"In the dream, I am a Calamity Star, an ill-omened person. I know it, I've always been able to feel it. I just don't know why I am a Calamity Star."
"That day, the Blood Moon descended. In my dream, I could clearly feel the Blood Moon summoning my soul. I knew that if I fused with the Blood Moon, I might no longer be myself."
"The Three Thousand Great Daos wanted to erase me, and I wanted them to kill me too. I didn't want to become a Calamity Star, and I especially didn't want to cease being myself."
"I had prepared myself to be utterly annihilated. The only thing in my heart I couldn't bear to part with was Big Brother. Even though I held the Soul-Link Bracelet Big Brother once gave me in my hand, and I knew that if I called out in my heart, Big Brother would surely appear before me. I believed in Big Brother. I've always believed."
"I really wanted to see Big Brother one last time. But in the end, I gave up. I didn't want Big Brother to be sad, I didn't want Big Brother to be distressed, and I didn't want to implicate Big Brother. So, I personally crushed the Soul-Link Bracelet Big Brother gave me."
"But sometimes, fate just loves to play tricks. Big Brother ultimately still appeared."
"Big Brother didn't ask me why I was a Calamity Star, nor did he ask me why I drew out the Blood Moon. Big Brother only asked me one thing. He asked me if I believed in him."
"Of course I believe in Big Brother. In this world, under this heaven, across all the myriad realms, I don't believe in karma, I don't believe in fate, I don't believe in Buddha's affinity. I believe only in Big Brother."
On the country path, the white horse did not continue forward but stood quietly there. Xiao Jin'er, riding the white horse, gazed at Gu Qingfeng. Her clear eyes were already rimmed red, moist with tears that traced down her cheeks and fell as she murmured, "Big Brother, do you really plan not to acknowledge Jin'er anymore?"
Opposite.
An old horse also stood quietly. Gu Qingfeng, riding the old horse, was also gazing at Xiao Jin'er.
He had originally thought Xiao Jin'er's past memories were merely showing signs of recovery, which was why she had come to this world seeking her former memories regardless of everything.
However.
When Xiao Jin'er mentioned karma, mentioned the dream, especially when Gu Qingfeng heard Xiao Jin'er utter the words "Big Brother," he had already guessed that Xiao Jin'er's past memories weren't just showing signs of recovery—they had already recovered.
Looking at Xiao Jin'er, whose tears would not stop, Gu Qingfeng said nothing. He simply lifted Xiao Jin'er from the white horse and held her. With this embrace, Xiao Jin'er could no longer hold back, burying her head in Gu Qingfeng's chest and weeping bitterly.
"Wah... Big Brother, Jin'er thought... thought Big Brother wouldn't acknowledge Jin'er anymore, wah..."
"Silly girl, how could Big Brother not acknowledge you?"
Gu Qingfeng rubbed the corner of his eye and smiled. "It's just that the little girl has grown up, matured, changed so much Big Brother hardly dared to recognize you..."
"Wah... Big Brother, do you know... Jin'er has been missing you all this time, do you know, Jin'er has been searching for you... wah."
Xiao Jin'er cried with particular sorrow, pouring out all her longing for Gu Qingfeng over the years.
Gu Qingfeng said nothing, simply letting Xiao Jin'er cry.
After a long, long time, Xiao Jin'er finally stopped crying, just nestling in Gu Qingfeng's arms. Perhaps she had cried all her tears out, her eyes red and swollen.
"Done crying?"
"I... I..." Xiao Jin'er buried her head even deeper, somewhat shyly. "Big Brother, you're so mean!"
"How am I mean?"
"Back in Food Immortal Town, Big Brother clearly recognized Jin'er, so why did you pretend not to know me... Don't tell me it's because I've grown up and matured. Big Brother, I'm not a child anymore. Such nonsense can't fool me."
"This..." Gu Qingfeng said helplessly, "Weren't you pretending not to know me too?"
"I... I was just testing you, to see if you still remembered me, if you could recognize me!"
"What a coincidence, Big Brother wanted to test you too, to see if you still remembered me."
"Hmph! I don't believe it! Big Brother definitely thought I had really lost my memory and was afraid I'd remember the past, so you didn't dare acknowledge Jin'er, right?"
Gu Qingfeng was surprised. "You know about that too?"
"Of course I do."
"So, our meeting in Food Immortal Town wasn't a coincidence?"
"Of course it wasn't a coincidence."
"Then how did you know you'd meet me in Food Immortal Town? Wait, have you already met Huode? Did Huode tell you I was in Food Immortal Town?"
"Not at all! After Jin'er came to this world, I haven't seen anyone. Grandpa Huode and Aunt Feiyue probably still don't even know I've come."
"That's strange then. How did you know I was in Food Immortal Town?"
"Silly Big Brother, news of your awakening has long been known to everyone. And Big Brother, you are a very nostalgic person. If you were in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, you would definitely return to your homeland world to see. You slept for a full ten thousand years. This world has undergone earth-shattering changes. Even the Great Northwest that Big Brother is most familiar with has become Yunxia Sect. Only Shangqing Sect and Food Immortal Town remain largely unchanged from ten thousand years ago."
"And Big Brother doesn't have much fondness for Shangqing Sect, only remembering Senior Zhenjue. But Senior Zhenjue has long since left Shangqing Sect. In Jin'er's thinking, if Big Brother returned, you would definitely come to Food Immortal Town, and you would definitely drink a bowl of Luo Xuan's old soup. So, ever since Jin'er came to this world, I've been waiting for Big Brother in Food Immortal Town almost every day."
Hearing this.
Gu Qingfeng stared at Xiao Jin'er in his arms, smiling in amazement. "Well now, Xiao Jin'er, when did you become so clever and quick-witted? It's been so long since I've seen you, you've really changed so much I almost didn't recognize you. You could actually guess Big Brother would definitely come to Food Immortal Town. Truly impressive!"
"Big Brother, Jin'er has always been clever!"
"Alright, alright! It was my mistake. Jin'er has always been clever, hahahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng was very happy, laughing heartily.
He hadn't been this happy in a very, very long time.
"Big Brother, let me ask you something."
Xiao Jin'er broke free from Gu Qingfeng's embrace, sat facing him, crossed her arms, and demanded, "Have you missed Jin'er?"
"Of course I have."
"Big Brother is lying. You haven't missed Jin'er at all."
"Jin'er, Big Brother isn't lying to you. I really have missed you."
"If Big Brother missed Jin'er, why didn't you come looking for me?"
"I..." Gu Qingfeng was momentarily at a loss for words, then explained, "I just woke up not long ago. I was planning to go find you in a few days. I didn't expect you to come running over here first."
"Hmph! Big Brother, are you still saying you're not lying? Jin'er knows you woke up a long time ago. You've been awake for many, many years."
"You know that too? Did Su Hua tell you?"
"Sister Hua would never tell me these things."
"That's strange then. When did I wake up? How did you know?"
"Jin'er could feel it. From the very first day Big Brother woke up, Jin'er could feel it."