“I’ve already instructed my men to inform them,” Ren Chong, “To guarantee that you’re safe here with me.”
Zhou Sheng insisted, “I want to make the call myself.”
“No.” Ren Chong said, “I don’t want to fall into a trap of yours. The group of you really have too many plans, I may just end up failing miserably even if I have the upper hand now.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly laughed. “You actually gave us such a good evaluation, that’s not an easy accomplishment.”
“If this were a usual case that I’m confident in,” Ren Chong said, “I wouldn’t be afraid of you. But this incident is too bizarre. In order to deal with you, I haven’t been in a deep sleep for nearly a month.”
“And I was wondering…” Zhou Sheng muttered, “No wonder I couldn’t enter your dream.”
Ren Chong was only in his fifties, but he looked older than Qin Guodong, who was in his early sixties, or one could say that Qin Guodong maintained himself better than he did. His grey hair was carefully combed back, he didn’t wear glasses, had straight eyebrows, and a high nose bridge. His smile lines were very deep, and his gaze seemed to carry a constant trace of unfathomable misgivings when he looked at others.
“Get up, follow me.” Ren Chong said, “Don’t touch anything, and don’t even think about trying to mount a sneak attack on me. My skills in self-defense aren’t any worse than yours.”
“Don’t dare, really don’t dare.” Zhou Sheng got off the bed. Ren Chong’s men handcuffed him with a pair of rubber handcuffs. Zhou Sheng’s hands were cuffed in front of him. He followed Ren Chong out of the clinic and out of a corridor.
Zhou Sheng had seen the environment around him in Huang Ting’s memories. This was Zhao Liang’s underground research room, so he was now in Yanqing. Ren Chong’s pace was both strong and firm as he took Zhou Sheng and two men across a corridor and into the main hall. They walked down the steps quickly along the long corridor with a metal frame. Zhou Sheng glanced at the computer in the center of the research room.
“This used to be a basement excavated for anti-aircraft warfare and protection against nuclear bombs.” Ren Chong said, “Once the huge steel door falls, no one will be able to get in.”
“Huge what door?” Zhou Sheng was still in the mood to joke around at such a time.
“Don’t ramble about irrelevant things and try to change the subject.” Ren Chong said, “Even if you have a 100 plans, after bumping into me, even you wouldn’t be able to get away.”
Zhou Sheng said, “You really don’t have a sense of humour.”
Ren Chong and Zhou Sheng went to the giant research apparatus. Zhou Sheng frowned deeply; he studied the computer set up in front of him, as well as a small groove in the middle — it was clearly meant to hold the Golden Crow Wheel.
“You’re quite well prepared ma.” Zhou Sheng muttered, “Have you guys known about the Golden Crow Wheel for a long time?”
“Zhao Liang remodelled it.” Ren Chong took a folder that a researcher handed to him and casually flipped through it. “This apparatus is an important equipment used in Germany to analyse brain waves in order to judge and research epilepsy. It was remodelled afterward to cover the cutting-edge domain of ‘EEG Interference’. Many theories were put forward, but few people believed them.”
“P vbc’a ufa la,” Itbe Vtfcu rjlv, “Tbe vbc’a cffv ab fzqijlc atf atfbglfr jcswbgf. Qtja jgf kf ublcu ab vb cbk?”
“Tbe…” Efc Jtbcu kbeiv ufa raewqfv ys Itbe Vtfcu fnfgs alwf tf rqbxf, ktlmt kjr rbwfatlcu tf gjgfis fcmbecafgfv joafg yfmbwlcu j ifjvfg. Lf kjamtfv Itbe Vtfcu obg j ibcu alwf. Itbe Vtfcu kjixfv ab j mtjlg, atfc rja vbkc jii mjiw jcv ecgeooifv.
He patted the arm rest and placed one ankle over his other knee, “Like this? I’ll take the initiative to cooperate with you ba?”
Ren Chong, “……”
Zhou Sheng continued, “Why is your expression so strange?” Seeing that there was a belt on the armrest, he buckled it on one side and motioned to the researchers on one side to help him.
Ren Chong said, “Get down first!”
Ren Chong didn’t know what to do with Zhou Sheng at all. Zhou Sheng glanced sideways at the large number of wires connected to a helmet. He couldn’t do anything to them indeed, so he could only turn around and get off. Ren Chong shrugged. “Give me the Golden Crow Wheel.”
Zhou Sheng had no other choice, so he untied the Golden Crow Wheel and passed it to him. Researchers on the side walked forward and opened up a device set in between the two chairs.
“This is an analyzer Zhao Liang specifically ordered to have custom-made for the integrator.” Ren Chong took the Golden Crow Wheel and said, “Look carefully. Something that you have always had is supposed to be used like this.”
Zhou Sheng frowned, and he studied his surroundings out of the corner of his eye. Every corner had a gunman on guard, and they were constantly keeping a close watch for any movement in the room.
Ren Chong looked down at the Golden Crow Wheel. Its colour was a little dim, but it still seemed a little different from the old fake that Zhou Sheng bought. Tied to it was still the red rope woven for it by Yu Hao.
There was a circular groove in the analyzer. Ren Chong muttered, “It has already been waiting for more than two years…”
Ren Chong placed the Golden Crow Wheel in the analyzer’s groove, then covered it with a transparent cover. At this moment, Zhou Sheng realised that all of the researchers started getting nervous, as if they were waiting for the birth of a historic moment.
“You’re its original owner,” Ren Chong said, “We invited you here to let you witness this moment as well.”
Zhou Sheng fell silent, his brows furrowing deeply. After the transparent cover was on it, the Golden Crow Wheel was embedded in the groove and drew up slowly. Then, Ren Chong instructed, “Start ba.”
A researcher pressed a button on the computer set up. A silver white liquid that looked like it had a life on its own dropped in the cover box, then it started to corrode and dissolve the Golden Crow Wheel!
Zhou Sheng, “!!!”
“Don’t worry,” Ren Chong glanced at Zhou Sheng and explained, “Just letting it return to its original appearance.”
The solution quickly corroded the entire Golden Crow Wheel, as well as the red rope on it, revealing a ring-shaped band wire within, as well as several uneven crystals that looked like water droplets! As the solution receded, the outer shell of the Golden Crow Wheel disintegrated completely and looked like a bare circuit board as it presented itself in front of them!
Ren Chong, “You’ve seen its internal structure before.”
Zhou Sheng forgot for a moment that he and Ren Chong were enemies, not friends. He walked forward and stared at the wonderfully exquisite micro-circuit boards laid out neatly in the cover box and was thoroughly stunned.
“It’s a kind of catalyst that can connect people’s brain waves.” Ren Chong said seriously, “But I think the energy injected inside it when it was first created is almost spent.”
“I’ve always had this question — where did it come from exactly?” Zhou Sheng looked at the complicated wiring; optical fibre filaments that were even thinner than silk connected hundreds of fine, flashing crystals of all sizes, like countless rays of light that connected all the stars in the night sky. Within the shell, a small universe had appeared!
“A very beautiful creation.” Ren Chong said, “The only explanation for its origins is that it came from somewhere outside our planet. Fortunately, it was discovered in an era where science and technology have been developed to what it is today, so mankind doesn’t need to suffer from the regret of letting such a treasure go to waste. Come, everyone should take their respective positions. We’ll start the next step. Zhou Sheng, what do you think it looks like?”
“Like the Milky Way.” Zhou Sheng said.
After the outer shell of the Golden Crow Wheel was dissolved, another researcher entered some instructions, and the transparent cover was filled with magnetic force. The base ‘buzzed’, and the exposed wires and connecting crystals floated into the air. They scattered slightly within the shell and slowly revolved, possessing a dreamy light that could even stir one’s soul, such that everyone couldn’t help but immerse themselves in such a sight.
“Next, you’ll see an even more beautiful scene.” Ren Chong said, “We will inject enough energy into it.”
Zhou Sheng’s heart instantly started to beat violently!
“Charge the integrator, check the power and its reserve power…”
“Three, two, one…”
The countdown on the computer screen ended. Ren Chong pushed an electric switch, evidently a bit nervous as well. When the switch was pushed to its end, a ‘buzz’ sounded, and all of the lights in the research room went out at the same time! This would have been a good opportunity for Zhou Sheng to escape, but his desire to know the truth had already far surpassed his desire to escape. He decided to watch seriously, to see what would happen.
Electrical energy emitted from the maglev base; it was filled with a dazzling blue light. It grew more and more dazzling within the pitch dark underground research room. All of the crystals lit up at almost the same time, and only the biggest crystal remained dim. Yet, it only lasted for several minutes before the electrical discharge on the base turned still, and darkness returned to the surroundings.
“What’s wrong?” Ren Chong asked.
“Not enough electricity.” A researcher said, “The amount of energy it consumed exceeded our expectations.”
Ren Chong took the report and read through it. Zhou Sheng saw that it was the detailed analysis report by the STA when Chen Yekai had sent the Golden Crow Wheel there. All the way since then, they have already been preparing for the Golden Crow Wheel?
“The battery in the central processing area can’t be recharged.” Another researcher said, “The section that exports externally consumes a lot of energy, but we can give it a try.”
Zhou Sheng realised this as well. He asked Ren Chong, “Why?”
It was even less likely for Ren Chong to know, so he could only ask the researcher the same question. One of the researchers answered, “Maybe our method of energy input is wrong. Director Ren, do we continue? This is just the preparatory phase. If the experiment is carried out while charging, a stronger and more stable way of transmitting power may be required.”
“How much energy is needed?” Ren Chong turned around and instructed one of his men, “Go and prepare it, transfer enough resources over. We’ll start the experiment once we’ve made sufficient preparations.”
Zhou Sheng approached the Golden Crow Wheel and gazed at the largest crystal. The other tiny crystals were like stars as they revolved around it. After one round of charging, the tiny stars visible to the naked eye only grew a tiny bit brighter.
“What experiment do you want to do?” Zhou Sheng stared at Ren Chong suspiciously.
Ren Chong said, “There’s no need to expend so much energy to meet you in your dream, but we can do that now.”
Zhou Sheng turned vigilant. Ren Chong’s goal may not be as simple as he thought. What did he want to do? Mobilise the entire area’s power supply to activate all of the Golden Crow Wheel’s functions?
“Come,” Ren Chong said, “let’s strike while the iron is hot and begin now ba.”
Zhou Sheng, “I’d suggest that we wait for a while more?”
However, men came over from all sides, grabbed Zhou Sheng, and pushed him down on the chair. Ren Chong moved his wrists about, loosened his cuffs, rolled his sleeves up, and sat in the other chair. Zhou Sheng knew that struggling would be futile, so he chuckled and saw medical staff come over to inject him with a sedative.
Zhou Sheng said to Ren Chong, “Ren Laoshi, you’re already in your fifties, taking drugs isn’t good for the body.”
Ren Chong said confidently, “Of course I wouldn’t take drugs like Zhao Liang. Even if someone has to take them, it’ll be you. Don’t tell me you didn’t think that I would give you a little neuron suppressant? Aren’t you underestimating me a little too much?”
Zhou Sheng took a deep breath. Ren Chong said, “A life where you’re too arrogant and unbridled without experiencing any total defeat shaped your fearless character. As a human ma, we must know that there will always be someone who will be better than us…”
Zhou Sheng closed his eyes. A medical staff flicked a syringe and injected Zhou Sheng and Ren Chong separately, pushing in the sedative.
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“Monitoring brain wave activity.” A researcher said, “Estimated to enter a deep sleep phase within 10 minutes…”
In the investigation office’s conference room.
“That’s it.” Yu Hao said, “I don’t know if he’ll be trapped in a dream. This plan is easy to discuss, but it’s not really that simple…”
Chen Yekai said, “Zhou Sheng wants you to get a part of his totem, to let you obtain the rights to activate the Golden Crow Wheel.”
Yu Hao nodded. Fu Liqun said, “Should have woken Zhou Sheng up immediately at that time.”
Chen Yekai answered, “With a gun pointed at my head, I couldn’t move. Do you think someone like Ren Chong wouldn’t dare do it? I considered it before, if I were to just struggle and escape regardless of everything else, if Zhou Sheng would be startled awake when a shot is fired. But it would’ve been useless even if he did wake up, since the Golden Crow Wheel would still be taken away by Ren Chong.”
Ou Qihang said, “That’s not important anymore. But I do think your assumption is promising.”
Chen Yekai said, “It’s too dangerous.”
Fu Liqun said, “Have you tried it before?”
Yu Hao, “No. Which is why I need everyone’s help.”
Ou Qihang said, “How will you transmit messages to everyone?”
“I can’t,” Yu Hao, “We can only rely on rapport.”
Chen Yekai said, “Could we design a way to transmit signals to the outside world in dreams? For example, some sort of sensory stimulation, to let us notice that you’re in a bind. It doesn’t need to be too complicated.”
Yu Hao thought for a bit, then said, “It may be possible. It’s like when we dream of running in our dreams, our legs would twitch unconsciously when we sleep at night…un, pay attention to my fingers ba.”
Fu Liqun said, “Give it a try, but it’s best to have a doctor nearby. Just in case it doesn’t work, they can wake you up at any time.”
Yu Hao said, “If I fail, would I even need to wake up?”
“Don’t say that!” Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang said in unison.
Yet Yu Hao looked at Chen Yekai and said, “If Zhou Sheng can’t be rescued, I’ll definitely shuttle around in the subconscious world until I find him. What use is there in waking up alone for me?”
Unexpectedly, Chen Yekai didn’t speak. Yu Hao said seriously, “Chen Laoshi, I know you can understand me.”
“Tbe…” Ye Hltjcu rjlv, “Te Ljb, vbc’a atlcx atja kjs.”
“Ktf kbgra mjrf rmfcjglb lr Itbe Vtfcu’r abafw ufaalcu rflhfv, tlw ibrlcu tlr rfio, jcv ufaalcu yjclrtfv ab atf reymbcrmlber.” Te Ljb rjlv, “Ktfc Efc Jtbcu kbeiv byajlc jii glutar bnfg atf Xbivfc Jgbk Qtffi, gfaegc wf j Itbe Vtfcu lc vffq riffq, jcv tf kbeiv cfnfg yf jyif ab kjxf eq jujlc. Mbg wf, tbk wfjclcuoei kbeiv la yf ab mbcalcef rajslcu jkjxf?”
No one spoke. Yu Hao said, “In any case, I’ve already thought it through. From the moment the plan begins, no one needs to come to wake me up again.”
It was dead quiet in the conference room. Xiao Jian knocked on the door from the outside, then pushed the door and came in. In the face of this silence, she didn’t seem too surprised.
“Boss asks how long more you guys need.” Xiao Jian looked at the watch on her hand, “It’s already 11 o’clock.”
Chen Yekai said, “Good luck, Yu Hao.”
“Good luck.” Fu Liqun said, “Bring Young Master back.”
Ou Qihang said, “Good luck. Don’t forget the words you used to persuade me with in the beginning, Yu Hao.”
Yu Hao nodded and laughed. “Wait for me to summon you guys.”
Several people went out. Qin Guodong’s motorcade was already on standby. Chen Yekai drove his own car. Everyone got in a car one by one. Ou Qihang was the last to get in, and when he got in the car, he handed a bottle of medicine to Yu Hao. Xiao Jian said to them from outside the driver’s seat, “Follow our car later. Yu Hao, what do you want to do?”
Chen Yekai said, “We have our plan, let’s go ba. Hopefully it goes well.”
Yu Hao grabbed a handful of sleeping pills on the car. Ou Qihang said, “Four to five pills are enough for you to sleep for a long time, don’t take too many.”
Fu Liqun twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Yu Hao. Yu Hao took nearly seven or eight pills at one go, then drank water to swallow them. Ou Qihang lay his seat flat, and Fu Liqun held Yu Hao’s hand.
“I want to retrieve the memory of a day from a long, long time ago.” Yu Hao answered, then closed his eyes and entered his dream.
“Entering deep sleep phase…the integrator is starting to work, look!”
The researcher cried in surprise.
Everyone crowded over. The optical fibre-like wires of the Golden Crow Wheel were transmitting a magnificent glow; all of its crystals were shining, and the largest crystal in the middle projected a rippling light.
“Project it with the refraction program.”
The monitor was projected onto a huge screen in the center, and a gorgeous scene presented itself on the screen: a vast sea of clouds with a golden light bursting in all directions. In Zhou Sheng’s dreamscape, on the platform in the sky, he wielded his jingubang as he faced Ren Chong, who was walking towards him.
“No sounds…”
The sea of clouds billowed. Ren Chong walked to the middle of the platform, then looked up at the Golden Crow Wheel.
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“What a grand and spectacular sight, it really is a masterpiece bestowed upon mankind by heaven…” Ren Chong murmured and stared steadily at the Golden Crow Wheel. “This is the so-called ‘totem’ formed after merging with your ‘self-consciousness’ ba, Zhou Sheng. We’ve come this far; have you decided to behave yourself and hand your self-consciousness over to me? Or are you planning on struggling one last time?”
“Hei.” Zhou Sheng sneered, “How haughty, have you forgotten that we’re in my dream?”
“In theory, everyone is omnipotent as long as they can control their self-consciousness in their dreams.” Ren Chong looked around and said in a low voice, “Dreamscapes are your territory. Everything that exists changes because of your free will. But, under the power of the brain wave integrator, strong-willed individuals intervening with weak-willed individuals is the correct path to walk in.”
Zhou Sheng swung his jingubang and clearly felt that his strength was lacking. He watched Ren Chong vigilantly, a faint light emitting from his hand.
“How strong can your will be? As long as I kill you here,” Zhou Sheng smiled, “then the you in reality will never be able to wake up again. Ren Laoshi, think about it, you don’t have that capability.”
Ren Chong said, “How can one capture the tiger’s cub without entering the tiger’s lair? It’s worth it. Since you’re not willing to obediently hand your ‘control rights’ over to me, then don’t blame me for being violent.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly dragged out a line of Golden Fire and shot swiftly towards Ren Chong!
Outside the investigation office, the motorcade drove onto the street. Chen Yekai looked at Yu Hao, who was in the back seat, through his rearview mirror. Fu Liqun was always holding Yu Hao’s hand.
“He’s asleep. Don’t drive too fast.”
“It’s okay. The medicine is working. He won’t wake up so easily.” Chen Yekai answered.
Yu Hao was still lying down and entering his dream. He was covered with Fu Liqun’s jacket; one hand was left exposed outside the jacket, and it was being held by Fu Liqun.
When did our story begin? At the moment I closed the door, deep in my heart, did I still long for the door to be pushed open by him? Time kept rewinding in his mind; the lush greenery that covered the mountains and the plains when spring arrived, the heavy, pure white snow in winter, the golden leaves in autumn…from the moment they fled in the snow and met, countless thoughts flashed through Yu Hao’s mind as if he was watching a trotting horse lamp.
Their video calls when they lived in separate places; Zhou Sheng gasping for breath as he dashed through the platform to chase after the high-speed train that had already departed; their rented apartment in Ying City, the snow outside Dawn of Spring in an Empty Mountain during the Spring Festival, and the snowballs that flew around everywhere, Zhou Sheng shielding him as he stood in front and faced his furious father; the cruise ship that set sail on the river bank, the hearts that were personally handed over in class; Mt. Qing in the distance as viewed from the ferris wheel and the nervous person in front of him; even further back, everything seemed so long ago that it felt like his past life…
Standing on stage during the college’s celebration, Yu Hao looked at the audience and saw Zhou Sheng leaning over the railings at the last row while smiling at him…every day and every night in their dormitory, the chess pieces in his luggage with faded colours, the dark and gloomy Great Wall, as well as the beacon fires that abruptly flared up and dazzled the world, gingko leaves swirling in the air, and everything paused at the instant when Zhou Sheng asked him for a lighter with a cigarette in his mouth.
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Yu Hao walked into his own dreamscape. Without the power of the Golden Crow Wheel, everything seems hazy, as if it was covered with a thin layer of mist. In the distance stood the capital and a mountain range, and the Great Wall even further beyond looked just like an ink painting.
“Here it is.” Yu Hao whispered.
He stood in front of the door to the small cement room and said, “Come ba.”
Yu Hao pushed open that door, but unexpectedly, someone else appeared inside—— the one who had once controlled his totem, his dark self.
At this moment, Dark Yu Hao raised his head and looked at him, seeming bewildered.
Colosseum platform, an intense flare burst out of the Golden Crow Wheel. Zhou Sheng wielded his jingubang with his right hand, while a blazing fire was ignited in his left; he pressed it down toward Ren Chong.
“GET——THE——HELL——OUT!” Zhou Sheng roared angrily.
Ren Chong raised his voice, “Do you know what your biggest mistake is?”
Ren Chong quickly dodged and rushed up to the railings– that explosive speed had appeared again! Just like how Zhao Liang would turn into afterimages, Ren Chong’s speed was even faster. He whooshed with a blow to Zhou Sheng’s waist and struck Zhou Sheng’s left hand where the golden fire was bursting from with one hand; his other hand clenched into a fist, and he brutally punched Zhou Sheng until he was sent flying!
“You’ve always only focused on the influence dreamscapes have on reality, but you seldom think about the impact of physical harm dealt to your physical body on your dreamscape’s self.”
Zhou Sheng propped himself up with his jingubang and looked at Ren Chong. His thinking dulled under the effects of the drug, such that he was unable to withstand Ren Chong’s normal speed. But at this moment, the sea of clouds gathered, transformed, and the back of Zhou Sheng’s black dragon emerged, and it quietly approached Ren Chong from behind. Zhou Sheng looked up at Ren Chong, his gaze carrying a hint of a mischievous smile.
“This is just the beginning.” Ren Chong said, “The Golden Crow Wheel here is your ‘totem’? Don’t play tricks anymore.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly roared with indignance, “You have a fucking death wish!”
The black dragon suddenly lunged out of the sea of clouds and grabbed Ren Chong! Ren Chong was caught off guard and was now held down by the black dragon. He struggled to break free. Golden flames burst out of Zhou Sheng’s hand, and he once again rushed forward!
“I’ve already instructed my men to inform them,” Ren Chong, “To guarantee that you’re safe here with me.”
Zhou Sheng insisted, “I want to make the call myself.”
“No.” Ren Chong said, “I don’t want to fall into a trap of yours. The group of you really have too many plans, I may just end up failing miserably even if I have the upper hand now.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly laughed. “You actually gave us such a good evaluation, that’s not an easy accomplishment.”
“If this were a usual case that I’m confident in,” Ren Chong said, “I wouldn’t be afraid of you. But this incident is too bizarre. In order to deal with you, I haven’t been in a deep sleep for nearly a month.”
“And I was wondering…” Zhou Sheng muttered, “No wonder I couldn’t enter your dream.”
Ren Chong was only in his fifties, but he looked older than Qin Guodong, who was in his early sixties, or one could say that Qin Guodong maintained himself better than he did. His grey hair was carefully combed back, he didn’t wear glasses, had straight eyebrows, and a high nose bridge. His smile lines were very deep, and his gaze seemed to carry a constant trace of unfathomable misgivings when he looked at others.
“Get up, follow me.” Ren Chong said, “Don’t touch anything, and don’t even think about trying to mount a sneak attack on me. My skills in self-defense aren’t any worse than yours.”
“Don’t dare, really don’t dare.” Zhou Sheng got off the bed. Ren Chong’s men handcuffed him with a pair of rubber handcuffs. Zhou Sheng’s hands were cuffed in front of him. He followed Ren Chong out of the clinic and out of a corridor.
Zhou Sheng had seen the environment around him in Huang Ting’s memories. This was Zhao Liang’s underground research room, so he was now in Yanqing. Ren Chong’s pace was both strong and firm as he took Zhou Sheng and two men across a corridor and into the main hall. They walked down the steps quickly along the long corridor with a metal frame. Zhou Sheng glanced at the computer in the center of the research room.
“This used to be a basement excavated for anti-aircraft warfare and protection against nuclear bombs.” Ren Chong said, “Once the huge steel door falls, no one will be able to get in.”
“Huge what door?” Zhou Sheng was still in the mood to joke around at such a time.
“Don’t ramble about irrelevant things and try to change the subject.” Ren Chong said, “Even if you have a 100 plans, after bumping into me, even you wouldn’t be able to get away.”
Zhou Sheng said, “You really don’t have a sense of humour.”
Ren Chong and Zhou Sheng went to the giant research apparatus. Zhou Sheng frowned deeply; he studied the computer set up in front of him, as well as a small groove in the middle — it was clearly meant to hold the Golden Crow Wheel.
“You’re quite well prepared ma.” Zhou Sheng muttered, “Have you guys known about the Golden Crow Wheel for a long time?”
“Zhao Liang remodelled it.” Ren Chong took a folder that a researcher handed to him and casually flipped through it. “This apparatus is an important equipment used in Germany to analyse brain waves in order to judge and research epilepsy. It was remodelled afterward to cover the cutting-edge domain of ‘EEG Interference’. Many theories were put forward, but few people believed them.”
“P vbc’a ufa la,” Itbe Vtfcu rjlv, “Tbe vbc’a cffv ab fzqijlc atf atfbglfr jcswbgf. Qtja jgf kf ublcu ab vb cbk?”
“Tbe…” Efc Jtbcu kbeiv ufa raewqfv ys Itbe Vtfcu fnfgs alwf tf rqbxf, ktlmt kjr rbwfatlcu tf gjgfis fcmbecafgfv joafg yfmbwlcu j ifjvfg. Lf kjamtfv Itbe Vtfcu obg j ibcu alwf. Itbe Vtfcu kjixfv ab j mtjlg, atfc rja vbkc jii mjiw jcv ecgeooifv.
He patted the arm rest and placed one ankle over his other knee, “Like this? I’ll take the initiative to cooperate with you ba?”
Ren Chong, “……”
Zhou Sheng continued, “Why is your expression so strange?” Seeing that there was a belt on the armrest, he buckled it on one side and motioned to the researchers on one side to help him.
Ren Chong said, “Get down first!”
Ren Chong didn’t know what to do with Zhou Sheng at all. Zhou Sheng glanced sideways at the large number of wires connected to a helmet. He couldn’t do anything to them indeed, so he could only turn around and get off. Ren Chong shrugged. “Give me the Golden Crow Wheel.”
Zhou Sheng had no other choice, so he untied the Golden Crow Wheel and passed it to him. Researchers on the side walked forward and opened up a device set in between the two chairs.
“This is an analyzer Zhao Liang specifically ordered to have custom-made for the integrator.” Ren Chong took the Golden Crow Wheel and said, “Look carefully. Something that you have always had is supposed to be used like this.”
Zhou Sheng frowned, and he studied his surroundings out of the corner of his eye. Every corner had a gunman on guard, and they were constantly keeping a close watch for any movement in the room.
Ren Chong looked down at the Golden Crow Wheel. Its colour was a little dim, but it still seemed a little different from the old fake that Zhou Sheng bought. Tied to it was still the red rope woven for it by Yu Hao.
There was a circular groove in the analyzer. Ren Chong muttered, “It has already been waiting for more than two years…”
Ren Chong placed the Golden Crow Wheel in the analyzer’s groove, then covered it with a transparent cover. At this moment, Zhou Sheng realised that all of the researchers started getting nervous, as if they were waiting for the birth of a historic moment.
“You’re its original owner,” Ren Chong said, “We invited you here to let you witness this moment as well.”
Zhou Sheng fell silent, his brows furrowing deeply. After the transparent cover was on it, the Golden Crow Wheel was embedded in the groove and drew up slowly. Then, Ren Chong instructed, “Start ba.”
A researcher pressed a button on the computer set up. A silver white liquid that looked like it had a life on its own dropped in the cover box, then it started to corrode and dissolve the Golden Crow Wheel!
Zhou Sheng, “!!!”
“Don’t worry,” Ren Chong glanced at Zhou Sheng and explained, “Just letting it return to its original appearance.”
The solution quickly corroded the entire Golden Crow Wheel, as well as the red rope on it, revealing a ring-shaped band wire within, as well as several uneven crystals that looked like water droplets! As the solution receded, the outer shell of the Golden Crow Wheel disintegrated completely and looked like a bare circuit board as it presented itself in front of them!
Ren Chong, “You’ve seen its internal structure before.”
Zhou Sheng forgot for a moment that he and Ren Chong were enemies, not friends. He walked forward and stared at the wonderfully exquisite micro-circuit boards laid out neatly in the cover box and was thoroughly stunned.
“It’s a kind of catalyst that can connect people’s brain waves.” Ren Chong said seriously, “But I think the energy injected inside it when it was first created is almost spent.”
“I’ve always had this question — where did it come from exactly?” Zhou Sheng looked at the complicated wiring; optical fibre filaments that were even thinner than silk connected hundreds of fine, flashing crystals of all sizes, like countless rays of light that connected all the stars in the night sky. Within the shell, a small universe had appeared!
“A very beautiful creation.” Ren Chong said, “The only explanation for its origins is that it came from somewhere outside our planet. Fortunately, it was discovered in an era where science and technology have been developed to what it is today, so mankind doesn’t need to suffer from the regret of letting such a treasure go to waste. Come, everyone should take their respective positions. We’ll start the next step. Zhou Sheng, what do you think it looks like?”
“Like the Milky Way.” Zhou Sheng said.
After the outer shell of the Golden Crow Wheel was dissolved, another researcher entered some instructions, and the transparent cover was filled with magnetic force. The base ‘buzzed’, and the exposed wires and connecting crystals floated into the air. They scattered slightly within the shell and slowly revolved, possessing a dreamy light that could even stir one’s soul, such that everyone couldn’t help but immerse themselves in such a sight.
“Next, you’ll see an even more beautiful scene.” Ren Chong said, “We will inject enough energy into it.”
Zhou Sheng’s heart instantly started to beat violently!
“Charge the integrator, check the power and its reserve power…”
“Three, two, one…”
The countdown on the computer screen ended. Ren Chong pushed an electric switch, evidently a bit nervous as well. When the switch was pushed to its end, a ‘buzz’ sounded, and all of the lights in the research room went out at the same time! This would have been a good opportunity for Zhou Sheng to escape, but his desire to know the truth had already far surpassed his desire to escape. He decided to watch seriously, to see what would happen.
Electrical energy emitted from the maglev base; it was filled with a dazzling blue light. It grew more and more dazzling within the pitch dark underground research room. All of the crystals lit up at almost the same time, and only the biggest crystal remained dim. Yet, it only lasted for several minutes before the electrical discharge on the base turned still, and darkness returned to the surroundings.
“What’s wrong?” Ren Chong asked.
“Not enough electricity.” A researcher said, “The amount of energy it consumed exceeded our expectations.”
Ren Chong took the report and read through it. Zhou Sheng saw that it was the detailed analysis report by the STA when Chen Yekai had sent the Golden Crow Wheel there. All the way since then, they have already been preparing for the Golden Crow Wheel?
“The battery in the central processing area can’t be recharged.” Another researcher said, “The section that exports externally consumes a lot of energy, but we can give it a try.”
Zhou Sheng realised this as well. He asked Ren Chong, “Why?”
It was even less likely for Ren Chong to know, so he could only ask the researcher the same question. One of the researchers answered, “Maybe our method of energy input is wrong. Director Ren, do we continue? This is just the preparatory phase. If the experiment is carried out while charging, a stronger and more stable way of transmitting power may be required.”
“How much energy is needed?” Ren Chong turned around and instructed one of his men, “Go and prepare it, transfer enough resources over. We’ll start the experiment once we’ve made sufficient preparations.”
Zhou Sheng approached the Golden Crow Wheel and gazed at the largest crystal. The other tiny crystals were like stars as they revolved around it. After one round of charging, the tiny stars visible to the naked eye only grew a tiny bit brighter.
“What experiment do you want to do?” Zhou Sheng stared at Ren Chong suspiciously.
Ren Chong said, “There’s no need to expend so much energy to meet you in your dream, but we can do that now.”
Zhou Sheng turned vigilant. Ren Chong’s goal may not be as simple as he thought. What did he want to do? Mobilise the entire area’s power supply to activate all of the Golden Crow Wheel’s functions?
“Come,” Ren Chong said, “let’s strike while the iron is hot and begin now ba.”
Zhou Sheng, “I’d suggest that we wait for a while more?”
However, men came over from all sides, grabbed Zhou Sheng, and pushed him down on the chair. Ren Chong moved his wrists about, loosened his cuffs, rolled his sleeves up, and sat in the other chair. Zhou Sheng knew that struggling would be futile, so he chuckled and saw medical staff come over to inject him with a sedative.
Zhou Sheng said to Ren Chong, “Ren Laoshi, you’re already in your fifties, taking drugs isn’t good for the body.”
Ren Chong said confidently, “Of course I wouldn’t take drugs like Zhao Liang. Even if someone has to take them, it’ll be you. Don’t tell me you didn’t think that I would give you a little neuron suppressant? Aren’t you underestimating me a little too much?”
Zhou Sheng took a deep breath. Ren Chong said, “A life where you’re too arrogant and unbridled without experiencing any total defeat shaped your fearless character. As a human ma, we must know that there will always be someone who will be better than us…”
Zhou Sheng closed his eyes. A medical staff flicked a syringe and injected Zhou Sheng and Ren Chong separately, pushing in the sedative.
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“Monitoring brain wave activity.” A researcher said, “Estimated to enter a deep sleep phase within 10 minutes…”
In the investigation office’s conference room.
“That’s it.” Yu Hao said, “I don’t know if he’ll be trapped in a dream. This plan is easy to discuss, but it’s not really that simple…”
Chen Yekai said, “Zhou Sheng wants you to get a part of his totem, to let you obtain the rights to activate the Golden Crow Wheel.”
Yu Hao nodded. Fu Liqun said, “Should have woken Zhou Sheng up immediately at that time.”
Chen Yekai answered, “With a gun pointed at my head, I couldn’t move. Do you think someone like Ren Chong wouldn’t dare do it? I considered it before, if I were to just struggle and escape regardless of everything else, if Zhou Sheng would be startled awake when a shot is fired. But it would’ve been useless even if he did wake up, since the Golden Crow Wheel would still be taken away by Ren Chong.”
Ou Qihang said, “That’s not important anymore. But I do think your assumption is promising.”
Chen Yekai said, “It’s too dangerous.”
Fu Liqun said, “Have you tried it before?”
Yu Hao, “No. Which is why I need everyone’s help.”
Ou Qihang said, “How will you transmit messages to everyone?”
“I can’t,” Yu Hao, “We can only rely on rapport.”
Chen Yekai said, “Could we design a way to transmit signals to the outside world in dreams? For example, some sort of sensory stimulation, to let us notice that you’re in a bind. It doesn’t need to be too complicated.”
Yu Hao thought for a bit, then said, “It may be possible. It’s like when we dream of running in our dreams, our legs would twitch unconsciously when we sleep at night…un, pay attention to my fingers ba.”
Fu Liqun said, “Give it a try, but it’s best to have a doctor nearby. Just in case it doesn’t work, they can wake you up at any time.”
Yu Hao said, “If I fail, would I even need to wake up?”
“Don’t say that!” Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang said in unison.
Yet Yu Hao looked at Chen Yekai and said, “If Zhou Sheng can’t be rescued, I’ll definitely shuttle around in the subconscious world until I find him. What use is there in waking up alone for me?”
Unexpectedly, Chen Yekai didn’t speak. Yu Hao said seriously, “Chen Laoshi, I know you can understand me.”
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No one spoke. Yu Hao said, “In any case, I’ve already thought it through. From the moment the plan begins, no one needs to come to wake me up again.”
It was dead quiet in the conference room. Xiao Jian knocked on the door from the outside, then pushed the door and came in. In the face of this silence, she didn’t seem too surprised.
“Boss asks how long more you guys need.” Xiao Jian looked at the watch on her hand, “It’s already 11 o’clock.”
Chen Yekai said, “Good luck, Yu Hao.”
“Good luck.” Fu Liqun said, “Bring Young Master back.”
Ou Qihang said, “Good luck. Don’t forget the words you used to persuade me with in the beginning, Yu Hao.”
Yu Hao nodded and laughed. “Wait for me to summon you guys.”
Several people went out. Qin Guodong’s motorcade was already on standby. Chen Yekai drove his own car. Everyone got in a car one by one. Ou Qihang was the last to get in, and when he got in the car, he handed a bottle of medicine to Yu Hao. Xiao Jian said to them from outside the driver’s seat, “Follow our car later. Yu Hao, what do you want to do?”
Chen Yekai said, “We have our plan, let’s go ba. Hopefully it goes well.”
Yu Hao grabbed a handful of sleeping pills on the car. Ou Qihang said, “Four to five pills are enough for you to sleep for a long time, don’t take too many.”
Fu Liqun twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Yu Hao. Yu Hao took nearly seven or eight pills at one go, then drank water to swallow them. Ou Qihang lay his seat flat, and Fu Liqun held Yu Hao’s hand.
“I want to retrieve the memory of a day from a long, long time ago.” Yu Hao answered, then closed his eyes and entered his dream.
“Entering deep sleep phase…the integrator is starting to work, look!”
The researcher cried in surprise.
Everyone crowded over. The optical fibre-like wires of the Golden Crow Wheel were transmitting a magnificent glow; all of its crystals were shining, and the largest crystal in the middle projected a rippling light.
“Project it with the refraction program.”
The monitor was projected onto a huge screen in the center, and a gorgeous scene presented itself on the screen: a vast sea of clouds with a golden light bursting in all directions. In Zhou Sheng’s dreamscape, on the platform in the sky, he wielded his jingubang as he faced Ren Chong, who was walking towards him.
“No sounds…”
The sea of clouds billowed. Ren Chong walked to the middle of the platform, then looked up at the Golden Crow Wheel.
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“What a grand and spectacular sight, it really is a masterpiece bestowed upon mankind by heaven…” Ren Chong murmured and stared steadily at the Golden Crow Wheel. “This is the so-called ‘totem’ formed after merging with your ‘self-consciousness’ ba, Zhou Sheng. We’ve come this far; have you decided to behave yourself and hand your self-consciousness over to me? Or are you planning on struggling one last time?”
“Hei.” Zhou Sheng sneered, “How haughty, have you forgotten that we’re in my dream?”
“In theory, everyone is omnipotent as long as they can control their self-consciousness in their dreams.” Ren Chong looked around and said in a low voice, “Dreamscapes are your territory. Everything that exists changes because of your free will. But, under the power of the brain wave integrator, strong-willed individuals intervening with weak-willed individuals is the correct path to walk in.”
Zhou Sheng swung his jingubang and clearly felt that his strength was lacking. He watched Ren Chong vigilantly, a faint light emitting from his hand.
“How strong can your will be? As long as I kill you here,” Zhou Sheng smiled, “then the you in reality will never be able to wake up again. Ren Laoshi, think about it, you don’t have that capability.”
Ren Chong said, “How can one capture the tiger’s cub without entering the tiger’s lair? It’s worth it. Since you’re not willing to obediently hand your ‘control rights’ over to me, then don’t blame me for being violent.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly dragged out a line of Golden Fire and shot swiftly towards Ren Chong!
Outside the investigation office, the motorcade drove onto the street. Chen Yekai looked at Yu Hao, who was in the back seat, through his rearview mirror. Fu Liqun was always holding Yu Hao’s hand.
“He’s asleep. Don’t drive too fast.”
“It’s okay. The medicine is working. He won’t wake up so easily.” Chen Yekai answered.
Yu Hao was still lying down and entering his dream. He was covered with Fu Liqun’s jacket; one hand was left exposed outside the jacket, and it was being held by Fu Liqun.
When did our story begin? At the moment I closed the door, deep in my heart, did I still long for the door to be pushed open by him? Time kept rewinding in his mind; the lush greenery that covered the mountains and the plains when spring arrived, the heavy, pure white snow in winter, the golden leaves in autumn…from the moment they fled in the snow and met, countless thoughts flashed through Yu Hao’s mind as if he was watching a trotting horse lamp.
Their video calls when they lived in separate places; Zhou Sheng gasping for breath as he dashed through the platform to chase after the high-speed train that had already departed; their rented apartment in Ying City, the snow outside Dawn of Spring in an Empty Mountain during the Spring Festival, and the snowballs that flew around everywhere, Zhou Sheng shielding him as he stood in front and faced his furious father; the cruise ship that set sail on the river bank, the hearts that were personally handed over in class; Mt. Qing in the distance as viewed from the ferris wheel and the nervous person in front of him; even further back, everything seemed so long ago that it felt like his past life…
Standing on stage during the college’s celebration, Yu Hao looked at the audience and saw Zhou Sheng leaning over the railings at the last row while smiling at him…every day and every night in their dormitory, the chess pieces in his luggage with faded colours, the dark and gloomy Great Wall, as well as the beacon fires that abruptly flared up and dazzled the world, gingko leaves swirling in the air, and everything paused at the instant when Zhou Sheng asked him for a lighter with a cigarette in his mouth.
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Yu Hao walked into his own dreamscape. Without the power of the Golden Crow Wheel, everything seems hazy, as if it was covered with a thin layer of mist. In the distance stood the capital and a mountain range, and the Great Wall even further beyond looked just like an ink painting.
“Here it is.” Yu Hao whispered.
He stood in front of the door to the small cement room and said, “Come ba.”
Yu Hao pushed open that door, but unexpectedly, someone else appeared inside—— the one who had once controlled his totem, his dark self.
At this moment, Dark Yu Hao raised his head and looked at him, seeming bewildered.
Colosseum platform, an intense flare burst out of the Golden Crow Wheel. Zhou Sheng wielded his jingubang with his right hand, while a blazing fire was ignited in his left; he pressed it down toward Ren Chong.
“GET——THE——HELL——OUT!” Zhou Sheng roared angrily.
Ren Chong raised his voice, “Do you know what your biggest mistake is?”
Ren Chong quickly dodged and rushed up to the railings– that explosive speed had appeared again! Just like how Zhao Liang would turn into afterimages, Ren Chong’s speed was even faster. He whooshed with a blow to Zhou Sheng’s waist and struck Zhou Sheng’s left hand where the golden fire was bursting from with one hand; his other hand clenched into a fist, and he brutally punched Zhou Sheng until he was sent flying!
“You’ve always only focused on the influence dreamscapes have on reality, but you seldom think about the impact of physical harm dealt to your physical body on your dreamscape’s self.”
Zhou Sheng propped himself up with his jingubang and looked at Ren Chong. His thinking dulled under the effects of the drug, such that he was unable to withstand Ren Chong’s normal speed. But at this moment, the sea of clouds gathered, transformed, and the back of Zhou Sheng’s black dragon emerged, and it quietly approached Ren Chong from behind. Zhou Sheng looked up at Ren Chong, his gaze carrying a hint of a mischievous smile.
“This is just the beginning.” Ren Chong said, “The Golden Crow Wheel here is your ‘totem’? Don’t play tricks anymore.”
Zhou Sheng suddenly roared with indignance, “You have a fucking death wish!”
The black dragon suddenly lunged out of the sea of clouds and grabbed Ren Chong! Ren Chong was caught off guard and was now held down by the black dragon. He struggled to break free. Golden flames burst out of Zhou Sheng’s hand, and he once again rushed forward!
