Chapter 29 The Tide's Proverb (XI) God's Call.
Xia Zhu watched the interaction between the two in silence, then got up and took out the book "Strange Herbs by the Firefly Window" from her bag.
"These are yours, aren't they?" She handed the two feathers tucked between the pages of the book to Ying Ya from behind her back.
Only then did he take his gaze off Feng Feng's face and turn to face her.
He was a beautiful child, but too pale, his overall demeanor a stark contrast to Feng Feng's, like the inevitable shadow under bright sunlight. His hair was rather long, revealing the white tips of his ears, the front sweeping above his eyes, which were the color of amethyst. He looked every bit the sinister villain, though he seemed uninterested in destroying the world for the time being, if Feng Feng were there.
These were entirely Xia Zhu's subjective feelings, attributed to the undeniable aversion and possessiveness emanating from Ying Ya. He seemed to dislike everyone except Feng Feng, so he simply nodded silently in response to Xia Zhu's question.
He didn't even want to say much.
Why are you spying on me?
She still needed to confirm that the other party posed no threat to her. Although Feng Mian was there to testify, his own attitude towards Ying Ya wasn't exactly friendly.
"Wait, what surveillance?" Feng Mian asked in surprise. "You sneaked into my territory again?" He looked like he had a headache, as if he had been suffering from the problem boy for a long time, but the problem boy had clearly fallen in love with his younger sister.
"I'm not sure of your identity, but you're with Xiao Feng." Ying Ya finally spoke his first words.
I understand. He feared that his presence was a threat to Feng Feng, like a treacherous minister by the princess's side. A loyal knight must eliminate any potential danger.
When Ying Ya spoke, he lowered his head slightly, but from Xia Zhu's angle, she could vaguely see that there seemed to be something hidden on the tip of his tongue.
Fortunately, he was indeed trustworthy, and as long as he and Xiaofeng were on the same side, he wouldn't do anything rash.
Xia Zhu nodded and took out the piece of paper with the math answers written on it from her pocket. She had always suspected that there was a fourth person hiding in the shadows, so she was afraid that the more clues she exposed, the more dangerous it would be for Feng Feng and the others. Since Ying Ya was one of their own, there was nothing to hide. With an extra helper, they might be able to find Liang soon.
"The school's name is a string of numbers, 6174. I wasn't quite sure what the number meant until someone actually answered the question I asked in class."
"6174, the Kaprekar constant, also known as the black hole number. Any four-digit number composed of different digits, after repeated sorting and subtraction, will eventually result in 6174, as if trapped in an infinite black hole loop. And that brainwashing symbol, its outer components are the Penrose triangle."
"Therefore, we can reasonably guess that the dream master, that is, Liang, might be a math enthusiast."
"So that's why you asked a question in class, pretending to be very troubled, so that Liang would most likely show up?" Only Feng Mian participated in the discussion. Feng Feng had actually woken up. Xia Zhu's power was indeed extraordinary. She felt that she was strong enough to carry an ox. However, when Xia Zhu mentioned some constant, she felt that she was about to fall asleep again, so she simply closed her eyes and pretended to be still unconscious.
"That's right, I didn't expect Ryou to be so irresistible."
"So now we can create a portrait of him: a math enthusiast attempting to create a god in the dream world, brainwashing a group of followers into believing in the god he created." Just like a pyramid scheme or cult, the assimilation process requires three steps.
The first step is knowledge pollution, which involves adding brainwashing elements to textbooks, forcing everyone to accept those disgusting creatures, and reciting empty verses day and night.
The second step is symbol implantation. The ubiquitous symbols attempt to subtly imprint themselves on the deepest parts of the brain, although the meaning of the second part of the symbol, the letter "U," is still unknown.
The third step is mental resonance. Those who have gone through the previous two steps will experience mental confusion and hallucinations to varying degrees. Subtle and clever suggestions will make them worry that some unknown and terrifying creature is lurking in the darkness, but the monster will never appear. At the same time, their own bodies are changing. The result leads to the questions, "Am I mutating?" and "Is the monster myself?" If one believes that they are the monster, then a corresponding mutation will occur in their true self, ultimately leading to the loss of self-awareness and merging with the true "god."
The pool is presumably some kind of fusion container, where all living things will be broken down and reassembled again.
"But what exactly is the reason for doing this..." Xia Zhu couldn't be sure.
Feng Mian said, "Perhaps it's because real life isn't as satisfactory as I'd like?"
"Perhaps it's...anxiety about why I exist?" Feng Feng sat up in bed, leaned behind Ying Ya, raised his arms, and explained the voice that had been in his mind for the past few days.
The voice kept asking her who she was, perhaps also the question Liang wanted to ask herself.
"The three of us have been in the open the whole time, so what exactly have you been through these past few days, Ying Ya?"
The fact that he was able to write his name on the sign-in sheet indicates that Liang had made arrangements for him. Liang had always known that there were a total of 17 people on this island and in this world.
It was Feng Mian who asked the question, but Ying Ya turned his face back to Feng Feng and spoke earnestly.
“Here.” Ying Ya looked a little dim-witted. He pointed to his head and said, “He kept talking here. He thought I had received a spiritual connection and become his most loyal follower, obeying all instructions. So, he made me take the place of his teacher.”
Therefore, it makes sense that Ying Ya was the one who rang the bell, cooked, and wrote after the teacher's death. It seems that Liang really cares about "self-existence" and "identity," and has a strong need to be recognized. So he is the god he created.
"Then why did the equally loyal teacher die?" Feng Feng raised his hand again.
"Perhaps there was a reason why he had to die."
This is closely related to the image he is implying.
Everything about Ryou is slowly becoming clear; we just need to wait for the right time for this dream to end.
The bells rang out once more atop the cliff, and the holy moon sank into the sea, its light illuminating the earth in a moment when day and night were indistinguishable.
The command was given, the program started running, the door opened, and they went out with an expectant smile and a heart yearning for divine favor.
"Hold my hand tightly." Just like last time.
Feng Feng extended his hand to Xia Zhu, his eyes clearer and more determined than ever before.
The group gathered again at the end of the road. In the eyes of the dreamer, these NPCs firmly believed that they were the center of this world, the protagonists of an epic story, and possessed the most steadfast faith. Perhaps they would be chosen by the gods this time. If not this time, then next time. Life is short but also long. In any case, it is full of value. There is always hope, isn't there?
The enormous moon exuded a cold, oppressive aura, its unusual shape seemingly proclaiming its mystical nature. The sea was calm and still, with only its silvery-white radiance shimmering like celestial dust shaken from beneath a fairy's wings.
Beneath the moon, above the sea, what lies at the far end?
The unknown dominates everything, [and so do spirit and thought].
The three of them stood at the back of the line, their eyes filled with curiosity as they peered into the distance through rows of people.
My heartbeat suddenly became very loud, so loud that it blocked out all other sounds from the outside world, making it seem as if I was the only person in the world. A strong sense of loneliness rose from the soles of my feet. Then, a chaotic murmur, like the angry roar of the gods, surged in from all directions like a tide, captivating my soul. The shock made my internal organs tremble.
Xia Zhu nearly lost her balance, but fortunately Feng Feng held her hand the whole time. The three of them exchanged silent glances, clearly having all heard the ancient echo. The others, however, seemed to have no reaction whatsoever, their expressions remaining unchanged. Clearly, only they could hear the sound.
Perhaps this is God's calling, something those people have been longing for.
An echoing sound, like a murmur.
They exchanged a glance, and Feng Feng released Xia Zhu's hand, beginning her performance.
"I heard it! It's the Old Gods! It's the Old Gods calling!!" she suddenly shouted, and then pounced on the back of the person in front of her, pushing one domino after another like dominoes.
Everyone turned back, filled with anger and resentment, only to find Feng Feng weeping uncontrollably, looking quite like an elderly man who had just passed the imperial examination.
She must have heard it. I never expected it to be her, the one chosen by God this time.
Everyone's face showed envy and jealousy as they surrounded Feng Feng, watching her cry and laugh on the ground, throwing a tantrum that was very unseemly, but they all understood her excitement, thinking that they might be even more dramatic when it was their turn.
After all, it was a gift from the Old Gods.
Countless faces looked identical, like copies of each other. Xia Zhu looked them over one by one and found one that was different in the crowd.
Although his expression was the same as everyone else's, a clear-headed look was hidden beneath the cracks. He stood quietly on the periphery of the crowd, his eyes revealing an undisguised excitement and contempt.
Yet another ignorant creature that submits to itself.
The dramatic divine calling ended, leaving only a wailing actor shouting that he had been chosen. Everyone was briefly swept up in the emotions before immediately returning to the routine and continuing their daydreams. As for what being chosen by God would bring, no one seemed to care. Perhaps it would turn him into a monster and sink into the deep sea, but in a way, it was also a kind of fun in the unchanging life.
What is that?
As they approached the school gate, someone spotted something lying in the courtyard. Upon closer inspection, they found a motionless body under a black tarpaulin, with a skeletal arm protruding from the side. It looked either like a particularly gruesome death or that the person had been dead for a long time.
Another one.
Everyone watched for a short while before dispersing and returning to their rooms, without questioning the obviously extra person or wondering when he had appeared.
The body was left in the yard, and no one thought to check it until the night deepened and the tides rose and fell with the moon's trajectory. Then, a figure quietly appeared beside the body.
He bent down, grabbed one end of the tarpaulin with both hands, and laboriously dragged the corpse to the edge of the pool. Just as he was about to push the entire body into the water, a black shadow swooped down on him like a hawk in hunting mode. The creature, which did not belong to the dream, aimed its sharp beak straight at his vulnerable eyes.
He instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes, unaware that vines crawling out from all sides had already wrapped around his calves. Before he could react, he was dragged several meters by the vines, his back slamming against the hard ground, the fabric on his buttocks almost igniting sparks.
"It really was you."
He looked at the three people who had suddenly appeared before him, his eyes still showing shock and fear.
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Author's note: Guess what Ying Ya is saying, hehe. 0 people are guessing.
[Clenched fists]
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