Lucas was no stranger to dealing with puppets. Whether it was Raiden Mai or Scaramouche, he had studied them in depth. However, compared to them, the skin texture of this "fake Ningguang" seemed to be even more lifelike.
This wasn't because the quality of the fake Ningguang was better than Raiden Mai or Scaramouche. On the contrary, the skin material only improved the realism by less than ten percent, but it offered no defensive capabilities. In other words, this puppet likely had no combat power at all.
"You… how are you unharmed?" Zhiyi asked in confusion. "Impossible. I tested the toxin in the dagger. Forget a person, even a cow wouldn't last more than a few minutes."
"Is this the legendary dagger coated with poison?" Lucas resisted the urge to lick it and said, "Zhiyi, I suggest you tell me the truth. This guy here may be immune to poison, but you might not be so lucky."
Zhiyi's eyes narrowed, and he subtly shifted his left foot, clearly preparing to flee. Lucas continued, "Thinking of running? This is the Jade Chamber. Unless you grow wings, there's no way you're escaping."
Before Zhiyi could respond, the fake Ningguang shouted, "Don't say anything! If the plan is exposed, that person will never let us go… Bang!"
"Shut up!" Lucas stomped hard on the fake Ningguang and said to Zhiyi, "That person you're talking about… they're not from Liyue, are they? They're from Snezhnaya, right? If you talk, you might not die. But if you keep denying it…"
In a flash, Lucas pulled out a Mora coin and hurled it at Zhiyi with lightning speed, hitting him square in the chest.
"Next time, it won't be a coin. It'll be this dagger."
Zhiyi was never known for his combat skills, let alone when facing someone as unfathomable as Lucas.
"If I tell the truth…" Zhiyi said calmly, "will it spare my life?"
"If you don't speak now, you'll die," Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"The mastermind behind this is..." Zhiyi's sentence was cut short as his eyes instantly turned blood-red. He clutched his throat, his face contorted in extreme pain, and then he spat out a mouthful of black blood before collapsing to the ground, dead.
Lucas, however, remained calm. Zhiyi's death was hardly a surprise to him.
"Thinking you're so clever," Lucas shook his head, "The person who gave you the poison might have also slipped a dose into you. Such a simple concept, and you didn't even realize it?"
It seemed the mastermind behind Zhiyi had prepared well in advance. As soon as Zhiyi showed any signs of revealing his identity, the poison in his body would activate instantly. The mechanism was likely tied to some "trigger word," such as the mastermind's name or code name.
With Zhiyi dead, the trail went cold. The only clue left now was...
Lucas released his foot from the fake Ningguang and asked, "Why are you unaffected? If that mastermind poisoned Zhiyi, shouldn't they have installed something like a self-destruct mechanism in you?"
"Fool," the fake Ningguang sneered, "Only humans who fear death would leak information. synthetic puppets like me don't fear death, so there's no need for such precautions."
"True," Lucas rubbed his chin, "Given your build, it's unlikely you even have a basic combat module, let alone an explosive device."
Though Lucas wasn't an expert in puppets, he had a decent understanding of their mechanics. Even if he couldn't build one himself, he knew the basics.
"Don... don't underestimate me!" The fake Ningguang seemed provoked, angrily retorting, "Each synthetic puppet has different functions. Compared to combat puppets, mine are far more advanced..."
Suddenly, she seemed to realize she had said too much and quickly shut her mouth, glaring coldly at Lucas.
"Whatever, I'm not interested in your functions," Lucas lifted the fake Ningguang by her collar, "Tell me, how do I wake the other contestants? And where have you hidden the real Ningguang?"
"I told you, I won't say a word," the fake Ningguang remained composed, sneering, "I don't know how you escaped the illusion, but these people, Liyue's talents, will forever be trapped there. As for Ningguang... you'll never find her!"
"Hey, why are you being so stubborn?" Lucas, no longer holding back, grabbed her by the hair, "Aren't you afraid I'll torture you for answers?"
"I don't fear death, let alone torture," the fake Ningguang said fearlessly, "Just kill me. Dying for my master is an honor."
Wait, don't I still have the Interrogation skill?
Lucas suddenly realized and immediately cast [Interrogation] on the fake Ningguang.
This skill, as long as the user's mental strength surpasses the target's, forces the target to spill the truth. Its effect is comparable to Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth.
However, as soon as he used it, a system prompt sounded:
[Skill use failed]
[This skill can only target sentient beings]
It can be like this?
This definitely put Lucas in a tough spot. If the target were human, even without [Interrogation], he could exploit human weaknesses to extract the truth. But this was an synthetic puppet, likely devoid of even the concept of "fear." How could he threaten her?
"Wait, I have an idea..."
Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on Lucas's face. The fake Ningguang, sensing something ominous, muttered, "You... you can't trick me. I won't fall for it."
"If you can't feel pain," Lucas rubbed his hands together, grinning, "Then I'll just install that ability in you, won't I?"
...
Inside the Teapot Realm.
"Doraemon... no, Mai-chan!"
Lucas, carrying the fake Ningguang, hurriedly knocked on the door of Raiden Mai's laboratory, "I need your help with something!"
Generally, any issues related to synthetic puppets could be resolved by consulting Raiden Mai. Even if she couldn't solve the problem, she could provide crucial clues.
At the moment, Raiden Mai was at her workbench, seemingly crafting something. Seeing Lucas bring a "woman" in, she remained calm.
After all, her master had brought women back before.
In fact, it would be more unusual if he returned without one.
"Wait, is that... a puppet?" The sharp-eyed Raiden Mai immediately noticed that the "woman" Lucas brought was an puppet like herself and asked, "What, another puppet for me to repair?"
It seemed Raiden Mai assumed the fake Ningguang was in a similar situation to Scaramouche.
"No, this one's my enemy," Lucas tossed the fake Ningguang onto an empty workbench, "Do you have any way to get her to talk?"
"Why go through the trouble?" Raiden Mai casually picked up a screwdriver, "Just crack open her head, extract the information storage, and read the data directly."
Yet, even after hearing this, the fake Ningguang showed no fear. Instead, she sneered, "So, you have an synthetic puppet too. Too bad, her methods won't work on me."
"Won't know until we try, right?" Lucas waved his hand, "Mai, take her apart!"
Raiden Mai, following orders without hesitation, cupped the fake Ningguang's face. However, upon touching her skin, she suddenly paused.
"What's wrong?" Lucas quickly asked, "Is something off?"
"Very much so," Raiden Mai rubbed the fake Ningguang's cheek with her fingers, "This skin material is unlike anything I've encountered before. The level of realism is astonishing. How was this achieved?"
Even as an synthetic puppet, Raiden Mai was still a girl at heart. Seeing the fake Ningguang's unique skin texture was like a girl encountering another with flawless skin.
"With your inferior skills, it's natural that you can't comprehend it," the fake Ningguang sneered. "My great... huh? Trying to fish for information from me? Not a chance."
"Isn't it just boasting about how Snezhnaya's technology is the best in the world?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Besides the Fatui Harbingers, who else would go to such lengths to orchestrate such a scheme?"
In truth, it wasn't surprising that he guessed correctly. Among the seven nations outside of Liyue, Mondstadtians were only interested in drinking and merrymaking, Inazuma was still busy with the Vision Hunt Decree, Sumeru's greatest passion was research, and Fontaine prided itself on justice, making it unlikely for them to act without cause.
As for Natlan, the land of fire, it was indeed a warlike nation, but if they wanted to stir up trouble, they'd probably just charge in with their armies. They wouldn't bother with such intricate schemes.
Even from an objective analysis, only Snezhnaya would do something like this.
Having been exposed, the fake Ningguang didn't continue the conversation. Instead, she adopted an unshakable demeanor, as if she didn't care what happened next.
"Still acting tough, huh?" Lucas crossed his arms and chuckled. "Once Mai figures out how to deal with you, let's see if you can stay so calm."
However, after pondering for a moment, Raiden Mai set down her screwdriver and said expressionlessly, "I'm afraid I can't do it. This is a Snezhnayan automaton, and its structure is quite different from the ones produced in Inazuma. At my current level, I can't perfectly decipher it."
"Hahaha!" The fake Ningguang immediately burst into mocking laughter. "How about that? Your plan's fallen apart, hasn't it? With just any random helper you found, you thought you could crack Snezhnaya's greatest technological masterpiece? Dream on!"
"What should we do now?" Lucas rubbed his chin and muttered to himself. "If this keeps up, the contestants and Ningguang might be in danger... Maybe we should think of another way."
Aside from the fact that among the contestants was someone like Shenhe, who was quite important to Lucas, as the fake Ningguang had said, those who had advanced to the third round were indeed rare talents in Liyue. It would be a shame if they were inexplicably lost here.
However, after a moment of contemplation, Raiden Mai said calmly, "Wait a moment. Let me check the database. There might still be a way."
With that, she slowly closed her eyes.
Of course, Raiden Mai's database didn't contain any information on Snezhnayan automatons. Her real intention was to contact Raiden Ei, who was far away in Inazuma.
For all the automatons, Raiden Ei was like a "command tower," equivalent to the "Last Order" for the 20,000 Misaka clones.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for Raiden Ei to receive Raiden Mai's signal.
Raiden Ei: "...What's the matter?"
Raiden Mai: "We've encountered a Snezhnayan automaton here. I can't crack it. I hope to get your help."
Raiden Ei: "...Do you think I'm free?"
Raiden Mai: "Apologies, I overstepped. In that case, I'll just inform Lucas that I can't complete the task he assigned me. Sorry to disturb you. I'll cut the connection now..."
Raiden Ei: "...Wait. Hand over control of the body to me."
Raiden Mai: "I'm ready. You can take over at any time."
Raiden Ei: "First, let me clarify that this isn't for that Liyuean. I just want to understand Snezhnaya's automaton manufacturing techniques."
Raiden Mai: "Understood."
...
This "conscious exchange" took only a few seconds in reality.
Raiden Mai—no, Raiden Ei—slowly opened her eyes. Even Lucas didn't notice the faint flash of purple lightning that flickered in her eyes.
Seeing Raiden Ei open her eyes, Lucas quickly asked, "Did you find a way?"
Raiden Ei didn't answer him. Instead, she walked straight over to the fake Ningguang and began inspecting her with her hands.
"I see. Using slime gel as the skin material not only enhances realism but also allows the automaton to change its size and appearance through the material's transformative properties," Raiden Ei said, sounding like an experienced coroner. The fake Ningguang, in her hands, was undoubtedly a piece of "meat" waiting to be dissected.
"The downside is that its defensive capabilities are too weak, its combat power is close to zero, and it has to load a self-learning module..." Raiden Ei nodded. "Considering the rough nature of the Snezhnayans, it's somewhat commendable that they could create such a sophisticated automaton."
"Now's not the time to praise this thing, is it..." Lucas said helplessly. "Is there any way to extract useful information from her? Like a device that could make her feel pain or something?"
"For an automaton, the most important things are loyalty and obedience," Raiden Ei said expressionlessly. "Simple pain won't make her yield."
"That's right," the fake Ningguang said smugly. "As the pinnacle of Snezhnaya's technological achievements, I will never yield."
"So, why not use a simpler and more direct method?" Raiden Ei nodded. "If we reset the system, it will cancel her obedience to her original master."
"But if you reset the system..." Lucas frowned. "Won't her memories be wiped? If that happens, we won't be able to get any useful information, right?"
"Are you pretending to be stupid or are you really that dense?" Raiden Ei glanced at Lucas. "Have you forgotten that if you quickly trigger the reset switch, you can retain the memories while resetting the system?"
Only then did Lucas recall that he had used a similar method to reset Raiden Mai's system before, and it had indeed succeeded in preserving her memories.
"So...You're not saying we have to use that method again, are you?"
Because the "reset switch" was hidden deep within the automaton's body, Lucas had to resort to some "special methods" to complete the task.
"Exactly," Raiden Ei said, putting on a pair of gloves. "First, I need to check where her reset switch is."
With that, before Lucas could even react, there was a tearing sound as Raiden Ei ripped open the clothes on the fake Ningguang.
"You... you're delusional!" This time, the fake Ningguang finally showed a hint of nervousness. "Such a high-end automaton like me wouldn't still use such a traditional reset method!"
As expected of a synthetic puppet specifically designed for undercover missions, not only its face but even its body was crafted with such realism that not a single seam or assembly mark could be seen.
Who wouldn't be dazzled by this?
"Does it look good?" Raiden Ei suddenly asked.
Lucas coughed lightly and replied, "It's… not bad."
"No need to hide it. Every synthetic puppet has a purpose for its creation—work, combat… and, of course, service," Raiden Ei said indifferently. "This doll's function is to execute special tasks by altering its appearance. In other words, its body is its 'weapon.' With so many advanced materials and technologies used, it's designed to deceive humans. It would be stranger if you thought it didn't look good."
Lucas was slightly taken aback, but then he noticed that the fake Ningguang's face showed a hint of something resembling "emotion."
"You understand synthetic puppets," the fake Ningguang said, as if she had finally met someone who truly understood her. "Even if I can't fight, I'm still useful, just like other synthetic puppets."
"Since you're so moved, how about you just give in?" Lucas seized the opportunity. "Don't worry, you're a synthetic puppet. Any crimes you've committed can be pinned on your creator."
"As she said, the duty of a synthetic puppet is loyalty and obedience," the fake Ningguang said coldly. "I will never betray my master."
"As expected, there's no reset switch on the surface," Raiden Ei cracked her knuckles and said, "It must be inside."
Indeed, something so important would never be placed on the outside.
Although the design philosophies of synthetic puppets in Inazuma and Snezhnaya differ, some common sense aspects remain the same.
For example, even different interior designers wouldn't place a toilet in the kitchen.
The reset switch must be hidden deep inside the body.
"First, let's check here," Raiden Ei began inspecting the drainage pipe.
"Wait a minute!" Lucas seemed to think of something and asked, "Should I get some oil to lubricate it?"
"No need. This doll is designed to secrete its own fluids," Raiden Ei said, focusing intently. "Surprisingly, it hasn't been used yet."
The fake Ningguang's face turned slightly red. "This… this is my first mission, of course it hasn't been used."
"Oh, you're blushing," Lucas teased. "Can synthetic puppets blush? Let me see!"
"W-wait!" As Raiden Ei continued her actions, the fake Ningguang's face grew even redder.
"Changing skin color is just one of its functions," Raiden Ei narrowed her eyes slightly. "As I suspected, it also has a stimulation response mechanism to achieve a more lifelike effect."
This scene made Lucas swallow hard.
Holy cow, this isn't a spy doll.
This is clearly a specialized doll!
Was it made exclusively for the upper echelons of Snezhnaya?
Just as things were heating up, Raiden Ei suddenly stopped.
"Why did you stop?" Lucas's voice carried a hint of disappointment.
"It shouldn't be here," Raiden Ei said while wiping her gloves. "If you think about it, if it had that kind of function, placing it there would risk accidental activation during use."
"That makes sense…" Lucas slapped his forehead. "If it's not there, where else could it be?"
"No need to rush. There are two more channels to check," Raiden Ei said. "Go get me some oil."
"I thought you said you didn't need it…" Lucas muttered instinctively.
"Some channels are still too dry," Raiden Ei seemed a bit impatient. "It seems you're not very familiar with the structure of synthetic puppets."
"Who would bother learning about that stuff!" Lucas laughed awkwardly. Though reluctant, he fetched the oil for Raiden Ei and hesitated before asking, "Are you really going to stick your hand in there?"
The earlier part was fine, but the latter… felt a bit strange.
"This is a synthetic puppet," Raiden Ei didn't even glance at Lucas this time and began her exploration. "Do you think it has excretory functions?"
As for the fake Ningguang, she was biting her lip tightly. Even for a synthetic puppet, this was somewhat excessive.
Fortunately, the whole process only lasted a few minutes before Raiden Ei shook her head and said, "It's not in here either."
"Are you sure?" Lucas asked doubtfully. "Maybe it's further inside."
"Impossible. This channel is too narrow," Raiden Ei explained. "If the reset button were in here, it would definitely get pressed accidentally."
"You… you should stop trying," the fake Ningguang panted. "I told you… there's nothing there."
"I trust science more than your words," Raiden Ei said calmly, lifting the fake Ningguang's chin. "In that case, it can only be in the throat."
With that, Raiden Ei prepared to insert her hand, which had just been exploring the other channel, into the fake Ningguang's mouth.
"W-wait!" The fake Ningguang frowned. "At least… change your gloves."
"What does it matter?" Raiden Ei said indifferently. "Theoretically, the material of your entire body is the same."
"Just change them anyway," Lucas said unusually gently. "Even if there's no smell, it still feels a bit weird."
"Maybe there's some truth to what you're saying, but…" Raiden Ei didn't hesitate and immediately inserted her hand. "I'm not taking your suggestion."
Well, this is awkward…
Though Lucas wasn't angry at "Raiden Mai's" willfulness, he was still puzzled.
Wasn't this synthetic puppet supposed to never refuse its master's orders?
Could it be that during the last system reset, a bug occurred?
"Mmm, mmm!"
The fake Ningguang couldn't speak and could only mumble in protest.
"It's not in the throat," Raiden Ei frowned, which was rare for her. "This shouldn't be the case. Theoretically, all synthetic puppets have a reset button."
"Mayoi, perhaps we shouldn't measure synthetic puppets by human limits," Lucas stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Could it be… in some more unexpected place?"
"An unexpected place for me…" Suddenly, Raiden Ei had an epiphany. "That's right. Maybe… we need to go even deeper."
"Wait, that's not what I meant!" Lucas said with a mix of laughter and frustration. "What… what are you trying to do?"
"You'll know soon enough," Raiden Ei replied, pulling out a viewing lens and sneering, "So, it's hidden there. It seems your designer knew you had almost no combat ability, which is why they placed the reset switch in a spot that's nearly impossible to find."
"Stop beating around the bush," Lucas exclaimed, surprised. "Where is it?"
"Using human anatomy terms," Raiden Ei said without batting an eye, "it's on the esophagus wall."
"Huh?"
Lucas double-checked to make sure he hadn't misheard, muttering, "That's indeed a hard place to find."
"Not only that, but since the synthetic doesn't need to eat, it won't be accidentally triggered either," Raiden Ei said nonchalantly. "The design logic is quite clever. I might borrow it for future use."
"Hey, hey, you're not planning to build one yourself, are you?" Lucas frowned. "An puppet made by an puppet… that feels oddly unsettling."
Indeed, how could Lucas have guessed that the "puppet" standing before him was currently inhabited by the real Raiden Shogun.
"We'll talk about that later," Raiden Ei said, patting Lucas on the shoulder. "The reset switch has been found. The next step is up to you."
"What step?" Lucas muttered. "Wait, you don't mean…"
"Exactly, just like what you did before," Raiden Ei said seriously. "By quickly triggering her reset switch, you can reset the system while preserving her memories."
"I can't get in there! It's impossible!" Lucas blurted out. "That's… that's the esophagus!"
A single word makes all the difference.
Honestly, I think you'd have better luck sticking a gastroscope in there.
"If it's you, it shouldn't be a problem," Raiden Ei said calmly. "First, trying won't cause any harm. Second, she's an synthetic with high durability. You can go all out without worrying about hurting her."
"But… but…"
Lucas still seemed hesitant.
After all, this was a completely new experience for him.
"Suit yourself," Raiden Ei said, crossing her arms. "Or are you willing to sacrifice something far more important for a lifeless synthetic who's on the opposing side?"
"Fine, I'll give it a try," Lucas said, stepping forward and cupping the fake Ningguang's face with a frown. "You've got one last chance to tell the truth. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what's going to happen next."
"I… I don't believe you can do it!" the fake Ningguang stubbornly resisted. "The moment you trigger the reset button, my memories and system will be completely reset. You'll get nothing from me!"
"By the way…" Lucas turned to ask Raiden Ei, "Is it the same frequency as last time?"
"Yes," Raiden Ei nodded. "But you don't need as many repetitions. Three thousand should be enough. Do you need to prepare first?"
Truthfully, Raiden Ei was still somewhat skeptical about Lucas being able to rapidly trigger the reset button last time. After all, under normal circumstances, only a specially designed frequency oscillator could achieve that. For a human's physical capabilities, it was practically impossible.
"No need," Lucas was quite confident about this. "Three thousand times? That's a piece of cake."
"Then let's begin," Raiden Ei pulled up a chair and sat down, ready to observe. "Hurry up. I don't like wasting time."
"Uh… hey," Lucas said awkwardly, "Are you sure you don't want to step out?"
"Is there any need to?" Raiden Ei even crossed her legs. "This is a great opportunity to gather data on Snezhnayan puppets."
"Alright… fine."
Whatever. Both of these were puppets anyway. In other words, what he was doing now was no different from using a toy while another toy sat nearby.
"Alright… here we go!"
Lucas took a deep breath and began the frequency oscillation.
He had only ever practiced with humans before, so he naturally held back. After all, with his capabilities, if he went all out, he might accidentally kill someone.
But the fake Ningguang was different. She was an puppet, so there was no risk of suffocation. Moreover, the internal material's elasticity was far superior to humans, so even if there was significant deformation, it wouldn't cause any lasting damage.
"How's it going?" Raiden Ei asked. "Can you reach the reset button?"
"Yes," Lucas replied, focusing intently. "I'm even going a bit beyond. But are you sure she's okay?"
Raiden Ei glanced at the fake Ningguang. Although she was an puppet, she was equipped with a reaction module that would respond to external stimuli.
Clearly, she had reached her limit, and the fake Ningguang didn't look too good.
Nevertheless, Raiden Ei said calmly, "No problem. Everything's fine. Just proceed as you see fit."
"Got it!"
Soon, Lucas, who had started cautiously, began to loosen up.
Meanwhile, Raiden Ei watched intently.
Data collection?
That was just an excuse.
Compared to this puppet of unknown origin, Raiden Ei was far more interested in Lucas's data.
Speed, frequency, even control over force—it was all as precise as a machine.
How could a mere human achieve this?
Or was this man actually a higher-level puppet disguised as a human?
"2998, 2999, 3000…" Raiden Ei silently counted in her mind. "That's enough. You can stop now."
However, even after Raiden Ei called for a halt, Lucas continued for another dozen seconds before finally stopping.
The puppet, now without support, collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"Damn…" Lucas muttered. "Did I break her?"
"Click, click, click…"
Just then, the fake Ningguang's body made a series of mechanical sounds, and she sat up with a smile, saying:
"System reset successful!"
Upon hearing these words, Lucas and Raiden Ei exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.
Clearly, the reset had been successful.
After declaring, "System reset successful!", the fake Ningguang looked at the two before her and continued, "Please register the owner's information."
Without hesitation, Raiden Ei patted Lucas on the back and said, "He is your new owner."
"Hey, hey!" Lucas was slightly taken aback. "Shouldn't I be the one to confirm this?"
However, the fake Ningguang's gaze swept over Lucas, emitting a series of "clicking" sounds before announcing, "Owner information successfully registered."
"That... simple?" Lucas rubbed his chin. "I thought it would require an iris scan or voice recognition, or at least a fingerprint."
"What era are you living in, still using such outdated methods of ownership verification?" Raiden Ei's expression was one of disdain. "You clearly don't understand."
The fake Ningguang continued, "This unit is model 'Disguiser Type IX Special Enhanced Edition,' with primary functions including shape-shifting, voice mimicry, personality learning, and more. Due to the system reset, please input a new codename."
A codename? So, giving it a name?
It seemed the earlier speculation was correct—this thing's main function was indeed "shape-shifting."
This ability to transform at will? Lucas muttered to himself, "Isn't this just... a Ditto?"
"Codename confirmed: 'Ditto'!" The fake Ningguang nodded.
Wait, no!
Lucas was both amused and exasperated. That didn't sound like a person's name at all.
Moreover, anyone who had played the Pokémon series knew that Ditto, a Pokémon capable of breeding with all egg groups, was primarily used for breeding perfect IVs. Players would toss it into the daycare to breed with Pokémon from various egg groups.
In other words, Ditto was the breeding tool of the Pokémon world.
Giving a female such a name was somewhat disrespectful.
However, the name had already been confirmed and seemed unchangeable unless another "system reset" was performed. Lucas could only smile wryly and say, "From now on, I'll call you 'Little Ditto.'"
"That's way too casual," Raiden Ei shook her head. "How about 'Ditto Princess'?"
Lucas silently cursed in his heart—drop the 'Princess,' let's keep it civilized—but nodded and said, "Ditto Princess, that's a nice name."
"Please confirm the operating mode," Ditto Princess continued. "The basic modes are: 1. Work Mode, 2. Infiltration Mode, 3. Assassination Mode, 4. Entertainment Mode, 5. Daily Life Mode..."
There were so many modes? This thing was way too advanced.
Honestly, if circumstances allowed, Lucas would have loved to try out the so-called "Entertainment Mode."
After all, theoretically, Ditto Princess could mimic anyone's appearance and physique. With enough "character templates," owning her would be like having an "experience card" for every character.
"Daily... Daily Life Mode," Lucas coughed lightly.
The other modes could wait for when he was alone.
"Mode switch successful. Current mode: Daily Life Mode."
As the announcement finished, Ditto Princess bowed slightly to Lucas and said, "Please issue commands: cleaning, tidying, cooking..."
"It can even cook?" Lucas couldn't help but glance at Raiden Ei with a smile. "This thing might have more functions than you..."
After all, Raiden Ei, the creator of "Raiden Mai," was a culinary disaster herself and naturally wouldn't have programmed cooking abilities into her creation.
Before Lucas could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a dull pain at the back of his head as a soft "thud" echoed. He quickly turned around to see Raiden Ei standing there as if nothing had happened.
He knew it was "Raiden Mai" who had secretly hit him, but since he had provoked her first, he couldn't really complain. So, he pretended nothing had happened and continued, "There's no time for those trivial tasks. Now, answer all my questions."
"As you command," Ditto Princess nodded.
"First, who was your previous owner?" Lucas asked.
This time, Ditto Princess answered without hesitation, "The Ninth Harbinger of the Fatui—'The Regrator,' Pantalone."
Although Lucas had already suspected as much, hearing the name still surprised him slightly.
This Harbinger, "The Regrator," had not been heavily involved in the game's storyline so far, meaning Lucas couldn't yet gauge his personality or abilities.
"What was his plan for the Tianshu election?" Lucas pressed.
"Through covert planning, he aimed to have his pawn in Liyue, Zhiyi, successfully appointed as the Tianshu, marking the first step in his plan to gradually infiltrate and undermine Liyue," Ditto Princess replied truthfully.
Just as I thought.
"So, how did you deal with Ningguang?" Lucas frowned. "Where is she now?"
"We successfully brainwashed one of Ningguang's three secretaries, who then drugged her food," Ditto Princess explained as if recounting a mundane event. "To avoid suspicion, Ningguang is currently held in a secret chamber within the Jade Chamber."
Hearing that Ningguang was safe, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. The next question was the most critical: "How can the other participants be awakened?"
"This operation utilized a special incense created by 'The Doctor.' Only she knows the antidote," Ditto Princess replied. "According to Plan A, the incense-induced illusions would brainwash them all, turning them into key pawns for the Fatui in Liyue. If Plan A fails, they will die within twenty-four hours, erasing all traces and clues."
Truly a cunning businessman, leaving no stone unturned.
However, even the wisest can make mistakes. The Regrator could never have anticipated that the supposedly unsolvable special incense he obtained from The Doctor could be countered by Lucas.
Because one of The Doctor's "slices" was currently in Lucas's possession.
"Time is of the essence," Lucas turned and began to leave. "Ditto Princess, follow me! Mai, please clean up here."
Raiden Ei nodded. After the two had left, she bent down slightly, her fingers brushing the floor where a trace of deoxyribonucleic acid from Ditto Princess's lips had fallen.
Immediately after, she placed her fingertip directly to her lips, as if intending to swallow it.
"Wait!" The voice of Raiden Mai suddenly echoed in Ei's mind. "What... what are you doing?"
"This contains a very rare sample," Ei replied without changing her expression. "I need to analyze its components."
As a puppet created by Ei, Raiden Mai's primary functions were analysis and creation; analyzing samples was naturally a simple task for her. Her oral cavity was equipped with a specialized liquid analysis device that could quickly determine the composition of any liquid.
"But..." Raiden Mai still seemed hesitant.
"Strange, why are you feeling resistance?" Ei appeared somewhat puzzled. "Like the other puppet, you should only unconditionally obey your master's commands."
Even now, Ei still viewed Raiden Mai as nothing more than a malfunctioning puppet.
At this, Raiden Mai finally fell silent, saying indifferently, "As you wish."
"Hmph, forget it," Ei removed her finger. "A contaminated sample isn't worth analyzing. However, the level of puppets from Snezhnaya seems to have advanced far too quickly. It seems I need to research new puppets as well. Code 0413, your decision this time was correct. Stay in touch. Farewell."
As her words faded, the purple glow in Ei's eyes gradually dimmed, and Raiden Mai regained control of her body.
She gently sniffed her fingertip, a faint blush appearing on her pale cheeks.
"Is this... my master's scent?"
......
The Serenitea Pot, Prison.
By all accounts, this was already Lucas's third "visit" here.
In the simply furnished glass cell, the Doctor sat on the bed, facing the wall, seemingly occupied with something. It wasn't until she heard footsteps approaching from behind that her ears twitched slightly.
"You're back?"
The Doctor slowly turned around, smiling. "I told you, you'd come back to me."
"You certainly have a high tolerance for boredom," Lucas glanced around. "If I were trapped here, I'd probably go insane within a few days."
"For the wise, thoughts cannot be confined," the Doctor replied with a smile. "Though my body is imprisoned here, my mind has never stopped working. For instance, I can guess that you must have come here seeking my help."
Though somewhat reluctant, Lucas nodded. "You're right. There's something I need your help with."
"Is this... the Tianquan, Ningguang?" The Doctor glanced at the shapeshifter beside Lucas, narrowing her eyes slightly before smiling. "No, just someone who looks like her. That woman's eyes are far more astute. If I'm not mistaken, this must be a bionic puppet from Snezhnaya."
"You're quite the guesser," Lucas said coldly. "Then guess why I'm here."
"The fact that this bionic puppet ended up in your hands suggests you've already clashed with the Fatui," the Doctor stroked her chin, pondering for a moment. "This model of infiltrator puppet is only assigned to a select few Harbingers. As far as I know, the one who enjoys using such things for schemes would be... Pantalone."
As expected of the Doctor, her intelligence, observational skills, and deductive reasoning far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Lucas remained silent, only furrowing his brow slightly. The Doctor narrowed her eyes and smiled. "It seems I've guessed correctly. You want my help to deal with the 'Regrator,' don't you?"
"Exactly," Lucas didn't bother hiding it, getting straight to the point. "He used the incense you created to trap the participants of the Tianshu Election in illusions. Rumor has it, only you know how to dispel it."
Though Lucas had once become the "Doctor" in a simulator, it was in a different dimension, and the abilities he had acquired naturally differed.
As for using the [Medical Sage] talent to find a solution, even if it were possible, it would likely waste too much time. Currently, the most reliable method was to seek the Doctor's help.
"Are you referring to the 'Dreamwisp Incense'?" the Doctor nodded. "That incense must be used in conjunction with a specific array to activate. The fact that the Regrator managed to ensnare you with it shows he has some skill."
"I'm not here to listen to you Fatui Harbingers flatter each other," Lucas's expression turned cold. "Tell me how to dispel the Dreamwisp Incense."
"That's not quite the attitude of someone asking for a favor," the Doctor smiled faintly. "I know you Liyueans value fairness and place great importance on contracts. How about we make a deal?"
"A deal? I'm usually the one proposing deals, not the other way around," Lucas strode up to the Doctor, gripping her chin, his face dark with anger. "Have you forgotten what I did to you that night at the Goth Hotel in Mondstadt?"
That time, because the Doctor's schemes had crossed a line, Lucas, who was usually amiable in reality, had lost his temper. With the help of the Ring of Manipulation, he had tortured the Doctor for an entire night.
If it weren't for her robust constitution, she might have spent the rest of her life relying on machines to survive.
Recalling that night, a flicker of fear did cross the Doctor's face, but she quickly regained her composure. "If the Dreamwisp Incense isn't dispelled within twenty-four hours, it will kill the inhaler. You can torture me in the cruelest ways, even kill me if you wish, but after twenty-four hours, it will all be too late."
Indeed, the Doctor now held the upper hand, and with her personality, she would naturally seize the opportunity to negotiate.
"I... I see," Lucas's lips twitched slightly. "What's your condition?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the Doctor sneered. "Release me, of course."
"Fine, I agree," Lucas said. "Tell me how to dispel the Dreamwisp Incense, and I'll release you from this prison without any interference."
"Words alone are meaningless," the Doctor was inwardly pleased but remained cautious. "Let's follow your Liyuean ways and make a contract. With a contract in place, even if I'm a heinous criminal, you wouldn't dare break it, would you?"
The Doctor's scheme was indeed meticulous, using the guise of a "contract" to restrain Lucas.
"To think you would actually believe in something like a 'contract,'" Lucas sneered. "Aren't you afraid I might break it?"
"A contract may not hold any real significance," the Doctor shook his head, "but I believe you are a man of your word. If you lacked such integrity, you wouldn't have come this far."
Indeed, if Lucas were just an ordinary thief or rogue, there would be no need to talk about honor. However, through countless simulations, he had played the role of a villain many times and had learned one thing: to become a truly great scoundrel, keeping one's word and honoring promises were fundamental traits. Without these, it would be impossible to establish any authority.
Lucas let out a cold snort but did not deny it.
The two quickly established the contract.
"Now, tell me the method to break the illusion," Lucas said, his thoughts preoccupied with Shenhe and the others. He didn't want to waste a single minute. "Of course, if the method doesn't work, I won't let you go."
"The method is actually quite simple. The effect of the Dreamwisp Incense is driven by a magical array," the Doctor explained. "If you alter the array, the 'dream-entry' effect will change to 'dream-exit.' However..."
"However what?" Lucas pressed urgently.
"If someone has fallen too deeply into the illusion, they won't be able to escape the dream using this method," the Doctor continued. "In such cases, unless one possesses an immortal technique to enter dreams, well... haha..."
The meaning behind the Doctor's final laugh was clear. Lucas frowned and asked, "What if I don't have such an technique?"
"That's your problem," the Doctor shrugged. "My responsibility is only to tell you how to break the illusion. Whether you can actually do it is not part of the contract."
Anger surged in Lucas's heart, and a crimson light flickered on the Ring of Manipulation around his wrist. He grabbed the Doctor by the collar and snarled, "You tricked me?"
"Blame yourself for being too naive," the Doctor sneered. "Your concern has clouded your judgment. You should have been more cautious. It seems there's someone very important to you trapped in the illusion, which is why you're acting so irrationally."
Though Lucas was furious, his urgency to save the others quickly brought him back to his senses. He released the Doctor's collar and said coldly, "Go."
"Just like that? You're letting me go?" The Doctor seemed surprised by Lucas's sudden leniency, almost disbelieving. "You're not planning some kind of backup, are you?"
"Leave if you want. No one will stop you," Lucas said as he turned and walked away. "Goodbye!"
Watching Lucas's retreating figure, the Doctor sneered, "Goodbye? When we meet again, I'll make sure to 'repay' you for all the care you've shown me during this time."
...
Without any delay, Lucas emerged from the Serenitea Pot and returned to the real world, arriving at the Jade Chamber.
To his surprise, as soon as he appeared, he saw several familiar figures in the hall.
One of them had silver hair that cascaded down her back, wearing a form-fitting, goose-yellow qipao. It was none other than Ningguang!
The other three were her personal secretaries: Baixiao, Baiwen, and Baishi.
"Ningguang?" Lucas exclaimed in shock. "You... weren't you captured?"
"I was wondering why you were the only one missing," Ningguang turned around, her expression calm. "Did you really think I couldn't see through the Fatui's scheme? I was merely playing along to draw out the mastermind behind it. I didn't expect such a mishap to occur."
"So that means..." Lucas glanced at the three secretaries, "your secretaries weren't brainwashed?"
"I... I did fall for it accidentally," Baishi frowned, her face slightly flushed. "But with Lady Ningguang's keen perception, how could she not notice something was off with me?"
"It wasn't difficult," Ningguang smiled faintly. "That day, I changed into a new undershirt, and Baishi didn't notice. That's when I realized something was wrong."
"No wonder..." Lucas gave Baishi a meaningful look. "That is indeed suspicious."
Baishi's "obsession" with Ningguang was no secret. Her understanding of Ningguang had reached an almost unbelievable level. Whether it was a change of clothes or even a slight loss of weight, nothing escaped her notice.
"Th-that's not important!" Baishi bit her lip. "What about you? Why were you the only one unaffected? Are you a spy planted by the Fatui?"
"The spy planted by the Fatui is already lying over there," Lucas pointed to Zhiyi's corpse. "As for the fake Ningguang, it was just a lifelike automaton. I've already extracted the truth from her."
"Baishi, Mr. Lucas could never be a spy from Snezhnaya," Ningguang shook her head. "If a spy could deceive me, the Yuheng Star, and the Qixing Envoys all at once, then Liyue Harbor would have already fallen."
"Thank you for your trust," Lucas took out a diagram. "According to the information I obtained, by altering the array, we can awaken the other participants. We must act quickly."
Ningguang naturally trusted Lucas and, without hesitation, worked with her three secretaries to help set everything up. Soon, the array was successfully altered.
As expected, with the array changed, the participants who had been in a deep, unbreakable slumber began to awaken one by one.
However, perhaps because they were forcibly pulled out of their dreams, their spirits seemed somewhat listless. Even someone like Baiye, a descendant of immortals, couldn't recover immediately.
Before long, the participants gradually regained consciousness, and Lucas finally felt a slight sense of relief. Though the Doctor was cunning and treacherous, she had indeed kept her word—the array worked.
"I'll arrange for medical personnel to examine them immediately," Ningguang said, organizing everything methodically. "Has everyone awakened?"
"No..." Lucas shook his head. "Shenhe... she hasn't woken up."
Sure enough, within the array, Shenhe remained with her eyes tightly shut. No matter how Lucas called out to her, she showed no signs of waking. It seemed that, as the Doctor had said, if one had fallen too deeply into the dream, even altering the array wouldn't be enough to awaken them.
"What's the problem?" Ningguang also looked puzzled. "Why is she the only one who hasn't woken up?"
Lucas fell silent for a moment before asking, "Ningguang, do you know of any adepti who are skilled in dream-walking?"
Ningguang stroked her chin and replied, "To my knowledge, the Guardian Yaksha is proficient in this art. However, time is of the essence, and even if I could find him, it might be too late..."
The "Guardian Yaksha" she mentioned was undoubtedly Xiao. However, he was notoriously elusive, and even the Liyue Qixing had difficulty contacting him.
"I understand," Lucas nodded. "In that case, I'll have to try it myself."
In a previous simulation, Lucas had acquired the skill [Soul Return Transcendence], which allowed him to enter others' dreams.
However, the illusion created by the Dreamwisp Incense was extremely dangerous. Entering recklessly not only risked failing to rescue Shenhe but also potentially trapping himself within the dream.
But given the urgency of the situation, Lucas no longer had time to hesitate. No matter the cost, he had to bring Shenhe back to reality.
Seeing that Lucas had made up his mind, Ningguang nodded as well. "While you're in the dream, I'll do my best to find the Guardian Yaksha and seek his assistance. You... take care."
"Don't worry," Lucas chuckled. "I just won the Tianshu Election. I'm not about to let myself die so easily."
With that, Lucas walked over to Shenhe, took a deep breath, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"W-wait a moment!"
At that moment, Hu Tao, who hadn't fully recovered, staggered over and whispered, "Are you planning to... enter her illusion?"
"That's right," Lucas nodded. "Don't try to stop me. I've made up my mind."
"I... I know it's useless to stop you," Hu Tao said as she took off her hat and handed it to Lucas. "Here, put this on."
"The Harmony Hexagram Hat?" Lucas was slightly taken aback. "Isn't this the heirloom your grandfather left you? Why are you giving it to me?"
"This hat is no ordinary item. Wearing it can protect your spirit and keep you from losing yourself entirely," Hu Tao explained. "It's because I was wearing this hat that I didn't get too lost in the illusion earlier."
Indeed, although Hu Tao looked quite weak, she was at least still able to move, unlike the others. It was likely due to the hat's power.
"Thank you," Lucas said as he placed the Harmony Hexagram Hat on his head. However, since the hat had been modified by Hu Tao, it looked rather comical on him. He glanced at Shenhe, who had her eyes closed but wore a serene smile on her face, and said, "Hold on, your brother-in-law is coming to save you!"
With that, he closed his eyes and began to activate the [Soul Return Transcendence] technique.
Meanwhile, Hu Tao scratched her cheek and muttered to herself, "Strange, how did he know... the name of this hat?"
The name "Harmony Hexagram Hat" sounded grand, but it wasn't a famous adepti artifact. It had merely been passed down through generations of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's directors, accumulating spiritual energy over time. As for the name "Harmony Hexagram Hat," almost no outsiders knew it.
After all, most people didn't bother naming their hats.
......
Where... is this?
Lucas slowly opened his eyes to find himself in a lush cornfield. The stalks, as tall as a person, were laden with golden, plump ears of corn, emitting a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Even under the blazing sun, the cornfield felt refreshingly cool.
In the distance, he could hear the occasional lowing of oxen.
It was hard to imagine this being a "nightmare" world.
Where exactly was this?
Logically, this was Shenhe's dream. She should either be in Liyue Harbor or on Mt. Aozang.
Liyue Harbor definitely didn't have such vast cornfields, and Mt. Aozangwas a dense, mountainous forest. This place, however, was a fertile plain suitable for growing crops.
"Lucas!"
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him. Lucas quickly turned around to see a radiant young girl standing there, tilting her head as she looked at him with a smile. "I asked you to come help with the work, but here you are slacking off again. Are you... daydreaming about something strange again?"
The girl had black hair tied into a braid, a pretty face, and wore patched, coarse clothing. Her skin wasn't pale but a healthy wheat color, giving her a charmingly rustic appearance. It was none other than Shenhe.
Everything about her—from the slightly old-fashioned braid to the demeanor of a girl-next-door—was completely different from the Shenhe Lucas knew. It was as if she were a completely different person.
Wait, she called me! Does she know me?
Could it be that I'm also a part of this illusory dream?
In that case, he might as well play along and see what Shenhe's dream was about before finding a way to wake her up.
With that in mind, Lucas smiled and said, "What I'm thinking about... don't you already know?"
He decided to start with a counter-question to gauge Shenhe's reaction and understand the relationship between them in this dream.
To his surprise, Shenhe's face flushed red, and she pushed his shoulder, saying, "You! Why do you always have such shameless thoughts in your head? Before we got married, you weren't this unruly!"
Married?
Lucas was stunned. Shenhe looked so young that he had assumed they were at most childhood friends. He never expected that they were already married.
Before Lucas could respond, Shenhe stood on her tiptoes, parted the cornstalks, and glanced around. Then, in a hushed voice, she said, "Luckily, we're in the cornfield, and there's no one around. If you want to... hurry up. We still need to go back for lunch. If we're late, Mom and Dad will scold me again."
Mom and Dad?
In reality, Shenhe's mother had passed away, and her father had gone mad. Yet in this dream, she had both parents and a harmonious family.
This wasn't a nightmare—it was a blissful dream.
Lucas then recalled his own earlier illusion and began to realize that perhaps what the fake Ningguang had said before the match—about seeing "what one fears most"—was just a deception meant to confuse them.
The true horror of this illusion lay in trapping the victim in a beautiful dream of their deepest desires, making it impossible for them to wake up and eventually dragging them into the abyss.
Whether it was his dream of harmonious bliss with the women he knew or Shenhe's dream of a loving family and marriage to him, the principle was the same.
Since that was the case, Lucas decided to simply follow Shenhe home and meet her so-called "parents," then shatter her illusion.
Though this might seem a bit heartless, in order to rescue Shenhe from this fantasy, he had to administer some tough medicine.
That's it, decision made!
Just as Lucas finished circling this plan in his mind, he suddenly noticed that Shenhe, standing in front of him, was now only wearing a thin undergarment.
Even though she grew up in the wilderness, Shenhe's figure was still as striking as in reality, with a faint earthy scent about her. She seemed as ripe as the cornfields around them—corn so impressive even Su Shizong would give them a thumbs up—ready to burst forth from their husks at any moment.
"You… what are you…"
Before Lucas could finish speaking, Shenhe suddenly covered his mouth with her hand.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" Shenhe glared at him fiercely and said, "What if someone hears us? Hurry up, we can still grab a couple of melons from the nearby field when we're done!"
Lucas had initially intended to refuse.
But the watermelon was just too big!
To stay in character, Lucas ultimately chose to relent.
The midday sun was slightly scorching, but the sweat of the two was not due to the blazing heat.
The vitality of life blossomed on this fertile land, seeping into the soil.
At this moment, Shenhe was no longer the cold, aloof disciple of the adepti but a wild mountain girl exuding the scent of earth, filled with an untainted simplicity and unrestrained wildness.
......
"Let's go!"
Shenhe, now tidied up, lightly kicked Lucas, who was lying on the ground, with her bare foot and scolded, "Really, we're so sweaty. I'm going to get lectured when we get back."
In reality, Shenhe, who possessed a Cryo Vision and a unique constitution, rarely broke into such a sweat. Fortunately, this wilderness was sparsely populated, or else this sight would have been a feast for others' eyes.
Lucas stood up, brushed off the dirt from his clothes, and suddenly spoke seriously, "Ah He, do you find this kind of life… joyful?"
Shenhe was momentarily stunned, seeming not to expect Lucas to ask such an out-of-the-blue question. But she quickly nodded without hesitation, "Of course it's joyful. I wouldn't trade this life even to become an immortal."
It seemed that in her subconscious, she still retained memories related to the "adepti." Or perhaps, for the real Shenhe, she would rather give up her identity as a disciple of the adepti to reclaim the simple life she had before the age of five.
"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Shenhe seemed to sense something was off. She stared intently at Lucas and said, "You're not thinking of…"
"Thinking of what?" Lucas looked confused.
"Nothing… nothing!" Shenhe grabbed Lucas's hand and said, "Don't overthink it. Let's hurry back."
Though Shenhe's reaction was a bit strange, given that this was an illusion, Lucas didn't dwell on it too much. His primary concern was still how to wake Shenhe up.
Generally, when people dream, they lose parts of their memory and common sense. This is why some people, even after years in the workforce, can naturally accept their student identity when dreaming of returning to school. Or why they don't find absurd events in dreams to be strange.
Therefore, Shenhe, in this moment, was completely convinced by the events of her dream.
Leaving the cornfield, the two walked hand in hand into a small village. The place wasn't densely populated, but the houses were neatly arranged. It was lunchtime, and smoke rose from the chimneys of every household, making it seem like a peaceful paradise untouched by the world.
"Dad! Mom! We're back!" Shenhe pushed open the door of a farmhouse, startling the chickens and ducks inside into a flurry of flapping wings. A middle-aged woman emerged from the inner room with a gentle smile, "Ah He, Lucas, go wash your hands. It's time for lunch."
The woman was around forty years old. Though a village woman, she was well-maintained, with a kind and approachable demeanor that made one feel immediately at ease.
Moreover, her features bore a faint resemblance to Cloud Retainer.
However, Lucas knew that Shenhe's mother had passed away when she was very young. She couldn't possibly have any memories of her mother. This woman before them was likely just a figment of Shenhe's imagination, modeled after Cloud Retainer as her "mother."
The two entered the house. Though the furnishings were simple, they exuded a warm, homely feeling. A few homemade dishes were laid out on the wooden table. A middle-aged man sat at the table and chuckled, "Where have you two been fooling around this time?"
"Nowhere!" Shenhe sat down in front of her father, her face slightly red. "Lucasand I were working in the fields!"
"Just working, huh?" Shenhe's father raised an eyebrow. "The earthy smell on you two is quite strong."
Shenhe lowered her head, shyly saying, "We… we…"
"Well, you're newlyweds, and you're both at that energetic age. Doing those kinds of things at home would be awkward, so it's better to let loose outside," Shenhe's father laughed. "Good, good. Your mom's been nagging about wanting a grandchild anyway."
At this moment, Shenhe's mother also walked in. Shenhe immediately pouted and said, "Mom, Dad's teasing us again!"
Shenhe's mother sat down and scolded with a smile, "You old man, can't you be serious for once? No alcohol for you today!"
Hearing this, Shenhe's father immediately put on a pitiful expression, shaking his head and muttering, "Bitter, bitter." His comedic demeanor made Shenhe and her mother burst into laughter again.
Only Lucas, sitting to the side, remained silent, as if he wasn't part of this family at all.
Was this the life Shenhe dreamed of?
Simple, ordinary, yet filled with happiness.
No wonder all the other participants had awakened, while Shenhe remained trapped in this dream. For her, this illusion was just too perfect, so much so that she was utterly immersed in it, unable to break free.
Not just Shenhe—even Lucas, who knew the truth, felt hesitant for a moment. If Shenhe were to learn that all of this was an illusion, she would surely be devastated…
But time was running out.
"That's enough," Lucas stood up and sighed. "Wake up, Shenhe. All of this—your parents, your family, even me… it's all fake."
Lucas had expected that after he finished speaking, Shenhe would be shocked, perhaps even thrown into confusion.
But to his surprise, upon hearing his words, Shenhe and her parents all revealed subtle expressions, and Shenhe even sighed, saying, "Lucas, have... have you fallen ill again?"
"Ill?"
Lucas frowned and said, "I'm not ill! Everything I said is true! Shenhe! Your parents, they're all fake! All of this is just your illusion!"
Unexpectedly, Shenhe's father shook his head and said, "Son-in-law, are you going to say next that you're actually from another world, and the reason you're here is to save Ah He from her illusion?"
Meanwhile, Shenhe's mother began to cry softly, covering her face, and murmured, "What sin have we committed to deserve this? Such a good son-in-law, yet he's afflicted with this strange illness!"
This completely baffled Lucas.
What's going on?
How do they know about my origins?
"First, sit down," Shenhe's father, as the head of the family, remained calm. "I'll explain it to you slowly."
For some reason, Lucas actually sat down.
"You were an orphan since childhood. We found you in the cornfield," Shenhe's father began to recount. "At that time, Ah He had just been born, so we took you in and raised you together. We were originally a branch of an exorcist clan, but after offending the main family, we left the sect and lived in seclusion in these mountains."
Lucas felt his mind grow hazy, as if the words Shenhe's father spoke were truly events that had happened.
"You and Shenhe grew up together, innocent and carefree. Since you were young, you were honest, obedient, and hardworking, so we naturally arranged for you two to marry when you turned eighteen," Shenhe's father continued, clenching his fist. "But who would have thought that on your wedding night, you suddenly went mad, claiming that you were from another world and that you had some... some what?"
"System," Shenhe's mother added. "You said that damned 'system' forced you to do bad things, to be a villain everywhere."