The Negative Speed Force's effect on his emotions was somewhat beyond Zhang Tianran's expectations. But that was all; it did not bring him many surprises.
To prevent any accidents, Zhang Tianran carefully examined the Speed Force within himself and found no changes at all. It was as if he were completely unafraid of the Negative Speed Force's corruption.
Originally, Zhang Tianran had been quite confident in his ability to resist the Negative Speed Force. After all, the Speed Force was rather subjective. As long as he did not choose it, even if he were temporarily affected, he could recover.
Just like Barry's future daughter—she could recover even after reversing the Speed Force.
Yet the Speed Force had not changed at all, while his emotions had been greatly affected instead.
"Could it be... that I really am the Speed Force?" Zhang Tianran muttered.
Back then, the Speed Force's words had left Zhang Tianran puzzled for a long time. He truly could not imagine any possibility of a human becoming the Speed Force...
Still, his body was indeed vastly different from that of an ordinary Speedster.
Zhang Tianran now felt like a student who had cheated and scored a perfect hundred. Though he had received the reward, he had no idea what the process had been like.
In the end, Zhang Tianran gave up thinking about it. His future self could not possibly harm his present self. One day, he would understand.
"Dr. Zhang, I need to talk to you." Barry Allen's voice sounded from outside the door.
The moment he heard that voice, Zhang Tianran immediately guessed what had happened... It seemed Reverse-Flash had already handed Barry Allen the bait.
The result was naturally exactly as Zhang Tianran had expected. Reverse-Flash had indeed succeeded in tempting Barry with the prospect of changing the past...
"You came to me for advice? Then I have only one piece of advice: don't! Remember, never interfere with the timeline, whether your intentions are good or evil." Zhang Tianran spoke without mercy.
Hearing such a precise answer, Barry froze where he stood.
In fact, the reason he had come to seek Zhang Tianran's advice was because Barry Allen had already been tempted—deeply tempted.
After hesitating for a long time, Barry finally said, "Reverse-Flash set the Particle Accelerator's activation time. If I don't go back to change the future and send him home when the time comes, all of Central City will be reduced to rubble by the Particle Accelerator's explosion."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianran immediately understood. Reverse-Flash had long prepared a second plan to force Barry into making a choice.
"If that's the case, then why ask me? I can't disable Wells's technology. Looks like that guy has you cornered." Zhang Tianran stared at Barry and spoke calmly.
"I don't know..." Barry shook his head in confusion, hoping deep down for an answer Zhang Tianran would approve of.
"Get word out about the Particle Accelerator explosion and evacuate Central City. That is the wisest choice. I don't care whether you understand or not. Remember this: nothing is more important than time. Even if everyone in Central City died, the damage would not be greater than the destruction caused by altering the timeline." Zhang Tianran's tone was icy.
Though he had only spent a few months in Central City, Zhang Tianran already understood Barry's personality well. The guy was kind, that was true, but he never seemed to learn how to listen.
Perhaps this was what people called a saintly fool—someone unable to bear witnessing suffering. Even knowing the consequences would become worse, he still could not endure it and chose to save whatever was right before his eyes.
Barry had not expected that answer. In a bitter voice, he asked, "Is there no other way?"
"No. But if you insist on doing it, I can't stop you either..." Zhang Tianran said.
Actually, he already knew Barry's choice. There were no signs in the future that Central City had ever been destroyed.
In the end, Barry Allen left in disappointment. Zhang Tianran, meanwhile, came before the cell where Wells was being held...
"The Negative Speed Force didn't affect you. Why?" The instant Wells saw Zhang Tianran, he immediately asked.
"I don't know..." Zhang Tianran shook his head. After hesitating for a moment, he continued, "How did you endure all those negative emotions?"
"It's simple—hatred! My hatred for the Flash can drown out everything. But now... it seems I've been away from the Negative Speed Force for too long. Even that hatred has weakened quite a bit." Reverse-Flash smiled and spoke thoughtfully.
"I think there's nothing bad about you being imprisoned. At least you don't have to suffer the Negative Speed Force's negative emotions. That feeling isn't pleasant." Zhang Tianran spoke as if offering advice.
Reverse-Flash understood what Zhang Tianran meant, but he only shook his head without explaining.
Seeing this, Zhang Tianran did not try to persuade him further and turned to leave. Watching Zhang Tianran's departing back, Reverse-Flash suddenly felt an inexplicable emotion.
In the end, Barry still chose to travel back to the past. The imminent explosion of the Particle Accelerator had erased all his reservations.
As for Zhang Tianran's suggestion to evacuate all of Central City... It was simply impossible!
Leaving aside the issue of time, there was no way to evacuate an entire city. People in this country were far too free. Some idiots simply did not care about their own lives, while others did not believe anything at all.
If they tried to force an evacuation, it would very likely trigger an even greater disaster.
Therefore, for Central City, and to save his mother, Barry Allen chose without hesitation to go to the past and change the future.
Zhang Tianran did not stop him. He merely watched everything with cold indifference.
Soon, all preparations were complete. Barry Allen entered the Particle Accelerator and began running.
When his speed reached a certain threshold, Cisco immediately released a particle to collide with him.
Soon, a stable portal opened. Barry Allen vanished from that point in time...
Along with him, Zhang Tianran, who had been watching from the side, also vanished.
Barry, who had arrived more than a decade in the past, could never have imagined that someone else had appeared beside him.
"Don't overthink it. I didn't come here willingly." Zhang Tianran explained gloomily.
The last time Barry crossed the timeline, he had been affected as well. But he had not expected to be affected again this time and dragged along directly.
Could there be some connection between him and Barry Allen? No, that could not be right. When future Barry came back last time, his future self had not been affected.
At that moment, Future Flash and Reverse-Flash were fighting downstairs. Barry had no time to pay attention to Zhang Tianran. He immediately hid behind the door, carefully looking for a chance to save his mother.
But just then, Future Flash noticed everything. He gently shook his head at Barry, then carried the young Barry away.
Reverse-Flash, furious at discovering that Future Flash had escaped, picked up a knife from the room...
Unable to bear watching this, Barry closed the door and wept silently.
Once everything outside had completely settled down, Barry finally could not hold back any longer and rushed out of the room. He picked up his dying mother...
Before you continue