Multiple Personalities

As the Masked Man finished speaking, Shen Jingqi entered a brand-new world.

Before his eyes appeared a vast grassland, under the blue sky and white clouds, groups of cattle and sheep were leisurely grazing. In the distance were towering mountains, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a paradise.

Shen Jingqi looked at all this in surprise, unable to believe his eyes. He tried to touch the cattle and sheep with his hand, but his hand passed through their bodies, as if they were mere illusions.

"What is going on?" Shen Jingqi asked in horror, his heart filled with confusion and unease.

Suddenly turning his head, Shen Jingqi found the Masked Man standing behind him, smiling as he watched him. Startled, he instinctively asked, "Who… who are you? Where is this?"

The Masked Man slowly walked up to Shen Jingqi, gazing at him with those deep eyes: "I am the Guardian of the paradise, and your guide. This is a place where all wishes can come true, but you must pay a corresponding price."

Shen Jingqi was stunned, unable to comprehend everything before him. He tried to recall how he had come here, but his mind was blank, as if his memories had been wiped away by some force.

"Paradise is a place where all wishes can be fulfilled, but a corresponding price must be paid."

Shen Jingqi repeated this phrase, stunned again, unable to fathom all that was before him. He attempted to recollect how he had arrived here, but his mind was vacant, as if his memories had been erased by some power.

"Why did you bring me here?" Shen Jingqi asked warily, beginning to realize that this paradise might not be as wonderful as it seemed.

"Because you have unfulfilled wishes, Shen Jingqi." The Masked Man's voice carried a hint of temptation, "In paradise, you can have everything you desire, as long as you are willing to pay the price."

Shen Jingqi fell silent, beginning to ponder the words of the Masked Man. Indeed, he had many unfulfilled wishes; he longed for success, for love, for a perfect life. But he also knew these desires were not easily fulfilled.

"What… what price do I have to pay?" Shen Jingqi hesitated to ask, his heart full of contradictions and struggles.

"Your memories." The Masked Man said softly, "In paradise, you will forget everything from your past, including your identity, your family, your friends. You will become a new person, one who only pursues joy and satisfaction."

Fear surged through Shen Jingqi; he couldn't imagine what he would be like if he lost his memories. He knew he couldn't just succumb to fate like this; he had to find a way back to the real world.

"No! I cannot lose my memories!" Shen Jingqi shouted loudly, his voice filled with determination and courage.

The Masked Man looked at Shen Jingqi, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. He slowly nodded and said, "Very well, Shen Jingqi. You are much stronger than I imagined. But the rules of paradise cannot be changed; you must make a choice."

"You're… you're lying!" Shen Jingqi suddenly shouted loudly, his voice filled with determination and anger, "This can't possibly be a real place! I want to return to the real world!"

The Masked Man smiled slightly, gently waving the staff in his hand, a dazzling light shooting from the gem on the staff, directly at Shen Jingqi. Shen Jingqi felt a powerful force enveloping him and his body began to spin and fall continuously.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself returned to that strange space. Looking around, he found the figure of the Masked Man holding the staff had disappeared without a trace. He felt a strong sense of loss, as if something important had been taken from him.

"Have I… have I really left paradise?" Shen Jingqi muttered to himself.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in that unfamiliar space. But this time, he found he could move freely. Looking around, he discovered this was no longer that fantastical, luminous world, but a dim and oppressive space.

"Where is this? Why am I here?" Shen Jingqi asked fearfully, his heart filled with despair and unease.

The Masked Man slowly walked in front of him, gazing at him with those deep eyes: "This is your inner world, Shen Jingqi. You have lost perception and control of the real world and can only wander in this illusory world."

Shen Jingqi was stunned, unable to accept this harsh reality. He tried to recall how he lost perception of the real world, but his mind was chaotic, as if his memories had been completely destroyed.

"No… I can't accept this reality!" Shen Jingqi shouted loudly, his voice filled with desperation and anger, "I want to return to the real world! I want to find my memories!"

The Masked Man looked at him, a hint of complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He slowly said, "Shen Jingqi, you have already made your choice. In this paradise, you can have everything you want, but you must pay the corresponding price. You have already lost perception and control of the real world, this is your price."

Fear and despair surged through Shen Jingqi; he had fallen into the trap of this paradise, unable to escape. He tried to find a sliver of hope, but everything around him seemed so illusory and powerless.

Just then, he suddenly thought of the staff that had pulled him into this paradise. He abruptly raised his head, staring at the staff in the Masked Man's hand, his eyes shining with a determined light: "I want to return to the real world! I want to destroy this place!"

The Masked Man looked at him, surprise and admiration flashing in his eyes. He slowly nodded and said, "Very well, Shen Jingqi. You are much stronger than I imagined. But the rules of paradise cannot be changed; you must make a choice."

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, staring intently at the Masked Man, and said, "I choose to destroy this place! To reclaim my memories and the real world!"

"As you wish."

The Masked Man fiddled with the staff in his hand, casually walking to one side.

Shen Jingqi looked at the staff in his hand, instinctively readying himself defensively.

"Do you know, it was difficult enough for you to get here, yet you want to give it up and return to that crowded, pressure-filled little place, has your vision really become so narrow?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, you will see me again later."

"Remember, my name is Thunder."