Volume 2 Chapter 2 Part3 (1/2)
Illusions, Lies, Truth Volume 2: Human Doll Contract Part Two
Original novel in Chinese by: 御 我 (Yu Wo)
Chapter 2: Confused; Confined by Part 3—The Lotus Dimension—translated by lucathia (proofread by Trespa.s.serby)
Jiang Ziya kept his eyes wide, taking in Fu Jun's every movement. The latter knelt down in front of the stone, delicately touching the blooming lotus seat.
The lotus flower was drawn in great detail—deep pink petals, tender green leaves, and delicate golden lines tracing the edges—making it appear rather fancy, but unfortunately, it seemed quite aged, with mottled spots in many locations.
First, Fu Jun touched the picture of the blooming lotus seat, and then he knocked on the stone. Jiang Ziya almost didn't dare to blink his eyes. This was a rare chance to observe. He was afraid he would miss a single detail and still not understand how to enter a ”barrier dimension” in the future—even though it was better not to have to enter those kinds of places.
After touching the lotus and the stone, there were still no changes. Fu Jun frowned. He pressed his index finger against his lips, forming a shus.h.i.+ng gesture, and then slowly moved his finger away from his lips, pointing it at the stone. Jiang Ziya clearly saw the finger glow faintly again.
”In the name of the Lord of the East, Dong Jun, I command thee—open!”
Hearing such familiar words—the words that had come out of his phone to save Lu Yang and him last time had been about the same as these—made Jiang Ziya hold his breath. He almost didn't dare to move, afraid to interrupt Fu Jun's actions.
”The Lord of the East, Dong Jun, commands thee, open!”
After shouting it a few times and receiving absolutely no response, Fu Jun lowered his finger in frustration, face reddening a bit. He nearly didn't dare to lift his head to face Jiang Ziya.
Seeing that, Jiang Ziya coughed lightly. ”Maybe it can't be used anymore. Then, it can't be possible that your cla.s.smate disappeared here.”
Hearing that, Fu Jun actually felt even more despondent. If his friend hadn't met something like this, then he couldn't help at all and could only quietly wait for an update. However, two days had pa.s.sed without any news. That in itself was already bad news.
Fu Jun said dejectedly, ”Let's go then. Taiyi has something to do this afternoon and was going to close the store. But now that I'm heading back, I can help him look after the store.”
Although Jiang Ziya thought it was too bad that he hadn't been able to see how to enter a barrier dimension today, he didn't plan to ask Fu Jun. Now wasn't the time. Compared to his matters, it was more worrisome that a child they knew might have run into trouble. So, he merely looked toward the lotus with regret yet discovered that the leaves below the flower had actually dried up and turned brown…
”Ziya-gē?” Fu Jun asked, confused, ”Aren't you coming?”
”Why have the leaves withered?” Jiang Ziya mumbled in confusion yet discovered that even the petals were beginning to fall off one by one.
Fu Jun's eyes widened. He stared at the changes in their surroundings. A biting wind blew over, bringing with it a hint of a chill, as well as a single, withered leaf from who-knows-where. The original summer day had turned into an autumn one.
”Let's go!”
The entire lotus actually withered. Jiang Ziya couldn't figure it out, so he could only turn his head to say that. However, he saw Fu Jun staring at him with a very strange expression.
”What?” He asked in incomprehension.
You're still asking what… Fu Jun was speechless. Only now did he understand why both Fu Taiyi and Lu Yang had chosen to keep Jiang Ziya in the dark. He obviously could see, so it was pointless not to tell him about the world's other aspect!
However, Fu Jun understood now. While this fellow had only looked at an ancient pathway, he had activated it, falling into a barrier dimension unknowingly. Perhaps it would be better for him to know less.
”We can't leave anymore,” Fu Jun said helplessly.
”Why not?” Jiang Ziya asked, confused.
”Ziya-gē, do you hear anything?”
Jiang Ziya immediately focused on listening. He did so for awhile but actually didn't hear a single sound. He was a bit let down. Is it because only my left eye is problematic, so I can't hear it?
”I don't hear a single sound.”
Fu Jun nodded and said, ”Cars, people, there are none of those sounds.”
When Fu Jun said that, Jiang Ziya suddenly realized something was off. Earlier when they entered the alley, there were lots of sounds. Outside had been the noise of cars, and then they could also hear various sounds coming from the houses along the two sides of the alley. There was talking, music, and even children crying.
Yet, it was silent now.
Once he realized that, he abruptly began panicking. He resided in the city. Since when is it ever this silent? Even at midnight, there would be the occasional sound of a car pa.s.sing by, yet there wasn't a single sound right now. It was like he was wearing ear plugs, and all the noise was blocked. However, he knew that that was definitely untrue. He could still hear his own breathing and even the sound of his heartbeat…
When all sound is gone, a heartbeat's pulse can actually sound this conspicuous. He couldn't help counting it beat by beat, worrying whether the thumping would suddenly stop. But the more he thought that way, the more worried he got, and the faster his heart beat, heavier and heavier, making him start to hyperventilate…
”What exactly is going on?” Jiang Ziya couldn't help asking. If he didn't break the silence now, he felt he wouldn't be able to hold back a scream.
”We've already entered a barrier dimension. Even though many barrier dimensions resemble the real world, they often lack fine details. The easiest difference to spot is the sound.”
Fu Jun explained in detail. That was also what Fu Taiyi wanted. Since Jiang Ziya had already taken a step into the inner world, then he could no longer remain oblivious. It was even more dangerous for someone like Jiang Ziya who possessed the truth-seeing eye to only have partial understanding.
Jiang Ziya nodded, suddenly recalling what had happened when his brother-in-law had been trapped in his office the previous night. He abruptly realized that when the fire had started, there had been no ”heat,” and that was how he had determined that something was off.
”Why do these barrier dimensions exist?” Jiang Ziya really couldn't understand it. It was so random that he had entered a barrier dimension just by looking at a lotus flower. Seriously? Normally, don't you have to be struck by lightning or hit by a car, so you'd die before going to a parallel world?
”Most are created by people, but there are some super, super ancient barrier dimensions that we don't know the origin of. It's hard to believe that they might be created by humans.”
After saying so, Fu Jun glanced repeatedly at the alley and said, ”Ziya-gē, I'll explain it in more detail later. Can we go and find Peilun first right now?”
Jiang Ziya almost wanted to scold himself. How could I have forgotten the most important thing? He quickly said, ”Of course, let's go.”
The two of them walked into the alley again. This time, they were 120% alert.
”Is there anything I should pay particular attention to?” Jiang Ziya asked as he looked all around them.
Fu Jun had great expectations for Jiang Ziya's left eye now. ”Look at everything. Tell me if you feel there's anything off at all, no matter if it's actually anything!”
”Okay.”
They didn't walk for long. Jiang Ziya didn't need to speak for both of them to feel that something was wrong.
An old beggar sat at the corner of the wall, begging.
A bamboo mat was spread over the ground. The old man's clothing was in tatters, and he had a large bowl in front of him, as well as a bamboo stick leaning against the wall behind him.
A single glance told both of them that something was iffy. Without even taking into consideration that this was a barrier dimension, so normal people wouldn't appear inside of it, even the clothes the old beggar wore was strange. It wasn't modern clothing. Rather, it looked like clothing a member of the beggar crew would wear in a period drama.
Jiang Ziya looked toward Fu Jun. Even though relying on an elementary school kid embarra.s.sed him, it was the truth that this elementary school kid knew how to deal with the situation before them better than he did.
Fu Jun frowned a bit. ”I don't know either.” He honestly said, ”Ziya-gē, don't think too highly of me. I'm just a kid. I couldn't even open the barrier dimension just now. I'm not even at your level!”
”But you saved me before.” Jiang Ziya had even lamented over how the Fu father and son's single utterance had been more powerful than Lu Yang's struggling. Wanting him to believe that Fu Jun was just a normal elementary school kid now really had no credibility behind it.
”That was Taiyi.” Fu Jun honestly admitted, ”I only 'gave' you a hint so that you'd definitely take my call then.”