The Christmas Eve celebration was released early, a massive six-thousand-character chapter, a two-in-one special.

Lin Luo spent nearly half an hour chatting with Yuka Kazami, and although he returned completely unharmed, he emerged looking bruised and battered. This was because he had spilled everything about the God War, including his confession to her. Naturally, the infuriated Queen Yuka gave him a thorough beating, and he didn't even get a chance to fight back—though even if he had, he wouldn't have won.

From this, one can see the teachings of the revolutionary martyrs were absolutely correct... Confess and receive leniency, face imprisonment; resist and face severity, return home for the New Year.

"Seriously, did she have to hit me that hard..." Lin Luo muttered softly as he walked, simultaneously activating a "Face-Changing Spell" to finally fix his swollen face.

Complaints aside, Lin Luo's mood was the exact opposite of his facial expression. Given Queen Yuka's imposing dominance and her intolerance for provocation, if she were truly angry, a mere beating wouldn't suffice; she'd unleash the Twin-Barrel Magic Cannon directly. But this time, it was just a light punishment. While she was certainly displeased, the greater reason was probably to give herself an out... put simply, she was throwing a tantrum, or perhaps, being tsundere?

Lin Luo was not one of those emotionally obtuse protagonists from harem anime. Having witnessed countless romantic entanglements in the worlds of anime and games, he could guess a thing or two about Fūzaki Yūka's feelings. Of course, he wouldn't act on it or make any promises now; everything would wait for another day.

"Smiling so lewdly, did something good happen?" Just then, Lin Luo heard a young woman's voice from above. Looking up, he saw Yukari Yakumo sitting atop her gap, holding a folding fan in one hand and a large sake bowl in the other, grinning at him with ill intent.

"I don't recall smiling, much less smiling lewdly," Lin Luo replied weakly.

"Didn't you?" The gap flickered, and Yukari Yakumo was instantly beside him, blinking and saying with a half-smile, "I seem to recall seeing someone doing something specific in a certain place just now. Wasn't that a good thing?"

"Hey, hey, can you stop sounding so suggestive? Even censorship blocks things less crudely than that," Lin Luo nearly stumbled. Hearing such words from Mother Zi's mouth, his perfectly innocent encounter with Yuka was about to be smeared with a shade of yellow, and a very veiled one at that.

"But speaking of which, you are quite idle. Shouldn't you be drinking with your drinking buddies instead of running off to spy on me?" Lin Luo rolled his eyes, indirectly showing his displeasure.

However, Yukari Yakumo didn't seem to care at all, or rather, she completely ignored Lin Luo's dissatisfaction. She replied, "I'm not the only one who's idle. Suika and the Paparazzi Squad were with me just now too."

"Damn it..." Lin Luo almost spat blood. With those three gossips together, and Zi-Mama having seen what happened between him and Yuka, the outcome was obvious. Suika wasn't a big talker, so perhaps seeing it wouldn't be an issue, but the Paparazzi Scoop was different. Given her dedicated professionalism and ability to twist the truth, she would certainly turn his business into major news, likely adding another rumor to his name.

No! Lin Luo felt he couldn't sit idly by. He had to neutralize the Scoop before they could run the story, otherwise, his good reputation would be in danger. But just as he lifted his foot, Yukari Yakumo blocked his path.

"Where are you rushing off to? Have a drink with me first," Yukari pulled out a sake cup from her gap, filled with half a bowl of wine, and offered it to Lin Luo.

"I have urgent matters. I'm busy right now," Lin Luo tried to walk past her.

"What urgent matters?" Yukari moved her gap again, blocking him once more.

"...You're asking the obvious." Lin Luo was speechless. He realized it now: Zi-Mama was deliberately looking for trouble. The fact that the Paparazzi Scoop could evade his senses so easily was probably due to this woman's meddling.

"Don't worry, no scandals will appear, as long as you agree to drink with me," Yukari smiled, her tone carrying a hint of temptation and irrefusability.

"..." Alright, his guess was correct. The mastermind was this Zi-Mama.

Seeing Zi-Mama's stance, Lin Luo knew trying to leave was impossible. It wasn't like the Paparazzi Scoop could print newspapers in an instant. He might as well deal with Zi-Mama first.

With that in mind, Lin Luo stopped refusing, took the cup, and downed a few large gulps.

Seeing Lin Luo drink so readily, Yukari Yakumo laughed again, then dropped a shocking bombshell: "Oh, by the way, this bowl of sake belonged to Reimu. She already drank half of it, so it might have her saliva in it."

Ptooey!

Lin Luo immediately spat it out, nearly choking to death.

"Say, what exactly are you trying to do?" He looked at Yukari Yakumo with a pained expression. He had to admit, Zi-Mama was a truly unique youkai, capable of the impossible. Such a sharp remark was probably unique to her.

"I wasn't trying to do anything, just informing you," Yukari shrugged, acting as if nothing was amiss.

"...Alright, let's stop beating around the bush. Just tell me directly, what do you need me for?" Lin Luo knew Zi-Mama hadn't intercepted him just for a drink. If she wanted a drinking companion, she had plenty of options; there was no need to bother him like this.

Yukari Yakumo glanced at him, smiled faintly, said nothing, and made her gap ascend rapidly.

What was this? Lin Luo felt confused. Although Zi-Mama was smiling, there seemed to be something hidden deep within her eyes, reminiscent of the final, parting smile of a 'Big Brother' before death... Could Zi-Mama's time be up?

With complicated feelings, Lin Luo ascended to the heavens... Oh, wait, he flew up.

Yukari Yakumo sat on the gap, and Lin Luo stood beside her. They were now at least a thousand meters above the ground. Looking down, the Hakurei Shrine was bustling—some drinking, some chasing—everyone immersed in the joy of the feast... in this paradise known as Gensokyo.

"I have lived in Gensokyo for a very long time... or rather, I existed here even before Gensokyo was established," Yukari stared straight ahead at the sky and land of Gensokyo. The joyful smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a faint, reminiscent chuckle, as if talking to herself.

"The first Gensokyo was merely a small village, kept separate from humanity, hidden deep within the mountains. But as human technology advanced, people no longer feared the night or youkai. The youkai lost the necessary belief for survival, and thus Gensokyo was created. In this era where humanity has forgotten the terror of demons and monsters, this place remains the sanctuary for youkai..."

Lin Luo understood this point. With the rapid development of technology, the outside world had reached a near-future era. Most people didn't believe in the existence of beings like youkai or demons. Lacking human fear, the youkai could no longer survive in the outside world, which was the very reason the Great Barrier of Gensokyo was established.

The Great Barrier was jointly established by Yukari Yakumo and the first Hakurei Miko. The first Hakurei Miko had long since passed away. Although rumors suggested she had defeated Yukari Yakumo, she was, after all, human, and even the strongest among them had an end to their lives. If anyone in Gensokyo loved it the most besides Yukari Yakumo, there was no second. What Lin Luo couldn't understand was the meaning behind her words—was it merely nostalgia for the past?

While Lin Luo was puzzled, Yukari continued, "Reimu is a very competent Miko. Although she is usually lazy, her abilities are truly exceptional, and she strives for Gensokyo when it truly matters. Since she took over guarding Gensokyo after the previous Miko died, Gensokyo has been peaceful. But some things cannot be stopped by even the most outstanding abilities; when they are due to arrive, they will arrive."

Lin Luo could sense a thread of worry and unease in Yukari's tone, which surprised him and simultaneously made him tense. He couldn't help but ask, "What is coming?"

Yukari turned back, her eyes—eyes that seemed capable of seeing past and future, distinguishing illusion from reality—fixed directly on Lin Luo's face. Where their gazes met, she said with a firm voice: "Death."

"Hm?!" Lin Luo's heart skipped a beat, shocked by Yukari's words. "Death?"

A trace of a cynical smile touched Yukari's lips. "Is it not so? A human life lasts only a few short decades, and even the longest-lived barely reach over a hundred years. Although life in Gensokyo can slow down aging, as long as one remains human, after a hundred or two hundred years, death will eventually arrive. No amount of power can stop it. And do you know? As long as one is a Hakurei Miko, they will never be long-lived. Sixty years is the limit; no Hakurei Miko in Gensokyo has ever lived past sixty."

The sixty-year limit for Hakurei Miko was a detail Lin Luo had heard before. He originally thought it was just a rumor, but judging by Yukari's tone now, it seemed true—Hakurei Reimu would not live past sixty!

But Reimu wasn't even twenty yet. Worrying about the limit seemed premature. More importantly, Reimu was currently possessed by the Heart of the World, blessed with an even more mysterious power, a fact Yukari was aware of. So, wasn't her worry a bit excessive?

Lin Luo found it jarring that Zi-Mama had suddenly become so melancholic—it was like if the one decapitated wasn't Senpai, but the long-haired black girl; if the one feeling depressed wasn't Haruhi, but the big beautiful goddess. That feeling would definitely be strange. But then again... The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya... if one accepted such premises, it might actually be interesting.

Unconsciously, Lin Luo’s mind began to wander, but he asked aloud, "How many generations of Hakurei Miko have there been?"

Yukari didn't hide it, blurting out, "Twelve generations."

"This..." Lin Luo frowned; he was beginning to understand Yukari's concern.

Gensokyo had existed for nearly five hundred years since the establishment of the Great Barrier, yet there had been twelve Hakurei Miko. This meant several Miko hadn't even lived to sixty? Sixty years might not be considered short for an ordinary human, but compared to the youkai who lived for millennia or longer in Gensokyo, it was merely a fleeting moment—and not all Miko even reached sixty.

It was like certain flowers that only survive for a single day. While that day is a long life for the flower itself, for the humans who adore its beauty, one day is agonizingly short. It vanishes between sunrise and sunset, and one can never know exactly when the flower will fade, leading to constant anxiety.

"Actually, there's another thing," Yukari suddenly sighed, looking up into the distance again. "The longer the Great Barrier has been established, the shorter the lifespan of the Hakurei Miko has become..." "Take the previous Miko, for example; she passed away before she even reached thirty, and she looked no different than a girl of sixteen or seventeen when she died. I can still remember what she told me before she died."

The previous Miko dying before thirty was indeed astonishing, but with the Heart of the World possessing Reimu, Lin Luo refused to believe she would be short-lived. What preoccupied him now was what the previous Miko had said. Since Yukari mentioned it so solemnly, it couldn't be an ordinary remark, right?

"What did she say?"

When Lin Luo asked, Yukari seemed to imitate the previous Miko's tone: "Well, Reimu will definitely be able to protect Gensokyo in my place... After saying that, she smiled and departed."

Lin Luo was slightly stunned. That statement didn't seem to carry any major significance, did it?

"Right, I recall Reimu was picked up, wasn't she?" He suddenly remembered something. According to Marisa, Reimu was an abandoned infant.

Yukari nodded. "She was an abandoned child. The previous Miko adopted her and trained her as the next Miko. I was actually opposed at the time. Although Reimu possessed immense spiritual power from birth and had extremely strong combat instincts, she was far inferior to any previous Miko. Furthermore, I could tell from the first glance that her personality was ill-suited to be a Hakurei Miko."

"Were all the previous Miko stronger than Reimu?" Lin Luo was shocked. In his view, Reimu was already quite formidable... especially since she could transform into the Oni Miko, which was comparable to a Super Saiyan.

"Of course," Yukari smiled faintly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Even without the power of a Hakurei Miko, the previous ones could rank among the strongest in Gensokyo. Take the previous Hakurei Miko; while her spiritual power didn't match Reimu's, her physical prowess was unmatched, forcing even Fūzaki Yūka to retreat. Ten Reimus combined wouldn't stand a chance against her. She was known as the 'Wonderful Slaughter Miko of Paradise.'"

"The 'Wonderful Slaughter Miko'..." Even Lin Luo was dumbfounded. Physical skills surpassing Fūzaki Yūka—that was truly monstrously powerful. If Yukari wasn't exaggerating, then the legend that the first Miko had defeated her must be true, or perhaps every generation of Miko before Reimu was truly among Gensokyo's strongest.

It seemed Reimu, the 'City Guard,' needed much more training; otherwise, she really wouldn't measure up to so many predecessors.

"So, are you satisfied with the current Reimu?" Lin Luo asked with slight interest.

"What do you think?" Yukari countered with a question. Obviously, the expression on her face indicated satisfaction. "No matter what, I will not allow the Miko to leave Gensokyo; no one can do that!"

This sounded like her personal resolve, but it was also directed at Lin Luo. Then, without waiting for Lin Luo to speak, Yukari sighed again. "But Reimu is ultimately human; death will come for her sooner or later. This is the one thing I cannot prevent."

"So?"

"So, I must prepare as soon as possible to find someone who can take her place before Reimu dies."

Although Yukari's plan held no fault—she admitted death was inevitable, and finding a successor was necessary for Gensokyo's continued existence because Gensokyo could not be without a Hakurei Miko—Lin Luo still felt uncomfortable. Not just Reimu, but all the past Miko: they protected Gensokyo, yet no one protected them, as if they were mere tools existing solely for Gensokyo's sake... such a fate felt profoundly tragic.

"Tragic?" Yukari seemed to sense his thoughts and turned to look at him.

"Yes, that's what I think," Lin Luo admitted his feelings openly.

"But that is the price."

"...Reimu won't pass away early, will she?"

"Heh heh, who knows," Yukari replied evasively, then frowned. "But finding a Miko to replace Reimu is proving to be quite difficult..." As she spoke, her gaze shifted back to Lin Luo.

"Wait! Why are you looking at me like that?" Lin Luo jumped. "I can't be the Hakurei Miko!"

"You're overthinking it," Yukari bluntly crushed Lin Luo's fantasy, which provided him some relief. But her next sentence made his heart leap with alarm again.

Yukari rested her chin on her hands, a strange smile curving her lips. "However, I suddenly thought of a brilliant idea. Since I can't find the ideal person, why not create one myself... If the mystery of Gensokyo combines with your mystery, what do you think would happen?"

"What do you mean?" Lin Luo frowned immediately. Mystery combined with mystery? He faintly sensed a plot brewing.

"Well, don't worry about it; it's just a trivial little thing, but it should be a good thing for you," Yukari seemed unwilling to reveal more, waving her hand to reassure Lin Luo.

Could Lin Luo be reassured? No, such an action made him more uneasy. "Wait, you're not plotting something bad again, are you?" Given Zi-Mama's dark nature, if she had an idea, he absolutely wouldn't believe it was a good one.

"How could I? I'm genuinely doing a good deed this time," Yukari replied with feigned innocence.

"Then I'll give you the same back... As if!" Lin Luo gave her a sidelong glance, then suddenly remembered something. He retrieved the Heart of Space from the Contract Book and extended it toward Yukari. "Oh right, do you want this?"

He certainly intended to tempt Zi-Mama. After all, her power was immense; if he could handle her, perhaps Gensokyo would essentially be handled. More importantly... if Zi-Mama became a host and he signed her, he would know whatever scheme she was cooking up. And given Zi-Mama's abilities, her compatibility with the Heart of Space should be eighty percent or higher.

Yukari stared at it for a moment, then a faint smile flashed across her face. Snap, she closed her fan, leaned close to Lin Luo, and exhaled hot breath onto his face, murmuring in a seductive tone, "Do you... want me to be your mer?"

"...Alright, I was wrong." As expected, targeting Zi-Mama with a plan from the start was the wrong move.

...The feast at the Hakurei Shrine continued. After parting ways with Yukari Yakumo, Lin Luo rejoined the lively atmosphere of the celebration. Although Yukari’s words bothered him, they probably wouldn't lead to anything major beyond a prank—the problem was the level of her pranks.

Yukari remained seated high up on the gap, a thousand meters above, sipping her sake while gazing out over all of Gensokyo. Both the feast below and the distant scenery were reflected in her eyes.

Everything in Gensokyo, from five hundred years ago, was etched in her heart.

As she watched, Yukari suddenly closed her eyes. The very first scene appeared in her memory...

"Did you know this would be the ending all along?" This was right after the Great Barrier of Hakurei was completed. Yukari leaned against the campfire, a fine drizzle falling from the sky. Her golden hair obscured her eyes, but could not hide the sorrow on her face.

"We borrowed power from the Dragon God; this is the price." Sitting beside her was a Miko dressed in white with black hair. As the firelight flickered, it illuminated her beautiful and gentle face.

"If one of us must disappear, wouldn't it be more advantageous for you to eliminate me, a youkai, as well?"

"Because... your life is longer than mine, and you love this land even more deeply than I do. I can see all your fervent and lonely dreams. Yakumo, please be strong. Even if my life vanishes, my essence will intertwine with your dream, continuing eternally. Now I must depart for another battlefield. I entrust everything in Gensokyo to you, and only you, to act as my eyes, my hands..." After finishing these words, the young and beautiful Miko turned into specks of firelight and vanished before Yukari Yakumo's eyes.

The fundamental establishment of Gensokyo relied on the power of the Dragon God, and the price for making a wish to the Dragon God was life; one life had to be extinguished between Yukari Yakumo and the first Hakurei Miko.

For a shrine maiden who vanished over five centuries ago, even the most familiar faces will inevitably blur with the relentless passage of time—a phenomenon no power can halt. Yet... that single phrase remained etched indelibly upon Yakumo Yukari's heart. "And then, you will see the dream of Gensokyo."

... Snapping her eyes open from the reverie, Yakumo Yukari found, without realizing when it happened, tiny glimmers of moisture welling in her eyes. A faint, sorrowful smile, imbued with deep nostalgia, played across her lips. She lifted her sake cup, letting the liquid spill onto the earth below, gazing up at the heavens, absorbing every vista into the fabric of her dreamscape. "Ah, do you see my dream now? Has this land grown more beautiful than when you departed? I shall continue to guard it here, you and I together, forevermore..." The spilled sake seeped into the soil... A toast to the First Shrine Maiden! RO