Chapter 795: Divine Revival?
by xennovel“Divine Revival?”
Out of the blue, while Doctor An recounted tales of the Pre-Civilization Era, he mentioned a term that caught everyone off guard.
Lu Xin frowned slightly, finding it hard to comprehend.
“Hard to understand, isn’t it?”
Doctor An looked at Lu Xin and offered a wry smile: “I, along with many others back then, found it difficult to grasp.”
“Yet those who first proposed the theory were utterly convinced.”
“They claimed that such omens had long been woven through human history. A careful reading of history reveals strange descriptions of mental states—mentions of things like the Xi Wangmu gathering funds, the Strasbourg Dancing Plague, the Massachusetts Scarecrow, Tokyo’s Red-Eyed Spider, and so on. They worked hard to prove that these events were not isolated incidents.”
“They were simply becoming more frequent and widespread in reality.”
“They firmly believed in the cycle of civilizations, asserting that in the Pre-Civilization Era, it wasn’t clear which generation of Earth’s civilization it was. Every civilization, upon reaching its peak, would vanish suddenly, like fireworks burning with all their brilliance.”
“Was it an alien invasion? Or climate change on Earth? Or perhaps a plague or war that led to the extinction of groups?”
“None of the above.”
“……”
Her voice grew somber as she said, “They believed it was the projection of a divine shadow onto the human soul…”
“Of course, to avoid the pitfalls of feudal superstition and for broader acceptance, they changed the term.”
“They called it Higher-Dimensional Life!”
“……”
Lu Xin listened intently, his curiosity deepening.
Doctor An sighed softly and continued, “It might sound far-fetched, but many believed in it at the time. They even conducted pioneering experiments, planning a series of trials to prove the existence of this Higher-Dimensional Life…”
“So…”
Lu Xin suddenly ventured a guess, “Could it be that their experiments led to the Red Moon incident?”
“……”
“I don’t know,”
Doctor An shook her head. “Firstly, these matters were told to me by the Old Director before I left, or I wouldn’t have any recollection of them. Secondly, this research team was rather insignificant in the Research Institute at the time. There were countless projects, with new ones regularly starting and old ones ending. They were nothing special…”
“And all I know is that the core of the Red Moon Research Institute wasn’t a Higher-Dimensional Life, but the Genesis Hard Drive.”
“All the research revolved around the Genesis Hard Drive.”
“Even our current investigation mission is centered on it.”
“……”
“The Genesis Hard Drive…”
Circling back, Lu Xin felt as though he was back where he started.
He fell into a long silence.
He could hear his heart pounding in his chest.
What exactly was the Genesis Hard Drive at the Red Moon Research Institute?
And what about that Higher-Dimensional Life project?
Who, truly, was the mastermind behind the Red Moon incident?
Most crucially, what connection did Lu Tianming from the Higher-Dimensional Life project have with him?
“……”
“……”
Night deepened, and a stifling sense of oppression weighed down the dark surroundings.
Only the occasional buzz of electronic flies, sent out to replenish the Research Institute’s detector count, broke the eerie silence.
After revealing everything he knew to Lu Xin, Doctor An straightened slowly, placing her hand on his shoulder as she whispered, “I know you must have many questions, as do I.”
“But once we go in, perhaps all our doubts will be resolved…”
“……”
She looked up towards the ruins of the Research Institute.
Lu Xin also straightened up, battling the rising tide of fear and unease within him.
He murmured, “Are we clear to go inside?”
“The terrain scan of Zone A’s interior is nearly complete.”
Master Li, clutching the controller, replied earnestly, “Although the electronic flies did seem slightly disturbed during the process,”
“they didn’t short-circuit or trigger any alarms.”
“So it appears safe inside, but… this was once a Research Institute.”
“I’m sure you understand.”
“……”
Without directly answering, Doctor An nodded and said, “You, A Zhen, and Sissi stay here. Continue scanning and monitoring the rest of the institute’s zones. Keep some electronic flies with me for constant information exchange…”
“If anything unexpected happens, inform each other immediately. But remember, our objective…”
“Is to bring the investigation results back.”
“……”
Her tone echoed her earlier lighthearted banter.
But this time, it didn’t sound like a joke.
“……”
“……”
Lu Xin, Doctor An, his Sister, Sissi, Dr. Zhang, and Dr. Wang silently prepared to enter the Research Institute.
Dr. Zhang and Dr. Wang seemed reluctant to leave Master Li’s side.
Yet, since both wanted to stay, neither voiced the thought.
The group produced a pair of pliers, cut through the rusted iron lock at the institute’s entrance with a creak, pushed open the main door, and turned on their flashlights. Step by step, crunching on thick dead leaves, they slowly entered the long-sealed building.
They headed straight for Zone A.
Among the many buildings, only Zone A held an air of profound mystery for the Research Institute.
Moreover, the first scan had pinpointed Zone A.
So, they tensed up slightly and moved towards the building at the back on the left. They opened a small door leading there and, under the watchful gaze of towering tree canopies, slowly stepped into this unassuming, solitary, and desolate building. Standing at the doorway, they peered into the long, dark corridor.
“This is it…”
Doctor An let out a low sigh, “Even I am here for the first time…”
“But…”
At that moment, Lu Xin hesitated and said, “It seems I’ve been here before…”
“I even feel like I once worked here for a long time…”
“……”
“Worked here for a long time?”
Lu Xin’s words brought a look of incredulity to Doctor An’s face.
She glanced around before signaling the group and slowly moving forward.
The miniature flashlight in her hand was an invention of the Research Institute.
Though small, its beam was bright enough to clearly illuminate their path.
Step by step, Lu Xin moved forward, gradually discerning the details of the old, silent corridor filled with dust.
The walls were white, bordered at the bottom by a green wall nearly a person’s height, though time had blurred its original vividness.
Their footsteps sounded muffled in the corridor.
Everyone instinctively softened their steps, as if fearing they’d disturb something.
Even his Sister, seemingly affected by the institute’s aura, had calmed down, obediently resting on his back.
Occasionally, she would peek out to check on Sissi.
“……”
“……”
In that oppressive silence, Lu Xin grew ever quieter.
He followed the group deeper into the corridor, feeling an odd atmosphere constantly surrounding him.
Gradually, his vision began to blur.
He could still see the corridor.
But everything within it seemed altered, as if no longer the same.
He saw the walls become pristine and the floor immaculate, while individuals in white coats hurried past with files in hand. He noticed guards in crisp uniforms, armed and standing at a corner.
He also glimpsed in the left-side office a beautiful woman in a white nurse’s uniform, bent over a desk while on the phone.
Her back was alluring.
“Hehe…”
Delicate chuckles, as if from long ago, echoed in his mind.
Scene after scene flashed before his eyes, each image growing more vivid and real.
“Whew…”
He suddenly halted and turned to a slightly ajar door beside him, staring blankly into the room.
Unconsciously, beads of cold sweat formed on his body.
“What’s wrong?”
Doctor An and the others also stopped and turned, looking at him with concern.
“I…”
Lu Xin paused, at a loss for words.
“You still feel like it’s familiar?”
Doctor An frowned slightly and murmured, “It shouldn’t be…”
Noticing the cold sweat on Lu Xin’s forehead, she paused and cautiously explained,
“Chronologically, you have indeed been to the institute and stayed here for a while.”
“But you shouldn’t feel a sense of familiarity towards this building.”
“Because previously, all experiment subjects were confined in Zone D. Zone A would never allow you in so easily.”
“This place was once accessible only to a single generation of researchers.”
“……”
As she spoke, her eyes fixed intently on Lu Xin.
“Perhaps…”
Dr. Wang couldn’t help but interject, “Maybe it’s the environment that evokes déjà vu?”
“Or perhaps, you were once brought here…”
“……”
He spoke carefully, offering what he considered a plausible explanation.
“Maybe you’re right…”
Muttering to himself, Lu Xin gently stepped forward and pushed open the ajar door, whispering,
“But if that were all, how would I know that inside there’s supposed to be a box of magician’s playing cards?”
“……”
As he spoke, he walked into the pitch-black room.
Amidst the chaotic light and the indistinct layout of the office, he went straight to the desk against the wall.
After a brief pause, he reached out without hesitation.
He unlatched the bottom drawer and fumbled around inside, retrieving an item.
It was a set of old, worn playing cards with their surfaces swollen with oil.
Lu Xin’s hand trembled as he spread the cards, revealing them to everyone.
They were all Ace of Spades and King of Hearts.
Clearly, these were magician’s playing cards.
“This…”
The sudden revelation left Doctor An and the others speechless.
A chill seemed to rise from his feet.
“You…”
Dr. Wang, visibly tense and puzzled, asked, “How did you know? Was it you who placed them here in the first place?”
“The crux of the matter is right here…”
Lu Xin, looking somewhat dazed, gently ran his hand over his forehead and murmured, “I don’t know…”