"What is it you wanted to tell me?" Following Lin Luo out to the living room, Shenqi immediately asked.

"Sit." Lin Luo didn't answer, instead gesturing to the chair beside him, inviting Shenqi to take a seat. He then glanced around at the room's furnishings before tentatively broaching the subject, "You must have many questions about this house yourself. What do you think is actually going on here?"

Shenqi cast a casual glance around, a hint of curiosity subtly surfacing, but she countered, "Dragging things out like this isn't good."

Lin Luo shrugged, offering a self-deprecating smile. "You saw right through me, I'm embarrassed, but I'd still really like to hear your take on it."

Shenqi paused, tilting her head in thought for a moment, then frowned. "I won't comment on the architecture of the house, but the furnishings inside are unlike anything I have ever witnessed. If they were created through ability, I sense no fluctuation of power whatsoever. It just doesn't feel like a product of this era... Could it be?"

At this point, Shenqi seemed to grasp something profound, looking toward Lin Luo with disbelief.

Lin Luo smiled and snapped his fingers, nodding. "Your analysis is spot on. That's exactly what I was about to tell you. The truth is, I am not from this time."

"What!" Upon hearing this, Shenqi shot up from her seat with a sharp gasp. Speculation was one thing, but actual confirmation was entirely another matter.

Lin Luo watched the change in her expression, knowing her inner turmoil must be immense. He realized that anyone hearing such news would struggle to remain composed. For instance, if Shenqi were to tell him now that she too was from another era, his own reaction probably wouldn't be much better.

So, Lin Luo gave her space, waiting quietly for her emotions to settle.

After a long while, Shenqi’s expression finally returned to normal. She sat down again and asked, "Then, where exactly are you from?"

"The future." Having already admitted so much, Lin Luo felt no need to conceal anything further. He spoke plainly, "Since this era lacks precise chronological records, I'm not entirely sure. I don't know the exact gap between our times, but it's at least a thousand years in the future, possibly even ten thousand."

"A thousand... ten thousand years..." Such a massive temporal span left Shenqi momentarily stunned, mumbling to herself. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she quickly inquired, "Then, when you came to save me earlier, was that also..."

Lin Luo nodded. "Now I can tell you, more than a month ago, I had people investigating your whereabouts. As soon as I learned you were in danger, I rushed to save you. I presume I don't need to explain the reason why."

"So that's how it is." At this, Shenqi finally understood why Lin Luo had appeared so conveniently in the Sea of Devils. It was evident that she and Lin Luo knew each other in the future. Moreover, their relationship must have been significant; otherwise, he wouldn't have risked such great danger to rescue her. But just how significant was this unusual connection?

Thinking of this, Shenqi felt an abrupt surge in her heartbeat, a faint warmth spreading across her cheeks. She forced herself to remain calm, yet couldn't help but ask nervously, "That... what is our relationship in the future?"

"Hmm... How should I put this?" Lin Luo stroked his chin in thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "Your daughter is not my daughter, but my daughter is your daughter. Furthermore, your daughter has to call my daughter 'Auntie.' Occasionally, your daughter views my daughter's mother as a bit of a rival in love, yet the person your daughter loves isn't me, and the person your daughter loves has a rather ambiguous relationship with me... Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"..." If Lin Luo hadn't said anything, Shenqi might have been able to use her imagination to construct a scenario. But with his explanation, Shenqi was completely bewildered, feeling as though the threads of relationships in her mind had been tangled into an inseparable mess by a playful kitten, leaving her utterly confused.

After thinking hard for quite some time, she still couldn't untangle the complexities. Finally, she cast a helpless look toward Lin Luo. "Um, could you perhaps explain it in a simpler way?"

Seeing her expression, Lin Luo couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. Although Shenqi hadn't yet become the 'Nai-nai God,' her naturally air-headed disposition was impossible to hide.

Hearing Lin Luo laugh only made Shenqi more perplexed.

A moment later, Lin Luo ceased laughing, waved his hand, and said, "I was just joking earlier. Actually, the relationship between you and me isn't as complicated as you imagine, nor is it something that can be explained in a few words. Moreover, I shouldn't disclose things about the future to you, so please don't ask again."

Hearing Lin Luo’s words, Shenqi felt a slight sense of disappointment. However, she was not the type of woman to argue relentlessly. As a princess of the Demon Clan, and once an heir to the throne, her insight was extraordinary. She understood that if one knew the future, there was a high probability that the future might change, so she nodded. "Alright, if you say so, I won't press the matter."

"However, there is one thing I still don't understand. Why tell me this?" Shenqi frowned. Generally speaking, Lin Luo should keep information like this locked away completely. Revealing it posed a risk of introducing unpredictable elements.

"I just felt I should tell you." But in Lin Luo's view, the situation was different. First, Shenqi's memory could not be tampered with, or it would affect Alice's existence. Second, whether Shenqi knew or not made little difference to the future, as he hadn't encountered Shenqi during his first visit to Gensokyo. If they had no interaction then, how could his words influence it?

"But you knowing this is fine, just don't tell anyone else—not even those closest to you," Lin Luo stated solemnly.

Shenqi nodded, then turned her gaze toward the room where Yukari and Yuuka were resting. "What about them?"

"They are the ones who absolutely cannot know. Otherwise, the future will definitely change," Lin Luo said grimly. After more than a month, he was starting to deduce that Yukari and Yuuka might only regain their memories after his death.

With that realization, he had a clearer idea of what form the seal on their memories should take.

There was no need to ponder what kind of seal to place on them; rather, by considering the future, the events happening now that they would forget in the future were precisely what needed to be sealed away.

Of course, with Lin Luo's current strength, sealing their memories was impossible. After all, even without being host to the World Heart, the future Yakumo Yukari and Kazami Yuuka would possess strength at least at the High-Tier Earth rank, superior to his current level. Even if he managed to seal them now, they would break through the seal soon enough.

However, Lin Luo wasn't overly anxious. He could already feel the Contract Book gradually recovering. In two months at most, he would return to his peak condition.

And that time would mark the moment when everyone would part ways...

Watching Lin Luo’s deeply preoccupied expression, Shenqi’s heart was filled with complexity, rendering her speechless for a long time. Knowing a secret no one else did should have been cause for joy, but the secret itself offered her no pleasure; it only felt heavy.

...

Three days later, Yukari and Yuuka finally awoke. Their condition was much better than Lin Luo had anticipated. While they currently lacked combat readiness, their mobility was mostly unaffected; a little more rest would allow for a full recovery.

Regarding the incident, Yuuka expressed deep self-reproach. After all, the danger they encountered was almost entirely due to her impulsiveness, which had nearly cost them their lives, dragging Yukari down with her. If Lin Luo hadn't arrived in time at the critical moment, they would have perished.

The matter was over. Yukari didn't say much, and Lin Luo only offered symbolic criticism. In his view, Yuuka’s impulsive and determined nature was something that could never change in a lifetime; saying too much might only provoke rebellion, making it better to let her reflect on her own.

Besides, every personality has its own unique traits. While Yuuka’s impulsiveness was a flaw, it was also the source of her brilliance. If one day she became as cautious and calculating as Yukari, she would lose her inherent radiance.

Given that their bodies hadn't fully recovered, the rigorous training of the past was impossible. However, they couldn't be left idle day after day. Coupled with the fact that the time Lin Luo could remain here was now countable, necessary training was indispensable to hasten their growth.

This time, what Lin Luo intended to teach them was the Power of Rules!

Since both of them had already brushed against the threshold of the Rule Grade during their fight with the Oni Yaksha, the timing was not too early. Moreover, with Shenqi—a top-tier powerhouse in the current era—guiding them alongside him, the teaching process was much more effective.

Originally, Shenqi felt a degree of inferiority regarding her identity. Since witches were universally despised in this era, she was somewhat reserved when interacting with Yuuka and Yukari. But as they spent more time together, she gradually realized that her restraint was entirely unnecessary.

To Yukari and Yuuka, a witch was no different from an angel; what mattered was how the other treated them. And Shenqi treated them like her own younger sisters. They were already grateful, so what did Shenqi's identity as a witch matter?

The harmonious state among the four gave the Thirteen Protectors the impression of a single family, and even Lin Luo himself sometimes felt this illusion, as if he had settled into this era.

But he knew this was ultimately just an illusion.

In two months, he would leave this place, no matter what.

PS: I originally planned a big burst of updates today, aiming for ten thousand characters at once, but as I was writing, my body started acting up—headache, mild fever, completely lacking energy and feeling awful. Furthermore, the upcoming plot segment is crucial and requires careful planning. Therefore, there is only one chapter today; the burst update will happen tomorrow, and it will certainly exceed ten thousand characters. Please look forward to it.

Also, three thousand words yesterday and three thousand today—I’ve missed the monthly full attendance bonus again, tears! Why can't I keep up with the full attendance now? Please offer some monthly ticket comfort!

One more thing: Should I go for it with Shenqi??? (To be continued... RQ)