Ding Yijie listened to Nie Chongyang’s words, feeling a mix of understanding and confusion.
However, as time went on, Nie Chongyang inevitably explained the situation in detail to Ding Yijie.
Nie Chongyang told Ding Yijie, "After Liang Ping and I accidentally arrived in the past, twenty years ago, due to our work, we encountered you during our investigation. Then, you were recognized by Liang Ping."
"Although you and Liang Ping had no prior interaction and didn't know each other originally, Liang Ping had visited your home and seen your photograph, which is why he could recognize you."
As Nie Chongyang spoke, Liang Ping added, "Mainly, it was hearing your name that allowed me to connect all the dots."
Ding Yijie nodded in understanding after hearing this.
However, Ding Yijie knew deep down and let out a wry smile.
Under what circumstances could Liang Ping have seen his photograph when visiting his home? It could only have been his obituary photo.
This was the most likely scenario, and probably the case.
But Ding Yijie would not confirm this with Liang Ping.
After all, whether confirmed or not, he might not be able to accept the matter, so it was better not to ask.
Nie Chongyang continued, "After Liang Ping saw you, he immediately thought of the corresponding events, and we also began to consider whether the incident involving you young people twenty years ago had any close connection to what we were investigating."
"Furthermore, for Liang Ping and me, our duty is to save as many lives as possible, regardless of whose life it is."
"Therefore, knowing that you were likely to meet with an accident and die prematurely, and this was in the past, where saving you might cause trouble, we ultimately chose to take you away."
Ding Yijie thought of this as he listened.
Nie Chongyang and Liang Ping had taken them away and would have certainly protected them, yet in the end, only he himself was saved, and his companions did not survive.
Coupled with Nie Chongyang's earlier statement, Ding Yijie could almost guess what had happened and vaguely understood the possible reasons why his friends had met with an accident and could not be saved.
However, even with these suspicions, Ding Yijie still wanted to hear Nie Chongyang explain everything clearly to feel at peace.
Nie Chongyang continued, "At that time, to avoid trouble and to make you young people understand the seriousness of the situation, it was truly because you young people were too unruly."
This made Ding Yijie feel a bit embarrassed.
Ding Yijie was very aware of their personalities among themselves, and when Nie Chongyang said they were unruly, he could immediately imagine the situation and guess what had happened.
As expected, Nie Chongyang said, "That ruined haunted house was quite famous among the locals; people had died there before, and it was very sinister. Let alone me and Liang Ping, even if Liang Ping hadn't known you would have an accident, you would have been warned by the locals."
"Because of what happened before, the locals were quite resistant to explorers like you. However, their intention was simply to save your lives and prevent you from getting into trouble."
"Therefore, you were driven away by the locals."
"Moreover, you were quite defiant, and the first one to argue back was you."
Nie Chongyang did not mince words when speaking to Ding Yijie.
Ding Yijie could only lower his head in embarrassment.
He knew best what he was capable of, so even though Ding Yijie himself didn't remember those events, he immediately lowered his head in embarrassment when Nie Chongyang said so.
Nie Chongyang continued, "When you five were discovered, you were first obstructed by the villagers, and then we took you away. You were very unhappy about this, and indeed, you were very difficult to manage."
"Later, as there was no other way, Liang Ping and I considered it and decided to let you understand the danger and consequences. We confessed to you, stating that if you went there, you would surely meet with an accident and die prematurely, so we advised you not to go."
"Initially, you young people seemed to have heeded the advice. You, I must say, were the most obedient and reasonable among the five young people. This is indeed quite rare."
"However, your friends were quite uncontrollable."
Ding Yijie immediately recalled that in his current vague and false memories, his friends insisted on going to the ruined haunted house for an adventure, and he had tried to dissuade them, but they refused to listen.
In the end, all four of them never returned.
Compared to the situation Nie Chongyang and Liang Ping encountered at that time, it should have been similar, or at least not far off.
His friends refused to listen and ultimately brought about their own demise.
Ding Yijie probably didn't expect the situation to be much worse than he imagined.
Nie Chongyang told Ding Yijie, "After you learned of the dangers of the ruined haunted house, you outwardly agreed, saying 'yes, yes' and promising Liang Ping and me very well."
"However, the next day, when Liang Ping and I went out to investigate further and were preparing to return, we heard you screaming in the stairwell of the ruined haunted house. When we asked what was happening, you said you felt unsafe staying put and had to come there to find us."
"Then, upon arriving at the ruined haunted house, you were inexplicably trapped in the stairwell and couldn't get out, so you were crying and wailing, snot and tears everywhere."
Ding Yijie found the scene embarrassing even to think about.
Ding Yijie asked Nie Chongyang, "Was I... was I also among them at that time?"
Nie Chongyang nodded affirmatively and said, "You were unwilling to come yourself, which is good, because it at least shows that you were listening to advice."
"However, your friends were really troublesome and insisted on going, so you had no choice. Worried that they might get into trouble, you followed them to the ruined haunted house to find Liang Ping and me."
"As a result, all five of you young people were trapped together."
Ding Yijie covered his face in pain.
Such things felt like a dark history.
Ding Yijie said helplessly, "Okay... alright."
Nie Chongyang nodded and continued to recount the events of that time to Ding Yijie.
"This was the first time you didn't listen to advice, but you did learn a lesson. We thought you would have gained some sense of caution and realized there was real danger, and wouldn't continue to fool around."
"However, after that incident, we took you back to the hotel to stay. Soon after, your companions caused trouble again."
Ding Yijie was slightly stunned, gritted his teeth, and asked, "What trouble did they cause this time?"
Nie Chongyang said, "After experiencing being trapped in the stairwell by going to the ruined haunted house without permission, and having already known that there was real danger in that place, those young people privately found you again."
"You yourself told us about this at the time."
"Your companions wanted to play some unsafe games at the ruined haunted house. I believe you can guess what kind of games I'm referring to if I say it this way."
Ding Yijie's expression immediately turned serious. He certainly thought of it immediately.
Ding Yijie nodded and said, "I... I think I know."
Nie Chongyang nodded slightly and said, "That's right, they wanted to play those kinds of games, and at the ruined haunted house. Because of your previous experience, you already knew the danger and truly didn't want to go."
"That time, you kept trying to dissuade your companions and told them not to take such risks."
"However, your actions inevitably caused them dissatisfaction. Therefore, after your dissuasion, that night, they quietly went to the ruined haunted house behind your back."
"And then, they never returned."
"After that incident, although everyone was very dissatisfied with the young people and felt they were too unreliable, they were still several lives. Liang Ping and I still rushed over to see if there was any hope of saving those young people."
"However, it is very unfortunate that they went in the middle of the night. By the time we discovered the incident the next day and went to rescue them, they had already encountered trouble, and it was much more dangerous than being trapped in the stairwell last time."
"It was very difficult for us to find them."
"Later, after we finally found them, they had all met with their respective misfortunes and could no longer be saved."
"This is what Liang Ping and I knew about what happened twenty years ago."
After listening to Nie Chongyang's account, Ding Yijie sighed deeply.
Nie Chongyang continued, "There was nothing that could be done as things developed to this point. Of the survivors, you were the only one left, so we sent you home. Later, we found a way ourselves and returned to the pres... present world."
"Because of this experience, we discovered some very important clues that were closely related to what we were investigating, and we also wanted to know if our actions at that time would have any impact. Therefore, after returning, we immediately chose to find you to investigate the matter."
Ding Yijie finally connected all the pieces.
In this way, it was quite reasonable.
The deaths of his friends had always been a knot in Ding Yijie's heart, but now that he finally knew the truth, his mood did not improve much.
After all, hearing such a truth so suddenly, no one could accept it immediately, so Ding Yijie's attitude was quite normal, and Nie Chongyang and the others could understand that Ding Yijie's attitude was excusable.