Auditory hallucinations?
Zhang Yuanqing stood frozen in place, his first reaction being that he was hearing things—that the whisper by his ear was not real, but a hallucination caused by some sort of influence.
After all, no outsider could possibly know his father's name. The likeliest explanation was that the whisper had come from within his own mind.
But why his father's name? If some illusion-like power had affected me, then it must have stirred up what I desired most deep down. But I don't crave paternal love. All I have left of my father, who died many years ago, are hazy memories.
As Zhang Yuanqing struggled to understand, Fu Qingyang ahead of him noticed something was off. In an unusually stern tone, he said:
"Don't stop. Keep walking!"
There was a compelling force in the Centurion's voice. Zhang Yuanqing's mind cleared, and all distracting thoughts vanished.
He held his breath and focused, ignoring the whispers in his ear as he took long strides after the figure in the white suit, heading toward the Zoo gates.
"Zhang Zizhen, you're leaving again. You treacherous little bastard..."
The whisper at his ear suddenly turned shrill and mournful, like a resentful woman abandoned by her lover.
Zhang Yuanqing tensed every nerve and silently recited, My heart is clear as ice; even if the heavens collapse, I shall not be shaken. He quickened his pace and finally followed Fu Qingyang through the Zoo gates.
The whisper immediately disappeared.
Zhang Yuanqing did not dare linger or look back. He rushed straight for the luxury car, and only after it had started and driven far away did he dare turn around.
The night was deep and dark. The outline of the Zoo flickered in and out of sight amid the darkness, quiet and eerie.
"Phew!"
Zhang