Chapter 863: An Eerie Reunion

I once imagined that I wouldn’t hold much importance in Aries’ heart.

But I never expected my weight to be so light—he couldn’t even recall my face or say my name.

With his intelligence, he shouldn’t have made such a basic mistake.

This could only mean he never cared about me at all, nor the challenges he set for me.

I treated those three challenges as my life’s purpose and new faith for the past five years. Now, it all seems laughable.

Should I be angry now…?

No. I have no reason to be.

Aries is a “Zodiac,” and I’m a “participant.” We’re adversaries. He never needed to pin all his hopes on me in the first place.

Besides, I’ve gained a lot. I met Jiang Ruoxue, broke free from my isolation, and achieved things I never thought possible.

Now that I’ve seen Aries, I can finally let go. I’ll report what I’ve done to him, and then we’ll be even.

Though it seems my life’s purpose will have to change again…

**”Aries, I’ve solved the ‘one’ challenge you gave me,”** I said, my voice tinged with disappointment.

Hearing this, his pupils contracted slightly before his eyes slowly widened.

**”Right… the challenge!”** He suddenly looked at me. **”Yan… Zhi Chun… right?”**

I paused for a moment. I didn’t know how he stored his memories, but he could recall the “challenge” yet not remember me?

**”You actually completed it?”**

His gaze unsettled me. He seemed afflicted by some psychological condition—now appearing obsessive and deranged.

**”Y-yes…”** I hesitated, unsure how to react. **”I… I put in a lot of effort, and I had help, but overall, there’s a solution in the works. If you need it… I’ll keep refining it.”**

**”No…”** Aries cut me off. **”Yan Zhi Chun, it’s not about what *I* need—it’s about what *you* need.”**

**”What…?”**

He took a deep breath, steadying himself before speaking again in an icy tone. **”Yan Zhi Chun, I have to admit—I didn’t have high hopes for you at first. I misjudged you.”**

**”You…”**

I was stunned. Aries seemed… fractured. I couldn’t pinpoint why.

**”You know I had no choice back then,”** he continued. **”But you pulled through. For me, it really was a gamble.”**

I didn’t know how to respond. I just stared at him blankly.

**”By the way, since it took you five years, that means you never lost your memory, right?”** he asked.

**”Right… I’ve been careful. No reason to lose it.”**

**”No, it’s not about ‘being careful.’”** Aries replied. **”You’re lucky you showed up here. You didn’t just help me—you helped yourself.”**

I think I understand where Aries’ fractured demeanor comes from now…

After a brief pause, he spoke again. **”Yan Zhi Chun, you might not realize just how many uncertainties there were in these ‘five years.’ If a single link had broken, I would’ve made sure you got off this ride—permanently.”**

Yes… I get it now. Aries’ way of speaking has changed.

I don’t know if anyone else would notice this subtle shift, but I do.

Aries no longer needs to “translate” his words.

Before, he’d wrap his most aggressive statements in soft, polite phrasing before slipping them into people’s ears. But now?

Every word he says lays bare the subtext—unfiltered, unshielded—making his hostility multiply tenfold. He’s become nearly unapproachable.

**”Aries… what happened to you these past five years?”** I didn’t know where to start. I wanted to know where he went, what he’d been through.

What kind of upheaval could change a person like this?

And given Aries’ experience and intellect, what could even *count* as a “major upheaval” for him?

**”I’m fine,”** Aries said. **”Better than before.”**

**”Really…?”**

**”Tell me,”** he continued. **”How did you solve that challenge?”**

I gathered my thoughts and told him about the story of *”The Path of Extremes.”*

This organization was built on my promise to him—there was no reason to hide it.

**”I see… A lone-wolf operation, scattered across the land, with even you unaware of how many members there are. A bizarre organization indeed.”** Aries nodded. **”Reasonable. It does solve all my problems in one stroke.”**

**”So, can we fulfill our agreement now?”** I asked.

**”Agreement… What do you mean?”**

**”You said if I completed this challenge, you’d share intel with me—and guarantee my ‘eternal safety.’”**

**”I already guaranteed it,”** Aries said. **”You might not realize it, but I *did* ensure the safety of you and those around you.”**

I frowned slightly. His words baffled me. He couldn’t even remember who I was—yet he guaranteed my safety?

**”Besides, I have no new intel to share,”** Aries continued, staring at me. **”I only just became a ‘Zodiac.’ It’s not the right time.”**

**”J-just now?”** I was stunned again.

Aries had been a “Zodiac” five years ago. How was he “just now” becoming one?

Could someone become a “Zodiac” multiple times?

In my memory, Aries was a cunning and resourceful man. I thought that by the time we met again, I’d be on his level—strong enough to impress him.

But now, he felt even more inscrutable, as if he’d transcended me by an entire dimension.

**”Yan Zhi Chun, remember my location.”** Aries pointed at the building behind him. **”This is my ‘game venue.’ Come see me every day from now on. If I get any intel, you’ll be the first to know.”**

I glanced around, memorizing the building’s position.

He’d warned Sheep to choose a hidden location for his game venue—yet his own was right by the road, impossible to miss.

**”A-Aries…”** I hesitated. **”What’s your game?”**

**”Why?”** He shot me a cold look. **”What’s it to you?”**

**”Just curious…”** I lowered my voice. **”What kind of ‘Human-level game’ would someone like you design?”**

**”My game is called ‘The Trust Game,’”** Aries said. **”Don’t get curious. If you walk in, I can’t guarantee your ‘eternal safety’ anymore.”**

I nodded understandingly. I knew he wasn’t bluffing.

There was no need to test Aries’ game out of curiosity. That’d be no different from suicide.