As Lin Xiao’s consciousness pierced through the Crown of Reason, opening the gates and finally stepping into the domain of “An City,” an indescribable sluggishness enveloped him.The very air within felt heavier than the world beyond, imbued with a complex tapestry of countless memories, emotions, and the accumulated weight of time.Having traversed the myriad ruins outside the city, he stood before a colossal city gate, crafted from neither stone nor metal. The city walls, towering majestically, shimmered with the flowing light of accumulated memories and emotions, while above the gate, the characters “An City” were emblazoned.Yet, the city gate was far from deserted; numerous young women, all strikingly familiar to him, stood arrayed before it.Each possessed a foundational visage akin to Qi Yue’an’s, yet their distinct experiences across countless cycles had given rise to a diverse array of appearances and attire.They were, in essence, memory constructs of her from innumerable past cycles, having flowed into the Crown of Reason and ultimately converged within this city.One particular young woman, clad in blood-stained, shattered battle armor and possessing eyes as sharp as a hawk’s, ceased polishing her illusory blade. She lifted her head, her icy gaze raking across Lin Xiao’s face.
“Heh… well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” she sneered. “Whose big-tailed wolf is this, finally deigning to tuck its tail and crawl back into this cage, built from our very bones?”
Lin Xiao remained silent, offering no retort.He recognized her, or perhaps more accurately, he remembered her with vivid clarity. In that particular cycle, she had been an unyielding warrior, ultimately fighting to the brink of exhaustion to shield innocent civilians, only to be… personally retrieved by his own hands.Another “Qi Yue’an,” her face gaunt and pale, leaned against the wall, her hollow eyes gazing listlessly in their direction.
“This time…” she murmured, her voice devoid of inflection, “…what do you intend to seize from us, these withered husks that have long been utterly drained?”
He averted his gaze, unable to bear the sight of those eyes brimming with despair and profound weariness.
“Step aside.”
A voice, cool and clear, resonated with an undeniable authority.The gathered figures parted, revealing a “Qi Yue’an” who stepped forward. She was clad in simple, modern attire, her short hair neatly styled, and her eyes held a calm as unwavering as ice.In one of his past lives, she had served as his tactical advisor, offering her utmost assistance, yet their paths ultimately diverged due to irreconcilable philosophies.
“Lin Xiao,” she stated plainly, “you are not welcome here.”
Her words were concise and unyielding.
“Either state your purpose and leave, or I have no qualms allowing you to experience what it feels like to be assailed by countless versions of ‘me’.”
Their expressions were a tapestry of varied emotions: undisguised resentment from some, cold and disappointed scrutiny from others, and from a select few… an ineffable complexity, hinting at both lingering attachment and a profound, unfulfilled yearning.Lin Xiao drew a deep breath of the heavy air, then lifted his head. His gaze swept across the array of faces, at once familiar and strange, before finally settling on the former tactical advisor.
“I am not here to take,” he declared, his voice firm. “Nor am I here to repeat the mistakes of the past. I came… to find ‘her’.”
“‘Her’?” The tactical advisor raised an eyebrow, a cold sneer twisting her lips.
“Which one of us here isn’t the ‘her’ you claim to seek?” she challenged. “Which one, precisely, are you referring to?”
“The most recent one.”
Lin Xiao’s voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried with piercing clarity to the ears of every young woman present.
“Qi Yue’an, my Qi Yue’an. Fragments of her consciousness have fallen into this place, and I must find her, I must bring her back.”
“Back?”
A scoffing laugh rippled through the air.
“Go back where? To that hateful reality? Or are you, against all precedent, attempting to usher her into a new world? Lin Xiao… do you truly not comprehend? For her, perhaps true liberation lies precisely within this place!”
“No.”
Lin Xiao shook his head, a stubborn, unyielding spark igniting in his eyes for the very first time.
“This time, it’s different,” he asserted. “I absolutely cannot lose her again.”
“Tch.”
The armored young woman averted her gaze, scoffing.It was then that a voice, slightly timid yet imbued with a certain resolve, emanated from the rear of the gathering.
“Let… let him enter.”
All eyes turned to a gentle young woman clad in a simple long dress. Her head was bowed, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her garment; she dared not meet Lin Xiao’s gaze, yet she bravely mustered her courage to speak.
“I… I can feel it,” she whispered. “The newest ‘me’ is in immense pain, and deeply confused… She needs your help…”
Lin Xiao recognized her. It was a memory from long ago: a timid soul who, when left with no one to shield her, had nonetheless fiercely protected her companions.She had ultimately… vanished in a catastrophe he had been powerless to prevent, alongside Bai Jin, who had been her steadfast companion for the longest time…The tactical advisor cast a glance at the timid “Qi Yue”, then a cold, fleeting look at Lin Xiao, before finally stepping aside, clearing the path to the city gate.
“Remember your words, Lin Xiao.”
Her voice remained frigid.
“Should you dare to act recklessly within these walls, disturbing the City Lord… you shall bear the consequences alone.”
Lin Xiao offered no further words, simply nodding in silence before stepping through the colossal city gate.
****
The cityscape within was largely as Qi Yue’an had once described. The streets were meticulously kept, the architectural styles a peculiar fusion, and an air of post-apocalyptic tranquility, tinged with detachment, permeated everything.Many young women, all bearing identical visages, moved through the streets, and upon noticing his arrival, each cast curious glances his way.He had barely set foot upon the main thoroughfare when an exuberantly cheerful voice rang out.
“Wow! Look who it is! What a rare guest, indeed!”
Qi Li, clad in practical, short-cut attire, her high ponytail bouncing with her every movement, exuded a vibrant energy as she swept toward Lin Xiao like a whirlwind, her face alight with an undisguised smile of surprise and delight.She was An City’s universally acknowledged “social butterfly” and “guide,” perpetually brimming with an infectious enthusiasm that seemed capable of dispelling any shadow.
“Xiao Linzi, it’s really you!” Qi Li exclaimed, her voice bubbling with mirth. “I knew the city felt off today; turns out it was just you, this ‘big block of wood,’ dropping in!”
Qi Li hooked her arm through his with surprising force, her tone so utterly familiar it was as if they were long-lost siblings reunited.
“So, what, finally came to your senses?” she teased. “Planning to settle down here with me?”
Lin Xiao gazed at the face before him, identical to Qi Yue’an’s yet radiating a distinctly different kind of vitality, and for a moment, he felt a profound sense of disorientation.Though her existence stemmed from one of the earliest cycles, he vividly recalled that in Qi Li’s world, she had ultimately fallen in battle, sacrificing herself to cover his escape from a “tide of corpses”—a relentless onslaught of deranged high-level magical girls and demons. She had abruptly pushed him away, and just before charging in the opposite direction, she had smiled, calling out, “Next time, buy me a drink.”She had been one of the most unique “Qi Yue’an”s, and one with whom he shared the deepest bond. He had almost forgotten the details of her face, yet even now, those memories remained strikingly vivid.
“I… I came to find someone,” Lin Xiao stammered.Lin Xiao spoke with difficulty, unable to meet her expectant gaze. He dreaded seeing disappointment cloud her face, yet the urgency of his mission compelled him to ask.
“I know, I know,” Qi Li chimed, her expression one of playful understanding. “You’re looking for your sweetheart, aren’t you~”
Far from showing disappointment, Qi Li’s face adopted an “I know” expression. She leaned closer, lowering her voice, and flashed that mischievous grin—a sight that, to Lin Xiao, had been lost to time, causing a momentary haze to cloud his vision.
“After all, we’re all so charming… especially An An,” she whispered conspiratorially. “It’s only natural you’d fall for her, Xiao Linzi…”
She leaned in a fraction closer, a flicker of almost imperceptible hope in her eyes, only to swiftly mask it with a teasing, lighthearted demeanor.
“How does it feel?” she purred, a playful glint in her eye. “Meeting all of us again? This is a perfect opportunity for you to establish your ‘Qi Yue’an harem,’ you know. While the sisters certainly have their factions… if you’re truly willing, none of us are particularly difficult to ‘conquer.’ In a sense, we’re all your exes, after all~”
The familiar dynamic he shared with her finally resurfaced in Lin Xiao’s mind. While it felt akin to reuniting with an old friend, he was utterly ill-equipped to handle her exceedingly spirited and playful banter.
“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you any longer!”
Noticing his mortified expression, Qi Li, as though having achieved her desired effect, contentedly released him. She then spun lightly, clasping her hands behind her back.
“Given how many times you treated me to meals back then,” she began, a more serious tone entering her voice, “I’ll offer you a piece of advice: in An City, finding someone isn’t as simple as asking around. You must feel for them.”
“Feel?”
“Precisely!”
Qi Li pointed to her own chest, then gestured toward Lin Xiao.
“I believe you remember each and every one of us, and she remembers you too. Though we are all, fundamentally, the same person, there’s an essence within each of us that is utterly unique. You must use your heart to truly feel, to capture that particular emotion that exists solely between the two of you, especially in those… fragments that carry shared memories. Through them, you will sense her direction within this world.”
She paused, then added, almost as an afterthought:
“Of course, you can also ask around; while many of our sisters hold… rather strong opinions about you, there are also… well, reasonable ones, like myself,” she finished with a wink.
She winked conspiratorially, subtly gesturing towards a few “Qi Yue’an”s not far off, who were covertly observing them, their faces etched with a touch of hesitation.
“And it’s not as if there aren’t members of the so-called ‘Xiao Faction’ here who hold deep affection for you, you know? Of course, as the paramount orthodoxy, our ‘Xiyin Faction’ is generally quite amiable as well!”
Lin Xiao automatically filtered out the latter half of her playful ramblings, his mind zeroing in on the crucial information.
“Places that carry shared memories or intense emotions…”
“Exactly!” Qi Li chirped. “Like the place where you first met, or where you had your first quarrel, or… ahem, certain indescribable places?”
Qi Li’s grin turned impish.A series of images flashed through Lin Xiao’s mind: the ceaseless rain of their first encounter, the old swing they always shared in days gone by, and… in the Hall of Dawn Stars, the small, temporary bedchamber where they had once nestled together every night.
“Thank you,” Lin Xiao murmured.
“You’re welcome,” Qi Li replied with a bright laugh, then turned her back, her face hidden from him.
“Hehe… now go on, hurry! If you dawdle any longer… I fear some people might form a crowd to gawk at you. Oh, and there’s some activity in the city tonight; perhaps ‘she’ might be drawn to it. You could keep an eye out. And once you find her… be good to her, alright? Don’t end up alone again…”
Her voice, for some reason, sounded hurried, carrying a slight tremor, as elusive as it had been long ago.Bidding farewell to the overly enthusiastic Qi Li, Lin Xiao followed his inner guidance, heading towards the area designated as the “residential district” in An City.The buildings here were relatively dense, their style more domestic.He hadn’t walked far when he spotted two familiar figures arguing beneath a peculiar, faintly glowing tree.
“Ye! How many times have I told you! Don’t ask ‘How’s Xixi?’ or ‘Where’s Little Jin?’ the moment you see a newcomer! It’s very rude!”
Qi Hua, with her neat short hair and capable demeanor, stood with her hands on her hips, “lecturing” the bowed-head, dress-tugging Qi Ye, who looked utterly contrite.Qi Ye, her hair in pigtails, still had fresh tear streaks on her face, appearing deeply wronged.
“Waaah… Hua Hua, I… I just wanted to know… What if… what if they’re still here…”
Qi Ye mumbled softly.Lin Xiao’s approach drew their attention. Qi Hua immediately reined in her emotions, reverting to her slightly stern “older sister” persona, eyeing him warily.Qi Ye, like a startled rabbit, instinctively shrank behind Qi Hua, yet couldn’t resist secretly glancing at him.
“Brother Xiao…”
Qi Ye softly uttered his name.Qi Hua shielded Qi Ye more protectively, her tone cool.
“What are you doing here? You’re not welcome.”
Lin Xiao looked at them, sighing inwardly. He hadn’t expected these two, with such contrasting personalities, to be standing together.
“I’m looking for the newest Qi Yue’an.”
He stated his purpose directly.
“Have you… felt anything unusual? Or have you seen a ‘newcomer’ whose consciousness seems unstable, looking very confused, anywhere?”
Qi Hua frowned, seemingly sensing something, then shook her head moments later.
“No, the newest ‘us’… arrived a few months ago, but hasn’t been seen since.”
She paused, seeing the barely concealed disappointment in Lin Xiao’s eyes, and finally added a thought.
“However… yesterday, before ‘Night’ descended, I think I felt a brief but intense emotional fluctuation in the west of the city… very much like… the feeling when a newcomer arrives. It was in that pre-civilization ruin called the Silent Corridor.”
“Silent Corridor…”
Lin Xiao committed the name to memory.
“Thank you… for still being willing to help me.”
He expressed his sincere gratitude.Qi Hua turned her face away.
“…I just don’t want to see you blundering around like a headless fly, disturbing everyone’s peace. I don’t want to see you here again.”
Qi Ye peeked half her head from behind Qi Hua, timidly whispering, “Brother Xiao… good luck.”
Warmth bloomed in Lin Xiao’s heart. He nodded and turned, heading west towards the Silent Corridor.Traversing several streets, he found himself in a relatively secluded corner, where he witnessed a scene that was both amusing and perplexing.A younger-looking Qi Wa, dressed in a cute Western-style dress, was half-embraced by Qi Meng, whose gentle demeanor held a hint of mischief.Qi Meng covered Qi Wa’s eyes, yet leaned close to Qi Wa’s ear, whispering something, occasionally pressing a soft kiss, as if they were engaged in some forbidden game.Qi Wa’s cheeks were flushed, her body subtly writhing, appearing as though she wanted to break free but was, in fact, playing hard to get.Upon seeing Lin Xiao approach, Qi Meng, far from being discreet, lifted her head and offered him a knowing, slightly provocative smile, even blowing him a playful kiss.
“Hmm? Mama, why aren’t you moving?”
Qi Wa, feeling satisfied, opened her eyes just a slit, then, upon seeing who it was, widened them in a small gasp, burying her face in Qi Meng’s embrace as if to hide her presence.
“…”
Lin Xiao decided to pretend he hadn’t seen anything, quickening his pace past them.He remembered Qi Meng, a rather… open-minded “Qi Yue’an.” In her world, she had maintained excellent relationships with almost all her companions and frequently teased him.However, he truly hadn’t expected another version of her, who had been quite pure and pitiful in the past, to turn out like this now.
‘Well, it’s their freedom,’ he mused.Following Qi Hua’s hint, Lin Xiao arrived at the “Silent Corridor” in the city’s west.This was a relatively dilapidated and quiet area, where a melancholic and isolated atmosphere pervaded among the crumbling walls and ruins. It was said to be a place where many “Qi Yue’an”s came to privately mourn the past.He slowed his steps, closed his eyes, and endeavored to clear his mind, perceiving with his heart.Initially, there was only an empty stillness and countless faint, mingled emotions of sorrow.But gradually, an extremely faint sense of familiarity drifted from the depths of the corridor.That feeling… carried confusion, carried fear, carried a bone-deep loneliness, and… a desire and attachment as profound as a bottomless abyss, which she herself had never even realized.Lin Xiao immediately quickened his pace in the direction of the sensation. Beneath a partially collapsed archway, he saw a faint, shadowy figure curled up in the gloom.