Chapter 230: Invisible Yet Unchanged

Chapter 230: What Does It Matter If You Can’t See?

Someone once said that the human brain’s memory function is like a computer’s hard drive.

Sometimes, people forget certain memories.

It’s much like deleting data from a hard drive.

They actually share one more similarity.

Some forgotten memories can still be recalled, hidden deep within the brain.

Likewise, certain deleted data can be recovered if you have the right tools.

A police car was parked at a specific location.

This was the very spot where the suspect, Peng Junlong, once rode in the car of Second Brother and Third Brother.

The road and direction have been confirmed!

“All you need to do now is relax completely. Let your mind be free of any defenses against me,”

Xiao Yu fixed his gaze on Peng Junlong’s eyes on the street. “This is a necessary part of the hypnosis. If any part of you resists or refuses, the session will fail—and I’ll know you’re hiding something from us. You know the consequences, don’t you?”

Peng Junlong: …

He was all too aware of what those consequences would be.

“If you don’t want to end up on death row, this is your last chance.”

Xiao Yu continued word for word, “Cooperate fully with my hypnosis to recover the memories of that day. I need those memories to locate their criminal hideout!”

“I… I understand!”

Though terrified by the thought of hypnosis, Peng Junlong quickly nodded.

He knew that if he didn’t extricate himself from Second Brother and Third Brother’s case,

he’d be executed on the firing range over and over again!

“Now, begin to relax your body and mind.”

A coin appeared in Xiao Yu’s hand. “Focus on it.”

Under the streetlight, the coin shimmered with a trace of silver.

It resembled a silver butterfly fluttering with the slightest tremor of his finger.

It flipped over in his palm, dancing…

Taking a deep breath, Peng Junlong exhaled slowly, his eyes locked on the coin as he relaxed.

“Now, let’s think of something pleasant.”

Xiao Yu’s voice was soothing and seductive. “Maybe something you enjoyed doing as a child…”

A wistful expression crossed Peng Junlong’s face, as he began recalling fond childhood memories.

A slight smile unconsciously appeared on his relaxed face…

Between a hypnotist and his subject, there exists a very special connection.

It starts with mutual trust and relaxation, using words to create a shared emotional state.

Of course, this is the most common method of hypnosis.

There is, however, a more forceful method as well.

Xiao Yu had used it once before.

It involved overwhelming someone psychologically with system-assisted techniques.

But right now, there was no need for such complications.

With Peng Junlong cooperating fully, trust and empathy were quickly established through his words…

guided by cooperation and suggestion…

for twenty minutes.

Peng Junlong’s mind entered a certain state of consciousness.

In this state, he had no choice but to obey Xiao Yu’s every command…

Deep hypnosis!

The coin remained in Xiao Yu’s palm.

He studied the dreamlike, half-awake expression on Peng Junlong’s face—something akin to a drunken stupor.

After a careful look, Xiao Yu asked, “Who are you?”

“Peng Junlong!”

Peng Junlong’s voice changed; it grew drawn out and measured.

Xiao Yu pressed, “What is Peng Junlong?”

“I am… what am I?”

Confusion and contemplation flickered across Peng Junlong’s face as he replied, “I am human.”

“You’ve forgotten. In truth, you are a bird.”

Xiao Yu murmured softly, “A bird that can fly.”

“I am… a bird?”

Gradually, confusion gave way to sudden clarity as Peng Junlong nodded, “I’m a bird. Yes, a bird—a bird that can fly…”

Even as he spoke, he tried to lift his handcuffed arms but found he couldn’t break free.

After a brief pause, Xiao Yu said, “Oh, I must have been mistaken. You’re human—a normal person. And remember, we’re good friends, close enough to tell each other anything, right?”

“I’m not a bird? I’m human? Friends?”

In a daze, Peng Junlong closed his eyes, nodded, and smiled, “Yes, we’re good friends. I’m human, not a bird.”

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Xiao Yu turned his head to look at Wang Dong standing nearby.

Then…

Wang Dong stepped back a couple of paces, looking nervously and cautiously at Xiao Yu, and asked in a serious tone, “Can you hypnotize me against my will?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Xiao Yu rolled his eyes, ignoring the idiot, and turned back to Peng Junlong. “Recall the day years ago when you met Second Brother and Third Brother.”

0··seeking flowers0···

“Second Brother? Third Brother?”

A thoughtful look crossed Peng Junlong’s face, but almost immediately his expression changed; his face turned pale and his eyelids twitched as if he might open them at any moment. He exclaimed, “They…”

“Don’t think about unpleasant things.”

Seeing signs of forced awakening, Xiao Yu quickly added, “Don’t think about it—absolutely not. Just try to recall when they said they would take you to another city. Yes, concentrate on remembering how they first brought you to City C. No rush, let’s take it slowly, bit by bit…”

“Take me out to play? They said Second Brother and Third Brother would take me out to play. We rode the bus to City C, and then…”

………..0

Peng Junlong’s expression softened as he murmured, “We arrived at an intersection. We got off the bus, and Third Brother told me to put on an eye mask…”

“Exactly. You’re standing at that intersection right now, wearing an eye mask. You can’t see anything.”

Xiao Yu glanced at Wang Dong.

Wang Dong walked over to the police car and opened the door.

“I’ve arrived. Yes, I’m here and I have my eye mask on.”

Peng Junlong continued in a measured tone, “At that moment, someone grabbed my arm…”

Xiao Yu reached out and took hold of Peng Junlong’s arm. “And then?”

“Then… we got in the car.”

Standing by the car, Peng Junlong whispered, “It was Third Brother. He signaled me to lift my leg so I wouldn’t bump it.”

“Yes, now lift your leg, careful not to hit anything.”

Following his cue, Xiao Yu helped Peng Junlong into the back seat of the police car.

“And then we started driving.”

Sitting in the back, Peng Junlong continued his tale.

Xiao Yu shot a knowing glance at Wang Dong.

The police car started up and slowly drove away.

Police cars and traffic officers surrounded the area, managing the flow of traffic.

What was Xiao Yu planning to do?

He aimed to use Peng Junlong’s recollections of that day to pinpoint the criminal hideout.

Back then, Peng Junlong couldn’t see a thing with his eye mask on—so how could he possibly locate it?

The answer is: he could.

Even without sight, there was a way.

By gauging the car’s speed, travel time, and incidents along the route,

the location could still be uncovered! Three.