Chapter 1368

Harry Potter.

"Why?"

Although there were countless possibilities in the over thirty million Fire Pursuit Journeys, Ron still widened his eyes in astonishment when he first saw Aglaea and Xiadie fighting side by side.

The air in the underground classroom where Potions class was held was damper and colder than usual, and the glass jars all around were filled with various specimens. Rather than listening to Snape's lecture from the podium, Ron directed more of his attention to the sky—of course he wasn't the only student doing so, but he was the most blatant in zoning out.

"I don't know either," Hermione said, lowering her voice.

Compared to Ron, after learning that the star had agreed to take on the duty of the Whole World, her hanging heart settled down, and she began to focus more on her immediate studies. After all, a battle against the Great Lord of Extinction, Iron Tomb might well break out in the future; if she didn't hurry to improve her magical proficiency… cough, cough, in short, she didn't want to end up like last time with Huanlong, her eyes injured by the blinding light when the stars shattered.

"Although he said he would 'pass through that door,' I also can't figure out how he intends to vent his anger at Nanuk. After all, he's still just data in the scepter, and I feel his 'door' is about to undergo a transformation——"

"Miss Granger."

A toneless voice came from the direction of the podium. Though not loud, it was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the whispering in the classroom.

Snape looked over, the corner of his mouth even twitching into something that could be called a smile—if that curve could be called a smile. Of course, now he resembled a snake sizing up a helpless field mouse.

"Since you know so much about what happens in the sky… then surely you know the production of the Living Hell Potion inside out. After the daffodil root powder and mugwort infusion are poured into the cauldron and boiled, what color should the potion be?"

Hermione stood up instinctively: "It should be——"

"I didn't ask you." Snape's gaze swept past her, landing on the red-haired boy behind her who was about to hide his face behind the cauldron.

"Weasley, stand up."

Ron's complexion gradually shifted from liver-colored to deathly pale.

"After the daffodil root powder and mugwort infusion are poured into the cauldron and boiled, what color should the potion be?" Snape repeated softly, "I believe you already have the answer ready."

Ron's lips moved for a while, emitting a few indistinct 'uh' and 'um' sounds from his throat; finally… he touched his face and muttered softly, "Um—maybe green? No, it's purple! Light purple!"

Snickers rang out in the classroom. Snape remained expressionless, but his eyes had narrowed.

"Your knowledge of potions is astonishing, Weasley. It seems your talent for potions isn't zero as I thought—it's negative. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape walked back to the blackboard, "I recall someone here once said they wanted to be a student of Ke Xia, and never mind how ridiculous that notion is, but if knowledge lies before you and you don't bend to pick it up… then no teacher can help you. You agree, right, Weasley?"

Ron's lips trembled as he lowered his head in shame: "Yes, yes… professor."

—

"Why?"

"Bai'e stared in astonishment at everything before him; amid the clamor of battle, the Fire-stealer drew his great sword from Wandi's side and approached him step by step."

"Bai'e covered his face, his voice hoarse, more like a trapped beast letting out its final roar in despair."

"Taking them from beside me……"

"It's you!"

A glint of gold flashed in his eyes at the sight of the Seat of the Whole World; the surging hatred burned away all his tears. The next second he lifted the Qinshen in his hand and clashed with the Fire-stealer.

"May this world no longer need a savior."

In an instant, countless images of the fallen Golden Descendants flashed through his mind, finally freezing on the bunch of warm golden blood in his palm.

"Is this a memory?"

"When he opened his eyes again, he found himself awake in the wheat fields of Aolixie."

The sun before him was not the ember of an apocalypse. Soft light pierced the clouds, pouring unhindered onto his face, bringing a hint of warmth. The wind at his ears brushed over the wheat waves, rustling like a mother's soft lullaby from his childhood bedside.

Suddenly, a voice he knew all too well came from not far away—it was Teacher Ke Xia——

"Aolixie's Bai'e, what is your ideal?"

Bai'e did not answer.

He remembered the day he officially joined the Fire Pursuit Journey, standing on the back of the great beast alongside Wandi and Aglaea, listening to the people's cheers rising like a tide beneath his feet……

He remembered those sun-drenched afternoons in Aohema City, playing with a group of children, especially with two girls who resembled Xiadie and her sister standing beside him, their laughter so pure.

He remembered sparring with Wandi in the training ground, and to this day they had still not decided a victor……

He remembered, he remembered everything.

Bai'e and the Fire-stealer were locked in combat; he flung the twisted great sword into the air, yet its blade also reflected a dim, hazy dawn. Time and again he had stood by the lake of Aolixie, longing for dawn.

"……a dawn he forever yearned for but could never reach."

Bai'e reached out his hand toward the sun of that dawn, as if trying to grasp that glimmer of light, but the light only cast a dark shadow on his face.

"It turns out, all I wanted——"

—

Demon Slayer.

"I, I… I just want you to be happy!"

Mitsuri Kanonji wiped a tear from her cheek, stammering, her voice choking as she spoke.

Rather than letting Bai'e burn out completely in a desperate struggle against 'Destruction'… she hoped Bai'e would reap a perfect ending, a world that didn't need him to save it, a true 'wish' born from his own heart.

But if he truly burned out completely, that would mean this wish could never be born.

Thinking of this, Kanonji felt her chest grow even more oppressive.

"Reincarnation, hope and despair alternating in song……" Shinobu Kocho lowered her head, recalling the song that had appeared in the sky before, "Now that I think about it, the lyrics of that song actually revealed the truth in its very first line."

"Hmm, I recall another line from that song: 'The prisoner laughs and asks the puppet, who is more absurd?' If Laigushi calls Bai'e 'the prisoner who picked up the star's fire,' then who is the 'puppet' mentioned in the lyrics?" Obanai Iguro guessed curiously, "... Could it be referring to Iron Tomb?"

In my impression, it seems to be the only thing that fits the definition of a 'puppet' even more, and moreover it is Laigushi's puppet.