Lu Qiao suspected that he had just had a nightmare. Even he himself could hardly believe that everything that had just happened was real.
But very soon, Yan Qiu received a call.
The C1 Star Region Administration had lost contact. After the Empire spent some time obtaining access to the surveillance system, they discovered that everyone inside the research station had collapsed. It was likely that the other star nations in the Alliance already knew about this matter by now.
—Although Cheng Yi had been dealt with, the aftermath was going to be very troublesome.
Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu immediately boarded a spacecraft and headed for the C1 Star Region Administration.
As soon as they boarded the spacecraft, Lu Qiao lowered the soundproof partition.
Yan Qiu looked at him.
Lu Qiao took a deep breath.
The world had erased everyone’s memories of what had happened during that period of time, but it had not restricted him from telling anyone about it.
There were still many problems to deal with afterward, and the person Lu Qiao trusted most was Yan Qiu. Therefore, he would hide nothing from this man.
Lu Qiao said, “I’m going to tell you something. It might sound a little unbelievable and a little complicated, but everything I’m going to say is true.”
The journey from here to the C1 Star Region Administration was a total of one hour. Lu Qiao told Yan Qiu everything that had happened, bit by bit. Apart from his initial astonishment, Yan Qiu remained very calm the entire time.
Lu Qiao felt that there had to be strict limits to what the world itself could do.
At the beginning, the world’s consciousness had been completely suppressed by Cheng Yi’s consciousness power. Therefore, it could only allow Cheng Yi to toy with it until Cheng Yi’s state of mind became chaotic and his consciousness power also began to destabilize. Only then did the world’s consciousness find an opportunity to pull Lu Qiao into another dimension.
It had no power either, so at most it could protect everyone’s consciousness bodies. It could not do anything to Cheng Yi’s consciousness body.
Only after Lu Qiao shared a portion of his power with it could it kill Cheng Yi, and finally adjust time, within the limits permitted by the world’s rules, to before Cheng Yi entered the world core system.
Before a human possessing absolute power, perhaps it was utterly defenseless. And Lu Qiao did not know whether, after Cheng Yi was gone, there would be a second Cheng Yi, or even a third one.
Lu Qiao, the world’s consciousness, and countless humans who, at that moment, likewise refused to let the world be destroyed joined forces to eliminate the first Cheng Yi and repair the galaxy and gears.
But what about afterward?
Did they have to do this every time?
Would they succeed every time?
Lu Qiao did not know.
He was actually somewhat lost.
After listening, Yan Qiu was silent for a moment before saying, “Perhaps, just as humans are born, grow old, become sick, and die, death is also a process that the world is destined to experience.”
Lu Qiao froze.
“The birth of living beings may have been an accident caused by the gears automatically becoming damaged, but no machine can operate perfectly forever without ever suffering damage,” Yan Qiu said slowly. “Therefore, its first failure may not necessarily have been an accident.”
If an accident was bound to happen, then it was inevitable.
Living beings were destined to be born. The destruction they caused to the world was likewise destined to happen. And the world ultimately being completely destroyed by the living beings born within its own body was also an inevitable ending.
It was merely a matter of sooner or later.
After hearing this, Lu Qiao felt a little depressed.
Actually, when the world’s consciousness had pulled him into another dimension, allowed him to receive the consciousness power of Yan Qiu and the others, and shown him images of the galaxy and gears spanning countless years, Lu Qiao had realized something—
The birth of living beings might have been an accident, but if there were no evil thoughts and no conflicts, would the world perhaps not have reached the point of destruction?
Take Cheng Yi, for example. Perhaps his heart had always been fragile, but if there had been no war and he had not lost his father, he might not have suffered a genetic rampage. He might not have broken through his consciousness power into another level. Then the nightmare-like incident that only Lu Qiao himself remembered now might never have happened.
But was it possible to prevent living beings from going to war?
Impossible, right?
Living beings with thoughts were destined to have desires.
What made Lu Qiao’s feelings the most complicated was the choice made by the world’s consciousness.
When Lu Qiao gave it his power, on one hand, he hoped that the world itself would make the judgment on Cheng Yi’s actions. He truly did not know whether Cheng Yi could still be saved, and the power that had entered his body did not possess any actual offensive ability. But Cheng Yi had developed to that point, and if he continued to remain stubbornly misguided, merely suppressing him would not be enough.
Therefore, within that consciousness space, the best choice in the end was to leave the matter to the world.
On the other hand, he actually hoped that the world would possess the power to protect itself and never suffer such a thing again.
He could feel that this was also the thought of everyone who had contributed their power at that moment.
But he likewise knew that doing so carried the risk that the world’s consciousness might kill other humans.
He had taken a gamble—
The world’s consciousness had protected the consciousness bodies of all the other humans. Perhaps it was because it needed to borrow their power later, but perhaps there was another reason as well.
And Lu Qiao had won the gamble.
The world did not harm the other humans. It only killed Cheng Yi.
Even after killing Cheng Yi, it simply returned the power to Lu Qiao, without the slightest reluctance to part with it.
Actually, Lu Qiao’s feelings at that moment had been incredibly complicated.
Living beings would ultimately destroy the world, but perhaps the world also felt that living beings with thoughts were what had given the world its most wonderful appearance.
That original “accident” was dangerous, but it was also beautiful.
The world should still love them.
Therefore, in the end, it chose to believe in them—not with vigilance, but with love for them, carrying the burden forward.
This was actually very similar to the “personality” Lu Qiao had imagined the world to have.
A little clumsy, but very kind.
Perhaps it also understood that one day it would face destruction again, but it would certainly struggle again and try again… until the day it could no longer bear the burden.
This was the path the world had chosen for itself, and perhaps it was also the choice every world was destined to make.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were also the cycle of the world.
Yan Qiu took Lu Qiao’s hand and said, “I understand. I’ll handle this matter. Qiao Qiao—”
Lu Qiao raised his eyes and looked at the man.
The man kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry I let you face something like this alone.”
“You didn’t. You were by my side at the time too. You just don’t remember.” Lu Qiao felt somewhat exhausted. He rubbed against Yan Qiu’s embrace, as if he were charging himself.
They were the first to arrive at the C1 Star Region Administration, but they only inspected the situation once. They waited until several subsequent groups of people from the various nations arrived before beginning to handle the matter.
Lu Qiao felt that this was definitely going to become very troublesome.
Luo Yu was found in the hovering vehicle beside the crystal. Originally, Cheng Yi had been about to transfer from his body into the world core system, but time had turned backward and Cheng Yi had disappeared. Naturally, Luo Yu could no longer do anything and had simply collapsed there.
But it was not difficult to tell from the surveillance footage that everyone in the research station had been attacked by him.
And although he had been controlled by Cheng Yi, he was still the Second Imperial Prince of the Galactic Empire.
While Yan Qiu went to handle matters, Ye Lan and Luo Ye also arrived. Ye Lan brought a group of consciousness manipulators capable of repairing consciousness bodies, and together with Lu Qiao, they began treating the injured.
Some people whose recovery abilities were faster soon woke up, and they immediately provided firsthand information to those who wanted to know the truth.
For example, Luo Yu.
Or rather, by now, the people in the research station already knew that it had been Cheng Yi.
Cheng Yi’s consciousness power was completely silent.
When they learned of this, even their own people could not help looking at Lu Qiao several times.
Fortunately, although the ability Cheng Yi had first displayed after his genetic rampage was offensive power, and the people nearby had clearly sensed fluctuations in his consciousness power at the time, Yan Qiu and the others had already suspected that Cheng Yi’s power would undergo other changes later.
Therefore, the fact that his consciousness power had subsequently become completely silent was not too shocking.
And the frightening part about Cheng Yi did not end there.
His ability to knock down everyone in the entire research station in an instant was already enough to leave people shaken.
Troops from various nations were stationed in the research station. Although the generals and commanders responsible for this matter did not remain here long-term, when the incident occurred, there had been three generals and one marshal resting inside the research station.
Their consciousness power was not weak, yet Cheng Yi had still shattered their consciousness bodies in an instant.
Thinking back on it was terrifying.
The personnel in charge who had awakened soon became busy. Presumably, the research station itself would undergo major adjustments regarding security over the coming period.
While treating the wounded, Lu Qiao noticed that the people sent by the other star nations were all watching them.
However, Lu Qiao was mixed among so many consciousness manipulators, so no one discovered that his power was special in the same way as Cheng Yi’s.
Ye Lan did not even raise his head as he said softly, “Actually, the Empire has already communicated with the other star nations. Soon, arrangements will be made for me and the people under me to visit the other star nations and exchange knowledge, so that their consciousness manipulators can also master the method of repairing consciousness bodies.
“Just like in your situation back then, having only our Empire possess this ability isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
Lu Qiao understood this and nodded.
“As for you, you can rest assured as well. Your information is vague to outsiders, and the Empire won’t let you become involved in any dangerous situation.” Ye Lan paused, then smiled. “Marshal Yan wouldn’t allow it either, would he?”
The other star nations would certainly pay attention to who had been the first person to master the ability to repair consciousness bodies.
But this incident was different from what had happened with Cheng Yi.
It had not occurred on a battlefield under the watchful eyes of the various nations. Instead, it had happened inside the Empire, at the Yan family estate and on a fourth-class star.
Therefore, the Empire could completely control the situation. Even if there were unruly elements, they had already been brought under control.
Regarding this matter, Lu Qiao actually felt quite secure.
He hesitated before asking, “But Luo Yu…”
He had just examined him. Luo Yu’s consciousness body had been shattered, and it should have been shattered for a very long time.
According to what Yan Qiu had said, it should have happened when Luo Yu fell into the Blue-Eyed Star Nation a year ago and encountered Cheng Yi.
Since only his consciousness body had been shattered, it could be repaired, and he could awaken.
But what would he face after waking up?
Ye Lan was not particularly worried about this either. He simply said, “It should be fine. No matter how strange Cheng Yi’s movements were, he has already disappeared. As long as he has disappeared, we can explain everything. And with interests involved, protecting His Highness the Second Prince won’t be difficult.”
Lu Qiao paused.
The matter of Cheng Yi controlling Luo Yu had already been sent out under Yan Qiu’s orders before the point when time turned backward. Such a major incident at the research station could not possibly be concealed.
And what the surveillance footage recorded showed them was Luo Yu, controlled by Cheng Yi, approaching the crystal in a hovering vehicle. The moment his hands touched the crystal, he suddenly collapsed.
He had attempted to do something to the world core system, but in the end, he had been killed by the world core system.
That was the conclusion anyone who saw the surveillance footage would reach immediately, because in their eyes, the world core system was absolutely powerful.
Of course, merely looking at the footage and drawing conclusions was not enough.
Therefore, consciousness manipulators from various star nations within the Alliance had already arrived. A small portion had gone to the night market street on that fourth-class star, while most had come here to search the entire research station for fragments of Cheng Yi’s consciousness body.
Lu Qiao honestly reported what he had discovered. The people in the Empire responsible for this matter communicated with those from the other star nations.
Although ordinary consciousness manipulators could not “see” like Lu Qiao could, they could still detect things through “touch” and “sensation.”
Likewise, the people whom Lu Qiao and Ye Lan had healed would also be examined again by consciousness manipulators from the other star nations to confirm that no fragments of Cheng Yi’s consciousness body had been mixed into them.
For now, it appeared that Cheng Yi’s consciousness-body fragments had disappeared completely.
Whether in the research station or the night market street on the fourth-class star, there was not the slightest fragment remaining in the air.
And just moments ago, researchers who had already awakened had urgently analyzed the data on the world core system.
The newest piece of data showed that an external object had attempted to touch the system, but had been erased by the system.
Lu Qiao found this rather strange.
It seemed that the world core system only left a record when it was truly invaded.
When his and Cheng Yi’s consciousness powers had rushed into it while they were dreaming before, it had probably been like using one’s eyes to peek around the place. That was why the world core system had not reacted.
In any case, judging from everything now, Cheng Yi really had died completely.
Once they obtained definite information, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The world core system remained an absolute existence that no one could shake.
And regardless of what the other star nations might think or guess, or what answers Luo Yu might give after awakening, from here onward, it would only depend on how the Galactic Empire explained things and how the other star nations considered the matter.
This would become a game of strategy.
And with the interests surrounding the ability to “repair consciousness bodies,” the matter should be resolved satisfactorily.
Before Yan Qiu and the others’ meeting ended, Ji Zhuyun woke up first.
After waking, he immediately ran over, his gaze fixed on the brown-haired young man lying on the hospital bed.
“You woke up.” Lu Qiao was still busy and simply greeted him.
Ji Zhuyun strode over to Luo Yu’s side. After looking at Luo Yu for a while, he turned to Lu Qiao.
“…How is he?”
“You’ve already heard what happened, right?” Lu Qiao straightened up and tossed him a bottle of water. “His consciousness body was only shattered. I’ve already repaired it for him. But his consciousness body has been damaged for a year, so it’ll probably be a while before he wakes up.”
“…Cheng Yi really is gone?”
Ji Zhuyun’s voice was hoarse.
Lu Qiao nodded. “Don’t worry.”
Ji Zhuyun’s body suddenly relaxed.
He sat down beside Luo Yu’s hospital bed, tightly holding Luo Yu’s hand, and rested his forehead against it without saying a word.
Lu Qiao and Ye Lan exchanged a glance and did not disturb him any further. They only told him that Luo Yu would be transferred to a private resting room later.
After such tremendous emotional ups and downs, his feelings must have been complicated too.
It was not until six in the evening that Lu Qiao finally saw Yan Qiu.
Lu Qiao had only just stopped working as well. He and Yan Qiu found a resting room. Yan Qiu pulled him onto his lap, and Lu Qiao wrapped his arms around him without saying anything. After they quietly enjoyed each other’s presence for a while, Lu Qiao finally asked, “How did it go?”
“Nothing much. Although we still have to wait for Luo Yu to wake up, we’ve basically reached an agreement. Once things here are finished, Ye Lan and several consciousness manipulators under him should soon set off for the various nations one after another. As for everything else, the nations won’t pursue it any further.”
“…You’re okay too, right?” Lu Qiao asked.
Yan Qiu had been responsible for tracking down Cheng Yi.
But no one could have imagined that Cheng Yi would use his consciousness power to such an extent. Even if Yan Qiu had managed to catch Cheng Yi one step earlier, that would not have meant much to Cheng Yi.
He could easily knock out Yan Qiu’s subordinates and escape.
Perhaps the reason he had not acted before was simply that he did not want Yan Qiu to discover the extent of his strength.
This was already something that no single human could deal with.
Yan Qiu said, “I’m fine. His Majesty understands everything.”
Then it was fine.
Lu Qiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Qiu looked at him and suddenly said, “Don’t tell anyone else about what you told me.”
Lu Qiao froze. After realizing what he meant, he asked in astonishment, “You didn’t even tell His Majesty?”
Yan Qiu looked at him.
“Qiao Qiao, just as you trust me, I trust you too. This matter is different from your ability to repair consciousness bodies. There is no need for a third person to know about it, and no third person can know.”
Lu Qiao’s expression tightened.
Yan Qiu pulled him closer and whispered into his ear, “People like Cheng Yi are the majority in this world.”
Lu Qiao’s eyes widened.
After a long while, he finally found his voice.
“Then… won’t they worry that there might be other consciousness manipulators who can do what Cheng Yi did and control other people?”
This matter was not as simple as it seemed.
But for highly skilled consciousness manipulators, it was not impossible that they could reach such a level in the future.
Yan Qiu said, “Of course they will. They’ll worry, but at the same time… they’ll also look forward to it.”
Lu Qiao pursed his lips.
“There will inevitably be a second Cheng Yi in this world. But all of this is part of the world’s progression. It’s not something we can control.” Yan Qiu rested his forehead against Lu Qiao’s and said softly, “At least for now, all everyone knows about you is that you’re an angel who possesses only healing power.”
Lu Qiao was stunned for a moment, then laughed because of Yan Qiu’s words.
After laughing, he sighed.
In this world, apart from him and Yan Qiu, no one knew—and no one could imagine—that someone had once truly entered the world core system.
Lu Qiao… probably would not enter it again either.
As for controlling a human, it seemed that one first had to shatter the other person’s consciousness body.
That was indeed an ability Lu Qiao did not possess.
He could only shatter his own consciousness body.
That was probably also why the Empire had not turned its vigilant gaze toward him.
Who knew what the world would become in the future?
After the world’s consciousness pulled him into another dimension, perhaps under its influence, even ordinary people could transfer their consciousness power to others.
No one knew about this yet.
When humanity eventually awakened this potential, what would the world become?
…That was something Lu Qiao could not imagine either.
At least for now, he had tried.
The world had tried.
During the time that the world had forgotten, all of humanity had tried.
And from now on, only if the people of the future worked together would this world they depended upon for survival be able to continue.
The world itself was not wrong.
Power itself was not wrong.
Power was in the hands of humanity; how it was used depended entirely on humanity.
Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu remained in the resting room until seven.
What made Lu Qiao the most speechless was that, despite the world core system having gone through such a terrifying ordeal, the world’s operating rules still had not returned to normal.
He and Yan Qiu had been locked together again!
When they walked out of the resting room, Lu Qiao looked at the enormous crystal outside the glass window and murmured, “You’re way too cute.”
Yan Qiu beside him gave him a puzzled look.
Lu Qiao pursed his lips and said, “I think whenever something major and painful happens somewhere in the world, the world’s consciousness draws information streams from parallel worlds over to heal us.”
Lu Qiao had stayed in the space where the world’s consciousness existed for a very long time, and he had communicated with the world’s consciousness. This was also something the world’s consciousness had made him understand without him realizing it.
Major and painful events might happen in other corners of the world, and it was impossible for them to know about all of them.
But this time, the invasion of the world virus might have been because, before that, the Empire and its old enemy had fought the greatest decisive battle in history.
Countless people’s blood had eroded an open wound into the world’s body.
The suffering and despair of countless people had lingered throughout the stars.
And the world’s consciousness wanted to heal them, so it summoned information streams filled with love from parallel worlds.
The final result was truly clumsy and adorable.
After listening, Yan Qiu thought for a moment, then smiled.
“Mm. You healed me.”
For five years, he had carried out his father’s will and fought on the front lines, washed by artillery fire and flesh and blood.
It was Lu Qiao who purified everything and even returned his father to their family.
“…” Lu Qiao blushed and said, “I was healed by you too.”
The most painful period of his life had been when Yan Qiu silently stayed by his side and supported him.
It was with Yan Qiu’s help that he broke through everything.
And in the end, it was also Yan Qiu who gave him a new home.
The two looked at each other for a moment, smiles in both their eyes.
Just then, they heard the sound of something heavy falling over from the room next door.
—It was Luo Yu’s room!
The guards standing outside the door quickly raised their guns.
Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu’s expressions turned serious, and they hurried over and opened the door.
Then they saw…
Ji Zhuyun had been tackled to the ground by Luo Yu.
The brown-haired young man, eyes red, was pinning Ji Zhuyun beneath him, tears falling from his eyes as he questioned him:
“It’s already seven o’clock!! You clearly said you liked me! Why, now that I’m all better, and there’s no one else in my consciousness, only myself, we still haven’t been locked together… Do you not like me anymore?!”
Ji Zhuyun rubbed the back of his head in pain and struggled to think for a moment before saying, “…The prerequisite for being locked together is supposedly that two people secretly love each other, right?”
Luo Yu bit his lip, tears falling like golden beans, and nodded heavily.
Ji Zhuyun helplessly said, “Did you forget? Before you got ‘better,’ I already confessed to you myself. This isn’t secret love anymore. It’s open love, isn’t it?”
Luo Yu was stunned.
Ji Zhuyun looked at him and laughed softly.
As he laughed, he grabbed Luo Yu and pulled him down, holding him tightly in his arms.
He murmured, “You’re finally back. You’re finally back by my side, Luo Yu.”
After saying that, he pinched Luo Yu’s chin and kissed him directly.
Yan Qiu and Lu Qiao: “…”
The guard: “…”
Well, excuse us.