Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 1 Dark Shadow
Li Yelai found himself in a strange space, surrounded by thick fog, through which he could see distorted and dim light spots from the outside world.

The surrounding air grew increasingly thick, trapping him firmly in place, unable to move.

"Here we go again," Li Yelai thought sadly.

I entered this dream once again.

Every now and then over the years, he would enter this strange dream.

In the distance, a twisted, dark figure was steadily approaching him.

as always.

Unlike last time, the dark figure was getting closer and closer.

How many years has it been? He still hasn't given up.

Li Yelai could even vaguely see the twisted form of the dark figure through the thick fog, with countless tentacles spreading and writhing from behind it, and blurry faces or bizarre limbs appearing and sinking on its body. In the deeper light and shadow, four thick chains stretched out, dragging the dark figure tightly and restricting its progress.

As the shadowy figure drew closer, the immense suffocating feeling, as if he were sinking to the bottom of the sea, threatened to kill him, until everything before him was completely dark and gloomy.

The air was filled with a cacophony of sounds, like chants and screams, like mournful whispers.

The language was obscure and profound, and the voice was neither male nor female, yet Li Yelai understood its meaning.

'Where are you?'

In an apartment in the old town of Border City No. 3, a handsome young man suddenly woke up from his sleep.

The dream he just had put a great strain on his body.

Li Yelai's body trembled and spasmed. He struggled to sit up, suppressing the nausea, and quickly grabbed the items on the bedside table.

Among them were talismans, Buddha statues, crosses, voodoo dolls, and even some paper money.

"Lin Bing Dou Zhe Jie Zhen Lie Qian Xing"

"Amitabha"

Hallelujah

"Hurry, hurry, as the law commands!"

He was breathing heavily, muttering prayers.

Perhaps it really worked, or perhaps it was just psychological comfort, but Li Yelai's emotions eased slightly. His violently beating heart gradually calmed down.

At that moment, the bedroom door was suddenly pushed open, and Li Yelai was startled and his body trembled.

But there stood a young girl in pink pajamas, her hair tousled but undeniably beautiful.

That was his younger sister, Li Yunyan.

"Did you have that dream again?" Li Yunyan asked, yawning.

"Couldn't you at least knock? You have no sense of boundaries at all!" Li Yelai immediately withdrew his terrified expression and nodded reluctantly in response.

This strange dream has haunted Li Yelai for many years.

At first, I could only see shadowy figures moving in the distance in my dreams.

As time went on, the dark figure drew closer and closer to Li Yelai.

He was unable to move and could only watch the dark figure approach step by step.

However, the doctor at the clinic couldn't figure out what was wrong with him and could only prescribe some sleep aids for Li Ye.

"Are these mystical items used in the face of calamity really effective?" Li Yunyan pointed to the talismans and Buddha statues in Li Yelai's hand and asked, "Before these immortals and gods save you, do they have to fight? And what are these paper money things?"

“I suspect that dark-skinned fellow might be the legendary Black Impermanence. Maybe we can bribe him with paper money,” Li Yelai said with a serious expression.

He wasn't sure if these things were useful.

These are all items that Li Yelai found at the antique shop where he worked.

However, this industry is very complex. A CD filled with learning materials from the pre-disaster era seventy years ago can actually sell for three thousand Giant City Coins.

Li Yelai expressed his incomprehension. Perhaps, this is the power of knowledge?
“You must believe in the wisdom of the ancients,” Li Yunyan said. “The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.”

"I understand. This means that Confucius, not wanting to speak, used his superhuman strength to knock someone unconscious." Li Yelai pondered seriously. "You mean you want me to learn from Confucius and beat up that dark figure? Actually, I had that thought too."

Hearing Li Ye's understanding.

Li Yunyan's eyes widened, and a question mark seemed to appear above her head.

Taking the opportunity, Li Yelai asked, "Little sister, have you noticed anything different in my bedroom?"

Li Yunyan glanced around the bedroom, somewhat confused: "Has anything changed? What furniture did you buy this time?"

Li Ye glanced at the ceiling. The distorted black image was a remnant of the night, not dispelled by the sunlight filtering through the high walls. Instead, it clung to the ceiling, its tendrils dangling and writhing wildly on the walls. Little Sister, however, seemed completely oblivious.

He knew that his condition was getting worse.

If it's a mental illness, then you've already started experiencing hallucinations.

If not, then it means that the monster really did chase you from the dream into reality!

He could no longer stay at home, no matter what.

So, Li Yelai looked at the writhing and gradually disappearing shadow on the ceiling and said calmly, "No."

He did not tell his sister about the strange scene he had seen.

After stuffing the Buddhist prayer beads and cross into his backpack, he slung the backpack over his shoulder and left the apartment.

He worried that staying at home might put his sister in danger.

No one knows what will happen when the shadowy figure actually finds Li Ye.

He needed to get to the nearest security headquarters as quickly as possible.

That was the safest place he could think of.

If the shadowy figure does appear, let it experience the power of modern technology.

However, Li Yelai also knew that the journey would not be peaceful.

Because whenever I have this strange dream, my luck will be very bad for a period of time.

This is also the main reason why he believes the shadowy figure is real. How could there be a mentally ill person who brings such bad luck?
Now that he's left the apartment, he has to be careful of the bad luck that might appear on the streets at any time.

However, just as he stepped out of the apartment, he heard a shout.

"Night."

Li Yelai turned around and saw a middle-aged man with graying temples wearing a suit waving at him from a distance.

That's Dr. Wang from the clinic Li Yelai frequents. They're practically old acquaintances.

"I was just about to come upstairs to find you," Dr. Wang said with a kind smile as he approached.

Li Yelai felt inexplicably strange and uncomfortable.

But she still responded, "Dr. Wang, I had that strange dream again."

"Perfect timing, that's exactly what I was looking for you about," Dr. Wang said with a kind smile. "Shall we talk upstairs?"

Li Yelai felt increasingly uncomfortable, and vaguely felt that he didn't want, or rather, dared not let Dr. Wang into his home. So he said, "Let's talk at the hospital."

Dr. Wang paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll drive."

"Drive?" Li Yelai forced a smile and nodded.

The two then got into a black car and drove out of the apartment.

The two remained silent on the way.

Only the radio broadcasting from inside the car echoed through the air.

A heinous crime occurred yesterday in the old town of Border City No. 3, and the perpetrator is still at large. Anyone with information is urged to call [phone number].

Listening to the radio broadcast, Li Yelai, sitting in the back seat, clutched his backpack tightly and silently watched Dr. Wang in the driver's seat. His hand, however, silently dialed the number he had just heard.

As the vehicle suddenly drove into a private underground parking garage, Li Yelai felt an even stronger sense of unease.

Then, Li Yelai, his face pale, asked, "Is Dr. Wang still alive?"

The middle-aged man in the driver's seat paused, but without turning around, he said calmly, "You actually noticed? Your voice, appearance, and build haven't changed at all. How did you figure it out?"

He was somewhat surprised, but not much; more of a mockery and malice than anything else.

Yes, that sense of incongruity and unease comes from this 'Dr. Wang' himself; he is not Dr. Wang at all!
Was someone impersonating Dr. Wang to get close to him and his sister? And how could they imitate him so convincingly?
After realizing this, Li Yelai dared not let him stay near the apartment any longer.

This was also the reason why Li Yelai got into the car with him; he couldn't let his sister, who was still in the apartment, be in danger.

The moment the middle-aged man confessed, a tremendous fear spread through Li Yelai's body, making him feel weak.

He seems to have really gotten involved in some terrible event.

"Why did you come looking for me?" Li Yelai asked, clutching his backpack tightly, his voice trembling.

“I’m being relentlessly pursued and need a new appearance and identity, and your appearance is quite good.” The middle-aged man turned to look at Li Yelai, revealing a sinister smile, and said, “However, since you know I’m not Dr. Wang, how dare you get in my car?”

Physical appearance? Identity? Li Yelai's body trembled even more; how bizarre was this?
Is it about peeling off someone else's skin to impersonate them? Do monsters really exist in this world?!

But fear drove him to quickly reach out and unbuckle 'Dr. Wang's' seatbelt, gritting his teeth as he said, "No, it should be, how dare you let me get in the car?"

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment. The next instant, he realized that the brakes had failed. He subconsciously turned the steering wheel, but instead pulled the entire steering wheel off.

Under the shocked and horrified gaze of the middle-aged man, the vehicle instantly went out of control and crashed into the garage wall.

Yes, this is Li Yelai's 'bad luck'! It's the negative effect of his strange dream!

Specific effects
Anyway, last time, he insisted on going to work after having a nightmare.

As a result, the bus would suddenly stall before the last stop, and no matter what the driver did, it would not start.

I reluctantly paid to take a taxi, but it broke down before I even got past the starting fare.

I got on the bicycle, and the tire just burst.

Walking to work, as he entered the alley, a potted plant, about half his height, suddenly fell on his head from the balcony of a nearby house.

I narrowly avoided the potted plant, but ended up stepping on a loose manhole cover.

Even after finally reaching the street, you might encounter billboards blown down by the wind or dump trucks sliding off the road.

It seems like the whole world is against him!
If Li Yelai weren't somewhat used to bad luck, he wouldn't be so vigilant after each strange dream.

Be wary of any potential dangers, or you'll have been played to death long ago.

From a certain perspective, Li Yelai can be considered a vehicle killer!
Therefore, Dr. Wang, who knew the situation quite well, didn't dare let Li Yelai get in the car.

This is also the main reason why Li Yelai knew that the person in front of him was not Dr. Wang.

After I told you I had nightmares, you still dared to let me get in the car? Do you even want the car anymore?

The moment the vehicle crashed into the wall, the front of the car deformed and twisted instantly, and the airbags deployed violently, trapping 'Dr. Wang' inside.

Li Yelai, who had grabbed the handle and fastened his seatbelt in advance, quickly regained consciousness.

He immediately opened the back door and dragged his numb body out of the smoke-filled car.

If one's bad luck is so terrible, then those who travel with one will also be in danger.

This was also Li Yelai's method of dealing with this 'Dr. Wang'.

No matter what kind of monster you are, eat my Lucky E first!

However, before Li Ye could get away from the car, the garage door in the distance slowly closed.

But from the twisted and deformed car behind them came 'Dr. Wang's' malicious laughter.

With a crisp 'snap', the deformed car door was neatly sliced ​​open.

A figure stepped out—it was 'Dr. Wang'!
His face seemed to have been completely torn off, revealing crimson flesh and eyeballs. It was both nauseating and terrifying.

He looked at Li Yelai, whose face was deathly pale, and gave him a horrifying smile: "Fortunately, your face isn't injured."

Li Yelai's face was filled with terror, a fear that came from facing the monster.

This prompted him to react, and he took out one item after another from his backpack.

These are the talismans, Buddha statues, crosses, and so on that came before.

"Lin Bing Dou Zhe Jie Zhen Lie Qian Xing"

"Amitabha"

Hallelujah

"Hurry, hurry, as the law commands!"

He held the objects in his hands and prayed hastily, hoping they would protect him and drive away the monster before him.

This was originally a tool he used to deal with the 'shadow,' but now he's using it to deal with the monster in front of him.

However, 'Dr. Wang' was completely unaffected, approaching him step by step, his eyes full of mockery.

Although the recent accident had surprised 'Dr. Wang,' he was already beyond the reach of ordinary people; a mere car crash wouldn't harm him much. Moreover, upon entering this garage, he was already in an invincible position. This was the hunting ground he had prepared.

He will carefully peel off Li Yelai's skin here and take over his life from then on.

As for prayer? That only made 'Dr. Wang' laugh. How could such an ethereal faith possibly contend with the divine?
"Don't be afraid. Dr. Wang died in this accident, but I will live on as you and take good care of your sister. Speaking of which, your sister is quite beautiful." He revealed a malicious smile. Even his bloodied and mangled face conveyed the depravity and vulgarity within it.

Upon hearing the last sentence, Li Yelai's terrified face froze.

In fact, he is not a brave person in many situations, and he never chooses dangerous jobs.

He still had attachments, and he still had reasons not to die.

Now, this skinning monster not only wants to kill him, but also wants to harm his sister?
Absolutely not!

Then that terrified face transformed into a tyrannical and ruthless expression!

Li Yelai was furious after discovering that these items were completely useless.

In a fit of rage, he threw down all his belongings and pulled an axe from his backpack.

"You're really asking for trouble!"

(End of this chapter)