ILLIMITABLE UNTIL DEATH

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Fang Li did not react to Zhuge Jinghuan's words at all. He simply spoke to him, somewhat indifferently.

"Take good care of these girls."

With that said, Fang Li turned to leave.

However, before he could, a voice called out to him.

"Wait... wait!"

Shirayuki, having undergone emergency treatment, was wrapped in bandages. Though her steps were unsteady, she resolutely walked toward Fang Li.

Fang Li raised his gaze and looked at Shirayuki.

Meeting his eyes, Shirayuki said seriously:

"I'll go with you, Li Kun."

These words made Fang Li frown.

On the other hand, Zhuge Jinghuan nodded thoughtfully and muttered to himself.

"In this matter, there's no one more reliable than the Miko of Hotogi Shrine."

In the past, Fang Li might not have understood why Zhuge Jinghuan said this. But now, he fully understood.

Yes.

When it comes to dealing with the Scarlet Blazing God, no one is more reliable than Shirayuki.

After all, Shirayuki is the Head Miko of Hotogi Shrine.

"Li Kun," Shirayuki continued, staring intently at Fang Li with determination. "Let me go with you. As the Miko of Hotogi Shrine, I cannot ignore this."

Fang Li had expected this.

"... Very well," He nodded after pondering for a while. "I also have some questions to ask you."

With that, Fang Li reached out and embraced Shirayuki.

Shirayuki's charming face turned slightly red, and she showed a look of happiness, but knowing this wasn't the time to indulge in her fantasies, she quickly lowered her head shyly in Fang Li's arms.

Perhaps only Fang Li could sense it?

Although she appeared shy, Shirayuki's arms were already wrapped tightly around his waist, using a monstrous strength she had never shown before. It was as if she was silently declaring that if anyone wanted to pry her away from Fang Li's arms, they would have to kill her first.

Seeing this, Fang Li couldn't help but chuckle.

Could Shirayuki really have approached him with ulterior motives?

In any case, now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts.

After holding Shirayuki in his arms, Fang Li looked toward Riko and Reki.

The two girls were receiving treatment. One had a slightly bitter expression, while the other remained silent as usual.

"Though I don't know what exactly happened, that idiot Aria must have run into the worst possible situation, right?" Riko, dropping her usual facade, looked sharply at Fang Li and said bluntly, "Make sure you bring that idiot back. Only I can defeat Holmes."

This was probably Riko's truest thought.

Reki, unusually, also spoke up.

"No problem," Reki said to Fang Li. "The wind around you is still calm."

In other words, Reki didn't believe Fang Li would lose to Aria.

Or rather, she didn't think Fang Li would lose to the Scarlet Blazing God.

Fang Li didn't think he would lose either.

After all...

"I've faced worse situations than this countless times."

Leaving behind this statement, Fang Li, with Shirayuki in his arms, slowly floated into the air.

Finally, under everyone's watchful gaze, he soared through the sky, flying toward the horizon.

...

"Chī————!"

At the peak of the mountain, a stream of light shot out at a blinding speed, heading straight toward the beach.

Below, the vast forest was gradually turning into a sea of fire.

Birds and beasts fled in panic.

The wind howled past Fang Li's ears as he held Shirayuki in his arms, flying toward the beach.

While flying, Fang Li asked the girl in his arms.

"Are you sure it's in this direction?"

Nestled in Fang Li's embrace, tightly holding onto him, Shirayuki nodded with difficulty, her long black hair fluttering in the wind as she kept her eyes closed.

"After we were attacked, I immediately released a Shikigami to follow them. Although I eventually lost track, the two who took Aria definitely went in this direction."

So she immediately released a Shikigami to follow?

"It wasn't just that, was it?" Fang Li lowered his head to look at Shirayuki in his arms, speaking gently. "You must have prepared some preventative measures in advance, like leaving a spell on Aria's body, so that if the worst happened, you could find her as quickly as possible, right?"

Shirayuki fell silent at Fang Li's words.

After a long pause, Shirayuki lowered her eyes.

"...Is that so?" She whispered softly. "Li Kun has already understood everything?"

"If you're referring to why I met you at Butei High, then yes, I've already figured that out," Fang Li said as he turned his gaze away from her. "I never imagined there was so much going on behind the scenes of our encounter."

Hearing Fang Li's words, Shirayuki lowered her head even more.

Fang Li couldn't see Shirayuki's expression at that moment.

But knowing her, he could imagine it.

Right now, Shirayuki was probably wearing an expression full of guilt, anxiety, and sorrow, as if she were on the verge of tears.

With that expression on her face, after an unknown amount of time had passed, Shirayuki's voice finally broke the silence.

"Li Kun, do you remember?" Shirayuki said quietly. "The words I said to you outside the theme park over a year ago."

Fang Li was slightly taken aback by this.

Perhaps noticing his reaction, Shirayuki began to speak again, her voice soft and ethereal.

"Since ancient times, shrines have existed to protect something. Hotogi Shrine is one of the oldest among them," Shirayuki continued, her voice carrying a gentle sadness. "From birth, we Hotogi Miko are destined to exist solely for the purpose of protection, for eternity."

As Shirayuki mentioned this, Fang Li remembered.

"So that's it," Fang Li said calmly. "And what Hotogi Shrine has been protecting... is the Hihi'irokane, isn't it?"

"...Yes," Shirayuki said, no longer attempting to hide the truth. Though her voice remained gentle, it carried a tinge of melancholy.

Then, Shirayuki revealed a secret to Fang Li.

A secret that no one outside of Hotogi Shrine should have known.

"Perhaps Li Kun has already understood that there is also Hihi'irokane within Hotogi Shrine. So, when you injured Aria's Hidan, through the effects of Koyomi Kagami, the Hihi'irokane in Hotogi Shrine was stimulated, and the consciousness of the Scarlet Blazing God awakened many years ago."

"However, the Hihi'irokane in Hotogi Shrine is not an ordinary one."

"The Hihi'irokane that our Hotogi clan has protected for generations... is the Gemstone of Hihi'irokane."

(End Of Chapter)