Meta-Origin: Genesis Key

Earth Metaverse 10 years, April 30, 2031 AD.

During those now-distant university years, the relationship between Grandpa Sandy and Grandma Lucy had been the envy of many students.

Sandy had attended university in Sunzen City, while Lucy was a local. They were alumni. Their story began in an ancient literature appreciation class.

Sandy had always had a deep passion for traditional Chinese culture, often immersing himself in classical literature outside of class. Recognizing his enthusiasm, his year counselor appointed him as the leader of the study group for this elective course.

Lucy, on the other hand, was a science major. But her love for traditional culture led her to take the class as well.

One day, during a discussion on the I Ching, Lucy casually quoted an ancient passage that left Sandy stunned. He hadn't expected a science student to possess such a profound understanding of classical texts.

The passage she recited was: From primordial chaos, a single breath emerges, cycling without end...

Intrigued, Sandy later asked Lucy about the source of the quote. She only responded with a mysterious smile.

From that moment on, he sought every opportunity to talk with her after class. Their conversations grew deeper, their connection stronger, and before long, they had fallen in love.

They studied together, shared their thoughts on life and the future, and walked through countless disks and dawns side by side. Under the golden sunlight of their youth, the future had always seemed bright and certain.

But then came graduation, like a bell tolling the end of their idyllic days.

Sandy was from the north, while Lucy's home was in Sunzen. Both came from deeply traditional families.

Sandy's parents repeatedly reminded him: "Someone must care for the family. As our only child, you cannot just leave us behind."

Lucy's parents, on the other hand, encouraged her: "Sunzen is a thriving city at the forefront of the digital age. The opportunities here are limitless."

They tried everything to stay together, pleading with their families, negotiating, searching for compromises. But no matter how hard they fought, they couldn't change their parents' minds.

They were both born during the one-child policy era. Each was their family's only child. And in those days, parents clung tightly to their children.

In the end, on the eve of graduation, they made the painful decision to part ways.

It was an ending they had fought against but ultimately could not escape.

For a few years after graduation, they exchanged letters. But as time passed, they each built their own families, and the letters stopped.

Then, early in the morning on April 23, 2013, Sandy's phone rang.

It was Lucy.

Her voice was tense. "If you're free, please come to Sunzen as soon as possible. I need to see you."

There was an urgency in her tone that unsettled him.

Sandy knew Lucy—she would never ask this of him unless it was something truly important.

Without hesitation, he bought a ticket and boarded the first flight to Sunzen.

Lucy had asked to meet him at Nine Dragons Pond—the place where they had spent countless afternoons together in their university days.

Nine Dragons Pond, also known as the Lotus Pond, was famed as the emerald of Sunzen City. The poet's words still lingered in his mind:

"Ten acres of lotus, a world of fish,

Half the city's willows brush the water's edge."

But today, Sandy couldn't see its beauty.

All he saw was the autumn wind, rippling across the lotus leaves like silent teardrops.

Standing by the water's edge, Lucy seemed almost unchanged by the years, yet there was a weight in her posture, a sorrow in her presence that made Sandy's heart tighten.

"Sandy," she called softly, her voice low yet urgent. "I asked you to come today because I need your help."

His chest tightened. He nodded. "Tell me. If it's within my power, I'll do it."

Lucy took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the water, as if gathering her thoughts. Then, slowly, she spoke.

"My daughter and son-in-law... had an accident the day before yesterday."

Sandy's brows furrowed. "An accident? What happened?"

Lucy's voice trembled. "They... they accidentally ate poisonous mushrooms. My son-in-law didn't survive. My daughter is still in the hospital... She's nine months pregnant... The only way to save her is a liver transplant."

Sandy froze. His heart clenched, a dull pain spreading through his chest.

"Poisonous mushrooms? How is that possible? They're both from Sunzen—how could they not recognize them?"

Lucy's eyes reddened. "Something isn't right. I was supposed to be with them, but I had to leave early for something. I never expected..." She shook her head. "But none of that matters now. What matters is saving my daughter's life. And my grandson's."

Sandy swallowed hard. "Has the hospital found a donor?"

Lucy shook her head, her voice barely audible. "It's not that easy. So..."

She lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes suddenly resolute. "So I've decided to be the donor myself."

Sandy's breath caught.

"You?" His voice rose, eyes widening. "What about your health? What did the doctors say?"

Lucy forced a small smile, trying to appear calm. "They said it's risky. I'll need to donate 50% of my liver to my daughter first. And if the baby is poisoned too, they'll have to perform an emergency C-section... and I'll need to donate another 25% for the baby."

"Seventy-five percent?!" Sandy's voice was thick with disbelief. "Lucy, that's—"

"I know." She cut him off, her tone eerily calm. "I might not survive the surgery."

The words hit Sandy like a hammer. His fists clenched, his eyes burned.

"Isn't there another way?" His voice was hoarse, almost pleading. "Must you do this?"

Lucy's eyes held unwavering determination. "There is no other way. I'm their only family."

Sandy stared at her, his hands trembling. "Lucy… have you even thought about yourself?"

She shook her head gently. "I don't need to think about myself." A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes before she continued. "But there is something… something I can't rest easy about. And I believe you're the only one who can help me."

Sandy took a deep breath, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Tell me. If I can do it, I will."

Lucy pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Sandy. Her fingers trembled slightly, and even her voice carried a hoarse edge.

"This… this is a poem—the one you always wanted to know the source of. I've copied it down by hand for you. But now… it's not just the poem anymore." She hesitated, her gaze locking onto Sandy's. "There's a pattern beside it, something I received the year before last. Sometimes, it appears like a vision. You don't need to worry, but… it could be significant. Maybe even…" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Maybe even connected to the future of humanity."

Sandy froze, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "What do you mean? What's so special about this pattern?"

Lucy didn't answer right away. Instead, she took a deep breath, as if weighing how much to reveal. "I can't explain too much right now, but there may be people looking for this pattern. I've taken special precautions with it, and if the right person comes along—someone destined to carry on its purpose—he will take my place and use it wisely. Until then, you must guard it for me."

"Guard it?" Sandy frowned. "Lucy, this sounds too mysterious. Can't you just tell me what's going on?"

"Sandy, I mean every word, but now isn't the time for explanations." Her expression remained unwavering. "I just need your promise—to keep this safe until the right person appears."

Sandy clenched her jaw, struggling with the weight of her words. He looked down at the paper in his hands, feeling its significance pressing down on him like a thousand pounds. Finally, he exhaled sharply.

"Alright… I promise. I'll guard it."

Hearing this, Lucy let out a breath of relief, a faint smile flickering across her lips. "Thank you, Sandy. I knew I could count on you."

After a moment of silence, she reached into the bag beside her and pulled out another piece of paper. She handed it to him.

"This verse as well—take it. Read it often. It might help you."

Sandy took it, his grip tightening. His gaze never left Lucy's face. "You have to survive. Your daughter and your grandchild need you. And I… I don't want to lose you again."

Lucy's eyes flickered with sadness, but she said nothing. Instead, she gently patted his shoulder, then turned and walked away. In the sunlight, her figure looked so fragile, yet her steps were unwavering.

Sandy stood frozen, gripping the two pieces of paper as silent tears finally escaped his eyes.

Shawn watched as his grandfather, his face now lined with age, wiped his damp eyes. He silently fetched a towel and handed it over.

"What happened after that?" Shawn asked softly.

Grandpa dabbed at his tears, his voice heavy. "After that… she never made it off the operating table. But her daughter and grandchild survived. That day was April 24, 2013."

Shawn's breath caught. His eyes widened in shock. "Wait… isn't that my birthday?"

Grandpa nodded. "Yes. I've always felt there was some kind of unseen connection." He placed the towel on the table, his gaze turning distant, as if lost in a dream he had never quite woken from.

After a long silence, he finally looked at Shawn, who sat beside him, waiting for more. Grandpa sighed and continued.

"After handling her affairs, I brought back the papers she left me. For a long time, I locked myself in my study, reading those verses over and over, trying to make sense of what Lucy had said. But what I didn't expect…" He hesitated, then let out a wry chuckle.

"…was that your grandmother would misunderstand."

Shawn raised an eyebrow. "Grandma thought you still had feelings for her, didn't she?" He smirked, nudging his grandfather's arm playfully.

Grandpa chuckled awkwardly. "Something like that."

He sighed before continuing. "Like you now, I spent years searching through literature, looking for clues. But all I ever found were scattered fragments of information." He met Shawn's gaze.

"So when you asked me about those two verses, I genuinely didn't have an answer."

Grandpa smiled ruefully.

"Later, her daughter told me that while going through Lucy's belongings, she discovered that your Grandma Lucy had been a member of the Meta Origin Society during her university years." His voice grew quiet, as if still processing the weight of that revelation.

"I once thought about joining the Meta Origin Society myself—to hold onto the same faith Lucy did, and to wait for the fated person she spoke of. To honor her final wish." He exhaled slowly. "But my position didn't allow it. As a government official, I wasn't permitted to be involved in anything like that. And now, the government's restrictions on the Meta Origin Society are even stricter. Contacting anyone from that group is nearly impossible."

He shook his head with a trace of regret.

Shawn took a deep breath. "I think I understand now… Grandma Lucy was truly incredible. And, Grandpa—you've carried this weight for so long."

Grandpa let out a long sigh, as if finally releasing a burden he had carried for years. Then, he turned to Shawn, his eyes filled with something new—something almost electric.

"I never imagined…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "That you might be the one she was waiting for."