Meaning of Living

Just as Otto, having made a Grand discovery, was about to take action, Lin Wei, in another corner of the floating island, also keenly sensed the enormous risk.

"I'm afraid I can't stay here any longer, Yuno."

Lin Wei's mind raced, and he earnestly extended an invitation to the withdrawn girl before him, who had only just begun to open up a crack,

"I'm leaving. Would you like to leave Schicksal with me?"

"Eh? Me?"

The invitation was so sudden, so unexpected, that Yuno was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words,

"Why?"

She never imagined she'd receive such an invitation at this moment.

"Because Anna might be in danger."

Lin Wei answered seriously,

"So I have to act before Otto does."

At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, *Another case of plans not keeping up with changes...*

*How many times has this happened?* Lin Wei thought, feeling a mixture of frustration and amusement.

*Plans always seem to fall behind changes,* Lin Wei helplessly discovered this exasperating fact.

After escaping Nagazora City before the Honkai outbreak, he thought he could live a peaceful life. But the Honkai corrosion shattered his naive fantasy like a bolt from the blue, forcing him to fight for survival.

When he finally overcame the life-or-death crisis and thought he could live a secluded life in the Elysian Realm, World Serpent seemed unwilling to let such an aimless person occupy their "sanctuary" for long. They kicked him out of the Elysian Realm, subsequently shattering his delusion of eking out a living in the ruins of Nagazora City.

Then, after Lin Wei quickly reacted, decisively escaping Grey Serpent's calculations and connecting with Anti-Entropy, he thought he could start a new life in Singapore. But one unexpected event after another disrupted his peace, culminating in a devastating Honkai eruption that smoothly delivered him to Schicksal headquarters...

Thus, Lin Wei found that every time he achieved a goal and wanted to settle down, strange accidents would always occur. Just when he'd breathed a sigh of relief, he'd be kicked hard, forced to act again, constantly solving one tricky problem after another.

Just like now, he found himself facing a new problem—Anna's unexpected exposure. Lin Wei, who had originally planned to stay on the floating island and engage in a long-term standoff with Otto in this core fortress of Schicksal, found himself forced to abandon his original plan once again and prioritize resolving this new problem...

Anna's unexpected appearance and her unreasonable intrusion into his world, staying by his side, made Lin Wei realize that she had become his Achilles' heel, a natural weakness that Otto held. Just as he also naturally held Otto's weakness.

Because of this, Lin Wei had made many arrangements in advance, wanting to weaken this vulnerability, and even hoping that Otto wouldn't discover its existence. This would allow him to freely target Otto unilaterally.

However, Lin Wei never expected this "weakness" to be exposed so quickly and unexpectedly...

In any case, just as Otto couldn't tolerate anyone posing a threat to him, Lin Wei couldn't tolerate his "weakness" being controlled by someone else, used as a threat against him.

Especially after Lin Wei learned how desperately Anna had fought to protect him when he was unconscious, he was even more determined to prevent anyone from harming her.

Honestly, before the tsunami, he wasn't confident about getting her to willingly leave Schicksal. But now, Lin Wei had some confidence.

And he had even more confidence when it came to Otto!

That guy had suffered a huge loss because of him before. Now, he must be scrutinizing every piece of information about him with a magnifying glass, trying to find his weakness.

At this delicate juncture, would Otto not have wild thoughts when the name "Anna" suddenly reached his ears?

Even a dog wouldn't believe that!

Therefore, based on his "trust" in Otto, since he knew that Otto was highly likely to take action against her, Lin Wei had to act before him, whether to protect Anna or himself.

Otherwise, given Otto's usual arrogant and petty behavior, Lin Wei couldn't even imagine what kind of brain-dead actions he might take next.

After all, Otto's truly impressive and praiseworthy actions all occurred after Kevin's return. Before that, Otto was purely a clown from any perspective.

"It has to be said, his self-identification as a 'clown' is one of his few moments of self-awareness!"

Lin Wei mocked inwardly.

...

Upon learning that it involved Anna, Yuno only hesitated for a moment before readily agreeing,

"Okay, I'll go with you."

After all, the only person she cared about in Schicksal was Anna. How could she stand idly by when it concerned her?

"..."

Lin Wei had initially been quite anxious, but seeing Yuno agree so readily, he felt he needed to delay a few more minutes.

He could see that Yuno's quick agreement was entirely due to Anna, having nothing to do with him or herself.

If he were to rashly take her away like this, Lin Wei felt it would be very unfair to Yuno, akin to deception or coercion.

"Have you really thought this through, leaving Schicksal?"

Lin Wei re-emphasized the question, hoping Yuno would think carefully before answering. But she simply stiffened her neck and said,

"You said Anna is in danger."

It was like talking to a brick wall.

*"Does this girl not think about herself at all?"*

Lin Wei thought, a dark line crossing his face. He decided to make things clearer,

"You don't need to worry about Anna, I'll handle it. I'm just asking you: Yuno, are you willing to leave Schicksal with me?"

"But, Ann..."

Yuno tried to insist, but Lin Wei glared at her, cutting her off mid-sentence. She asked, somewhat puzzled,

"Why?"

"Overseer Otto wants to use Anna to threaten me. I don't want him to succeed, and I don't want Anna to get hurt because of it, so I need to take Anna away before he does."

Time was of the essence, so Lin Wei succinctly explained the situation to Yuno,

"But this way, Otto might also target you. I don't want you to be hurt or persecuted by Otto because of me, so I want to take you away in advance."

"But I don't want to force you, and I don't want to deceive you, Yuno. If you like Schicksal, if you like being a Valkyrie, then your agreement just now was too hasty. Leaving Schicksal so rashly with me might lead to regret, you might blame me, or even hate me."

Lin Wei paused, giving Yuno a moment to digest, before asking the question a third time,

"So, are you willing to come with me?"

"I... don't understand."

Yuno tilted her head, feeling a warmth in her heart because Lin Wei seemed to care about her,

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because people ultimately have to live for themselves, and so do you."

Lin Wei said,

"That's why I need to respect your wishes. Whether you refuse or not, it's your freedom."

"Live... for myself?"

Yuno repeated the phrase somewhat blankly, then shook her head in confusion,

"But, where would I go if I left here?"

Her home was long gone. If she left Schicksal, she had nowhere to go. The words "leaving" and "freedom" were so distant they felt foreign to her, let alone "living for herself." For someone who couldn't even find the meaning of life, it was like a fantasy.

"...Yeah, where to go?"

Lin Wei was taken aback, then smiled wryly. That was a good question, since even he didn't know where he should go next.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Wei replied,

"I know a place where people can help you better control your powers. That could be our next stop."

"There are many people there, like you, who were originally ordinary humans but, for various reasons, merged with Honkai beast genes, gaining great power and inhuman forms. You might be able to make some new friends there."

Lin Wei said earnestly,

"Maybe Schicksal isn't suitable for you, which is why you feel lonely and lost. But there, you'll know you're not a freak. You'll realize you're just a slightly special human, no different from me, from Anna, or from anyone else."

Fu Hua was also a MANTIS warrior, and she had also felt inferior, lost, lonely, and even lost herself. But was she a freak?

From beginning to end, she was just a striving human, a standout among humans, fighting for the mission she shouldered. That's all.

"Why... are you telling me all this?"

Yuno became even more confused, repeating the question like a broken record.

"Just like when I saved you in Nagazora City, there's no special reason."

Lin Wei smiled slightly,

"Just a chance encounter. I just hope you live well."

"Live well..."

Yuno mumbled the phrase, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. But not a single emotion could well up in her eyes and become tears, as if her tear ducts were dead. She just stared at Lin Wei with wide eyes, asking in confusion,

"But what is the meaning of living?"

It was precisely because she couldn't find the answer to this question that she had come to find Lin Wei tonight, hoping that her former "savior" could give her a definitive answer...

"Meaning? Let me think..."

Lin Wei looked up, pondering for a moment, then looked back down and smiled,

"Control your powers, strive to become an excellent warrior, a true hero. Protect the weak who are helpless in the face of Honkai, let those who should have died survive. Save broken families, let those who should be suffering and unhappy live happily... Is living like this meaningful?"

"..."

Yuno nodded, then shook her head.

In the past, Durandal had said similar things to her, and she knew they made sense.

She certainly knew that this was indeed a very meaningful way to live, but she couldn't draw any strength from this "meaning."

She only felt emptiness, distance, and heaviness, unable to feel even a shred of hope or strength...

Seeing her somewhat disappointed expression, Lin Wei smiled and said,

"See? The standard answer is so boring, isn't it?"

"...Huh?"

Yuno stared at Lin Wei in astonishment, not expecting him to negate what he had just said, even though it sounded...

"Sounds reasonable, right?"

Lin Wei said with a light smile,

"But life is never lived for 'reason.' People live for a feeling, a state, a belief, an experience, not for a specific thing, a goal given by others, constantly running and chasing."

"Even if you really have a goal you want to chase desperately, it's a goal you've identified from the bottom of your heart, not something someone else told you to do. Your goal should be an ideal, something that can give you a constant source of strength. It shouldn't be a task imposed on you by others, which will only bring you endless fatigue and pressure."

Lin Wei smiled, then said seriously,

"The so-called 'meaning of life' is actually very simple—live, and then search for meaning."

"Living is about experiencing. Experiencing crying, experiencing laughter, experiencing love and hate, experiencing all the joys and sorrows, experiencing the beauty and ugliness of the world. Every day you spend in this life, every event you experience, will leave a mark on your heart, little by little. The experiences they bring you will gradually carve out a unique soul."

Lin Wei looked directly into Yuno's eyes, saying each word clearly,

"As for your question about 'meaning,' I can't give you an answer. You have to find the answer to this question yourself. Just like you asking me this question is, in itself, an effort you're making to find the answer, isn't it?"

Lin Wei smiled gently,

"Of course, if you don't mind, I can also provide you with some help, guidance, and advice along the way. Isn't that the meaning of 'friends' and 'companions'?"

"I... don't understand."

Yuno said somewhat ashamed.

Perhaps it was Lin Wei's sincere tone, or perhaps it was because she innately trusted him, but even though she didn't quite understand these words, she felt a rare warmth flowing through her heart, making her soul tremble slightly.

"It's okay if you don't understand. As long as you don't give up on yourself, you'll understand one day."

Lin Wei consoled her softly, then his smile faded slightly, and he said,

"We've wasted a lot of time. I need to hurry and leave."

Then, he extended the invitation one last time,

"Yuno, are you willing to leave with me?"

To put it in a more utilitarian way, Yuno's weight in Lin Wei's heart was far less than Anna's. The latter had shared hardships with him, while the former, in the end, was just a lingering sentiment.

Losing Anna would be very painful for Lin Wei. But if he lost Yuno, Lin Wei would at most sigh regretfully. It wouldn't cause him any substantial harm.

The reason he wanted to take her with him was partly because he didn't want her to be implicated because of him. Another reason was that there was a more suitable place for her to grow.

To put it bluntly, Lin Wei had once entrusted this promising talent to Schicksal, but Otto didn't know how to cherish her, so Lin Wei now intended to take her back.

But if Yuno truly had feelings for Schicksal, he would also respect her wishes. And he wouldn't mind giving Otto a little warning later, kindly reminding him not to entertain any pointless, misguided ideas, so she could live a little more peacefully after staying in Schicksal...

Now, Lin Wei had said a lot, so he didn't say more, just waiting for Yuno's final answer.

"I..."

Yuno opened her mouth, about to agree, but the words fell back, and she shook her head,

"I don't know..."

For some reason, she felt a surge of inexplicable panic in her heart, but she couldn't find the reason.

"Is that so?"

Lin Wei nodded, neither confirming nor denying,

"Then I'm leaving."

With that, he directly stepped past Yuno, actually leaving, without hesitation.

"Wait!"

Yuno suddenly became anxious, instinctively reaching out and grabbing Lin Wei's wrist.

Then, she couldn't help but freeze, because she realized that she seemed to have already made a choice.

"I..."

As if she had been in a dark room for too long and felt unfamiliar and afraid of the long-lost sunlight, Yuno asked, trembling slightly,

"Can I really find meaning?"

Her voice was somewhat helpless, like a lost child asking for love and protection from her parents.

"You have to ask yourself that."

Lin Wei had stopped the moment he was grabbed. He turned around, looked at Yuno seriously, and encouraged her sincerely and firmly,

"But 'searching' is, itself, part of the 'meaning'."

"...Is that so?"

Yuno was silent for a moment again, and finally made up her mind. She looked up and met Lin Wei's eyes, saying earnestly,

"I'm willing to leave with you."

"Okay, good."

Lin Wei smiled knowingly, not saying anything more. He grasped the hand that was holding his wrist and strode outwards, leading her. Yuno followed closely behind him, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart, experiencing a long-lost sense of relief.

Lin Wei took Yuno straight to the Third Airport. He planned to hijack a shuttle there. After all, while Vill-V's creations were useful, they were still lacking in speed.

He had many things to do, a multitude of tasks. But the most urgent thing right now was to leave Schicksal headquarters as soon as possible and take Anna away, not giving Otto any opportunity.

Perhaps it was because it was late at night, and even most people in Schicksal headquarters had gone to sleep. Perhaps it was because Lin Wei used the Key of Erosion to conceal himself. In short, everything went extremely smoothly along the way, with no one stopping them.

Just as the Third Airport was in sight, Yuno's footsteps, which had been closely following behind, suddenly stopped. The force from her hand made him stop as well.

"Hmm?"

Lin Wei looked back in confusion, and saw Yuno pursing her lips, her eyes fixed on a certain direction.

Lin Wei's heart stirred, and he followed her gaze.

He saw that near the end of the Third Airport, a person was standing there quietly, as if they had been waiting for the two of them to arrive.

"Sigh..."

Lin Wei sighed softly, and spoke the name of the person blocking their way,

"Durandal..."