From the end of the world

Chapter 366 Fa Zheng 2
In this way, the number of Great Impermanence who stand up for hegemony has risen to three. Compared with supernaturalism, which has four Great Impermanence, the gap is not that big.

However, it seems that Fa Zheng is the only one who truly cares about governing the world, while Jian Feixian and I seem to be just here to join in the fun.

Thinking of this, I suddenly realized something. That is, if there was no Fa Zheng, the rule of the world would probably not have survived in Luoshan from the beginning, and it is even very likely that it would not have appeared from the beginning - because Gua Tianshi once said that "rule of the world" and "transcendentism" were actually rhetoric that started from Fa Zheng.

In other words, the concept of "politicalism" was most likely created by Fa Zheng. Even the word "transcendentalism" may have been created by Fa Zheng in the initial stage as a concept opposed to "politicalism", and then appropriated by Gua Tianshi and others.

This ism and that ism, it really doesn't sound like the words that the Great Impermanence who has nothing to do with politics would play around with, unless there happens to be a special Great Impermanence with a strong political consciousness, and he starts this trend among the other Great Impermanence.

What is happening in Luoshan now is not so much a confrontation between two different ideologies as it is the sudden appearance of a dissident in an organization that should have only one ideology (that is, transcendentalism), and then this dissident, relying on his popularity and leadership, forcibly creates a situation of internal confrontation.

So, why did Fa Zheng do this?

Does he have a deeper motive?
I think the reason why he confessed to me that he was the mastermind behind the Humanitarian Department was to show me his sincerity. He knew that being sincere in front of me would help me win over more easily, and I really fell for it. In this case, I just climbed up the ladder and asked a few more questions. I guess he wouldn't mind telling me more.

So I told him all my doubts, and Fa Zheng was stunned for a moment, then showed a hesitant expression.

"You asked me why I wanted to establish the rule of the world..." He said, "It doesn't matter if I tell you this. In fact, I also told Jian Feixian. It's really not fair if I don't tell you.

"But you may not believe the reasons I tell you. Many people think I am a shrewd and treacherous person, or even a conspirator who manipulates countless plans behind the scenes. I don't deny those rumors, because I do have many conspiracies in private. From your perspective, I probably can't believe that such a treacherous person would have such a reason."

I said, "It's okay. I'm ready for it."

For the almost omnipotent Great Impermanence, most wishes in this world can be easily realized and most things can be obtained in just a few words.

Power, wealth, beauty, fame, health, longevity... From the common people to the emperor, all the beautiful things, whether tangible or intangible, that mankind has pursued since ancient times are within easy reach, and sometimes they will even come to your doorstep.

In other words, only those with turbid fate will be troubled by special reasons and have to worry about their health and lifespan. Recently, he accidentally lost his reputation because of me. His case is a special case, and Fa Zheng obviously does not belong to this category.

When people like Fa Zheng are asked what they want to pursue, the answer is most likely not something that ordinary people can imagine.

Although I had made the above mental preparations, Fa Zheng's answer still exceeded my expectations.

"I want others to think that I am a good person and thank me sincerely." Fa Zheng said lightly.

I almost didn't understand what he said for a moment, but after I understood it, it was really just as he said. It was hard to believe that his reason was just that.

"—just like that?" I asked. "Why?"

"There is no other reason, just because I want to do it." Fa Zheng said, "I have always liked others to thank me since I was a child, so I will try my best to do good things, just to get a thank you from others afterwards.

"When I was young, I also had other hobbies. I wanted power, wealth, beauty, fame... But after my power gradually increased and those desires were all satisfied, I no longer obsessed with them.

"The only thing I never get tired of is this initial desire, so now I basically only act for this.

"Perhaps this desire is a bit close to the pursuit of fame, but I don't want to be praised by the world, nor do I want the appeal of a hundred people. As long as those who have been helped by me can remember once or twice in their future lives that I have helped them and are willing to smile for it, that is enough. This is the only reward I want.

"I don't need to carve my name into history, nor do I need to be praised and famous... I don't need anything else."

As he spoke, there seemed to be some more emotion in his voice, "Many people find me hard to understand, but... is it really that hard to understand?"

“Maybe it’s really hard to understand,” I said.

"Is that true? Zhuang Cheng, you must have been thanked before, and you must have felt happy and wanted to be thanked again." Fa Zheng said, "Besides, you must have your own pursuits. I can sense a similar smell from you.

"You are not simply pushed by the situation to get to where you are today, but you have a clear will. Although I don't know what you are pursuing, it should be a desire that is difficult for ordinary people to understand.

"But, Zhuang Cheng, is the desire burning in your heart really some very difficult and incomprehensible desire?" His words really touched me.

Yes, although my friends, such as Changan and Zhu Shi, occasionally express their incomprehension of my yearning for adventure, and many more simply define me as a weirdo and a madman, I never think that my heart is so unconventional.

In the end, I just wanted to be involved in an adventure that was as exciting as a magical story. This is a thought that everyone has had. Most people must have imagined themselves experiencing incredible adventures while lying in bed, and gradually fell asleep with such fantasies more than once. What urged me to act was just such a naive and simple thought that everyone can empathize with.

The reason why I took action was not based on some difficult and complicated background and reasons. Even if someone asked me why I did it, I could only say "there is no other reason, just because I want to do it."

Perhaps Fa Zheng and I are the same kind of people.

Gradually, I accepted Fa Zheng's reasons and then realized something deeper.

"I see... Is this also your way of winning people over?" I said, "After 'explaining the truth', the next step is 'appealing to the emotions'?"

"That's right." Fa Zheng nodded calmly, "But what I said was also sincere."

It was because I was telling the truth that it worked. Maybe I was being used against myself again.

We almost finished talking here. We chatted for a few more words, and then Fa Zheng concluded: "Well, I will go and prepare for the attack on the Humanitarian Department. You can continue to rest."

"See you next time," I said.

As my perception was withdrawn from the entire Luoshan headquarters, the cinema audience scene I imagined also disappeared like a dissolved ink painting. The scene around me turned back into a room in the sanatorium.

I was digesting the words Fa Zheng had said earlier in my mind. After a moment, there was a gentle knock on the door of the room.

I could sense that it was Ma Zao standing outside the door, and as I responded, she slowly pushed the door open with her body. She carefully held the plate in both hands and walked to my bedside.

On the plate was what she wanted to make for me. I looked at it curiously and found that it was a small hot cake. It was soft and fluffy, and it was slightly wobbly like a pudding. There was a lot of white sugar sprinkled on the surface, and it exuded a fragrant smell.

Maybe there were some small accidents during the production process, the shape of this small cake is very irregular and looks crooked.

Ma Zao said shyly, "I forgot to ask you what you like to eat, so I made this."

“…What is this?” I asked.

“I just barely remember the recipe, I don’t remember what it was called, but the chef said it was called a soufflé,” she said.

To be honest, I am quite surprised now.

My expectation for her was just to not make any weird dishes. Because my stereotype of Ma Zao's past life was "this bug is actually edible, and it tastes like chicken after cutting off the head", so it didn't matter if she made food that didn't pay attention to the taste and texture at all, and it was acceptable if it looked a little bad, but I never expected her to serve such a serious dessert.

I took the plate and fork, then used the blunt edge of the fork to cut off a small piece of the soft cake, stuck it in, and held it in front of my eyes to observe it carefully.

This is actually made from Ma Zao? My impression of Ma Zao is completely different from this fluffy hot cake.

"Is there cake in the apocalypse?" I was curious.

"No...no."

Ma Zao looked at the egg soufflé with some confusion. She said, "At least not in my memory. But when I saw the ingredients, the recipe suddenly popped up in my mind for some reason. My body seemed to have some impression of it, and some of the movements came out naturally."

(End of this chapter)