Chapter 5: The Gray Realm

"Gray Realm intersection?"

The term did indeed exist in Chen Ling's memory; the original owner must have seen it somewhere.

"Don't tell me you've even forgotten about the Gray Realm." Dr. Lin stood up, poured the blood from the tea mug into the drain, and spoke slowly,

"Before the Great Cataclysm, someone proposed a hypothesis: in this universe, there are countless parallel space-times. These space-times were all formed by the birth of the earliest universe, like light rays released after a candle is lit, spreading in all directions. But because the light is infinite, they extend infinitely into all possibilities and never intersect."

"But after the red meteor streaked across the sky, everything went haywire."

"Fluctuations were stirred up in every space-time, and an unknown, eerie gray world began to overlap with the real world."

Dr. Lin finished washing the mug. He didn't pour out the water inside but placed it on the desk. Because he used some force, the water in the mug rippled.

Dr. Lin tore off a piece of paper and placed it over the ripples. The surging water began to soak the paper, gradually permeating the entire surface from unevenly distributed small water stains.

"At first, only a small part intersected, but as time passed, more and more areas intersected. The matter and creatures of that world began to appear in ours. In fact, most of the original human habitats have already been occupied by that world, leaving only nine 'Domains' to shelter humanity and keep the fire alive."

"Because the sky of that world is gray, we call it the 'Gray Realm'."

"When the Gray Realm intersects with reality, it produces a series of eerie events beyond cognition, and monsters belonging to the Gray Realm—what we call 'Calamities'—can even descend."

"Generally speaking, among survivors who encounter Gray Realm intersections or are attacked by Calamities, eighty percent suffer from mental instability, and most never fully recover for the rest of their lives..."

"I suspect your current situation is related to the 'Gray Realm'."

"Think carefully: have you ever encountered a Gray Realm intersection and been drawn into it?"

Faced with Dr. Lin's question, Chen Ling tried hard to search the original owner's memories, but ultimately found nothing... No matter how he tried to recall, he couldn't remember any other memories from last night.

"I don't know." He said bitterly.

Dr. Lin thought for a moment, took a piece of letterhead from the drawer, and began writing quickly.

"Your situation is no longer as simple as a mental illness... I'm just an ordinary person, I can't cure you."

"However, I know someone who might be able to help with the aftereffects of Gray Realm contamination."

"After all, he is a true [Doctor]."

Hearing this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Chen Ling's eyes, "Where can I find him?"

"He lives in Aurora City, but he likes to travel and provide free medical care. I hear he goes wherever there are difficult and complicated cases; that is their path to godhood..."

"In any case, give this letter to the Enforcers at the gate of Aurora City, leave your name and address, and they will forward it for you."

"Within three days at most, that [Doctor] will come to find you himself."

"Thank you!"

Chen Ling took the envelope and thanked him sincerely.

In fact, when he saw the salt melting on the road, Chen Ling already felt something was wrong. The things happening to him couldn't be explained by illness anymore. He came to this small clinic partly because he was already halfway there, and partly because he really didn't know where else could help him.

From what Dr. Lin said, this [Doctor] seemed special, and he even mentioned a path to godhood...

Could it be that this world also has a unique human cultivation system? Otherwise, according to Dr. Lin, all of humanity should have died out during the so-called Great Cataclysm and the Gray Realm intersection.

Chen Ling even felt that the distorted level of science in this world might also be related to the Great Cataclysm.

"You're welcome. Give my regards to your brother." Dr. Lin smiled slightly.

"He's still hospitalized in District 2... I'll pass it on next time I visit."

Chen Ling stood up, said goodbye to Dr. Lin, and pushed the door open to leave.

As his figure gradually disappeared under the aurora-filled sky, Dr. Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.

"A performer, huh..."

……

"The first time I saw the screen in my dream, the audience expectation was 29%."

"When I tried to run for my life, it jumped to 30%."

"On the way here, it dropped back to 27%..."

"Just now, when Dr. Lin was pranked, it rose to 29% again."

"Assuming the 'audience' is really in my head and these numbers aren't hallucinations, what exactly influences the rise and fall of the expectation value?"

The cold wind whistled. Chen Ling wrapped himself in his thick cotton robe, walking toward home while thinking seriously.

Stage, audience, expectation value... Every time the expectation value increased, it seemed to be accompanied by an event. Could these events be seen as "plot points" on the stage?

The more interesting the events happening around him, the more attractive the "plot" is to the audience, thereby increasing the expectation value?

The screen said that if the audience expectation drops below 20%, the actor's personal safety cannot be guaranteed...

Chen Ling didn't know what specific danger that meant, but judging by the fact that the "audience" could interfere with reality to a certain extent, he might end up as their venting tool, pranked to death by magic tricks!

Chen Ling felt his line of reasoning was correct, but to prove it, he needed to take action.

"Maybe I should try to actively design 'plot points'."

Chen Ling muttered to himself.

"A-Ling, had breakfast yet?"

Chen Ling turned to look. In a breakfast stall by the street, an uncle with a towel wrapped around his head was fanning the stove and calling out to him enthusiastically.

The moment he saw him, an idea flashed through Chen Ling's mind.

"Not yet, Uncle Zhao." Chen Ling's mouth curled up slightly, and he walked toward the stall.

"Come, come, I'll get you some soy milk and fried dough sticks. It rained heavily last night, it's damp, you can't go without a warm breakfast." Uncle Zhao brought over a steaming bowl of soy milk.

"Thanks, Uncle Zhao."

Chen Ling reached into his pocket, pulled out three copper coins, and handed them to Uncle Zhao, but the latter pushed them back.

"I'm treating you to breakfast, and you want to pay?"

"Don't do that, Uncle Zhao. Even though we've been neighbors for over a decade, business is business."

"You kid, I don't want your money. Just help my little Yi with his studies when you have time, and I'll send you breakfast every day." Uncle Zhao grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Didn't he already graduate? He still needs tutoring?"

"With his grades, he can't even get a job assignment. I'm planning to have him repeat a year; he can't just do odd jobs forever, right?"

"Oh..."

"A-Ling is still the best, smart and filial. If one day little Yi could pass the Enforcer exam like you, I'd laugh in my sleep."

Uncle Zhao sighed heavily, "Unfortunately, the kid just isn't up to it."

Chen Ling's hand holding the chopsticks paused. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke:

"Uncle Zhao... do you know why Zhao Yi's grades are so bad?"

"Huh? Why?"

Chen Ling was about to say something, but fell silent for a long time before shaking his head, "Never mind, Uncle Zhao. Pretend I didn't say anything... I promised him I'd keep it a secret."

"Don't do that!"

Uncle Zhao's heart rate accelerated. He handed Chen Ling a braised egg and scratched his head anxiously,

"A-Ling, I know you're little Yi's good friend, but some things... I, as his father, should know a little, right? I raised little Yi all by myself, working early and late to pay for his schooling, just so he could have a better life later..."

"If you know something, you must tell me! We're all doing this for his own good..."

Seeing Uncle Zhao's urgent questioning, Chen Ling was moved. He struggled for a moment, as if he had made up his mind,

"You're right, Uncle Zhao. As a friend, I really can't bear to see Zhao Yi go down this path of degradation..."

"Degradation? What exactly is wrong with him?"

"He's in a relationship."

"Huh?" Uncle Zhao was stunned, "This kid has that kind of charm?"

Chen Ling took a bite of the fried dough stick without changing his expression and spat out three words:

"With a boy."