A long silence followed.
Qian Duoduo suddenly spoke. "Zhao Meiyou, the intruder in that generative dream, and all these things you know—did Diao Chan tell you?"
In the generative dream, Diao Chan had told Zhao Meiyou that his body would die due to a malfunction in the dream-linking machine, but his brain would be preserved and transplanted into a different body. Before the next round of the experiment officially began, there would be a time lag. During this period, his brain wouldn't be completely wiped, meaning he would retain his previous memories. Simultaneously, due to the body swap, the residual quantum ripples in his brain would be shaken, potentially allowing him to remember many things from before the brainwashing.
This was how Zhao Meiyou had recalled the explosion in the Ancient Capital all those years ago—he had been stabbed by Diao Chan and hadn't had time to press the detonator.
Qian Duoduo said the Fusion Experiment had truly begun with the explosion of that quantum bomb. Everyone in the Ancient Capital at the time had been affected by the magnetic field triggered by the blast, becoming "Archaeologists" who could freely enter and exit the quantum field thresholds. Consequently, the Antarctic branch had obtained a large number of satisfactory experimental subjects.
If that was the case, Diao Chan’s stabbing of him back then had an explanation. He might have learned the truth about the quantum bomb from somewhere and wanted to stop him.
But there were many ways to stop someone. Why use such a violent and high-risk method as a stabbing?
Zhao Meiyou believed the most likely reason was that Diao Chan’s own state had been highly unstable at the time. It was very possible that after Madam Diao became an experimental subject, Diao Chan had followed in her footsteps and undergone some unknown modification. This meant that when Zhao Meiyou returned to the Ancient Capital from the Metropolis and Diao Chan visited him during his imprisonment, Zhao Meiyou had assumed the man had used the Diao family’s influence to break through the layers of security. In hindsight, Diao Chan might have already been under control even then.
Madam Diao had always been quick to sell out her son; it wasn't surprising. In their subsequent conversation, Zhao Meiyou had received a hint from Diao Chan and decided to detonate the quantum bomb before the Antarctic branch officially took over the Ancient Capital.
Diao Chan’s arrival at Experimental Site No. 2 might have been a desperate attempt to break through Antarctic control to stop the detonation, but he arrived too late. Combined with his already unstable mental state, he had simply drawn a blade and struck.
But the experiment had happened anyway. At that time, only the final password remained before the shrine could be opened; it wouldn't have been difficult for the Antarctic branch to crack it.
"What exactly is the deal with Diao Chan?" Zhao Meiyou finally asked. "Is he one of your experimental subjects that went wrong?"
"I am not a researcher; you shouldn't lump me in with them," Qian Duoduo replied. "But Diao Chan certainly has issues. Do you know why he tried to stab you in Site 000?"
In the memories Zhao Meiyou could recall, Diao Chan had stabbed him a total of three times.
The first was years ago in the real Ancient Capital, to stop him from detonating the quantum bomb. The second was in the Ancient Capital within Site 000, where Diao Chan had tried to stab him but failed. The third was in the generative dream, where Diao Chan made a stabbing motion to interfere with his consciousness, allowing him to remain awake during the events that followed and glimpse the truth.
Though he didn't know why Diao Chan had tried to stab him the second time in the ruins, by deduction, it must have also been for his own good.
Zhao Meiyou looked at Qian Duoduo. "Why?"
"Previously, in Site S45, Diao Chan showed clear signs of dissolution. Or rather, he had already dissolved. Though I’m not sure what you two did in the ruins afterward, Diao Chan’s current state is abnormal. It’s not simple insanity; he has been severely affected by the quantum field threshold. It’s uncertain if he even still exists in reality," Qian Duoduo said. "Zhao Meiyou, you said you saw Diao Chan in the generative dream. That might not have been the real him."
"That’s why the Diao Chan who suddenly appeared in Site 000 tried to stab you. It’s a common reaction for an Archaeologist after being dissolved by the field. They lose their reason and only repeat actions they performed while alive."
"The Diao Chan in reality is likely already dead."
Before the words had fully landed, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open.
Simultaneously, as if someone had tossed a flashbang into the air, the floors above the 900th level suddenly blazed with light. Alarms shrieked shrilly in the distance. In an instant, police cars swarmed, their sirens wailing as they cast massive pillars of light through the sky. Even the room they were in was struck by a beam of light that crashed through the window like a bolt of lightning.
An extra person was now in the room, flashing them a grin. "Good evening, gentlemen. My idiot old friend and his lapdog lover—how’s the catching up going?"
Qian Duoduo turned his head. "Diao Chan."
The commotion outside was clearly Diao Chan’s doing—a classic feint. Right now, the eyes of the entire 900th floor were likely drawn over there; no one would notice what was happening in this laboratory.
Diao Chan nodded at him, then tossed something to Zhao Meiyou. It was a pack of Marlboros.
"Qian Duoduo, you’re right about one thing and wrong about another. I am indeed dead, but who in this room hasn't died before?" He pointed to the mountain of Zhao Meiyous beneath the glass floor. "Oh, you don't count. Strictly speaking, you aren't human."
"Coming here was an unwise move," Qian Duoduo said. "The Metropolis government maintains extremely strict surveillance above the 900th floor. If you leave now, you might still make it."
"I know," Diao Chan said nonchalantly. "I didn't plan on leaving this time anyway."
Zhao Meiyou’s hand froze as he reached for a cigarette. He glared at him. "What did you say?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Zhao Mo-de. I haven't finished yet." Diao Chan sighed. "There are two hardest professions in the world: being a mother, and being a relationship counselor. I’ve watched you two love each other so many times without a happy ending; I might as well settle this ill-fated karma for good."
Zhao Meiyou snapped, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Zhao Mo-de," Diao Chan looked at him. "I specifically waited until you finished asking all your questions before I came in. Now I’m asking you: do you still love Qian Duoduo?"
Zhao Meiyou shut his mouth and continued to glare.
"See? Even a saint and a martyr couldn't give birth to such a brainless creature." Diao Chan shook his head. "Since you can't make a decision, I’ll make it for you."
"Diao Chan, what do you mean?"
"Qian Duoduo just said I’m crazy, and I do feel a bit off. Do you know why I stabbed you in Site 000?"
Without waiting for Zhao Meiyou to answer, he continued, "Because I think every reincarnation is actually a dream."
"We go deeper and deeper into the dream layers, just sleeping on and on. And there’s only one way to wake up: death."
"Every death is an awakening. As long as we wake up layer by layer, we’ll eventually return to true reality."
Zhao Meiyou knew immediately that this was nonsense. Even if they were dreaming, death would only cause the dream to deepen. Combined with what Qian Duoduo had said, Diao Chan’s current state really did seem like a post-dissolution reaction.
But if Diao Chan had truly dissolved, how could he appear in reality?
Before Zhao Meiyou could finish that thought, he heard Diao Chan say, "Zhao Mo-de, we’ve been through 2,024 reincarnations. I stabbed you once in the generative dream, which counts as one awakening. We’re still 2,023 short."
As he spoke, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at Zhao Meiyou.
"Holy shit," Zhao Meiyou said. "You’re not actually going to shoot, are you?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Diao Chan asked. "Do you really want to continue this experiment? Do you want to keep loving Qian Duoduo?"
Zhao Meiyou didn't want to contemplate that life-or-death question right now; even if he did, he couldn't reach a conclusion in this situation. He could only say, "Put the gun down first."
Diao Chan took a step back instead. He looked at Qian Duoduo, then at Zhao Meiyou, and suddenly crossed himself—the gesture made him look even more like a psychiatric patient. The man suddenly began to recite: "Zhao Meiyou, Qian Duoduo, do you swear in the name of God to accept each other as partners, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
What the hell was this? The cigarette nearly fell out of Zhao Meiyou’s mouth. But then, a voice spoke beside his ear: "I do."
This time, the cigarette really did fall out.
He turned his head and saw Qian Duoduo’s lips moving. "I solemnly swear in the name of God to accept Zhao Meiyou as my partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish him, until death do us part."
"Zhao Meiyou," Diao Chan looked at him. "And you?"
It was a truly absurd scene. Old friends at each other's throats atop a sea of corpses. This should have been a battlefield where they questioned each other or shed blood. Yet, it was as if a wedding march had suddenly played in the middle of a war; cannons and bullets turned into cream cake, and enemies threw roses at each other, celebrating the union of their leaders before they went to bed to finish each other off.
The brain cannot control the heart.
Zhao Meiyou wasn't afraid to admit that for a split second, his heart had skipped a beat.
"I heard you, Zhao Meiyou," Qian Duoduo’s voice came. "I love you, too."
Zhao Meiyou realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud and was instantly struck with horror.
According to the previous logic, with only one reincarnation left, Qian Duoduo’s personality growth would reach 100%. At that moment, he would steal Zhao Meiyou's brain.
Diao Chan’s voice rang out immediately after. "By the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pronounce you husband and wife! What God has joined together, let no man put asunder! Will the couple please exchange tokens—Zhao Meiyou, please offer up your brain!"
Even if this Diao Chan was a real, living person, Zhao Meiyou wanted to rip his head off right now. But before he could move, Diao Chan raised the gun again. This time, he aimed it at his own temple.
"Zhao Mo-de, since you’ve made your choice, I can only offer my blessings. But this sister-in-law Qian Duoduo is a bit terrifying. Let’s be brothers again in your next life when you’re single."
"Whether it’s reality or not, for those in love, it might all be a beautiful dream." He smiled. "But a single dog like me still wants to wake up."
He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.
"Brother, I’ll wait for you after the 2,023rd gunshot."
The shot rang out.
"Diao Chan—!!!"
***
