How to kill the primary personality
The shooting range is located halfway up the mountain. It utilizes an existing valley area and has been expanded into the mountainside by nearly ten acres. The area is quite large, but there are hardly any facilities. There are a few stone benches in the nearby rest area, and about twenty meters away are shooting positions made of adobe bricks. In the distance, there are only a few scattered targets left, and the bulletproof wall is the mountainside itself.
There were several corpses in the vast shooting range, their bodies mangled beyond recognition and limbs, but otherwise, no danger was apparent. Zombies looking for food wouldn't linger in this deserted place.
Zhou Yi, with his sharp eyes, practically cheered as he ran towards the firing position. Sure enough, the sandy ground there held several abandoned guns.
I had suspected this before. If these people in camouflage were indeed the militiamen who came to practice shooting that day, then the shooting range must have been specially set up with training guns. There wouldn't be too many, just enough to ensure that each shooting position had one. After accounting for the losses caused by them fighting back with guns or escaping with guns when the zombies appeared, we could still pick up at least half of them.
Think of it this way: not many people in the family would dare to touch a gun, so having too many wouldn't be of any use.
"Hey! Type 81 rifle!" Zhou Yi grabbed a mud-covered gun, slung two more over each shoulder, and ran over excitedly, fastening the safety. "Look, it's a bit dirty, but it works. The magazines are full. There are five in total, one for each of us."
"It's better for people to use it than for it to bury in the ground and collect dust, so let's distribute it." I was listless, my mind not on the important matter.
Zhou Yi handed one club to Han Bo and one to me. When it came to Li Tonggu, he seemed a little reluctant, asking, "Will he know how to use it?"
Li Tonggu was much more lucid, and the ferocity he displayed when he had his previous episodes, where he crushed zombies into mincemeat, had subsided. He looked at Yu Zhongjian and said in a deep voice, "I even use a doll when I shoot guns in the park."
"Give it to him, give it to him." I waved my hand. "Little Li is a good comrade. He did a good job today. I'll give you chocolate when you get home."
Li Tonggu took the gun and happily went to the side to fiddle with it. Then Zhou Yi slapped the butt of the gun: "Mission accomplished, let's go, down the mountain."
He had a pole slung over his shoulder, and Yu Zhongjian was standing next to him, but he didn't even lift it, striding away.
Although I regret that Yu Dandan's path to suppressing her dominant personality was interrupted so soon, and although the appearance of Yu Zhongjian caught me off guard and forced me to be on guard again, the promise was already made—we agreed to give one to each person! They gave them all, leaving only one person behind. That's really disrespectful.
I looked at Han Bo, who raised an eyebrow at me playfully, then pulled Li Tonggu away with Zhou Yi, leaving me with an unspeakable embarrassment.
"Hehe." I gave Yu Zhongjian a fake smile.
"Hehe," he replied.
Do you know how to use a gun?
"I can."
Why would that be?
"I've studied it."
"Hehe," I chuckled again, "Pretty impressive. Not many ordinary people can handle a gun. I'll give it to you next time I get one. My dad has already reserved Zhou Yi's gun."
"good."
He seemed unconcerned, speaking concisely and politely gesturing for me to go first. He appeared to be very much in the position of a "newcomer," but in reality, he didn't reveal a single word of the information I wanted to know.
Even though I knew his personal experiences were just fabricated by Yu Yu, the "hmm" he uttered when he answered me on the mountain still made me feel uneasy. He admitted to chopping off people's heads, but he didn't say where, how, or who he did it. Just that one "hmm" was enough to make my mind race. Could he have committed those murders that Yu Dandan claimed to be scapegoats for?
I took a few steps, then turned back after thinking for a moment, looked him in the eyes seriously, and said, "I don't know if you know Yu Dandan. She used to live in my house and promised not to hurt me or my family and friends. Although it's you now, I hope that promise can continue. You should also see what kind of world this is. The current troubles are already troublesome enough, and I probably don't have that much free time to investigate your background. If you want to come back with me, please control your emotions, respect the elderly and care for the young, treat each other honestly, and follow all instructions. If you are not confident, it is best to leave now. Otherwise, if there is a conflict one day, I will not be able to send you back to the hospital and will have to resolve it by force. There are more zombies than living people now, and if you or I die or get injured, it will be a loss."
Yu Zhongjian met my gaze without flinching or avoiding it, appearing completely at ease, and simply uttered a single word: "Okay."
"What's good about it?"
"I'll go back with you."
On the way home, Han Bo and Zhou Yi had a heated discussion about how to use firearms. Neither of them had ever handled a proper firearm, but relying on their innate male love for guns, they went from the Type 81 rifle to the AK, and from the AK to the M200, speaking with great confidence and evidence, sounding like two seasoned veterans who had been through countless battles. I don't know about others, but it certainly impressed me—aside from water guns, I knew almost nothing about other firearms, so I leaned forward, listening with great interest.
Yu Zhongjian and Li Tonggu sat on either side of me, each occupying a window to admire the post-apocalyptic landscape. Li Tonggu still held the same optimistic view, while Yu Zhongjian was much more reserved, only slightly turning his head to quietly gaze at the empty city outside the window.
Occasionally, while I was idly discussing the I Ching with Han Bo, I would catch him glancing over out of the corner of my eye. By the time I turned around, he had already looked away, but a faint smile lingered on his lips. For some reason, I always felt that he was mocking us.
We returned home carrying five guns, a box of ammunition, and a pile of currently useless junk, only to be greeted with hero-like cheers. The few people who stayed at home were all thrilled to see the dark, heavy real guns, as if their sense of security had suddenly soared from zero to one hundred, and they then showered us with praise.
My dad held a gun high and roared like a bandit leader: "Good lads, let those zombies come and attack! We'll take them down one by one, and two by two!"
Binbin's eyes lit up, and he kept stroking it: "Wow, it's real! Does it have bullets? Can I shoot?"
Han Bo and Zhou Yi accepted the tea my mother offered with smug expressions, their pride evident. Zhao Zhuobao, on the other hand, fawned over Yu Zhongjian, giving him a back massage.
Seeing how happy they were, all the frustration I felt from picking up the scraps and the fatigue from hacking and slashing zombies all afternoon vanished instantly.
Yu Zhongjian dodged Zhao Zhuobao's clutches and glared at him warily. That aloof attitude deeply wounded Zhao Zhuobao's filial heart. He asked, puzzled and aggrieved, "Mom, what's wrong?"
“Ah, cough cough, um,” I hurriedly went over and pulled Zhao Zhuobao over, “there’s a military tent in the car, go and get it back.”
Zhao Zhuobao wouldn't give up: "Aifeng, look what's wrong with my mom? She used to love it when I gave her massages."
Looking at Yu Zhongjian's gloomy and inexplicable expression, I smiled awkwardly: "Zhuobao, he's not your mother anymore."
"What?" Zhao Zhuobao screamed, drawing my parents' attention. "Could it be... my grandma's here?"
He really knows how to say something shocking! The "grandmother" Zhao Zhuobao mentioned is probably Yu Xiaochun; the relationships are just too complicated. Watching his erratic, manic behavior, I felt a surge of annoyance. I never dreamed that I, Qi Aifeng, would one day be trapped in a mental hospital, infecting them with my own crazy ramblings, all to appease them. But who do they think they are!
"Shut up, you son of a bitch!" I slapped Zhao Zhuobao across the head and yelled angrily, "Hurry up and go! If you don't go, I'll push you out to feed the zombies tonight!"
Zhao Zhuobao lamented, "Aifeng, I love you so much, and you love me so much, why are you so mean to me?"
I pretended to raise my arm again, but he cleverly shrank his neck and ran away. I turned around, intending to explain the situation to Yu Zhongjian and give him some advice on how to survive in my family, when my mother walked over with a look of surprise and uncertainty.
“Dafeng, what did Xiao Zhao just say? He loves you and you love him too? What’s going on between you and Xiao Zhao? Kid, don’t scare your mother. I’m letting you decide about dating, but you can’t do anything reckless. It’s not that I don’t like Xiao Zhao, it’s just that you two aren’t a good match, you know? I’ve lived a much longer life than you have…”
As she spoke, my mother took Yu Zhongjian's hand and said, "Dandan, you and Xiao Zhao are friends, right? You can try to persuade him. I support him finding a partner, but my family's Dafeng is not a good match. I definitely cannot agree to it."
Yu Zhongjian struggled for a moment; with his strength, he could have easily shaken off my mother, but he didn't. Judging from his expression, he felt very uncomfortable but was enduring it.
"Mom!" I was so angry I almost fainted. I rushed over and ripped them apart. "What nonsense are you talking about? Xiao Zhao is a patient, don't you understand? How can you believe what he says?"
My mom rolled her eyes at me: "I know he's a patient, but I'm afraid you'll relapse into your old habits! Don't you learn from your past offenses? I'm only worried about you. Don't forget you're a girl. The world is chaotic these days, and we have a house full of young men. You need to be more careful. Don't run around like a monkey all day, calling everyone 'brother,' or people will misunderstand!"
My mom left right after she finished speaking, ignoring me. My face was practically turning liver-colored. After taking a couple of steps, she remembered something and turned back, saying, "That poor kid Xiao Zhao is like this. Meili said he got sick because he couldn't get a girlfriend. Dandan, don't tell him what I just said, so as not to upset him. As long as he doesn't bother my Dafeng, I'll introduce him to a good one later."
Han Bo's malicious laughter came from inside the house; he had obviously overheard something. I crouched on the floor, clutching my head in anguish. I once thought I could be a king, until my mother came... What can I do with a mother who loves to expose my shortcomings, undermine me, and talk to herself?
After a long while, I heard a soft cough above my head. Yu Zhongjian was still standing next to me. "Do you have scissors?" he asked.
I peeked out from between my fingers: "Why do you need scissors?"
"Get a haircut." He brushed his hair, which had grown to his earlobes, and said, "It's too long."
Yu Zhongjian's complete disinterest in the bizarre incident that occurred as soon as I entered the house somewhat eased my embarrassment. I wiped my face and stood up: "How short do you want it cut? My dad has clippers."
"Whether it's a clipper or something else, we might need someone to help."
"It's okay, Han Bo used to be a hairdresser, I'll ask him to help you."
Thank you.
"Let's come inside, don't stand outside," I led him towards the main room, and after thinking for a moment, I added, "My mom thinks you're Yu Dandan, she only knows Yu Dandan, I'll talk to her about it when I have time."
Yu Zhongjian said, "It's not important. I don't want to frighten your mother."
It was a blunt, cold reply, yet it revealed a hint of understanding. It seems he remembered what I said very well; he showed respect to my elders as soon as he entered, and he didn't have a fit when my mother pulled him, saving me the trouble of explaining his identity.
I found his words more agreeable, and glancing at his aloof face—the very face I once considered the epitome of pretentiousness—I didn't find him so annoying anymore. So, I unusually showed some patience: "Alright, I'll explain the situation to you later. There are two people you need to keep an eye on."
For dinner, my mom cooked a big pot of pickled cabbage and salted fish, and stir-fried half a bowl of eggs and half a bowl of gluten. The beer was long gone, but to celebrate our team's upgrade from traditional cold weapons to Type 81 rifles, my dad took his last half-jin of Xinghuacun beer and poured a small glass for everyone. Although there were only three dishes, everyone ate and drank happily.
After dinner, I found my dad's clippers and asked Han Bo to give Yu Zhongjian a haircut, while I went to see my second uncle.
He lay on the bed, unconscious, his eyes closed, his face still ashen, his cheeks more sunken than two days ago. I touched his chest; his heartbeats were abnormally slow, as were his breathing. Everything about him seemed to be moving at an incredibly slow pace, unlike anything a normal human would do. There was nothing I could do but let him sleep like this.
Liu Meili sat at the foot of the bed, holding a copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude," and yawned every now and then after reading for a while.
"You must be tired after a long day of caregiving. Go upstairs and rest early. Let Binbin come and keep his dad company."
"It's alright, Binbin likes guns, let him play with them a little longer, he's still a child."
I sat down next to her and joked, "It's only right that he serves his father. Why are you being so cautious? I'm not kicking you out."
Liu Meili smiled and said, "Before, I was so busy taking care of dozens of patients that I didn't even have time to drink water. Now I can take care of just one patient, which is so much easier. It's nice to read a book."
Hearing her say that, I suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, do you know how many alternate personalities Yu Yu has?"
Liu Meili glanced at me and said, "I knew you were going to ask, 'Has Yu Yu had another episode?'"
You noticed?
“I’ve been taking care of him since he was admitted to the hospital. I can tell if he’s a different person at a glance. He didn’t say a word during dinner today. Yu Dandan isn’t like that at all.”
I nodded in agreement: "They changed it. They changed it to someone named Yu Zhongjian. It seems that Yu Yu hasn't let him out to keep watch for a long time. He has no idea about the end of the world or anything like that."
Liu Meili was taken aback: "Yu Zhongjian? I've never heard of him. It's said that Yu Yu only has two alternate personalities now, one is Yu Dandan, and the other is Yu Xiaochun."
I wondered, "Did he have others before?"
"Yes, there was one when she was first admitted to the hospital named Yu Baobao, but it was a child-type dissociative identity disorder and not very harmful. After being treated by Professor Lu for a period of time, the dissociative identity disorder disappeared and has not reappeared for more than a year. The most common ones are Yu Dandan and Yu Xiaochun. Yu Xiaochun rarely appears. You should have seen her. She says she is a woman in her fifties, and she talks nonsense and chats with everyone she meets. It annoys me to death."
"Hmm, I guess Yu Yu thought she was useless and sealed her away automatically." I chuckled. "I don't understand how this Yu Zhongjian came to be. Do secondary personalities also have dominant and latent forms?"
Liu Meili pondered: "Or is it a newly derived one?"
"Impossible. He knew he had been in the hospital and knew Vice President Lu. This means he existed before and had appeared before."
“I don’t remember.” Liu Meili shook her head, paused, and then said, “Xiao Qi, I know we need more manpower to ensure safety right now. Don’t blame me for being nosy, but Yu Yu is a really terrifying person. He has multiple personality disorder accompanied by several types of schizophrenia, with symptoms of paranoia, mania, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Such patients are very rare. Our department has always kept him under level one protection. And you must not be fooled by his current normal state. Don’t forget that he is a serial killer. He killed at least five people before he was caught. Those victims did not provoke him at all. When he has an episode, he indiscriminately kills innocent people. It is very dangerous to keep such a person around.”
"Yes, I know." Liu Meili's worries were the same as mine. Keeping Yu Yu was definitely not a wise choice. However, ever since Yu Dandan had stirred up this idea, I couldn't suppress it.
"Beauty, from your professional perspective, is it possible that... the alternate personality can replace the primary personality?"
Liu Meili blinked: "What do you mean?"
I carefully chose my words to explain my expectations: "That is to say, when the alternate personality develops to a relatively mature stage, it will remain in the patient's body for a considerable period of time each time it appears. This creates more connections with reality, which helps the alternate personality to become more complete and powerful. When it becomes powerful enough, it's like time travel or rebirth, where this personality perfectly integrates with the physical body, completely eliminating other personalities, including the primary personality."
Liu Meili understood, then looked at me like I was an idiot: "Impossible, Xiao Qi. People are multifaceted. Patients with multiple personality disorder simply amplify these multifaceted aspects. The alternate personality is a figment of the main personality's imagination. Their so-called thoughts and personality are actually manifestations of some of the main personality's multifaceted nature. In other words, whether they are called Yu Dandan or Yu Baobao, whether they think they are male or female, gentle or violent, they are essentially reflections of a part of Yu Yu's own personality or experiences. They are personifications that Yu Yu imagined while suffering from the illness. If the main personality disappears, the alternate personality will also disappear. They are not independent souls."
I understood, but I still wouldn't give up: "They don't disappear because Yu Yu doesn't want them to. I remember Professor Gao saying in class that patients with multiple personality disorder don't know or acknowledge that they have multiple personalities. But don't forget, Lu Xiaodou's treatment of Yu Yu was quite effective, at least making him clearly aware that he has a secondary personality, and the secondary personality is also fully aware of its situation. Yu Dandan even knows about Yu Xiaochun's existence. Isn't this the rhythm of forming an independent soul?"
Liu Meili was confused by what I said: "I don't understand, I don't get what you're trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is that none of us like Yu Yu, this big devil. He has a gloomy and strange personality, has killed so many people, and has a grudge against me. He'll be a menace if he comes out! So we need to find a way to keep the better alternate personalities and fully cooperate with them to eliminate the main personality."
"I told you it can't be eliminated. If you eliminate the main personality, then everyone is dead."
"Not necessarily!" The situation is more difficult than I thought, which only strengthened my resolve. "If we can't eliminate him, we'll suppress him, put him into a deep sleep, and never let him out again!"
"This...this is impossible! Professor Lu has been dedicated to eliminating his alternate personality, but you want to do the opposite..."
"Silly!" I chuckled and flicked Liu Meili's forehead. "What's the point of saving a serial killer? Even if you cure him, he won't be grateful to Lu Xiaodou. Besides, I didn't kill him. Didn't you say the alternate personality is also him? So, the right way is for us to help the alternate personality take over, to transform Yu Yu into a noble person, someone who transcends base desires, someone who is useful to society!"
Liu Meili was stunned: "How can I help?"
"I came here to ask you for advice, you're a professional."
"What's my major? I'm just a nurse."
"Then... let's discuss this further."
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