Love, death, and false man

Chapter 3.3. Real Humans

9/11—19:19
"Please help me cancel my temporary card."

Fang Yan had already washed the blood off his face in the washroom. With his backpack slung over one shoulder, he scanned his surroundings with heightened vigilance.

According to that officer...

That was a virtual space, a server located in a high-latitude region of the Northern Hemisphere.

I've already been detected by the program set up by the Lord of Souls, and the fake man might also be looking for me, so I must keep a low profile.

The retina displayed a UI interface more complex than an airplane control panel, with too much meaningless data and code changing and jumping around.

The network administrator in front of me, processing my temporary card refund, still had text popping up above my head, reflecting my immediate thought process.

[Did he watch porn? He's getting so much nosebleed; he's definitely a virgin.]

Fang Yan raised an eyebrow, but didn't dwell on it; there were still many troublesome things to deal with.

There's a question mark icon in the upper right corner of the UI, similar to the Windows operating system, which provides troubleshooting functionality.

It seems that I have grown new limbs, like hands, which can only be activated by issuing specific commands, but only by touching this UI interface.

Fang Yan can ask questions, not just those related to the system itself.

Because he didn't have a membership at the internet cafe, he could get a refund for the temporary card. Fang Yan received nine yuan back, as he had to be careful with his living expenses.

We need to find a secluded spot where no one is around to study this properly. No, a secluded place is actually a bad thing, as it makes us an easy target.

It's best to blend into the crowd, since no one can know what you're doing.

9/11—19:41
A sports park shared by multiple communities.

Aside from retired seniors, parents with children, yoga wearers, and gym-goers, practically no one would come to this kind of awful place, yet it still seemed bustling with activity.

The cold air arrived earlier this year. Fang Yan, who was sitting on a bench, sneezed and felt a bit cold. He took out his No. 6 Middle School uniform from his bag and put it on.

Her gaze fell upon a pair of yoga pants that had just finished running and were walking past her; the woman was wearing bone conduction headphones and looked quite stylish. She stopped.

I'm so tired, I'm going to take a picture and head back.

While she was still thinking about what caption to post, she inadvertently noticed that someone had been watching her.

Why is this guy staring at me like that? Seriously? He's still looking. Students these days are so lecherous. Maybe I'm just more curvy.

She took out her phone and typed rapidly, venting to her best friend while organizing her thoughts in her mind.

[I encountered a really strange guy. He looked like a young high school student, wearing a school uniform, but he stared at me like a murderer.]

She waited for the other party's reply, and Fang Yan could also indirectly see it, reading the text transformed from her instantaneous thoughts, including through his five senses, with the yoga pants acting as a medium.

Is he handsome?

[It's quite good, but I've never seen anyone like this before; he has a scarred face.]

Haha, I'd be happy just to drag you into an alley, rape you, and then kill you.

It's not impossible; someone who's never had sex before has boundless energy.

However, Fang Yan's expression as he observed the yoga pants, with the playful curve of his lips, showed no seriousness; it was merely a joke. Nevertheless, the level of playfulness between adult women still surprised Fang Yan.

However, I have indeed been watching her for a long time, so it's best to be careful not to overstep boundaries.

Peeping did not bring Fang Yan any satisfaction. Fang Yan, who had a high school syndrome, harbored a sense of disgust that most people were idiots.

Continuing to study the Retina UI, which is comparable to an airplane dashboard, we entered the stage of troubleshooting.

Why can I see what other people are thinking?

[Private Fang Yan, the Salvation Army has generated an electronic target within your body.]

This data is unrelated to you; it was retrieved, generated, and transmitted from a secret server.

This technology is provided by the organization to help you identify imposters. Please avoid using it to gain personal profit or enhance your social status. For your safety, please maintain a secure identity.

[A higher military rank will grant access to more technical support.]

# # #
"So that's it..."

Fang Yan had a strange feeling, as if he had become an administrator of human society, but his authority was not particularly high.

He found a few things he could understand in the complex interface.

What is Soulfire?

[Refers to the work done by free will on the processes of the universe.]

[It has nothing to do with any physical characteristics or physical qualities.]

[It is a specific indicator of how the soul's heat is converted into kinetic energy.]

Your current intensity is 357 joules, with a peak of 1327 joules so far, and a stable amplitude fluctuating between 270 and 420.

# # #
Fang Yan felt like his mind was going blank. Who would understand this? Even though he had related memories in his mind before, he still couldn't comprehend it.

It's not a fixed value; it fluctuates randomly. A boxing champion's punch is only around two or three hundred joules.

How do we use it, and how do we convert it into kinetic energy?

Please wait...

[Number: 0-1 (Lord of Souls)]

The neural pulses emitted by a standard 0-1 base station cannot affect units with a Soulfire intensity exceeding 1024 joules.

Similarly, the Salvation Army's standard base stations are also unable to read the thoughts of units whose Soulfire intensity exceeds 1024 joules.

[You cannot actively convert the heat of the soul fire into kinetic energy; this is determined by your subconscious.]

[Your subconscious self-protective mechanism reaches its peak when a neural impulse arrives.]

[It only transforms into aggressive kinetic energy when your subconscious determines that you are in a critical moment and need to fight.]

The peak strength of 1327 is your current upper limit, which can be improved through relevant training.

[The Soulfire draws power from distorted spacetime, has no rest mass, is inexhaustible and infinite, and can continuously do work on the progress of the universe.]

# # #
Fang Yan felt there was something illogical about it.

[If they can't mind control me, then how did I get to the Salvation Army server just now?]

The server, located in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, is a server repeater. This summons call utilized a gravitational particle accelerator and is not a standard base station communication. The awakening of a Salvation Army member comes at a great cost.

# # #
[Gravitational particles, does that mean the officer I just spoke to was from the future?]

Your permissions are insufficient to query more information.

# # #
Fang Yan suddenly realized why the woman was talking about her informant in 2030. This answer was practically an admission that the woman was indeed from the future, and it probably wasn't some big secret, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to get it out of her.

I finally understand why I've been targeted.

There are many schizophrenic individuals online who claim to be brain-controlled, experiencing things like organized harassment, stalking, defamation, intimidation, social isolation, and sleep deprivation—it all sounds incredibly bizarre.

Most of them are probably mentally ill, but a few may be genuine, because their soul fire peaked at 1024 joules, and they were then driven into genuine mental illness by the Soul-Draining Lord's self-destructing truck, or through this kind of mental violence and discipline, their subjectivity was weakened, they returned to objectification, and were thus completely controlled to supply energy to the Soul-Draining Lord.

Did all historical events unfold according to His will? What terrifying power!

Lord of Souls...

An entity that dominates the entire universe certainly has the power to openly create humans at will.

Is the Salvation Army considered another future power? There may be more than one future power.

Think of this.

Fang Yan started grinning foolishly. If others knew what he was thinking, they would definitely think he was a 100% pure cerebral palsy mental patient.

However, this soul fire is quite useless. If it's determined by the subconscious, and you can control it, then it's not the subconscious anymore. Wouldn't you just be an ordinary person then? It's completely meaningless. Aren't free will and controllable consciousness the same thing?

The only difference between myself and ordinary people is that I can read other people's thoughts. How do I kill fake people? If I don't use it to make money, it's not very useful except for identifying fake people.

Thinking about this, Fang Yan swallowed hard. Maybe it can be used in dating. Should we use this?

Damn, what time is it? I'm still thinking about this.

Fang Yan carefully reviewed the entire experience of the day and found that there were still many doubts. It seemed that he could read other people's real-time thoughts, but he could not rule out the possibility that it was just his own imagination.

Could it be that his schizophrenia has worsened, and he has fabricated a more logically sound story that better explains his paranoia?
Because neither the Soul-Draining Lord, the Salvation Army, nor the False Man ever truly appeared; they all appeared in the form of photoelectric signals and had no physical form.

It could also be visual or auditory hallucinations.

Upon closer reflection, the so-called server at a high latitude in the Northern Hemisphere seems extremely unrealistic.

He's gone mad, fucking mad, he's really gone mad.

Fang Yan's flip phone vibrated. He opened it and found another spam text message. The Soul-Draining Lord's intimidation tactics were varied, not limited to directly confessing that he was being mind-controlled, revealing his address, or telling him what he had done recently to cause him mental confusion.

[We know you live at No. 55 Shangnan Street, East District, Binhai City. The sixth group immediately switched the alpha meson polarization lens to asymmetric diffraction mode and projected a 12.5kHz topological signal into the basolateral region of the amygdala. Φ-γ coupling oscillations were detected in the prefrontal cortex. 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing nanoliposomes were injected into the spine. Upon encountering abnormal discharge in the limbic system, a three-level neural synaptic rupture protocol was initiated.]

"Fuck you..."

Although Fang Yan had become somewhat numb, he was still angry.

No. Calm down, this is normal. If that yoga pants had discovered that she was being read by her mind, she would have been angry too.

However, Fang Yan knew that his mind could not be read at present; this was merely disciplinary information generated by the Soul-Sucking Lord's satellite.

Now that he is a member of the Salvation Army, he must pretend to have his agency weakened and lower the guard of the Soul Eater's satellite program.

First, set your phone to completely block unknown numbers and ignore them. Then, just continue attending classes as usual. If you discover any imposters, just eliminate them.

I should be able to chop someone up myself, after all, I stomped on someone's head on a fishing boat. The situation was special, so I've been carrying some weapons with me these days.

The flip phone continued to vibrate.

Ok?
Didn't I already block unknown numbers? Turns out it was sent by a female online friend.

Since flip phones are no longer compatible with the current version of QQ, Fang Yan and a female netizen with the same experience exchanged phone numbers and sometimes chatted via text message.

Sorry, I was busy with other things and didn't see the QQ message. Of course we can meet. By the way, I don't even know what you look like yet.

Upon seeing the message from the beautiful online friend, Fang Yan was immediately filled with an overwhelming desire to share and tell her about his recent experience.

During this so-called organized period of entanglement, who could understand the sense of redemption that came from encountering someone who had the same experience and had also heard of the Soul-Sucking Master? Unintentionally, Fang Yan had already made her his confidante and one of his spiritual pillars. The photos on her social media showed her as a lovely woman, a youthful and beautiful mature woman.

Endless imagination.

but……

The Salvation Army's first rule is that you cannot talk about the Salvation Army.

It's probably better to just obey. Is the savior watching me, or is he some kind of soul-devouring lord?
With his hand on the keyboard, Fang Yan typed rapidly. He had originally wanted to say that he was incredibly handsome, 1.8 meters tall, and could take down a sports student with a single punch, but thinking of the scars on his face, he suddenly felt a little insecure. He deleted what he had typed and started editing it again.

[For ordinary people, did you receive any threatening text messages today? Were you being followed?]

Fang Yan sent a message expressing his concern.

I'm okay. You need a card to enter the company floors; unauthorized personnel can't get in. But I suspect a colleague is being mind-controlled and might be monitoring me. Today I'm working overtime, and he's staying behind to work overtime too.

Fang Yan looked at the text message and couldn't help but feel worried, because the fake people were real, the henchmen of the Soul-Sucking Lord, lurking in every corner of society, hiding their true forms.

Is it convenient for me to come find you?

Fang Yan touched the pocket of his school uniform. There were two hundred and seventy-six yuan, some in change and some in coins. It was his living expenses for this week. He had just eaten something and wasn't hungry yet, but he still had enough money to buy her a cup of milk tea.

If, if he weren't schizophrenic, and all of this were real, his situation might be even more dangerous than being caught and shot dead by the police. Fang Yan had never seen a real imposter before.

If I die without ever having had sex, that would be such a failure.

Thank you so much! I'll finish work around 9 PM. Please come over around that time, and I'll send you the location.

Fang Yan couldn't contain his excitement and unconsciously clenched his fists. She had been chatting with him frequently in the past few days. Could it be that she felt the same way he did?
Anyway, there's still plenty of time. This Q&A is quite useful. Let's learn how to win over a young woman.

……

……

……

9/11—21:36
As an independent working woman, how could I let students pay for it?

For truly financially independent people, Starbucks is just like a chain store, similar to Shaxian Snacks.

Dongni chose this place simply because many coffee shops don't offer seating, and you have to stand and wait in line. Meanwhile, self-proclaimed artsy, self-operated hand-drip coffee shops are charging exorbitant prices, which is utterly foolish.

As a chain store with a certain degree of monopoly, its coffee bean supply chain is well-established, so it's unlikely that it would reveal any cutting-edge technology that would attract the attention of countless competitors' corporate spies.

"I never imagined you would be a student. Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me?"

Dongni hadn't had time to change yet and was still wearing her work attire: a white shirt, pencil skirt, black stockings, and high heels. She had even forgotten to take off her name tag. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she had a pretty face. The skin exposed at her neckline was fair and rosy, the same color as her face, and her skin was of excellent quality. She looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

On his way here, Fang Yan consulted many experts on how to identify fake people.

Units with a Soulfire intensity greater than 1024 joules cannot have their thoughts read or their senses manipulated by standard base stations, but this does not mean they are pseudo-humans. Ordinary people may also possess enough free will to interfere with the process of the universe, but such individuals with strong subjectivity will inevitably be further controlled, suppressed, and weakened by the Lord of Souls, or let off the hook and become his higher-level pawns.

High-level imposters may choose to remain silent and thus remain hidden, or they may choose to interfere with the audiovisual experience by transmitting false information through language and text automatically generated by the system and synchronized with their actual actions.

In reality, it is very difficult to distinguish them; only accurate judgment of details and sufficient experience can help.

Fang Yan was not surprised that Dongni's mind could not be read. After all, she knew that the Soul Absorber was also a victim of mind control. On the way here, she also encountered twenty or thirty people who could not be read and whose minds were displayed as garbled characters. However, compared to the total population, these people were still quite outstanding.

"No, it's just that you're so different from the online version. I thought you were the timid type."

Fang Yan took a sip of coffee. He couldn't tell the difference; they all tasted the same.

"Please, you're the one with a huge gap, okay? Online you're like an aggressive, obsessive person desperately seeking someone to confide in. I never expected you to be a student at No. 6 Middle School. Speaking of which, I went to high school there too, and I was your senior. You're my junior, but honestly, I think you're incredibly emotionally stable. There aren't many people like you."

Dongni crossed her legs, her high-heeled feet idly turning around, biting a straw, and looking at Fang Yan with great curiosity, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"This one?"

This was the second time Fang Yan had heard this address today. Dong Ni's appearance was too outstanding. He seemed calm, but there was an instinctive nervousness that came from being inexperienced in the ways of the world.

Dongni looked around suspiciously, whether out of fear of being overheard or because she thought someone was watching her.

"It's exciting." Dongni raised her eyebrows, then realized that Fang Yan was just a high school student, and cupped her slightly flushed face, "Speaking of which, isn't this illegal?"

However, Fang Yan only gave an awkward laugh twice. It was not what he had expected. He thought he had found someone with similar experiences who could help each other resist risks, but it seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.

Suddenly, Dongni looked at the doorway, her expression turning serious.

“Let’s get out of here quickly. That strange colleague has followed us. Come on, let’s go to the underground parking lot. I’ll drive you somewhere else.”

Dongni suddenly seemed to have a seizure, grabbing Fang Yan and pulling him away.

The male colleague was left looking bewildered, wanting to greet Dongni.

The two walked quickly to the nearby mall elevator and pressed the B3 button.

Fang Yan discovered that Dong Ni's physical condition was exceptionally good. He himself was fine, but she walked such a long distance quickly in high heels without getting tired at all.

Upon entering the underground parking lot, the surroundings were eerily quiet. The floor was incredibly empty, with cars scattered haphazardly, and pillars everywhere that obscured the view. The only light source was the pale white fluorescent tubes, and even the slightest movement echoed.

Fang Yan had been keeping a cold face ever since his somewhat harassing teasing.

"Did I say something wrong, sister? I'm sorry... I just felt you were too young and couldn't help myself. Don't be angry."

Dongni clasped her hands together in apology.

Before Fang Yan arrived, he was thinking about how to win over the young mature woman, but for some reason he suddenly calmed down.

Perhaps this woman's thoughts were just a figment of her imagination before her mental breakdown. This is something that cannot be disproven, and there is no way to prove that her delusions are not delusions.

Fang Yan realized that he might be a genuine mental patient, while she was perfectly normal, only suffering from mild schizophrenia and suspected of being brain-controlled, and was temporarily being targeted by the Soul-Sucking Lord. She would recover soon, while he was the one who was terminally ill. Perhaps it would be better for him not to join the Salvation Army?
Looking back now, this so-called Salvation Army was actually a bit like a pyramid scheme, not very well organized. The Soul-Sucking Lord, on the other hand, was a regular army—terrifying, dark, controlling everything, and swift and decisive.

"No, it's just that you're so kind. I was supposed to pay, but you ended up paying. It feels a bit unreal, like I'm dreaming."

Fang Yan said he didn't care.

"Haha, don't listen to those gender antagonisms online. It's just a magical battle between shut-ins and fujoshi who stay at home all day. Isn't it common sense that working people pay for their jobs?"

Dongni led him deeper into the parking lot to where she had parked her car.

The sound of their footsteps was somewhat muffled in the large, enclosed space.

"It's not because of those things... it's just that you surprised me."

"Doesn't seem like a mental illness?"

“That’s not what I meant. You’re very strong. I don’t necessarily want to see you looking disheveled. I don’t know how to say it, but that’s not what I meant.”

"I know, I was just kidding. Go on, what was the surprise?"

"I just feel like I'm in a dream, as if I've been completely detached from reality. If it's all just my imagination, and there's no mind control organization manipulating me, then that would be terrible."

"How is that possible? Information cannot be generated out of thin air. If all information about things were stored in your brain, wouldn't you be the very consciousness of the universe, like a god? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"If that's the case, then the cosmic consciousness is also in a sorry state; it's far too lonely."

"Perhaps that's why different individuals have emerged, just like you and me right now. At least our feelings right now are real."

Dongni stopped in her tracks, standing still. Despite her sophisticated urban demeanor, she lowered her head, looking somewhat shy.

Fang Yan was stunned by Dong Ni's words, feeling deeply moved.

Completely forgetting that on the way here, I went through all the threatening text messages again, and none of them mentioned the words "Lord of Souls".

Like other beings, the Lord of Souls usually does not want to show himself and forbids people from talking about him.

He learned these four words from Dongni, but his mind was too confused during this period, so he got them mixed up.

Lord of Souls...

These four words are the key to unlocking the gates of the infernal hell.

The underground parking lot was eerie and deserted.

Dongni closed her eyes, giving Fang Yan a signal.

Fang Yan didn't care about anything else. At this moment, he was so infatuated with this woman that he was going crazy, and he was ready to give her his first kiss without hesitation.

The Soul Drainer extracts energy by controlling the entirety of history.

fake people...

They can also obtain energy by devouring, and incidentally, help the Soul-Sucking Lord eliminate all disobedient rebels.

Dongni is the one who sent threatening text messages to Fang Yan, and also a fake person monitoring Fang Yan.

Her head suddenly began to deform, splitting into four petals that bloomed like a flower, gushing blood and flesh. The four petals were as flexible as tongues, inlaid with dense, flexible soft teeth.

It swept towards Fang Yan's head.

(End of this chapter)