Lin Luo truly hadn't expected the girl, Renko, to be such a mood killer. She had managed to shatter an atmosphere so thick with sorrow—the kind that, like an 8 o’clock K-drama, could make women weep into piles of tissues—with a single sentence. He honestly didn't know how to react.

"Heh."

Still, hearing Merry’s light chuckle beside him, Lin Luo felt it wasn't entirely a bad thing; at least the tension had eased, and the mood was no longer so heavy.

"Hey, you big pervert," Renko sniffled, pointing at Lin Luo. "My story is done. What about Merry? Is she just the lingering soul of that yokai named Yukari Yakumo?"

When did he suddenly get saddled with the nickname 'big pervert'?

Lin Luo was on the verge of tears. He had been utterly pure today; he hadn't even touched a girl's fingers. Besides... Yakumo Yukari wasn't even dead, alright? If she privately declared her dead, she might just swallow him whole with a gap!

Lin Luo actually wanted to tell Renko that Sister Zi was dangerous and communication required caution. But then he considered it: after witnessing that dream, Yukari Yakumo in Renko's mind was probably viewed as a profoundly benevolent, selfless spirit who bore untold suffering, exhausting her life to guard the peace of Gensokyo. While most of that was true, Zi’s essential nature was still deeply manipulative—a fact that absolutely could not be ignored.

Under the hopeful yet slightly fearful gazes of the two girls, Lin Luo spoke, "Merry is certainly not the lingering soul of Yukari Yakumo, because Yukari Yakumo is alive and well..."

"But they look exactly the same!" Renko blurted out her opinion impatiently.

Lin Luo shot her a look. "Who said looking the same means being a lingering soul? You are the reincarnation of the First Shrine Maiden's residual spirit. But you aren't as beautiful as the First, are you? Also, stop interrupting me."

"You..." Renko bristled with anger.

Lin Luo ignored her and continued, "What feelings Yukari Yakumo harbors for the First Shrine Maiden, I'm sure you both can see. The First's death was undoubtedly a massive blow to her, perhaps the greatest setback of her life. Although she never seemed to care afterward, that sorrow could never be erased from her heart... And from that sorrow arose a longing for the First, guilt toward the First, and all her emotions gradually converged. Thus, when the residual spirit of the First Shrine Maiden reincarnated in this world, these concentrated emotions manifested into a concrete phenomenon: you—Maribel Hearn."

Lin Luo looked at Merry, who was now stunned silent, and said with solemnity, "So, Merry, you are neither Yukari Yakumo's lingering soul, nor are you Yukari Yakumo herself. You are all of Yukari Yakumo's feelings for the First Shrine Maiden."

"..."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the two girls were speechless for a long moment. After a while, Renko finally asked with trepidation, "Feelings... something like that? Merry, how could she possibly be..."

Renko stared blankly at Merry, her best friend, and was suddenly struck by intense heartache. Even though she was only a residual spirit of the First Shrine Maiden, she was, at this point, a complete person. But Merry? She was merely a convergence of emotion, not even a complete human being. That was too cruel.

"It is the truth..."

"Hey, stop talking!" Lin Luo had only managed four words when Renko instantly sprang up, blocking Merry and glaring at Lin Luo, stopping him from continuing. She was deeply worried that Merry couldn't handle such a blow.

Even though she knew this was basically true, and she understood that since Merry had already heard it, she couldn't erase the fact from her memory, Renko still wanted to stop this dreadful revelation. Merry was just a spiritual entity, merely the embodiment of longing for the First. So, when that longing faded, would Merry disappear? Would she never see her again?

Renko was worried, overwhelmingly so.

Seeing the complex anxiety flickering in her eyes, Lin Luo stopped speaking.

However, Merry gently pulled Renko aside, then looked at Lin Luo and said earnestly, "Please continue. Everything... I want to know it all."

"Merry!" Renko looked at her in surprise.

Merry smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I’m not that fragile."

Looking at her smile, Renko felt she was seeing the smile of the First Shrine Maiden from the dream. Though they weren't the same person, Renko understood: their smiles were identical—warm and confident, unyielding to anything, strong and clear.

"Alright," Renko sighed inwardly, finally ceasing her obstruction.

Lin Luo nodded in response. "The actualization of a spiritual entity, forming a new personality, a new life—this may seem incredible to you. Even I haven't seen anything like it in reality. But you should know that Gensokyo is the gathering place of the illogical. No matter how unbelievable something is, if it happens there, it’s possible. Yukari Yakumo's feelings for the First Shrine Maiden were exceptionally intense. Though she wouldn't show it to outsiders, once she fell asleep, these emotions would erupt instantly, surfacing in her dreams. Little by little, they accumulated until what emerged from the dreamscape was you, Merry."

"So, once you were truly born, Yukari Yakumo could see you in her dreams, and you could see her in yours."

"Is even my power derived from Yukari Yakumo?" Merry asked.

"Naturally. That is quite normal."

"I understand what you mean, and I believe you have no reason to lie to me. But I still don't understand—how do you know all this?" Merry asked seriously.

Lin Luo laughed. "The dream earlier... when you were holding that ribbon of light, I merely put you to sleep to allow you to have the most crucial dream. I didn't guide you in any other way, yet you were able to see that dream. That is the best proof."

Merry froze, then nodded softly. "I see..."

Clearly, Merry had accepted the fact. In truth, apart from the concept of being a spiritual entity which she couldn't quite grasp, she had no other questions... And even if she couldn't fully comprehend it, she knew her existence was tied to this. Perhaps she truly was just a spiritual entity.

"Merry..." Seeing her hesitate, Renko called out to her cautiously.

Merry snapped back to attention, shook her head, and smiled, signaling she was fine. Then she looked back at Lin Luo and said earnestly, "We understand everything you’ve said. Even if there are further questions, they are about ourselves. What I want to know is... you didn't tell us all this just to let us know the truth, did you? What is your real purpose?"

Hearing this, Renko also gazed at Lin Luo intently.

Lin Luo waved his hand and chuckled. "Talking about purpose sounds too transactional. But yes, there is one thing I need your help with."

"Our help?" The two exchanged glances. While they didn't doubt their own capabilities, facing Lin Luo's miraculous power, they knew their limits. How could they help?

Lin Luo didn't beat around the bush. "I hope you can help me save Gensokyo."

"What?" Both girls' eyes widened instantly, as if they misheard. "Is Gensokyo in danger?"

Although this was their first time learning about Gensokyo today, and they didn't have any particular prior attachment, the thought of Yukari Yakumo and the First Shrine Maiden's sacrifices made them instinctively wish no harm would befall Gensokyo.

Lin Luo shook his head. "If things follow their normal course, without incident, Gensokyo won't face danger for a long time. But I want to create that danger..."

"Why?" Before Lin Luo could finish, both couldn't help but ask.

"Because without a danger great enough to destroy Gensokyo, the Shrine Maidens cannot be truly liberated," Lin Luo looked at them, his expression more serious than ever, and said in a low voice, "There have been twelve generations of Hakurei Shrine Maidens, including the First—eleven Shrine Maidens have all died for Gensokyo. Their souls are all bound by the Great Barrier. If Gensokyo continues as it is, more Shrine Maidens will be sacrificed. But I don't want to see that sacrifice, nor do I wish for those already sacrificed to remain trapped in the Great Barrier forever. I want them to be freed so this sorrowful destiny can end permanently."

"But... if the Shrine Maidens' souls are freed, the Great Barrier will disappear. Then what about Gensokyo?" Merry asked.

"You don't need to worry about that. I have a contingency," Lin Luo said, extending his hand, his face full of sincerity. "I want to save all the Shrine Maidens. Are you willing to help me?"

"Can... can we actually do something like that?" Renko expressed doubt.

"Of course you can. Precisely because it is you, you can."

"But..." Renko genuinely wanted to agree. After seeing that dream, she held the same conviction as Lin Luo. But if the Shrine Maidens were freed, would Merry, as Yukari Yakumo's embodiment of longing, disappear? What if the collapse of the Great Barrier caused Merry to vanish?

Renko desperately wanted an answer, but she was too afraid to ask.

"Will I disappear? And Renko, will her soul return to the First Shrine Maiden?" What Renko couldn't bring herself to ask, Merry stated calmly.

Renko’s heart leaped, and she looked at Lin Luo anxiously.

Under the gaze of both women, Lin Luo let out a light laugh. "Sacrificing one person to save another happens often, but I have never believed that can be called salvation. It is merely passing the sorrow on in a different form, to a different person... Didn't you hear clearly? What I intend to do is true salvation."