Chapter 3007: Memory Fruit
As the petals gradually peeled away, the pitch-black space also changed. The water beneath their feet slowly became transparent, and strands of half-white roots extended outward from under the flower, rapidly growing and branching, bearing fist-sized spheres resembling fruits.
Xu Huo sank beneath the water, and his spiritual power touched one of the fruits. His vision was immediately pulled downward, and then a sharp, aged face appeared before him. The wrinkles on the woman’s face twitched, each one brimming with disgust and coercion. She was muttering something foul, with a young man and woman beside her chiming in.
These three people were likely Ms. Yao’s mother, younger brother, and sister-in-law, talking about how the family had just had a newborn, how the house was too small, and how they wanted to trade up for a bigger one.
Xu Huo only glanced briefly before withdrawing his thoughts and selecting another sphere.
It was another memory—a scene of Ms. Yao’s mother using both threats and persuasion to convince her to marry Wang Chengren, claiming that Wang Chengren was the best match she could find, and if she refused, she would have to marry the physically disabled nouveau riche boss mentioned earlier.
Xu Huo then looked through several more, all of them painful memories of Ms. Yao. As the roots deepened, the memories grew more distant. However, though much time had passed, these memories had not faded; instead, they had undergone a peculiar kind of processing.
For instance, after Ms. Yao grew up, her perspective focused more on her family members’ faces, approaching a kind of scrutiny and observation.
During her school years, she paid more attention to their eyes—reading expressions to secure a better living environment.
In her childhood, Ms. Yao focused more on the lower half of her family’s faces, caring more about whether their mouths were turned up or down. At that time, she was concerned about their emotions, and genuinely so.
Memories of her family occupied most of the fruits. Another separate branch held memories of Wan Yajun, Wang Xiaohui’s mother.
It turned out that Ms. Yao had known Wan Yajun since her school days; they were alumni. When Ms. Yao entered school, Wan Yajun returned as an outstanding graduate to give a speech, and they had a brief conversation.
In Ms. Yao’s memory, Wan Yajun was the most radiant presence in the crowd, surrounded by a layer of soft light, as gentle as a holy mother.
They had a few more brief encounters afterward, and Ms. Yao seemed to regard her as a goal to catch up to, paying special attention to Wan Yajun’s state.
Finally came the matter of getting involved with Wang Chengren.
After learning that the two intended to be together, Wan Yajun specifically arranged a private meeting with Ms. Yao, asking her to think it over carefully. At least in Wan Yajun’s view, Wang Chengren was not suitable for Ms. Yao.
At this point, in Ms. Yao’s eyes, Wan Yajun had lost that soft glow. Her image became more concrete, as if sharpened, giving her an overall blade-like edge.
Ms. Yao stated that Wang Chengren was the best match she could find. She admitted that Wang Chengren was not a clever man and was willing to listen to her, which was better than many other self-righteous people.
Wan Yajun and Wang Can were a union of equals; Ms. Yao preferred control.
Wan Yajun was a smart woman. She immediately understood Ms. Yao’s choice and welcomed her into the Wang family.
Even after marriage, Wang Chengren occupied little space in Ms. Yao’s preserved memories. She cared more about Wan Yajun. After prolonged contact, under Wan Yajun’s direction, she would use illegal means to edge out competitors and achieve goals.
Ms. Yao did not reject Wan Yajun’s actions, but in her memories, Wan Yajun now had a faint black halo behind her.
Unlike her family, who gradually faded, Wan Yajun grew deeper in Ms. Yao’s memory. She no longer observed the other’s emotions or expressions but regarded her as a complete symbol, without scrutiny.
Xu Huo found this strange.
In Ms. Yao’s memories, Wan Yajun had never done anything particularly special. Their acquaintance was very simple, with no idol complex or other special emotions.
As she grew up, Ms. Yao’s spiritual energy became very strong. She could observe her family’s ugly postures and face them directly. Such a person would typically analyze everyone around them habitually. In her view, others and herself should be two different categories, yet she singled out Wan Yajun.
To Xu Huo, Wan Yajun was just a very ordinary businesswoman, without any special qualities. Moreover, the timing of Wan Yajun’s appearance was not when Ms. Yao was most vulnerable and in need of help.
Had the memories been altered?
Xu Huo could only think of this possibility.
Perhaps at the beginning of evolution, Ms. Yao had already birthed a spiritual realm. Coincidentally, the manor was a special place that recorded her spiritual realm and, by chance, turned it into part of an instance.
These fruits extending from the roots were like individual spiritual realms. Ms. Yao had segmented her memories into fragments. After subjective separation, she completed an objective separation. She could not only observe all people and events around her but also stand from a third-person perspective to examine herself and others.
She was very good at learning.
The characteristics of the Reflection Person likely contained some of her traits.
The Reflection Person could quickly breach others’ spiritual defenses, mostly learned from her.
That is to say, Ms. Yao had already mastered the method of breaking through others’ spiritual defenses.
If the Reflection Person could master it, it meant she herself was likely very proficient. Whether or not she relied on the special nature of the manor, she was a genius among geniuses.
Mental illness might just be a side effect of evolution.
Xu Huo searched further among these memory fruits and found some about Wang Xiaohui deep within the layers.
Unlike Ms. Yao’s performance, Wang Xiaohui in her memories was also softened. Even as she grew up, Wang Xiaohui still glowed faintly in her eyes, indicating that she genuinely liked Wang Xiaohui.
The stage of gluttonous desire was spent accompanying her, until Wang Xiaohui returned as a player.
It was also at this time that Ms. Yao’s field of vision underwent a great change. She seemed able to see through a person’s words and actions to their true emotions. From then on, everyone in her eyes was covered in colors.
These uneven colors helped her easily judge others’ inner thoughts. Unconsciously, she taught herself the method of probing others’ secrets.
This should be the process of breaking through others’ spiritual defenses. On the surface, two people were talking, but in reality, her spiritual power had unknowingly influenced the other. What was truly communicating were two spiritual entities.
It was also at this time that she learned that her younger brother had once tampered with Wan Yajun and Wang Can’s car.