The scalpel flashed for only a moment before disappearing into Huang Liang's palm.
He couldn't possibly actually kill Old Wolf's shadow. On one hand, the shadow and Old Wolf had long since become one, inseparable. To kill the shadow would inevitably harm Old Wolf's consciousness, and given Old Wolf's current mental state, he might very well die.
On the other hand, no matter how much Huang Liang was influenced by Zhao Pengcheng's memories and assimilated by human emotions, he was never sure if he was a real "person". In a sense, "Shadow" was his kind, and killing Shadow would inevitably expose his strength and abnormal changes to the organization.
The organization's initial intention in sending him to Vancouver was to get close to the Wolf Family. Although his trip to Los Angeles later made his arrival in Vancouver seem like a coincidence, he always felt that someone was orchestrating everything. According to Howard's confession, the current head of North America is the Second Leader, and he is directly under the Second Leader's leadership.
Who knows where the second leader is? Maybe he's right next to William Wolf!
The shadow only twisted twice on the ground before finally lying down quietly, whether out of exhaustion or waiting for something, it was hard to tell.
Old Wolf clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, and took a step forward.
Huang Liang looked towards the distant snow-capped mountains. The man with the gun drove the sled dogs to surround the white wolf on the mountaintop, while the gray wolf pack fled to the other side of the mountain.
A gunshot rang out, shaking the entire dream space.
Wolf's Mental Power was starting to give way, but he gritted his teeth and took another step forward. His steps were heavy, and the snow reached above his calves. His eyes turned green, gleaming like a wolf's.
The white wolf opposite seemed to sense something, glanced in their direction, and suddenly raised its head and let out a long howl.
The howls, like air raid sirens, echoed endlessly in the vast, snowy world.
Wolf stopped in his tracks.
The shadow behind him suddenly twisted and rose from the ground, standing right behind Wolf, a thin sliver that stood out starkly against the backdrop of snow.
If Wolf had turned around at that moment, he would have been scared half to death. But he was completely oblivious; his body trembled even more violently, and the green light in his eyes intensified, as if he were on drugs. With his last bit of strength, he struggled forward.
Huang Liang realized that the shadow was influencing Wolf's consciousness, causing Wolf to break through the dream barrier and enter the vast, icy world in the distance.
From Wolf's subconscious, Huang Liang sensed his pity and sympathy for the wolf pack, his anger towards the hunters chasing them, and his awe of the white wolf. This awe prevented him from crossing the line, while the Shadow Consciousness influenced him, causing his anger to outweigh his reason and awe.
Huang Liang was eager to know why the shadow developed a different consciousness from Wolf. Logically, since the shadow had acquired Wolf's entire consciousness and grew alongside him, it shouldn't have developed any other consciousness until it could replace Wolf's. This was unless something was influencing it, or a source consciousness was planted in it from the very beginning of its parasitic existence. Its purpose was likely not to replace Wolf, but to break through Wolf's mental barrier and enter the snowfield.
Huang Liang was also very curious about the snowfield and the white wolf. But he dared not go in now. He was in Wolf's dream, and this was the only passage connecting him to that mysterious world. If Wolf exited the dream, he might be trapped there and never be able to get out again.
Old Wolf couldn't go in either. If he did, his current dream would collapse, his consciousness would leave his body, and he would become a vegetable or simply die.
Huang Liang brandished his scalpel once more, determined to stop Wolf before he could break through the dream barrier. He didn't want the old man to die so soon after he Vancouver to treat Wolf.
But at that moment, the scene opposite changed, as if a movie camera had zoomed in on the white wolf. Huang Liang could clearly see the white wolf's angry eyes, its nose and upper lip twitching, revealing sharp white teeth.
It stared at Wolf and its shadow, then suddenly roared, and a gust of wind swept across the snow-capped mountain, piercing through the barrier of dreams.
Huang Liang swayed slightly from the wind, but he quickly regained his balance. He knew this wasn't real wind, but a mental storm, a pressure exerted on consciousness by Mental Power, only now the person was transformed into the wind within their consciousness.
Huang Liang managed to stay upright, but Wolf clearly couldn't. He fell backward into the wind, and his shadow, like a kite, was blown up, except that its feet were always connected to Wolf's feet, so it was blown very long and its color became lighter and lighter, like a wisp of smoke floating in the air.
Huang Liang finally understood why Wolf was so weak.
The invading Parasitic Consciousness didn't intend to kill him, but rather drove him to break through the dream barrier. The white wolf in that world—a world of uncertain truth—connected to Old Wolf and the _book, clearly didn't want him to enter. The white wolf's spirit penetrated the barrier, injuring the shadow, but also Wolf's consciousness. Therefore, Wolf and his shadow were very weak.
Wolf could no longer sustain the dream. His dream was about to collapse when the white wolf howled, but Huang Liang subconsciously used his mental power to protect it, just to see what would happen to the shadow under the white wolf's mental impact.
But he suddenly sensed another unfamiliar Mental Power, just like his, protecting this dream.
He turned his head sharply and saw Quiwyn Wolf standing in the shadows at the edge of the dream.
When entering Old Wolf's dream, Huang Liang hid at the edge of the dream to avoid disturbing the space. As long as he did not interfere mentally, Wolf would not find him, and other consciousnesses would not easily find him either, unless there was a significant difference in their Mental Power.
He didn't notice Hong Kui, Hong Kui probably didn't notice him either. But they had just used their Mental Power simultaneously to try to stop the dream from collapsing, and that's how they discovered each other.
Both were slightly surprised, but didn't have time to exchange words. If they didn't exit the dream soon, Old Wolf wouldn't be able to hold on. Although the shadow might dissipate under the White Wolf's mental pressure, Wolf would most likely die as well.
They let go at the same time and exited the dream.
William Wolf lay stiffly on the bed again, like a dried corpse, his eyes even more lifeless, but still stubbornly open.
Martha cradled the old man's head, muttering something and referring to a picture book, like a devout nun in prayer.
Huang Liang looked at Hong Kui and asked, "Has it always been like this?"
Hong Kui said, "Yes, it's basically like that every time."
" Qingmu..." Huang Liang originally wanted to ask Qingmu if he knew about this situation, but then he thought that Qingmu must know, so he asked, "How did he treat the old man?"
"I'm not entirely sure either. At the time, I didn't know how to enter my father's dream. It was only after receiving guidance from Mr. Qingmu that I learned how to control my Mental Power."
Hong Kui, who had been supporting Old Wolf's shoulder, straightened up when he saw that there was no further sign of an attack, and asked casually, "Does Dr. Huang know Mr. Qingmu?"
"Didn't you tell me that the old man received treatment in Wuzhong...?"
"I never said his name."
Huang Liang already knew he had misspoke, inwardly cursing himself for being cautious all his life but making a foolish mistake this time. Fortunately, he had been introduced by Mei Yiqiu, so he used that as a shield to explain, "Oh, I've heard Professor Mei mention Mr. Qingmu, and I admire him greatly. When you said he was receiving treatment in Wuzhong, I guessed it was him."
"Yes, this small Wuzhong is truly a place where hidden talents abound!" Hong Kui said.
Huang Liang's heart skipped a beat. He repeatedly pondered Hong Kui's words and carefully recalled his own words and actions, making sure that he had not revealed any flaws.
"Gentlemen, dinner is ready." Martha said respectfully to the eldest son of the Hong Family, then glanced at Huang Liang with interest.