58. Herrscher of Sentience: R-Right? / 59. Long Time No See, Hua?

Okay.

A short while later, a dialogue text appeared in front of Xia Ling's eyes.

Xia Ling read it carefully, her expression gradually becoming... unable to hold it in.

There's nothing else in the script, but every line conveys a message to her.

The current plot development is completely consistent with the original work.

(I was so stupid, really, I actually believed that Fu Hua, that blockhead, would change after reading a book.)

(I'll have to give her something really juicy later.)

While Xia Ling was questioning the meaning of life, the conversation between the two entered a new phase.

After clearing out the Honkai Beast, Sirin finally made up his mind.

She plans to absorb this Feather Dust, end her private time, and return to being the true "Fu Hua".

However, some unexpected things happened during this process.

Faced with Herrscher of Sentience's request to "merge," Fu Hua did not refuse, and even took the initiative to let go of the resistance, allowing Sirin to merge with her.

However, Sirin's attempt to merge still failed. They were not one person to begin with, like two liquids that could not mix, coexisting in the same cup but remaining distinct.

"Why..."

Sirin's voice sounded somewhat confused.

"Because we are two different souls."

Fu Hua's voice carried a hint of sadness, but Sirin could hear another layer of emotion within it: pity.

She didn't like it; she hated being pitied.

"Different souls? You represent the past, and I represent the future? That's not such a foolish reason."

"You just think you're purer than me, that you're a more worthy Fu Hua than I am."

Sirin hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to say what she considered to be the cruelest words.

"... Even if you are just a feather."

(... I feel that if I don't intervene, things will go down the exact same path as in the original story.)

Xia Ling glanced at the script after the original work, and seeing the argument between Fu Hua and Sirin, she felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

If Fu Hua and Sirin continue arguing, she's afraid she'll explode first.

(Elysia, I might need your help later.)

After sending a message in the channel calling for backup, Xia Ling opened a portal and descended from above the two of them.

Sirin and Fu Hua were both taken aback.

"Xia Ling?"×2

"Fu Hua? What are you doing here?"

Xia Ling showed a perfectly timed look of confusion and spoke first.

"That's wonderful!" Sirin exclaimed, her eyes shining as if she had seen a savior.

"Xia Ling, come and judge for me! Tell me, am I really Fu Hua?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Xia Ling tilted her head.

As if venting her frustration, Sirin quickly described to Xia Ling the series of events that had happened after she woke up.

Chapter 58 Sirin: Right, right?

"Well..."

Watching Sirin spilling from a bamboo tube, Xia Ling couldn't help but want to laugh.

She felt that the scene resembled a child running to their parents to complain after being wronged.

"So... you and this feather have a difference in understanding now, and you both believe that you are Fu Hua?"

"What do you mean you think you are Fu Hua? I am Fu Hua, okay?!"

Sirin retorted, "Ah... really. By the way, Xia Ling, why don't you just share your memories with me? You'll see for yourself!"

"Idiot, have you forgotten that I possess the legacy of Previous Civilization...? Your mental abilities are ineffective against me, you know?"

"... It really is true." Sirin tried it out of disbelief, and sure enough, her ability instantly dissolved when it touched Xia Ling's spirit.

She could clearly feel that there seemed to be a familiar power protecting Xia Ling's body. No, it seemed to be two, uh... maybe three.

"Wait, Xia Ling, what's this inside your body..." Sirin hesitated for a long time, unable to think of a way to describe it, "Is this a gathering of Flame-Chasers?"

"If you want, you can give me a buff too." Xia Ling shrugged. "Anyway, I'm already used to it."

"Once this matter is resolved, I'll add the strongest layer to your weapon!"

Sirin seemed to have his competitive spirit stirred up in some strange way.

"Wait, wait, no, now is not the time to dwell on this."

Sirin suddenly shook his head, then asked Xia Ling, "So, Xia Ling, between her and me, who is Fu Hua?"

Fu Hua, who was in the Feather Dust, also looked over. She had added a few words when Sirin was explaining the situation, but overall, Sirin's statement was quite objective, and she believed that Xia Ling could make the right judgment.

"Hmm... that's really hard to say," Xia Ling said thoughtfully.

"Fortunately, I have a lot of experience with situations like yours."

"Huh? Experienced?"

"Xia Ling, what happened to Kiana after I left?"

Sirin and Fu Hua each raised a question.

However, since Sirin didn't have Fu Hua's memories of her time in Changkong City, and had only heard Fu Hua's account, he didn't immediately think of Kiana.

"There have indeed been changes... but that's not the point." Xia Ling nodded. "I think you two... are both a bit extreme."

Seeing the two puzzled people, Xia Ling smiled with satisfaction; this was the result she wanted.

First, we need to shift their focus away from the name Fu Hua.

"Well, let's just call this Fu Hua in the feather 'Big Fu Hua' for now. Oh, and please don't mind calling this little Fu Hua' feather'. I just think it's a bit impolite."

"Then why is she the Great Fu Hua?" Sirin asked, dissatisfied.

"Idiot, of course it's because of mindset," Xia Ling said matter-of-factly. "Don't you think that Fu Hua mindset than you... um, much older?"

"I think that's called maturity," Fu Hua argued.

"Hmm... that's not a problem, but saying it like that makes me feel like I'm shorter than her."

Sirin Qun Ji Ling Wu san Ba Qi Yi looked like she felt taken advantage of.

"Actually, even in terms of age, you are half a year younger than her, after all, you were unconscious during the time in Changkong City."

"... Alright, alright, you can continue."

"Everyone you've met along the way, whether it's Kevin or Otto, has told you that you're not like Fu Hua, right?"

Sirin nodded.

"Actually, I don't think so either."

"I admit, I might have changed a bit... than before," Sirin hurriedly said, "But that doesn't mean..."

"Don't rush me. I didn't say you weren't Fu Hua. It's normal for people's personalities to change drastically after a major event. We can look at Kiana for an example."

"Kiana's transformation is truly unimaginable." Fu Hua nodded. As someone who had followed Kiana all the way and witnessed her growth, she felt this deeply.

"That makes sense. If you put the current Kiana back two years ago, do you think I, Theresa, or Bronya would recognize her as Kiana?"

"Fu Hua in the feathers almost seamlessly transitioned into Kiana after her death. She and I spent a lot of time together, so it's normal that I think she's more like Fu Hua."

"But you were in a coma for half a year before you woke up. Maybe you had some strange dreams during those six months. In that case, it's reasonable that you gained some insights from being on the brink of life and death, and that you changed a bit."

Xia Ling smiled and hugged Sirin.

"Yes, right?"

Sirin was a little confused by Xia Ling's logic.

Yes, yes.

Xia Ling nodded repeatedly, and then gave Fu Hua was standing to the side with some doubt, a wink, signaling her not to speak yet.

Although Fu Hua was puzzled, she had long been more accustomed to listening to other people's opinions than making her own decisions.

It seems that Xia Ling's arrival at Mount Tai Xu wasn't really a coincidence. Since she has her own plans, it's best not to interfere with her for now.

"What's more, the current situation is that you can't absorb her, can you? The two of you have become completely different individuals."

"But if you ask me, I've seen this situation far too many times. Black Seele and White Nozomi, Kiana and Sirin, I've never seen any pair with completely identical personalities."

"So," Xia Ling patted Sirin on the shoulder, "Think positively. In today's society, who doesn't run into three or five people with split personalities when they go out?"

"I didn't say I hated her..." Sirin looked away shyly, "I just didn't want to..."

"You don't want to be rejected by her, you want to gain her approval, right?"

Xia Ling's smile turned sarcastic.

"No way!"

"Alright, alright, let's just pretend you didn't have it."

Xia Ling extended her hand. "Now that you've resolved your issue, let me talk to her alone."

"I got a lot of good stuff from Vill-V, you know. Maybe I can check if there's something wrong with this Old Fossil. What do you say?"

"Alright..." Sirin, unsuspecting, handed the feather to Xia Ling, while adding a word of advice:

"This feather is very fragile because it was worn out a lot before... Please don't damage it."

See, she still cares about you. Xia Ling glanced at Fu Hua, who seemed lost in thought, conveying her message with her eyes.

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Long Time No See, Hua?

As Sirin handed the feather to Xia Ling, Fu Hua also controlled the feather's power at the right time, pulling Xia Ling into the illusion of Feather Dust.

"Xia Ling, it's been a long time."

"Long time no see, Fu Hua. It seems you've got some new trouble coming your way."

"To be honest, I don't know what's going on... As she said before, I was already in this state when I woke up from the feathers."

Fu Hua sighed.

"Let's put that aside for now. I have a question for you." Xia Ling put her hands on her hips and said, "Didn't you receive what I gave you?"

"Uh, what is that..." Fu Hua paused for a moment, "You mean, that memory pack?"

"I did receive it, but to my shame, I didn't understand what message you were trying to convey to me..."

"..."

Seeing Fu Hua's stunned expression, Xia Ling shook her head helplessly.

"Alright, let me start from the beginning..."

"Fu Hua, who do you think this 'Fu Hua' outside is?"

"Inner demons? A second personality? Neither seems like it, right..."

"After all, whether it's inner demons or so-called dual personality, it should be conceived in your consciousness, not your body."

"You're right, I also find it very strange..." Fu Hua pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised her head. "Xia Ling, how many Herrscher have appeared in the world now?"

"The last Herrscher to be defeated was Rock Herrscher, who just appeared at Schicksal Headquarters."

"... I have some guesses."

Fu Hua rubbed her head, feeling a bit of a headache.