people as a ghost. It can't directly interfere with the real world, so there's no need to worry about it showing up and causing damage.

"Research on macroatoms should also be put on the agenda."

Macroatoms are not of much use in the Three-Body world. Li Youyu originally wanted to let them be and let the relevant research develop naturally. Now that the letter has reappeared, all the clues point to the quantum ghost. This observer with obvious biases cannot continue to hide in the shadows and cause trouble without restraint. We have to find a way to break its golden body.

Upon returning, both the Liangxiang Collision Base and the Chinese Academy of Sciences strengthened security measures and strictly controlled the entry and exit of personnel with unknown backgrounds. At the same time, the National Security Bureau strengthened its control over abnormal events such as electronic chip malfunctions in several cities surrounding the capital. It was virtually impossible for the quantum ghost to infiltrate through people in the real world.

However, to turn a passive situation into an active one, we still need to start from the root cause.

A day later, Li Youyu boarded a train heading south.

-----

"Teacher Zhang Bin, someone is looking for you."

In the office of the School of Meteorology at Nanjing University, Zhang Bin, with a gloomy expression, looked up and saw a tall young man standing at the entrance.

Come here.

Zhang Bin got up, pointed to his desk, and limped over to the kettle stand to get a cup of water.

Blowing away the steam, Zhang Bin took a small sip of the scalding tea and returned to his seat, saying calmly, "Classmate, what problem have you encountered?"

Zhang Bin teaches atmospheric electricity at the college. It is a complex subject, and many questions have not yet been answered in academia. There is more of a summary of experience.

As one of the majors for freshmen in the School of Meteorology, this course is considered difficult, and students often come to him with questions.

"Teacher Zhang, I didn't come here to ask a question."

Zhang Bin paused, "No problem? Then why did you call me?"

"I'm investigating a strange physical phenomenon called ball lightning. Does Professor Zhang know about it?"

Upon hearing about ball lightning, Zhang Bin's mood instantly soured. He waved his hand impatiently, "I don't know, classmate. I advise you not to waste your time on such a rare physical phenomenon; it won't help your studies at all."

"Teacher Zhang, at the Jade Emperor Peak of Mount Tai..."

Zhang Bin suddenly raised his eyes and realized that the person in front of him had no trace of a student's naiveté. This person was not his student, or even a student at all.

"Who let you in? Get out! I don't tolerate any unauthorized personnel disturbing me!"

The sudden rise in tone startled the other teachers who were busy with their heads down, and they all looked over. Zhang Bin suppressed his annoyance, stopped talking, and indicated that the conversation was over by continuing to work with his head down.

The young man wasn't annoyed. He left with the words, "Teacher Zhang, I just want to say one thing: the ball lightning model you've constructed is wrong. I'll be back tomorrow. Goodbye."

Zhang Bin sneered, burying his head in the formulas in his notebook. He might have believed the young man's words ten years ago, but now?

Humph.

He has made so many mistakes that he has made every single one of them. This time, he spent a whole month building the model, and all the formulas are perfectly closed-loop. How could it be wrong?

He was so close to finding ball lightning...

Soon, he will see the thing that he and his wife have been unable to obtain in their entire lives.

"Minmin...it will be soon."

Zhang Bin stroked his wedding ring and murmured softly.