Seeing this scene, Tao Yao rushed up immediately.
Her eyes were filled with fear and anger, and she hoarsely shouted:
"Let her go!"
The Hokage seemed to sense Tao Yao's approach.
He turned his head sharply.
His eyes, burning with flames, were locked onto Tao Yao, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.
At that moment,
The player regained control permissions.
At the same time,
the monster, composed of flames and resembling the Hokage,
revealed its health bar.
A short name floated above its head.
"Mysterious Fairy"
Seeing this name, Hua Yu immediately realized that this was a boss battle.
Hua Yu began to control her lineup and launched her attack.
She chose her most perfected fire-type lineup, determined to fight it head-on.
Even though the boss was also fire-type.
Lacking the advantage of a property restraint.
Hua Yu still chose this lineup.
Mainly because this was the only lineup she had.
Everyone in "Journey of the Fairies" could build other lineup systems.
But the problem was, using another lineup wouldn't allow both Hiyakura and Tao Yao to appear on the field at the same time.
Although it would be a bit difficult to fight.
She believed in her skills.
Moreover, she had a skilled player sitting next to her.
Before long.
Hua Yu's boss battle began.
The battle started out exceptionally intense.
The mysterious fairy unleashed waves of flames, engulfing the entire battlefield.
The character controlled by Hua Yu kept dodging while counterattacking.
In her lineup, Hiyakura served as the main damage dealer, continuously releasing powerful fire skills.
Hiyakura acted as a defensive support character, providing backup.
As for the remaining two characters.
They were arbitrarily matched according to the situation.
The strength of Hua Yu's lineup was not very high.
However, the buffs she drew along the way were incredibly good.
In this mode of Past Hiyakura, her luck completely compensated for her deficiency in output.
The battle lasted a long time.
Both sides exchanged blows, unwilling to give in.
Hua Yu's fingers flew across the keyboard and mouse.
Finally, after a barrage of concentrated attacks, the mysterious fairy's health reached a critical point.
Hua Yu seized this opportunity and unleashed her ultimate move.
A dazzling pillar of fire shot up into the sky, directly hitting the mysterious fairy.
With a piercing scream, the boss finally fell.
Hua Yu let out a long sigh, leaning back wearily against her chair.
Though this battle was hard-fought, they ultimately achieved victory.
After the battle, a new animation began to play.
In the scene, Tao Yao engaged in a fierce confrontation with the mysterious fairy.
The two exchanged blows, flames bursting everywhere, engulfing Cherry Blossom City in a sea of fire.
In the end, Tao Yao defeated her opponent with her powerful strength.
However, when she turned to look for Past Hiyakura, the scene before her shocked her into silence.
On screen, Past Hiyakura lay on the ground, severely burned, her life force rapidly fading.
Tao Yao rushed forward and held her in her arms, her eyes filled with fear and despair.
Tao Yao tried to save her.
But it was of no use.
Thus, after whispering something into Tao Yao's ear that the players couldn't hear, Past Hiyakura closed her eyes forever in Tao Yao's embrace.
Seeing this scene, Hua Yu's eyes widened, and she was left stunned for a long time.
Her mind was blank as she stared blankly at the screen, murmuring:
"Great Hiyakura... is this it… gone?"
This sudden turn of events had caught Hua Yu completely off guard.
She originally thought defeating the boss would solve the problem, only to find that a cruel ending awaited her.
Just when Hua Yu was still shocked and unable to extricate herself.
She suddenly heard a sobbing sound beside her.
Turning her head, she realized her younger sister, Hua Lei, was already crying.
Hua Lei's tears flowed uncontrollably as she trembled, saying:
"Sister... Great Hiyakura... she..."
Seeing her sister's reaction, Hua Yu felt a pang of heartbreak.
She reached out to gently stroke Hua Lei's hair, attempting to comfort her:
"It's okay, Little Hiyakura is still here, which means the outcome is good…"
However, even Hua Yu herself found little reassurance in those words.
She was also deeply affected by this storyline, her heart filled with sadness and anxiety.
Despite this, Hua Yu forced herself to calm down.
She knew now was not the time to be immersed in sadness.
She needed to continue progressing in the game and see what would happen next.
So, Hua Yu mechanically controlled her character in the game, as if this would allow her to escape reality.
She controlled Little Hiyakura to walk towards Tao Yao, wanting to comfort her.
However, Tao Yao gently shook her head and choked out, "Little Hiyakura, can you let me be quiet for a while? It won't take long..."
Seeing this, Hua Yu felt a wave of helplessness.
She understood Tao Yao's feelings at this moment but didn't know how to help.
Just then, the system suddenly popped up a new mission prompt:
[Assist with rebuilding Cherry Blossom City.]
This mission was not complicated, mainly involving some simple gathering and construction tasks.
Hua Yu quickly completed the mission, but her mind kept lingering on the previous storyline.
Soon after finishing the mission, Hiyakura came to Tao Yao's side again.
This time, Tao Yao lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions.
She softly said to Hiyakura, "Can you burn her with fire for me?"
After Tao Yao finished this statement,
Hua Yu saw two option boxes pop up on the screen:
[Yes, let's send her off with flames.]
[I need some time to prepare.]
She chose the first option.
Although her heart was still heavy.
She understood this was Tao Yao's request and also a respect for Past Hiyakura.
With Hua Yu's choice, the Little Hiyakura in the game gently nodded and walked towards Past Hiyakura's body.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slowly raised her hands.
A warm and bright flame gathered in her palms, gradually expanding, encasing Past Hiyakura's body.
The flames gently licked Past Hiyakura, turning her body into twinkling starlight.
Tao Yao stood beside her, her eyes filled with sorrow yet also a hint of relief.
She murmured something softly, as if bidding farewell to Past Hiyakura.
As the last flicker of flame dissipated, a beautiful fairy flower suddenly bloomed in its place.
Its petals were as vibrant as flames, emitting a soft glow.
The flower hovered in the air, slowly spinning, as if waiting for something.
Seeing this flower, Tao Yao took a deep breath and began recounting the events to Little Hiyakura.
"Actually, Great Hiyakura was already targeted by the fairy."
Tao Yao's voice was low and hoarse, "She was chosen to become the fairy's apostle…"
"..."
"..."
Tao Yao began a series of explanations.
The storyline continued to develop.
And as the plot progressed, the comments in the live stream finally reacted.
"Is it possible like this?"
"I get it! At the beginning of the game, Hiyakura was born from the petals!!"
"Now I see, no wonder my big wife in the game treats my little wife so well!"
"Is someone crazy up there? Who are you calling your big and little wife? That's clearly my wife!"
Hua Lei, hearing this news, gradually calmed down.
She wiped her tears, turning to her sister, her voice still trembling:
"Sis, do you think it's like that?"
Hua Yu felt a bit puzzled, sensing something was off but couldn't pinpoint it.
Seeing her sister's expectant gaze, she decided to comfort her first.
She wore a gentle smile and softly said:
"Of course! Hiyakura will definitely be fine."
"Don't forget, she is the protagonist of the game. This storyline is in the Past Hiyakura mode, serving as a complement to the previous civilization. The fact that we can still see Hiyakura in the main game means she will definitely come back to life."
Hua Yu paused before continuing: "Moreover, this also explains why Tao Yao treats Hiyakura so well. After all, they knew each other back in the previous civilization."
With Hua Yu's comforting words, Hua Lei finally calmed completely.
She refocused her attention on the game, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Hua Yu watched her sister's spirits revive, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.
She gently patted Hua Lei's shoulder and softly said:
"Alright, let's continue pushing the plot."
As the storyline progressed, Tao Yao suddenly asked:
"Little Hiyakura, how did you come here?"
"..."
As the plot continued to develop.
Even Past Hiyakura understood the truth.
"I see..."
Past Tao Yao murmured, "You're not time traveling; the us in your eyes are just a memory…"
Just then, Hiyakura mentioned that her exploration of this memory was due to threats made by Tao Yao's maid.
However, unexpectedly, it seemed that Tao Yao did not recognize the maid Shiro.
Her expression turned somewhat disgusted, her tone clearly displeased: "Maid? I don't have any maid. If there is one in the future and she harms you, then she must not be a good thing."
The comment section of the live stream erupted once more:
"Waaah! My poor maid."
"Being disliked by Tao Yao, Shiro must be so sad, right?"
As the audience debated.
The game continued to progress.
Suddenly, the game screen shook violently.
Hiyakura was forcefully kicked out from the memory crystal by a powerful force and returned to the real world.
Then followed the storyline related to Shiro and Hiyakura.
In this segment, Shiro showcased her crazy side.
Her eyes sparkled with a strange light, a twisted smile hanging on her lips.
In the final crucial moment.
Little White Lotus arrived to rescue.
And Shiro immediately fled the scene with Violet.
Subsequently, the plot mainly focused on searching the twin cities.
The protagonist group organized a large-scale search operation.
But they found no trace of Shiro and Violet.
It was as if they had disappeared into thin air.
With the failure of the search, version 1.4 of Past Hiyakura was also declared over.
...
Soon after.
Hua Yu let out a long breath, leaning back in her chair, her gaze still fixed on the game screen.
The content of version 1.4 had finally come to an end.
However, she felt an indescribable void in her heart.
This feeling was like finishing a novel that was never going to be updated.
Because the sluggish author updates too slowly.
She wished she could tie the author to a chair, forcing them to update 24 hours a day.
Continuously releasing new chapters.
To fill the emptiness within her heart.
Just as Hua Yu was immersed in her thoughts, her younger sister Hua Lei's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Sis, it's over."
Hua Lei said softly, her tone containing a hint of exhaustion and reluctance.
Hua Yu came back to her senses, glanced at the time, only to realize it was already midnight.
She took a deep breath, adjusted her state, and then smiled at the camera.
"Alright, dear viewers, that's all for version 1.4 of Past Hiyakura."
Hua Yu's voice was clear and gentle:
"Although this entire version consisted mostly of older content, and the main storyline mainly focused on Past Hiyakura, appearing rather bland with not much major events, to be honest, I actually quite like this pace."
"And then, the next version should return to the main storyline, and I believe there will be some new content as well. Just not sure if Tao Yao will have role in it."
She paused, then continued:
"In this version, I have also accumulated some materials. For example, the relationship between the fairy Tao Yao mentioned and the apostle. She specifically pointed out that this is a special and complex relationship."
"And I also noticed some interesting details."
"In the coming days, depending on the situation, I might make a video related to this."
Hua Yu glanced over at her sister, who was already yawning, and smiled: "That's enough for today. My sister has been live streaming with me all day; she must be exhausted. Thank you all for your company, and see you next time!"
As Hua Yu's words fell, the comments in the live stream were also filled with farewells.
Unlike the various rhythms often seen when Sakura Fubuki ended her stream,
Hua Yu's atmosphere felt more harmonious.
"888!"
"Thank you! Both Hua Yu and Little Hua Lei worked hard!"
"Looking forward to the next live stream!"
"Little Hua Lei is so cute; I hope to see the two sisters together frequently in future live streams!"
Seeing these warm comments, Hua Yu felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
Then she shut down the stream.
The live stream room fell into darkness, leaving only the echoes of the earlier lively atmosphere.
Hua Yu took off her headphones, stretched, and then turned to look at her younger sister.
Hua Lei had slumped in her chair, her eyes nearly closing.
She rubbed her eyes, weakly saying:
"Sis, I'm so tired. Is your usual live stream this exhausting too?"
Today was a whole day.
Except for going to eat in the middle.
They had almost spent the entire time streaming.
Hua Yu looked at her sister's exhausted appearance, feeling both heartbroken and a bit guilty.
She gently patted Hua Lei's shoulder, saying: "I told you not to come with me! Live streaming is really physically demanding, especially for a long gaming session like today."
Hua Lei pouted, speaking stubbornly:
"But I wanted to be with you."
"And today was really fun! Although a bit tiring, playing games with you and chatting with everyone felt amazing!"
Seeing her sister's persistence, Hua Yu couldn't help but smile.
She ruffled Hua Lei's hair and softly said:
"Alright, I understand you enjoy it. However, if you want to stream together in the future, we need to prepare in advance, not just decide at the last minute like today. Your health isn't great; you really need to rest well."
Hua Lei nodded vigorously but then yawned widely.
Watching her sister's sleepy state, Hua Yu said:
"Okay, little lazy bug, it's time to wash up. Then get to bed early."
"Mm..."
Hua Lei replied vaguely, slowly standing up and walking towards the bathroom.
Hua Yu looked at her sister's retreating figure, feeling a warmth swell in her heart.
She began packing up the streaming equipment while reflecting on today's game content.
Although the storyline of version 1.4 seemed bland.
She felt there were more secrets hidden within.
Many sharp moments were concealed in the calm of everyday life.
She actually liked this narrative pace.
After tidying up, Hua Yu opened her computer and began organizing today's streaming content.
She decided to take advantage of her fresh memory.
To jot down some important observations and guesses, preparing for future videos.
At this moment, Hua Lei walked into the room after washing up.
She was wearing cute rabbit pajamas, and her hair was still slightly damp.
Hua Yu glanced over and said:
"Did you dry your hair? Don't catch a cold."
Hua Lei nodded, walking over to her sister curiously looking at the computer screen.
"Sis, what are you doing?"
"I'm organizing today's game content," Hua Yu explained, "Some details are easily overlooked, so I want to record them now."
Hua Lei nodded, somewhat understanding, and yawned again. Seeing her sister looking so weary, Hua Yu said, "Alright, little Hua Lei, it's time for bed."
"Mm..."
Hua Lei nodded but still seemed a bit reluctant, "Sister, you should sleep early too. Don't stay up late working."
Hua Yu was amused by her sister's concern. She ruffled Hua Lei's hair and said, "I know, I'll sleep soon. Goodnight, little Hua Lei."
"Goodnight, sister."
After Hua Lei said this, she climbed onto her bed and quickly fell asleep.
Hua Yu looked at her sister's sleeping figure, her heart brimming with warmth.
She quietly returned to her computer and continued organizing today's content.
Now.
From all the content of the current version.
She was increasingly convinced that Tao Yao was very likely a fairy.
Moreover, in this version, she also saw more details and developed more guesses.
And now.
She needed to organize something.
Preparing to make a new video dedicated to Tao Yao.
"If all the believers of the Tao Yao God Sect saw this video, they would surely be very happy, right?"
Thinking this way in her heart.
Hua Yu habitually typed out the title draft...
"Perhaps… Tao Yao isn't dead!"
...
In the Ocean Kingdom, the seaside town. In this mysterious map that has not yet been opened to players, Tao Yao's residence stood quietly by the sea.
Sunshine poured through the windows, adding warmth to this space filled with a magical atmosphere.
Tao Yao slowly opened her eyes, her gaze somewhat hazy.
She had just returned from the world of Past Hiyakura, her thoughts seemingly still lingering in that illusory yet real world.
The system sprite Xiao Xiao saw her master awaken,
fluttering her little wings excitedly, flying in front of Tao Yao.
[Welcome back, Master! You've worked hard. Your popularity is sure to skyrocket again after this version ends!]
The 1.4 version of Past Hiyakura was not entirely a script pre-set by Tao Yao.
She only built the map, created Past Hiyakura, and instinctively designed a few new characters.
Even the names of these characters weren't thought through in advance.
After completing the basic settings, Tao Yao herself entered Past Hiyakura, which led to the subsequent events she experienced with Hiyakura and the players.
At this moment, Tao Yao appeared slightly dazed, her gaze carrying a hint of confusion, seemingly still lost in the world of Past Hiyakura.
Xiao Xiao noticed something was off and anxiously asked.
[Master, what's wrong? Are you okay?]
The voice of the little sprite was filled with concern.
Tao Yao slowly came back to her senses, forcing a smile, and softly said:
"Xiao Xiao, it seems I accidentally got too deep into the role again. I keep feeling as if I really experienced these things, even though they are all fake... Past Hiyakura clearly doesn't exist. But... why am I still sad?"
Her tone was filled with confusion and perplexity.
After hearing this, Xiao Xiao hesitated a bit and responded:
[Master, this might be because you're too tired. Completing version 1.4 was already very hard, and you didn't rest much before personally stepping in to play the character. Experiencing this situation is actually quite normal. You just need to take a good rest, and you'll recover soon.]
"Is it really just because I'm too tired?"
Tao Yao murmured to herself.
Suddenly, she shook her head fiercely, her gaze becoming resolute.
"No, this is definitely not an illusion, nor is it me getting too deep into the role. Last time with the Little Fox, it was the same, and this time too..."
She stared directly at Xiao Xiao, her tone growing urgent, "Xiao Xiao, can you think of how many creations the Goddess has besides you and a creature similar to the Little Fox?"
Facing Tao Yao's question, Xiao Xiao appeared exceptionally conflicted.
It seemed she wanted to say something yet hesitated, her small face scrunched up, seemingly wanting to say something but couldn't bring herself to say it.
Seeing Xiao Xiao's reaction, Tao Yao became even more convinced of her guess.
She fixed her gaze on Xiao Xiao, her tone becoming increasingly urgent:
"You remember, right?! Quickly tell me, Xiao Xiao!"
Under Tao Yao's pressing inquiry, Xiao Xiao became increasingly flustered, her little wings fluttering restlessly, and her gaze became uncertain.
[Ah? Master…]
As Tao Yao drew closer,
Xiao Xiao's voice noticeably raised a few pitches, filled with an unnatural panic.
[Xiao Xiao also wants to tell you what I just remembered… but… but…]
Xiao Xiao suddenly paused, as if realizing she had let something slip.
[But Xiao Xiao really can't remember anything at all! Master, your current popularity value… uh… what I mean is, given your current popularity value, Xiao Xiao can't remember...]
Tao Yao keenly picked up on the contradictions and hesitations in Xiao Xiao's words.
Her gaze became sharper, and the corners of her mouth slightly lifted, revealing a knowing smile.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Tao Yao said leisurely, her tone laced with a hint of amusement, "Just now you said 'you remembered,' and then you said 'can't remember anything.' Xiao Xiao, are you sure you're not hiding something from me?"
Xiao Xiao was startled by Tao Yao's words; the expression on her small face froze instantly.
[No… no! Master, you misunderstood! Xiao Xiao really…]
Tao Yao interrupted Xiao Xiao's explanation, her tone suddenly turning severe:
"Very well! You actually dared to keep secrets from me!"
Just as Xiao Xiao was still trying to organize her words to explain,
Tao Yao acted swiftly, grabbing the system sprite fluttering in the air in a flurry.