Chén smiled.
His eyes didn't.
"What do you mean," he asked slowly, "I'm the answer?"
The boy stepped down from the bed and sat beside him on the floor.
"Tell me something first," he said. "Do you remember what happened a week ago?"
"No."
Chén answered immediately.
"I can't remember anything from the past week."
The boy nodded, almost as if he had expected that response.
"You see," he said, "you've forgotten something very important."
"What is it?"
The boy shrugged lightly.
"Honestly? I don't know the exact details."
Chén frowned.
"But I do know this," the boy continued.
"Your master was killed. And now you're here."
Chén blinked. Master? The word felt absurd. Then—spoil of war. A captured asset.
"If you were near the bottom of the ladder," the boy added casually, "you might never have heard his name."
"But he was known as Eminence."
So that was it.
After a moment, Chén spoke again.
"Can you help me remember?"
The boy looked thoughtful.
"I could," he said slowly.
"But doing so might cost you more."
He turned slightly toward Chén.
"What you're doing right now is… unbecoming of a divine existence."
"Grief is normal. Everyone handles it differently."
"But locking your memories deep within your own soul because you cannot face the trauma…"
He shook his head slightly.
"That is weakness. But I understand. You're still close to being mortal."
Chén frowned.
A piece of his life was missing. A crucial detail buried somewhere beyond his reach. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't grasp it.
The boy suddenly spoke again.
"This is most likely the unconscious use of your concept."
Chén looked at him sharply.
"That shouldn't be possible," the boy continued thoughtfully.
"You shouldn't be capable of using your concept yet."
"You haven't even fully understood your representation."
He smiled faintly.
"And that contradiction… is precisely the key."
Chén stayed silent.
The boy continued speaking, his voice calm and analytical.
"If we can understand the principles behind your concept…"
"…then we may be able to apply those same principles to the world itself."
"To see whether the fundamental rules of reality can be broken."
He looked directly at Chén.
"You are already doing it unconsciously."
"So our task is simple."
"We amplify it."
"We study it."
"And we use it."
His smile widened slightly.
"Our goals are closer than you might think."
Chén narrowed his eyes.
The boy seemed to read his thoughts immediately.
"I know what you're thinking," he said.
"No one wants to become an experiment."
He shrugged lightly.
"But this arrangement benefits both of us."
"Through this process, you will finally discover your concept."
"You will evolve."
"And we will achieve our objective."
He extended his hand.
"A mutually beneficial arrangement."
"So tell me, Chén…"
"Will you help me?"
Chén stared at the offered hand.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he sighed quietly and accepted it.
The boy's smile returned.
"For the duration of your stay," he said, "this island belongs to you."
"I will assign workers to assist you."
"You are free to do as you wish."
He paused.
"Except during testing and experimentation."
The boy stood and walked back toward the tall man waiting nearby.
Then he turned slightly toward Chén.
"Welcome to my realm."
"My name is Cang Shixuan."
He smiled.
"The Transcendent of Change."