“Just wait to get beaten into pulp ba, idiot.”
Zhou Sheng’s voice resounded through the sky; once the golden light retracted, billions of flaming jingubangs spun rapidly, whistling through the air as they swept through the ground and smashing all of the dark monsters into pieces!
Yu Hao flew out of the cave and leapt up to the Feathered Serpent God. Everyone let out a loud cry and looked up at the sky.
The boundless golden light withdrew, and the jingubangs were recalled again before turning into dinghaishenzhen. Zhou Sheng shone with a brilliant golden light; golden flames burned fiercely on his body that turned into a splendid suit of battle armour. He stepped onto a flaming layer of clouds, shook his jingubang again, roared angrily, then swept it out horizontally! The innumerable aerial roots of the world tree were instantly destroyed and broken apart. Even more flying monsters shot down from the tree, but Zhou Sheng didn’t even spare them a glance; he merely let go, and the flames swept back, dying the dark night a red colour and burning his enemies up!
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Yu Hao, “……”
No one could speak for a moment and just looked up at Zhou Sheng, who was suspended high up in the air clad in a suit of golden armour, as if the God of War had just descended upon earth!
Ren Chong roared madly, “The subconscious should be your final destination!”
“It’s very obvious that it isn’t.” Zhou Sheng replied coldly.
Satan led a magnificent army to charge into the middle of the battlefield. Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways, looking at the earth; Satan flew over and disintegrated into light particles in the sky that drifted into Zhou Sheng’s body.
The world tree actually started moving — it stretched out its aerial roots, rotated, twisted around one another, and assembled themselves into two giant arms that lifted high up before whipping down on Zhou Sheng and gang from overhead.
“Hide behind him!” Yu Hao shouted.
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Zhou Sheng’s selves merged into one; wings that could blot out the sky instantly spread out across his back. Black feathers faded into a bright golden colour, and a vague fierceness could be seen in his gaze. He shook the jingubang with both hands and faced the arm of the world tree that was whipping down from above. Within an instant, the jingubang swung out, and the arm of the world tree shattered with a blast, turning into countless golden lights that fell to the ground. Zhou Sheng swung his jingubang one more time, and half of the giant platform on the world tree was immediately smashed into smithereens — its bricks flew out and fell, as if it was the heavenly palace destroyed with one hit by the Great Sage’s rod!
In that dark night, while facing the Golden Crow Wheel that seemed like a solar eclipse, Zhou Sheng was like the God of War — so dazzling one couldn’t stare straight at him.
Ren Chong said in a low voice, “Come, let me see what other moves you have.”
Zhou Sheng gazed at the platform of the world tree. He flew to the Golden Crow Wheel. The tiny Ren Chong figure raised his hand and pointed the Golden Crow Wheel at the sky; within an instant, countless lightning streaks burst out in the sky that poured down like a rainstorm; fierce gales stirred, and the fog suddenly scattered. Dreamscapes that were like lone islands began reassembling once again, appearing as glass bubbles that guarded the border.
Aerial roots shot out of the world tree once again, intending to reestablish its connections with the dreamscapes.
“Do you think that there’s only the sun behind you?” Zhou Sheng asked coldly.
Then the intensity of the golden light surrounding Zhou Sheng’s body rose again. Everyone raised their arms one after another to shield their eyes from the glare. Zhou Sheng unfolded his wings open and actually emitted his light by force; under the illumination of that intense glare, a ray of golden light swept across level ground, and the connections between dreamscapes disappeared one after another. Under the light, the world tree began to burn, and after burning, verdant leaves with edges that flickered with a golden colour appeared.
Amidst the mountain ranges, it was as if the first light was bursting from the rising sun, and that bright light was coming from the God of War, Zhou Sheng!
Ren Chong let out a mad roar and abandoned his control over the world tree. Behind him, the Golden Crow Wheel gathered a black force field that was aggregating energy as it faced Zhou Sheng, ready to launch a bombardment!
Yet Zhou Sheng crouched down, stepped onto his flaming cloud, and flew towards the wrecked platform at the top of the world tree.
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Everyone flew to the platform. The Golden Crow Wheel released a bombardment of black light; Zhou Sheng was suspended in mid air as he shook his jingubang, turning it into a shield. With a loud blare, sound waves rippled through the air as he resisted this startling hit with a ‘clang’.
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Ren Chong staggered to his feet, saying, “You’re just a kid who’s still wet behind the ears, what right do you have to take this treasure for yourself…?”
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Zhou Sheng said in a low voice, “Just based on the fact that Laozi and the rest are better than you! If you can’t accept it, then just hold it in!”
Huang Ting said angrily, “Ren Chong! You never said that you would use it like this after getting the Golden Crow Wheel!”
The black flames on Ren Chong burst out, and he was drawing dark energy from the solar eclipse. He smiled insidiously, “How I would use it? Do you think it’s a very abominable thing for me to control their wills? Huang Ting, do you really think that without the Golden Crow Wheel, your wills belong only to yourselves?”
Huang Ting, “……”
“In this world, even if it doesn’t exist, people will interfere with your self-consciousness through means you can’t see, can’t figure out, and means you can never think of, until they have firm control over you in their hands. You may think that you’re ‘you’, but you’re just a yes-man who believes you’re not.” Ren Chong said, “How many fanatical periods have we had in history? Have they not shown you enough? Have those experiences not taught all of you that for tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and even billions of people, in reality, since when have these so-called ‘people’ ever had the right to think independently?! They are all just animals that have been brainwashed!”
Ren Chong revealed a sinister expression, “In that case, how much difference is there between being controlled by others and being controlled by me? Do you think that you can wake up after defeating me? Precisely the opposite will happen — reality is an even bigger dream. You are all sinking into the dream, as if you’re all entranced drunks leading a befuddled existence. Even if you seize the world’s totem back from my hands, what can you do in reality?”
Yu Hao said seriously, “No. Your dream, the world’s dream, and even our dreams, are all fundamentally different!”
Ren Chong opened his eyes wide. Zhou Sheng held his shield up and protected his comrades who were behind him.
“Have you ever seen the sun rise in a dream?” Yu Hao said with a smile, “You’ve never seen it before, so you won’t understand.”
“We can give you a live demonstration.” Zhou Sheng pointed at Ren Chong and said overbearingly, “I’ll mouth off with you after we’re done!”
The black flames released by Ren Chong swept across the entire platform. Yu Hao shouted, “Cover Zhou Sheng!”
Zhou Sheng rushed forward, while everyone else followed closely behind to cover him. The black flames spread out; Yu Hao spun and brandished his daggers. With one swing of his daggers, he struck Ren Chong down. The black flames swept everything away, and Ren Chong’s figure appeared in mid air. Chen Yekai flew up, his Feathered Serpent God abruptly bit him, and Ren Chong disintegrated once again!
Zhou Sheng opened up both arms and flew towards the Golden Crow Wheel. He flew around the Golden Crow Wheel as he began circling it and stretched one hand out towards the Golden Crow Wheel.
Light particles erupted from the Golden Crow Wheel with a bang, flowing endlessly toward Zhou Sheng. As they returned to his body, they formed a starry path!
Right at the moment Zhou Sheng began seizing back the totem, it was like the final battle of every world — a hurricane stirred up in the core area, and leaves swirled across the sky. The platform spun around non-stop, rose into the air, and left the tree of the world.
Ren Chong roared madly as he dodged in mid air, but he was being pestered constantly by the other five people. Just as he was about to fly towards Zhou Sheng, a Gundam attacked him from behind and scattered Ren Chong with one cannon shot, turning him into black flames.
“This guy can’t be killed!” Fu Liqun steered his celestial horse to rush forward and stabbed Ren Chong’s body with his halberd, scattering him again. But no matter how many times he scattered, Ren Chong could always gather himself into another form.
Huang Ting shouted, “Wait for Zhou Sheng!”
A gravitational field opened up; all of the leaves in the center of the platform were sucked in crazily, Zhou Sheng kept orbiting about, and most of the prominence around the periphery of the Golden Crow Wheel disappeared. Only the dark fireball in the middle was still burning.
Yu Hao cried out, “Hold on!”
Ren Chong lunged at Yu Hao. Yu Hao flipped in mid air, held up his scepter, and pointed it at Ren Chong; silver white moonlight burst out of his scepter that made Ren Chong howl in fear, and he kept trying to dodge it.
Meanwhile, Zhou Sheng had taken all of the Golden Crow Wheel away.
“Permissions replacement has succeeded.” The Golden Crow Wheel’s voice rang out.
“All—right!” Zhou Sheng shouted readily. He flew over from the sky, his whole body gleaming with a golden light. With the strength of his waist and legs, Zhou Sheng swept his jingubang out, and the figure that Ren Chong had just gathered suffered this strike from Zhou Sheng that hit him squarely in the middle, then his figure exploded into black flames once again.
Ren Chong laughed strangely, “In my dream, you’ll never be able to kill me…”
“Thanks for the reminder, let’s change to another battlefield?” Zhou Sheng revealed a mischievous smile, then swung his rod down on the platform. The entire platform was completely destroyed, its bricks plummeting down to the earth. Following which, what replaced it was a giant Golden Crow Wheel beneath their feet that began to revolve. Ren Chong suddenly flew up, and just as he was about to break free, Zhou Sheng turned his body sideways in a carefree manner and hooked the air with two of his fingers.
Before anyone could register it, the Golden Crow Wheel flipped over along its axis and pocketed all of the people in it!
Yu Hao only saw his vision blur, then he appeared in the Hanging Gardens.
The sun illuminated the earth, and everything was thriving. A huge flaming sword materialised in Huang Ting’s hand, his Archmage robe fluttering in the wind.
“Ren Laoshi,” Huang Ting said, “You’re a really bad example of what a leader should be like.”
Then he swung his sword down on Ren Chong’s head. Ren Chong reflexively raised both hands to block it, and he was hit into the garden with a loud ‘dang’. Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, Fu Liqun, and Yu Hao then caught up; each of them hit him once, and Ren Chong flew towards the earth like an artillery shell.
“He has a physical body now!” Chen Yekai said.
Zhou Sheng placed his left hand on a pergola while he wielded his jingubang with his right. He waited on the terrace of Hanging Gardens and said indifferently, “Un, continue.”
Ren Chong flew to the front, and just as he was about to kick someone, Zhou Sheng carried the jingubang on his back, spun rapidly in situ, and made a homerun, saying, “Bye bye!”
Golden flames burst out, and a portal appeared in front of him, then Zhou Sheng hit Ren Chong and sent him in!
Huang Ting stretched two fingers out in front of his brows and slashed through the air, watching as they disappeared within the door.
Ying City; Ren Chong burst out of the sun and shouted. He smashed into the exterior glass wall of a high-rise building until glass shards flew everywhere. A Gundam flew up to him and raised its hand.
“In this world, there will always be people who aren’t willing to be under your control,” Ou Qihang said, “No matter how small our voices are…”
Then the Gundam punched violently through the floor, hitting Ren Chong down to the ground. Zhou Sheng whistled, and with his jingubang in hand, another Golden Crow Wheel portal appeared; the Gundam had punched Ren Chong straight into the door.
Loulan, Fu Liqun carried his long halberd on his shoulder as he flew over.
Ren Chong’s head was all bloody now. After suffering this series of attacks, he barely had any strength left to retaliate and was now suspended in mid air.
“Admittedly, it’s very important to be sober while one is alive; but no one can…deprive me of…” Fu Liqun’s halberd stabbed into Ren Chong’s abdomen, and he said in a low voice, “My right to have my own dreams!”
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Ren Chong grabbed the halberd and released the last strength he had. Just as he was about to turn around for a flying kick and seize the initiative back, Zhou Sheng appeared behind Ren Chong, and lifted his jingubang as if he was picking up something, and picked up the Golden Crow Wheel like he just performed a conjuring trick. It spun several rounds in the air, then landed on Ren Chong’s head like it was covering him.
“Bye.” Fu Liqun smiled, “Sometimes, dreams are not only dreams, but also dreams.”
Golden light burst out; Ren Chong’s right arm was fractured, and his body was all bloody as he landed harshly on the apex of Chichén Itzá. Chen Yekai walked towards him with a gun in hand and pointed it at Ren Chong, who staggered to his feet.
“While we’re in this age, we often give in to the values that the majority comply with.” Chen Yekai said calmly, “Not everyone is in a dream. Take note, some of them are just pretending to be asleep.”
Ren Chong roared madly and lunged at Chen Yekai. Chen Yekai fired a shot; a gorgeous beam hit his left shoulder, causing Ren Chong to fall back. Zhou Sheng appeared behind Ren Chong’s body and lifted up a portal with his jingubang, and hooked Ren Chong in.
“You can’t wake up someone who’s pretending to be asleep.” Zhou Sheng said to Chen Yekai, “A bad habit of intellectuals.”
“When necessary, they’ll naturally wake up.” Chen Yekai answered.
Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng leapt into the Golden Crow Wheel at the same time; with a flash, they appeared in the world of the Great Wall.
Ren Chong struggled to get up with much difficulty. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng, with one in front and the other at the back, blocked Ren Chong’s way.
Yu Hao gazed at Ren Chong, who had lost almost all of his fighting power. He let out an aggrieved sneer, “I really didn’t expect that you could actually…take him out of the subconscious.”
Yu Hao said, “So your investigation was lacking. As a boss, that’s a fatal mistake.”
Ren Chong said slowly, “Shouldn’t have had that momentary slip up, if I had known that this would happen, then at the very beginning, I would’ve…all of you……all of you…”
Yu Hao said, “The cost of catching me would’ve been too high. The newspaper wouldn’t pretend as if nothing happened. Ren Laoshi, as a reporter, I quite agree with some of your views. There are some people who always hope that everyone would keep sleeping and never wake up for the rest of their lives. But unfortunately, there will always be people who will wake other people up assiduously, even if it interferes with their…dream of freedom.”
Ren Chong said, “Since you think you’re right, then try it ba. I’d like to see how long you can hold on for…”
Yu Hao brandished his scepter and struck down; Zhou Sheng made the Golden Crow Wheel materialise behind Ren Chong, kept him, and the three of them disappeared at the same time before reappearing on the sky platform of the Colosseum world.
The Golden Crow Wheel radiated a prominence-like flare; the sky and earth were flooded with a radiant golden light.
Ren Chong struggled up on the platform. When Zhou Sheng returned to his dream, the dark clouds had all retreated. The platform sunk gradually and coincided with the center of the arena. Under the gaze of the public, the Golden Crow Wheel spewed its flares. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng stood in the middle of the arena, watching as Ren Chong slowly crawled towards the Golden Crow Wheel.
“You can’t go back to your dream anymore.” Zhou Sheng said, “Don’t struggle anymore.”
Zhou Sheng walked forward, but Ren Chong suddenly burst up and lunged forward, intending to perish together with Zhou Sheng. Yu Hao got a huge fright, and just as he was about to go forward, Zhou Sheng kicked Ren Chong into the sky and roared madly, “You still want to resist?! Where are your tranquilizers?”
Ren Chong was punched squarely in the chest, then Zhou Sheng gave him another flying spin kick and shouted, “Where are your stimulants?!”
“What about your aphrodisiac?!” Zhou Sheng’s last punch hit Ren Chong brutally onto the steps in front of the Golden Crow Wheel, and cheers that could shake the heavens rang out in the surroundings! Yu Hao couldn’t bear to look any further and sighed. If it was someone else, he might have gone up to persuade Zhou Sheng to stop, but Ren Chong had caused them too much misery through his torments, and he had almost made a huge mistake that no one could remedy.
Ren Chong could only exhale and not inhale any longer. He lay on the steps, saying slowly, “Zhou Sheng…Zhou Sheng…you…”
“What else do you want to say?” Zhou Sheng decided to might as well keep his jingubang. He stepped on Ren Chong’s chest with one foot. “Say all you want, Laozi will chat with you.”
Yu Hao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry for a moment.
Ren Chong, “You…don’t necessarily need to be like this. I thought you were the one who understands it best…Zhou Sheng, why on earth are you so insistent? As long as you’re willing to give in, what you can get would far surpass everything you see right now!” Then Ren Chong’s eyes shone with a fanatic glint, “Whatever you want! I can give them all to you!”
Zhou Sheng said, “You can’t give me what I want, only my wife can. Do you want to be my wife? Sorry but that idea’s too disgusting.”
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“Quit it.” Yu Hao said, “What next?”
Ren Chong said softly, “To be content with mediocrity, give up the road to success; that’s how you want to live your life?”
Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways to study Ren Chong’s face that was as swollen as a pig’s head from being beat up. He thought for a bit, then said, “I forgot who said this: everyone has only one kind of success, that is, to choose the way you want to live your life for yourself. That’s the principle ba?”
When Yu Hao heard this, a hint of a smile could be seen in his eyes.
“Kill me ba.” Ren Chong said.
Zhou Sheng looked back at Yu Hao, signalling for him to decide. Yu Hao said, “I think this guy’s too ambitious, it’s a little dangerous.”
Zhou Sheng was surprised. “I thought you’d intercede for him.”
Yu Hao said, “No, I’m just afraid that he’d do something again…would it be of any use to erase his memories?”
Zhou Sheng, “If he’s killed here, he’ll fall into a vegetative state. Are you sure you won’t have a thorn stuck in your heart forever due to killing a person’s consciousness?”
“Even if there’s a thorn, then I’ll just live with it.” Yu Hao said, “Compared to the safety of so many people, this is the safest way. In any case, I’m making this choice myself.”
Zhou Sheng lifted his foot that was stepping on Ren Chong and retreated a little. “I’ll bear it with you? Do you want to take a look at his memories?”
Yu Hao went over and held Zhou Sheng’s hand, staring seriously at Ren Chong. Zhou Sheng kept silent for a moment and snapped his fingers.
Ren Chong’s memories burst out and started revolving around him — the scope kept expanding, and they were presented in front of the two of them like a trotting horse lamp. Yu Hao could roughly guess a bit of Ren Chong’s past, but he didn’t expect that the truth would be this tragic.
Ren Chong was 56-years-old this year, but the memory that left a deepest impression on him was still how he had personally witnessed his own father committing suicide when he was just a child, while others around him rejoiced with enthusiasm and cheered. He looked at the people around him in bewilderment, and as if he was infected by their enthusiasm, he started cheering as well. Immediately following which was his adolescent period; he spent a long time in exile in a barren land, struggling with everyone, stabbing each other in the dark, and implicating others.
“Lf’r qgfaas eciemxs.” Itbe Vtfcu rjlv.
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He was very dissatisfied with his position at the special investigation team, and he always hoped to return to his previous post. What appeared the most in his memories was how the humans in this world shouted slogans, cheered incessantly, and a period where everyone in the country were fanatics.
“He might have some Stockholm tendencies.” Yu Hao summarised simply.
“Wu.” Zhou Sheng said, “Hoping to return to that era. Actually, I have to admit that a portion of what he said was right.”
Yu Hao looked at Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng shook his head helplessly and released golden flames from his palm. He considered whether to destroy these memories or to strangle this guy to death. At this point now, Yu Hao couldn’t really do it either, but suddenly, the Golden Crow Wheel said something.
“Warning.” Golden Crow Wheel said, “Energy in output circuit overload, CPU has run out of energy.”
“No more electricity?” Zhou Sheng shouted, “It can’t be ba!”
Golden Crow Wheel said, “Energy is insufficient, shutting down soon.”
Zhou Sheng, “……”
When Ren Chong heard this, no one knew where his strength came from as he immediately turned around and crawled towards the Golden Crow Wheel. Zhou Sheng shouted, “Wait!”
Zhou Sheng hadn’t even gone forward yet when Ren Chong already hugged the edge of the Golden Crow Wheel in a demented manner. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng often flew in and out of the Golden Crow Wheel, but they had never really come into contact with the wheel in dreams. Now, the prominence instantly started to burn Ren Chong’s whole body, and he let out a blood-curdling screech.
Yu Hao wanted to go forward to pull him away, but he was abruptly dragged back by Zhou Sheng and into his embrace. Half of Ren Chong’s body squeezed into the Golden Crow Wheel; he let out a mad cry and was burned until nothing was left.
“He escaped?” Yu Hao asked.
Zhou Sheng shook his head. “His memories have been burned too, let him be ba. That lower half of his body looks terrifying no matter how you look at it……get the hell in, who cares where you go?”
The moment Ren Chong climbed into the Golden Crow Wheel, the flames had already burned away most of his memories. They just didn’t know if this guy would fall into a vegetative state when he woke up in reality. Zhou Sheng went forward and kicked him, and kicked the remaining lower half of Ren Chong’s body into the Golden Crow Wheel.
“Warning, energy is insufficient. Automatic shutdown in a minute.” Golden Crow Wheel’s voice rang out.
“Hold on!” Zhou Sheng walked towards the Golden Crow Wheel and said, “I have something to say to you.”
Golden Crow Wheel, “Overseers, please ensure that all work is done before shutdown.”
Yu Hao, “Golden Crow Wheel, can we still charge you?”
Golden Crow Wheel, “At this stage, adapted energy source for the CPU can’t be detected.”
Zhou Sheng stared at the Golden Crow Wheel in a daze. Golden flames appeared in his hand, and he looked down at his right hand, then looked up again.
Meanwhile, the Golden Crow Wheel was very quiet. Yu Hao held Zhou Sheng’s hand tightly.
“Thank you.” Yu Hao suddenly said.
Zhou Sheng remained silent for a long time, then said, “Un. Thank you, Golden Crow Wheel.”
Yu Hao wanted to say something, but reined it in, and Zhou Sheng made a ‘shh’ gesture. He said, “Don’t say anything, look.”
The Golden Crow Wheel turned still quietly and made a sound.
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“Automatic shutdown in 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7…”
The sun gradually dimmed, and the prominence kept shrinking toward the center of the Golden Crow Wheel. The sun erupted with a white, dazzling beam as if it was collapsing. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng held hands as they stood in front of that beam. Yu Hao raised his hand, and the light particles of his totem materialised in his palm that flew toward the Golden Crow Wheel.
“3, 2, 1. Thank you for your usage, good bye.”
The Golden Crow Wheel disappeared with a bang, and the world fell into darkness. However, right at the next moment, another ball of warm light appeared in place of the Golden Crow Wheel; its light was getting stronger and stronger, and along with the jingle of the music box, it illuminated the world!
Zhou Sheng started laughing. He turned around and embraced Yu Hao.
Yu Hao closed his eyes. Zhou Sheng lowered his head and kissed him on his lips. In the instant Yu Hao woke up, he realized he had woken up in the pitch dark car.
Street lights in all directions were lit up again. It was 4.30 AM, and the lights in the town were flashing once again.
Zhou Sheng, who was originally sound asleep, tightened his grip on Yu Hao’s hand. He opened his eyes and sat up from the reclining chair. Yu Hao was thoroughly spent and let out a long sigh.
In the underground research room, in the middle of the Golden Crow Wheel, the largest crystal turned completely dark. Then, lights in the surrounding lit up, and the hall of the research home was bright again.
Everyone who had collapsed all over the floor looked baffled as they got up one after another. Qin Guodong swayed from side to side with a splitting headache, and he was the first to snap out of his daze. He shouted, “Put your weapons down! There’s nowhere to escape to anymore!”
The researchers stepped back in succession. Qin Guodong led his men forward and took off Ren Chong’s helmet. Ren Chong was still unconscious; he fell from his chair and kept convulsing. Xiao Jian went forward to open the lid of the cover box and removed the inner core of the Golden Crow Wheel, as well as its base.
Qin Guodong ordered, “Give Huang Ting a call and ask them to go back and wait first. I’ll return it to him afterward.”
Chen Yekai twisted the key and started the car up. No one talked on the car and just remained sitting quietly.
Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng were holding hands. Yu Hao said, “I’m so tired.”
“Young Master’s awake? Are you Young Master?” Fu Liqun asked.
Zhou Sheng said impatiently, “No! I’m the Great Devil, Zhou Sheng!”
Everyone laughed, and Zhou Sheng was amused too. He turned his head sideways to look at Yu Hao. There was a hint of a smile in Yu Hao’s eyes, as well as some tears as he looked at Zhou Sheng, then their lips lightly touched.
“Ai ai.” Fu Liqun, who was in the back seat, said, “Take note.”
“Take note of your influence.” Ou Qihang said.
Chen Yekai looked at them through the rearview mirror. Huang Ting answered a call and simply said a few words to Qin Guodong, then passed his message to Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng didn’t reply. Yu Hao said, “Where do we go now? Home?”
“Let’s go to the Great Wall ba.” Zhou Sheng said, “We might be able to catch the sunrise.”
“It feels like I’ve been dreaming for a really long time, but it lasted for only a moment…”
Six people walked up the eastern section of the Great Wall in the dark. Yu Hao said, “Time should have stopped completely. What Ren Chong intervened in at last was the entire collective unconscious’ world.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Those driving on the road, the high-speed rail, airplanes — if everyone had fallen asleep at the same time, then they would’ve been done for. Fortunately, see, nothing happened.”
“It really is like a dream ah.” Ou Qihang stretched amidst the cold winds and said, “I can barely distinguish whether this is reality or not anymore.”
Zhou Sheng pulled Yu Hao’s hand and climbed up the Great Wall’s steps. “My dear wife, are you cold?”
“I’m okay.” Yu Hao answered, “I wore more layers today…”
Zhou Sheng said, “Mine’s warm though, let’s switch.”
Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao switched their jackets. Zhou Sheng placed one hand in his pocket and said, “Yo, you even brought this out?” Then he took out the silver music box.
Yu Hao said, “Kaikai said you got caught, then asked me to quickly pack my things and go downstairs. I didn’t know what I should bring. I didn’t even take the keys and just took the music box out.”
Zhou Sheng started laughing. Six people climbed to the top of the Great Wall and sat in one row, facing east. The wind was bitingly cold; the banner of a Cultural Festival fluttered in the winds on the Great Wall. The marble white colour of the dawn sky broke through the horizon, and the light of dawn shone upon the earth.
“The sun is rising.” Yu Hao said.
The winds stopped for a brief moment. In that tranquility, Zhou Sheng winded up the music box tightly, and as an accompaniment for the rising sun that shone upon the world, 《A Little Happiness》started playing.
“I’ve heard that song so many times I’m sick of it.” Fu Liqun said.
“We’ll change to another one next time.” Yu Hao laughed.
The sun rose; the mountain ranges and rivers faced the reddish-gold glow of daybreak, leaving the darkness and restoring their endless appearance in the daytime.
The sun rose; under the clear blue sky, thousands of rays of golden light criss crossed with one another, and just like Zhou Sheng stepping onto his flaming cloud in the dream, it blanketed the heavens and earth as raging flames brazenly set the dome of heaven on fire, awakening all living things that were fast asleep.
The sun rose; and like the many sunrises they saw, those brilliant memories, the morning mist dissipated under the sunlight. Amidst the music, Yu Hao leaned on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder and watched this scene quietly. There was no earth-shattering change, nor was there the cries of tens of thousands of beasts and the swirling of bricks; it was just like every sunrise for the past five billion years — ordinary, yet not that ordinary at all. It nourished the world that all living things depend on for survival. A ray of sunlight spilled into their souls; crisscrossing dreams were instantly separated from reality, and the distinction was clear.
The sun rose as usual, its sunlight shining brightly upon the world. Zhou Sheng suddenly said to Yu Hao, “Yi? Look to the West.”
“Ah? There’s another sun?” Ou Qihang asked.
Everyone laughed. Yu Hao looked to the West and said, “The moon’s still here.”
There was a very, very indistinct outline of a full moon, but it was still hanging in the sky, so faint that it could barely be seen anymore.
Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways, and took advantage of this time to lightly kiss Yu Hao’s ear. Yu Hao instantly flushed red from his neck all the way up to his ears, and he said sternly to Zhou Sheng, “I remember quite a lot of things now. I’ll settle all of them with you when we get home.”
Zhou Sheng, “Uh…”
“Just wait to get beaten into pulp ba, idiot.”
Zhou Sheng’s voice resounded through the sky; once the golden light retracted, billions of flaming jingubangs spun rapidly, whistling through the air as they swept through the ground and smashing all of the dark monsters into pieces!
Yu Hao flew out of the cave and leapt up to the Feathered Serpent God. Everyone let out a loud cry and looked up at the sky.
The boundless golden light withdrew, and the jingubangs were recalled again before turning into dinghaishenzhen. Zhou Sheng shone with a brilliant golden light; golden flames burned fiercely on his body that turned into a splendid suit of battle armour. He stepped onto a flaming layer of clouds, shook his jingubang again, roared angrily, then swept it out horizontally! The innumerable aerial roots of the world tree were instantly destroyed and broken apart. Even more flying monsters shot down from the tree, but Zhou Sheng didn’t even spare them a glance; he merely let go, and the flames swept back, dying the dark night a red colour and burning his enemies up!
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Yu Hao, “……”
No one could speak for a moment and just looked up at Zhou Sheng, who was suspended high up in the air clad in a suit of golden armour, as if the God of War had just descended upon earth!
Ren Chong roared madly, “The subconscious should be your final destination!”
“It’s very obvious that it isn’t.” Zhou Sheng replied coldly.
Satan led a magnificent army to charge into the middle of the battlefield. Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways, looking at the earth; Satan flew over and disintegrated into light particles in the sky that drifted into Zhou Sheng’s body.
The world tree actually started moving — it stretched out its aerial roots, rotated, twisted around one another, and assembled themselves into two giant arms that lifted high up before whipping down on Zhou Sheng and gang from overhead.
“Hide behind him!” Yu Hao shouted.
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Zhou Sheng’s selves merged into one; wings that could blot out the sky instantly spread out across his back. Black feathers faded into a bright golden colour, and a vague fierceness could be seen in his gaze. He shook the jingubang with both hands and faced the arm of the world tree that was whipping down from above. Within an instant, the jingubang swung out, and the arm of the world tree shattered with a blast, turning into countless golden lights that fell to the ground. Zhou Sheng swung his jingubang one more time, and half of the giant platform on the world tree was immediately smashed into smithereens — its bricks flew out and fell, as if it was the heavenly palace destroyed with one hit by the Great Sage’s rod!
In that dark night, while facing the Golden Crow Wheel that seemed like a solar eclipse, Zhou Sheng was like the God of War — so dazzling one couldn’t stare straight at him.
Ren Chong said in a low voice, “Come, let me see what other moves you have.”
Zhou Sheng gazed at the platform of the world tree. He flew to the Golden Crow Wheel. The tiny Ren Chong figure raised his hand and pointed the Golden Crow Wheel at the sky; within an instant, countless lightning streaks burst out in the sky that poured down like a rainstorm; fierce gales stirred, and the fog suddenly scattered. Dreamscapes that were like lone islands began reassembling once again, appearing as glass bubbles that guarded the border.
Aerial roots shot out of the world tree once again, intending to reestablish its connections with the dreamscapes.
“Do you think that there’s only the sun behind you?” Zhou Sheng asked coldly.
Then the intensity of the golden light surrounding Zhou Sheng’s body rose again. Everyone raised their arms one after another to shield their eyes from the glare. Zhou Sheng unfolded his wings open and actually emitted his light by force; under the illumination of that intense glare, a ray of golden light swept across level ground, and the connections between dreamscapes disappeared one after another. Under the light, the world tree began to burn, and after burning, verdant leaves with edges that flickered with a golden colour appeared.
Amidst the mountain ranges, it was as if the first light was bursting from the rising sun, and that bright light was coming from the God of War, Zhou Sheng!
Ren Chong let out a mad roar and abandoned his control over the world tree. Behind him, the Golden Crow Wheel gathered a black force field that was aggregating energy as it faced Zhou Sheng, ready to launch a bombardment!
Yet Zhou Sheng crouched down, stepped onto his flaming cloud, and flew towards the wrecked platform at the top of the world tree.
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Everyone flew to the platform. The Golden Crow Wheel released a bombardment of black light; Zhou Sheng was suspended in mid air as he shook his jingubang, turning it into a shield. With a loud blare, sound waves rippled through the air as he resisted this startling hit with a ‘clang’.
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Ren Chong staggered to his feet, saying, “You’re just a kid who’s still wet behind the ears, what right do you have to take this treasure for yourself…?”
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Zhou Sheng said in a low voice, “Just based on the fact that Laozi and the rest are better than you! If you can’t accept it, then just hold it in!”
Huang Ting said angrily, “Ren Chong! You never said that you would use it like this after getting the Golden Crow Wheel!”
The black flames on Ren Chong burst out, and he was drawing dark energy from the solar eclipse. He smiled insidiously, “How I would use it? Do you think it’s a very abominable thing for me to control their wills? Huang Ting, do you really think that without the Golden Crow Wheel, your wills belong only to yourselves?”
Huang Ting, “……”
“In this world, even if it doesn’t exist, people will interfere with your self-consciousness through means you can’t see, can’t figure out, and means you can never think of, until they have firm control over you in their hands. You may think that you’re ‘you’, but you’re just a yes-man who believes you’re not.” Ren Chong said, “How many fanatical periods have we had in history? Have they not shown you enough? Have those experiences not taught all of you that for tens of millions, hundreds of millions, and even billions of people, in reality, since when have these so-called ‘people’ ever had the right to think independently?! They are all just animals that have been brainwashed!”
Ren Chong revealed a sinister expression, “In that case, how much difference is there between being controlled by others and being controlled by me? Do you think that you can wake up after defeating me? Precisely the opposite will happen — reality is an even bigger dream. You are all sinking into the dream, as if you’re all entranced drunks leading a befuddled existence. Even if you seize the world’s totem back from my hands, what can you do in reality?”
Yu Hao said seriously, “No. Your dream, the world’s dream, and even our dreams, are all fundamentally different!”
Ren Chong opened his eyes wide. Zhou Sheng held his shield up and protected his comrades who were behind him.
“Have you ever seen the sun rise in a dream?” Yu Hao said with a smile, “You’ve never seen it before, so you won’t understand.”
“We can give you a live demonstration.” Zhou Sheng pointed at Ren Chong and said overbearingly, “I’ll mouth off with you after we’re done!”
The black flames released by Ren Chong swept across the entire platform. Yu Hao shouted, “Cover Zhou Sheng!”
Zhou Sheng rushed forward, while everyone else followed closely behind to cover him. The black flames spread out; Yu Hao spun and brandished his daggers. With one swing of his daggers, he struck Ren Chong down. The black flames swept everything away, and Ren Chong’s figure appeared in mid air. Chen Yekai flew up, his Feathered Serpent God abruptly bit him, and Ren Chong disintegrated once again!
Zhou Sheng opened up both arms and flew towards the Golden Crow Wheel. He flew around the Golden Crow Wheel as he began circling it and stretched one hand out towards the Golden Crow Wheel.
Light particles erupted from the Golden Crow Wheel with a bang, flowing endlessly toward Zhou Sheng. As they returned to his body, they formed a starry path!
Right at the moment Zhou Sheng began seizing back the totem, it was like the final battle of every world — a hurricane stirred up in the core area, and leaves swirled across the sky. The platform spun around non-stop, rose into the air, and left the tree of the world.
Ren Chong roared madly as he dodged in mid air, but he was being pestered constantly by the other five people. Just as he was about to fly towards Zhou Sheng, a Gundam attacked him from behind and scattered Ren Chong with one cannon shot, turning him into black flames.
“This guy can’t be killed!” Fu Liqun steered his celestial horse to rush forward and stabbed Ren Chong’s body with his halberd, scattering him again. But no matter how many times he scattered, Ren Chong could always gather himself into another form.
Huang Ting shouted, “Wait for Zhou Sheng!”
A gravitational field opened up; all of the leaves in the center of the platform were sucked in crazily, Zhou Sheng kept orbiting about, and most of the prominence around the periphery of the Golden Crow Wheel disappeared. Only the dark fireball in the middle was still burning.
Yu Hao cried out, “Hold on!”
Ren Chong lunged at Yu Hao. Yu Hao flipped in mid air, held up his scepter, and pointed it at Ren Chong; silver white moonlight burst out of his scepter that made Ren Chong howl in fear, and he kept trying to dodge it.
Meanwhile, Zhou Sheng had taken all of the Golden Crow Wheel away.
“Permissions replacement has succeeded.” The Golden Crow Wheel’s voice rang out.
“All—right!” Zhou Sheng shouted readily. He flew over from the sky, his whole body gleaming with a golden light. With the strength of his waist and legs, Zhou Sheng swept his jingubang out, and the figure that Ren Chong had just gathered suffered this strike from Zhou Sheng that hit him squarely in the middle, then his figure exploded into black flames once again.
Ren Chong laughed strangely, “In my dream, you’ll never be able to kill me…”
“Thanks for the reminder, let’s change to another battlefield?” Zhou Sheng revealed a mischievous smile, then swung his rod down on the platform. The entire platform was completely destroyed, its bricks plummeting down to the earth. Following which, what replaced it was a giant Golden Crow Wheel beneath their feet that began to revolve. Ren Chong suddenly flew up, and just as he was about to break free, Zhou Sheng turned his body sideways in a carefree manner and hooked the air with two of his fingers.
Before anyone could register it, the Golden Crow Wheel flipped over along its axis and pocketed all of the people in it!
Yu Hao only saw his vision blur, then he appeared in the Hanging Gardens.
The sun illuminated the earth, and everything was thriving. A huge flaming sword materialised in Huang Ting’s hand, his Archmage robe fluttering in the wind.
“Ren Laoshi,” Huang Ting said, “You’re a really bad example of what a leader should be like.”
Then he swung his sword down on Ren Chong’s head. Ren Chong reflexively raised both hands to block it, and he was hit into the garden with a loud ‘dang’. Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, Fu Liqun, and Yu Hao then caught up; each of them hit him once, and Ren Chong flew towards the earth like an artillery shell.
“He has a physical body now!” Chen Yekai said.
Zhou Sheng placed his left hand on a pergola while he wielded his jingubang with his right. He waited on the terrace of Hanging Gardens and said indifferently, “Un, continue.”
Ren Chong flew to the front, and just as he was about to kick someone, Zhou Sheng carried the jingubang on his back, spun rapidly in situ, and made a homerun, saying, “Bye bye!”
Golden flames burst out, and a portal appeared in front of him, then Zhou Sheng hit Ren Chong and sent him in!
Huang Ting stretched two fingers out in front of his brows and slashed through the air, watching as they disappeared within the door.
Ying City; Ren Chong burst out of the sun and shouted. He smashed into the exterior glass wall of a high-rise building until glass shards flew everywhere. A Gundam flew up to him and raised its hand.
“In this world, there will always be people who aren’t willing to be under your control,” Ou Qihang said, “No matter how small our voices are…”
Then the Gundam punched violently through the floor, hitting Ren Chong down to the ground. Zhou Sheng whistled, and with his jingubang in hand, another Golden Crow Wheel portal appeared; the Gundam had punched Ren Chong straight into the door.
Loulan, Fu Liqun carried his long halberd on his shoulder as he flew over.
Ren Chong’s head was all bloody now. After suffering this series of attacks, he barely had any strength left to retaliate and was now suspended in mid air.
“Admittedly, it’s very important to be sober while one is alive; but no one can…deprive me of…” Fu Liqun’s halberd stabbed into Ren Chong’s abdomen, and he said in a low voice, “My right to have my own dreams!”
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Ren Chong grabbed the halberd and released the last strength he had. Just as he was about to turn around for a flying kick and seize the initiative back, Zhou Sheng appeared behind Ren Chong, and lifted his jingubang as if he was picking up something, and picked up the Golden Crow Wheel like he just performed a conjuring trick. It spun several rounds in the air, then landed on Ren Chong’s head like it was covering him.
“Bye.” Fu Liqun smiled, “Sometimes, dreams are not only dreams, but also dreams.”
Golden light burst out; Ren Chong’s right arm was fractured, and his body was all bloody as he landed harshly on the apex of Chichén Itzá. Chen Yekai walked towards him with a gun in hand and pointed it at Ren Chong, who staggered to his feet.
“While we’re in this age, we often give in to the values that the majority comply with.” Chen Yekai said calmly, “Not everyone is in a dream. Take note, some of them are just pretending to be asleep.”
Ren Chong roared madly and lunged at Chen Yekai. Chen Yekai fired a shot; a gorgeous beam hit his left shoulder, causing Ren Chong to fall back. Zhou Sheng appeared behind Ren Chong’s body and lifted up a portal with his jingubang, and hooked Ren Chong in.
“You can’t wake up someone who’s pretending to be asleep.” Zhou Sheng said to Chen Yekai, “A bad habit of intellectuals.”
“When necessary, they’ll naturally wake up.” Chen Yekai answered.
Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng leapt into the Golden Crow Wheel at the same time; with a flash, they appeared in the world of the Great Wall.
Ren Chong struggled to get up with much difficulty. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng, with one in front and the other at the back, blocked Ren Chong’s way.
Yu Hao gazed at Ren Chong, who had lost almost all of his fighting power. He let out an aggrieved sneer, “I really didn’t expect that you could actually…take him out of the subconscious.”
Yu Hao said, “So your investigation was lacking. As a boss, that’s a fatal mistake.”
Ren Chong said slowly, “Shouldn’t have had that momentary slip up, if I had known that this would happen, then at the very beginning, I would’ve…all of you……all of you…”
Yu Hao said, “The cost of catching me would’ve been too high. The newspaper wouldn’t pretend as if nothing happened. Ren Laoshi, as a reporter, I quite agree with some of your views. There are some people who always hope that everyone would keep sleeping and never wake up for the rest of their lives. But unfortunately, there will always be people who will wake other people up assiduously, even if it interferes with their…dream of freedom.”
Ren Chong said, “Since you think you’re right, then try it ba. I’d like to see how long you can hold on for…”
Yu Hao brandished his scepter and struck down; Zhou Sheng made the Golden Crow Wheel materialise behind Ren Chong, kept him, and the three of them disappeared at the same time before reappearing on the sky platform of the Colosseum world.
The Golden Crow Wheel radiated a prominence-like flare; the sky and earth were flooded with a radiant golden light.
Ren Chong struggled up on the platform. When Zhou Sheng returned to his dream, the dark clouds had all retreated. The platform sunk gradually and coincided with the center of the arena. Under the gaze of the public, the Golden Crow Wheel spewed its flares. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng stood in the middle of the arena, watching as Ren Chong slowly crawled towards the Golden Crow Wheel.
“You can’t go back to your dream anymore.” Zhou Sheng said, “Don’t struggle anymore.”
Zhou Sheng walked forward, but Ren Chong suddenly burst up and lunged forward, intending to perish together with Zhou Sheng. Yu Hao got a huge fright, and just as he was about to go forward, Zhou Sheng kicked Ren Chong into the sky and roared madly, “You still want to resist?! Where are your tranquilizers?”
Ren Chong was punched squarely in the chest, then Zhou Sheng gave him another flying spin kick and shouted, “Where are your stimulants?!”
“What about your aphrodisiac?!” Zhou Sheng’s last punch hit Ren Chong brutally onto the steps in front of the Golden Crow Wheel, and cheers that could shake the heavens rang out in the surroundings! Yu Hao couldn’t bear to look any further and sighed. If it was someone else, he might have gone up to persuade Zhou Sheng to stop, but Ren Chong had caused them too much misery through his torments, and he had almost made a huge mistake that no one could remedy.
Ren Chong could only exhale and not inhale any longer. He lay on the steps, saying slowly, “Zhou Sheng…Zhou Sheng…you…”
“What else do you want to say?” Zhou Sheng decided to might as well keep his jingubang. He stepped on Ren Chong’s chest with one foot. “Say all you want, Laozi will chat with you.”
Yu Hao didn’t know if he should laugh or cry for a moment.
Ren Chong, “You…don’t necessarily need to be like this. I thought you were the one who understands it best…Zhou Sheng, why on earth are you so insistent? As long as you’re willing to give in, what you can get would far surpass everything you see right now!” Then Ren Chong’s eyes shone with a fanatic glint, “Whatever you want! I can give them all to you!”
Zhou Sheng said, “You can’t give me what I want, only my wife can. Do you want to be my wife? Sorry but that idea’s too disgusting.”
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“Quit it.” Yu Hao said, “What next?”
Ren Chong said softly, “To be content with mediocrity, give up the road to success; that’s how you want to live your life?”
Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways to study Ren Chong’s face that was as swollen as a pig’s head from being beat up. He thought for a bit, then said, “I forgot who said this: everyone has only one kind of success, that is, to choose the way you want to live your life for yourself. That’s the principle ba?”
When Yu Hao heard this, a hint of a smile could be seen in his eyes.
“Kill me ba.” Ren Chong said.
Zhou Sheng looked back at Yu Hao, signalling for him to decide. Yu Hao said, “I think this guy’s too ambitious, it’s a little dangerous.”
Zhou Sheng was surprised. “I thought you’d intercede for him.”
Yu Hao said, “No, I’m just afraid that he’d do something again…would it be of any use to erase his memories?”
Zhou Sheng, “If he’s killed here, he’ll fall into a vegetative state. Are you sure you won’t have a thorn stuck in your heart forever due to killing a person’s consciousness?”
“Even if there’s a thorn, then I’ll just live with it.” Yu Hao said, “Compared to the safety of so many people, this is the safest way. In any case, I’m making this choice myself.”
Zhou Sheng lifted his foot that was stepping on Ren Chong and retreated a little. “I’ll bear it with you? Do you want to take a look at his memories?”
Yu Hao went over and held Zhou Sheng’s hand, staring seriously at Ren Chong. Zhou Sheng kept silent for a moment and snapped his fingers.
Ren Chong’s memories burst out and started revolving around him — the scope kept expanding, and they were presented in front of the two of them like a trotting horse lamp. Yu Hao could roughly guess a bit of Ren Chong’s past, but he didn’t expect that the truth would be this tragic.
Ren Chong was 56-years-old this year, but the memory that left a deepest impression on him was still how he had personally witnessed his own father committing suicide when he was just a child, while others around him rejoiced with enthusiasm and cheered. He looked at the people around him in bewilderment, and as if he was infected by their enthusiasm, he started cheering as well. Immediately following which was his adolescent period; he spent a long time in exile in a barren land, struggling with everyone, stabbing each other in the dark, and implicating others.
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He was very dissatisfied with his position at the special investigation team, and he always hoped to return to his previous post. What appeared the most in his memories was how the humans in this world shouted slogans, cheered incessantly, and a period where everyone in the country were fanatics.
“He might have some Stockholm tendencies.” Yu Hao summarised simply.
“Wu.” Zhou Sheng said, “Hoping to return to that era. Actually, I have to admit that a portion of what he said was right.”
Yu Hao looked at Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng shook his head helplessly and released golden flames from his palm. He considered whether to destroy these memories or to strangle this guy to death. At this point now, Yu Hao couldn’t really do it either, but suddenly, the Golden Crow Wheel said something.
“Warning.” Golden Crow Wheel said, “Energy in output circuit overload, CPU has run out of energy.”
“No more electricity?” Zhou Sheng shouted, “It can’t be ba!”
Golden Crow Wheel said, “Energy is insufficient, shutting down soon.”
Zhou Sheng, “……”
When Ren Chong heard this, no one knew where his strength came from as he immediately turned around and crawled towards the Golden Crow Wheel. Zhou Sheng shouted, “Wait!”
Zhou Sheng hadn’t even gone forward yet when Ren Chong already hugged the edge of the Golden Crow Wheel in a demented manner. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng often flew in and out of the Golden Crow Wheel, but they had never really come into contact with the wheel in dreams. Now, the prominence instantly started to burn Ren Chong’s whole body, and he let out a blood-curdling screech.
Yu Hao wanted to go forward to pull him away, but he was abruptly dragged back by Zhou Sheng and into his embrace. Half of Ren Chong’s body squeezed into the Golden Crow Wheel; he let out a mad cry and was burned until nothing was left.
“He escaped?” Yu Hao asked.
Zhou Sheng shook his head. “His memories have been burned too, let him be ba. That lower half of his body looks terrifying no matter how you look at it……get the hell in, who cares where you go?”
The moment Ren Chong climbed into the Golden Crow Wheel, the flames had already burned away most of his memories. They just didn’t know if this guy would fall into a vegetative state when he woke up in reality. Zhou Sheng went forward and kicked him, and kicked the remaining lower half of Ren Chong’s body into the Golden Crow Wheel.
“Warning, energy is insufficient. Automatic shutdown in a minute.” Golden Crow Wheel’s voice rang out.
“Hold on!” Zhou Sheng walked towards the Golden Crow Wheel and said, “I have something to say to you.”
Golden Crow Wheel, “Overseers, please ensure that all work is done before shutdown.”
Yu Hao, “Golden Crow Wheel, can we still charge you?”
Golden Crow Wheel, “At this stage, adapted energy source for the CPU can’t be detected.”
Zhou Sheng stared at the Golden Crow Wheel in a daze. Golden flames appeared in his hand, and he looked down at his right hand, then looked up again.
Meanwhile, the Golden Crow Wheel was very quiet. Yu Hao held Zhou Sheng’s hand tightly.
“Thank you.” Yu Hao suddenly said.
Zhou Sheng remained silent for a long time, then said, “Un. Thank you, Golden Crow Wheel.”
Yu Hao wanted to say something, but reined it in, and Zhou Sheng made a ‘shh’ gesture. He said, “Don’t say anything, look.”
The Golden Crow Wheel turned still quietly and made a sound.
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“Automatic shutdown in 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7…”
The sun gradually dimmed, and the prominence kept shrinking toward the center of the Golden Crow Wheel. The sun erupted with a white, dazzling beam as if it was collapsing. Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng held hands as they stood in front of that beam. Yu Hao raised his hand, and the light particles of his totem materialised in his palm that flew toward the Golden Crow Wheel.
“3, 2, 1. Thank you for your usage, good bye.”
The Golden Crow Wheel disappeared with a bang, and the world fell into darkness. However, right at the next moment, another ball of warm light appeared in place of the Golden Crow Wheel; its light was getting stronger and stronger, and along with the jingle of the music box, it illuminated the world!
Zhou Sheng started laughing. He turned around and embraced Yu Hao.
Yu Hao closed his eyes. Zhou Sheng lowered his head and kissed him on his lips. In the instant Yu Hao woke up, he realized he had woken up in the pitch dark car.
Street lights in all directions were lit up again. It was 4.30 AM, and the lights in the town were flashing once again.
Zhou Sheng, who was originally sound asleep, tightened his grip on Yu Hao’s hand. He opened his eyes and sat up from the reclining chair. Yu Hao was thoroughly spent and let out a long sigh.
In the underground research room, in the middle of the Golden Crow Wheel, the largest crystal turned completely dark. Then, lights in the surrounding lit up, and the hall of the research home was bright again.
Everyone who had collapsed all over the floor looked baffled as they got up one after another. Qin Guodong swayed from side to side with a splitting headache, and he was the first to snap out of his daze. He shouted, “Put your weapons down! There’s nowhere to escape to anymore!”
The researchers stepped back in succession. Qin Guodong led his men forward and took off Ren Chong’s helmet. Ren Chong was still unconscious; he fell from his chair and kept convulsing. Xiao Jian went forward to open the lid of the cover box and removed the inner core of the Golden Crow Wheel, as well as its base.
Qin Guodong ordered, “Give Huang Ting a call and ask them to go back and wait first. I’ll return it to him afterward.”
Chen Yekai twisted the key and started the car up. No one talked on the car and just remained sitting quietly.
Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng were holding hands. Yu Hao said, “I’m so tired.”
“Young Master’s awake? Are you Young Master?” Fu Liqun asked.
Zhou Sheng said impatiently, “No! I’m the Great Devil, Zhou Sheng!”
Everyone laughed, and Zhou Sheng was amused too. He turned his head sideways to look at Yu Hao. There was a hint of a smile in Yu Hao’s eyes, as well as some tears as he looked at Zhou Sheng, then their lips lightly touched.
“Ai ai.” Fu Liqun, who was in the back seat, said, “Take note.”
“Take note of your influence.” Ou Qihang said.
Chen Yekai looked at them through the rearview mirror. Huang Ting answered a call and simply said a few words to Qin Guodong, then passed his message to Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng didn’t reply. Yu Hao said, “Where do we go now? Home?”
“Let’s go to the Great Wall ba.” Zhou Sheng said, “We might be able to catch the sunrise.”
“It feels like I’ve been dreaming for a really long time, but it lasted for only a moment…”
Six people walked up the eastern section of the Great Wall in the dark. Yu Hao said, “Time should have stopped completely. What Ren Chong intervened in at last was the entire collective unconscious’ world.”
Zhou Sheng said, “Those driving on the road, the high-speed rail, airplanes — if everyone had fallen asleep at the same time, then they would’ve been done for. Fortunately, see, nothing happened.”
“It really is like a dream ah.” Ou Qihang stretched amidst the cold winds and said, “I can barely distinguish whether this is reality or not anymore.”
Zhou Sheng pulled Yu Hao’s hand and climbed up the Great Wall’s steps. “My dear wife, are you cold?”
“I’m okay.” Yu Hao answered, “I wore more layers today…”
Zhou Sheng said, “Mine’s warm though, let’s switch.”
Zhou Sheng and Yu Hao switched their jackets. Zhou Sheng placed one hand in his pocket and said, “Yo, you even brought this out?” Then he took out the silver music box.
Yu Hao said, “Kaikai said you got caught, then asked me to quickly pack my things and go downstairs. I didn’t know what I should bring. I didn’t even take the keys and just took the music box out.”
Zhou Sheng started laughing. Six people climbed to the top of the Great Wall and sat in one row, facing east. The wind was bitingly cold; the banner of a Cultural Festival fluttered in the winds on the Great Wall. The marble white colour of the dawn sky broke through the horizon, and the light of dawn shone upon the earth.
“The sun is rising.” Yu Hao said.
The winds stopped for a brief moment. In that tranquility, Zhou Sheng winded up the music box tightly, and as an accompaniment for the rising sun that shone upon the world, 《A Little Happiness》started playing.
“I’ve heard that song so many times I’m sick of it.” Fu Liqun said.
“We’ll change to another one next time.” Yu Hao laughed.
The sun rose; the mountain ranges and rivers faced the reddish-gold glow of daybreak, leaving the darkness and restoring their endless appearance in the daytime.
The sun rose; under the clear blue sky, thousands of rays of golden light criss crossed with one another, and just like Zhou Sheng stepping onto his flaming cloud in the dream, it blanketed the heavens and earth as raging flames brazenly set the dome of heaven on fire, awakening all living things that were fast asleep.
The sun rose; and like the many sunrises they saw, those brilliant memories, the morning mist dissipated under the sunlight. Amidst the music, Yu Hao leaned on Zhou Sheng’s shoulder and watched this scene quietly. There was no earth-shattering change, nor was there the cries of tens of thousands of beasts and the swirling of bricks; it was just like every sunrise for the past five billion years — ordinary, yet not that ordinary at all. It nourished the world that all living things depend on for survival. A ray of sunlight spilled into their souls; crisscrossing dreams were instantly separated from reality, and the distinction was clear.
The sun rose as usual, its sunlight shining brightly upon the world. Zhou Sheng suddenly said to Yu Hao, “Yi? Look to the West.”
“Ah? There’s another sun?” Ou Qihang asked.
Everyone laughed. Yu Hao looked to the West and said, “The moon’s still here.”
There was a very, very indistinct outline of a full moon, but it was still hanging in the sky, so faint that it could barely be seen anymore.
Zhou Sheng turned his head sideways, and took advantage of this time to lightly kiss Yu Hao’s ear. Yu Hao instantly flushed red from his neck all the way up to his ears, and he said sternly to Zhou Sheng, “I remember quite a lot of things now. I’ll settle all of them with you when we get home.”
Zhou Sheng, “Uh…”
