Chapter 508: More Time Needed

Aili Secret Pavilion.

Sunlight streams through the lattice windows, scattering a mottled pattern of light across the floor.

A faint floral scent drifts in the air, emanating from the nameless plants on the windowsill.

This is Xi Lian's residence at Weng Fa Luo Si's place; it's small, but arranged very cozily.

A few hand‑drawn landscapes hang on the wall, and in the corner are some seemingly useless yet oddly cute trinkets—dry flower branches, oddly shaped stones, and a faded Doll.

A Ge Lai Ya sits on a chair by the window, their gaze fixed outside, thoughts unknown.

Wan Di leans against the doorframe, arms crossed over the chest, brow slightly furrowed.

The sharply defined face reads "I'm not very pleased," and the golden‑red hair glints faintly in the sunlight.

Xi Lian steps out of the inner room, carrying several steaming drinks.

They place the cups on the table one by one, then sit opposite A Ge Lai Ya.

"This is Feng Jin's."

Xi Lian smiles, "It's said to calm the mind; you should try it."

A Ge Lai Ya lifts the cup, takes a gentle sip, offering no comment.

Wan Di doesn't move at all.

They look at Xi Lian, tone direct: "What exactly is the matter with Bai E?"

Xi Lian sighs.

They already know that summoning the two of them inevitably brings up this topic.

"The information from Black Curtain Lady is—" Xi Lian chooses their words, "more time is needed."

"Time?" Wan Di's brow furrows tighter, "What does that mean?"

Xi Lian's fingers lightly trace the cup rim, pondering how to explain the matter.

Bai E's situation differs from everyone else's.

When others were rescued, they also went through a Persuasion process—battle scenes simulated within the Heimu system, moments forced to confront inner obsessions—but ultimately, it was a stalemate that could be broken.

But Bai E…

"They bear too many things."

Xi Lian slowly begins, "Over thirty million cycles of reincarnation, all the Flame Seeds, all the Memory. Those aren't mere data; they're imprints carved deep into their soul."

A Ge Lai Ya's fingers pause briefly.

"Over thirty million times..." they repeat.

Xi Lian nods.

Their gaze turns distant, as if looking far, far away.

"With each cycle, they must personally receive a companion's Flame Seed. Na Ke Xia's, XiaDie's, Wan Di's, your A Ge Lai Ya's, my... everything each person leaves in every cycle ultimately converges onto them."

Wan Di's lips move, about to speak, but nothing comes out.

Xi Lian continues, "Flame Seeds are scorching. Each time they receive one, they must endure that burning pain..."

The room falls silent for a few seconds.

A Ge Lai Ya lowers their eyes, golden lashes casting a faint shadow on the face.

They recall fragments of Memory from the cycles—some vague, some clear—but each contains Bai E's silhouette.

The youth who stepped out of the Aili Secret Pavilion, the ever‑smiling companion, the one who silently bore everything through countless cycles…

"So what state are they in now?" Wan Di's voice sounds muffled.

"Sealed in ice."

Xi Lian says, "It's the system's automatic mechanism. If we don't seal them, given the current amount of Flame Seeds in their body and the impact of the cycles, they would lose control outright."

They pause, then add, "Moreover, the system privileges they hold are so high that even Black Curtain Lady cannot forcefully intervene. To Persuade them, their own willing cooperation is required."

"Their own will?" Wan Di raises an eyebrow.

"It means they themselves are willing to let go of those things."

Xi Lian looks at them, "But do you think they can let go now?"

No one answers.

One who has borne thirty million cycles, one who has personally received countless companions' Flame Seeds, one who has watched companions die, revive, and die again countless times—

How could they possibly let go?

Wan Di remains silent for a long while.

Then they suddenly let out a snort of laughter.

"So all we can do now is wait?"

Xi Lian looks at them, warmth flowing in their eyes.

"Not waiting."

They say, "It's preparation. When they awaken, we let them see that we are all here."

Wan Di turns their head away, saying nothing.

But their hand clenches briefly, then releases.

A Ge Lai Ya stands, walks to the window. Sunlight falls on them, making the golden‑white robe shine brilliantly.

"That child."

They suddenly speak, "I recall a cycle when they brought me a flower from the Aili Secret Pavilion."

Xi Lian looks toward them.

A Ge Lai Ya's mouth curves faintly, "They said the flower blooms briefly, but looks especially beautiful when it does. They wanted me to see it too."

Wan Di's brow shifts.

He also remembers some fragments.

The competition by the hot spring, Bai E's heat‑dazed look, and the bewildered face after waking, with "What just happened?" written on it.

"A heat‑phobic guy," Wan Di muttered.

Xi Lian couldn't help but laugh.

As she laughed, her eyes became a bit red.

"He will come back," she said, "He promised."

Sunlight fell softly, and the flowers on the windowsill swayed gently in the breeze.

No one spoke again.

But some things need not be spoken aloud.

Perspective shift.

San Yue Qi sat on the living‑room sofa, their expression so complex it seemed they were pondering the universe's ultimate mysteries.

Actually, she was just thinking how to start speaking.

Lin just came out of the bathroom, hair still damp, casually wiping it with a towel.

She was dressed in home‑style loungewear, looking relaxed—completely unaware of the absurd things she was about to hear.

"San Yue Jie?" Lin tilted her head, "Why this banana expression?"

San Yue Qi twitched the corner of his mouth.

(Here comes "banana" again.)

She took a deep breath, decided to go straight to the point.

"Lin, what I'm about to say may sound a bit far‑fetched, but please believe me."

Lin blinked, "What's the matter, banana?"

San Yue Qi scratched his head, organized his words.

"It's… I actually have the Rewind ability."

Lin: "…"

"And a lot of chaotic stuff will happen from now on today."

San Yue Qi continued, "For example, we'll encounter many Monkeys, we'll enter a mirror world with no people, you'll be chased by a Giant Monkey, and you'll speak with the word 'banana' in it…"

Lin's mouth opened slowly.

"San Yue Jie." she said seriously, "Aren't you still not awake, banana?"

San Yue Qi placed a hand on his forehead.

She already knew it would be like this.

"What I'm saying is true!"

"Mmm mmm mmm, I believe you, banana." Lin nodded, but the expression was clearly coaxing a child.

San Yue Qi got impatient: "Don't not believe me! In a moment a Blackening Servant called Archer will appear, two Sabers will fight, and a golden weight rain will fall from the sky—"

"Weight‑rain, banana?" Lin's eyebrows rose, "Is it the kind where weights fall like rain, banana?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Why would there be weight‑rain, banana?"

"How would I know! But it really exists!"

Lin was silent for a few seconds.

Then she suddenly laughed.

"San Yue Jie, what you said is indeed quite absurd, banana."

San Yue Qi's face fell: "See? You really didn't believe—"

"But I believe you, banana."

San Yue Qi was stunned.