The Memory Guardian said nothing.
Harmonic Leaping Note continued, "But I'm not anymore. Three hundred and seventy million civilizations remember my melody. They remember who I am. Even if I forget again, they'll remember for me." She raised her head, her eyes clear. "That's the proof of my existence. Not that I won't forget, but that someone will remember for me."
The Memory Guardian remained silent for a long time. Then it stepped aside. A gap opened in the boundary formed from contradictory memories.
Harmonic Leaping Note looked at Lin Ye. Lin Ye nodded. She was the first to cross the boundary, heading into the region where memories had become "lies."
Behind her, the Memory Guardian watched her retreating figure and said softly, "You passed. Not because your answer was correct, but because you were willing to admit you had once been wrong."
It looked at Lin Ye. "Your turn, Lord of Embers."
Lin Ye stood before the Memory Guardian.
The guardian's form began to change-it was no longer the ruins from Harmonic Leaping Note's memories, but a stretch of absolute darkness. Lin Ye recognized that darkness-it was the Void Sea before Guixu was born.
The guardian's voice changed. It was no longer a neutral, emotionless inquiry, but a voice Lin Ye had never heard, yet somehow found familiar. "Do you know who I am?"
Lin Ye was silent for three seconds. "You are Guixu's memories."
The darkness began to churn. Countless images emerged from it-
The first image: deep within the Void Sea, a "tear" was taking shape. Not a tear of sorrow, but a tear of "longing." The Void Sea longed to become "something," to be seen, to be remembered. That tear was Guixu.
The second image: Guixu separated from the Void Sea. It looked back at