Hua shook her head: "I don't know. Haven't decided. I'm not in a hurry. I'll sort out my own affairs first. Debts of gratitude to repay, grudges to settle; a bunch of companions to look after, and Honkai waiting for me to deal with… No rush, no rush. There's so little time to rest."
"Maybe we'll have a chance to fight side by side again in the future, old friend."
This seemed to amuse Kevin. He asked: "Are you going to join World Serpent?"
Hua immediately refused: "That won't be necessary. Sigh, I don't even know when you came back. That guy Otto~…"
She mimed shooting herself in the temple: "Bang!—and after that, I knew nothing."
Kevin said: "…You can ask the feather I gave you. It will tell you."
Hua agreed: "Oh? Alright, I will. As for joining you—pass. I don't want to be your subordinate. Maybe I'll just start my own organization."
"Wait, no—I think I used to have one… Taixu Sect or something. Does it still exist?"
"…I'm not sure. I need to recall properly."
Kevin said: "That works too. A few people here aren't exactly eager to see you."
"Heh heh~"
Hua waved casually and turned to walk away.
"Don't die before Honkai is eliminated, old friend."
"Oh, right—reminder: The one who told me to come find you was Otto Apocalypse. I hear you two formed an alliance? Let me tell you, don't believe a word he says. This guy calls you brother one day and sends me to kill you the next. Clearly not a good person."
Kevin nodded: "I know."
Afterward, Hua came to rest in the shadow of this massive rock.
She muttered to herself: "Otto wanted Kevin and me to injure each other so he could reap the benefits. How could I fall for such a petty trick? See—I got the feather back without lifting a finger."
She took out the Fenghuang Down Kevin had returned and tossed it triumphantly into the air.
The voice in her mind warned: Be careful—it might be a trap.
Hua wasn't worried at all: "What trap? Impossible. You saw the spar just now—could Kevin understand Fenghuang Down better than I do?"
"But…"
The instinctive warning did take effect. Hua gazed at the floating feather and felt something slightly off.
This feather was different from the others—it was sealed.
She tried to awaken it, but there was no response.
"I don't believe this—"
Hua leaped up.
She raised her hand, channeling Honkai energy into the feather.
"Break!"
The Fenghuang Down revived.
Hua examined the faint figure within the feather—a translucent form with eyes closed, unconscious.
"Energy almost depleted…"
"Kevin, how did you use it until it became like this?"
She reached out and grasped the phantom's right wrist. The Fenghuang Down trembled—as if startled—but soon calmed down, completely lacking the strength to resist.
"Don't move. I'll give you some energy first. You're struggling even to manifest. If this continues, you'll turn to ashes and vanish completely."
"…No wonder Kevin sealed you."
She infused Honkai energy into the Fenghuang Down. The figure before her gradually became clearer and slowly opened its eyes.
"There we go." Hua released the phantom, clapped her hands, and spread her arms: "Come back."
The Fenghuang Down asked directly: "…Who are you?"
Hua said: "I'm your master. Sigh, looks like your memories are nearly gone too… After all, you're my clone. Seeing you like this really hurts a bit."
The Fenghuang Down was confused: "I… am your clone?"
Hua said: "Yes, you're one feather of Fenghuang Down. I copied my personality and thoughts and split off this individual."
"For some reason, you ended up with Kevin—don't ask me, I was dead then. I took you back from him."
"Got it?"
"If you understand, come back. Give me your power and memories. I want to know what happened after I died."
"…"
Unexpectedly, the Fenghuang Down remained unmoved. Her gaze fell on Hua's face, her eyes carrying deep meaning.
"I see… You're from that time…"
"Sigh… Otto, huh… He really loves doing unnecessary things."
Hua asked unhappily: "What are you muttering about?"
The Fenghuang Down said: "The instant he killed me—"
"—In that instant, I activated Fenghuang Down's zero-rated power, transferring my consciousness to one feather and suppressing the existence of the Herrscher of the Void."
Hua scratched her head: "Hmm?… Seems like something like that happened, but I remember it was…"
The Fenghuang Down continued: "That body was discarded—it had no soul inside."
Hua's tone grew cold: "…What are you trying to say?"
The Fenghuang Down stared at her: "…Since I'm here—who are you?"
Hua did not answer her.
Or rather, she had already answered this question too many times.
Every time she met someone, they asked her this, but in her view, she was Hua—the real Hua.
She didn't want to explain further.
She simply took the Fenghuang Down and flew into the sky.
Seeing this, the audience also realized something was wrong.
"Yeah, the real Fu Hua was captured by Kevin to cover Kiana's escape when she was taken. So who is this Fu Hua?"
"Interesting—this is a true-and-fake Fu Hua plot? Next, will someone judge which is the real one?"
"To be fair, this new Hua is really fun and cute! I like her a lot."
"Yes, this new Fu Hua is clearly stronger, more interesting, and has clearer loves and hates."
"That's not important. Aren't you curious who this person is? Appearing suddenly with no warning."
"Didn't they say earlier? Fu Hua died once and revived after 20 years. This must be consciousness Otto implanted."
"I think after consciousness was stripped, the body grew new consciousness—so both Fu Huas are real."
"No way… If both are Fu Hua, why is the difference so huge?"
"…"
The audience debated, completely puzzled.
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company, in the lounge.
Elysia also curiously asked Hessian: "Hubby, which Hua is the real one? Why did she suddenly appear?"
Hessian pulled Elysia into his arms: "Wife, are you sure you want spoilers?"
Elysia thought for a moment: "No~"
Eden guessed: "Based on Kevin's and Otto's behavior earlier, I think this reborn Hua is not the real Hua."
SAKURA nodded: "Yes, I think so too. With Kevin's steadiness, making such strange gestures—unless he discovered something."
Elysia said: "Then let's keep watching. I feel this episode will definitely be interesting."
On the TV, Hua landed atop a sea of clouds.
Strolling through the clouds improved her mood considerably.
She opened up again: "Look—the scenery is great, right? I don't like high places. Looking down from very high, everything seems tiny. That's bad—it's too arrogant."
"But a bit higher, above the clouds… it's wonderful. Good sunlight, good air. Looking out, a vast expanse of white waves rolling and surging—no more than a fairyland."
"…By the way, can you see it?"
"You have no physical body—how do your eyes receive light signals?"
"…Speaking of which, you can hear me too. Strange—do you have eardrums? How does your auditory system work?"
The Fenghuang Down—more accurately, Fu Hua—answered: "It's the power of Fenghuang Down."
"Oh."
Hua thought for a moment and chuckled: "So convenient. Anything unexplainable—just blame Fenghuang Down."
"For example, memories—they should be in my brain, right? Back then, when seven little brats pierced my head, I forgot a ton of things."
"But you… you're in a feather with no so-called brain. Where are your memories stored? Probably still Fenghuang Down."
Fu Hua answered: "Likely… When the feather was weakened, I couldn't remember many things either."
"That's it!" Hua clapped her hands and exclaimed: "You—when you fell into Kevin's hands, you were practically bald. Your memories must have been damaged a lot too."
"Or some critical part broke."
"So you started overthinking, feeling you weren't just a feather… feeling you were the original—that's understandable!"
"Consciousness transfer, memory copying—always prone to self-recognition errors. Both Otto and I have experienced it. Very normal—you'll be fine."
Hua gave the Fu Hua phantom a comforting smile.
"Don't worry. I'll help you. After all, you're my clone—like sisters, no distinction."
"Once you figure it out, returning the power to me isn't urgent… Ah, forget it—don't return it. I'm not petty."
"I've given away so many feathers—even stuffed one into Otto. Why quibble with you~"
"Come with me. We can keep each other company. It's too boring alone."
Fu Hua asked: "Where are you going?"
"Hmm…"
Hua pondered for a long time, then suddenly smiled brightly: "Back to Taixu Mountain!"
The two thus traveled together toward Taixu Mountain.
Throughout, Fu Hua remained silent.
This was hard for the somewhat talkative Hua to accept: "Hey, you okay? Barely spoken all day. If you're unwell, just absorb Honkai energy from me. I finally saved you—I don't want to see you disappear."
Fu Hua coldly refused: "No need."
Hua snorted: "Hmph, fine! Suit yourself!"
But barely a moment later,
she couldn't hold it in.
"I really don't understand!"
Fu Hua looked at her puzzled: "What?"
Hua said: "Why do you have such strong hostility toward me? I am you, you are me. We're one mind in two bodies—you should understand me better than anyone."
"I—"
Before Fu Hua could speak, Hua interrupted: "Reminder: Don't say things like 'I'm the real Fu Hua.' I'm in a bad mood."
Fu Hua said: "Perhaps you haven't noticed… your condition isn't normal."
"Hmph!" Hua snorted disdainfully: "Go on, I'm listening."
Fu Hua said: "Are you really Fu Hua? From what I've seen, you're not similar to her—in fact, you could say… completely different."
"Perhaps you have her memories, perhaps you awakened in her body—"
"But you are a brand-new existence."
Hua laughed: "Ha, what nonsense. I have her body, I have her memories. If I'm not her—who else could I be?"
"I find you strange instead. Clearly just a feather, yet acting like you're the original."
"You think I haven't noticed? You always look at me like an elder watching a child."
"No need—worry about yourself."
"But you're right about one thing: No need to be bound by the old me. I'm a brand-new me now."
"Why imitate the past? I'll just be myself."
"Let's define it this way—you are the past me. Was the past me that great? Not necessarily."
Hua waved her hand, and a phantom of Otto appeared ahead.
She continued: "My old friend… he's a pitiful person bound by the past. From the moment MEI died, this man's time stopped."
"You're quite like him. Is it worth it? All for Dr. MEI—she's already dead…"
???
The question marks came not from the two on TV,
but from Kevin watching in the company.
Hua's words echoed in his mind: "MEI, she's already dead…"
He finally couldn't hold back, stood up, and asked Hessian: "Director He!! Did MEI really die later??"
"Cough cough!"
Everyone jumped in fright. Hessian coughed twice: "That's all Previous Era stuff. Don't get excited—sit down and watch slowly."
Kevin was still unwilling: "What did she mean by that? MEI died, and I'm the only one left now? You clearly promised me a good ending for MEI and me!"
Hessian quickly said: "I'll definitely keep my promise. Sit down first—don't disturb everyone watching."
Though reluctant, Kevin knew it wasn't good to disrupt.
He sat down.
But his expression clearly said: We'll settle this after watching!
On the TV,
Fu Hua also said: "Kevin fights for humanity. His resolve isn't that simple."
Hua sneered: "For humanity… heh heh, everyone keeps saying 'for humanity.'"
The phantom ahead changed to Otto.
"For example, him—doesn't he always talk about humanity? But in his head, there's only one dead woman—nothing else!"
"I was shocked to learn he allied with Kevin, but thinking about it, those two are quite a match."
????
This time, question marks came from the entire audience watching the drama.
"Woman?"
"Dead woman?"
This was the first time they'd heard anything about Otto's secret.
Everyone knew he was obsessed with experiments, committed every evil, caused countless tragedies—even Theresa was a product of his experiments.
But what was his goal?
No one really knew. The drama hadn't mentioned it up to now.
Now Hua casually revealed it?
The group chat exploded with discussion.
"What does this mean? Otto is doing it for a dead woman?"
"Did Otto ever have a woman? He has no descendants—his only 'granddaughter' was made by himself."
"What's going on? Does Otto have a backstory?"
"Whatever the story, Otto can't be redeemed—he must die!"
"Worthy of the reborn Hua—so interesting. In a few words, she stripped bare both Otto's and Kevin's secrets."
"I was wondering earlier how they negotiated—turns out both lost their wives!"
"Holy shit? Who would be blind enough to fall for Otto? That utterly evil bastard."
"A dead woman related to Otto? Could it be Kiana's mom? No… Who else could it be?"
"Hua, if you're going to spill, spill more—reveal more insider info."
"…"
However, Hua on the TV did not grant their wish.
She waved her hand: "Forget it, let's not talk about him. He did save our life, after all."
Fu Hua asked: "Why show me these people?"
Hua said: "Because I want to, because I can. Because Fenghuang Down is convenient. Besides, I'm not specifically showing you—I'm just speaking my mind."
Then two more phantoms appeared ahead: herself and her disciple.
Hua said: "Heh, the past me. Is this traitorous disciple dead? I'm too lazy to recall—do you remember?"
Fu Hua answered: "She's dead."
Hua shrugged: "No impression. Seems I didn't kill her personally. Sigh, the past me… always so kind, soft-hearted."
Fu Hua asked: "Do you hate them?"
Hua replied: "I don't even remember—how can there be love or hate? But murder demands repayment—it's only natural. I raised them myself as their Master. Forget revenge—even telling them to die, they'd have to obey."
"Raising a tiger to devour me… I'll never make that mistake again."
The phantoms ahead changed again. This time, Kiana, Mei, and Bronya from St. Freya Academy appeared…