“You…” Yu Hao stared at Chen Yekai in disbelief. Chen Yekai’s handsome face looked uneasy, and his shadow stretched far behind him as well. But right at that moment, Yu Hao suddenly noticed something—
—the sun hasn’t set yet? But almost three hours have passed!
“Try shooting?” Zhou Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a smile like he had just played a prank. “I bet there’s no bullet in that gun.”
Before anyone could register it, the entire world collapsed with a loud rumble. A rainforest rose steeply from the level ground all around them. Zhao Liang looked blank at first, but his expression changed in an instant.
“This…is still in a dream?!” Zhao Liang muttered with a panic-stricken expression.
“Bin-go!” Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng shouted angrily at the same time and each drew their respective weapons; Zhou Sheng swept out with his rod and instantly flung Zhao Liang’s car away and sent it flying. Yu Hao was immediately dumbstruck; he was currently in another dream! But not long ago, they were still fighting in Huang Ting’s dream, so why…
“Catch him!” Zhou Sheng shouted, “Don’t let him run this time! It’s up to you! Kaikai!”
Chen Yekai threw his flying scalpel out, Zhao Liang turned sideways to avoid it. Just as he was about to escape, vines began curling over from all sides and wrapped Zhao Liang up tightly. Yu Hao flew forward, clutched Zhao Liang’s collar, and took him up to the sky.
Yu Hao, “This reversal is too fast isn’t it?!”
Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng whistled; the black dragon crossed through the sun into Chichén Itzá’s world. Zhou Sheng flipped over and landed on the back of his dragon. Chen Yekai’s Feathered Serpent God flew over from afar and took off him with on its back. Yu Hao threw Zhao Liang to Chen Yekai, who then threw him out again to Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng’s dragon caught ahold of Zhao Liang with its claws, and it flew to the apex of the pyramid.
“Your dream feels so real!” Yu Hao shouted.
Chen Yekai answered, “I designed an area in my dream that’s almost exactly like the environment in reality, and we just so happened to obtain an exceptionally good opportunity. The two of us, as well as this guy, came straight back to my dream from Huang Ting’s.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Next, after I woke Huang Ting up…”
Yu Hao, “You then left the maze world!”
Zhou Sheng, “Correct— after that, I continued sleeping and returned to Kaikai’s dream, then cooperated with him in acting out this play. Pretend to be unconscious, get Kaikai to notify Zhao Liang of my position, and get caught by him…Fortunately, Huang Ting’s memories contained the specifics of the research laboratory. Otherwise, your environment wouldn’t have been able to be established in the end.”
“Which is why I said I had to meet him at least once,” Chen Yekai said, “before I could obtain all the details. Yu Hao was of great help too.”
Te Ljb rjlv, “Qts vlvc’a sbe uesr wjxf atlr mifjg lc jvnjcmf? Tbe akb tlv atlr ogbw wf obg rb ibcu!”
“Qf kfgf jogjlv atja sbe’v gfjilrf sbe kfgf ralii lc j vgfjw.” Itbe Vtfcu rjlv, “Cr ibcu jr P’w cba ys sbeg rlvf, sbeg vgfjwrmjqf klii rajga ab yfmbwf ecrajyif. Qtfc sbe gfjilrf atja sbe’gf lc rbwfbcf firf’r vgfjw, la’ii yf abb fjrs obg sbe ab yf jkjxfcfv, jcv bcmf sbe’gf jkjxf, sbe’ii vlrjqqfjg ogbw Bjlxjl’r vgfjw. Po atja tjqqfcfv, Itjb Oljcu kbeiv yfmbwf rerqlmlber.”
Chen Yekai said, “Before entering the maze, the last dream we were in was the world of Chichén Itzá. I tried giving myself some autosuggestions to construct a dream of you waiting for Zhou Sheng in your home, and so…”
Yu Hao, “Yeah! I thought it was a little strange too, why would I wake up right after passing through the moon when I should’ve returned to Chen Laoshi’s dream instead. The two of you are really…”
Yu Hao finally had a rough understanding of the trap set by Zhou Sheng…one ring interlocking another, it was truly amazing!
Chen Yekai said, “This requires your cooperation, so that you would always waver in your doubts that I might betray the two of you but still choose to believe me in the end. Otherwise, in your dream, you wouldn’t leave your home with me.”
“But even if I did trust you without any reservations at all, I would still follow you, wouldn’t I?”
Zhou Sheng continued, “If you didn’t have that doubt, you would trust Kaikai, so you’ll easily sense that something was wrong.”
“What would be wrong?” Yu Hao asked.
“The one picking you up should be Zhou Sheng, not me.” Chen Yekai said, “It’s only when your subconscious convinces you to believe that Zhou Sheng had been betrayed by me that the one arriving at your doorstep would be me.” Then Chen Yekai started gesturing at Yu Hao while he stood on his Feathered Serpent God. He continued to explain, “Although this thought doesn’t appear in the surface consciousness, as long as the logic in your subconscious is discordant, you would sense this discordance very strongly and further question yourself, then suddenly wake up in the end.”
Yu Hao could roughly understand it. “How did you know that he would follow me back to Chen Laoshi’s dreamscape?”
“We have the same scene designed in both our dreams.” Zhou Sheng said, “I guessed that he has the ability to interfere with and to invade dreamscapes and discussed it with Kaikai several times. Originally, we just wanted to trick him into my dream and take care of him there, but Kaikai insisted on a backup plan…”
“See, it’s good that you listened to me ba?” Chen Yekai said to Zhou Sheng.
“Wu.” Zhou Sheng said, “At first I thought that I could have just agreed to taking him into my dream, but…”
Zhou Sheng explained to Yu Hao for a long time, and it was only then did Yu Hao know that Zhou Sheng and Chen Yekai had already targeted Zhao Liang before this and set up a complex trap to deal with a ‘dream invasion’. After all, as long as the Golden Crow Wheel was in Zhou Sheng’s hands, he was almost invincible. Chen Yekai suggested to set up a scene that was almost identical to that of reality, and no matter who was the one making a move in the end, to just trick them over before dealing with them.
However, Huang Ting’s dream went beyond their imagination. Zhao Liang even injected himself with a stimulant that greatly increased his strength. In the end, Zhou Sheng thought it over for a long time, came up with a way to throw him into Chen Yekai’s dreamscape, then used this dream to take countermeasures against Zhao Liang.
“We’re done, my dear Zhao Laoshi.”
The black dragon and Feathered Serpent God stopped on the platform. Zhao Liang had been thrown into the center, and his whole body was tied up with vines. There was even an apple stuffed into his mouth so he was unable to speak and could only cry out with wuwus.
“Seems like you haven’t figured everything out yet,” Zhou Sheng frowned as he looked at him and casually said, “The effects of the stimulant haven’t died down yet, right?”
Then Zhou Sheng went forward and harshly kicked Zhao Liang. Yu Hao just thought that this scene was really too absurd; right before this, Zhao Liang was still beating them up so energetically until they didn’t even have a chance to fight back, but now, the situation had actually been reversed so forcefully, and he was trussed up like a dumpling?
Chen Yekai said, “Don’t talk to him anymore, he might still have tricks up his sleeves. Get down to business quickly.”
“Letting you off easy then.” Zhou Sheng answered, “Eat the apple, eat it, eat it, eat the damn apple.”
Yu Hao, “……”
While he was unaware, Yu Hao had completed this perfect cooperation with them. Now, he just felt exhausted. “I want to go out and take a bath. I don’t want to play anymore.”
“Okay.” Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao. Chen Yekai raised his hand, and the vines took root in the ground before rising upward with Zhao Liang. Zhao Liang was still uttering muffled wuwus, his pleading gaze signalling that he wanted a chance to explain himself.
But Zhou Sheng ignored him. He raised his hand and forcibly pressed it on Zhao Liang’s forehead.
Zhao Liang’s eyes widened in an instant and looked almost despairingly at the flashing pictures of his memories. Yu Hao was stunned; scenes were flashing by one by one. Chen Yekai said, “Zhao Laoshi is a rather upright man ma.”
Zhao Liang’s life from when he was young to the time he went to college, found a girlfriend, fell in love, settled down, his wife and son going abroad — all of those experiences could be seen at a glance. In this brief moment, Yu Hao saw almost the entire life of this middle-aged man who was nearing his fifties; being misunderstood, getting refuted, demoted, taking up post as a martial arts instructor at first and getting a transfer afterward because of making a mistake, but he was asked by Qin Guodong to join him and enter the investigation team.
Zhao Liang had personally solved several major cases, and he was promoted by Qin Guodong himself and got targeted by Ren Chong. Zhou Sheng’s brows furrowed deeply. The three of them viewed Zhao Liang’s life just like this.
Until he started getting in touch with STA and caught the one in-charge of STA’s workshop, then Chen Yekai said in a low voice, “He got caught indeed.”
Zhou Sheng said, “When we rescue Huang Ting, we have to save him too.”
Yu Hao said, “Let me look at this section?”
Zhou Sheng made a slashing gesture with his finger and let Yu Hao see the group meeting Qin Guodong, Ren Chong, and Zhao Liang partook in. There was no one else at the meeting. Zhao Liang and Ren Chong started arguing and became extremely agitated, their faces turning crimson from anger. Qin Guodong never spoke, and in the end, he was the first to get up and leave.
What they were discussing was whether they should continue tracking down the Golden Crow Wheel, and how they should deal with Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao. In the end, Qin Guodong decided to leave his post, while Ren Chong promised that he wouldn’t lay a finger on Zhou Sheng.
Zhou Sheng tapped on one of the scenes — it was Zhao Liang’s most secretive intention.
Once he got the Golden Crow Wheel and the ability to run freely around dreamscapes, Zhao Liang thought that he would be able to change anyone’s mind from now on and level the score with one move. He had really had enough with the investigation team; with both his hands and feet tied up, he had too many misgivings about elements in reality and couldn’t do anything. The Golden Crow Wheel could place the entire organisation under his control; he wouldn’t need to exhaust so much effort in convincing others to accept his own views, and he would never have to worry about any of the constraints of whatever he does.
“It’s pretty ideal.” Chen Yekai assessed, “Wanting to change the world through this sort of way.”
“It’s a bit crazy.” Zhou Sheng assessed as well, “You were once a good person, why turn to crime? The power over life, death, rewards, and punishment, all of that consolidated in your hands; after letting someone like you get the Golden Crow Wheel, once you let yourself run wild, it should be quite terrifying.”
Zhao Liang gazed at Zhou Sheng, reluctance evident in his eyes.
“Even if you do get to sit in that position, you still wouldn’t be able to do whatever you please.” Chen Yekai evaluated.
Yu Hao said, “But according to his logic, as long as he can get the Golden Crow Wheel, he can do whatever he pleases.”
“Un.” Zhou Sheng answered indifferently, then started looking at the analysis report in Zhao Liang’s memories regarding the Golden Crow Wheel. Within the twinkle of an eye, a huge volume of reports gushed out in an instant through the scenes.
Yu Hao saw the future Zhao Liang imagined—— Zhou Sheng sitting on a chair, Zhao Liang sitting on another, with the Golden Crow Wheel placed in the middle while it was connected to a circuit. The Golden Crow Wheel shone with a blue, electrical arc light.
“This is the ‘cooperation’ you were talking about?” Zhou Sheng answered, “It doesn’t seem very comfortable, look at this.”
Zhou Sheng took another memory out and presented it in front of Chen Yekai and Yu Hao — it was a discussion meeting regarding the Golden Crow Wheel. The researchers started offering their speculations about the operating mechanisms of the Golden Crow Wheel and their views of analysing it, as well as naming it the ‘brainwave integrator repeater’. The basis of their research was very limited; most of it revolved around a copy of the analysis report obtained when Chen Yekai handed the Golden Crow Wheel to the STA. One of their conjectures was that the Golden Crow Wheel lacked the energy to support its operation; once it had enough energy, it would connect people’s dreams through the collective unconscious.
The meeting also verified Yu Hao’s other speculation — even if the Golden Crow Wheel didn’t exist, people could enter dreams as well. It’s just that the influence of a dream without the Golden Crow Wheel is very unstable, and the ‘self-consciousness’ one could feel in a dream would be even more indistinct. On the other hand, the Golden Crow Wheel could strengthen and stabilise the signals of the brain waves that produce dreams, which gives humans the ability to control their own selves and the conscious world in their dreams.
At the end of the meeting, everyone agreed unanimously that they needed to get the Golden Crow Wheel before carrying out further research. It would be best if they could bring Zhou Sheng over as well and get his cooperation. However, if they wanted to obtain Zhou Sheng’s powers of control over the Golden Crow Wheel, they would need to continue their fine tuning—— connect Zhao Liang and Zhou Sheng’s consciousness first, then think of a way to let Zhao Liang ‘swallow’ Zhou Sheng’s totem. Assimilate their conscious worlds…
When Yu Hao saw this, a chill ran down his spine.
“How did they think of this swallowing method?” Yu Hao himself had never thought of that before.
“Seize my totem away?” Zhou Sheng muttered, “No wonder…there’s even this kind of method.”
Next up was a lengthy discussion and analysis of ‘totems’. Ideas were put forward and refuted one by one, getting constantly overthrown. Yu Hao was very confused from listening to all of this, but Zhou Sheng watched it very carefully.
Finally, some words were heard in the scene of that memory, it was spoken by one of the researchers.
“First of all, this ‘totem’ symbolises the self. From Zhou Sheng’s explanation to Ou Qihang in the memory segment he lost, we all agree that it is one of the sources of discernibility for the existence of the ‘self’. Why getting the totem symbolizes regaining control over oneself — we have no disagreements regarding this idea, right?”
All the participants answered, “Yes.”
“Then let’s think about it from a different angle. The brainwave integrator may be directly related to Zhou Sheng’s totem. Through its effects on Zhou Sheng’s ‘self’, it indirectly endows Zhou Sheng with his abilities and carries out its functions.”
“That’s possible,” Zhao Liang answered, “It can be considered as a reasonable conjecture.”
In the end, that researcher said, “So if you obtain Zhou Sheng’s ‘totem’, it’s equivalent to controlling a part of his self-consciousness, as well as establishing a connection with the integrator repeater at the same time. If we want to deceive the identity authentication system of the repeater, we can think of ways in this regard.”
This time, the participants didn’t express their objections. After a moment of silence, Zhao Liang said, “That’s fine, let’s try to work in that direction.”
Zhou Sheng snapped his fingers, and the contents of Zhao Liang’s memories disappeared. Finally, the entire process of Zhao Liang making use of Huang Ting for his plans appeared, and it was just as they had guessed. In order to avoid alarming Zhou Sheng, Zhao Liang used Huang Ting as a trap and decided to first observe Zhou Sheng’s strength in his dream, as well as understand the situation. If it went smoothly, then he would go into Zhou Sheng’s spiritual world and think of a way of capturing Zhou Sheng in reality at the same time.
Zhao Liang had specifically looked for Chen Yekai and asked for his cooperation. On the other hand, Chen Yekai stated his terms— after Zhao Liang obtained the Golden Crow Wheel, he wanted him to ascertain the existence of Ryuusei in his memories, and if possible, Chen Yekai wanted to perform a conversion through this method of swallowing one’s consciousness and revive the dead Ryuusei.
“We’ve discussed it; he only said that to obtain Zhao Liang’s trust.” Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao.
Yu Hao nodded. He glanced at Chen Yekai, who smiled and didn’t explain. Yu Hao thought that this might be a real wish of Chen Yekai, though it was impossible for it to be realised— but he might have really thought of it before.
“All right.” Zhou Sheng confirmed all the details, “We now more or less understand your plans. Don’t worry, Zhao Laoshi. As the saying goes, the mentally ill have no constraint on their thoughts, and the intellectually disabled feel happier…”
Te Ljb, “……”
Zhou Sheng, “Sometimes, our lives can be a lot simpler and happier if we don’t think so much. Come, let me help you unload your burdens ba.”
Itjb Oljcu rajgafv rageuuilcu olfgmfis, yea Itbe Vtfcu lucbgfv tlw jcv rcjqqfv tlr olcufgr. Cii bo tlr wfwbglfr gfujgvlcu atf Xbivfc Jgbk Qtffi yfujc yegclcu eq jcv vlrlcafugjafv lcab iluta qjgalmifr yfobgf rmjaafglcu. Itbe Vtfcu qgfrrfv bcf tjcv jujlcra Itjb Oljcu’r obgftfjv, “Xbbv cluta.”
On the platform of Chichén Itzá, a sunlit breeze blew by, turning into countless light particles that intermingled with one another. Zhao Liang’s memories of the Golden Crow Wheel completely disappeared along with the words “good night”.
Ktf atgff bo atfw rabbv delfais. Itbe Vtfcu rmgjamtfv tlr tfjv, gfwjlcfv rlifca obg jktlif, atfc rjlv, “Pa kjr qgfaas vjcufgber atlr alwf.”
“I thought you would take him to your world.” Chen Yekai said, “Looking at this plan of seizing your totem, it is really dangerous.”
Yu Hao said, “It’s best to solve it in other people’s dreams ba. I was really scared witless while watching all that.”
Chen Yekai said, “Taking your totem means taking control of your consciousness…Is that possible?”
Zhou Sheng said, “Go, let’s take a look in my world.”
Zhou Sheng took the other two and returned to the platform in the sky in the colosseum dream world. The three of them looked up at the Golden Crow Wheel. The giant Golden Crow Wheel was radiating prominence-like flares outward.
Chen Yekai said, “I used to think that this Golden Crow Wheel in your dream is completely different from the ones in other people’s dreams.
Zhou Sheng nodded. “It can be considered as a part of my mind’s totem. But speaking of which…we seem to have never tried taking away the most important thing in other people’s hearts. From the very beginning, has no one’s hands been itchy enough to touch other people’s totems?”
“Yes, once.”
Once Yu Hao said this, a sudden realisation dawned upon Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng!
“I gave you my totem, but only a part of it.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng said, “So, I took your totem. Which was why the Golden Crow Wheel thought you turned into me…”
“No,” Yu Hao said, “You turned into me.”
Chen Yekai frowned, “Wait! Who turned into who? The conjecture at Zhao Liang’s meeting makes sense now!”
Yu Hao instantly understood and continued guessing along Chen Yekai’s line of thought, “So, the Golden Crow Wheel thought that part of my consciousness was under Zhou Sheng’s control! Since it’s like there’s a small piece of Zhou Sheng’s soul in my body, I also acquired some of the abilities bestowed by the Golden Crow Wheel!”
“Okay, no matter who got whose totem,” Zhou Sheng immediately said, “As long as this entire process happens directly, un, then the Golden Crow Wheel would judge it this way, which was why I can also…exercise control over your dreamscape.”
Yu Hao said, “You can even remould my dream! You possess the authority in my dream…then later on, I became the Golden Crow Wheel’s Corrector, a secondary administrator!”
Yu Hao understood this time. Although it’s not clear whether totems could be taken away forcibly through ‘seizing’ aside from being ‘given’ away by the original master of the dreamscape, it was theoretically feasible to seize Zhou Sheng’s authority as an administrator!
Chen Yekai said, “We can’t let anyone in here, Zhou Sheng. Otherwise, things will definitely get out of control.”
Zhou Sheng uttered an “un”. “It’s okay, they can’t defeat me in my dream anyway. Also, there’s something even more difficult to deal with underneath.” Then Zhou Sheng gestured below the sea of clouds, “They have to at least defeat the boss before they can get my totem ba? I can’t even defeat my boss.”
“Okay then.” Yu Hao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry, but he had to admit that with Zhou Sheng’s temper in reality, anyone who enters his dreamscape and tried to seize Zhou Sheng’s totem might first fall flat on their faces in front of Satan.
“Next will be the researchers who are in the know, but we’ll have to slowly search for them one by one.” Yu Hao thought for a bit, then continued, “With such a large group of people, we should have no way of confirming their locations ba. Although Zhao Liang has lost his memories, once he wakes up from the machine, won’t he ask the researchers about what had happened? Even if we were to take care of them all at one go, the computers used for analysis are still around, and the data should have all been saved ba?”
“Certainly.” Zhou Sheng said, “This bunch aren’t fools. After waking up, they would definitely try to understand the situation by asking the people around them, right?”
Chen Yekai answered, “It’s normal for them to feel confused for awhile, but this sort of confusion won’t last long. Next, they would hold a meeting to understand everything that had happened, as well as sort out the course of events…”
Yu Hao said, “So in the end, he would still devise all sorts of means and come to find us again.”
“No.” A hint of a smile could be seen in Zhou Sheng’s eyes. He waggled his finger and explained, “He may not take the same action as before. Next, we can enter his dream at any time to wreak havoc. He’s no longer any match for us.”
Chen Yekai said, “You need to stand in his shoes and feel what it is like from his perspective. How would he think of Zhou Sheng now?”
Yu Hao was about to ask why, but it suddenly occurred to him that the sudden disappearance of Zhao Liang’s memories of the Golden Crow Wheel meant that he had lost completely to Zhou Sheng. For him, this kind of blow was evidently quite fatal— he wouldn’t know what exactly Zhou Sheng had done to him in Chen Yekai’s dream, and he would only form an impression of Zhou Sheng as someone who’s extremely strong and mysterious, which could perhaps even give rise to some fear.
“Right, he has already forgotten all about it,” Yu Hao said, “This would make him feel a little afraid.”
“This is a kind of deterrence,” Chen Yekai reminded, “A sort of warning. People who know how to act would just need to think clearly about it, and once they’re done thinking, they wouldn’t continue. He isn’t Ou Qihang. He can get the exact contents of the memories he lost this time, and after linking the causes and effects, it would be quite shocking to him.”
Zhou Sheng, “Zhao Liang will impose fear upon himself on his own. With this fear, we will be almost invincible in his dream.”
Yu Hao uttered an “un” and nodded. He imagined that Zhao Liang should be interrogating his personnel now, and he would interrogate Huang Ting as well. But when will he release Huang Ting?
“Let’s shelve the problem with Zhao Liang first and change our target. Will it be Ren Chong next? Or Qin Guodong?” Zhou Sheng’s jingubang turned into a coin, and he casually tossed it about. “Ren Chong if heads, and Qin Guodong if tails.”
“I’d suggest Ren Chong.” Chen Yekai said, “Once Zhao Liang loses his memory, Ren Chong would soon know that the Golden Crow Wheel he has is a fake.”
Zhou Sheng threw the coin to Chen Yekai. “But don’t forget, Huang Ting hasn’t been released. It’s best to contact Ren Chong as soon as possible to save Huang Ting.”
Yu Hao motioned for Chen Yekai to toss the coin. Zhou Sheng pondered for a moment, then said, “After waking up, to be on the safe side, we should still stay someplace else first.”
Yu Hao said, “Go back to Ying City?”
“Ying City isn’t very safe either.” Zhou Sheng answered, “Everyone would be able to guess that we’d go home, or we could go out and just wander around? As long as we can get through this period…”
Chen Yekai tossed the coin; the coin spun in the air and drew an arc. Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao looked up and watched as the coin fell, but right when the coin landed, Chen Yekai suddenly disappeared.
“You…” Yu Hao stared at Chen Yekai in disbelief. Chen Yekai’s handsome face looked uneasy, and his shadow stretched far behind him as well. But right at that moment, Yu Hao suddenly noticed something—
—the sun hasn’t set yet? But almost three hours have passed!
“Try shooting?” Zhou Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a smile like he had just played a prank. “I bet there’s no bullet in that gun.”
Before anyone could register it, the entire world collapsed with a loud rumble. A rainforest rose steeply from the level ground all around them. Zhao Liang looked blank at first, but his expression changed in an instant.
“This…is still in a dream?!” Zhao Liang muttered with a panic-stricken expression.
“Bin-go!” Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng shouted angrily at the same time and each drew their respective weapons; Zhou Sheng swept out with his rod and instantly flung Zhao Liang’s car away and sent it flying. Yu Hao was immediately dumbstruck; he was currently in another dream! But not long ago, they were still fighting in Huang Ting’s dream, so why…
“Catch him!” Zhou Sheng shouted, “Don’t let him run this time! It’s up to you! Kaikai!”
Chen Yekai threw his flying scalpel out, Zhao Liang turned sideways to avoid it. Just as he was about to escape, vines began curling over from all sides and wrapped Zhao Liang up tightly. Yu Hao flew forward, clutched Zhao Liang’s collar, and took him up to the sky.
Yu Hao, “This reversal is too fast isn’t it?!”
Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng whistled; the black dragon crossed through the sun into Chichén Itzá’s world. Zhou Sheng flipped over and landed on the back of his dragon. Chen Yekai’s Feathered Serpent God flew over from afar and took off him with on its back. Yu Hao threw Zhao Liang to Chen Yekai, who then threw him out again to Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng’s dragon caught ahold of Zhao Liang with its claws, and it flew to the apex of the pyramid.
“Your dream feels so real!” Yu Hao shouted.
Chen Yekai answered, “I designed an area in my dream that’s almost exactly like the environment in reality, and we just so happened to obtain an exceptionally good opportunity. The two of us, as well as this guy, came straight back to my dream from Huang Ting’s.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Next, after I woke Huang Ting up…”
Yu Hao, “You then left the maze world!”
Zhou Sheng, “Correct— after that, I continued sleeping and returned to Kaikai’s dream, then cooperated with him in acting out this play. Pretend to be unconscious, get Kaikai to notify Zhao Liang of my position, and get caught by him…Fortunately, Huang Ting’s memories contained the specifics of the research laboratory. Otherwise, your environment wouldn’t have been able to be established in the end.”
“Which is why I said I had to meet him at least once,” Chen Yekai said, “before I could obtain all the details. Yu Hao was of great help too.”
Te Ljb rjlv, “Qts vlvc’a sbe uesr wjxf atlr mifjg lc jvnjcmf? Tbe akb tlv atlr ogbw wf obg rb ibcu!”
“Qf kfgf jogjlv atja sbe’v gfjilrf sbe kfgf ralii lc j vgfjw.” Itbe Vtfcu rjlv, “Cr ibcu jr P’w cba ys sbeg rlvf, sbeg vgfjwrmjqf klii rajga ab yfmbwf ecrajyif. Qtfc sbe gfjilrf atja sbe’gf lc rbwfbcf firf’r vgfjw, la’ii yf abb fjrs obg sbe ab yf jkjxfcfv, jcv bcmf sbe’gf jkjxf, sbe’ii vlrjqqfjg ogbw Bjlxjl’r vgfjw. Po atja tjqqfcfv, Itjb Oljcu kbeiv yfmbwf rerqlmlber.”
Chen Yekai said, “Before entering the maze, the last dream we were in was the world of Chichén Itzá. I tried giving myself some autosuggestions to construct a dream of you waiting for Zhou Sheng in your home, and so…”
Yu Hao, “Yeah! I thought it was a little strange too, why would I wake up right after passing through the moon when I should’ve returned to Chen Laoshi’s dream instead. The two of you are really…”
Yu Hao finally had a rough understanding of the trap set by Zhou Sheng…one ring interlocking another, it was truly amazing!
Chen Yekai said, “This requires your cooperation, so that you would always waver in your doubts that I might betray the two of you but still choose to believe me in the end. Otherwise, in your dream, you wouldn’t leave your home with me.”
“But even if I did trust you without any reservations at all, I would still follow you, wouldn’t I?”
Zhou Sheng continued, “If you didn’t have that doubt, you would trust Kaikai, so you’ll easily sense that something was wrong.”
“What would be wrong?” Yu Hao asked.
“The one picking you up should be Zhou Sheng, not me.” Chen Yekai said, “It’s only when your subconscious convinces you to believe that Zhou Sheng had been betrayed by me that the one arriving at your doorstep would be me.” Then Chen Yekai started gesturing at Yu Hao while he stood on his Feathered Serpent God. He continued to explain, “Although this thought doesn’t appear in the surface consciousness, as long as the logic in your subconscious is discordant, you would sense this discordance very strongly and further question yourself, then suddenly wake up in the end.”
Yu Hao could roughly understand it. “How did you know that he would follow me back to Chen Laoshi’s dreamscape?”
“We have the same scene designed in both our dreams.” Zhou Sheng said, “I guessed that he has the ability to interfere with and to invade dreamscapes and discussed it with Kaikai several times. Originally, we just wanted to trick him into my dream and take care of him there, but Kaikai insisted on a backup plan…”
“See, it’s good that you listened to me ba?” Chen Yekai said to Zhou Sheng.
“Wu.” Zhou Sheng said, “At first I thought that I could have just agreed to taking him into my dream, but…”
Zhou Sheng explained to Yu Hao for a long time, and it was only then did Yu Hao know that Zhou Sheng and Chen Yekai had already targeted Zhao Liang before this and set up a complex trap to deal with a ‘dream invasion’. After all, as long as the Golden Crow Wheel was in Zhou Sheng’s hands, he was almost invincible. Chen Yekai suggested to set up a scene that was almost identical to that of reality, and no matter who was the one making a move in the end, to just trick them over before dealing with them.
However, Huang Ting’s dream went beyond their imagination. Zhao Liang even injected himself with a stimulant that greatly increased his strength. In the end, Zhou Sheng thought it over for a long time, came up with a way to throw him into Chen Yekai’s dreamscape, then used this dream to take countermeasures against Zhao Liang.
“We’re done, my dear Zhao Laoshi.”
The black dragon and Feathered Serpent God stopped on the platform. Zhao Liang had been thrown into the center, and his whole body was tied up with vines. There was even an apple stuffed into his mouth so he was unable to speak and could only cry out with wuwus.
“Seems like you haven’t figured everything out yet,” Zhou Sheng frowned as he looked at him and casually said, “The effects of the stimulant haven’t died down yet, right?”
Then Zhou Sheng went forward and harshly kicked Zhao Liang. Yu Hao just thought that this scene was really too absurd; right before this, Zhao Liang was still beating them up so energetically until they didn’t even have a chance to fight back, but now, the situation had actually been reversed so forcefully, and he was trussed up like a dumpling?
Chen Yekai said, “Don’t talk to him anymore, he might still have tricks up his sleeves. Get down to business quickly.”
“Letting you off easy then.” Zhou Sheng answered, “Eat the apple, eat it, eat it, eat the damn apple.”
Yu Hao, “……”
While he was unaware, Yu Hao had completed this perfect cooperation with them. Now, he just felt exhausted. “I want to go out and take a bath. I don’t want to play anymore.”
“Okay.” Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao. Chen Yekai raised his hand, and the vines took root in the ground before rising upward with Zhao Liang. Zhao Liang was still uttering muffled wuwus, his pleading gaze signalling that he wanted a chance to explain himself.
But Zhou Sheng ignored him. He raised his hand and forcibly pressed it on Zhao Liang’s forehead.
Zhao Liang’s eyes widened in an instant and looked almost despairingly at the flashing pictures of his memories. Yu Hao was stunned; scenes were flashing by one by one. Chen Yekai said, “Zhao Laoshi is a rather upright man ma.”
Zhao Liang’s life from when he was young to the time he went to college, found a girlfriend, fell in love, settled down, his wife and son going abroad — all of those experiences could be seen at a glance. In this brief moment, Yu Hao saw almost the entire life of this middle-aged man who was nearing his fifties; being misunderstood, getting refuted, demoted, taking up post as a martial arts instructor at first and getting a transfer afterward because of making a mistake, but he was asked by Qin Guodong to join him and enter the investigation team.
Zhao Liang had personally solved several major cases, and he was promoted by Qin Guodong himself and got targeted by Ren Chong. Zhou Sheng’s brows furrowed deeply. The three of them viewed Zhao Liang’s life just like this.
Until he started getting in touch with STA and caught the one in-charge of STA’s workshop, then Chen Yekai said in a low voice, “He got caught indeed.”
Zhou Sheng said, “When we rescue Huang Ting, we have to save him too.”
Yu Hao said, “Let me look at this section?”
Zhou Sheng made a slashing gesture with his finger and let Yu Hao see the group meeting Qin Guodong, Ren Chong, and Zhao Liang partook in. There was no one else at the meeting. Zhao Liang and Ren Chong started arguing and became extremely agitated, their faces turning crimson from anger. Qin Guodong never spoke, and in the end, he was the first to get up and leave.
What they were discussing was whether they should continue tracking down the Golden Crow Wheel, and how they should deal with Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao. In the end, Qin Guodong decided to leave his post, while Ren Chong promised that he wouldn’t lay a finger on Zhou Sheng.
Zhou Sheng tapped on one of the scenes — it was Zhao Liang’s most secretive intention.
Once he got the Golden Crow Wheel and the ability to run freely around dreamscapes, Zhao Liang thought that he would be able to change anyone’s mind from now on and level the score with one move. He had really had enough with the investigation team; with both his hands and feet tied up, he had too many misgivings about elements in reality and couldn’t do anything. The Golden Crow Wheel could place the entire organisation under his control; he wouldn’t need to exhaust so much effort in convincing others to accept his own views, and he would never have to worry about any of the constraints of whatever he does.
“It’s pretty ideal.” Chen Yekai assessed, “Wanting to change the world through this sort of way.”
“It’s a bit crazy.” Zhou Sheng assessed as well, “You were once a good person, why turn to crime? The power over life, death, rewards, and punishment, all of that consolidated in your hands; after letting someone like you get the Golden Crow Wheel, once you let yourself run wild, it should be quite terrifying.”
Zhao Liang gazed at Zhou Sheng, reluctance evident in his eyes.
“Even if you do get to sit in that position, you still wouldn’t be able to do whatever you please.” Chen Yekai evaluated.
Yu Hao said, “But according to his logic, as long as he can get the Golden Crow Wheel, he can do whatever he pleases.”
“Un.” Zhou Sheng answered indifferently, then started looking at the analysis report in Zhao Liang’s memories regarding the Golden Crow Wheel. Within the twinkle of an eye, a huge volume of reports gushed out in an instant through the scenes.
Yu Hao saw the future Zhao Liang imagined—— Zhou Sheng sitting on a chair, Zhao Liang sitting on another, with the Golden Crow Wheel placed in the middle while it was connected to a circuit. The Golden Crow Wheel shone with a blue, electrical arc light.
“This is the ‘cooperation’ you were talking about?” Zhou Sheng answered, “It doesn’t seem very comfortable, look at this.”
Zhou Sheng took another memory out and presented it in front of Chen Yekai and Yu Hao — it was a discussion meeting regarding the Golden Crow Wheel. The researchers started offering their speculations about the operating mechanisms of the Golden Crow Wheel and their views of analysing it, as well as naming it the ‘brainwave integrator repeater’. The basis of their research was very limited; most of it revolved around a copy of the analysis report obtained when Chen Yekai handed the Golden Crow Wheel to the STA. One of their conjectures was that the Golden Crow Wheel lacked the energy to support its operation; once it had enough energy, it would connect people’s dreams through the collective unconscious.
The meeting also verified Yu Hao’s other speculation — even if the Golden Crow Wheel didn’t exist, people could enter dreams as well. It’s just that the influence of a dream without the Golden Crow Wheel is very unstable, and the ‘self-consciousness’ one could feel in a dream would be even more indistinct. On the other hand, the Golden Crow Wheel could strengthen and stabilise the signals of the brain waves that produce dreams, which gives humans the ability to control their own selves and the conscious world in their dreams.
At the end of the meeting, everyone agreed unanimously that they needed to get the Golden Crow Wheel before carrying out further research. It would be best if they could bring Zhou Sheng over as well and get his cooperation. However, if they wanted to obtain Zhou Sheng’s powers of control over the Golden Crow Wheel, they would need to continue their fine tuning—— connect Zhao Liang and Zhou Sheng’s consciousness first, then think of a way to let Zhao Liang ‘swallow’ Zhou Sheng’s totem. Assimilate their conscious worlds…
When Yu Hao saw this, a chill ran down his spine.
“How did they think of this swallowing method?” Yu Hao himself had never thought of that before.
“Seize my totem away?” Zhou Sheng muttered, “No wonder…there’s even this kind of method.”
Next up was a lengthy discussion and analysis of ‘totems’. Ideas were put forward and refuted one by one, getting constantly overthrown. Yu Hao was very confused from listening to all of this, but Zhou Sheng watched it very carefully.
Finally, some words were heard in the scene of that memory, it was spoken by one of the researchers.
“First of all, this ‘totem’ symbolises the self. From Zhou Sheng’s explanation to Ou Qihang in the memory segment he lost, we all agree that it is one of the sources of discernibility for the existence of the ‘self’. Why getting the totem symbolizes regaining control over oneself — we have no disagreements regarding this idea, right?”
All the participants answered, “Yes.”
“Then let’s think about it from a different angle. The brainwave integrator may be directly related to Zhou Sheng’s totem. Through its effects on Zhou Sheng’s ‘self’, it indirectly endows Zhou Sheng with his abilities and carries out its functions.”
“That’s possible,” Zhao Liang answered, “It can be considered as a reasonable conjecture.”
In the end, that researcher said, “So if you obtain Zhou Sheng’s ‘totem’, it’s equivalent to controlling a part of his self-consciousness, as well as establishing a connection with the integrator repeater at the same time. If we want to deceive the identity authentication system of the repeater, we can think of ways in this regard.”
This time, the participants didn’t express their objections. After a moment of silence, Zhao Liang said, “That’s fine, let’s try to work in that direction.”
Zhou Sheng snapped his fingers, and the contents of Zhao Liang’s memories disappeared. Finally, the entire process of Zhao Liang making use of Huang Ting for his plans appeared, and it was just as they had guessed. In order to avoid alarming Zhou Sheng, Zhao Liang used Huang Ting as a trap and decided to first observe Zhou Sheng’s strength in his dream, as well as understand the situation. If it went smoothly, then he would go into Zhou Sheng’s spiritual world and think of a way of capturing Zhou Sheng in reality at the same time.
Zhao Liang had specifically looked for Chen Yekai and asked for his cooperation. On the other hand, Chen Yekai stated his terms— after Zhao Liang obtained the Golden Crow Wheel, he wanted him to ascertain the existence of Ryuusei in his memories, and if possible, Chen Yekai wanted to perform a conversion through this method of swallowing one’s consciousness and revive the dead Ryuusei.
“We’ve discussed it; he only said that to obtain Zhao Liang’s trust.” Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao.
Yu Hao nodded. He glanced at Chen Yekai, who smiled and didn’t explain. Yu Hao thought that this might be a real wish of Chen Yekai, though it was impossible for it to be realised— but he might have really thought of it before.
“All right.” Zhou Sheng confirmed all the details, “We now more or less understand your plans. Don’t worry, Zhao Laoshi. As the saying goes, the mentally ill have no constraint on their thoughts, and the intellectually disabled feel happier…”
Te Ljb, “……”
Zhou Sheng, “Sometimes, our lives can be a lot simpler and happier if we don’t think so much. Come, let me help you unload your burdens ba.”
Itjb Oljcu rajgafv rageuuilcu olfgmfis, yea Itbe Vtfcu lucbgfv tlw jcv rcjqqfv tlr olcufgr. Cii bo tlr wfwbglfr gfujgvlcu atf Xbivfc Jgbk Qtffi yfujc yegclcu eq jcv vlrlcafugjafv lcab iluta qjgalmifr yfobgf rmjaafglcu. Itbe Vtfcu qgfrrfv bcf tjcv jujlcra Itjb Oljcu’r obgftfjv, “Xbbv cluta.”
On the platform of Chichén Itzá, a sunlit breeze blew by, turning into countless light particles that intermingled with one another. Zhao Liang’s memories of the Golden Crow Wheel completely disappeared along with the words “good night”.
Ktf atgff bo atfw rabbv delfais. Itbe Vtfcu rmgjamtfv tlr tfjv, gfwjlcfv rlifca obg jktlif, atfc rjlv, “Pa kjr qgfaas vjcufgber atlr alwf.”
“I thought you would take him to your world.” Chen Yekai said, “Looking at this plan of seizing your totem, it is really dangerous.”
Yu Hao said, “It’s best to solve it in other people’s dreams ba. I was really scared witless while watching all that.”
Chen Yekai said, “Taking your totem means taking control of your consciousness…Is that possible?”
Zhou Sheng said, “Go, let’s take a look in my world.”
Zhou Sheng took the other two and returned to the platform in the sky in the colosseum dream world. The three of them looked up at the Golden Crow Wheel. The giant Golden Crow Wheel was radiating prominence-like flares outward.
Chen Yekai said, “I used to think that this Golden Crow Wheel in your dream is completely different from the ones in other people’s dreams.
Zhou Sheng nodded. “It can be considered as a part of my mind’s totem. But speaking of which…we seem to have never tried taking away the most important thing in other people’s hearts. From the very beginning, has no one’s hands been itchy enough to touch other people’s totems?”
“Yes, once.”
Once Yu Hao said this, a sudden realisation dawned upon Chen Yekai and Zhou Sheng!
“I gave you my totem, but only a part of it.” Yu Hao said.
Zhou Sheng said, “So, I took your totem. Which was why the Golden Crow Wheel thought you turned into me…”
“No,” Yu Hao said, “You turned into me.”
Chen Yekai frowned, “Wait! Who turned into who? The conjecture at Zhao Liang’s meeting makes sense now!”
Yu Hao instantly understood and continued guessing along Chen Yekai’s line of thought, “So, the Golden Crow Wheel thought that part of my consciousness was under Zhou Sheng’s control! Since it’s like there’s a small piece of Zhou Sheng’s soul in my body, I also acquired some of the abilities bestowed by the Golden Crow Wheel!”
“Okay, no matter who got whose totem,” Zhou Sheng immediately said, “As long as this entire process happens directly, un, then the Golden Crow Wheel would judge it this way, which was why I can also…exercise control over your dreamscape.”
Yu Hao said, “You can even remould my dream! You possess the authority in my dream…then later on, I became the Golden Crow Wheel’s Corrector, a secondary administrator!”
Yu Hao understood this time. Although it’s not clear whether totems could be taken away forcibly through ‘seizing’ aside from being ‘given’ away by the original master of the dreamscape, it was theoretically feasible to seize Zhou Sheng’s authority as an administrator!
Chen Yekai said, “We can’t let anyone in here, Zhou Sheng. Otherwise, things will definitely get out of control.”
Zhou Sheng uttered an “un”. “It’s okay, they can’t defeat me in my dream anyway. Also, there’s something even more difficult to deal with underneath.” Then Zhou Sheng gestured below the sea of clouds, “They have to at least defeat the boss before they can get my totem ba? I can’t even defeat my boss.”
“Okay then.” Yu Hao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry, but he had to admit that with Zhou Sheng’s temper in reality, anyone who enters his dreamscape and tried to seize Zhou Sheng’s totem might first fall flat on their faces in front of Satan.
“Next will be the researchers who are in the know, but we’ll have to slowly search for them one by one.” Yu Hao thought for a bit, then continued, “With such a large group of people, we should have no way of confirming their locations ba. Although Zhao Liang has lost his memories, once he wakes up from the machine, won’t he ask the researchers about what had happened? Even if we were to take care of them all at one go, the computers used for analysis are still around, and the data should have all been saved ba?”
“Certainly.” Zhou Sheng said, “This bunch aren’t fools. After waking up, they would definitely try to understand the situation by asking the people around them, right?”
Chen Yekai answered, “It’s normal for them to feel confused for awhile, but this sort of confusion won’t last long. Next, they would hold a meeting to understand everything that had happened, as well as sort out the course of events…”
Yu Hao said, “So in the end, he would still devise all sorts of means and come to find us again.”
“No.” A hint of a smile could be seen in Zhou Sheng’s eyes. He waggled his finger and explained, “He may not take the same action as before. Next, we can enter his dream at any time to wreak havoc. He’s no longer any match for us.”
Chen Yekai said, “You need to stand in his shoes and feel what it is like from his perspective. How would he think of Zhou Sheng now?”
Yu Hao was about to ask why, but it suddenly occurred to him that the sudden disappearance of Zhao Liang’s memories of the Golden Crow Wheel meant that he had lost completely to Zhou Sheng. For him, this kind of blow was evidently quite fatal— he wouldn’t know what exactly Zhou Sheng had done to him in Chen Yekai’s dream, and he would only form an impression of Zhou Sheng as someone who’s extremely strong and mysterious, which could perhaps even give rise to some fear.
“Right, he has already forgotten all about it,” Yu Hao said, “This would make him feel a little afraid.”
“This is a kind of deterrence,” Chen Yekai reminded, “A sort of warning. People who know how to act would just need to think clearly about it, and once they’re done thinking, they wouldn’t continue. He isn’t Ou Qihang. He can get the exact contents of the memories he lost this time, and after linking the causes and effects, it would be quite shocking to him.”
Zhou Sheng, “Zhao Liang will impose fear upon himself on his own. With this fear, we will be almost invincible in his dream.”
Yu Hao uttered an “un” and nodded. He imagined that Zhao Liang should be interrogating his personnel now, and he would interrogate Huang Ting as well. But when will he release Huang Ting?
“Let’s shelve the problem with Zhao Liang first and change our target. Will it be Ren Chong next? Or Qin Guodong?” Zhou Sheng’s jingubang turned into a coin, and he casually tossed it about. “Ren Chong if heads, and Qin Guodong if tails.”
“I’d suggest Ren Chong.” Chen Yekai said, “Once Zhao Liang loses his memory, Ren Chong would soon know that the Golden Crow Wheel he has is a fake.”
Zhou Sheng threw the coin to Chen Yekai. “But don’t forget, Huang Ting hasn’t been released. It’s best to contact Ren Chong as soon as possible to save Huang Ting.”
Yu Hao motioned for Chen Yekai to toss the coin. Zhou Sheng pondered for a moment, then said, “After waking up, to be on the safe side, we should still stay someplace else first.”
Yu Hao said, “Go back to Ying City?”
“Ying City isn’t very safe either.” Zhou Sheng answered, “Everyone would be able to guess that we’d go home, or we could go out and just wander around? As long as we can get through this period…”
Chen Yekai tossed the coin; the coin spun in the air and drew an arc. Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao looked up and watched as the coin fell, but right when the coin landed, Chen Yekai suddenly disappeared.
