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Chapter 53 - Memories that can never be erased II

" pay attention to!"

Suddenly, a reminder from the Holy Maiden brought Ah Jun back to his senses—— He saw the gem in front of him begin to glow, and the surrounding environment began to change. One by one, images gradually appeared like projections...

Ah Jun recognized that it was his own experience from childhood to adulthood, like a hologram or virtual reality in a game—— but now he was like a tourist here, witnessing his own growth with his own eyes.

However, none of the pictures he saw were happy. They were just the repeated or escalating contradictions, the memories that Ah Jun ignored and ignored, many of which even surprised him himself, the simple memories that he thought he had shut out.

 Ah Jun also saw his childhood self. Although he looked strong and kept facing and solving problems, now he began to find that this child who was just like himself sometimes showed his lips biting, hands clenched and eyes looking strange, showing a feeling of unbearable burden.

One by one, the memories appear continuously in accordance with the chronological sequence, accompanied by sounds, as if watching a movie—— Ah Juns own past self, like looking in a mirror, reflecting his true heart and revealing the painful memories imprinted in Qihuan.

——Qi Huan, literally brain, is an alternative name for the guardian world of the brain, which is very mysterious.

In a moment, all the pictures gradually disappeared one by one. Ah Jun gradually felt that the place where he was standing became brighter and brighter, and his mood was better released.

" take care!"

At this time, the second reminder from the Holy Maiden made Ah Jun nervous again ——because now, in front of him, was a familiar but strange image.

In this memory picture, there are several figures, and relatively obvious are three people. A man and a woman are seen talking to a baby.

The image was so blurry that Ah Jun couldnt make out the three peoples faces. But given his sharp mind and the circumstances, he quickly realized the smiling child must be himself. This was his own memory, and Ah Juns intuition had always been remarkably accurate.

—— Who are the man and woman? Are they the eldest sister and her husband? However, this figure, Ah Jun always felt that he had seen it somewhere before, but it was a little different from his impression of the family.

As the film progresses, the scene shifts to the couple visibly breaking down. The woman in blue, particularly, becomes overwhelmed by tears—her emotional turmoil starkly contrasting with the eldest sisters composure... Suddenly, both appear to hear something and gradually calm down. They stare blankly at the childs murmured words, their eyes betraying a profound sense of despair and heartbreak.

However, as an observer, Ah Jun couldnt hear a single sound——Yet his demeanor spoke volumes of parting... Then the couples figures gradually faded away. Before the crying infant and the bewildered Ah Jun, like a blurry TV image from technical glitches, only bitter smiles and uncontrolled tears remained.

As the couple waved goodbye, the woman kept muttering under her breath. It seemed the child was about to be left all alone—— But just as they were about to disappear from view, Ah Jun suddenly spotted a clue—a clear sign that these werent the sister and brother-in-law pair: the distinctive marks on their foreheads.

The guardians of the five prefectures each possess their own forehead seals, which are mostly similar in appearance, though exceptions may occur—— Additionally, although the seals of guardians from different regions share a consistent appearance, they each have their own unique color and light effects due to the different origins of their power, allowing for easy differentiation.

Now, what Ah Jun saw was a different mark of luster than his eldest sisters. Although he could only see the color and could not deduce it specifically, it was enough to prove that they were not his family at present!

—— It was... Suddenly, the child was dazed, and then a strange but familiar word arose in his mind... Could they be, my... parents?

" wait a minute!"

But before he could figure it out, the saintess outside the heart and mind had already calmly judged the boys next move based on the mirrors hints and seriously warned him not to take risks.

——Because, she knew that this was the most difficult moment, and that it was the last picture, and once that was done, the second phase of the task, which was also the most difficult process, would be over, and then it would be smooth.

As for Ah Jun, he was well aware of it, but now he had made up his mind——After all, this memory was the only one for him, and its importance was beyond words.

"No! Im sorry... I cant let it go away!"

In a moment, Ah Jun—who had remained motionless all along—found his own small eyes brimming with tears. Though the boy rarely cried as a child, it wasnt that he didnt want to; rather, he understood the wisdom of restraint. While family often comforted him, saying that occasional tears could ease worries without suppression, Ah Jun held fast to the belief that boys shouldnt shed tears easily. He also feared his emotions might burden those around him. Thus, he swallowed his feelings like a child enduring hardship, rarely letting tears spill over.

However, there are always exceptions——For instance, this child has loved watching TV since he was little. Once when young, Xiao Jun cried his eyes out after watching a drama about a child and his mother. It took him quite some time to gradually calm down. That film, however, was something that most children at his age probably couldnt fully understand.

However, now, facing this scene, Ah Jun, who is not very emotional, is just like the crying baby, with tears in his eyes, reaching out and walking towards the picture. The two children——are trying to recall, so that the picture can remain complete and clear.

However, according to current procedures, this last and only remaining memory is still being constantly erased——because the process of refinement is mostly irreversible. After all, once all negative memories are eliminated, the task of the second stage is also completed.

Even in terms of humanity, at this stage, there must be some images that cannot be let go and emotions that cannot be resolved. However, the participants must persevere——this point is very clear to the saintess, so she is resolutely and rationally implementing it, also for Ah Juns sake. This approach may seem heartless but is actually out of necessity.

Of course, the Holy Maiden was well aware of this memorys significance. After all, she and Ah Jun had shared similar experiences. Yet, to help the boy complete his trials, she persisted in erasing it from her inner turmoil... Until Ah Juns obsession grew resolute and formidable, and then everything was about to take a dramatic turn.

"Stop! ——Youll get bitten back!"

As time ticked by, the Holy Maidens expression grew increasingly anxious. She realized the nature of this trial had begun to shift—— Ah Juns stubborn determination left her feeling helpless. She couldnt understand why this man clung to that fragment of memory despite knowing the danger—those were but illusions after all.

Yet at the same time, she could not help but feel the saints profound pain—— From a very young age, the saint had to be separated from her family and live alone in the sanctuary, undergoing spiritual cultivation while only thoughts of companionship remained. Though now accustomed to solitude—or perhaps due to the unique gifts of the Nangong clan—the girl understood the weight of separation and the yearning for familial bonds.

Now, she looked at the boy in front of her, and all that little remaining thought was about to be wiped out, the precious memory of just meeting him... Who could bear that!

However, even if the girl understood the boys feelings, she might understand his insistence, but this was the highest level of training in Nanguo City, not an ordinary trial. Once opened, it meant that the participant could not have any emotion, nor could he violate the established principles and procedures.

——Perhaps, if it were Xiao Xi instead of the Holy Maiden, he would have no hesitation to choose to stand by his brother. But the Holy Maiden could not do so. After all, their personalities, positions and principles were different, and she had her own mission and principles.

Gradually, before their eyes, a positive memory fragment connected to the past appeared, causing the Holy Maiden to hesitate once again—— The vivid scene depicted Ah Juns childhood experiences, with every detail crystal clear. Young Ah Jun was weeping... Of course, this intrusion was unintentional—purely accidental as the memories surfaced spontaneously.

A movie, two lines of tears, and a mix of emotions——also made this girl, who was originally pure of heart, gradually emotional.

In addition, the background music in the memory and the mood of Xiao Ajun were combined with the girls childhood memory, which brought a psychological impact, making the originally hesitant saint gradually change from integrity to partiality.

"—— There is no mother better than a mother..."

"—— I, will not give up! And will never be swallowed!"

Then, a shout suddenly rang out. A俊, the child, was breaking the established rules with an unprecedented determination and rebellion, and struggling against the model maintained by the Holy Maiden.

In the next second, the only remaining memory that Ah Jun tried to retain stopped at the last frame—— it was the saintess, who changed her mind at the last moment and chose to help him.

Of course, at this moment, such a transition also brings to mind another person: Xiao Xi.——After all, he has a big mouth. Over the past couple of days, he accidentally revealed a little secret about Ah Juns childhood to the Holy Maiden. The secret was about Ah Jun and a TV drama called "A Child with a Mother is Like a Treasure," and he even expressed his wish to help Ah Jun.

Though Xiaoxis poor memory only allowed fragmented recollections, the Holy Maiden vividly remembered his emotional impulses and reckless decisions. Thus, her fragmented accounts, the accidental memory she glimpsed, and the girls remaining sensitivity emerged simultaneously, then evolved through mutual influence... This emotional turmoil ultimately led the once-rational and resolute woman to make her first life-altering choice that defied conventional wisdom.

In the end, Ah Juns memory began to reverse, and the picture was gradually restored——showing the baby and his parents, looking at each other, smiling...

In the cause and effect, everyone has to pay the price for their persistence and rebellion, although the decision may not be wrong—— soon, the environment will change again in front of them.

Just as Ah Jun was still feeling relieved, the holographic projection before the child suddenly began to collapse. It rapidly condensed into a single point and exploded, transforming into a jet-black smoke. At that moment, the gemstone nearby also started to show unusual signs.

As the ancient saying goes, "Good fortune is where misfortune hides——" At this moment, the karmic retribution has come. The most, most, most difficult moment of this trial has arrived.

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