Chapter 348

"He doesn't know about the others, but the old antique came looking for you just now, but I used my powers to interfere with her consciousness, so she didn't see us. See how clever I am?"

At this point, Shibao became even more arrogant. She smugly boasted to Shen Gonglin that she was so clever and powerful that this mere old relic was completely under her thumb. This was retribution for secretly defrauding her of her power!

But the old antique is really amazing. Everyone else was so obscured by her consciousness that they didn't even think of this place, but she still managed to find it.

"... You're really strong. Alright, go back and rest. I'll go see if there are any offerings we can eat."

There was really nothing that could be done about this Fu Sansui, Shen Gonglin could only wave her hand to send away this inexplicably smug and arrogant girl. Then Shen Gonglin went to the marble. He remembered that Tesla had brought some food as an offering this morning. Shen Gonglin was too lazy to go back and talk to those stupid girls. He would eat something to fill his stomach first.

After clearing the offerings from the marble slab, Shen Gonglin hid behind and began to slowly enjoy them. However, with only dry rations and no water, he was choking a bit. Then, Shen Gonglin saw the bottle of red wine on the marble slab. Choking so badly that he was pounding his chest, he didn't care whether it was red wine or juice. Shen Gonglin grabbed the red wine and blew it into his mouth. Mmm, delicious!

And, really... that's pretty intense.

Shen Gonglin let out a burp. The fine red wine tasted very good. Shen Gonglin had already realized that it was alcohol, but... what did it matter? It wouldn't be a problem to get a little drunk once, right?

So Shen Gonglin gulped down most of the bottle of red wine in one go. After the alcohol took effect, he swayed and lay down, still holding the bottle. It felt so good.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the sound of high heels grew closer. Under the night sky, a pair of purple eyes shone brightly. Mei looked up at the night sky, where the Stars shone more brilliantly than ever before, making the sky look like it was covered in sleet.

The girl glanced around quietly, and after confirming that no one was around, she walked towards the broken sword. Mei looked at the marble edge, surrounded by blooming flowers, where people's memories intertwined and embraced each other. The girl bowed slightly, knowing that she had finally made it.

"Teacher Himeko, I'm sorry, I apologize for having to come see you alone at a time like this. It's been so long."

After speaking softly, Mei stood silently for a while, seemingly considering her words. She had a lot to say, but she also felt that some words would lose their original meaning once spoken.

"I have always kept your teachings in mind, which has made my choice even more firm. You told me how to protect someone and how to live my life to the fullest, and I have done just that."

Speaking softly, Mei took a deep breath. There were some things she didn't want to say at this moment. Rather than words, it would be better to prove herself to Himeko with actions. With a sigh, Mei took out a bouquet of white flowers and placed them on the marble. Cecilia flowers. She believed that Teacher Himeko would like them.

"Thank you, Teacher Himeko. It is my honor to be your student."

Mei bowed again, her words gently shaking the night air and the marble countertop. Then, the girl turned to leave. She had come at this time to avoid meeting Kiana and the others; now was not the time for a reunion. Mei had her own path to follow.

However, at that moment, a dreamlike voice suddenly rang out behind Mei. The girl stopped in her tracks, goosebumps rising from her heels to the back of her head. There was clearly no one else here, but this voice... what was going on?

She looked dashing and spirited, but Mei was just a young girl, and she had a natural fear of such things. Come to think of it, this place was a cemetery, wasn't it...? Could it be haunted? Or was it because she was too sincere that Teacher Himeko had come back to life?

Mei was trembling with fear. This was just a monument; even if a zombie had come back to life, it shouldn't happen here. The girl took a deep breath, then resolutely turned around. The best way to overcome fear was to face it. If she kept being paranoid, she would only continue to be frightened.

Turning her head, the sound became even clearer. Mei drew the Key of Punishment and slowly approached. Then, behind the marble platform, she discovered a strange, unknown creature. As night deepened, dark clouds drifted in from nowhere, obscuring the starlight. Mei gently poked the unknown creature on the ground with her sword sheath. What is this thing?

It's soft and fluffy, and it seems kind of cute?

A gentle breeze dispersed the dark clouds, and Mei once again bathed the earth. Mei finally realized what she had been poking at. Her eyes widened as she stared at Shen Gonglin, who was fast asleep on the floor, clutching a wine bottle. What was she doing here? And that smell...

Shen Gonglin is truly inhuman. Stealing offerings is one thing, but why does he also have to steal alcohol? Doesn't he know his own limitations?

"Hey, Shen Gonglin, wake up..."

The girl crouched down and gently nudged Shen Gonglin, but he was fast asleep and showed no sign of waking up. Mei looked at the empty Mei bottle in his arms and felt helpless. This guy must have drunk too much again. What should she do now?

Looking at Shen Gonglin on the ground, Mei was in a dilemma. Since she had seen him, she couldn't just leave him there. But if she sent him back to the Salt Lake Base, she would definitely be discovered, and then it would be difficult to leave. If she left Mei Shen Gonglin else, she was afraid that he would be picked up by the corpse. Leaving him outside like this was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. So... it seemed that this was the only way.

Looking around, Mei picked up Mei Shen Gonglin from the ground and carried him on her shoulder. Since she was going to pick him up anyway, she figured she might as well take advantage of him herself. In this situation, she had no choice but to take him back herself. Kevin shouldn't do anything to Shen Gonglin; Mei was confident she could protect him. In his current Shen Gonglin, Mei wouldn't feel at ease leaving him anywhere.

The only thing I can do is keep it close to me.

And so, Mei quietly arrived, waved her sleeve, and took away only a drunken Shen Gonglin. This guy must be too sad to be drunk here, so she'll take him back and comfort him.

Chapter Six

Bringing Shen Gonglin back secretly shouldn't be discovered, right? As long as I take him back after he sobers up, it shouldn't be a problem. It's so late, there shouldn't be anyone at the base. What idiot would stay up so late at night? So, it should be fine.

In the desolate hall, Mei sneaked in, carrying a sleeping, unidentified object on her shoulder. She had gone to visit Himeko's grave when she suddenly saw the drunken Shen Gonglin. How could Mei leave him there? So the girl had no choice but to bring him back. As a member of World Serpent, secretly bringing an enemy back to the base was a serious matter if others saw it.

The Dodo bird is alright; she might even help me hide Shen Gonglin for a bit. But if that loser Gray Serpent finds out, he'll definitely keep nagging on and on.

So I have to be careful. As long as I get Shen Gonglin to my room, then... slurp, then everything will be fine. Mei wiped her mouth. Why was she drooling just now? Was it because she was thinking about something happy?

"Raiden Mei, you've arrived."

However, what she feared most came to pass. Just as Mei was about to quietly return to her room, a majestic voice suddenly rang out in the quiet hall. Mei froze instantly. She slowly turned her head, and in the moonlight, a white-haired man in a coat sat on the highest throne in the hall. The man's eyes were slightly closed, as if this showed that he had everything under control. Kevin, what was he doing here?

He must be seriously ill to be waiting for me here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping.

"Why are you looking for me so late... Raiden Mei, can you explain the current situation?"

Kevin opened his eyes, and those eyes, which resembled Kiana's, only made Mei feel cold. However, when Kevin looked down at Mei, even Kevin couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise in his eyes. He had a premonition that Mei would come to find him, so he had been waiting here. But what was going on now?

Why is Raiden Mei acting so furtively, like a weasel that's stolen a chicken? And what's that on her shoulder... that's Shen Gonglin, right? Why isn't she sleeping at night? Did Mei sneak into Anti-Entropy and steal Shen Gonglin?

Should I pretend I didn't see it? Even Kevin didn't know what to do now. Raiden Mei, is this her personality? She's so different from Mei.

"It's nothing. I just went out for a walk and that's when I found Shen Gonglin. Kevin, I also need to talk to you about something."

Mei's tone was very relaxed, but Kevin fell silent after hearing her words. Don't say things so casually, as if you could just pick up a stray cat or dog anywhere. Kevin was sure that if Shen Gonglin was sober and saw him sitting here, she might just grab a knife and start slashing at him. Dealing with Shen Gonglin was more tiring than dealing with Otto.

At least Otto would follow his own ideas because of interests and deals, but Shen Gonglin... Kevin felt that he just wanted to cut his own kidneys.

"What's the matter?"

The man on the throne looked at Mei and spoke first. He ignored Mei's excuse and the Shen Gonglin on her shoulder, pretending not to see her. Anyway, he was so drunk that he posed no threat. What was more important now was Raiden Mei. She seemed to have changed a lot since the last time they met. He knew she would come to his side, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon.

The girl's growth rate exceeded Kevin's expectations, so now she has the right to know more.

"The Herrscher of Domination has been destroyed, its core has disappeared, and its whereabouts are unknown, but that is not why I am here today."

Since we've run into Kevin here, let's get down to business first. Mei, carrying Shen Gonglin, went straight to Kevin and asked him a question. Kevin's face didn't show any emotion at all. It seems that the current development of things is within his expectations. However, this is not the question Mei wants to ask.

"What do you want to ask?"

Raiden Mei's progress exceeded Kevin's expectations. She could already do this? Looking at the girl's purple eyes with red eyeshadow, she truly deserved to be the most perfect Herrscher of the present generation. She had mastered all the powers of the Herrscher of Thunder.

"When I used my Herrscher power to collide with the doll, my consciousness was taken to an indescribable space, which should be the source of the Herrscher Authority. I felt an infinite consciousness enveloping that place, and that consciousness seemed to want to directly instill something into my brain, but this attempt was blocked by the excess electromagnetic waves overflowing from my body."

After recounting what happened in the Domination Theater, Mei keenly sensed that something was amiss, and her intuition told her that Kevin should be able to answer her questions about that space and that consciousness. Mei was truly concerned about it.

"Kevin, this confuses me. If that consciousness is the so-called Honkai God, is it really impossible for it to influence its apostles for such a reason alone?"

Mei was very suspicious of this. Although the electromagnetic barrier was very useful, if the target was Honkai God, Mei did not think that the other party would be unable to affect her because of the byproducts of this power. If that were the case, then the so-called Honkai God would be too demeaning.

Although he had expected it, Kevin was still somewhat surprised when Mei raised the question. When did she become so comprehensible? It wasn't just about strength; this girl was also quite intelligent. Having such a subordinate was truly a blessing or a curse.

"You, who have fought since the last generation, the last hero of the Previous Era, could not possibly be unaware of this. Just how many secrets do you still have that you haven't told this generation of humans?"

Mei stared into Kevin's eyes, but the man remained silent. This reaction only confirmed Mei's suspicions. Mei felt she had to get an answer to this question.

"I need an answer, right now."

The man remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. If he didn't tell Raiden Mei now... he'd have to find a way to reduce the World Serpent's food losses. The last time he was this confused was when he was talking to Shibao.

"No problem."

Kevin was silent for a moment before raising his head. The current Raiden Mei was qualified.

Chapter Seven: Feeding the Young Master Honey Water

Kevin raised his hand and pointed in a direction. A dark passageway meandered out from a corner of the sacrificial site. At the end of that darkness lay the beginning of the world. Raiden Mei already possessed the qualification to seek the answer.

What a riddle! Mei glanced at Kevin, then carried Shen Gonglin to the passage. Kevin already knew Shen Gonglin was here, so Mei wouldn't leave him alone. Who knew what he might do to Shen Gonglin while she was away? And then there was the Jackal. She'd been eyeing Shen Gonglin's body for a while, wanting to dissect and study it. To protect Shen Gonglin's safety, she had to stay by his side.

Mei didn't know how long she had been walking. From the moment she left, the surroundings were pitch black, as if the passageway stretched endlessly into another space. Just then, in this boundless darkness, Mei seemed to sense something. Suddenly, a voice entered Mei's ears.

"Sigh... Kevin, Kevin, you really love causing trouble for others."

A leisurely and sweet voice suddenly rang out in this space. Immediately afterwards, Mei felt her vision suddenly open up. The bright light filled her eyes, making Mei feel a little uncomfortable. The girl closed her eyes slightly to adjust to the light. When she opened her eyes again, what she saw was a rather strange building. Rubble and ruins spiraled up around the tower, intersecting to form a grid similar to that of birds, as if declaring itself to be the center of the world. What exactly is this?

Mei thoughtfully at the strange sight before her. No matter how she thought about it, this didn't seem like something that could appear in the underground space. What exactly was this place?

"Hi."

The sound I had just heard rang out again without warning, like someone whispering in my ear, or like a shout coming from afar, just like this scene itself, making it unpredictable. What was that sound? Who was that person?

Who are you? Where is this place?

Mei spoke up. She hadn't seen anyone else in this space, but this voice had been there all along. Who was this? And where exactly was this place?

"Hmm... You can think of this place as... well, Elysian Realm. Exploring this space is part of the fun. Getting back to the point, you look pretty good now. Let's fast forward to the next step. Do what you want. Don't worry, this is just your first attempt. There won't be any punishment if you fail. As for me, you can think of me as an instructor. After all, I'm quite interested in teaching Herrscher."

An enigmatic voice echoed in Mei's ears: Elysian Realm? Is that the name of this space? As for the teachings, Mei still doesn't understand what this is all about. Is it to help her defeat someone or find something?

Mei started applying the games Bronya and Kiana used to play to the current situation, and it felt strangely fitting.

"Come on, let's begin. Just follow your heart and explore to your heart's content. I'm also looking forward to seeing how far you can go... Without the help of other Flame-Chasers, how far can you go? Don't worry, it's okay if you fail. Here, concentration is one of the prerequisites. When your consciousness begins to tire, the memory recall will naturally be interrupted. But don't worry, I will protect your clever mind."

The voice sounded warm and gentle with a touch of playfulness. Just listening to it made one imagine a sweet-looking young girl. Kevin had brought him here, which meant that this place could answer his questions, so he should listen to the voice first.

"In short, Raiden Mei's great adventure in her Elysian Realm has begun... Oh right, before you start exploring, you should store your bag first, otherwise it will affect you. Leave it to me."

The sweet voice rang out again, and at that moment Mei suddenly felt a lightness on her shoulders. It was as if Shen Gonglin, whom she had been carrying, was being gently carried away by a pair of hands. This action caused thunder to rumble around Mei. She hadn't even figured out this place yet, how could she be separated from Shen Gonglin!

"Don't worry, he's just temporarily staying with me. After all, Mei, you wouldn't want Shen Gonglin to get hurt during the trial, would you...? Hmm, such a strong smell of alcohol. Does he like drinking that much?"

A sweet and gentle voice soothed Mei, but she also sensed something thought-provoking in her voice. She could call out her name and Shen Gonglin's name, and from her words, Mei could sense that she seemed to know Shen Gonglin. Moreover, she couldn't detect any malice in her voice.

"Keep a close eye on him... If possible, get him some honey water. I'll be back soon."

Feeling temporarily relieved, Mei focused her attention on the path she was on. The style of these buildings... was very similar to what Mei had read about the First Civilization Era, or rather, these were traces of the First Civilization Era. This place was like a huge maze, and this scenery belonged to that destroyed era... Kevin, he once stood here and witnessed the end of the world.

Now, Kevin is showing her all of this without reservation. This is an opportunity for Mei to learn more about him and about snakes. In the past, there were people who fought against the Honkai to the last moment— Flame-Chaser. Their power was no less than that of the Herrscher, but in the end, humanity still failed. This feeling reminded Mei of the database space under the St. Freya Academy Church. Although she had never been there, Kiana was brought to the Schicksal Headquarters after going there.

But should I focus on the present moment, or this trial-like battle? It really does feel like a game.

Mei's clever mind kept thinking. Looking at the enemy that appeared before her, Mei breathed a sigh of relief. The girl gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, letting the lightning rage. For her now, such an enemy was no problem at all.

"Wow, you did a great job! You're amazing on your first try. But you should rest for a bit first. I'll wait for you outside. It's always a little uncomfortable the first time you connect."

As if she had been watching Mei's battle closely, her sweet and lovely voice rang out again. "She's really amazing. All the executives of World Serpent have to undergo baptism here, and Raiden Mei is the one who performed the best. As expected of her, cute girls are all so amazing."

In another space, after saying this, the pink-haired fairy looked down at Shen Gonglin lying next to her. Honey water, huh? But she didn't have any.

Chapter Eight: Elysia, Long Time No See

She didn't have anything here, but since this was a task given to her by that young lady, she should definitely fill in something very simple. After all, she was Elysia, and honey water, sweet water, right? Of course, it should be provided by a sweet girl. Let her, as sweet as honey, provide honey water for Shen Gonglin.

Long time no see, Shen Gonglin.

Miss Pink Fairy was overjoyed. She brushed aside a strand of cherry-colored hair that had fallen by her ear and leaned down to press her face against Shen Gonglin's. Her soft cherry lips gently touched Shen Gonglin's lips, and Shen Gonglin, who was still asleep, immediately felt a wave of sweetness. The effects of the alcohol on Shen Gonglin quickly subsided. For someone with a hangover, honey water is the best, and the honey water provided by Miss Elysia is even better.

"Um... what happened...?"

No one knows what method this Miss Pink Fairy used, but Shen Gonglin, who should have been drunk all day, woke up slowly. What a waste of that fine red wine! Shen Gonglin looked around in a daze at the environment that was completely different from what she remembered. She wasn't at Himeko's grave... Ugh, not at a grave. Shen Gonglin remembered drinking at the Salt Lake Base. How did she end up here after waking up?

"Oh, you're awake. It seems honey water really works."

Some unfamiliar voices rang in her ears, and only then did Shen Gonglin refocus her gaze and see the sweet little face above her. The blue pupils made people smile at first glance, and the whole person gave people a very comfortable feeling. This face... Shen Gonglin remembered that she had seen it before.

"What? You haven't forgotten about me, have you? If so, I'll be angry."

Seeing the confusion in Shen Gonglin's eyes, the pink fairy girl approached Shen Gonglin, her soft, fluffy lips brushing against Shen Gonglin's face. Although her voice was still sweet and pleasant, Shen Gonglin could definitely sense a threat in it, as if she would really get angry if she didn't call out her name. But Shen Gonglin... really couldn't remember.

"Hey, what are you talking about? How could I possibly forget you? You can't joke like that. Of course I remember."

Shen Gonglin tried to get up from the girl's soft legs, but the Pink Elf- like girl pressed his shoulders and pushed him back down. Shen Gonglin was already used to the fact that girls were stronger than him.

"Is that so? Then tell me my name. Who is this shy, flower-like girl in front of you?"

In front of Shen Gonglin, this girl said such shameless things with a straight face. Her thick skin was much stronger than Shen Gonglin's. At least he wouldn't dare to call himself a galaxy-level beautiful boy. As delicate as a flower... Shen Gonglin really couldn't see where her shyness was.

"This joke isn't funny at all. Don't you trust me? How could I forget your name? You don't trust me."

Unable to get up while pinned to his lap, Shen Gonglin put on a serious expression, attempting to shift the blame to the cute girl with an air of mature sophistication in front of him. Regardless, it was a matter of attitude; she didn't even trust him. Since that was the case, Shen Gonglin felt there was nothing more to say.

"It's precisely because I understand you that I trust you so much, my lovely Shen Gonglin. You've probably forgotten Elysia's name, haven't you?"

Shen Gonglin's stubbornness made the girl cover her mouth and chuckle, as if she wasn't the one who had just questioned the girl she cared about. It was really funny. Well then, she would give him a little hint: her name. He couldn't forget it next time.

Previously, because of her extremely poor sense of space, Shen Gonglin had accidentally entered this space and seen herself when using the Herrscher of the Void's abilities, but he had completely forgotten about it. This made the seemingly cheerful girl a little unhappy, but she quickly smiled again. She was really interested in Shen Gonglin.

"What do you mean? You really think I've forgotten your name? Elysia, I'm so disappointed that you think that way. I've always remembered you... But I remember you used to have blonde hair and twin tails, when did you become so... uh, no, so pink?"

Shen Gonglin's expression remained serious and earnest. He shook his head in disappointment, as if he was disappointed that Miss Elysia really thought he had forgotten her name. What's wrong with this society? Where has the trust between people gone?

Shen Gonglin couldn't help but ask, "He is ultimately going to change this world..." Whenever this name was mentioned, an image naturally appeared in Shen Gonglin's mind: Elysia should look just like that.

"It's a shame, Elysia has always been like this. Is it so hard to accept reality? Shen Gonglin, you really have forgotten me."

She likes everyone, but why does that affection feel so strange when it comes to Shen Gonglin? Although she likes him, sometimes she also wants to give him a good whack on the head. Elysia corrected Shen Gonglin's question, "What blonde hair and twin tails? Elysia has always looked like this. Who is he confusing with?... However, Elysia also likes his stubbornness!"

"...Don't use abbreviations on me like that! And did you ever tell me your name before, Miss Pink Fairy?!"

Shen Gonglin was furious and embarrassed. When he realized there was no way to smooth things over, he could only lose his temper. After saying that name, Shen Gonglin remembered where he had seen this sweet girl before. Shen Gonglin tried to stand up, but Elysia pressed him down again. When dealing with a naughty child, you have to punish them a little.