Chapter 1776: The Last Bit of Affection Has Also Vanished

"You really are thoughtful," Li Shu said, taking the ointment.

Xie Wanyi said wistfully, "There is still too little I can do; running all over the country, I rarely have time to stay by your side and take care of you."

"You young people should be like the Kunpeng, soaring through the heavens and earth; why would you want to stay by an old man's side?"

"But with you here, I feel at ease. When I encounter confusing matters, only you can help clear up my doubts."

Li Shu's smile remained unchanged as he asked, "Listening to you, have you encountered something?"

"Indeed, I have been thinking about the past lately; I fear... I am about to recover my memories."

As Xie Wanyi said this, he stared fixedly at Li Shu without blinking.

He wanted to discern some clue from Li Shu's expression.

But Li Shu showed no emotional change at all.

He said very calmly, "If you can't remember, it means there is no need to remember; you shouldn't force it."

"But I want to find my past memories."

"Is that very important?"

"Yes, it is very important!"

Xie Wanyi's tone grew increasingly solemn.

Li Shu, however, just shook his head as he listened.

He added, "You, you are still too young; you must know that it is rare to be muddled."

"This is not being 'rarely muddled,' but rather... being fooled by others!"

Xie Wanyi did not want to beat around the bush anymore.

He straightened his posture slightly, his expression grave: "I heard there is a technology that controls a person's memory by implanting a chip in their brain."

"So, you are suspecting that I did such a thing to a child? How could that be possible?"

Just as Li Shu's voice fell, Xie Wanyi set down an examination report.

It was clearly written on it that there was a foreign object inside Xie Wanyi's brain.

At this, both sides fell silent.

After a while, Xie Wanyi said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "I want to have the chip removed."

Upon hearing this, Li Shu sighed softly.

He said with regret, "Why can't you just pretend you don't know anything? That way, everyone could still live in peace."

This reaction from Li Shu made Xie Wanyi clench his fists in secret.

Xie Wanyi felt a surge of energy rampaging in his chest.

If he lost control even slightly, he would become manic.

Fortunately, Xie Wanyi took two deep breaths and suppressed that agitation.

Then he said firmly, "I cannot; I want to be with Jiang Motian for a long time."

Who would have thought that this very sentence would make Li Shu laugh.

Shaking his head, he said, "Stop dreaming; the two of you are impossible."

"Why is it impossible?"

"Because you must follow my arrangements and make the Li Family fall into ruin! With such deep hatred, how could you possibly be together?"

Li Shu's tone was light and airy.

Yet the content of his words was harsh and cold.

Hearing this, Xie Wanyi could not help but narrow his eyes.

He asked, "Why are you targeting the Li Family?"

"You don't need to try to pry information out of me; you won't succeed."

"Why wouldn't I succeed? Look, this report is fake; I didn't find a chip, yet didn't you believe it?"

Xie Wanyi's words finally caused Li Shu's expression to change.

This report was indeed fake.

Xie Wanyi had undergone several examinations before, and the results all showed he was healthy.

As for the chip...

After suspecting he was Xiaoshi, Xie Wanyi began investigating what methods the Organization had to control people's memories.

Investigating this led him to some old news.

Comparing these old reports with his own situation, Xie Wanyi formed a hypothesis.

Now, Li Shu had confirmed Xie Wanyi's hypothesis with his reaction.

At the same time, it also shattered the last bit of affection Xie Wanyi had for Li Shu.

The smile had completely vanished from Li Shu's face.

A moment later, he let out a cold snort: "You have grown quite a bit."

"Just blue coming out of the indigo, that's all."

"But I have given so much for you; is this how you repay me?"

"You cultivated me only because I was a useful chess piece; you have not a shred of affection for me as a person."

"Speaking like that is truly heartbreaking; among these young people, I think most highly of you, and even wanted to hand Wuyou Hall over to you."

"And then, let me be your puppet, just like the West Hall Master?"

At this moment, Xie Wanyi no longer hid anything and spoke very directly.

Li Shu did not like this; he simply tore off his own disguise as well and said coldly, "Since you know you are a chess piece, then remember the duty of a chess piece and don't harbor too many delusions."

"But I am no longer a child."

The implication behind Xie Wanyi's words was that he would not obey Li Shu's orders.

But how could Li Shu give up such a useful chess piece?

He extended a finger and tapped the air toward Xie Wanyi's head.

Then, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, he said, "There is indeed a Chip in your brain; if the Chip explodes, what do you think will happen to you?"

Xie Wanyi did not speak, his lips pressed tightly together.

Li Shu provided the answer: "You will undoubtedly die! Now, you must choose between the Li Family and your own life!"

Xie Wanyi did not want to choose.

He wanted it all!

But Li Shu did not give him any chance for such fantasies.

Li Shu reverted to the appearance of a benevolent elder, patting Xie Wanyi on the shoulder as he said earnestly, "There is no possibility between you and Jiang Motian; playing around is fine, but you can use her to help you complete your mission."

"I wonder what my mission is?"

"When the time comes, I will naturally tell you. Now that you have finally come to visit me, let's play a game of chess."

Li Shu's demeanor was relaxed, as if the argument from just a moment ago had never happened.

Xie Wanyi did not say anything else either.

Once the chessboard was brought over, he began to play chess with Li Shu.

Xie Wanyi's chess skills had been taught to him by Li Shu.

In the past, he was no match for Li Shu at all.

Every time he played chess with Li Shu, he would be utterly defeated.

But at some unknown point, their games began to become perilous.

Just like now, there were several times when Xie Wanyi was certain to lose.

Li Shu also revealed a victorious smile.

Yet, with one careless move, Xie Wanyi managed to escape to safety.

Li Shu was old after all, and after sitting for a while, his lower back could no longer take it.

Before a winner could be decided, Li Shu pounded his waist and said, "It is good to be young."

Xie Wanyi lied without changing his expression: "You are also still vigorous in your old age."

"Sigh, I can't do it anymore, I can't do it anymore; let's pack it up."

Xie Wanyi did not insist.

He put away the chess pieces, stood up, and said, "I will come to visit you another day."

"If you are busy, there is no need to come. Once I have made arrangements, I will contact you; do not be anxious."

Xie Wanyi's brows twitched slightly.

Afterward, he took a deep look at Li Shu, gave a response, and turned to leave.

Once he walked outside Li Shu's small courtyard, Xie Wanyi no longer needed to pretend that nothing was wrong.

He immediately raised his fist and punched the tree trunk!

Once, he had truly respected Li Shu.

He had even treated Li Shu as family.

But...

In the end, it was all a joke!

And now, it was time to put away his wishful thinking!