Final Civilization

Chapter 29: Taiping Town

"You're saying the world is about to end, you were chosen as a Wallfacer to save humanity, strange events are occurring around you, you can live forever, and you can control all the wealth in the world?"

In the dream, light and shadow swayed, sights and sounds were blurred and disorienting.

"Yes."

Han Ming responded.

The policeman in the shadows had a scrutinizing gaze, his tone stiff as he said,

"Are you sure you're not just letting your imagination run wild?"

"No."

"May I ask, regarding your mental state...?"

"Perfectly normal."

"Then can you explain in detail, what strange events have occurred around you, and how do you know you can live forever and control all the wealth in the world?"The policeman's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, each tap seeming to synchronize with Han Ming's heartbeat.

Han Ming slightly raised his eyes. From his peripheral vision, the scene of a large police station investigation hall appeared around him.

Not far away, people were talking in low voices, their tones anxious and sorrowful, the content unclear.

Light that induced drowsiness shone through the window, making the room less dark than before.

It seemed to be dusk.

Han Ming focused his gaze and said seriously,

"I don't know. I heard someone tell me this in a dream. The voice was very real. I think it's true. I'm not dreaming."

"What?"

The policeman's tone became puzzled. "You dreamed it in a dream?"

"Yes."

*Smack!* The policeman suddenly slammed the table.

"Nonsense! This is a police station, not a place for you to play house. If you want to dream, go home and sit there. Filing a false report interferes with our official duties, you know!"

Han Ming's heart stirred. How did the event change into him coming to file a report?

Wasn't it arson and attempted murder?

Seeing he didn't respond, the policeman grew even more impatient. "I'm talking to you, what's your name again?"

As he spoke, he flipped open the report register in front of him, then said with confusion, "How come there's not even a registration?"

Hearing this, Han Ming immediately realized the dream's scene seemed to be developing in a different direction because of his answer. He promptly said,

"Um, I seem to have forgotten."

"Forgotten?"

*Smack!* The policeman closed the report register and sternly rebuked, "Then get out of here quickly. Don't cause trouble at the police station for no reason. Coming to file a report just because you had a dream? I'm telling you, if it weren't almost the New Year, I'd detain you for a few days and you wouldn't have a complaint!"

Han Ming immediately stood up. "Oh, thank you, officer."

He felt excited inside, never expecting to escape the interrogation so easily.

Han Ming didn't see the policeman's appearance under the shadows. In fact, at this moment, everyone in the entire police station seemed to be under an eerie shadow, their features unclear.

But the police station had a very busy atmosphere.

Han Ming left the stool and walked toward the main door, constantly surveying the entire investigation hall.

The hall's furnishings were very old-fashioned, very much like the teachers' offices at the school Han Ming attended as a child in Mountain City. Several large desks were arranged on both sides, piled high with documents and materials.

He looked to one side. Displayed in a glass file cabinet were things resembling case files. Several triangular brocade banners were also hung on the wall.

Han Ming's pupils contracted. He suddenly realized he could actually read the text on those banners!

[Do Good Deeds for the Masses!]

[Presented to: Taiping Town Police Station, April 1992]

"Taiping Town, 1992?"

Han Ming perked up. He'd finally found a clue. So he continued searching with his gaze, seeing if he could find more detailed information.

The surrounding light and shadow were blurred and chaotic. As Han Ming walked, he discovered that except for some specific viewpoints, other perspectives were very fuzzy.

Han Ming followed this scene and walked out of the hall. During this time, he saw a black-and-white newspaper placed on a certain desk. He wanted to go closer but found the text on it completely illegible.

It felt as if what he was seeing were scenes existing in someone's memory, and those scenes the person involved didn't see were all blurred out.

Han Ming walked out the main door, greeted by the piercing light of the setting sun.

People came and went around him, men and women.

People were discussing something, their voices buzzing and murmuring, unclear.

Just as Han Ming wanted to open his eyes wide to see the outside world clearly, upon opening them, he found it was the ceiling of his own bedroom.

"Are you kidding me..."

He sighed, holding his forehead. But still, okay, this time in the dream he obtained two key pieces of information.

One was the time: Taiping Town in April 1992.

The other:

This time, he wasn't killed!

...

"Big lawyer, do you want to check what time it is now? You don't need to take care of my business this early."

On the phone, Sun Lulu's voice carried a hint of exasperation.

It wasn't even dawn yet. Han Ming immediately called Sun Lulu. He urgently needed to get some useful information.

The Taiping Town clue was too weak. A quick phone search showed dozens of Taiping Towns across the country. So Han Ming could only try other avenues.

"It's urgent. Help me investigate a place: Taiping Town." Han Ming said seriously.

"That's it?"

"April 1992. An arson case happened there. Can you find it?"

"Sigh, alright then..."

"Oh, right." Before hanging up, Sun Lulu added, "This time it's chargeable, you know."

"Okay."

After calling Sun Lulu, Han Ming lost his sleepiness. He stood alone on the balcony, looking at Jinghai still asleep under the night lights, pondering.

"Some things can be seen clearly, some things can't. It seems like a scene from someone's memory..."

"But the question is, why would the scene in a memory develop different event directions based on my answers?"

"Or is it that the dream is actually some kind of real scene, and those unseen parts are some kind of intentional interference?"

Han Ming's thoughts were somewhat chaotic. He originally thought he was gradually seeing some truth within the dreams, reasoning step by step.

He never expected to return to square one again.

If he hadn't actually obtained a useful piece of information, Han Ming would have started to think he was developing some schizophrenia.

*Buzz.*

At that moment, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw Sun Lulu had already sent a message.

「Done.」

「Thanks.」He replied, then opened his computer and logged into that email account again.

However, when he opened the inbox, he found a large image file inside. Han Ming clicked to open it and immediately his expression changed drastically.

The image was actually of that woman in red. She stood against a blurry background, a red formal dress like a crimson flame.

Whether it was his illusion or not, the woman in the photo seemed to be staring at Han Ming through the computer screen.

He frowned, searched around a bit, but found the email had no other materials sent besides this photo.

Han Ming felt something was wrong. He immediately picked up his phone and called Sun Lulu.

However, several busy tones sounded.

No one answered.

When he called a second time.

The sound of a phone vibrating suddenly came from the empty living room of his apartment.

*Buzz.*

The vibration sounded particularly abrupt in the room.

Han Ming abruptly stood up, discovering the door to his room had been opened at some unknown time. A tall, shadowy figure stood eerily in the darkness behind the door.

The figure just stood there. Under Han Ming's terrified gaze, it slowly raised a pistol.

In the darkness, a pair of red eyes glowed with a faint crimson light.

Han Ming seemed to see that eerie smile stretching to the ears.

He gasped, feeling his heart sink at this moment.

"Found you, Wallfacer!"

*Bang!*