Jiang Tianyou said with a nod, "Isn't it obvious already?"
"What's obvious?"
Yang Weiwei was somewhat dumbfounded but she immediately realized something. She said in disbelief, "Grandpa, because of that, you actually…"
Jiang Tianyou grinned and said, "Of course. If not for my darling granddaughter having lived in Gaia headquarters for a period of time, why would I have helped them?"
"Ah?"
Yang Weiwei exclaimed, "Grandpa, didn't you do it for 'justice'?"
"Does your Grandpa look like an idiot?" Jiang Tianyou rolled his eyes and said with a petulant laugh. "How does changing a rule have anything to do with justice? If we want to talk about justice, between a bunch of retards who are unrelated to me and a dull idiot that is somewhat related to my darling granddaughter, helping that dull idiot is my justice!"
"Oh..."
Yang Weiwei was left unable to respond. She thought to herself: Grandpa, your justice is so unjust.
But, your granddaughter likes it a lot.
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Chapter474 The Imitation that Vanished
Infernal King's chamber
Shi Xiaobai was lying in bed with his eyes tightly closed while he remained unconscious.
Sunless was sitting on a chair beside the bed. Her eyes were dull as usual, but her gaze was on Shi Xiaobai's face, having not left it for a prolonged period of time.
The Infernal Queen lay languidly on a sofa in the distance. Her eyes were closed as she had dozed off.
As time passed, the chamber remained silent with only the occasional sounds of breathing heard. No one moved, as though they were three petrified statues.
Suddenly, the corners of Shi Xiaobai's eyes twitched lightly.
No matter how minute the change or how ephemeral or fleeting it was, nothing could escape Sunless's eyes. A glint flashed in her dull eyes as the corners of her mouth moved but she did not make a sound. Her hands were clenched into fists but she did not get up.
Instead, it was the Infernal Queen who leaped up and landed beside the bed after sensing the change in Shi Xiaobai's breathing.
"Darling!"
"You've finally awakened!"
During the long three days, the Infernal Queen would only occasionally take a glance at him. Yet, at that moment, she showcased a worried look as if she had been arduously waiting all this while. Sunless glanced at the Infernal Queen without any expression. Her gaze was slightly cold but she did not say a word.
The Infernal Queen gave Sunless a provocative glance, and just as Shi Xiaobai was slowly opening his eyes, she lunged her face over.
Therefore, the first thing to enter Shi Xiaobai's vision was that gorgeous face.
Shi Xiaobai blinked his eyes gently.
The Infernal Queen gave a coquettish smile as she uttered, "Dar…"
The intimate and passionate address came to a halt because Shi Xiaobai had heartlessly turned away and looked at Sunless.
Sunless's mouths twitched slightly, but not a sound came out of it. It was not that she had nothing to say, but that the things she wanted to say were too much for her. It left her at a loss as to what to say.
The two gazed at each other for a moment when Shi Xiaobai's gaze suddenly landed on her shoulder.
Sunless's expression changed slightly.
"Sorry."
Shi Xiaobai's gaze turned slightly gloomy as he whispered. His voice was hoarse and deep.
Despite having lost control of himself, he still had a tiny bit of his consciousness left in him. Even though he did not completely remember what had happened, he still clearly remembered the intolerable pain that he experienced at the instant when he stabbed the girl's soft shoulders with his hands.
He had nearly ripped off her arm, hurting a girl he should not have hurt at all.
Sunless faltered slightly and said with a shake of her head, "Not you."
The 'Shi Xiaobai' that injured me isn't you, so why is there a need for an apology?
Shi Xiaobai sighed, but he did not speak any further.
Even if it was an instant, he could still see a worry that quickly disappeared in her eyes.
Compared to the lingering fear of having nearly lost her arm, she was more concerned about the blame he felt from the remnant memories he had. However, the ineloquent her could not say something beautiful to relieve him. All she could say were the two words, "not you".
"Yea."
Shi Xiaobai tersely answered as a smile that came from the bottom of his heart suffused from the corners of his mouth.
He could not blame himself, else she would blame herself.
"Yea!"
Sunless answered with a solid 'yea', as she felt relieved.
The Infernal Queen rolled her eyes. Seeing Shi Xiaobai ignore her and 'yea'-ing with Sunless, she immediately found it meaningless as she turned to walk towards the sofa.
At that moment, a knock came from the door. Pulp Farmer and Feng Yuanlin had inquired if they could enter.
"The third wheels have come just in time."
The Infernal Queen chuckled softly as she waved her hand, opening the door to the chamber.
Pulp Farmer and Feng Yuanlin were slightly dumbfounded as they looked each other in the eye before walking in.
…
The mood suddenly turned awkward in a baffling manner.
Shi Xiaobai had just woken up, and his mind was still in a daze. It was unknown what should be said.
Sunless was never one to take the initiative to speak. All she did was silently look at Shi Xiaobai.
The Infernal Queen sat on the sofa as she prepared to watch a good show. She had no intentions of interrupting.
Pulp Farmer and Feng Yuanlin clearly had things to say, but they exchanged furtive glances at each other, as though they were trying to signal the other to say the first word.
Therefore, it suddenly turned silent.
Feng Yuanlin finally lost the 'glance war', so he could only bite the bullet and said, "Ahem, Boss Shi Xiaobai, how much do you remember about the events at the Silent Desolate Lands?"
This question was clearly inappropriate. The memories regarding the Silent Desolate Lands was a memory that Shi Xiaobai and the others wished to forget if possible.
However, the answer to whether Shi Xiaobai had any impression of him accidentally killing Speechless determined the development of the plan which involved hiding the truth from Shi Xiaobai. They had to ask him to be sure.
"Only some blurry scenes."
Shi Xiaobai pondered for a moment as he tried his best to recall the memory of him being overwhelmed by 'anger'. The bits of fuzzy memories began to flash through his mind. From protecting Dawn Li to killing Field Marshal Awesomo, Earthbound Yaksha, and Shadow Wraith, the memories were all extremely vague. Many of the details could not be recalled at all, but as the memories continued on, a surging 'pain' made him widen his eyes.
It was as though something important had disappeared.
It had disappeared from this world and from his memories.
What was it?
What could it be?
"Dawn Li!"
Shi Xiaobai suddenly gasped as his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly asked the people beside him, "Where is Dawn Li?"
In his blurry memories, he seemed to see with his own eyes the blond girl vanish in front of him into nothingness. His consciousness was extremely hazy, but the pain he experienced at that instant was still extremely clear.
It was not a mistake, nor was it a dream, much less a memory error!
The 'nightmare' of the blond girl suddenly vanishing in front of him was a reality that had previously happened!
Tiny beads of cold sweat oozed out of Shi Xiaobai's forehead. All sorts of guesses filled his mind, but they all pointed at a particular cruel possibility.
"Dawn Li?"
Everyone noticed that Shi Xiaobai looked nervous and anxious as they imme
diately turned flustered. They tried their best to recall the name Dawn Li.
"Isn't Dawn Li…the Hero King's name? Oh, I understand. Shi Xiaobai, are you asking about the imitation that was created by the assessment program?" Pulp Farmer was the first person to recall the impression he had in his memories.
Shi Xiaobai immediately turned extremely pale. "Imitation? …Did she…vanish?"
Regardless of how real and warm the blond girl had made him feel, Shi Xiaobai always had a worrying thought that 'she might be a fake existence'. However, this reality that he did not wish to face had been exposed completely.
"She vanished. Before she vanished, she revealed the truth. Just like our guesses from before, she was indeed an imitation created by the assessment program." Pulp Farmer did not remember what complications the fake Hero King had with Shi Xiaobai. In fact, his memory of the fake Hero King was also very fuzzy. However, for some reason, he had a deep impression that she was a fake imitation.
"…"
Shi Xiaobai sighed silently. He repressed the tumultuous emotions he was feeling, but he did not express it. He did not wish to believe that the blond girl that had accompanied him through life and death was a fake existence, but he had no way of convincing himself of such a ridiculous hope he wanted.
She had vanished.
They could no longer meet again.
Even though he had been mentally prepared after liking the girl, Shi Xiaobai still felt pain, as though his heart was being wrenched at that moment.
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Chapter475 Thoughts separated by Three Thousand Years
"What about the rest?"
Shi Xiaobai forced himself to divert the topic. Being the recipient of his own vexation and pain was enough. There was no need to share it with others.
However, this casual question was left unanswered by anyone for some unknown reason.
Shi Xiaobai was surprised as he noticed that Pulp Farmer and Feng Yuanlin had suddenly lowered their heads to avoid his gaze. Sunless remained expressionless but she had also maintained her silence.
What was going on?
"Did something happen?"
Shi Xiaobai frowned slightly as he suddenly could not help but laugh, saying, "Why isn't anyone answering? Could it be that the rest have gained the assessment program's recognition, clearing the level and reaching the eighth level?"
"Boss Shi Xiaobai, they..." Feng Yuanlin was somewhat flustered from the questioning. Just as he was about to say something, Pulp Farmer answered for him.
"Shi Xiaobai, you really did not study any of the details before you entered the tower. Only one person can gain the recognition of the assessment program on the seventh level. If a trial-taker wins the assessment program's approval, that person will clear the level and be sent to the eighth level. Then, the rest of the trial-takers will be expelled from the trial tower. It's general knowledge. Since we are still in the Infernal palace, it means no one has cleared the seventh level yet." Pulp Farmer said slowly as he glared at Feng Yuanlin, who had a 'flustered and guilty' look on his face.
After receiving Pulp Farmer's 'stare', Feng Yuanlin finally realized that they were 'shouldering' the heavy responsibility of hiding the cruel truth from Boss Shi Xiaobai. He hurriedly tried to compose himself as he echoed, "Ha…ha, Boss Shi Xiaobai sure loves to joke. Do you know how difficult it is to win the assessment program's approval? It probably isn't an exaggeration to call it as difficult as 'ascending the heavens'. After all, there has only been three mighty figures—Overlord Ji Feng, Sword Immortal Xu Taibai, and the Conquest King—who had managed to clear it."
Feng Yuanlin had only casually echoed Pulp Farmer's words, but this unintentional sentence made Shi Xiaobai widen his eyes suddenly.
There was only Overlord Ji Feng, Sword Immortal Xu Taibai, and the Conquest King?
"There are only three?"
Shi Xiaobai asked in surprise.
Feng Yuanlin's hands began to tremble from nervousness when he saw Shi Xiaobai looking at him. Heavens, he was the worst at lying. What was he to do?
Pulp Farmer rolled his eyes and felt a mild headache. Shi Xiaobai had only casually asked an unimportant question but Feng Yuanlin had turned flustered from a guilty conscience like a questioned crime suspect. If this continued, Shi Xiaobai would probably notice Feng Yuanlin's odd behavior.
With that thought in mind, Pulp Farmer hurriedly interrupted, "The Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower is a famous land of trials of great difficulty. The requirement needed of trial-takers at the Psionic Mortal Realm to clear the seventh level is as difficult as ascending the heavens. According to historical records, from the moment of the tower's construction, the humans that have cleared the seventh level are Overlord Ji Feng, Sword Immortal Xu Taibai, and the Conquest King. These three people are famous figures in history. That shows the value of the Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower. The few of us might be called 'super rookies of China', but we are still far from capable of clearing the seventh level. Perhaps only monsters like you and…Speechless have that bit of chance."
When the word, 'Speechless', was said, Pulp Farmer's expression could not help but stiffen slightly. Feng Yuanlin turned his head away in a fluster. Even the look in Sunless's eyes changed slightly. The Infernal Queen who was languidly slumped on the sofa revealed a teasing smile.
The mood turned somewhat odd.
However, Shi Xiaobai did not notice the oddity because his mind wasn't on with them. Due to Feng Yuanlin's unintentional change of topic and Pulp Farmer's deliberate attempt to cover up the matter, resulting in an over-detailed explanation, Shi Xiaobai's mind was filled with questions that inundated him.
Shi Xiaobai took a deep breath and asked softly, "What about the fourth story? If This King did not remember wrong, the Hero King had once instigated a war between the three domains, killing the three kings alone and received the assessment program's recognition, creating the most interesting fourth story, right?"
Wasn't this story told to This King by you?
Shi Xiaobai frowned slightly.
"Hero King?"
Pulp Farmer frowned as well.
"Indeed, the Hero King was one of the most likely people to win the approval of the assessment program over the past three thousand years. His talent and strength were not weaker than Ji Feng, Xu Taibai, or the Conquest King's. The Hero King might even be slightly stronger than them. However, to the surprise of many, the Hero King stopped at the seventh level. No one knew what had happened to the Hero King back on the seventh level. It is still a mystery up to this day."
Pulp Farmer sighed as a wistful look appeared in his eyes.
Shi Xiaobai gradually gaped but he did not question further. He lowered his head and began pondering with knitted brows.
Pulp Farmer's words sounded definite. Sunless and Feng Yuanlin had not objected to his claims. It implied that Pulp Farmer wasn't lying. Furthermore, they had been the ones that had told him the story of the Hero King's slaying of the three kings not long ago. How could they tell a lie that could be so easily exposed?
However, his memory wasn't in chaos. Shi Xiaobai clearly remembered Speechless telling him on the Silent Desolate Lands that the Hero King's story was the most famous story of the Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower. Speechless had participated in the selection in order to replicate the legendary story. Outside the Infernal King's palace, Liu Yu, Pulp Farmer, and Feng Yuanlin had recited to him the story of the Hero King stealing the three domains' sacred items which provoked a war between the three domains. Finally, the story ended with the Hero King slaying the three kings.
All these memories were clear and real.
Then, why did things turn out this way?
Why did Pulp Farmer's words now have such a huge discrepancy from what was previously said?
Shi Xiaobai was not foolish enough to believe that Pulp Farmer and company had jointly deceived him. There had to be a reason
behind such a strange matter.
In fact, he had already thought of two possibilities.
First, his memories had been changed.
Second, the memories of others had been changed.
If it were the former, there was no reason to continue his reasoning. However, such a possibility was very high.
But if it was the latter, the complexity of the matter was completely unimaginable.
Absolute Choice 10 Page 24
