On the day they arrived at the diving center, fortune smiled upon the determined. Nathan had been right—it was indeed a clear, sunny day. At that moment, the purple necklace glowed pink once more, and the gentle voice said, “The weather's lovely. Hope you can unwind a bit!” Norman clutched the necklace tightly and muttered, “I know! Please stop bothering me.” The brothers then entered the center together to sign in.
At that moment, Nathan noticed Norman staring intently at a painting titled “Tranquility.” He hurriedly explained, “Brother, there's something strange about this painting. Look closely at the appearance of the merman in the painting. He looks as beautiful as a doll, but his eyes are utterly hollow. Like a beautiful ruby that has lost its luster.” I looked into it earlier. This painting was actually created by Hu Yue during a period of extreme emotional distress. Recently, I asked a psychiatrist friend to analyze it. He said the artist had serious psychological issues, even suicidal thoughts.“ Norman asked, ”Do you know what else was wrong with Hu Yue?" Nathan replied uneasily, “Records show Hu Yue attempted suicide multiple times, each time thwarted by intervention from the old party members. If pushed too far, he loses control and bites people indiscriminately. Brother, I know you've been suspended recently. Yamamoto Hideki told me just days ago that your suspension stemmed from suddenly losing control and attacking someone. Gavrikov forcibly suspended you for everyone's safety.”
Upon hearing this, Norman thought: “Hu Yue, so you actually want me dead. When you show yourself, I must finish you off with my own hands.” Just then, the necklace suddenly turned gray. Yihe immediately rushed toward it, shouting, "Are you out of your mind? How could you think that way? He's crying his eyes out right now!“ Hu Yue was already sobbing uncontrollably. Yihe, standing beside him, grew extremely impatient and yelled, ”You useless piece of trash! All you know how to do is cry! Do you want to be reduced to ashes?!" Hearing Yihe's vicious outburst, Norman could only stuff the necklace into his luggage and force himself to focus.
A burly man waved at them. He was Nathan's colleague and also the center's most senior instructor. The theoretical lessons were to begin first, as this was mandatory for certification. Norman started to feel troubled, having never attended university. He worried his knowledge level wouldn't match his peers, especially when he entered the classroom and overheard whispers: “Is that man the terrifying soldier from TV?” and “A cold-blooded, ruthless beast of war.” Was what he heard factual, or merely his own imagination? Though the theory lessons were difficult to grasp, Norman listened intently and took meticulous notes. He refused to let his younger brother feel ashamed. During the course, the instructor repeatedly stressed: “Underwater, panic is your greatest enemy. No matter what happens, you must maintain your breathing and stay calm.”
That afternoon, Norman descended with the instructor. The necklace was too far from him, rendering the doppelganger utterly unable to control him. Norman was an excellent swimmer. He found the underwater world a beautiful fairyland, allowing him to relax completely beneath the surface. He felt the rhythmic sound of his breathing, his body suspended weightlessly—a tranquility impossible to find on land. Neutral buoyancy was mastered swiftly. Then, beneath the waves, he glimpsed the phantom of the merman from the painting. Like an underwater spirit, he glided toward him and gently stroked his head. It was as if he whispered, “You have conquered your fear.” Nathan felt deeply satisfied, yet something unsettled him. The apparition of the merman from the painting was actually a dangerous sign. The book had mentioned that the red sections in the painting were Hu Yue's blood, harboring negative energy.
After training, while changing clothes in the locker room, Nathan heard that voice again. This time, it sounded incredibly weak and sickly. The voice said, “Nice try. You think you're free...” The words sent a chill down his spine. Norman thought, “The necklace is clearly in the hotel room. The clone can't possibly control me.” A sudden, sharp headache struck Norman. He sensed that Yue was deeply afraid something might happen to him, which was why he had released the merman from the painting.
The next day's challenge was deep diving, to depths between 18 and 40 meters. After checking all his equipment, Norman began his descent. While underwater, he managed to stay relaxed, but as the depth increased, adverse reactions started to appear. Norman experienced mild discomfort from nitrogen narcosis or old injuries, causing his heart rate to surge. If he failed, would it mean disqualification? Worse still, could he die in the sea? At that moment, Hu Yue's protective instincts kicked in. He absolutely could not let Norman die. He commanded the mermaid illusion, which reappeared and guided him. The illusion entered Norman's body directly, a sensation so comforting it felt like becoming a true merman. The illusion took direct control of An Ming's body, enabling him to complete the final test.
After the trial concluded, Norman slowly surfaced, headed to the changing room to get dressed, and then returned to the hotel. He gazed at the certificate in his hand when a wave of warmth washed over him. Hu Yue had finally appeared. Rushing forward, he embraced Norman and said with relief, “You've finally passed the trial. Fear is meant to be overcome. Congratulations!” Norman realized Hu Yue's actions had confirmed him as the benevolent clone. By then, the merman illusion had returned to the book. Hu Yue joked, “Next time we explore underwater, maybe I'll summon the merman again.”
Unfortunately, the purple necklace emitted an eerie glow once more. Yihe beside him shouted in Russian, “This is bad!” The strange purple light flickered incessantly, suggesting an even more dangerous clone was emerging. The childish voice grew hoarse and raspy, speaking in Japanese: “Long time no see.”
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