Zhou Huan and Dongzi followed swiftly behind the Director, both having a solid foundation, so they didn't feel tired. In just a few steps, they left Newton far behind. Moreover, the Director’s speed was truly impressive; they reached the site of the incident in no time. As the three approached, they saw a crowd of patients standing on the rooftop, arguing heatedly. Some pairs had already started fighting, brawling right there on the roof.

“Director, quick, quick, think of a way! We can’t control them!” Several doctors were sweating profusely, their crisp white coats already covered in footprints. Some doctors even had their clothes torn.

The Director, quite stunned, stood below the third-floor annex, gazing up at the roof. He made a swift decision, shouting loudly, “What are you arguing about? Still debating a flawed premise?”

His shout actually worked. The dozen or so patients on the roof ceased their fighting. One short, balding man placed his hands on his hips, leaned his head over the edge, stared at the Director for a long moment, and then suddenly announced, “Stop for now, the Professor is here.” After saying this, he abruptly raised his hand and called out with surprising childishness, “Reporting to the teacher, I have a question to ask.”

“Ask away, I’ll answer you when I get up there!”

“Good, then I’ll wait for you to come up before I ask!” This patient was quite obedient, remaining on the rooftop with his hand raised, awaiting the Director’s arrival.

The Director puffed and panted his way up the stairs, with Zhou Huan and Dongzi closely following. As soon as the Director reached the roof, he severely reprimanded them, “Who initiated this topic? Why didn’t you inform me first?”

“It was him!” All twelve pairs of fingers pointed squarely at the man who had just asked the question.

The questioner glanced left and right, then scoffed dismissively, “Hmph, let the teacher speak first. We’ll see if my prediction is right. We’ll run the experiment afterward, and then you’ll all have no choice but to agree!” The man then pursed his lips and added, “Teacher, Professor, what I want to ask is, is there reincarnation after death?”

“That question is absurd. As materialists, we shouldn’t believe in such things. A human is a living being, and living beings must be born and perish. Once extinguished, can it reignite on its own? Only if the necessary conditions are met can it burn again.” As he spoke, the Director pulled out his lighter. “Look!”

Snap-snap! The lighter sparked. He then extinguished the flame and placed the lighter on the ground, facing the dozen patients. “Let’s do a small experiment first. Watch this lighter; let’s see if it can ignite on its own in ten minutes!”

Instantly, the dozen patients scurried over and squatted near the lighter, staring fixedly at it.

Seeing that the patients were temporarily stabilized, the Director immediately and stealthily hid behind the door leading to the rooftop. He telephoned the doctors downstairs, telling them to prepare the rescue air cushions, have a few strong men hold them at ground level, ready to catch anyone who jumped, because he genuinely had no certainty about whether these patients would jump down the building later.

Zhou Huan nearly burst out laughing watching this unfold. These mental patients truly possessed a degree of scientific acumen and a spirit of exploration.

“Master Zhou, I have one more favor to ask. Later, please help me restrain them. If even one less person jumps, I’ll have one less worry.”

Zhou Huan smiled and replied, “Don’t worry about that. If things truly get desperate, we’ll just let them take a little nap.”

As if by some strange turn, the entire day had been completely still, with no wind stirring. Now, a breeze suddenly appeared. A small gust swept past, nudging the lighter, which then tipped over and, snap, it actually ignited!

“Oh! So my prediction was correct. Next, I’ll conduct the human experiment. Since the fire has started, I can return in reincarnation too.” For some unknown reason, this man’s running speed accelerated incredibly. In two strides, he reached the edge of the rooftop, exerted force with both feet, and shot out!

Zhou Huan saw the danger immediately. There really couldn't be any more deaths; if someone else died, nothing would ever be clearly explained. Zhou Huan’s steps became even faster, and he shouted, “Dongzi, watch the remaining people. I’ll pull him back.”

In truth, Zhou Huan was uneasy because he had heard the Director making arrangements downstairs for the inflatable cushion. However, he truly could not trust that the doctors, who were not rescue professionals, could catch this patient, or even himself.

Driven by an urgent need to save the man, Zhou Huan launched himself forward. He grabbed the jumping patient mid-air and, in less than a hundredth of a second, twisted the patient’s body, pressing him against his own. Finally, Zhou Huan felt his back being caught by something soft and yielding. It was only at that moment that he realized the falling patient was simply enjoying the freefall with his eyes closed.

Thump-thump! Zhou Huan bounced twice on the air cushion with the patient before landing steadily. However, the patient refused to get off the cushion, merely muttering, “The feeling of death is so comfortable, and it’s springy too. My theory is confirmed. When I get back, I’ll issue a world-changing statement, arguing the case for reincarnation after death.”

Zhou Huan broke out in a cold sweat, not from fear of death, but because he genuinely couldn't comprehend this patient. He reluctantly said, “Doctor, we’ve arrived. Get up, and I’ll explain the problem of the cycle of life and death to you.”

The balding man snapped his eyes open at Zhou Huan’s words, looking around in a panic. “What’s happening? Have I been reincarnated or not?”

“Your reincarnation is complete. You are a new person now. Listen to my explanation, and then go write your paper.” As they spoke, three more shadows swoosh-swoosh-swooshed down from the roof—three more patients, all caught safely by the air cushion.

Dongzi upstairs was getting anxious and started taking action. With two quick moves, he subdued one clawing patient, pinning him down tightly. Then, he grabbed another patient preparing to jump. This patient was surprisingly strong, dragging Dongzi toward the edge of the roof. Dongzi clung fiercely to the patient, refusing to let him jump, even enduring the patient’s attempts to strike and bite him without letting go.

Actually, Dongzi had intended to let the cushion catch this one too, but unexpectedly, this fellow possessed boundless strength, and Dongzi couldn't hold him back. Blows didn't hurt him, and he wouldn't fall. Helpless, Dongzi just held on tight.

This was proof: when a person goes insane, their strength becomes infinite.

Seeing that Dongzi was about to be dragged over the edge by the patient, Zhou Huan immediately pulled all the patients off the cushion. Then, the waiting doctors rushed forward and administered several sedative injections. All the patients, including the balding doctor, fell asleep and were carried away.

Zhou Huan pulled the air cushion over, preparing to catch Dongzi. As expected, this patient brought Dongzi down with him. During the fall, something Zhou Huan and all the doctors never anticipated happened: this patient seemed to have jumped while brushing against the building wall. He kicked off the structure, sending himself flying far away, well beyond the range of the air cushion.

Instantly, Zhou Huan nearly collapsed from fright. This was the apprentice of his protégé, like a younger brother. If he died this way, Zhou Huan would carry the guilt for a lifetime. Zhou Huan summoned a burst of strength he didn't know he possessed, running with the air cushion toward Dongzi at top speed.

CRASH! Zhou Huan was a step too late. Dongzi landed on top of the patient, watching helplessly as the patient beneath him ceased to breathe.

Zhou Huan froze, completely stunned. In the next moment, he snapped back to reality and rushed to Dongzi’s side. Seeing that Dongzi still had breath and responded faintly when slapped, he finally let out a sigh of relief. But the patient beneath him truly would not be reincarnated.

“Master Zhou, how is the person?” The Director on the rooftop, having exerted himself greatly, wearily ushered the remaining patients to safety.

“Dead!” A doctor answered the question on Zhou Huan’s behalf.

Zhou Huan helped Dongzi up. Looking at Dongzi’s expression, it seemed he was mostly alright. Then, he looked down at the dead patient on the ground. Instantly, Zhou Huan felt a chill in his heart. The dead man's eyes were filled with bliss, but his body had been smashed into something barely resembling flesh paste. His skin was pitch black, and his legs were similar to the gruesome state of Little Wuzi from before. A miasma of black decay was beginning to spread over his body. His bare feet were as black as charcoal, rotting like deadwood.