The next day, William woke up early, made breakfast, and even went next door to teach Nathaniel some wellness exercises.
Afterward, he went to the university with Evelyn.
He chose to attend college to familiarize himself more with society and interact more with the younger generation.
Another morning of classes followed, and William attentively listened to a lecture on Advanced Mathematics before heading to the library to return books.
Listening to one lecture after another seemed too slow for him. William had a strong comprehension ability, and through reading, he realized that the world had undergone tremendous changes in the fifty years he had been asleep.
Ensuring that no child was left behind and that everyone could attend school were things he had never considered.
Even during the Italian Renaissance, a golden age of culture, art, and academics, knowledge wasn’t as widespread as it is today.
After diving into the library, William began to self-study modern knowledge and culture.
Compared to fragmented searches on his phone, knowledge in books was more systematic and concentrated. He could pick up any type of book to learn about anything he wanted.
Edward Taylor received news that William was in the library again. He promptly canceled a meeting of the Historical and Cultural Research Association and headed to the library.
After compiling the translations William had done, he had reported it to the History Research Institute, which stirred up quite a commotion. Many scholars questioned the translation, as the text on the stone tablet was impossible to verify.
Despite Edward Taylor’s academic reputation, he couldn’t provide any evidence to support the accuracy of the translation.
Some even claimed Edward Taylor was cursed, while others accused him of seeking attention, saying the translated content resembled an online fantasy novel.
Edward Taylor was extremely angered by these comments, especially since he had promised William not to reveal he had done the translations.
He believed in William, but as the scholars had pointed out, the text had never been found in other relics and could not be verified.
After a sleepless night, Edward Taylor decided to speak with William again.
If William recognized the ancient text, did he also have other ancient texts?
Considering William’s age, he couldn’t have known everything from birth; he must have learned it somewhere. 𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝒎
William was engrossed in a book at the library when Edward Taylor quietly sat down next to him.
What was this old man doing here again?
William didn’t dislike Edward Taylor. In fact, he admired the old man’s devotion to academia, willing to risk his life for it.
“Edward Taylor, what do you need?” William asked, looking up from the classic quantum mechanics book “Principles of Quantum Mechanics” to glance at Edward Taylor.
Edward Taylor gave an awkward smile, trying to make casual conversation, “Mr. Johnson, are you reading?”
A former university president addressing a freshman as a teacher – if people knew about this, wouldn’t it become a trending topic?
“You think?” William raised an eyebrow, his tone cold, as if asking, “Are you blind?”
Edward Taylor awkwardly laughed, “Hahaha! Actually, I came here today to ask, Mr. Johnson, where did you learn those texts?”
William replied indifferently, “I don’t remember.”
Edward Taylor asked again, “Well… I don’t know if Mr. Johnson has time now?”
“If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush,” William put down the book and looked expressionless at Edward Taylor.
Edward Taylor, a former president of Hudson University and a respected academic figure, was usually the one who spoke sternly to others. Now, facing a freshman, he was acting as humble as a newly admitted student.
“I actually wanted to ask, Mr. Johnson, where did you learn these characters?” Edward Taylor cautiously inquired. “You should know that historical and cultural research is very rigorous. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but to prove that the translations of those characters are correct, there needs to be evidence available.”
William replied, “Where would you find evidence for characters from a billion years ago? I have nothing to prove it with either. You can consider it nonsense if you want.”
“How could we treat this as nonsense?” Edward Taylor was more animated than William, seemingly possessed by the importance of the matter. “I truly don’t mean to question your sincerity. Do you realize what your translations represent? They can’t be nonsense, they absolutely can’t be…”
“You’re not just making this up, are you?” Edward Taylor clenched his fists, staring intently at William, fearful of hearing that the translations were just a fabrication.
As an academic scholar, upon hearing William’s translations, he was rocked to his core.
After all, the content of William’s translations would mean the rewriting of the entire history of the world.
The strong desire for unknown knowledge made him feel like every cell in his body was on fire. If William were to retract his claims now, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to him.
William put down the book he was holding, sighed, and said, “Relax, I didn’t make it up. But I really don’t have any evidence to support those translations. Do you want others to know that these translations are real?”
“Yes! These texts are connected to the history of our world. Without evidence, no one will believe the translations,” Edward Taylor insisted, hoping William would realize the importance of the matter, trusting that someone as young as him would also have an exploratory spirit.
Regretfully, William said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”
“If people really don’t believe it, then it doesn’t matter,” William continued. “Too much truth is something that society isn’t willing to accept. Not everything can be proven.”
“I understand!” Edward Taylor was somewhat disappointed. After calming down, he decided not to ask further about the ancient texts and instead asked, “Aren’t you a first-year student? You chose history as your major, right? Which period of history are you most interested in?”
Actually, William hadn’t paid much attention to his major, nor had he discussed the specifics with Anthony Carter.
William had an extensive understanding of world history, far beyond what students typically learn.
Seeing that William remained silent, Edward Taylor asked, “What is your opinion on the Renaissance period?”
The Renaissance?
William laughed, “It should be one of the most transformative periods in European history.”
Edward Taylor frowned, “The Renaissance should be considered the pinnacle of art and thought, with the emergence of great artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and influential works like ‘The Prince’ and ‘Utopia.’ It should be the time in world history when economics, culture, and science all flourished, right?”
Upon hearing this, William couldn’t help but laugh, “History is always written by the victors. Although the Renaissance saw tremendous achievements in art and thought, it was also a period when European countries fought for colonies and waged wars. During that time, European merchants amassed great wealth, but it was achieved through the slave trade and exploitation of colonies. What’s so praiseworthy about that?”
“The achievements that are glorified to the skies are all built upon the exploitation and oppression of other nations. The rulers of that time were afraid of new ideas, they didn’t kill free thinkers, intellectuals were held in high regard, but in the end, it was the common people who suffered. What is there to admire about such an era?”
William faintly remembered that the intellectuals of that time lived quite comfortably with countless benefits, but the lives of the common people were not good. Many struggled to have enough to eat.
He recalled that there were people who died of hunger, and the situation was too distressing to contemplate.