Chapter 918: The Fall of a Strong Figure
Later on, Jiang Ruoxue went many times to the organization where Zhou Mo was based, to discuss the principles behind the "Heavenly Demon Sound" with him. I followed along a few times too, but I found I really couldn't help, so I had to leave it to the two of them for now.
As for me, I killed a great many people.
I kept participating in "Earth-level Games" and did everything I could to kill the "participants."
From initially feeling a pang of guilt and apologizing to the corpses, to later being able to kill every "participant" and walk away with a clear conscience—I had crossed that mental hurdle.
I had not only mastered skillful killing techniques, but I had also greatly strengthened my own "Conviction."
If I were an "Earth-level Zodiac" right now, I might even be able to advance, right?
Using my own "Echo" to kill others in the "Earth-level Games" truly was the fastest way to train. This kind of on-the-spot adaptability could never be learned from any number of books.
Over this long period of time, both Jiang Ruoxue's and my personalities seemed to have changed somewhat.
In the beginning, I was ice, and she was fire, but now we had both turned into lukewarm water.
Indeed, if you preserve your memories for too long in this place… it’s not a good thing for anyone. Jiang Ruoxue and I would lose ourselves in this prolonged torment. Now all we could do was hope that Bai Yang would disappear soon.
Once he disappeared, it would mean the whole plan had moved into its next phase… but right now, that felt like a distant prospect. Everyone’s face was etched with exhaustion.
Under Old Sun's guidance, I also met the "Brother Deng" he had mentioned. This man’s age… I’d have to call him uncle. It was hard to believe he was born in ’83.
His ability was just as Old Sun had described. A so-called puppet, only capable of transferring some potential danger to nearby corpses—rather useless, really.
Days like this continued for a while. A year later, Bai Yang could barely recognize me anymore.
I didn’t know if it was because I rarely came to see him, but now he needed a few minutes to think about who I was. Sometimes he couldn’t recognize me at all, just silently lowered his head, as if he took me for an ordinary "participant."
A few years ago, Bai Yang’s attitude might have made me a little angry, but now I had come to terms with it.
One day he would forget me—Bai Yang had planned for this from the very beginning.
So my conversations with Bai Yang became random events. If I went to see him and found that he remembered me, I would chat with him a little, like catching up with an old friend. I’d ask how he was doing, or talk strategy with him on paper. If the atmosphere wasn’t right, I’d even stir up a little fire to get Qinglong listening in again.
If he didn’t remember me, I’d just smile and leave. After all, Bai Yang only ever asked me to come and confirm whether he was still here—he never said I had to restore his memory.
I believed everything was going according to his plan.
Catching one of the times when Bai Yang still remembered me, I handed him a "Dao."
"What is this?" he asked me.
"Bai Yang," I said with a smile. "It’s a prototype developed by two of my friends. If you feel like your 'time is running out,' crush it and give it a try. I might be able to hear the 'Heavenly Demon Sound.'"
"Bai Yang…" He lifted his head, looking at me with a hint of confusion. "Is that what you’ve always called me?"
At that moment, in my eyes, Bai Yang looked like an old man who had aged beyond his years.
The "Brother Yang" in my heart wasn’t like this, so he could only be "Bai Yang."
"What do you think?" I countered.
Bai Yang gave a bitter smile at that, then shook his head and tucked the "Dao" into the pocket on his chest.
Seeing that bitter smile, I felt he had let go as well… and it seemed like he was telling me that time really was running out.
Another year passed. From the moment Bai Yang and I had first recognized each other, it had now been seven full years.
I was walking along the road when suddenly a clear cracking sound reached my ears.
If I hadn’t been constantly thinking about Bai Yang, I might even have forgotten that long-unheard "Heavenly Demon Sound."
Bai Yang had crushed the bead. It seemed the time had come…
My heartbeat quickened suddenly… Was Bai Yang about to leave?
Was the next step of his plan about to begin?
I dropped everything I was doing and sprinted toward his game venue. I was terrified I wouldn’t make it in time to say one last word to Bai Yang.
Even though I had envisioned this scene countless times, I still had no idea what I was supposed to say.
Everything I could possibly say… I had already said to Bai Yang.
In my entire life, I had never spent so much time with anyone who wasn’t my parent.
Seven whole years… I had spoken more words to Bai Yang than even to Jiang Ruoxue.
About twenty-odd minutes later, I arrived at Bai Yang’s game venue, panting and out of breath. He was different from usual—standing at the entrance with his head lowered.
It was as if he was waiting for me.
"Bai Yang…?" I called softly.
In the distance, Bai Yang lifted his head and looked at me with a pair of familiar yet unfamiliar eyes. He scanned me from head to toe, and after a few seconds, he lowered his head again as if he hadn’t seen anything at all.
What was going on…? Did he not recognize me again?
But he had clearly crushed the bead.
"Bai Yang?" I took a few steps closer and called again.
This time, he finally reacted, as if confirming that I was the one calling him. He raised his head once more and looked at me, then asked coldly, "Something wrong?"
"Something… wrong?"
I blinked. The scene felt eerily familiar.
Back then, he had looked up slowly like this too and asked me, "Something wrong?"
His state was very similar to that time—but I was no longer the same me.
"Wasn’t it you who called me here…?" I asked again. "What’s wrong with you?"
"I called you here…?" He slowly narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy enough to kill. A few seconds later, he shook his head and said, "Impossible. I never called you. Go back where you came from."
I stood frozen for a minute, then let out a relieved, bitter smile.
Yeah… this was for the best.
The beginning of my relationship with Bai Yang was also its end.
This cycle of cause and effect was decided from the very start.
We didn’t need words of farewell—after all, every parting had been like this.
He had already forgotten me. Unlike seven years ago… I would not make him remember me again. Because I was placing every bet on this moment.
If Bai Yang had to forget everything in order to proceed to the next step, then this was all I could do.
"Brother Yang, may you have a smooth journey ahead." I spoke each word deliberately.
Bai Yang flinched slightly at that, then lowered his head again.
Seeing him like that, I knew I no longer needed to come here.
It was ironic, really—this strange farewell still made tears fall from my eyes.
The past seven years had brought neither hardship nor happiness, but I truly couldn’t bear to let go.
I stepped back three paces, facing the direction where Bai Yang stood. I gently touched my chest and bowed deeply.
He was my teacher, my superior, my family, and my friend.
Brother Yang, we will meet again in the future.