Three-body: The Most Competent Wallfacer in History

Jiang Yu strode from the study to the living room, "How is Number Three now?"

This year marks The Year 309 of the Galaxy, three years after the war with the Trisolarans had completely ended.

By this time, Jiang Yu already appeared to be in his thirties, with the faint presence of crow's feet around his eyes.

Around Galactic Year 130, Number Three, as Jiang Yu had been informed, felt that he had begun to age.

After a thorough brain examination, it was indeed detected that the cellular activity in Number Three's brain was declining.

As a failed experiment of the Trisolaran Civilization, although he gained an extended lifespan, he did not achieve immortality; only the lifespan of his brain was significantly increased.

The decline in brain cell activity meant that Number Three was aging.

Therefore, the similar technology once applied to Jiang Yu also came with a limit. Over two centuries, Jiang Yu too noticed some "mature" changes occurring in his body.

Since the victory in the war, Number Three's condition had progressively worsened, and he had been hovering on the brink of life and death for several days.

From the living room's communication system, Number Three's doctor told Jiang Yu, "You know the patient's condition. I estimate he won't make it through today."

Jiang Yu nodded, turned, and headed for the door, but before reaching it, he turned back to change into a black outfit.

It had been many years since he had felt so hollow inside as he did today.

Outside, there was a lively celebration, for today was Victory Day.

Three years ago today, Belinsky's forces had defeated the Trisolaran assault fleet, achieving a decisive victory over the Trisolarans.

The Governing Council declared this day Victory Day, and it was celebrated annually.

Now that the war had just ended three years ago, everyone was still immersed in the joy of victory, and a few Common Era people who had survived for various reasons could not help but wipe away their tears at this scene.

Humanity had finally defeated this formidable enemy!

In The Beginning of the Crisis Era, the Trisolarans were an inescapable nightmare for humanity. Now, the once powerful Trisolaran Civilization had fled in disarray.

For a long time to come, it was likely that humanity would be the nightmare of the Trisolarans.

Jiang Yu sighed and, seeing the bustling scene outside, found it difficult to join in. Instead, he felt even more sorrowful.

Soon, he arrived at Number Three's residence, where some political notables had already arrived, having received the news beforehand.

Upon Jiang Yu's arrival, everyone paid their respects to the Wallfacer.

Jiang Yu saw the white-haired Yun Tony, Cao Yang in his smart wheelchair, and Hao Ying, who needed the assistance of a robot, as well as Zhuang Yue who was supported by machines.

After the victory against the Trisolarans, Jiang Yu noticed that the elder generation of the Solar System State's high-level officials rapidly aged.

Just three years ago, Cao Yang was still personally overseeing the battlefield of Belinsky's interception, but in no time, he could no longer stand.

Looking at Cao Yang's aged smiling face, Jiang Yu suddenly thought of Rediaz.

He somewhat realized that it was a breath of life that had sustained Cao Yang and the others to defeat the Trisolarans, but after humanity had achieved this unprecedented victory, their inner drive suddenly waned.

Jiang Yu shook hands with Cao Yang and the others, exchanged a few words, and then proceeded to Number Three's ward.

On the four walls of the ward were scenes of Earth's landscapes that Number Three loved; bright sunshine, endless grasslands, with galloping horses in the distance and shepherds on horsebacks nearby.

Number Three's capsule-style sickbed, with a large oval device hovering above, seemed somewhat out of place in these idyllic surroundings.

His appearance remained unchanged, which was a product of Jiang Shiliu's craft, the most dexterous prosthetics in the entire Solar System State.

Apart from his brain, the rest of Number Three's body structure was all prosthetic.

The prosthetic head was open, and Number Three's brain was being nourished in other instruments.

However, the receiver for his brain's bioelectric signals remained connected to the prosthetic; as long as he was conscious, the prosthetic could open its eyes.

And now, with the prosthetic's eyes tightly shut, it was obvious that Number Three was still in a coma.

Jiang Yu asked the doctor, "Will he ever wake up again?"

"It's hard to say," the middle-aged doctor replied. "His brain has shrunk severely; he's likely to pass away in this coma."

Jiang Yu pointed to the large, oval-shaped device. "What is this?"

"This is equipment brought by Mr. Jiang Shiliu's research team," the doctor said. "Mr. Number Three agreed to participate in an experiment with Jiang Shiliu at the moment of his death."

Since Number Three had agreed, Jiang Yu had no intention of asking further. He motioned toward the floor, which immediately rose, forming a seat.

Jiang Yu sat down wearily. "Dying in a coma isn't so bad; there's no pain."

He sighed as he looked at Number Three, recalling their first meeting when Number Three had been left in a metal box by Jiang Shiliu.

Later, Number Three gradually became Jiang Yu's right-hand man; every time Jiang Yu entered hibernation, he entrusted everything to Number Three, who never let him down.

Now, Number Three was withered by age.

As he thought about this, Jiang Yu's eyes grew moist.

While he was wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes, Number Three woke up. "It seems I am about to die."

Even though he was very weak, his brain could still command the prosthetic to speak normally.

Jiang Yu said with a smile, "Everyone dies, just accept it."

"I'm rather at peace with it," Number Three sighed. "These past few days, I keep dreaming about Earth, about my past with Jiang Shiliu and Thirty-Six.

"Do you think this could be a manifestation of 'the falling leaves returning to their roots'?"

Jiang Yu smiled helplessly. "When people get old, they like to reminisce about their youth."

"Yes, I remember the first body Jiang Shiliu made for me; it wasn't practical at all, but I never had the heart to tell him."

Number Three spoke calmly, a look of ease on his face. "It's been too long; I've lived too long. I've even forgotten what it's like to be flesh and blood.

"Back on Earth, I just wanted to give the Trisolarans a good beating as revenge for treating us like test subjects.

"Now that I've had my revenge, I feel emptily content.

"Well, it's just as well, I should go; I have no regrets anyway."

Jiang Yu said with tears in his eyes, "Wait for me on the other side, so we can keep each other company on the road to the Yellow Springs."

Number Three chuckled. "I won't wait for you; you have at least two centuries left to live. Am I supposed to wait on the road to the Yellow Springs till the end of time?

"I won't wait; won't wait..."

After waiting a few seconds without hearing any more from Number Three, suddenly the oval device hovering in midair began to operate, and a gentle white light bathed Number Three's face, giving him an air of sanctity.

Jiang Yu looked at the doctor, who shook his head.

Number Three had passed away.

Jiang Yu sat alone for a while before having the doctor announce Number Three's death. Then he summoned Jiang Yan, who as a nephew, took Number Three's body to the space funeral facility.

Today's space funerals aren't entangled with excessive rituals; after bidding farewell to the body, it's placed in a cremator. The ashes are then sent into space in an urn or buried on the planet where humanity now resides.