Chapter 128
Pei Yuheng remained frozen for a while before casually saying, "I'm too old to play with you young people. I don't want to make things awkward for everyone."
"How could that be? You're not old at all, you're in your prime."
Xie Xubai put down the documents, walked behind Pei Yuheng, and massaged his shoulders with a smile: "You have no idea, ever since they heard that you might be going out with us, Young Master Jiang and the others have been overjoyed! This morning when they were leaving, they even asked me, intentionally or unintentionally, whether you agreed or not—do you, as their grandfather, really want to let them be disappointed and cry?"
Pei Yuheng's slightly stiff expression softened almost instantly after hearing the second half of the speech, and the word "grandfather" dealt a fatal blow to his heart.
"Alright, alright, next Monday, right?" He coughed awkwardly, his hand already flipping open his schedule. "I might not be able to take the day off, so don't get your hopes up too high."
It's not easy for the dean and the vice dean to both take leave at the same time.
However, Pei Yuheng rarely sees patients or performs surgeries these days, and is usually responsible for medical teaching and research, as well as administrative management. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he postpones important matters requiring careful attention and arranges for the acting dean to assist with related tasks in advance. Being away for only one day shouldn't be a problem.
Xie Xubai knew that Pei Yuheng had basically agreed, so he smiled and was about to pick up the documents to call a meeting when Pei Yuheng suddenly called out to him, "Ayu."
Pei Yuheng frowned, his fingers digging into the bulging veins at his temples: "Didn't I talk to you before? About the past..."
The day after Fu Zong's existence was exposed and Xie Xubai revealed the truth with evidence, Pei Yuheng remembered that he originally wanted to discuss some... past events with the other party?
He wasn't sure.
No matter how hard he racked his brains to think about it, the memory of that day, including the content he was going to discuss with Xie Xubai, was like being veiled by a thin gauze, impossible to recall or understand.
Xie Xubai paused and turned to look at Pei Yuheng, who was frowning in distress.
In my dream, I was unaware that I was a guest.
The gold-rimmed glasses used illusions to deceive history, creating a false past that stimulated the nerves and provided a realistic tactile experience, leading Pei Yuheng to mistakenly believe that he had no other choice but to become a ghoul and needed to devour Fu Zong's flesh and blood to survive.
The moment the truth was revealed, all the illusions crumbled and vanished into ashes along with this false memory.
Having never suffered the torment of past pain, there was not a trace of gloom or despair on his refined and otherworldly face, only the bewilderment of the memory loss caused by the correction of cause and effect.
Xie Xubai knew that this was temporary.
Soon, Pei Yuheng will be completely unaware of even this subtle abnormality.
Just like the next day when they agreed to have a private talk to organize the clues of multiple reincarnations, Pei Yuheng suddenly stopped speaking before he could finish, as if his mind was blank, and just stared at him blankly.
In that instant, a chill, like a bone-deep infection, crept up Xie Xubai's spine.
He suddenly realized that Pei Yuheng had lost his memories of multiple reincarnations.
They underestimated the power of causal correction... no, or rather, it was precisely because Xie Xubai became stronger that he was more able to feel the irresistible force of the [rules of the game].
In this game, repeatedly reincarnating to enhance memory, physique, and abilities is considered exploiting a bug and cheating, and the game will definitely not allow such a thing to happen.
Therefore, Xie and Pei, who were reborn back to their childhood, were exceptionally talented, but they were suppressed at every turn as they grew up and were unable to show their astonishing "talent" from back then.
Therefore, they continuously lose their memories, to the point of memory confusion, making it impossible for them to distinguish between reality and illusion.
—The home Xie Xubai remembers does not exist. Pei Yuheng mistakenly believes that Xie Xubai was rebellious in his youth and ran away in a huff, and has repeatedly failed in his search for him over the years, missing each other time and again.
Fortunately, Xie Xubai was protected by an evil god and had already embarked on the path to godhood, so while Pei Yuheng forgot about reincarnation, he did not.
Only he hadn't forgotten.
Meeting Pei Yuheng's questioning gaze, Xie Xubai slightly parted his lips.
Whether it was sensing his intention to tell the truth or not, the middle-aged man suddenly showed a visible abnormality.
His skin gradually turned a dark bluish-black, resembling that of a corpse, speckled with bloodstains. His once clear and bright eyes grew increasingly dull and lifeless, and a putrid stench permeated the air.
The other person just stared blankly at Xie Xubai, their pupils unfocused, as if their soul had been drained.
Xie Xubai's open lips suddenly closed, his mouth slightly tense, and he stood silently in place.
It was as if a superior voice was mocking him from the depths of his being.
—Yes, you did successfully save Pei Yuheng in this reincarnation, but what was his fate in the countless reincarnations before that? Don't you know?
—To awaken his memory is to awaken his years of despair. Can he bear it?
—Can you do that?
Xie Xubai suddenly chuckled: "It's nothing, we were just reminiscing about the past. I originally wanted to visit my master when I came back this time, but you said that after you purged Fu's Pharmaceuticals, you approved his resignation. Now, I wonder where he is having a good time."
His mentor, Zhou Chaosheng, who was Pei Yuheng's teacher, was exposed while infiltrating Fu's Pharmaceutical Company. He suffered unspeakable torture, and his resentment turned into treachery, leading to his tragic death after being bound.
Later, Xie Xubai and his companion found a master craftsman to create a lifelike puppet, which they used as Zhou Chaosheng's new physical body. They then cremated the body, took some of the ashes, placed them in an ancient jade to nourish the soul, and had Zhou Chaosheng carry them with him. The rest was properly buried in a burial site with excellent feng shui.
Only after this process was repeated three times, more than ten years later, when the Fu Group was finally brought to justice, was Zhou Chaosheng able to completely break free from the curse and walk freely in the world.
After that, Zhou Chaosheng left, and his whereabouts were unknown. Xie Xubai guessed that the other party might still not have given up looking for the key to breaking the deadlock, but perhaps like Pei Yuheng, he was unable to retain his memories from the time of reincarnation.
Zhou Chaosheng's tomb is in a quiet and peaceful place. If he encounters any danger, his remaining ashes will call his soul back. Xie Xubai can rest assured about his safety for the time being.
Pei Yuheng was taken aback when he heard Xie Xubai's seemingly casual chuckle.
His intuition told him that his urgent search for the other party that day must not have been for such an ordinary matter, but if the other party did not say, he would have no way of finding out.
The room was silent. Xie Xubai said, "I'm going to a meeting."
Pei Yuheng could only reply, "...Go."
Another smug laugh echoed from beyond the void, as if mocking Xie Xubai's isolation, helplessness, and despair.
Xie Xubai quietly walked out of the office. Just as he was about to close the door, his hand suddenly stopped, and he looked at Pei Yuheng through the door: "Dad."
"If one day we need to deal with an enemy that is powerful and unknown, treacherous and cunning, almost impossible to defeat, and would make you feel utterly hopeless and miserable even before the war begins, what choice would you make?"
"..." Pei Yuheng and he stared at each other, and the already quiet atmosphere suddenly became even more suffocating.
The howling wind pounded against the windows. Under the bright blue sky, several fierce claps of thunder could be faintly heard from above. It was as if an invisible, sharp blade was hanging in the air, stimulating the nerves of both sides present.
Pei Yuheng suddenly laughed: "If that day comes and I am not by your side at the first moment, what difference is there between me and death?"
Xie Xubai smiled knowingly, not surprised at all: "It's the choice you would make."
They didn't say anything more, and there was no more movement in the void, only an endless, bone-chilling cold.
Compared to his earlier confident pronouncements, his current cold indifference can only be described as exasperation.
Xie Xubai has proven with facts that when it comes to the life-or-death struggle with the Infinite Game, even if those around him have lost their memories and all ties have been severed, he will not be left alone and helpless.
After the meeting in the afternoon, Xie Xubai went to the underground base.
The guards led him through multiple security checks to an observation room above the intensive care isolation ward. A group of observers immediately stood up and reported the latest developments to him.
"...The condition of the S-level critical patient [Long Arm] is much more stable than before, and he is also willing to have brief contact with medical staff. This is all thanks to your regular psychological counseling for him."
“When you first treated his consciousness, you discovered a mental barrier. At the time, everyone thought it was a self-protective mechanism formed by [Long Arm]’s unwillingness to open up. However, through close observation over the past few days, we have discovered that [Long Arm] has a conscious mind. In other words, it is more like a lock that he deliberately set up himself.”
"As for what the key to open the lock is, and what the lock is meant to lock up, no one except [Long Arm] himself knows. If we touch it rashly, we might accidentally provoke him, or even cause him to go berserk."
Xie Xubai nodded and looked down through the observation window.
The ecological park, which had been damaged by the "long arm," has been properly restored and is now covered with trees and lush greenery.
The tall, thin man sat quietly on the grass, his legs bent and together, his overly long arms encircling him, his hands resting on his knees, staring blankly at Xie Xubai.
After losing his S-class aggression, he became like a child sitting properly on a stool waiting to be picked up by his parents, looking inexplicably well-behaved.
The observer next to him said, "Perhaps he remembers your face; he's always much more well-behaved when you come."
"What did the dean say about the lack of progress in [Long Arm]'s condition?" Xie Xubai asked.
The observer replied, "The dean didn't say anything. However, he issued an order a long time ago that if anyone could heal [Long Arm], then [Long Arm] should be entrusted to that person in full."
The long arm below, perhaps having "heard" their conversation, suddenly shot up its right hand, which had been resting quietly, like a python shooting straight into the air and slamming heavily against the glass of the observation window from a distance of tens of meters!
"Vice Dean!"
Several observers immediately stood up in fright and nervously called for the guards.
Xie Xubai observed that the [Long Arm] had no intention of attacking anyone, and waved his hand: "It's alright, don't be nervous."
He lowered his eyes, stared at the "long arm" for a long time, and then reached out his hand to meet the palm pressed against the glass.
This gesture seemed to please the long-armed man, whose long arms twisted in mid-air, slowly forming several connected shapes.
The small flowers, trees, grass, and the sun are probably expressing friendliness.
Observers present and security guards who arrived at the scene: "...?"
The observer immediately realized what was happening and exclaimed excitedly, "Quick, monitor [Long Arm]'s mental state again! It's conscious now and appears to have regained some of its communication abilities!"
[Long Arm] The time I am lucid has increased again, and perhaps one day I will be able to regain normal consciousness and thinking!
After years of treatment and monitoring by medical staff, who thought there was no hope for recovery, they were surprised to see a glimmer of hope. What a huge surprise this was for them.
Just then, Xie Xubai's cell phone rang; it was a call from Lü Xiangcai.
A man's plaintive and aggrieved voice came from behind: "Vice Dean Xie, it seems you've forgotten your old love and found a new one! Why didn't you invite me when you went out to play? If Xiao Yi hadn't been so excited to brag about it to me, I wouldn't have known!"
"How could I forget you?" Xie Xubai waved to the long arm below to say goodbye, then gestured to the staff before leaving the observation room. He said with a smile, "Weren't you stuck here? I just ordered a sports camera a few days ago, it should arrive today. I'll live stream the whole thing for you."
"Putting everything else aside, we're all complete novices when it comes to choosing a house, and since it's our own property, we don't want to involve outsiders. Without your professional help to make an assessment, how can we manage?"
Xie Xubai's voice was clear and melodious, like flowing water, and his teasing words were full of genuine trust.
Before he could finish speaking, Lü Xiangcai, like a cat whose fur had been stroked, felt his bones soften and his face lit up with joy: "Great! I'm available all day, you can call me anytime. But... are you sure you want to go to Hongyin Ancient Town?"
Xie Xubai asked casually, "What's wrong?"
Lu Xiangcai remained nonchalant: "Nothing much, it's just that don't you think the word 'Hongyin' is a bit creepy? What respectable family would choose 'yin' as the name for their tourist attraction?"
"I've heard a little about this. The local tour guide said that the real name of Hongyin Ancient Town is actually Hongyin. There is a thousand-pound ancient bell in the town, with a deep and long sound that can ward off evil spirits. It was originally prepared for the construction of a temple, but for some reason, the temple was not completed. Later, it was suddenly hit by chaos and disaster, and the population was reduced to dwindling, turning it into a deserted town."
Xie Xubai said, "Later, paranormal enthusiasts heard about this place and frequently came to explore and take pictures. Local businesses saw the business opportunity and, for the sake of traffic, spread the legend of Hongyin as Hongyin. Later, people followed suit, and the false became true."
Lü Xiangcai: "...So that's how it is."
Xie Xubai seemed to sense a hidden meaning in his words and casually asked, "You seem to not want us to go to Hongyin Town. Is there some danger there?"
Lu Xiangcai moved his lips, but swallowed back what he wanted to say and laughed, "No, just some brats. With your current strength, they shouldn't pose any threat."
The two chatted happily and relaxedly for a while until the call ended.
As soon as Xie Xubai's voice disappeared, Lü Xiangcai's lazy smile suddenly turned into a straight line, his eyes becoming lifeless and silent as he stared at the communication records on the screen.
It's fine.
Many years have passed since then.
Xie Xubai probably won't find out.
"Hongyin Ancient Town, how did it manage to transform itself into a tourist attraction?"
Lu Xiangcai leaned back and closed his eyes. "If only I had known..."
If I had known, I should have burned the whole place down.
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