The researchers who used to provide services to the Human Bureau included many who were kidnapped and coerced, and some who joined voluntarily. Upon hearing that the secular society might be ruled by Luo Mountain in the future, some researchers indeed kindled a sense of crisis and mission, sincerely wanting to shed blood and sweat for the ideals of the Human Bureau.

However, the corruption at the top levels of the Human Bureau poured cold water on these idealists. Among this disappointed crowd, the figure of female researcher Ai Ye might be present. Unable to escape the Human Bureau, they could only continue to serve with a negative attitude, seeing Ying Lingyun as undoubtedly the dark representative of the Human Bureau.

For Ying Lingyun, who wanted to concentrate the power of the Human Bureau on his personal schemes, the fall of the Human Bureau might be something he was happy to see, and therefore he might have contributed to this decline. Countless idealists of the Human Bureau hate Ying Lingyun to the core.

Ai Ye was so happy that she was dancing around, then she looked at Xu Gou and said expectantly, "Xu Gou, you were present at the time, right? Can you tell me more about how Ying Lingyun died?"

"Uh, well…" Xu Gou felt very awkward. "I wasn't there at the time, it was No. 3... it was Zhuang Cheng who killed him."

Ai Ye looked at me, "Is that so? Was it you..."

When it comes to hatred, Xu Gou undoubtedly hated Ying Lingyun more than those idealists. The enemy was killed by someone else, and he wasn't even there. This must be an indelible pain in Xu Gou's heart.

Ai Ye felt both regret and relief about this, "In the end, he died at the hands of Luo Mountain, that brain-sick widower... it's a fitting ending, I suppose.

"Thank you, Great Impermanence Luo Mountain... thank you for killing Ying Lingyun, and thank you all for summoning me through Spirit Communication, allowing me to meet Xu Gou again."

Her expression was very complex. Position-wise, the original idea of the Human Bureau was to resist Luo Mountain's deities, yet now she was temporarily summoned from the abyss of death by us.

Even Xu Gou's life was held in my hands. From any angle, she couldn't display any disrespect toward us.

Xu Gou said painfully, "I... I not only failed to kill Ying Lingyun, but I also caused the deaths of so many people... it should've been you who survived, not me."

"Are you talking about the people who died in this city? What does that have to do with you?" Ai Ye said casually, "Whether you were there or not, this city would have been destroyed by Taoyuan Village. You didn't even directly participate in it, and your hands were never stained with the victims' blood. In that case, this is unrelated to you."

As she spoke, a gloomy look appeared on her face, "It's not like me... I really participated in the inhumane human experiments, with numerous innocent lives taken by my own hands... how can you be more deserving of death than me?"

Perhaps one reason Ai Ye developed extra feelings for Xu Gou, who was just a test subject back then, was her gradually uncontrollable guilt and a wish to atone.

"Besides, what's done is done. I've already sacrificed my life, and this choice is irreversible. Reality is you live, I die; there's no point in dwelling on it." Ai Ye seemed to be trying to muster her strength, "A fine gentleman... uh, you're using my body, I'm not sure if you now appear as yourself or me, or if you can still be considered a man... anyway, you're my recognized boyfriend, don't be so fussy!"

"No... Ai Ye, I have an idea, I've found a way to resurrect you!" Xu Gou said excitedly, "As long as I use myself as a living sacrifice... I can bring you back! I can do it!"

Ai Ye froze, looked at us again, and said to Xu Gou, "Though I don't know where you got this idea... okay, I admit it's reasonable, but I still advise you not to do it. You won't achieve what you want."

"Why? Do you think I can't find a specific plan to realize this idea? As long as I trade with the Master of Divine Seal..." Xu Gou became increasingly excited.

"It has nothing to do with those messy things." Ai Ye interrupted him, "I believe that once you set out, you can eventually find a detailed and feasible plan, but the essence of your approach is just to recant what I did to you in the past.

"Your current existence will collapse internally because of the loss of my sacrifice as a foundation... however, given your quality as a Great Impermanence Level modified human, it's impossible for you to crumble instantly; I only need to repeat what I once did before that happens."

Xuanming, who isn't even known for regeneration power, will have a long "death process" even if killed by me. Xu Gou's vitality is far more tenacious than Xuanming's; he probably wouldn't find it easy to commit suicide. Although it wouldn't reach the point of becoming like a nameless wandering spirit who can't even commit suicide, there would definitely be a period between losing ability to act and complete spiritual dissipation when Ai Ye could intervene.

In this way, the situation becomes a death loop.

Xu Gou kills himself to resurrect Ai Ye, and Ai Ye would kill herself to resurrect Xu Gou.

In the end, the one who could fulfill their wish would undoubtedly be Ai Ye.

Because Ai Ye isn't nearly as strong as Xu Gou, she couldn't bear so many death experiences. To someone like Xu Gou, an artificial Great Impermanence, a few thousand or ten thousand death experiences might seem like a breeze; but for a normal person like Ai Ye, just dying a few times might cause the harmful effects of death experience to render her unable to come back to life. Even if there's a way to revitalize her soul forcibly, it would self-destruct the moment she woke up.

Xu Gou seemed not to completely understand this until Little Bowl specifically explained a few points, and he then appeared as though he had suddenly realized everything, showing an expression of despair.

When it comes to feeling most powerless while wanting to save someone, perhaps it's not the various trials encountered on the road to rescue, but rather the one you want to save themselves doesn't want to live anymore.

Little Bowl didn't seem surprised by Ai Ye's stance; she seemed to foresee this from the beginning.

"Mr. Xugou, please don't be so disheartened," she said with a gentle voice, "Madam Ai Ye, there's no need to think that only one of you and Mr. Xugou can exist... a way to have both exist does exist."

"What?" Ai Ye was shocked.

"You have a way?" Xu Gou was incredulous, "A way for both Ai Ye and I to live... can you do it? How could it be, if I'm not dead then..."

"Consider the current situation first." Little Bowl suggested, "Now Mr. Xugou is alive, and Madam Ai Ye is here; you are currently communicating fluently... isn't this the most ideal scenario? We just need to maintain it."

Ai Ye suddenly understood, "You mean... you want to keep channeling me, maintaining my current existence?"

"I remember! When I was fighting with Zhuang Cheng you said, resurrecting Ai Ye might be difficult, but you have an 'equivalent to revival' alternative... is that what you meant?" Xu Gou asked excitedly, "Because Ai Ye's soul isn't strong, it's possible to maintain this spiritual communication constantly... is that what you mean?"

"Not entirely," Little Bowl said, "Firstly, the Power of Divine Seal Fragments I can output is not high in power; if a part is taken to maintain Madam Ai Ye's spiritual communication state, the blessing strength on Brother Zhuang Cheng and others would decrease, which is a situation I must avoid;

"Secondly, though Madam Ai Ye's soul is of normal human strength, she isn't completely a normal human. After self-sacrificing to resurrect Mr. Xugou, her nature of existence has changed too, making the burden of maintaining spiritual communication with her significant.

"This time's spiritual communication is only temporary, and even with Mr. Xugou's body as a Spirit Communication Medium, it can't be done infinitely.

"However..."

As she continued, Little Bowl suddenly changed the topic, and the previously more depressed Xu Gou was seized with hope again, showing an expectant demeanor.

Witnessing this scene, Ai Ye seemed somewhat speechless.

I felt Little Bowl was a bit like Gua Tianshi at this moment, could it be that smart people like her and Gua Tianshi enjoy deliberately using this kind of twist-talking? Or is it just that she and Gua Tianshi happen to share the same black-bellied humor? I could almost envision Mazao being repeatedly teased by similar wordplays during her past adventures with Little Bowl.

Perhaps I too have been unwittingly toyed with by Little Bowl in the past... I suddenly wanted to check my own memory.

"Thanks to Mr. Xugou's special nature, Madam Ai Ye has a foothold in the world in a state of spiritual communication," Little Bowl continued explaining, "If lifting a heavy object is difficult, just finding a stand to place it on will do. Mr. Xugou is the perfect stand."

Ai Ye pondered first, then her eyes lit up, saying, "I see... the hardest obstacle has turned into the best aid, this move is unexpected!"

Initially, I was still confused, but Ai Ye's reminder also helped me understand, "So you want to leverage Ai Ye's 'foundation' attribute inversely?"

Among us, only Xu Gou still looked puzzled and bewildered, staring at us dumbfoundedly, unable to help asking, "What are you all talking about?"

"It's very easy, Mr. Xugou," Little Bowl said, "Just let Madam Ai Ye become your 'second personality' and that will suffice."