The whole weird world is waiting for me to go to heaven

Chapter 965 Two Golden Crows (Part Twelve)
The room fell silent for a moment after he said that.

The only sound was Zhuo Caiyun slowly sipping her hot tea.

"What's wrong with the path of cultivation?" Liu Sheng's expression showed a hint of tension and indignation. "How can it be considered something I imagined? Are you allowed to fantasize about seeking immortality, but I can't?"

"Can you tell me the origin of this technique?"

Just as Zhuo Caiyun had predicted, Liu Sheng fell silent.

So she continued speaking slowly and deliberately: "I originally thought it was just a crazy fantasy of yours, but after observing you, I found that you can actually cross the line safely and even have the ability to create dreams."

"You really have been spying on me all along." Liu Sheng stared intently at her.

Zhuo Caiyun nodded with a serious expression:

"Of course, as the chairman of the 'Dreamwalkers Alliance,' I must strictly control any variables that could harm the alliance."

"If that's the case, then isn't it a bit... contradictory that you didn't notice when these things crossed the line multiple times?"

"I am very busy."

"Oh, is it so."

Liu Sheng chuckled, her meaning clearly indicating her disbelief.

Zhuo Caiyun gave Liu Sheng a deep look.

"You are different from the rumors."

[OOC Index: 15%]

Damn it, I'm playing myself again...

You always lose control during these kinds of confrontations.

The world is also helpless.

Liu Sheng felt remorseful.

However, this also allowed her to notice a detail.

"Did Zheng Qiran tell you this?"

Zhuo Caiyun was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to be so perceptive.

"Liu... Sheng, who exactly are you?"

"I feel like I've heard this somewhere before."

But no matter how hard Zhuo Caiyun tried to recall, she still couldn't remember.

[OOC Index: 20%]

“He Tao needs protection, so I showed up.” Liu Sheng shrugged. “That’s not surprising, is it?”

"Not surprisingly."

Zhuo Caiyun also had to admit that since more and more people have become "weird"—although they don't currently define it as "weird"—anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, and so on have become common psychological problems at the ancient ruins excavation site in Zhengjia Village.

"Besides, I've already been harmed like this, do you expect me to retain that naive and even somewhat foolish appearance that some people might see?" Liu Sheng sneered.

This explanation was accepted by Zhuo Caiyun.

[OOC Index: 15%]

"I must clarify, she did not say you were stupid."

Zhuo Caiyun's words indirectly admitted that she was indeed in contact with Zheng Qiran.

"So you think only someone as smart as her could come up with a way to return to reality, and I can't?" Liu Sheng raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Liu Sheng's stubborn and angry expression, Zhuo Caiyun began to believe him somewhat.

“It’s not that it’s impossible, but… from what I’ve observed, your method of returning didn’t allow space to permeate into reality, which is truly unbelievable.”

“Here, thought is reality, belief is truth,” Liu Sheng said in a deep voice. “Ultimately, it’s all about how to use dreams to reconstruct reality.”

“Dream…reconstructing reality…” Zhuo Caiyun murmured repeatedly.

Liu Sheng seemed to have lost patience and stopped smiling:
"In short, Dr. Zhuo, I have told you everything you needed to know. Now, may you please leave my room?"

This is the time to see off guests.

Zhuo Caiyun, however, remained seated calmly, even refilling her teacup, her tone composed:
"Why the rush? I haven't finished speaking yet."

"What else would you like to say?"

"I want to buy out your cultivation technique."

"What?" Liu Sheng was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard.

"In other words, you can no longer use it, and you can't spread it to other people."

Liu Sheng frowned: "Why?"

"There's no other reason," Zhuo Caiyun said calmly. "I just don't want the people here to do pointless things because of this cultivation technique, ultimately wasting the last bit of time they have left."

Liu Sheng narrowed his eyes.

"Even if this technique allows them to return to reality without any worries, just like me?"

“That’s precisely why we need to be even more vigilant,” Zhuo Caiyun said firmly.

"why?"

"If such a group of people with superhuman abilities and the ability to travel freely between different places appeared in reality, it would probably cause a sensation and affect the local public order."

"So... Dr. Zhuo cares about the world." Liu Sheng smiled sarcastically, then her voice turned cold. "But right now, isn't Professor Shen the biggest destabilizing factor in reality?"

"That's none of your business." Zhuo Caiyun's voice also turned cold. "What you should be concerned about is whether or not to accept this deal."

"Since it's a transaction, what price are you prepared to pay?"

Zhuo Caiyun smiled gently, placing her hands folded on her knees, as if she had been waiting for these words for a long time.

"what do you want?"

"I can have anything I want?"

"Of course, even if you want to send a large sum of money to your parents in real life, we can do that too."

Liu Sheng sneered: "I'm already dead, why would I send money to the real world?"

"Oh, your parents just transferred out a considerable sum of money. It seems they'll need it."

"What?" Liu Sheng frowned.

Zhuo Caiyun waved her hand, and the computer monitor on Liu Sheng's desk automatically lit up, displaying a blurry image.

This shot is taken from above, which is the perspective of a closed-circuit television monitor. The time is also written in the upper right corner, indicating it was two days ago in the afternoon.

The image was already blurry and was further obscured by countless tangled wires, but it was still possible to discern that it was a narrow and dark alley.

Liu Sheng recognized the alley at a glance.

But she remained expressionless, feigning only confusion and impatience. "Where is this place? What do I need to see? Electrical wires?"

"Don't rush, keep watching."

Just then, a pair of figures appeared in the alley.

A man and a woman were carrying large and small bags. It was hard to see clearly what they contained, but at a glance, they seemed to be visiting someone to deliver gifts.

At this moment, Liu Sheng's heart felt as if it were frozen.

It sank little by little.

When the two reached the end of the screen, the camera switched to the surveillance footage of another alley, where the two were walking from the other end.

After switching between these locations several times, they finally arrived at a familiar-looking self-built house.

An old man was sitting at the door.

The two men bowed their heads and said something to the old man, but he remained motionless and unresponsive.

After waiting for a long time, a man with a limp came out of the house and waved a broom at the two of them, as if to chase them away. Although his movements were weak, he was clearly full of anger.

But the anger subsided quickly.

He seemed to be moved by what the two people in front of him said.

The broom was slowly lowered.

Then he made a phone call and led the two people into the house.

The scene remained motionless for the rest of the time, until Zhuo Caiyun raised her hand to fast-forward the footage. The old man sitting at the door remained completely still, like a statue.

Finally, a woman carrying a shoulder pole appeared in the scene. Liu Sheng knew that this was Zheng Qiran's mother.

She went inside, and after a short while, she came out again after putting down her carrying pole. She gently helped the old man sitting on the red plastic chair into the house, and then took the plastic chair inside as well before finally closing the door completely.

In this mountainous city where every household keeps their doors open, closing them in broad daylight seems rather odd.

Liu Sheng wanted to continue watching, but Zhuo Caiyun snapped her fingers, and the scene abruptly ended.

Liu Sheng frowned and looked up: "I don't know what Dr. Zhuo means?"

Zhuo Caiyun slowly sipped her tea. "It doesn't mean anything. Do you know whose house this is?"

"Should I know?"

“This is Zheng Qiran’s home.” Zhuo Caiyun raised the corner of her mouth slightly. “Your parents thought you had harmed Zheng Qiran, so they came to apologize and transferred money to this family. They really went to great lengths.”

“You know the truth.” Liu Sheng looked coldly at Zhuo Caiyun.

"Of course I know, that's why I feel more sorry for them," Zhuo Caiyun said, feigning sadness. "So, are you planning to take this money?"

"If I agree, how do you plan to restrict me?"

“I’m glad you’ve asked the key question,” Zhuo Caiyun said slowly, her tone unusually gentle, almost dreamlike. “Of course, it’s to seal off your room. From now on, you will not be able to enter other spaces and walk around, and you will never come into contact with other sleepwalkers again.”

"So, you mean I have to trade my last shred of freedom for this money?"

"It's not just about money."

Zhuo Caiyun said, her eyes holding a meaningful light.

Liu Sheng vaguely understood her meaning, took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down, "What do you mean?"

"Zheng Qiran has already been taken home by her parents. You probably didn't know that, did you?"

Liu Sheng remained calm and uttered three words: "And then?"

“If I let Zheng Qiran cross the line even slightly…” A cold smile finally appeared on Zhuo Caiyun’s lips, “then will your parents still be safe and sound?”

"But Zheng Qiran's parents won't be safe either!"

“That’s not something you need to worry about.” Zhuo Caiyun shook her head. “I’ve noticed that you tend to concern yourself with trivial matters.”

Liu Sheng unconsciously clenched the poster, as if drawing strength from it: "This happened two days ago. You want me to believe they're still safe?"

"Of course, they're all fine."

Zhuo Caiyun waved her arm again, and the image sped forward until it became a blurry mess, only stopping when it reached the end.

Looking at the screen again, it shows the exact moment.

The old man was no longer the only one sitting at the door.

Two more people appeared beside them, a man and a woman, sitting upright with their hands on their knees, which looked quite abnormal.

Liu Sheng's pupils contracted slightly, finally revealing his anger.

"You! You guys!"

"Calm down." Zhuo Caiyun interrupted her, her tone as gentle as if she were comforting a child throwing a tantrum. "There's still time. Just handle it like you did for Lao Mu."

How do I know if you're telling the truth or not?

"You probably have no choice but to believe it."

"If you agree, they can leave right now. If you don't agree..."

As soon as the words were spoken, the screen shook slightly, and a pale little face peeked out from the dark doorway, looking directly at the surveillance camera.

That one glance made the screen shake.

It's as if it wants to pierce through the screen and plunge into the heart of the voyeur.

It's Zheng Qiran!

Liu Sheng suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes wide with anxiety.

Zhuo Caiyun, however, remained calm and composed, as if watching a trapped beast struggle.

That simple and serene face finally revealed unparalleled joy.

“So,” she asked softly, “what will you choose?”

……

"How can I choose? What other choice do I have!"

In reality, He Tao was already restless.

She sensed the message being transmitted from Liu Sheng's side.

It felt like a burning stone was pressing on my heart, with anxiety, anger, and unease churning within me.

Although she was still angry about her parents' concealment and distrust, it didn't mean she could just stand by and watch them be used as bargaining chips!

So He Tao smashed the lock on the door with a punch.

The alarm sounded as the door lock was forcibly opened.

But she didn't care at all; she quickly grabbed her small backpack and ran out of the house.

She was calling Yang Lingfeng as she rushed into the elevator:

"Officer Yang, my parents haven't been home for several days and I can't get in touch with them. I'm really worried about them... Could you please help me find out?"

"Oh? You're out on business... Are you in Shanhai City?"

"It would be even better in Shanhai City! No, no, I mean, I guess my parents went to Shanhai City too..."

"Could you please go and take a look at Zheng Qiran's home...?"

"Okay, okay! Please help me! Thank you! I'll be right there!"

He Tao hung up the phone and rushed out of the elevator like an arrow, disappearing in the eyes of others as nothing more than a blur.

It makes one wonder—

"What is this? Is this a person?"

"Running at such a speed, is this even human?"

As soon as she ran out of the residential area, she hailed a taxi, practically leaped into the car, and urgently shouted to the driver:

"The station, the fastest route, please!"

……

Liu Sheng looked at Zhuo Caiyun in front of him.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:
My choice is—

Before he could finish speaking, he threw a punch straight at the smug face.

However, under the force of the punch, Zhuo Caiyun disappeared like a wisp of smoke, along with the trailer carrying tea and snacks, all disappearing into He Tao's room.

She came and went without a trace, just as if she had suddenly appeared here.

As she disappeared, a "click" sound came from the doorway. Without even pulling the doorknob, Liu Sheng knew that the door could not be opened.

The windows were the same; wooden strips suddenly appeared on them, nailed shut from the outside by an invisible force, sealing them completely so that not even a ray of light could get in.

"Dr. Zhuo."

Liu Sheng shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the closed room.

"You keep telling me I have a choice. But actually, I don't have a choice at all, do I?"

"Oh, that's right."

Zhuo Caiyun's voice came from all directions, as if it were hidden in the walls, carrying a chilling sense of leisurely composure.

"The only choice you have is whether or not to accept my threat."

She chuckled softly, "You are indeed very capable, you can create dreams... It's a pity you're not smart enough to realize that this entire dream—including the room you're in—is mine."

"I am God."

"I see……"

Liu Sheng suddenly realized, and her eyes cleared.

“When Shen Zhiyu was testing this spatial expansion, the first person to be put in as a ‘sacrifice’ for spatial expansion and consciousness support was you.”

"Right? Poor Zhuo Caiyun."

(End of this chapter)