Chapter Four: Could There Truly Be Gods?

"I really have no idea what’s going on," Wu Ming said helplessly.

"I see," Director Baolong replied, as if suddenly enlightened. It seemed this man was indeed an expert in such matters. "Your deity hasn’t fully awakened yet, has it?"

"What?" Wu Ming was a bit confused.

"Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of this. I understand how these things work. You’re gifted with what we call ‘immortal fate.’ Back in my hometown in the northeast, we call it ‘riding the celestial horse’; around here, you call it ‘inviting the spirit to possess you.’ I know all about it. You fell into a coma for a long time because a great spirit possessed you, right? And then you gained some special abilities no ordinary person has, didn’t you?" Director Baolong spoke in all seriousness.

"Director, didn’t you say you don’t believe in superstitions?"

"Of course! This is science! Let me put it in scientific terms. I personally believe that deities are just life forms of a higher dimension than ours. From my years of research, I see them as entities in a state of pure spirit. People like you have brainwaves that happen to align with the frequency of these spiritual entities. It’s only natural that you’re fated to connect with them and are particularly suited for merging with such beings. If you encounter one, the fusion happens as a matter of course. You could say they dwell within your sea of consciousness, or perhaps you absorb them, and they become part of you. After that, you gain special abilities. Scientifically, you’d be called an ‘esper.’ You’re truly a lucky one!" Director Baolong even looked at him with envy.

"Of course, as far as I know, people only develop these powers after special circumstances—emotional upheaval, near-death experiences, moments of crisis, brain trauma, or sudden enlightenment, and so on. But I think in most cases, those are just triggers for activation. If someone has already merged with a spiritual entity, subtle abilities might appear even in daily life. For example, you might suddenly be able to see auras. Take myself, for example—right now, I can hear Fatty cursing me from dozens of meters away, through several walls, wishing I’d be done in three seconds on the bed. Even with all that distance, I can hear him as clearly as if he was next to me. Before you came, didn’t you say something about me, that Director Baolong only relies on connections and puts on a false front?"

Director Baolong smiled. "My name is Fang Baolong. I know you all call me Director Baolong behind my back, but it doesn’t bother me at all." Wu Ming hadn’t even noticed when the director lit a cigarette, but now, with a determined gesture, he stubbed it out in the ashtray. "I’ve never told anyone about my ability to hear distant sounds. I simply don’t want others to know I’m aware of what they’ve said or how they might have talked about me."

For a moment, Wu Ming felt utterly weary, his heart cold and heavy. Did this mean they had no privacy at all? He’d often grumbled about the director behind his back—just a moment ago, in fact, he’d said quite a few things he shouldn’t have. Now he was in trouble, and there was truly nothing good about a loose tongue.

Director Baolong gave a slight smile and continued, "I won’t pursue what you just said about me. If people care too much about what others think, life becomes unbearable. It’s only natural for employees to talk about their leaders—after all, I spend my days grumbling about the head office and the shareholders. It’s human nature and nothing to worry about. However, I do need your help. Use your aura-sight to tell me how I can resolve the romantic entanglement between my lover and my wife!"

"Well, to be honest, Director, I can indeed see two strands of rosy energy on your forehead, twisting around each other, even locked in battle. But aside from seeing these things, I truly don’t understand anything else," Wu Ming replied, his fondness for the director growing much stronger after this open conversation. He realized it wasn’t a big deal and decided to be straightforward.