In a doctor's conference room at the mental hospital, Lawless sat across the long table, one hand supporting her, the other clenched loosely and placed near her mouth.
She recalled:
"Actually, I've only known Audick for less than two years, through a friend.
"He's a 'High Hunter,' and I know what that means. Before I officially met him, I thought he would be arrogant or rude, but the reality wasn't like that."
Shang Jianyao, Jiang Baimian, and the others didn't interrupt, watching Lawless move the loosely clenched hand from her mouth to her ear, tidying the strands of hair that fell from her temples.
Her tone unknowingly softened:
"He's very polite, not the kind of fake, superficial politeness, but the kind that genuinely respects a person...
"He has enough knowledge, experience, and strength. No matter what he does, he's calm, confident, organized, and unhurried. He can solve almost everything that I find quite difficult, making people unconsciously rely on him and trust him...
"He's very gentle, not just saying it. He remembers every one of my hobbies, knows what I don't like and what I hate, and always arranges everything to my liking before I even realize it...
"If he hadn't confirmed it himself, I wouldn't have believed that he had been a Ruins Hunter for more than ten years, wandering in the wilderness for a long time, and killing many bandits...
"He's proud of being a Dream Keeper and feels that he's contributing to the continuation of all of humanity...
"He likes children very much. We plan to have a child next year, and as citizens of 'Initial City,' we can get a birth subsidy...
"He hates stimulating smells, especially things with a vinegar taste...
"He's very responsible and never shirks...
"He keeps his promises. After promising me that he wouldn't take on very dangerous tasks or go to very dangerous places, he really never did again..."
As she spoke, Lawless's eyes became a little vacant, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
Shang Jianyao opened a black soft-covered notebook in front of him and used a fountain pen to scribble down what she had just said.
When she finished speaking, he said:
"Can you talk about some specific details of your time together?"
Lawless hesitated for a long time before continuing to recall:
"Although he's a 'High Hunter,' he hasn't saved up much money and supplies over the years because his religious order has many truly needy followers, and he's always willing to help.
"Before we got married, he was worried that I would mind this, so he specifically took me to meet those people and understand their lives.
"Although my parents both have decent jobs in Initial City, I'm not completely ignorant. Among my neighbors, people often lose their lives due to 'Heartless Disease,' war, bandits, and various diseases, causing entire families to become impoverished. Several of my childhood playmates have disappeared because of this.
"I remember that day, I said that I understood you and was willing to support you, as long as you don't sacrifice your family and yourself for it, I can not only accept it, but also help you. He was so excited, he hugged me tightly, as if he wanted to melt me into his body..."
Lawless recalled bit by bit, making Audick's image clearer and more three-dimensional in the minds of Jiang Baimian and the others.
Finally, Shang Jianyao stopped recording and smiled at Lawless:
"What you've described will be very helpful for the subsequent treatment. I'm going to try it now.
"Of course, you have to stay away to avoid stimulating him."
"Okay." Lawless nodded with anticipation in her eyes.
The "Old Task Force" of five returned to the third floor, back to Audick's ward.
The crazed "High Hunter" sensed movement outside and rushed to the iron door again, shouting loudly through the small hole:
"Let me out! Let me out!"
Bang, bang, bang, the sound of him pounding on the iron door was incessant.
When Audick calmed down a little, Shang Jianyao looked deeply into his eyes and said in a low and mellow voice:
"You are Audick, a 'High Hunter.' You are very polite, not the kind of fake, superficial politeness, but the kind that genuinely respects a person...
"You have enough knowledge, experience, and strength. No matter what you do, you're calm, confident, organized, and unhurried. You can solve almost everything that others find quite difficult, making people unconsciously rely on you and trust you..."
He repeated Lawless's words almost exactly, only adding extra descriptions in some places and changing the pronouns.
As Shang Jianyao's voice echoed, Audick calmed down completely, listening with a slightly dazed expression.
Long Yuehong and Bai Chen finally understood what Shang Jianyao's so-called treatment method was:
"Mind Implantation!"
Jiang Baimian watched in silence, without trying to stop him.
"You are a Dream Keeper of the 'Dawnlight,' you are fighting against danger in dreams, guarding humanity... The way you express your intense feelings to your wife is by hugging her tightly... You plan to have a child next year... You will not attack relatives, friends, and innocents, nor will you use your abilities on them, unless they threaten your life..." After an unknown amount of time, Shang Jianyao finally completed the retelling and weaving, in a lengthy way with many details.
Audick's eyes behind the iron door gradually cleared, and he slowly sighed and said:
"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you.
"I didn't expect to see you again in this state. I haven't been back there since I left Wildgrass City."
I'll be damned... Audick remembers us? Although he went crazy before, his memory wasn't damaged? Long Yuehong watched in astonishment.
Shang Jianyao smiled:
"This world is always full of surprises, don't worry too much about it.
"The person who needs your comfort the most right now is your wife. She has been in pain for you all day and is constantly looking for ways to heal you."
Audick nodded:
"I feel very guilty about this."
"It's good that you understand." Shang Jianyao turned his body to the side and shouted loudly:
"Mrs. Lawless, you can come over!"
In just a few seconds, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the stairs.
Lawless, wearing a dark skirt and trousers, rushed over at a fast trot.
She looked at Audick behind the iron door and noticed the tenderness on his face.
"Oh, darling, are you really okay?" Lawless raised her hands and covered her mouth.
Her eyes turned red uncontrollably, and her emotions became very excited.
Audick replied softly:
"Sorry for making you worry.
"I'll be more careful in the future and won't be stubborn in the face of nightmares.
"I understand that I'm not alone anymore."
Lawless's tears flowed down:
"It's okay, it's okay, it's good that you're okay! I, I'll go find the doctor and have him come and check, just to make sure!"
She was afraid that this was a beautiful dream that would wake up if punctured.
Thump, thump, thump, Lawless ran towards the doctor's office.
Long Yuehong looked at her back, then looked at Audick, wondering if the latter was really no longer crazy.
He couldn't help but ask:
"What did you see in the nightmare?"
Audick's expression behind the iron door twisted instantly, and his eyes became vacant.
He murmured to himself:
"A person on the left, a person on the right, with a small photo frame in the middle.
"One of your eyes is big, and the other is small, you're not a good person, let me dig them out for you."
After repeating it twice, Audick's gaze swept over Shang Jianyao and the others at the door.
He immediately restrained his abnormal expression and said sincerely:
"I'm sorry, I can't provide you with any useful clues."
This was very polite and calm enough.
Long Yuehong stared blankly, listening, unable to speak.
He inexplicably felt that the wind in the corridor was full of coolness.
At this time, Shang Jianyao responded to Audick.
He raised his arms, tilted his body slightly, and looked at the void:
"Everywhere is a dream, why be serious?"
After saying that, he turned his body and walked towards the stairwell without looking back.
Even when he met Lawless who was coming over with the doctor, he didn't stop.
............
In the jeep, Shang Jianyao sat in the back row on the left, silent for a long time.
Long Yuehong looked at the sky and said:
"Where to now?"
Jiang Baimian already had a draft in her mind and said calmly:
"Drive around Golden Apple District and Red Wolf District a few times, and then find a safe house in the place where Xiao Chong rented before.
"We won't go back to Olive Green District tonight, hoping to get rid of the 'Nightmare's' attention."
"Okay." Bai Chen thought this was very safe.
The jeep drove for a while, and Genaiva patted Shang Jianyao on the shoulder, offering his advice:
"Actually, you don't need to be so anxious, you can collect more information and build an Audick behavior database through me.
"That way, after re-recording it, you can deal with most situations."
Shang Jianyao listened quietly, then suddenly laughed.
He opened his arms again, tilted his body slightly, and said with a smile:
"Everywhere is a dream, why be serious?"
ps: Asking for monthly tickets at the beginning of the month~