Chapter 498: with translation of chapter title

"Of course not." Sai Nuo shook his head, his tone solemn, "I hope to always remember this day—this is probably the luckiest day of my life, I must let everyone know, the Summoner King of Sumeru... is a combination of strength and luck!"

——

"Ji Zi and San Yue Qi wanted to talk, so Xing returned to the train together with Wa Er Te. However, this time there were two extra guests on the train: Hei Tian E and Bo Ti Ou."

"(When did the train get this lively?)"

"Although there were some doubts, Xing still participated in the latest route meeting at Pa Mu's urging, together with everyone."

""Is this the meeting to decide where to go next? So, voting or what?"

""Don't be impatient, cowboy. Follow the host's lead, leave it to them to decide." Hei Tian E said calmly.

""Wait!" Even Xing sensed something was very off, he pointed at the two people behind Pa Mu, "Where are you guys from?!"

Ji Zi stood up then: "Let me explain. Mr. Bo Ti Ou and Ms. Hei Tian E, out of their own needs, proposed a request to temporarily travel with the train crew... As you all know, the Stellar Express never turns away any traveler with distant aspirations. So, they will travel with us for a while until we reach our destination."

San Yue Qi welcomed Ms. Hei Tian E's arrival; Pa Mu, seeing everyone knew each other, skipped the introductions and expressed thanks to all. Without them, it might never have learned Mi Ha Yi Er's whereabouts.

""Although their experiences were somewhat regrettable, I think they also fulfilled their own Weiyuan... all thanks to you. Thank you very much, everyone, Pa."

Next was the route selection time; everyone unanimously voted for Edo Star. While waiting for the jump, Hei Tian E actively approached Xing, expressing a desire to talk with her.

""How was this wonderful dream trip… does it still satisfy you?"

Xing raised his head, hands on hips: "Next time, just fill it in—super easy!"

""Oh? Such an elusive emotion… this kind of memory is the first time I've encountered, it piqued my curiosity a bit." Hei Tian E reached out a hand to Xing, "Then… please return that 【small parting gift】 to me? I can't wait."

Xing reluctantly took out the card that Hei Tian E had previously given her from her pocket and handed it over.

""Hmm..." Hei Tian E narrowed her eyes meaningfully.

""I… I didn't break it…" Xing felt a bit guilty.

""Hmm, nothing… I just… found a very interesting place in your memory."

——

JOJO's Bizarre Adventure: Unbreakable Diamond

The sun set, the streets of Duwang Town gradually quieted. Ji Liang Ji Ying sat on a secluded patch of grass in an abandoned park, slowly unwrapping the sandwich's packaging.

He specifically chose this convenience store's new item—smoked chicken with honey mustard sauce. He likes this slightly sweet spiciness, just like the aftertaste of enjoying his "work," needing just the right amount of stimulation.

""Hmm… today's sauce is not bad." Ji Liang Ji Ying nodded satisfactorily, the corners of his mouth slightly turning up.

With no one around, he cautiously looked around, confirming no eyes were on him, then carefully took out that hand from his inner suit pocket—a woman's severed hand, his most satisfying "lover" of the past year.

Pale, slender, flawless. The nails were trimmed round and even, the joints well-proportioned, the skin cool and soft to the touch, as if merely fallen into sleep rather than dead.

Ji Liang Ji Ying lightly dipped his index finger into the honey mustard sauce oozing from the sandwich, then gently spread it on the "lover's" fingertip. He gazed at the pale yellow dab of sauce, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, then lowered his head and lightly licked it with his tongue.

""Hmm..." he closed his eyes, savoring the sweet-spicy sensation spreading across his taste buds, as well as the barely perceptible skin scent lingering on his fingertip.

Severed hands like this usually develop a strong rotten smell within a week, even if he sprays perfume it can't be masked, forcing him to compulsively "break up" with his lovers and dispose of them.

But strangely, lately this severed hand has no odor at all, and its skin remains as it was—no livor mortis, no rigidity, even the blood under the nails seems not to have faded—it's practically as if he'd just gotten her the first day.

""Oh, you really are special..." Ji Liang Ji Ying murmured softly, his thumb gently rubbing the back of the hand, as if caressing a lover's cheek.

If this hand didn't rot, he wouldn't need to frequently replace his "lover" anymore; he could keep her forever…

Thinking this, Ji Liang Ji Ying's breathing quickened slightly, his heart rate began to rise. He lowered his head, lightly kissing the severed hand's fingertip, then moving down to the ring, the back of the hand… all the way to the wound.

He was so immersed and deep in feeling, as if treating the most precious treasure.

——

""Before I tell you the reason… I want to apologize to you, Xing. Actually, the parting gift I gave you is not the Memorize Compass… but merely a 【Void Light Cone】. Do you remember when we first entered the Dream Hotel, I asked your companions for several trinkets respectively? Their functions are similar."

""This way, I can sense you at any time, so I can intervene promptly when you're in danger." Hei Tian E paused, "But… that isn't its most essential function."

Hei Tian E briefly introduced the function of the light cone, then continued: "All things in the world arise from mental and spiritual power—this power is memory. To avoid being left behind by the world, we must make the world remember us… or reshape the world with our memory."

""Life may seem long, yet we can only extract a few memory fragments filled with power, but you're different, Xing… memory is the reflection of the future; from that reflection, I can see your unique value, your memory can reflect the universe's future direction. And that memory… will shine as brightly as the specks of stars visible through this porthole."

""Help me check, am I about to ascend?" Xing joked.

Hei Tian E chuckled: "I still have too few memories of you in my hand, far from enough to divine the far‑future. However, I can tell you one thing—that my deep fondness for you has a deeper reason."

""The reason is simple—in this family's grand and extravagant dream, only you experienced it all the way through.