The airplane cut through the clouds. Chu Lian sat in the window seat, resting her chin on her left hand as she gazed outside, her eyes hazy and distant, lost in thought.
This country, this city—aside from her home—was the place she had stayed the longest in this world. No matter where she had gone before or what had happened, she never stayed more than a day before returning home or moving on to the next destination.
But in this nation separated from Huaxia by the sea, she had stayed for a day and a half—an exception.
Though she had made the decision to balance rest and leisure, it had indeed given her a series of completely different experiences.
Perhaps yesterday had been the most complex, most unpredictable, and most dangerous day she had ever lived through in this world.
Fortunately, she had reaped great rewards here—her strength had increased, two new companions had joined her, and she had uncovered a web of secrets and hidden truths. It was a harvest in every sense.
Yet all of that paled in comparison to one thing: Ayase still hadn't returned.
She remembered that last Wednesday, Ayase had said her confinement would last ten days. Now half that time had already passed, and she still hadn't come back.
Even if it was just a small delay, Chu Lian couldn't help but grow restless. Too much had happened over these ten days—there were so many things she wanted to tell her.
She wanted to tell her… how much she missed her.
She missed the way Ayase would groggily wake her every morning.
She missed the way she teased her with that commanding tone.
She missed her gentle words whenever she couldn't bear to see Chu Lian troubled.
She missed her fiery silhouette—like a living flame that burned bright, day and night.
She missed her elegant figure, sitting cross-legged on her throne, sipping red wine with effortless pride.
She missed the way she feigned indifference yet constantly worked behind the scenes for her sake.
She missed the faint sorrow in her eyes whenever she wanted to speak but couldn't—bound by reasons she couldn't reveal.
She missed her goodness, her flaws, her presence, her every moment.
If there was one person in this world Chu Lian could call her spiritual anchor, it would be Ayase—without question.
Whether it was the time they spent together, the experiences they shared, or the bond they forged—it surpassed everyone else.
Even though she shared a deep resonance with Inori, had Chu Chu's constant devotion, Li Xiu'er's quiet support, Cai Ya's tender affection, and the love of her parents and friends—it still wasn't the same.
Because no matter how many people there were, none could replace the woman who had bound her life to Chu Lian's from the very beginning—the one who had sworn to share both life and death with her.
Only Ayase's fiery, graceful presence was the most beautiful image engraved in her heart.
Of course, sitting beside her, Inori could easily sense Chu Lian's emotions.
She already had a faint premonition—that the woman Chu Lian depended on and missed so deeply was soon to return.
But this time, she no longer felt the unease or insecurity that had once plagued her because of her identity or the growing number of important people in Chu Lian's life.
That was because, earlier that morning beneath the tree, Chu Lian had given her a clear answer.
This would be her final moment of doubt. From now on, no matter what happened, she would never again question her purpose, seek Chu Lian's approval, or feel lost about her place.
And if that woman truly did return… wouldn't that be a good thing? With Ayase's protection, it would be nearly impossible for Chu Lian to get hurt.
After all, Ayase's presence around Chu Lian was like a constant sedative—always near, always effective, free of side effects, and instantly calming.
If Chu Lian ever tried to do something reckless or self-destructive, Ayase would be the first to stop her.
That would free Inori from constantly worrying, allowing her to devote more focus to other things—like studying, strengthening herself, or understanding human emotions.
Of course, that didn't mean Inori cared for Chu Lian any less. She simply chose to bury that feeling deep within her heart and to believe in the change Ayase's return would bring.
After all, even though only ten days had passed, what she had experienced was enough to rival an entire lifetime of wonder for most people.
During this time, Inori's soul had gradually grown fuller; the emotions she once lacked were returning bit by bit. That expressionless, wordless, emotionless state she used to live in—soon, it would become rarer and rarer.
In the end, she was human. It was only that her former existence had suppressed her growth. With Chu Lian by her side, she no longer needed to think so much—she only needed to learn how to live as a person.
And before anything else, the most important thing she needed to learn was what this emotion called "love" truly meant.
"Little Lian'er, what are you thinking about? Wondering when your dear lord will finally return, hmm?" A voice suddenly echoed within Chu Lian's mind.
It was the same sultry, mature voice as ever—teasing as always—yet somehow it felt warm and familiar.
Chu Lian's dazed eyes came alive in an instant, shining with a brilliance that could rival the stars.
"Ayase, are you back?" She knew it was a redundant question, but if she didn't ask, her heart wouldn't rest easy.
"Mm, I'm back. This time, I shouldn't have to leave again. The Punishment Space only appears when I cross the line. If I'm more careful next time and step back before that happens, there'll be no problem."
The voice still came from within her consciousness. Chu Lian sank her spiritual sense inward but didn't see that familiar figure in the system space.
"Ayase, where are you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly with anxiety, worried that what she'd heard had only been her imagination.
"I took a stroll through the space where you found little Hare, and I'm just about to return," Ayase's voice replied calmly, just in time to ease her fears.
It didn't surprise Chu Lian that Ayase knew about her visit to that place. After all, everything she did was automatically recorded by the system.
And those records weren't visible to her—they didn't just document her actions but everything that occurred around her. The system tracked it all in perfect detail, down to the smallest gesture or action, like the most precise dimensional recording device.
Naturally, such sensitive data wasn't for outsiders' eyes. Chu Lian didn't know why the system collected it—only that the only entity with full access was the system itself.
Now, with the system's consciousness still in slumber, Ayase, acting as the chief steward responsible for its operations, also had partial access to those records.
They were simplified summaries—just event listings without detailed content—but that was more than enough. By reviewing only the records of what occurred during her absence, Ayase could already infer much.
So, Chu Lian had long stopped being surprised by Ayase's apparent omniscience. What mattered to her now was simply that Ayase had returned.
After a few moments, that familiar fiery red figure appeared in the system space, lounging on the sofa. Ayase spread her arms open with a playful smile. "After so many days apart, aren't you going to give me a hug?"
Hearing that, Chu Lian snapped out of her daze. Seeing Ayase's smiling face, she suddenly rushed forward, throwing herself into her arms and toppling her onto the sofa, burying her face into Ayase's neck for a long, long time.
Warm droplets fell onto Ayase's soft skin, but she said nothing—only stroked Chu Lian's hair gently.
She knew Chu Lian had countless things to say, that she needed a moment to release all the emotions she'd been holding in—the weariness, the relief, and the joy of finally seeing her again.
All those feelings blended together like a bittersweet elixir—something only those who had lived it could truly understand.
"Ayase… Ayase… Ayase…" Chu Lian murmured her name softly between quiet sobs.
"I'm here…" came the gentle reply, tender and soothing, like an older sister comforting a fragile little sister.
"I know what you did that night during the school festival… Thank you—for everything you did for me," Chu Lian said after a pause, her voice still trembling with emotion.
"Oh? So you found out. I'd hoped to keep it from you—it wasn't exactly something to be proud of," Ayase said softly, her eyes shimmering like a vast galaxy.
"No, it was something to be proud of. One person stood against seven Otherside elites, killed four, crippled three, and destroyed their entire invading legion—then shattered the temporary portal they built with countless resources before leaving. You not only stopped their invasion but threw their entire strategy into chaos, buying me precious time to grow."
"I know the three 'Heaven-level' enemies mentioned in the 'Daughter of Fate' records were the same three you wounded and forced to retreat. Without your intervention, they would've come for me in their full strength, not weakened and broken."
"Seven Heaven-levels, over a hundred Earth-levels, and thousands of Spirit-levels—such an army could have wiped out a weaker cultivation nation entirely. Even Huaxia's cultivation world would've been on high alert."
"I was still weak, fragile, lost… If they'd come then, I wouldn't have stood a chance. I would've been captured—turned into the key to open the passage between the Otherside and our world."
"If it weren't for you—if it weren't for everything you did—I'd probably be better off dead right now. Truly, thank you."
If those words had only warmed Ayase's heart, what Chu Lian said next left her stunned.
"You lost your strength temporarily because of that battle, didn't you? That's why the Punishment Space caught you. I know… the system has its enemies too."
Raising her head, Chu Lian looked up with eyes still tinged red but now shining with a quiet confidence. "Ayase, I'm not stupid. After everything that's happened, how could I not understand?"
"…I see." Ayase fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You've really grown, Lian."