I'm Not A Drama God

Chapter 5: Gray Realm · "Gray Realm Convergence?" · The term existed in Chen Ling's memory; the original soul must have seen it somewhere. · "Don't tell me you've forgotten the Gray Realm too." Doctor Lin stood up, poured the fresh blood from the tea mug into the drain, and spoke slowly. · "Before the Great Cataclysm, a hypothesis was proposed: that infinite space-times exist in parallel within this universe. These space-times were formed at the birth of the earliest universe, like rays of light released after a candle is lit, spreading in all directions. But because the light is infinite, they extend endlessly toward all possibilities and never intersect." · "But after the crimson meteor streaked across the sky, everything fell into chaos." · "Every space-time was stirred into fluctuation. An unknown and eerie gray world began to overlap with the real world." · Doctor Lin finished washing the mug but did not pour out the water. Instead, he set it on the table. Because he used some force, the surface of the water inside the mug rippled and surged. · Doctor Lin tore off a scrap of paper and held it above the waves. The surging ripples began to soak the paper, spreading from unevenly distributed small water stains until they gradually permeated the entire surface. · "At first, only a small portion converged. But as time passed, more and more areas overlapped. The matter and creatures of that world began to appear in ours. In fact, the vast majority of what were once human habitats have been occupied by that world, leaving only nine 'Domains' to shelter humanity and keep the embers of civilization alive." · "Because the sky of that world is gray, we call it the 'Gray Realm'." · "When the Gray Realm converges with reality, it produces a series of eerie events beyond comprehension. Even monsters belonging to the Gray Realm descend—what we call 'Calamities'." · "Generally speaking, among survivors who encounter a Gray Realm Convergence or are attacked by a Calamity, eighty percent suffer from mental derangement. Most of them never 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 Convergence and been caught up in it?" · Facing Doctor Lin's inquiry, Chen Ling tried his best to search the original soul's memories, but in the end, he found nothing... No matter how he tried to recall, he couldn't remember anything else from last night. · "I don't know," he said bitterly. · Doctor Lin pondered for a moment, took a sheet of letter paper from a drawer, and began writing rapidly. · "Your situation is no longer as simple as mental illness... I'm just an ordinary person; I can't cure you. · However, I know someone who might be able to help with treating Gray Realm Contamination Sequelae. · After all, he is a true 【Doctor】." · Hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Chen Ling's eyes. "Where can I find him?" · "He lives in Aurora City, but he usually enjoys traveling to provide free consultations. I hear he goes wherever there are difficult and complicated cases. This is their Path to Godhood... · Anyway, give this letter to the Law Enforcers at the gate of Aurora City and leave your name and address. They will forward it for you. · In three days at most, that 【Doctor】 will take the initiative to come looking for you." · "Thank you so much!" · Chen Ling took the envelope and thanked him sincerely. · In fact, when he saw the salt grains melting on the way here, Chen Ling had already felt that something was wrong. What was happening to him didn't seem explainable by illness anymore. He had come to this small clinic partly because he was already halfway there, and partly because he truly didn't know where else might be able to help him. · From what Doctor Lin said, this 【Doctor】 seemed to be someone 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 Doctor Lin's description, all of humanity should have died out during the so-called Great Cataclysm and Gray Realm Convergence. · Chen Ling even felt that the distorted level of science in this world might be related to the Great Cataclysm as well. · "No need for thanks. Give my regards to your brother." Doctor Lin smiled slightly. · "He's still hospitalized in District Two... I'll pass it on the next time I visit him." · Chen Ling stood up to bid Doctor Lin farewell and pushed the door open to leave. · As that figure gradually disappeared under the sky where the Aurora Light flowed, Doctor Lin's eyes narrowed slightly. · "An Opera Performer, is it..." · "The first time I saw the screen in the dream, the Audience Expectation Value was 29%." · "When I was trying to run for my life, it jumped to 30%." · "On the way here, it regressed to 27%..." · "Just now, when Doctor Lin was pranked, it rose back to 29%." · "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 was bleak. Chen Ling wrapped his thick cotton robe tightly around himself, thinking seriously as he walked toward home. · Stage, Audience, Expectation Value... Every time the Expectation Value increased, it seemed to be accompanied by an event. Could these events be seen as "plots" on a 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 when the Audience Expectation Value falls below 20%, the actor's personal safety will not be guaranteed... · Chen Ling didn't know what the specific danger was, but seeing as the "Audience" could interfere with reality to some extent, he might end up as a tool for them to vent their anger, pranked to death by some Sleight of Hand! · Chen Ling felt his line of thinking was correct, but to prove it, he needed to take action. · "Maybe I should try to actively design a 'plot'." · Chen Ling muttered to himself. · "Ling, have you had breakfast yet?" · Chen Ling turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with a towel wrapped around his head fanning the stove in a roadside breakfast shop, calling out to him warmly. · The moment he saw him, an idea suddenly flashed through Chen Ling's mind. · "Not yet, Uncle Zhao." The corners of Chen Ling's mouth curled up slightly as he walked toward the shop. · "Come, come, I'll get you some soy milk and fried dough sticks. It rained heavily last night and the dampness is heavy; you can't go without some breakfast to warm your body." Uncle Zhao walked over with 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. · "Uncle is treating you to breakfast. How can I let you pay?" · "Don't be like that, Uncle Zhao. Even though we've been neighbors for over a decade, we should still settle accounts properly." · "You kid. Uncle doesn't want your money. When you have time, help our little Zhao Yi with his studies more. Uncle will bring you breakfast every day." Uncle Zhao grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. · "Hasn't he already graduated? He still needs tutoring?" · "With his grades, he can't even get a job assignment. I'm planning to have him repeat the year. He can't just do odd jobs every day, can he?" · "Oh..." · "Ling is still the best—smart and filial. If Zhao Yi could become a Law Enforcer like you one day, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams." · Uncle Zhao sighed deeply. "Unfortunately, that boy just isn't motivated." · Chen Ling's hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up: · "Uncle Zhao... do you know why Zhao Yi's grades are so bad?" · "Huh? Why?" · Chen Ling was about to say something, but then fell into a long silence. He shook his head. "Forget it, Uncle Zhao. Just pretend I didn't mention it... I promised him I'd keep it a secret." · "Don't do that!" · Uncle Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He reflexively added a marinated egg to Chen Ling's bowl, scratching his head in anxiety. · "Ling, I know you're Zhao Yi's good friend, but some things... I, as his father, need to know a little, right? I raised Zhao Yi all by myself, working from dawn to dusk to earn money for his schooling, just so he could have a better life later... · If you know something, you must tell me! It's all for his own good..." · Seeing Uncle Zhao's urgent questioning, Chen Ling seemed slightly moved. He struggled for a moment, as if he had made up his mind. · "Uncle Zhao, you're right. As a friend, I really can't bear to see Zhao Yi fall into such depravity..." · "De-depravity? What exactly happened to him?" · "He's in a relationship." · "Huh?" Uncle Zhao was stunned. "That kid actually has that kind of charm?" · Chen Ling took a bite of the fried dough stick with a straight face and calmly spat out three words: · "With a man." · [END]