Chapter 3, Alienation

Yet the narrow human brain, how can it accommodate such vast information that can encompass the entire universe? It can only accept, but cannot halt, thus a sense of impending explosion from accumulated pressure naturally arises

Lunar eclipse

His mind spun incessantly like a stuck CD, and the discomfort of oxygen deprivation compelled him to take deep breaths. After a while, he finally recalled that he was not in a hotel, but in his own residence. Several classmates had already left, returning to their own life paths.

Thinking of this matter, Lu Yan quickly searched for his mobile phone. The newly purchased Xiaomi phone was on the bedside table. He picked it up to check the time, which had just passed 9 in the morning

Just as I was planning, I saw Tao Yan walking out of the bathroom with a worried expression, holding a mobile phone in hand

Not long after, when they finished their shower, Xiao Jingming and Shi Gui came to invite them for breakfast. After a casual tidying up, they left the hotel with a few people and arrived at a nearby breakfast shop. Having drunk too much the previous day, they all felt nauseous at the thought of greasy food, so they ordered a light bowl of fish porridge. Tao Yan, however, showed great interest and ordered an additional serving of the famous shrimp rice rolls from the south.

How again

After a moment of petty joy, Lu Yan finally realized that the air quality in his room was extremely poor. He truly admired himself for being able to sleep in such an environment—this was a stench that lay somewhere between that of a dead rat and the leftover slop from a restaurant, making one feel nauseous and dizzy.

At this moment, the brain finally begins to function, and the first thought is: Why is it like this again

He felt as if the acid in his stomach was about to surge up, and with a strange cry, he rushed directly to the bathroom. After turning on the water heater and throwing all his clothes on the floor, he increased the water flow and let it pour over his entire body.

In the quantum flow resembling a waterfall, some marvelous symbols and arcs, unseen and unheard, flash chaotically. Countless curves linger in the sky, and suddenly a symbol stretches across the entire chaotic dream... Some words inadvertently emerge in the dream: observer, traveler, wall-breaker, balance master, zeroer, farmer, grim reaper

Hi, these two fellows are seasoned, so they are naturally not drunk. They returned last night around midnight and booked a room next door; they are probably fast asleep now

Oh. Lu Yan felt relieved and did not continue to ask.

The evening breeze brushed past his eyes

Please wait...

He found a large bag meant for storing quilts. He packed the recently changed clothes and the quilt from the bed into the bag, then rolled up the bamboo mat and placed it inside as well. Lu Yan opened all the windows, put on his basketball shorts, and carried all these items to the nearby garbage dump.

His gaze followed the bus as it drove out of the long-distance bus station, gradually receding on the main road until it became a small black dot, disappearing at the end of the distant road. Looking back at this forest of steel and concrete, the faint warmth in the air slowly faded away, and his heart grew increasingly lonely.

"Brother Yan, going to Dongguan is also fine," Shi Gui said, waving his hand and making a strange smile while squinting his eyes. "I have N membership cards, I can take you for a complete experience..."

After finishing breakfast, Lu Yan began to discuss today's itinerary and plans, but before he could finish, Tao Yan interrupted and said that he could not go.

These events are increasingly unfortunate, and the series of misfortunes makes Lu Yan feel as if he has stepped in dog feces. He also thinks that since next year will be his zodiac year, perhaps he should prepare red underwear in advance.

Countless images, news, and information appeared on his retina, only to be obscured and overlapped by a torrent of visuals. This dazzling flow of information seemed to connect directly to his limited and underdeveloped central nervous system

Feeling ashamed, when several friends came to visit him, the host simply lay down and neglected everything.

After brewing a cup of tea and drinking it twice, there was not the slightest improvement, and only then did he realize that the headache was not caused by drunkenness. He struggled to get up, feeling a chill throughout his body. This was an unusual condition; even with his dull mind, Lu Yan could estimate that he must have contracted something akin to a fever or cold.

Xiao Qiang's physical fitness

This bodily function surprisingly still requires the brain to provide reminders, lacking even the most basic instinct for warning.

Lu Yan shook his head with a bitter smile, quickly poured a large cup of water, and gulped it down. Then, he rummaged through the kitchen for several bags of Master Kong instant noodles, and without bothering to cook them, he simply crushed them and started eating.

Why is it like this again

Looking out, the weather is clear, and the sky as far as the eye can see is devoid of any clouds, remarkably azure, resembling the color of a gemstone

I apologize, brothers. Tao Yan picked up his phone and said, "This morning, I received a call from home saying that my grandmother has been hospitalized. The situation is a bit serious, and I need to rush back immediately"

Lu Yan sat up straight, his entire body resembling someone who had just been pulled out of the water, completely drenched.

This bath lasted for an hour, which felt to Lu Yan as long as a century

Lu Yan was still uncertain, so he jumped out of bed and bounced around a few times. All the negative feelings of weakness, headache, and chest tightness that had previously plagued him vanished completely. Although he still felt a bit weak from his recent illness, it was not a serious issue anymore

When his gaze returned to the phone, the numbers on the date burned like scalding red and the branding iron of a book, almost making him want to throw the phone away

This feeling is reminiscent of the sacred hymns in a church, where countless children softly sing, and the melodies float in the spacious room

He knew that these friends had not been together for a long time and were all looking forward to this trip, with Lu Yan even taking a long leave. However, compared to his grandmother's illness, these matters could only be discussed later

He then asked with concern: "What illness does Grandma have?"

Change and eternity are like one body. It seems like ten thousand years, it seems like hundreds of millions of years, it seems like the blink of an eye

Suddenly, his eyes lit up

Lu Yan awoke from an endless terror, his mind a blank, yet a certain enchanting melody seemed to linger at the edge of his ears

After indulging in such whimsical and unfettered thoughts, while feeling lost, a glimmer of insight suddenly flashed through my mind

First came the intoxication, followed by a high fever exceeding the upper limit of body temperature, then a stupor lasting over 70 hours, and upon waking, an unbearable stench enveloped the entire body

Hypertension. This has been a long-standing issue, but this time the episode is quite severe. Therefore, I must return immediately and cannot accompany everyone to the island for fun...陶砚's face was filled with regret

The final image is a point imbued with myriad colors, soaring through the endless darkness

Just now at the hotel, he had already booked a direct flight ticket to Biyun online, and soon he would take a car to the airport in Nanfang City. Without any delay, a few of them returned to the hotel to pack their belongings. Lu Yan hurried back to his residence to change into a new outfit, and then followed the others to take a bus to the nearby long-distance bus station

After taking out the trash, he also took a detour to a nearby grocery store to buy a can of air freshener and a bamboo mat

There is no rush to buy a comforter; the summer nights in Haizhu are so hot without air conditioning that it is of little use for the time being

Lu Yan looked at the fact that this holiday was basically ruined, and without any attempt to retain them, he gave each of them a punch and then continued to send them off to the car to return.

Oh ... ... God

Lu Yan naturally did not believe it; how could it be so exaggerated? However, it also aligned with his own memory; a total lunar eclipse must have occurred.

His tolerance for alcohol has always been low; when he drinks too much, he becomes dazed and completely unaware of what he has done. Later, it seems there was a lunar eclipse, and it also rained. As for how he got back, he has no memory of it at all

Lu Yan asked him while hurrying to the restroom, having drunk too much, naturally feeling a belly full of contents; moreover, with the smell of alcohol and sweat on his body, he found it unbearable and just wanted to wash up quickly

Tao Yan and a few others were somewhat surprised, remembering that Lu Yan was staring blankly at the moon with his eyes wide open, only thinking that he was awake during the total lunar eclipse. It was only now that he realized he had been drunk for some time without even knowing it

Ah, why didn't you say that earlier?" Lu and Tu Shu said in surprise

You must see the tenderness of a lover's gaze

Its hands are sticky like ink, and its heart is cold and immortal

Lu Yan slowly began to reason backward from this point, attempting to string together those fragmented pieces like pearls in a shell, one by one

Thinking of this, I quickly touched my forehead: Oh dear, no fever!

Ah ... ...

Lu Yan found it strange: although he was a grown man, he was very particular about hygiene and diligent in doing housework, so his home was always clean and tidy. How could such a smell possibly arise? After sniffing for a while, he finally realized that the odor was coming from a thick layer of black grease that had somehow appeared on his own body, as well as the dark secretions on the quilt and mat.

That is quite a substantial amount

During the National Day holiday, I will take you to Xiaomeisha to see beautiful women in bikinis...'' Xiao Jingming waved goodbye to him on the bus

Waking up from a hangover, my head felt heavy and painful. I tried hard to recall the events of last night, but only fragmented memories remained. I only remember being very happy, and then that guy Lao Xiao dragged me into drinking some more. By the latter half of our conversation on the lawn, I was already feeling quite dazed.

After a long moment of daze, he finally came to his senses and realized that he was in the hotel room

This sense of explosion differs from the shattering caused by the internal energy of balloons, bombs, and other objects due to surface tension overload. It is not a separation and rupture at the material level, but rather a direct impact on the soul level of personality and spiritual consciousness. All infinite suffering directly affects every thread and every point of self-awareness and sensation.

"Let's talk later, hurry up and release the water." Tao Yan stepped aside to let him pass and said, "You got drunk yesterday, and a few of us helped you back."

By the time he returned home, it was already noon, and Lu Yan's head still throbbed painfully.

The bright morning sunlight filters through the gaps in the curtains and falls onto the bed, illuminating countless tiny specks of dust that are dancing and swirling in the golden light, which are usually imperceptible to the naked eye. The dim yellow wall lamp glows coldly. The room is empty, yet there are faint voices coming from the bathroom.

Close the door, Lu Yan is busy cleaning, and has been at it for more than an hour.

Hello, what is this? We brothers share a bond here, anytime is fine; besides, haven't we met before? When we go home for the New Year this year, we will gather again, and then we can visit our grandmother together, and drink corn wine all night long. Let's go back now, we will see you off.

Fortunately, after having breakfast, we can set off and reach the island by noon. The midday sun is quite intense, so we can relax on a hammock in the woods and enjoy the sea breeze. When the sun moves west in the afternoon, we can go for a swim in the sea. In the evening, we will rent a tent and lie on the gentle beach, surrounded by books and the sky, listening to the whispers of the sea breeze, under the watchful gaze of countless stars, returning to the embrace of nature. What a delightful day.

Lu Yan secretly praised himself, feeling fortunate to have saved a sum of money

No wonder the LED light on this phone is flashing red, and no wonder I felt a sense of weakness akin to recovering from a serious illness when I just got up. Three days have passed without food or drink; it would be strange not to feel weak! Thinking of this, Lu Yan suddenly felt an unbearable hunger in his stomach and a burning sensation in his throat

No, wait, it seems like something is missing

The headache came suddenly and would not leave when called; just as Lu Yan realized he needed to go to the hospital, his eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and he shivered from the cold. Uncontrollably, he hugged the blanket on the bed and fell into a drowsy sleep...

Lu Yan had a strange dream all night long

Shi Gui patted the shoulder of the ceramic inkstone with a sharp sound

* * * * * * * * * *

The endless abyss, where the fear demon dances

As the陶砚 was about to be sent off, everyone lost interest, and Xiao Shi and the others also suggested buying tickets here to return to Peng City

Only after consuming the last few remaining packets of instant noodles at home and drinking two large cups of water did Lu Yan's hunger begin to ease slightly. He understood that a person who has been hungry for a long time should not indulge in excessive eating, as it could easily harm the stomach. He quickly suppressed his intense appetite and began to carefully contemplate the strange events that had occurred over the past few days

"Get lost!" Lu Yan shouted angrily while waving his hand, his heart filled with sorrow.

Upon returning to his residence, he heard a female resident in the hallway cursing while jumping up and down.

I couldn't help but feel puzzled and secretly calculated that I had only been in a deep sleep for a little over three hours. How could this be possible? A mere three hours of sleep managed to bring down a fever of over 40 degrees.

I know. Lu Yan closed the door to free himself and turned back to ask outside: "I am asking about Lao Xiao and A Gui. Are they not drunk? Where are they sleeping?"

Although he perceives the movement of this point to exceed the speed of light, in this endless darkness, there is no speed, no time, and no reference point; this single point seems to be the eternal center within the infinite void

What happened? You look like you've eaten bitter melon. Also, how did you come back yesterday

Tao Yan nodded, refusing without affectation

Haha, today we can go swimming at the beach

On the night of June 2, a rare total lunar eclipse occurred worldwide, and in a state of half-drunkenness and half-awakening, I seemed to witness the most beautiful and marvelous sights, difficult to express in ordinary terms. In an instant, it felt as if a flash of lightning had struck through my mind, and Lu Yan suddenly felt as though the right hemisphere of his brain had been unlocked by an invisible key

He was drenched all over and stood there in a daze for a long time before realizing that his neck was covered in grease

Lu Yan remembered that he had fallen into a high fever due to the strange and - graphic - book, suffering from a severe headache. Without even considering going to the hospital, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep

* * * * * * * *

Body wash, sulfur soap, and laundry detergent were all applied three times; under the impact of hot water, he felt as if he could peel off his own skin. It was only when his skin had been scrubbed to an unhealthy shade of pink, as if it were on the verge of bleeding with just a little more force, that he finally ceased his efforts

It is estimated that when he had just woken up earlier, Tao Yan received that phone call in the bathroom, no wonder he had a frowning expression. He didn't mention it at the time and later forgot to ask. Tao Yan's grandmother, whom several of his classmates recognized, is a kind-hearted elderly lady. Since his parents were very busy with work, Tao Yan was raised by his grandmother from a young age, and their bond is naturally very strong

Vast starry sky, endless firmament. The expansive universe, the dark forest, countless civilizations

Pain

Muffled voices came from the bathroom, and it was Tao Yan's voice. Lu Yan called out to him, but received no response. He got out of bed and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains. Sunlight streamed in, instantly brightening the room significantly

It is only 18:30 to check on the phone

All things fall in an instant, and what follows is a rapid descent into the abyss of darkness

Once again, the jasmine-scented air freshener was sprayed everywhere, its strong fragrance causing me to sneeze repeatedly, and only then did I pause. Noticing that the sky outside had darkened, I finally remembered to check the time

A full three days have passed

After the waiter finished serving breakfast, Lu Yan asked about yesterday's situation while eating

An overwhelming stench assailed him, severely testing Lu Yan's capacity to endure

The immense pain cannot be mitigated through fainting as a form of self-protection; it can only be clearly experienced through the mind, breaking and being reborn, being born and breaking again

foul smell, nightmare, high fever, sending someone off, sweating, nightmare, drunkenness, eating, picking up Lao Xiao and A Gui, playing games in an internet café ... eating and drinking, picking up Tao Yan ...

If this pain could be exchanged, Lu Yan would rather have his head shattered into molecules than endure this explosion that directly affects the deepest and most essential part of his soul

Lu Yan patted his head, silently reviewing the events that had occurred over the past few days, one by one.

The lingering foul odor still resides within the nostrils

Looking at myself, I am still in yesterday's clothes, reeking of a pungent smell of alcohol

Shi Gui described the phenomena of a lunar eclipse to Lu Yan in an extremely exaggerated manner, using phrases such as "three stars obscuring the sun," "ten stars in a chain," "the sky darkening and the earth dimming," and "all beasts returning to their nests." This caused several people to nervously cover the edges of their bowls, fearing that the splattering saliva would fly into their porridge.

Damn it, June 7!

Why? Several people were puzzled and found it strange how this statement suddenly came about