Chapter 79: Going Back
『How many is a lot? Then how many kinds are there in total?』 Zhang Wenda kept pressing for answers.
But in response to this question, 2826 shook his head. 『I don’t know. Not all thought streams are as vast as Thought Stream No. 1 or Thought Stream No. 2. It's possible that thought streams are being born and disappearing at every moment.』
『Thought streams———thought streams———』 Zhang Wenda pondered this new term. With 2826’s explanation, a corner of this bizarre world was finally unveiled before him.
Reflecting on everything he had experienced, Zhang Wenda now had a preliminary understanding of the explanations provided. It seemed that the weirdness of this world wasn’t limited to time, but also included space.
He recalled how, under the influence of Old Man Ding, he had referred to those underground-dwelling creatures as the Youth Center, and how once a person grew up, they could never see the Youth Center again.
Now it appeared the reason it couldn’t be seen was due to a change in the thought stream itself.
『Then aside from the Child World and the Adult World, what other thought streams are there? Does the Network World count?』 Zhang Wenda asked 2826.
『Yes.』
With furrowed brows, Zhang Wenda rubbed his chin. The concept of thought streams was somewhat abstract, but it made some sense when connected to his previous experiences.
Seeing that Zhang Wenda had stopped asking questions, 2826 continued talking on his own: 『Thought streams aren’t just about sensory changes. They also produce unique objects exclusive to each stream, and even unique rules particular to that stream. For example———the moon.』
Hearing this, Zhang Wenda immediately turned his head to look at what the other was holding. He suddenly recalled what that person had said before: 『It’s too hot on the sun? Then just go at night.』
This would be impossible in the normal world. But what if it was inside a very special thought stream?
What if, within a thought stream, the sun turned into the moon at night? What if it could actually be harvested?
Zhang Wenda found it hard to imagine what kind of lunatics could form a thought stream that had such a perception.
2826 gave thanks to Wang Daniu, whose treatment had just finished, then walked to the window and opened it. 『Now do you understand how arduous the Third Front Unit’s mission is?』
『With so many people, there are always those who want to exploit the gaps between thought streams for shortcuts, or drag others into their own created thought streams to forcibly assimilate them. There are too many incidents to count—you could talk about them for three days and nights without finishing.』
『The mission of the Third Front is to ensure that the boundaries between thought streams remain clear, to protect everyone so they can live peacefully within the streams suited to them.』
At this point, he reached for the Yellow Core on his hand. 『That’s also why we have the ability to jump between thought streams.』
This was something no one had ever told him before. Zhang Wenda was drawn in, listening intently. 『Go on, what else? You just said thought streams are man-made constructs? Who made them? What was the world like before?』
2826 turned around and looked seriously at Zhang Wenda. 『Classified.』
That one word nearly made Zhang Wenda choke. 『Classified again? Don’t you have anything else to say?』
『If you ask, I’ll answer. If it’s something I can say, I will.』 Even though Zhang Wenda had saved his life and helped him tremendously, 2826’s demeanor remained calm and composed.
『The rest of the questions… I’ll ask you when I get back and have things sorted out. Right now, I just have one question.』 Zhang Wenda walked up to him and raised his right hand. 『Are we friends now?』
2826 didn’t speak. He just extended his hand wrapped in gauze and gave a firm shake.
Just then, Zhang Wenda heard the rapid whir of a propeller outside the window—someone was coming.
He walked to the window and looked up, spotting a plane with a ferocious, fanged maw approaching from the sky. On the side of its body were three digits: 『507』.
At that moment, Drone-head also saw the plane and spoke: 『Let me reintroduce myself. I am Thought Stream Surveyor 2826 from the Third Front Unit Bureau 507.』
『How is that any different from what you already said?』 Upon seeing the plane, Zhang Wenda finally felt fully at ease.
Then 2826 reminded him: 『You’d better hide your transmitter. If anyone else sees it, it’ll be hard to explain.』
Hearing this, Zhang Wenda stuffed the flashlight into the enamel mug. 『Surprisingly considerate? I thought someone like you would report it.』
『My mission is infiltration. Reporting external Third Front items isn’t part of it.』 Then 2826 added again, 『You really helped us a lot this time, and you saved many people without even realizing it. Thank you.』
『Don’t flatter me. Just don’t set me up next time. That plane’s mouth is terrifying, and you didn’t even warn me.』 Zhang Wenda looked at the plane’s gaping maw as he spoke.
2826, however, seemed genuinely puzzled. 『Why would I warn you? Haven’t you been on a plane? Don’t you know planes have mouths and like to eat meat? Even if you haven’t flown, haven’t you seen one on TV?』
Zhang Wenda was speechless. He couldn’t very well say he wasn’t from around here.
As the plane descended, 2826 dragged his injured body toward the door. 『I’ll go make the handover. Once it’s done, we’ll get you out of here.』
They were finally leaving. Zhang Wenda exhaled in relief. He turned to the leg-crossing Wang Daniu and asked, 『Grandpa, I’m leaving. What about you? Really not going back? Planning to just stay in the past forever?』
Wang Daniu decisively shook his head. 『Ah, forget it. Just look at how that guy dresses. Young folks these days look so weird. If I say anything, they call me old-fashioned. I really can’t stand it. I like it here—quiet and carefree. It’s good.』
Although Zhang Wenda felt that staying all alone in the past was no different from waiting to die, since that was the old man’s choice, he didn’t intend to interfere.
When he saw Drone-head by the plane waving at him, Zhang Wenda walked toward the door.
Just as he reached it, he curiously asked Wang Daniu, 『By the way, Grandpa, how did you collapse that dam all by yourself?』
『You think I’m stupid? Dig it out by hand? I found leftover explosives from when the reservoir was built and just blasted it.』
『Haha, Grandpa, you’re awesome. I’m off. Until we meet again.』
There wasn’t much to say on the way back. Zhang Wenda was blindfolded during the transport and didn’t see a thing. Not long after returning to the present, the Yellow Core was exhausted, and he collapsed back into Thought Stream No. 1.
Low, flat houses, gray cement buildings, and the familiar Flying Saucer Water Tower—they had returned once again.
『How dare you touch me! How dare you!』 An enraged Song Jianguo gave Zhang Wenda a hard punch, leaving a greenish bruise.
『Enough already, quit it!』 Zhang Wenda shoved her away and looked at 2826 before him.
『Sorry you had to see that. Just a brat with no manners.』
『You want my help? Not today. I have to go back and write my report.』 Clearly, 2826 hadn’t forgotten Zhang Wenda’s earlier request.
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