Later on, Jiang Kenren went through experiences similar to those Tang Rui faced in her youth.
But her father was cowardly, and her mother didn’t even care about such matters, clearly showing Jiang Kenren received no affection.
On top of that, constantly being ridiculed in childhood, merely acquiring the ability to "blend in" was already quite fortunate.
"Mind your own business! Are you two a couple? You seem so affectionate!"
Jiang Kenren’s eyes carried a bewitching look.
At this moment, Wen Xishu felt a mental impact; clearly, Jiang Kenren was trying to alter his memory.
But in the next second, Jiang Kenren coughed up a mouthful of blood.
She clutched her head, writhing in agony.
Tang Rui coldly said:
"You can keep trying to invade us, but I assure you, it will only get more painful each time."
Jiang Kenren trembled, her eyes becoming much clearer. She calmed down instantly.
Wen Xishu shrugged:
"Don’t be so harsh on the kid. Jiang Kenren, I’m well aware of your past."
"But don’t you think ordinary people are also pitiful?"
Jiang Kenren didn’t care about the feelings of ordinary people. Wasn’t she pitiful back then? Wasn’t it pitiful when she was ridiculed as someone raised by a "lucky dad"?
Why can’t she bully them now that she’s strong? Weren’t they the ones who bullied her when she was weak?
But she dared not show it.
She thought she could hide her thoughts, but the bullet screen above her head exposed everything.
Wen Xishu sighed lightly.
Clearly, this child’s hatred for the world was hard to eradicate. He wasn’t suited to be a Fire Shadow who could talk scary stories into goodness.
He said:
"Do whatever you want, but now that you have superpowers, don’t you want revenge?"
"Revenge..."
Jiang Kenren murmured softly, memories beginning to flood her mind.
"Revenge for what?"
It was a strange feeling, like a small pebble falling into a deep pool, causing ripples without changing anything.
When the word revenge appeared, Jiang Kenren’s eyes showed a trace of confusion as if invaded by her own power.
She thought of a blurry face and some past experiences. But she could only recall this much; those memories were too vague, so vague she couldn’t even be sure if they existed.
Yet somehow, the word revenge stirred up her imagination, some images flashed by. Could it be her persecution delusion?
As she felt increasingly confused, vaguely sensing she had a grudge to settle, those vague memories suddenly became clear at this moment.
She suddenly felt as if she was there in person.
Jiang Kenren completely remembered, she had... been hurt. She curled up, shivering helplessly, the overwhelming memories making her like a small cat drenched by a heavy rain.
Wen Xishu at that moment sensed a fluctuation of mental power.
He understood, Jiang Kenren seemed unable to remember that memory, but then Tang Rui exerted her strength.
Thanks to Tang Rui’s presence, that memory became extremely clear.
Jiang Kenren, under the stimulus of empathy, remembered it too—
Yes, she had experienced something more terrifying than others ridiculing her family.
This experience made her shiver.
But gradually, anger surged within her again, her eyes nearly burst with fury as she gritted her teeth and spat out a name:
"Yan, Zhihai."
Thunder crashed; this name felt like some sort of taboo.
Wen Xishu knew it was time for revenge:
"Some experiences I can’t mend, I advise you not to hurt the innocent only to avoid becoming the person you hate. At least, before having no choice but to take that step for release, we still have revenge, don’t we?"
"In your unfortunate life, there should be one satisfying release, right? Settle your grudges, give scum the ending they deserve, let degenerates face their downfall. Those mistakes shouldn’t just end like that."
These words brought Tang Rui back to many years ago.
She suddenly felt like laughing.
Because Wen Xishu had once said the exact same words to her.
Inexplicably, she felt like Wen Xishu was using a formula to resolve an enemy this time.
But she didn’t find it offensive. She believed that back then, Wen Xishu said these not out of technical skill but from a genuine desire to help her.
Looking at Wen Xishu’s back, she always felt a special sense of security, as if returning to those nights needing help, needing a sentinel to assist in killing.
"But... I, I can’t find him! I can’t remember!"
Jiang Kenren said painfully, her eyes gradually brimming with tears. She could recall, with Tang Rui’s help, the experiences she suffered that night, all the humiliation and helplessness, fear and vulnerability, coming back to her.
But she just couldn’t remember where Yan Zhihai was. It was as if Yan Zhihai didn’t exist.
"I can’t find him..."
She looked pleadingly at Wen Xishu and Tang Rui.
Wen Xishu and Tang Rui exchanged a glance, both suddenly understanding something.
Initially, Wen Xishu didn’t quite get it, but now he understood completely.
Some traumas are so great...
They cause the victim to lose that memory. But the traces of the trauma do not disappear with those memories.
"Come on, we’ll help you find him."
Wen Xishu made an inviting gesture:
"It’s time to put an end to all of this."
...
...
The pointer of the Compass re-anchored itself in the direction its owner desired, the rain in Jiangcheng grew more and more torrential, as if determined to swallow the city whole this night.