CHAPTER 1851: CHAPTER 1844: YI HUANGCHENG’S NERVOUSNESS

Tang Ye’s brow furrowed again, wondering whether Xu Haishui had truly betrayed him or not. He was puzzled, as theoretically, low-level zombies were unlikely to escape the mental control of high-level zombies, as absurd as a finger rebelling against its own hand!

He was confused, somewhat dazed, but most notably, Xu Haishui not only escaped his mental control but also completely concealed his presence from him!

Currently, Xu Haishui is like a ghost, wandering the Cloud Gorge Base, unseen yet omnipresent!

However, nothing in this world is absolute. Xu Haishui loved to study his peers at the Royal Court, having done so for many years, perhaps genuinely finding a way to escape the control over him.

After all, from a certain standpoint, Xu Haishui is like him, possessing a zombie’s body yet retaining human memory, with all human strengths and weaknesses intact. The difference is, Tang Ye’s body houses only one spirit—his own—while Xu Haishui’s body contains countless!

People aren’t zombies; no one wants their life held in someone else’s hands forever. Rebellion is a logical thing.

There’s also the possibility, as Yi Huangcheng suggested, that something unexpected happened to Xu Haishui, forcing this betrayal! But Tang Ye knew comforting himself was somewhat ridiculous; even though he could convince himself, the thought of Xu Haishui possibly betraying him caused a blockage in his heart.

Even if it’s external influences, after knowing each other for so many years, wouldn’t it help to clarify things?

Does he not even have the courage to meet him?

Ultimately, distrust prevented Tang Ye from believing in himself unconditionally.

The control chain among zombies provided mutual loyalty and trust guarantees, but once this chain vanished, human deception and betrayal commenced.

"I know what you want to say, but whatever the situation is, I need him to speak out and clarify everything himself."

"What should I do then?" Yi Huangcheng nodded and asked.

"Find him? Aimlessly search." Tang Ye said.

"That is..." Yi Huangcheng was perplexed, momentarily unable to comprehend Tang Ye’s instructions.

"How well do you know the Cloud Gorge Base?"

"Approximately... thirty to forty percent or so..."

"That’s enough. What day of the week is it today?"

"Wednesday."

"Then starting tonight, plan your route from this Wednesday to the next, and walk it every day. Xu Haishui chose this time to approach you, and will seek you next time too."

"Fine." Yi Huangcheng nodded in agreement, and Tang Ye continued, "After planning the route, compile it and give it to Old White and the others. I’ll have Song Muyuan get you a linkage device later so you can notify them immediately if Xu Haishui finds you."

Yi Huangcheng, Bai Huipeng, and Huang Quanjiu exchanged glances, and shortly, Bai Huipeng furrowed his brow and asked, "Having been disturbed this time, Xu Haishui might guess Orange will tell us about this, so he probably won’t come out to find us soon, right? A week might not be enough..."

"True." Tang Ye thought without hesitation, "If he doesn’t appear after a week, Orange, you should mix up the route, best to change it every week. The more chaotic, the better, yet we must know the route for tomorrow so Xu Haishui doesn’t catch onto a pattern. If necessary, plan a new route, and always stay alert. Tomorrow when you step out, he could be watching you from some corner."

"Understood."

"Then you may leave."

"Mm."

Huang Quanjiu patted Yi Huangcheng’s shoulder, and then the three exited, leaving the villa, as Bai Huipeng muttered, "They’ve all gone far."

"These bastards!" Huang Quanjiu angrily exclaimed.

"Where should we go to play?"

"Let’s find the Wheel and them, they shouldn’t have gone far?"

"Let’s go!"

"...Orange, what’s wrong?" Huang and Bai didn’t walk far when they noticed Yi Huangcheng had been dragged away, puzzling them. They saw Yi Huangcheng’s hand trembling slightly, and when Huang and Bai’s voice reached him, Yi Huangcheng was jolted back from his drifting thoughts.

"Huh? Nothing... I’m fine..."

"If there’s something, speak out, don’t keep it to yourself." They returned to Yi Huangcheng.

"Nothing much, just a bit nervous..."

"Nervous?" Huang Quanjiu and Bai Huipeng paused, and Yi Huangcheng shook his head, not saying much more.

The feeling in his heart was known only to him; he was searching for someone, whose past grace gnawed at his heart like ants—existing but unreachable, an irresistible itch.

It was an anticipation.

In his mind he continually simulated the reunion, envisioning beauty, warmth, shock, excitement, followed by an embrace!

After the embrace, there’s pure emotion and tears.

Yet now, he began fearing it—the sight of numbness in their eyes, silent meetings with nothing as imagined upon reunion, fearing her life muddled and unrecognizable.

And most frightening, Xu Haishui’s leverage wasn’t that person...

Night fell, and Tang Ye came to the door, grasping the handle as he prepared to leave but suddenly thought of something, releasing his grip.

He returned upstairs, picked up his phone, and called Su Sigui.

Beep-beep-beep...

After a series of inconsistent busy tones, a message finally sounded: "Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is unreachable..."

Slightly frowning, Tang Ye exited the dialer, put away his phone, unsure of Su Sigui’s current engagements as she didn’t answer, yet telling her later was also an option.

This night was sleepless.

The next day, at nine in the morning.

Lying with eyes shut in the bathhouse, Tang Ye suddenly caught Ah Fu’s voice nearby.

"Boss, the front desk sent someone saying your phone rang."

"Have them bring it over." Tang Ye didn’t open his eyes, merely waving a hand, then hearing Ah Fu’s near-roaring voice.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

With his voice, several attendants standing at the bathhouse entrance rushed out, soon a woman in a finely crafted qipao arrived with a tray holding the phone, seductively swaying her hips.

Ah Fu chuckled instinctively upon seeing her but quickly composure, unaware of Tang Ye’s presence, coldly pretending he hadn’t noticed.

The woman hesitated briefly; she’d known Ah Fu as a regular at the Royal Court but never seen him restrained. Passing him, Ah Fu refrained from his usual hands-on demeanor, maintaining a saintly façade.

Taking in the young man soaking in the water with mesmerizing features, the woman grasped his situation, immediately approaching him, carefully handing over the phone.

"Mr. Li?" she softly inquired, but Tang Ye merely gestured, "Check who called."

"Certainly." The woman nodded, cautiously opened the phone, checking the call record, freezing momentarily upon seeing it.

"M-Mayor?"