Hearing me say this, Jiang Keyang's face changed drastically. It was true that Shi Ying was an overly controlling personality and wouldn't kill innocents, nor would Jiang Kexin be foolish enough to provoke Shi Ying.
However, the situation seemed different now. If Shi Ying had also guessed the current predicament, she might use Jiang Kexin to harm Jiang Keyang, precisely because Shi Ying understood how much Jiang Keyang doted on his sister.
Jiang Keyang quickly dialed Jiang Kexin's number, but it was turned off.
"Xiao Xin's phone is off!" Jiang Keyang told Teacher Wang Ren. Teacher Wang Ren frowned, "Go home and check. Perhaps your sister was on the phone with someone late last night, and the battery died."
"Okay!"
Jiang Keyang left in a hurry without saying goodbye to me.
After Jiang Keyang left, Teacher Wang Ren looked at me and smiled, "Tang Nan, you seem to get along well with Xiao Xin. She's missing, and you're acting as if nothing's happened."
"You weren't planning on leaving the hospital, so what was I supposed to worry about?"
"Oh, so that's what you were thinking."
I smiled faintly. Looking back now, if I could think of these things, it was unlikely that Teacher Wang Ren, even if she hadn't planned anything, wouldn't have considered it. She didn't do anything, which was quite unusual.
"Your thoughts are correct, but I have a question for you now!" Teacher Wang Ren said gently.
"I've already sealed the game."
I chuckled awkwardly. Years ago, when Li Jiu had forced me into the position of the fifty-sixth Schemer leader, Teacher Wang Ren had asked for my help, asking me to write a "seal" character on her hand.
This custom originated from Mr. Wen De. Back then, Mr. Wen De used this method to seal the game and then watched his disciples fight amongst themselves, offering no opinion or help. Only at the very end did he write a "seal" character on Li Jiu's hand, but this "seal" was not to seal the game, but to seal Li Jiu's true heart.
Although this "seal" character was mysterious, in my eyes, it was merely a custom.
However, Teacher Wang Ren's mention of this "seal" character again left me perplexed and confused.
"I don't understand what you mean? If you want to scheme, then scheme. Why are you fixated on this 'sealing the game'? In my opinion, this is just a promise. When it comes down to life and death, what use is this thing?"
"You don't understand. The greatest ability of a Schemer is not strategy, but intention. True strength comes from the heart. A promise is like adding a door to the heart. Once this door is closed, the power within the heart is gone."
"That sounds so mystical?"
"Tang Nan, you already have a deep understanding of the Schemers. Then let me ask you a question: among our fellow disciples, who do you think is the most powerful."
"Old Ghost!"
This idea was unshakable. Old Ghost had died in Hong Kong. But I didn't think so. In the circle of Schemers, if Mr. Wen De stood on the clouds, then after his passing, the only one who climbed to the clouds was his most disappointing disciple, Cao Shi.
"You're wrong. Among our fellow disciples, the most powerful is Senior Brother Zhang Si!"
I didn't want to contradict Wang Ren, but upon hearing about Mr. Wen De's most powerful disciple, I couldn't help but reveal a mocking smile.
"Don't joke. Him."
It wasn't that I looked down on Zhang Si. When we were at Mount Tai, Zhang Si had indeed tricked me, getting me a coin. However, after all I had experienced, the Schemers of that year were no longer the same people in my heart.
Except for Li Jiu, whom I came to admire, the others no longer seemed like their former selves. For example, if I were to face the "Empty Room Celebrity Game" with my current state of mind, I wouldn't be as lost and helpless as before. I could even strategize and break the game with ease. With this in mind, if the current me encountered Zhang Si, I shouldn't be intimidated by his coin.
"You don't believe me?"
"I truly don't believe this."
Teacher Wang Ren pointed to her palm, "Perhaps it's because of the shared experience of sealing the game."
"Is there any mystery to this 'seal' character?"
"Once there is a 'seal,' a Schemer's situation is like an artist who has lost inspiration during creation. To put it plainly, it's like an ordinary person and a painter creating with the same technique. Although it's the same thing, what the painter creates is called a work of art, while what the ordinary person draws is called a piece of work. You can't distinguish between a regular painting and a work of art based solely on pigments and techniques. However, what an artist creates has a soul-like presence that attracts others, something a regular painting absolutely lacks."
...
Looking at Teacher Wang Ren who was earnestly explaining to me, I smiled and asked, "Are you telling me this now because you want me to help you break that seal?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, let's do it now. But how do you break this?"
"I've read many of Master's old notes and insights over the years. The method to break the seal is simple: write the character '解' (jiě - to untie, to solve) on the other hand. However, it must be done by a recognized Schemer successor."
"That's easy. I'll do it. Isn't my biggest advantage this identity as a Schemer successor?"
Hearing me say this, Teacher Wang Ren smiled faintly and pointed to the chair by the hospital bed, "Come here and sit."
I sat down. I had initially dismissed it. Although Teacher Wang Ren had explained it, I still felt her explanation was like the coin Zhang Si tossed high in front of me. In reality, that thing had no use? But it strangely added a lock to people's minds. Thinking of this, I put down the hand I had raised.
Teacher Wang Ren's hopeful mood seemed to have fallen through. She looked at me, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"Why did you ask me to write a 'seal' on your hand back then?"
"Old Jiu asked me to write it. Before he died, he wanted my help but didn't trust me. So he forced me to make a promise: once he passed on the Schemer successor title to you, he would ask you to write a 'seal' character on my palm."
"Why didn't he trust you?"
"Old Jiu trusted no one except Xiao Shi. In hindsight, he was right. Senior Brother Zhang Si and Second Senior Brother Zhu Guang both had ambitions."
"Don't you?"
"Do you think I do?"
"That's true. Uncle-Master is a renowned psychology professor and a psychological mentor for the public security system. You are now a police superintendent and the head of the Special Crimes Division. Someone like you, even if ambitious, would be for the country and the people."
Hearing me say this, Teacher Wang Ren let out a chuckle, "Tang Nan, you're quite good at flattery."
"Heh heh!"
While smiling, I wrote the character "解" on Teacher Wang Ren's other hand.
After writing it, Teacher Wang Ren clasped her hands together, a benevolent smile on her face, like a female bodhisattva. Then, she let out a long sigh, "Master was indeed unfathomable. A heart ailment requires a heart cure. I feel much better, my mind feels clearer."
With that, Teacher Wang Ren took a phone from under her pillow and handed it to me, "Please, you must save Xiao Xin. My daughter's life is in your hands now."
"Uncle-Master, what is this?"
"This is Wang Zeyi's secret phone. I'll tell you in detail when you get back why I have this phone."