Am I really hallucinating?

Chapter 662 Preparation and Return

“However, the Central Group behind the Prism Force won’t make a big fuss about the Processing Bureau. They just want the Processing Bureau to be as obedient as before. But this process will inevitably involve some 'killing the chicken to scare the monkey' and some passive sacrifices.” Hong Yijia’s words were filled with disdain and disgust.

Her family was severely implicated. As a member of the Hong family, she was being tracked. However, by then, she had already left her home in Jiyun City with Xiaolin and her group and headed towards the Central District.

"Didn't your family say anything about you running off to the central government without a word?" Zheng Fan interrupted.

"No... they were quite pleased. Although they criticized me for not telling them beforehand, they expressed their support for my ideas and actions." Hong Yijia sighed.

“Miss Hong Yijia’s parents and sister are really good to you,” Doris said.

"Yes, it's really great that they've shielded me from so much hardship. Whether I comfortably betrayed my own nature and hid in the background, or suddenly changed my mind and went to the center of the vortex, they didn't say anything. They just guided me on how to get through each stage smoothly... They just didn't want me to regret it for myself."

Hong Yijia agreed, saying, "It makes me seem too willful, like a little kid."

“You have the right to be willful, and so do we, it’s just that the objects of our behavior are different. This is our good fortune, and we don’t need to blame ourselves.” Doris gently shook her head.

Zheng Fan smiled.

Stratus said, "Giving children the ability to be willful is part of what it means to be a parent."

"Thank you all." Hong Yijia smiled. "So now I need to do something for my family and the entire handling bureau."

"The Processing Bureau is breaking the information blockade, and more people need to know about the Inspur factory incident. Dad thinks this is actually an opportunity. They are already working on unification within the Processing Bureau, and many people who were previously difficult to be influenced by the Processing Bureau may not be so now. The Processing Bureau has been unfairly suppressed, Inspur has been forced to take the blame and disband, there is corruption within the Central Committee, and the Dark World almost invaded the Central Committee. If even a little bit of what happened here is leaked out and amplified, it can stir up considerable emotions."

"Not bad, this power hasn't been completely extinguished after all. From now on, we'll rely on them." Zheng Fan cheered.

"By the way, I also received advice from a man named 'Li the Immortal' who was hiding in the Triangular Tower building. After learning the details of the matter, he said that we could try to find a lamplighter named Pharos. The interior of the lighthouse is not impenetrable."

“That child is excellent and quite simple-minded; he’s definitely someone we can try to win over. I can try to help make contact,” Stratus agreed. Everything that happened under the lighthouse was part of its memory.

It contains information about all the lamplighters, past and present, and therefore can testify to what Li Busi said.

"Li Busi is really unlucky. He just found a seemingly safe partner and then this happened. Hopefully, he can stay in the Triangular Tower building for a while longer." Zheng Fan also expressed a moment of sympathy for his older brother.

“I’ll try to meet this Pharos next, and then I’ll start trying to infiltrate the Thousand Corridors,” Hong Yijia said.

In the letter Niu Qianliu left for them, the code could only be used there.

“I will escort her and, incidentally, visit Eliadodic; he should be ready to await me,” Stratus said.

"Then I wish you all the best." Zheng Fan nodded.

Hong Yijia looked at Zheng Fan and said, "I have no doubt that Xiaolin and Ye Jie will succeed in what they are doing. Their combination is impeccable in my college memories, but it is just too crazy."

“This is exactly what we need, a bit of crazy excitement, Hong Yijia.”

“What we are doing is the exact opposite,” Hong Yijia said with emotion. “Our positions are actually completely opposite, but now we are standing together and sharing the situation.”

“When all of this is shattered, new people will inevitably be needed to guide the way and maintain order. That’s what the Bureau and the Lighthouse should do. You go and free all the shackles and do what you should do, and I will do what Illusion should do. After this parting, you only need to remember this,” Zheng Fan said matter-of-factly.

Hong Yijia nodded heavily.

Stratus replied, “I do not agree with your actions, but I know that it is indeed the simplest and quickest method available at the moment.”

"You're just a parent who's disappointed in your child but still feels sorry for them and thinks they'll be beaten too badly," Zheng Fan pointed out bluntly.

“Haha, you’re right.” Stratus didn’t dwell on it, but just laughed heartily, “Anyway, I’m in such a half-dead state that I don’t have the right to make a choice, so I’ll take my leave. I’m soft-hearted, so I won’t go and witness it with my own eyes.”

Hong Yijia looked at someone who didn't exist in front of her. She couldn't see him, but his eyes were genuine.

Until a black sparrow hand puppet was handed to her.

"I've already returned what I owed you. If you feel you've left anything with me, then come and tell me in person." The black sparrow puppet opened its mouth, and Zheng Fan's voice came out.

Hong Yijia gripped the hand puppet tightly, squeezing it into a wrinkled and ugly shape, and chuckled, "I can do it."

She turned and left the park. Zheng Fan stayed with Doris for a while longer until Doris received a message from her bandmates that she needed to check on the upcoming performance, at which point she also took her leave.

After Doris left, Zheng Fan picked up his phone and sent a message to Jiang Si.

He originally wanted to go directly to Jiang Si, but Jiang Si said she wanted to give Zheng Fan a surprise and asked him to wait until tomorrow.

Zheng found it amusing, but he accepted the girl's intentions.

Zheng Fan: [Are you ready on your end?]

Jiang Si: [OK, see you tomorrow.]

Concise and to the point, without any unnecessary details, Zheng Fan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in admiration. The little zombie was truly bursting with confidence now. He felt that if he met her again, he'd probably be hugged and nibbled at.

Zheng Fan set off for Radish and Rabbi.

They weren't in the Central District either, mainly because Radish's situation wouldn't be so easy to hide in the Central District, let alone in the current tense situation.

However, the place they were in was not unfamiliar; it was the ruins of the Wave Factory base they had just visited the night before.

After the incident, special envoys from Dadu came to investigate, but almost nothing remained. Even though they had heard of the existence of the Golden Iron Pot, they couldn't find the Golden Iron Pot, which had long since sailed away.

After trying to recycle some recyclable items, there aren't many capable people left, except for a few people who are still lingering around.

Amidst the massive ruins of the base, Rabbi and Carrot roamed freely, admiring the grand masterpiece of the capital.

Incidentally, they are also recycling the remaining items from this base, and with Rabi handling the work and assisting with the carpenter, it seems they are about to make a major overhaul.

The god of machinery was operating with great passion, and Zheng Fan watched for a while before giving up.

I don't understand it, it's too profound, but it might be cool, then it's fine.

……

Shang Xia dragged her suitcase and strolled slowly down the street. She had seen the Central District before, but this time, she took a closer look at everything.

Halfway there, her phone rang.

It was Professor Liu Qingcong from the "Tree Branches" investigation team who called.

Shang Xia answered the phone: "Hello, Professor, I've arrived."

"Well... our investigation team is being disbanded. Because of what happened in the Central District last night, our temporary team, which hasn't made much progress, has finally come to an end," Liu Qingcong said.

“…I see.” Shang Xia remained silent for a moment. This situation was exactly as the team had expected.

"An old friend of mine sent me some strange information before he left. Now that I have some free time, I'll go and study it. Take care of yourself over there."

"Thank you, Professor." Originally, Shang Xia had received an order from the central government to temporarily stay away from it.

However, ever since Shang Xia calmed down and began to experience the various aspects of Dadu, the call to action has grown stronger and stronger. At this moment, it seems as if a voice in her heart is urging her to go to the center of Dadu.

After learning about this, Liu Qingcong immediately arranged for Shang Xia to return to the central government without informing the special envoy sent by the central government.

"That's where you were born, and only you know your own story. I have no way of knowing. You will eventually find the reason for your birth." Liu Qingcong's tone was gentle, yet it felt like a strong hand patting Shang Xia on the back.

"Everything I've seen, heard, encountered, and brushed past will lead me to my end," Shang Xia murmured.

"Go ahead," Liu Qingcong encouraged.

"Ah."

Shang Xia hung up the phone and continued walking forward.

(End of this chapter)