Chapter 41: Awakening

  Section 1

  The monk was tied to an iron chair, and several Tibetan special soldiers were interrogating him with severe torture. The monk's body had no good place left after being whipped by leather straps, but the whip continued to swing back and forth, each stroke accompanied by a splash of cold water. Every lash brought out mournful cries, and when one person got tired, another took over. Even when the person stopped, the whip didn't stop, and there was always someone with their hand on the electrical switch. When the whip was raised in mid-air, he would flip the switch, and an electric current would rapidly pass through the monk's body, lighting up a lamp at the other end. The monk's entire body convulsed, his jaws clenched tightly, and his teeth chattered loudly. An officer walked over and said in Tibetan:

  "Aren't you going to tell me who you are?"

  "I am a lama? You can't treat me like this! You will go to hell."

  "Buddha won't protect you, a traitor like you, just confess honestly!"

  "I am a lama! You group of devils, you will eventually go to Avici Hell and never be reborn!"

  The officer picked up a red-hot branding iron, smiling sinisterly, and slowly approached the monk step by step. The officer was laughing, the monk was laughing...

  "Ah..."

  Li Wei suddenly woke up with a start, sat up straight and looked out the floor-to-ceiling window in front of him. The azure sea sparkled outside, warm sea breeze caressed his face, making him feel refreshed and invigorated. Li Wei yanked off the IV tube, threw off the bed sheet and stood up. He clearly felt himself becoming lighter, as if he had lost a lot of weight. A nurse in white uniform rushed to his side, beaming with joy and said:

  "You finally woke up, did you know? You've been asleep for a whole month."

  "Where am I?"

  "Tiān Yǔ Shānzhuāng is the best sanatorium in all of China. Normally, only national leaders and high-ranking foreign guests can come here."

  "Why am I here then?"

  "Hehe, you're in the most ordinary room here!"

  "Can I speak with your person in charge?"

  "He's almost here, I notified him as soon as I found out you woke up."

  "In which state am I?"

  "This is Cape Island."

  At this time a man who looked like a doctor came in and warmly shook hands with Li Wei.

  "Liu, you go out first, I have something to discuss with Ashan."

  "What are two big men talking about! Still gossiping behind others' backs."

  The little nurse pouted and left.

  "Hello, Shān Pào, my codename is Zhang Liao. Fourth-level special doctor, specifically in charge of therapeutic treatment for special consultants."

  "How is the monk?"

  "Still missing, he has not contacted the company and has not leaked company secrets. Don't you ask about your own body first?"

  "I want to know where the monk is?"

  "It should be in Tianzhu, where Tibetan exiled believers gather."

  I'm going to go find him back.

  "Haven't you noticed your own changes? Figure out your own situation first!"

  "What's wrong with me? I seem a bit quiet, I used to talk a lot."

  "Don't you know what's happening to yourself?"

  "The last memory was like searching for the monk's footprints."

  "Right, you've done terrible things, have you forgotten them all?"

  "What's wrong with me?"

  You used the "Tianwang" to search for the monk and the traitorous lama, and most of the followers were found, but there was no news about the monk. You continued to use the "Tianwang" for several days and nights without quitting, even though it would damage your brain if you didn't shut it down manually. Bluetooth repeatedly advised you to quit and rest, but you refused. The devices under your control increased in number, and you kept loading more. Even the unmanned aerial vehicles of the Tubo Military Region were forcibly called up by you, and all automated facilities were connected to you. After searching within the country yielded no results, you actually wanted to extend your reach into Tianzhu Country, which could have led to war and national disputes. In desperation, your superiors ordered Bluetooth to forcefully shut down the "Tianwang". Before shutting it down, you had even loaded the missile system; if it hadn't been closed in time, war would have broken out. In the end, you were shut down along with the "Tianwang", and you fell into a deep coma and were sent for treatment. After Bluetooth restarted the "Tianwang" and connected his brain to it, he started searching again but fainted as soon as he did. From then on, no one dared to start up the "Tianwang" again.

  "How is Bluetooth?"

  "He was unconscious for two whole days, and the first thing he did when he woke up was to forbid anyone from using 'Tian Wang' again, except for you."

  "No need to use it again, go straight to Tianzhu, I don't believe anyone can stop me."

  "Don't you know what state you're in right now? Your vital signs aren't very stable, and you can't carry out tasks until you recover normally."

  "I think I'm still okay."

  "I suggest you take a seven-day leave to go home and rest, then undergo rehabilitation training, and finally take a test before deciding whether to carry out the task."

  "I'm going home, I really should go home."

  "The monk's situation has other special advisors following up, don't worry. Before going home, do you want to take a walk on Haikou Island? This is a world-famous tourist destination, the scenery..."

  Li Wei stared at him speechlessly, his eyes extremely sharp. Zhang Liao saw that he was like this and immediately changed the subject.

  "I'll go arrange a charter flight to Youzhou for you right now. Shanpao, prepare to take a few days off, I'll report directly to the higher-ups."

  "Seven days!"

  "Alright, I'm off then. See you later!"

  Section 2

  After getting off the plane, Li Wei's car was ready and he wanted to drive back home himself. After getting in the car, his phone connected automatically with the vehicle system, which indicated that his vital signs were normal and he could drive or use the autopilot mode. Li Wei wanted to drive himself, speeding on the highway to vent out his emotions. If possible, what he most wanted to do was fly above the clouds, diving down freely and climbing up freely. The disappearance of the monk made him feel particularly oppressed, this being his first time encountering a setback that put his life in danger. No matter how great one's abilities or strength, if they can't protect their loved ones, what's the point? Li Wei had never been someone who lived to save the world. He went shopping and bought many things for his parents, thinking that spending more money on them was a way of showing filial piety, just like many others who couldn't often be at home to serve their parents. Only when one becomes a parent themselves do they understand that all parents want is for their children to live well, come back home frequently, and that's it.

  The cars driven by special advisors are generally very low-key, the license plates are not flashy, and they look ordinary in every way, but their performance is absolutely abnormal. After getting on the highway, Li Wei's foot never left the accelerator, overtaking, cornering, radar, mobile phone butler, nothing could make him slow down. The people who were overtaken by him were terrified, this was not a car, it was simply a jet plane flying on the highway.

  After getting off the highway, Li Wei had to slow down on the narrow cement road leading to his hometown. As he passed through familiar villages, the poplar trees along the roadside were still the ones he had planted when he was in elementary school, and they had now grown into towering trees. On the rural roads, groups of cows, sheep, ducks, geese, and yellow dogs chased after flower cats, and when they saw the car coming, the livestock didn't run away either. When Li Wei honked the horn, they scattered in all directions, startled. Li Wei's mood improved a lot, and he intentionally or unintentionally adjusted himself, thinking that no matter what, he couldn't go home with a sour face. Li Wei looked up and saw that his hometown was just ahead, and if he looked closely, he could even see his house. However, he still had to pass through another village and make one more turn before arriving home.

  After dinner, Li Wei's father went out to play mahjong. Li Wei accompanied his mother to watch TV. It was after 6 o'clock and there were no good TV shows on. Several channels were broadcasting gossip news and entertainment reports. When he saw that they were going to broadcast the news about Li Yanyan, Li Wei turned up the volume. On TV, bodyguards were protecting Li Yanyan, who had a big belly, and Pan Yingchun, as they avoided being photographed by paparazzi while leaving in a car together. Li Wei was shocked: How did she get pregnant? Was it...

  "Nowadays, young people are really something. This Li Yan is actually going to marry a girl and says he's coming out of the closet. He even wants to have a test-tube baby and go to the US for childbirth. If I had a daughter like this, it would be the death of me!"

  "Mom, you still remember these things?"

  "It's just a pity you didn't make it onto CCTV, Dawei, next time you find a girlfriend, you have to let us take a look first."

  "Mom, you're anxious again. I'm too busy with work now and don't have time for romance either. I'm running around all over the place, who would be with me?"

  "You're almost 30, can't be slow, you're doing well now, definitely look down on the girl introduced by your mother's matchmaker, I won't bother you for now, before you turn 30, you must bring a daughter-in-law home to me."

  "Hehe, don't worry, mom, I'll try my best. If all else fails, I'll just bring back a big grandson for you first."

  "Don't be like this, okay? If your dad doesn't spank you, I will."

  Li Wei secretly said in his heart: Mom, the child in Li Yan's belly might be your grandson.