"The highest virtue begins with filial piety, valuing intent over deeds; by deeds alone, no poor family bears truly filial children. Among myriad evils, lust stands foremost, judging acts not hearts; by purest hearts, no perfect souls exist upon earth..."
Walking along the floating streets, Zeke pondered this ancient saying. Though not entirely fitting, it somewhat captured his current thoughts.
Question one: Was he falling for Fu Hua?
Indeed, he was.
She radiated brilliance from her appearance to her soul, from her eyes to her heart—a true beauty.
After years drifting through the Sea of Quanta together, Fu Hua's kindness towards him felt extraordinary. Only during these recent days of rest did Zeke gradually realize—something wasn't right.
Fu Hua possessed a bewitching charm, perhaps inherent to her unique soul or a trait of being a psychic MANTIS Fusion Warrior. In any case, when she displayed her warmth, most people unwittingly succumbed, finding themselves deeply entrapped by the time they noticed.
Thus, regardless of their individual reasons, the emotions of those seven betraying disciples of Tai Xu ultimately became intensely complex. Consequently, Cheng Lixue relentlessly pursued her master's path, unrepentant even unto death.
Zeke admitted that when Fu Hua held his face tenderly, his heart indeed stirred.
"Whew—"
Zeke paused, rubbing his chin and slowly shook his head.
Question 2: Should I continue pursuing this connection?
The answer was no.
Driven by emotion but restrained by propriety, their relationship should remain as is. From a perspective that values actions over intentions, perhaps it wouldn't be deemed entirely inappropriate.
In any case, he already had enough romantic entanglements. Juggling the feelings of three girls left Zeke feeling overwhelmed; always doubting if he could do more yet unsure how to improve—it truly felt sufficient. He genuinely couldn't manage additional partners effectively.
Fu Hua deserved better than enduring such emotional strain, especially competing with her own student, which would only demean her further.
Thus, let's draw the line here. Maintain distance from now on, allowing our brief moment of heart stir to fade away.
Question 3: What does Fu Hua think about all this?
Even though Zeke wanted to sever these emotional ties, he couldn't ascertain Fu Hua's thoughts. Considering she held steadfastly onto beliefs and promises for millennia, would someone like her easily relinquish newfound attachment?
"Ah..." Zeke sighed heavily, burying his face in one hand.
In the lounge, Fu Hua stood behind the bar and retrieved Zeke's preferred liquor and glassware, mimicking his technique to mix drinks.
"Glug-glug-glug..."
The rich, dark liquid poured into the cup. Just as she finished pouring, a pair of elegant hands emerged from beneath the counter, snatching away the glass.
"And here appears the adorable fairy maiden~"
Elysia popped up from below the bar, beaming brightly at Fu Hua with her charming smile.
Fu Hua chuckled softly and poured herself another drink.
"How much did you eavesdrop on, Ellie?" Fu Hua asked with a grin, seemingly unfazed by someone witnessing their conversation.
Truthfully, there wasn't anything overly sensitive discussed; if it were Elysia overhearing, it didn't matter—Zeke had initially shared his thoughts under this assumption too. There was nothing truly confidential, otherwise, he would have tossed eavesdropping Elysia out long ago.
Elysia gently shook her head, raising a flawless ivory finger.
"I heard everything, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me! You can always trust a fairy maiden's discretion!"
"Well, thank you very much then. Cheers."
Fu Hua raised her glass and clinked it against Elysia's.
Elysia readily reciprocated, taking a sip of wine, only to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"It's quite strong, but not bad!"
In contrast, Fu Hua tilted her head back and downed hers in one gulp. Holding the empty cup, she frowned slightly.
"The taste...something seems off. What is it missing?"
"Maybe someone's intense pheromones?" Elysia teased with exaggerated winks, clearly implying something specific.
Pausing for a moment, Fu Hua shook her head with a rueful laugh.
"...Stop teasing me already. After fifty thousand years, I finally experience love, only to find myself in this predicament. Clearly, romance isn't meant for me. Oh well, perhaps my destiny lies solely in combating Honkai."
"No way!"
"Hm?"
"No! No! No! Don't worry; how could a fairy maiden stand idly by while a pure-hearted girl misses out on such beautiful love? We're the best of friends, after all. I'll definitely help you, Hua!" Elysia clasped Fu Hua's hands, her face beaming with enthusiasm. Though it appeared playful, beneath that facade lay genuine sincerity.
As a Memory Fragment from fifty thousand years past, being able to assist her steadfast friend of that era would prove their existence had meaning. To such a Memory Fragment, existing between reality and illusion, detached from everyday life, this significance was invaluable—at least, that's what Elysia believed.
Fu Hua shook her head, her expression as serene as ever. "That won't be necessary."
"Hua, you..."
"Ellie, I'm serious. I'm perfectly fine; there's nothing for you to worry about." Fu Hua gently pinched Elysia's cheeks, feeling somewhat peculiar. Fifty thousand years ago, they hadn't been this close—Fu Hua back then was much more reserved. Reflecting on it now, she couldn't help but feel regretful. If only she could have been more intimate with these companions earlier, perhaps those memories might have supported her journey better.
Seeing the conflicted look on Elysia's face, Fu Hua smiled warmly and continued, "I've walked a long path over many years, stumbling my way to where I am today. And...everything is just fine. There truly isn't anything to concern yourself with. Speaking of which, how have you all been here? Considering your normal operation for fifty thousand years, I can hardly imagine the loneliness you must have endured."
Fu Hua's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her concern evident.
Elysia pursed her lips, aware that Fu Hua was trying to change the subject, but there was little she could do about it. After all, Fu Hua was flesh and blood, while Elysia existed solely as a Memory Fragment. Feeling unworthy of pushing Fu Hua further, Elysia cooperated by elaborating:
"Well, we're not truly alive, so our perception of time as Memory Fragments is somewhat ambiguous. Despite fifty thousand years passing, for us, everything feels like it's still frozen on the day those final memories were replicated... In any case, you don't need to worry about us."
"Is that so? I'm not well-versed in technical matters, but I'm glad it's not too distressing for you," Fu Hua sighed with relief, feeling somewhat comforted.
However, Elysia spread her hands, exuding a mix of helplessness and frustration. "Ah! Everyone else manages just fine, except for Mobius. She absolutely cannot bear the stagnation inherent to being a Memory Fragment. That's why she remains fixated on obtaining a physical form, returning to the real world, and continuing her pursuit of what she calls 'the path to infinity.'"
"Yes, Dr. Mobius indeed has such a personality. For her, nothing is more intolerable than halting her own evolution." As Fu Hua spoke, she fell deep into thought, recalling Zeke's words—the importance of striving for potential power.
Could it be that Zeke's plan involves Dr. Mobius?
After pondering briefly, Fu Hua relaxed her brow.
It didn't matter; she trusted Zeke's judgment. As for the potential danger posed by Dr. Mobius...no matter how perilous, could it surpass the threat of Honkai? No matter how powerful, could she rival Zeke himself? Everything is relative. If Zeke deemed it necessary, Fu Hua would support him wholeheartedly.
Having finished her drink, Fu Hua began wiping down the glasses and barware, no longer engaging in conversation with Elysia. Instead, she hummed a light-hearted tune, a captivating smile gracing her lips—a clear sign of her excellent mood.
Elysia silently observed this scene, holding a stemmed wineglass, swirling its contents as her gaze lowered.
As long as you're happy, Mei. Our lives now rest upon all of you moving forward together. I believe those who have passed, like Mobius, should not interfere with reality any further. But you, truly, do you wish to continue on this path?
With these thoughts, Elysia drained her glass of red wine. Feeling slightly tipsy, she listened to the voice of her old friend—now vastly different after being separated for fifty thousand years—and drifted off to sleep on the couch, smiling softly.