"Who taught me the technique, you ask..."
In the birch forest, faced with the sudden question, Fuli's face showed a hint of hesitation.
"You can't say?" the girl pressed on, her cool demeanor unwavering as she unconsciously took a step forward.
Their faces were instantly close, the air they breathed out seeming to brush against each other.
「Despicable! So despicable!」
「To think she'd use a honey trap!」
The lunar duo cried foul, completely forgetting that an honest person's anger is the most terrifying.
"I really can't."
Unfortunately, when it came to his rebirth, the boy had to keep it a secret, even from his trusted Cousin Hua.
He averted his gaze and scratched his cheek. "But I can reveal a little. I learned the Peerless Nine Revolutions on a small island in the South China Sea."
"A small island in the South China Sea?" As if catching a keyword, Fu Hua seemed lost in thought. "I see. So, the one you met before was actually 'her'."
"?"
Let's briefly talk about how Fuli met Fu Hua in the previous cycle.
At that time, the boy, who had been sent back to Shenzhou from St. Freya, was still desperately searching for a way to enter the Honkai side of the world. This search lasted for more than half a year.
With his talent, he should not have wasted so much time deliberately searching for the supernatural.
Even if the boy himself didn't know better, it didn't mean that the successors of the great sects were blind and couldn't see his potential.
As mentioned before, the person who had been preventing Fuli from coming into contact with the Honkai was Su.
This Flame-Chaser, hidden above the River Thames, had only to slightly raise an eyebrow, and a spiritual wave spanning half the globe would silently influence every person and thing he had ever come into contact with, stringing together a series of coincidences that should have been extremely unlikely, stopping this variable time and time again.
Even so, the boy, who had failed countless times, remained stubborn.
He would never forget how radiant the trio, led by Kiana, had been when he, covered in filth, had collapsed on the ground after escaping Nagazora City.
It was like the ugly duckling and the white swan, like the proud firebird spreading its wings in the treetops and the miserable gray mouse rolling in the mud.
So, after making thorough preparations, he set out again, heading for the island known as the "Number One Island Under Heaven," Maluyazi Island.
The island was located in the South China Sea, with a warm and pleasant climate and lush, rich vegetation. Migratory birds often stopped here to rest.
Legend had it that this was once a deserted island. Two thousand years ago, a sage on the island had ascended to immortality.
At that time, a golden light had filled the air, a spring breeze had caressed the land, grass and trees had sprouted, and birds and beasts had run wild. The once deserted island had been transformed into a paradise in just 3 hours, 4 minutes, and 46 seconds. It had thus earned the name "Number One Island Under Heaven" and become a well-known scenic spot for the locals.
(From the 2021 Chinese New Year event in Honkai Impact 3rd)
To be honest, from the description to the name, there were plenty of things about this place that made one want to complain.
But regardless, it was a clue that could lead to the Honkai side.
What's more, there were rumors that the sage who had ascended on the island was related to the legendary Phoenix.
Fuli certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity. He scrimped and saved to buy a plane ticket to an island near Maluyazi Island, and after arriving, he rowed a boat there alone.
And Su, as usual, prepared to cause trouble and send him back empty-handed again.
Unexpectedly, just as the man was about to make a move, an incomparably sharp sword of will pierced through the air, brutally severing the spiritual power he had extended.
It was now 2015. In a little while, Durandal would go to London to retrieve the Second Divine Key as per the "script." And after excessively observing parallel worlds, his own body was already spent.
Considering that according to the observed "script," Kiana Kaslana would embrace the Cocoon at the end of 2017.
In a total of two years, no matter how much of a genius Fuli was, the probability of him interfering with the established plot was pitifully low. It wouldn't be a big problem.
Thinking this, Su temporarily gave up on interfering with Fuli's quest.
The boy, completely unaware of this, set foot on Maluyazi Island, full of anticipation, and began to search for traces of the ascended immortal.
He found them easily.
Or rather, she had no intention of hiding.
Two thousand years ago, the Phoenix, the guardian of Shenzhou, had left a feather of Fenghuang Down here to suppress evil.
As time passed, the residents of Maluyazi Island gradually moved away, leaving only a memory clone formed from the feather and a large white bird to guard the island.
That's right, it was she who had used the Form of Soul to sever Su's spiritual power.
The so-called Form of Soul is the essence of swordsmanship.
The way of the sword has countless variations. The sword itself is merely a vessel. After comprehending the Form of Soul, one can wield all the weapons of the world as if they were swords, and one's movements are no longer bound by the shape of the sword. Only by reaching this realm can one be said to have mastered swordsmanship.
This Phoenix memory clone, due to long-term loneliness and boredom, had developed a desire to conquer the world.
She had originally planned to host a party, sending out invitations in the name of the Phoenix to attract figures from various major factions to the island, satisfying her desire for control by creating chaos.
But just as she was about to put her plan into action, Fuli arrived on the island.
The Phoenix memory clone, having found a new toy, was overjoyed and completely forgot about the invitations.
And the boy?
He stared at that face, stunned, recalling a photo he had seen in a family group chat in the past, and a "Cousin!" escaped his lips.
This "cousin" made the memory clone's heart bloom with joy. Being essentially a bratty child, she didn't think much of it and directly searched Fuli's memories.
My goodness, this child is so unlucky! What sins did he commit in his past life?
Upon further inspection—Yo! Maxed-out talent! Good character!
Alright! Just for that 'cousin,' little Li, be it techniques or swordsmanship, I'll give you the best!
This is the Peerless Nine Revolutions, take it! With it, you can defeat any sun monster!
This is the Form of Taixuan, don't be shy, practice it! When you've learned it, I'll teach you something even better!
If Fuli hadn't stopped her, she would have even been prepared to pinch the big white bird that had accompanied her for two thousand years into a human form to be his wife.
Making the family ties even closer! I'll model her after that Kaslana of yours! No, no, I'll have to help you snatch that Kiana back later, what if they get mixed up... seems like it's not a big deal either?
Fuli, the unlucky bastard, had never been treated like this before. He burst into tears on the spot.
After crying, he began to work hard, vowing that he would never disappoint Cousin Hua's expectations in this life.
As an aside, this is the main reason why he now says things like "Cousin is the best in the world!" and "Cousin is omnipotent!"
The Phoenix memory clone loved to hear it, and it became a habit.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last.
On a certain full moon night, with the faint sound of cloud-patterned long boots stepping on the sand, the real Phoenix—Fu Hua—set foot on the island.
She had come here because the memory clone's unrestrained actions had already caused some kind of strange phenomenon in a corner of the South China Sea.
Fu Hua had to retrieve her to prevent her from causing any more trouble.
The memory clone, of course, would not agree. You put me here when you wanted to, and you retrieve me when you want to. What do you take me for? A useful tool?
The two of them couldn't agree, and a fierce battle ensued.
In the end, the memory clone was defeated.
It couldn't be helped. She was not an independent entity, but a wisp of a feather from Fenghuang Down. Facing the Divine Key's main body, the possibility of victory was too low.
But just as she was about to be reabsorbed, the memory clone gritted her teeth and said that she would return, but the main body had to agree to two conditions. Otherwise, she would release the sealed Honkai energy on the island and cause a huge mess.
Her request was simple: I've been pretending to be you in front of little Li. Now, it's your turn to pretend to be me in front of him.
The memory clone knew that with Fu Hua's personality, she would most likely turn and leave without getting involved with Fuli after reabsorbing her.
In that case, that little fool would be heartbroken.
The second was the Peerless Nine Revolutions.
As a technique created five hundred years ago, the two-thousand-year-old memory clone shouldn't have known about it.
It was the connection between the feathers of Fenghuang Down that had caused the technique to appear in her mind. After giving it to Fuli, it took her a long time to realize that there was a problem with it.
Fu Hua had to help solve the hidden dangers, and in a way that would not harm little Li in the slightest.
Fu Hua had no choice but to agree.
And on the day after merging with the memory clone, she appeared before the clueless Fuli.
While taking him on a tour, she tried to find a way to solve the hidden dangers of the Peerless Nine Revolutions.
Unfortunately, she failed.
If it were that simple, Fu Hua wouldn't have chosen to destroy the technique in the first place.
In the end, she could only leave him with the advice, "Remember, if you reach the sixth revolution, you must go to St. Freya and find me," thinking that if worst came to worst, he could switch to another technique. The super-mutated organs simulated by the sixth revolution would be sufficient.
Unfortunately, in October 2016, the Herrscher of the Void awakened, the Far East Branch rebelled, and Murata Himeko died.
And Fu Hua—
"Celestial Master Phoenix, I did not lie."
A spear through the head.
Of course, we all know that the zeroth rated power of Fenghuang Down can bind the user's spirit to a designated unit, achieving an effect similar to living a second life.
Unfortunately, although Fu Hua was inside Kiana at the time, she was constantly suppressing the Herrscher of the Void, who was trying to take advantage of the situation.
The God-Slaying Spear was only effective against the body; the spiritual aspect was still up to her.
This continued until Kiana arrived at ARK City, barely ending, causing the girl to miss her last chance to be honest with Fuli.
What happened next goes without saying.
Let's turn the narrative back to the present.
The current Fu Hua had obviously imagined the southern island Fuli mentioned to be Maluyazi Island.
At this point in time, the Phoenix memory clone hadn't started causing trouble yet, but she remembered that she had placed a feather there two thousand years ago.
「No wonder MEI and Prometheus said it was 'I' who taught my cousin the Peerless Nine Revolutions.」
A memory clone... isn't that just another me?
Thinking this, a strong sense of guilt immediately welled up in the girl's heart.
So, after all that accusing, the culprit was me all along!
In Fu Hua's simple values, if you make a mistake, you have to admit it.
She gently patted the boy's shoulder, and in his astonished eyes, the girl said softly, "Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for you."
Fuli: "Huh?"
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
In the dining hall on the first floor of the hotel, the few people sitting at the table looked at each other, the atmosphere quite grim.
The Water Dragon's Chant could control liquids within a hundred-meter radius. Based on this, they had split into pairs and turned Kanas Lake upside down in the first 24 hours.
Saying they wouldn't work overtime was obviously just them being angry. After Dr. Zhou had said what he said, how could they back down now?
Unfortunately, even with Kiana's aerial detection circuit running at full power, and with Fuli's Blade of the Moment: Cold River Reflecting the Moon, they still couldn't find any trace of the enemy.
This wasn't entirely unexpected. To be able to hide here for over eight hundred years without being discovered, the Lake Saints obviously had some skill.
But even though it was expected, the next two days still yielded no results, and the feeling of helplessness was impossible to shake.
"There are only four days left..." Bronya murmured. "Is the legendary mercenary, the Silver Wolf of the Urals, going to add a second defeat to her record?"
The last time was when she failed to assassinate Cocolia.
"Don't be discouraged, Bronya. We still have four days, right? Right, Class Rep?" Kiana was as optimistic as ever.
"Ah? Mmm..." Fu Hua seemed to snap out of a daze, nodded, and then fell back into deep thought.
"What's wrong? You're so out of it," Kiana muttered, then trotted over to Fuli. "Ah Li, Ah Li, are we going fishing again today?"
"Sure, it's not like we have anything else to do," the boy, dressed as a fisherman with a conical hat, replied.
"Meow!" The big orange cat in his arms flicked its tail.
[Name: Amphibious Fishing RV]
[Level: D]
[Category: Vehicle]
[Effect: A fishing RV handmade by Bilibili UP creator 'Useless Geng'. The frame is composed of intersecting steel and PVC pipes. The 3m³ cabin can accommodate a barbecue grill, electric kettle, game console, folding bed, and other survival and entertainment facilities. It is equipped with a lead-acid battery pack + solar panel, and its battery life is positively correlated with the intensity of sunlight.
It switches between land and water modes through a crankshaft linkage. The land speed is about 5 km/h, and the water speed is about turtle speed, but it has a built-in taunt effect, increasing the aggro of fishermen on the shore.]
[Remark: A land-and-water amphibious mobile vehicle made by the Minister of Justice for his fisherman younger brother who refused to go home. From then on, there were two people who refused to go home.]
This item was also from the third ten-pull. Fuli had always just thrown it into his system space to collect dust. Who would have thought he'd ever have a use for it?
With this thing, the boy was a dazzling sight among the other fishermen.
Of course, as a member of the great "Air Force" (a term for fishermen who catch nothing), he was not immune to the mockery of certain bad girls.
"Oh, right, right, a certain someone went fishing for a whole day yesterday, drank two pots of tea, ate two grilled sausages, two eggs, six skewers of meat, played two games, watched three movies, took a nap, and fed sixty-six mosquitoes," Bronya said with the saltiness of a salted fish. "What a fulfilling fishing life. By the way, what's with the bullet hole in this fish?"
Hard! Fuli's fists were hard!
This freaking sister is unbearable!