Mutated Tao

“Parallel worlds?” Li Huowang said, his expression filled with hesitation.

“Yes, parallel worlds,” Zhao Shuangdian said, her bangs lifted by the salty sea breeze. “it’s another self-consistent hypothesis.”

“Where’s the evidence? What makes you think this?”

“There is no evidence, which is why it’s just a hypothesis—a bold guess.”

Li Huowang looked down at the frothy waves stirred by the ship’s propellers. “If this is just a hypothesis, what’s the point of telling me? Are you expecting me to help you prove it?”

“No, I just want you to understand more. A person’s knowledge is linked to their cognition. The more you know, the closer you might get to the truth.”

“What are you implying? That I don’t know enough? I might not know everything, but at least my worldview holds up! In contrast, what you’re talking about is just a hypothesis!”

Zhao Shuangdian’s brow furrowed slightly before relaxing, “Li Huowang, there’s no need to be so defensive. You don’t have to be so certain that your current worldview is the ultimate reality. Gaining a better understanding can be beneficial.”

“So you’re saying that even if I showed you evidence, you’d still believe my world isn’t real?”

“Why does it have to be black and white? The world itself isn’t necessarily divided so clearly between right and wrong. Can’t you consider the possibility that the world we glimpse—the real world of the elephant—isn’t singular but rather exists in a strange entangled state?” Zhao Shuangdian said, trying to reason with him.

“What are you really trying to say?”

Footsteps approached Li Huowang from behind. “What she means is that maybe the actual world that projects all of us resembles Schrödinger’s cat, existing in a state of both being alive and dead until the box is opened.”

Li Huowang turned to see Qing Wanglai speaking.

Li Huowang found the idea ridiculous. “So what? According to you, we’re in this world, existing in a state of both being and not being?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Let me think about how to explain it,” Qing Wanglai said and rubbed his nose.

“Forget it—no need to explain. You guys can keep thinking about it. Just don’t drag me into it. It’s just confusing me,” Li Huowang said. He turned and walked away from the deck.

He didn’t want to further complicate his worldview by listening to their nonsense, which only made his mind more chaotic.

“The Greater Siming has no future, no past. The heralds of the Simings come into existence as the Simings come into existence and get erased as the Simings are erased.”

This was the secret that Zhuge Yuan had previously exchanged with Shangji Guankou. He already understood what it meant and had the evidence to back it up, so he was convinced that this was real and would help him achieve his goal. That was enough.

Since the death of the Simings could sever the cause and effect, it was better to have it continue to be severed. Once all the Simings were eliminated, he could finally heal himself and reintegrate into society.

His worldview was sufficient for now, and he didn’t really care about what this world was really like.

Li Huowang began to search the ship while sorting his thoughts.

“What are you looking for?” Ba Shengqing asked as he watched Li Huowang lift a lifebuoy and glance at the floor.

“I need to check if Shai Zi has followed us.”

Last time, Shai Zi had shown up unexpectedly. He wasn’t sure if it would happen again.

“Shai Zi[1]? This isn’t a gambling ship. Where would Shai Zi come from?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. Instead of wasting time, why not help me look?”

This time was different from the last. Li Huowang couldn’t find any dice anywhere on the ship.

Did it really not sneak along this time? Has Shai Zi backed off?

This thought crossed his mind briefly before he shook his head and headed toward the cargo hold.

He had searched the entire ship except for that. Li Huowang knew he needed to take Shai Zi seriously. This wasn’t easy to deal with, and he must have his own agenda since he even dared to get involved in the battle of Simings. ℞

If he wanted it to help him, he had to keep a firm grip on it. He needed to ensure he could find it anytime, anywhere, and take its life at any moment.

When he entered the cargo hold, Li Huowang was surprised to find cargo containers along with several cars tied down, which resembled an underground garage.

Could Shai Zi be hiding here? Li Huowang crouched down and carefully inspected every detail.

As he looked under one of the cars, he suddenly felt like someone was watching him. However, no one was there when he quickly stood up to check.

“Is someone there?” His voice echoed in the hold, but no one responded.

Then, he hesitantly asked, “Shai Zi? Is it you?”

Li Huowang took a few more steps forward, then stopped suddenly. He raised his head slightly and sniffed the air. His face darkened.

He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed for Zhao Shuangdian on the deck. “Hey, I’m in the cargo hold. You and Qing Wanglai need to come down. I have something to discuss with you.”

After a short while, they arrived along with everyone else.

“What’s going on?” Qing Wanglai asked.

“You’re asking me? Shouldn’t you first explain what you’ve done?”

Li Huowang turned his head and looked at the cargo containers secured to the floor. “Nana, come out. I know you’re here.”

After a few seconds, the front of a large container opened like a door. Yang Na was pouting and had her head down. She walked over to Li Huowang and grabbed his clenched fist.

“Care to explain? What’s going on?” Li Huowang asked the two of them sternly. “I told you I didn’t want her involved, yet you still went against me?”

He continued, “In that case, I might as well quit. You all do your thing, and I’ll go by myself!”

His words made the others nervous. If it had been earlier, it wouldn’t have mattered. However, now that they were certain Li Huowang could reverse time, his importance had been elevated.

“Huowang, it’s not their fault,” Yang Na anxiously said, pulling at his hand as she tried to explain. “I snuck aboard by myself because I wanted to help you.”

She quickly noticed that Li Huowang wasn’t listening. “Did you two knowingly let another Siming tag along? You expect me to believe you didn’t notice? That’s nonsense! I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid!”

“Ji Zai!” Yang Na suddenly raised her voice. “Ji Zai! As the Heavenly Mater, who governs Death and Benevolence, who are you to forbid me from joining the battle of the Simings?!”

1. die ☜

THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM