Talulah, I'm still a child.

"However, why are you lying to everyone, Doctor? I do intend to use the existing world as a template to create a new world, but I will not abandon any of them."

As her closest companion in the past, and now a trusted partner, Mei Xue didn't believe that the Doctor couldn't understand her character. The little fox would never abandon anyone, good or bad; in his eyes, they were all equal.

The Doctor's initial plan did include this step, but unlike Mei Xue, the Doctor's approach was the other extreme. She thought that since we were going to the new world anyway, we might as well all die together to make things easier. It would be the kind of thing where even the Sweeping Monk would have to chant Amitabha.

This is because if everyone is allowed to retain their original memories and go to the new world, then hatred, discrimination and prejudice will still exist. The most troublesome issue is the infected. Imagine those infected who were originally oppressed suddenly losing their Oripathy and becoming like ordinary people. How would they view those who once bullied them?

However, now, the doctor certainly doesn't think her original plan was particularly brilliant. It was a last resort, and she came here simply because she needed to confirm some things.

"Mei Xue, what will you become when the new world arrives?"

Chapter 143 The Awakening of Precys

The research on Su Xueer did not go smoothly. The substance that constituted her was unprecedented. Therefore, when enough data was collected and it was detected that she was about to hatch, several research institutes, together with the higher-level decision-making bodies, sent her back to her original location and observed her in secret. At the same time, in order to prevent being discovered, all observation work was carried out by the system itself.

However, what puzzled the researchers was that they searched almost every corner of the planet during that period but could not find the individual whom the doctor called Mei Xue. So they could only suspect that she might have moved to another location for some reason.

Based on the research of the institute, regardless of Su Xueer's and Mei Xue's abilities, if the only difference between them is in their power level and they belong to the same rank, then the dimension they are in is at least the seventh dimension or higher.

However, what made Preses and the Doctor a little uneasy was that Su Xue'er's life could be described as full of twists and turns. Because in eggshell mode she only had defensive power, she was always inexplicably treated as food by some creatures, and was even carried back by a wild tribe to be worshipped as a divine object. Incidentally, that tribe later became the Blood Demons.

On the day Su Xue'er was born, the entire research institute was chanting her name. Then they discovered that this girl always seemed to intentionally or unintentionally avoid a certain place. Eventually, she personally led the people from the research institute to find Mei Xue.

Everything would have ended there, but then they realized that they might have underestimated Su Xueer and Mei Xue's fighting power. When Su Xueer named Mei Xue "Mei," the Doctor complained for a long time that it sounded awful.

Then one day, the little fox suddenly appeared in the research institute without any warning.

Precys remembers that he was eating at the time.

"Sister! This...and this, can I eat them?"

"Haha, of course! You're so cute, little one, let's have another piece of cake."

"Thank you, sister!"

The cafeteria worker who was called "sister" seemed particularly happy and couldn't help but give the child, who seemed to be playing a role-playing game, an extra snack. However, Precys, who was eating, suddenly realized something was wrong. The research institute strictly prohibited all minors from entering, except for the deputy director's little girl who would never grow taller. There couldn't possibly be any other children here!

When Precys turned around, he saw the little fox wagging its eight tails as it slowly walked out of the cafeteria, happily eating its cake.

It was on that day that they finally understood why the doctor had always emphasized not to mess with Mei Xue and Su Xue'er. When that brother-obsessed maniac, who had discovered his brother was missing, used their satellite as a basketball, it was truly terrifying.

As for Mei Xue? The young and ignorant fox only thought it was fun, so he played with the artificial satellite like a glass bead. Fortunately, he still knew to protect it. He really was something else. At that time, Miss Doctor was almost crying her eyes out.

In the days that followed, they were always bickering and playing around. Mei Xue, who had lost her memory, accepted a new name and would always come over to freeload when Su Xue'er was out. She was also very cooperative with various experiments and physical examinations and had a good relationship with everyone in the research institute.

So much so that there was a saying within the research institute at the time: Mei Xue had three good points: she was easy to bully and fool, and she wouldn't grow tall.

However, those beautiful past moments were ultimately just a dream, and Precys, asleep, vaguely heard a familiar voice.

"It won't be a big deal, Doctor, it's not the first time."

Seeing the little fox making funny faces, the Doctor couldn't laugh. She looked at Kal'tsit, who didn't seem to be stopping Mei Xue either. No, she should have tried to dissuade her before but failed.

"But I finally managed to get back to nine tails... eight tails don't look good."

"It's alright. Although my power will be weaker, the number of tails will not decrease. The new world will not be woven into my destiny, so it will not need my body as a foundation. Don't worry."

"But you will still die once."

"Ah."

Having frankly admitted this, Mei Xue wouldn't lie to the Doctor; at most, he would just cover his mouth and remain silent. The difference between him and the Doctor lay within himself. He was indifferent to his own death, but the Doctor couldn't accept it. This time was different from the past.

“You once told me that every time you make a wish, your body will disintegrate, and you will revert to your myriad destinies, choosing the future that you can see in the wish and cutting off other possibilities.”

"After that, the severed fate will be reassembled into your new body."

"So, this time, your wish is granted... but you don't intend to eliminate other possibilities. Can you even come back?"

Faced with this question, Mei Xue chose to remain silent. However, silence was the best answer. She had once said that she would not lie to the Doctor. Kal'tsit's brows furrowed slightly, which was different from what Mei Xue had told her before.

Cecilia looked at Mei Xue, then at everyone else. The little angel was still young and couldn't understand what the doctor and the others were saying, but she held Mei Xue tightly around the waist, silently expressing her opinion.

"If I don't come back, Doctor, you can just come looking for me, right?"

Mei Xue gently wagged her tail. Only the Doctor knew about this. Even Talulah hadn't been told. As the first person to know Mei Xue, the Doctor could easily guess the little fox's thoughts. Mei Xue hadn't lied to everyone; she had simply hidden some information to give everyone the most optimistic expectations.

Fulfilling a wish comes at a price, as it has always been, as it is now, and as it will likely continue to be, except that Mei Xue will bear all of these costs herself.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen. And even if you manage to gather everyone together, Doctor, you can't really stop me. After all, you didn't manage to do it back then either."

Back when Mei Xue wasn't yet the Nine-Tails, the combined power of the entire civilization was insufficient to resist her. Now, Dr. Agasa can only watch as all of this unfolds.

She has now remembered everything that happened back then, things that Miss Doctor didn't know, because at that time she had already been put into a sarcophagus by Precys and was asleep.

"So, how did Su Xue'er die back then?"

"...My sister is foolish but also stubborn. She shouldn't have chosen to keep me at that time. She had prepared for so long, but in the end, she lost to her own loneliness."

Mei Xue used her tail to temporarily place Cecilia beside her, took out an apple, and just looked at it, as if reminiscing.

"She had been wandering for too long. Perhaps she had loved someone, but she knew all too well the suffering of the immortals, especially for beings like us who could hardly see the end. As everyone she knew grew old and all the familiar things disappeared into the dust of time, loneliness became her greatest weakness. When she realized that I was the only one who could accompany her to the end, and even end her life, she chose the thing I disliked the most."

Even now, Mei Xue still believes that Su Xue'er did not make the right choice that day, even though he knew that would be the result, and even though neither of them regretted it.

"My sister's death was inevitable. It wasn't a trap set by Number Ten or another doctor. In fact, they didn't want to see that outcome more than anyone else, because as long as my sister was still alive, I was essentially being held back."

"But that day... my sister couldn't hold back anymore, she couldn't bear that kind of torment any longer."

It was an ordinary day. Su Xue'er was supposed to find a place to hide for a while to relieve the urge to completely devour her younger brother. She hoped that such days could continue, or that Mei Xue would devour her, so that she would no longer have any troubles.

When such a thought arose in her mind, Su Xue'er, who was already exhausted, was already on the path to destruction. She could not deceive herself into thinking that it was okay, just like Kal'tsit. They seemed to be doing well, but in reality, they were already exhausted inside.

“My sister didn’t leave that day. She didn’t know that I was just like her, always yearning to complete myself. So every time she left, I was always glad. I didn’t want to lose this sister.”

"But that day, you all lost control, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Mei Xue nodded, looking out through the skylight at the Qingqiu world that blocked out the stars. Originally, Qingqiu should have been at least twice as big as it is now, but that day, Mei Xue and Su Xue'er instinctively wanted to devour each other, but because of their feelings, they chose to restrain themselves, and in doing so, they destroyed half of Qingqiu.

In the end, Su Xue'er was the first to regain her memory, and she chose to stop.

The once towering mountains have become a shattered basin, with broken rocks and mountain ranges floating in the sky. That was the last time Su Xue'er touched his face; they were covered in blood, and Su Xue'er's shadow gradually disappeared.

[Little brother, congratulations on growing up. Be good to yourselves from now on...]

Those were her last words. Although Su Xue'er's rationality still exists in Linglan's body, to Mei Xue, she is no longer his original sister. Su Xue'er exists within him.

"But actually, it was Precys who brought my sister back to her senses. She hit my sister on the head with a satellite, and then... when I woke up, they were all gone."

"So that's how it is."

The answer was unexpected, yet it was also the most reasonable explanation. The young lady hesitated, then thought for a moment.

"So, Kal'tsit brought you to the Tower of Babel on purpose?"

"No, how could that be? I was living a good life back then. The people in Qingyun Village were so kind to me. They even gave me chicken for free, and the teacher taught me to read and write."

The little fox flicked its tail and glanced at Kal'tsit with a hint of resentment. It wasn't that it was dissatisfied with Kal'tsit capturing it and bringing it to Rhodes Island; after all, meeting so many people was a good thing for it. However, it was uncomfortable with Kal'tsit's methods.

At that time, Mei Xue was no different from when he first met Talulah. The only unusual thing about him, apart from his good luck, was that he could keep taking things out of his tail. The villagers of Qingyun Village respected him because Mei Xue only had four tails at that time, and they believed that the little fox was the messenger of the fox spirit.

Later, Kal'tsit, guided by something left behind by Mei Xue, found him after making inquiries from various sources.

Two meat buns and a burlap sack were all it took to successfully capture an adorable little fox.

She also promised that once Mei Xue arrived at Rhodes Island, she wouldn't have to do anything, she would be provided with food and lodging, which would be much better than the small temple in Qingyun Village.

But when he arrived at Rhodes Island, Mei Xue realized what it meant that the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive people. Rhodes Island did not arrange any work for him, but provided him with accommodation. However, when he was idle, people would come and pet his tail, and they always made a mess of it.

At that time, the Doctor was obviously very surprised to meet Mei Xue, but she still slowly tricked her into getting closer and developing a relationship with the little fox. Without Kal'tsit and Theresa noticing, she taught Mei Xue how to use her power little by little. Of course she knew these things, because Mei Xue had personally shown them to her before.

The rest of the story is something everyone present knows.

"So what's going on between you and the giant beast?"

"...It was number ten. He instigated a disaster in my name. At that time, the conflict between the giant beasts and humans was extremely deep. He gave me a push to force me out. He knew I wouldn't stand idly by."

That was a rare dilemma for Mei Xue. On one hand, there were the humans she loved most, whom she had promised the Doctor and Precys that she would become their strength in the future; on the other hand, Mei Xue and Ya and the others were friends she had known for many years.

However, due to the promise and wish he made, Mei Xue could only choose to stand with Da Yan. He couldn't persuade Ya and the others, and only Sui stood by his side. However, she was later also aroused by No. 10's ambition. In the moment before she was sealed, she separated Nian and the others and entrusted them to Mei Xue's care, hoping to reduce his guilt in the future.

Mei Xue was unaware of Number Ten's existence at the time, so in his view, everything that happened was too inexplicable. Number Ten knew very well how to deceive Mei Xue's eyes. He secretly pushed forward subtle changes, which eventually formed an irresistible force.

"Despite the agreement I reached with the true dragon, some proud behemoths still chose to die in battle, while the rest chose to lie low."

"My friends, my loved ones... why did it have to end like this?"

The little fox gently bit the fresh apple, sounding quite unhappy. However, before the doctor could speak again, Mei Xue looked up at her.

"Doctor, do you remember when you asked me about Priscilla's whereabouts?"

"Now look behind me."

As Mei Xue finished speaking, the Doctor and Kal'tsit looked behind Mei Xue at the same time. Their attention had been on Mei Xue just now, but now they realized that the stone coffin behind Mei Xue, which had been open, had closed at some point.

"The merging of several parallel worlds will cause those that are the same to merge, while those that are different will be in a superposition state, like a surprise box, you don't know what surprise you will get after opening it."

“In almost all parallel worlds, the one lying in this stone coffin is you, Doctor. However, there is only one worldline that was pulled away by my sister Su Xue’er when she was dying, and that is different.”

Perhaps to confirm Mei Xue's words, the stone coffin behind them opened without anyone operating it.

Both the Doctor and Kal'tsit had reached the same conclusion.

"We didn't find Priscilla more than a decade ago, not because she was on a satellite, but because she wasn't in our timeline."

This was the last thing Mei Xue understood before the world lines merged. The merging of the world lines put the sarcophagus in a superimposed state, and the different passwords determined who was lying inside. While Mei Xue placed Theresa inside to heal her injuries, the closed sarcophagus and the closed world lines gave the sarcophagus two possibilities. When the Doctor and Kal'tsit's attention were on Mei Xue, it lost its observer and thus exhibited a second state.

"……Well."

When I opened my eyes again after a long time, I didn't know how many years had passed. I woke up from a dream to an unfamiliar ceiling.

Precys opened her mouth, but found she couldn't speak; she had slept for too long.

Chapter 144 Heading to the New World

Inside the tower that Mei Xue casually constructed, everyone brought by the Doctor was held back. Remian and Fia Meta were surprised to find that Mostima's power was stronger than they had imagined, while Texas, Exusiai, and others also found that Lappland had become extremely difficult to deal with.

In the pitch-black room, Ascalon, Manticore, and the assassin girl Sargon were engaged in an imperceptible battle. Although their sharp blades clashed, no sound was produced, and even the sparks were swallowed by the darkness the moment they appeared. This was a contest between assassins. Ascalon was stronger than either Manticore or the assassin girl, but their methods were even more bizarre than she had imagined. Manticore's ability to reduce her own presence made Ascalon subconsciously ignore her, and the assassin girl's short-range spatial movement had no cooldown time.

The fight between Chen Huijie and Talulah was incredibly intense. Every move seemed dangerous and deadly, yet they were actually holding back at every turn. Although they were risking their future right to call Mei Xue "brother-in-law" or "sister-in-law," the bond between the sisters was genuine. Chixiao trembled as it sliced ​​through the flames, its initial reluctance now replaced by effortless ease, clearly indicating that it too had been provoked into a fight.

"What's wrong, Chen Huijie? Didn't you say you were going to steal your brother-in-law away from me?"