Under One Person, Engage in Black Technology

Chapter 226 Request
How did you recognize me?

Qu Tong's voice was like cotton thread soaked in warm water, gentle with almost no inflection, yet carrying a subtle hint of probing.

She slowly took a few steps and sat on the wooden chair opposite Ma Xianhong, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, her fingers unconsciously stroking the dark pattern on her cuffs—a habitual little gesture of hers that she would usually try to avoid, but now that Ma Xianhong had discovered her identity, it didn't matter anymore.

In response to the question, Ma Xianhong slowly opened his eyes. At first, his vision was still somewhat blurry due to the hazy feeling in his head, but after a while, his gaze gradually focused on Qu Tong's face.

A closer look would reveal that Village Chief Ma's eyes are now bloodshot, and he is utterly exhausted.

But... perhaps the truth revealed through the 'hole' was too shocking, his eyes showed a different kind of clarity, like a transcendent being who had knelt in a row in an internet cafe all night.

Of course, Lao Ma is neither a certain Huo Wang nor Jim Carrey. Although he discovered that his background was fake, his worldview has not collapsed, so his state is... still relatively stable.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze like two thin needles, fixed firmly on Qu Tong. His tone was unwavering, his voice deep and resolute as he said, "Is it difficult? How many times have I seen your blue aura?"

"You subdued Jin Yong with that one move and ignored his protective qi—who else but you could have such an ability?"

"By the way, don't try to fool me with the 'Lu Family' Soul-Brightening Technique'... You and I both know they can't do it, so there's no need to bring it up for jokes."

As he said this, Old Ma probably didn't even realize that his hand unconsciously clenched the bed sheet beneath him.

Of course, he wasn't afraid; he mostly wanted to deliver a punch to the head of 'Sister Yaoxing Qu' in front of him.

Watching her 'good little brother' crumple the cotton and linen sheets into deep wrinkles, his entire body tensing with anger, Qu Tong couldn't help but shake her head slightly.

Then, this 'noble lady' from the Yaoxing Society slightly raised her chin, a very faint smile curving her lips, conveying a knowing "as expected" and the composure unique to a controller.

Perhaps feeling that the distance was too far, she got up again, dragged the stool, and slowly walked to a few steps away from Ma Xianhong's bed, where she stopped and sat down again.

The current distance is neither too far nor too close, closer than before, yet still leaving enough room for both sides to be on guard.

"I think you might have some questions for me, right?"

Qu Tong's voice remained gentle, but it carried a hint of guidance. However, her eyes were devoid of joy or sorrow, as if the sense of guidance was merely an illusion.

Ma Xianhong did not refute her words, but instead looked up, frowned, and then turned back to look at her silently.

But upon closer inspection of his face, a dull ache began to throb in his temples, as if countless tiny needles were gently stirring inside, spreading along his nerves to the back of his neck, making him want to frown.

Perhaps he was too sad, because he deliberately kept his breathing very light, and he circulated his qi in a strong way, trying his best not to show any weakness.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Qu Tong continued, "Then ask. Now is indeed a good opportunity."

She paused, a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure creeping into her tone. It wasn't intentional; rather, this kind of pressure was common to those in positions of power.

"After today, you may never have the chance to ask me this directly again."

These words were like a match, instantly igniting the 'discomfort' hidden in Ma Xianhong. As the pain suddenly intensified, the needle-like ache turned into a dull thud, and he couldn't help but reach out and hold his head, pressing his palms hard against his temples, his fingertips almost digging into his skin, cold sweat slowly seeping out from his temples.

But he wasn't completely defeated by the pain. After only a few seconds, he took a deep breath and suddenly looked up at Qu Tong.

His voice, no longer suppressed, carried a clear sense of 'discomfort,' as he spoke like sandpaper rubbing against his armpit: 'Would you be so kind as to give me a chance to ask questions? This doesn't seem like something you would do.'

Upon hearing this, Qu Tong's smile deepened, a hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she were watching prey that had finally taken the bait. She said directly, "It's just a question, it doesn't mean I'll necessarily answer. The choice is yours, and mine."

As she spoke, she tapped her knees lightly with her fingertips, the rhythm slow and even, like an invisible pressure being applied to Ma Xianhong.

Upon hearing this, Ma Xianhong frowned even more deeply, and anger instantly surged in his eyes. He opened his mouth, about to question, "Isn't this just playing with people's feelings?"...

Qu Tong, however, seemed to have expected this, and added calmly, "We are both very busy, so I don't need to fool you. Just ask first, and I can tell you most of the time."

She paused deliberately, watching the anger in Ma Xianhong's eyes subside slightly, before continuing, "However, on the condition that you agree to one of my requests."

"Require?"

Ma Xianhong also gave a cold, knowing smirk, and said sarcastically, "How novel. So... now we're equals?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a long-suppressed resentment. At this moment, mentioning "equality" seemed absurd and laughable.

Qu Tong tilted her head, a hint of inquiry flashing in her eyes, as if she were observing an experimental subject that had undergone an unexpected change.

"Hmm... a lot of restrictions have been lifted these past few days, too many, it's really troublesome."

Her tone carried a hint of surprise, but no anger. She continued, "Just a few days ago, I even sent someone here to 'reinforce' it for you. I never expected you to break through so quickly."

As she said this, a faint blue light suddenly flashed in Qu Tong's eyes.

The light was faint, yet it possessed a strange penetrating power—a unique technique of the Dual-Handed Technique. She slowly channeled the Qi within her body into her eyes, and her vision instantly changed.

This time, she clearly saw that on Ma Xianhong's chest hung a small, inconspicuous object: a palm-sized 'device'.

The location of that 'device' formed an invisible barrier, inexplicably blocking the Qi she had left on Ma Xianhong.

Those Qi were originally the key to maintaining mental restraint, like threads wrapped around the heart, but now they are interfered with by this small device and cannot function properly, only fluctuating futilely outside the barrier.

"I see, so... it really can be done."

Qu Tong's tone carried a mixture of genuine surprise and understanding. Her gaze was undisguised, fixed directly on the device on Lao Ma's chest. Sitting on the bed, Ma Xianhong followed her gaze and quickly found what she was looking at—the mental interference device that Liu Ke had given him earlier.

He instinctively reached out and grasped the small device in his palm. The cool metallic touch spread up his fingertips, instantly pulling his thoughts back to when Liu Ke gave him this thing a few days ago.

He still remembered that Liu Ke's expression was very strange when he stood on the earthen slope and handed him this thing. Now that he thought about it, perhaps it was 'pitiful'.

At that time, he didn't quite understand the purpose of this thing, and just thought it was a gift for "entering Liu's sect". But now, this small "device" has become the key to him breaking free from control.

"Is it the effect of this stuff?" Ma Xianhong looked up at Qu Tong, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, yet also a hint of urgent confirmation.

Although he had already guessed the answer, he still wanted confirmation from Qu Tong.

Upon hearing this, Qu Tong did not deny it at all, but simply nodded slightly, her tone as frank as if she were commenting on an ordinary item: "Yes, it's very effective."

Her fingertips lightly traced the air, as if tracing that invisible barrier, "It blocked the self-maintenance of both hands, which caused your spirit to begin to repair itself."

Ma Xianhong's brows furrowed again, the dull pain in his chest seeming to become more pronounced because of this answer. He gripped the device tighter, the cold metal digging painfully into his palm, but it only made him more lucid: "So, my problem, my amnesia—was really your doing?"

His voice was soft, yet carried a heavy weight; each word seemed to be squeezed out of his throat, filled with suppressed anger and resentment.

He stared into Qu Tong's eyes, trying to find a trace of guilt in that calm gaze, even if it was feigned.

But Qu Tong simply looked at him calmly, neither denying nor explaining. Her silence seemed like acquiescence, or perhaps a disdain for explanation.

Ma Xianhong's heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, a low and hoarse laugh that seemed to be squeezed from the deepest part of his chest, filled with self-mockery: "Then what was real between me and 'sister'?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Tong remained silent for a few seconds, then couldn't help but smile.

Her laughter was soft, but devoid of warmth, like the wind blowing through an empty room: "What is real?"

She paused, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes so quickly it was hard to catch, "...I'm sorry, Xianhong, I can only say 'not much'."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xianhong's face darkened, and he said, "Not much? What do you mean by not much?"

Although the literal meaning of the two words "not many" is very simple, Ma Xianhong still patiently asked a question.

Upon hearing this, a strange smile suddenly appeared on Qu Tong's face.

The smile was neither as composed nor as playful as before; instead, it carried a hint of pity and a chilling clarity: "Xianhong, you are indeed different from before."

Her gaze swept across Ma Xianhong's face, as if comparing him in the past and in the present. "A few days ago, even if it wasn't my method that was working, you wouldn't have asked me these 'boring questions'."

"Is it because after the mind breaks free from its constraints, the whole person becomes extremely unstable?"

At this point, she added with great pity, "Why must you face it all yourself? Leave the 'difficulty' of choosing to me, and live an easy life, wouldn't that be better?"

Before Ma Xianhong could utter a rebuke, she said directly, "Then I'll... give you a 'basic' and definite answer first. Anyway, you've already guessed it, so it doesn't matter."

Qu Tong lowered her voice further and slowly said, "I... am not your 'sister' at all. Your memories have been altered by me. I'm a master of double-edged swordsmanship, you know what I mean."

Seeing that Ma Xianhong only narrowed his eyes and did not have any special reaction, Qu Tong continued, "Since it is wrong from the perspective of 'sister', then everything is naturally just as I said—'not much is right'."

As she spoke, she smiled again, a smile that held a hint of frankness, yet also a chilling quality, and said, "As for the rest... I have no reason to hide it from you."

"The only 'real' thing is that your family members are indeed still 'alive'."

Her tone suddenly became serious, her eyes fixed on Ma Xianhong as if to confirm his attention, and then she continued, "And what I told you before, as long as you can create the perfect body-cultivating furnace, you will know where your family is—this is not just empty talk."

Ma Xianhong's heart skipped a beat, as if something had tugged at it. News of his family was his only obsession for so long, and also his greatest weakness.

His breathing quickened involuntarily, and a hint of longing flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by vigilance. He was afraid that this was another verbal trap deliberately set by Qu Tong.

Qu Tong's voice continued, each word like a thud on Ma Xianhong's heartstrings, "My original plan was... as long as you create the cultivation furnace that meets my requirements and achieve my goal, I will tell you where your family is."

These words completely ignited Ma Xianhong's anger. His face instantly turned bright red, and his chest heaved violently, as if a fire was burning inside him.

He opened his mouth, about to angrily accuse Qu Tong of taking advantage of him, but "Qu Tong" spoke first: "Don't get the wrong idea, there's no need to be angry."

Her tone was calm, yet reassuring: “Your family is doing just fine now. Their lives are not under my control, and I haven’t interfered. I only affected ‘one person’ of you.”

Upon hearing this, Old Ma relaxed slightly, his tense shoulders slumped a bit, and his expression softened somewhat.

But he didn't let his guard down completely, and asked in a low voice, "So what do you mean now? Are you going to... tell me 'kindly'?"

Although his tone was relatively calm when he said this, a closer look would reveal that his jawline was taut and the anger in his eyes had not been completely extinguished—it was a "deadly" calm, like the deathly stillness before a storm.

Given Qu Tong's long-standing understanding of Ma Xianhong, she naturally noticed his unusual behavior long ago.

Her gaze fell on Ma Xianhong's wrist, which was hidden behind the blankets. The blankets were slightly raised there, indicating that he was holding a magic weapon in his hand, ready to make a move at any moment.

(End of this chapter)