My Notoriety Spreads Throughout the World

Chapter 757 - 667: I Hate You, Brother

In the dim room, a young girl with long gray hair floated in the air, illuminated by flickering, ghostly blue lights. Her eyes were slightly closed, and misty blue particles danced around her hair. She gently opened her arms, as if to embrace all living things, striking a pose akin to a divine sculpture.

"So, how did you find her?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

Angelina was indifferent:

"Don’t forget, my consciousness has long been submerged in the Oasis. While you rest in the real world, I was exploring that space constructed from chaotic data."

Xu Xiaoyou understood Angelina’s current situation.

Similar to entropy syndrome, she was highly integrated with the Oasis, able to access realms unreachable to others, but at the cost of being unable to leave, at least for now.

Looking at the discussions by fictitious scholars on the Oasis forum about the ’interlude,’ Xu Xiaoyou nodded thoughtfully.

The interlude, as the name suggests, is the blank part between performances. If the Oasis stage is composed of tourists and data, once the curtain rises, the performers and artifacts take the stage one by one, and when the performance ends, the performers bow out. At night, when no one is watching, these artifacts enter a space of waiting.

And in this space, there’s often a sign prohibiting tourists from entering.

The discussions among fictional scholars about the interlude have always been intense; they firmly believe that the Oasis is essentially a space of another dimension, not a virtual world constructed of data, but just presented in a way that most people can understand, akin to a projection of higher dimensions in the lower dimension.

What most people can access is the Oasis, and those parts beyond human comprehension and reach are the interlude.

Undoubtedly, Bai Youyou and Angelina have both entered the interlude.

What surprised Xu Xiaoyou was that Angelina could move freely in the interlude, even finding and ’bringing’ Bai Youyou back from its depths.

The current situation is that EVA hasn’t fully overwritten Bai Youyou’s consciousness. Bai Youyou also can’t fully break away from EVA; her behavior is influenced by EVA, stuck in a limbo.

Bai Youyou’s affection storyline [Observer of the Compassionate Civilization] is stalled at the last 5%.

Xu Xiaoyou didn’t know whether this could be considered good news for her.

Xu Xiaoyou shook her head.

Fortunately, she had absolute dominion over the Oasis.

The complete Key allowed her to freely change the world’s rules. Like a god of a sandbox game, she could add squares, issue commands, turning the Oasis into the world she envisioned.

The Order Court didn’t exist completely dependent on the Oasis; they also had deep-rooted power and influence in the real world.

Surely, they would find ways to reclaim the Key, and she needed to be more vigilant in this regard.

Xu Xiaoyou thought of the woman who called herself ’Omiya,’ and the last words she said before leaving.

"Congratulations, Miss Xu, you’ve obtained the Key to the future; every decision you make from now on will affect this world."

"Before overthrowing the old order, I hope you’ve already thought about how to rebuild a new one."

"Youyou will certainly understand me in the future."

"When she figures it out, let her come find me."

"I look forward to the day she kills me."

Looking at the sleeping gray-haired girl, Xu Xiaoyou slowly raised her head and extended her hand.

As if responding to a certain call, the gray-haired girl opened her half-closed eyes. In a state of lingering bewilderment, she was curious about Xu Xiaoyou before her. The natural sense of closeness led her to slowly reach out her own hand, fingertips resting in Xu Xiaoyou’s palm, their fingers interlinked.

"I will bring you back," Xu Xiaoyou said gently. "I promise."

"Until then, I need you."

"Need?"

The gray-haired girl chewed on this word in bewilderment, slightly tilting her head, trying to understand its underlying meaning.

"Yes, need."

...

New Era Calendar, January 5, 534.

Before stepping through the door ahead, the young man examined his military uniform for the third time, the military insignia of the Chichu Family on his shoulder reflecting his resolute face. Compared to last time, there was now a scar on Chichu Qiu’s face, a remnant from a great retreat battle.

The war in Chichu Heaven had cost dearly, with nearly forty thousand troops lost on the Tower City battlefield. The Syndicate had revived, and this time, they no longer lurked in the shadows but launched a direct attack on the command center.

Chichu Qiu should have evacuated with his mentor, but he instead diverted the convoy to the front line, naively hoping to boost morale and turn the tide of defeat.

He paid the price for his recklessness.

His arrival didn’t change the outcome; the retreat’s defeat was beyond his imagination, and his words, once leaving the command center, were like a pale sheet of paper, left unheeded. Ultimately, several loyal guards risked their lives to escort him out of the city, saving him from being intercepted by the Insect Race.

The accompanying convoy was completely obliterated.

This experience shattered Chichu Qiu’s last illusions; the cruel reality was laid bare—having ideals and passion alone could change nothing.

Chichu Qiu looked at the emblem in his palm, the copper face reflecting a dejected self, and his fingers slowly clenched tight.

"Brother, You isn’t that hard to talk to." Seeing the young man still standing there, Chichu Chun reminded him.

She, of course, noticed her brother’s gloominess. Ever since the great retreat from Akitsus’ leadership till now, he’d been in this somber state.

Chichu Chun sighed. She suddenly started missing the old, always-smiling, scheming brother. Since becoming the Patriarch, he had turned more silent day by day, as if parting himself into a rope.

Is he planning to become a partner of justice?

However, responsibility seems to possess a magical power, making people sharpen their edges.

The brother she remembered from school days carried a certain feminine aura. Since cutting his hair short and donning that military uniform, that aura disappeared. The elders at home praised him as a righteously handsome young man.

"Xiaochun, I need to discuss something serious with you," Chichu Qiu leaned in and lowered his voice.

"Finally given up that literary way of speaking, huh?" Chichu Chun shrugged. "Speak up, I’m all ears."

"If I say something wrong later, remind me."

"For goodness’ sake, you’re the Patriarch of Chichu Heaven."

Chichu Qiu quickly grabbed Chichu Chun, making a gesture to silence her.

"Are you worried You will sulk over previous matters..."

Chichu Qiu’s expression was complex.

"This matter is crucial."

Chichu Chun grimaced, glaring at the young man, "Still worried she won’t show you a good face?"

"You haven’t even apologized to me, so why should I show you a good face? No way!"

"Leaving me in that pitch-black place for half a year..."

"I’m sorry," Chichu Qiu said sincerely.

"Enough, stop."

Chichu Chun raised her hand, not in refusal, but signifying no need for more words.

"I know you too well. You’re about to spout some excuse about responsibility. You think I don’t know all this... Hmph, can’t be bothered to argue with you."

"Just stop treating me like a kid."

"I’m sorry, Xiaochun." Chichu Qiu repeated.

Chichu Chun was taken aback for a moment and silently turned her head.

"I told you, can’t be bothered to argue."

"You should worry about the big issues of Chichu Heaven."

Chichu Qiu remained silent. Just as he took a deep breath and was about to apologize again, the girl’s fist already landed on his face. Caught off guard, Chichu Qiu was knocked back a few steps, rubbing his flushed face.

"There, we’re even now."

Chichu Chun rubbed her wrist, glanced at him, stepped forward, and slowly opened the door.

"I know your burden is heavy and I understand what you’re doing."

Chichu Chun paused, then lowered her voice to say:

"I hate you, brother."