Chapter 886: A Haunting Reunion

Once dead, a figure materialized in the Old Director’s home, a gentle smile on its face as it regarded itself.

An indescribable strangeness surged into everyone’s hearts.

If such a bizarre scene unfolded in an ordinary home, even Lu Xin and the others—accustomed to eerie events wrought by Mental Pollution—would barely be stirred; this incident might even seem ordinary.

But this was the home of the Old Director, the residence of a researcher who had reached the pinnacle of the spiritual realm.

How could someone like him have a dead person appear in his house?

Especially when everyone present had their own methods to distinguish illusion from truth, yet the living figure before them induced an overwhelming astonishment, as if their minds went numb and reality blurred into an astonishing vividness…

Every frown, every smile—each detail was strikingly lifelike.

Everyone stood in a daze by the doorway; for a long while, no one spoke.

Particularly Lu Xin—at that very moment, he pressed his lips tightly and abruptly turned to scan the surroundings.

He was searching for his Sister…

Because he suddenly noticed that the state of those three individuals closely resembled that of his Sister…

……

……

“What are you doing standing at the door?”

Just as everyone drifted into a trance, laughter suddenly rang out from inside the room.

In an instant, countless eyes converged toward the sound.

A sense of tangible reality, long absent, returned to them.

The person, dressed in dark clothes that—even at home—retained a strict formality, contrasted with the apron tied around his waist and the two plates of food he carried; his smile was warm and inviting.

The Old Director.

The moment his identity became clear, at least two or three people instinctively stepped back.

“Come in quickly…”

Balancing a steaming plate in one hand, the Old Director smiled at the doorway, as if chiding someone.

It appeared to be an entirely normal scene.

Yet an intense, jarring impact stirred an unspoken dread within them.

“Whew…”

At that moment, Lu Xin was the first to react.

He saw his Sister—she was crouched against a grimy wall in the hallway behind, her small head stretching out as she warily observed the Lady Master and the two children in the room; she appeared both surprised and frightened, and, above all, confused.

Lu Xin couldn’t possibly find answers in such a brief moment.

So, after a short silence, he took his Sister into his arms, nodding toward the room.

“Alright.”

“……”

Lu Xin was the first to step into the Old Director’s house, placing some fruit on a nearby cabinet before politely addressing the Lady Master:

“Would you like to change your shoes?”

“……”

“No, no…”

The Lady Master quickly waved her hand, as if unwilling to scold a guest.

But it was the Old Director who spoke, setting dishes on the long table as he smiled, “Just come in.”

“After the Red Moon, this world can’t afford to be too choosy—it even cured my germophobia.”

“……”

Listening to the Old Director’s gentle, casually humorous words, the mood of everyone present became exceedingly complex.

Under the hospitable guidance of the Lady Master—and, indeed, the Old Director—everyone slowly made their way into the room, arriving in the modest yet cozy living room, where they noted a long table specially purchased for this reunion, laden with dishes; then, with stiffened bodies, they sat down.

“Don’t rush—wash your hands first. There are a few more dishes coming soon.”

The Old Director smiled as he instructed, then returned to the kitchen, while everyone instinctively rose to wash their hands in the bathroom.

“Next up should be dry-fried fish, right…”

Under wary gazes, Lu Xin slowly surveyed the long table.

He saw platters of braised chicken legs, shrimp paste scrambled eggs, drizzled vegetable hearts, boiled lamb, garlic-infused stinky tofu, and many other dishes.

Familiar scenes played out before his eyes. In that moment, he understood the Old Director’s careful preparations and even guessed the upcoming dishes. Sure enough, as he contemplated this, the Old Director brought out one final dish and gently placed it on the table.

Everyone’s expression turned complex as they silently regarded the food.

These were the dishes everyone had loved during their days in the orphanage.

Back then, the world was in chaos and food was scarce.

So scarce that even at the Red Moon Orphanage, the Old Director had to practically beg for the chickens to lay eggs quickly.

Yet even in such hard times, the Old Director insisted on providing them with ample nutrition, preparing something delicious every week, and, before each meal, telling stories of how wonderful the food was…

Building anticipation before eating and even discussing afterward how delightful the dishes were.

Whoever behaved best might even have their favorite dish made again next time.

It was truly a ritualistic event.

Now, the Old Director had arranged all their cherished dishes on the table—even Number Eight’s beloved stinky tofu.

Except, of course, for Lu Xin’s portion, because back then, Lu Xin liked nothing.

The braised chicken legs were, in fact, Teacher Xiao Lu’s favorite.

……

……

“Alright, it might be a bit hasty, but let’s make do with what we have!”

The Old Director placed the final dish on the table, still wearing his apron, and sat at the head of the table with a smile.

He sat opposite Lu Xin, separated only by the long table.

Every eye was fixed on him, scrutinizing his face to find the extra wrinkles and the graying hair at his temples, yet his smile remained genuine—warm, sincere, and satisfied.

“Eat up. It’s been so long since we met—I’m sure you have plenty to share, so we won’t keep you long.”

After everyone had taken their seats, the Lady Master served soup with bowls and chopsticks, nodding cheerfully as she guided the two children.

Then she returned to the adjoining room, gently closing the door behind her.

Number Fourteen, seated to Lu Xin’s left, suddenly turned nervously toward him.

Lu Xin gave a slight nod, understanding the unspoken question.

After the Lady Master and the two children entered that room, they seemed to vanish as though they had never been there.

……

……

“Is everyone here?”

The Old Director’s words drew Lu Xin’s attention back to the present.

He smiled as he picked up a towel to wipe his hands, his warm gaze sweeping over those seated, then called out names according to their assigned seats: “Number Five, Number Eight, Number Fourteen, Number Nine, Little Nineteen, Number Two, Number Three…”

“Mm, and Number Seven…”

“……”

He nodded in satisfaction, “Eight people—it’s wonderful.”

No one echoed his sentiment; only a faint, puzzled look met his words.

Notably, the Old Director did not mention Number Seventeen.

“But we’re missing three people.”

Before Lu Xin could ask, the Old Director smiled and added, “I recall there was a girl named Zeng Xiao Lu in the orphanage—she’s now a teacher in Qinggang. Yes, she’s a bit different from us, but it’s good that she’s here.”

“There are two more: one is Number One, who isn’t very convenient to come over right now.”

“And then there’s Number Twelve. Hehe, that kid is exceptionally good at hiding. Over the years, he’s been the only one I’ve lost track of—even when I spent time looking, I never found him.”

“But that’s not important—at every class reunion, someone is always missing, isn’t it?”

“……”

Listening to the Old Director, a deep shock gripped them all.

It was as if their hearts were being torn apart.

On one hand, his words conveyed the warmth of a beloved elder from a childhood of adoration; on the other, an undeniable dread began to set in.

Every word he spoke felt like an invisible blade, gently scraping their skin, sending chills deep into their bones.

Especially when he mentioned that only Number Twelve had escaped his notice…

The unseen cold left everyone’s cheeks numb and stiff.

In that icy moment, Lu Xin looked up, clutched his Sister tightly, and, with eyes hard as stone, stared at the Old Director:

“Do you truly think this is a reunion?”

“……”

It was the first time he had spoken to the Old Director since entering.

And the moment he uttered those words, an icy spiritual force radiated invisibly from him.

That force finally allowed those at the table a slight, fleeting relief.

Even though that cold, oppressive energy would never relax them as gently as a spring breeze.

Yet, sitting beside the Old Director, the overwhelming panic and discomfort had completely engulfed them, making it nearly unbearable.

It was only Lu Xin’s cold demeanor that offered a small measure of comfort.

“Um…”

Lu Xin’s blunt questioning seemed to put the Old Director in an awkward position.

He raised his gaze, wiped his glasses with a cloth, and hesitantly replied, “At least now, it really is a long-overdue reunion, isn’t it?”

Almost pleading, he added, “Couldn’t you spare a moment to talk with everyone?”

Lu Xin then fell silent.

He wasn’t sure how to turn down the Old Director’s request.

In the early days at the Red Moon Orphanage, he had felt no particular affection.

Whether the Old Director treated him well or poorly never mattered.

It was only at one point that his emotions burst open, and everything—the gray memories—began to fill with color, as unseen feelings finally warmed his heart.

Thus, he had no memories of ever sharing a heartfelt conversation with the Old Director.

And perhaps that was why he found himself quietly hopeful…

……

……

“Come, come—I’ve prepared two bottles of wine. Before the Red Moon incident, these were top-notch.”

Lu Xin’s silence made the Old Director exhale a long sigh of relief. Hastily, as if pressed for time, he tried to lighten the mood by producing two bottles of fine wine he had prearranged, unscrewing the cap vigorously: “Everyone, have a taste…”

“When you were young, I never taught you how to drink; if I caught you sneaking a sip, I’d scold you…”

“But now that you’ve grown up…”

“……”

He poured the wine into cups, then, one by one, watched as Number Seven served each person their drink.

With a face full of relief and joy, after placing a cup in front of everyone, he raised his glass and smiled.

“After leaving the orphanage, you all have done remarkably well. Especially recently—the threat from the third descent even surpasses that of the Red Moon incident, although its damage is only about 30% of what the Red Moon incident caused…”

“I know you all put in tremendous effort in that ordeal.”

“I’m proud of every one of you.”

“Hehe, frankly, my teachers were the first generation of researchers into mental power. Their intentions were noble initially, but in the end, they fell into clichés—branding themselves as restarting the world while essentially following a Noah’s Ark approach. But we don’t believe that. Overcoming mountains and waters on our own—now that’s our true principle…”

“This toast is for you, these remarkable children…”

“……”

With a hint of melancholy, he raised his cup, frowned briefly, and took a gulp.

Everyone at the table—including those orphanage classmates sitting so stiffly that not even their cups were touched—felt a slight unease.

Should they drink the wine or not?

Lu Xin, too, felt uncertain. He silently watched as the Old Director drained his cup, his fingers tapping absentmindedly.

After a few seconds, he slowly picked up his own cup and sipped lightly.

Apart from a bit of spiciness, there was nothing else to the taste.

Seeing this, the others also picked up their cups—some downing them in one go, others taking a tentative taste, or merely holding them.

At last, the atmosphere seemed to ease just a little.

“I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, we would all have grown up…”

The Old Director appeared to open up, gesturing with his chopsticks for everyone to help themselves, as he laughed, “Remember when, back at the orphanage, we were just a bunch of kids? Though we were a bit different, I always knew you were kind. Seeing you now only confirms that kind children grow up to be kind people who do well…”

Everyone’s expression turned subtly strange.

Was the Old Director really just making small talk?

His smile, his words, his mannerisms—all seemed perfectly normal…

Yet, who among them could truly claim normalcy?

“Come, taste the food—let’s hope the flavors haven’t changed…”

The Old Director said warmly, “Dry-fried fish was your favorite, Number Fourteen. Remember when you and Number Twelve would sneak out as kids to catch loaches, setting off alarms that even mobilized two security vehicles…”

“But judging by your figure now, you’d better stick to more vegetables in the future…”

“And the drizzled vegetable hearts are quite good too—just dip them in a bit of oil before eating…”

“……”

Number Fourteen frowned, hesitating between eating and not eating, as she reached for some vegetables with her chopsticks, quickly rinsing them in a tea cup before taking a bite.

The rest remained seated, stiff and leaning back.

“You all eat as well…”

The Old Director urged, seemingly intent on continuing his chatter.

But then Number Five abruptly interrupted him. Her delicate face turned toward the Old Director as she said with a gentle smile,

“Director, judging by what you just said, it seems you don’t agree with Gaoshan Laboratory’s plans?”

“……”

“……Yes.”

The Old Director was momentarily taken aback by the interruption. Slowly, he set his chopsticks aside.

After adjusting his expression, he smiled and nodded, transitioning from small talk to a more serious tone, “Their plan is essentially a form of compromise.”

“And although theoretically feasible, I don’t believe they can truly succeed.”

“In the beginning, everything was like an ocean that could dilute all impurities—even Unique Consciousness was merely one kind of impurity.”

“Ultimately, it will all be diluted…”

“They hope to wait for civilization to restart; but perhaps all they’ll get is a dream from which they can never awaken?”

“In the beginning, no single consciousness, no single spiritual trait, not even authority, can truly control it.”

“Just as one’s emotions can never be of only one kind, nor can this world harbor only a single thought.”

“Unique Consciousness was indeed a miracle created by the First Researcher.”

“But it will never serve as the key to help humanity evade the beginning or open up a new world.”

“……”

Everyone listened, their inner doubts reaching a climax.

“So…”

Hearing this, Lu Xin couldn’t help but ask, looking intently at the Old Director, “What do you think the key is?”

Faced with the question, the Old Director offered a wan smile, “Are we really going to discuss this now?”

The others seemed taken aback by his retort.

Lu Xin simply nodded, “Yes, Director, this is exactly what concerns us now.”

Perhaps his words were too callous, or maybe the tension and guarded caution since they sat down had never let up.

Finally, the Old Director shook his head lightly and set aside his chopsticks.

He poured himself a glass of wine, raised it slowly, sipped half, then softly said,

“In my view, neither consciousness nor traits—or authority—are weapons that can control or counter the beginning…”

“But the beginning isn’t something that can be completely resisted either.”

“Logic…”

His voice grew a bit heavy as he continued, “Logic is the key to resolving all of this.”

“Humans cannot oppose or control God, nor can we predict or fully grasp what ‘God’ means.”

“But we can employ logic.”

“……”

“Logic…”

The Old Director’s words caused murmurs of astonishment among those present.

They recalled that earlier, Number Five had mentioned that the Old Director’s recent research had focused on logic.

Mobius Logic.

“The beginning is bound to come, like the tides driven by our deepest instincts.”

In a low tone, the Old Director spoke as if recounting an astounding truth:

“The First Researcher treated the transmission of civilization as paramount—a seemingly rational pursuit, yet ultimately unnecessary.”

“Firstly, they might not even remain rational until the world is restarted.”

“Secondly, once the world is reborn, new civilizations will emerge. Why should we guide them?”

“To them, our civilization might just be an impurity.”

“And if we truly want to counter the beginning, we need logic.”

“Just as to cleanse a certain pollution, the simplest method is to locate its logic chain, sever it, or lead its logic into chaos—the same principle applies to the beginning. We need logic, and we need to shatter conventional thought.”

“……”

As he spoke, he picked up a towel nearby and smiled, “Can a sheet of paper have only one side?”

Then he turned it over and folded it to form a Mobius strip.

“See? Something that sounds impossible can be achieved with just a small change.”

“The beginning is much the same.”

“It is powerful, chaotic, irresistible, and unavoidable…”

“But from a rational perspective, you might find that it isn’t truly our enemy.”

“It’s simply the other side of ourselves—a projection of the subconscious of countless civilizations.”

“Theoretically, the beginning dwells in the depths of each of our minds, and we all reside within its embrace.”

“It is like a sheet of paper with two sides that form one whole.”

“Just as straw turns with the seasons—yellow in autumn yet full and sprouting once it hits the ground.”

“Is it death or is it rebirth?”

“Viewed from this angle, is the beginning a nightmare or a blessing of life?”

“……”

“This…”

Everyone present grew tense, as if an unseen giant hand were kneading their hearts.

The Old Director’s tone was light and calm, yet it evoked an overwhelming, palpable terror.

“You…”

Number Eight suddenly couldn’t help but speak, pausing before saying, “Director, what exactly is it that you intend to do?”

“What do I intend to do…”

The Old Director hesitated, as if answering was an agonizing challenge.

He instinctively looked toward an adjacent room—the one from which the Lady Master and the two children had vanished.

……

……

“Didn’t I mention it before?”

The Old Director fell silent for a moment, then softly replied, “I despise the Red Moon incident.”

No one responded; everyone waited quietly for him to continue.

Downing the remaining half cup of wine, he then murmured, “Before the Red Moon incident, I was just an ordinary man. But even that ordinary man encountered my wife.”

“She was extraordinarily kind and beautiful. She married me—a man with no achievements—and chose to spend her life with me in this mundane world.”

“She bore me two brilliant and adorable children.”

“I often wonder how someone as ordinary as me could have such a wonderful wife and children.”

“I was truly so fortunate.”

“……”

Recalling the family portrait once seen on the Old Director’s desk, and remembering the gentle, approachable woman along with the clever, lovely children he saw at the door, everyone felt a subtle weight of melancholy.

The more the Old Director spoke, the more an ominous premonition took root.

“When the Red Moon incident occurred, my wife killed our two children, cradled their corpses, and leaped from the building.”

The Old Director suddenly blurted this out, sending a chill through everyone as if their pores had opened to the cold.

His face, at some point, turned faintly pale.

Even his once steady, kind gaze now appeared blurred and unfocused.

“It was like a nightmare…”

He sighed softly, his voice almost dreamlike, “They died without any attachment.”

“Even their deaths were swallowed by the chaos of the Red Moon incident, rendered almost insignificant.”

“But to me, it was anything but insignificant.”

“Countless times I saw them alive in my dreams, still by my side, only to awake and confront the truth.”

“So I often wondered…”

A bitter smile crossed the Old Director’s face as he said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the dream were real and reality but a dream…?”

……

……

Everyone present seemed to tense up instinctively.

They could feel the deep sorrow and the lingering regret that the Old Director had harbored for so long.

Yet, it did not feel like a new topic.

As the Old Director said, their losses had been swallowed by the chaos of the Red Moon incident…

In that catastrophe which drove 70% of the world insane, how many had perished? How many had lost their loved ones? And how many, like the Old Director, went to sleep each night in sorrow, only to awaken in tears?

Many likely wished that the disaster would pass like a bad dream…

And the Old Director…

“So, since that time, I began to wonder…”

As everyone sat there, absorbed in tense contemplation, the Old Director’s face slowly lit up with a smile:

“Just how can we turn that idea into reality?”

“……”

“Whoosh!”

At that moment, a shiver ran down everyone’s spine—even Number Seven, who was closest to the Old Director, instinctively shrank back.

The Old Director’s smile was calm, yet it radiated an overwhelming pressure.

That very instant, Number Five was the first to sit up straight, staring hard at the Old Director as she declared, “That’s impossible.”

Meeting her piercing gaze, the Old Director neither dodged nor looked directly at her.

Instead, he simply shook his head and said,

“After the Red Moon incident, nothing is impossible in this world…”

“……”

His smile deepened as he added, “After the Red Moon incident, I witnessed countless scenes of madness and absurdity. I saw lunatics running wildly, scenes of despair when abandoned by First Researchers, events that defied reason, and unspeakable bloodshed and cruelty…”

“Thus, I grew to long for the civilized world before the Red Moon incident.”

“Not just for myself, but for all those struggling in this despairing world—for every tragic soul…”

“Living in a civilized world is the greatest blessing; surviving in chaos is the utmost misery.”

“And most despairingly, no matter which world we inhabit, it is never our choice…”

“……”

In a calm yet strangely eerie tone, he continued, sending everyone’s hearts pounding.

After a long pause, he smiled and said, “So I began earnestly searching, organizing my thoughts, trying to find a way out for this desperate world.”

“I pored over countless sacrificial rituals of mysterious organizations from before the Red Moon incident, as well as the unending cases of mental pollution afterward. Beneath the bizarre and absurd surface, one truth emerged: whether it’s certain mysterious organizations or special ability users, they appear capable of creating life—or even resurrecting the dead…”

“Such lives may be strange, but they can communicate, even ponder…”

“I soon recalled something—the cult I helped dismantle with the Research Institute before the Red Moon incident.”

“Tell me—do you believe such life is real?”

“……”

“Y-You…”

At that point, Number Five could no longer hold back; she sensed the madness and obsession laced through the Old Director’s words.

Her voice turned sharply as she demanded, “So you do all this just to resurrect your wife and children who were killed?”

……

……

“No…”

The Old Director gently shook his head and, smiling at her, corrected, “Child, I intend to resurrect a world that once thrived in order—a world where everyone could live happily—a world taken from the clutches of the Red Moon…”

“I want these decades, tainted by the appearance of the Red Moon, to become nothing more than a nightmare in people’s memories.”