"I don't know... I remember we were traveling together, but then, I don't remember many things, and it seems like I've forgotten a lot..." Shen Zhi said.
I looked around, but I couldn't see the shadow I had been anticipating for so long.
I stumbled outwards, pushing through the crowds, and then I saw that familiar figure.
Luo Yaqin!
I ran towards her with all my might, holding her tightly. Luo Yaqin's face was also full of smiles.
"What's wrong? It's not like you just slept for a while, you're just too tired..." Luo Yaqin said with a smile. "Hurry up and rest, we're going to have dinner!"
"Do you guys remember what happened before?" I asked after a long while, having regained my senses.
"We just slept for a while, and when we woke up, it seems like we've forgotten a lot of things..." Lin Chun scratched his head. "I always feel like something is strange somewhere, but I can't quite pinpoint what's wrong..."
I remained silent. By now, my memories had mostly returned. I remembered the battle with the Heavenly Dao, I remembered the Tree of Life.
But they seemed to have forgotten everything.
Had the Tree of Life modified their memories?
However, on second thought, it wasn't a bad thing. Forgetting unpleasant memories and living well might be a form of fortune.
I looked at my palms, imagining myself using the power of the Shepherd God, but not a single trace of strength surged from my body.
I opened my shirt, remembering that there should be a tattoo of the Tree of Life on my chest, but at this moment, it was empty, nothing at all.
"What's wrong, Brother Lu? You seem a bit strange?" Lin Chun asked.
"Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Luo Yaqin also asked.
"I'm fine, I'm fine..." I said with a smile. "Today is so happy, why don't we have a feast!"
"Great! Speaking of which, we just gave names to a few of the natives, and they were very happy. They've already gone hunting, and we'll probably have some good stuff soon!" Zuo Qing said with a smile.
Night fell quickly, and the bonfire party was very lively. Looking at the smiling faces, I was filled with emotion.
This feeling of regaining something after losing it made me incredibly moved.
Fortunately, everything was still here.
Even if I had lost those powers, so what?
We could still live well.
Days passed by, and everyone seemed to have lost something, but they couldn't quite grasp what it was.
Eleven months later, Luo Yaqin gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy, which delighted everyone.
In the past eleven months, we had repaired the ship and even ventured out into the outside world.
The outside world was still beautiful, but ultimately, I preferred living on the island.
The others felt the same. We used the gold and diamonds we found on the island to exchange for money in the outside world and then purchased a large quantity of supplies.
This made our settlement even better. We could even watch TV and listen to music here.
But it was still different from the outside world. This place preserved the last vestiges of innocence and beauty in the world.
As for the Tree of Life, as for the power of the Shepherd God, I often wondered if it was all a dream.
But how did we manage to move such heavy stones?
And what about that spring in our settlement?
Although everyone had their doubts, no one knew why. As time passed, they gradually got used to it.
Moreover, with the addition of Zhou Ran and others, the entire settlement became more and more lively.
As time went on, everyone found their own partners. This kind of life couldn't be described with just the word "beautiful."
A year passed quickly, and my child also turned one year old.
We held a very lively and grand gathering.
I also told everyone that if anyone wished to leave, we wouldn't stop them, and they could go to the outside world.
But not a single person wanted to leave.
And it seemed that people from the outside world could no longer come to this island. Although I didn't know why, the island seemed to exist outside of the normal world.
But the fact that we could buy supplies from the outside contradicted this.
Sometimes, I wondered if, with the way things were developing, we might eventually revert to being savages.
On the child's first birthday, I sat on the beach. After Luo Yaqin had lulled the child to sleep, she sat with me on the sand.
"You've spent these past few years walking with me, making coconut chicken, and buying me clothes..." Luo Yaqin said with a smile. "I've noticed you've become more and more attentive..."
"I'll naturally do what I promised!" I said with a smile. "It's just that for the past two years or so, I've felt like I've lost something, but I can't remember what it is..."
"Yes, everyone feels the same..." Luo Yaqin said with a hint of confusion. "Logically speaking, if it were amnesia, so many people wouldn't have it. But if it's not amnesia, why do we all feel like something is off..."
"I don't know..." I smiled and lay back on the sand. "In any case, life is beautiful now, and that's what matters. Let's cherish the present!"
Luo Yaqin nodded and turned her head to kiss me.
At that moment, we suddenly heard footsteps.
"Brother Lu, Brother Lu! The little one is crying, hurry back!" Lin Chun ran over, with Shen Zhi following him.
Luo Yaqin and I quickly ran back. The little one was wailing on the bed. He was usually so well-behaved; I didn't know why.
I quickly picked him up and comforted him. The little guy kept clutching his chest.
"Was he bitten by something?" I quickly lifted his clothes and saw a tree tattoo on his chest.
This tree had eight branches, lush with leaves, looking lifelike.
I stood there, stunned.
I suddenly felt something slowly surfacing within my body.
Everyone around froze. They also felt a power rising from their hearts.
Luo Yaqin looked at me, then at her hands with shock.
"I remember!" Lin Chun exclaimed.
"I remember too!" Shen Zhi said.
Outside, one person after another cried out in surprise.
A leaf suddenly drifted in from outside and landed on my palm.
It was covered in complex characters, but I could clearly understand their meaning.
"Welcome back, Lu Ziye!"
(The End of the Book)