373: Chapter 374 Beyond the Ruins and the "Second Question"

"Beyond the Return Ruins" — these four words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.

In the command center, everyone stared at the woman named "Cai," their expressions varied. Senior Brother Zhang's eyes were as bright as lightbulbs; he seemed eager to pounce and ask ten thousand questions. Zhao Iron Pillar looked vigilant, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Lin Jiang's brows were tightly locked, as if recalling something. Little Girl hugged Bright Fur Ball, curiously examining this stranger whose eyes changed color.

Wen Youyi remained silent for a few seconds, then asked the first question:

"Beyond the Return Ruins, what is it?"

Cai smiled, her colorful eyes narrowing slightly, as if organizing her words.

"You know that the Return Ruins are the legacy left behind by the Star People," she said, "but you do not know where the Star People went after they left."

"Where did they go?"

"They went to where we are," Cai said. "Beyond the Return Ruins is the world they ascended to."

A deathly silence filled the command center.

The Star People.

Ascended.

That super civilization that left behind countless legacies, created the guardians, and watched as the guardians twisted into Star Devourers — they hadn't perished, hadn't vanished, but instead... ascended?

"Are they still there?" Senior Brother Zhang's voice trembled.

"They are," Cai nodded, "but it's not quite 'there.' To you, they exist in another dimension, visible but untouchable, just like... looking at a person in a painting. Does the person in the painting exist? Yes. But can you shake hands with him? No."

The analogy was vivid, but the amount of information was overwhelming; everyone was trying to digest it.

Wen Youyi stared into Cai's eyes and asked the second question:

"What are you? What is the relationship between your people and the Star People?"

Cai thought for a moment and said, "We are 'Observers' — not the kind of Observers from the Creation Heavenly Court, but true Observers. We do not belong to any dimension and can travel between them. After the Star People ascended, we became their neighbors."

She paused and looked at Little Girl:

"When the three hundred and seventy-four Seeds sprouted, we noticed. Those awakened consciousnesses crossed the dimensional barrier and touched something in our world. We tracked the source of the signal and found this child."

Little Girl felt uncomfortable being watched and hid behind Madam Liu.

"What she did three years ago," Cai said, "was a turning point on the battlefield for you. For us, it was the first 'greeting from a lower dimension' we had received in three thousand years."

Lower dimension.

This term caused some people to frown.

Cai noticed and immediately added, "Apologies, poor word choice. It's not 'lower,' but 'different.' Dimensions do not have hierarchy; they only have different perspectives."

Wen Youyi didn't dwell on this. He asked the third and most important question:

"Did you come just to say thank you?"

Cai smiled.

There was something unfathomable in that smile.

"Gratitude is part of it," she said, "the other part is... an invitation."

"Invitation to what?"

"To invite one of you to come and see our world."

The command center went quiet again.

One person.

To go to another dimension.

"Who?" Wen Youyi asked.

Cai's gaze fell on Little Girl.

"Her."

Everyone spoke at once: "No!"

Madam Liu was the first to rush forward, shielding Little Girl behind her: "She is only nine years old! You cannot take her away!"

Zhao Iron Pillar drew his sword: "Whatever Observer or not, if you want to take Little Girl, you'll have to ask my sword first!"

Yun Zhi's hand was already on her sword hilt. Lin Jiang stood silently by the door, blocking the way.

Cai wasn't angry; she just watched them quietly.

"You misunderstand," she said. "It's not 'taking her away,' it's an 'invitation.' She can go, or she can choose not to. She can go and come back, or stay for a while and then return. We have a way to send her back, at any time."

"Why her?" Wen Youyi stared into Cai's eyes, trying to read something from those shifting pupils.

Cai thought for a moment and said:

"Because her consciousness has been 'opened'."

"Opened?"

"Just like a door," Cai said. "Most people's consciousnesses are closed, only able to see things within their own world. Her consciousness is open; she can see, hear, and even touch things from other dimensions. When she awakened those Seeds three years ago, our world 'saw' her."

She paused, her tone becoming softer:

"We don't want to use her; we want to teach her. Teach her how to use this door, how to see a larger world. She has such talent; it would be a pity to waste it."

Wen Youyi fell silent.

He looked at Little Girl.

Little Girl poked her head out from behind Madam Liu, her eyes shining as she looked at the woman whose eyes could change color.

"Auntie Cai," she asked, "does your world have trees?"

Cai was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes. Many. They are taller than the ones here, and they can sing."

"Are there rainbow potatoes?"

"...No. But we have other delicious things."

"Are there Bright Fur Balls?"

Cai looked at the silver beast at Little Girl's feet that was bristling with vigilance, and nodded seriously: "We can find it a companion."

Bright Fur Ball's fur stood up even more — it understood what "find a companion" meant.

Little Girl thought for a moment, then asked: "If I go, can I come back?"

"Yes. At any time."

"Can I bring Bright Fur Ball?"

"Yes."

Little Girl turned her head and looked at Madam Liu.

"Mom, I want to go."

Madam Liu's eyes turned red instantly.

"Little Girl, you..."

"I'll just go and see," Little Girl said, "I'll come back after I see it. Auntie Cai said I can come back."

She paused and added: "Besides, there are singing trees over there, and I want to hear what they sing."

Madam Liu opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

Wen Youyi crouched down to look Little Girl in the eyes.

"Little Girl, do you know what you might encounter by going there?"

Little Girl thought about it and shook her head.

"I don't know."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"I am," Little Girl said honestly, "but Uncle Wen once said, even if you're afraid, you still have to go."

Wen Youyi was stunned.

This was what he had said to Little Girl on the battlefield three years ago.

"Even if you're afraid, you still have to go."

Now, this child was using his own words to answer him.

He stood up and looked at Cai.

"We need time to discuss this."

Cai nodded: "Seven days. I will come again in seven days."

She turned and walked towards the colorful ship, took a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Wen Youyi.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

"What?"

"Someone from your 'Cracked Eye' organization wants to see you. Once you've decided, you can come with me."

Wen Youyi's pupils constricted slightly.

Cracked Eye.

The organization that had been passing intelligence in secret for three hundred years and had sacrificed seven generations.

There were still people alive?

"Who?"

"You'll know when you get there." Cai smiled and walked into the cabin.

The colorful ship rose slowly and disappeared into the horizon.

For the next seven days, the entire New Homeland was discussing this matter.

Little Girl was going to another dimension — this news spread to every corner as if it had wings.

Some opposed it, saying it was too dangerous.

Some supported it, saying it was a huge opportunity.

More people didn't know what to say, just silently watching the nine-year-old child with complicated expressions.

Little Girl, however, hadn't changed. She ate and slept as usual, and went to water "Little Bright" at the edge of the forest as usual. Bright Fur Ball followed her closely, its fur bristling more than usual, clearly possessing an instinctive vigilance toward the term "another dimension."

"Bright Fur Ball, don't be afraid," Little Girl stroked its head, "Auntie Cai said you can come too."

Bright Fur Ball let out a "meow," its expression clearly saying, "I'm not afraid, I'm worried about you."

On the evening of the seventh day, Wen Youyi called Little Girl under the monument.

The silver-blue flame at the top of the tower burned quietly, casting a warm light all around.

"Little Girl," he crouched down to look her in the eyes, "have you really thought it through?"

Little Girl nodded.

"Do you know what might be over there?"

Little Girl thought about it and said: "I don't know. But I want to see."

"Why?"

"Because..." Little Girl tilted her head, organizing her words, "because Auntie Cai said my door is open. I want to know what's behind the door."

Wen Youyi fell silent.

He remembered the feeling of "wanting to know what's behind the door" when he first saw the truth of the spirit net in the Ranch World back then.

It was exactly the same.

"Alright," he stood up, "then go and see."

"Come back after you've seen it."

"Mm!"

The next morning, Cai's ship appeared in the sky on time.

This time, Little Girl was ready.

She carried a small bundle containing a change of clothes and a few roasted rainbow potatoes — Madam Liu had insisted on packing them, saying, "What if you can't get used to the food over there?" Bright Fur Ball crouched on her shoulder, its fur brighter than usual; clearly, Silver Thorn had helped it "recharge."

Madam Liu stood at the front of the crowd, her eyes red, but she held back her tears.

"Little Girl, when you get there, be obedient, eat on time, and..."

"Mom, I know." Little Girl interrupted her and went over to hug her.

Then she turned and walked towards the colorful ship.

When she reached the cabin door, she suddenly turned back and looked at Wen Youyi.

"Uncle Wen."

"Hm?"

"When you finish writing that book, let me read it."

Wen Youyi was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Okay."

Little Girl waved and walked into the cabin.

The cabin door closed.

The colorful ship rose slowly, faster and faster, and finally turned into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Everyone looked up at the empty sky.

Madam Liu finally couldn't hold it back, and tears flowed down.

Wen Youyi walked over and patted her shoulder.

"She will come back."

"How do you know?"

"Because she said so."

In the distance, in that silver-blue forest, a tree called "Little Bright" swayed its branches gently.

It was like saying goodbye.

And also like saying:

"Safe travels."

(End of chapter)