Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 436: Chapter 53: The Heartless Person

(For the Silver Alliance, random additional Chapters are not permitted, progress completed 59/100.)

Bai Wu sorted through the clues he had obtained and soon raised some questions:

"The people who escaped from the farm... there are three Ks? This seems inconsistent with the information I received."

"Ah... it seems you’ve encountered some powerful opponents. How about it? Are you confident you can beat them?" The First Generation always focused on the strangest things.

Bai Wu said:

"I’m not confident; even the weakest one with the junk is not someone I can match. But in the few times we’ve fought, I have always managed to win."

"The one who follows the path will find help, the one who loses it will find little support. You’re doing better than me."

How can you beat an opponent you can’t defeat? Of course, by clinging to their coattails. The First Generation sharply saw through this.

Because Bai Yuan did the same thing before, hiding behind The First Generation whenever he encountered an enemy, cheering on with a sense of complete entitlement.

The First Generation chuckled and said:

"Regarding the question you just asked, that involves Xiaoyugan’s secrets and the deception of old Bai. However, I know the specifics, but since everyone has their secrets, let the person with the secret tell you."

It seemed that Xiaoyugan was a very special existence. Although she was not as capable as Bai Yuan in deploying her abilities, her potential seemed to be above Bai Yuan’s.

Bai Yuan was already a very powerful being in the realm of spiritual power. Even though Bai Wu hadn’t truly experienced it...

But from facing Zhong Xu, being attacked by the Nine-Tailed Fox; then facing the Lake God, planning with Hong Yin in the Inner World; to dealing with Jing Wu, orchestrating his own fusion with Zero...

In the end, when he went to the sixth floor of High Tower, passing through the crimson path, Bai Yuan was in charge.

Considering these places, in the realm of spiritual power, Bai Yuan was as strong as a god.

Perhaps surpassing the Well Level. Although physically... he was very frail, only playing with needles and such.

It was hard to imagine someone stronger than Bai Yuan, who hadn’t fully utilized their abilities.

However, The First Generation in the Memory World was from seven hundred years ago. But Xiaoyugan in the Memory World was the same Xiaoyugan from the real world.

Like Bai Wu, she was an "outsider," and at the same time, she was also the creator of this world.

Seven hundred years later, how Xiaoyugan had grown in her ability, or her application of it, no one knew.

Bai Wu asked:

"So where is she most likely to be hiding?"

The Memory World was vast; countless people meant countless worlds, and each person had a complex web of relationships...

Moreover, one had to consider different memories from different eras, so the dimensionality of this world was far too complex, much more so than the real world outside.

Without a way to narrow down the search, how could one possibly find Ms. Dong?

The First Generation thought for a moment and said earnestly:

"If I had known she would leave, I would have asked her where she was going. But she cut off communication with me; however, the most likely place—would be the Ark."

Am I looking for the Ark within the Ark?

Could it be that within the Memory World, there’s another Memory World nested inside?

It’s like a book cover depicting a person holding the book, and the book in their hands also shows a person holding the same book... an infinite loop.

No... I can’t find the person at all.

That’s why Jing San later failed to find Xiaoyugan. It wasn’t that Jing San couldn’t beat Xiaoyugan, but that after searching too many times, he forgot what he was looking for.

The intruder Wen Hao talked about later was the same.

This place, like what Bai Yuan initially thought, once you’re in, you can’t get out. Once you do get out, you become someone else, someone with human thoughts, human memories.

Having realized this, Bai Wu didn’t dare to rashly enter any door. You may think you’re close to the truth by entering through one door, but in reality, there are countless doors behind it.

It was just like Bingo’s scheme, telling you that if you draw one more dollar, you could withdraw five hundred in cash.

Then you have to pull in a customer to exchange for a chance at the lottery, where you draw ten cents at a time, but by the time you make the ninth draw, ten cents becomes a Gold Coin, and you need to collect ten Gold Coins to exchange for ten cents.

So you pull in ten more people, but when you finally make your last draw, the Gold Coin turns into points, telling you that ten points can be exchanged for a Gold Coin...

Over and over, it’s endless...

This maze was no exception. Bai Wu felt fortunate that he had chosen a method to wait at his ease, which led him directly to The First Generation.

So Bai Wu quickly thought, could he do it again?

Since I am the son of your old lover, as long as you notice me, you should come looking for me, right?

"Is there a way to make her come to us?"

"Unless you make Bai appear in this world, but that’s not very likely."

The First Generation spoke with a tone of inevitability.

Bai Wu thought about it... and it wasn’t necessarily impossible.

However, it didn’t seem right to do such a thing in front of The First Generation. It seemed it was time to take his leave.

There was much to say and many things to learn, but just as The First Generation had said...

Do not focus on the past but look to the future.

"I’ve asked all I wanted to, and we’ll meet here at this time tomorrow. But for now, I need to take care of some things."

The First Generation stood up, and Bai Wu did the same.

"I thought you had many questions to ask?"

"I do. I want to know how strong the enemies you faced were, want to know what discoveries you’ve made... want to know about this twisted Origin, want to know what that person who gave you power actually said."

"I could tell you all of that. But if I did..."

"Then, I would end up in the same predicament as you, fixated on the past, believing that by tracing back to the Origin, I could solve the problems at their source, only to find that within the Origin there are more Origins... like a book cover depicting a person holding the book... endless."

The First Generation was taken aback.

Bai Wu continued:

"Then I will realize... the past is just the past, the past has no way back, the future is the way out. But by then, it will be too late."

These words were also an enlightenment for The First Generation, for he was one who traversed through the past.

Lin Rui was the same, falling asleep and returning to the past...

Both Lin Rui and The First Generation liked to twist causality within the past, but found that no matter what they did, they could not change the future.

The First Generation said:

"It’s really good that you have this awareness. Let’s let the things of our era forever belong to this era."

Bai Wu nodded, parted ways with The First Generation, and before leaving, he said:

"If I don’t show up here tomorrow, it means I’ve completed my task, and you don’t have to wait for me."

"Got it, go ahead. Although I don’t know what you want with Dong Yugan, I wish you success."

The First Generation waved goodbye.

Bai Wu didn’t know when he would see Lin Rui again.

Thinking about Lin Rui’s destiny, thinking about what this man did later, and realizing that this world didn’t actually need to be saved, this was just a memory—

He still couldn’t help himself:

"Maybe Bai Yuan is right, why do we have to be heroes, why do we have to save the world? K, you must have the ability to leave, to disentangle yourself, right? You must be able to go somewhere where Jing Yi can’t find you, right?"

Bai Wu’s tone was unexpectedly agitated, but The First Generation just shrugged and then patted Bai Wu on the shoulder, saying: freēwēbnovel.com

"Why do we have to save the world? That’s a good question."

The First Generation began to talk about his original intentions:

"The children in the farm were all very happy. If we hadn’t discovered some secrets, we probably would have been deceived by Jing Yi, being happy for a decade or so, and then only suffering in an instant."

"But in the end, Bai and I learned the truth. Thinking about the countless happy people outside who would suffer terribly in the distortion, I couldn’t persuade myself not to rescue them."

"Bai and I are different, Bai has no heart, but I do."

As The First Generation said these words, Bai Wu felt the moonlight brighten slightly.

The clouds drifted away, revealing the moon that had been hidden, and the light inside the room brightened a bit more.

Perhaps it was because of the moonlight, or perhaps it was because of the presence beside Bai Wu that no one else could see.

Bai Yuan was watching The First Generation with a smile, free of any guilt.

Bai Wu found it odd, why had he come out at this time and not earlier. He had thought that Bai Yuan’s earlier absence was due to a premonition of meeting some people he dared not face.

But seeing Bai Yuan’s smug face that made him want to kick him, Bai Wu was certain that this man did not possess the empathetic abilities of a human.

At least, he had never seen Bai Yuan angry.

"As for whether it’s worth trying to change what cannot be changed, I have never considered stopping. If I were to back down because of what you’ve said now, wouldn’t the future you face even greater hardship? I have always believed my actions will bear fruit."

"Even if I can’t see the results, many years from now, you and your companions may see them for me."

Seven hundred years ago, on the streets of Food Town, Bai Wu had also placed his hand on Lin Rui’s shoulder, transferring his will to him.

In this Memory World, everything seemed to be in reverse.

Bai Wu could feel The First Generation’s determination.

He nodded, not speaking, unsure of what to say.

After a long while, The First Generation left.

Bai Wu also left without speaking to Bai Yuan.

As he walked along the coastal road in Food City, he thought about some issues.

Bai Yuan appeared beside him, leisurely appreciating the streetscape from seven hundred years ago.

As the father and son walked for a while, passing many passersby with "gates" and many buildings with flickering lights, Bai Wu finally spoke up:

"Doesn’t it shame you to hear an old friend say ’you have no heart’?"

Bai Yuan found it a bit boring:

"There’s no need to ask that again. Those so-called friends, that’s what you think, or what they believe.

"I am good to someone because I am interested, and I can be bad to someone also because of interest. Regardless, whether they are good to me or not, what does it have to do with me?"

"And Xiaoyugan too?" Bai Wu asked with a hint of chill in his eyes.

Bai Yuan still smiled as if the world was beautiful, life was happy and fulfilling, and everything made him comfortable.

"Of course, how is she any different? She’s just useful to me."

"To complete this Memory World, her power is needed. She’s too introverted, difficult to leave the farm, unwilling to part with those foolish children, so I had no choice but to dominate the discourse in her world."

"To make her dependent on you?"

"If it means leaving the farm, even if it incurs deep hatred in her, I don’t mind, but then the subsequent plans wouldn’t be feasible. Considering everything, I chose the former."

Scum with reason and evidence.

Bai Wu said:

"She might have really waited for you for seven hundred years."

"Oh, but I am dead, aren’t I? You found the Full Moon Fragment, obsessed with me, that was beyond my expectations. Why should the dead care so much?"

Bai Yuan spoke calmly, without any sign of discomfort.

Bai Wu knew, this man might be telling the truth. He truly felt no guilt.

"If The First Generation knew your real thoughts... he would be ashamed to call you a friend."

"No, no, no, you don’t understand K. K is the kind of person who loves the world even if it doesn’t love him back. I don’t value him, but he insists on valuing me."

Bai Yuan’s tone was slightly mocking:

"It’s really strange, as if whatever experiences he had with someone, that alone makes them his friend."

"Shut up!" Bai Wu shouted.

"Angry? Hmm... not anger, though you’re slowly regaining your anger, you still find it difficult to control this emotion."

"I get it, you find me annoying, but you’re the one who keeps bringing me out, aren’t you? I am actually helping you."

Bai Yuan shrugged, appearing somewhat helpless.

Bai Wu suddenly realized that he might have been fundamentally mistaken all along. He thought that the person hadn’t appeared before him because they were too afraid to face him.

But this person was Bai Yuan, the one who dared to commit atrocities in front of his own son, the one who could deceive a young girl to achieve his ends.

What would such a person be afraid to face?

It was nothing more than boredom, that was all.

"So, why have you come out now?"

"Hey, hey, hey, don’t be so cold-hearted. I may not care much about them, but at least when it comes to you, I’ve helped you quite a bit."

"Helped me?"

"In the Memory World, you create memories, or rather, experiences. And those experiences help her find you. When she finds out that you are talking to me, she will definitely come to you."

Bai Yuan stopped and savored the sea breeze coming from afar, his expression content:

"She may be coming soon. This world, in a sense, is also a world she created. Doesn’t it strike you as astonishingly vast? Even though it contains the memories of countless people, she can instantly transcend one door after another."

"In a way, her spiritual power can indeed bear the weight of a world. Want to know my recommendation?"

"What recommendation?" Bai Wu had a premonition that it would not be anything good.

Sure enough, Bai Yuan spoke words that disgusted him.

"Don’t truly sympathize with her, but pretend to. Make good use of your identity as my son and let her tell you all the information you want to know. You can even tell her I have hardships. Although she’s introverted, she will easily believe you."

"Hmm... it’s sort of like how you treat the Evil Fallen, yes, treat her as an Evil Fallen that can be deceived."

Bai Yuan said these words as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

Bai Wu stopped in his tracks and looked at Bai Yuan seriously: freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I am now convinced, that you truly have no heart. But I am very curious, why did you agree to help build the Ark?"

"It doesn’t matter, I’m already dead, so I might as well tell you the truth."

"For me, the Memory World of the Ark is a second option. If I can’t live in another world, then the Memory World is a good haven. Here, I can experience many lives, live different lives in many memories."

"Of course, if I want K to do things for me, to help me fend off the Well forces when completing the Memory World, I need a lofty reason. A reason that sounds pessimistic to him, but necessary."

Bai Wu sneered:

"That reason is that humans are bound to fail, so you pessimistically suggest preserving human memory?"

"Bingo~ Correct. He’s such a man of justice, who will go out of his way to protect me if he thinks there’s sense in my words."

"Think about it, it’s probably like how Little Dwarf treats you."

"Of course, I am different from you, I won’t give my heart. I suggest you also avoid giving yours, after all, those who embody heroism do not live long."

Bai Wu looked at Bai Yuan, issuing a soul-searching question:

"Is there anything in this world you truly care about?"

But a person without a heart can never be interrogated; Bai Yuan said:

"I care about my own happiness, my dear child. Everything in the world, including you, are just tools for my amusement. Of course, my expectations for you are a little bit higher."

An answer very befitting of Bai Yuan.

However, just as Bai Wu was about to defend The First Generation and Xiaoyugan, Bai Yuan disappeared.

And the scene of this Memory World... was undergoing earth-shattering changes.

Lampposts instantly turned into stone pillars, the night sky into a cloudless blue, and the ancient yellow sand floated where streets once were... now just rocky ground.

With a gust of sea breeze, the world changed its appearance.

The doors that used to appear only above the heads of memory entities... one after another, spiraled into existence surrounding them.

In this strange space, filled with yellow sand and ruins of buildings, there was a giant cruise ship.

Bai Wu knew what this meant.

He felt somewhat helpless; he would have preferred to unravel the puzzles himself, using his own strength to find Xiaoyugan.

But just as Bai Yuan said, once Bai Yuan appeared, Xiaoyugan would certainly rush over.