The grand crystal doors parted with a soft hiss, letting in the cool, fragrant scent of celestial pine.
Su Wan walked into the central chamber of the Root Kernel. Her silver abacus rested neatly in the crook of her left arm, its polished jade beads catching the golden light of the newly installed operating system. Behind her walked the Nine Ancient Benevolent Sages, their long robes swaying in quiet dignity.
Sage Shen-Nong carried a simple wicker basket filled with wild mountain herbs. Sage Da-Yu held an ancient surveyor’s plumb line. Sage Sui-Ren cupped a spark of primal hearth flame in his palm, while the others followed in measured, respectful strides.
Lin Mo smiled as Su Wan approached the central platform.
“You brought the whole advisory board,” Lin Mo said.
“If you are going to rewrite the macroeconomic foundation of three thousand universes, you do not do it alone,” Su Wan replied. She set her abacus down beside Tang Xiaomi’s holographic keyboard. “And you certainly do not leave it to engineers who think money is just numbers on a terminal.”
Tang Xiaomi stuck out her tongue playfully. “Hey, my code compiles cleanly! That is what matters.”
“Your code compiles cleanly, Xiaomi, but it does not account for grain distribution across thirty thousand solar systems,” Su Wan countered smoothly.
