After settling the last details of the agreement between the two, Ren Zu shifted his gaze away from Jasmine for a moment, turning it toward the small figure lying on the nearby bed…
The girl was sleeping deeply, her chest rising and falling in a calm rhythm. Her long ruby-red hair spread across the pillow like strands of living blood, brilliant and almost luminescent. Her face possessed an innocent, flawless beauty, as though it had been carved from pure white jade: a small, delicate nose turned slightly upward, tender rosy lips closed in a serene line, long blood-red lashes resting against pale cheeks. The thin imperial red robe covering her revealed the soft, immature curves of a small yet perfectly proportioned body. Slender arms, white as freshly fallen snow, lay crossed over her chest, while her delicate legs were slightly bent, bare feet adorned with ruby bracelets that seemed fused to her skin—small, shining, like drops of solidified blood encircling her slender wrists and ankles…
Ren Zu watched her silently for a few seconds before returning his gaze to Jasmine.
"By the way, I completely understand your situation and everything. But… who is this little girl? Is she your little sister or something like that?"
The question came out calm, almost casual.
Jasmine hesitated. Her black eyes took on a complicated expression—a mixture of longing, sadness, and something that almost resembled guilt…
"…No." She floated a little closer to the bed, her red hair gently rippling as she looked at the sleeping girl. "I don't know exactly what happened… but the contract she had with my disciple was transferred to you. When the Pearl fused… the bond changed hands as well. The name my disciple gave her is Hong'er…"
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued.
"Hong'er?"
Jasmine nodded slowly.
"She is an extremely rare existence… Even this princess doesn't fully understand her situation, but I have some ideas that would probably confuse you more than help. All I can say is that she is most likely a 'Celestial Spirit' that surpasses any living being…"
"Celestial Spirit?"
"The power of a living being must be built through cultivation, but celestial spirits possess exceptional heavenly and earthly powers from birth. However, the existence of 'celestial spirits' was already extinct since the Primordial Era and should not exist in this era. I only heard about them from my brother. Yet this girl is from the Primordial Era and has many peculiarities. Even with my understanding, I cannot fully explain them. Moreover, she is probably not from an ordinary clan of the Primordial Era, and her characteristics resemble those of the 'celestial spirits' my brother described. Furthermore, I believe there is at least a fifty percent chance that she is a celestial spirit from the Primordial Era! Someone with latent power capable of transforming into a sword!"
She didn't go into much detail—honestly, she didn't need to. The young man before her knew far more about the subject than he let on; he knew the exact origins but had to pretend ignorance.
So, just as he was about to press the matter a little further—before any words could leave his lips…
The girl's red lashes trembled faintly.
A subtle, almost imperceptible movement.
Then, slowly, her eyes opened.
They were a perfect pair of rubies.
The moment those eyes were revealed, it was as if the sky inside the Pearl had suddenly been illuminated by stars. The red was so pure, so intense, that it seemed to contain the condensed essence of heaven and earth. A red that didn't burn like fire, but shone like crystallized divine blood. Looking into them was suffocating—not from fear, but from sheer overwhelming beauty…
Ren Zu felt the air catch in his throat for a second. He was stunned by the girl's beauty… It was as though creation itself had decided to concentrate all innocence and all majesty into one small, fragile form.
While he looked at the girl with a certain surprise in his expression, her beautiful red eyes looked back at him. After a moment, she finally blinked and eventually sat up on the bed. Noticing that he was still staring at her in a daze, she blinked again. Suddenly, her eyebrows curved into a delicate pair of crescent moons above her eyes. Her unbelievably beautiful face smiled and said:
"Hello, Big Brother!"
"…"
Facing a complete stranger, the girl didn't appear nervous or frightened, nor even lost or confused. Instead, she smiled brightly and… greeted him?
Jasmine watched the scene for a moment, her black eyes narrowing with a mix of confusion and concern. She floated closer to the bed, her red hair rippling softly.
"Hong'er." Her voice came out low, almost hesitant, as though testing the name. But the little girl blinked slowly, tilting her head to the side with a confused and adorably lost expression. Her ruby eyes sparkled with pure innocence, as if the name meant nothing to her. "This… is my name? I didn't remember, but good to know…"
She furrowed her delicate brow, her tender lips forming an childish pout. "But… it doesn't feel quite right…"
Jasmine froze in midair.
"…!"
Her eyes widened in genuine shock. Her small hand trembled faintly as she processed what she had just heard.
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He stepped a little closer to the bed, leaning down slightly to meet the little girl's eye level.
"You really don't know your own name?"
Indeed, it was exactly as he had suspected from the beginning. The breaking of the contract had caused her to lose her most recent memories. For her, at that moment, it was as though she had just awakened once again in the Primordial Profound Ark… The reason he believed it was genuine and not any kind of pretense was that, under normal circumstances, when someone doesn't remember their own name, the natural reaction would be panic, confusion, or even tears. But the red-haired girl smiled cheerfully, her innocent and carefree smile lighting up her perfect face as though it were the funniest thing in the world…
"I really don't know!" She giggled softly, the crystalline sound echoing in the green space. "But it's no problem, right? I like Hong'er! Next time, don't call me little girl, or little brat, or even little beauty. You can only call me Hong'er!"
Seeing how unusually excited she became, it was obvious she was very pleased with her name.
She swung her slender legs off the bed, the ruby bracelets jingling lightly like wind chimes.
Jasmine floated closer, shock still written across her small face.
"Hong'er… you… you don't remember anything? Not even me? Not even Yun Che?"
The little girl blinked slowly, tilting her head to the other side.
"Yun Che? Who's that? Waahhhhh! Big Sis, your clothes are so pretty! They're red! Red… I love red!!!"
Jasmine floated even closer to the bed, her black eyes fixed on the little girl with deeply shaken emotion. Her lips moved, but the sound came out low, almost a murmur to herself, laden with disbelief and a pang of sadness she couldn't completely hide.
"…She really doesn't remember? Not even a little…?"
Hong'er, noticing the "big sis's" subdued reaction, lost interest almost immediately. Her ruby eyes sparkled with renewed childish curiosity, turning toward the tall, handsome man in front of her. She tilted her head, her long red hair cascading like molten ruby over her delicate shoulders.
"Ah, but I think Big Brother is extremely handsome! Much more handsome than the red I love so much… how is that possible?"
The statement came out direct, without any filter or shame. Her eyes curved into happy crescents as she openly examined him, like a child discovering something new and fascinating.
"You're much more beautiful than anyone I can remember… ah, but I don't remember anyone anyway!" She laughed, the sound light and crystalline echoing through the green space. "Big Brother looks like a real prince! Or maybe a god? Or… or a very pretty cake that I want to eat!"
She clapped her small hands, the ruby bracelets jingling like delicate bells.
"Big Brother, can you call me little lady? I like being called little lady! It sounds fancy!"
Ren Zu's lips twitched slightly—not in irritation, but in a mix of amusement and genuine surprise at the little girl's childish, unpredictable logic. He tilted his head, his black eyes fixed on her shining rubies, and asked in a calm, almost gentle voice laced with sincere curiosity:
"You're not afraid of me? I'm a stranger who just appeared out of nowhere… and you don't even really know who I am. What if I were a bad person?"
Hong'er blinked slowly, her blood-red lashes trembling faintly. Her small face lifted to look at him, her large, innocent eyes reflecting the surrounding green light like two living jewels. She thought seriously for a moment, her little index finger touching her delicate chin in an adorably thoughtful pose.
"Bad person…?"
Suddenly she let out a sharp "Aiya!" and shrank back on the bed, her thin arms crossing protectively over her chest as a frightened expression took over her snow-white face. Her ruby eyes widened dramatically, and she raised her little hands as though defending herself from an imaginary monster.
"Big Brother… could you be the legendary Great Villain?!" Her voice came out in an exaggerated, childish, almost theatrical tone. "Wahhhh… Villain, don't eat me! I'm just a small, beautiful lady—I'm not tasty! Eat me when I grow up, okay? Promise?!"
She extended her right pinky toward him, the ruby bracelets jingling lightly with the motion, as though making a solemn children's oath.
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth trembling as he fought not to laugh outright. He slowly shook his head, his voice low and firm, yet carrying a gentleness he rarely showed to anyone besides his own wives.
"I wouldn't do that."
Hong'er blinked, the frightened expression melting away as quickly as it had appeared. She tilted her head again, the radiant smile returning to her perfect face as though nothing had happened.
"Then you're not the Great Villain? That's great!" She clapped her small hands, the bracelets jingling happily. "Big Brother is good! I knew it! People as pretty as you can't be bad!"
Ren Zu looked at her with one eyebrow raised. Her logic was… adorably flawed. After all, villains were usually far more attractive than the protagonists—it was practically a universal law in any story worth telling. He himself was living proof of that.
But he said nothing.
He simply let the thought drift away without dwelling on the irony. Instead, he continued looking at Hong'er with that small, patient smile…
The little girl, oblivious to his thoughts, got off the bed with a movement that was both graceful and clumsy, as though her small body was still getting used to the idea of existing again. The red imperial robe slipped slightly off one shoulder, revealing snow-white skin. She stretched her arms above her head, letting out a long, feline yawn that ended in a satisfied "nyan~". Then, suddenly, she placed her little hands on her thin belly, her face twisting into an adorable pout.
"Ummm… suddenly I'm really hungry…" After finishing, she turned to Ren Zu and looked at him. "Big Brother, all of a sudden I'm super hungry—do you have something yummy to eat?"
Ren Zu watched her for a moment, the amused smile still on his lips. He tilted his head slightly, turning toward Jasmine, who floated at a safe distance, arms crossed and expression complicated.
"What does a Celestial Spirit eat, Jasmine? Something specific?"
Jasmine huffed, turning her face away as though the question was ridiculous, but answered anyway, her voice low and resigned.
"…Swords. Give her swords."
Ren Zu raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Jasmine's reaction, but didn't question it. He made a simple, elegant, precise gesture with his hands, like someone moving a chess piece on the board. Profound energy circulated around him for an instant, and suddenly several swords materialized in the air, floating like leaves in an invisible wind.
They were exceptional weapons, blades forged from rare materials, at least at the level of Emperor Profound Weapons.
"Sniff… Sniff… Sniff!"
The little girl suddenly started sniffing, her small nose twitching as though her life depended on it. "This smells so good… smells so good!"
As she sniffed the air, saliva overflowed from her mouth. She sucked it back forcefully, but it continued dripping to the floor and she couldn't stop it. She stared at the swords with a bright light in her eyes.
"Something delicious… something delicious!!"
She quickly ran over, grabbed one of the swords, and brought the blade to her mouth.
Crunch!
The sound of metal being crushed echoed through the green space. Hong'er bit into the sword as though it were a chocolate bar, her small, perfect teeth tearing through the forged steel like paper while she chewed with delight, eyes closed in pure ecstasy.
"Mmm… warm… and crunchy! Delicious!"
She devoured the entire sword in seconds, licking her tender lips in satisfaction before reaching for the next one—a dark, ominous black blade pulsing with malevolent aura.
Crunch! Crunch!
Jasmine watched the scene with a mixed expression of resignation and nostalgia, arms still crossed.
"…She's always been like this. Eats swords like they're bread."
Ren Zu merely pretended to be surprised and smiled, his black eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched the little girl attack the third sword with the same enthusiasm.
"Interesting. Swords as food… I've never seen anything like it."
Hong'er finished the last sword with a contented sigh, patting her thin belly as though satisfied after a hearty meal.
"Big Brother! Do you have more?"
Ren Zu smiled and made another gesture. More swords materialized—this time even more powerful, at the Sovereign Profound Weapon level, shining with divine auras.
Hong'er's eyes widened, drooling again.
"Waah! Big Brother is the best!"
And so the feast continued, the sound of metal being devoured echoing through the green space like a bizarre yet adorable symphony.
Jasmine huffed.
"…You're going to spoil her too much."
Ren Zu merely shrugged.
"No problem…"
And Hong'er, mouth full of blade, nodded vigorously.
"Mmm-hmm!"
After a few minutes, Hong'er finished the last sword with a satisfied sigh, licking her tender lips to catch any remaining metallic flavor. Her thin belly now looked slightly rounded, as though the sword banquet had been a real meal. She patted it with her small hands, the ruby bracelets jingling happily.
"Ufa… I'm full!" she exclaimed, her ruby eyes shining with pure contentment. She yawned again, the feline, adorable sound echoing in the green space. Her red lashes trembled as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Uh? Weird. I'm sleepy… I want to sleep…"
She crawled back onto the bed, curling up in the red imperial robe like a kitten in a ball of yarn. Before fully closing her eyes, she lifted her small, perfect face to look at Ren Zu, the radiant smile still on her lips.
"Big Brother… I like you! A lot! You're handsome and you give yummy food! Later I want to play with you!" She puffed out her chest with childish pride, the bracelets jingling lightly. "Hehehe, you must be happy! Because a little lady like me liking you is a huge honor!"
Ren Zu smiled faintly.
Her innocence was irresistible—a blend of playful arrogance and absolute purity that amused even someone like him…
"I'm very happy, little lady. It really is an honor."
Hong'er blinked contentedly, her smile widening even more, her ruby eyes shining like red stars.
"Good! Now… good night, Big Brother! Good night, Big Sis!"
She rolled onto her side, closed her eyes, and fell asleep almost instantly, her calm, rhythmic breathing filling the silence.
Jasmine floated closer, her black eyes fixed on the sleeping girl. The initial shock had faded somewhat, replaced by a mixture of resignation and something that resembled… reluctant affection.
Ren Zu shifted his gaze away from the sleeping girl, turning back to Jasmine. The princess floated there, arms still crossed, but her rigid posture had softened slightly. Her deep, star-like black eyes remained fixed on Hong'er, as though trying to engrave every detail of this new version of the girl she once knew…
"Jasmine… are you okay?" The question came out low, almost a whisper, carrying a genuine concern he rarely showed.
Jasmine blinked slowly, as though snapping out of a trance. She lifted her chin, regaining some of her usual arrogance, but her voice came out softer than expected.
"…Yes. I'm fine." She huffed lightly, turning her face away as though the admission annoyed her. "It's just… strange. Seeing her like this… as if we had never met."
Ren Zu nodded silently, understanding.
"…Well, you can talk to her after she wakes up and try to see if you can help her remember. You said the contract between her and your disciple was transferred to me; perhaps the lack of memories about you two is a consequence of such an unusual event. Anyway… better not overthink it right now…"
He took a step back, already turning toward the exit.
"I'll leave for now to ease the worries of my wives and my parents. If you need anything… just call me. We can talk more properly later…"
And with that, his consciousness returned to the normal world, leaving Jasmine with a complicated expression…
_________________________
(A/N: Want to read ahead of everyone else? Then come join Patreon!
This story already has over 10 advanced chapters, and the highly anticipated God Realm arc is about to begin — you won't want to miss this moment!
And that's not all… [Fate Gacha] has just reached 13 chapters on Patreon, completely rewritten and MUCH better than before. A new experience, more immersive, better structured… simply on another level.
If you enjoy following the story ahead of time, with higher quality and exclusive content, this is your chance.
Don't miss this opportunity — join Patreon and dive in before everyone else!
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)