Ye Wenjie pondered for most of her life before conceiving the rudimentary form of the 'Dark Forest Theory,' which she believed was humanity's only way to counterbalance the Trisolaran civilization.
Regardless of whether it was the Adventists or the Rescuers,
she believed that no matter the outcome, she, the 'sinner who lit the flame,' had contributed her part.
Ye Wenjie was very intelligent and deeply understood human nature. The biggest difference between her and Evans lay in this: although she was disappointed with this world, she still held a faint glimmer of hope.
And the 'Dark Forest Theory' was the last lesson she, as the 'initiator,' could teach human civilization.
Yet now, this 'theory' was being spoken by another, seemingly unrelated person.
"You—"
The shock Ye Wenjie felt upon hearing Emrys speak of the 'Dark Forest' theory was no less than what she experienced when she first established contact with the Trisolaran civilization.
"Surprised?"
Emrys slowly walked towards the cell.
The next moment, a miraculous scene unfolded.
His body seemed transparent, passing directly through the iron bars and into the prison cell, where he sat on the chair in front of Ye Wenjie.
"I originally thought that your so-called 'superpowers' on TV were some higher-level science that we temporarily couldn't understand—" Ye Wenjie looked at Emrys, who had walked into the cell and sat before her, with a complex expression, her inner shock immeasurable.
"But now it seems I was too narrow-minded. Perhaps superpowers really are the future of humanity, who knows."
"Since you've already deduced the Dark Forest Theory, why didn't you tell Luo Ji directly?"
Emrys scrutinized the 'heretic' before him.
Yes, in his view, Ye Wenjie was a 'heretic' with an unsteady stance.
"If they can't comprehend the cruelty of a cosmic society, even if I tell everyone the 'truth,' no one will believe it—" Ye Wenjie lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the dusty physics textbook. Her wrinkled hand gently stroked it as she murmured, "I once saw the darkness of humanity, but I was also healed by warmth. I just didn't want—her death to be meaningless."
"I'm curious about one thing."
Emrys said calmly, "Since you understand the cruelty of a cosmic society, why do you still adhere to the ETO concept? Do you really believe they can transform humanity?"
"One could say that—"
Ye Wenjie nodded slowly, as if she had aged considerably.
"I truly believed that at one point. If a civilization can cross the stars to reach our world, it means their science has developed to a considerable height."
"So?"
Emrys asked nonchalantly.
"So, I believe—" Ye Wenjie paused for a few seconds, a fleeting flicker of hesitation and doubt in her eyes, which then completely vanished. She spoke in a steady and calm voice, "A civilization with highly developed science will inevitably possess a higher moral standard."
"Hmph—"
Upon hearing this, Emrys couldn't help but let out a laugh that sounded full of mockery.
"It's ridiculous, isn't it?" Ye Wenjie sighed bitterly.
"But I truly believed it, and I was convinced it was so. It's just... things quickly deviated from my expectations, just as I said—I lit the flame, but I couldn't control its burning."
"Ye Wenjie, you are mistaken."
Emrys' eyes were filled with an icy coldness.
"The fairy tale that a more scientifically advanced civilization will have higher moral standards only happens in Ultraman."
"But—what's the point of destroying us?" Ye Wenjie's eyes were filled with confusion and incomprehension.
"Their civilization is so developed, their technology so advanced, why would they destroy a civilization that, in their eyes, isn't even primitive, perhaps even insects? What's the point of doing that?"
"No meaning is the greatest meaning."
Emrys grinned, his knuckles gently tapping the table.
"Since you can deduce the Chain of Suspicion and Technological Explosion, it shouldn't be difficult to understand—when two neighboring civilizations discover each other, the outcome is already predetermined—only one of these two civilizations can exist."
"I cannot be sure if you pose a threat to me, and likewise, you cannot be sure if I pose a threat to you—given that, isn't it better to simply destroy the other party and minimize the threat?"
"Yes, I know—but I still can't understand it." Ye Wenjie sighed deeply.
"The universe—it shouldn't be this dark."
"Dark?"
Emrys smiled faintly, "Well, what if I told you that the universe is far darker than you imagine?"
Ye Wenjie looked up, a hint of confusion on her face.
She believed the current universe was already very dark; could there be something even 'darker'?
"In the distant, dark future, there is only war."
Emrys' voice drifted, merging into the depths of Ye Wenjie's mind, sketching for her a vision of a hellish galaxy ignited by blood and war.
"There is no hope, and no future. Whether it's humanity or other races, all they can do is—slaughter in the hellish galaxy, forever and ever."
"Does such a universe truly exist?"
Ye Wenjie seemed to have glimpsed that terrifying future, and her entire body trembled.
"I am here to correct this 'error'."
Emrys looked at the trembling, fearful Ye Wenjie, speaking slowly and firmly, his voice laced with endless hatred, pain, and killing intent.
"Humanity must become the 'only' existence, even if this path is bloody, burdened with endless hatred, humanity can only go forward without hesitation!"
"This—this shouldn't be the future of humanity—"
Ye Wenjie seemed to have already imagined that terrifying future, a path paved with blood and pain, forged in wails and bones.
"This—it's too painful. Humanity shouldn't abandon those beautiful things!"
"You are mistaken, Ye Wenjie."
"Only civilizations with the 'qualification' to survive can remember the historical pain. Dead civilizations have no right to pain, and no history."
Emrys sneered.
"A civilization without a 'future' will not feel pain, and for a civilization with a 'future,' this brief pain it experiences, I personally prefer to call it character growth."
"Is this your real plan?"
Ye Wenjie was very intelligent; from just a few words, she had vaguely guessed what kind of bloody and cruel future the Fourth Wallfacer would lead humanity towards!
"Yes."
Emrys was expressionless.
"Humanity—must experience pain to be qualified to step into the future, isn't that right?"
"Humanity will not thank you—Emrys."
Ye Wenjie's lips trembled, her pupils filled with horror. The young man before her seemed to have transformed into a daemon!
"I don't need to be thanked."
In Emrys' calm eyes lay a madness that would even terrify Wade.
"Humanity may not understand, but humanity must accept."