Embers Ad Infinitum

In a doctor's conference room in the lunatic asylum, Lauris sat across from the long table, holding one hand horizontally and holding the other hand in front of her mouth.

She recalled saying:

“Actually, Odik and I have known each other for less than two years, and we were introduced by friends.

"He is a 'senior hunter', and I know what this means. Before we officially met, I thought he would be arrogant or rude, but that's not the case in reality."

Shang Jianyao, Jiang Baimian and others did not interrupt. They watched Lauris move the hand that was cupped to her mouth to her ear and straighten the hanging hair on her temples.

Her tone became softer unconsciously:

"He is very polite, not the kind of politeness that is pretended and superficial, but the kind of politeness that truly respects a person...

"He has enough knowledge, experience and strength. No matter what he does, he is calm and confident, methodical and unhurried. He can solve almost everything that I find very difficult. People unconsciously rely on him and believe in him...

"He is very gentle, not the kind of gentle he says. He remembers every hobby of mine, knows exactly what I don't like and what I hate, and always arranges everything to suit my liking before I even notice it...

"If he hadn't confirmed it himself, I wouldn't have believed that he had been a relic hunter for more than ten years, wandered in the wilderness for a long time, and killed many bandits...

"He is very proud of being a Dreamkeeper and feels that he is contributing to the continuation of the entire human race...

"He likes children very much. We plan to have a child next year. As citizens of the "Primary City", we can get maternity subsidies...

"He hates pungent smells, especially things that smell like vinegar...

"He is very responsible and never shirks...

"He kept his promise and promised me not to take on any more dangerous missions. After going to a very dangerous place, he really never did it again..."

As she spoke, Lauris's eyes were a little vacant, and a vague smile appeared on her face.

Shang Jianyao spread out a black soft-cover notebook in front of him and used an absorbent pen to write down what he just said.

After the other party finished speaking, he said:

"Can you tell me some details about your time together."

Lauris hesitated for a while before continuing to recall:

“Although he is a ‘senior hunter’, he doesn’t have much money or supplies saved over the years, because there are many believers in their sect who are really in difficulty, and he is always willing to help.

“Before we got married, he was worried that I would mind this, so he took me to meet those people and learn about their lives.

"Although my parents both have relatively decent jobs in the original city, I don't know anything. Among my neighbors, people often lose their lives due to 'unintentional illness', war, banditry and various diseases, which has led to the entire The family became poor, and several of my childhood playmates lost their whereabouts.

"I remember that day, I said that I understand you and am willing to support you. As long as you don't sacrifice your family and yourself for this, I can not only accept it, but also help you. He was so excited and hugged me tightly, as if He wants to melt me ​​into his body..."

Lauris recalled it piece by piece, making the image of Odik more clear and three-dimensional in the minds of Jiang Baimian and others.

Finally, Shang Jianyao stopped recording, smiled and said to Lauris:

"What you described will be very helpful for subsequent treatment. I will try it now.

"Of course, you have to avoid it so as not to irritate him."

"Okay." Lauris nodded expectantly.

The five members of the "Old Tune Team" returned to the third floor and returned to Odik's ward.

The crazy "senior hunter" noticed something moving outside, rushed behind the iron gate again, and shouted loudly through the small hole:

"Let me out! Let me out!"

Bang bang bang, the sound of him banging on the iron door is endless.

After Odik calmed down a little, Shang Jianyao looked deeply into his eyes and said in a low and mellow voice:

"You are Odik, a 'senior hunter'. You are very polite, not the kind of politeness that is pretended and superficial, but the kind of politeness that truly respects a person...

"You have enough knowledge, experience and strength. No matter what you do, you are calm and confident, methodical and unhurried. You can solve almost everything that others find difficult. People will rely on you without knowing it and believe in you..."

He repeated what Lauris had just said almost exactly, adding a little extra description in some places and changing the personal pronouns.

As Shang Jianyao's voice echoed, Odike completely calmed down and listened with a slightly blank look in his eyes.

And Long Yuehong and Bai Chen finally understood what Shang Jianyao's so-called treatment method was:

"Thought implantation"!

Jiang Baimian watched silently without trying to stop him.

"You are the dream keeper of the 'Morning Star'. You fight against dangers in your dreams and protect mankind... The way you express your intense feelings to your wife is to hug each other tightly... You plan to have a child next year... ...You will not attack your relatives, friends, or innocent people, nor will you use your abilities on them, unless they threaten your life..." After an unknown amount of time, Shang Jianyao finally completed the retelling and weaving, in a lengthy piece of writing, Way to go with so many details.

Behind the iron gate, Odik's eyes gradually became clearer, and he sighed slowly:

“I’m sorry for causing you any trouble.

"I didn't expect to see you again in this state. I haven't been there since I left Weed City."

Let me go...Odik remembers us? Although he went crazy before, his memory was not damaged? Long Yuehong was stunned.

Shang Jianyao laughed:

“The world is always full of accidents, so don’t pay too much attention to them.

"What you need to comfort most right now is your wife. She has been suffering for you all day and is constantly looking for a way to cure you."

Odik nodded:

"I feel very guilty about it."

"As long as you understand." Shang Jianyao turned to his side and shouted loudly:

"Mrs. Lauris, you can come here!"

In just a few seconds, there were rapid footsteps on the stairs.

Lauris, wearing dark culottes, hurried over at a quick trot.

She looked at Odik behind the iron door and noticed the tenderness on his face.

"Oh, dear, are you really okay?" Lauris raised her hands and covered her mouth.

Her eyes turned red uncontrollably, and she became very emotional.

Odik replied softly:

"Sorry for making you worry.

"I will pay attention to it in the future and will not be brave in the face of nightmares.

"I understand that I'm not alone now."

Lauris' tears flowed down:

"It's okay, it's okay, as long as you feel better! I, I'll go find the doctor and let him take a look and confirm!"

She was afraid that this was a sweet dream and she would wake up if she broke it.

With a kick, Lauris ran to the doctor's office.

Long Yuehong glanced at her back and then at Odik, suspecting that the latter was really no longer crazy.

He couldn't help but ask:

"What did you see in your nightmare?"

Odik's expression behind the iron door suddenly twisted, and his eyes became empty.

He murmured to himself:

“There’s a person on the left, a person on the right, and a small photo frame in the middle.

"You have one big eye and one small eye. You are not a good person. I will dig them out for you."

After repeating it twice, Odik glanced at Shang Jianyao and others at the door.

He immediately calmed down his abnormal expression and said sincerely:

"Sorry, I can't provide you with any valid clues."

It's very polite and calm enough.

Long Yuehong stared and listened blankly, speechless.

He felt the breeze in the corridor was chilly for some reason.

At this time, Shang Jianyao responded to Odik.

He raised his arms, raised his body slightly, looked into the void and said:

"Everything is a fantasy, why take it seriously?"

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the stairs without looking back.

Even though he met Lauris who came with a doctor on the way, he did not stop.

…………

In the jeep, Shang Jianyao sat on the left side of the back seat and remained silent for a long time.

Long Yuehong glanced at the sky and said:

"Where to go now?"

Jiang Baimian had already prepared a draft and said calmly:

"Go to the Golden Apple District and the Red Giant Wolf District for a few laps, and then go to the place where Xiao Chong rented before to find a safe house.

"I won't go back to the Green Olive District tonight. I hope I can escape the attention of 'Nightmare'."

"Okay." Bai Chen felt this was very safe.

The jeep drove for a while, and Gennava patted Shang Jianyao on the shoulder and offered his own suggestions:

"Actually, you don't need to be so anxious. You can collect more information and build a database of Odik's behavior through me.

"In this way, after re-entering, we can deal with most situations."

After Shang Jianyao listened quietly, he suddenly laughed.

He opened his arms again, tilted his body slightly, and said with a smile:

"Everything is a fantasy, why take it seriously?"

PS: Ask for monthly tickets at the beginning of the month~