One year later, Guili Assembly.
"So this is the Guili Assembly? It's even more prosperous than Qingce Village."
The once tiny Jun Bai had now grown into a handsome young man.
White hair, red pupils, tall and slender build. A pure white long robe outlined his robust curves.
The youth looked around, marveling at the differences between the Guili Assembly and Qingce Village. Then, inexplicably, the scenes of the Guili Assembly felt strangely familiar to him.
Wasn't I staying in that Abyss before? Have I been to the Guili Assembly?
Jun Bai frowned slightly.
Over this past year, even though he hadn't actively tried to recall his past, the dreams that occasionally appeared had still let him know some things.
He was clearly here in the Guili Assembly for the first time, yet everything felt so familiar.
When I still had my memories, had I come to the Guili Assembly before? Jun Bai pondered deeply.
At that moment, a hand rested on Jun Bai's shoulder.
Jun Bai reacted instantly and was about to counterattack on reflex. But when he turned, he saw Jun Mo Li smiling at him.
"Second brother, you scared me."
"Sorry, sorry. But in my impression, your vigilance isn't usually this poor." Jun Mo Li draped an arm around Jun Bai's shoulders. "Thinking about something?"
"Ah? Mm, yeah, a little preoccupied." Jun Bai didn't deny it.
"Tell me—maybe big brother can help." Jun Mo Li said kindly.
Jun Bai fell silent.
"Is it related to your memories?" Jun Mo Li asked, as if he could read minds.
"Eh?" Jun Bai couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Looks like I guessed right." Jun Mo Li chuckled lightly. "Have you recovered your memories?"
"Not yet, but it feels like it'll happen any day now."
"Isn't that a good thing? You can recall your past, remember where you came from and where you're going."
"But..." Jun Bai hesitated greatly.
"Hesitation doesn't suit you at all." Jun Mo Li said.
"...Second brother, I'm afraid."
"Hm?" Jun Mo Li's expression immediately turned serious.
"Second brother, I'm afraid that after I recover my memories, I won't be me anymore."
"I'm afraid I'll stop caring about Qingce Village. I'm afraid I'll stop caring about everyone I've met these past years."
"I'm afraid... I'll forget Mom, eldest brother, and you. Second brother, I'm really scared."
"I'm truly terrified that once I recall everything about myself, all of this will happen."
"But I don't want that."
In this moment, Jun Bai seemed to revert to the innocent child he once was, unaware of the ways of the world.
Seeing this, Jun Mo Li reached out...
And flicked Jun Bai hard on the forehead.
"Ow!"
"Good—that's what you get for overthinking nonsense all day." Jun Mo Li said coldly. "You've only lost your memories—you weren't possessed by someone else."
"With or without memories, you're still you. That won't change because of anything."
"And even if your personality changes drastically after remembering the past, the fact that you're my little brother will never change. We swore that in front of Rex Lapis and the Dust God."
"No matter who you become, you're still my brother."
Jun Mo Li's tone was calm, yet exceptionally firm.
Jun Bai stared blankly at Jun Mo Li.
"Everything's ready. We can head back now..."
Li Tonghui walked over at that moment and saw the atmosphere between the two brothers: "Am I interrupting?"
Actually, he had come at the perfect time—otherwise the mood was about to turn philosophical~
The three brothers discussed briefly, confirmed everything was in order, and together walked toward the outskirts of the Guili Assembly.
A blue-haired girl with two horns on her head passed by them with her head lowered.
A flash of bright white streaked past her eyes.
"Senior!"
Ganyu suddenly lifted her head and turned to look behind her.
But she could no longer see that familiar figure.
"Another hallucination?" Ganyu felt deeply dejected. "Senior, didn't you promise Rex Lapis that you would definitely return?"
"Are you... going back on your word?"
Outside the Guili Assembly.
As if by telepathy, Jun Bai looked up toward the Guili Assembly.
"Third brother? Is there still something you haven't finished?" Li Tonghui asked while riding on a two-meter-long crimson winged tiger.
This winged tiger was, of course, Little Flame.
In one year, under Li Tonghui's fire-elemental feeding, Little Flame had grown rapidly. Her combat power was astonishing.
Strong physique, free flight, fire-breathing from the mouth, and the ability to devour fire elemental power.
On her own, she could easily slaughter monsters at the level of Hilichurl Berserkers.
When paired with Li Tonghui, their synergy was greater than the sum of their parts. The Stonehide Lawachurl that once required the three brothers to team up against—Li Tonghui and Little Flame together could now take on two of them.
"Ah? No, I just suddenly felt like I'd forgotten something. If I can't remember it, it probably isn't very important." Jun Bai shook his head.
"That kind of thinking isn't good. The person forgotten would be very hurt." The eldest brother stepped in to correct Jun Bai's mistaken mindset.
"Forgetting is itself a form of disrespect. So for anything forgotten, you must keep it in mind and absolutely remember it."
"No matter whether those things are good or bad—they cannot be forgotten."
Li Tonghui said as he lightly tapped Jun Bai on the forehead.
"I understand." Jun Bai said, covering his head.
Jun Mo Li looked thoughtfully at Li Tonghui—so you've actually been secretly eavesdropping all along?
Suddenly, Jun Bai stopped.
Li Tonghui and Jun Mo Li also sensed something was wrong.
It was too quiet—as if only the three of them and one tiger existed in the area.
"He's here."
An illusion representing Jun Bai's past flashed by.
The streaks of pitch-black substance from Jun Bai's dreams appeared before the three brothers and one tiger, then converged into a pitch-black, hideous demonic shadow. A scarlet gaze appeared upon it.
"God remnant? But this scale..." Jun Mo Li said with wide eyes.
Normally when escorting, monsters tainted by god remnant only had a tiny amount on them.
But the god remnant before them—Jun Mo Li had never seen anything like it. Even ten times the combined god remnant he'd encountered before couldn't compare.
"Phenex——" The demonic shadow's gaze fell on Jun Bai and let out an angry roar.
The next moment, the demonic shadow launched an attack straight at Jun Bai.
This strike was so fast that ordinary people couldn't react at all.
A muffled thud sounded. Jun Mo Li, having shed all burdens, lunged directly toward Jun Bai.
Even though he reacted in time, the demonic shadow's strike still left a deep wound across Jun Mo Li's back.
"Second brother!" Jun Bai's eyes widened.
"Second brother!" Li Tonghui roared in fury. Flames wreathed his body as he charged forward, ignoring the oppressive pressure from the demonic shadow.
A full-power Rock Shatter Fist knocked the demonic shadow back three steps—but that was all.
With a casual wave of its hand, the demonic shadow sent Li Tonghui flying backward, crashing into a nearby cliff wall.
Their strength wasn't even on the same level.