"Xiu'er, she..." For the first time, Chu Chu shed tears for someone other than Chu Lian. She covered her mouth, staring at Li Xiu'er, whose body was now enveloped in drifting petals, her moist eyes filled with hope.
"You're definitely coming back, right? You promised me—you said that after this trip, you'd accept Big Sis's guidance, learn how to use spiritual power, step into the cultivation world, and walk alongside us." Her voice trembled as more tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking both her face and her hands.
"I know you're not someone who breaks promises. Look, even Yanran came back... so how could you leave? You know, if you go, Big Sis will only blame herself even more. She'll never forgive herself—she'll live in that guilt forever."
"You like Big Sis too, don't you? As one of the thirty founding members of [The Heart of First Love] alliance, you're definitely one of her most devoted supporters. So I know—you won't let her be sad, won't let her regret. I've always known that." She cried as she spoke, but her lips still curved into a beautiful, bittersweet smile.
Indeed, the way Chu Chu and Chu Lian expressed their emotions was strikingly similar at times. And one thing was certain—anyone who could make either of them cry was undoubtedly someone they deeply cared about.
"Look, our journey isn't over yet. We haven't seen enough beautiful sights, nor visited all those wonderful places. Didn't you say you wanted to see the Rhine River? Didn't you want to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris? You said you wanted to ride the train from King's Cross Station and see the landscapes of England."
She softly recounted every promise and every memory they had shared—every word Xiu'er had once said to her. That smile, blooming like a flower, now burned into her mind brighter than the sun itself. Through her warmth, her gentleness, and her quiet charm, this shy, timid girl had become the second most important person in Chu Chu's heart—after her beloved big sister.
Even though, technically, she was considered her elder in some ways, Chu Chu could never stop treating this soft-spoken girl as her younger sister—someone she had to protect.
What had begun as a promise to Chu Lian—to watch over Li Xiu'er—had slowly become something entirely natural to her. It wasn't an obligation anymore; it was instinct. Her own desire. Her responsibility.
In the earlier battle, neither of them had been able to intervene. But even so, Chu Chu had stood in front of her, arms spread wide, shielding her from the shockwaves of battle, refusing to let even a fragment of harm touch her.
Yet, in the end, her strength still wasn't enough. The enemy had easily broken through, striking Xiu'er down mercilessly. If not for her big sister, for Inori, and for that mysterious translucent girl who appeared at the last moment, Xiu'er would never have lasted this long.
Even now, despite blaming herself endlessly, the only words Chu Chu could speak were those of comfort and encouragement: "There's still Berlin's snow, the icy lakes of the Soviet lands, the pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal of India. And finally—you said you wanted to travel across the vast lands of Huaxia, to see if the legends of people and myths truly exist, didn't you?"
"As long as you come back—if you just answer my call—I'll go anywhere with you. You know traveling is what I love most."
"I know you love to draw, how you like to sit quietly in corners and sketch the scenery and people you love. I know your sketchbook is filled with portraits of Big Sis's side profile."
"And I also know your secret—your secret about drawing those books. How could the national champion artist here not be involved in something like that, hmm? You must be looking forward to making one with everyone, right? It's fine. I'll help you. I'll draw with you... just, please... come back..."
Her hands no longer covered her mouth. Instead, they gripped tightly onto Tina's fur, her face buried in her neck as her voice broke into soft, trembling sobs.
Even knowing her words would never reach the girl, she didn't stop. She kept praying. Kept hoping. Kept waiting—for her to open her eyes and respond.
Beside her, Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle were moved to tears as well. They had already been crying quietly since Liu Yanran's passing, but now, hearing Chu Chu's desperate pleas, their tears flowed even more uncontrollably.
Even though they had originally joined this trip with ulterior motives—approaching these girls to get closer to Chu Lian—over time, Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle had felt something different while being with them.
In terms of background, upbringing, appearance, and character, the girls were not inferior to them in any way. That equality formed the foundation of their bond.
Whatever they did, the others treated them with calm kindness—never arrogant, never condescending, and never distant. They neither looked down upon them for their deception nor looked up to them for their origins. Instead, they accepted them with a warm, open heart.
Now, among the four companions, Liu Yanran had died, Cai Ya had been grievously injured and was now missing under Chu Lian's protection. Judging by the severity of her wounds, her survival seemed grim. Perhaps, by the end of this journey, only the two of them would remain.
People are not plants—how could they be without emotion? Even the hardest heart would crack beneath the gentle kindness of Liu Yanran and Cai Ya, let alone theirs.
Although Chu Chu rarely spoke to them, and every meeting carried a cautious wariness, she still often tried to find ways to help them—opportunities to make Chu Lian intervene on their behalf.
As for Xiu'er, she had a delicate and perceptive heart. Whenever no one was watching, she would come over to comfort them, to speak kind words for them before Chu Lian. Even if she hadn't done so many times, her sincerity had already left a mark on Chu Lian's heart.
How could they not understand the weight of such kindness? The centuries-old mission of their clan—their entire purpose—rested upon this one thread. If they could gain the help of that destined one, they could finally break their family's curse. Only then could they live for themselves... and repay the kindness they had received.
Now, as Chu Chu lay severely injured and Xiu'er—who had been on the brink of death—underwent what seemed like a miraculous transformation, how could they not cry?
Their tears were no longer only for the sorrow of losing friends, but also for the grief of their uncertain futures. And now, with this glimmer of hope before them, their weeping carried the sweetness of joy—the tears of believing that hope was not yet lost.
"Yanran, Xiu'er, you'll both come back. I know you will..." Ruriko Nana clasped her hands to her chest, bowing her head in silent prayer for Liu Yanran and Li Xiu'er. A gentle breeze brushed past, lifting her short hair and revealing how frail her figure seemed beneath the dim light.
Tears trickled down her cheeks, dripping onto her collar, leaving faint watermarks on her white blouse. The hem of her skirt swayed lightly, as if carrying her step by step toward an unseen future.
"May the Lord bless you both... May the world cherish you... May fate show you mercy... May life return to you..." Lux Lyle's sapphire-blue eyes glimmered faintly with white light as she whispered her prayer. At that moment, she invoked her ability—the words she spoke carried the faint power of truth. Though not enough to make miracles manifest, that tiny power could still subtly influence the unfolding of events, guiding them toward a better outcome.
Her golden hair fluttered behind her in the wind, and the tears glistening on her pale cheeks made her look heartbreakingly beautiful. Her blue eyes gazed at Chu Lian and Liu Yanran, surrounded by white light, then at Inori and Li Xiu'er, amidst the drifting petals, as she continued to pray for them.
"Has fate... just changed course?" Inori's wine-red eyes glowed faintly violet as she watched the faint thread of life on Li Xiu'er's body, which had been nearly severed, slowly grow bright again—radiating a gentle white light. The tension in her heart eased as relief washed over her.
Even though she didn't know who had saved Li Xiu'er, she was certain it wasn't someone with ill intentions. After all, if they had wanted to harm them, letting Li Xiu'er die would have been the easiest way.
Right now, Chu Lian's heart was fragile—painfully so. Even if Liu Yanran's resurrection went perfectly, witnessing Li Xiu'er's death afterward would have plunged her into despair.
Her heart was like a shattered porcelain vessel, pieced together with trembling hands. Without the fire of tempering to make it whole again, it was now far more brittle than before.
And once that heart broke again—it could never be mended. The fragments would crumble into dust, and some would be carried away by the wind... lost forever.
If Chu Lian—their pillar of strength—were to suffer such a devastating blow and fall into despair, then dealing with the rest of them would be effortless for any enemy.
"Wake up, Xiu'er..." Inori murmured softly as she watched the thread of life around Li Xiu'er grow a hundred times stronger than before. Her lips trembled slightly as she whispered the plea again.
At the same moment, within the system space, Ayase—who had been resting with her eyes closed since returning—slowly opened them and said gently, "Girl... awaken."
As if responding to their shared call, the world outside began to change in a way that could only be described as miraculous.
The petals surrounding Li Xiu'er suddenly froze in midair, like a painting caught in time. Then, all of them—those that had fallen, those that had drifted away—came whirling back toward her, swirling together in a magnificent spiral that reached up into the sky.
Finally, with a resonant boom, it burst open, transforming into a rain of petals that cascaded down from above. The storm of blossoms seemed to dance and celebrate her rebirth—using their beauty to mark the miracle of her return.
Li Xiu'er let out a faint, delicate sound as her eyelashes fluttered... and slowly, she opened her eyes.
At the same time, the translucent white cocoon that had encased Chu Lian and Liu Yanran began to crack. From within, dozens of pure white kites took flight, soaring upward with clear, ringing cries before vanishing into the azure sky. Then, with a soft hum, the cocoon split open completely, and the two girls floated gently into the air—Chu Lian cradling Liu Yanran in her arms.
Looking closely, both of them wore peaceful smiles. Their bare bodies, now fully dressed once more as the light faded, glowed with soft vitality. Slowly, their eyes opened, meeting each other's gaze—and in that instant, time itself seemed to stop.
Everyone around them covered their mouths, tears spilling freely as they watched this scene of divine beauty unfold—a miracle they would never forget.
Everything... everything was finally moving toward the best possible outcome. It was truly... wonderful.
Even Kurosaki Satsuki—who had been gravely wounded and forgotten in the grass since the battle began—peered through the blades and wept at the sight. Then, bowing her head, she clenched the grass tightly in both hands, enduring the waves of pain coursing through her body as she trembled weakly.
"I'm... so glad... that my failure didn't cause another tragedy..." she thought hazily, her vision fading to black as she finally lost consciousness.
"I'm back..." "I'm back..." "I'm back..." Three voices—three girls—spoke the same words at once. They looked toward the others, smiling radiantly, their laughter as bright and gentle as the dawn.