Honkai Impact: Starting from Wandering with Kiana

On the way, Seele continued to stubbornly explain that she hadn't cried.

"I was just too excited just now, please don't take it to heart... I really didn't cry! Please don't misunderstand!"

Upon arriving at the base, Seele thought for a moment and then punched Penglai Temple Nine Heavens again.

On top of the package that Jiuxiao had created, another small package was added.

Penglai Temple Jiuxiao looked at Xier with a wronged expression, not understanding why she was being hit.

Seele put her hands on her hips and said with a smile:

"Hmph, this is your punishment for taking such a risky step. Let's make a promise: never again will you do anything that risks your life! Jiuxiao, you too!"

After saying that, Xier glared at Jiuxiao.

Jiuxiao helplessly shrugged. He was terrified of death, but as long as his connection with the Void Tree remained intact, it would be difficult for him to die even if he wanted to.

“Yes, I understand.” Penglai Temple Jiuxiao nodded without further objection.

But in her heart, she thought that she was just making the same choice as Seele. Seele could give up her life to save her, so she could also sacrifice herself for Seele.

"That's good to know. I won't tell my older sister about your disobedience then; you should thank me~"

After saying that, Seele looked at the two unmoved guys, reached out and pinched their waists, twisting them hard.

"We were just lucky that everyone was safe this time. We must never make unnecessary sacrifices in a moment of impulse. We must cherish our own lives. You are all irreplaceable family to us!"

--------------

Xier brought Jiuxiao and the other two to the Engineering Department again and met Iserine, but none of them knew how to start the conversation.

Iselin looked at the three members of the Jiuxiao group who were stammering in front of her and asked.

"You're back. Have you investigated thoroughly? Is the problem very difficult?"

"No...it's been investigated and found out, but...the strange noises in the tunnel weren't made by the Honkai creatures...it was..."

Seele and the other two told Iserline everything that had happened in the tunnel.

After listening, Iselin remained silent for a while, then sighed silently.

"So that's how it is... That guy actually did something so stupid..."

"I'm sorry, we couldn't save her."

“It’s alright, it’s not your fault. And I hope you won’t blame her… right now supplies are scarce, the injured comrades aren’t getting enough help, and others are suffering from hunger… she was blinded by her desire to help others. It’s truly a pity.”

"........."

"I'll be leaving now if there's nothing else; I need to continue working."

Chapter 254 Smiles are a scarce resource in the apocalypse

"Wait a minute, isn't that person an important colleague in the engineering department? An indispensable family member too. Compared to work, wouldn't it be..."

"I'm sorry, I have to go to work. If I don't numb myself like this, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on..."

"Is that so...? Haha, sorry, I didn't understand how you felt." Seele laughed and let go of Iselin's hand.

Iselin looked at Seele's smile, feeling neither sadness nor joy.

"No... compared to me, it's Seele... why can you still laugh in this situation?"

“Huh…?” Seele’s smile froze.

"I'm sorry... thank you..."

Iselin shook her head, said thank you, and then turned and left.

Seele reached out to explain, but ultimately lowered her hand.

She turned to look at Jiuxiao and Penglai Temple Jiuxiao, and her sunny smile reappeared.

"Haha... Looks like we failed again this time... Let's call it a day, thanks for your hard work."

Dejected, Xi'er greeted Jiu Xiao and the other two and left. Jiu Xiao and Penglai Temple Jiu Xiao had no choice but to return to their room as well.

--------------

Penglai Temple Jiuxiao sat obediently and quietly on the bed, while Jiuxiao knelt behind her, carefully combing her long hair.

Jiuxiao's own hair can be cleaned of dust and dandruff with Honkai energy in one click, leaving it silky smooth and shiny 24/7. Even if her long hair drags on the ground, she doesn't have to worry about it getting dirty or messy.

However, Penglai Temple Nine Heavens is not yet able to use Honkai energy to protect her hair, and every time she goes on a mission, she comes back covered in dirt, just like Kiana when she was a child.

Penglai Temple's Jiuxiao's legs, which were hanging by the bedside, swayed gently, her thoughts drifting away to who-knows-where.

"elder brother…"

"Call me Mom."

"what?"

pop-

Jiuxiao slapped himself a few times. This scene reminded him of the time when he was taking care of Kiana.

"Sorry, sorry, I had a brain fart. Please continue."

"Brother, do you think Seele is wrong?"

"...? Which aspect are you referring to?"

"It's what Iserline said, 'Why can you still laugh?'"

Do you think Seele is wrong?

"I have no idea……"

"I don't know either~ but if you ask me... it should be right."

"why?"

Under the innocent and curious gaze of Jiuxiao at Penglai Temple, Jiuxiao reached out and used Honkai energy to create a Seele from his memories.

The girl was clumsy and delicate, but incredibly strong. Although she often cried her eyes out over the smallest things, she could still stand up resolutely through her tears.

"Because in my memory, that little guy was a crybaby~"

I don't know what Seele went through to become like this, but I can roughly understand why Seele is like this.

A smile is the scarcest resource in the apocalypse. Seele chooses to be strong, wanting to use her smile and optimism to influence and encourage others, so that they don't give up their desire to survive.

But... how can a smile that isn't from the heart, but only for others, be called a smile?

Seele, wearing this mask of a smile, has forgotten why she is smiling, and how to smile.

Finally, this mask, like her face, could no longer be taken off.

So even in that situation, Seele was still smiling. And even so, Iserline still thanked Seele.

"........."

Penglai Temple Nine Heavens's swaying legs gradually stopped, and he cupped his face in his hands, lost in thought.

"Brother, do you think this is... the right thing to do?"

"I don't know~ Everyone has their own different choices. Maybe in the end it will all be for nothing, but it's also better than doing nothing and watching it all go to waste."

After a long while, Penglai Temple Jiuxiao raised his hand to support the corner of his mouth and also revealed a smile.

Then he turned around, pushed Jiuxiao down and made him kneel on top of him, reached out and lifted the corner of Jiuxiao's mouth, revealing the same smile as himself.

She didn't say anything more, but from the upturned corners of her mouth, Jiu Xiao felt that she had made the same choice as Xi'er.

Start with yourself, and spread smiles and hope to others.

dong dong——

"I see your light is still on and the door isn't closed properly. Are you still awake? I happen to have something to discuss with you."

Bronya walked in at that moment, while Jiuxiao and Penglaiji Jiuxiao maintained that intimate gesture of raising the corners of their mouths.

"Looks like I've come at the wrong time..."

Bronya covered her face and went back out, but three seconds later, she poked her head out of the door again.

"However, although I hate to say it, I still have to remind you that the current environment can no longer support the survival of babies, or even pregnant women... so please be more restrained..."

After saying that, Bronya slammed the door shut.

Jiuxiao and Penglai Temple: Jiuxiao, you look at me, I look at you.

"What do babies have to do with us? But... if even babies can't survive... then..."

"..."

Jiuxiao shook his head, signaling Penglai Temple Jiuxiao to stop talking.

If children cannot survive, it means that humanity is not far from extinction... Everyone knows the cruel truth, but now everyone is just choosing to escape it.

"However, Bronya might need to see us. Let's go check on her. And while we're at it, let me explain that we're not in the kind of relationship she's imagining."

"What relationship? Why explain this? Aren't we siblings?"