Ash Realm

"Gray Realm Convergence?"

Chen Ling did remember seeing that term somewhere in the original owner's memories.

"Don't tell me you've even forgotten the Ash Realm." Doctor Lin stood up, poured the blood from the tea mug down the drain, and slowly began to explain.

"Before the Great Cataclysm, someone proposed a hypothesis that countless parallel spacetime dimensions existed in this universe. These dimensions had all formed at the birth of the universe, like the light released by a lit candle, spreading in every direction. But because light was infinite, they extended endlessly toward every possibility and never intersected."

"But after the Crimson Meteor streaked across the sky, everything fell into chaos."

"Every spacetime dimension was thrown into turbulence, and an unknown, bizarre gray world began overlapping with the real world."

After washing the tea mug, Doctor Lin did not pour out the water. Instead, he set it on the table. Since he had used some force while washing it, the water inside rippled in waves.

Doctor Lin tore off a scrap of paper and held it above the rippling water. The surging water began soaking the paper, uneven little wet spots gradually spreading across the entire sheet.

"At first, only a small portion intersected. But as time passed, more and more areas converged. Matter and living creatures from that world began appearing in ours. By now, most places once inhabited by humanity have been occupied by that world. Only nine 'domains' remain to shelter humanity and preserve its spark."

"Since that world's sky is gray, we call it the 'Ash Realm.'"

"When the Ash Realm converges with reality, it produces a series of bizarre events beyond comprehension. Monsters belonging to the Ash Realm may even descend upon us—the Calamities we speak of."

"Generally speaking, eighty percent of survivors who encounter Gray Realm Convergence or are attacked by Calamities suffer mental breakdowns, and most can never be cured for the rest of their lives..."

"I suspect your current condition is related to the Ash Realm."

"Think carefully. Have you ever encountered a Gray Realm Convergence and been drawn into it?"

Faced with Doctor Lin's question, Chen Ling searched the original owner's memories as hard as he could, but found nothing... No matter how he tried, he could not recall anything else from last night.

"I don't know," he said bitterly.

Doctor Lin pondered for a moment, then took out a sheet of letter paper from a drawer and began writing swiftly.

"Your condition is no longer as simple as a mental illness... I'm just an ordinary person. I can't cure you.

"However, I know someone. He might be able to help with the aftereffects of Ash Realm contamination.

"After all, he is a true [Doctor]."

At that, a glimmer of light appeared in Chen Ling's eyes. "Where can I find him?"

"He lives in Aurora City, but he usually likes to travel around and offer free consultations. Wherever he hears there are difficult or unusual cases, that's where he goes. That is their path to godhood...

"Anyway, give this letter to the Enforcers at Aurora City's gates. Leave your name and address, and they'll deliver it for you.

"At most, within three days, that [Doctor] will come to your door himself."

"Thank you!"

Chen Ling took the envelope and thanked him sincerely.

In truth, when he had seen the grains of salt melting on the road, Chen Ling had already sensed that something was wrong. What had happened to him no longer seemed explainable by illness. He had come to this little clinic partly because he was already halfway there, and partly because he truly had no idea where else might be able to help him.

From Doctor Lin's words, this [Doctor] seemed to be someone extraordinary. He had even mentioned a path to godhood...

Could it be that this world also possessed its own unique system of human cultivation? Otherwise, according to Doctor Lin, all humanity should have perished during the Great Cataclysm and the Gray Realm Convergence.

Chen Ling even suspected that this world's distorted level of science was related to the Great Cataclysm.

"No need to thank me. Give my regards to your younger brother." Doctor Lin smiled faintly.

"He's still hospitalized in the Second District... I'll pass them on when I visit him next time."

Chen Ling rose, bid Doctor Lin farewell, and pushed open the door to leave.

As that figure gradually disappeared beneath the sky flowing with aurora light, Doctor Lin narrowed his eyes slightly.

"An actor..."

"The first time I saw the screen in my dream, the Audience Expectation was 29%."

"When I tried to flee for my life, it rose to 30%."

"On the way here, it dropped back to 27%..."

"Just now, when Doctor Lin was pranked, it rose to 29% again."

"If the 'Audience' really exists in my mind, and those numbers aren't hallucinations, then what exactly affects the rise and fall of the Expectation Value?"

The cold wind howled. Wrapped in a thick cotton robe, Chen Ling walked toward home while pondering seriously.

Stage, Audience, Expectation Value... Every increase in Expectation Value seemed to accompany an event. Could those events be considered "plot" on a stage?

The more interesting the events around him were, the more attractive the "plot" would be to the Audience, thus raising the Expectation Value?

The screen had said that if the Audience Expectation fell below 20%, the actor's personal safety would not be guaranteed...

Chen Ling did not know what specific danger that meant, but judging from how the "Audience" could interfere with reality to some extent, he might end up becoming their tool for venting frustration and be pranked to death by their tricks!

Chen Ling felt that his reasoning was sound, but proving whether it was correct would require actual action.

"Maybe I should try taking the initiative to design some 'plot.'"

Chen Ling muttered to himself.

"A-Ling, have you eaten breakfast?"

Chen Ling turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with a towel wrapped around his head fanning a stove at a breakfast stall by the street. The man called to him warmly.

The instant Chen Ling saw him, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Not yet, Uncle Zhao." A faint smile curved Chen Ling's lips as he walked toward the stall.

"Come, come. I'll get you some soy milk and fried dough sticks. There was a heavy rainstorm last night, so the dampness is bad. You need breakfast to warm yourself up." Uncle Zhao came over carrying a steaming bowl of soy milk.

"Thanks, Uncle Zhao."

Chen Ling dug through his pockets, found three copper coins, and handed them to Uncle Zhao, only for the latter to push them back.

"Your uncle's treating you to breakfast. How could I let you pay?"

"Don't, Uncle Zhao. We may have been neighbors for over a decade, but accounts should still be settled."

"You brat, I don't want your money. When you have time, help our Xiao Yi with his studies. I'll bring you breakfast every day." Uncle Zhao grinned, revealing a mouthful of large yellow teeth.

"Didn't he already graduate? Why does he still need tutoring?"

"With scores like his, he can't even get assigned a job. I'm planning to have him repeat the year. He can't spend every day doing odd jobs for people, can he?"

"Oh..."

"A-Ling is still the best. Smart and filial. If Xiao Yi could one day become an Enforcer like you, I'd laugh myself awake even in my dreams."

Uncle Zhao let out a long sigh. "What a shame that kid is so disappointing."

Chen Ling's hand paused slightly as he held his chopsticks. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke.

"Uncle Zhao... do you know why Zhao Yi is so bad at studying?"

"Huh? Why?"

Chen Ling was about to say something, but then fell silent for a long while. In the end, he shook his head. "Forget it, Uncle Zhao. Pretend I never mentioned it... I promised him I'd keep it secret."

"Don't!"

Uncle Zhao's heart began racing. He casually added a braised egg to Chen Ling's meal, scratching his head in agitation.

"A-Ling, I know you're Xiao Yi's good friend, but some things... I, I should know something too, as his father, right? I raised Xiao Yi all by myself. I get up before dawn and come home after dark every day to earn money for his schooling, all so he can have a better life in the future...

"If you know something, you have to tell me! We're all doing this for his own good..."

Seeing how anxiously Uncle Zhao questioned him, Chen Ling was slightly moved. He struggled for a moment, as though making up his mind.

"Uncle Zhao, you're right. As his friend, I really can't bear to watch Zhao Yi continue falling like this..."

"F-falling? What happened to him?"

"He's in a relationship."

"Huh?" Uncle Zhao froze. "That kid has that kind of charm?"

Chen Ling calmly bit into a fried dough stick and casually uttered three words.

"With a man."