Chapter 790: Myself

Initially, I didn't think you were crazy, but now it's hard to say. Chen Jun Nan shook his head helplessly. Haven't you seen Wei Yang's farm?

I've seen it, but that was just a disguise. Qin Ding Dong replied.

A disguise?

In a place where acting crazy makes you safer, why not pretend to be insane? Qin Ding Dong said. The ones who usually get into danger here are the normal people, right?

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jin exchanged glances, feeling that the idea could hold water, but the logic was just too bizarre.

So, after learning deception from him for so long, have you found your answers? Chen Jun Nan asked again.

I can only say... Qin Ding Dong shook his head after hearing this. I'm really cut out to be a con artist, and I actually enjoy the process of deceiving people. The more time I spend with Wei Yang, the more I realize that the life I remember feels like it's fake.

No wonder... Chen Jun Nan nodded. No wonder he calls you his "most beloved disciple."

Wei Yang realized I'm a natural-born con artist, and I can easily grasp related concepts and apply them by analogy. Qin Ding Dong said with a helpless smile. He probably doesn't know I was already an expert at swindling, even if I couldn't pull off scams worth hundreds of thousands like him. Scamming a few thousand to get by was no problem for me.

Is being a con artist that easy? Chen Jun Nan frowned and asked.

I can't say for sure. Qin Ding Dong gave a bitter laugh. If it were that easy, why would I have ended up here? This is clearly my karma. But on the other hand, once you realize you can earn a few thousand just by talking, no job or startup can satisfy you anymore.

I think I get what you mean, Sister Dong... Chen Jun Nan said somberly.

Exactly. Qin Ding Dong nodded. That's why Wei Yang is so important to me—I'm going to him to find the self I've lost. So, should I follow Wei Yang's instructions or Qi Xia's?

At that moment, Qiao Jia Jin cleared his throat and asked:

Pretty lady, so it was that farmer guy who told you to cause trouble?

Yes. Qin Ding Dong nodded. I don't know what he's insisting on, but he won't allow anyone to escape from here. Thinking about it, that's not necessarily a bad thing, because I'm not sure if the real world I return to is actually mine. Until I figure out my past, I really can't let anyone leave, or I might end up stuck forever and never solve the mystery of my origins.

After hearing this, Chen Jun Nan could only nod helplessly, showing he understood Qin Ding Dong's actions.

But now, a nagging question loomed: Could human memories be altered?

If there really was some kind of "echo" that could affect the "past" or even the world outside "Zhong Yan Zhi Di," how could anyone be sure their memories were accurate?

He couldn't help but think of Qi Xia's mention of his wife.

A man who had never had a wife before was now constantly talking about her—had his memories been altered too?

This is getting complicated... Chen Jun Nan said. Lao Qiao... are we still ourselves...?

What...? Qiao Jia Jin was stunned.

I mean... if our memories have been changed and our bodies copied, are we still the same people we used to be? Chen Jun Nan asked blankly. If we're not ourselves anymore, then what are we?

Jun Nan boy, snap out of it... Are you overthinking this? Qiao Jia Jin patted Chen Jun Nan on the shoulder. Maybe it's like you said—maybe this pretty lady is just exhausted and has some memory mix-ups. How do you know her memories were really altered?

After hearing that, Chen Jun Nan put his hand on Qiao Jia Jin's shoulder and said seriously:

Lao Qiao, tell me the truth. In this godforsaken place, is it more likely that memories are just confused, or that they've been modified?

Uh... Qiao Jia Jin was at a loss for words. Well, that's true... but so far, we haven't seen anyone with abilities that affect "memories," right? It seems pretty hard to pull off...

Exactly, so we need to ask about this. Chen Jun Nan said. Let's head back quickly. It's the Tian She Shi Ke now, and people are probably starting to die in large numbers. Not everyone can turn danger into safety like we do. We'll look for Lao Qi along the way and save people as we go. We can't let those Tian Ji level ones keep killing unchecked—our lives still have a purpose.

Okay. Qiao Jia Jin nodded.

Chen Jun Nan turned to Qin Ding Dong and said:

Sister Dong, I can't tell you right now whether Wei Yang's or Lao Qi's plan is better for you, but I'll do my best to help you find the answer. For now, try not to do anything.

Qin Ding Dong thought for a moment and decided to agree with Chen Jun Nan.

You bastard, if you'd talked to me like this earlier, would we have argued up to today? Qin Ding Dong said. Hurry the hell up and go.

The three of them headed back in the direction they came from, facing the storm that had finally stopped. In the quiet city, distant screams occasionally echoed.

...

Qi Xia had been walking for a while with the black bead hovering above his head, but he still had some distance to cover to reach the "Di Niu" on the map.

He knew the Tian She Shi Ke would last at most two hours. If he didn't make it to the Di Niu location to verify the identity, this opportunity would be wasted.

Along the way, many "Can Yu Zhe" were stumbling around with black beads on their heads, and quite a few had already been pierced through the forehead by the beads before they even understood what was happening.

But a few seconds later, they would wander back from another direction, looking blankly at their own bodies on the ground, their expressions even more confused.

Qi Xia tried to stay away from these chaotic Can Yu Zhe to avoid getting bogged down by pointless questions, so he kept weaving through the side streets.

These alleys, which hadn't seen sunlight for ages, seemed to have a thicker stench than the main streets, with dark red dust even floating in the air.

He figured he wouldn't run into other Can Yu Zhe here, so he subconsciously picked up his pace.

After turning a corner, Qi Xia glanced at his map and headed right.

As soon as he stepped into that alley, he sensed something was off—the place had an aura of other people, and he could faintly hear strange noises.

Is... is someone out there?

An elderly voice rang out from deep in the alley, and Qi Xia stopped in his tracks immediately.

But he still felt like he'd run into trouble, as a small black ball slowly emerged from the darkness and hovered right at his forehead.