Chapter 906: The Treasure Trove

“Impossible…”

My voice choked up slightly, feeling as if my entire life had been turned upside down.

“Why is it impossible?” Bai Yang asked. “You’re a smart person now; you should have noticed the clues yourself.”

“Myself…”

“You always feel there’s something wrong with your memories, but what about your time in Zhong Yan Zhi Di?” Bai Yang said. “Sometimes, looking at things from a different angle makes everything crystal clear.”

After hearing that, I slowly furrowed my brow… Bai Yang had pointed out a direction I’d never considered before.

In other words… in the real world, was I actually just an ordinary person, as ordinary as could be?

The words Bai Yang said the first time we “discussed strategies on paper” suddenly echoed in my ears:

“Yan Zhi Chun, I almost forgot you’re a smart person.”

Why did he say that back then? What did he mean by “almost forgot you’re a smart person”?

The more I thought about it, the more my whole body trembled.

One of my favorite things to say to others was, “I’m not a smart person.”

But why did I say “I’m not a smart person” so often?

Was that something a smart person would say?

Jiang Ruo Xue’s words also resurfaced in my mind: “What do you mean by ‘I’m not a smart person’? There aren’t that many smart people in the world anyway—who needs to emphasize it? I’ve never heard anyone introduce themselves by saying, ‘I’m very smart.’”

Why did I feel the need to emphasize that I’m not smart…?

In reality, I believed I had some wisdom and could solve and analyze most problems, but whenever I spoke up, I’d first say, “I’m not smart.”

Excessive humility is just arrogance. If I’ve always been a smart person, wouldn’t talking like that just annoy people?

I’d tell everyone that I was mediocre from a young age and had to read more to keep up with others.

I’d say I had a poor memory as a child and needed to learn various memory techniques to help with studying.

Could someone who was mediocre, had a bad memory, and was often isolated actually be someone who’s always been smart?

In a place where even normal people can’t survive, I built a massive organization and day after day tried to guess the true mindset of the monsters.

Does that make sense?

Yes… thinking carefully, my whole life has been full of contradictions…

My thinking doesn’t match my personality.

It’s like the difference between nobility and upstarts…

I have no idea how to properly handle my own wisdom. Even if I can guess a lot of things, my words always reveal a sense of inferiority.

I could never be as confident as Bai Yang…

Because his wisdom is his own, while mine is something that fell from the sky…

Every word I say, even if it’s correct, I find it hard to believe myself.

Because throughout my life, I’ve made many guesses, but none of them ever turned out right, so I always subconsciously deny myself.

If I’d had this wisdom since I was young, how could I keep denying myself?

Thinking about it this way, everything suddenly starts to make sense…

But did I really kill my roommate?

Using such a flawed method?

“Yan Zhi Chun, you’re very knowledgeable,” Bai Yang said. “But unfortunately, you don’t know how to use your knowledge. You’re like a treasure trove without a door—your many talents have no outlet. I just installed a door for you. The knowledge is all yours; now your thinking is more active than before, and you can apply that knowledge in various ways.”

After hearing that, I looked at Bai Yang and swallowed hard, as some strange images began to float in my mind.

In my memories, I really wasn’t a smart person. I tried hard to keep up with everyone, but I just couldn’t.

I worked so hard reading and studying, but I only knew how to study mechanically… my brain wasn’t that active.

“Ge Yang… when did it start?”

“From the moment you gained the memories,” Bai Yang said. “Yan Zhi Chun, I discovered this treasure trove in you, so I simply changed your way of thinking. You don’t need to feel inferior; what you’re relying on now to navigate Zhong Yan Zhi Di is still your own knowledge.”

So that’s how it is…

No wonder I never retained my memories for so long…

If I were really a smart person, how could I have been stuck for so many years?

If I were really a smart person, how could I be so fascinated by someone like Bai Yang, who’s smart?

“But there are indeed some side effects,” Bai Yang said. “Modifying someone’s personality and traits can easily lead to unforeseen consequences. In other words, only when my thinking is clear can your memories be clear. So don’t force me into chaotic thoughts, or else it won’t just be me who goes mad—it’ll be you and the others too.”

“The others…?” I seemed to grasp some strange key point. “Ge Yang… are there many people here like me?”

“Not many, but they’re important,” Bai Yang said. “But you can rest assured; I won’t treat anyone unfairly.”

Although Bai Yang didn’t comfort me, I have to say… I actually felt a lot more at ease.

Bai Yang’s style has always been like this—he does things that seem villainous, but as long as I believe his ultimate goal is to liberate this place, I won’t be defeated.

I’ll always help Bai Yang, just like I told Jiang Ruo Xue… I want to help him until we achieve a result.

“The time is about right,” Bai Yang said. “Yan Zhi Chun, next I’ll tell you about the Zhong Ji Ren Wu.”

“The Zhong Ji Ren Wu…?”

“This task is impossible for you to do alone,” Bai Yang added. “It’ll require all the effort you’ve put in over these years.”

“Okay, go ahead…”

I didn’t know why Bai Yang was speaking this way; he was deliberately avoiding the words “Ji Dao.” He could have just said “with Ji Dao’s power,” but instead he said “all the effort you’ve put in over these years.”

Was this a path he was paving for himself? Was he subconsciously trying to forget about Ji Dao?

“Probably in another two or three years, I’ll completely disappear from this game arena,” Bai Yang said. “During this time, you need to lie low, build up your strength, and expand your team.”

“You… are going to disappear again…?” I paused.

“Yes, by then this game arena will be completely cleared out,” Bai Yang said. “Just like last time. If you notice I’m gone, you can try to find me, but it’ll be even harder this time.”

“‘Harder’ means…?”

“It probably means no one will know where I am,” Bai Yang said. “Not even Bai She or Yin Guo. Bai She won’t know my situation, and Yin Guo won’t be able to see the future I’m planning.”