The streets were filled with countless people, and cars raced like a raging fury... I always thought they were lying, but the first time I left Dàoquán Village, I found that the outside world was exactly as they described."
"Has Miss Huaizhi been to other places? Other countries and borders?" She turned back, asking curiously: "Someone as amazing as Miss Huaizhi, you must have been, right?"
Miss Huaizhi just looked at the picture frame in her hands, without answering.
As if admitting it, yet seemingly not.
It was uncertain if she was even listening.
Like hidden in the mist, hard to reach, always hard to see clearly.
Yet, even if indifferent, there's a sense of comfort.
As if, with this person by your side, there'd never be fear. Holding hands feels warm, like being in the sunlight.
But just this isn't enough.
Because she is lonely.
Zhenxi lifted her eyes, words left unspoken.
Never before had she wanted to know her so deeply. Wanted to stand more closely by her side... wanted to be just like Miss Huaizhi!
In that moment, the teenage girl finally gathered her courage.
"Miss Huaizhi, I..."
Then, the dream was shattered.
Cut off at the cruelest part.
The teenage girl opened her eyes in bed, staring blankly at the pale ceiling.
Her palm had somehow reached out, as if trying to touch something, but without connecting to anything.
"Huh?"
She remained stunned in place.
.
.
Just below the Stone Marrow Pavilion.
Unnoticed until now, a basement had expanded to a size tens of times greater than aboveground, appearing like a gigantic plaza.
Tong Ji paused for a moment with the Event Branch in hand, looked away from the Book of Fate's projection, and raised her head to see a small light point floating before her.
"Hmm? Is this... a Believer?"
Almost in disbelief, she remained silent for a long time, suddenly smiled softly.
Unexpectedly, after completing the surrogate and creating Huai Zhisu's reflection, the divine nature of the Soloist emerged from the essence of the soul?
And this divine nature pointed directly toward the Eastern Monarch, vaguely possessing Xihe's characteristics? No matter how profound the foundation is, isn't this a bit too far beyond comprehension?
What does this count as? A surprise or a shock?
It's truly fascinating.
"Huai Shi, we really are the world's most compatible Contractors..."
She closed her eyes joyfully, humming those obscure and ancient tunes,
Behind her, God's Wedge, like the Sun, quietly suspended, glowing faintly.
.
.
Huai Shi felt something amiss the moment he opened his eyes.
It wasn't simply seeing Huai Zhisu hitting a Raven, but rather perceiving some sort of change.
Something felt different.
While dazedly brushing his teeth in the morning, he glanced in the mirror and saw his reflection — now completely transformed into the likeness of Huai Zhisu.
This was nearly a complete state.
Huai Shi's shadow fully merged with Huai Zhisu's records, using the Soloist's Afterimage as a medium; she could be considered an embodiment of Huai Shi's Source Substance.
She could even substitute him in handling some simple tasks and work.
If it was just swift progress, he might not be so shocked... but who would explain the faintly emerging halo atop his mirrored reflection?
"Mother, I've become immortal!"
He put down his toothbrush in disbelief, raised his head, and watched the tiny, veiled halo shine with a faint light under the sun outside the window.
What on earth is this...
But when he lightly touched it, the elusive halo quickly dispersed.
As if it had never existed.
While rubbing his chin, calmly analyzing, and preparing to angrily call that dishonest woman to find out what she had done again, his phone rang first.