Multiple Personalities-Chapter 493: Older Brother

"Cong Nanxue, it's your move." Li Baiyu closed her eyes tightly, silently chanting in the depths of her heart. Each word felt like a heavy boulder, stirring up waves of turbulence in her deathly still inner world. The voice carried an inescapable urgency, as if it was a cry from the depths of her soul, hammering her relentlessly to respond immediately.

She could clearly feel that time was pressing like a taut string stretched to the limit, each passing second a sharp blade mercilessly slicing away the hope of escape for everyone. This four-dimensional consciousness matrix was like an extremely precise trap, interwoven with countless complex energy silk threads, radiating a mysterious and chilling glow, like ghosts from another world lurking in the darkness.

As time went on, the trap would tighten, the energy silk threads moving like greedy pythons, slowly and gradually wrapping around everyone until they were completely devoured. The hope for escape would become increasingly dim, like a flickering candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment, leaving behind endless darkness.

Li Baiyu's heartbeat accelerated rapidly, each beat like a heavy drum pounding against the surface, making her chest ache. Sweat slid down her forehead like beads on a broken string, blurring her vision, but she couldn't spare a moment to wipe it away. Her gaze was fixed on the distorted space in front of her, where unknown dangers lurked, yet it also held a sliver of hope. That space seemed kneaded at will by an invisible hand, constantly shifting shapes—sometimes a deep whirlpool ready to swallow everything; sometimes a monstrous beast with a wide mouth waiting for its prey.

Because only one person could escape, and that was Li Baiyu's illusion—Cong Nanxue. This illusion did not come out of nowhere; it carried the deepest yearning and firmest belief within Li Baiyu. In this dire situation, Li Baiyu pinned all her hopes on Cong Nanxue, as if once Cong Nanxue moved, the seemingly unsolvable predicament would be shattered. It was a trust that transcended life and death, a perseverance in grasping the last straw in despair, like a drowning person clutching a life-saving piece of wood without the slightest intention to let go.

Li Baiyu's fists clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white from exertion, as if she was about to crush her own fingers. Her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes revealed a determined resolve, like a burning flame intent on reducing the immediate predicament to ashes. She knew this decision might change everything, but at this moment, there were no other options. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and prevent her thoughts from becoming chaotic. However, the tidal waves of tension and anxiety continued to assault her heart, making it hard for her to find peace. Then, she called out again in her heart, "Cong Nanxue, for everyone's sake, you must act."

"Cong Nanxue?" Shen Jingqi's voice suddenly rang out, startlingly abrupt in the deathly silence of the space. That voice, like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, broke the silence, stirring up ripples. Shen Jingqi had been vigilantly observing his surroundings, but upon hearing this unfamiliar name from Li Baiyu's mouth, his heart surged with confusion.

His brows furrowed tightly, resembling two small hills, his gaze filled with doubt and incomprehension, his head tilting slightly as if trying to recall something. His face bore an expression of bewilderment, like a child lost in a maze, unable to find a way out, with a hint of panic and bewilderment in his eyes. His voice carried a slight tremor, obviously, the bizarre situation and the sudden emergence of "Cong Nanxue" from Li Baiyu's mouth had left him deeply puzzled.

"Cong Nanxue, isn't she your illusion, senior? Why has she suddenly appeared? Senior, what are you talking about?" Shen Jingqi said this while taking a few steps forward, his gaze firmly fixed on Li Baiyu, trying to find answers in her expression. His steps were a bit hurried, each one driven by a keen desire to uncover the mystery, as if by approaching Li Baiyu, he could find the truth hidden in the darkness.

Li Baiyu slowly opened her eyes, her gaze calm and resolute, as if she were ready to face anything. She looked at Shen Jingqi and sighed softly, saying, "Shen Jingqi, don't rush, let me explain slowly." Her voice was low and steady, each word clear and powerful, carrying an undeniable force that slightly steadied Shen Jingqi's previously turbulent heart.

"To be precise, Cong Nanxue is a fragment of my brother's soul." Li Baiyu spoke slowly, her gaze staring resolutely into the distance, as if she could see her brother's familiar yet distant figure through the distorted space. Her eyes revealed a hint of tenderness and nostalgia, as if her brother was right in front of her, smiling at her.

Shen Jingqi's eyes widened, a look of disbelief appearing on his face. "What? A fragment of your brother's soul? What on earth does that mean?" His voice rose a few pitches, clearly stunned by this shocking revelation. His body leaned forward slightly, and his hands unconsciously clenched, as if trying to grasp this sudden clue, unwilling to miss a single detail.

"When I was playing with my brother as a child, he got injured trying to save me and couldn't be treated," Li Baiyu's eyes flashed with pain and guilt, the pain like sharp thorns piercing deep into her heart. She seemed to return to that terrible moment, seeing her brother protect her, swallowed by immense danger, blood staining the ground.

"Father implanted part of my brother's mental essence, creating Cong Nanxue," Li Baiyu continued, her voice carrying a heavy weight, as if recounting a burdensome secret. Her mind conjured the image of her father's stern yet weary face, tirelessly working day and night, trying various methods to save her brother, eventually making this difficult decision.

"Her identity card, student number, education, and records were all controlled by my father." Li Baiyu chuckled bitterly, a touch of helplessness and bitterness in that smile. She recalled Cong Nanxue's various performances in school, realizing those seemingly real experiences were all meticulously arranged by her father. Her father had devoted much effort just to ensure Cong Nanxue could integrate into this world.

"The four-dimensional space created by my father, only I can see Cong Nanxue, Cong Nanxue and I are symbiotic." Li Baiyu's gaze turned complex as she looked at Shen Jingqi, as if revealing a secret only she knew. In this four-dimensional space, Cong Nanxue was like her shadow, constantly accompanying her, sharing her joys and sorrows.

"Essentially, Cong Nanxue merged with Mrs. Li's perceptions and my brother's memories." Li Baiyu paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. She remembered her mother's gentle eyes and her brother's bright smile, those beautiful memories fused into Cong Nanxue's body, making Cong Nanxue even more real.

"It's just that a fragment of his soul attached to my body, unknowingly becoming truly integrated with me." After finishing, Li Baiyu quietly looked at Shen Jingqi.