Outside the Mind Realm, everyone stared anxiously at the Ruyi Mirror, helpless yet unable to do anything. All they could do was shout and cheer, trying to give A Jun strength.
Xiao Xi, nearly frantic, kept swatting at the black mist surrounding A Jun, trying to drive it away. Xiao Jiuwuo, meanwhile, gently pulled a napkin from A Jun's pocket with her mouth and used her tail to wipe the cold sweat from his face.
Gradually, A Jun's five senses were nearly stripped away by the fake Uncle. But perhaps by coincidence, A Jun felt he could still hear faint sounds… He suddenly noticed a girl's voice calling to him from afar—gentle and uplifting, encouraging him not to give up. "You can do it." It felt like a bowl of chicken soup poured straight into his soul—familiar and comforting.
Then, the boy realized his arms were filled with strength, as if some unknown force was helping him pull back. On his arms, the unique guardian vein patterns began to glow—two channels shimmering like silver moons. The mist around his body began to thin.
—What is this… how?
A Jun only glanced at it. There was no time to think—he had to give it his all. Slowly, he began to regain control. His right hand started to break free from the gemstone's pull. The fake Uncle beside him grew anxious, suddenly reaching out with both hands, trying to seize A Jun in one move.
At that critical moment, a truly reassuring figure finally appeared. With a flash of red light from his hand, the newcomer instantly destroyed the fake Uncle, then grabbed the dazed A Jun, gently pushed him aside, and suppressed the restless gemstone in one swift motion.
A Jun had once again escaped danger. But the overwhelming force caused him to lose balance and fall to the ground.
"You reckless brat! You've got some nerve—messing around with Xuanwu County's trial like that…"
The figure turned around and scolded the disheveled A Jun, eyes full of concern. A Jun knew—there was always that one person who, when worried, would talk endlessly. So the boy obediently listened to the elder's emotional outburst until it finally subsided.
"Uncle—you really came!"
"What do you mean 'really'? I'm steamed, boiled, and served!" Uncle glared at the boy. A Jun pointed at the fading fake Uncle, trying to explain his understanding.
"That was a knockoff! And you couldn't even tell? No eye for detail at all—don't you know what I'm like? What a waste!"
But Uncle didn't give A Jun a chance to defend himself. Wrong was wrong. The mistake had been made from the start. Though his words were harsh, Uncle knew A Jun had already sensed something was off. The enemy's tricks were strange—it was normal the boy couldn't handle it. His complaints were just worry in disguise.
A Jun understood. He listened quietly, like a student being lectured, but inside he felt relaxed and relieved. He had preserved his most precious memory—perhaps at great cost. It seemed he had completed the trial, despite all the hardship. He'd reunited with his nagging uncle after a long time. He'd successfully used a power that had only been a dream before. He hadn't let everyone down—even if he'd nearly lost his life. No risk, no reward… There was much to reflect on, but the aftermath of the battle left him exhausted.
Uncle glanced at the boy's condition, then waved his hand. The two sat face to face. In the Mind Realm, A Jun would occasionally have tea with Uncle—but usually got kicked out quickly. Today, Uncle was acting differently. They finished the first pot of tea, and Uncle still sat there, unmoving, as if he hadn't had enough. It made A Jun wonder.
"—What, is it such a burden for a young man to have tea with an old one?"
Uncle looked at the dazed boy and teased him with a cold laugh. Then, sipping his tea, he explained: "You must be wondering why I'm keeping you here so long…"
"Mm."
Though used to Uncle's antics, A Jun still didn't quite follow this time. He replied sheepishly, "—Uncle, are you in a bad mood today and just want someone to talk to?"
"Me—"
That did it. Uncle nearly spat out his tea. He wiped his mouth and chuckled awkwardly. "—Me? I look that idle?"
"Ah… oh, no, I was just curious. Because normally…" Truthfully, A Jun could never guess what his uncle was thinking. Maybe he was wrong again.
"—Mm, it's a bit special. Just wait a bit."
Uncle interrupted him again, then playfully warned, "You brat! Breaking the rules of Xuanwu County's thousand-year trial—think you'll get off easy? Normally, someone would be unconscious for ten days or half a month!"
"Ah? That long? But I still have more trials…" A Jun panicked. Would this delay his progress?
"Hey, what's the rush!"
Uncle looked at him calmly, a slight smile on his lips. "—Relax. That's for normal people. You'll probably wake up in about a day."
"Oh!" With that authoritative answer, A Jun finally relaxed and took a sip of tea to calm himself.
"When grown-ups talk, kids should listen!"
"Me? But Uncle, you also don't—"
"—You what, me what! Talking back?" Uncle snapped, cutting him off. Then he shoved the teaware toward A Jun, grumbling, "Here, you make the second pot… Don't worry, I'll let you go soon. Don't think I want to keep you around—just looking at you annoys me!"
Of course, A Jun didn't mind Uncle's nagging. He smiled and took the teaware, brewing a fine pot of jasmine-scented Biluochun—just like Uncle used to.
Though Uncle didn't look directly at the boy, his subtle expression revealed a trace of satisfaction. After brewing the tea, A Jun glanced at Uncle, then at the gemstone nearby. The two of them continued chatting over tea…
This was the scene A Jun had always longed for—comfortable and peaceful. He didn't even know why, but being with Uncle felt like being home: warm and familiar.
A Jun still had many questions he wanted to ask. Uncle seemed to know everything—maybe this time he'd finally get some answers.
Meanwhile, outside the Mind Realm… beyond the sanctuary, Xiao Xi was carefully carrying the unconscious A Jun across the lake's surface. The Saintess followed behind, holding Xiao Jiuwuo. Their eyes were fixed on him, but their expressions were very different.
Having personally experienced A Jun's past, the Saintess now understood the boy more deeply—but also felt more confused. She kept replaying the events etched in her memory, trying to understand A Jun's motives—why, despite all warnings and advice, he still insisted on completing the trial, breaking the ice, protecting others, and risking himself.
She also blamed herself—for her moment of hesitation, for breaking her principles and the sanctuary's rules. Was it empathy? Or was it something else—an emotion she'd never felt before, stirred by this boy?
The cat, meanwhile, was more worried about A Jun's physical condition. Ever since the trial ended, he had collapsed and remained unconscious. No matter how Xiao Jiuwuo called out, there was no response. She was full of concern.
Though the Saintess had already reassured them not to worry, the cat couldn't help herself. She tried again to wake A Jun, but the girl gently stopped her, saying he was just tired and asleep—he'd wake up soon.
Looking at A Jun and listening to the Saintess, the cat finally calmed down. Though the explanation was professional, Xiao Jiuwuo barely absorbed any of it.
Even the Saintess, despite her composed appearance, was unsettled. The sacred beast's guidance gave her near-total confidence that A Jun was safe. But her knowledge of the trial and past experiences made her uneasy—she had once witnessed a participant who, despite making the right choices, remained unconscious for months.
So, like the cat, she didn't fully believe her own theory. But their worries were unnecessary. The sacred beast's guidance was flawless. Though A Jun looked terrible, he was actually happily chatting with Uncle.
A Jun recounted everything he'd seen, heard, and felt since setting out. But he was often told to keep it brief—no rambling. Uncle listened impatiently, his expressions subtle: sometimes a cold smile, sometimes blank, sometimes silently sipping tea.
When A Jun mentioned the trial—especially the deer boy—Uncle smiled, but it was strange and cold, muttering to himself. When it came to the beast battle, Uncle grew silent, expressionless.
Only when A Jun talked about Exotic Beast Town and Whirlpool Island did Uncle react positively—he seemed to relate, even commenting on the launch platform and the new director.
During their chat, A Jun occasionally heard that same encouraging voice from earlier. But this time, the tone was urgent, and he couldn't understand the words. Yet Uncle smiled beside him—as if he could hear it too.
"Uncle… did I do something wrong?"
Since completing the trial, A Jun hadn't felt at ease. So many unexpected things had happened. He felt guilty for breaking the rules and dragging others into danger.
"Kid, trials are full of uncertainty. There's no such thing as right or wrong. That's the whole point of the protection mechanism—what did you think it was for?"
Uncle glanced at him, a bit annoyed, then spoke in a different tone—like scolding a child. "Besides, you didn't do anything wrong. Maybe that was the right choice."
"But…" A Jun felt comforted, his mind slowly settling. But Uncle's patience was limited.
"No buts! Be confident. Drop those two words—come on, drink your tea."
And just like that, the two completed a round of emotional counseling. They continued sipping tea. Soon, the second pot was halfway gone. A Jun couldn't hold back anymore.
"Ask away. I've got time today. But I won't promise to answer everything."
Clearly, Uncle knew what the boy was thinking—and gave him a chance. But it wasn't an easy one. A Jun knew Uncle's temperament. Some questions wouldn't get answers. Better to choose wisely…
"Uncle, I don't understand—why did that memory have to be erased?"
Uncle expected a barrage of questions, but not this tricky one. He paused, took a sip of tea to steady himself, and tried to brush it off—only to be blocked by A Jun's next line:
"Uncle, are you going to say I'm still too young, and I'll understand later?"
Uncle hadn't expected the boy to be so sharp. He couldn't dodge this one. So he awkwardly shifted tactics.
"What? You think I'm that kind of person? Look, it's part of the trial. It's been that way for thousands of years—you know that."
"I… but I still don't get it. That was my most precious memory."
Some memories fading was understandable. But that one fragment—A Jun couldn't let it go. He believed it shouldn't have been erased.
This time, Uncle didn't respond immediately. He didn't get angry either. He paused, thought deeply, then looked at the boy and said seriously:
"You need to understand—Xuanwu County's trials may be harsh, but they're precise. They don't make rookie mistakes. As for why… I can't tell you yet. Besides, didn't you get to keep it? Kid, without this trial, maybe you'd never have encountered that memory. Everything has two sides."
"But…"
"No buts! My mouth's dry already. Keep going and I'll blow up!"
Seeing the boy unwilling to let it go, Uncle snapped back. Then he glanced at him, smiling as he sipped his tea.
"I…"
A Jun hesitated, glanced at his increasingly impatient uncle, and chose to let it go—for now. But the desire to uncover the truth hadn't left him. Maybe Uncle was right: no matter how messy the process, the result was good. As for the reason and that missing piece of memory, perhaps it was something he should discover on his own.
"Alright, why worry about all that? Even if you knew, it wouldn't change anything! That's just how trials work. You, kid, were lucky!"
Seeing the boy looking a bit deflated, Uncle softened. He decided to shift the topic and casually continued, "This trial is the strictest and hardest among the Five Counties—also the most dangerous. There was once a foolish kid, just like you, who broke the rules and ended up trapped inside for three whole days and nights!"
"What happened to him afterward?" Hearing this, A Jun perked up, curious.
"Well, he did complete it. But in the end, he wasn't as brave as you." Uncle sighed with emotion.
"Why?"
"Because… because he went against his own heart—hm? That's enough!" Uncle took a big sip of tea, dodging the rest of the story. Instead, he comforted the boy, "Anyway, you didn't let me down. Good job!"
"Mm, it's all thanks to Uncle showing up in time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it through the trial. It's just…"
Normally, Uncle rarely gave praise. So this compliment surprised A Jun—it carried support, affirmation, and encouragement. Even though he knew Uncle was trying to make him feel better, it still warmed his heart. And when people feel warm, they get excited—and forget the rules.
After being praised, A Jun saw that Uncle was in a good mood. Suddenly, a flood of questions popped into his head: Who was the fake Uncle? What was that monster? And what was that mysterious flash that helped him?
"Where do you get so many questions? One at a time… no, wait…" Uncle suddenly sensed a heavy pressure, calmly sipped his tea, and reminded him bluntly, "—Listen, you only get two more questions!"
Faced with the rule, A Jun carefully picked his questions. He tested the waters: "Can I ask about the fake Uncle's origin?"
"Nope!"
"What about the gemstone?"
"Nope! You brat… pretending to have amnesia, huh?"
This and that were both off-limits. Uncle's replies left A Jun a bit flustered. So he lowered the difficulty and asked something less likely to be rejected.
This time, Uncle relaxed and answered readily: "—Mm! That's easy. You're in the Mind Mirror—your spiritual world. So many real-world constraints disappear. That's why your abilities manifested."
Hearing this, A Jun suddenly had a strange thought…
"—Stop right there! This place may be nice, but it's still a virtual world—like a game. You'll have to return to reality eventually. Staying here too long drains your energy and can even harm your body!"
Uncle spoke like a wise older brother, guiding the confused boy.
"Then Uncle… are you virtual too?"
A Jun couldn't help asking a question he himself found a bit silly—but it had always been one of his doubts.
"You little punk!"
Uncle's face turned green. He jumped up, furious. "You think my intelligence is lower than yours?"
—Fair enough. Uncle knew so much, always guiding and helping him see through the fog. There was no way A Jun could've imagined him on his own.
Still, for years, A Jun had been curious about Uncle's origin. He didn't care whether he was real or not—he just felt Uncle's presence was more than a hallucination. It was always just right. In fact, A Jun secretly hoped to meet Uncle in real life someday—not just in fleeting dreams.
Now, seeing Uncle like this, the boy felt both guilty and comforted. Suddenly, he realized his plan had gained a new goal…
"Any more questions?" Uncle looked at the sheepish boy, feeling a bit sorry for him, and asked kindly.
"Didn't you say only two questions?" A Jun was self-aware, even though he still had many unanswered doubts.
"Then… don't ask!" Uncle paused, then deliberately grew serious, sipping tea and testing the boy.
"I do, I do…"
Like receiving a prize, A Jun's eyes lit up. He quickly organized his thoughts and asked, "Uncle, that flash I saw earlier—do you know what it was?"
"Mm! That was just the manifestation of your own power."
Uncle answered casually, but A Jun wasn't convinced. Clearly, it wasn't that simple. But he didn't dare press further—Uncle's expression was already full of resistance.
"Then when I was trapped by the gemstone… was it Uncle who helped pull me free?"
A Jun changed the topic—referring to the moment when an extra force helped him resist the gemstone's pull.
"Nope!"
"Then what was it?"
"Oh… that was just your own latent power. Everyone has the potential to unleash incredible strength in moments of crisis. Nothing unusual."
Uncle explained like a teacher. But as A Jun listened, he felt both enlightened and more confused. Uncle didn't plan to hear more questions. He cut him off and raised his tea, then flipped the script:
"Alright, that's two questions. Q&A time is over! Ahem, didn't you mention some island earlier?"
"Oh!"
A Jun couldn't gather his thoughts fast enough. He set aside all his questions and replied, "—Uncle means Peach Blossom Abyss, right?"
"Mm, that's the one. So, how was it?" Uncle asked with interest.
"Uncle, you know about that island too?" A Jun was surprised. Uncle had shown interest in it before.
"How could I not? I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. It's even mentioned in books—you didn't know?"
"Me?"
A Jun had loved reading since he was little, and his memory was decent. But clearly, Uncle was far more knowledgeable. He realized his own experience was still lacking. So he described everything he saw and felt at Peach Blossom Abyss in detail. Uncle sipped tea and listened patiently, as if matching it with his own memories.
When A Jun described the armillary-like structure and the launch platform, Uncle's expression turned mysterious. Then he began discussing astronomy—sounding like a true expert, with unique insights about the moon.
"Do you think… there's alien life out there like us?" As they talked about the universe, Uncle casually raised a special question.
"Definitely!"
A Jun answered without hesitation. Since childhood, he'd been fascinated by the vast cosmos and always believed in aliens.
As a boy, he often lay on the attic roof, gazing at the stars, imagining the mysteries of the universe. Sometimes, he even hoped that aliens like him would come take him home—because back then, little A Jun truly believed he might not belong to this world.
Although the idea of alien life might seem strange to most people—perhaps only a few truly believe it—A Jun felt that anything was possible. Maybe he himself was even more unbelievable than the legends of aliens.
Uncle was different from most people too. On this topic, he and A Jun were the same kind of person. It seemed the two shared not only similar personalities, but also similar interests.
Of course, Uncle had long known what the boy was thinking—he smiled with satisfaction and nodded in affirmation. The two continued chatting until the third pot of tea was nearly finished… Just as A Jun was about to refill it, he was stopped.
"You can go back now."
Uncle glanced at the boy, then casually tidied up the tea set as he spoke bluntly.
"I…" A Jun looked off into the distance, then back at Uncle.
"—Any more tea and we'll be out of leaves. Don't you know how expensive things are these days?"
—Oh, alright…
Though reluctant, A Jun knew that once Uncle said so, there was no room to linger. He obediently walked to the return point, gazing at Uncle's back, emotions swirling inside him.
As the light beam activated, the boy once again reluctantly left this fleeting sanctuary of the soul—one that existed only within himself. This time, Uncle never turned around, nor did he leave.
A Jun couldn't help but think… One day, he would find a way to make dreams touch reality.
Just as the transition was about to complete, a familiar voice echoed in his ear again—unclear, slightly worried, and quickly fading. Then, A Jun heard other sounds.
—Hmm?