"This... how is this possible?" Shen Jingqi's voice trembled slightly; he felt his worldview being completely overturned.
"I know it's hard to accept, but that's the reality." Li Baiyu's tone was firm and calm, as if stating an undeniable truth, "Our world is far more complex and fragile than we imagined. And that organization, they possess the power to manipulate the time axis to achieve their goals."
Shen Jingqi felt a wave of dizziness; he braced against the nearby wall, trying to calm himself down. He recalled the science fiction novels he had read, which often depicted time travel. But those were just fictional stories, he never thought such situations would happen right beside him one day.
"I'll take you to meet someone."
Li Baiyu glanced at Shen Jingqi's phone screen; it showed a book on quantum mechanics.
Shen Jingqi's heart raced; an inexplicable intuition told him that this person might be connected to everything he had been experiencing. He agreed without hesitation.
The two got off the vehicle.
They passed through a dim alley, walking to a wide street.
However, when he stopped and looked around, he found that all the vehicles had disappeared without a trace. The street was only illuminated by dim streetlights, everything seemed so calm and ordinary.
Shen Jingqi looked up, noticing a bookstore at the street corner still lit. As he approached, he saw the bookstore sign read "Time Gap."
He pushed the door and walked into the bookstore, a faint scent of books greeted him. The store was filled with various books on time, history, and science fiction. Shen Jingqi wandered through the bookshelves, somewhat puzzled.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind him: "Baiyu."
Shen Jingqi turned abruptly, only to see an elderly man with a sharp gaze standing behind him. He recognized the old man—a retired professor said to have profound insight into time theory.
"Professor Xu, how are you here?" Shen Jingqi asked in surprise.
The old man smiled slightly and gestured for him to sit down: "I've been waiting for you. For everything you've experienced, I know the answers."
Shen Jingqi's heart sank; he felt he was about to uncover an amazing secret. He couldn't wait and asked, "What is going on? Why do I feel like the world around me keeps changing?"
The old man sighed and spoke slowly, "Everything you've experienced is not an illusion. The time axis of this world is indeed being quietly altered. But all of this is not due to natural causes; it is intentional intervention."
Shen Jingqi's eyes widened; he almost couldn't believe his ears. But the old man's tone was firm and calm, as if stating an indisputable fact.
"That organization," the old man continued, "they have the power to manipulate the time axis. By changing details of the past and present, they attempt to achieve some unspeakable goal. And you, Dr. Shen, you have become one of their targets for some reason."
Shen Jingqi felt a wave of dizziness; he leaned on the bookshelf, trying to calm himself. He recalled the books he had read, the patients he had encountered, and the mysterious figure in a black cloak. Everything seemed to confirm the old man's words.
"Then... what should we do?"
The old man patted his shoulder as a gesture of comfort: "Don't be afraid, Dr. Shen. You're not alone. I've contacted several others who are also caught up in this conspiracy; we're finding a solution together."
Shen Jingqi looked up, his eyes shining with hope: "Then... can we succeed?"
The old man smiled slightly, a hint of mystery flashing in his eyes: "As long as we don't give up, one day we'll find a breakthrough. Remember, Dr. Shen, time may be manipulated, but the truth can never be buried."
After saying that, the old man handed him a thick book; the cover read "Secrets of the Time Axis." Shen Jingqi took the book, feeling a surge of inexplicable courage.
He's no longer fighting alone. Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet
He would join others entangled in this conspiracy to uncover the truth of the time axis and rescue himself and the world from dire straits.
"We have to go back."
Although Shen Jingqi felt a bit reluctant.
Yet rationality told him that staying here would be futile; it's better to go back and find a way to solve all these mysteries.
However, just as Shen Jingqi was about to leave the bookstore, he suddenly felt a strong wave of dizziness. He held onto the bookshelf, trying to maintain his footing. But the world before him began to blur, books on the shelf, the old man's figure, and even the whole bookstore seemed to be consumed by an invisible force.
"Jingqi, what's wrong?" Li Baiyu noticed Shen Jingqi's unusual state and hurriedly came forward to support him. Her voice filled with concern and anxiety, but Shen Jingqi could no longer clearly respond to her.
The wave of dizziness grew stronger, as if an invisible force were pulling him into a bottomless vortex.
The world before him started to blur; the books on the shelf lost their physical form, turning into fleeting light shadows. The old man's figure gradually vanished into the mist, leaving only a vague and profound silhouette. Shen Jingqi felt his consciousness being stripped away; he tried grasping something, but everything seemed so unreachable.
Shen Jingqi concentrated his mind, attempting to resist the wave of dizziness. But at that moment, a stronger force abruptly pulled him into a different place.
When Shen Jingqi opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar environment. Surrounding him were misty fogs, making everything in sight unclear. He attempted to stand up, but discovered his feet seemed shackled by invisible chains, unable to move.
"Where is this?" Shen Jingqi wondered to himself; his voice echoed through the fog, sounding hollow and distant. He looked around, trying to find some familiar sign, but everything was so strange and eerie.
Just then, a deep and hoarse voice sounded in the fog: "Welcome to the Time Gap."
Shen Jingqi tried to break free from the invisible chains binding his feet, but no matter how hard he tried, it was futile. At that moment, he noticed some glimmers flickering in the fog. He cautiously approached these glimmers, looking for clues.
As he got closer to the glimmers, he discovered they were composed of countless tiny time fragments. Each time fragment carried a piece of memory from the past or foresight of the future. Shen Jingqi felt a shock and curiosity; he reached out to touch these time fragments, attempting to glean useful information.
However, when he touched the time fragments, a strong electric-like sensation instantly coursed through his body. He felt his consciousness beginning to blur.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a completely different environment. Around him was a bustling urban scene, towering buildings and bustling traffic. He felt a sense of bewilderment and confusion, not knowing where he was.
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded in his ear: "You finally woke up."
Shen Jingqi turned abruptly; he saw Li Baiyu standing beside him, with a smile of concern and delight on her face. He felt a surge of excitement and warmth, like finding a long-lost family member.