si-mexico Chapter 339 You're looking for Bai Shu, what does that have to do with me, Qiong?
Chapter 339 You're looking for Bai Shu, what does that have to do with me, Qiong?
With the conclusion of the Ten Arts War finals, the winner of the thirty-third tournament is about to be knighted. As Scudder said, its folk festival aspect has also been revealed: the streets of Reimu are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and people are rushing around to spread the news that the gods will personally bestow knighthood upon him. Perhaps in just a few days, "White Arts," this alien visitor, will become a household name on the planet Luo.
At least in Ruimu, many busybodies had already surrounded their inn, eager to catch a glimpse of the god's new knight.
"What exactly happened... um?"
Kiana Kaslana was hunched over a table at a restaurant near the inn, absentmindedly reading a very current newspaper, unable to concentrate. The sudden disappearance of Lithost from everyone's memories puzzled her—it was truly agonizing; if it weren't for the fact that she didn't have enough Honkai energy to squander, she would have already used any means to check the gaps in her memories!
"Hey, what are you thinking about? Don't be so gloomy!"
But just then, her newspaper was yanked aside, and a smiling red eye took its place, filling her field of vision.
Kiana recognized the woman; it was Luo Chenxue, a woman who posed zero threat.
"Nian Gao, don't worry! I'm usually pretty good at judging people."
Chen Xue, feigning mystery, glanced around, deliberately avoiding Bai Ji who was distracted and Shafulai who was unintentionally eavesdropping on their conversation, and then leaned close to Kiana's ear.
"You don't know this, but our Luo family has a unique skill: face reading! I can tell at a glance that Bai Shu isn't the kind of scumbag who falls in love with every girl he sees! He might just not be very smart and be easily fooled? Anyway, just keep an eye on him, he won't let you down! Now you should eat and drink as usual, be happy for him! We'll go to the tower together to watch the ceremony later!"
Do I look like I'm worried about that?
Kiana stood up angrily for no reason and looked at Chenxue and the other two in front of her. Except for Baiji who was lost in thought, Chenxue and Shafulai nodded in perfect unison.
"Yes, she makes a good point."
"It's okay to admit it, Nian Gao. Everyone's eyes are sharp."
Kiana was amused and annoyed by the two of them: So in their eyes, she was the kind of woman who was jealous and suspicious?
"If not, that would be best. So tell me, what exactly are you worried about?"
Kiana rolled her eyes helplessly. She was just confused by Lithost, and even if she told them, these people who had forgotten everything wouldn't be able to help.
"strangeness……"
Bai Ji, who was completely out of sync with the three, suddenly blurted out, "Strange."
"Baiji, what are you muttering about? Are you still upset about losing the game? I've already let it go, what are you holding onto? We can always come back in three years!"
"No, I am not..."
"Does this remind you who Lithost is?"
But Kiana was soon disappointed.
"No, no, no, Miss Nian Gao, Miss Chen Xue. I'm just surprised: due to heredity, I was born with a cough, and my younger sister even died from it. All along, I've only temporarily obtained a healthy body through 'technique'... but today, I don't know when, this illness has been cured?"
"Your old ailment is cured? That's great news! Congratulations!"
Chen Xue's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but marvel at how amazing this god was, able to cure even congenital diseases! Kiana, however, stroked her chin thoughtfully: Bhaiji's cough was cured? Are you kidding me?
Everyone knows that Baiji is a weak "medicine pot." He's fine with routine health care, but once he uses his miraculous healing abilities, he inevitably coughs uncontrollably after pulling the Valkyrie back from the brink of death—and that's with Qiong lending a hand.
"Could it be related to the gods? Perhaps it's a blessing bestowed by the gods out of joy?"
"God... Lamp—Safley, what do you think?"
Saffra was taken aback; how would she know this?
"I...I think it's possible."
Kiana sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation at Shafulai's utterly pointless reply—well, the Lamp Sister couldn't offer any constructive ideas.
"Woof—woof—woof—!"
Outside the restaurant, a sudden barking attracted everyone's attention—the barking was not like the usual arrogant barking, but rather... mournful?
The four of them looked outside at the same time. A snow-white dog was running around and barking at everyone on the street. Unfortunately, people don't understand dog barks, and they were only startled by the little white dog.
Except for Kiana.
"Dodo? Donigor?!"
……
The little white dog howled and cried, trying to call back its forgotten owner. But it was no use, for people were completely absorbed in the joy of the celebration, paying little attention to the dog's cries, assuming it was just hungry, and casually tossing it a piece of soft bone...
But it didn't want the bone; it wanted to find the half of the blue silk scarf—or rather, the ornament—that it had accidentally torn from its owner earlier that day when it was using too much force.
"Hey, Donigor!"
"Nian Gao, let's eat first? Are you skipping your meal to chase after that dog?"
Someone was calling it, but Donegal paid no attention; it only wanted to find the blue scarf, which it remembered should be right here…
Donegal sniffed frantically through the streets, its nose searching for that familiar scent among the various aromas... Though faint, the scent was definitely still there!
"Donigor, don't be afraid, I'm a good person..."
Kiana cautiously approached, attempting to communicate with Donegal using her powers—dogs don't understand human speech or writing, so this might be the only way.
"Wang Wang Wang!"
But just as she was about to touch Donegal, the little white dog suddenly darted out like a madman and disappeared into a small alley. Kiana quickly gave chase, with Chenxue and the others close behind.
However, Donegal failed to escape this time. After entering the alley, he bumped into a little girl—an extraordinary little girl. Not to mention her nun-like attire, the fact that she didn't panic after being hit by the dog but instead hugged and successfully calmed it down was already remarkable.
"So, your name is Duoduo? You're looking for Uncle Litost—no, I'm sorry, I don't know him, but the name feels familiar... You mean, I should know him?"
--------------
Why? Why did you make this choice? Why did you make the same choice as Hinadia?
Nahra's eyes were tightly closed, and her fingertips trembled as she gripped the hem of her clothes.
It has been far too long. Even a Star Dragon would experience memory loss, but she could not forget, could not forget Hinadia, who interpreted immortality by ending the end of civilization and her own life.
"Perhaps we were thinking the same thing, and great minds think alike."
No, you are wrong! I am wrong too! Only immortality can...
"To hell with immortality! Don't you even know what metabolism is, Great Mother Dragon!"
Seeing that Nahera was unmoved by reason, Qiong, whose hand was cut, became particularly angry.
"We are human beings, not dragons! We are a society, a whole! Although everyone hates birth, aging, sickness, and death, even the longest-lived person can fall into demonic possession—"
That's because they couldn't achieve immortality! If they had—
"Is your brain only the size of a soybean?! Still don't understand?! Haven't you already seen what immortality brings?! Humans have their own immortality; we have spiritual and material heritage, as well as knowledge, passed down through generations! Through teachers and parents, we will inherit these things, and in this inheritance, we will achieve immortality!"
[Passing down traditions, huh? Hehehe... Hahaha...]
Upon hearing the word "inheritance," Nahra smiled. She remembered: what Sinadia longed for was also "inheritance"... but in her own mind, there was no birth, aging, sickness, death, separation, or death, so naturally there was no "inheritance," which would destroy the world that Sinadia desired.
Regardless, it was a grave mistake to have led Hinadia to her death. If only I had helped her a little more, tried a little harder, perhaps we could have achieved that on the immortal star…
[Sinadia was wrong, and I am guilty—the heinous crime of harming Luo Xing. The choices of Little Leiera and the previous thirty-two victors of the Ten Arts War all demonstrate that Sinadia was wrong—yes, Sinadia could make mistakes, and this was her biggest mistake, and I am the one who killed her!]
"Um...isn't your laughter and words a little creepy?"
I am the murderer...
Originally furious, Sora felt uneasy at Nahera's laughter. Just as he was pondering what to do, Nahera suddenly opened her eyes. The stubbornness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something even more terrifying...
It was my slowness that extinguished Sinadia's immortality. It was my foolishness that brought Sinadia's life to an end, and it was I who brought about the death of my only friend!
"Um, your good friend Lithost in heaven and the God of Luo Xing would cry if they heard this..."
"Nahera, what's wrong with you..."
[It was I who caused Little Leiera to lose the most important person; it was I who allowed the power of shadow to transform into a sorrowful undercurrent, lurking and devouring the immortality of Luo Xing...]
Nahera turned around, and her words confirmed part of Qiong's guess: this god probably really lacked love and wanted to find the sun again.
But Nahera didn't know what Sora was thinking. Her mind was filled with memories: and in those memories, she saw her own body transformed into the tombstone in front of Sinadia's grave, and Leiera was constantly talking to herself.
[My taking Sinadia away from the protection of immortality was the beginning of a nightmare. I severed Sinadia's future, ruined her journey, and cast a shadow of destruction over this star... I must repent for my absurd choice, forever and ever!]
"Qiong, Nana is a little scared..."
"Don't be afraid, she doesn't even have a body."
Just as Qiong was comforting Nana, Nahera suddenly emitted a powerful aura. This aura caused Nana's body to tremble uncontrollably.
"Nahera, calm down!"
Qiong shouted, trying to bring Nahera back to her senses from her self-reproach. However, Nahera seemed not to hear him; her eyes were empty and resolute, and she continued to mutter about her sins.
But she didn't go crazy or force anyone to buy or sell, because there was someone watching behind the curtain.
Nahera turned back to face the sky, suppressing her aura, and a bitter smile appeared on her face.
Long, long ago, there was a vibrant but hopeless forest. A little deer, a forest dweller scarred and weary of her surroundings, begged her good friend, the outsider Star Dragon, to take her away from this hopeless forest to another land full of hope—anything but hope, whether forest, grassland, or even the polar regions, she would accept, as long as Star Dragon was willing to take her away…
For reasons unknown, Nahra began to tell a story.
Xinglong readily agreed, even though she knew the outside world lacked such vitality. True to her word, she led the fawn and the large dog, who later joined them, across mountains and plains to reach a red forest. They settled there, attracting many other animal friends—but this forest was fraught with danger, and the fawn's life was nearing its end…
Nahera looked solemnly into the eyes of Sora.