Chapter 144, Chapter Forty-Five: The Lost Manor
The meeting place was a small grove of trees on the northwest side of the second church.
Li Yufei sent a message to Cheng Yuzhou, telling him that she was there and asking him to come and "pick her up."
As she walked over, she saw no one: "Where are the people I chose?"
"Right here."
"Where? I don't see it."
“That’s good that you didn’t see them.” Song Xiaona glanced at the dimly lit streetlights around her. “I also cut off the power to this area. If Cheng Yuzhou stays in the designated spot, he won’t be able to see the other people lurking around.”
"It's almost time. You can stand here, just in case. I also need to keep a good distance from you so you can hear me. Wear headphones."
"Will it really work?" Li Yufei couldn't help but feel anxious. "I think we should just leave now. You can stand here and record a video... Once you leave the barrier, you'll turn into a corpse. There's no need to record it. When he comes, he'll see the corpse and he'll know."
Song Xiaona's eyes darkened slightly. "The important thing is the intelligence. If he can repeatedly start the ghost stories, or has the ability to bring you back, then your departure this time will be meaningless."
“I don’t care what methods you use, you must get as much of the truth as possible. Li Yufei, so many of us are counting on you to leave, you really need to think this through.”
"I'll give it a try." Li Yufei frowned and put on one earphone.
Before being blindfolded, she couldn't help but glance around again. "Are you sure there's really someone hiding here? What if I can't get any information out of them and Cheng Yuzhou takes them back again?" That would be a complete disaster.
"Think about how to get information out of her, and stop worrying about my plans." Song Xiaona helped her tie the ribbon to make sure she couldn't see outside.
"I'm leaving. Stay here and don't move."
The world was pitch black, and without sight, Li Yufei couldn't help but feel nervous: "Is this place a bit far? Should I move closer to the barrier?"
"That's enough. If we're too close, you might get excited and accidentally shake yourself out of the way halfway through the conversation."
"I'm not that stupid!"
"Oh."
Song Xiaona walked to her seat and checked the time.
Li Yufei sent the message, and Cheng Yuzhou appeared in front of her within ten minutes.
"Feifei!" He saw Li Yufei covered by a ribbon, and he also saw Song Xiaona. His face instantly turned ugly.
"Stop!" Song Xiaona shouted.
Li Yufei, who was in the distance, was startled and subconsciously looked in the direction of Cheng Yuzhou's voice through the ribbon.
Cheng Yuzhou ignored Song Xiaona's scolding and walked straight towards Li Yufei.
Song Xiaona shouted, "Li Yufei, take a step to the right!"
Following her voice, Li Yufei moved to the right, getting one step closer to the barrier.
Cheng Yuzhou immediately realized what was happening and suddenly looked at Song Xiaona.
“Cheng Yuzhou, I don’t recommend you try to brainwash me at this time.” Song Xiaona glanced at Li Yufei out of the corner of her eye. “Yufei has heard everything you’ve done and said.”
Cheng Yuzhou said in a deep voice: "You used her."
"After all, the only person you dare not deeply brainwash is Li Yufei. Besides her, who else can help me witness what happens tonight?"
Li Yufei was stunned: "Wait, Song Xiaona, what do you mean by deep brainwashing?"
She had never heard of different levels of brainwashing.
Song Xiaona glanced at her, "Haven't you noticed yet? As long as someone points it out, you can easily detect anything unusual about yourself. For example, regarding Cheng Yuzhou's failure to answer your questions about resurrection, you immediately realized that you've been brainwashed by him."
She looked at Cheng Yuzhou again. "The Cheng faction has several hundred members, including some troublemakers and hooligans, but they all obey Cheng Yuzhou without question. His brainwashing ability shouldn't be so crude and simple that it's so easily exposed."
"Li Yufei isn't a smart person. There are only two reasons why she reacts so quickly."
"Either because she is Psyche, and mind manipulation wouldn't be very effective on the goddess of the mind herself;"
"Or perhaps you yourself know how shameless it is to use stolen abilities on your own body, so you didn't exert too much control over Li Yufei."
Cheng Yuzhou remained silent.
"You're not saying anything because I'm right?"
"What did you do to her?" he asked coldly. "What are you going to do to her!"
Song Xiaona raised her hand, "Only you can brainwash people, I don't have the ability to cheat. You should know that Li Yufei took the initiative to come to me."
"That's right! I discovered your true colors myself, and I came to Song Xiaona for help." Li Yufei shouted, "Cheng Yuzhou, explain yourself clearly, what exactly is going on at this manor! What have you been hiding from me, what have you been feeding my brain with!"
“Okay, Feifei, I’ll be honest with you.” Cheng Yuzhou stepped forward anxiously. “Let’s go back. I’ll explain everything to you when we get back.”
"Stop right there!" Song Xiaona shouted sharply. "Li Yufei!"
Without her saying a word, Li Yufei took another step to the right. Cheng Yuzhou was frantic with worry, "Feifei, it's dangerous! Don't go any further!" "Then don't come any closer! Who wants to go back with you? You brainwashed me into thinking I'm an idiot, and now you still treat me like one? Let's get this straight here!"
Li Yufei was only a meter away from the barrier. Fearing that she would step out of the boundary, Cheng Yuzhou immediately compromised, "I won't go, I won't go, Feifei, please don't move."
"Don't move either!" Song Xiaona said coldly. "Now that we're standing in front of you, there's no turning back. If anything happens to me, Li Yufei will immediately step out of the barrier. At this close range, I advise you to be careful."
She blocked Cheng Yuzhou's path to brainwashing, saying, "I know you have other special abilities, but relying on violence and force to seize things—Cheng Yuzhou, don't forget what happened to your mother. Do you want Li Yufei to become the second Fang Yuzhou?"
These words were like a needle piercing his heart, immediately making it impossible for Cheng Yuzhou to move forward an inch.
"What?" Li Yufei, who couldn't see, was furious upon hearing Song Xiaona's words. "Cheng Yuzhou, you still want to lay a hand on me?"
"No, no, I didn't..." The black smoke that had gathered between Cheng Yuzhou's fingers dissipated instantly, and his voice trembled, "Feifei, how could I have done that to you..."
How could he let her become the second Fang Yuzhou...?
"You'd better not! Tell me the truth."
Cheng Yuzhou lowered his eyes.
He closed his eyes. "I'll tell you everything, Feifei, please don't move."
Without much elaboration, Li Yufei already knew the basics of the strange tales, except that Cheng Yuzhou had previously used euphemisms to conceal certain parts.
"So death is the way to escape the ghost stories?" Song Xiaona cuts to the chase.
Cheng Yuzhou shook his head, "That's roughly right, but not all of them. For example, natural deaths and some pathological deaths are not included."
"Then let me ask you, is it guaranteed that I can leave once I step outside the barrier?"
After a moment of silence, Cheng Yuzhou nodded.
"In that case, why are you so nervous? Li Yufei will be fine once she crosses the barrier."
“There’s no need for this roundabout approach,” Cheng Yuzhou said coldly. “You just want to confirm whether I really can’t leave the world of supernatural tales.”
Song Xiaona raised her eyebrows; yes, she wanted to know.
“I can’t,” Cheng Yuzhou replied bluntly. “I can’t leave this place. Crossing the barrier would mean complete ‘death’ for me, and this strange tale would also perish.”
"Can you swear that everything you just said is the truth?"
Cheng Yuzhou nodded. "That's all the truth."
Song Xiaona said without room for argument, "I want you to swear an oath to Li Yufei."
He suddenly looked up, his dark eyes revealing a cold, sinister glint in the gloomy twilight.
He didn't speak immediately, and Li Yufei became anxious. "Why won't you say anything? Are you lying to me again?"
"No, Feifei, I didn't," Cheng Yuzhou said urgently.
"Then swear an oath, like she said, with my life... no, why should I swear?"
"Who told him to lose his own life? What else can he rely on but you? God?" Song Xiaona sneered. "What kind of faith can a man have in a god if he puts a god statue on the first floor, builds his bedroom on the seventh floor, and sleeps on top of the gods every day?"
"Well?" She stared straight at him. "Cheng Yuzhou, do you dare swear on Li Yufei's life?"
"..." The two looked at each other without speaking, a silent question swirling in the air.
After a long pause, Cheng Yuzhou looked at Li Yufei, who was only a few steps away from the barrier, and compromised, "I swear. Feifei, I swear to you, everything I just said is the truth."
"Very good." Song Xiaona opened her eyes, a hint of joy flashing in them.
"I've told you everything you wanted to know," Cheng Yuzhou pleaded. "Feifei, can I come over now?"
Cheng Yuzhou has given Song Xiaona all the answers she wanted, but Li Yufei has not yet gotten what she wanted.
She frowned. "Cheng Yuzhou, what exactly did you do to me...?"
"Li Yufei!" Song Xiaona's voice suddenly became shrill, "Watch out, he's coming towards you!"
Her voice was urgent and sharp. Li Yufei couldn't see what was happening outside, and in her panic, she instinctively backed away.
"Feifei, don't move!" Cheng Yuzhou's eyes were bloodshot as he reached out. Several wisps of black mist rushed towards Li Yufei, wrapping around her hands and feet and fixing her in place.
He ran towards her, and Li Yufei, hearing the commotion, immediately shouted, "Cheng Yuzhou, you stop right there!"
"Feifei—"
"Get away! Don't come any closer! Don't come near me!" Li Yufei struggled in the black mist, no longer caring about the reasons behind it all. "Stop right there!"
"Cheng Yuzhou!" Song Xiaona suddenly called out, and Cheng Yuzhou glared at her with hatred.
He was too greedy.
Initially, Song Xiaona was left behind to reassure Li Yufei;
Later, fearing that Song Xiaona's death or unusual behavior would arouse Li Yufei's suspicion;
Later, in order to create internal strife and gain more negative energy, he raised Song Xiaona and her gang like bandits.
He thought that by forcing Song Xiaona to take action against him and inducing Li Yufei to turn against her, no unexpected incidents would occur.
He was just being arrogant.
He overestimated himself and underestimated Li Yufei's trust in Song Xiaona, as well as Song Xiaona's divisive tactics, which led to his current predicament.
"Cheng Yuzhou—" Song Xiaona raised her hand and threw something at him.
She laughed, a vengeful and malicious smile on her face, and said in a tone completely opposite to her expression, with deep sorrow, "That's enough! Stop pressuring Li Yufei. She doesn't need your selfish love at all! How are you any different from Cheng Yandong!"
Is he like... Cheng Yandong?
A silver arc landed silently on the grass, making Cheng Yuzhou feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
He stared blankly at the ring that had fallen to the ground.
Even without artificial light, with only a dim glimmer of daylight, diamonds can refract a dazzling fire.
It was not in the grass, but covered in dust and mud, and was discarded by its owner like a worn-out shoe.
"That's right! Let go of me, Cheng Yuzhou!" Under the blindfold, Li Yufei's breathing was heavy and wet. She shouted, "I'm going back to my world, and you... go where you belong. It's over between us. This is the end. Stop bothering me!"
Cheng Yuzhou's breathing trembled.
He stood frozen in place, his limbs and head seemingly frozen, yet also as if the wind had seeped through. This disguised body had a hole, and every wisp of wind carried away his body heat, the warmth of a living person.
After a long while, he slowly bent down and squatted down, picking up the discarded ring, his body moving as sluggishly as if decaying.
“But Feifei…” He stared at her blankly, clutching the ring tightly and gripping the last strand of spider silk, “You promised you would stay with me.”
The ribbon blocked their view of each other, but the tremor in his voice reached Li Yufei's ears, suddenly reminding her of his reaction more than ten years ago when she first proposed breaking up with him.
That day, she didn't even dare to turn around and look at him.
Li Yufei gritted her teeth. Was he brainwashing her again? Was he manipulating her again?
That must be it!
Otherwise, why would she start to soften her heart and hesitate?
No, she couldn't. She couldn't betray Song Xiaona again, and she couldn't pretend not to see the hundreds and thousands of victims.
"How dare you make promises to me?" she said angrily. "Who knows if I said those things myself, or if you manipulated me into saying them! Those weren't my true thoughts at all!"
Cheng Yuzhou opened his eyes. "Did I...manipulate you to say that?"
That look in his eyes shattered his soul beneath the fallen ring, leaving him utterly devastated.
Song Xiaona, who had been observing the situation closely, spoke up: "That's enough, Li Yufei, let's go!"
Upon hearing the instructions, Li Yufei struggled violently.
Her power was incredible; even when Cheng Yuzhou was distracted, she managed to shake the black mist.
"No, Feifei, no..." Cheng Yuzhou staggered toward her.
He stood up, clutching the ring, and as he leaned forward, several figures suddenly leaped out from behind the trees and artificial hill on one side.
Li Yufei was startled, realizing that someone had grabbed her.
Was it someone arranged by Song Xiaona?
Yes, they agreed that if she was controlled by Cheng Yuzhou, they would arrange for someone else to push her away.
But why is this person holding her? Push her! Push her outwards!
Just as she was wondering what was going on, she heard Song Xiaona shout, "Hurry! Now!"
The person holding Li Yufei remained motionless and silent.
What happened? Was the person who pushed her also brainwashed?
An indescribable panic overwhelmed Li Yufei. Without thinking twice, she turned her head and rubbed against the man's chest behind her, tearing the ribbon open slightly.
When Li Yufei saw what was happening in front of her, her heart suddenly stopped.
Using "Move fast" as the signal, the action team lying in ambush at the location quickly launched their attack.
As planned, Cheng Yuzhou has already entered the designated location.
The four of them lunged forward together.
Cheng Yuzhou focused all his strength, his mind, his attention, and everything on Li Yufei, who was on the verge of breaking through the barrier.
Caught off guard by the sudden, powerful lunge, he was shoved heavily to the ground, his legs above the knees falling out of the barrier.
"Bring Li Yufei back!" Noticing that Li Yufei had broken free of the ribbon and seen the truth, Song Xiaona ordered the man behind Li Yufei, "Bring her to my side!"
She didn't miss Li Yufei's shocked look, and she understood why Li Yufei was looking at her like that.
Song Xiaona remained silent.
How could she possibly risk her life?
The only one who should atone for his sins with his life is Cheng Yuzhou.
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Author's Note: Gong Baidie: He was thrown into a panic by his wife's casual remarks. He's so fragile. Young masters in sweet romance novels are like flowers in a greenhouse, unable to withstand even the slightest storm.
(I don't know what they're so proud of) (I also don't know where sweet romance novels are) (Maybe it's just a comparison to other sweet romance novels)
(As for Lulu:)
The puppy doesn't care, it doesn't pay attention; it only focuses on its owner and itself.
That's the downside of childhood sweethearts; once they argue, every word they say can be incredibly hurtful.
When three childhood friends get together, they can break down a major barrier in just a few words.
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