The Last 299 Days of Humanity

He quickly discovered that while the interface layer did indeed have "native existences," most were uninterested in the real-world dimension. They had their own way of existing and their own focus. Yu Yunshan's so-called "external enemies" were largely the result of his own making enemies.

The parallel humans of Tianqing City leave clear traces here. They form a vast network of consciousness, but the central node of that network is empty. Or rather, it is remotely controlled. Even while trapped, Yu Yunshan maintains control over Tianqing City.

The distortion of the reality dimension is indeed affecting the interface layer. Those "visual glitches" and "realistic scars" manifest here as unstable fluctuations in the dimension. And the source of these fluctuations, after tracing them, was found by Yu Qing to be the region where Tianqing City is located.

Yu Qing discovered a secret area within the interface layer: a hidden, encrypted database. It didn't store knowledge or information, but rather plans—Yu Yunshan's detailed, long-term, and ambitious plans.

Yu Qing cracked the encryption—thanks to his special privileges as a descendant of Yu Yunshan. He saw the entire plan:

To control reality, to reconstruct the laws of physics, and to establish an eternal empire. Not just on Earth, but throughout the entire observable universe.

Using the interface layer as the control center, the system covers reality through the "Mirage" system, rewrites the rules through the "Deer Terrace" system, uses parallel humans as executors, and ensures the continuation of control through a bloodline network.
The plan's details are chilling. The timeline spans millennia, the steps are precise down to the specific actions for each year, contingency plans are layered upon each other, and the risk assessments are comprehensive and detailed. This is a plan devised by a madman, but this madman possesses genius-level wisdom and boundless patience.

What shocked Yu Qing even more was a section of the plan: the part about himself.

"Experimental subject: Yu Qing (sixth generation). Goal: To cultivate him into a bridge between the interface layer and the reality dimension. Method: Phased guidance, cognitive shaping, crisis induction, and ultimately transformation through consciousness uploading."

Success criteria: The user autonomously chooses to enter the interface layer and establishes a stable presence. Subsequent utilization plan:

Three options are listed below. Option A: Guide them to join the control network and become a deputy commander. Option B: If they resist, use a pre-set backdoor program to forcibly control them. Option C: If they cannot be controlled, induce them to have a conflict with the enemy and eliminate them through a proxy.

Yu Qing felt a chilling anger. His life, his choices, his "free will"—how much of it was true freedom? How much was a pre-programmed plot?

But anger was quickly replaced by calm. Anger was useless, and so was self-pity. What mattered was now, and what mattered was the next step.

Yu Qing continued reading. He discovered weaknesses in the plan, and some aspects that Yu Yunshan might not have fully considered. Most importantly, he discovered a fact: Yu Yunshan's control was not absolute.

It requires continuous maintenance and regular "calibration," otherwise vulnerabilities will appear in the control network, and those being controlled will show signs of "awakening."

Yu Yunshan's current predicament presents the perfect opportunity for calibration.

Yu Qing made a decision.

He will neither join Yu Yunshan nor directly oppose him. He wants to do something more subtle and far-reaching: create vulnerabilities in the control network to help those who are being controlled "awaken."

But this takes time, skill, and the ability to remain undetected.

Yu Qing began to act. He first located the peripheral nodes of the Tianqing City consciousness network—those relatively independent and weakly controlled parts.

He carefully planted some "seeds of doubt," fragments of information that could spark independent thinking. Instead of directly telling them they were being controlled, he let them begin to doubt and ask questions on their own.

This process was extremely dangerous. Although Yu Yunshan was trapped, his monitoring of the control network remained intact. Yu Qing had to proceed with extreme caution, as if walking through a minefield.

Several days have passed—the concept of time at the interface layer is vague, but roughly equivalent to several days in the real world. Yu Qing has successfully influenced more than a dozen edge nodes. He can sense the changes in those nodes: they have begun to exhibit slight autonomous fluctuations and have started to hesitate in response to control commands.

Just then, Yu Qing felt a powerful consciousness scan sweep across the area where he was located.

Yu Yunshan discovered him.

Instead of a direct discovery, we noticed unusual fluctuations in the network and began tracing the source.

Yu Qing immediately ceased all activity and entered a state of deep concealment. He used the techniques he had learned from Professor Lu to disguise his presence as background noise within the interface layer.

The scan lasted a long time but ultimately no specific target was found, but the monitoring efforts were intensified.

Yu Qing knew he needed to change his strategy. Acting directly online was too dangerous. He needed to approach it from a different angle.

He remembered another thing in the box Professor Lu had given him: the technical data that could dismantle parallel humans.

Yu Qing had no intention of using this technology—at least not now. But he could study it, understand its principles, and then improve it. Not for destruction, but for "liberation."

He found a relatively hidden area at the interface layer and began studying the data. The principle was complex, but the core was quantum resonance at a specific frequency. This resonance would interfere with the stability of the parallel human consciousness carrier, causing it to disintegrate.

But what if we adjust the frequency and reduce the intensity? Wouldn't it not lead to disintegration, but rather a loosening? Would it weaken the control connection, making it easier for the controlled person to break free?

Yu Qing began a new research project. He collected materials at the interface layer and conducted simulation experiments. The process was both difficult and lonely, but he persevered.

After an unknown amount of time, Yu Qing made a breakthrough.

He developed a modified frequency pattern that could temporarily weaken the control connection without harming parallel humans. The effect was limited and short-lived, but enough to give the controlled a moment of "freedom," thus stimulating their desire to break free.

He called this the "awakening pulse".

The problem now is: how to release this pulse on a large scale, covering the entire Tianqingcheng network, without being immediately detected and stopped by Yu Yunshan?
The answer was found in an unexpected place.

While exploring the interface layer, Yu Qing discovered a strange area. It looked like a "reflection" of the real dimension, with blurry outlines of cities, mountains, and oceans. But those outlines were constantly changing, like multiple versions of reality superimposed on each other.

That's the projection of the "Mirage" system onto the interface layer.

Yu Qing suddenly understood. The "Mirage" was not only a reality overlay system, but also an important component of Yu Yunshan's control network. Through the "Mirage," he could simultaneously monitor and influence both the reality dimension and the interface layer.

But this also means that the "mirage" system is a weakness. If it can be affected, then both dimensions can be affected simultaneously.

Yu Qing began to study the projection structure of the "mirage" on the interface layer. He discovered its control nodes, its data flow, and its energy supply path.

More importantly, he discovered an opportunity: the "Mirage" system was undergoing a routine maintenance update. During this process, the system's defenses would be temporarily lowered to allow for internal adjustments.

The update will happen soon—in terms of UI time, it will roughly be equivalent to a few hours in the real world.

Yu Qing devised a plan. During the system update, he would inject the "Awakening Pulse" program into the control nodes. The program would disguise itself as part of the system update and spread throughout the network as the update progressed. When the update was complete, the program would activate, and the pulse would be released.

This will be a one-time event, but its impact will extend to the entire Tianqing City network. Thousands of parallel humans will simultaneously experience the moment when control is loosened.

Yu Qing could not fully predict what would happen next. There might be a large-scale awakening, there might be chaos, there might be resistance, or Yu Yunshan might have countermeasures to quickly suppress it.

But in any case, this will be an opportunity to change the situation.

Yu Qing waited. He hid in an area near the "Mirage" projection node, preparing to act.

Time passed. The environment of the interface layer was constantly changing, but he remained focused.

Finally, he sensed the change in the system. The "Mirage" projection began to flicker, the energy flow was reconfigured, and the protective layer was temporarily deactivated.

It's now.

Yu Qing acted swiftly. He passed through the weakened defenses and entered the system's interior. It was filled with flowing data and energy, like the interior of a gigantic creature. He moved towards the core control node following a pre-calculated path.

Along the way, he witnessed something shocking: not just the surveillance data from the Tianqing City network, but the surveillance of the entire real-world dimension. Real-time footage of countless cities, biometric data of countless individuals, and even fragments of some people's thoughts.
Yu Yunshan's surveillance network was much larger and more extensive than he had imagined.

This strengthened Yu Qing's resolve. This control had to be broken.

He reached the core node. It was a glowing geometric structure that constantly absorbed and distributed data. Yu Qing began injecting his program—a carefully crafted "awakening pulse" generator disguised as system optimization code.

The injection process went smoothly. The program was accepted by the system and began to spread along with the update process. But just as Yu Qing was about to leave, he felt a powerful consciousness descend upon him.

It's not from the outside, but from inside the system.

The geometry of the core node began to deform and recombine, eventually forming a familiar shape.

Yu Yunshan.

This is not the Yu Yunshan trapped in the encirclement. This is a projection, a pre-set emergency procedure in the system.

"Yu Qing," the projection spoke, its voice resounding directly in Yu Qing's consciousness, "you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you."

Yu Qing remained vigilant and prepared to evacuate at any time.

“Your actions are very interesting,” said Yu Yunshan’s projection, his tone calm, almost praising. “Independent research, autonomous action, an attempt to break free from control. This is exactly what I wanted to see.”

"Hope to see?" Yu Qing asked skeptically.

“Yes. You think I would really be trapped by those beings? That was a test I designed, Yu Qing. A test for you.”

Yu Qing felt a jolt in his consciousness. A test? Was all of this a test?
“I need a real successor, not a puppet.”

Yu Yunshan's projection drew closer. "I need someone creative, decisive, capable of independent thinking and crisis management. That's why I designed all of this: Professor Lu's 'truth,' the 'dilemma' of the interface layer, and the 'freedom' to choose for you."

"Are they all fake?" Yu Qing asked, his voice laced with suppressed anger.

"No, it's all true. It was just... guided." Yu Yunshan admitted, "Professor Lu did oppose me, the Immortal Flower does have those effects, and the existence of the interface layer does pose a threat. I just adjusted the way it was presented and the timing."

"Why? Why does it have to be so complicated?"

"Simple control produces simple followers. Complex challenges produce complex leaders."

Yu Yunshan said, “I need someone who can continue this plan after me. A leader who can handle the uncertainties of the future. You passed the test, Yu Qing. You have proven your potential.”

Yu Qing fell silent. If this were true, then what were all his "autonomous choices"? What were all his "independent thinking"?
“You now have two choices,” Yu Yunshan continued. “First, join me. Not as a subordinate, but as a partner. Together we will refine the plan and establish a new order.”

Second, refuse me. But if you refuse, I will have to activate a pre-set control program. I don't want to do that, but I can't let the plan be threatened.

Yu Qing pondered. It was all too fast. The truth was layered upon layered, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

But he remembered Professor Lu's words: to find the underlying data flow and the original form of information.

Yu Qing used his new abilities to observe Yu Yunshan's projection in depth. He didn't look at the surface, but at the essential information that constituted it.

He saw it. At the core of the projection, there was a subtle anomaly: a piece of code that did not belong to Yu Yunshan, an external, forced control protocol.

Was Yu Yunshan himself also controlled? By whom?
Yu Qing continued to delve deeper. He saw the truth: Yu Yunshan was indeed once that ambitious controller, but during his long-term access to the interface layer, he was influenced by an older and more powerful being.

That being did not directly control him, but subtly changed his mindset, making him believe that those crazy plans were his own ideas.

Yu Yunshan believed he was pursuing an eternal empire, but in reality, he was paving the way for that being. That being didn't want to control reality, but to devour it. To transform the dimension of reality into a part of the interface layer, into its sustenance.

The "Mirage" system and the "Deer Terrace" system are the tools used to achieve this transformation.

Even Yu Yunshan himself was unaware of this truth. He was kept in the dark, believing himself to be the master, when in reality he was merely a puppet.

Yu Qing felt a deep sorrow. That former genius, that complex and contradictory individual, had ultimately met such an end.

But at the same time, this also means opportunity. If Yu Yunshan himself is being controlled, then breaking free from control could potentially awaken him—or at least weaken the power behind the scenes.

Yu Qing made a decision.

“I choose the third path,” he said to Yu Yunshan’s projection. “It’s not about joining you, nor about being controlled by you. It’s about saving you.”

Yu Yunshan's projection paused for a moment, then laughed. "Save me? Save me from what?"

“From slavery you yourself are unaware of,” Yu Qing said.

He activated the program that had just been injected into the system—but not the "awakening pulse," but another program he had prepared: a Trojan horse targeting that kind of foreign control protocol.

The program begins running. It traces the data path of the control protocol backwards to find the source.

Yu Yunshan's projection began to flicker and distort. "What...what are you doing?"

“Find the truth,” Yu Qing said. “Find the truth about the being that controls you.”

The pursuit reached its end. Deep within the interface layer, in an indescribable region, Yu Qing "saw" that existence. It wasn't a tangible entity, but an abstract concept, a mode of existence, a kind of hunger.

That entity sensed the tracking and reacted.

An indescribable force surged from the depths of the interface layer, impacting in the opposite direction along the data path.

Yu Qing immediately severed the connection, but it was too late. The force struck him, hitting the core of his consciousness.

Excruciating pain. Indescribable pain. The structure of consciousness began to collapse, and existence itself began to disintegrate.

Yu Qing used all the techniques he had learned to stabilize himself, but with limited effect. That power was too strong, too ancient, too transcendent.

Just then, another force joined in. A force from the dimension of reality.

Professor Lu. Through some means, he injected energy from the dimension of reality into the interface layer—an energy full of vitality and stability. It was the essence of the banished fairy flower, a blessing of life itself.

The two forces converged, clashed, and ultimately merged in Yu Qing's consciousness.

The pain vanished. In its place came an unprecedented clarity.

Yu Qing saw it. He truly saw it.

He saw the true relationship between the reality dimension and the interface layer: it is not hierarchical, not inner and outer layers, but two complementary sides, like two sides of a coin, like breathing in and out.

He saw all the connections in existence: humans, parallel humans, interface-layer existences, even that hungry, ancient being—all were part of a larger whole.

He saw his path: not control, not confrontation, but connection. To become a bridge, a translator, a coordinator between two dimensions.

The power stabilized. Yu Qing's existence did not disintegrate, but evolved to a new level. He was still a parallel human, but no longer confined to any definition.

Yu Yunshan's projection had disappeared. The system returned to normal, the "Mirage" update was complete, and Yu Qing's program was successfully injected—albeit not in the way he originally envisioned.

But the effects were evident. Throughout the entire Tianqing City network, and within the entire "Mirage" coverage area, control began to loosen. Those being controlled began to awaken, to doubt, and to resist.

Yu Qing stood within the interface layer, sensing the changes in both dimensions. He knew this was just the beginning. (End of Chapter)