Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The Sand Dune Shelter was temporarily secure, but it was uncertain when the mechanical army would return.

At noon, the residents of the shelter began ransacking Liao Jia's storage, emptying numerous iron boxes and backpacks from high shelves. Any usable supplies were hastily seized.

Even his former guards joined in the plunder.

Long Jianlu and Yaoguang sat in the shade of the central clearing. Long Jianlu devoured roasted potatoes, a large basin of which had been sent to him as a token of gratitude.

"You have an incredible ability," Yaoguang observed, seeing Long Jianlu use it for the first time.

Long Jianlu replied, "Occasionally, I can't use it constantly. It consumes a lot, so I need to replenish after."

Time Flow Sensing required Long Jianlu to mobilize his entire body's energy, creating a burst that started in his brain and affected his body's reactions, muscle adjustments, and more.

"Your blade is very sharp," Yaoguang commented further. "It can even cut through machines."

"This is Big Brother's treasured sword," Long Jianlu said politely. "Custom-made to counter Killers, just like my existence. Little ones shouldn't play with it; you might lose your fingers."

He drew his short knife, twirled it skillfully, then returned it to its sheath.

"Where do we go from here?" Yaoguang asked, glancing at the gathering crowd nearby. They had divided Liao Jia's belongings and were now spontaneously converging on the central open space, expecting Long Jianlu to have a plan for their fate.

"I don't know," Long Jianlu replied. "You asked me to come back. You figure something out."

Yaoguang retorted, "You chose to return. Can I really control your motorcycle without your permission?"

"That's my wife you're talking about," Long Jianlu corrected.

Yaoguang sighed in resignation. After Liao Jia's death, the remaining refugees gradually understood that the tree's retreat was merely a conservation tactic; it would inevitably return to eliminate them. Eventually, more killers would be sent, and Long Jianlu couldn't remain at the Dune Shelter indefinitely.

Some people tried to approach, but Long Jianlu raised his hand to halt them.

He took out a map from his backpack, unfolded it, and said, "The nearest refuge is the Riverbank Shelter, four hundred and forty kilometers away. The leader there is called Lu Shan, one of my former subordinates and a member of the rescue team. He should accept them, but I'm unsure if Riverbank can accommodate seven thousand people."

"Bring all of them there?" Yaoguang asked. "At their pace, how long would it take?"

Looking up, Long Jianlu called out to the group, "Fetch the vehicles you used for transporting supplies!"

Understanding his intention, the others left one by one.

Yaoguang inquired, "What number is Liao Jia?"

"Number 20," Long Jianlu replied.

Long Jianlu put away the map and looked at Yaoguang.

Yaoguang asked, "Are the numbers assigned based on abilities?"

Long Jianlu responded, "Maybe? I'm not sure. The ranking was done by 'Brother,' as we call it."

"What's 'Brother'?"

"It's another computer that Dr. Flash used before he passed away. It helps analyze genetic fragments, but it's not an AI."

Yaoguang pressed, "So here's the question, what number are you then?"

"You're quite inquisitive, aren't you, young one?" Long Jianlu answered. "Won't you rest until you get your answer?"

Yaoguang: "Tell me, what's your number?"

Long Jianlu replied, "Brother ranked me as Number 3. Are you satisfied now?"

Yaoguang understood. So Long Jianlu was indeed formidable. After all, in the world of martial arts, speed was paramount. As long as he seized the initiative, few could challenge him, not even a mechanical assassin. In that regard, Liao Jia's decision seemed rather unwise.

Yaoguang asked, "What abilities does Number 2 have?"

"Very formidable ones," Long Jianlu answered. "Almost everyone who has crossed swords with him is no longer alive."

Yaoguang pressed on, "And Number 1? Who is he? Don't they care about him?"

Long Jianlu responded, "Number 1 used to be the leader, but he's already deceased."

Yaoguang: "Alright, let's put that aside for now. I'm curious, is Number 36 weak?"

"Number 36?" Long Jianlu queried. "Why do you ask?"

Yaoguang: "This is what I've been wanting to inquire about. What are Number 36's abilities?"

Long Jianlu appraised Yaoguang, retrieving a small black notebook from his backpack. He flipped to the page labeled "36," which contained a brief entry—Ability: Illusion and Concealment.

"Oh, I recall now," Long Jianlu said. "Number 36 has the ability to conceal themselves, perhaps like a chameleon? We didn't investigate much about them. It's certainly a good way to stay alive, huh."

Closing the notebook, Long Jianlu gazed intently at Yaoguang.

"Number 36 is right here," Yaoguang stated. "She's a girl, hiding in the Dune Sanctuary."

Long Jianlu: "I think with some training, you might join the Knight Order… Where is she now?"

Yaoguang: "Don't turn around, or she'll vanish in her illusion. She's watching us from under that tree by the grocery store entrance."

In the next moment, as if a gust of wind had swept past, Long Jianlu vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared where Yaoguang had indicated, his hand resting on the shoulder of a girl.

"Greetings, it's been a while," Long Jianlu smiled, his handsome face captivating. "Care for a chat?"

The girl wore thick glasses and simple attire, indistinguishable from the other refugees in appearance.

"You've never truly 'seen' me, Great Knight," she acknowledged, knowing escape from Long Jianlu was futile. "But I admit, I shouldn't have been spying on you two."

"I'll find you even if you hide in this house," Long Jianlu replied. "Cognition is omnipresent."

"How did you know I was here?" Number 36 asked, perplexed.

Long Jianlu led her back to Yaoguang and said, "Let me introduce you. This is my friend, the 'Seer.' He knows everything that happens in this world."

Yaoguang exchanged a glance with Long Jianlu.

"Hello, Little Shuang," Yaoguang nodded at her.

"Oh," the girl called Little Shuang responded. "No, wait, I don't remember you."

"That's not important," Long Jianlu said, sitting down again and tossing a roasted potato. "Want some?"

"No, thank you," Little Shuang replied expressionlessly. "I've been eating them every day; I'm about to vomit. You killed Liao Jia. Now, please tell me how you plan to protect these people. I assume you're not interested in becoming the boss of the Sand Dunes."

Long Jianlu gave Yaoguang a look, signaling him to take over.

"I'll send them to the Riverbank Shelter," Long Jianlu said, "but there's still something crucial for us to attend to."

Yaoguang understood.

Little Shuang asked, "So what do you want?"

"Protection for them," Long Jianlu replied. "To escort these people until they reach the Riverbank Shelter."

With that, he tore a page from his notebook and scribbled a childlike drawing of a fire-breathing dragon on it.

Yaoguang inquired, "What's that?"

Long Jianlu responded, "Don't interrupt."

Little Shuang said, "Aren't you a Seer? How can you not know the legendary artwork of the Great Knight?"

Long Jianlu answered, "This is a pact between Lu Shan and me!"

He handed the note to Little Shuang. "Give this to Lu Shan. I promise not to reveal your identity after that."

"I'll be nowhere to be found," Little Shuang declared.

"With a Seer around," Long Jianlu raised an eyebrow, "I can always locate you."

Little Shuang didn't respond but took the note silently.

Assuming her consent, Long Jianlu arranged for the refugees to gather and began explaining the plan. He selected leaders among them and instructed them to prepare heavy-duty trucks, asking everyone to assemble at the entrance. After a full two hours, the seven thousand people started boarding the vehicles in batches. Little Shuang took her place in the front seat of the first truck.

Yaoguang had anticipated hesitation, but it seemed that everyone was eager to leave this place.

"After that, let's go." After making his brief instructions, Long Jianlu returned to the high ground and mounted his motorcycle.

"Where are we headed?" Yaoguang asked.

Long Jianlu didn't reply but turned the motorcycle around at an elevation, descending the stone hill. It was already dusk, with the sun setting in the west, casting a crimson glow upon their journey into the heart of the desert.

"They seem quite willing to move," Yaoguang observed.

"Hmm," Long Jianlu acknowledged. "The Riverbank Shelter at least doesn't lack water. Liao Jia's choice is far too arid."

Yaoguang inquired, "Are these shelters assigned randomly?"

Long Jianlu explained, "Initially, people chose relatively safer areas to gather, and as time went on, the settlements expanded, forming shelters. Liao Jia just happened to be in charge of protecting this place."

Gradually, night fell upon the Gobi, and the heavens were strewn with stars, hanging like jewels against the deep blue canopy. The temperature plummeted, and the motorcycle weaved through the jagged boulders. War had erased many signs of human life, leaving behind a magnificent, sprawling landscape.

"Cold?" Long Jianlu turned back and asked, "We'll find a spot to set up camp right away."

Yaoguang nodded, shivering slightly. Long Jianlu eventually discovered a rocky cave halfway up the mountain. He retrieved a device, activated it, and a flame sprang to life, fueled by its contents, illuminating their surroundings with a warm glow.

"Let me see what delightful treats my dear friends have prepared for the Great Knight."

Long Jianlu unpacked the supply pack that the Shakhara Shelter had prepared for him, which contained some dried provisions, two roughly made glass jar cans, and beverages. Thus, the two began their dinner within the cave.

"Is this desert landscape all there is everywhere?" Yaoguang observed, finding that people's needs had become utterly primal. In such an environment, securing food had become a paramount challenge.

"No," Long Jianlu replied, engrossed in studying the map. "Only this immediate area."

"Tomorrow, it'll be more comfortable once we enter the forested area," Long Jianlu glanced at Yaoguang and added, "If we come across a river, you can even take a bath."

Yaoguang thus joined in examining the map. Long Jianlu asked, "Can you 'recall' or 'know' anything else? It's alright, whatever comes to mind, you can share it with me. At this point, I believe you have a special purpose. Finding you in Institute 42 is proving to be significant."

After a brief moment of eye contact, Yaoguang said, "Right now, I just feel utterly confused. Something feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Long Jianlu handed Yaoguang a drink and said earnestly, "Perhaps I could assist you? For instance, could you pinpoint what exactly is bothering you?"

"Too many things seem out of place," Yaoguang replied, now able to gather his thoughts with Long Jianlu's encouraging gaze. He began to attempt to organize his jumbled thoughts. "Everything seems illogical, as if nothing quite adds up."

"Can you be more specific?" Long Jianlu inquired.

"Is this how it feels to be mentally unstable?" Yaoguang wondered aloud. "Like the world around you is strangely distorted?"

"Put the matter of mental instability aside for now," Long Jianlu said. "Here's what you do: whenever you sense something off, tell me immediately, okay?"

"I already feel something's wrong," Yaoguang replied. "Take a look at this map."

Long Jianlu responded, "Huh?"

He unfolded the map and laid it out for Yaoguang to see.

"You mean to tell me that the continent is all connected in one large piece?" Yaoguang said. "Just one single island? Does that make any sense?"

"What?" Long Jianlu asked. "That makes perfect sense."

Yaoguang said, "What's the name of this place we're living in?"

Long Jianlu replied, "Earth. This is a projected map."

Yaoguang continued, "Alright, we know that continents can drift apart due to tectonic movements. Even if they don't, it's impossible for there to be only one island in the ocean, right?"

"Hmm..." Long Jianlu responded. "Are these basic concepts you've recalled? Or are you from another world? Let me explain. You're someone from six hundred years ago, so many ideas are deeply ingrained in your mind."

Yaoguang picked up Long Jianlu's black leather notebook and flipped it open. He asked, "What are these characters?"

"Chinese characters," Long Jianlu answered. "It's a writing system that has been passed down from six hundred years ago."

Yaoguang asked, "Do all the shelters use the same script?"

Long Jianlu: "As far as I can tell, yes, with some English mixed in."

Yaoguang: "They can understand each other when they speak? Even across languages?"

Long Jianlu: "At least I can understand them."

Yaoguang: "In six hundred years, the common language hasn't changed, nor have any dialects or accents emerged? There are only two languages in the world now—Chinese and English? No other ethnic groups besides the Han survived?"

Long Jianlu was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yaoguang: "When we throw something up, it falls back down. What's the reason for that?"

Long Jianlu: "Gravity."

"Who discovered gravity?"

"Newton?"

"Where was Newton from?"

"Englishman?"

"You mentioned 'English' earlier. Could you tell me where England is?" Yaoguang inquired. "Point it out on a map for me?"

Long Jianlu: "…"

"This world is full of inconsistencies," Yaoguang said, "It's like... like..."

The answer lay deep within him, ready to be summoned.

"Just like a game," Yaoguang murmured, "A game crafted by human design."

As the night deepened, Yaoguang's relentless questioning left Long Jianlu disoriented and filled with doubt.

Long Jianlu asked, "This world isn't real?"

Yaoguang countered, "Have you ever played a game?"

Long Jianlu replied, "I've played a bit at a friend's place. It was a fighter jet, flying through space, firing missiles at enemies."

Yaoguang: "You can imagine it as if someone designed all of this, but not necessarily as a game – it's just filled with bugs."

Long Jianlu remained silent. At that moment, another influx of information flooded Yaoguang's mind.

In the northernmost depths of the main city, a colossal supercomputer stood tall, its blue lights flickering as it processed data. Then, a holographic projection emerged, revealing the form of a young man.

It was all an illusion; his body shimmered with a blue glow. Simultaneously, the "World Tree" unleashed a dormant machine, which crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.

The figure was that of a humanoid robot, its glowing blue essence approaching the mechanical body, absorbed in a sudden flash.

Then, the robot's eyes opened.

It appeared entirely human, a handsome man. He wore a mask brimming with mechanical elements, revealing gentle lips beneath. The mask was adorned with gears, and he lifted his head, placing one hand on the computer's touch screen.

A door slid open on the side of the computer, slowly revealing a silver-glowing, metallic lion-like mechanical beast. It was about three meters long and nearly two meters high, with razor-sharp claws. Upon touching the ground, the killer's power system activated, illuminating its entire body with lights.

He approached the killing machine, placing a hand on the mechanical lion's head to activate it. Then, he vaulted onto its back.

In the final instant, he crossed the barrier of consciousness, locking eyes directly with Yaoguang.

Yaoguang: "!!!"

Yaoguang snapped back to reality, seeing Long Jianlu wave his hand in front of him.

Yaoguang said, "The Tree is searching for us. It sent a peculiar machine and a robot – they seem challenging to deal with."

"Sounds normal," Long Jianlu replied. "Seems like you occasionally make random predictions, Prophet. After the failure at the Sand Dunes, the Tree would come after both of us. But as long as there aren't too many liabilities, I'm not afraid of its scrapheap minions. Sleep now."

"Alright," Yaoguang reluctantly leaned against the cave wall. Monster cries echoed outside the cave, blending with the wind into a mournful wailing. Yaoguang asked, "You didn't bring a sleeping bag?"

Long Jianlu sat there and said, "No, I'm used to it."

Feeling chilly again, Yaoguang watched as Long Jianlu took off his windbreaker, lay down beside him, and draped the coat over them both.

"I do this every day," Long Jianlu said. "Finding places to camp alone. Rarely do I have someone to sleep beside me. You're the first. Too bad you're a guy; it'd be quite romantic if you were a girl."

Yaoguang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

"Though you're right," Long Jianlu sighed almost imperceptibly. "I often doubt too – if there's a Creator in this world, they must be a cheapskate."

"Why do you say that?" Yaoguang turned back to ask.

Long Jianlu pulled his hat over his face and replied, "I feel like I sometimes do things I don't want to. Do you ever get that feeling... like when someone acts in a way that goes against their usual character?"

"Like what?" Yaoguang responded. "Isn't that normal? People have many facets to their personalities."

"No..." Long Jianlu said. "It's like someone else has set my personality, but at certain turning points in fate, I make irrational decisions that I can't explain later."

"Like turning back at the Sand Dune Shelter today?"

"No," Long Jianlu said. "Like stabbing Liao Jia. Believe me, I didn't initially want to kill him. In that moment, I felt a strong sense of 'fate.' Maybe it was the will of the God of Fate? Forget it. Let's sleep."

It was Yaoguang's third day in this world, and the sun rose as usual. Long Jianlu rode his motorcycle with Yaoguang, heading towards the edge of the desert.

He finally caught sight of a hint of green.

"Tell me about your world," Long Jianlu said. "You must have a purpose for being here."

After discussing with Long Jianlu, Yaoguang had come up with two possibilities: one, he came from another world similar to this one, also called 'Earth,' with identical geography and language and comparable technology; two, he hailed from six hundred years ago, and his world was the past of this one.

Yet, he still found it difficult to recall crucial details. Long Jianlu persistently probed, hoping that the rapid exchange of questions would spark a sudden insight in Yaoguang.

"Our world is very similar to this one. I can even name some of the trees and flowers, like these Yardangs around us," Yaoguang explained. "There were computers and artificial intelligence called AI there too, although not as advanced... How does 'The Tree' control its robots?"

"Initially, it was through satellites," Long Jianlu replied. "After humans destroyed some of them, it started using near-Earth signals and communication between the Killers. Each Killer acts as a small relay station. They're scattered far and wide, transmitting electronic signals and commands to each other."

"So much data," Yaoguang mused. "Can it be transmitted like that? What if there's a loss of data?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask it yourself," Long Jianlu answered.

Yaoguang said, "It's part of the design, yes, the Creator's design for this world."

Yaoguang couldn't control what he knew or didn't know, and Long Jianlu had grown accustomed to his sudden revelations, accepting them quickly.

"Oh, another part of the design," Long Jianlu remarked.

"Well, that's why I say this world doesn't make sense," Yaoguang said.

"On second thought, it does make sense," Long Jianlu countered.

Yaoguang: "That's because you've grown accustomed to it, accepting the irrational as normal."

Long Jianlu: "Why is there a constant in the law of universal gravitation? Where does it come from? Why is it 6.67? Why is the speed of light 300,000 kilometers per second? Why is pi an irrational, non-repeating decimal? Why can't time be infinitely divided? At their most fundamental level, everything seems illogical. If you can comprehend these concepts, surely you can accept the notion of no package loss."

As they left the desert and entered a marshy area with woods, a moist breeze greeted them. Long Jianlu steered the motorcycle through a mountain crevice, where the range shielded the moisture from the north, dividing the landscape.

"I'd like to get off."

"It might not be safe around here," Long Jianlu replied. "What do you want to do? Drink? Bathe? I'll find a suitable spot for you."

The ground began to tremble, and Yaoguang wisely dropped the subject of disembarking. Long Jianlu flicked a thumb to activate the flight switch. The motorcycle unfolded auxiliary wings and jetted upward, flying over the treetops.

"What's that?"

"Elephants," Long Jianlu said, glancing down. "You've never seen them before?"

Below them, a herd of elephants was making its way through the forest, their tusks having regressed into a shovel-like shape.

The motorcycle descended gently on a slope. "There's a lake down there. Let's get off."

Yaoguang finally embraced the lush greenery and moist air. He walked towards the lake, and Long Jianlu warned, "Don't go too far."

Yaoguang drank some lake water and used it to wash his face. Long Jianlu, on the other hand, filled both their water flasks. The water was icy cold, and its dark blue depths seemed to hold an eerie gaze.

Moments later, a massive ten-meter-long tail shot out of the water with a splash. Yaoguang let out a startled cry!

Long Jianlu, however, was prepared. As water droplets splashed into the air, he deftly shifted his steps, reaching Yaoguang in an instant. He reached out to scoop him up horizontally, taking a step back in the blink of an eye, safely removing Yaoguang from harm's way.

Yaoguang exclaimed, "What was that?"

"Anaconda," Long Jianlu stated calmly, "I warned you about the potential dangers here."

Yaoguang responded, "It's... much larger than I expected."

Long Jianlu gestured for him to proceed, but Yaoguang didn't dare venture further into the lake.

"Don't worry," Long Jianlu assured, "Even if it were to bite you, I'd be able to pull you out at the very last moment."

Although not necessarily life-threatening, the psychological impact was significant. Yaoguang decided it was best not to provoke the creature any further. Instead, he removed his shirt in the shallow water and wiped himself clean.

Fortunately, the snake appeared only once, realizing it was impossible to catch these two prey and thus gave up.

Long Jianlu whistled towards Yaoguang.

Yaoguang: "?"

Yaoguang stood by the shallow lakeside, half-naked, turning his head to look at Long Jianlu.

In that moment, Long Jianlu's thoughts wandered. He sensed a sense of loneliness and unease in this unfamiliar world from Yaoguang's eyes, which stirred an impulse within him to step forward, embrace him, and vow to protect him for life.

"You're very fair," Long Jianlu said, "Quite alluring."

Yaoguang: "That's the second time you've mentioned my fairness. You're not too bad yourself, skin-wise."

Long Jianlu didn't respond, simply observing Yaoguang's bare back with a hint of amusement.

"Have you been married before? Had any girlfriends?" Yaoguang asked as he dried himself. "Do you prefer fair-skinned people?"

"No," Long Jianlu replied. "While I do like girls, under certain special circumstances, a fair and handsome boy could also be appealing, but the key is that they must be handsome, not rugged."

Yaoguang: "Don't talk nonsense. Do you have someone you like?"

Long Jianlu sat by the shore, palms upturned.

"I am a knight, born to serve the priests," Long Jianlu said. "What about you? Have you ever had someone you liked?"

Yaoguang shook his head, unable to recall.

"Can we eat the fruits from these trees?" Yaoguang noticed some unfamiliar fruits hanging on the nearby branches.

Long Jianlu sternly warned, "Don't eat randomly; you might get poisoned. Are you hungry again? I'll catch some animals for you to eat, but I'm not very skilled at cooking, so it might not taste good."

Yaoguang exclaimed, "I saw a huge... whoa!"

A two-meter-long fish bared its sharp teeth, attempting to pull Yaoguang under. Long Jianlu swiftly spun back and dragged him back to the shore.

Yaoguang panted heavily. Long Jianlu gestured for him to sit aside, making sure he was within his line of sight. Then, he undressed himself completely, removing his windbreaker, shirt, and trousers, leaving him bare-skinned. He began to wash himself.

His skin had a warm, wheatish hue, and his physique was strikingly well-proportioned, forming an attractive inverted triangle shape. His muscles were defined yet not overly bulky, with neat and appealing abs, and a V-line on his waist that resembled a mermaid's tail.

Yaoguang found Long Jianlu's physique unexpectedly alluring, a masculinity that exuded power and security, as if showcasing his strength and promising absolute protection by his side. It made Yaoguang's heart race.

"Let's go," Long Jianlu brushed aside his wet hair, hung his windbreaker and boots on the motorcycle, and climbed onto it barefoot in just his trousers. "We'll dry off in the air."

Yaoguang suggested, "I think we shouldn't fly."

"Why?" Long Jianlu turned the handlebar.

Yaoguang replied, "The Tree's specialized assassins are tracking us. If we fly, we'll be vulnerable to their attack."

Long Jianlu said, "You know, initially, I was skeptical about your prophecies. The chaos at the Dune Refuge confirmed you were right... Hmm, so perhaps..."

"So you want to test it again?" Yaoguang ventured.

Long Jianlu raised an eyebrow and nodded.

Yaoguang sighed, "Go ahead if you want to court danger."

Politely bowing slightly, Long Jianlu activated the flight system, and the motorcycle lifted off, roaring into the distance.