Chapter 1984

"According to Jiang Haochen, after they entered, Andre found the building where the information was located."

"He gripped the steel bar in his hand tightly; although theoretically there should be no danger, as soon as he entered the hospital, Lin An felt a strong sense of oppression."

"He stopped, Lin An quickly scanned the surroundings, and his gaze soon fell on the sign."

"While fleeing for his life, Jiang Haochen didn't have time to say many details, but Lin An could also infer from the information how Andre had found the information point then."

"\"The ghost carrying its head chased them; if they came to the hospital, they must have seen clues related to the hospital. And the clues likely also mentioned the injured, or rather, the condition of the headless ghost's former self. Otherwise Andre wouldn't have judged so quickly... \""

"\"So... the mind-body building? \""

"Seeing that the sign happened to have the words 'psychosomatic department', Lin An raised his eyebrows and proceeded without hesitation according to the map."

"\"Because of limb deficiency, so mental problems? \""

"\"Could it be that the head was blown off? No, impossible.. that's too fake.. \""

"\"However, in Jiang Haochen's description, besides mentioning the ghost carrying its head, he didn't mention anything else. That indicates that the headless ghost had no limb deficiency? Otherwise he would have a deep impression and give a related description. \""

"\"So... the headless ghost's deficiency is the five senses? \""

"Without Sen Tian Zhenyi's information, Lin An quickly went through various possibilities in his mind, although everything was just speculation. But if Jiang Haochen were here, he would probably marvel at the accuracy of his judgment."

"Although Lin An didn't act together with them, just through his few words, he guessed eight or nine out of ten correctly."

"Footsteps sounded quickly."

"Without wasting any time, Lin An suppressed his guess; in just a few minutes he passed through the inpatient areas of various departments and headed straight for the psychosomatic department."

"Soon, as a small building with only seven stories appeared before his eyes, Lin An felt certain, instantly confirming his judgment was correct."

"The reason is nothing else; he merely glanced and noticed the words 'Research Institute' on the top floor of the building."

"\"Blocked at the door by the headless ghost, pursued. \""

"\"That means Jiang Haochen and them could not have been blocked by the headless ghost on a low floor, three or four stories high, where they could just jump out the window. \""

"\"Only high floors make it difficult to jump out the window, and Jiang Haochen's legs show no signs of injury... \""

"\"Thinking this way... it's obviously the top floor. \""

"He slightly nodded, Lin An turned his wrist, still gripping the steel bar in his hand, and walked straight toward the lobby."

"Unlike when Jiang Haochen was still wasting time on the previous floors, Lin An, after confirming his train of thought was correct, went straight up to the top floor."

"If nothing unexpected, the clue point is in the top-floor research institute."

"As expected."

"Less than half a minute later, as Lin An cautiously went up holding a gun, an extremely clear scream from the top floor instantly pierced his ears."

"\"Ahhhhh!!! Pain!!! Too painful!! \""

"Exactly the same as the situation Jiang Haochen encountered then."

"Lin An's pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze instantly locked onto the source of the sound."

"There's sound!"

"Although theoretically there shouldn't be a ghost at this time, Lin An still had to be on guard!"

"But soon, about six or seven seconds later, Lin An felt certain again and started moving."

"(It's the sound of a TV... and it's being replayed..)"

"A bluish light shone through the stairwell gaps; as Lin An slowly went up to the seventh floor, a TV hanging in the research institute's lobby came into his view."

"On the TV, a staff member wearing a white research uniform was facing the camera, explaining."

"Behind the researcher was a middle-aged person tied to an operating table."

"\"As you can see, in psychiatry, there is a type of patient whose condition is extremely special. \""

"\"After losing part of a limb, they often still believe their limb hasn't disappeared... \""

"\"The hallucination produced by this cognitive error is called phantom limb syndrome... \""

"Standing in the dim lobby, Lin An's eyes flickered as he watched the content playing on the TV."

"Perhaps this scene is somewhat eerie and gloomy, but for Lin An, he actually breathed a sigh of relief, confirming his train of thought was correct!"

"\"Phantom limb? \""

"\"No head, won't die? Is this the information Andre got? \""

"Looking at the researcher on screen raising his sleeve and shaking it, Lin An pensively lowered his gaze to his own right hand, thinking quickly."

"The good news is his judgment wasn't wrong; the information here indeed appears related to the headless ghost."

"The bad news is.."

"He also finds it somewhat difficult to understand the connection."

"No one is sharing his train of thought with him; Lin An frowns tightly, feeling he can't grasp any clue at all."

"\"Phantom limb, no head means no death. Andre thinks he can also be like a ghost, not dying without a head? As long as he imagines he has a head, even if the head falls off, it's still there? \""

"Even if Lin An combines all the knowledge he previously obtained, he still doesn't feel there's a hint of completion."

"Andre's idea is definitely wrong; he proved it with his own death."

"\"No head definitely means death; we died like that in front of the light door. \""

"\"Eyes.. camera.. different angles.. artistic completion.. imagination definitely exists.. with cognition you can see.. phantom limb.. \""

"\"What exactly is the connection among these? \""

"Walking slowly toward the TV, no matter how he combines the information he can't reach a conclusion; his heart feels a faint oppression, as if he knows everything but is missing a single thread to tie it together."

"\"After losing the head, does one still firmly believe they can see things, hear sounds, smell odors? \""

"\"If one firmly believes, does that mean they still have a head? Even if they see their own head fall off, it's fine? \""

"\"No.. wrong.. If that were really the case, Andre would only open the door if he realized he could firmly believe this; otherwise he wouldn't open the door. Moreover... can this really be done? It has no relation to other cognitions.. \""

"\"Is that inserting a camera into the neck as a head? Taking the camera as one's own brain? \""

"\"No.. wrong.. what about hearing and smell then? \""

Again and again, he denied his own guesses.

He walked up to the TV; Lin An almost pressed his face against the screen, earnestly pondering every possibility.

"Could it be that we need to start from a different angle?"

"Hearing, smell, and the like are essentially just observational tools. One can perceive things without eyes...!? Likewise, any of the five senses can be replaced in many ways."

"Phantom limb... means imagining a whole new organ so we can still perceive the outside world, replacing the brain!? Like divination, tossing stones with the hand can also 'see' the world!"

"But what about thinking ability? No... this line of thought is basically correct!"

A thought flashed and vanished; Lin An suddenly froze, feeling as if he had grasped the tail of the problem.

"Without a head one cannot live, but if we could still have a head, simulate a head, we could live!?"

His heart pounded wildly; before Lin An could suddenly realize this line of thought might be correct, the next second his gaze instantly noticed the plug behind the TV.

"Not plugged in?"

"If plugged in, what would appear?"

In an instant, Lin An, as if possessed, couldn't help but place his hand on it.

His intuition told him that the truth he had been painstakingly seeking lay within.

Just...

Perhaps that truth would also be cruel enough to drive one mad.