Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

The water level rose slightly, overflowing the stone steps at the edge of the hot spring pool.

The distinctly different undercurrents converge and blend in the warm spring water.

The hot spring water rises and falls like waves on the shore, lapping against the edge of the bath.

The frequency varies, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, with no discernible pattern. At its gentlest, it is like the ripples on a tranquil lake surface stirred by a night breeze.

Someone tampered with the simulated climate settings within the space, and a torrential downpour began.

The mist gradually thickened, completely obscuring the outlines of the area around the pool and creating a hazy, dreamlike world.

Rainwater and hot spring water converged and gradually became indistinguishable. The fine water droplets splashed up and blended with the steam, making the mist even thicker.

Vision blurred, and all that could be heard was the sound of raindrops falling.

The hot spring water overflowed several times, flowing gently along the edge of the drainage ditch.

The melody lingered, each sound striking the edge of my thoughts.

The emotions accumulated over hundreds of years are poured into boundless warmth.

It took a long, long time for the torrential rain to gradually subside.

As the rain subsided, the foggy environment gradually cleared, and the water surface calmed down again, reflecting the happy silhouettes of the couple cuddling together.

What a beautiful picture!

None of the three, including Qi Zhimu, had any talent for painting, but that didn't stop them from imprinting the post-rain scenery into their minds with their eyes.

……

A desolate, remote corner of the universe, rarely visited by humans.

Inside Aruan's bag.

Only a very few people know that the world contained within this strange object is so vast that it can be described as a galaxy.

Before the last vestiges of darkness had faded from the sky, Ruan Mei sat by the window, her musical instrument in her arms, gazing intently at the bamboo house not far away.

This is her home, but not Qi Zhimu's home, nor is the bamboo house.

That bamboo house was just a replica; Qi Zhimu left no trace of it.

Her slender, jade-like fingers caressed the strings of the ruan, producing a delicate and elegant tone that Ruan Mei used to express longing and sorrow.

"Amu..."

Ruan Mei called out softly.

But Qi Zhimu couldn't hear, it was impossible for him to hear.

After leaving the Black Tower space station, Ruan Mei never stopped exploring life, but she could never get the answer.

What is the essence of life? What is the first cause of life?

I have deconstructed and analyzed many destinies, and achieved some results.

Currently, there is an unfortunate person who has been tainted by the power of destruction, and the relevant progress is relatively good.

But for some reason, after delving into the destructive power symbiotic within Tingyun's body, one occasionally comes into contact with frequencies that respond to the unknown.

She couldn't figure out what was hidden in that unknown place.

It could be a world, or it could be a conspiracy brewing.

Nguyen Mai declined to comment on this.

Hunting, purity, breeding, balance... She has a relatively firm understanding of the characteristics or driving forces behind many deconstructed destinies.

But destruction was the only thing she couldn't be sure about—

To be reborn, one must first be destroyed.

However, a few examples are not enough to verify this, not even the case of Qi Zhimu's repeated reincarnations.

If she can unravel all the unknown mysteries, perhaps she will be able to truly reach the realm of equal status.

Perhaps I could become... a Star God.

That day is undoubtedly still quite far away, but she has the time and patience to calmly face the future.

only……

The emotions that had been building up since her reunion with Amu were something she could never calmly face.

Ruan Mei left the window, hung the musical instrument aside, and quickened her pace as she walked toward the bed.

Lying on the soft pillow, I waved my hand.

Watching the past scenes repeatedly always easily evoked her longing.

"Xiao Mu... what do you think?"

"...It feels so good, teacher..."

Ruan Mei's eyes quickly became unfocused, and her breathing rhythm changed accordingly.

Just from the sound... my hand bypassed the brain's central nervous system and moved involuntarily.

……

Outside the window, the sun gradually rises.

Ruan Mei's chest heaved, her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her neck was flushed as well.

As her blank thoughts gradually calmed down, she moved her hand away and sat up.

Gazing at the face frozen on the screen above, a hint of guilt flickered in his eyes.

…He made the same mistake with Amu again…

But she couldn't, she really, really, really—she just couldn't...

If you don't make mistakes, you'll go mad.

Sweat beads gathered and slid down the neck to the hollow of the collarbone.

As for the few drops of dew in the center of her exquisite collarbone, they fell into the long, narrow abyss below, which was still undulating.

Ruan Mei wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and got out of bed.

Before heading towards the bathroom, he glanced back and fell silent for a moment.

He casually unbuttoned his waist, revealing a curvaceous body glistening with sweat, which then disappeared into the bathroom entrance.

……

backyard.

Tingyun stretched and walked in, and saw a graceful figure in the courtyard. Her half-droopy, fluffy ears perked up, and she went up to greet her with a big smile.

Good morning, Ms. Ruan Mei.

I have known Ms. Ruan Mei for some time now, and I am grateful for her meticulous care, which has enabled me to gradually recover.

You can leave the life support capsule and move around freely, breathe fresh air, and bask in the warm sunshine.

Ms. Ruan Mei is good in every way, except that she doesn't like being called her benefactor.

Unfortunately, I can only use the most basic form of address.

"Um."

Ruan Mei responded with a nasal sound.

Tingyun then noticed that Ruanmei was hanging up bed sheets and helped her without hesitation.

"No need," Ruan Mei said calmly.

"It's alright. You said that some exercise helps with recovery, and it also allows me to do something for you. Why wouldn't I want to?"

Tingyun smiled and tilted her head, then paused, momentarily stunned.

What's going on...?

No matter how you look at Ms. Ruan Mei's profile, she appears calm, without revealing the slightest emotion.

But why is there a faint hint of allure lingering in the corner of her eyes?

I blinked hard a few times and looked again, only to find that the emotion had disappeared.

Is it just an illusion?

How are you feeling about the aftereffects of your loss?

"Only my sense of smell is impaired; my hearing, taste, and touch are all normal. The speed of my recovery is remarkable, thanks in no small part to Ms. Ruan Mei's attentive care."

"I wouldn't say I care."

Ruan Mei's eyes flickered for a moment, and her tone unconsciously became tinged with reminiscence.

"I have encountered and cured many difficult diseases, and the aftereffects of loss of consciousness like yours happen to be one of the types I have the most experience with."

"Revisiting past experiences and improving upon them with current knowledge is not difficult for me and is not worth mentioning."

"What you consider a small act of kindness is, in my heart, an immeasurable debt of gratitude."

Tingyun's fluffy pink fox tail swayed behind her back, her words filled with genuine gratitude.

"You have experience in treating related symptoms, so you've already done your part for me in advance."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Mei's eyes dimmed uncontrollably.

That's not how it is...

She only did it for Amu.

However, compared to the harm done to him, that little bit of fatigue was nothing.

Do not--

It wasn't even considered strenuous.

If they hadn't focused most of their efforts on reviving their parents and instead concentrated on curing Amu's mental illness, they would have developed a truly effective cure much sooner.

Instead of only making it today... and using it on Tingyun.

"It's almost time." Ruan Mei suppressed the churning regret in her heart and her tone returned to calm.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand..."

"The time to send you back to the Immortal Ship, is that right, Luofu?"

Upon hearing keywords like "Immortal Boat" and "Luofu," Tingyun felt as if she had been transported to another world, with many past memories flashing back, causing her thoughts to automatically drift towards familiar people, things, and events.

After a while, Tingyun finally came to her senses.

"If you have urgent business to attend to, simply take me to the nearest company interstellar station..."

"It's alright, I was planning to go to the Immortal Ship anyway, so it's just on the way."

Upon hearing this, a faint excitement rose on Tingyun's face.

Although given the speed of time in Luofu, it's impossible to arrive in just a few days, at least I can go home.

"I am extremely grateful!"

……

All three Star Rising Modes are out now, what do you think?