"Do you see? This used to be your residence. How do you feel? Any memories?"
"..."
Luo Lin guided Fu Hua through the streets of Kolostein until they reached a location that seemed familiar to the squad leader. She looked at the Shenzou-style decorated house, standing out from its surroundings, feeling somewhat intrigued.
To be honest, Fu Hua only remembered returning to Kolostein with Otto many years ago after they reached a cooperation agreement. As for the specifics of her life here, she couldn't recall much.
Fu Hua carefully examined the house and noticed a crimson feather hanging on the door, nearly identical to the Fenghuang Down in her hand. She reached out and gently touched the feather.
"It feels so warm..."
It was like meeting an old friend, recalling scenes that brought a heartfelt smile.
Fu Hua pondered quietly for a few seconds, then looked around and found herself back on the bustling street, next to the martial arts gym they had entered earlier, while Luo Lin's figure had disappeared along with Kolostein.
"Is this memory over? It feels a bit disjointed, maybe because I haven't delved deep into her consciousness space... Hmm, but I can confirm that Luo Lin really knows the parallel world version of me..."
Fu Hua was about to stroke her chin when she realized she was still holding the crimson feather in her hand. It trembled slightly and emitted a soft light in a direction as if responding to something.
"Interesting, is this a fortunate coincidence, like getting hold of a 'key'?"
Following the guidance of this light, Fu Hua soon arrived at another location:
It was a large ancient building with glazed tiles, displaying stone incense burners and street lamps at the entrance, exuding an ancient charm reminiscent of Shenzou culture.
Peering inside through the open door, Fu Hua spotted the familiar twins— the scientist sisters she had seen before, one in a white coat with dyed hair, both sitting inside, fervently writing on a pile of papers.
Scientists, ancient Shenzou architecture... Fu Hua found the combination surprisingly fitting.
"Sister, why do we have to write reports today? I still want to play with my action figures..."
"I think we should let Klein rest a bit, so she doesn't actually work herself to death..."
"True..."
Fu Hua stood at the doorway, observing the sisters' actions, feeling the same warmth she had felt before, not wanting to disturb this busy scene.
However, it seemed the crimson feather in her hand had other ideas, shining particularly bright.
The twins were drawn to the sudden brightness at the door, looked up, and, naturally, spotted Fu Hua hesitating there. They glanced at each other, then abandoned their reports and approached.
The elder sister, with a calm demeanor, said, "Welcome! Come in and have a seat, no need to stand at the door."
"Yeah, yeah, let me make you some tea... Oh, looks like we're out of tea, so coffee it is!"
The younger sister hurried off, while Fu Hua followed the elder sister's lead and sat beside the coffee table. Before long, the younger sister returned with three steaming cups of coffee.
"So, you came here guided by this feather?"
Fu Hua nodded. "Yes, I want to find out what's resonating with it."
The elder sister, deep in thought, lifted her cup. "I see... Oh! Why is this coffee so bitter?!"
"Oh? I remember now, I always make coffee with this concentration for Klein, got used to it!"
Fu Hua took a sip of the coffee, its strong bitterness revitalizing her, even clearing her vision.
Furrowing her brows, the elder sister finished her coffee, stood up, and said to Fu Hua, "Then come with me. I'll accompany you to find out what's resonating with your feather."
"Thank you."
The younger sister glanced at the reports on the table, then abruptly stood up. "I'll join you too!"
"…Avoiding writing reports won't make them disappear, you know?" Fu Hua remarked.
The younger sister's face fell, muttering, "Why are you so straightforward, just like that guy who looks so much like you..."
Could it be that guy is me?
Fu Hua chose to remain silent, holding the crimson feather as they traversed through the ancient mansion. The three of them passed through one room after another until they finally stopped in a cluttered room.
"Hmm, it seems like the thing is here?"
Fu Hua, holding the feather, gazed in the direction of the extending light and spotted a rectangular box wrapped in newspapers, covered in dust. She reached out and took it.
Carefully removing the dust, Fu Hua gently unwrapped the newspaper protecting the box. Upon opening it, she finally saw what the feather resonated with—
It was a lifelike clay figurine, unpainted yet displaying exquisite details and a captivatingly large "headlights," enough to make one feel her breathtaking beauty.
But, the face looked somewhat familiar...
Fu Hua gasped, her head dramatically tilting back.
—How is it me!!!
"Oh, I remember now, I made this based on the legend of Jingwei!" The younger sister tapped her own palm as if awakening to something.
She picked up the clay figurine, her gaze shifting between it and Fu Hua's face.
After a few seconds, Nuwa smiled. "Oh, Jingwei, you're here... Sister, sister, Jingwei is here."
As if waking up from a dream, Fuxi looked at Fu Hua, and the shimmering crimson feather in her hand.
"Jingwei? Hmm... Long time no see."
"Who are you two...?"
Why does it feel like everyone knows me?
Fuxi and Nuwa exchanged glances, each taking out a scroll from the pocket of their white coats and lightly tapping Fu Hua's head.
"Remember now! Jingwei!"
Fu Hua stood dumbfounded, memories flooding back like a tide—
The Memory Deep Dive Device, Otto's urging, Nuwa telling her about passing down Jingwei's legacy, Fuxi and her strolling on a small island in the South Sea while holding shells, the nostalgia for forgotten memories, and the ultimate determination made...
"Good, you finally remember... Hmm, don't look so down, this is a miracle! Don't waste such a miracle, live your life well, okay?" Fuxi said.
"Oh my god, why do you always express dissatisfaction with this figurine, even though I tried so hard to make it..." Nuwa said.
"Fuxi! Nuwa!!!"
Tears welled up in Fu Hua's eyes. She reached out to stop the twin sisters, but they disappeared with the same smiles as before.
She stumbled back to the door of the glazed tile building. Its gate was tightly closed, no matter how hard Fu Hua tried, she couldn't budge it.
Stepping back a few steps, the class monitor gazed at the majestic Shenzou-style building.
[Cloud Monastery]
[Aspire to the Realm Beyond Mind, Embrace the Simple Truth]
"A miracle..."
Fu Hua calmed down a bit and began to reflect on everything she had just seen.
Soon she realized something was amiss.
If those memories truly belonged to "Fu Hua," why was there a third-person perspective observer?
In other words... were these actually Luo Lin's memories?
Fu Hua sighed, raising Fenghuang Down. A golden light burst forth—
"I'm sorry, Luo Lin. I'll make it up to you..."
[Fenghuang Down: 2th Power]!
The light pierced the heavens, aiming at the sun radiating warmth across the world.
"What lies beyond this sky? Let's find out!"
*Crack!*
The firmament shattered, and Fu Hua felt as though she were submerged in a deep sea, gazing upward at the undulating waves of light casting upon her.
She spread her arms, swimming toward the surface—
*Whoosh!*
In the next moment, scorching flames enveloped Fu Hua's body. Instinctively, she erected a defense, only to realize the flames passed through her without harm.
Looking down at herself, Fu Hua saw she had transformed into a ghostly form, hovering in the air.
"Where is this...?"
Nearby, Luo Lin wielded a sword emitting a white glow, her body charred with black scorch marks. Further away, a crimson figure laughed maniacally as half the grassland burned around her.
This scene felt familiar...
Fu Hua clenched her teeth, feeling her temples pulsate with pressure, something demanding to be unleashed.
She heard Luo Lin mutter, "Cough... Stay back, don't come any closer..."
"Senior Sister!!!"
A flash of swordlight, and a blue-haired Valkyrie burst forth, struggling to block the surging flames. She and Luo Lin gazed up at the burning crimson figure.
"To think there are still vermin! Disgusting! Perish, all of you!"
Seeing this scene, Fu Hua felt a surge of anger even more intense than the flames consuming this world, snapping a thread in her mind.
"Lixue!!!"