RNP Chapter 44: Zhang Chulan's Soul Astral Projection!
Chapter 44: Zhang Chulan's Soul Astral Projection!
Inside the laboratory on the second basement floor of the villa.
This is the previous timeline.
Zhang Chulan sat stiffly in a specially made metal chair, his heart pounding in his chest.
He watched helplessly as the intelligence chief walked towards him with a strangely shaped "helmet".
That thing is made of some kind of matte silver alloy and a translucent light-guiding material.
The interior is filled with a dense network of fine, hair-like pipes, which are now shimmering with a pale blue and green light, like the blood vessels and nerves of a living thing.
This thing... it looks really weird!
The thought of being forced to undergo the so-called "body tempering" experiment last time was unbearable. It was an inhuman torture that felt like every bone was crushed, every nerve was ignited, and my soul was screaming in agony.
A tremendous fear, originating from the depths of my bones, instantly swept over my entire body!
Although the result that time was certainly pleasing...
Physical strength skyrockets, and recovery ability improves—but the process…
He was afraid that if he did it again, he would be driven to idiocy by the pain!
"Little... Little White..." Zhang Chulan's voice trembled without him even realizing it, his eyes fixed on the Minister of Magic.
At least this clone of Lu Xiaobai looks more "harmless":
"Are you sure... this is just a regular brainwave test? No... no, you're not going to give me another 'surprise'?"
"Like suddenly increasing the power to shock the soul or something?"
The Minister of Magic, who was adjusting a floating light screen next to him, looked up when he heard this.
That face, which always had a slightly dazed look, didn't have any extra expression. He just nodded casually and even tilted his head slightly.
Seemingly wondering why Zhang Chulan was making such a fuss: "Um, no. It doesn't hurt."
Looking at the Minister of Magic's calm and composed demeanor, which seemed completely natural and without any pretense,
Zhang Chulan's heart, which had been in his throat, finally felt as if an invisible hand had gently pressed it back down, and it slowly settled back into his stomach.
Perhaps... I'm just overthinking it?
Xiao Bai can be a devil at times, but he's a man of his word... right?
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Zhang Chulan steeled himself and allowed the intelligence chief to firmly place the cold, glowing helmet onto his head.
A faint suction sensation came from inside the helmet, as if countless tiny contact points were gently adhering to his scalp.
The expected excruciating pain did not occur.
Instead, a persistent, subtle tingling sensation arises, as if countless tiny static electricitys are jumping and swirling on the scalp.
It didn't hurt, but it felt very strange.
It felt like countless ants were gently crawling in his brain, making his scalp tingle and his temples throb slightly.
"Relax a bit, Zhang Chulan, the recording has begun."
The Minister of Magic's somewhat timid voice rang out from the side.
Zhang Chulan tried hard to stay awake and try to understand what the device was doing.
But the continuous, low-frequency static stimulation seemed to have a hypnotic effect; my vision began to blur, and the monotonous buzzing of the instruments in my ears gradually lengthened and became distorted...
Under the Minister of Magic's bewildered gaze and the Minister of Intelligence's focused notes.
Zhang Chulan's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, his consciousness sinking into a warm, viscous liquid, until it finally slid completely into darkness.
……
He felt as if he were floating in a boundless, warm ocean.
My consciousness was hazy, as if I had a very long dream.
In his dream, he clearly "saw" deep within his body a pure ball of light, radiating soft white light, like that of a newborn baby, curled up.
The ball of light, carrying an indescribable sense of tranquility and satisfaction, slowly unfolded, extending invisible tentacles that gently yet firmly took over every corner of his body.
An unprecedented and complete sense of tranquility enveloped him.
All the vigilance, all the scheming, the feeling of being constantly monitored since childhood, the weariness and fear hidden deep in my heart... all dissipated like the receding tide.
This feeling... is so wonderful.
It felt as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, and the soul felt so light it could fly.
No more living such a tiring life, no more wearing a mask, no more worrying about tomorrow... If only I could just keep sinking like this forever...
"Do you want to continue fighting...?"
boom--!!!
A calm yet penetrating voice suddenly exploded like thunder deep within his chaotic consciousness!
That voice... it's that white figure!
The person who gave him the right to choose again when his will was on the verge of collapse and he wanted to give up all resistance!
It was like opening the floodgates of memory.
Countless fragments of images and sounds surged and assaulted his consciousness:
"Zhang Chulan, how many times have I told you? You can't use these skills on outsiders. Are you trying to drive me crazy?" — His father Zhang Yude's angry and stern voice seemed to be right next to his ear.
"Zhang Chulan, I was wrong. Please come back with me, I beg you." — Feng Baobao's expressionless plea echoed in the corner of her memory.
"Chu Lan..."—Grandpa's kind voice called out.
"Zhang Chulan?"—The Minister of Magic asked softly.
"Zhang Chulan..." — Countless faces, filled with concern, reproach, and expectation... intertwined.
And that white-clad figure, speaking calmly:
"So, try to choose the path that you'll have no regrets and no worries about..."
These words, like the only rope hanging in the darkness, echoed in his ears again and again with unwavering strength, pulling him back from the brink of despair!
Me...hehe...
So, it turns out, there are still people I care about... So, there are still people who care about me...
It's not the empty tranquility of deities, but the real warmth of being bound, needed, and remembered.
Zhang Chulan's consciousness struggled violently in the darkness, and the temptation to fall into depravity was torn open by a strong sense of belonging.
He didn't want to run away anymore!
Even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, or endless troubles, he accepted it!
He suddenly "opened" his eyes of consciousness!
However, the sight that met his eyes instantly made him lose his senses, and a phrase from a national treasure blurted out:
"Holy crap!!!"
He found himself floating in mid-air!
It hovered near the ceiling of the laboratory like a ghost!
What really terrified him was that right below him was his own body!
However, the condition of that body...
It's an absolute human tragedy!
His body was being "served" by the Minister of Intelligence and the Minister of Magic!
The once lively figure of the intelligence chief now seemed to be burning with astonishing rage in his eyes.
With a slight thought, a giant alchemical hammer made of dark blue energy appeared out of thin air and slammed into Zhang Chulan's right leg with a whistling sound!
*Snap!* A sickeningly crisp sound!
"Waaaaaahh ...
The "Zhang Chulan" on the ground let out a heart-wrenching, childlike scream, clutching his broken leg and rolling around on the ground.
The Minister of Magic stood to the side, his hands moving swiftly to cast a spell, a soft emerald light precisely enveloping the severed leg.
As the light shone, the bones realigned, the flesh healed, and the broken leg was instantly restored to its original state!
That speed is even faster than the most advanced healing abilities!
However, this is by no means mercy!
Just as his broken leg was being healed, the intelligence chief's alchemical hammer came crashing down again!
Click!
"Awooo—!!!!!" An even more piercing wail rang out.
The Minister of Magic, expressionless, once again raised his hand to perform healing. Then the Minister of Intelligence smashed it again!
This seemed to have become some kind of recurring torture!
Even more terrifying, the Minister of Magic was muttering incantations while receiving treatment:
"Pain perception threshold... increased by 300%... Soul pain connection... enhanced synchronization..."
As a strange, distorted gray energy shot from his fingertip into the body of "Zhang Chulan" on the ground, the figure that was rolling around and crying suddenly froze!
Next second,
An indescribable, excruciating pain, exceeding the limits of human endurance and seemingly acting directly on the very essence of the soul, erupted forth!
"Wa ...
That was no longer a wail, but a hysterical scream that seemed to tear the soul apart!
The sound was so high-pitched and mournful that it almost drowned out the roar of all the instruments in the laboratory!
"Don't you like to play around?" The intelligence chief's cold voice rang out, filled with undisguised anger and a Frankenstein-like ruthlessness.
"How about we see if this is fun?"
He waved his hands repeatedly, and countless miniature magic circles, each with a different light, lit up and then went out in front of him!
In an instant, all sorts of strange and bizarre small-scale spells poured down on Zhang Chulan, who had just recovered from his leg injury and was still catching his breath:
A thick, smoky liquid was poured over his head—"Concentrated Acid Washbasin!"
Zhang Chulan covered his face and rolled around frantically, his skin making a "sizzling" sound.
Then, out of thin air, a bunch of wriggling, colorful, and finely hairy illusory caterpillars appeared and covered his entire body—"Mental Pollution: Caterpillar Sashimi"!
Zhang Chulan was so terrified that he screamed and frantically slapped himself.
Finally, a fine, weak current, like a high-voltage grid, flows through the entire body in an instant—"Neural Stimulation and Whole-Body Electrotherapy"!
Having just enjoyed sashimi, "Zhang Chulan" convulsed violently and foamed at the mouth from being electrocuted.
The Minister of Magic stood by, like a precise assistant, constantly casting quick healing spells and... "Pain Awareness Enhancement"!
Ensure that the "Zhang Chulan" on the ground can experience the "fun" brought by each "toy" clearly, deeply, and to the fullest extent.
"Let you enjoy playing! Let you play!" The intelligence chief's voice was as cold as a knife.
The "Zhang Chulan" on the ground had completely collapsed. His cries turned into incoherent sobs and choking. His body curled up in a ball, trembling, due to instinctive fear and excruciating pain.
The sight of that miserable and desperate state made even Zhang Chulan, the floating soul, feel waves of phantom pain as if he were experiencing the same pain!
What the hell is this drawing?!
This eerie feeling is exactly like watching a terrifying, uncensored, high-definition horror movie with yourself as the main character, playing on a loop!
It's an extended version, rated 18+!
Just as the soul form of Zhang Chulan felt a chill run down his spine, his scalp tingle, and he almost vomited—
"Huh? Zhang Chulan, you're awake?"
A clear, calm, and slightly questioning female voice suddenly rang out from behind his soul form.
Feng Baobao!
She raised her head at some point, her large, clear eyes, which seemed to reflect the soul, staring intently at the...soul form Zhang Chulan floating near the ceiling!
brush--!
In an instant, it was as if the pause button had been pressed.
Offstage, Xu San and Xu Si, who were covering their eyes with expressions of "unable to bear to look," suddenly lowered their hands and stared in disbelief at Feng Baobao's gaze as she looked up into the air.
Inside the arena, the intelligence minister, who had just summoned a bunch of "screaming beetles," paused, his eyes flashing rapidly with a stream of dark blue data.
The Minister of Magic, who was applying the "Double Itching" spell to the puddle of "mud" on the ground, also stopped, and a rare look of... astonishment appeared on his usually dazed face.
All eyes were focused on Zhang Chulan, the soul floating in mid-air, looking completely bewildered as if he had seen a ghost!
"Holy crap?!"
The spirit form of Zhang Chulan unconsciously blurted out another famous quote.
Her voice trembled with disbelief, "I...I'm not dead?!"
He looked down at the "himself" below, tortured beyond recognition, still instinctively sobbing.
Looking at the gazes of everyone around him focused on his "soul," a huge sense of absurdity and relief at escaping death intertwined, causing his mind to completely shut down.