CH 746

Perhaps only Han Fei was left who knew about the relationship between Du Jing, Fu Sheng, and Fu Tian. He had met Du Jing and her mother in the altar world. He had a good impression of them.

“There are not that many elders from Fu Sheng’s generation. Du Jing relies on the biotech of Immortal Pharma to live until now. It feels like I need to meet her. If I can persuade her to join my side, many problems can be solved.” Han Fei glanced at the clock. It was 3.40 am. Han Fei contemplated for a long time before sending Du Jing a message. “I know that man’s name, and I can help you recover your lost memory, but how can I trust you?”

Han Fei sent the message and went to do something else. He didn’t expect the reply to come back in mere seconds. The unknown number was calling him.

“Shall I answer?” Honestly, Han Fei wasn’t prepared at all. His finger hovered over the accept key for a long time before pressing it. An old lady’s image appeared on the blurry screen. She was inside a very large house. Through the window behind her, one could see the theme park.

“Hello. Han Fei, we meet again.” Du Jing was kind. She looked at Han Fei without malice.

“I’m only answering your call out of politeness. Don’t forget that Immortal Pharma was just trying to detain me illegally a few hours ago and tried to pin all the blame on me.” Han Fei didn’t like the two big companies. They had created a gap in technology where the public only had access to the best technology after five years they were invited.

“Technically speaking, I am not connected to Immortal Pharma. The shares I own are given to me by Fu Tian. In the future, I can give them to someone I trust.” Du Jing was not interested in wealth and power. She just wanted to find someone to talk to.

“The things Fu Tian left for you would be the envy of most. You are tied to Immortal Pharma no matter whether you like it or not.” Han Fei didn’t want to chew words. He sat on the chair and said seriously, “I’ll answer your questions. I don’t need anything from you. I’m doing this because that person had once treated you as his friend.” Han Fei knew how much Fu Sheng had been through. In that despair, he had few friends. His stepmother was one, his brother was another, and the girl he saved, Du Jing was the last one.

Du Jing was silent. A deep pain appeared in her eyes. “Then… Why can’t I remember him?”

“That’s the path he chose.” Han Fei had been observing Du Jing. After he was sure the woman was alone, he decided to tell her the truth. “Fu Tian has an older brother called Fu Sheng. He is the real owner of the black box. Immortal Pharma belongs to the two brothers.”

“Fu Sheng?” Du Jing frowned. She had no impression of this name. She had heard it for the first time.

“There are too many secrets buried at Immortal Pharma. If you look closely, you’ll find the traces.” Han Fei planned to hang up, but Du Jing stopped him.

“Wait.” The old woman took out a paper. The paper was covered in various symbols. “Fu Tian gave me this paper to keep a few days before he passed away. He said he had once made a huge mistake. Everyone related to him will not have a good ending. The only solution is on this paper. But I don’t understand this at all. Do you know what this paper is trying to say?”

Han Fei studied the paper. He was sure that it was a map of the cryptic world. It was more detailed than the one left behind by Fu Sheng in the building manager’s room. It marked out more dangerous locales. Ziggurat, the plastic surgery hospital, and the theme park were at the edge of the map. Around them was blackness. It was filled with legend, but Han Fei could only recognize one, Ghost.

The black area was huge. Three of the areas were marked red. They were an old ancestral home, a tall skyscraper, and the chain of a clubhouse.

“I don’t know. Perhaps you can do some research.” Han Fei memorized part of the map while he spoke.

“You really don’t know?” Du Jing opened the map wider as if to show Han Fei. “Fu Tian has three children, five grandsons, and four granddaughters. He wanted me to pick the best among them to inherit the map and the shares he gave to me. Based on my observation, none of his descendants is good enough. However, there is some great potential among his adopted children.”

“Are you sure you can tell these to an outsider like me?” Han Fei said as he continued to memorize the map.

“Immortal Pharma has done many dirty things like picking special orphans to cultivate their maximum potential…”

“What is your point?” Han Fei’s tone changed. Du Jing knew more than he anticipated.

“Nothing. I’m just rambling. Only Fu Tian knows about those children. However, something bad happened during the training. Everyone who knows about it has died. Fu Tian was the last one who knew the truth…” Du Jing put away the map and stopped talking.

“Don’t beat around the bushes.” Han Fei stared at Du Jing. The memory of the Blood-red Night was Mad Laughter’s biggest secret.

“I need to verify something with you, but I need your cooperation.” Du Jing said. “Don’t reject me just yet. Some things have already reached their worst outcome. I hope you can consider my offer.”

“Worst outcome?”

“Our life is approaching humanity’s biggest challenge. Humans versus humans and humans versus technology. There are anger and anxiety wedged between different beliefs and philosophies. They are temporarily held back by smoke and mirrors. Once the smoke clears, all the negative emotions will explode.”

“Is that not the fault of big companies like yours?” Han Fei was reminded of his life before he obtained the black box. After he was fired, his former agency wrote down many negative reviews on his citizen database. They claimed that he was a horrible person, hard to approach, and had severe social anxiety. This made it impossible for him to find work. He couldn’t even be an extra.

Technology always moved forward. Everyone’s life would be marked and graded. Many people lived like puppets, trying to get a better grade. Humans became more like robots, and robots became more like humans.

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“Technological advances will cause problems, but these problems are being used by some very scary forces. They don’t want to solve problems but to use these problems to create twisted individuals.” Du Jing opened her virtual screen. Strangely enough, her screen was different from the one used by the public. “On the day the bug appeared in Perfect Life, several supercriminals reappeared in Xin Lu. They are using their own ways to tell us that they have returned.”

Han Fei glanced at Du Jing’s page. Yesterday night, the intelligent city was hit about 10,000 times. The number of violence cases rose. The citizen’s happiness value dropped. The chaos was cultivating.

“The photon computer will categorize everyone’s citizen database. How can these people be outside of the law?” Han Fei had been helping the police with cold cases. Back then, technology was not that advanced.

“Many people detest technology. Some even dug out their chips and stayed away from technology. They live among the abandoned buildings in the countryside. These people are the supercriminals’ favorite targets.” Du Jing picked out a few random pieces of news. “Murder club, Sunday night school, Black cocoon guide, Death chat group… Many supercriminals are surviving in places normal citizens can’t see. They are fast approaching the city.”

“I’ve heard of most of those for the first time.”

“History will replay itself. Our city will change.” Du Jing thought back to the past. “When the chaos came last time, Fu Tian and his group came forth. I wonder who would take the stage this time.”

“Isn’t the stage normally reserved for actors?” Han Fei didn’t have Du Jing’s right of access. He couldn’t find so many things, but his friend, Huang Yin, should be able to help him.

“I anticipate that.” Du Jing smiled, and she became the kind old lady again. “This is my private number. If you change your mind, you can find me anytime.”

Du Jing hung up. Han Fei sat on the chair. After giving it some thought, he contacted Huang Yin. He planned to visit one of those Murder Clubs.

…

Inside the tuition class, Shen Luo, in the last row, sneezed. He looked at his classmates, and his legs shook. He felt like he was still inside the game. After all, who would encounter a whole room of crazy people on his way to find a doctor?