In the mountainous area on the outskirts of Beijing, there are many two-story simple houses with front yards next to the winding highway. Most of them have been converted into restaurants and B&Bs. But halfway up the mountain, there is a courtyard with no signboard and a large double-open iron door with mottled red paint.
Underneath the two-story building, the privately excavated basement is dimly lit, with piles of books piled everywhere. The three walls are covered with photos. The subjects include people, buildings, reproduced documents, computer screenshots, etc., each photo There are detailed annotations next to them, and the connections between them are represented by arrows.
There is a desk facing the stairs. There are three monitors on the desk. The leftmost monitor is connected to the camera at the door. There are two men on the screen at this moment. One of them is strong and tall and is smashing the door. The other one is actually Raise your face and stare straight at the camera.
Li Liang sat at his desk, crossed his hands, rested his elbows on the table, and looked at the man on the screen from afar.
After a moment, he raised the corner of his mouth, picked up his mobile phone and made a call. After getting through, he said slowly: "They are here, notify the hospital to prepare."
After hanging up the phone, he stood up and climbed out of the basement along the ladder, closed the cover, moved the green plants next to him to hold them down, then walked out of the kitchen slowly, walked through the living room and pushed the door open.
Boom boom boom.
The banging on the door became louder and louder, and it was obvious that the visiting guests were losing their patience.
"Coming~"
Li Liang opened the courtyard door and said angrily: "Why is it you again?"
"I've got something for you," the strong man who knocked on the door said and was about to enter the hospital.
"Wait a minute," Li Liang blocked the door, "your name is Yan Hao, right? Last time you came here, I made it very clear that what happened to "Tian Ling" was your Xi'an Company's own problem. I didn't sue you, which is enough to give you face. Now the hospital says I’m not mentally ill, I just want to return to my normal life, don’t bother me, I can’t answer your questions, and I don’t want to answer them.”
Yan Hao's expression turned cold and he said solemnly: "Don't be so fucking shameless..."
At this time, the man standing behind patted Yan Hao on the shoulder, smiled at Li Liang and said: "Tian Di, I am Li Liang, sorry to disturb you, we just want to chat with you."
Looking at the middle-aged man in front of him who called himself "Li Liang", Li Liang had only one thought in his mind.
It's finally over.
The moment he destroyed the Mayfly rebels and was about to kill Cain, he fell into a fantasy. As of today, he has spent five months in this world.
At first, he firmly believed that this was a scam by the Time Observer, who gave him a false identity and told him a ridiculous "story" through the "doctor". Someone claiming to be from Xi'an Company showed him the development tools of "Tianling" , and even the "parents" performed a bitter drama.
These fictional characters tried their best to make him believe that everything he experienced was just the plot of a game called "Tian Ling" and that he was just the insane player "Tian Di".
Ridiculous.
After that, he was admitted to the hospital and locked up with dozens of "players". He found that everyone thought he was "Li Liang", but the experiences they told were different. Everyone thought that other "Li Liang" were Fictional characters in fantasy, and he is no exception.
As more and more "Li Liangs" were admitted to the hospital, due to their extremely different personalities, the "Li Liangs" gradually divided into two groups. One group, led by him, wanted to destroy the order of the illusion through violent means and test the reaction of the enemies behind the scenes. , the other faction prefers secret investigation.
The two camps privately argued endlessly until the most violent "Li Liangs" escaped from the hospital and caused an explosion, leading to the arrest of Li Shuang. The remaining "Li Liangs" realized that only cooperation could restore the situation.
Eventually, he became the leader of this group of "Li Liang", requiring everyone to use their "identities" as much as possible to find flaws in the illusion, and at the same time form a team to carry out secret operations.
After a series of complex investigations and repeated discussions, they came to the conclusion that this world is logically self-consistent and has no flaws. Everything is real and credible, and it is not controlled by any force.
To be precise, this is a "test" that operates on its own. The person who created it has incredible power to simulate different life choices based on the real experience of "Li Liang", thus producing various "versions" of "Li Liang". Li Liang", so each "Li Liang" has different experiences and completely different personalities.
Although everyone thinks that they are the "original" and others are "copies," this does not prevent them from reaching an agreement that if they want to escape from this world, they must reconnect to "Tianling".
However, after Li Shuang was arrested, all BIC equipment was destroyed, and the only equipment that could access "Tianling" was Xi'an Company's test machine. However, after the first trial, they "players" became key "evidence" and the supervision Increasingly strict, and with the disbandment of all members of the Xi'an Company's technical department, the hope of accessing "Tianling" has become increasingly slim.
When he was pessimistic, he stood up and asserted that before the final review, the NPC named "Li Liang" would definitely be connected to "Tianling", and Xi'an Company's test machine would be restarted. That was their last chance.
For this reason, he pretended to be awake and waited for "Li Liang" to arrive.
The first meeting made him sure that things were developing in the expected direction. Now, two days before the final trial, "Li Liang" came to the door again, with a completely different demeanor.
This day has finally come.
————————
"Tian Di, I'm Li Liang, sorry to bother you, we just want to chat with you."
After saying this, Li Liang found that Tian Di opposite him seemed to be distracted and didn't know what he was thinking, so he spoke again, "Tian Di, I am..."
Tian Di came back to his senses and snorted: "I know, Boss Xi'an, weren't you here last time, please take care of your subordinates."
"Feel sorry……"
"Okay, if you want to ask anything, just ask it here."
"I want to know, why do you think this world is real?"
Hearing this question, Tian Di was stunned for a moment, took a step back and looked up and down, and slowly showed a playful smile: "Are you also connected to the game?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because this world is inherently real. It takes it for granted and does not need proof. If you are a normal person, you should ask me how to judge that the world of "Tianling" is fake. Unless... Wow, who do you know who would doubt this? Is the world fake? It’s those lunatics who are still locked up in the hospital."
Li Liang was noncommittal: "So, how do you judge that the world of "Tianling" is fake?"
"You don't want to admit it? It doesn't matter." Tian Di turned and walked towards the second-story building, "Close the door and come in."
After a while, the three of them sat down in the living room on the first floor.
Tian Di picked up the cigarette case on the coffee table, took out a cigarette and lit it. After taking a deep breath, he threw the cigarette case back on the coffee table and asked casually: "Do you smoke?"
Li Liang smiled and shook his head.
"Well...why can I tell that the world of "Tianling" is fake? Well," Tian Di exhaled a cloud of smoke, "because I am a game review anchor."
"Many of the players involved in the accident are in the gaming industry, but you were the only one who was discharged early."
"It shows that their business is not good. A professional review anchor should easily be able to see the routines of a game. In fact, the core of the game has never changed over the years. It is still the same bad jokes over the years."
"for example?"
"For example, the love line," Tian Di said with a face full of ridicule, "With Cain's character, how could he fall in love with the protagonist inexplicably? The love line is completely unprepared. By the way, your narrative editor went to your company for the first time to give it to me. The one who talked about the background of the game admitted that the emotional line was not well written."
"Why can't Cain fall in love with the protagonist?" Li Liang raised his eyebrows, "Isn't it love at first sight?"
"Come on, do you know what the players want to see? The straightforward people have a secret love, the reserved people play straight, the calm people occasionally indulge, the impulsive people are discouraged, the people who want it are unexpectedly, and they pass by each other but they are separated for a long time. We reunited...and you still fell in love at first sight? That's so bad."
"..."
"Not only Cain, but all the characters in the game are a bit stupid. What kind of logical functions do you boast about Will Zero? In the end, they are still fixed characters and plots. I don't know where you are in the game. Anyway, I often encounter machines. The trance brings the plot back to full circle.
Let’s talk about scientific theories. In fact, as soon as I disconnected, I knew that this world was real.”
After putting out the cigarette butt, Tian Di added another cigarette and shook his phone. "Air cannot act as a imaging medium. The holographic technology in "Tianling" cannot be realized at all. This thing is only at the reasonable level of human beings."
Li Liang didn't refute. He really hadn't paid attention to the principle of holographic technology. If he could return to the real world, he would definitely ask the engineers on the Nautilus.
"There are many similar flaws. Do you want to hear about them?"
"continue."
Next, Tian Di spoke very quickly about the many unreasonable things in "Tian Ling", and at the same time smoked one cigarette after another until half a pack of cigarettes was finished.
"...Forget it, no matter how much you say, it's useless. I can wake up because of my career, which won't be of much help to you. I heard that your brother will have a court hearing in a few days. I advise you to go see him when you have time. That's business. .”
Li Liang lowered his head and thought for a moment, then stood up with his hands on his knees: "Okay, thank you for your cooperation. Sorry for bothering you."
"Harmful, trivial matter."
After arriving at the entrance of the courtyard, Tian Di waved his hand, paused when he turned around and crossed the threshold, lowered his head and shouted: "Li Liang."
"Um?"
Li Liang, who had not yet gone far, stood still and turned around.
"Actually, whether it's reality or fiction just depends on you. Which world you believe is true, it is true."
————
Back in the car, Yan Hao held the steering wheel and asked, "Where are we going now, Brother Liang?"
"Huh? What?" Li Liang stared out the window, a little distracted.
"Where do we go next?"
"Drive to the city."
"Well," starting the engine, Yan Hao glanced at the rearview mirror, "Is there something wrong with Tian Di?"
"I think he's just faking it."
"Why?"
"Feel."
Li Liang rubbed the index and middle fingers of his right hand. He was used to the existence of the double-ring ring, but now he felt that something was missing. During the conversation, he found that Tian Di would unconsciously rub his index finger with his thumb. In addition, Tian Di sometimes inadvertently The look in his eyes always gave him a familiar feeling.
Searching his memory, he suddenly realized that he had indeed seen that look before.
In the underground drone maintenance warehouse in Donggu District, Beijing, in the image saved on the computer, the "rejuvenated child" himself flashed past the camera. When he paused the playback and froze at that moment, he changed from the young " "I saw the same thing in my own eyes - the arrogance and madness of the dictator."
Immediately, he thought of a question. If the players involved in the accident all believed that they were "Li Liang", what would happen if a group of "dictators" were imprisoned together?
"Yan Hao, go to Anding Hospital."
Four hours later, Li Liang left the hospital disappointed.
Through his connections, he met no less than ten people in the visiting room, asked many questions, and tried all kinds of tests, but all he got was silence.
He could feel that these people had secretly reached some kind of agreement and would soon put it into action. Fortunately, a large number of sentries were added around the building where the players were detained. There were also heavily armed JC patrols in the yard, and the bare-handed "Li Liang" It should be difficult for them to escape.
In the evening, he and Yan Hao went to the suburbs of Beijing again.
As expected, the house was deserted, and Tian Di was missing. They broke in, searched every room, and found a basement in the kitchen. Unfortunately, it had been cleaned and empty.
The remaining traces of glue and scratches showed that the three walls were once covered with photos and written notes.
"Yan Hao, will you agree to whatever I ask you to do?"
"yes."
"Where's the murder?"
————————
Two days later, on the fifth floor of Xi'an Company's office building.
There were no lights on in the program development office area, and the curtains blocked the sunlight. Deep in the computer room, Li Liang sat alone in front of a computer, and the light from the screen illuminated his face.
The sound from a portable speaker floated in the dead air:
"... After trial... discussion and decision, the defendant Li Shuang was... sentenced to death, deprived... of his rights for life, and all personal property was confiscated..."
winter.
When the gavel struck, a trace of pain flashed across Li Liang's face.
The live broadcast cut to the defendant. Li Shuang pursed his lips and slowly turned his head to look at the auditorium. The camera followed his gaze and saw Guo Xudong in the crowd lowered his head deeply and covered his face with his hands. There were also people beside him. An empty seat.
】
The camera turned back and Li Shuang was still staring in that direction. When he was about to be taken away, his lips moved and he finally said a word, but there was no sound.
However, Li Liang understood the meaning of that sentence from his brother's mouth movements.
"Everything will be fine after today."
next moment.
A harsh explosion came from the speaker, the camera began to shake violently, and the screams were mixed with the sound of gunshots.
At the last second before the live broadcast was interrupted, a group of people rushed through the hole exploded in the wall and rushed towards Li Shuang, who had fainted and fell to the ground.
Turning off the computer, Li Liang sat quietly in the darkness until footsteps came from behind him.
"You didn't go," Tian Di's voice came faintly, "It's a pity. If you were there, you would have been arrested as the first suspect by now."
"Knowing that I didn't go, why did I sacrifice so many people in vain?"
"I am Li Liang, they are just nppc."
"Are you sure you can escape from the illusion by connecting to "Tianling"?"
"How will you know if you don't try?"
The light came on, and Tian Di threw a black plastic bag on the ground, "I'm sorry, are you waiting for him to do it?"
Yan Hao's head rolled out of the bag, and blood flowed out, making the carpet red.
"In the game, the protagonist can always turn danger into disaster, and NPCs, no matter what they do, are ultimately just stepping stones for the protagonist."
Looking down at his head that rolled to his feet, Li Liang said calmly: "Since I am also an NPC, what are you waiting for?"
"Tsk, for a special NPC like you, if you don't kill it, it will definitely trigger the hidden ending."
Tian Di approached with a gun and suddenly waved the butt of the gun.
winter!
His vision went dark, and Li Liang fell down instantly and lost consciousness.
I don't know how long it took, but a voice from Mo Hu sounded in my ears: "Mr. Li...Mr. Li..."
Slowly opening his eyes, he saw an anxious face.
"Tang Xintao?"
"Well, Mr. Li, you finally woke up," Tang Xintao's voice sounded tearful.
Li Liang asked in confusion: "Why are you back..."
"Stop talking about it now," Fan Yazi's voice came from the side, "Let's get out of here quickly while that person accesses the host."
"Wait a minute," Li Liang said weakly as he stood up holding Tang Xintao's hand, "Go in...take me in."
"But……"
"I can save Li Shuang."
Tang Xintao and Fan Yazi looked at each other, as if they had made up their minds at the same time, and helped Li Liang walk towards the depths of the computer room.
Walking into the room where the test equipment was located again, Tian Di was lying on his back on the sofa in the middle, looking like he was asleep. The interface on the back of his head flashed slightly, and the extended cable was connected to the host.
Li Liang approached, reached out to hold the cable, and said in Tian Di's ear: "Sorry, it seems you are the NPC."
Tsk...
The joint was pulled out with sparks flying around. At the same time, Tian Di's chest stopped rising and falling.
"He's dead, he's dead..." Tang Xintao's voice trembled, "Mr. Li, what should we do?"
Li Liang climbed up to another sofa with difficulty and lay down panting.
He closed his eyes and murmured: "Send me... back to... my world."
