116: They imprisoned the author, but they could not imprison the spark of the story

Blue Star, Municipal Mental Health Center, Library, Afternoon.

...So, I think Gu Jianghan’s backup plan for Humanity is definitely more than just that bell!

Lin Wan’er lowered her voice, her fair index finger excitedly drawing circles on the table.

He must have left some other ‘cheat’ for the great author!

Her eyes sparkled, as if holding an entire galaxy.

Sword River Fish looked at her, the corners of his mouth curving upwards involuntarily.

These were some of the few moments in recent days when he could feel a sense of “respite.”

Ever since that day, after Lin Wan’er agreed to help him.

They reported to Dr. Liu, requesting “exchange time” in the library every afternoon, using the seemingly proper yet utterly absurd reason that “patients need readers for humanistic care therapy.”

Unexpectedly, Dr. Liu actually agreed.

He seemed to believe that allowing a “patient with severe fantasy disorder” to have deep contact with his “source of fantasy” was a “desensitization therapy” that could accelerate his recognition of “reality.”

Thus, this quiet library, almost deserted, became their “revolutionary base” for plotting their “escape.”

“Friday night, my dad is on night duty.”

Lin Wan’er pretended to flip through a copy of “Guide to World Classics” while quickly speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“There will be a thunderstorm that night; I’ve already checked the weather forecast.”

“At that time, the surveillance camera at the end of the third-floor corridor will briefly show static due to aging wiring. It will last for about thirty seconds.”

“I’ll take advantage of my dad going to the power distribution room to check, and I’ll steal his universal access card and a caregiver’s uniform.”

“You change into the clothes, use the access card, and go down the fire escape. That’s the only blind spot for surveillance.”

“I’ll be waiting for you at the back door. My electric bike is parked there.”

Her plan was clear, meticulous, and carried a calmness unsuited to her age.

Sword River Fish listened quietly, a warm current welling up in his heart.

How long had it been since he experienced this feeling of being “cared for,” of having his future “planned” by someone?

It seemed like it had never happened since he could remember.

...And you?

He looked at her and asked softly.

You helped me, what will you do? Your dad...

Don’t worry.

Lin Wan’er winked at him playfully.

My dad is very forgetful. I’ll just say he lost the card himself, and then I’ll act a little spoiled, and the matter will pass.

As for the uniform... I’ll say I accidentally got it dirty and took it home to wash.

In short, I have a way to handle it!

She patted her chest, looking confident, as if to say, “leave it to me.”

Sword River Fish looked at her, opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

Ultimately, a thousand words condensed into three of the most pale, yet most sincere, characters.

...Thank you.

Do we still need to say that between us?

Lin Wan’er waved her hand and smiled gently... As time passed.

Their plan, through repeated secret discussions, became more and more perfect, more and more seamless.

Sword River Fish also, during this oppressive yet exciting time.

Developed a wonderful camaraderie with this girl, two years his junior, a bond that transcended author and reader, almost like “comrades in arms.”

They would hide in deserted stairwells, using the faint light of their phone screens to discuss Chen Yuan’s upcoming path of revenge.

“I think the Great Emperor shouldn’t just directly ascend to the Divine Court and kill!”

Lin Wan’er puffed out her cheeks, analyzing with a serious expression.

“Even at his peak, he couldn’t defeat a clone of the Lord of the End. Facing him head-on would definitely lead to death!”

“Hmm, you’re right.”

Sword River Fish nodded in agreement.

“According to my outline, he will first go to the ‘Abyss of Sin’ in the Human Realm to find a ‘Humanity Sacred Relic’ that can restrain the Fallen Immortal Path.”

“Wow! A Humanity Sacred Relic! What is it? Is it a divine artifact like the scythe of the eternal elegy?”

Curious stars twinkled in the girl’s eyes.

“Something like that.”

Sword River Fish smiled, keeping them in suspense.

“However, that sacred relic has already been polluted. To purify it, it requires a ‘goodness’ even purer than all the ‘evil’ in the world.”

“What is that?”

“It’s the tears a mother sheds to protect her child.”

...

Lin Wan’er was stunned.

Then, her eyes immediately turned red.

“Teacher Jian... you... you want to hurt me again...”

Sword River Fish looked at her adorable expression, daring to be angry but not daring to speak, and couldn't help but reach out, wanting to rub her head, just as he used to comfort Ningxue.

But halfway through, he retracted his hand as if electrocuted.

He was just a “madman” trapped in a mental hospital.

And she was a blossoming young girl with a bright future.

He couldn’t, and didn’t deserve to, defile this one light in his life.

Lin Wan’er had just composed herself and didn’t notice Sword River Fish’s abnormality, continuing to speak.

“Teacher Jian, quickly tell me, what exactly were you thinking for the later plot?”

“Will Emperor Chen Yuan really turn dark because of Ye Ningxue’s death?”

“And that Gu Jianghan, is he really a good person? Why do I feel like he’s even scarier than Gu Jianghan?”

Looking at her adorable, eager-to-learn expression.

Sword River Fish’s heart was about to melt.

He began to tell her about the magnificent world that existed only in his mind.

He spoke of how Chen Yuan reforged the human race’s battle flag from the ruins.

He spoke of how Gu Yanci struggled painfully with the divine personality while playing the role of the Lord of the End.

He spoke of how the other members of the Joint Squad cleverly navigated among the various evil gods in the World of Evil, like top-tier actors.

Lin Wan’er listened, utterly captivated.

Her expression, as he narrated, was sometimes tense, sometimes sad, and at other times she would exclaim in genuine admiration over a clever foreshadowing.

At that moment, Sword River Fish felt as if he had transformed back into the “god” who could control everything.

And she was his most devout, and only, “believer.”

They talked about the plot, about the characters.

As they talked, they also discussed each other’s lives.

For the first time, Sword River Fish recounted his desert-like childhood to someone else.

He spoke of the perpetually insufficient meals at the orphanage.

He spoke of the perpetually cold blankets on winter nights.

He spoke of how he relied on a pen and a notebook to create one “companion” after another, with whom he could fight side-by-side, in that world without light.

Lin Wan’er listened quietly, without interrupting or offering comfort.

After he finished speaking, she simply gently pushed the bottle of iced cola, which she brought him every day, towards him.

Then, with eyes brighter than the stars, she looked at him earnestly and said.

“Teacher Jian, you won’t be alone anymore.”

“Because you still have us.”

“And us readers who love your stories and your characters.”

After speaking, Lin Wan’er shared some interesting anecdotes from her “normal world” with him.

For example, the history teacher at school.

Who always had a stern face, was actually a hidden “cat lover.”

For example, the student in the next class.

The “iceberg school hunk” famous throughout the school, a few days ago, lost a bet and was forced to dance a segment of “Gokuraku Jodo” in front of all the teachers and students.

Sword River Fish listened quietly, with a gentle smile on his face that he himself hadn’t even noticed.

He felt that his heart, long since riddled with holes by loneliness and despair.

Was being slowly refilled by this girl, with sunshine and warmth, little by little.

He even had a delusion.

If... if there hadn’t been that damned ‘story.’

If he were just an ordinary online author who made a living by writing.

On a sunny afternoon.

Would he meet a girl like this at a book signing, her eyes sparkling, telling him, “Great author, I absolutely love the stories you write”?

Then, they would add each other on WeChat, discuss the plot together, and...

“Teacher Jian? Teacher Jian?”

The girl’s voice pulled him back from his fantasy.

“You zoned out again.”

“Ah... sorry.”

Sword River Fish came back to his senses, scratching his head a little awkwardly.

“I just thought of a new plot point and got lost in thought.”

He told a lie, a huge lie.