Chapter 226: Shivering Memories [18+]
"Good morning, Master Diviner! Is work going smoothly today?"
March 7th's cheerful voice rang out, shattering the quiet hum of the Divination Commission. She practically skipped into the grand courtyard, dragging Stelle and Caelus along behind her with boundless energy.
"I have been... quite busy lately," Fu Xuan replied. The petite Master Diviner lifted a delicate hand to cover her mouth, stifling a soft, exhausted yawn. Holographic star charts and jade abacuses floated in the air around her, spinning in a dizzying display of endless calculations.
The recent rumors that a certain Stellaron Hunter might still be lurking on the Xianzhou Luofu had caused the Commission's workload to skyrocket overnight. And given Fu Xuan's natural inclination to overwork herself, she had barely stepped away from the central matrix in days.
"Did you see the livestream yesterday? Did you see it? Did you see it?" Stelle blinked rapidly, leaning in so close to Fu Xuan that their noses almost brushed. Her golden eyes sparkled with an insatiable thirst for gossip.
With such a massive, universe-shaking event occurring yesterday, the Astral Express Crew had naturally caught wind of the spectacle. Not only that—thanks to their unique connections, the inside information they possessed was far more detailed than whatever the general public was whispering about. They knew more than even the highest-ranking officials of the Luofu.
"Enough, let us not mention that incident. Let us talk about you instead." Fu Xuan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose to divert the topic. "March 7th, you wish to use the Matrix of Prescience to reconstruct the past and awaken your lost memories. While it is theoretically possible, I harbor concerns that the Matrix might not be able to achieve the results you desire."
"Sigh, I knew it wouldn't be that easy." March 7th slumped her shoulders, offering a helpless shrug.
"But, back then with Kafka..." Caelus frowned slightly, crossing his arms as he recalled their previous encounters.
"Kafka's situation was entirely different," Fu Xuan interrupted smoothly. "To prevent any misunderstandings regarding the Divination Commission's ultimate treasure, allow me to explain its core principles in detail."
She waved a hand, dismissing a few floating holographic screens. "The Matrix of Prescience does not force a person to 'recall' anything. It merely gathers existing information and deduces what happened in the past, operating on the exact same logic it uses to divine the future."
"Think of it like the judges of the Ten-Lords Commission," Fu Xuan continued. "When they gather evidence to reconstruct a crime scene, the materials needed to deduce the truth can be physical objects related to the event, or the lingering memories retained by the individuals involved."
"But Miss March's situation is vastly different from Kafka's... she does not remember a single fragment of her past." Fu Xuan looked at the pink-haired girl with a serious, sympathetic expression. "Although I am not a physician, I have fortunately read extensively on the subject. From what I understand of deep amnesia, there are generally only two possibilities: either the memories are lying dormant deep within the sea of consciousness, unable to be summoned, or they were directly, forcefully erased from the mind by some external means."
"Then what about our little March?" Stelle tilted her head, looking at her friend curiously. "Is it because she just can't reach them, or did someone actually wipe her brain clean?"
"Hmm..." March 7th tapped her chin, her face twisting into a mask of absolute seriousness. "Maybe they were just damaged by the cold! I was stuck in that block of floating ice for a really long time, you know. The memories are probably all shivering from the cold, hiding away in a corner and too afraid to come out!"
Hearing such a ridiculously cute explanation, Fu Xuan's strict demeanor cracked, and she couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. "Which category Miss March actually falls into... we will only know once we activate the Matrix of Prescience."
None of them noticed the subtle shift in the air. Standing quietly just a few paces beside March 7th, the crystalline, ethereal projection of Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance, lingered in the mortal plane. The faceless entity simply watched the lively girl, the corners of their imperceptible lips curling upward in a silent, knowing smile before fading back into the cosmos.
Far away from the bustling Luofu, Leon stepped out of a spatial tear and onto the pristine, sterile floors of Ruan Mei's private ecological ship.
His reason for visiting was simple—he hadn't replied to a single one of her messages all night.
Naturally, Ruan Mei had already learned from Leon about the bizarre "team-building" event involving five Aeons on the Luofu. So, when she witnessed Qlipoth's incredibly high-profile, universe-shaking gaze descend upon four specific individuals from Belobog, her brilliant mind immediately connected the dots back to him. She had sent a subtle inquiry, only to be met with radio silence.
"Oh? Why have you come over?"
Ruan Mei paused her graceful movements. She stood before a complex array of glowing test tubes and genetic sequencers, her elegant teal dress sweeping against the metallic floor.
"Just wanted to see you." Leon approached with a relaxed, unapologetic smile, closing the distance between them.
"You've come at the perfect time. I am running rather low on some specific experimental materials..." She set down her delicate glass equipment and leaned gently against his chest. Her nose twitched slightly as she took a slow, deliberate breath.
No scent of anyone else. It seemed he had cleaned up quite thoroughly before arriving.
A faint, amused glint flashed in Ruan Mei's eyes. She reached up, elegantly unknotting the necktie from Leon's collar. Wrapping the silk fabric loosely around his neck, she used it as a makeshift leash, leading him away from the laboratory step by step.
Her fingers trailed down from the tie, tracing along his jawline and slipping inside his collar. "You know, I've been studying cellular regeneration extensively these days," she purred, her breath warm against his ear. "And you, my dear Leon, have the most fascinating cells I've ever encountered."
She led him further into the lab, the cool tiles pressing against his shoes as she pulled him deeper into the sterile environment. The hum of equipment filled the air, a constant reminder of the clinical setting they found themselves in. "I need to conduct some... more in-depth research," she continued, her voice dropping an octave. "And you're the perfect subject."
Her other hand slid down his chest, fingers toying with the buttons of his shirt. "I think it's time we take our collaboration to the next level, don't you agree?" Her eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and scientific curiosity.
Without waiting for a response, she tugged on the tie, guiding him towards a darkened corner of the lab. The shadows enveloped them, a stark contrast to the bright lights illuminating the sterile workbenches. She pressed him against a cold metal table, her body molding against his as she claimed his lips in a searing kiss.
The kiss deepened, her tongue slipping past his lips to tangle with his own. She tasted of coffee and some unidentifiable chemical, a unique flavor that was purely Ruan Mei. Her hands roamed over his body, mapping out the contours of his muscles through the fabric of his clothes.
Breaking the kiss, she stepped back and began to unbuckle his belt with deliberate slowness. "I need to observe your physiological responses in real-time," she murmured, her voice husky with desire. "It's all in the name of science, of course."
She sank to her knees, her fingers deftly undoing his fly. She pulled out his hardening cock, her eyes widening slightly at the sight. "My my, so responsive," she purred, wrapping her hand around his shaft. "I wonder just how much data I can collect today."
She leaned in, her tongue flicking out to lick the tip of his cock. The taste of his pre-cum mingled with the sterile scent of the lab, an odd but arousing combination. She took him into her mouth, her lips stretching around his girth as she began to bob her head.
Her hand continued to stroke what wasn't inside her mouth, twisting and squeezing as she sucked him off. The wet sounds of her mouth filled the air, a lewd counterpoint to the hum of machinery. "Mmm, your taste is so... unique," she moaned around his cock, her words vibrating against his sensitive skin.
She pulled off with a lewd pop, a string of saliva connecting her lips to his cock. "I think it's time we move to a more... comfortable location," she purred, standing up and leading him towards a large, cushioned chair in the corner of the lab.
She pushed him down into the chair, straddling his lap as she ground her hips against his. "I need to measure your heart rate, blood pressure, everything," she breathed, her hand slipping under her lab coat. "And I need to do it intimately."
She reached behind her, unclasping her bra and letting it fall to the floor. Her breasts were a perfect handful, nipples already pebbled with arousal. "Touch me," she commanded, guiding his hands to her chest. "I need to feel your skin against mine."
His hands kneaded her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. She let out a soft moan, her head falling back in pleasure. "That's it, just like that," she purred, her hips rocking against his.
She reached down, undoing the clasp of her skirt and letting it pool around her ankles. She stepped out of it, kicking it aside as she stood before him in nothing but her thigh-high stockings and a pair of lacy panties. "I need to feel you inside me," she breathed, reaching down to pull her panties to the side.
She positioned herself over his cock, the head of his shaft pressing against her slick entrance. "I think we're ready to begin the experiment," she purred, slowly sinking down onto him. Her tight heat engulfed him, her walls fluttering around his length.
A gasp escaped her lips as she impaled herself fully, his cock buried deep inside her. "Oh, Leon," she moaned, her voice breathy with pleasure. "You feel... incredible."
She began to move, her hips rising and falling as she rode him. The lewd sounds of their joining filled the air, mingling with the hum of the lab equipment. "Harder," she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. "I need to feel every inch of you."
He obliged, his hands gripping her hips as he thrust up into her. The change in angle made him hit a spot inside her that had her seeing stars. "Yes, just like that," she cried out, her head falling back in ecstasy. "Don't stop, please don't stop."
She rode him hard and fast, her breasts bouncing with each movement. The slick sounds of their coupling echoed through the lab, a lewd symphony of their pleasure. "I'm close," she panted, her walls clenching around him. "Don't stop, I'm so close."
He could feel his own release building, his balls tightening as he thrust into her. "Come for me, Ruan," he growled, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave marks. "I want to feel you come on my cock."
Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, her walls clenching around him as she cried out his name. Her pleasure triggered his own, his cock pulsing as he filled her with his seed. "Leon," she gasped, her body shuddering with the force of her release.
They collapsed against each other, their bodies slick with sweat as they tried to catch their breath. "That was... intense," she panted, a satisfied smile on her lips. "I think I've collected enough data for today."
She climbed off of him, his seed dripping down her thighs as she stood on shaky legs. She made her way to the lab sink, turning on the tap and washing off the evidence of their coupling. "I'll need to run some tests on the samples I collected," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
Leon raised an eyebrow, a low chuckle escaping his lips. 'Oh? There's such a good thing waiting for me?'
Hours later, the sterile hum of the laboratory felt miles away. Ruan Mei lay lazily against his bare chest, her dark hair cascading over his skin like spilled ink.
"Your stamina... is truly impressive," she murmured. Her usually calm voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a trace of vague, lazy teasing. "Or is it simply... that she was too 'weak' to keep up with you?"
"You guessed it?" Leon smirked, his fingers idly tracing the curve of her waist.
Ruan Mei simply gave him a beautiful, elegant eye-roll and said nothing. As Genius Society Member 81, a "dangerous entity" personally acknowledged by Nous the Erudition... did he really think she lacked basic deductive reasoning?
"A frozen planet that has been trapped in ice for centuries, never once receiving the gaze of Preservation, suddenly has four of its people receive such a high-profile, overwhelming glance from Qlipoth..." Ruan Mei traced circles on his chest. "No matter how you look at it, it defies all cosmic logic."
"Couldn't it just be that their unwavering conviction in the Preservation finally moved Qlipoth's stony heart?" Leon asked back, his tone dripping with faux innocence.
"There are indeed 'lunatics'who walk the Paths in this universe, but'lunatics' of the Path of Preservation..." Ruan Mei shook her head gently, her silky hair brushing against his collarbone. "They do not exist. A violent emotional outburst might allow a mortal to take a giant leap forward on their respective Path, and could perhaps draw a fleeting glance from an Aeon. But the scene I observed... was not nearly enough to organically draw Qlipoth's attention."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. ", since when did an Aeon's gaze become so... ostentatious? Usually, an Aeon simply pulls a mortal into the Abyss of the Path, grants them a fraction of power, and vanishes. Qlipoth's action yesterday felt entirely different. It felt like... a public warning to the rest of the universe."
Leon smiled inwardly. He understood perfectly. Qlipoth's acting skills were absolutely terrible. Countless factions across the stars were probably drowning in suspicion right now, though very few possessed the necessary context to link the anomaly back to him.
"I am telling you this merely to remind you..." Ruan Mei spoke softly, her slender finger unconsciously stroking the fabric of the discarded sheets. "Remember to come over on time... to provide your 'experimental materials'."
She was highly self-aware. She knew that the strange, tight sensation blooming in her chest was called "jealousy," but her pride refused to let her display it openly. She was a scholar of the Genius Society; how could she allow herself to be entangled in messy, ordinary mortal emotions?
also, she had long anticipated that other women would eventually appear by Leon's side. Their relationship had started purely as a transaction for her collection of biological "materials." It was only later that these quiet, stubborn feelings had blossomed in the dark.
"Alright, alright. I promise I will always remember to come and 'provide materials' right on schedule," Leon replied, pulling her closer and pressing a kiss to her temple. "Though, I honestly thought you would interrogate me about Qlipoth first."
Based on his deep understanding of Ruan Mei, her obsession with the Aeons and the essence of life had always been absolute. Unraveling the secrets of the gods should have been the very first priority in her heart.
But now... it seemed her priorities had shifted.
Leon's lips curled up into a handsome, knowing arc.
Feeling his chest vibrate with amusement, Ruan Mei's movements paused almost imperceptibly.
"Aeons... are indeed fascinating subjects," she whispered, looking up to meet his gaze. Her lips curved into a rare, genuinely gentle smile. "But you... are far more fascinating."
She propped herself up slightly, her fingertip lightly tapping against his heart. "I am curious as to why Qlipoth acted in such a bizarre manner, but what I am even more curious about is... how exactly did you make them do it?"
"Oh?" Leon raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
Her words carried a clear, confident subtext: I am a Genius Society member, after all. You can't hide the truth from me.
Ruan Mei chuckled softly, slipping out of his embrace. She walked back over to her workstation, her bare feet silent against the floor, and picked up a specialized test tube. With practiced precision, she carefully sealed the newly collected cellular samples.
"Qlipoth's actions were entirely prompted by you, weren't they?" she asked, not looking back. "Of course, I have no concrete evidence... but I trust my deductions."
She smiled to herself. Wasn't she initially drawn to Leon precisely because of the impossible miracles he casually produced? And in the world of science, the deeper one researched an anomaly, the more intoxicatingly mysterious it became.
She glanced down at the sealed tube. Recently, she had even begun running simulations, attempting to combine Leon's ordinary somatic cells with the terrifying remnants of the Path of Propagation. The results... were something she was very eager to observe.
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