Eldritch Horror Theatre

It seemed there really wasn’t.

For a moment, the staff member actually looked like he was trying to recall the traffic laws before he finally gave up.

”But you weren’t like this when you came through earlier. You just stuck that in, didn’t you?”

He didn’t let the matter go that easily, however, and quickly shifted his approach.

”Are you trying to say I didn’t look like I was dying earlier?”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian seemed completely unable to grasp his point.

He really couldn’t say that... It was ultimately just a matter of how fast he was dying.

The staff member choked on his words again. In the end, he just couldn’t bring himself to claim that Fu Qian had looked healthy back then.

”Then why did you do it?”

Still, he refused to give up.”It’s very simple. To emphasize that I’m on the verge of death, and to help you realize it.”

Fu Qian answered without missing a beat.

”So what if I realize it?”

To think it actually had something to do with him... The staff member looked like he was about to snap.

”Once you realize it, you’ll be able to understand why I have to go to the Sanctuary.”

...

When maintaining a persona, one had to ensure consistency from start to finish.

He had already stated his intention to go to the Sanctuary. Using another topic to naturally segue into his reasoning now made the whole affair seem far more convincing.

As for why someone on their deathbed would want to go to the Sanctuary?

It was a matter of faith. Wasn’t it entirely normal for a dying man to seek spiritual solace?

Beyond that, it could even be explained as a form of euthanasia—when a person was beyond saving, they might simply choose to lose themselves in boundless pleasure.

”That sounds... quite reasonable.”

Sure enough, it was effective. For the first time, the staff member actually agreed with Fu Qian’s logic.

”So, you’re escorting him?”

But he quickly brushed Fu Qian aside, turning to confirm with Su Gao.

”That’s right.”

Everything was playing out exactly as Professor Fu had predicted. Strictly following his previous instructions, Su Gao nodded in agreement.

”So that’s how it is...”

It seemed the staff member had finally reached the decision-making stage. He stopped interacting with the two of them and simply muttered to himself.

This process didn’t even take very long—

”I’m sorry, but I can’t let you pass.”

...

There was no greater emotional rollercoaster than this.

The situation had looked incredibly promising, and their communication had been thoroughly harmonious.

Yet, after a moment’s deliberation, the staff member outright denied them entry.

”How sorry?”

Despite the sudden twist, the two people involved didn’t seem to react much.

Su Gao remained completely expressionless, and Professor Fu—who was supposedly in a rush to his death—didn’t even drop his smile, casually keeping up the banter.

”It looks like I really should believe you... unfortunately, your reasoning still falls just a bit short for me.”

The staff member frowned deeply, carefully articulating his inner conflict.

”After all, sharing a vehicle, finding a local for cover, and trying to sneak through the checkpoint together—there have just been too many groups like yours lately.”

His gaze fell on Su Gao. It was clear he didn’t doubt her identity, which made this particular combination far too classic a trope.

”Who said ’we’?”

The moment his voice faded, the man in the driver’s seat fired back with an exaggerated tone.

Glancing toward Su Gao with feigned surprise, Fu Qian seemed utterly shocked that the staff member would even entertain such a thought.

”She was just worried I’d get lost and escorted me here. I’m crossing over by myself.”

Oh?

This claim was clearly unexpected, leaving the staff member momentarily stunned.

”Is that true?”

It was obvious he didn’t fully trust Professor Fu’s words. After a moment of hesitation, he directed the question to Su Gao.

”It’s true.”

Seemingly equally surprised that Fu Qian was planning to proceed alone, Su Gao looked over at him before nodding, continuing to follow his earlier instructions.

...

This was for the best. If they really crossed over together, it would simply be too exhausting.

Meeting Su Gao’s gaze, Fu Qian maintained his smile, signaling her not to worry.

Having gone to the trouble of bringing a powerful bodyguard out of the Dark Sanctuary, splitting up now was, in theory, an enormous waste.

After all, if he had wanted to act alone, he wouldn’t have needed to go through the trouble of getting Li Min to open the door—Su Gao could have just sent him out herself.

But that was only on the surface. One couldn’t forget the core issue that remained unresolved—did Su Gao actually believe Professor Fu wanted to go to the Sanctuary?

Earlier, he had leveraged every possible element to the extreme, yet in the end, he had only managed to slightly tip the scales in Classmate Liushuang’s heart.

As for the others—especially Su Gao, who had followed him out—their inner conflict had likely never ceased.

After all, among all the special guests, she was one of the people who valued Professor Fu’s words the most.

Though she hadn’t said anything along the way, she had merely shelved her doubts for the time being.

If they actually passed the checkpoint together, a cruel choice would inevitably be placed before her.

For instance, if he walked straight toward the Sanctuary, would she try to stop him or not?

Some might argue that since it was now a private interaction between just the two of them, there was no need for Professor Fu to keep pretending; his current words and actions should be taken as the truth.

But one had to remember that the people living in this transcendent world possessed an innate, constant sense of paranoia of being watched. How could she be sure that Professor Fu’s current words and actions weren’t just a performance for some invisible higher entity?

Especially since there was suspected to be a genuine higher entity, Excellency Stomach, right here.

Therefore, Su Gao certainly didn’t dare to make such assumptions.

Ultimately, crossing the checkpoint would turn into an agonizing crossroads for her.

Fortunately for Fu Qian, he had planned from the very beginning to have Su Gao stop here.

He was even able to use this to create a slight twist in expectations, acting as the final straw to break the staff member’s stubbornness. It had already served its purpose perfectly.

”Tell her to get out. You can pass by yourself.”

It seemed his plan had truly worked.

After a silence far longer than before, the staff member finally stepped out of his booth.

...

”Thanks for your hard work.”

Seeing the first traffic cone being moved aside, Fu Qian winked at Su Gao, signaling that she could rest now.

”Alright.”

His previous instructions were still in effect. Su Gao merely nodded in agreement, not saying another word, nor attempting any tedious melodramatic insistence on going with him.

Not bad.

Naturally, Fu Qian was very satisfied with this reaction. It was obvious that worrying was one thing, but it wasn’t hard for Su Gao to figure out that staying behind was for the best.

On one hand, it saved her from agonizing over her choices. On the other, since she couldn’t distinguish truth from lies, following him any further would only be detrimental. It was better to let Professor Fu operate alone, free from interference.

”Welcome.”

By the time Su Gao stepped out of the vehicle and stood by the side of the road, the path had already been cleared.

It was hard to say how much goodwill the staff member harbored toward Fu Qian, but looking at his ghastly state, he still managed to offer a polite word along with a gesture indicating he could pass.

”Thanks.”

Fu Qian casually returned the pleasantry, resting one hand on the steering wheel as he stepped on the gas.

Come to think of it, if what lay ahead was truly the sea of mind, would that mean Classmate Su Gao had finally succeeded in leading the way during this experiment, after so many previous failures?