Demon Slaying Squad

The light in the boy's eyes gradually faded, like the frost and snow receding in spring. He tilted his head, thought for a moment, and asked:

"Chi Yuan?"

The Udu-dust glowed briefly but remained unmoved, subtly revealing some strange emotion.

Su Qing'an remained silent for a while. His intuitive understanding compensated for his temporarily lacking emotional intelligence, leading him to choose a slightly more intimate way of addressing her:

"Magnificent?"

Under Li Shishi's bewildered expression, within her Sea of consciousness, the soft morning light of Udu-dust manifested the hazy silhouette of a young girl from beyond the material world. Her eyes blinked, meeting Li Shishi's gaze without flinching or avoiding it, revealing a gentle warmth as she responded:

It's me.

"You don't seem as confused as before."

Su Qing'an remained unmoved by the subtle nuances of the other party's previous reaction, and responded calmly:

"I've recovered some fragmented memories, but they're too few to piece together a full month of my life. It's the other, more complete parts of my life that are the core reason for our current conversation."

Chi Yuan's response:

What do you remember?

As Su Qing'an gazed into her eyes, feeling the burning sensation in his chest, he began to understand that he would gradually recover his memories in a way that he could not yet comprehend, and completely restore the cause Karma of the past. He found it difficult to treat her with extreme indifference.

So he answered honestly:

"It's difficult for me to give a precise answer to this question. Because my consciousness is in a fragmented state, the fact that some memories have been recalled does not mean that my consciousness can immediately recognize them."

"To put it simply, I can barely remember how I got to this point, but that's just the additional information given by a few brief seconds of thought and a few fleeting ideas at that time."

"As for the rest, all I remember are names and some things purely about myself. Aside from that, most of it is fragmented and hard to piece together, and doesn't have much value."

The fairy whispered:

"Then... the chains from that time?"

The boy innocently raised his clear black and white eyes and answered in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Recovering a part of the memory."

The girl asked softly:

"Personal experience?"

Su Qing'an recalled the enemy depicted in that scene and answered according to normal logic:

"He was probably a very strong enemy for me at that time, otherwise I wouldn't have been imprisoned."

The boy didn't remember his state back then, nor did he understand how to measure his current self. His memories of the Honkai hadn't recovered much, so he could only give such an ambiguous answer.

However, in Fu Hua's view, based on the strength that Su Qing'an has shown so far, the only enemy she can face is Herrscher- level opponent, or even Herrscher.

She couldn't help but ask:

"And the ending?"

Su Qing'an gave her a strange look and replied:

"I don't know, I only remember being locked up."

The girl frowned slightly and replied:

"Sorry, let's change the subject."

"Since you came into this world, I've gained many memories that shouldn't exist."

"So sometimes, things might cross the line in our current relationship."

As she sensed her increasingly mundane state of mind, she began to ponder whether the intrusion of so many memories and emotions had become a subtle burden on the temporarily existing realm of emptiness.

Fu Hua is willing to acknowledge that the memories of other timelines exist here, but allowing extreme emotions to run rampant is not a good thing. From the perspective of protecting this emotion, the best approach is to integrate it and even completely accept it, abandon the habit of maintaining the Taixu Realm with indifference, and transform it into the norm in another gradual way.

In this way, one neither rejects this emotion nor is overly influenced by it, nor does one worry that thousands of years of indifference will be worn away. One can naturally embrace it and make it entirely one's own.

But in this way...

Her deduction of the [Sword God] path will come to a complete end.

Otherwise, if there is a brief dimensional ascension, these precious memories are very likely to be worn away by the world and cease to exist.

If Fu Hua only had memories of Su Qing'an, but was warned by reason that she could never meet him again, she would naturally choose the same ending as she had back then, burying all those memories in the Mount Taixu, turning them into countless Heart Seal, never to see the light of day again.

But after actually seeing this person she should have been separated from forever, and seeing Su Qing'an had completely lost her memory and was in a special state, she realized that she could not use the Udu-dust to remove this memory and continue to walk alone on that path that was close to godhood.

Whether as the Immortal Chi Yuan or as pure Hua.

She couldn't just abandon him like that.

Therefore, when he discarded the [Spring Void Roll] that was recreated from the Divine Key, his answer and choice became clear.

Compared to a path to godhood that might offer a glimpse of hope, compared to the accumulation and effort of thousands of years of solitary journey.

He is more important.

In that case, the memories and emotions associated with the boy will naturally be preserved intact.

But that's the problem.

Modern girls, due to excessive indoctrination and a certain degree of self-indulgence, may do things that seem impolite to their traditional character, and their behavior may even appear more vivid and subtle than it is today.

For Fu Hua now, the first hurdle she faces is how to communicate with Su Qing'an.

She herself had only recently acquired these memories and was in a rather chaotic state, yet she had to consider what kind of distance and intimacy she should maintain with him so as not to make the other person, who had lost his memory, feel impatient or embarrassed.

At this point, Fu Hua couldn't help but feel a little envious of her former comrade-in-arms who could easily get along with people.

Her ability and talent to effortlessly eliminate awkwardness and distance are clearly the most applicable skills in the present moment, helping her solve many unnecessary troubles.

So that the current conversation doesn't leave one feeling lost or completely unsure of how to overcome the awkwardness between them, one can only inquire in a businesslike manner.

If Cang Xiaoxuan saw this, she would definitely be criticized for being as tongue-tied as ever.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing'an said earnestly:

"It's okay, I don't mind."

"The fact that I have no memories or feelings about you proves that you were very important to me in the past."

Fu Hua hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"Why? Is it because of that... vow?"

The young man said calmly:

"That's one point, but the answer I've arrived at, based on the patterns of memory recall and a comparison with the memories I've currently acquired, is also a valid reason."

"I forget how I died, but the reason for my death is very clear: at that time, I used some kind of ability as a medium to replace the concept of [Su Qing'an] with corresponding power."

"And now, although I don't know why, the fact is that all the memories are being restored in the order they were burned back then, like a slow return to the most complete moment."

The meaning is already quite clear at this point.

The reason Su Qing'an had no impression of Fu Hua at all was precisely because all her memories of her were very important, even ranked last, like a magnificent gem encased in a thick layer of self-confidence, so precious.

Even though he would eventually return to nothingness, he hoped to leave it behind until the very end.

Therefore, according to the pattern of memory recovery, Su Qing'an will only possess Fu Hua's memories when his memories are almost completely complete.

This was not intentional, but rather a position assigned by the instinct of consciousness within the minute of shifting the scales at that moment.

The fact that the boy was able to recall some details and events purely about himself in the early stages of regaining his memories actually aligns with his indifferent personality.

The boy said in a serious tone:

"So... although I don't know when I'll remember you again, communicating with you isn't a difficult thing for me right now."

The ethereal figure of the immortal revealed a faint smile. She gazed at his familiar yet youthful face and suddenly wanted to reach out and pinch it, but since his true form was not here, she had to give up.

Fu Hua sorted out her thoughts and said:

"Um."

"In short, there are two problems to solve now."

"First, there's your memory loss; second, there's your primal urge to eat that makes you ignore your own reason."

"I don't have a similar situation here. Your consciousness is very special, and even Udu-dust's consciousness powers cannot interfere with it. Based on my experience elsewhere, it's also difficult for me to figure out the core of it."

She still feels a chill run down her spine when she recalls the terrifying moment when she was forced to revive her genes and came so close to the forbidden threshold.

[Artificial Honkai Collapse] -- This is a threshold and taboo that exists for every Fusion Warrior.

Aside from a few individuals with extremely unique ideologies, the Fusion Warrior of the Previous Civilization deliberately maintain their humanity and individuality, striving to transform them into strong ropes that keep their bodies, which have already taken a step towards the Honkai side, stably maintained in a form that can still be called human, refusing to step into that terrifying abyss.

Fu Hua once thought that her will and state of mind were enough to create a clear distance and barrier between herself and that abyss. But when the boy's lips touched her skin, the fear that came from the bottom of her genes easily ignored her own will, forcibly activating her genes and bringing her infinitely close to the forbidden zero point.

Su Qing'an is very special.

Now that he is unable to fully control himself, if the other pioneers were to learn of his special nature, he would likely be treated unkindly.

No one would show gentle kindness to a being that could instantly reduce them to inhumanity; it would be contrary to human nature.

Moreover, this ability is so stealthy and irresistible that it has nothing to do with any will, but only with a definite and existing status.

The reason why the Immortal Chi Yuan has not yet fallen into the Abyss and completely transformed into the prototype of the Honkai Beast she fused with is by no means because her state of mind and will are so extraordinary.

It was simply because the vow imprinted in the boy's Soul Hall at that moment was already at work, forcing him to refuse to create even more delicious "food".

From this perspective, Su Qing'an's existence is like the apple of Eden to the Fusion Warrior —a deadly poison.

Simply possessing this ability is already extremely dangerous, but he himself is unable to control it.

If Fu Hua had only recovered the memories of the first timeline, it would probably be difficult for her emotions to overcome her rationality, which believed that killing it was the safest approach.

But it's clear she can't do that now; the only way to reduce the risk is to prevent Su Qing'an from getting out of control.

This is also Fu Hua had to place Udu-dust on Li Shishi in order to indirectly communicate with her.

Even with the oath as insurance, the girl could not guarantee that after undergoing several forced gene activations, she would not, over a long period of time, truly cross into that abyss and lose her humanity.

Su Qing'an made no attempt to hide anything, he said:

"The key to memory recovery probably lies in my positive emotions."

"The positive emotions emanating from someone like my Senior Sister Shishi, who treats me like family, will gradually accumulate in our daily lives until they can indirectly interfere with and stimulate the rate at which my memories are restored."

"My ability to communicate with you like this is half due to the overwhelming positive emotions I felt when we first met, and the other half is thanks to her taking me back to Zhen'an Ward."

Upon hearing this, the immortal's usually indifferent expression subtly changed.

This method means spending a long period of time in daily life with someone you consider important, and you will naturally recover your complete memories.

Logically speaking, the person who inherited memories from both timelines should be the best candidate.

After all, Su Qing'an had only been in this world for a month, and her choices were extremely limited.

However, in this special situation where the two cannot meet, it has become the bizarre reality that Li Shishi is the only option.

She glanced at the last Courtesan beside her, sighed, and remained silent.

The boy followed her gaze and glanced at Li Shishi, his expression indifferent.

The two men's gazes startled the young girl who was holding a cup of hot tea, eating dessert, and secretly listening to gossip. Her chubby cheeks returned to normal only after she chewed diligently. Her usually unflappable heart, unmoved by any prying eyes or schemes, panicked slightly at this moment. She said innocently:

"Why are you immortals looking at me when you're speaking?"

"I'm just a pitiful, lonely courtesan, naturally beautiful and dazzling, yet at this moment, I have no Courtesan whatsoever."

"You all say what you want, I'll just listen."

Su Qing'an remained silent.

For some reason, he could clearly sense that his Senior Sister Shishi had become noticeably more lively after the Martial Arts Gathering.

Using my current way of thinking, I can naturally understand the reasons for the other person's previous depression.

Li Shishi, who longed for freedom and always wanted to run away, received an oil-paper umbrella from the emperor before she was found. Suddenly, the number of spies around her increased several times over, which was tantamount to announcing the shattering of her dreams and her own fate.

My mood was naturally terrible.

Although she never showed any melancholy or negative emotions towards herself or others, her Manas consciousness was so useful that even though Su Qing'an didn't care about it at the time, she could still see through the truth.

Therefore, it's not surprising that Li Shishi's mood improved after Martial Arts Gathering's passive display of divine power over the entire Capital City, allowing her to breathe some free air.

But then again, this is actually her true nature.

Compared to the rhetoric of those literati and powerful figures, it's like two completely different templates.

At least the former will basically quote ancient and modern classics and various poems, and sometimes use the sound of the zither to express feelings; the latter directly becomes a model of vocabulary for elementary school students and a template for essay writing.

It's cute, though, since it's obviously much more childish than the previous one, but it's also more clingy.

I feel like I'm less adept at dealing with things than before.

The immortal sighed:

"So, until this problem is resolved, you'll continue living with Great Master Li."

Upon hearing this, Li Shishi immediately felt a little awkward. She was used to being addressed like that, but being addressed in this way by a mythical being like the Immortal Chi Yuan felt somewhat inappropriate.

She whispered:

"Just call me Shishi, immortal. We'll keep to ourselves with Susu."

Fu Hua nodded slightly in polite response:

"Alright."

"I'll be troubling you with Su Qing'an these next few days."

A guilty smile appeared on the girl's face as she softly said:

"Shishi, I didn't explain the purpose of this Udu-dust to you beforehand, nor did I ask for your opinion. I was disrespectful, and I apologize."

"If you are unwilling, I can pluck this feather and place it on another of my disciples, which will serve a similar purpose."

Li Shishi gazed at the beautiful feathers scattered around the immortal's body and smiled:

"No need, this is a divine opportunity that ordinary people could never obtain in eight lifetimes."

Rather, she was somewhat flattered by the Immortal Chi Yuan's gentle attitude.

So immortals are this easy to talk to?

How about we try gossiping about Su Su?

Damn it, I'm a little hesitant but also really want to ask.

She suddenly grasped the key point of that sentence and asked:

"Oh, it serves the same purpose, meaning that the immortal's disciple is coming to visit?"

Fu Hua nodded and said:

"Su Qing'an's body needs to absorb a large amount of the Heaven and Earth Qi as nourishment; otherwise, he will still lose control when he sees me next time. He can only restrain some of his power under the oath."

"The fastest way to achieve this is to travel the world, slay demons and monsters, and extract the Heaven and Earth Qi within them as an offering."

"But I'm not at ease with his current condition, so I need a disciple to come and take care of him."

Saying directly that one needs to devour a large number of demons could easily lead to a double misunderstanding.

Therefore, she deliberately used a phrase that Li Shishi could understand to subtly replace Su Qing'an's current problem as an explanation.

Li Shishi's eyes suddenly lit up, and she cautiously confirmed:

"Can I go with them?"

Upon hearing this, the immortal replied earnestly:

"If you're willing, that's fine, but this trip is too dangerous. Even with protection, there's still a chance of an accident, so it's best to think it over carefully."

Then.

The little girl rummaged through the turban under the bed, asking questions with great interest:

When do we set off?

"... After Rongyue Sword Heart Technique."