The Celestial Hound continued to growl and howl, struggling restlessly. But his resistance was mostly for show. Though powerful, his strength paled in comparison to the Blueflame Warden, Nine-Tailed Fox, and Eugenia. After another clash, I could feel the difference.
I had used the Taiji Sphere technique on all three of them before, but it was easily neutralized by each of them. Yet the Celestial Hound was instantly unable to break free from the Dao energy within my body.
“Hmph, Ethan Zhang...”
I crouched down in front of the Celestial Hound, keeping a careful distance between us.
I don’t know why you hate me so much, but what do you want before you’ll agree to help me, Celestial Hound?
I asked, glancing at the Blueflame Warden. The Warden tucked away its tail. Once the Celestial Hound broke free from my restraint, he stood up, now about as tall as I was, his eyes still fierce as he glared at me.
Hmph, I will never help you.
Eugenia chuckled and said.
You said you couldn’t help, but it sounds like you know something. Can’t you help Ethan Zhang?
I looked at the Celestial Hound with a bit of helplessness. He seemed resolute, refusing to help me.
I sighed helplessly.
"Can you tell me what exactly happened between us in the past?"
I asked, and the Celestial Hound bared its fangs, mouth opening in a furious, low growl.
"Because of that Black Moon fellow. Hmph, Ethan Zhang, I suppose you don't remember either. Besides, I can't tell you what happened, because you have no memory at all."
I grunted in acknowledgment. The Celestial Hound then turned and vanished before us in an instant. The Nine-Tailed Fox was about to give chase, but I stopped her.
"No need. As long as we know the Celestial Hound has a way, maybe we can find something if we search this illusion."
I smiled as I spoke. I had no intention of using force—no matter how much I pressured him, the Celestial Hound probably wouldn't help me. We decided to split up in four directions, hoping to find something related to memory.
After we finished discussing, I flew off to the left. The landscape was truly desolate. As I flew slowly along, the white, rocky ground seemed never to change, no matter how far I traveled. The scenery remained monotonous and bleak.
I could sense the Celestial Hound watching our movements. He no longer intended to fight me—my power now surpassed his.
Gradually, I noticed a thick bank of white mist drifting over the ground. I stopped. Shapes flickered within the haze. Landing before it, I watched quietly. From time to time, shadows shifted inside. I lingered at the edge, still unwilling to enter.
There was an aura of the unknown within, making me feel that if I entered, I might never come out again. I pressed one hand to the ground, letting my power flow into the thick mist before me.
Suddenly, my eyes widened—my power vanished, as if something had devoured it.
After thinking for a moment, I strode boldly into the mist, which felt like walking into a cloud. Instantly, a dazzling, multicolored world unfolded before me.
The terrain was uneven, dotted with groves, lakes, hills, and meadows, with many houses scattered about. The whole place looked painted, shrouded in a dreamy haze.
I swallowed, glancing back—only to find the white rocky ground had disappeared.
A slurping sound came from behind me. As I turned, I saw a massive, plump white rabbit with red eyes, munching on a thick stalk of celery.
"Your power tastes delicious!"
The rabbit spoke. I looked at him in confusion; it must have been the one that just devoured my power.
"Who exactly are you...?"
The rabbit came right up to me, sniffing at my body with its nose.
"You're completely dead, aren't you? You're human, right? What's your name?"
"Ethan Zhang. And you?"
I asked. The rabbit finished its celery stalk, then squatted down, twitching its ears.
"I am the Jade Rabbit."
I gasped, staring in disbelief at the rabbit who called itself the Jade Rabbit, glancing around at everything nearby.
"Is this the Moon Palace? Is Chang'e here?"
The Jade Rabbit nodded. I blinked, and then it stood up, twisting its fat neck and shaking its white fur.
"But Chang'e is no longer here."
I let out a disappointed sigh. I'd heard the story of Chang'e flying to the moon since childhood, but now that I was here, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Hmph, Ethan Zhang, follow me."
Just as I was about to float up, the Jade Rabbit suddenly leapt in front of me, head-butting me onto its soft back. With a few powerful jumps, it carried me far away, landing with a thud before a cluster of houses.
I swallowed hard; it felt as if I’d just passed through something.
"What exactly is going on?"
"Let me explain. Where you just entered, you could see my place, but that was the border between my Illusory Realm and the Celestial Hound’s. It looked close, but you actually had to cross several spaces to reach me—so I brought you here myself."
Startled, I hurried off the Jade Rabbit’s back.
"Can I still go back?"
I asked. The Jade Rabbit stood up and shook its head.
"Not for a while."
"I have urgent business—I need to recover..."
Suddenly, the previously gentle rabbit thrust its massive head close to me, its red eyes staring, mouth moving as if chewing something.
"It's memory, isn't it? You went looking for the Celestial Hound because you lost your memory. But trying to get help from him is pointless—he's not easy to deal with. Lots of folks in the Illusory Realm can't stand him."
"Why?"
I asked. The Jade Rabbit strolled ahead, hands clasped behind its back, motioning for me to follow. I did, passing rows of quaint wooden cabins, each elegant and neatly arranged, yet uniquely shaped.
I noticed a small square pool with steaming water, fragrant and pleasantly aromatic.
"That guy has helped outsiders countless times, biting off pieces of Chimera Beasts in the Illusory Realm and giving them to people outside. Around here, the Celestial Hound is infamous—lots of Chimera Beasts want him dead, but he's clever and always hides on the dark side of the moon. Catching him isn't easy."
I swallowed hard.
"Why does he do that?"
"I'm not really sure. But those Chimera Beasts who had their fur, nails, or flesh taken can sense other worlds—worlds beyond the Illusory Realm. I’ve heard that someone over there used the power leaked from the Illusory Realm to create Chimera Beasts. That’s what I’ve heard."
A chill ran through me. Suddenly, I thought of a way to return to the realms of Yin and Yang. Maybe I could use this method to go back from time to time?
"Get in."
I was still deep in thought when the Jade Rabbit suddenly shoved me, and I tumbled into the misty, steaming pool. But once inside, the mist vanished, and the Jade Rabbit lay coldly on the ground by the edge, watching me.
"What are you—"
Before I could finish, I realized how comfortable it was soaking in the pool. The water was warm, and the scents drifting around were soothing.
"This is Chang'e's bathing pool. She may be gone, but her power remains. You've fought other Chimera Beasts these past few days—this will ease your fatigue and help your strength recover."
I nodded and thanked him. The Jade Rabbit lay at the pool's edge, still sizing me up.
"Do you have any way to help me recover my memory?"
I asked, and the Jade Rabbit nodded thoughtfully.
"There should be a way, but it's complicated. Bathe for a while first—I'll go prepare."
I hummed in reply, leaning back against a soft ledge above the waterline, not sure what it was made of.
With a faint, intoxicating scent drifting past my nose, I closed my eyes, feeling my strength returning. I didn't know why this rabbit was being so kind, so I decided to stay cautious.
"What are you thinking about! Do you think I'd eat you? You humans are always so wary—it's honestly baffling."
I looked up at the rabbit awkwardly and quickly apologized.
"I'm just bored. It's been ages since another Chimera Beast entered my Illusory Realm. Chang'e left a thousand years ago, and I've been alone for over five hundred years—no one to talk to at all."
I smiled and nodded.
"Is there any way?"
"Back when I got along with the Celestial Hound, he told me about the Root of Memory. He said everyone's memories are like the roots of a plant—they grow upward and branch out. Some people lose their memories because the branches break off, but the root remains. If you find your Root of Memory, you should be able to recover your memories."
I thanked him profusely. After getting out of the pool, I felt much better. The Jade Rabbit handed me a steaming, sticky lump—like a rice cake.
"Eat some. I made it myself."
I took it and ate a little. It had a faint aroma of rice.
"Alright, now come with me."
I blinked, unsure what the rabbit was planning, but I climbed onto its back anyway.
With a whoosh, the rabbit leapt out. Instantly, my mind spun as space and time twisted, and the Jade Rabbit and I landed on a smoky, scorched plain. The yellow earth was cracked and scarred, and I immediately began to sweat.