Genshin Impact: The Beginning of the Wind

Although he was an innocent child, it did not mean that Aru, thousands of years later, did not know what blood sacrifice meant—outsiders had not never come to Crane Gate before, so he gradually understood some things over the long years.

Even so, he never harbored any resentment or bitterness. He even continued to participate in the blood sacrifice and endure the pain that even adults could not bear.

Because the adults had said that only an innocent child like him could quell the Thunderbird's rage, so... he had to do it.

"You are a very good child."

Ying rarely praised Aru. Although she could not be considered a qualified ruler of the mortal world, it was not difficult for her to distinguish what kind of person a mortal was, especially since Aru was so innocent and kind.

"But you must know that if that's all there is to it, then you may never see the Thunderbird you've been waiting for—it has already been slain by me at Tianyun Pass!"

Without any hesitation, Ying told the child what she had done. She didn't want to deceive this innocent child in any way. Whether it was out of fear or resentment, she had no intention of hiding what she had done.

"..."

"Really? I see!"

Although Aru remained silent for a while, he did not show any hysteria or other expressions afterward. He seemed to have been fully prepared for this matter, and did not even express any anger towards Kage, who admitted to being the murderer of Thunderbird.

"Actually, I knew from the moment I first woke up that I might never see Capachelli again, after all, she looked terrible when I left... Was it all because of me?"

"Big sister, wasn't Capachelli crazy back then?"

"Now... can I go see her again?"

Chapter Sixty: The Promise That Lasts a Thousand Years Will Finally Be Fulfilled

Aru remained calm even at this point.

He had long suspected the possible fate of the Thunderbird, so he easily accepted it. Now, his only hope was to go to the place where the Thunderbird fell to fulfill his final promise.

He prepared the most beautiful song for Capachelli, and after thousands of years, his only hope was that this song could soothe Capachelli's past anger.

This child, though innocent, is also so mature that it is both frightening and heartbreaking.

"..."

"Yes, I can help take your soul away from Crane View. We can take you to Qinglai Island, where you can surely appease the raging Thunderbirds that still rage there."

Although he hadn't expected Aryu to accept the truth so calmly, after his initial surprise, Kage nodded and agreed to his request. After all, Kage also hoped that someone could soothe the ceaseless thunder that lingered over Tenyun Pass year after year.

If that were the case, Inazuma might have a few more islands to use, which would be great news that Inazuma, who are currently in dire straits, would definitely not want to refuse.

"Phew! Finally, all these things are done!"

"So you were here, Aryu! We thought you had suddenly disappeared! That's why we rushed over here looking for you."

Just as Shadow and Aruru finished their conversation, Firefly and Paimon, who had rushed over, also appeared.

"You've come at the right time. We were just about to set off for Qinglai Island, so let's all go together."

Upon seeing these two hurriedly arriving "tools," Su Feng waved to them, but Paimon was quite displeased with Su Feng's greeting and began stomping his feet in protest.

"Wait, wait! We just rushed here without knowing anything, and now we're suddenly being told to go somewhere else... At least tell us what happened!"

Paimon crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks in a huff, while Ying beside her stared at Su Feng with an indescribable look, as if she wanted to do something to Su Feng the next moment.

Under the combined watchful eyes of Paimon and Ying, Su Feng had no choice but to explain to his two companions what had happened.

After figuring out what had happened while they were away, both Ying and Paimon couldn't help but turn their attention to Aru.

They seemed to intend to say something to Aru, but after hesitating for a long time, they didn't know what else to say at this moment.

"Big sisters, let's go see Kapachiri first. I think she's been waiting for me for a long, long time."

"I will apologize to everyone when I have the chance later."

Perhaps sensing Ying and Paimon's hesitation, Aru actually started to comfort them instead.

This almost absurd situation left everyone somewhat dazed, but they quickly regained their composure—regardless of what Aru had gone through in the past, the best course of action for them now was to completely end this painful cycle.

……

Although He Guan and Qing Lai Island were indeed some distance apart, with Su Feng's help, traveling between the two islands was not difficult. So, before long, Su Feng led everyone back to Qing Lai Island, which was still crackling with thunder.

"It is indeed the power of Capachelli; she is indeed here!"

Aru couldn't help but get excited when she arrived at Qinglai Island, which was still shrouded in thunderstorms.

He had waited for the Thunderbird for far too long, not only to break the cycle of reincarnation in Crane View, but also to fulfill his promise.

This was a promise he made to his friend, and he absolutely couldn't break it!

"Kappachiri, I'm here. It's a bit late, but let me sing you one more song!"

Although Aryu was excited, she managed to control her emotions.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, a song as clear as a spring began to echo across the vast but deserted Qinglai Island, and as this faint song began to resound, the thunder that had almost never stopped before began to subside.

The Thunderbird's seemingly insatiable rage seemed to pause at this moment, and a gentler power floated out from the land imbued with the Thunderbird's power and resentment.

Soon, this faint yet undeniable power flew to Aru's eyes, and as if it were a signal, countless points of light soon rose up across the entire Qinglai Island.

At this moment, Qinglai Island, which had been surrounded by furious thunder, fell into a rare tranquility, and countless flying points of light made the entire island appear so dreamlike.

Sparks of light, imbued with pure power and thought, transformed the entire Qinglai Island into an ocean of light, with the boy at the center of it all still singing songs that belonged only to himself and his friends.

However, this dreamlike state did not last long. Soon, the power that had emerged from the Thunderbirds formed a huge vortex in the air, and at the center of this vortex was still Aruru, who was singing softly.

The power and consciousness of the Thunderbird continued to gather in front of Aru, and after the last bit of power was absorbed, a magnificent feather exuding powerful energy slowly floated in front of Aru.

This is the condensation of all the remnants of the Thunderbird after its anger was quelled—Qinglai Island will no longer be damaged by the Thunderbird's residual power, and the island has been completely restored to normal.

At the same time, Aryu's last bit of singing stopped, and when he opened his eyes and saw the feathers in front of him, he couldn't help but show a bright smile.

"Kappachiri, do you like my songs?"

Aru asked the question in his purest voice, but unfortunately, the feathers that held the power of the Thunderbird before him could no longer answer his question.

Even so, the Thunderbird's feathers still fluttered slowly a few times, as if expressing agreement, just like the Thunderbird's communication with the boy thousands of years ago.

After receiving a response from the Thunderbird feather, Aru revealed a bright smile. He gently stretched out his hands to cover the feather in front of him, and then spoke as if for thousands of years.

“Kappachiri, let’s go home together, and then I’ll sing you a song.”

“This time, we won’t be separated again, and you can’t just leave without saying a word for so long.”

As Aru's words fell, the entire Qinglai Island, which had been shrouded in thunderstorms and resentment, finally calmed down.

Then... dappled sunlight fell on Aru and the feather in her hand. At that moment, Aru seemed to begin to shimmer with a divine light. Seeing this, Su Feng and Ying exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time.

They now have more speculations, but for now... let's go back to Heguan first!

Chapter Sixty-One: Newborn Birds and Souls Everywhere

Upon returning to Crane View, the view reappeared before everyone's eyes, completely enveloped by a terrifying crimson thunderstorm. Accompanying this terrifying crimson thunderstorm were the old phantoms and resentment of the Thunderbird.

'You...you actually...you let Aru...Since you let that unique song turn into blood, since you let that unique song turn into blood and flow needlessly into this land...then, until I, Sugana Kapachiri, hear that person again...that 'Aru's' voice, this land will suffer eternal calamity!'

Accompanied by the Thunderbird's terrifying rebuke, thunderstorms filled with resentment and rage relentlessly rained down on this land filled with suffering.

Even the crimson lightning storms raging across the land were only a sight that mortals could not fully comprehend. In the eyes of beings like Su Feng and Ying, who transcended mortals, each crimson lightning bolt struck precisely the souls that emerged from the earth's veins.

This is a punishment that has never ceased. Crimson thunderstorms, sharper and more painful to the souls, relentlessly fall upon these bound souls. What's worse, with the help of the earth's veins and under the shroud of the great power of time, these constantly injured souls have no chance of being killed by the thunderstorms!

They could only endure the Thunderbird's wrath and punishment forever, bearing the price for their actions.

“Kappachiri...is still so angry.”

"But it's okay, it will be over soon. I'll sing you another song—no, not just one song, I'll sing for you often in the future."

Upon witnessing this scene, Aryu gently stroked the feathers of the Thunderbird in front of him, then closed his eyes again, and the melodious and beautiful song once more echoed throughout the Crane Viewing Hall.

The song was so beautiful, and the thunderbird feathers that were gradually dancing around Aru were also gradually gathering together and dissolving their past resentment.

The power of lightning surged toward Aru like birds returning to their nests—over the long years, Aru had long since become one with the power and longing left behind by the Thunder Bird. If it weren't for the resentment that had been left behind, Aru might have already transformed into a brand new Thunder Bird and soared away under the influence of this power.

Even so, Aru actually had unimaginable control over Tsurukan. In fact, the scene that looked like the entire island was about to be reduced to ashes by the crimson thunderstorm was the curse set by the Thunderbird. However, when Aru mastered a part of the Thunderbird's power, she instinctively stopped the destruction.

The recurring cycle was subconsciously created by Aru; he longed to call back his friend, and in his short life, there was only one way to 'call back' the Thunderbird...

"A touching friendship...whether it's Thunderbird or Aru."

As he watched the feathers and Aru gradually being enveloped by the vast lightning element, he couldn't help but sigh. He had never imagined that after thousands of years and going through life and death together, they had never changed at all.

"This is precisely what makes this cruel world so precious that we should cherish it. If even this is lost, what will be left of this world?"

Ying also agreed with Su Feng's sentiments. She was the one who felt this most deeply. Over the long years, she had experienced similar things more than once. So after seeing the story between Aru and Thunderbird, her heart was stirred with even more emotion.

"Maybe, but I don't know when I'll meet the one who's meant for me."

Su Feng shook his head and temporarily ended the topic. He looked at the Thunderbird feathers, which were gradually turning into pure lightning and beginning to illuminate the world, and asked Aru in a slightly puzzled voice, "Will Aru become part of the Thunderbird later?"

He could see that Aru's soul had begun to completely merge with the Thunderbird, and the two gradually fell asleep in the vast thunder element—which was now attached to a blooming perch.

If Su Feng's observation is correct, perhaps a thousand years from now, another Thunderbird will once again soar through the sky.

"Yes, or more accurately, the two merged to create a completely new Thunderbird—not Sugana Capachelli, nor Aru, but a completely new Thunderbird that is a fusion of the two."

"However, this should also be considered a good thing for them."

"They can soar together and sing endlessly."

Shadow spoke these words in a calm voice, forgetting everything from the past, and then merging into one to soar through the heavens and earth once again. Perhaps this was indeed the best ending for them.

After all, the Thunderbird, which is born with the power of thunder, is an existence that she must take seriously. Once the new Thunderbird is born, as long as it doesn't go crazy again, no one will want to provoke it.

"Alright, but that's a long way off... if this world still exists by then."

After Su Feng uttered this final sigh, he temporarily put the matter aside. As the Thunderbird's power and resentment were gradually drawn from the earth's veins, Crane View, which had been shrouded in fog and resentment, finally returned to normal. The souls that had been bound for thousands of years were finally freed from the cage that had bound them for so long.

However, both Su Feng and Ying began to have a headache after seeing the souls scattered all over the ground. If these souls were left unattended, they would probably cause quite a stir soon, especially since this was a place where the world barrier was extremely fragile. If the abyss were to take advantage of the situation, it would be even more troublesome.

But how should we deal with these souls?

"How about we have the shrine maiden from Narukami Shrine handle it? If that doesn't work, we can seal it away temporarily and deal with this matter slowly after we've dealt with the world barrier issue?"

Unexpectedly, Su Feng, who was still wrapping things up, came up with a rather crude solution. After hearing this suggestion, Ying seemed to be somewhat tempted. After all, dealing with the souls of mortals was too troublesome, and more importantly, they were not some crazy people who used the souls of mortals to cultivate or forge weapons.

These souls are utterly useless in their hands!

"Noble Ascended Ones, Respected Earthly Rulers, please do not do this. The souls of the children of the sun and mountains will return home by boat, and this will not hinder your efforts to save the world."

However, just as the two were scratching their heads at the souls scattered all over the ground, a sudden voice abruptly interrupted their thoughts.