The sky was just beginning to brighten. Ryn, being a person of leisure with no missions, was planning to go to the cafeteria to buy breakfast, allowing Mei and the others to sleep in a little longer instead of waking up early to cook for everyone.
But as soon as he opened the door, Ryn saw someone unexpected.
Fu Hua was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Her hair was a mess, which Ryn guessed was from the wind while riding the "bird plane." However, there were also some leaves and weeds in her hair, and her clothes were caked with mud and morning dew.
It was already late autumn, and the time before sunrise was the coldest part of the day.
Ryn didn't know how long Fu Hua had been standing outside, but... there was frost forming on her... so it must have been a very long time...
"Fu Hua, why are you here so early? Quick, come inside!" Ryn took the shawl from the doorway, draped it over Fu Hua, and welcomed her in.
"If you were coming, you could have just sent me a message or called. It's so cold, what if you catch a cold!"
"It's fine, this is a small matter. I was the one seeking your help, so naturally, I wouldn't want to disturb your rest. I was just in a bit of a hurry, so I rushed over without tidying up my appearance."
"?"
Ryn brushed the fallen leaves and morning frost off Fu Hua's body and said to her with a sad expression:
"Fu Hua, we're friends. Besides, even though you didn't take me as your disciple, you've still been my guide. There's no need for such formalities between us. Please, sit down and rest for a bit. I'll go get you a cup of hot tea."
"Friends..."
Fu Hua watched Ryn's busy back for a moment, then looked down at the dormant Book of Cangxuan in her arms.
She gently stroked the Book of Cangxuan's cheek, as if returning to a time long past, to Lianshan and Ji Lin... to Danzhu and Cangxuan...
"Book of Cangxuan, I've fulfilled our promise... I really opened a martial arts school and took on many disciples..."
Fu Hua's eyes were filled with nostalgia, lost in memories of the past, so much so that she didn't even notice Ryn's return.
Ryn placed the hot tea in front of Fu Hua and curiously observed the chubby little girl in her arms.
"Is she a very important friend of yours, Fu Hua?"
"Yes. Her name is the Book of Cangxuan. She accompanied me for a very long time. Unfortunately, during the Suiyang era of the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago, her power ran out and she fell into a deep sleep..."
Fu Hua looked at the Book of Cangxuan with nostalgia one last time, then handed her to Ryn.
"The manufacturing techniques for Armed Dolls have been passed down, but the energy materials they require were annihilated along with the Mu continent in the Previous Era.
As their stored energy was depleted, the Armed Dolls all fell into a state of power insufficiency and could only enter a dormant state.
Yesterday, when I saw Cortana change the power supply of that Kevin Armed Doll to Honkai energy, I thought of the Book of Cangxuan... Ryn, I hope you can do me this favor."
"I can, but you heard what Cortana said yesterday. We've never tried something like this before, so there's no guarantee it will be universally applicable."
"It's fine, you can just try your best. It would be best if it succeeds, but it doesn't matter if it fails. After all... I've grown used to it..."
"Now that you've said that, we have to make it work!" Ryn patted his chest, assuring Fu Hua that he could get it done.
Even if he couldn't, he'd have Cortana back up the Book of Cangxuan's data, then just melt it down and reforge it to force it to work...
"But Fu Hua, this will have to wait a bit. Cortana went out to party last night and isn't back yet. She said she was going to 'dominate' Ada this time, though I think she'll be lucky if she doesn't get caught and disciplined by Welt."
"It's fine. I've already waited a thousand years, a few more days won't make a difference."
"It won't be that long. I called for Cortana ten minutes ago; she's already on her way back. Fu Hua, you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right? I need to go buy some now. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Thank you for the trouble. A portion of steamed buns and soy milk will be fine."
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After buying breakfast, Ryn first went to Himeko's place, since the breakfast was intended for Mei and the others.
Ryn took out his key to open the door, then paused and put the key away.
The door wasn't closed... so there was no need for a key to unlock it...
Pushing the door open, sure enough, Ryn saw a redhead mess right in the entryway.
The hungover Himeko was holding a wine bottle, butt in the air, face-planted on the floor, fast asleep.
"I should be glad this is an all-girls school... and that I'm a gentleman."
Ryn took out two napkins and plugged his nose. Then he picked Himeko up by the waist, intending to carry her back to her bedroom.
Awakened by Ryn's actions, Himeko grabbed his collar, her eyes hazy as she looked at him.
"Hey handsome, I'm single, you know..."
"Himeko, you're drunk."
"Bleeeargh—"
"What the hell!!!"
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Ryn sat on the doorstep of Himeko's house, speechless for a long time.
The cold wind blew, as cold as Ryn's heart.
He was originally planning to see if Kiana or Mei were awake and give them a good morning kiss. Now, great. He hadn't even seen them yet, and he was already reeking of Himeko's booze and had been thrown up on.
There was no point in looking for Kiana and the others now, nor was he in the mood for a good morning kiss. Ryn left the breakfast in the living room, sent them a message, and left.
On the way home, Ryn suddenly felt his body being hollowed out, and he collapsed against a lamppost.
"Ew, a hungover student..." "It stinks... let's stay away..."
Passing students held their noses, gave Ryn a few disgusted looks, and quickly ran away. Someone even took a few photos and sent them to Theresa.
"Himeko! Cortana! My lifelong reputation!" Ryn covered his face, too ashamed to be seen.
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While Ryn was out buying breakfast, he had just missed Cortana's return. After learning about Fu Hua's request, Cortana rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
"Phew—that took a lot of effort, but I finally got it done."
Cortana wiped her non-existent sweat, hands on her hips, feeling quite proud of herself.
"Here you go, Fu Hua. I've changed your Book of Cangxuan's power supply to Honkai energy and linked it to you! Once you transfer Honkai energy to charge it up, the Book of Cangxuan will wake up right away."
Cortana handed a yin-yang sphere to Fu Hua.
"Thank you, Cortana." Fu Hua happily accepted the yin-yang sphere.
Fu Hua felt the Honkai energy link between herself and the yin-yang sphere, then transferred all of her Honkai energy into it.
As Fu Hua's Honkai energy flowed in, the yin-yang sphere began to glow and transform, eventually returning to the appearance of the chubby little girl Fu Hua had brought with her.