Chapter Forty: Silent Night

In the distant future, everything holds countless possibilities, yet the present stands at a crossroads where one must choose a particular future.

If a certain future leads to destruction, but the present strongly leans toward that future, perhaps some messages or interventions from that future might be received.

A female Terminator, clad entirely in leather, her hair nearly jet black, yet on her delicate cheeks, her eyes were striking—silver-gray, giving an immediate impression that she was not human.

The temporal machinery behind her showed signs of damage, but the Terminator paid it no mind. She picked up some equipment, a silver metal sword strapped to her back, and silently left the landing zone. This journey held no intention of return.

Stepping out from the deep pit nestled in the mountain pass, she knew everything about the past, even the life trajectories of everyone at her destination with absolute clarity.

Thus, appearing in the right place at the right time would suffice to complete the mission.

There was no enemy, no interference from the future to stop the Terminator’s existence.

As the banquet concluded, Li Fengyin and Shen Liangxin also paused their steps. Pang Wei and Su Yuxian were already eating fruit at the periphery of the dance early on. Now, as the night deepened, it was time to disperse.

“Welcome back to Lin’an Lake Manor,” Su Hai stood at the head of the table. “Should I return again, I hope to join all of you in striving for the prosperity and strength of China!”

This was the aura of Asia’s wealthiest man.

Upon departure, Li Fengyin once again took Shen Liangxin’s blue-purple Ferrari, while Pang Wei met with Su Hai alone. Thanks to Su Mingyu’s intervention, no conflict erupted.

Su Yuxian was taken away separately by Su Hai.

As for Ains Connor and Shen Shenghua, the two drove to a nearby mountain villa.

Regarding the arrival of the Terminator, even Li Fengyin’s fragmented memories held no information. Such painful glimpses into memory would not come again for another two or three days.

The Terminator with silver-gray eyes approached the location where Ains Connor was.

It was precisely due to Connor’s theories that America veered off its original course, ultimately causing global imbalance and the destruction of the entire world.

Much like decades ago, when a madman declared that fifty thousand coins could only buy a single loaf of bread, plunging the world into a vast and devastating war.

But in the future, the most terrifying thing was not war itself, for survivors always existed. Rather, it was a more dreadful reality that robbed all hope of living—or even dying.

If death was both an escape and a solution, the people of the future had lost nearly all options, including the option of death.

As mentioned before, each of us lives on Earth; Earth resides in the solar system; the solar system lies within the Milky Way; the Milky Way exists in the universe. But where, then, is the universe?

How does one distinguish reality from illusion, the present from the past and future?

The only answer: all exists within a nightmare. The place where humanity dwells is nearly the best possible one.

That hopeless future, even the world itself had fallen into an endless nightmare.

“Professor Connor,” Shen Shenghua asked as they settled into the car, “What do you think a living person fears most?”

“Probably death,” the professor replied uncertainly. “It’s something every living being dreads.”

At that moment, Shen Shenghua sat behind the wheel. Strangely, Ains Connor could not drive, apparently due to some childhood psychological trauma.

“No,” Shen Shenghua answered simply. “If after death there is happiness, joy, and peace, do you think life would still fear death?”

“...” Professor Connor fell into a brief silence before saying, “You mean that what life fears is not death itself, but suffering, torment, and pain?”

One must admit, as a world-renowned professor, his comprehension was formidable.

“Yes,” Shen Shenghua nodded. “The next three years will be very difficult. Perhaps everything will come to an end. We will lose all futures and be trapped in endless pain, torment, and misery.”

“This is a secret,” Shen Shenghua started the car and spoke softly. “Don’t tell anyone.”

In fact, upon hearing this, Professor Connor became utterly convinced that it was true.

“Then what do you need me to do? I’m just an economist.”

The car ascended a winding mountain road, heading to a remote mountain villa. This stretch was sparsely traveled.

As the car moved forward, a sudden loud bang sounded, as if something had fallen onto the roof. Then, a silver metal sword abruptly pierced through the car’s roof!

The long sword missed both Connor and Shen Shenghua, but in the next moment, it ripped toward the edge of the roof!

The steel roof seemed like a sheet of paper under the force of the silver sword.

Shen Shenghua slammed on the gas and the brakes, steering sharply, his first instinct to shake off whatever had landed on the roof!

That sword was too dangerous. If Connor had been sitting in the passenger seat, he might already have been killed. Now the right-side door detached from the body, falling onto the road behind them.

The Terminator on the roof maintained her balance, gripping the sword with one hand and clutching the dent in the windshield frame with the other. Faced with this reckless driving, she could only barely hold on.

However, after rounding a bend, the road straightened with no room for maneuver. The Terminator finally stood upright. Having destroyed the passenger side and rear, only the driver's seat and rear seats remained!

Standing atop the car, she raised the silver metal sword and plunged it down!

The sword pierced through the steering wheel. The vehicle teetered on the brink of losing control, and although Shen Shenghua repeatedly hit the brakes, the car continued veering toward the roadside—beyond which lay a vegetated slope.

“Connor!” Shen Shenghua shouted. “Jump!”

In the next moment, the two leapt from the car just before it tumbled into the ravine!

After a roll, Shen Shenghua sustained some scrapes, while Connor was more battered, struggling to stand but seemingly unharmed.

As the vehicle crashed down the slope, Shen Shenghua caught a clear glimpse of the attacker’s appearance. The sword was lodged in the car, which had reached the mountain’s base amidst broken vegetation and rising dust.

Shen Shenghua helped Professor Connor up quietly, whispering, “Not human, though bearing a human appearance.”