With Xiuzhe’s departure, the matter of Shenqi seemed to have reached a tentative conclusion, yet Lin Luo felt things were far from over. The words Xiuzhe had spoken before leaving clearly entrusted Shenqi to him, and judging by Shenqi’s reaction, she showed no sign of refusal.

Was it an overestimation of him, or an overestimation of that legendary Sage? Lin Luo felt this issue could be either minor or catastrophic; regardless, the pressure was immense.

What weighed on him even more heavily was how to manage Shenqi from this point forward.

Honestly, Lin Luo felt utterly lost, especially since he was already saddled with two dependents.

Perhaps it was due to having just survived a life-or-death battle together, or perhaps the sudden revelation of the truth had stirred Shenqi’s emotions deeply. Thus, despite knowing Lin Luo for less than a day, she spoke to him without much formality: “I became a demoness by cultivating the secret codex my mother gave me, coupled with her subsequent cruel treatment. I always believed she deliberately engineered my transformation just so she could secure her throne forever. After all, before I became a demoness, I had already garnered the support of the majority of the populace; ascending the throne was merely a matter of time. But now I realize I have been wrong all along. In truth, she gave everything she possibly could for me, and yet I harbored such suspicions about her… You don’t think I am utterly unfilial, do you?”

Lin Luo paused slightly before responding, “From your perspective, having such thoughts isn’t strange. However, I still believe a mother wouldn’t harm her own child.”

Shenqi gave a wry smile. “Yes, what mother would harm her child? I should have known this long ago. I was just too extreme in my views, and by the time I understood, it was already too late… Among the demon race, I am a deceased princess. There is no future for me now; I can never return, never tell her I’m sorry, never say thank you. Soon, I will completely forget she ever existed. What am I to do…”

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again, her face etched with sorrow and regret.

Seeing her like this, Lin Luo sighed internally. He stepped forward, patted her shoulder, and murmured softly, “If you need to cry, then cry. Holding it in is never good.”

Shenqi had been struggling to suppress her emotions, but his words completely flipped the switch. She immediately collapsed into Lin Luo’s embrace, unable to restrain her tears, grief, and remorse any longer. “Wuwuwu… I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Wuwuwu… I don’t want to forget, I don’t want to forget!”

Shenqi cried out hoarsely, as if trying to vent every ounce of sorrow in her heart. Lin Luo let her cry without speaking or offering comfort. He knew that any words or consolation now would be meaningless; some things one must endure alone; no one else could truly help.

Isn’t there a saying? After crying, after laughing, life must still go on.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Shenqi’s weeping gradually subsided. She pulled away from Lin Luo’s embrace, dabbed at the corners of her eyes, and offered him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, I lost my composure just now and made a spectacle of myself.”

“It’s alright, I wouldn’t laugh at you,” Lin Luo shrugged dismissively.

Shenqi chuckled softly.

Her eyes were a little red from the bout of crying, but her spirits seemed much better, and the shadow of sorrow had lifted from her brow.

Shenqi walked past Lin Luo, gazing up at the sky, stretching out her hands, and suddenly exclaimed loudly, “I’ve decided!”

“Decided what?” Lin Luo asked instinctively.

Shenqi turned back, a confident smile on her face. “I’ve decided to record everything that has happened, everything that is happening, and everything that will happen to me. Even if my memory vanishes, these records will remain. And even if these records disappear, my soul will surely remember. As long as my soul endures, even if I forget one day, my soul will definitely help me recall it!”

Lin Luo was momentarily stunned. If Shenqi recorded everything, even if the True Garden erased her mother’s existence from the records, he himself wouldn't be able to erase his presence. Wouldn't that mean the trace of his existence in this era would not vanish?

If he hadn't completely faded from this time, if someone still remembered him, then the conflict with the future… Wait!

Lin Luo suddenly realized things might not be as he imagined. When he first entered Gensokyo, he hadn't met Shenqi. No one knew whether Shenqi remembered him back then or not… Conversely, even if she did remember him, would it really matter?

Despite this thought, Lin Luo still felt a flicker of unease.

At this moment, Shenqi spoke again. “While I am deeply grateful for my mother’s efforts, I still believe her methods were wrong. So, if I ever have children of my own, I absolutely will not be like her. I will shower my child with meticulous care and boundless love. There's no need to be overwhelmingly powerful, nor is it necessary to become a great figure—as long as they can live happily and freely, that is enough.”

“My mother had Xiuzhe sever my wings. I understand now: she wanted me to break free from the shackles of the demon race—not as a demon, nor as a demoness, but as Shenqi, to find my own way of life. Therefore… a path diametrically opposed to my mother’s is the way of life I choose.”

Lin Luo froze again. Wasn't what Shenqi was describing precisely how he intended to treat Alice in the future? So, assuming Shenqi lost her memories now, could her future path conflict with Alice’s?

In an instant, Lin Luo felt chaotic.

“What? Is something wrong?” Seeing Lin Luo’s blank expression, Shenqi couldn't help but ask.

Lin Luo quickly shook his head. “No, nothing’s wrong. I just got lost thinking about something else, that’s all.”

“Your own matters? Ah, right!” Hearing this, Shenqi suddenly remembered—she still didn’t know Lin Luo’s name! She quickly said, “You saved me and helped me so much; I don’t even know who you are. Can you tell me?”

“That’s true, I never introduced myself,” Lin Luo nodded, then gave a simple account of himself—excluding, of course, the fact that he was a time traveler.

He then gestured to their surroundings. “It seems we can’t stay here either. What are your plans now?”

Shenqi was quite fond of this Sea of No Regrets; it was peaceful, a place no one ever disturbed. Apart from that perverted werewolf last time, she had lived there undisturbed for over a decade, developing an attachment over time. Thus, when she looked at the messy scene around them, a touch of sadness crossed her eyes.

But this feeling quickly vanished from her face. She had already endured far more heartbreaking things. Listening to Lin Luo, she hesitated for a moment before looking up and staring intently at him. “I don’t really have anywhere else to go right now. Can I travel with you?”

Lin Luo felt a bead of sweat run down his temple. So, she really intended to latch onto him. She should maintain some modesty!

Although Lin Luo had anticipated this answer, hearing the unwavering tone in Shenqi’s voice still affected him. Of course, this was partly because he didn't understand the temperament of demon race women. Unlike the reserved nature of human girls, demon race women were always forthright in love and hatred; once they loved, their devotion was unwavering until death.

Moreover, Shenqi’s experience differed greatly from that of an ordinary demon race girl. She was once of high standing, second only to the sovereign. Perhaps when she was a princess, she displayed a touch of willfulness or spoiled arrogance. But since the calamity of becoming a demoness, being cast out of the demon race and stranded alone in the mortal realm, living in this remote Sea of No Regrets for over ten years, the loneliness and isolation she must have felt were immense.

Coupled with the recent life-or-death battle and the truth about her mother—though these events hadn't taken long to unfold—the impact on Shenqi was monumental… When she was hated, abandoned, and surrounded by enemies, Lin Luo had stood firmly by her side. Regardless of his motives, this favor was no longer mere benevolence; it was a reliance, an affirmation.

It was because of this affirmation that she found the courage to continue living.

Furthermore, her mother’s actions taught her that opportunities come only once; miss it, and regret is inevitable. Therefore, Shenqi refused to let this chance slip away.

While her feelings for Lin Luo hadn't yet ascended to the height of romantic love, she knew he was someone she could absolutely trust and depend on—perhaps the only person in the world who truly recognized her. She didn't want to miss this, no matter how things developed later; she wouldn't regret it.

At least, being by his side brought her peace, and that was enough.

As for modesty, that was entirely superfluous.

“Will my joining you cause you trouble?” Seeing Lin Luo seem slightly hesitant, Shenqi asked cautiously.

Lin Luo managed an awkward smile. “It’s not troublesome, really. It’s just that I live in the East, and the customs between our regions are slightly different. I worry you might suffer from climate shock or something.”

Shenqi wasn't sure if Lin Luo was joking or genuinely concerned. She quickly replied, “I traveled from the demon race to this world without suffering climate shock; the East and West shouldn't be any different.”

“You have a point there,” Lin Luo nodded. “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, and your Sage spoke of me being your benefactor, it would be rather uncivilized of me not to see this through to the end.”

“Really? Thank you so much!” Hearing Lin Luo agree, Shenqi instantly became excited.

However, Lin Luo saw fit to dampen her enthusiasm slightly. “Don’t get too happy too soon. Following me won't necessarily be easy. For starters, we must rush to the East at full speed… I have two apprentices waiting for me. Although they are resourceful, anything can happen in this world. I’ve been gone for over a day; I need to return immediately to check on them to feel at ease.”

Since he had agreed to take Shenqi along, there was no need to hide the existence of Xiaozhi and Youxiang. Lin Luo generously brought them up.

But mentioning Xiaozhi and Youxiang caused Shenqi to pause slightly. She quickly inquired, “You said you came from the East?”

“Yes, from the easternmost part of this continent, close to the border,” Lin Luo replied honestly, unsure why she asked.

Shenqi’s eyes flickered. “You’ve only been traveling for a little over a day?”

“Yes, is there something wrong?” Lin Luo felt Shenqi’s intelligence was somewhat lacking… perhaps, as he had explained everything quite clearly moments ago.

However, what Shenqi said next left him momentarily speechless. He heard her say, “The eastern border is a considerable distance from here. Even for a master traveling on foot with necessary rest, it takes at least ten days. Even if I used my demonic wings, it would take a full day. Yet you covered the distance from the eastern border to here in just one day. Could it be… you already knew I was going to be ambushed? And deliberately came to save me?”

“…” Lin Luo was speechless. It turned out Shenqi wasn’t slow; he had been the one whose brain was malfunctioning, failing to consider such basic facts. But he couldn't entirely blame himself; as a quasi-Heavenly Rank expert, he had long disregarded the concept of distance, much like those high-and-mighty figures—save for a few who possessed a shred of conscience—who would never bother with the mundane lives of the common folk, whether they were affluent, wealthy, or refugees.

Lin Luo was momentarily at a loss for words. After hesitating, he finally managed, “Actually, I came to the West looking for something, which is why I rushed here. And what I was looking for happened to be right here in the Sea of No Regrets. When I found what I needed, I coincidentally saw you being attacked, so I drew my sword to help the oppressed… Do you believe that?”

Shenqi shook her head. If Lin Luo hadn't asked that last sentence, she might have believed him. But the moment he asked, she knew he was lying… It was clearly fabricated; she wasn't a fool.

“Fine, we can discuss this matter later.” Lin Luo had nothing more to say. Never mind that Shenqi didn't believe him; he didn't believe it himself.

Shenqi had no objection; the true reason didn't matter to her. Whether Lin Luo had planned to save her or saved her by chance, the result was the same.

A moment later, Lin Luo and Shenqi headed towards the East… Of course, before leaving, he didn't forget the long sword that had instantly vaporized the West Wolf King. Clashing with werewolves might happen again, and keeping it couldn't hurt.

Just as Lin Luo was leaving with Shenqi, in an unknown location, beneath a mysterious starry sky, there was a star-shaped, glowing array. Standing upon this array was a maiden with long, water-colored hair.

The maiden looked up at the firmament, an air of profound wisdom radiating from her face. Her watery tresses lifted as if by an unseen breeze, the light of the array mirroring the starlight above, giving her an aura of deep mystery.

The maiden seemed petrified, standing motionless on the formation. After an unknown length of time, her expression suddenly shifted, and the entire array exploded… With a deafening roar, the maiden was engulfed in a cloud of white mist.

Yet, even amidst such a violent blast, the maiden remained completely unharmed, as if the shockwaves had failed to affect her in the slightest. However, her figure began to look strange—flickering intermittently, sometimes transparent, sometimes whole, as if suspended between illusion and reality.

“I am real! I am real! I am not an illusion, I am real!” The maiden suddenly screamed towards the sky, her beautiful features contorting into a look of madness.

Clutching her arms, she began to struggle violently. Markings, caught between the real and the illusory, clearly radiated outwards from her body in concentric rings, threatening to tear her apart.

“I don't want illusion! I don't want non-existence! I am real!” The maiden fiercely hugged her body, roaring with all her might, but the ripples grew faster and more numerous, and her body faded further, seemingly on the verge of vanishing completely.

The maiden knew that if this continued, she would inevitably disappear, but she was unwilling to accept it!

Having her life, which had already faded, resurrected in this era brought her unexpected joy, yet cruel fate had rendered her an outcast, forced to hide like a rat. To sustain her existence, she had endured countless years in secrecy, hiding everywhere—the Human Realm, the God Realm, the Demon Race, even Hell, the Small Worlds, the Great Worlds… Her footprints marked every corner. She had expended countless efforts, only to face the finality of total erasure in the end. She refused to yield. “No, it won’t end like this!”

Suddenly, the maiden looked up again at the boundless horizon. The frenzied expression gradually calmed, and despair melted from her eyes, replaced by renewed composure. “Since I have been revived, there must be a meaning to my existence. I was not meant to vanish again. Since I was given the name of Reality, I will not yield to illusion… Yes, I must hide! Hide where no one can find me! Be it the Little Demon, Hong Ling, or even Qiqi, and my dearest younger brother… None of you will find me!”

Saying this, the maiden sharply thrust her right hand forward in a sweeping motion.

“Mirror of Reality! Immortal through Ten Thousand Calamities! Take me away!”

As her words faded, a plain, unremarkable mirror materialized before her. The mirror then cast a faint, subtle light, and under its glow, the ripples on the maiden’s body gradually calmed. The void then cracked open, and the maiden, clutching the mirror, leaped through. Almost at the exact moment the mirror appeared, Yao Yao, stationed in the Sky City, suddenly shot up, her expression drastically changing. “Impossible! Could it be her?!”

Simultaneously, in the eyes of Lin Xiaoke in another world, a flicker of surprise appeared.

Then, in a world saturated with murderous intent, a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl felt a sudden jolt in her heart.