Enlightenment clues

“Just now, when‍‌⁠⁠⁠‍​‍⁠‍​⁠⁠⁠‍⁠​‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌ the night prayer ended, I suddenly had a premonition that I would reunite with an old friend today,” Eye said, having changed into a pristine white silk shirt, its collar and cuffs more elaborately cut than before. He took a yellowed book from the bookshelf and handed it to An Yu, smiling. “I’m glad to see you again. You are indeed interested in this book.”

The book was thick, including the title page, [Perception of Lucky Numbers], all handwritten. But An Yu didn’t think writing this book would require much effort, because when he opened the thick book, it was full of 6-digit numbers.

The sound of a successful five-thousand-yuan transfer chimed, and he held the book, deep in thought. [The Asylum] was indeed eerily accurate, but at this moment, he suddenly began to doubt its reliability again.

Eye seemed to see through his worries. “Don’t dwell on it. You might as well casually pick a string of numbers and buy a lottery ticket.”

An Yu looked up at him intently. “Will it really win?”

“Very likely,” Eye nodded. “Today, my premonition is exceptionally strong.”

“Then why don’t you buy one yourself?”

The Poet smiled candidly. “It doesn’t work for me.”

It sounded less and less reliable.

An Yu began to feel his five thousand yuan ache. He instinctively glanced at the successful transfer page, but found no “undo” option.

“I’ll help you choose a set of numbers with good fortune,” Eye immediately said. “Have you read my poetry collection? Which poem were you most interested in recently?”

An Yu’s expression settled at his words. He gazed at him and softly said, “[The Asylum].”

“Still that one, huh?” Eye smiled. “I remember its page number. Please buy a lottery ticket according to the numbers on page 358, column 2, row 9 of [Perception of Lucky Numbers]. Please be sure to purchase it today.”

An Yu was silent for a moment. “How much does one lottery ticket cost?”

“Two yuan,” Eye said. “For over a hundred years, no matter how the economy inflated or deflated, this price has never changed.”

Two yuan was still money.

An Yu seriously hesitated whether he should add to his sunk cost.

His terminal suddenly chimed, “Ding-dong.” The system notified him that Eye had transferred two yuan back to him.

“Consider it my treat,” Eye smiled. “I have a premonition that this string of numbers will win the biggest prize tonight. It will be an astronomical figure. But don’t worry, if you win, you just need to return my two yuan capital.”

An Yu was speechless for a moment. It was hard to say whether the person in front of him was generous or stingy.

He looked at the painting on the floor next to the bookshelf—it was the one Eye had been painting before he left the church last time.

The shattered red light in the sky was even more intensely red than before.

The third golden gear had fully materialized, and the three gears had almost constrained half of the shattered red light.

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He paused, then suddenly said very quickly, “I noticed last time that you seem particularly interested in this painting of mine. Actually, it’s also for sale, only ten thousand…”

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Eye’s expression suddenly changed. Although it was only for an instant, An Yu confirmed that he caught a fleeting glimpse of disgust and fear.

“I don’t know him personally, but I know of him,” Eye paused for a moment before smiling again. “What’s wrong?”

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The church suddenly fell silent.

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After a long while, Eye smiled faintly. “I’m sorry, although I’d love to earn more money, I have none.”

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“Don’t get too close to him,” Eye softly said. “Besides that sky, he’s the second vessel containing a large amount of shattered red light. Although you possess a pure soul I’ve never seen before, getting too close will likely inevitably contaminate you.”

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As he spoke the last few sentences, the gaze in his usually calm eyes fluctuated, almost maddened.

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He actually believed what the Poet said. If shattered red light was related to abnormality, then Qin Zhilu, as the most chaotic genetic entity in the world, capable of endlessly absorbing all aberrant genes, would naturally be seen as a massive clump of shattered red light.

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“You’re a sucker, aren’t you?” Zhu Tao asked in shock over the phone. “Five thousand yuan and you bought this? Why don’t you give me five thousand yuan, and I’ll write you one in minutes?”

“Hmm…” An Yu flipped through the book spread on his knees. “Anyway, he’s paying for the lottery ticket, so I’ll buy one and try.”

From the other end of the phone, a strange yet somewhat familiar voice softly asked Zhu Tao, “What numbers does he want to buy?”

“What numbers are you buying?” Zhu Tao asked.

An Yu turned to the string of numbers the poet had just given him. “06, 19, 22, 08, 14, 03. Who’s next to you?”

“Codex, you know him? The newly joined high-level officer, just moved into the Spire,” Zhu Tao said. “He’s really good at cooking. We’re discussing dessert recipes.”

Codex seemed to say something else next to him. Zhu Tao covered the mouthpiece and mumbled to him for a while.

An Yu couldn’t hear clearly, so he waited for Zhu Tao to return before asking, “What were you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing. Codex said he could help you brainstorm new menu ideas for the bakery. Did you two meet at Brain this afternoon? He thinks you seem subtly worried about the menu being too simple after the bakery expands.”

An Yu, holding his terminal, was so surprised he couldn’t speak for a long time. He did have that thought, but it had been suppressed by other, more important thoughts. If Codex hadn’t reminded him, he wouldn’t even have noticed it himself.

By some strange impulse, he suddenly asked, “Does Codex think the lottery numbers I’m buying can win?”

“Please, he can read minds, he’s not a prophet. Besides, that Poet is just a big swindler, right?” Zhu Tao said, rolling his eyes. “Codex, An Yu wants to know if this set of numbers can win?”

On the other end of the phone, Codex seemed to think for a while. “I don’t know, but I think you can buy it and try.”

“Alright, fine, since you’ve already spent five thousand yuan anyway,” Zhu Tao sighed. “Buy it quickly and come back. I’m still waiting to teach you how to make potato pie. All the ingredients are ready.”

“Okay,” An Yu quickly said. “I’ll go back to the bakery to change first, then buy the lottery ticket and come right back.”

“Mm-hmm,” Zhu Tao said, about to hang up.

An Yu was also about to hang up, but then Codex’s voice suddenly came from the other end. “Change clothes?”

An Yu looked down at his tattered welfare uniform. “I’m still wearing my mission clothes. They’re worn out. I’ll just change into something casual at the bakery. What’s wrong?”

“Hmm…” Codex seemed a bit hesitant. “Is that so…”

After a long while, he suddenly said softly, “How about you try changing the last digit of your lottery number to 04?”

“Change the number?” An Yu was startled. “Why?”

Codex seemed to give a constrained smile, and said calmly, “Just a sudden intuition. It would be better if you changed it.”

He quickly added in a low voice, “Of course, this is just my suggestion. If you miss the grand prize because of it, please don’t worry about it.”

Author’s Note:

No shattered snowflakes from Codex found. Reason unknown.