Zero felt like he was developing PTSD toward Aeons.
He cautiously asked the lotus, "May I ask, what brings you to the Luofu?"
Fuli did not appear before him in human form as in his dream. Instead, above the lotus hung a Light Cone.
The "Remembrance" Aeon directly sent his voice into Zero's mind.
"For 'Joy.'"
That mysterious voice, paired with an unnervingly calm tone, instantly made one feel awe.
He continued, "A gift to you."
Zero glanced at the Light Cone, confused, "Ah? Thank you."
Fuli was silent for a moment. Perhaps thinking Zero felt it was too little, He added another Light Cone, then explained, "The amusements of 'Elation' are not easy to come by."
Zero dryly thanked, "Thanks."
'So this was payment for making Aha look bad? A gift?'
Seeing that Fuli did not immediately leave, Zero cautiously asked, "May I ask you a few questions?"
Fuli said, "You may."
Hearing the agreement, Zero exhaled with relief. So the "Remembrance" Aeon was actually quite easy to talk to.
"Why did you give me my past life's memories?"
Fuli said, "Because for the entire universe, they are very important."
Zero was utterly baffled.
His memories were important? Important enough to make an Aeon personally intervene?
Did gaining those memories mean he was now supposed to save the universe?
He pressed on, "In the future, will there be something I need to do?"
For some reason, this time Fuli spoke much faster, "You need do nothing. Simply maintain the status quo."
Zero was lost.
'Were Aeons all philanthropists? Helping without asking anything in return?'
Or had his past life already paid the price long ago?
He looked up at the ice lotus representing Fuli, and continued, "You know all things in the world. Then, can you help me clear my doubts, tell me the truth?"
"'Elation' did not lie." Fuli paused, then added, "But He also did not tell you the whole truth."
Zero's pupils shook.
Fuli went on, "You fell together with Akivili."
Zero nearly cursed aloud.
So Aha really hadn't lied.
Akivili truly hadn't shed a single tear for him.
Because they had died together.
Even putting aside whether Aeons could cry, if a man and an Aeon both got taken out at once, who would even have time for tears?
Just as Zero was inwardly raging at Aha, Fuli spoke again, "You need not worry about 'Preservation' and 'Destruction.'"
Hearing this, Zero waited and waited. But Fuli said no more, offering no explanation.
What the hell had he done before?
Zero felt like he was reading some serialized novel where the author always cut off at the juiciest moment, leaving cliffhangers so itchy it made you want to drag the author through the internet cable and lock them in a dark room, forcing them to update a hundred thousand words a day.
But he couldn't curse Fuli. Even less could he chase Him down through the lotus. He could only take a deep breath and continue, "Do you consider me a heinous villain?"
Zero couldn't think of any other reason.
In his past life, had he been evil?
If so, why was he reborn, alive in the world again?
If not, why had he provoked two Aeons, yet those who knew said there was no need to worry?
He waited for Fuli's answer.
This time, the silence lasted longer than ever.
After a while, Fuli spoke. "To humanity, you are not."
"But to villains, to the Swarm, and to the Automatons, you are."
Zero finally set down his anxious heart.
As long as he hadn't gone on a slaughter spree, playing "erase nine generations of clans" or something, it was fine.
As for Swarm, Automatons? Who cared.
From Fuli's words, it even sounded like His evaluation of him was fairly high?
Relaxed now, Zero sincerely thanked Fuli, "Thank you, for clearing my doubts. My memory is incomplete, if I offended you before, please forgive me."
"Offended?" He was silent at first, then said, "Once, you told Me, 'Riddlers should get out of the universe.' Was that your offense to Me?"
Zero, "…"
That sure sounded like something he would say, but… how could he have dared say that?
Why would he say such a thing to Fuli?
So that explained why, at their first meeting, Fuli had stayed silent?
"My deepest apologies…" Zero said dryly. "I offended you much before."
Suddenly, the ice lotus representing Fuli erupted in a blinding white light. Zero had to raise his arm to shield his eyes.
When the brilliance faded, another Light Cone had appeared above.
Zero, "…"
Did he just say something worth recording?
"You have changed greatly." Fuli's words seemed tinged with emotion.
He put away the Light Cone about Zero, then added a warning, "Remember, do not defy destiny, nor meddle in others' cause and effect."
Zero nodded in agreement. Soon after, the ice lotus grew more transparent, then vanished.
Seeing Fuli depart, he opened his backpack to stow the two Light Cones. Then he pulled up his jade screen to search, confirming no one had noticed the descent of the two Aeons. Finally he exhaled, with a mind free enough to think on their words.
Two Aeons in a row had mentioned destiny and cause and effect, warning him not to interfere.
What on earth had his past life done, to make Aeons this serious?
Zero was lost in confusion. He pulled up his jade screen, opened the search engine, and typed "General Xianzhou."
After hitting search, a hateful grinning mask popped up, with endless lines of "hahahaha" scrolling below.
Zero scowled, switched to another device, and searched again.
This time he didn't search "General Xianzhou," only the name "Xianzhou."
When it loaded, another smiling mask.
A mask drawn of lines, perfectly capturing Aha's punchable grin, so vivid it seemed to mock him without a sound.
Zero angrily deleted the text, changing the keywords to "Akivili's dear friend."
The mask was no longer a mask, it turned into a painted face.
The painted face no longer smiled. It cried.
Those pitch-black eyes squeezed out two tears, running down to smear the makeup, leaving two glaring streaks across the cheeks.
Zero, "…"
He gave up.
All he wanted was to look up some past life info, and Aha still had to sabotage him?
He'd just have to borrow someone else's jade screen another day.
If even jade screens couldn't search, then he'd have to check the archives in the library.
Frustrated, Zero shut the device, picked up his own jade screen, and opened his social app.
The moment he logged in, he saw a message from his boss.
Before going to bed, he had copied a leave request template from the internet and sent it to his boss.
Could it be the boss hadn't approved his leave? And because he skipped work, they were going to fire him?
Zero solemnly opened the chat, scrolling through the messages.
At first, his boss hadn't replied.
When he saw Zero not responding for a long while, he reluctantly approved the leave.
Then another message followed.
[Zero, are you alright?]
[If there's some conflict, it'd be best to talk it out.]
Zero was baffled.
That sounded like he was some vicious, violent man.
[No replies outside work hours, Boss, I'm fine.]
He had just sent the message when the boss replied instantly.
[I heard the Swordmaster beat you up badly]
Zero, '???'
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