Talulah, I'm still a child.

Who could it be? Who could it be… Mei Xue thought of everyone in her mind. The song was too ancient, even before Su Xue'er found him. So a possibility flashed through Mei Xue's mind.

"It's Mom..."

Mei Xue's mother, or rather, the original form of him and Su Xue'er, even if she didn't remember what she looked like or what her name was, when this possibility emerged, Mei Xue's intuition firmly locked onto it. This song was her mother's lullaby.

According to Su Xueer, she and her brother originated from the same being. In order to achieve some kind of sublimation, the other party split itself into two parts. Su Xueer was like the impurity, and Mei Xue was the essence. However, the process went wrong, and Mei Xue developed her own consciousness and became the master of a new destiny.

However, Su Xue'er herself said that when she was in the hazy stage of consciousness, she heard a man's voice, which was their true form. Therefore, she called him her father and hated him because of his behavior.

But how could such a lullaby come from someone like that? According to Mei Xue's memory, it should have been her mother.

"Hmm, never mind, now is not the time to think about these things, we need to get the sisters to bed first."

Spring comes late to Yumen, and it's still cold. Mei Xue herself is unaffected, but it would be terrible if Shi Huaiya and Xing Xiong caught a cold. The little fox gently carried them to bed, then sat alone at the tea table waiting for the next person to arrive. There was no way to escape tonight, but unfortunately, the promise she made to Ling had to be postponed again.

Night had fallen, but the campfires still burned brightly in the Sargon rainforest. Afdokia had no desire to sleep, but fortunately, the Dulins were even more interested in the rusty Haro than she was.

Although it was severely corroded, calling it scrap metal would be an exaggeration, Dulin and his team still discovered that the internal information storage chip was not completely destroyed, and at least the image data was still there.

That's why Afudoga is staying here tonight, to see what Haro wants to tell Meixue.

The screen went black, and for the first few seconds it seemed like the image was missing, but the subsequent conversation made everyone realize that it was just a simple case of data not being recorded.

"Hey, hey, um, it failed?"

"Give me some time, but isn't making it into a ball a bit inappropriate?"

Aphrodite couldn't possibly mistake Mei Xue's voice. As she raised her eyebrows slightly, the image finally appeared on the screen. It was in a laboratory, with Mei Xue, who had an apple in her mouth, standing with the Doctor and Precys, looking at the camera curiously.

“It’s okay, we can add some external equipment so that they can take care of cleaning, cooking, housework, or even mechanical repair.”

"Alright, alright, Harrow One isn't your babysitter."

Precys gently tapped the doctor on the head, then, after confirming that the camera connection was working, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems there are still some logical errors in the intelligent system. It's okay, the recording can still be done. Do you have anything to say?"

Somewhat strangely, Afudoga looked at Meixue on the screen. She didn't know why, but even though it was just a video recording, it was as if Meixue in the video wasn't looking at the camera, but rather staring at her across an incredibly vast distance of time and space. The next moment, the little fox spoke.

"Is this our first meeting, or has it been a long time? But I'm relieved to see that you're doing well, Sister Aphrodite~ I never expected you to find Haro One."

In an instant, the immense shock she felt caused Aphrodite to lose her grip on the hot tea, causing the cup to fall to the ground. Even the Dulins around her were stunned, instinctively thinking that Aphrodite was playing a joke on them.

"Ah, sorry, I shouldn't have spoken so directly, it was really scary."

Mei Xue wore an apologetic expression, but Precys and Miss Doctor beside him didn't seem to find it strange at all. They didn't say anything and just drank their tea.

“But since Sister Aphrodite was able to find this Haro, it proves that I already have nine tails, right? Hmm, in that case... Sister, could you do me a favor and go to Rhodes Island to find the Doctor?”

"Then tell her how to kill me."

Chapter 56 Opening the gates without Impaler, huh?

Cecilia felt that hugging Linglan's tail wasn't as comfortable as hugging Meixue's. Compared to Meixue's softness and the kind of comfort that made one feel completely immersed, Linglan's tail was simply warmer to hug, which made it harder for Cecilia to fall asleep.

Adding to the slight noise from next door, the little angel really couldn't fall asleep. She opened her eyes and looked at the sleeping Linglan. She lifted the blanket slightly and was about to go find Meixue when she heard what sounded like her older sisters' voices next door. Her brother must still be awake.

Where does our lovely little angel want to go?

The golden tail gently wrapped around Cecilia's waist. The little angel turned around and found that Lily of the Valley's eyes had changed from emerald green to dark gold, and her whole demeanor had changed from that clean and gentle sunshine to a captivating and seductive tenderness, as if she had become a different person.

"Sister Lily of the Valley, I'm sorry, Cecilia didn't mean to wake you up, um... but I still want to sleep with my brother."

Cecilia felt very guilty for disturbing Suzuran's sleep. She hadn't meant to, and her movements were very gentle. In fact, it wasn't Suzuran who woke up, but Su Xue'er's personality.

"My little angel, your brother Meixue is busy with things to do with the sisters right now, so please don't go and bother her."

Looking at Cecilia, Su Xue'er really felt like she was seeing Mei Xue when she was a child. She couldn't help but miss her younger brother's innocent and naive appearance back then. Mei Xue was so easy to fool back then, doing whatever he asked. Tsk tsk, it was so satisfying.

"Hmm, are the older brothers and sisters still awake so late?"

Cecilia remembered that her mother had said good children don't stay up late, and her brother Meixue was a good child too, so he shouldn't stay up late.

"There are some things that older siblings can only do at night, but that's an adult secret. You'll understand when you get there."

Although doing it during the day wouldn't be impossible, the main task now is to stop Cecilia from going to Meixue. Su Xue'er is also a bit helpless. Can't these people keep their voices down? There's even Surtr's guest room between Linglan and Meixue, and they can still hear Surtr's lewd voice. Tsk, so shameless.

Because the entire city is being entertained tonight, there's no one at the Jade Gate Inn except for Mei Xue and her group. Even if those girls shout loudly, no one will hear them, so they simply don't hold back anymore.

However, it wasn't that no one was disturbed. For example, Lin Yuxia, who slept next to Linglan, was now increasingly regretting her decision that afternoon. Why did she have to sleep here? The sounds of Swire and Chen Huijie were making her itch with desire. She could even imagine what it would be like to be in Meixue's room, and she could even replace Chen Huijie or Swire with her own image. No, damn it, who wants to do that kind of thing with Meixue!

Du Yaoye, who lives next door to Lin Yuxia, is in the same situation. This girl has never seen anything like this before. Even with her head buried in the blanket, she seems to be able to hear it, or maybe it's just her imagination.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for Lin Yuxia and Du Yaoye. Gently stroking Cecilia's hair, Su Xue'er thought for a moment and felt that five people might not be enough to keep Mei Xue entertained. In that case, why not include these two as well? Anyway, it doesn't matter to her whether there are more or fewer people now, as her new body will take a long time to recover.

Cecilia then clearly saw two light blue butterflies fly out from the tail of the lily of the valley, and then ignore the wall and slip into the next room.

"You can see it?"

Su Xue'er raised her eyebrows slightly. The two butterflies were a thought of hers. She had developed this ability to help Mei Xue sleep well, so it could also help Du Yaoye and Lin Yuxia get a good night's sleep. However, it also had a side effect: it would stir up certain emotions in people's hearts and use real dreams to make them enter a "conscious sleepwalking state." They would open their eyes, see and hear everything, but would still think they were dreaming.

Under such circumstances, it goes without saying what Lin Yuxia and Du Yaoye would do; Su Xueer could even hear them getting out of bed and opening the door.

However, compared to those, she still casually blocked out the inappropriate sounds outside and held Cecilia alone. She didn't expect that this little angel could see her casting a spell.

"Hmm, what a beautiful butterfly! Is that Sister Lily of the Valley's... Hmm, Originium Arts?"

Having spent a long time on Rhodes Island, Cecilia knew a little about what Originium Arts were, but the little angel had only watched Cardcaptor Sakura and didn't know much about it.

“Originium Arts is not like this. This is much more powerful than Originium Arts.”

Su Xue'er knew best that the so-called Originium Arts were nothing more than using Originium as a medium to manipulate the physical laws of the real world. From the most primitive striking to the current electronic units, only the means of triggering Originium had changed, but the fundamental nature remained the same. Su Xue'er and Mei Xue did not belong to this world, and the power they used could not be explained by Originium Arts.

If Terra's Originium Arts are likened to an ancient steam engine, then the siblings are probably creating water out of thin air.

"Brother Meixue can do that too?"

"Of course he can, and he's much better than me. He's always been very good, it's just... he doesn't like to show it."

According to Su Xue'er's estimation, Mei Xue is currently at a level between eight and nine tails. She is not at her peak, but she can already do many things with ease. For example, Oripathy. She doesn't even need anyone to make a wish. As long as she wants it, Oripathy, even if it doesn't completely disappear, will become as minor as a cold.

But Mei Xue had to consider the consequences of doing so. Once those infected people who were bullied, exploited, prejudiced, and discriminated against were no longer threatened with death by Oripathy and were no longer at risk of infection, how would this land treat them, and where would they get compensation?

No one dares to say that once Oripathy is no longer fatal, people will have to pay the price for their past actions. At that time, the conflicts will become more acute, and it may trigger some disasters that no one wants to see.

"I know, my brother is the best!"

"Yeah, he's the best, hmm~"

(It seems that she has been by Mei Xue's side for too long, and with his exclusive pampering, she has changed in some way without realizing it... It seems to be for the better, so there is nothing to worry about.)

This is Su Xue'er's guess based on the current situation. Cecilia has been clinging to Mei Xue for a long time, and because of Mei Xue's intentional or unintentional favoritism, the girl has undergone a sublimation to another level at some point, which is a good thing.

"Since you can't sleep, how about I tell you a story?"

"Yeah."

Bedtime stories are one of Cecilia's favorite parts of the day. At home, she would lie in her mother's arms and listen to stories; her mother's voice was so sweet, and the embrace was so comforting. On Rhodes Island or when they were out, she would usually listen to stories in Mei Xue's arms, holding the little fox's adorable tail. The little fox's stories were varied, ranging from fairy tales to fables, and the little angel always seemed to enjoy them.

"This story is quite old. Well, a long, long time ago, there was a place called Tushan, where a pair of fox siblings lived."

"The older sister is beautiful, and the younger brother is cute. The two foxes live a very leisurely life. Compared to the hardworking older sister, the younger brother is more playful. He likes to chase a butterfly, and even fell off a cliff and into the river because of it. He tried to fish with his tail, but a crab pinched his tail and he rolled around in pain..."

Those were the most carefree days ever, and such a life should have continued forever. But stories don't always stay so peaceful and gentle. Even fairy tales have their twists and turns, let alone real life.

Or rather, the very fact that the two of them were together was a tragedy. Regardless of whether the ending was heroic or sorrowful, one thing was certain: it would not be a happy ending.

"Sister, are you going to eat me?"

When Su Xue'er saw Mei Xue and heard those words, she realized she was wrong, terribly wrong. She had already made up her mind to treat her encounter with Mei Xue as a life-or-death struggle for survival. But indeed, the other party had no malice or hostility, and even no basic awareness of danger. It was her intuition and limited common sense that allowed Mei Xue to discern the other party's identity.

"And you, do you want to eat me?"

Su Xue'er did not put down the weapon in her hand, a snow-white folding fan. She saw the red oil-paper umbrella that had been created with Mei Xue leaning quietly against the plum tree, without moving.

"Do not want to."

Young Meixue sat down against a tree, hugging her tail, her eyes filled with loneliness.

"Don't you know that neither of us is whole? Devouring each other is the only option."

"...But I don't want to eat my sister."

Loneliness, desolation, and pain—Su Xue'er seemed to see her former self in these feelings. But this shouldn't be the case, because all the misfortune and curses were hers. Plague and poison flowed in her blood, and if left unchecked, even her breath would carry deadly poison. And the one who suffered the most was, of course, herself.

Life and death are not difficult to accept. What is most unacceptable is illness and aging. Su Xue'er is in such a state. Illness torments her body and will, but these illnesses cannot kill her.

She suffered sleepless nights and countless days, unable to fall asleep. It was a pain that words could not describe. That's why Su Xue'er came. She wanted to take everything away from her brother and make up for herself. Only when the good and bad of fate were balanced could she escape this situation.

"Then I..."

Now is the best opportunity. Even if Mei Xue is at least ten times stronger than her, this little fox who doesn't know how to use her power still can't be her match. Su Xue'er has an absolute advantage and confidence.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it, because she suddenly realized something: if she chose to take action and devour Mei Xue, she would certainly complete herself and might even go further... but what about the future?

How long will the days ahead last? Even if the sun above expands and ages, even if the stars disappear one by one, even if the universe explodes again, fate will not disappear, and Su Xue'er will not die. She has already endured tens of thousands of years of loneliness. Can she hold on for the rest of her days?

"Eat me, sister, it'll be good for everyone."

"..."

Faced with such an invitation, Su Xue'er sighed, then put away her folding fan, walked up to Mei Xue, grabbed his collar, and casually lifted up this younger brother she had just met.

"Let's wait a while longer and fatten you up a bit."

Upon hearing this answer, a hint of desolation flashed in Mei Xue's eyes, and she nodded helplessly. But they both knew that Su Xue'er could no longer bring herself to do it. Loneliness had become her biggest obstacle. If she hadn't disregarded so much when she was born and had come directly, even if she had some feelings for her younger brother Mei Xue, she would have only felt sorry for him and thought it was not worth it.

But she had been wandering for too long and subconsciously longed for a place called home, and the fox in front of her was her only family.

Their story begins from that time. Mei Xue is so silly that Su Xue'er wonders if her father gave her all his intelligence when he separated her from him. To describe Mei Xue as clumsy is an understatement. Besides loving to eat and being playful, perhaps his only redeeming quality is his cuteness.

"And so, the sister who was supposed to eat her brother chose to live with him, and they were both very happy."

The story seems to end here, and Cecilia has also fallen into a sweet dream under Su Xue'er's subtle movements. But in reality, even if what resides in Linglan's body is just one fragment of Su Xue'er, the memories it possesses are too vast. If the story were to be told completely, it might not be possible to finish it even if we started from now without stopping, from the first day Su Xue'er woke up, until the day the Terrans were able to travel to the stars.

Out of concern for the child, Su Xueer did not reveal the ending of the story, so Cecilia would never know what happened in the end.

“Sarkaz and Sarkaz, this signal source… underground in Laterano, huh? They really know how to hide it.”

Gently covering Cecilia with the blanket to ensure the little angel wouldn't wake up again, Su Xue'er got up and put on a white dress. Although her body was still that of Lily of the Valley, Su Xue'er's aura was enough to overshadow W, Miss Blood Demon, and even Specter.

Of course, Su Xue'er wasn't planning to do anything like destroying the computers underground in Laterano or taking care of the remnants of the Mountain and Sea Clan outside the city. She just wanted to go to the party next door. Novices like Lin Yuxia and Du Yaoye would collapse in half an hour at most, and Surtr and Lin Qingyan's bodies were also not strong enough to last long. Swire and Hoshiguma were already a bit tired, and the only one who could fight was Chen Huijie.

So most of Mei Xue's time tonight is free. In that case, why not help Mei Xue distribute the excess power she has accumulated?