Chương 255: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [255]
After hearing Buer's explanation, Luo Qing felt as if his mind was suddenly flooded with an overwhelming amount of information, leaving him momentarily unable to process it all.
The idea of a girl claiming to have lived with him for thousands of years was… difficult to believe.
"But…"
He lowered his voice, saying, "I'm sorry, my Greater Lord, but I don't have those memories right now."
"Or perhaps… I haven't experienced that time yet."
Luo Qing began to piece things together in his mind.
It seemed likely that his future self would, through some unforeseen event, be sent back to the Archon War era. There, not only would he encounter the Great Lord Rukkhadevata, Buer, but it also appeared he would leave a debt of affection behind.
"It's okay."
Buer tilted her head slightly, leaning against his shoulder.
"Starting over like this isn't so bad…"
Back then, Luo Qing had been the one chasing her.
Now, perhaps it was her turn to pursue him.
"I…"
Luo Qing swallowed hard.
Well, that explains things… but still…
The six at home…
Ugh…
"Luo Qing, you seem… troubled," Buer said, raising her head. She cupped his face with both hands, studying him intently.
"No… No, of course not! Why would I be?"
Luo Qing's voice wavered slightly, betraying his nerves.
"My Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, you're alive! I couldn't be happier!"
"Hmm…"
Buer lowered her gaze, her thoughts drifting to a distant memory.
"My Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, if—just hypothetically—one day in the future, I had other girls in my life, would you be angry?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"So… you wouldn't be upset?"
"Hmph. You're welcome to try."
"…"
What's meant to come will come, I suppose.
"Luo Qing…"
"Yes…?"
Before he could react, Buer lifted her head slightly, leaning closer to him.
Feeling the soft, warm touch of her lips, Luo Qing froze in shock.
Buer's making the first move?!
After a moment, their lips parted. Luo Qing was about to ask her more questions when the dream around them suddenly began to tremble, as if on the verge of collapsing.
"What's… happening?"
Luo Qing's voice carried a trace of panic.
Surely the dream wouldn't end just like this…?
"This is a dream…"
Buer held his hand tightly. Her earlier joy was now replaced by a look of sadness, as though she was about to cry.
"So that's how it is…"
As the space around them fractured into fragments, Buer finally understood why her memories became so hazy after Luo Qing's disappearance. No matter how hard she tried, she could never recall what happened afterward.
It was like how a person in a dream never knows when the dream began.
Until just now, before the dream began to shatter, she had believed herself to still be alive—patiently waiting for Luo Qing in this carefully constructed scene.
She had hoped that he would find her and fulfill the promise they once made.
But now…
The truth was painfully clear.
The current "her" was nothing more than a pure dream left behind in the void—a fragment of her past self, created to preserve their promise of becoming his bride.
The real Buer had long since used the purest branch of the World Tree to enter the cycle of reincarnation, five hundred years ago.
She was no longer truly alive.
Her existence in this dream was simply a construct—a fleeting chance to meet Luo Qing in the realm of dreams.
She could no longer walk the streets of Sumeru with him or wear the pristine white wedding dress adorned with emerald flowers that she had so carefully prepared.
"I'm sorry, Luo Qing… It seems I can never truly become your bride."
"But at least, in this dream…"
"Luo Qing… I will always be your bride."
Buer looked up at Luo Qing, her voice trembling with emotion.
Her soft smile was filled with a quiet despair as she embraced him and kissed him once more.
The next moment—
Centered around Buer, the pure dream began to collapse rapidly.
Soft green light gathered from all directions, illuminating the void with a gentle radiance.
---
Meanwhile, in the Jade Purity Workshop—
"Lord Azar! We're detecting anomalous information waves from the Void!" a technician exclaimed, staring at the rapidly changing numbers on the display.
"Anomalous waves?!"
Azar, rubbing his reddened cheek from an earlier slap, hurried over to the technician's side.
"What's going on?"
The data on the monitor showed that all computational power collected from the Void's endless dreams was being absorbed by something—a presence located at the very core of the Void, within the Heart of the God of Wisdom.
Something, like an abyss, was devouring all of the Void's computational capacity at an alarming rate.
"Activate the contingency plan!"
Azar pointed furiously at Scaramouche, who was connected to the Mechanical God.
"We must ensure the fusion completes successfully!"
This was the critical moment for the God-Creation Project. There could be no mistakes.
The Void's anomalies would have to be dealt with later. For now, ensuring Scaramouche's integration with the Mechanical God was paramount—any failure would render all their efforts meaningless.
---
Back in the collapsing dream—
The once radiant green dreamscape dissolved completely.
Only Luo Qing and Buer remained, embracing each other in the void.
"I'm sorry… Luo Qing… I'm so sorry…"
Tears shimmered like starlight as they fell from Buer's eyes. For the first time, the ever-composed and serene goddess resembled a small, remorseful child.
After her whispered apology, her form dissolved into a soft green light and vanished.
As the light dispersed, all that remained was a small, emerald-green branch.
"This is…"
Luo Qing held the branch in his hand, his heart heavy with emotion.
Everything had happened so quickly—he hadn't even had a chance to ask Buer about the past.
The dream was gone.
"She…"
Recalling the image of Buer crying, a sharp pang of sorrow pierced his heart.
Even without the memories of a thousand years ago, he could feel the weight of her despair.
After waiting five hundred years to reunite with the one she loved, only to discover she was nothing more than a construct, her pain must have been unbearable.
Just thinking about it is hard to bear.
After a moment of thought, Luo Qing turned his attention to the second [Nirvana Seed] in his system inventory.
Perhaps… it's possible.
Clutching the emerald-green branch in his left hand and the Nirvana Seed in his right, Luo Qing willed the system to act.
[Ding! Resurrection target detected. Initiating resurrection process…][Target's soul strength insufficient for resurrection. Please enhance soul strength.]
"A soul… but not strong enough?"
Luo Qing read the system's notification and began to ponder.
As Buer had explained, this was a pure dream she had left behind—a way to meet him even after her death. At the very least, in this dream, she could fulfill her promise of becoming his bride.
If her soul strength wasn't enough…
Where else could fragments of her soul still exist?
Could it be… that?
Luo Qing's eyes lit up with determination.
"I'll go find out."
---
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
If you wish to strengthen our resolve further, step forward:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action adds to the unyielding foundation of what we create. Together, we leave a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
— Raiden Shogun
Chương 256: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [256]
With countless questions still lingering in his mind, Luo Qing glanced at the emerald-green branch quietly resting in his system inventory.
As he prepared to leave the Void, a soft voice called out behind him.
"Luo Qing, did you feel it just now?"
"Feel what?"
Feigning confusion, Luo Qing turned to look at Nahida's adorable, soft face. Her expression stirred a memory from earlier: the name Nahida… Wasn't that the name he had given her?
No way… Did she really turn out to be my daughter?
"I felt a familiar presence in the Void," Nahida murmured, her voice low. "But it disappeared before I could locate it."
She had been guiding Lumine and Paimon through the Endless Dream when she suddenly sensed an energy in the Void—an energy strikingly similar to her own. Yet, before she could investigate, it had vanished.
"Sorry, Nahida, but I didn't sense anything," Luo Qing replied after a moment's thought. He decided against telling Nahida about what had just happened.
At least not until Buer was resurrected and he had unraveled the truth about the past few millennia.
"I see…"
Nahida lowered her head, disappointment evident in her demeanor.
She had a hunch that the energy she sensed was left behind by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata…
But she had failed to grasp it.
"Hey now."
Luo Qing gently ruffled her hair and said softly, "A girl frowning all the time won't look pretty, you know."
"Ugh…"
"By the way, how's Lumine doing?" he asked, smoothly changing the subject.
"They've figured out the truth of the dream and are searching for the person at the core of it."
"So soon?"
"Soon?" Nahida tilted her head, confused.
"It's almost dawn outside," she replied.
"Dawn already?!"
This time, it was Luo Qing's turn to be surprised.
Had that much time really passed while he was in Buer's dreamscape?
"Well then…"
"Nahida, I have some other matters to handle, so I'll be going now."
"Huh?"
Before she could say more, Luo Qing's figure vanished from the Void.
When he opened his eyes again, his consciousness returned to his body.
The lingering scent of Theresa's fragrance still clung to the bedding.
Luo Qing glanced toward the staircase, his mind already racing.
"That divine knowledge capsule needs two Gnosis to unlock…"
"There's no way Scaramouche will lend me his. Guess I'll have to play the double agent, huh…"
"And the new house… I need to hurry up and discuss it with Kaveh…"
"Ah, what a mess…"
Luo Qing had a sinking feeling.
When Buer finally returned, things at home would likely become even more… lively than usual.
But what could he do?
In the pure dream, Buer had confessed to him so openly.
There was no way he could stand by and do nothing.
Could any man really turn away a gentle, green-eyed older sister figure who had waited five hundred years for him?
Turning to look out the window, he saw the first rays of dawn breaking through the horizon.
Luo Qing got dressed and left the house, heading toward the Jade Purity Workshop.
---
At the Jade Purity Workshop
Thanks to contingency plans, the Akademiya and the Doctor's long-prepared God-Creation Project had not been disrupted by the anomaly in the Void.
Overnight, the Electro Gnosis had successfully fused with Scaramouche.
The scholars of the Akademiya were utterly drained, sprawled haphazardly across their workstations, their clothes disheveled.
As Luo Qing entered the workshop, he couldn't help but wonder:
Did these guys throw a party last night?
In the central plaza, the Doctor and Azar were in deep discussion. Nearby stood the fully assembled Mechanical God, now fused with the Gnosis.
Atop its towering form, Scaramouche's face was contorted in pain, seemingly enduring the agony of integrating the Gnosis's power.
"Well, well, Grand Sage," Luo Qing teased, eyeing Azar's conspicuously red cheek. "What's with the flushed face? Thinking happy thoughts?"
"…"
Azar shot a glare at Luo Qing but said nothing.
Just wait until I have control of this new god… Then we'll settle our score.
"Is it done?" Luo Qing asked nonchalantly, his gaze shifting to the massive purple giant.
He began to wonder how the Mechanical God would fare against his current Susanoo.
Not that he'd likely need to step in—Lumine and her team were still in Sumeru, after all.
Besides, didn't Scaramouche want to go back and settle the score with his mother?
Well, I've brought her here for you.
Helping a colleague out—it's the least I could do.
"It's nearly complete," the Doctor replied with a small nod. "Once he fully absorbs the power and authority of the Gnosis, he will become a true god."
The corner of the Doctor's lips curled into a faint smile, as though admiring his masterpiece.
"Looks impressive," Luo Qing remarked, glancing at the Mechanical God. "But the color scheme could use a little green to balance all that purple."
"By the way," Luo Qing turned to the Doctor, "you fused the Gnosis with him. Aren't you worried about reporting back to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa?"
"There's no need for concern."
The Doctor chuckled. "Everything is proceeding as planned."
"…"
Another one of those "it's all part of the plan" types, huh?
Luo Qing didn't bother responding, instead taking another look at the Mechanical God.
"So, it's up to Lumine after all…" he thought.
Acquiring the Dendro Gnosis would be straightforward—he could simply storm the Akademiya and take it. Their pitiful combat ability wouldn't require him to lift a finger.
At most, he'd need to console Nahida afterward.
But the Electro Gnosis… That was a different story.
Now fused with Scaramouche, it was unlikely the brat would lend it willingly.
Forcing it from him would mean burning bridges entirely—a move that would complicate Luo Qing's relationship with the Tsaritsa.
And since his usual emotional manipulation tactics didn't work on her, angering her could result in him being turned into an ice sculpture.
Better to tread carefully.
All things considered, Lumine was the perfect candidate for this task.
He could nudge her toward collecting the Gnosis for him and throw in some minor benefits for Paimon to help sway her decision.
It's what we Harbingers do, isn't it?
A little self-interest here and there was perfectly reasonable.
With his plan set, Luo Qing decided to track down Lumine and give her some subtle hints.
Just as he was about to leave the workshop, a thought occurred to him. Turning back, he addressed the Doctor.
"Oh, and when Scaramouche wakes up, be sure to pass along a message for me."
Luo Qing's lips curled into a sly smile as he added, "Tell him that to celebrate his ascension, I've prepared a little gift."
Hey, Kunikuzushi. Guess what? I brought your mom to Sumeru.
How's that for a surprise?
---
(morax transferred to scribble hub!)
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
If you wish to strengthen our resolve further, step forward:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action adds to the unyielding foundation of what we create. Together, we leave a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
— Raiden Shogun
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