The Sun and the Moon

After chatting with Elysia for a long time, Zhu Yufeng looked at Xila. Just as Mobius had said, Xila was awake. She was lying quietly on the bed, her eyes, which were not covered, staring at the ceiling.

It's like a lifeless doll.

Zhu Yufeng got up from the hospital bed, went to Xila's side, found a stool and sat down. "We... should be considered to have met for the second time?"

Xila did not speak.

"Well... I'll say what I have to say," Zhu Yufeng said. "Do you know that in this assassination operation, you're just a discarded pawn? Whether the assassination succeeds or not, you can't survive."

Xila remained silent.

"I'm not trying to impress you with this; I'm just stating a fact: you've been abandoned by 'Arc Moon,'" Zhu Yufeng continued. "Not just you, Modesti is the same. I know you don't care about these things, but what I want to say is that I want you to be my sword."

Xila's eyes flickered, and she turned her head slightly to look at Zhu Yufeng: "So, that's why you're not killing me, is that right?"

"Yes and no..." Zhu Yufeng thought for a moment and then said, "The reason for making you my sword is based on reason. If I can't subdue you, I will kill you. As for the emotional aspect... perhaps it's because we knew each other in some non-existent time and space."

"We... knew each other before?" Xila asked to herself.

"Well, it sounds absurd, but you can treat it as a joke if you want," Zhu Yufeng said with a helpless smile.

"No, I believe it," Xila said, looking at Zhu Yufeng. "We... knew each other before."

Zhu Yufeng was stunned. He hadn't expected Xila to believe him so easily. He had thought he would need to spend some more time building mutual trust with her. Looking into Xila's eyes, he felt like he had returned to his previous life.

"I... feel strange about you, a feeling I've never had before," Xila said softly. "I... don't doubt you. I thought you were someone who had to be killed, but you weren't. You didn't kill me, and I... feel strange about that too, a feeling I've never had before."

Zhu Yufeng frowned slightly. Xila Xiann had no memories of his previous life, but it seemed that he didn't completely have them? He recalled the time when he interviewed Rovoc with Mobius a while ago, and the time when he participated in the final review of Admil with Mobius not long ago. It seemed that Rovoc and Admil retained some subconscious imprints from their previous lives.

In his previous life, Xila truly trusted him unconditionally.

"Since that's the case, then tell me your answer. Are you... willing to become my sword?" Zhu Yufeng looked into Xila's eyes and said, "Clear away any obstacles for me and eliminate all my enemies."

"I do," Xila answered readily.

Actually, almost a year ago, Xila had felt something was wrong. After her fight with Zhu Yufeng and Ying before, Xila had been in a daze, and that feeling of something being wrong became even stronger. She felt that she shouldn't have used "Arc Moon", but she didn't understand why she had this feeling.

All she knew was that this situation had occurred because of seeing Zhu Yufeng, so if she wanted answers, she had to get them from Zhu Yufeng. Her feelings for him were strange; she felt she shouldn't hurt him, and she should believe what he said.

After promising to become his sword, the strange feeling that had been lingering for so long seemed to disappear.

"Then there's no need to restrain you any longer." Zhu Yufeng stood up and untied the bonds binding Xila to the bed. "Since you've made a promise, I'll tell you about some things I need to do next... Afterwards, Mobius, your assassination target this time, will come and give you a drug that will put you into a state of suspended animation for a period of time. After that, you will operate under a different identity."

"I understand now, who am I going to kill?" Xila asked very directly.

"I'll tell you when the time comes. For the Present ..." Zhu Yufeng glanced at the time. He had persuaded Xila much faster than he had expected. He also knew that with Xila's personality, Xila would definitely not speak either, which would make the atmosphere very strange.

He probably wouldn't care, but Xila believed him so readily, which made him feel that it wouldn't be right to just leave Xila there after he finished speaking...

Just as Zhu Yufeng was pondering how to handle the Present situation, Mobius walked in. She glanced at Zhu Yufeng and Xila, paused for a moment, and then said, "Have you... finished talking?"

"Hmm..." Zhu Yufeng nodded. "So, have you finished handling the arrangements for after the incident?"

"It won't take much time. At most, we'll stay here for a few more days to attend that old Erwin's memorial service." Mobius shrugged. "Although Admil is the deputy director, he's too young. With Erwin gone, the connections he has aren't enough to make him the director of the Third Research Institute. So, in the end, the council will probably transfer a decent old man from the Mu Continent, right?"

Speaking of which, how come he remembered that Mobius became the director of the First Research Institute after his death?

Mobius stared at Zhu Yufeng.

Zhu Yufeng: "..."

Women's intuition is truly terrifying. Whether it's Elysia or Mobius, as soon as you think about the things they care about, they can react instantly.

"So, has Xila been staying in this clinic these past few days?" Zhu Yufeng asked.

"That's right, but if she wants to be active, Admil can make arrangements like Modesti did," Mobius said.

Xila looked at Zhu Yufeng: "I... want to follow you."

Mobius: "..."

What did Yu Feng and Xila talk about during the time she was away? Did their bond level up so quickly? It seems that Xila La is always by Zhu Yufeng's side unless there are other arrangements, like a shadow.

Considering the strange behavior of Rovoc and Admil, it seems that among the Thirteen Fallen Angels, apart from Zhu Yufeng and Lilith who retain their memories, the remaining Fallen Angel, although they have no memories, have retained some habits from their previous lives.

This is not incomprehensible. If Lilith's memories were not reset because she did not die at the time and her consciousness was bound to Zhu Yufeng, thus she was reborn with her memories, then the other eleven Fallen Angel, although dead, had their bodies devoured and fused by Zhu Yufeng using Vishnu's properties, forming the final step on his path to godhood. In that case, it's quite normal that they retained some subconscious habits as fusion materials.

"Alright, alright, I'll go tell Admil later," Mobius said, somewhat exasperated.

On the other side.

Elysia put away her phone and looked at Vill-V: "Vill-V, how much longer do you think we're going to have to stay here? Feng also said that the only valuable information he got was that this Honkai is unusual."

"Data collection, analysis, and verification—how fast do you think it can be?" Vill-V said while working on the equipment. "Besides, can't you still contact Yu Feng?"

"Only one hour this time, how is that enough..." Elysia said, squinting. "Besides, there's a time difference between here and where Feng is, and I can't guarantee that when I contact Feng again later, he'll still have time to chat with me, right?"

"If it were you, he would definitely reply as long as he sees it." Vill-V said without looking up. "However, we will indeed return earlier than expected. I have almost finished collecting the data I need. After that, I just need to verify some of my assumptions a few more times... Although, now I also feel that finding Yu Feng's way home seems a bit unlikely."

"Does that mean Feng isn't leaving?" Elysia asked.

"It's hard to say. He can come without reason, and he can leave without reason as well," Vill-V said with a shrug. "Now that I think about it, Lilith's method seems to be the most effective. I think I can do it too..."

Before she could finish speaking, Vill-V changed her tone and said, "Rejected! Even if each of us is a fragmented consciousness, we are still essentially one person."

"Indeed, we're already noisy enough when we discuss things normally. We're just causing trouble for Yu Feng, aren't we?"

"What does it matter? Just learn to keep quiet, right? Look at Hundred Flavors, look at how they treat Anti-Kevin Armament. They're so good to us. And with their consciousness bound to Yu Feng's, we can understand his thoughts more clearly, know his past, and there can be no conflict between us..."

"Shut up, you Evil!!! Elysia is still here!"

Elysia watched silently as Vill-V once again performed a multi-act play by herself, lost in thought.

Although she still couldn't accept this behavior.

House Attagina on the Italian Peninsula.

"Although I don't know how many times I've said it, Miss, that Maple already has Elysia as his girlfriend. Are you really going to continue like this?" Mostima said, crossing her legs and playing a game.

Looking at the bright sunshine outside the window, Lilith said, "Mostima, between the sun and the moon, which do you think most people would prefer?"

Mostima looked up, somewhat puzzled, but after thinking for a moment, she said, "It should be... the sun, right? I quite like sunbathing too."

"The sun shines its light on Earth, which is 150 million kilometers away, bringing light and warmth to every inch of the land and sowing life on the planet. However, its light does not belong to Earth alone; it is just that Earth happens to be in the right place, which is why life was able to be born," Lilith said. "Does she love Earth? Of course, but she loves everything in the solar system just as much. Her light and her love are not unique to Earth."

"Then... what about the moon?" Mostima asked.

She mentally grumbled to herself, "If Lilith explains it this way, then Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, and Pluto, the planet furthest from the sun, and even the Oort Cloud, are really unlucky... one is too close and the other is too far..."

"The moon?" Lilith chuckled. "Its light comes from the sun, and its far side will never face the earth. Compared to the sun, which shines eternally, the moon has its phases, and is not always perfectly round."

"So, the sun is actually better, then?" Mostima tilted his head and said.

"But..." Lilith's voice was somewhat ethereal, "The Earth revolves around the Sun forever, and in this vast solar system, only the Moon has always been by Earth's side, serving as Earth's only satellite. The Moon's love has always belonged only to Earth. So, which do you prefer, the Sun or the Moon?"

So, it seems the moon is better? Judging by liking someone versus liking everyone, wouldn't that be a bit selfish? Mostima thought to herself, then realized, speaking of the moon, if she remembered correctly, the surname Atagina also means Moon Goddess, right? Could she interpret this as Lilith comparing herself to the moon, Elysia to the sun, and Maple to the earth in between?

That doesn't make sense either. What about the other planets? What's the metaphor? And she seems to really like Elysia, so isn't this metaphor a bit inappropriate? Or is this just something the young lady said offhand because of her pretentious, artsy side?

As well as...

Miss, have you forgotten that you used to like Adams?

After thinking for a long time, Mostima finally remembered that Lilith hadn't answered the question she asked at the beginning. However, it seemed that the young lady's answer was quite obvious, so she decided to let it go and not ask again.

Lilith looked out at the garden and thought to herself, "That's how it was with Maple and Elysia before, but now... let's wait and see how far things have progressed between you and Maple when we meet again, Elysia."

A few days later.

Zhu Yufeng and Mobius brought Xila back to the Fire Moth. Of course, Xila was in a state of suspended animation. As soon as the plane landed, Zhu Yufeng saw Pardo and the others who came to greet them.

Pardo immediately gave Zhu Yufeng a flying hug. "Welcome back, Brother Yu Feng!"

Zhu Yufeng took a half step back and caught Pardo with practiced ease. "I don't think I've been gone for very long, have I? Just... about ten days?"

"Isn't this taking a few days longer than expected?" Pardo noticed Mobius's gaze behind Zhu Yufeng and immediately stood up straight. "I didn't expect that even the director of the Third Research Institute would sacrifice himself this time. Speaking of Xila? She..."

"She's dead," Mobius said, arms crossed and eyes half-closed.

Pardo: "?"

Are you kidding me? The only one who can beat Xila is Brother Yu Feng. How could Brother Yu Feng possibly kill Xila?

"Don't look so disbelieving. We even brought back the body," Mobius said with a hint of sarcasm.

Pardo: "???"

Zhu Yufeng sighed, "Don't listen to Mobius, Xila... she has her own plans."

"Oh." Pardo nodded. If Brother Yu Feng said there was no joy, then there was no joy. As for Mobius... well, those who know, know. You can't expect Mobius to speak properly anytime soon.

"By the way, Kevin, Su asked me to give you a message." Zhu Yufeng looked at Kevin again.

"What?" Kevin asked.

Zhu Yufeng paused for a moment, then suppressed a laugh and said, "He doesn't want to get involved in any of my feelings with you, so don't drag him into it anymore."