Chapter 253 - Qimen Dunjia (1/2)

For the third time, we plunged into the darkness and Lin Feng’s voice came, asking how should we go. I stood there, unmoving and thinking, until I finally decided. “Whatever direction would hardly matter now. We can take any direction and the result will be just the same.” And before I waited for any response, I began walking aimlessly.

Before long, we saw once again the door lighted by two lanterns again, exactly the same as before.

But this time, I took out my cell. The time was three in the morning. We have been walking in the dark for more than two hours.

With a deep breath, I pushed the door and it swung open, revealing the same scene outside: the cold air, the dim street lamp and the creepy and quiet road outside. But I did not stow away my cell. In fact, I had been paying attention to the time when I walked through the door. Indeed! Just when we were outside, the door swung on its hinges on its own quietly and the time showing on my cell phone began to dial backward quickly! By the time the door fully clicked shut, the time on my phone had returned to half-past midnight again.

This must be it, the crux of whatever this is we’re stuck in. The moment when we passed through the door! If there was one thing I finally became certain of, it was that everything around us was a facade! An illusory facade meant to keep us lulled and distracted! Because no one, not even demigods, could alter time! Even Father, for all his might and omnipotence, could only travel through time but not manipulate the flow of Time of the real world! This would be against the fundamental laws of nature. Hence, I became absolutely certain, that we were not in the real world, where the manipulation of real time is impossible. We were now inside an artificial pocket dimension where its time-flow could be controlled!

The look on my face gave Lin Feng the impression that I have noticed something. “Have you realized something, Shiyan?” he asked anxiously.

I tried explaining to him what I found, although he could not fully understand me. “What do you mean by controlling time-flow and passing through time?” “The former refers to the manipulation of actual time itself. The time of the real world around us. Passing through time would be simpler. It’s like how Master Six can pass through time freely. Both are essentially different; the latter is just a matter of bewitching a person or an object. But controlling time flow is the manipulation of the actual time around us. The actual time of the world! Do you think anyone is capable of this? No one!”

“I see!” Lin Feng finally got it, slapping his forehead in dawning comprehension. “So, the villa and everything around us is part of an artificial construct?” “Seems like it. We were wrong in thinking that we have walked out of the house when, in truth, we had not walked out at all ever since we first walked through the front door. We exited the real world and entered this artificial pocket dimension after knocking and walking through Unit 104’s front door and we’re still trapped inside now.”

Lin Feng threw a look at the door which just clicked shut. “Wait, now that you’ve mentioned it…” He went up to the door and banged on it.

Just the same as before, Cao Xuedong appeared on the second time Lin Feng banged on the door. Ignoring him outright, Lin Feng growled, “Cut the crap. Lead us in now.” Cao Xuedong was visibly confused. But he offered no protest. He turned and said, “Come on in then.” After that, he disappeared once more.

But Lin Feng did not walk inside. He thrust a finger at the door suddenly. “Wait, Shiyan! The door opens to the inside. Was it the same just now?” I froze and felt goosebumps all over me! He’s right! The door opened outward when we came out just now! But whenever we entered the house, Cao Xuedong would pull it inward!

I rubbed my chin, mumbling ponderously, “So the door is the conduit to two different spaces. The pocket dimension inside and the real world outside. Or, they are different doors, although they look the same.” Lin Feng leaned on the doorframe, resting while he allowed me to think.

Wait. So everything changes whenever we pass through the door… The door…

Then it came to me. Door… If there is something in Chinese topographical magecraft that involves door, that could only be it… Bamen Dunjia!