The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

　“Teacher, look here, I tried to carve the way you walked in…”

　Hillyline's voice was barely audible.

　"good,"

　Russell looked closely at the slightly immature but spirited lines on the slate and gently encouraged, "The motion capture is excellent. Remember this feeling and keep up the good work."

　Hillyline's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes! I will!"

　Bai'e and Wan Di each carried their most prized creations as they approached, making the aroma of the food in the air even more enticing.

　"Teacher, try my braised noodles, a fusion of secret recipes from three city-states!"

　With confidence, Bai Er placed a steaming bowl of colorful noodles in front of Russell, its aroma filling the air.

　Not to be outdone, Wan Di placed a plate of perfectly roasted meat racks, drizzled with amber sauce that was still sizzling: "Teacher, don't be fooled by fancy names. True deliciousness lies in the natural flavor of the ingredients and the control of the flames."

　"Please try the secret recipe roasted ribs from Xuanfeng City."

　He gave Bai Er a defiant look.

　Russell looked at the different yet equally tempting dishes in front of him, and then at the two students' unyielding gazes, and couldn't help but smile.

　After tasting both dishes, Russell declared it a tie.

　At that moment, Xia and Feng Jin also came over. Xia was holding a cup of a well-prepared drink with a dreamy hue: "Great Sage, this is a Dream of Memories made with the first dew of the Aidiria Flower Sea and several rare berries. It's sweet and refreshing."

　"These were all made using the alchemy you left behind; they are the culmination of your scholarship."

　Kazemura quietly handed over a dessert with an exquisitely presented plating, like a work of art.

　"Thank you, you've put a lot of thought into the arrangements."

　Russell sincerely said that upon receiving the drink, the sweet taste was indeed delightful.

　"The duty lies."

　Xia answered succinctly at that moment, while Feng Jin responded with a faint smile.

　Sai Fei'er ran over like a gust of wind and presented Russell with a bouquet of freshly picked starflowers as if it were a treasure.

　Aglaia and Hazel also arrived together. Aglaia held a delicate little box inlaid with luminous crystals in her hands: "A small gift, may it light up your desk."

　The gift from Hazel was a pearl taken from the deep sea; their gifts all possessed a restrained yet unique beauty.

　"It's so beautiful, thank you."

　Russell carefully accepted it, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

　Cerudela arrived last, carrying not food, but a tray upon which rested a crown woven from golden wheat ears, starflowers, and laurel branches, solemn and magnificent.

　"The one wearing the thorn crown."

　Her voice was steady and powerful, filled with respect: "Your wisdom and guidance are the guiding light for us."

　She personally placed the crown on Russell's head, replacing the wheat ears that Ophina had previously worn.

　At this moment, all the students and members of the Golden Family fell silent, their eyes fixed on Russell with deep respect.

　The staff moved through the crowd, pouring fine wines and spirits for every guest.

　Xia Die sat quietly a little further away from Russell, watching him surrounded by people with a gentle and satisfied smile on his face, as if the beautiful flowers and laughter in front of him were her most satisfying creation.

　Serhith raised his glass, his gentle voice carrying clearly throughout the room: "May the light of reason forever shine upon those we cherish. Let us drink to this joyous gathering."

　"For a joyful gathering!"

　Everyone responded in unison, raising their glasses in a series of crisp clinking sounds.

　The festive atmosphere reached its peak. Fine wine swirld in glasses, delicacies gleamed on plates, and laughter, conversation, and music mingled together, filling the entire courtyard.

　Ophina pulled a few younger students around Russell and told them about his embarrassing moments from back then, which made everyone burst into laughter.

　Iser finally found an opportunity to discuss a complex medical problem with Russell, his expression focused.

　Hillline sat a little further away, carefully using a carving knife to record this joyful moment on another small stone slab.

　While tasting each other's creations, Bai'e and Wan Di continued their debate about the supremacy of culinary skills, but the atmosphere eased considerably, and they even began to exchange cooking tips.

　Everyone immersed themselves in the warm hustle and bustle, their faces beaming with genuine smiles, as if all the hardships had passed and only endless sunshine and beauty remained for the future.

　Russell was immersed in this almost unreal torrent of happiness; every sound, every smile, every act of care soothed the deepest weariness and loneliness in his soul.

　He could even smell the crispness of the fruit wine in his glass, the richness of the grilled ribs, the mellow sauce of the braised noodles, and the scent of sun-dried grass emanating from Ophina's hair beside him. It was all so beautiful it was heartbreaking.

　Just as the cheers of the banquet reached their peak, and everyone's glasses were refilled...

　Without a word, everyone turned to Russell with their brightest smiles, raised their glasses high, and sang in unison:

　"Happy birthday to our teacher/son of man—50 billion years old!"

　Loud and orderly blessings swept in like a tsunami, carrying a warmth that could melt away all the hardest ice.

　However, just as the echoes of that blessing were still reverberating in the air, and before Russell's smile, born of immense warmth and astonishment, had fully unfolded—

　Everything before my eyes—the sunlight, the courtyard, the long table, the food, the flowers, the wine glasses, and those incredibly familiar smiling faces brimming with the most sincere blessings—was instantly distorted, shattered, and vanished, like a reflection on water with a stone thrown in.

　Colors fade, sounds are silenced, and temperature disappears.

　The weight of the golden wheat ears, which was still tangible, vanished into nothingness.

　Before Russell's eyes, the ceiling of the Starry Sky Train carriage, which he had just converted into a rest room, appeared again.

　"How was it? Did you like the gift I prepared for you? A complete idiot who forgot his own 50 billionth birthday... "

　Chapter Ninety-Four: Departure of Yalilo No. 6

　Russell wiped his eyes, the moist touch carrying a slight warmth.

　"So...I'm already this old?"

　Russell whispered to himself, a hint of disbelief in his mind.

　【if not? 】

　Chuishizhi's voice, tinged with a mischievous chuckle, echoed clearly in his consciousness: "Thirty million lifetimes of reincarnation—every day, every night, is a real accumulation. Even for an existence like you, five hundred billion years is a frightening number."

　I've been secretly preparing this gift since the time of Onphalus.

　Its tone softened, carrying a barely perceptible sense of reverence: "To weave a non-existent memory, and to make it feel more real than the real thing—do you know how difficult that is? It's harder than reconstructing a galaxy!"

　However…

　The voice held a hint of satisfaction: "Seeing your reaction just now, it was worth it. Hehe. Your reaction is a precious memory too, friend."

　Russell took a deep breath; the lingering warmth from the dream still enveloped him.

　"Yes... if you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have remembered what day it is today."

　A sincere smile curved his lips as he said softly, "Thank you, A-Chui. I really like this gift."

　If you like it, that's great!

　Chui Shizhi's voice lightened, then turned slightly serious, "[A-Su, from now on... take better care of yourself, okay?]"

　It paused, as if understanding the weight of its words, ["From before you came out of Onpharos, to after you came out, your mind was filled with other people, other worlds."]

　What about yourself? Have you ever truly lived a single day for yourself?

　"You know, I'm carrying a burden..."

　【I know! 】

　Chui Shizhi interrupted him, her voice filled with unwavering certainty: "Our essences are intertwined; I know you better than anyone else. What are you going to do? And what are you thinking right now?"

　Therefore, I don't expect you to suddenly learn to love yourself.

　Its voice became unusually gentle, like the most resilient vines entwining around a protective tree trunk: "Go ahead and love your world, love everything you deem worthy."

　As for the task of loving you… leave it to me. No matter when or where, you only need to remember this: Asu, I love you. That's enough.

　Even the most powerful and unapproachable person needs to be loved, don't you agree?

　Russell opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. Chui Shizhi's words were like warm spring water, washing away his icy exterior.

　In the end, he could only nod helplessly, almost resignedly.

　“You’re right. Perhaps… when Onphalus is truly free, I should try to think about the future.”

　You won't.

　Chui Shizhi chuckled, a knowing smile tinged with amusement and understanding. "Once you've dealt with Onpharos, you'll immediately see another world suffering, and then you'll tell yourself: 'As the Envoy of Abundance, it's my responsibility to love more people.'"

　"But it's okay, Asu, I'm here."

　Russell didn't argue further, only giving a soft "hmm." This familiar, warm-lighted thought, like a gentle tide, softly washed over his consciousness, bringing a profound peace.

　He let himself sink into this drowsy state guarded by the withered branches, and the carefully woven false memories, like the softest filling material, miraculously filled a blank corner in the depths of his soul that he himself had never noticed.

　Then a crisp knock sounded—"Knock, knock, knock!"

　"Russell passenger, Ember passenger! Breakfast time in Lapa!"

　Russell was suddenly awakened to find the soft light outside the window mimicking the dawn.

　He sat up and saw Jin standing motionless by the door like a statue, his posture as alert as ever.

　"How long have you been awake?"

　Russell asked, his voice still hoarse from just waking up.

　"About a system time ago."

　Jin turned around, his movements fluid and respectful. "Seeing that you are sleeping soundly, sir, I dared not disturb you."

　"You..."

　Russell shook his head helplessly, threw off the covers and got out of bed. "Let's go, don't keep everyone waiting."

　The observation car was filled with the warm aroma of toasted bread and fried eggs. A simple breakfast was already laid out on the long dining table: golden fried eggs with slightly charred edges lay on a white porcelain plate, next to perfectly toasted slices of bread that smelled of wheat, and several cups of steaming milk.

　Pam was standing on tiptoe, trying to place a jar of strawberry jam in the middle of the table.

　"Good morning...yawn..."

　On March 7th, she lay sprawled on the table as if she had no bones, her pink hair disheveled and her eyelids drooping.

　He waved to Russell and Jin as they entered, saying, "I'm so sleepy... Did you eat too much cake last night?"

　Xing was engrossed in preparing her fried eggs, her fork clattering against the plate, and she mumbled, "Morning..."

　Dan Heng, sitting next to her, was upright, his food neatly arranged in front of him, and he held an electronic data tablet in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was processing information even during breakfast. Hearing the noise, he looked up and nodded slightly to Russell and Jin.

　Mr. Walter Young sat by the window, holding a coffee cup, gazing at the starry sky outside, his eyes calm behind his glasses.

　Himeko gently pushed a cup of hot milk in front of Russell, who had just sat down, and smiled, "Did you sleep well? Are you used to the train bed?"

　"Very good, thank you."

　Russell took the milk; the warm touch from his fingertips felt very comforting.

　Jin stood quietly to the side of Russell's seat, like a silent shadow.

　"Pam slept very well too!"

　The young train conductor puffed out his chest proudly, then jumped onto the head seat, cleared his throat, and drew everyone's attention. "Attention passengers! I'm about to announce an important itinerary!"

　Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Pam. Even March 7th managed to prop his head up.

　"Our train has completed charging and heading calibration,"

　Pam pointed her little paw at the huge observation window in front of her, where the Milky Way shone brightly. "The next destination has been locked in—Arilo VI Pam!"

　"Yalilo Six?"

　Xing swallowed the toast in her mouth and asked curiously, "What kind of place is that? Is there anything good to eat? Do you have any super rare trash cans?"

　According to think tank records,

　Dan Heng put down the data panel and added calmly, "Yaliluo VI is a planet that has been out of contact with mainstream interstellar society for hundreds of years. The last recorded public signal transmission was about seven hundred years ago. Its current status is unknown, and it has great exploration value."

　"Lost in contact for hundreds of years?"

　March 7th's drowsiness seemed to be dispelled by this information, and he opened his eyes wide. "Wow, does that mean that place might be completely different? Could there be ancient ruins? Or... a frozen civilization?"

　She began to unleash her rich imagination.

　Walter adjusted his glasses and calmly said, "The reason for the loss of contact is unknown. It could be a technological gap, or it could be some kind of isolation."