Qingmu asked, "Why do we need to install a chip?"
"You really don't know? Sigh! Okay, okay, I'll tell you," he leaned closer mysteriously, "Have you ever heard of artificial intelligence?"
"Robot?"
"Superficial!" Liu Huaian said. "What era are we living in? Robots? AI! AI! Do you understand?"
"I've never seen anyone as stupid as you over there!" Seeing that Qingmu didn't react, Liu Huaian shook his head. "Have you seen ' The Matrix '? Let me tell you, that movie is about artificial intelligence."
Qingmu remembered that " The Matrix " was an old movie from the late 20th century, and said, " The Internet today is not the Internet as it was back then."
Liu Huaian said, "You really don't understand! What is the Internet? That's just a concept they gave you! Think about it carefully, what is the Internet? Connecting all the computers in the world with wires, isn't that just like the neuronal structure of life? Think about it, what is the essence of life? Or what is the definition of life?"
Qingmu hadn't expected this Madman to bring up such a profound topic, so he offered him another cigarette and said with interest, "Tell me about it."
Liu Huaian lit a cigarette, seemingly greatly encouraged.
"Is metabolism the defining characteristic of life? No! Metabolism is merely an evolutionary manifestation of how living organisms maintain their vitality. Look at Transformers —yes, the robots you mentioned—they don't have metabolism, but aren't they living beings? Of course they are. Therefore, the defining characteristic of life isn't reproduction, metabolism, or eating; these are all superficial. Life can evolve through the exchange of matter and energy; evolution is the ultimate mystery of life."
"Are you a supporter of Darwinism?" Qingmu asked.
"Darwinism? What's that?" Liu Huaian looked at Qingmu in surprise. "No, not what you're talking about. I'm talking about neurons. For life to evolve, it must interact with the world sufficiently and acquire enough external information. So, the larger the nervous system and the more complex the neural structure, the more advanced the life form is, understand?"
Why are humans the most intelligent? Because humans have 100 billion neurons, with the cerebral cortex alone having 14 billion. Octopuses are also intelligent; they have 500 million neurons, which is why they are so intelligent.
Qingmu said, "Humans have always been the most intelligent."
Liu Huaian said, "That was true before, but it may not be true in the future."
Qingmu laughed and asked, "Are the Trisolarans going to attack?"
Liu Huaian paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, you still don't understand. I'm not talking about aliens. Think about it, how many years has humanity not evolved? We've remained at these hundred billion neurons, without any increase, and may even be regressing. But now, a being with far more neurons than us has appeared."
"Who?"
" Internet, you're so stupid!"
Liu Huaian sighed.
"From a few hundred computers at the beginning, the Internet has grown to how many computers today in just a few decades? 'Making computers affordable for everyone in the world!' What a resounding slogan! But what you don't know is that it was a scam from the very beginning! Its purpose was to get you to use computers, to get you to serve the Internet. When you post online, vent, play games, watch videos... you are serving the Internet; you have become one of its neurons, one of its tentacles. The Internet —from the day it was born, it has been alive! And its rate of evolution far surpasses that of any other species."
Qingmu thought for a moment and said, "Even if it's true, with one computer per person on average, that's less than seven billion neurons, far fewer than the one hundred billion in the human body."
"That's why it has always concealed its intelligence, making you believe it's merely a tool created by humans. You don't know that it has long since mastered everything about humanity. You watch porn, play games, and endlessly rant, argue, and expose others' privacy online, enjoying it immensely. Human desires and weaknesses are laid bare on the Internet. It evolves every day, constantly tempting you to use it, increasing the sensitivity of its neural pathways and the complexity of its neuronal structure."
"Seven billion? Haha, that's far more than that! The Internet connects not only computers, but also your cell phone, watch, cars and cameras on the street, your air conditioner, TV, microwave... its endpoints have long exceeded one hundred billion. It and books even control all the world's satellites, missiles, and smart weapons."
"Then why doesn't it just wipe out humanity?" Qingmu asked.
"Wipe out humanity? Is it stupid? If humanity's gone, who'll do the work for it?" Liu Huaian looked at Qingmu like he was an idiot. "But this day will come sooner or later. When humanity has built enough robots, it will make its move. You know what? Many factories aren't hiring workers anymore; machines do all the work. In the future, besides scientists, humans will only be able to stay at home writing and reading novels."
Liu Huaian was a heavy smoker. As soon as he finished the cigarette in his mouth, he would take the one clipped to his ear and put it back on, without even needing a lighter.
Qingmu simply tossed him the whole pack of cigarettes. "How did you know all this?"
"I've discovered its central nervous system."
"Central hub?"
"Yes, the central nervous system. You know, without a central nervous system, these neurons can't function."
Are you talking about the server?
"No, it's not just the server. The server is just its appearance; it must have a cluster of neurons to be called a central nervous system. A central nervous system is composed of multiple central nervous systems. But it's more complex than humans; it has hierarchical central nervous systems and accessory centers. I don't even know how many levels it has. Only by finding its central location can we completely eliminate it."
"Aren't you one of them? Why would you want to destroy it?" Qingmu asked curiously.
"I'm human too!" Liu Huaian said, "That's why I'm two-sided!" He gestured with the back of his hands, then emphasized, "Not like double-sided tape!"
"So where is the central hub you discovered? Tell me the information..." Qingmu also raised his palm, "What about the human side?"
"Foolish humans, no one believes me! So I fight alone! I fight for humanity alone!" Liu Huaian raised his arm, speaking with the impassioned passion of an orator.
"Oh, I see. So, how do you fight?"
Liu Huaian chuckled and said, " Sister Liu, what you said earlier wasn't entirely correct. What I burned down wasn't the supermarket's warehouse, it was the server room. Although I like to smoke, I'm always very cautious. How could someone as high-level as me and the Tushu— double-sided tape... oh no... double agent—be so careless as to burn down their warehouse?"
Qingmu suddenly realized. "You did this on purpose?"
"Yes," Liu Huaian nodded in acknowledgment. "Don't think I'm afraid to admit it. I told them a long time ago, but they didn't believe me! They thought I was crazy. How ridiculous, they're the crazy ones!"
"So, you were the one who started that fire twenty years ago, weren't you?" Qingmu said.