Stepping out from the heavy iron gates of the Elysian Realm, which sealed it off from the rest of the world, Lin Wei listened to the rumbling sound of them closing behind him. He chuckled and remarked, "Heh, the air in reality really smells much worse than in the Elysian Realm."
Thousands of meters deep underground, a profound darkness. The chilling cold of a place untouched by sunlight year-round. A dampness constantly seeping from the ceiling and walls, and the mottled, rusty smell accumulated over tens of thousands of years...
Thanks to World Serpent's reasonably well-maintained ventilation system here, these odors, though mixed, didn't carry the stench of prolonged decay. Aside from an oppressive feeling of being buried deep underground, it wasn't too uncomfortable—of course, stepping from a paradise into such a world, the sense of disparity wouldn't be small either.
"Alright, 'vacation's' over!"
Lin Wei stretched languidly in the dim light, then turned to Yuno, who was still looking back, slightly dazed, and asked, "How are you? Feeling okay?"
Yuno, hearing this, came back to her senses. She tried moving her arms and legs, carefully assessing the sensations in her limbs, then nodded lightly. "Okay."
"Is that so? That's good. Better than me."
Lin Wei smiled faintly, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "Last time I left here, my limbs were so uncoordinated, I fell pretty badly..."
In truth, it wasn't as bad as he made it sound. Raven had come to pick him up then and had deftly caught him before he truly fell, preventing that tragic incident.
But that didn't stop Lin Wei from joking about this embarrassing moment to help Yuno quickly overcome the feeling of disparity and discomfort.
"I wonder how she's doing now..."
Revisiting an old place, with a similar scene to before, Lin Wei couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for an old friend. She, who had long since departed, obviously wouldn't be here to pick him up this time.
In fact, this time, no one was waiting for him. Standing in the deepest part of this dark tunnel were only himself and Yuno.
"!"
Hearing Lin Wei's words, Yuno jolted and then examined her body even more carefully. Lin Wei chuckled at the sight, waiting a few seconds before speaking, "Let's go."
Yuno's adaptability was much better than his had been. The disparity between returning to reality from the Elysian Realm didn't affect her much or cause significant discomfort.
"...Where are we going?" Yuno asked.
After leaving Schicksal, the real world was as unfamiliar to her as the Elysian Realm; at least she had become quite familiar with the latter during this time.
"Let's go find Gray Serpent first and find out what's happened during this time. He's probably been waiting for me at the old place for a while now."
Seeing that Yuno had indeed adapted to reality, Lin Wei started walking forward, smiling with a nonchalant tone. "After all, this time, it was also him who called us out of the Elysian Realm, just like last time..."
In fact, Lin Wei had already met Gray Serpent before entering the Elysian Realm this time. They had agreed back then that if any major events concerning their mutual interests occurred, he would immediately send someone to call Lin Wei out.
Because of this, Lin Wei knew his time in the Elysian Realm wouldn't be long this time. Therefore, compared to his aimlessness last time, he was much busier and more aggressive this time. As for the results...
Lin Wei thought of the Bodhi leaf Su had given him and the information recorded within it. He shook his head lightly and summarized to himself, "Barely satisfactory, I suppose..."
After all, to realize the method envisioned in this Bodhi leaf, there were still many very tricky and urgent problems, such as...
Lin Wei shook his head, pushing those thoughts back down. Regardless, he should thank Su, and Mobius too—even though when he went to find Mobius afterward, she had ruthlessly ridiculed him...
"And then what?" Yuno asked, closely following Lin Wei's steps.
"Then? There's a lot to do then. For example, helping you fix the hidden dangers in your body, and also..."
Thinking of the difficulties Ana and Yae Sakura were facing, and Otto, the biggest obstacle in his path, Lin Wei's eyes narrowed slightly. Then, in the next second, his expression returned to normal. He just turned and patted her head. "And for example, relearning how to live, how to grow up."
"I'm already very big!"
Yuno swatted away Lin Wei's mischievous hand, protesting in a small voice, then suddenly realized that her action itself seemed very childish.
"Is that so? Then let's relearn how to live~"
Lin Wei smiled. Childishness was a good thing; it represented new life and vitality, signifying another rebirth of the soul and will, another chance to grow into an adult.
Chatting as they walked, the two proceeded slowly along the long, winding corridor. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated between the empty walls, returning to their own ears before dissipating into the deeper, more distant parts of the passage.
Even the longest tunnel has an end. As they rounded the last bend and a faint light began to appear ahead in the previously dark and deep corridor, Lin Wei and Yuno finally returned to the sunlight once more.
"Greetings, you two. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time."
A woman they had never seen before stood at the entrance of the tunnel. Seeing Lin Wei and Yuno appear, she spoke calmly and indifferently, "Please follow me. Lord Gray Serpent has been waiting for you for a long time."
She found it strange because these two had come from the Elysian Realm, and there was no other destination for this deep underground tunnel. Yet Gray Serpent had clearly instructed her to treat these two as guests.
In her view, anyone qualified to enter that place must be one of World Serpent's own—so why such formality among themselves?
She couldn't understand it and really wanted to ask. But she dared not violate even a fraction of World Serpent's strict rules and regulations, so she could only bury her curiosity deep in her heart.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go."
Lin Wei said politely and courteously, with no intention of getting chummy with her. Apart from Raven, he had no interest in anyone from World Serpent.
Before Kevin's return, anything could be said to Gray Serpent. Everyone's time was precious; it was better not to waste each other's.
"Alright, this way, please."
Seeing Lin Wei's polite yet distant smile, the woman understood his meaning. She said no more, gestured, and led the two towards the sacrificial grounds.
This was also a familiar route. Lin Wei smiled faintly; it was a pity the person guiding him this time wasn't Raven.
Without that slightly sharp-tongued fellow around, it's quite lonely walking on this road, Lin Wei thought with a hint of regret.
Lost in various thoughts, Lin Wei suddenly noticed that someone's footsteps beside him had stopped. Turning his head, he saw Yuno standing about a meter behind him, seemingly in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Wei asked, puzzled.
"There, there's a person. I've seen her."
Yuno pointed in the direction in front of her and added hesitantly, "Not in Schicksal..."
Not in Schicksal. Could it be a former classmate, friend, or relative?
Curious, Lin Wei followed the direction of her finger. When he vaguely made out the blurry silhouette in the distance amidst the swirling yellow sand, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned. Then, he turned and walked in that direction.
"If I'm not mistaken..."
As Lin Wei thought this, a surge of anger welled up, and a chill ran down his spine.
"Mr. Lin Wei, not that way!" The woman, seeing this, hurried forward to stop him.
"Get lost!"
Lin Wei didn't even glance at her, unceremoniously brushing past her.
"Wait!"
The woman became anxious. She also glanced in the direction Lin Wei was heading, then hurriedly caught up with him. Looking at the menacing Yuno, who was ready to strike at any moment, she pleaded, sweating profusely, "Mr. Lin Wei, and this young lady... Lord Gray Serpent is waiting for you both ahead. If there's any misunderstanding, you can go and ask him in person..."
These two are definitely not World Serpent members!
The woman lamented inwardly. After all, no World Serpent member would dare to be so reckless in a place like the headquarters.
"..."
Lin Wei calmed down slightly. He gave this worker a cold look, then glanced again at the figure in the distance. With a cold snort, he turned and walked towards Gray Serpent.
"If it really is her, Gray Serpent, you must give me an explanation!"
Lin Wei thought resentfully.
Seeing Lin Wei leave, Yuno also retracted her ready-to-strike vines and followed. The woman wiped her cold sweat and hurriedly followed as well.
Meanwhile.
Amidst the swirling dust of North Africa, a disheartened girl, led by another woman, trudged towards a corridor in a corner of the sacrificial grounds.
"Hurry up."
The woman glanced back at her and muttered to herself, "It's really strange. You usually look like you've lost your soul, yet you managed to pass the assessment so quickly and earn the qualification to train and be baptized in the Elysian Realm?"
She knew this girl had recently lost many memories, so her tone was quite complex, and it was unclear whether her words were more teasing or comforting.
"..."
The girl remained silent, as if she hadn't heard the woman's urging or muttering. She just kept her head down, silently following behind, like a puppet with no will of her own, easily manipulated.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to sense something. She instinctively looked up towards the distance, and her originally dull pupils contracted sharply.
Among the three figures vaguely disappearing under the cover of the swirling yellow sand, the silhouette of the male figure struck her heart like a bullet, instantly causing turmoil in her already deadened heart.
"Who is he?"
The girl felt a wave of confusion. The figure seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him.
However, this didn't stop a strong urge from suddenly welling up within her: chase after him, catch up to him, and ask him to clarify!
"Ask him to clarify? Ask what?"
The girl asked and answered herself in a daze. She didn't know where this strong urge came from.
Never mind, chase! Ask!
Thus, the originally lifeless girl instantly came alive. She shook off the woman beside her and ran like mad towards the distance.
She didn't know why she was suddenly so agitated; she just couldn't help but want to do it.
"Wait, where are you going?"
The woman was startled and hurriedly chased after her, grabbing her and scolding sharply, "Are you trying to defy... Ah!"
Before the woman could finish her warning, she suddenly let out a cry of pain and abruptly released her grip on the girl as if electrocuted. "You lunatic, are you crazy?"
The woman clutched her already bloody hand in disbelief. Had she just been ambushed?
"..."
The girl, having succeeded in her sneak attack, merely glanced at her. Then, she put away the blood-soaked scissors and ran off into the distance again.
"Bang!"
The woman's other, unharmed hand pulled a pistol from her waist and fired a shot into the air. Then, she pointed the still-smoking muzzle at the girl's slender back and斥责道 angrily, "Defying orders, harming a colleague, attempting to escape... The Serpent's rules are strict. Are you looking to die?"
If you dare take another step forward, I'll have to shoot!
"..."
The girl seemed to understand her warning. She stopped and slowly turned around—only to see her press the points of the scissors deeply against her own throat, looking at the gun-wielding woman with a mocking expression, while still backing away step by step.
"You!"
Provoked to such an extent, the woman finally grew angry and decided to teach this arrogant lunatic a lesson.
"Let her go. The matter of training and promotion can wait a little longer; it won't make much difference."
Gray Serpent's voice came through her communicator. "For harming a colleague, she will receive the punishment she deserves."
"...Yes, Lord Gray Serpent."
The woman reluctantly put away her gun and shouted angrily at the girl, "Get lost!"
The girl watched her warily, retreated a few more steps, then finally lowered the scissors and disappeared into the dust storm.
"Sigh..."
The woman sighed as she watched her receding figure. Clutching the wound on her hand, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Lord Gray Serpent, she's still just a child. Please be lenient with her punishment."
"Hehe..."
Gray Serpent chuckled noncommittally.
"Go treat your wound."
"Yes..."
........
Meanwhile, the girl, disheveled, chased after Lin Wei, searching blankly in the vast sacrificial grounds. She wanted to call his name but realized she didn't even know who he was.
Was it an illusion, or wishful thinking?
The girl didn't know. She only knew she wanted an answer, even if she didn't even know what the question to that answer was. So, she continued her search, unwilling to give up.
Finally, as she reached a door in a corner of the sacrificial grounds, she heard some different sounds.
"Bang!"
A gunshot.
"Thump..."
The sound of a heavy object falling.
And an unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar, male voice coldly saying, "A life for a life—Gray Serpent, you should be grateful for my mercy!"
"..."
The girl stood outside the door, hearing every word.
She seemed to understand something. A mournful smile touched her lips, and two streams of tears uncontrollably rolled down from her eyes.
Her fingers, white from gripping her mouth tightly, stood there for a moment before she turned and walked back the way she came, as if welcoming her unshakeable fate...