Zhao Shuangdian gently tapped her finger on the blue bottle in front of Li Huowang. Her finger was adorned with a coat of clear nail polish. “This is the real world. All the other worlds are merely reflections of it.”
Inside the closed Bloody Bonfire tattoo shop, Zhao Shuangdian continued to explain everything to Li Huowang.
“We can glimpse some information and changes through one reflection, but it’s very difficult to truly understand everything. Our cognition always alters and distorts our perceived reality, so we never fully understand the true reality.”
“So... your theory is no different from Qing Wanglai’s projection theory?” Li Huowang asked, looking at the dark blue bottle before him.
Li Huowang recalled the bizarre world. He remembered the Baiyu Capital and thought about how others perceive the world.
Li Huowang’s comment made Zhao Shuangdian shake her head. “No, it’s different. His theory is that everything is merely a projection of some entity.”
She continued, “However, I believe all of this is real and a part of the truth. Like the story of the blind men touching the elephant. Can you say that the elephant’s leg isn’t part of the elephant?”
Li Huowang felt irritated. “Stop with the metaphors! I don’t want to hear about the elephant’s leg or the elephant anymore! I just want to know what the real thing is!”
“Oh? How much do you know about Hilbert space? I could try to explain.”
“The what? Didn’t you say you were using mathematics?”“Never mind, let’s stick with the elephant metaphor. It’s easier to understand.”
Li Huowang sat there silently, trying to digest the explanation. He wasn’t sure if Zhao Shuangdian was telling the truth or if this was just another delusion by a mental patient.
Although Zhao Shuangdian seemed calm and rational, Qing Wanglai had made him hesitant to jump to conclusions.
After thinking for a moment, Li Huowang stood up. “Thank you for explaining all this, but I still can’t fully trust your worldview.”
“Don’t trust me? Then, do you trust Qing Wanglai? Or do you trust nothing at all? Do you think this is all just an illusion and you’re just a lunatic?”
“That’s right! I’m a lunatic, so what? Is being a lunatic so rare? Why are you so eager to pull a lunatic like me in? You’ve been saying all this nonsense just to use me as a tool!”
Since there was no imminent threat to him, Li Huowang didn’t want to get involved with them anymore. His problem was reality, and no matter what that reality was, he just wanted to live well in this world.
He didn’t need to be successful—he just needed to become a normal person. That way, those who cared about him wouldn’t have to worry.
“This isn’t about using you—it’s about sticking together. You think what you’ve seen so far is everything?”
Li Huowang felt a jolt as memories of past events flooded back into his mind. Those who had spied on him, those who had tried to kidnap him, and those who had tried to kill him.
“Still eighteen, huh? So naïve.”
Zhao Shuangdian’s words stopped Li Huowang in his tracks. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean that things aren’t over. We only pushed them back once. Do you think that’s enough for you to comfortably enjoy life now?”
Zhao Shuangdian’s words sent chills through Li Huowang. He quickly approached her, his pupils trembling. “They’ll come back? They still want to invade the Baiyu Capital? Why?!” Ｒ𝖆ꞐộβÈṤ
“I don’t know what they’re after. I haven’t figured that part out, but I believe the real world isn’t just one elephant.
“If they make a move, it won’t be like their previous small tests. It could cause turmoil everywhere—the tusks, legs, trunk, and even our side of the elephant.
“Fortunately, we have ways to protect our part of the elephant since we’re all blind men feeling the elephant.
“And you’re special. Others can only feel one part, but you have unique senses. You can feel two sides, which makes you closer to the truth than anyone else.”
Zhao Shuangdian reached out and gently stroked Li Huowang’s face, her hand finally resting on his blood-red eye socket. “You’re truly special.”
Slap! Li Huowang knocked her hand away. “When will they strike again?”
“They? Strike? I don’t know when they’ll act, but I know our counterattack is on the second of next month.”
“Counterattack?”
“Yes, exactly. The best defense is a good offense. We can’t wait for them to strike first. We need to take the initiative this time, which is why I sought you out.”
Zhao Shuangdian extended her hand toward Li Huowang. “I sincerely invite you to join us and use your talents to help us.”
Li Huowang looked at her outstretched hand and said, “Why should I believe you? What if you’re just another Qing Wanglai?”
“Because I have what you want. I know saying goodbye to her can't be easy. You two grew up together and shared the same classroom since elementary school... It'd be a shame to let all that history just disappear.“
“As long as you agree, once this matter is entirely resolved, I can help you and your girlfriend return to a peaceful and simple life. You will be completely cut off from everything you don’t want to deal with.
“You could retake your exams together and lead a simple life.
“Of course, if you want wealth, I can arrange that too. Both options require the same amount of work from me.”
Li Huowang remained skeptical despite the temptation. He had been deceived too many times before. ”No, I think there’s a catch in your offer. You’re talking about isolating us from everything. Do you intend to take over the Heavenly Dao that Yang Na and I manage after this is over?”
Zhao Shuangdian frowned and shook her head. “Sorry, I really don’t understand.”
“It’s fine if you don’t understand. I just want to make it clear that I won’t give up my Heavenly Dao! If I were an ordinary person instead of a Siming, I would be like a pig or sheep waiting to be slaughtered in front of you Simings. You’d be able to do anything you wanted to me.
"I don't have any expectations regarding your sense of good and evil.
“However,” Li Huowang said as he reached out and shook her hand. “I am willing to cooperate with you. As for my compensation, let’s not rush—we can discuss it while working together.”
He no longer feared anything, given his current situation. The worst that could happen was death, which he no longer feared. On the contrary, it would be a massive gain if he could find a way to escape his current predicament.
He could only go up since he was already at his lowest point. There was no need to be overly cautious.
Zhao Shuangdian was satisfied with Li Huowang’s response. She gently shook her head. “Very well, let’s have a smooth cooperation. From today on, we are partners.”
He looked at the intelligent beauty before him and pondered the final question. Zhao Shuangdian, what kind of Siming are you?
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