Chapter 42: Armies Facing Off? Time to Tie the Knot

A long silence stretched out.

Qian Duoduo suddenly spoke up. “Zhao Meiyou, that intruder in the Generated Dream, and all these things you know—is it Diao Chan who told you?”

In the Generated Dream, Diao Chan had informed Zhao Meiyou that his body would die due to a malfunction in the Dream Link Machine, but his brain would be preserved and transplanted into another body. There would be a time gap before the next round of experiments officially began. During that interval, his brain wouldn’t be fully wiped, meaning it would retain previous memories. Moreover, the body swap would jolt any lingering quantum echoes in his brain, allowing him to recall many events from before the brainwashing.

That was how Zhao Meiyou remembered the explosion in the Ancient Capital all those years ago—he had been stabbed by Diao Chan and hadn’t managed to press the detonation button in time.

According to Qian Duoduo, the Fusion Experiment had begun precisely with that quantum bomb’s detonation. Everyone in the Ancient Capital at the time had been affected by the bomb’s magnetic field, turning them into archaeologists who could freely cross quantum field thresholds. That was how the Antarctic Faction had obtained a large batch of satisfactory experimental subjects.

If that was true, then Diao Chan’s stabbing made sense. The man must have learned the truth about the quantum bomb explosion from somewhere and wanted to stop him.

But there were plenty of ways to intervene. Why choose such a violent, high-risk method as stabbing?

Zhao Meiyou figured the most likely explanation was that Diao Chan had been in an unstable state himself back then. Madam Diao had probably become an experimental subject, and Diao Chan had followed in her footsteps, undergoing some unknown modification. When Zhao Meiyou had returned to the Ancient Capital from the Metropolis and been imprisoned, Diao Chan had come to see him. He’d thought it was because the man had pulled strings with the Diao Family to breach the layers of security. Now, it seemed Diao Chan had already been under control by that point.

Madam Diao had always been quick to sell out her son—it wasn’t surprising. And during their later conversations, Zhao Meiyou had picked up hints from Diao Chan, deciding to detonate the quantum bomb before the Antarctic Faction could officially take over the Ancient Capital.

Diao Chan had rushed to Lab 2 at that time, probably fighting through the Antarctic Faction’s control in a desperate bid to stop the detonation. But it was too late, and with his already fragile mental state, he’d drawn his knife and attacked.

The experiment had proceeded anyway. By then, only the final password stood between them and unlocking the shrine. Cracking it wouldn’t have been difficult for the Antarctic Faction.

“Just what the hell is going on with Diao Chan?” Zhao Meiyou finally asked. “Is he one of your screwed-up experimental subjects?”

“I’m not a researcher—you shouldn’t lump me in with them,” Qian Duoduo replied. “But Diao Chan does have issues. Do you know why he wanted to stab you in Site 000?”

As far as Zhao Meiyou could recall, Diao Chan had stabbed him—or tried to—three times in total.

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 of Site 000, where Diao Chan had tried and failed. The third was in the Generated Dream, where he’d made a stabbing motion that disrupted Zhao Meiyou’s consciousness, keeping him clear-headed for the events to come so he could glimpse the truth.

He had no idea why Diao Chan had tried the second time in the site, but by the same logic, it was probably for his own good.

Zhao Meiyou looked at Qian Duoduo. “Why?”

“Back in Site S45, Diao Chan showed clear signs of dissolution—or rather, he’d already dissolved. I don’t know what you two did in the site after that, but his current state is abnormal. It’s not just mental derangement; he’s been severely affected by the quantum field threshold. Whether he even still exists in reality is uncertain,” Qian Duoduo said. “Zhao Meiyou, you said you saw him in the Generated Dream—that might not have been the real him.”

“So the Diao Chan who suddenly appeared in Site 000 and tried to stab you? That’s a common reaction after archaeologists dissolve in the field. They lose their reason and just repeat actions from their lives.”

“The real Diao Chan has probably been dead for a while.”

His words had barely landed when the room’s door was kicked open.

At the same moment, it was as if someone had lobbed a flashbang into the sky. The area above the nine hundredth floor lit up brilliantly, and alarms shrieked in the distance. In an instant, police sirens wailed as vehicles swarmed, their massive searchlights sweeping through the air. Even their building’s room was caught in the glare, like a bolt of lightning crashing through the window.

A new figure stood in the room, flashing them a grin. “Evening, gentlemen. How’s the reunion going with your stupid old pal and his lapdog lover?”

Qian Duoduo turned his head. “Diao Chan.”

The commotion outside was obviously Diao Chan’s doing—a diversion. Right now, every eye on the nine hundredth floor and above was probably drawn to that side. No one would notice what was happening in this lab.

Diao Chan nodded at him, then tossed something to Zhao Meiyou. It was a pack of Marlboros.

“You’re half right, Qian Duoduo,” he said. “I did die. But who’s in this room who hasn’t died?” He pointed to the mountain of Zhao Meiyou bodies piled under the glass panel. “Oh, not you. Strictly speaking, you’re not even human.”

“Coming here was a very unwise move,” Qian Duoduo said. “The Metropolis Government has very tight oversight on everything above the nine hundredth floor. You might still make it out if you leave now.”

“I know.” Diao Chan was utterly calm. “I didn’t plan on leaving this time anyway.”

Zhao Meiyou froze mid-reach for the cigarettes, glaring at him. “What did you say?”

“Hold your horses, Zhao Meiyou—I’m not done yet,” Diao Chan sighed. “There are two hardest jobs in the world: being a mom and being a relationship counselor. I’ve watched you two go back and forth so many times without ever getting your happy ending. How about we cut this karmic tie once and for all?”

Zhao Meiyou snapped, “What the fuck are you even talking about?”

“Zhao Meiyou.” Diao Chan met his eyes. “I waited specially until you’d asked all your questions. Now, let me ask you one: Do you still love Qian Duoduo?”

Zhao Meiyou clamped his mouth shut and kept glaring.

“See? Even saints like Joseph and Penelope couldn’t raise a kid this dense-headed,” Diao Chan shook his head. “Since you can’t decide, I’ll do it for you.”

“Diao Chan, what do you mean by that?”

“Qian Duoduo just said I’m crazy, and yeah, I don’t feel entirely right myself. You know why I tried to stab you in Site 000?”

Without waiting for an answer, he continued. “Because I realized that every cycle of reincarnation is just a dream.”

“We’re diving deeper and deeper into nested dreams, sinking into eternal sleep. The only way to wake up is death.”

“Each death is an Awakening. Layer by layer, until we finally return to true reality.”

Zhao Meiyou knew bullshit when he heard it. Even if they were dreaming, dying would only plunge them deeper. Combined with what Qian Duoduo had said, Diao Chan’s state did match the profile of post-dissolution behavior.

But if he’d dissolved, how was he here in reality?

Diao Chan pulled out a gun and aimed it at Zhao Meiyou.

“Fuck,” Zhao Meiyou said. “You’re not seriously about to shoot, are you?”

“What else?” Diao Chan replied. “You want to keep this experiment going? Keep loving Qian Duoduo?”

Zhao Meiyou shoved aside thoughts of death for the moment—there was no clear answer anyway. “Put the gun down first.”

Diao Chan stepped back instead. He glanced at Qian Duoduo, then at Zhao Meiyou, and suddenly traced a cross over his chest. The gesture made him look even more unhinged. He intoned, “Zhao Meiyou, Qian Duoduo, do you swear by the name of God to accept each other as partners? From this day forward, in fortune or misfortune, riches or poverty, sickness or health, to love, honor, and cherish one another until death do you part?”

What the hell was this? Zhao Meiyou nearly dropped the cigarette from his mouth. Then he heard a voice by his ear: “I do.”

This time, the cigarette actually fell.

He whipped his head around to see Qian Duoduo’s lips moving. “In the name of God, I solemnly swear to accept Zhao Meiyou as my partner. From this day forward, in fortune or misfortune, riches or poverty, sickness or health, I will love, honor, and cherish him until death do us part.”

“Zhao Meiyou.” Diao Chan turned to him. “Your turn?”

It was an utterly absurd scene. Here they were, swords drawn atop a mountain of corpses, where accusations and bloodshed should have flown. This should have been a battlefield. Yet it was as if, right in the heat of battle, wedding marches had replaced gunfire. Cannons spat cake, bullets turned to frosting, and enemies hurled roses while cheering the leaders’ union—before heading off to consummate it in a tangle of limbs.

The mind couldn’t command the heart.

Zhao Meiyou wouldn’t shy from admitting it: For one heartbeat, he was tempted.

“I heard that, Zhao Meiyou,” Qian Duoduo’s voice came. “I love you too.”

Zhao Meiyou realized he’d spoken aloud. Horror struck him.

By the old logic, this would be the final cycle. Qian Duoduo’s Personality Growth Degree would hit 100%, and he’d claim Zhao Meiyou’s brain.

Then Diao Chan’s voice rang out. “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pronounce you married! What God has joined, let no one separate. Now, exchange rings—or in this case, Zhao Meiyou, offer up your brain!”

Even if this Diao Chan was flesh and blood, Zhao Meiyou wanted to rip his head off right then. Before he could move, though, Diao Chan raised the gun—to his own temple.

“Zhao Meiyou, since you’ve made your choice, I guess I’ll send my blessings,” he said. “But this sister-in-law Qian Duoduo is a bit scary. We’ll be bros again next life when you’re single.”

“Reality or not, for lovers, it might all be a beautiful dream.” He smiled. “But this single dog wants to wake up.”

He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed.

“Diao Chan—!!!”