"When they attacked our weaknesses with their strengths, it was only natural that we failed, let alone that we were completely unprepared," Bai Cha lowered her eyes and pursed her lips. "Although strength is important in society today, it is by no means capable of turning the tide solely through force."
Meng Qinghuan fell silent again, and Bai Meng also fell silent. Bai Cha was indeed a magical person.
She was a little sentimental, but not overly so. She cut off Meng Qinghuan's sliver of hope quite decisively.
Bai Cha looked at the little boy running with his father on his back and sighed. "Moreover, while it is regrettable, I must tell you that I am not currently at my peak. For the subsequent missions to proceed normally, there are many powers that I cannot use as I please."
The time elapsed since the last battle was not long, and although Bai Cha's wounds had healed, the severe damage to her vital energy from a severed artery could not be compensated for in a short period.
Bai Meng nestled in Meng Qinghuan's arms, her eyes cast down, saying nothing. Although Meng Qinghuan had a naturally cheerful demeanor, Bai Meng could easily sense Meng Qinghuan's emotions.
She could feel Meng Qinghuan's heavy heart and unwillingness, and although Meng Qinghuan usually appeared carefree and unrestrained, Bai Cha knew in her heart that both Meng Qinghuan and everyone else harbored a sense of regret for past outcomes, yet there was nothing they could do.
They silently followed the little boy to the camp, watching him anxiously search for a doctor for his father while carrying him on his back, only to be told that all the doctors were busy and no one was paying them any attention.
The little boy was bewildered but could only worry in vain.
"It's not that they are busy; it's that no one wants to deal with you. I actually sent someone to save your father back then, but..." Bai Cha leaned against the corridor wall with her arms crossed, explaining to Meng Qinghuan, "In reality, the difference is not significant. In the end, they would still have framed your father for death."
"I know..." Meng Qinghuan smiled, feeling his heart bleed, yet he continued to smile. "I even thought about breaking him out of prison that day."
"Was it to make me willing?" Meng Qinghuan lowered his head a little aggrievedly. He didn't know how long it had been since he felt so lost and helpless, even a little fearful.
As they were talking, Meng Qinghuan saw another familiar figure, small, even shorter than the young Meng Qinghuan, wearing a mask and a baseball cap, patting young Meng Qinghuan on the back.
"Miss Bai, Miss Bai?" young Meng Qinghuan, who was in a hurry, was somewhat surprised to see the young Bai Cha from this world sneakily approaching.
"Bring your father to me," a soft, melodious voice came from under the mask, pleasant and calm. "Keep the commotion down."
"Wow, little Bai, looking at you now, you haven't changed much from when you were little, have you?" Meng Qinghuan whispered to Bai Cha, marveling at the little girl. "Are you planning to stay young forever?"
However, before he could look any further, he was met with a cold glare from little Bai Cha.
"Wow, still so fierce," Meng Qinghuan sighed.
Bai Cha twitched the corner of her mouth. She always felt that Meng Qinghuan's words implied that she looked old for her age when she was young.
"Let me take you to see your sister," Bai Cha shot Meng Qinghuan a glare and grabbed his shoulder. "As I am now, I shouldn't have collected the body of your sister yet."
"What?" Meng Qinghuan was startled and hadn't reacted yet. "Little Bai Meng hasn't appeared yet, has she?"
Bai Cha hesitated to speak, not knowing how to explain, and could only carry Meng Qinghuan and leap a few times towards where Meng Qingmeng was.
The place was familiar. Meng Qinghuan looked at Bai Cha in surprise, catching a fleeting glimpse of weakness on Bai Cha's face. Meng Qinghuan knew about the sudden appearance of over a dozen A-class dragons last time, so it seemed that encounter was indeed difficult and dangerous.
Silence, still silence.
The air was filled with a faint scent of blood, and the room was shrouded in endless silence. Meng Qinghuan felt as if his feet had taken root since entering the room and could not move an inch.
The girl on the bed was torn to pieces, as if her body had been ripped apart by a wild beast. Her internal organs were faintly visible within the torn flesh. Her eyes were wide open, tears and blood dried on her cheeks. She stared fixedly out the window, her eyes devoid of light, yet a clear hatred could still be seen.
Everything was like a steel needle piercing Meng Qinghuan's brain. For the first time, he genuinely hated his own mental acuity, so keen that he could even sense his sister's hatred and unwillingness.
"...Heh heh, I told you, my sister's death had nothing to do with you," after a long while, Meng Qinghuan finally spoke, hugging Bai Meng tightly, his clear voice somewhat hoarse.
However, he never expected that the words he had used to comfort Bai Meng would now come true.
Had he done something wrong? Had Meng Meng done something wrong?
He had pondered this question countless days and nights, in the desolate land where he was exiled, when he was dragged into hell by countless lunatics who coveted his beauty, and in countless moments when he was saved by Bai Cha.
Meng Qinghuan had thought that at least one person in their family would not die at the hands of human malice but of an enemy, which would have provided him with some psychological comfort. Now, he realized that even that small flicker of hope within him was a joke.
To work for the abyss, you must first jump into the valley, integrate yourself with the darkness, and then, with a smile, appear in the light.
These were Bai Cha's words.
Meng Qinghuan had thought he had done enough to be perfect, but only now did he understand Bai Cha's intention in bringing him here. He had been escaping, and to integrate with darkness, one must wholeheartedly accept all their darkness.
Despair, pain, clarity, decadence, and then dissolution into darkness.
Ashes paired ignite the fire, eyes open in decadence, reborn from the ashes.
Meng Qinghuan didn't even know when Bai Cha had brought him to another place. It wasn't until Bai Cha's icy hand gripped the back of his neck that the chilling sensation made him snap back to reality with a shiver.
"Patriarch Meng, how can you be so sure I can rescue Meng Qinghuan? I am only ten years old." A childish voice came from behind the door.
And not far from them, a miniature Meng Qinghuan was lying unconscious on the sofa, appearing to have been knocked out.
Meng Qinghuan guessed that it was the work of little Bai Cha.
"Miss Bai, let's not beat around the bush. I know you are not a stingy person, so I'll be direct. I have to die, and your parents will surely die too." A familiar voice came from behind the door, aged, weak, and desperate. "In other words, our downfall was predictable. My daughter's chances of survival are very slim. They will definitely find a way to kill her. Now, we can only cut our losses and save my son."
"...I will try my best," little Bai Cha's voice stiffened slightly, clearly not expecting Meng Yuan to be so direct and to the point, but he still managed to calm down steadily. "We will try our best, perhaps..."
"..."
Meng Qinghuan no longer wanted to hear the rest of the conversation. He had already guessed the subsequent developments. He lowered his head and rested on Bai Cha's shoulder, feeling a little wronged.
"Little Bai, let's not listen anymore, okay?" Meng Qinghuan's voice was choked with emotion. The man over six feet tall acted like a giant dog, aggrieved. "I want to go home..."
He had always believed himself to be stronger and calmer than his grandfather and father, but only now did he realize he was still too young. His father had noticed the problem long ago, and he had been unwilling to accept it until now.
It hurts to tear open old wounds, yet he still couldn't resist peeking. He was truly unwilling, only giving up his struggle at the last moment of despair.
Meng Qinghuan knew that his Miss Bai had always been gentle, and she had gone to such great lengths to circumvent things for him to avoid leaving him with any emotional baggage. If she were truly acting in a purely professional manner, Bai Cha would have no need to bring him here for the truth.
Bai Cha patted Meng Qinghuan's shoulder and couldn't help but stroke his forehead, which looked as if it had been waxed. "Let's go, it's time to head back."
Bai Cha led Meng Qinghuan out of the room, and they passed by someone.
Bai Cha paused and continued forward with Meng Qinghuan. The person behind them stopped, looking at the two who had just passed by with some surprise.
The person had a refined appearance, looking somewhat tired, but their peach blossom eyes were identical to Bai Cha's.
"I thought you would say hello," Meng Qinghuan regained his usual demeanor and smiled at Bai Cha.
"There's no need for that." Bai Cha was expressionless, but Meng Qinghuan keenly sensed Bai Cha's emotional fluctuation.
After all, he was her father. Yet, she was gentle and helpful to them in resolving their emotional burdens but so harsh to herself. Or perhaps, she too was escaping, even afraid to look at her father directly.
Would his Miss Bai also be afraid?
Thinking of this, Meng Qinghuan unexpectedly felt much calmer.
Meng Qinghuan and Bai Meng obediently closed their eyes. A strange sense of distortion sent goosebumps all over Meng Qinghuan. Fortunately, this feeling did not last long before they were freed from it.
"Alright, we have a lot to do from now on." Hearing Bai Cha's words, Meng Qinghuan opened his eyes and was greeted by a sky full of light swords and the mist of the domain.
This was Junyao. Had they returned?
"Old Meng, you're too slow. What took you so long to get here?" A rough voice came from the ground. Meng Qinghuan looked down and saw Lang Mo sitting there casually, looking incredibly bored.
"Overall, being thick-skinned has its advantages. Lang Mo just sat there waiting for me to find him, and he wouldn't listen to anyone," Bai Cha said, looking at the witless Lang Mo with considerable helplessness. "So, I just directly fished him out."
"What do you mean I'm thick-skinned? Didn't you tell us to wait for you at the spot if we encountered any difficulties?" Lang Mo retorted indignantly.
If he hadn't closed his eyes, covered his head, and stayed put in the ground for a whole day, would Bai Cha have found him so quickly? Among so many people, he was definitely the most worry-free.
Thinking this, Lang Mo actually felt a bit proud.
"Alright, let's get down to business. See these light swords flying all day? If they go out of control, it's over," Bai Cha clapped her hands. "It won't be difficult for Meng Qinghuan. First, deal with Gu Zitan's light sword, then I'll give each of you a mark that will allow you to traverse different timelines. You will bring back all the lost souls of these people."
"Just knock them out, right?" Lang Mo chimed in.
"...You can interpret it that way, but I hope you won't be careless with your actions," Bai Cha said helplessly. "Their souls are physical in past timelines. If you kill them directly, the people you bring back will also be dead."
"Tch, boring." Lang Mo pouted, a little displeased. He had thought he could take the opportunity to get revenge, to deal with everyone he didn't like, but he hadn't expected to have to be careful with his actions.
With so many people in a school, one blow per person would be exhausting. Lang Mo was a bit dejected.
"It's okay, it's just because you're weak," Meng Qinghuan said with a smile, slinging an arm over Lang Mo's shoulder. "Learn from me, I can bring people back directly, but you can only knock them out one by one."
Lang Mo: "... I'll f*** you."
"Alright, stop arguing. You two, be a little more serious," Bai Cha said helplessly. "Let's begin."
In the void of the plane beside the World Tree, a peculiar phenomenon was occurring. In a space separately carved out by the World Tree, thousands of world bubbles were arranged neatly.
Soon, these world bubbles began to change one by one. A wisp of red light could be seen detaching from them, and within it, a burly man could be seen exerting himself to strike people.
The restored world bubbles were quickly guided away, stabilized, and then reattached to their original world branches to continue evolving.