Chapter 469

“Yes, Master!” the black-clad man replied without looking back.

He said nothing more to Bai Ye. His body shimmered, and he swiftly vanished into the jungle. He had to reach the east as quickly as possible and retrieve the item.

Bai Ye watched the black-clad man depart, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He already knew this black-clad figure was not truly his subordinate, or rather, not *his* subordinate. This was merely an informant assigned to him by someone else, who happened to be by his side. Bai Ye wasn't even sure when the black-clad man had started following him, as he had been there since the moment Bai Ye awoke. It seemed he had even been protecting him while he was unconscious.

Bai Ye let out a soft sigh. His current location was also a mystery. The surrounding jungle appeared ordinary, but Bai Ye had a feeling this place was not simple. “Where exactly is this place?” he murmured softly. He tried to sense his surroundings but found that the area seemed to be shielded by some unknown force. He couldn't even detect the presence of any living being. This made Bai Ye’s brow furrow deeply. What was going on? Was this some kind of desolate, inescapable trap? And why was he here? Bai Ye struggled to recall, but discovered he couldn't remember anything. His memory seemed to be sealed by some power. He only remembered waking up in a cave and seeing the black-clad man. Beyond that, he knew nothing. Doubt filled Bai Ye’s mind. He felt as if he had forgotten something incredibly important, and the black-clad man seemed to know more than he let on.

“Master, I have returned.” Just then, the black-clad man’s voice echoed from a distance. Bai Ye looked up to see him running swiftly towards him, holding a black box in his hand. Confusion flickered in Bai Ye’s eyes.

“What is this?” he asked.

“This is what you instructed me to retrieve, Master,” the black-clad man replied, handing the box to Bai Ye.

Bai Ye took the box and examined it closely. Its surface was carved with strange runes, and the box itself emitted a faint black glow. Bai Ye’s brow furrowed slightly. He had a nagging feeling that something was off about this box. He tried to perceive it with his mental power, but found that his mental energy couldn't penetrate it. This intensified Bai Ye’s confusion. “What exactly is inside?” he murmured. He tried to open the box but found it was sealed by some force, utterly unyielding. His brows furrowed even tighter. What was this situation? Why couldn't he open this box? Was there some secret hidden within?

As Bai Ye pondered, the black-clad man’s voice came again. “Master, this box seems to contain your memories.”

Bai Ye’s body trembled. Memories? “What do you mean?” his eyes filled with bewilderment.

“Master, your memories seem to be sealed by some force, and this box is meant to break that seal,” the black-clad man explained.

Shock flooded Bai Ye’s mind. His memories were sealed? How was that possible? He tried to recall, but indeed, his mind was a blank slate. He only remembered waking in a cave and seeing the black-clad man. Nothing else. Doubt weighed heavily on him. He felt he had forgotten something crucial, and the black-clad man clearly knew something.

“How do I open this box?” Bai Ye asked.

“Master, you simply need to inject your mental power into it,” the black-clad man replied.

Bai Ye was still confused, but he tried to inject his mental power into the box. To his surprise, his mental power couldn’t enter it. His brow furrowed tightly again. What was going on? Was there something wrong with the box?

Just as Bai Ye wondered, the black-clad man spoke again. “Master, you don’t seem to have fully recovered yet.”

Bai Ye’s body shook. Not fully recovered? “What does that mean?” he asked, his confusion deepening.

“Master, your soul does not seem to have fully integrated yet,” the black-clad man clarified.

His soul hadn’t fully integrated? Bai Ye was utterly stunned. What was happening? Why wasn’t his soul fully integrated? He tried to sense his own body, but found nothing abnormal. This only deepened his frown. What was this? Was he not his original self?

As Bai Ye puzzled, the black-clad man’s voice rang out once more. “Master, you need to find your other soul fragment and merge with it to fully recover.”

A soul fragment? Bai Ye was overcome with shock. He had another soul fragment? What was this situation? Why would he have soul fragments? He struggled to remember, but his memory was still sealed. He only recalled waking in a cave and seeing the black-clad man. Everything else was a blank. He felt he had forgotten something immensely important, and the black-clad man seemed to know all about it.

“How do I find my other soul fragment?” Bai Ye questioned.

“Master, your other soul fragment is right here, in this box,” the black-clad man stated.

Bai Ye’s body jolted. In this box? “What does that mean?” His eyes widened in disbelief.

“Master, your other soul fragment is sealed within this box,” the black-clad man explained.

Bai Ye was utterly astounded. His other soul fragment was sealed in this box? How could that be? He tried to remember again, but his memories remained empty. He only knew of waking in the cave with the black-clad man. Bai Ye’s mind swirled with questions. He felt he had forgotten something vital, and the black-clad man held the answers.

“Then how do I open this box?” Bai Ye pressed.

“Master, you just need to inject your mental power into it,” the black-clad man reiterated.

Bai Ye, despite his lingering confusion about "mental power," tried once more to inject it into the box. But to his dismay, his mental energy still wouldn’t enter. His brows furrowed in frustration. What was the problem? Was the box itself flawed?

Just as Bai Ye’s doubts mounted, the black-clad man’s voice came again. “Master, you still haven’t fully recovered.”

Bai Ye’s body trembled. Not fully recovered? “What do you mean?” he demanded, his eyes still clouded with confusion.

“Master, your soul does not seem to have fully integrated,” the black-clad man explained.

His soul hadn't fully integrated? Bai Ye’s astonishment grew. What kind of situation was this? Why wasn't his soul fully merged? He tried to sense his body, but found nothing amiss. This deepened his frown. What was truly going on? Was he no longer his original self?

Amidst Bai Ye’s bewilderment, the black-clad man’s voice chimed in again. “Master, you need to find your other soul fragment and merge with it to completely recover.”

A soul fragment? Bai Ye was overwhelmed with shock. He actually had another soul fragment? What was this all about? Why did he have soul fragments? He desperately tried to recall, but he couldn't remember anything. His memory, it seemed, was sealed by some force. He only remembered waking up in a cave and seeing the black-clad man. The rest was a complete blank. Doubt filled Bai Ye’s heart. He felt he had forgotten something extremely important, and the black-clad man appeared to know everything.