Chapter 1333

「How do you feel? I can sense that the fog in your heart has somewhat cleared. 」Seeing Bai'e return, Xilian said with a smile.

「I never imagined I would meet so many people in the future, and their wishes……」Bai'e hesitated a little, 「…but how could fate reveal itself like this? 」

「What are you worrying about? 」Duoduolami asked.

「You just said the great disaster of Wengfalusuosi is coming, didn't you? If so, Xilian and I should have stayed in Aolixie all along—how could we have met all sorts of people? 」

「Disaster is the reason you set out on your journey. 」Xingrushi said frankly.

But this answer didn't dispel his doubts; instead, Bai'e frowned even deeper: 「If that's the case, then…who should protect everyone in Aolixie? 」

「Xilian, can you give me the 【Savior】 card? 」

「Of course. But why? 」

「Although the voices, faces, and wishes it foretells are still too distant for me now……I always feel a voice calling me deep inside, urging me to take it up. Or perhaps I can only truly know its weight after I take it up. 」」

「Then…」Xilian smiled relievedly, drew the 【Savior】 from the card book and handed it to Bai'e, 「Accept this gift: the Shenpai carries the ages, blessed by Oluonisi……may it accompany you, become your memory…and stir ripples in the future. 」」

「I will keep it in my heart. 」」

Bai'e carefully put the card away: 「Ah, but… judging by my current feeling, it seems no different from an ordinary playing card……」」

「Boom——!! 」」

Before Bai'e's words faded, a huge roar came from outside the tree hollow.

Almost everyone's gaze turned toward the tree hollow: 「Ah! This is……」」

「E-everyone, it's bad, mi! 」Lailami flew over in panic, 「The burnt, smoky smell is choking…it's coming from outside the illusion! 」」

Duoduolami let out a long sigh: 「No mistake…the disaster has already sprouted, faster than we expected. And this time…even the Veil of Eternal Night cannot resist it. 」」

——

Yuanshen.

「Although just now I felt this memory somewhat deviates from Bai'e's experience, regarding the Heichi disaster it matches. 」」

Sangduonie set down her teacup; the porcelain base touched the silver tray, emitting a faint crisp sound. She slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on the girl opposite.

According to Bai'e's experience, Xilian will soon die at the hands of the Fire Thieves. Poor little girl, she probably still doesn't know her own fate……」」

「Sangduonie……」Gelunbiya's voice was soft, like a dove's feather falling, 「…are you worried about her? 」」

「Worried? 」Sangduonie furrowed her brows, 「Why would I worry about her? Truly baffling. 」」

「But your gaze just flickered intensely. 」Gelunbiya said, 「When I disappeared in Nuodekalai, you showed a similar look when you worried about me. 」」

「……」

If we use a common human metaphor, Sangduonie feels her temples throbbing violently, even the teacup handle cracked under her grip.

「Who's worried about you? Gelunbiya, don't spout nonsense! 」」

「Hmm, 」Gelunbiya tilted her head, 「Really none? 」」

「No…! 」」

「Oh, alright. 」Gelunbiya lowered her head to look at the tea's reflection, then lifted her eyes to the sky, 「But I'm really worried about them—will they all die? 」」

「Anyway, only Bai'e can survive; these are all schemes of that bastard Laigushi behind the scenes. 」Saying this, Sangduonie gritted her silver teeth, forcibly suppressing the turmoil surging in her chest, 「As a scholar, a researcher, Laigushi gives a completely different impression from that beast Duotuo lei—I only feel disgust toward Duotuo lei, but toward Laigushi I can only sense a……」」

「What is it? 」Gelunbiya blinked.

「I don't know; perhaps……coldness? 」Sangduonie chose her words carefully, 「When Duotuo lei conducted those experiments, you know he did it for himself—to satisfy his own curiosity, he could care less about anyone's life or death. He enjoys the process. Everyone can feel his frenzy, his arrogance from him. He is a fire, burning others while burning himself, but at least you can feel he is a fire with warmth. 」」

Sangduonie paused, she lifted the red tea before her, but didn't drink, just silently watched her reflection in the tea.

「But Laigushi……has no warmth—or rather I cannot feel any warmth in his words, whether humble or respectful, I feel none. Clearly it's a mechanical being like the Screw Gum, yet the difference is enormous. 」」

「I thought you could understand Laigushi. 」」

「Hah? Gelunbiya, how could you have such an idea? 」」

「Because Sangduonie is very smart. 」」

「Hmph……」Faced with sudden praise, Sangduonie's face flushed slightly, she instinctively raised the cup to block it, murmuring softly, 「…this happens to be true. 」」

「Also because Sangduonie is the 【Clockwork Princess Who Deconstructs All Principles】. 」Gelunbiya said seriously. 」

「You…! Gelunbiya, how did you see that letter? 」」

「I found it by accident while tidying your room. 」Gelunbiya's lips curled into a faint smile, 「You don't like it? I can help you abbreviate it, just call it 【Clockwork Princess】, like the protagonist in a play. 」」

「You、you……」」

Sangduonie's porcelain-white cheeks flushed rapidly, even the winding spring behind her spun at astonishing speed. 」

「Shut up…Gelunbiya!! 」」

——

「「You mean…Aolixie will also be drawn into the prophesied catastrophe? 」」」

「Duoduolami looked solemnly at the two: 「Children, please hide in the Lost Labyrinth, do not step out of this place even half a step. Otherwise, you two will surely be swallowed by that terrifying disaster. 」」」

「Bai'e anxiously said: 「But…dad, mom, and the village companions……」」」

「「Could the disaster be the rumored Three Titans of Calamity? 」Xilian suddenly asked. 」」

「「That is not a Titan, nor a threat you can handle by proceeding step by step. It is an indescribable horrid thing that can twist all life into bloodless, tearless monsters. Even Titans will be corroded by it, melted from inside out, leaving only a hollow shell that knows only killing and destruction……」」」

「「Heichi—this is the true face of the disaster. It will devour all things in the world; only the Lost Labyrinth can escape. 」」」

「Bai'e incredulous: 「Even Titans……」」」

「「Correct. So please do not venture out of this forsaken land forgotten by the gods—you are the first to discover our existence, and the only two who can enter the Lost Labyrinth……we……do not wish you to die pointlessly. 」」」

「「This……」Xilian also felt troubled, 「What should we do, Bai'e? We……」」」

「Almost without hesitation, Bai'e had already made his choice. 」」

「「…I learned swordsmanship to protect those around me. If I fled as a deserter at such a time…I would no longer be worthy to wield a sword. 」」」