Chapter 911: The Second Silence

“What does ‘retrieve memories’ mean?” I said. “Can people here who’ve lost their memories get them back?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Bai Yang replied. “It’s just that the method is a bit complicated.”

“What exactly needs to be done…?”

“It depends on the situation,” Bai Yang said. “Yan Zhichun, if you do find me later and discover I’ve lost all my memory, you can ask the future me how to proceed.”

“Ask you directly…” I nodded. “Alright, got it.”

Indeed, when the time comes, I’ll just ask Bai Yang directly.

“It’s just that I’m not sure if he’ll be able to keep up with my current train of thought,” Bai Yang sighed softly. “Even though we’re the same person, I don’t trust myself. Teaming up with someone you don’t trust—no matter what—is bound to be full of variables.”

“This…” I frowned slightly, feeling like Bai Yang was getting abstract again.

He actually plans to cooperate with his future self in his current state… yet he doesn’t trust his future self?

No matter where I heard this, I’d think the person was insane.

“After today, I won’t bring up these plans again. Keep them as secrets in your heart,” Bai Yang added.

“Alright…” I snapped back to attention and agreed.

“Also, the young man beside us is ‘Silence,'” Bai Yang said. “His presence ensures no one else can hear our conversation.”

“‘Silence’…” So that’s why. Now I finally understand why this young man destroyed his own ears.

“Remember, if this secret is leaked and a third person finds out, the entire plan could collapse. We’d miss the best chance to liberate this place and waste decades for nothing.”

Bai Yang’s words instantly heightened my tension. I could only nod solemnly.

He should know the kind of person I am—if something can’t be said, I won’t say a word.

After speaking, Bai Yang turned around, about to say something to the young man, but suddenly paused. He then slowly turned his head back to stare at me, hesitating before saying:

“Oh… Yan Zhichun, if when you find me, some rare circumstances arise…”

“‘Rare circumstances’…?” I paused. “Like what?”

Bai Yang lowered his head, lightly stroking his chin as he muttered to himself: “For example… only part of my memory is restored…?”

Even Bai Yang himself seemed uncertain whether such a scenario could exist.

“Forget it…” He sighed. “I can’t even be sure if I’ll lose my memory at all. No point speculating about rare cases like this.”

Fair enough. The path Bai Yang is envisioning now seems overly convoluted to me.

He’s convinced he’ll lose his memory, then believes he’ll recover it, and now he’s even considering what to do if only part of it comes back.

Being prepared for the worst is commendable, but Bai Yang seems determined to account for every possible disaster—hail, thunderstorms, sandstorms, earthquakes—preparing countermeasures for all of them. He’s exhausting himself unnecessarily.

Bai Yang sighed, turned, and patted the young man on the shoulder, nodding at him.

The young man understood. He withdrew the force field around us, and the sounds of the street returned to my ears.

With utmost politeness, he bowed to both of us before stepping out of “Paradise Bank,” staggering away into the street.

“That’s it, then,” Bai Yang said to me. “Yan Zhichun, if you have your own matters to attend to later, you don’t need to come see me. But remember to visit at least once per cycle—otherwise, you won’t know when I disappear.”

“Alright…” I nodded. “Brother Yang, I’ll do my best.”

After leaving Bai Yang’s domain, my emotions were incredibly tangled.

Just like the first time I met him, there was too much to process.

And Bai Yang, just as he had the first time, conveyed all the information in a single conversation. From now on, he wouldn’t bring it up again—and neither could I.

This feeling filled me with both tension and excitement…

Turning onto the street in front of the “Bank,” I entered a narrow alley. Next, I needed to start participating in games en masse, attempting to kill other “participants” within them. Only by engaging in frequent battles would my “conviction” reach its peak.

But which games should I tackle first?

I paused for a few seconds before suddenly remembering something. I pulled out the map Bai Yang had drawn for me, carefully studying the locations of the eight individuals marked on it.

Maybe I should start by checking out these “Zodiacs”?

But before I could decide on a destination, I noticed something odd around me.

That familiar force field began spreading through my surroundings again—I could no longer hear the wind.

What’s going on? Lingering effects from “Silence”?

I looked up and saw a man in a long robe standing not far ahead. His strange, dark green hair stood out as he faced me, hands clasped behind his back.

Something felt off. His attire was far too bizarre—normal people never dressed like this.

He was a “Big Shot.”

Without hesitation, I folded the map and turned back toward the “Bank.” In a situation like this, only Bai Yang could help me. But the next second, the man appeared right in front of me, so close I could see a dark green mark between his brows.

I knew—there was no escaping now.

“Hello.”

I spoke decisively, ensuring my voice reached him clearly.

Whether or not he was a “Celestial,” as long as I spoke first, I had the upper hand.

“‘Silence,’ is it…?” the man asked.

His voice was bizarrely androgynous, as if two people were speaking at once.

“What…?” I replied.

“You spent so long with Bai Yang, yet I only caught a few words… Was it ‘Silence’?” The eerie voice swirled around me, sending chills down my spine.

“Bai Yang? You mean the ‘Zodiac’ at ‘Paradise Bank’?” I steadied myself. “I just participated in a game there and lost.”

“But what could he possibly need to discuss… that required ‘Silence’?” The man ignored my response entirely. “Why was I able to hear everything before… but not this time?”

I swallowed slowly. At this moment, I sensed an overwhelmingly dangerous aura from him.

Seeing my silence, the man stepped closer. “Yan Zhichun… why? Why not this time?”

He even knew my name. I couldn’t handle him.

Upper-level matters had to be left to upper-level players.

“How should I know?” I shot back. “Shouldn’t you be asking Bai Yang these questions? He’s in that building—go ask him directly.”

“Ask Bai Yang… Would that brat tell me the truth?” The man before me flashed a grin that made my blood run cold. “Only ants like you… tremble in fear before me and spill every truth without hesitation…”