Chapter 347

They should say this guy has matured, but he's still the same Kiana.

"Ouch, that hurts so much... Why are you reacting so strongly even though I'm not wearing any clothes? What, is there something I can't see?"

Kiana was kicked headfirst off the bed, but the sturdy girl climbed back on. Her bright blue eyes shone in the darkness. After a brief moment of shyness, Kiana became carefree again. Was there anything on Shen Gonglin's body that she couldn't see? Obviously not. Why was this girl so shy? There was no one around. Given their relationship, this was perfectly normal.

"... Can't you act a little more like a girl? And what are you doing here so late? Don't you have to work tomorrow?"

Shen Gonglin wrapped himself tightly in the blanket, making himself look like a caterpillar. He was really tired today. He didn't know where Kiana got such energy. She was the one who did most of the work in the Domination Theater, but the girl was like nothing had happened. Sometimes he really envied her energy and stamina. Unfortunately, it was just a dream that he could only look forward to.

"Hiss... Shen Gonglin, what you're saying reminds me of those marital crises in dramas. We're not even married yet, you can't say that! Besides, we don't have to work tomorrow, there are no tasks. The headmaster said we should rest for a while, and then... we'll go to Himeko's memorial service together..."

Kiana started off quite energetic, but by the end, her tone became somewhat heavy. She had told them everything about Teacher Himeko. In Kiana's eyes, the best teacher in the world had already turned into a star hanging in the night sky.

"We've already told you she's alright, and she'll come back someday. Why don't you believe us?"

Shen Gonglin expressed his helplessness. He had already explained Himeko's situation. The older sister didn't want to only be able to work in logistics after returning, so she wanted to use the Plague Gem to modify herself. However, they all thought that she was unwilling to accept reality. It was really too much... But speaking of which, if there is a memorial service or something, can we eat at the banquet?

That sounds like a good idea.

"Yes, I know."

Kiana smiled quietly. Seeing her reaction, Shen Gonglin knew that Kiana was just making excuses. Shen Gonglin didn't bother to say anything more. When Himeko appeared in front of them, they would know that she hadn't lied. Shen Gonglin was too lazy to explain. Justice would prevail.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Loosen your grip and let me in. It's so cold."

Not wanting to talk about it anymore, Kiana shook her head and started tugging at Shen Gonglin's blanket. How was she supposed to get in when he was wrapped up so tightly? Kiana had only been startled earlier; now she was mentally prepared. If the Class President was okay with it, there was no reason why she couldn't.

"Cold my foot! Don't think I don't know what you're up to. The Plague Gem is inside your body, how could you possibly be cold? Get lost."

Shen Gonglin wrapped himself tightly in the blanket to protect himself. He wouldn't believe Kiana's nonsense. This girl was just trying to take advantage of him. Shen Gonglin was as shrewd as a monkey and wouldn't fall for her tricks.

"What does this have to do with the Plague Gem? You have one too, yet you're still afraid of the cold. Let me... go inside!"

With brute force far exceeding that of Shen Gonglin, Kiana pried open Shen Gonglin's hands and squeezed herself inside. Once inside, she seemed to finally realize she was shy. The girl's face turned rosy, and she seemed to freeze and not move at all. How brave she was! But after this bravery, what should she do next?

Kiana's not-so-bright little brain started working quickly. Since Shen Gonglin wasn't cooperating, she had to push things forward herself. Think about it, she'd seen this kind of plot in a book before—that's right, Mei's Book, which was practically an encyclopedia. You could find the answer to anything you didn't understand in there.

"Shen Gonglin, I'm playing with fire."

Remembering a line from the book, Kiana slightly modified it and said something that left Shen Gonglin completely bewildered. What was this girl talking about? What was she talking about playing with fire? Shen Gonglin just couldn't understand it.

"Hey, that's right, I'm playing with fire right now. Don't you want to teach me a lesson? Let me see how terrifying the adult world is."

Seeing that Shen Gonglin still didn't understand, Kiana could only continue to give hints. "Isn't this guy usually pretty smart? Why is he so stupid now?"

"What's so scary about the adult world?"

"Well, well... never mind! I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep now!"

Wrapped in the blanket, Kiana turned to the side. To be honest, now was not the time to do such a thing. Kiana's mood was very unstable. As soon as she closed her eyes, she would recall what happened when she met Himeko before, and then tears would uncontrollably well up in her eyes. The reason she came to find Shen Gonglin at this time was because of this.

"It's okay, go to sleep... When you wake up tomorrow, the world will be a better place."

Shen Gonglin noticed that the girl was behaving unusually today. Although he was known for his low emotional intelligence, he would occasionally loosen his emotional intelligence barrier. Even though he wasn't good at providing emotional guidance, Shen Gonglin had something that only he could do. He hugged Kiana from behind, his chin rubbing against the girl's shoulder like a Shen Gonglin cat.

This "tomorrow" doesn't refer to tomorrow. In short, one day in the future, this girl will definitely achieve the happiest ending. This is Shen Gonglin's promise.

"... I'd be even more touched if you weren't holding me up like that, Shen Gonglin... you, what do you want to do to me? Like, what you did to the Class President, if... if you beg me, then I might not be so unwilling..."

The atmosphere was quite pleasant at first, but after noticing a change Kiana squinted and turned her head away, her azure eyes darting around. Kiana, you need to be braver. You have to say what you want to do. It seems like she and Bronya are the only ones lagging behind right now. What a piece of trash Bronya is. Kiana is ashamed to be associated with her. And Shen Gonglin acting like this now, which is obviously interesting.

"Never mind, let's go to sleep. We have to go to work tomorrow."

Ask her? Shen Gonglin raised an eyebrow. Was this girl getting a little too cocky? And according to Shen Gonglin's first law, whenever he wanted to do something really outrageous, there would always be a third party to interfere. So Shen Gonglin decided to behave himself. Besides, he was really tired today. He didn't have the seemingly endless energy of Valkyrie. Shen Gonglin hadn't stayed up all night in a long time.

"Your comments are making me think more and more about a marital crisis! Shen Gonglin, I'm begging you, please teach me! I can only see theoretical knowledge in Mei's Book, I want to put it into practice myself, this is knowledge I must learn!"

Kiana's stance shifted instantly. The once arrogant and haughty girl suddenly became frank. What did she and Shen Gonglin care about saving face? They weren't even married yet, so how could they have such a period of stagnation? Kiana felt a strong sense of crisis. She needed to acquire more knowledge so that she could remain invincible in the future.

I don't want to end up like that stupid little girl Bronya!

"... If the headmistress knew how diligent and studious you are, she might be so moved she'd cry. But even if you say that, I'm so sleepy, how about we go to sleep first?"

Kiana is so diligent and eager to learn that Shen Gonglin didn't know what to say. But his eyelids were already drooping. Couldn't they find a day when everyone was more alert? Shen Gonglin's schedule wasn't that full.

"No, the Class President said we'd review tomorrow... Anyway, he kept saying tomorrow, but who knows when we'll actually do it? Let's start today. You can sleep if you're sleepy, I'll just catch up on some lessons."

The white-haired girl was full of energy. Then, blushing, she crawled into the blankets. Shen Gonglin yawned helplessly and closed her eyes, letting her be. She'd probably have a good dream tonight.

In her drowsy state, Shen Gonglin vaguely heard Kiana scream, but the sound failed to wake Shen Gonglin up. She was too sleepy and hoped Kiana would get ready.

The next day, at the Anti-Entropy Restaurant, everyone sat around the table eating breakfast together. Shen Gonglin preferred Chinese-style breakfast, so today everyone ate soy milk and fried dough sticks. The food tasted pretty good, but Bronya quickly noticed something was wrong.

"Kiana, why aren't you eating?"

The girl with no appetite noticed Kiana, who hadn't touched her chopsticks at all. Kiana was usually very enthusiastic about eating, but today, for some reason, she didn't seem to have any appetite. This was unlike her at all. Was she feeling unwell?

"I've had enough! No... eat now, eat now..."

Watching Bronya eat the fried dough sticks soaked in soy milk, Kiana blushed deeply, seemingly lost in thought. Bronya's eating habits were so strange... no, it was Kiana who Kiana knew why.

Under the watchful eyes of Bronya and the others, Kiana had no choice but to bite the bullet and soak the fried dough sticks in the soy milk, just like them. As a result, the flustered girl choked and coughed for a while, making Kiana look even more like the real thing!

"Kiana, are you alright? Is something on your mind? I heard from the staff that they saw you washing bed sheets in the bathroom late last night. Are you sure it's okay?"

Now Fu Hua was also a little worried about Kiana. The girl adjusted her red-rimmed glasses and expressed her concern about Kiana's condition. Why was she washing the sheets in the middle of the night? Fu Hua had read books on this topic, and this abnormal behavior might be a sign that Kiana was becoming abnormal.

Of course, this "abnormality" doesn't refer to that kind of abnormality; it's purely a psychological problem.

Fu Hua is very worried about Kiana. Now, not only does Kiana have the core of the Herrscher of the Void, but the core of the Herrscher of Flame is also inside her. Moreover, both Herrscher cores are providing power to Kiana. If Kiana's state of mind is affected, this problem will be quite serious. The sooner it is discovered, the sooner it can be resolved.

"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd do something, and I accidentally spilled yogurt on the bed, so I just washed it off a bit. Don't worry, Class President, I'm fine!"

Kiana tensed up, her body stiffening as if a cat had been stepped on. How could she have been discovered? She had been so careful. The girl tried to calm herself down and said, "It's just washing the sheets. I don't think anyone will notice anything wrong."

It's all Shen Gonglin's fault! If it weren't for him, he wouldn't be in such an embarrassing situation. It's all his fault!

Chapter Three: Stealing the Kitten

Shen Gonglin acted as if he hadn't seen Kiana's attacking gaze. He was currently enjoying Seele's service. The obedient girl picked up the small steamed buns that Shen Gonglin couldn't reach one by one. Shen Gonglin felt no pressure about Kiana's current predicament. Wasn't it just because she was not good at it? He hadn't even moved an inch. It seems that Kiana's talent in this kind of thing is not as good as others.

Think about the Class President, then think about Mei, Kiana, you still have a long way to go, you can't even compare to Einstein.

"Shen Gonglin, was Kiana with you yesterday...?"

While enjoying his xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Bronya leaned close to Shen Gonglin and whispered something to him. Shen Gonglin was startled. He swallowed the xiaolongbao in his mouth and looked at Bronya in shock. Why did this girl suddenly say something like that? Did she see something?

"Judging from this reaction, it seems Bronya guessed correctly... Shen Gonglin, Bronya is very unhappy."

Seeing Shen Gonglin's reaction, Shen Gonglin noticed the girl's quiet, gray eyes, but she could still detect a clear emotional fluctuation within them. Could this girl be trying to kill her? Shen Gonglin was so frightened that she quickly took a sip of soy milk. This emotionless loli seemed genuinely angry.

"Here'll have a steamed bun for you, don't be upset."

After thinking for a moment, Shen Gonglin hesitated before picking up a xiaolongbao from his plate and placing it in front of Bronya. This was a huge concession for someone who liked to eat alone, as could be seen from the pained expression on his face. However, Bronya's expression darkened considerably.

You think you can get away with this? Just a few dishes, Shen Gonglin is already this drunk. Why do I feel like I'm the most outdated one here? It turns out that because Shen Gonglin healed my legs, Bronya was the closest to Shen Gonglin. How did things turn out like this? Damn it, getting humiliated in battle is bad enough, but to be so behind in something like this...

It must be because of the Herrscher of Reason Core. Just as Little Herrscher of Consciousness said, this core is ominous.

"Shen Gonglin, aren't you bullying an honest person? Bronya isn't that easy to fool. You... just you wait."

Even the emotionless loli has started threatening. Normally, the most rational girl wouldn't make any further moves. Bronya thought it would be better to let things take their course. But now it seems that this idea was completely wrong. She's already taken him to bed. It seems that being honest all the time isn't a good approach. In today's society, being honest doesn't seem to be a virtue.

"Why isn't there any bitter melon juice... Bronya, what are you talking about with Shen Gonglin?"

Theresa was quite disappointed after looking around the table for a long time without finding the bitter melon juice she liked. Then she saw two people whispering to each other, wondering what secrets they were talking about and asking her to listen.

"It's nothing, Headmistress. Bronya was just discussing with Shen Gonglin about how to deal with the kitten that stole the food. As expected, we can't be lenient with such naughty kittens."

Bronya remained calm. With her exceptionally strong mental fortitude, she never had any issues managing her expressions. However, upon hearing her say such things, several people at the table inexplicably began to feel guilty. The Class President was one, Kiana was another, and Einstein was sitting further away, was also one. Could Bronya's words be meant to be something specific?

Heh, I should have dyed this thing green after all. Just wait, Bronya will kill you all one day.

Taking in the expressions of everyone else at the table, Bronya let out a cold laugh. The cold laugh was indeed quite intimidating, you could tell from her expression... But why is even the headmistress feeling guilty?

Seeing Theresa's rather abnormal expression, even Bronya, with her superhuman composure, was a little shaken. Headmistress, I thought you were fine with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, but your current behavior is truly worthy of being Kiana's aunt. I knew there was no good intention when you gave Shen Gonglin the hangover medicine back then, Theresa. There isn't a single good person in this Salt Lake Base!

Except for Seele.

"Boom Boom Dragon, how are you? Has your body recovered?"

"A hidden stronghold of the World Serpent," Raven asked Mei as she came out of the bathroom. Because she had just finished showering, the girl didn't seem as assertive as usual. After hearing the code name, Mei looked up and glared at Raven speechlessly. This was just looking for trouble. Oh well, she couldn't be bothered with her.

After being kicked out of the Theater of Domination, Mei returned to reality. She had done everything she could, and Kiana and Shen Gonglin did not disappoint Mei. The information sent back by the Raven confirmed that everything was over. Everyone had worked very hard.

"I'm mostly fine now, but I still have some doubts. When the Herrscher of Domination was fighting me for power, I was pulled into a strange space. It seemed to be the source of the Herrscher Authority. There was a consciousness there that seemed to want to infuse something into my body, but it seemed to be blocked by the electromagnetic barrier in my body. If it really was Honkai Consciousness... it shouldn't be like this."

After drying her hair, Mei draped a towel over her shoulder and said to Raven, "This situation is really strange."

"I can't give you any answers to this kind of thing. You know much more about the Herrscher's issues than I do, but I think the Lord might be able to give you the answer to your question."

Raven shrugged. She had no idea what Mei was talking about. This kind of question was beyond her expertise. But if Mei was struggling with it, she could ask Kevin. The Lord was known as omniscient and omnipotent, so he should be able to explain this to Mei.

"I will, but not now. I have something else to do."

Mei nodded, then picked up the clothes beside her and walked out. Raven watched Mei's back, pursed her lips, and didn't say anything. She picked up the information about the Anti-Entropy Salt Lake Base that was next to her. Although Mei didn't say anything, Raven knew what she was going to do.

"Want to... see her off on her final journey? What an unreliable girl."

Chapter Four: A Memorial Service for a Person Still Alive

A few days later, on a sunny day, everyone gathered in a plaza at the Anti-Entropy base. All were solemn, except for Shen Gonglin, who seemed somewhat distracted. A few wispy clouds drifted across the clear sky, which seemed frozen in time, as if casting a solemn gaze upon them. The occasion was indeed very serious.

A gentle breeze rustled across the grass, like a whispered prayer in their ears. Theresa took a deep breath and stepped forward. Everything was arranged, and finally, there was time to express the sorrow in everyone's hearts.

Shen Gonglin kept trying to stop the memorial service from taking place. Theresa knew it was because he didn't want to accept it, but people always have to move on.

"Fine, since you're all unwilling to listen to anything I say, I won't say anything more and I'm leaving now."

Ignoring Fu Hua's attempts to stop him, Shen Gonglin turned and left the farcical memorial service. Kiana and the others watched his retreating figure with a sense of helplessness. Shen Gonglin was too willful... They'd have a proper talk with him after it was all over.

"Hoo... Today we are here to commemorate a mutual friend, a hero forever."

Dressed in a nun's habit, Theresa appeared solemn as she gazed at everyone before her. Behind her, on a marble table, lay a broken greatsword—the last thing she had left behind. Perhaps she had left something even more important within Kiana, but now, only this could allow them to truly feel her presence.

"I will not recount her life story, nor will I list her contributions, because these are evident to all. I simply want to share with you a period of time spent with her..."

Her tone was very gentle, as if she were introducing her closest friend to someone else. Theresa's eyes were full of memories. Although some people had left, in Theresa's view, they left behind even more.

"When I first met her, she was just an ordinary member of the Valkyrie Assault Team. Back then, her eyes were full of naivety, just like ours were back then. But after a mission, her eyes changed. At that time, she had many paths to take, and I just provided her with one more. I sent her an invitation to the St. Freya Academy, but I regretted it not long after."

Thinking of what happened in this area, Theresa couldn't help but smile helplessly. Himeko, she's an unreliable teacher too.

"As a teacher, she was sometimes late for class, sometimes didn't come home at night, and sometimes even had a hangover. I confiscated a lot of her things, which filled an entire storage room. Although the students liked her very much, I sighed silently. No one was less of a teacher than her..."

At this point, Theresa slowly closed her eyes. Such an unreliable teacher and a headmaster who loved reading comics, eating snacks, and slacking off were such a perfect match. That time could still flash before her eyes; it was truly something to reminisce about.

"But it was this teacher who saved her students. It was this teacher who taught us the meaning of comrades, the meaning of fighting, the meaning of ideals, and also taught us... the meaning of ideals. There is no better teacher than her."

After saying this, Theresa turned to look at the broken sword on the marble countertop. She took a bottle of red wine from the basket beside her and placed it on the countertop. This was hers; in fact, she had always kept it in the Hyperion.

"Himeko, this is a fine bottle of wine. You were sad for a long time when I took it away. Now, it should be returned to its rightful owner."

Stroking the wine bottle and gazing at the bright red liquid inside, Theresa seemed to see that fiery woman in the mirror. After doing all this, Theresa silently stepped aside. The gentle breeze was still whispering apologies, and even the young grasses bowed their heads in silence. Kiana slowly walked forward and stared at the broken sword for a long time. This sword had once slashed past her, and she could still vaguely hear the sound of it breaking.

She really couldn't bear to part with it... The girl silently gripped the container in her hand; she had kept this thing all along.

"I made mistakes because of confusion... I lost myself because of fear... In the darkness, you lit up the sky for me, and lit up the path for me in the quietest night. You told me how to move forward. Teacher Himeko, the sky you left behind is still clear. We will continue to move forward along the path you opened up."

Kiana put down the container called the God-Slaying Spear, which was the very thing that Himeko had overcome all difficulties to help Rin Shen Gonglin drive into her own neck, thus stopping the Herrscher of the Void's rampage. She had kept it all this time, and now Kiana placed it in front of the marble countertop.

The wind had ceased its prayers, and all was silent. The others remained speechless for a moment, then stepped forward and placed their memories on the marble. An unspoken silence spread as people immersed themselves in the past, speaking little until the night ended. The few clouds in the sky had vanished without a trace, and the sky remained clear and blue until the Stars filled the night. This night was destined to be a dreamless one for many.

—

Looks like it's all over... Hmm, how long have I been asleep?

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Gonglin, who was lying on a secluded set of steps far away, slowly woke up. He looked up and saw that there was no one in front of the marble. These guys, he had clearly explained everything, but no one believed him. Shen Gonglin didn't even want to explain anymore. When that day came, they would know who was right and who was wrong.

"Hmph, a bunch of idiots. Unlike me, I'm very smart. If it were me, I would definitely believe you."

Beside Shen Gonglin, a lively and confident voice rang out. The Herrscher of Consciousness stood with her hands on her hips, looking quite arrogant. She had been accompanying Shen Gonglin the whole time, and whenever she had the chance, she would start complaining about those people, especially that old fogey. It was one thing for everyone else to be stupid, but why was she so stupid too? She was definitely smarter.

"Yes, yes, you're the smartest. Did anyone come looking for me just now? It's been so long and no one has asked me to have dinner. These guys are getting more and more arrogant."

Shen Gonglin casually coaxed Shibao, this girl was actually very easy to coax. Then he rubbed his stomach and slept until evening. He was a little hungry and wondered why no one had come to find him.

Chapter 5: Resurrection?