The fire burns, warming this cold night in early spring. The orange firelight danced, and the girl Mu Qiong sat by the fireplace, curled up in the thick sofa. She suddenly felt chills all over her body, not only because of the temperature, but also because of the thick historiographical monographs in her hands.

Orlando was a biologist, and his history collection was not extensive. But the witch hunt, a historical phenomenon that has to be written about in the entire history of Europe, and even in the entire history of human civilization, is more or less documented. And these not very professional and accurate records have made the girl Mu Qiong subconsciously hug her arms.

For the first time, she felt that reading was so difficult, because the words in front of her were a living aggregate of human cruelty, darkness, madness, tyranny, ignorance, deceit, greed, and blood. That period of hundreds of years was full of the most perverted ****, the most shameless frame-up, the most ignorant blind obedience, the highest pressure persecution, and the most colorful and terrifying execution methods. These historical events that have actually happened are more terrifying than any horror movie, and more daring to touch than any book of cruelty.

Because the movies are fake, and these are real.

Seeing this, you can deeply feel that human beings can really be so vicious.

"Sophia, what's wrong, what's bothering you?" Orlando instinctively felt something, and he put down all the work in his hands, boiled water, and poured a cup of tea. The fragrance of tea overflowed, he moved the bench with the refreshments, sat down in front of the girl Mu Qiong and handed over the teacup: "What happened, why did you suddenly read this type of book?"

"I'm ......" The girl Mu Qiong was full of emotions, and some similar information suddenly flashed in her mind. Leaders, quotations, young revolutionaries, cowsheds, criticisms, bulls, ghosts, snakes, gods, iron top hats, parades, beatings, smashing, looting, persecution, a huge and scattered amount of information flashed through my mind like bad frames inserted in old movies, fleeting and elusive, but real.

The girl Mu Qiong suddenly found that it was not the first time she had come into contact with such crazy human evil, and she had a vague feeling that she had experienced a similar cruel era, and she had been targeted by the whole group like a witch in a history book.

But no matter how cruel that era was, there were always warm and powerful supporters and protectors around them. A bloody knife raised high at the entrance of the village flashed in his mind, the strong arm holding the knife and the majestic figure holding up the sky, making people feel that no matter how cruel the era is, it is just to help each other and tide over difficulties together.

But now, looking back on the present, the girl Muqiong feels more and more lonely. She was lost and didn't know where she came from. She was lost and didn't know how to get back those treasures of life. She was silent for a long time, and finally found a trace of warmth in the teacup in her hand and in the eyes of the old professor who was looking at her gently.

At this moment, this old professor finally has a little color, and he is no longer a simple passerby.

"Professor. The girl Mu Qiong said a thousand words, and finally turned into a question: "Why, do you want to hunt witches?"

"This ...... It's a complex question. Orlando knew that the student's brain circuit was strange, and instead of trying to understand what she was saying, he could only rub his temples and reply, "Sophia, you are still a child, you may not understand." To be honest, I can't say it well either, because I'm not good at the humanities. The reasons behind witch hunting are too many and too subtle. But I think the most fundamental reason why this kind of action can go crazy to that point lies in one word. ”

"What word?"

"Fear. ”

"Fear?" the girl Mu Qiong didn't understand: "What are you afraid of?

"Yes child, fear, it's a terrible emotion that can lead to a lot of sensational consequences. Orlando tried to keep his voice as calm as possible, trying to dilute the bloody smell of that period of history: "It was an era of ignorance, and under the constraints of productivity and the deliberateness of those in power, the people's understanding of the world was very incomplete. It was not like now, that is, it was not objective, nor sober, nor comprehensive. After encountering a lot of super-comprehension problems, he blames everything on the imaginary witch and fears the root of all evil. At the same time, it was also a high-pressure era, with disease, war, religious persecution, and existential crises, which led to great mental pressure on the people. High pressure leads to collective nervousness, the unknown leads to collective fear, mixed into collective hysteria, and the tyrannical factor is released to the maximum. After all, human beings are always inclined to horror and destruction about the incomprehensible, individuals who are different from themselves. ”

"Humanity tends to be frightened and destroyed by the incomprehensible......" the girl Muqiong muttered, but Orlando suddenly understood a little. Compared to the entire Cambridge crowd, isn't the girl in front of her the peculiar individual who doesn't fit in?

It seems that this girl has encountered some kind of interpersonal crisis.

"Sophia, in modern society you don't have to worry about this at all. The breadth of human perception of the world has been greatly expanded, and the tolerance of special talents has also been strengthened unprecedentedly. Look at me, I'm a bioengineer, I was scraped alive in the Middle Ages for the crime of witch doctors, but now I can go to the award with radiance and enjoy my highlight moments. Orlando spread his hands and said lightly: "You don't need to worry about your talent, because the scientific concept of modern society is completely different. Because for modern people, if you don't know for the time being, then you can figure it out. In this world, there is nothing that humans absolutely cannot understand. ”

Understandably, it will not be feared.

This is very reasonable, but the girl Muqiong's expression is not much easier. She pondered for a moment and asked, "What if there really exists, something that cannot be read or understood by the level of human intelligence?"

"If such a thing really exists......" Orlando didn't understand why the girl would ask this, but after thinking about it carefully, he gave the answer with a solemn expression: "Then this news must be sealed in a small area, and only the most sensible, wise, and restrained group of people can grasp this news." For if it were known on a large scale, the national self-confidence built up in the history of modern science would collapse in an instant, and humanity would erupt in a collective fear stronger and frenzier than in any previous historical period, with the horror of self-destruction. ”

The topic became heavy.

There was a brief silence.

"What if......" the girl raised her head, her eyes shining: "What if a real witch, the kind of witch with incomprehensible special powers, wants to be friends with ordinary people?"

"Two paths. Or, the witch disguises herself perfectly and never finds anything out of the ordinary. However, this will be fearful for the rest of your life, and the friends you make may not be real friends. Such a friendship may fall apart the moment the identity is revealed, and the fragile one cannot be retained. ”

"What about the second way?"

"She didn't hide her identity as a witch from the beginning, she was hopeful but strong and self-reliant, and she was bold and didn't feel sorry for herself. If the other party can't accept it, then break up, go wherever you like, and if you dare to report me, I'll kill you. And if the other party can accept the greatest unknown, overcome the greatest fear, and tolerate the greatest heresy even though he knows that he is a witch, such a friend is a true friend. Orlando felt that he was simply handsome at this moment: "If there is such a friend, it is the treasure of the witch's life." ”

The girl Mu Qiong's eyes suddenly brightened, like an empowerment, as if she had seen the sun through the clouds.

The corners of Orlando's mouth turned up, and I was talking to the teacher for a long time just now, and the implication was to say: The atmosphere is so good, girl, you can already start to confide in your heart. Teacher, I am the warm man who can accept the unknown, customer service fear, and tolerate heresy, come on little baby, be moved by the teacher, and then throw yourself into the teacher's arms and tell your little secret!

Then again, what secrets can a little girl have? Come on, come on, uncle, I just take advantage of this to deceive ...... Ahem, guide her on the right path to get close to my uncle and me!

But the girl Mu Qiong's expression returned to flat in the blink of an eye, and she became three nothings again, and there was no sign of wanting to talk at all.

"I've got it. The girl Mu Qiong nodded: "I'll go back and leave tomorrow." ”

"Okay...... "Whoever is obscene is obscene after all......

Walking to the door, the girl Mu Qiong hesitated for a moment, then turned around and said, "Thank you, for your solution." ”

"Huh?" Orlando was stunned for a moment, this girl actually said thank you to me? "Ah, it's okay, it's normal to discuss with each other, and come often when you're free!"

After sending Sophia away, Orlando was full of trepidation, and suddenly felt that this girl really seemed to be different from before. I can't say where it is, but the old man always has a feeling of beauty in his heart. It seems that no matter what, the dignity of my teacher can still be saved, and I suddenly have a lot of expectations for this experimental trip to another country!

Okay, roll up your sleeves and work hard, pack up everything tonight, and set off for the Nobel Prize tomorrow!

But—yes—was good, but the next day didn't go according to his plan. To be precise, he even brought his suitcase, and the girl Muqiong also met him in a different body, and when she was about to set off to leave, the girl suddenly changed her mind.

Because, Adam appeared.

"Yo, long time no see. Adam seemed to be full of emotion as if he was in a different world: "Something suddenly happened in the family before, and I was a little embarrassed, and I just got out." It can be considered ...... Escape death. How are you doing?"

The girl Mu Qiong stared at Adam for a long time, then suddenly turned around and left, and said lightly: "Follow me." ”

"Huh?" Adam was surprised: "Where are you going?"

"Get out. ”

The girl Muqiong didn't even hesitate, threw Orlando in place, and left the school with Adam.