Reliable Fire Keepers

Fang Shiqing finished her opening remarks with a blush, but just that one sentence left the man standing in front of her completely stunned.

?

Do you want to hear what you're saying?

You, a City Defender, are telling me that the will of the City Builder is too conservative?

So, my dear Fire Seeker, what exactly happened to you?

What, or rather who, caused such an "incomprehensible" change in you?

Like Fang Shiqing, the man took a deep breath before he could catch his breath. He walked over to Fang Shiqing with interest, his sharp eyes scanning her from head to toe, and then he smiled.

Interestingly, the man who changed her mind was a man, but not in that sense.

"Tell me, my Fire Seeker, I hope I can hear an even more shocking story."

Of course, be mindful of your expression and wording. Remembering and mourning is a one-way street; once I know he...

We then broke the vows we had upheld.

Fang Shiqing nodded solemnly and began to explain her own thoughts, or rather, Cheng Shi's thoughts.

A long time passed, so long that the flower petals on the desk dissipated all their energy and gradually withered away.

The man stood there motionless, listening to the entire conversation.

He frowned and fell into deep thought.

Seeing him like this, Fang Shiqing picked up the memorial tube, silently erased her own Memory, and then prepared to turn around and leave quietly.

"Wait! These flower petals..."

"No need."

Fang Shiqing didn't turn around, but you could tell from her back that she was smiling, and her smile was confident and radiant.

"I suddenly realized that an organization that relies on oaths to solidify morale and compromises cannot become the entity you speak of that brings a new tomorrow to all good things."

Therefore, we don't need it anymore.

Just like how you feel when you see this petal, I've gone astray.

Fortunately, someone pointed me in the right direction.

After saying that, Fang Shiqing strode away.

The man watched her departing figure thoughtfully, then glanced meaningfully at the flower petals on the table. He picked up the notebook he had been scribbling on and turned to the latest page.

Then, he picked up a pen and wrote four large characters:

God Creation Plan?

"Do you think it's feasible?" he asked the Void behind him.

A woman walked out of the Void, An Jing. Although her eyes were covered with a black cloth, she still turned her head to look in the direction of the notebook. After lingering for a moment, she smiled gently.

Why not?

Didn't you hear what this Fire Seeker said?

When I reached 2400 points, I wondered why I couldn't be one of those sitting on that high Divine Throne.

You and I have more than 2400 points.

"You need to have some confidence, Qin Xin?"

The man frowned and pondered for a moment, then gave a soft "hmm" and raised his hand to heavily cross out the question mark after "God Creation Plan".

"Then, let's give it a try."

In reality, in an apartment in Unknown Province and City.

Since returning to the Rest Area, Bailing has been pondering the deeper meaning behind Fang Shiqing's question.

She was terrified that the other person would realize that her Memory had changed and that she had recalled the Memory she had lost during the Trials.

So, he's here!

That's what a pro is. He's actually the Clown, he got 2400 points, and he even saved himself again.

But he almost killed him by mistake.

Even though she had forgotten that Cheng Shi was Cheng Shi by then, she was still trapped in deep guilt.

She was filled with lingering fear and terror.

What she feared wasn't the harm the bowstring had caused Cheng Shi, nor was she afraid of whether Fang Shiqing had seen through Cheng Shi. What worried her and troubled her was... her current Memory!

She didn't know why the big boss's methods failed on her, but she was afraid that with her score of 1400, she wouldn't be able to protect this Memory and would expose Cheng Shi's existence.

Yes, since the big shot chose to make himself forget, then he shouldn't remember in the first place.

But what a pity it would be if we didn't remember this Memory.

These are some of the few times I've fought alongside him, and they're also the most captivating scenery on this increasingly bright path beneath my feet!

But as I said before, Bailing felt she couldn't hold on to it.

So she decided to do something.

So... she washed away her weariness, calmed all her chaotic thoughts, knelt devoutly before the bed, and whispered a prayer:

"Untie..."

She stopped after saying just one word.

No, you cannot pray to the "Filth and Decay," as this would be tantamount to revealing this secret to the "public."

A complex expression flickered across Bailing's face. After much deliberation, she gritted her teeth and tremblingly began to attempt another prayer:

"Do not distinguish between truth and falsehood, nor discuss the reality and the illusion."

Almighty God of Deception, I, Bailing, a lowly and utterly Filth and Decay Believer, a sinner unworthy of pity, pray to you to begin a Trials...

A Trials that can permanently erase the Memory of 'your devout Believer Cheng Shi's from my mind...!

In reality, in a private house in an Unknown Province and City.

Cui Qiushi was eating when she regained her Memory.

Even though all resources can be obtained through prayer these days, he still maintains the habit of cooking.

This is not because of boredom, but because of nostalgia.

Old Cui loves the food cooked by Little Cui, so he has never stopped eating it.

On the small wooden dining table was a bowl of rice and a plate of vegetables, but there were two pairs of chopsticks.

He really wanted to give Lao Cui an extra bowl, but Lao Cui had said that we shouldn't waste food, so he gave up on that idea.

As the tide of memories washed over the beach of consciousness, Cui Qiushi was shoveling rice into his mouth. After recalling everything from the Trials, he swallowed the rice in large gulps while tears of longing streamed down his face.

These sudden tears were definitely not for Cheng Shi, but for the man Cheng Shi saw...

Cui Qiushi's father, Old Cui, Cui Ding Tian.

Cheng Shi must have met his father, otherwise Cui Qiushi couldn't explain why Cheng Shi's eyes flashed with surprise and nostalgia the moment he saw him.

He had never been in line with Cheng Shi, nor had he ever heard Cheng Shi's name from Sister Qing or Bailing.

Even though Cheng Shi knew Zhao Qian wasn't a gossipy person, and he wouldn't reveal his companion's identity to an outsider.

Cui Qiushi is simply honest, but honesty does not mean that he is not observant or meticulous.

He noticed that Cheng Shi's attitude towards him was different, and he also sensed the very faint admiration that Cheng Shi was radiating.

All of this led him to believe that Cheng Shi had most likely met his father.

Because in this world, only he is like him.

How is my father?

In fact, Cui Qiushi had already thought of these deductions during the Trials, but at that time he was still a strong shield protecting his companions and could not let the sorrow in his heart pull his emotions.

So he put aside all distractions and focused on the Trials.

Now, in this moment, it is his own time. He can finally have a good cry to release his longing for his father.

Cui Qiushi had asked himself more than once why he didn't go find Lao Cui, but he had also answered himself more than once:

Because he had decided to do something for this twisted and crumbling world, and the cost of that choice was too heavy for him to bear with his father.

He has carried the burden for half his life in his old age; now it is time for the fledgling to try to soar through the sky.

He also knew that his father would definitely support him, because Old Cui had once said, "The Cui family's offspring must live upright and honorable lives."

Perhaps I'm not good enough yet, but I'm on the right path.

Dad, did you see that?

It was a slightly salty dinner, but what made my mouth taste salty wasn't the salt, but my tears.

After Cui Qiushi ended this sorrowful moment with reminiscence, he resolutely drew a symbol on the wall behind him, then stepped through the black door and embarked on the Fire-Keeping Path.

He found the idle "Hope's Flame" and prayed for its help in concealing this Memory.

[The Hope's Flame] examined him with amusement for a while, then asked with a smile:

How did you know it was me who restored your Memory?

Cui Qiushi was stunned, his face blank as he said:

"I... just found out."

"..."

The flames froze. At that moment, the space protecting the Passing the Flame of Hope's Flame was almost invaded and exposed by silence!

He was speechless for a moment, and sighed heavily as he looked at the bewildered Cui Qiushi in front of him.

"Relax, you'll forget everything."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Cui Qiushi lost his memory.

He even forgot why he was there, because the rule followed by all the Fire Keeper was "don't knock on the door unless you need something."

Just then, a shout broke the awkward silence from afar along the Fire-Keeping Path.

"Qiushi? You've come at the right time. I was just about to call you. Hurry, the boss said a new City Builder has joined, and they're about to hold a welcome ceremony."

Cui Qiushi was stunned again.

The City Builder?

Didn't the Fire Seeker of the City Builder die at the hands of a traitor?

How could there be a newcomer to the City Builder?

Could it be... a new Fire Seeker?

His companion noticed his shock and nodded with a smile:

"You guessed it? It seems we've found another powerful ally, a new... Fire Seeker."