"The Gray Realm convergence?"
The term did exist in Chen Ling's memory. The original owner of this body must have come across it somewhere.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten about the Gray Realm too," Dr. Lin said, standing up and pouring the blood from the teacup down the drain. He spoke slowly,
"Before the Great Cataclysm, there was a hypothesis that in this universe, countless parallel timelines exist. These timelines were formed from the birth of the earliest universe, like rays of light released from a candle flame, spreading in all directions. But because light is infinite, these timelines extend infinitely toward all possibilities, never intersecting."
"But after the crimson meteor streaked across the sky, everything became chaotic."
"Each timeline was disrupted, and an unknown, bizarre gray world began to overlap with our reality."
After washing the teacup, Dr. Lin didn't pour out the remaining water. Instead, he placed it on the table. Due to the force he used, the water inside rippled.
Dr. Lin tore off a piece of paper and placed it above the rippling water. The uneven waves began to soak the paper, starting with small, irregular wet spots that gradually spread across the entire surface.
"At first, only small parts of the worlds overlapped. But as time passed, the overlapping areas grew larger. The substances and creatures from that world began to appear in ours. Now, most of the areas originally inhabited by humans have been taken over by that world. Only nine 'Domains' remain, sheltering humanity and preserving our existence."
"Because the sky of that world is gray, we call it the 'Gray Realm.'"
"When the Gray Realm converges with our reality, a series of bizarre events beyond comprehension occur. Creatures from the Gray Realm, which we call 'Calamities,' can also descend into our world."
"Generally, among survivors who have encountered a Gray Realm convergence or been attacked by Calamities, about 80% develop mental disorders, and most of them never fully recover..."
"I suspect that your current condition is related to the Gray Realm."
"Think carefully. Have you ever encountered a Gray Realm convergence and been caught in it?"
Faced with Dr. Lin's question, Chen Ling searched the original owner's memories but found nothing... No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall anything else from last night.
"I don't know," he said bitterly.
Dr. Lin thought for a moment, then took out a sheet of letter paper from a drawer and began writing quickly.
"Your condition is no longer just a mental illness... I'm just an ordinary person. I can't cure you.
However, I know someone who might be able to help with the aftereffects of Gray Realm contamination.
After all, he is a true [Doctor]."
Hearing this, Chen Ling's eyes lit up with hope. "Where can I find him?"
"He lives in Aurora City, but he often travels around offering free medical treatment. He goes wherever there are difficult cases to solve. It's part of their path to becoming gods...
Anyway, give this letter to the enforcers at the gates of Aurora City, leave your name and address, and they'll pass it on to him.
Within three days at most, the [Doctor] will come to find you."
"Thank you!"
Chen Ling took the envelope and expressed his sincere gratitude.
In fact, when he saw the salt melting on the road earlier, Chen Ling had already sensed that something was wrong. The things happening to him couldn't be explained by mere illness. Coming to this small clinic was partly because he was already halfway there, and partly because he had no idea where else to turn for help.
From what Dr. Lin said, this [Doctor] seemed special, and he even mentioned a "path to becoming gods"...
Could it be that this world also had a unique system for human cultivation? Otherwise, according to Dr. Lin's explanation, humanity should have been wiped out during the so-called Great Cataclysm and the Gray Realm convergence.
Chen Ling even suspected that the distorted state of science in this world might also be related to the Great Cataclysm.
"No need to thank me. Send my regards to your brother," Dr. Lin said with a smile.
"He's still hospitalized in District Two... I'll pass on your greetings the next time I visit him."
Chen Ling stood up, bid farewell to Dr. Lin, and left the clinic.
As his figure gradually disappeared under the aurora-filled sky, Dr. Lin narrowed his eyes.
"A performer, huh..."
---
"The first time I saw the screen in my dream, the audience expectation was 29%."
"When I tried to escape, it jumped to 30%."
"On my way here, it dropped back to 27%..."
"Just now, when Dr. Lin was pranked, it rose to 29% again."
"If the 'audience' is really in my mind, and these numbers aren't hallucinations, then what exactly influences the rise and fall of the expectation value?"
The cold wind howled as Chen Ling, wrapped in a thick cotton robe, walked home, deep in thought.
Stage, audience, expectation value... Every time the expectation value increased, it seemed to coincide with an event. Could these events be seen as "plot points" on the stage?
The more interesting the events around him, the more captivating the "plot" would be for the audience, thus increasing the expectation value?
The screen had said that if the audience expectation fell below 20%, the safety of the actor would not be guaranteed...
Chen Ling didn't know what kind of danger that entailed, but given that the "audience" could interfere with reality to some extent, it was possible that he could become a tool for their amusement, toyed with to death!
Chen Ling felt his reasoning was sound, but to prove it, he needed to take action.
"Maybe I should try to actively design 'plot points,'" Chen Ling murmured to himself.
"A-Ling, have you had breakfast yet?"
Chen Ling turned to see a middle-aged man with a towel wrapped around his head fanning a stove at a breakfast stall by the street, calling out to him warmly.
At the sight of him, an idea suddenly flashed through Chen Ling's mind.
"Not yet, Uncle Zhao," Chen Ling said with a slight smile, walking over to the stall.
"Come, come, let me get you some soy milk and fried dough sticks. The air's heavy after last night's rain. You need something warm to start the day," Uncle Zhao said, scooping a bowl of steaming soy milk.
"Thanks, Uncle Zhao."
Chen Ling fished out three copper coins from his pocket and handed them to Uncle Zhao, but the latter pushed them back.
"Uncle's treating you to breakfast. How could I take your money?"
"Come on, Uncle Zhao. Even though we've been neighbors for over a decade, we should still settle accounts properly."
"You kid, Uncle doesn't want your money. Just help our Zhao Yi with his studies when you have time, and I'll send you breakfast every day," Uncle Zhao said with a grin, revealing a set of yellowed teeth.
"Didn't he already graduate? Why does he still need tutoring?"
"With his grades, he can't even get a decent job. I'm planning to have him repeat the year. He can't just keep doing odd jobs forever, right?"
"Oh..."
"You're such a good kid, A-Ling. Smart and filial. If Zhao Yi could ever pass the enforcer exam like you, I'd be laughing in my dreams."
Uncle Zhao sighed deeply. "It's a shame that boy just doesn't work hard."
Chen Ling paused with his chopsticks, hesitating for a moment before speaking.
"Uncle Zhao... do you know why Zhao Yi's grades are so bad?"
"Huh? Why?"
Chen Ling was about to say something but fell silent for a long time. Finally, he shook his head. "Never mind, Uncle Zhao. Forget I mentioned it... I promised him I'd keep it a secret."
"Don't say that!"
Uncle Zhao's heart raced. He quickly added a marinated egg to Chen Ling's bowl, scratching his head anxiously.
"A-Ling, I know you're Zhao Yi's good friend, but some things... I, as his father, should know, right? I've raised him alone, working day and night to earn money for his education, all so he can have a better life in the future...
If you know something, you have to tell me! It's for his own good..."
Seeing Uncle Zhao's desperate plea, Chen Ling seemed moved. After a moment of hesitation, as if making up his mind, he said,
"Uncle Zhao, you're right. As a friend, I can't bear to see Zhao Yi continue down this path of ruin..."
"Ruin? What's happened to him?"
"He's in a relationship."
"What?" Uncle Zhao was stunned. "That kid has that kind of charm?"
Chen Ling calmly took a bite of his fried dough stick and uttered three words:
"With a guy."