Confronting Reality

The scene in the lab was all within Luo Wei's sight.

His voice now became Tilis's inner monologue.

He reconstructed that moment from the past, and even filled in the scenes of what might have happened in that dead-end future.

Everything felt incredibly real because it was something that had actually occurred. Luo Wei made the obsessive Tilis face the grim truth.

Tilis collapsed in despair, her surroundings rapidly crumbling.

The entire world plunged into darkness, a terrifying nightmare for her.

Tilis's subconscious was on the brink of collapse; she wanted to wake up.

But soon, under Luo Wei's control, the surroundings returned to normal.

He struggled to maintain the verge of collapsing dreamscape, for it wasn't time for her to awaken yet.

He needed to intensify the situation.

"This so-called soul extraction technique is about as serious as a child's play."

"Tilis, since you can't guarantee his safety, how can you bear to impose such a surgery on the one you love?"

"Or perhaps, you don't love him at all; you simply love yourself?"

"Even if it means disregarding his life, you still insist on selfishly forcing him to fulfill that wish in your heart?"

Tilis desperately shook her head and started slapping herself.

"Quiet down! That's not what I was thinking!"

"Of course I love him; how could I not love him?"

"Just a little more! Just a little more and I would have succeeded!"

"I have so many other test subjects; give me a little more time, and if I can just improve the success rate of the soul extraction technique... this wouldn't have happened!!"

That cold, emotionless voice echoed once more in her mind.

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course!" Tilis shivered all over, caught in a fierce inner struggle.

What's wrong with me? Have I become schizophrenic? Why is my own consciousness accusing me? This has never happened before!

Something's not right. Everything today feels off. Why did Luo Wei suddenly return? How did I end up bringing him here without even realizing it?

Tilis desperately clutched at her hair, and tufts of it fell to the ground, withering and dying.

The laboratory shook violently, and the dreamscape showed signs of collapse once more.

Until...

That emotionless voice spoke again.

"Well, if you believe the issue lies with the success rate, then you still have one chance."

"Really!" Tilis's eyes widened with excitement.

Time rewound to the starting point and then quickly marched forward.

Gradually, the pristine laboratory disappeared, replaced by a barren redish-brown wasteland.

Luo Wei, like a director, swiftly transitioned to the next scene.

The dead red-brown planet.

Luo Wei and Tilis walked side by side through this desolate world.

"I..." Tilis stared blankly at the scene before her.

"Did I... succeed?"

"If this counts as success..." Luo Wei looked sadly at the lifeless land, "then I’d rather have died on that island."

Neither knew how far they had walked nor for how long.

Yet here, there was only eternal desolation and solitude, devoid of any signs of life.

"Should we keep walking?" Luo Wei inquired.

"I... I don't know..." Tilis despondently lowered her head.

"Is this what you wanted?" Luo Wei sneered, "This is the beautiful new world you dreamed of bringing me to?"

Tilis shook her head vehemently, "No! This... isn't the world I envisioned! The place I wanted to reach isn't like this..."

"But most of the universe is like this. Not just devoid of humans, but devoid of any life at all! All your painstaking plans are nothing but a joke!"

Tilis still refused to face reality, continuing to argue.

"But I think this is great! It's so quiet! And isn't it beautiful?"

Seeing Luo Wei's mocking expression, Tilis quickly held his hand.

"I know you like lively places. You want to go to a world with many humans, right?"

Luo Wei chuckled coldly, "I can accept running away with you, but a world with nothing... what’s the difference from being exiled to the Northern Ice Plains? Even there, I could at least ice fish to pass the time. What can I do here? Count stones for ten thousand years with you?"

Tilis tightened her grip on Luo Wei's hand, still stubbornly explaining.

"Luo Wei! I know, I know..."

"You don't like quiet places; you like bustling, lively ones!"

"In that case, why don't we create life here together?!"

Luo Wei widened his eyes, "Huh?"

Tilis's ethereal form flickered, and she shyly looked down.

"We can stay here, create life together, have many, many children. We can be the creators of this world, shaping it into the ideal world in my heart. Wouldn't that be wonderful..."

Luo Wei looked at Tilis, who was blushing, and couldn't help but rub his forehead with a sigh.

Truly hopeless...

"Don't you like this...?" Tilis could feel Luo Wei's emotions and looked down disappointedly.

"Do you not like creating life with me... or do you not like this world?"

Luo Wei sighed, "The latter."

"Oh..." Hearing this answer, Tilis felt a little less heartbroken.

She looked up again, cautiously asking, "Then let's go back and choose another world?"

Seeing Luo Wei's silent expression, Tilis suddenly remembered something.

She excitedly said, "Take me to your hometown! It must be a wonderful world! It must meet my expectations! Let's settle there!"

Luo Wei smiled wryly, "Who told you that my hometown is a world that fits your ideal? How did you come to that conclusion?"

Tilis was stunned, "Isn't it...?"

Luo Wei smiled faintly, "It’s just your one-sided wishful thinking."

"No, that's not true..." Tilis clenched her fists, "You're lying to me; you must be lying to me..."

"And..." she suddenly frowned, "How did you know that I know...?"

"I just know that you know; don't ask so much." Luo Wei took the lead, pulling her hand, "Since you want to go so badly, I'll show you. Don't regret it, though!"

Before Tilis could react, the scene abruptly changed.

Tilis's eyes widened.

It was a world with a gloomy sky, completely silent like death itself.

"Luo Wei, is this...?" Tilis looked at the person next to her in astonishment.

Luo Wei placed his hand on her shoulder, saying nothing, merely letting her see with her own eyes.

Tilis grew increasingly puzzled, unsure of what Luo Wei was trying to do.

But soon, she witnessed a scene that would stay with her for a lifetime.