"Speak of the devils, and so they appear. What a bunch of annoying pests."
Evernight suddenly looked towards the path leading from the domain of the three Paths of fate to this cliff. There, a group of Memokeepers from the Lumina Garden had appeared. Their eyes were scanning the area, presumably looking for March 7th.
After noticing them, Evernight turned and gave Fu Zhu a coquettish wink, then reached behind her and grabbed March 7th's wrist.
"Now, let's see what you can do~ darling."
As her words fell, the figures of Evernight and March 7th vanished from Fu Zhu's side. However, Fu Zhu could still see on his minimap that the two hadn't left; they were still beside him, watching things unfold.
"They sure hid fast. Too bad they didn't take Mimi with them."
Fu Zhu glanced at Mimi, who hadn't been taken along by Evernight. Although his relationship with Mimi was still new, since the Lumina Garden was March's enemy, he certainly wouldn't let them achieve their goal. He wouldn't let them take either Pure Child so easily.
March 7th, realizing that only she had been turned invisible with Evernight, grew anxious.
"Evernight, why didn't you take Fu Zhu with us? Are you leaving him to face the danger alone?!"
Evernight looked at the March 7th beside her, who was constantly thinking about Fu Zhu, and sighed helplessly. She reached out and flicked her on the forehead.
"You should think about yourself for a change... Besides, this is a test for him. If he can't even handle these few Memokeepers, I can't in good conscience hand you over to him."
March 7th, however, puffed up her cheeks and retorted angrily, "If there's any testing to be done, I'll do it!"
Evernight felt a little hurt and said speechlessly, "Did you forget? I am also you. So, what's wrong with me testing him?"
"Uh... I guess that's also true..."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Fu Zhu, carrying Yamato, walked toward the group of Memokeepers with a half-smile on his face. Mimi clung nervously to his shoulder.
"Ladies, what are you looking for?"
"You... you're Fu Zhu?!"
The Memokeepers recognized Fu Zhu at a glance. It wasn't hard, given that he was famous throughout the universe and a Nameless Guest of the Astral Express.
Realizing their objective, and seeing Fu Zhu approaching with his blade in hand, the Memokeepers took a few timid steps back.
The leader of the group hesitated for a moment before stepping forward with a forced laugh.
"Mister Nameless Guest, what a coincidence to meet you here."
Fu Zhu smiled faintly and nodded. With a raise of his left hand, a square-shaped barrier materialized, enclosing the Memokeepers and himself within it.
Seeing this, the hearts of the Memokeepers sank. A few of them who were closer to the back stealthily approached the barrier and tapped it with their hands, only to discover with astonishment that they, as memetic lifeforms, couldn't pass through this barrier!
The lead Memokeeper noticed her companions' actions and her face immediately darkened. She questioned Fu Zhu, "Mr. Fu Zhu, what is the meaning of this? We should have no quarrel with you, should we?"
Fu Zhu didn't look at them. Instead, he laid Yamato horizontally before him and flicked the blade with his finger.
"Whether we have a quarrel or not isn't for you to decide. Let's be direct. Tell me your objective, and perhaps I'll grant you a quick death."
The lead Memokeeper pointed an indignant finger at Fu Zhu. "Mr. Fu Zhu, I know you are an Emanator, but this is going too far! We are only responsible for salvaging memories! We have no connection whatsoever with you or the Astral Express!"
Fu Zhu sighed. He had been completely serious.
If these Memokeepers had told the truth, he really would have given them a quick death. As for whether he was mistaken about them... that concerned March 7th. Mistake or not, he chose to believe the words of Evernight, who was one with March.
"Since you won't talk, I'll give you a keyword to jog your memory. Pure Children of Anāsrava, how about that?"
Upon hearing the term "Pure Child," the faces of the Memokeepers changed drastically under their masks!
How did Fu Zhu come to mention this term?! Where did he learn of it?
Fu Zhu saw their silence, and the corner of his lips curled up in a slight smile. "Looks like I was right. I told you, I couldn't possibly be mistaken."
As his voice fell, Fu Zhu's figure suddenly vanished from before the group of Memokeepers. In the next second, they were horrified to discover a "net" composed of countless strands of sword qi had appeared before them!
Without time to even curse inwardly, the Memokeepers tried to turn ethereal the moment they saw the sword qi, hoping to evade the damage.
However, as the sword qi passed through their bodies, they discovered that it could actually harm their memetic forms!
But by the time they realized this, it was already too late.
Fu Zhu put away Yamato and turned to look at the empty space behind him, stroking his chin.
"I forgot, I only give them a quick death if they tell the truth... but it's not too late."
Fu Zhu snapped his fingers. The spot where the Memokeepers had been standing began to glow as time rewound. Countless motes of light reconverged, and the Memokeepers, along with the vanished sword qi, reappeared. In the next second, they repeated their previous actions—turning ethereal, being cut down by the sword qi, then time rewinding once more, over and over again.
His little sister, perched on his shoulder, watched this unbelievable scene unfold and chirped twice at Fu Zhu.
"Mimi? (The power of Time?)"
"In a sense, I suppose you could say that."
This was one of the commands in MC. In this data-world of Amphoreus, it was indeed quite similar to the power of Time.
Fu Zhu reached out and patted Mimi's head, then turned and spoke to the empty space beside him. "Alright, you can come out now."
Evernight appeared with March 7th beside Fu Zhu. She walked over to the barrier with great interest and touched it with her hand. She could feel that it was solid, and even with her abilities, she couldn't pass through this strange barrier. No wonder those Memokeepers hadn't tried to escape; it was because they couldn't!
"Is this barrier specifically for memetic lifeforms?"
"No, it targets everyone."
This square-shaped barrier was, of course, constructed by Fu Zhu using a command to summon Barrier Blocks. Let alone memetic lifeforms, even he himself couldn't pass through or mine through these blocks.
"Quite efficient, darling."
"Of course!"
Evernight praised him sincerely, but March 7th, standing beside her, looked at the two with a hint of jealousy.
Why did it feel so wrong to hear another version of herself praising her own boyfriend?