The Codex of Causality: System Mechanics & The Library of Fate
Technical Documentation for the World of "Gua Shi: The Fate Architect"
I. The Binary Foundation: Trigrams & Hexagrams
In the world of Gua Shi, the universe is not governed by magic, but by a continuous stream of binary data. The "Gua" (Hexagrams) are the interface through which a practitioner reads the source code of reality.
The 8 Basic System States [Ba Gua / 八卦]
These are the fundamental logical building blocks of the universal network. Each represents a specific state of energy and information:
Qian [Heaven / 乾] — System Core: The primary power source and central processing authority. It represents pure initialization and creative drive.
Kun [Earth / 坤] — Data Storage: The physical hardware and massive database that sustains all manifestations. It represents receptivity and grounding.
Zhen [Thunder / 震] — Catalyst: An excitation state. It represents sudden energy discharge, system triggers, and rapid movement.
Xun [Wind / 巽] — Routing: The logic of penetration and distribution. It governs how data and energy flow through the hidden channels (veins) of the world.
Kan [Water / 坎] — The Abyss / Risk: A state of structural sinking. It represents deep-level system vulnerabilities, hidden dangers, and the "logic traps" of reality.
Li [Fire / 离] — Visualization: The output layer. It represents energy radiation, visibility, and the way internal states are displayed to the external world.
Gen [Mountain / 艮] — Firewall: A state of stillness and obstruction. It represents the security boundaries of the system and physical inhibitors.
Dui [Lake / 兑] — Feedback Loop: The interaction interface. It represents exchange, joy, and the communication between the system and its users.
The 64 System Snapshots [Hexagrams / 六十四卦]
Each hexagram is a 6-bit binary array (composed of 1s and 0s). When a master casts a hexagram, they are essentially taking a System Snapshot of the local reality at a specific nanosecond. This snapshot reveals the "Risk Distribution Map," allowing the architect to see where the network is failing or where a "Debt Collection" is imminent.
II. The Library of Causal Engineering
Ancient Chinese texts are treated here as early attempts to document, program, and audit the global causality network.
Classic Source Materials
I Ching [The Book of Changes / 周易] — The Source Code: The foundational manual of binary logic used to simulate the mechanics of the universe. It is the root directory for all causal engineering.
Tao Te Ching [道德经] — Universal Physics: A high-level philosophical description of the "Causality Network." It establishes the law of "Heavenly Neutrality" (天地不仁), stating that the system operates on cold logic, indifferent to human morality.
Zang Shu [Book of Burials / 葬书] — Geographical Routing Protocol: A manual for Causal Load Balancing. It teaches how to anchor the "Narrative Weight" of the deceased in stable earth-veins to prevent data congestion.
Zhouyi Cantong Qi [The Kinship of the Three / 周易参同契] — System Patching Manual: Often mistaken for alchemy, this is actually a guide for Reality Intervention. Its cryptic terms like "Mercury" or "Firing Process" are metaphors for specific causal variables and operational timing.
Huangji Jingshi [Book of Supreme World Ordering / 皇极经世] — The Macro-Algorithm: A complex mathematical framework designed to calculate the lifespan of entire civilizations and predict "System Resets" on a global scale.
Bazi Manuals [Yuan Hai Zi Ping / 渊海子平] — User ID Analysis: Tools used to decode a person's System ID. They analyze the precise temporal coordinates of birth to determine a user's initial permissions and causal burden.
III. The Secret Archives of Shou Yi Zhai
Lore-specific documents that define the history and burden of the Chen family.
The Protocols [Shou Yi Zhai Ze Li / 守一斋则例]: The family's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It sets strict safety thresholds for manipulating fate, designed to prevent "Logic Collapse" and minimize the personal "Executioner's Tax."
The Record of Time & Fate [Shi Ming Lu / 时命录]: A collective development log maintained by seven generations of masters. It contains the raw data from 300 years of experiments in "Causal Borrowing," including a terrifying list of the prices paid for every intervention.
The Chronicles of Empty Shells [Kong Ke Zhi / 空壳志]: An unfinished work documenting the "Empty Shells"—individuals whose causal existence was completely erased by the system, leaving only a biological ghost without a narrative.
IV. Terminology of the Audit
Causality [Yin Guo / 因果]: The fundamental physics of the universe. For every "gain" in the system, there must be a "loss." The total sum of reality is always zero.
Already Received [Yi Shou / 已收]: A confirmation of a completed transaction. It means the "Debt" has already been extracted from a surrogate node, and the balance is settled.
Accepting the Bill [Ren Zhang / 认账]: The final evolution of a practitioner. Instead of hacking the system to transfer debt to others, the master chooses to acknowledge their role in the network and bear the consequences personally.