Final Civilization

Chapter 12: Entering the Dream

"In college, I read it, but I've mostly forgotten it now. However, there's one line I've always remembered, and it's influenced me quite a bit."

"What line?"

" 'Weakness and ignorance are not the greatest obstacles to survival; arrogance is.' "

"What a coincidence, that's the exact line I was thinking of too." Tao Jie responded proactively.

Actually, this line was the result of Han Ming trying multiple conversation starters before finally getting a proactive response from Tao Jie, indicating it resonated with her.

Recalling the past, he began to speak.

"I remember back at Jinghai University of Law, I once asked you what the meaning of studying law was. You told me our world is still in a stage of weakness and ignorance, and that law is about proactively establishing order to safeguard the progress of civilization. I've remembered that line for a long time too."

"You even remember that?"

"Yes, that perspective had a very positive meaning for me."

"I... heard news about you. You've done very well in the legal field, and haven't forgotten your original intentions."Han Ming recalled some of the things Tao Jie had discussed with him in the past, mostly about future aspirations. It seemed on this topic, Tao Jie didn't show any resistance.

Just like that, he and Tao Jie delved deeper and deeper into conversation, the initial sense of unfamiliarity gradually breaking down.

...

The night was as dark as ink. The bustling nightscape of Jinghai across the Ming River transformed into a boiling sea of light.

Before the floor-to-ceiling window of a high-rise overlooking the river, the metallic outline of a wheelchair was cut into a silent silhouette by the neon lights outside. Tao Jie sat quietly in the wheelchair, a thin grey cashmere blanket draped over her knees.

The window reflected a beautiful face, unadorned yet still perfect. But those eyes were like dusty obsidian, emptily reflecting the frenzied light show from the skyscrapers across the river.

Her phone vibrated and lit up. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as her gaze fell upon the screen.

"I heard the weather will be nice tomorrow, good air quality. Would you like to go out and see, maybe have a coffee?"

She looked quietly at the text. The gloomy light in her eyes seemed to gain a faint trace of vitality. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed one word.

"Okay."

But the moment she sent it, she felt a pang of regret. However, Han Ming had already seen the message. She looked at her reflection in the windowpane. It seemed like it had been a very long time since she had gone out.

So, she sent Han Ming the address of a café, and they agreed to meet in the morning.

On the other end, Han Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief. He went to the parking lot, got in his car, and drove home.

After he left, the headlights of a black car parked not far from his spot slowly lit up, then followed him.

It was almost 9 PM by the time he returned to his apartment. Han Ming ate something simple, took a shower, then lay in bed thinking about the day's events.

"The Sacred Realm of Science."

He had finally found a clue related to the content of his dreams.

"All of humanity unites resolutely behind the Wallfacers, defending the miracle of human civilization..."

"But why are these secretive organizations involved, and not official authorities?" Han Ming stared at the ceiling, thinking of last night's dream.

"If the scene in that dream was real, could I pinpoint its location?"

Especially that woman who impersonated his 'wife'. This person was absolutely connected to the strange things happening to him. If Han Ming could find this person, perhaps everything would become clear.

As this thought sprang from his mind, Han Ming felt he had found a breakthrough.

He took a deep breath, turned off the light, and closed his eyes.

"Good night."

...

An old ceiling fan whirred as it rotated. The light grew a little brighter.

"So you're saying the world is about to be destroyed, you were chosen as a Wallfacer to save humanity, strange events are happening around you, you can live forever, and you can command all the wealth in the world?"

The familiar words rang out. Han Ming opened his eyes, his vision clearing from a blur.

His first action was to observe the environment inside the police report hall, trying to find some clues.

The old-fashioned electric fan, the yellow wooden desk with a glass panel on top, the red metal folding stool, the old-style painted walls white on top and green on the bottom...

Han Ming's gaze noticed some documents on the desk, including a report registration ledger. Apart from that, the desk only displayed some notepaper and used fountain pen ink, etc.

So, he tried to focus his gaze on that registration ledger. If it had relevant dates or showed a location name, things would become simple.

Tap, tap.

The police officer impatiently tapped the desk with his pen. "Did you hear what I said?"

Han Ming responded directly.

"Sorry, officer, it was all just my wild imagination."

"Huh? Are you sure?!" the officer said in a questioning tone.

"Yes, I must have read too much science fiction," Han Ming said seriously.

The officer fell silent for a moment, sizing him up. "And your wife? Is she acting crazy too?"

"Yes, we've both been obsessed with science fiction lately."

"Science fiction?"

The officer stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze, his fingers lightly tapping the desk. "What kind of novel could make you hallucinate?"

Han Ming wasn't focused on the officer's question. Right now, his attention was completely on that report registration ledger.

"Can I look at that?" Han Ming said.

The officer looked puzzled, seeing Han Ming point to the report registration ledger in front of him.

"What for?!" the officer immediately demanded sternly.

"I think I made a mistake when I registered earlier. I'd like to correct it."

Han Ming found an excuse. As long as he could see the information on it, his goal would be achieved.

That report registration ledger must have relevant dates and names, maybe even ID numbers. If he knew these, perhaps he could figure out why he was dreaming of this scene.

"Made a mistake registering?"

"Yes."

"But you said, from the moment you came in 4 minutes ago until now, you haven't seen a second officer, nor have you filled out any registration materials. So how... did you forget?" The officer's tone of voice began to change, taking on a strange, sinister quality.

Hearing this, Han Ming's expression changed dramatically!

Just as shock and horror surged within him, a cold voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

"Found you, Wallfacer!"

Han Ming's heart turned cold. He jerked his head up. The pitch-black muzzle of a gun was pointed directly between his eyebrows.

In the shadows, the corner of the police officer's mouth stretched into a bizarre, twisted grin.

Bang!

5:40 AM. Han Ming jolted awake in bed. The smell of gunpowder in his nostrils felt as vivid as if he were really there.

Even though he knew it was a dream, the feeling of death still left his entire body ice-cold.

"What is going on?!"

Han Ming's expression was extremely grave.

Why did that police officer remember what he had said in the previous dream?

Could the worlds in his dreams be connected? That doesn't make sense...

He originally thought these dreams were just a kind of omen, but now they were dragging him into a quagmire of bizarre, inexplicable strangeness.

Han Ming got up and pressed his temples. This eerie change in his dreams made him feel a chill running down his spine. He lay back down, looked at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

"A few more dreams like this, and I'm afraid I won't even be scared of ghosts anymore."

...

8:30 AM. After his morning run by the river, Han Ming returned to his apartment, took a shower, changed clothes, and, as agreed, drove to a café called "Fog Island" before 10 AM.

Located next to Ming Island Park, it was away from traffic, and the environment was relatively quiet.

When Han Ming pushed the door open, he found Tao Jie had already arrived before him. She was sitting by the window, quietly reading a book she held in her hands.

He checked the time. He was already 20 minutes early, but it seemed Tao Jie had arrived even earlier.

His gaze fell on the wheelchair beneath her, his expression somewhat complex.

Even after suffering a tremendous tragedy, Tao Jie was still beautiful. Her chestnut-brown hair, her very fair skin that even had a kind of luminous quality in the sunlight. Light makeup and red lips gave her, even sitting in a wheelchair, a high-class, elegant beauty.

But Han Ming could still keenly sense a faint aura of melancholy about her.

"It seems I'll need to arrive even earlier in the future."

Han Ming walked to the coffee table. His gaze swept over and saw the book in Tao Jie's hands was Dan Simmons's "Hyperion," a work of science fiction blending Greek mythology.

Hearing Han Ming's voice, Tao Jie looked up. Morning light fell through the window onto her profile, serene and hazy.

She smiled. "I have two more wheels than you. You can't beat my speed."

Hearing this, Han Ming was somewhat surprised. He sat down, his gaze settling on the "Hyperion" book, and said,

"You really enjoy reading science fiction now?"

Tao Jie smiled slightly, closing the book. "Good science fiction can elevate our perspective on the real world, even if it's imagined."

Han Ming nodded. "Like detaching from the physical shell to view the world, the past and the future?"

Hearing this, Tao Jie looked at him with a half-smile. She paused for two seconds before laughing.

"That's strange. We haven't seen each other for seven years, yet you seem to be able to read the thoughts in my heart. Did you study psychology?"

"Reading the thoughts in someone's heart has nothing to do with time," Han Ming said with a calm expression. "Humans are land creatures, yet we can conquer the sky. If I were in a wheelchair, I would also hope to view the world from a perspective higher than the sky."

The smile vanished from Tao Jie's face. Her eyes lowered, and she said in a displeased tone,

"You're poking at my sore spot. Aren't you afraid I'll cry?"