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"Long time no see, Red Kite Immortal."
"Just call me Fu Hua, Zeke. Are we setting off now?"
"No rush. We can chat for a bit; they need to inspect the space station first before heading to the moon. There's still plenty of time."
"Glad to hear it. I'll go prepare some tea. Please make yourself at home."
On Taixuan Mountain, gentle breezes rustled through dappled shadows cast by trees. As he watched Fu Hua walk away with hands clasped behind her slender back, Zeke felt his mood lighten slightly.
Suddenly, an adorable little Fuxi climbed onto his shoulder and tugged on his hair.
"Hey! Were you staring too long there? My immortal is quite beautiful, isn't she?"
"With jade-like bones and ethereal grace, transcending worldly allure."
"Right?! Right?! Let me tell you, if my immortal were from ancient times, even emperors would be utterly captivated, forsaking their kingdoms. I've seen it happen more than once."
"Oh? There's such history?"
"Hmph! You must be quite uninformed, huh? Long ago, during the Tang Dynasty, an emperor was once received by an immortal. Upon returning, he couldn't stop thinking about her and composed hundreds of poems with countless paintings, all expressing his devotion to the immortal. Even after death, he was buried with her portrait—a testament to his deep affection!"
The Book of Fuxi perched on Zeke's shoulder, her tiny legs swinging occasionally, sometimes kicking him gently, causing a slight tingling sensation.
As she enthusiastically recounted Fu Hua's legendary past, Fu Hua herself, carrying tea and refreshments, finally approached them.
"Fuxi!"
"Eh-heh! Was I talking too much? No worries, just wanted you to know how wonderful our immortal is. Look, our immortal is strong, beautiful, kind, and virtuous, while you're so... ahem, talented! Why not consider giving her a chance? Imagine this, both of you being MANTIS warriors with limitless lifespans, perfectly matched in appearance—aren't you ideally suited for each other?"
"Fuxi!!"
Fu Hua lifted the Book of Fuxi onto her palm, then with her delicate index finger, playfully rubbed the little book's head back and forth as a mild reprimand.
The Book of Fuxi stuck out her tongue and shook her head, showing no hint of fear.
Embarrassed, Fu Hua turned to Zeke apologetically. "I'm sorry; Fuxi can be quite playful at times. Please don't mind her."
"Not at all, listening to Fuxi recount history is always fascinating."
"Well... well, most of that was made up, so you shouldn't take it too seriously."
"I just enjoyed hearing some entertaining anecdotes. However, regarding matters of romance, I prefer to let things unfold naturally. Currently, my focus lies elsewhere. With Honkai still rampant, settling down wouldn't bring peace of mind, would it?"
Zeke sighed and shook his head gently.
Fuxi pushed away Fu Hua's finger, interjecting, "Why not strive together as a couple?! What could possibly make you uneasy with an immortal by your side? Let me tell you, safety concerns arise with any girl, except for immortals—they remain unscathed even amidst peril!"
"Fuxi!" Fu Hua finally lost her patience, gripping the tiny head of the Book of Fuxi between two fingers, bringing it close to her face, and glaring sternly.
Swinging briefly in mid-air, the Book of Fuxi crossed her arms within her cloud-like sleeves, unfazed, and replied:
"What's your problem? You think you can get mad at me? Let me tell you, ever since I woke up, Taixuan Mountain hasn't been under your control anymore—it's all about what this Fuxi says now! Keep your opinions to yourself! With that thick skull of yours, if I didn't keep a close eye on things, you'd be single for another fifty thousand years!"
Fu Hua puffed out her cheeks like an indignant young maiden and shook the Book of Fuxi vigorously.
But that was as far as she dared go; she couldn't bring herself to inflict any further punishment.
For Fu Hua, the time since the Book of Fuxi awakened had been overwhelmingly blissful—so much so it felt suffocating. The profound loneliness that had numbed her senses dissipated overnight. Each day, she awoke to the lively voice of the Book of Fuxi, watching as its mischievous antics led to one exasperating situation after another. To Fu Hua, these moments were nothing short of heaven.
If not for the lingering threat of Honkai, Fu Hua would willingly live with the Book of Fuxi forever. When the tome eventually fell back into slumber, it would mark the day she too could relinquish earthly ties and rest eternally by its side.
How could she dare discipline the Book of Fuxi? She treated it tenderly, fearful of breaking or harming it in any way.
This unwavering affection only fueled the Book of Fuxi's growing arrogance, emboldened by the assurance of Fu Hua's constant indulgence.
As Fu Hua gently rocked, the Book of Fuxi felt dizzy and finally stopped uttering those blush-inducing remarks.
Then, Fu Hua sat down, placed a soft cloth on the table, and carefully laid the disoriented Book of Fuxi upon it. With a sigh of relief, she turned to Zeke.
"Has Kiana begun engaging with Sirin's consciousness yet?" Fu Hua asked.
Zeke sighed deeply. "Almost certainly. To be honest, dealing with pure Sirin doesn't concern me much; at this stage, I'm confident in defeating any Herrscher except for the ultimate Finality. However, since Sirin and Kiana share one body, in a sense, Sirin is the dominant consciousness while Kiana represents the secondary persona... It leaves me torn, unsure how to ensure everything goes flawlessly."
"You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment," Fu Hua chuckled softly.
Over these years, Fu Hua had closely observed Zeke's abilities. In terms of martial prowess, scientific knowledge, and strategic acumen, he seemed like a paragon, embodying the essence of perfection from both heaven and earth. Yet whenever matters involved Kiana, his rationality easily faltered.
Rubbing his temples, Zeke acknowledged his concern with a hint of exasperation: "Perhaps you're right."
"For matters involving consciousness, I'll handle it. As for containing the Herrscher's power surge, together we should be more than capable. And Kiana's personality... You know, love can be both a weakness and armor. With you by her side, I believe she will overcome this challenge. She has never been fragile."
Fu Hua spoke with unwavering confidence.
She had to remain confident. If something were to happen to Kiana... Glancing at Zeke before her, Fu Hua refused even to consider the consequences.
"In any case, thank you for your help. The moon is an ideal location—desolate and uninhabited, so there's no risk of collateral damage or outsiders witnessing Kiana's struggles. Moreover, it minimizes Otto's interference and prying eyes. I believe it's the best place to address this issue."
"You're welcome. Setting aside our shared mission against Honkai, just knowing that Kiana once called me 'Teacher' and witnessing her integrity and kindness, I could never stand idly by."
The two exchanged smiles.
Zeke felt much of his internal tension dissipate as he gazed upon Fu Hua, whose presence seemed harmoniously intertwined with nature. His confidence gradually grew stronger.
"Wait! Before calling on the immortal's aid, don't forget the appearance fee!"
The Book of Fuxi suddenly jumped between them and extended her hand toward Zeke, instantly dispersing the warm atmosphere.
"Fuxi!"
"All right, all right, I'm not joking now. Young man, you blockhead—have you truly decided to intervene in the struggle between that girl and the Herrscher of the Void at the level of consciousness?"
With renewed solemnity, the Book of Fuxi looked up at both of them.
Zeke and Fu Hua nodded simultaneously.
The Book of Fuxi lowered her head with a long sigh.
"Nothing quite like this has ever occurred before, even in the previous civilization. My central archive lacks relevant information for reference, but I know it carries immense peril. I can't stop you, but please be extremely cautious... Especially you, blockhead—you're the type who would give your life without hesitation if you deemed it necessary. Promise me you'll return safely. If you don't come back, my existence would lose its meaning."
"Fuxi..." Fu Hua gazed at the Book of Fuxi with sorrowful affection, reaching out to touch her gently.
But the Book of Fuxi blocked Fu Hua's fingers.
"Hey! Don't make it sound like we're parting for good or something! I'm just giving you some advice here. Young man, since you've borrowed my immortal from me, you must bring her back safe and sound. Her memories don't matter—she's lost them more times than I can count—but she must return alive, understand?"
"I will," Zeke nodded solemnly, making his promise.
Then, he turned to Fu Hua with a serious expression. "Well then, it's about time. Let's finish this pot of tea before setting off."
"Agreed."
Zeke, Fu Hua, and the Book of Fuxi each picked up their teacups, including a tiny one held by the book itself, as they sat across from one another sipping tea.
Half an hour later, the Book of Fuxi stood atop the teapot, gazing at the sky where the two figures had disappeared. Slowly, she took a seat.
Without uttering a word, she simply waited—for the day when the immortal would return, ready to greet her with radiant smiles and warm enthusiasm, just as she had countless times millennia ago upon Fu Hua's victories against demons.
"Just please, don't forget me again this time, you stubborn head..."