Seeing Lin Luo’s expression of having the answer to everything under the sun, Lian Zi felt both anxious and scornful. Anxious, of course, because she could tell that Lin Luo had probably found a way out of this place and desperately wanted to know how. Scornful, because Lin Luo was deliberately delaying his answer, clearly trying to exasperate her.

"Well, let's not discuss that just yet. Do you know what this place is?" Lin Luo ignored Lian Zi’s complicated, conflicted expression and asked with a smile.

Lian Zi desperately wanted to strangle him for that smile, but then she considered the massive gulf in their power levels. Whether she could actually succeed in choking him was uncertain, but if Lin Luo decided to force himself on her due to this opportunity, she would likely be powerless to resist. So, she snorted coldly and couldn't be bothered to engage further.

"A mysterious cavern," Mei Li, however, remained relatively composed.

Lin Luo offered a wry smile. "I know this cavern is mysterious, but what I'm asking is its name. Do either of you know it?"

"It's called the Mysterious Cavern."

"Huh?" Lin Luo was instantly taken aback. "You didn't name it that, did you?"

Mei Li shook her head. "Of course not. If you can find a way out shortly, you will see that the name of this place is indeed the Mysterious Cavern."

Alright, Lin Luo finally understood. This Mysterious Cavern was much like the legendary 'Inn of the Floating World'—a bit of a joke, perhaps, but this naming convention certainly belonged to that kind of place.

"Then, regarding the Mysterious Cavern, how much do you know?" Lin Luo inquired.

"Absolutely nothing, of course. If we knew anything, how could we be trapped here?" The person who spoke was not Mei Li, but Lian Zi, and her tone was dripping with sarcasm. It was rare for Lin Luo to ask such an obvious question, and she certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to thoroughly mock him.

Lin Luo smiled faintly, clearly unaffected by her scorn, and said, "What would you think if I told you this cavern is a gateway connecting the real world and the fantasy world?"

"What?!" At these words, both young women were startled into silence.

"I'm not fooling you. Watch this." As he spoke, Lin Luo raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly. Instantly, countless points of light rose from the ground. The previously dark passage was immediately illuminated as if by a thousand lamps, completely overwhelming the light from the lamps held by Mei Li and Lian Zi.

The two girls stared, wide-eyed, but the greater shock was yet to come. The stone wall behind them vanished with Lin Luo's flick of the finger, and the bright illumination surged outwards like a tide, seemingly without end...

Mei Li and Lian Zi were left dumbfounded, only snapping back to reality after a long moment. Lian Zi gasped, "What is this? Is it an illusion?"

"What do you think?" Lin Luo countered, though he wasn't speaking to Lian Zi, but looking at Mei Li.

Mei Li shook her head, her voice filled with disbelief. "It’s not an illusion. I can feel an incredibly mysterious power emanating from the other side. This is truly a passage to the fantasy world, but..."

"But why couldn't you find any clues after searching for three days, while I can make it manifest? That's what you mean, isn't it?" Lin Luo chuckled.

"Who exactly are you?" Mei Li asked in a low voice, having clearly accepted the reality of the situation.

Lin Luo replied, "Who I am isn't important. What's more important is you two. You must be quite curious about that fantasy world, aren't you? Don't you want to step inside and take a look?"

"Can we go in?" Lian Zi immediately asked.

"No," Lin Luo answered decisively.

"..." Mei Li was rendered speechless, while Lian Zi flared up again. If not for the massive difference in their strength, she would have loved to teach this man a harsh lesson.

Lin Luo ignored Lian Zi’s angry glare and explained, "This passage actually has its own rules. It allows exit but not entry. In other words, only those from the fantasy world can travel back and forth, but people from the real world cannot use it to enter the fantasy world—they can't even touch it."

"Is that why my photograph was swallowed by the darkness?" Lian Zi suddenly made the connection.

"Yes," Lin Luo nodded.

Mei Li looked at him, frowning. "Because we are from the real world, we cannot see this passage. But you can make it appear... You are from the fantasy world."

It was a statement of certainty; Mei Li was not asking a question but had reached a firm conclusion.

"You are correct," Lin Luo admitted without concealment. "This Mysterious Cavern is actually a dividing line. It perfectly separates the real world from the fantasy world. You, who cannot touch the fantasy world, can only wander in the physical cavern, while I, having come from the fantasy world, can see this illusory passage... For me, I am standing beneath Youkai Mountain right now. Passing through this corridor, I can return to Gensokyo."

Lin Luo pointed toward the brightly lit avenue behind the two girls.

"Youkai Mountain... Gensokyo..." Lian Zi murmured the two phrases several times, rubbing her chin. These were words she was hearing for the first time. If she wasn't mistaken, they must originate from the fantasy world.

Mei Li thought the same, but her concerns were deeper. Looking at Lin Luo, she said, "You said we cannot enter the fantasy world, and I don't believe you are lying. But if that’s the case, why reveal this passage to us? What is your purpose?"

"I have a way to let you enter that fantasy world..."

"Ah! What way?" Upon hearing this, Lian Zi became agitated and immediately asked.

However, Lin Luo hadn't finished speaking. He smiled, "But before that, I have a condition."

"A condition?" The moment she heard this word, Lian Zi felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her. She looked at Lin Luo with a terrible expression. Although it was an undeniable fact that Lin Luo was an inhabitant of the fantasy world, if he harbored ill intentions...

Lin Luo couldn't read minds, but seeing her reaction, he knew exactly what she was thinking. He felt exasperated and offered a wry smile. "Come on, if I truly had ill intentions toward you, I could have overpowered you in an instant. Why would I waste so much time talking nonsense?"

"Hmph, who knows what you’re thinking," Lian Zi mumbled, slightly blushing as her thoughts were exposed, stubbornly retorting.

Mei Li interjected, "Let’s set aside the condition for a moment. Since the passage has appeared, can we enter it now using our own strength?"

Lin Luo offered a faint smile, said nothing, and merely made a gesture to 'invite' them forward.

"..." The two froze. They weren't fools; they naturally understood the meaning of Lin Luo’s gesture and were momentarily speechless.

Lin Luo would allow them to walk toward the passage because he trusted his judgment: even if they entered, it would be fruitless effort. As for them? Mei Li and Lian Zi exchanged a look, seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes... Regardless of how much truth there was in Lin Luo’s words, even if they could pass through this route, they couldn't rule out the possibility of Lin Luo sabotaging them secretly. If that were the case, they would never enter the fantasy world.

Of course, they could wait until Lin Luo left before stepping in. But they must remember: this fantasy passage appeared precisely because Lin Luo was present. If he left, what would be the result?

Unable to enter, unable to leave—this was their predicament. The only person they could rely on was Lin Luo. They were like fish on a chopping block, entirely at his mercy.

"Fine, tell us your condition," the two young women finally chose to compromise, though this concession had limits. If the terms were too outrageous, they absolutely would not agree.

"It's very simple. Please, take a journey with me into a dream."

"Eh?"

When they heard the answer, both girls were stunned. The condition wasn't excessive, but... what exactly did 'take a journey into a dream' mean?

Faced with their puzzled expressions, Lin Luo reached out his hand, and a white band of light appeared in his grasp, its ends drifting slightly. "Hold onto it tightly. When your attention is completely focused here, I will make you fall asleep, and then... we can meet that dream."

"You don't have some scheme in mind, do you? Like taking advantage of us while we’re asleep... doing that and that?" Lian Zi clearly still mistrusted his character, her face full of suspicion.

"I’ll say it again: if I intended to do anything to you, you wouldn't even be able to resist."

Mei Li and Lian Zi exchanged glances. They had to admit, it was the undeniable truth.

"...Alright, I believe you." Finally, Mei Li was the first to reach out and firmly grasp one end of the light band.

"Sigh, I suppose I have no choice," Lian Zi sighed, gripping the other end of the band.

As all three held the light band, the faint glow began to intensify, seemingly threatening to engulf them. Lin Luo quickly reminded them, "It’s starting. Focus your attention; do not let your minds wander. You only get one chance to enter the dream, one chance to understand your true selves... One... Two... Three... Enter!"

Whoosh!

In an instant, boundless light exploded outwards, completely enveloping the three figures.

Then, they witnessed a dream that was long, warm, and deeply sorrowful.

Perhaps it was merely a dream, or perhaps it was reality; they could no longer distinguish. But the moment that initial scene unfolded, they became forever linked...

Snowflakes fluttered down, the world stark white. A young woman, holding an umbrella, walked slowly up a set of dilapidated stairs. When she reached the top, her gaze drifted to a rundown house nearby. A girl in a white miko outfit was crouched on the rooftop, letting the snow fall onto her as she meticulously laid down one tile after another.

As if sensing someone approaching, the miko turned her head. Seeing the girl nearby, she smiled faintly. "Murasaki, you’ve come again today?"

PS: Finally, the life-and-death love story between Purple Mother and the First Generation is about to unfold. How could such a highly anticipated scene be glossed over so quickly?

The second update might be a bit late, please cast your monthly votes. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)