"Indeed, human memories can be completely preserved within their bodies."

"But soon she discovered something... The individual in the Fog Realm that carries her memories didn't disappear after a day of existence. It broke the lifespan limit of its race and lived to see the second day."

Xu Zhifei's story had a tremendous impact on Bai Yanliang.

He seemed to see lights being turned on one by one, illuminating dark and obscure corners.

The mystery is about to be unveiled.

"While pregnant, she began talking to that one special individual carrying her memories, knowing well that it couldn't understand. But it was special, at least... it was the only life in this strange world of the Fog Realm that wouldn't disappear with the cycle of day and night."

"Day by day, month by month..."

"Her belly grew larger and, simultaneously, she was amazed to find that the outline and features of the individual storing her memories became clearer."

"It was then she understood that the fundamental element that brings self-awareness to a life is memory."

"Only when life possesses memory can self-awareness be born from it."

————

Fog Realm.

Ren Wudao's life was entirely in the hands of Zhou Tian.

His soul and body would serve as the passage between two worlds, essentially... the door.

Yet, just before making a move, Zhou Tian suddenly said, "Kid, you know it's a trap, so why jump in?"

As he spoke, Zhou Tian willed it, causing Ren Wudao's previously unreal and shadowy body to gradually become solid.

The two stood facing each other, Zhou Tian looked at Ren Wudao's calm face and suddenly seemed to understand something, raising his head to look at the Mother Tree.

The enormous Mother Tree shaded nearly the entire sky, awe-inspiring.

"Walk with me?" Zhou Tian said.

Ren Wudao had no objections.

"Do you think these things have life?" Zhou Tian stared, lost in thought, at the Mother Tree and the densely clustered, insect-like humanoid outlines on it.

"They have no thoughts, no consciousness, not even instincts are in abundance, their lifespans are extremely short, dying between dawn and dusk. Do such things count as living?"

Zhou Tian murmured.

Ren Wudao thought for a moment and said, "It counts as living, but living without meaning."

"You're right." Zhou Tian nodded in agreement, "But eventually, a human life will also end, and if you think about it, it's also meaningless."

"Is that what you believe?" Ren Wudao was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Tian was also surprised: "What's wrong?"

Ren Wudao shook his head: "I originally thought you were a smart person."

Zhou Tian was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "You're the second person to say I'm not smart."

"But, why? Just because I think life has no meaning?"

Ren Wudao did not immediately answer.

The meaning of life is like an unfinished painting, waiting for people to use colors and lines to depict. It's not a ready-made answer, but a process each person continuously explores and creates during their journey.

Some believe the meaning of life lies in the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, happiness is an indispensable condiment in life, making our days colorful. However, happiness is not all of life. If one only pursues transient pleasures, they might miss out on a deeper sense of fulfillment — that peace and fullness from within.

Others believe the meaning of life lies in achievement. Whether it's success in a career or the display of personal talents, achievements can indeed bring pride and satisfaction. But if one only focuses on this, they might find themselves lost and self-doubt when facing setbacks or failures.

In Ren Wudao's view, the true meaning of life is experience, is process, is transcending individual gains and losses in a fleeting life to connect with a broader world.

In his view, life's meaning lies in connection. Relationship with others, connection with nature, and dialogues with one's inner self are all elements that constitute the meaning of life.

"Personally, I believe the meaning of life is not sitting from start to finish but in the scenery and experiences along the way."

Ren Wudao looked at him.

"Like my current life, because you saved my sister, allowing the most important element of my life to continue existing, I'm also willing to fulfill your request. For me personally, helping you achieve your goal is also a novel experience, and I do not resist."

Zhou Tian stared dazedly at him; Ren Wudao's remarks completely overturned his expectations, and he murmured: "You are indeed a strange person."

"Judging from your previous words, choosing me, is it also because someone extremely important to you is in danger?" Ren Wudao curiously asked.

"Yes, she is my wife, Meng Zhen."

At this point, Zhou Tian no longer hid anything.

"She accidentally fell into the Fog Realm, and in this world, gave birth to our child... But then she died."

Zhou Tian's gaze was vacant.

"I tried many methods, whether cloning her body or tearing through time and space with the power of keys, none worked... I could successfully replicate her flesh but couldn't retrieve her soul."

Zhou Tian painfully clutched his hair and trembled, "Then, a person... a man, clearly a man! But he could accurately recount all memories of me and Meng Zhen."

"He knows everything, Meng Zhen's memories are with him!"

Zhou Tian abruptly raised his head, looking at Ren Wudao.

"I ask you, given two choices. One is an empty shell, but she's indeed your sister's corpse. The other is a stranger, but she indeed has all your sister's memories."

"Which would you choose?"

Zhou Tian stared intently at Ren Wudao.

Ren Wudao frowned, disliking this example, but still responded:

"Memory, for memory is the essence of a person."

"Right?" Zhou Tian let out a deep breath and whispered, "So I made the same choice."

"I asked him if he was my wife, Meng Zhen? Even if her soul accidentally entered a man's body, it didn't matter as long as she was still her..."

"But he said he wasn't Meng Zhen, though he possessed all of Meng Zhen's memories. But that memory, to him, was like watching a movie — merely stored within him, and he feels no sense of substitution or self-identity. His self-recognition was another person... He wasn't my... Meng Zhen."

Zhou Tian adjusted his hair, his gaze once again falling on the dense, continuously reborn and dying humanoid outlines on the tree, murmuring:

"My life's meaning is to find that most important person back."

"For her, I can sacrifice everything, including the world we once existed in..."

"He said that as long as I did as he instructed, Meng Zhen would be saved by him..."

Ren Wudao raised an eyebrow: "You actually believe such words?"

Zhou Tian laughed: "Originally, I didn't. But I conducted an experiment using your sister, and now I believe."

"Indeed, he can do it, resurrecting the dead with memory."

"You must have guessed who that person is, right?"

Ren Wudao remained expressionless.

Who else could it be but Bai Yanren?

Yet, for some reason, in Ren Wudao's mind, another figure slowly emerged.

Bai Yanliang... What would he do?

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