Chapter 236 Let go of unnecessary worries, pack up your smiles and determination, and head towards tomorrow♪
Beside her, Xi Lian gazed quietly at the little gray-haired boy, gently pressing one hand to her chest, feeling the steady and powerful beating of her heart, and spoke in a deep and solemn tone.
"I will tell you the stories of this past thousand years. That way, they will no longer be my memories alone."
Similarly, I will tell everyone about the time we spent together. In this way, the path we walked will become a memory for everyone.
"People will know that there is no need to chase after anything anymore, for Onphalus has already ushered in the dawn of the oracle."
As Xi Lian spoke softly, she slowly walked toward the ritual sword of the Priest of Time.
She stopped in front of the ancient longsword, turned around gently, and gazed at the little gray-haired boy with the gentlest of eyes.
"Just like people said, it won't be any harder than last time, right?"
"Sorry I'm late..."
Little Gray Fur's face was heavy with sorrow, his eyelids drooped listlessly, his little head was bowed deeply, and he was completely listless, unable to muster any spirit.
With his back to Little Gray Fur, Xi Lian seemed oblivious to her dejected and heartbroken state. He looked up at the distant, hazy horizon and whispered a confident guess.
"What kind of expression will the Trail Blazers have at this moment? It will definitely be the same as before: calm, determined, and full of confidence, right?"
"If given the chance, I'd like to see it again."
But soon, her tone suddenly became heavy and sorrowful.
As she slowly turned around, her entire body began to gradually become ethereal and transparent, just like all the fragmented memories that had appeared before, fading away.
With deep regret and reluctance, she said softly:
"Because it's been so long since we parted ways."
"Xi Lian, even you..."
From the very beginning, Little Gray Fur had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
Although Xi Lian was standing in front of her, it was as if she couldn't see her at all, and she could walk straight through the physical door to the other side.
But when Xi Lian truly turned into a phantom of memory, Little Gray Fur felt as if his heart had been torn apart, the pain was so intense that he could not breathe, and his whole body trembled slightly.
She took a few heavy steps forward, her hand trembling as she reached out to grab Xi Lian, but she couldn't touch anything.
The cruel truth is laid bare before us, proving that this is merely an image left behind by Xi Lian a long time ago.
Just like the image of the Great Black Tower she first encountered, it was merely a fragment of memory.
Hundreds of years, or even further back in time.
While Xi Lian was still alive, she had already meticulously deduced all of Xiao Hui Mao's movements.
To carry out this long performance without a protagonist, meticulously and persistently to the very end.
At that time, perhaps Xi Lian would be all alone in the world.
She waited for Little Gray Fur day and night, but he never returned.
In the end, this was the only way to leave behind my final words of advice and hopes.
And now, Xi Lian has completely disappeared from her sight.
What was left for Little Gray was not just heart-wrenching sadness and pain.
Even the last glimmer of hope in my heart vanished completely.
She had to admit that she was indeed late.
Arriving late plunged her into endless self-blame, making her deeply hate herself and unable to forgive herself.
"Having reached this point, you must have already realized it—this is not reality, but a labyrinth of 'time.'"
Xi Lian slowly raised her head, gazing at the illusory, broken, distorted, and hazy building before her, and softly spoke to Little Gray Fur.
"The final link in this relay will be my return to the Temple of the Three Fates, where I will tell these stories to Oronis and place every page that everyone has written into the little bottle of 'Memory'..."
"Then, may it set sail safely... drifting with the flame of 'Burning World' across the river of time, reaching the pioneers, and becoming your guide back to Onphalos."
Xi Lian gazed intently at the little gray-haired boy.
Deep in her memory and mind, a soft, adorable puppy with a big pink tail suddenly appeared, staring at the little gray fur with curious eyes.
Is this the Mimi that Little Black Horse met when he first came to Onfaros?
"Just like when we first met, right?"
"Although in this life, Onpharos does not possess the demigod 'Time,' 'Time' has always been on humanity's side."
"Only in this way can we ensure that 'Rebirth' will not happen before the Pathfinders return..."
"Only in this way can people fully and completely place their final journey to the fire into the heart of the 'Savior.'"
"After all, a new world will be born from your 'memory.' The protagonist of the story... absolutely cannot be absent."
Xi Lian's gentle comfort and firm encouragement were like a ray of light, helping Little Gray Fur regain his shattered confidence.
She put her hands firmly on her hips, raised her small face, revealed a confident smile, and nodded emphatically.
"I will take you all to a new world."
Although Xi Lian couldn't see the little gray hair at this moment, she understood and trusted her completely.
A gentle smile played on her lips as she softly said, "I believe the Trail Blazers will not disappoint... as always."
Even knowing that Little Gray Fur would recover, Xi Lian still wanted to relieve her of all her heavy burdens.
Her voice remained gentle as water, flowing slowly through the air.
"Do you remember when Bai Er sent us back to the starting point? I also experienced parting with the Trail Blazers. But in the end, they still reunited with you, carrying all their past memories."
"That's what memory is. In the long river of time, it may wear down, it may fade, but it will never leave. When a corner of your heart is awakened, memories will surely reappear in an even more beautiful form."
"So, don't worry. Let the '33,550,337th Journey to Chase Fire' also be part of the pioneers' journey. With the experience from last time, they're much more skilled now."
After speaking, Xi Lian turned halfway around and pointed to the ritual sword of the Time Priest behind her.
"Next, the Trail Blazers will head to Stikosia to find the entrance to the vortex guarded by the demigod 'Ocean,' and then rush to the stage for the final battle."
Little Grey looked at Xi Lian's figure, then at the ceremonial sword that stood quietly.
The final battle is just around the corner, but the pain she has endured along the way and the long relay of the Golden Descendants across a thousand years still fill her with sorrow.
It even gave rise to a sense of fear and unease that was hard to suppress.
I'm afraid I won't do well, afraid of letting down everyone's expectations and sacrifices.
She walked this road with remarkable ease and smoothness, but behind this road lay countless untold hardships and setbacks.
The little gray-haired boy's trembling heart had already given the most truthful answer.
Fear is instinct, taking responsibility is mission, and it is also her firm determination to win everything.
Xi Lian understands Little Gray Fur so well.
She had long anticipated that Little Gray would be sad, lost, and timid when he got here.
She slowly took a step closer to the little gray-haired creature, her voice so gentle it could melt ice and snow, softly offering comfort.
"Don't worry, they will be with you. All of us, along with Bai Er... will be with the 'Savior'."
Immediately afterwards, in a misaligned and intertwined space-time, the two locked eyes.
They both clearly saw the unwavering determination in each other's eyes.
Xi Lian believed in Little Gray Hair unconditionally.
I believe that after enduring thousands of years of hardship, she will not back down or run away out of fear.
So she turned halfway around again, looked at the ceremonial sword, and pointed out the final direction to Little Gray.
Then, she put her hands behind her back and turned her small, chubby body slightly to the side.
She gazed at the little gray-haired boy with tenderness and affection, swaying her body gently as she spoke, looking both adorable and earnest.
"Let's say a brief goodbye, and then set off, just as we agreed when we started our journey..."
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Xi Lian's lingering memories vanished completely in front of Little Gray Fur.
Little Gray hurriedly reached out to grab it, but it was too late; he couldn't catch anything.
In the empty air, only her final, tender blessing remained, gently echoing.
(End of chapter)