Memory Puzzle

Watching the bodyguards frantically trying to recall which two companions had gone missing, Li Nian and Lin Yu sighed in unison.

"They probably can't remember."

Li Nian said helplessly.

Lin Yu agreed – if these people could remember, they would have remembered long ago.

There is no doubt that the Memory or perceptions of these bodyguards have been altered.

However, what Lin Yu was concerned about was...

How did you do that?

Although many Yaomo in the Prison Mountain Realm possess this ability and can easily accomplish this, Lin Yu, who had personally experienced Old Zheng's mental abilities, knew very well that to be able to simultaneously throw more than thirty people into chaos and have two people disappear without anyone noticing in front of Old Zheng...

Moreover, even after further investigation, no problems can be found!

Lin Yu thought about it carefully and could vaguely recall two blurry figures and faces—which proved that his Memory was not the problem.

Li Nian, who was standing to the side, seemed unaffected.

Is the other party lacking confidence in altering their own and Li Nian's Memory, or simply unwilling to do so for some reason?

In any case, it would be difficult for someone with this level of Mental Power to exist in the Prison Mountain Realm, which is not known for its "soul-related" abilities.

But since all of this did happen, there are two possibilities.

The first possibility is that this was achieved through other means, rather than through interference with cognition and Memory using mental abilities.

After all, the many Talismans and Fang Techniques in the Prison Mountain Realm are extremely strange, and they may have methods that can induce "forgetfulness" without relying on the soul and spirit.

Another possibility...

That is to say, there is indeed someone here whose Mental Power is far superior to that of Old Zheng, or at least far superior to that of the crippled Old Zheng.

If it's the latter...

Could it be another Player?

"Impossible," Old Zheng immediately dismissed Lin Yu's idea. "It absolutely couldn't have been done by another Player."

Old Zheng said, then added.

"I'm not saying this because I'm confident in myself or anything, it's just... Boss, if it really was other Player who caused this, then how do you explain the 'anomaly' at Chen Family Fortress —the problem here has clearly been going on for more than just a day or two."

Lin Yu nodded.

Indeed, based on Yue Zhenqiao's previous statements, it's not hard to conclude that the "mysterious disappearances" in Chen Family Fortress have been going on for quite some time.

Those residents of Chen Family Fortress who appear to be alive but are actually not alive at all are probably not newcomers, but have existed for a long time.

Based on the principle of "avoiding unnecessary creation of Entities," and given the lack of evidence that this "disappearance of the bodyguards" is not a "special case" or anomaly of a completely different origin from the anomalies that have frequently occurred in Chen Family Fortress in the past, it is best to regard it as a manifestation of the anomalies that have always existed in Chen Family Fortress.

If that's the case, then the cause certainly can't be "other Player"—at least not the three remaining players who haven't shown up among the six Player in this [Instance].

Lin Yu was thinking quickly; the scene was becoming increasingly agitated and unsettling.

There were even arguments among the bodyguards!

"Biaotou Yue) have encountered something strange at Chen Family Fortress. We should leave as soon as possible—we'll depart immediately after Noon!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? We, the Jinfu Escort Agency, are all brothers. Are you going to abandon us two brothers?"

"Will staying here even be of any use?!"

"Yes, I don't even remember them!"

"You heartless and cruel bastards, if it were you who disappeared today, wouldn't we be able to abandon you all too?"

"Do you have any good ideas?"

"At the very least, we need to negotiate with the people from Chen Family Fortress..."

"It might be the people from Chen Family Fortress who are behind this—if you're really worried about your colleagues, you should leave quickly and ask some experts from Great Martial Halls to investigate."

"Those people have investigated many times, but they've never found anything!"

"If even those masters and Daoist priests can't do it, why should we?"

The bodyguards argued amongst themselves, but Yue Zhenqiao, who had initially panicked, had now Leng Jing down.

His face was ashen as he sat down on a stone chair and slammed his hand hard on the stone table.

"Bang!"

The loud noise interrupted the discussion inside the room.

Yue Zhenqiao said in a deep voice, "Enough, stop arguing. Two colleagues are missing; we can't just abandon them like this!"

"However, we can't let more brothers go in because of them. If there are still no clues before nightfall at the latest, we'll assume they died at the hands of Yaomo, and then we'll take good care of their families after we leave—by then, it will be clear who went missing."

Yue Zhenqiao spoke in a cold voice, offering a compromise.

This is also the best solution currently available.

Although a few of the bodyguards seemed to disagree, none of them disobeyed Yue Zhenqiao.

"Understood, Chief Escort."

Yue Zhenqiao nodded, and then issued more specific instructions.

"Since no one can remember the missing person's name, we don't need to force it. After Noon, a few of the uninjured and skilled people will come with me to search all around Chen Family Fortress along the way we came, looking for any marks left by the missing comrades or any new signs of fighting or dragging."

Yue Zhenqiao spoke, he looked at Lin Yu and Li Nian: "My two Heroine, forgive my intrusion... but do you have any thoughts?"

He asked respectfully.

Lin Yu looked at Yue Zhenqiao in surprise.

This Biaotou Yue) Yue was indeed a seasoned veteran. Although his martial arts skills were limited and he had panicked for a moment when things happened, his rich experience allowed him to quickly Leng Jing down.

Furthermore, the arrangements made were very well-organized—especially now, she even knew to take the initiative to ask herself and Li Nian, despite her embarrassment.

Lin Yu did indeed have some solutions.

When Yue Zhenqiao asked, Lin Yu was naturally happy to answer.

"Your arrangements are good... but during the time we have free time outside, I think we shouldn't just sit idle."

"Then take out all your personal belongings and recall everything you've done and said throughout the day, remembering it carefully."

"Everyone in the escort team has their own role and works seamlessly together, so they will definitely leave behind various 'real-world traces'; and after your colleagues who have been with you day and night go missing, even if their Memory are faulty, your Memory will definitely have 'abnormalities'."

"By piecing together everyone's Memory, even if they can't recall the missing persons' specific names, we can outline their general responsibilities, abilities, and personalities, and know who they were close to."

"It's like a mirror that's broken into two pieces. Once you piece everything back together, you can naturally tell what the missing two pieces were like."