Chapter 61: Master
Jinshan didn’t say anything. Perhaps he couldn’t.
His face was a mask of shock, blood trickling from his forehead into his eye, unblinking.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Tang Yu’an already had his answer: “I’m Tang Yu’an. Do you remember me?”
He had so many questions.
His own memories were fragmented; he didn’t know how his childhood friend ended up here, his name and appearance changed.
But those answers weren’t important now, because Jinshan—no, Chen Fei—covered his face with his hands.
He remembered.
Tang Yu’an initially thought he was trembling from pain, then realized he was crying, silent, shuddering sobs.
He called his name again, and Chen Fei recoiled, as if he was something repulsive.
“Don’t… don’t look at me, please…” he pleaded, covering his face.
Then, his voice sharp, he said: “You’ve mistaken me for someone else! I’m Jinshan! I don’t know him!”
His voice trailed off, his denial weak.
Tang Yu’an’s memories of Chen Fei were of a boisterous child, always eager to help. Connecting him to Jinshan seemed absurd, but seeing him cry, he saw the Chen Fei of his childhood, weeping over a broken toy.
He wanted to ask what had happened, but he simply told him to stay still.
He said the rescue team was coming, he would be alright.
Hearing this, Chen Fei suddenly tried to slit his own throat with a small knife.
Overwhelmed, he felt like he was drowning in a flood caused by a well he had dug himself.
But his movements were slow from the injury. Tang Yu’an easily stopped him.
“Don’t die in front of me,” he said. “You told me to value life.”
But Chen Fei kept repeating: “I’m Jinshan, you’ve got the wrong person…”
Tang Yu’an didn’t argue, ensuring the medics treated him when Wang Wen arrived with the rescue team.
He watched as Chen Fei was carried away, avoiding his gaze.
He understood.
After the handover with the government, Tang Yu’an explained everything.
The government, dissatisfied with the corporation’s control, saw this as an opportunity to take over, with the Bureau’s help.
With their assurance that they would rescue those trapped in the virtual world, they left with the crystals.
Chen Fei had to stay for treatment. Tang Yu’an visited him before leaving, but he remained silent.
As soon as communication was restored, they sent a report. Pang Jin had almost issued a level one alert.
During the return trip, Wei Langxing revealed that someone had deliberately leaked their itinerary, leading to the ambush.
Tang Yu’an had suspected it.
Wei Langxing speculated: “I suspect the traitor is from the Information Department.”
He warned Tang Yu’an to be careful, not to trust anyone but him.
Tang Yu’an teased: “What about Pang Jin? Xie Cun? Zuo Tinghan?”
Wei Langxing replied firmly: “They’re below me in the hierarchy of trust. None of them are as reliable as me.”
Back at the Bureau, Pang Jin and Xie Cun greeted them. Xie Cun had ordered a cake and decorated the hall.
He had been worried about Tang Yu’an, even considering going after him himself.
Tang Yu’an’s report had shocked him.
Kidnapped? Exiled? Endangered?
What was Wei Langxing doing?
But thankfully, he was back.
Xie Cun, hiding his worry, smiled.
Tang Yu’an: “Where’s Zuo Tinghan?”
Pang Jin and Xie Cun’s expressions stiffened.
His celebratory mood vanished: “Where is he? Did something happen?”
Xie Cun said quickly: “He’s fine, just a minor injury…”
Tang Yu’an immediately wanted to visit him, but Xie Cun stopped him: “There’s nothing to see… You need a checkup…”
Tang Yu’an knew it was serious.
“What happened?” he demanded. “Don’t lie to me!”
Pang Jin revealed that Zuo Tinghan had experienced a relapse of his brainwashing.
Tang Yu’an: “When?”
Pang Jin: “Before you left. There were signs.”
So that was why he had seemed distant.
He wanted to ask why he hadn’t been informed, but he asked: “Is there a treatment?”
Pang Jin said the therapists had a solution, but Zuo Tinghan refused.
“Why?”
Pang Jin explained that it involved completing the binding ritual with Tang Yu’an.
“You’ll be able to control him completely.”
Tang Yu’an fell silent. That was too much. No wonder he refused.
But… Zuo Tinghan would be dangerous without treatment.
“I want to see him,” he said.
Pang Jin took him to a private room, more like a cell.
Zuo Tinghan sat on the bed, his back to them, looking out the window.
Tang Yu’an had prepared his words. He would promise never to control him.
Pang Jin opened the door, and he entered.
Zuo Tinghan, assuming it was the therapist, said irritably: “I told you, I don’t agree.”
Tang Yu’an said gently: “It’s me. I’m back.”
Zuo Tinghan turned sharply, staring at him, then jumped up as if burned, frantically pouring him water.
Tang Yu’an: “…”
You’re the patient!
He sat on the bed as Zuo Tinghan insisted.
Zuo Tinghan: “I heard you were on a mission.”
Tang Yu’an simply said it was over.
Zuo Tinghan nodded, then frowned, noticing a scratch on his chin: “What happened?”
“Nothing, just tripped…”
Zuo Tinghan fussed over him, asking if it hurt.
Tang Yu’an, annoyed, interrupted him: “I’m here about your… situation.”
Zuo Tinghan fell silent.
Then he said in a strained voice: “I swear, I won’t force you to agree to that plan, I won’t be a burden, or expect you to be my… master. I’ll deal with this myself.”
Tang Yu’an was taken aback.
What was he talking about?
