Chapter 989: Red Heart and Red Heart

"Next, I'll ask, and you answer!" Jian Changsheng launched into the first question.

"Where is the headquarters of the Twilight Society...?"

"Xidao Ancient Cache!" Chen Ling and Fang Liangye answered simultaneously.

"What is the Twilight Society's recognition phrase?"

"I want to buy a glimmer of hope!"

"What vehicle does the Twilight Society use to traverse the realms?"

"Tractor!"

Every answer Chen Ling and Fang Liangye gave perfectly matched, leading Jian Changsheng to believe they weren't two individuals at all, but rather in such perfect sync they seemed like one person.

Jian Changsheng was utterly bewildered. Most of his questions pertained to information known only by members of the Twilight Society. An Usurper, he reasoned, could not possibly have known such details if they had infiltrated.

Jian Changsheng had wanted to ask even more specific questions, particularly about matters related to himself. The problem, however, was that portions of his memory concerning Chen Ling had been stolen, leaving him unsure if their answers would even be correct.

"You, you all..." Jian Changsheng wiped sweat from his forehead, at a loss for words.

"I am the real Heart 6," Fang Liangye stated solemnly. "You can ask me anything, and I can answer it..."

"Stop!"

Chen Ling immediately brought the farce to a halt.

He took a deep breath, pointed to himself, then to Fang Liangye. "There's no need to distinguish. In a sense, we are both Heart 6."

Jian Changsheng looked utterly confused.

Fang Liangye also frowned, staring at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I am Heart 6, and you are Fang Liangye, who inherited Heart 6's memories... Our lives were swapped." Chen Ling slowly extended a finger. "I know this sounds fantastical, but I can prove it with just one question."

"What?"

"I ask you, what is the real name of Heart Q?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Fang Liangye replied, "Bai Feng."

"Bai Feng??" Jian Changsheng's head snapped up. Pointing at Fang Liangye, he exclaimed, "You're wrong! Heart Q is Bai Ye!"

"How is that possible?" Fang Liangye's brows furrowed deeply. "No, I remember clearly, Heart Q is Bai Feng..."

"The King of Silver's memory graft only altered past events, not the identities of the people in those memories... Therefore, the Twilight Society members in your memory are populated by individuals from your *own* past. If you don't believe me, you can compare all the names in your memory with his and see if I'm telling the truth."

Chen Ling's voice was perfectly calm.

Fang Liangye frowned as he looked at Jian Changsheng, then proceeded to cross-reference several more names with him. Inevitably, none of them matched.

Fang Liangye's frown deepened. He swept his gaze between the two of them, about to say something.

"I know what you're thinking," Chen Ling cut in. "You're going to suspect that neither he nor I are actually Twilight Society members, but Usurpers who have staged this entire situation specifically for you... Frankly, that's what I'd think if I were in your position."

Fang Liangye didn't deny it, simply looking at Chen Ling. "I have another question."

"Go ahead."

"If, as you say, our memories were swapped, then why do you still retain Heart 6's memories?"

Chen Ling smiled faintly.

He walked up to Fang Liangye, leaned in close to his ear, and slowly spoke in a voice only they could hear:

"How long has it been since you last saw 'Audience Anticipation'?"

Audience Anticipation 3Current Anticipation: 45

These two lines of characters floated into view before Chen Ling, whereas Fang Liangye saw nothing at all.

Fang Liangye seemed to grasp the situation. His gaze upon Chen Ling transformed from shock, to confusion, and finally to a resigned understanding... The two stood in the faint light, looking at each other with incredibly complex expressions.

Jian Changsheng stared blankly at the scene. After an unknown amount of time, he tentatively spoke:

"So... you two really are both 'Heart 6'?"

Seriously, guys... you Heart 6s are really strange, aren't you!?

Meanwhile,

Wu Duo's figure peeked out from above a manhole cover.

"Are you still not done talking? If we don't leave soon, it'll be daylight!"

Dawn had quietly broken, a sliver of pale light slowly emerging from the east, dispelling the darkness across the land. Soon, this factory complex would become active.

If they didn't leave now, they would truly be exposed.

Fang Liangye glanced at Chen Ling, then looked up at Wu Duo and said, "Soon."

Once Wu Duo left, Fang Liangye spoke again: "What should we do to get our memories back?"

"Now that we've found each other, the rest will be easier." Chen Ling turned to Jian Changsheng. "You are... Spade 6, Jian Changsheng, right?"

"That's right."

"Didn't you hide in the Tianshu Realm? How did you end up here?"

"Well..."

Jian Changsheng hesitated for a moment before recounting their experiences. He omitted the fact that they had specifically come to rescue Heart 6, instead fabricating a story that Sun Bumian had urgent business there, and the rescue of Heart 6 was merely a coincidence.

Jian Changsheng wasn't sure why he couldn't be direct; the words just changed as he spoke them... It was as if stubbornness was his innate response whenever he was in Chen Ling's presence.

"So, Clubs is here too?"

"You mean Xiao Hua? Yes, he's here! He should be looking for you in another part of the city!"

"Excellent..."

Chen Ling looked at Fang Liangye and stated gravely, "The Usurpers are still searching for me, so I can't remain here for long... Here's what we'll do: give me an address, and once I'm able to slip away, I'll come find you... Then, we'll have Clubs help us retrieve our memories."

"The underground stronghold has been destroyed. We'll likely continue to hide in this factory complex. I can leave a mark for you nearby."

"That would be best."

Talking to someone on the same wavelength was direct and efficient. Chen Ling and Fang Liangye quickly agreed on their next strategy with just a few words. With that decided, Chen Ling prepared to turn and leave.

"Wait a minute... Which Heart should I follow?"

Jian Changsheng, seeing Chen Ling and Fang Liangye turn to leave in separate directions, asked blankly.

"You follow him," Chen Ling said, pointing at Fang Liangye.

"Yes, come with me," Fang Liangye nodded.

"Oh..."

Jian Changsheng scratched his head. Although he didn't understand, he obediently followed behind Fang Liangye.

Fang Liangye and Jian Changsheng climbed back to the surface and rejoined the rest of the Rat Pack. Chen Ling didn't know how Fang Liangye would explain Jian Changsheng's appearance to the others, but he trusted Fang Liangye to handle it appropriately.

"You've changed so much after inheriting my memories..."

As Chen Ling made his way back, he sifted through Fang Liangye's memories in his mind. The Fang Liangye he had just encountered was almost a completely different person from the gentle, harmless individual he remembered.

Could his memories change a person to this extent?

Lost in thought, Chen Ling returned to the Usurpers' battlefield. From a distance, he saw several grim-faced figures standing amidst the ruins.