Confirming it was indeed a Stellaron, Herta glanced at the progress of the simulated universe and decisively switched communication channels.
"Ruan Mei, I have something to deal with. You take over the simulated universe project for now."
"I have personal matters today as well. Find Screwllum." The voice from the other end of the communication was cold and indifferent.
Herta was surprised and asked bluntly.
"Your tone sounds a bit sorrowful. That's quite a rarity. Have you run into some insurmountable hurdle?"
"...Commemorating someone... Alright, let's leave it at that."
The communication was hung up without further explanation.
In a lush world trillions of light-years away, on a planet now named Planet Huaimu.
Plum blossoms were in full bloom across the mountains. As a gentle breeze blew past, layers of floral waves surged like intoxicating tides.
In an instant, fallen petals brushed past her forehead, the sight making her eyes ache.
Beneath an ancient plum tree that had lived for thousands of years, a stone tablet stood lonely, with three bouquets of fresh flowers neatly placed before it.
Three women with vastly different temperaments stood in a fan shape, each lost in her own thoughts.
Ruan Mei was one of them.
Beside her, a woman dressed in a deep purple gown possessed a mature and curvaceous figure that perfectly carried that profound shade of purple.
She gazed at the five words she had personally carved onto the stone tablet, a tenderness blooming in her eyes that was reserved for only one person.
"Mr. Qi, Clarice is still here. She will keep searching for your existence, waiting for a reunion with you."
On the other side, a woman in a pure white gauze dress poured the wine from her cup onto the snowy ground in front of the tablet.
Then, she closed her eyes and remained still, letting the petals fall onto her shoulders without uttering a word.
The graceful woman standing in the center bowed slightly, her fingertips brushing against the edge of the stone tablet.
"A'Mu... wait for me. Teacher will definitely find you..."
Hearing this, Yu Qingtu opened her eyes.
"You say the same thing every year. Don't you get tired of it?"
"I just want to tell A'Mu that his teacher is always thinking of him."
"Then you must still remember those words I gave you thousands of years ago, right?"
"...I remember. You were right; I indeed did something that caused me lifelong regret. That's why now, I face my own heart every single second."
Ruan Mei's long eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes surging with a longing accumulated over thousands of years.
If it could be materialized, it would be enough to form a vast river spanning across galaxies.
Unfortunately, the other two women's longing for Qi Zhimu was no less than hers.
She was special, yet not quite special.
Seeing Ruan Mei like this, Yu Qingtu lost the inclination to reopen her wounds.
For that harm lasting over a hundred years, Ruan Mei had used tens of times that length in years to taste the bitter fruit she had brewed herself.
The resentment she had harbored against her in the early years had long since vanished.
They were all losers.
"Little Swan, has there been any movement from Jingliu's side lately?"
Although they didn't want to admit it... what that Little Fellow's disciple said back then on the Luofu was indeed something they couldn't refute.
In terms of restraint, Qi Zhimu's feelings for Jingliu were much more enduring than those of the three present.
Love is most noble when it involves sacrifice.
To be able to give everything, including life and soul, for one person had long since transcended the boundaries definable by words.
In this regard, they could not compare to Jingliu and could only counterattack with an unknowable future. How pathetic...
To think that such grand geniuses would actually lose in this aspect.
Black Swan retrieved the Garden of Recollection's recent records regarding Jingliu.
Jingliu acted in a high-profile manner, so her whereabouts were not difficult to find.
"Fifteen years ago, Miss Jingliu purged the Abominations of Abundance who invaded the dark celestial body, Planet Nord."
"Seven years ago, a Memokeeper captured her briefly landing on the Yaoqing Xianzhou."
"Most of her other experiences involve hunting the Abominations of Abundance. The most recent entry suggests she is moving toward the Xianzhou Luofu's flight path."
Yu Qingtu let out a long sigh, her tone desolate.
"It seems she has no news either. Over the years, the IPC has found millions of people named Qi Zhimu across different worlds and civilizations, but..."
"Many look similar on the surface, but not a single inner soul matches."
Black Swan and Ruan Mei did not speak.
Yu Qingtu did not keep this information to herself, sharing it generously.
Black Swan had her own methods of discernment, and so did Ruan Mei, but unfortunately, their conclusions were exactly the same as Yu Qingtu's.
Of all those named Qi Zhimu, none were the person they were looking for.
If he were, they would definitely be able to recognize him, just like the second time they missed him on the battlefield where Qi Zhimu's second life ended.
He couldn't be found through his name, nor could he be found through objects.
Since the death of the second-life Qi Zhimu, there has been no more forget-worry plum blossom brew or related curios.
The only two jars she had left were those from back then.
Besides those, Black Swan and Ruan Mei each held a jar, and presumably, neither could bear to drink them.
"I wonder how many cycles of reincarnation Mr. Qi has gone through by now..."
If there are any... No! There must be!
The reason he can't be found is that he has temporarily forgotten.
Black Swan hid a small secret in her heart that she had never revealed.
As a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection, she had her own means of tracing clues.
In Mr. Qi's second life, he held an item from his previous life!
When Yu Qingtu and Ruan Mei left one after another after the war where Shuhu launched a surprise attack on the Luofu, she did not.
Instead, she stayed there, following the river of memories to find the traces left by Qi Zhimu.
Her hard work paid off, and she actually found it.
She saw the plum blossom sachet she had given him when Mr. Qi's first life ended, while they were together under that brilliant starry sky.
A gift she had made by hand with deep affection—it was absolutely impossible to mistake it.
This meant that when Mr. Qi reincarnated, he wouldn't completely sever ties with his past life; he would at least remember a little.
Even if he didn't remember, it was likely just a temporary forgetting, lacking an opportunity to recall the past.
If he completely severed his past life and cut off all bonds, there would be no point in carrying items from a past life into reincarnation, right?
Therefore, she believed, firmly believed, and was certain—
That as long as she found the real Mr. Qi, he would definitely be able to recognize her.
It's just that...
The items Mr. Qi carried through reincarnation weren't just hers; there was also a type of chinese lute given by Ruan Mei.
This meant that in Mr. Qi's heart, there was always a place for Ruan Mei.
He had never forgotten, nor had he ever hated his teacher.
It's okay... she didn't mind.
She only asked that Mr. Qi be willing to leave a dedicated area for her in his heart, even if it was just a tiny inch; that would be enough.
"No matter how many cycles of reincarnation, I will not give up."
Ruan Mei straightened up, her nonchalant tone carrying an obsession that even thousands of tons of weight could not match.
"As I said before, if I find A'Mu first, I won't interfere with his attitude or choices toward you, but I won't take the initiative to mention you either."
"He's not even in sight yet, and you're already in a hurry to declare your sovereignty?"
Yu Qingtu couldn't help but laugh, saying with deep meaning:
"Don't forget the Little Fellow's sacrifices for Jingliu—a deep affection restrained for a thousand years, an obsession where he would give up his life just to ensure her well-being. What advantage do you think you have?"
Ruan Mei remained expressionless. "I have had marital relations with A'Mu. This is something Jingliu doesn't have, and none of you possess either."
"Fair enough." Yu Qingtu didn't deny it; she was also aware of this fact.
However, Black Swan slowly curled her lips into a smile.
"Marital relations?"
"Then... a meal cooked by force surely can't compare to one where both the pot and the rice were willing, right?"
"Mr. Qi's personal guard sisters are still alive and well; it's hard to say who has the advantage."
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