"So long as that cave still exists, yes." Lu Feng said.
An Zhe thought back on everything about the Abyss. "The cave entrance may have been covered up by mushrooms, flooded with water, or collapsed by large monsters fighting… And sometimes the caves themselves are alive. They'll wake up and then leave.”
He continued, “But I still want to search."
"This is something I promised to An Ze."
"Although he didn't know."
"Then let it be a promise I made to myself."
He spoke to himself, while Lu Feng just repeatedly stroked his hair. In the end, he said to An Zhe, "He won't be angry because you were late in finding him."
An Zhe nodded. An Ze was a very good person.
He cut off his fanciful thoughts, and while continuing to watch the flames, he slowly spoke of the Abyss. Lu Feng simply listened.
At some point, it suddenly occurred to An Zhe that he had already recounted the entirety of his life as a mushroom to Lu Feng. Lu Feng knew of the rainy season and the grass, as well as An Ze and Josh. He knew of all the people he knew, and he knew of all the things he encountered.
On the other hand, he knew nothing about Lu Feng's past.
"Have… have you ever made a promise to someone that you couldn't keep?" he asked.
An Zhe already thought of his answer. He imagined that a person like Lu Feng would not lightly make promises or have unrealistic fantasies.
But contrary to his expectations, after a brief silence, Lu Feng said, "I have."
The crackling of the firewood gradually softened, and the hot flames turned into a red glow on the pitch-black charcoal. The surroundings dimmed, and the aroma of dust wafted over.
The stairwell on the twenty-second floor of the Garden of Eden had also been a dark and dusty place.
"When the day comes," a gentle female voice suddenly spoke into Lu Feng's ear, "when the day that we are all freed comes, I will no longer need to meet my children in secret like this."
Jibran was not Madam Lu's child, but he often came to the twenty-second floor as well. As he sat on the railing of the emergency stairs, his little legs swinging, he said, "Madam, you'll definitely be able to see that day."
The Madam patted his head. "Our great scientist is here."
Jibran tilted his head back and whistled. "Lu Feng and I will see that day too."
The Madam's gaze moved away from Jibran and settled on Lu Feng. "Do you also want to go to the Lighthouse?"
Lu Feng shook his head.
"Then you're just like your father." The Madam kissed his forehead. "When you grow up, you must protect the base."
Then the Madam took one of his hands and one of Jibran's hands, put them together, and placed her own hand on top.
"We will all see that day, and when that day comes—" Upon her young face was a gentle joy. "When that day comes, we'll be together, along with your father. Promise me, you two."
"Promise me, you two."
"I promise, Madam."
"I promise, too."
Lu Feng's story was very short, but while An Zhe was watching him, his attention wandered.
This time, it was Lu Feng who watched the dying fire.
An Zhe reached out.
He straightened up and attempted to hold Lu Feng in the same way that Lu Feng had held him earlier. The Colonel, seeming to understand, adjusted his angle and moved closer to An Zhe. An Zhe put an arm around his shoulder, and although he was a bit unaccustomed to it, it wasn't bad.
"You once told me that she turned into a bee because of a rose from many years ago," Lu Feng said. "I've been constantly thinking about who it was that gave it to her."
An Zhe was taken aback.
On a day when the ultrasonic disperser had not yet been invented or when it had briefly stopped working, a bee that had mistakenly entered the city was enticed by the flower and stung Madam Lu on her finger.
The bee's weak frequency concealed itself in her body, to be awakened one day in the future by the vast and unknown wave from the universe.
Within this base, only Madam Lu had roses because she loved such things and other people loved her. Lu Feng's father and later Lu Feng himself would give her seeds that the Lighthouse collected and confirmed to be safe—only those two people.
An Zhe gently held Lu Feng's hand.
The pile of firewood burned out, and the dim red was receding as well. The wind echoed inside the church. It seemed to be another windy night.
"I hope you can go to the United Front Center," Madam Lu had said.
That was the last time Lu Feng spoke with her before he officially joined the military. Back then, he was at a small field site on one side of the base, a distance that the base's civilian communications could barely get through to.
"That place suits you the best. They also go into the wilderness the least often, so it's also the safest," she had said. "In all my years serving the base, this is the only time I've been selfish. I want you to live. I hope that all my children can live, but I only know you."
Lu Feng said nothing.
"If it's someplace else, I won't stop you either, but don't go to the Trial Court. I'm afraid of that place," she murmured. "Last year, there was even a shooting incident at the Trial Court. Many of the base's drastic changes began from bloodshed, and the Trial Court sheds blood like water every day. There is too much suffering there."
"Were you listening?" she asked after a stretch of silence.
"I was," he replied.
She smiled. "Then promise me."
"You must promise—"
The rustle of static suddenly started up.
"Bzz—"
It was immediately followed by soothing music, a relaxing frequency, and a gentle female voice. "I'm sorry, but due to the effects of the solar wind or the ionosphere, the base's signal has been interrupted. This is normal. Please refrain from panicking and carry out all activities as usual. The communication signal will recover at some point. At that time, the public broadcasts will be sent to you, so please stay tuned."
"… Please stay tuned."
When all the wood burned into loose pale debris that would fall apart with just a touch, the church fell into darkness and lonely quietude.
Right at that moment, however, countless faint green lights lit up, for the insect monster they picked up had died.
An Zhe looked over. Its body gradually fell apart and dissipated into a scattering of tiny green lights, resembling a cloud of glowing green smoke or a swarm of fireflies.
The lights first enveloped them, dream-like, then rose and illuminated the entire derelict church along with the mottled painting of the Virgin Mary on the left wall and the massive painting of the crucifixion of Jesus in front. Withered vines hung on the Virgin Mary's shoulders and her cheeks were scored by animal claws, while Jesus's body was covered with mold. Only their eyes were clear. From behind the vines, mold, and dust, they silently observed the mortal world.
The stream of lights dissipated.
Destiny dispersed in the mortal world.