A new conspiracy

"Hoss Sink"—given the way "Tengshe" made friends during his time as a vagrant, he wouldn't know this guy's full name.

But Tengshe still remembered the name clearly, naturally because...

He saw the name in the news—in a news report about the gunman in the School Shooting.

"This is indeed not my 'Memory'... because my actual situation back then was even more foolish than this," Tengshe, looking at the corpse on the ground, responding to Lin Yu. "I was more damned and stupid than you imagine... because I wasn't even here that day."

"I only found out afterward... Ruan Min died in such a shooting."

"But as you said—I could have changed so many things, prevented her from dying so inexplicably in a foreign land, from this ridiculous shooting."

"I knew the gunman; I knew he often talked nonsense about taking revenge on society and making the government pay, but I never took it to heart... I was so stupid!"

"If I just talk to him a little longer, maybe he won't do such a thing... Maybe at least he'll go somewhere else—at least not to Ruan Min."

"Even if I hadn't broken my promise back then... Ruan Min might not have continued studying at this school, and the outcome would still be different."

"Or rather, if I hadn't suggested Prison Break... or even earlier, if I hadn't broken up with her because of my stubbornness, or if I had accepted her suggestion to rent a place so we could live together, everything would have been different."

"It was my own arrogance that led me... to my own death."

Tengshe spoke in a very steady tone, as if he had no emotional fluctuations.

However, Lin Yu could sense that beneath the other person's calm tone lay the deepest and most profound despair.

And this...

This is exactly what Lin Yu wanted to see.

"If you need, I can spout some empty platitudes—like 'This isn't what you wanted,' 'Nobody could have predicted these things,' 'This isn't your responsibility,'" Lin Yu said, looking at Tengshe, "... the kind of nonsense we all know."

Tengshe looked at Lin Yu: "Of course I don't need you to say these things."

"Well, that's good. As expected of a 'Tier 4'," Lin Yu praised, "It's a bit lighter than I expected."

Tengshe let out a long breath, then said, "So you're forcing me to recall these Memory I've already forgotten in order to break me down psychologically and mentally?"

"To be honest... it's been very effective, but it only makes me want to target you even more," the Beast Master.

"Rather than being on the verge of a breakdown, I'm more like experiencing 'repression'—repression of my own powerlessness back then."

"Ruan Min's death is a lifelong wound for me, but I will never let such a thing happen again."

Lin Yu looked at Tengshe, whose resolve had returned, and spread his hands. "If you think I'm hoping this will cause you to have a mental breakdown, you're seriously underestimating me."

"I actually brought you here for only one purpose... Tengshe, I want a part of your 'soul'."

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Tengshe frowned. "What the hell?"

"A part of your soul, or perhaps just a small Soul Fragment —containing your sorrow, regret, and resentment—is needed."

Lin Yu seemed to genuinely believe that Tengshe hadn't heard him clearly, and repeated it once more.

Tengshe stared at Lin Yu and said, "I won't ask how this relates to all of this... What do you want my Soul Fragment for?"

"These are the materials for my [Exclusive item]. I need Soul Fragment from beings of a higher Divine Rank than myself who 'submit' to me and are 'conquered' by me," Lin Yu said calmly. "One fragment contains 'deep regret,' one contains 'the pain of parting,' one contains 'unfulfilled desire'... and then there must be the Soul Fragment of at least one 'Demigod' and one who has touched the 'Divine Realm.'"

As Lin Yu spoke, Tengshe paused in surprise.

"This is ridiculous! What exactly is this 'Exclusive item'? It requires so many outrageous 'materials' and even restricts how you obtain it... What can it even do?"

"I'll let you know when I've finished building it," Lin Yu said. "After all, you've made a contribution."

Tengshe was speechless for a moment. "You're quite particular... but I have no intention of cooperating with you—I will never hand over my Soul Fragment to you."

Lin Yu said, "Of course I knew you wouldn't cooperate... That's why I created this scenario—you'll willingly hand over your Soul Fragment next."

Tengshe looked at Lin Yu, "Why do you say that?"

"Because you've overlooked a simple fact—please think back again, why are your Memory of 'Ruan Min' so 'confused'?" Lin Yu said, the entire illusion trembling as if it were about to shudder at his next words. "Is it really possible for you to let your Memory become so chaotic just because of Psychological Trauma?"

Tengshe paused for a moment, then said, "What are you trying to say?"

"This shooting happened when you were young, so it was probably six or seven years ago," Lin Yu said, staring at Tengshe. "As a 'Tier 4,' you must know this secret that even I know—about the existence and version changes of the 'Death game.'"

"If we follow this line of reasoning, there is actually a 'coincidence' that can completely explain your Memory confusion... that is, Ruan Min's actual time of death was not this shooting, but sometime three years ago—she was just joining the Previous Version of the 'Death game' this time."

As Lin Yu spoke, Tengshe was somewhat shaken upon hearing Lin Yu words.

"You mean..."

"That's right. The reason your Memory are disordered is not only due to your own Psychological Trauma, but also because the 'Death game' altered your Memory!"

"Ruan Min... was a 'Player' in the previous version of the 'Death game'!"

As Lin Yu spoke, this illusory world seemed to begin to collapse because of his taboo words.

"Are you kidding me?!"

"I am shocked, "Tengshe said.

But...

He believed it.

Because that's what he wants to believe.

"How could she possibly be Player?!"

As Tengshe spoke, his eyes turned to Lin Yu, revealing a deep longing.

Because, considering Lin Yu's earlier mention of the need for "Soul Fragment," Tengshe could vaguely sense...

The woman in front of me might offer me some hope.

Even if it's highly likely to be fake, Tengshe is willing to give it a try, even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance.

Lin Yu stared at Tengshe and indeed uttered the words he had hoped for.

"It's true—I sensed, within your understanding and this causal Karma, the traces of some will 'modifying' reality."

"In this world, only the 'Death game' possesses such power."

As Lin Yu spoke, Tengshe paused for a moment, then said, "But where would you find 'Player' for a 'Death game' from overseas?"

"This version doesn't have it, but the Previous Version might have," Lin Yu said, looking at Tengshe. "Besides, the 'Death game' part isn't strictly accurate. At least as far as I know, 'Good Night' of 'Order' was Peninsula Person who just died in our country."

"So, if people from our country die abroad, they might also be entering a 'Death game'."

"Even if she was a 'Player,' even if what you said was true, what does it matter... In the end, she's still dead!"

Tengshe spoke again.

But Lin Yu's next words... were even more "hopeful" than Tengshe had imagined.

"Since Ruan Min was a 'Player' from the Previous Version, it's possible that she isn't completely 'dead,' that her soul remains somewhere in the Ten Realms, or that she has transformed into another Life Form and is hiding or dormant somewhere."

"Even if the other party doesn't have that possibility, I'm still working on how to bring back the 'Player' who died in the Previous Version."

Tengshe looked at Lin Yu: "You're a madman... Why are you researching this?"

"I have relatives and friends who died in the Previous Version," Lin Yu said calmly. "It's not just you whose life is full of regrets—it's not just the two of us either."

"You must be wondering why I and the 'Director' of 'Order' have maintained a subtle connection despite being in different organizations and holding different positions—the reason is actually this."

"Our biggest commonality... is that we're both plotting how to Resurrection the 'Player' who died in the Previous Version of the 'Death game.'"

"And now... you can join us too—just give me a small Soul Fragment. If I succeed in doing so in the future... then your girlfriend, this Miss 'Ruan Min,' might be able to come back."

Lin Yu spoke in a low voice, Tengshe said, "You mean... you want me to make a deal with you?"

"You are, after all, a 'Tier 4' being, Demigod... This is more like you investing in me," Lin Yu said earnestly, looking at Tengshe. "Don't worry, a Soul Fragment is all I need—there won't be any additional conditions."

"Even after you leave, you can continue to hunt me down from the perspective of the Night Watcher."

"It's like spending two dollars to buy a lottery ticket—a small fragment of a soul is nothing to a powerhouse of your level."

"But think about it, if everything I said is true... the result you can achieve is that 'Ruan Min' comes back from the dead."

"Isn't this worth a try for you?"