Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Hua, do you think this scenery is beautiful?"

Fu Hua responded:

"very nice."

The boy looked up at her face and said:

"That's enough for the present moment."

"You want to carry too much, those things are too heavy and too burdensome. It may be a good thing for the people you shelter under your wings, but for you, it is quite the opposite."

The immortal's gaze narrowed slightly, and she said softly:

"This is my responsibility; I can't escape it or avoid it."

"Looking back on my life so far, it has been quite long, but I still often feel empty, as if I haven't grasped the real direction."

"It's like a fledgling bird that has just hatched. The birth of life clearly symbolizes a hopeful beginning, but somehow, because it's a bird, it also determines the direction of the future."

“Su Qing’an, I was also curious about my future 55,000 years ago.”

"I thought about it a lot, whether to stubbornly inherit my father's martial arts school or to try to get a guaranteed admission to a better university. These trivial matters that are no longer important now were things that troubled and confused me back then, but it was good to be troubled and confused by them."

"Whether I end up working in a big city or going back to my hometown to start a small business, it seems like a good choice."

"I thought about it a lot, but later I realized that Honkai never wanted to give people the right to choose for themselves."

"This is an injustice. I am well aware that there are too many injustices in the world, and often, due to limited abilities, even if we witness them with our own eyes, we can only accept reality."

"It's not that I chose to fight against the Honkai, but that I had no other choice."

“I embarked on this path in a state of confusion. Unlike many of my comrades, who all had clear goals and core will to varying degrees, I was just going with the flow.”

"But now I've gotten used to it."

Fu Hua's words drifted into the boy's ears on the night breeze, leaving him speechless with deep emotion.

The immortal seemed to realize that she had inadvertently made the atmosphere heavy. Looking at the faces of those around her, she gently comforted them:

"Su Qing'an, this is not a difficult thing."

"Because apart from that, I only have a piece of the past buried in the past, and I seem to have no other meaning to my existence."

The girl understood the weight of the immortal's words. Her tone became blank as she spoke her last sentence, like a traveler without a home asking a coin in his palm about his future journey. These were words she uttered even though she knew she would not get an answer.

Su Qing'an has no ability to guarantee those illusory futures. Perhaps this is like many vows between lovers that are destined to never be fulfilled, but the meaning of saying them in the present moment is beautiful enough.

The boy did not choose to accept that wonderful thing because he was unwilling to tell the immortal a single lie.

Feeling saddened by one's own inadequacy and uneasy about the hopeless darkness of the future.

Despite feeling powerless, Su Qing'an miraculously stopped feeling the need to hide her true feelings.

He said softly:

"I hope that your reason for continuing to live in this world is not just to fight against the Honkai."

"And me too."

Fu Hua was stunned for a moment, wondering how she should respond to such words.

This is an answer without an answer.

There is no need to think or hesitate; simply follow your heart.

The lanterns on the river reflected a hazy glow, and the fairy-like eyebrows and eyes softened suddenly amidst the colorful hues. The pool of spring water, as if ruffled by a breeze, drowned the boy's unease and sorrow with a gentleness that did not belong to this world.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and smiled gently.

As if she herself felt shy, the fairy turned her face away from the boy so he couldn't see her expression, but she still spoke softly and confidently beside his blushing ear:

"it is good."

This is a promise that speaks louder than a thousand words, a promise made by convention.

The warmth of her breath and the softness of her lips spread up her skin, and in a moment of euphoria, Su Qing'an unconsciously returned the embrace.

He seemed to be mimicking the girl's previous movements, his slender fingers resting on the joints of her back, finally landing on her supple waist.

The delicate softness beneath the fabric was something to cherish, but the boy restrained himself and didn't apply much force. He gazed at the bright red lanterns on the opposite bank of the river and said, pursing his lips:

"Compared to fighting the Honkai and other ideals, you are far more important to me than any of these."

"I have always lived in this world in a daze, and I am used to having no expectations of anything, whether it is for myself or for others."

"I have always warned myself not to do things beyond my capabilities and limits, although I am currently forced to cross some thresholds to fight for many reasons."

"But if you ask me what I really think, I hate fighting, I hate wielding a sword, I don't like practicing [Thousand Stars], I don't like experiencing pain, I don't like making an effort, and I don't want to face reality."

Su Qing'an's monologue was the most honest confession, words that could only be spoken when facing Fu Hua.

This is a thought that only a more mature immortal, someone who can make him open his heart, is qualified to understand and comfort.

"Even if these distracting thoughts are eventually restrained and suppressed by reason, I am essentially this kind of person. I don't have any glorious ideals, nor do I have any motto to support my life. All my actions are products of helplessness."

“When I examine myself, I always think that this person is just so-so in those things.”

"But it's different when it comes to you."

"Su Qing'an wants to become someone who can bring happiness to Fu Hua. This is the only pure desire he has, a desire that he can naturally strive for without having to use his will to correct it."

Therefore, even in the darkest timeline and the most hopeless future, he can tolerate a purgatory far more terrifying than before.

said it.

This was the boy's first reaction upon seeing the immortal's reddened earlobes.

What should have been a brief, fleeting embrace was prolonged by Su Qing'an's direct approach.

There's no way around it; even someone as composed as Fu Hua can't help but feel shy when faced with such words.

From the perspective of an elder in the immortal realm, the very emergence of this emotion would make her feel ashamed.

After all, even though the seniority and position between him and himself have always seemed ambiguous, it is still an undeniable fact.

Therefore, Fu Hua could only hold onto this person temporarily to avoid being seen showing her unwillingness to control herself at this moment.

She whispered a complaint in the other person's ear:

"That's really... a difficult thing to respond to."

"That's too cheesy, Su Qing'an."

Then, as if not wanting the boy to be sad, the immortal added with a gentle smile:

"But I don't hate it."

The embrace eventually came to an end.

For the two, who had always been somewhat aloof, prolonged physical contact always seemed excessively passionate and rare.

Even though the relationship has undergone a subtle shift, it may have taken a real step towards a welcome development.

However, their taciturn nature still makes others feel that the atmosphere between Su Qing'an and Fu Hua hasn't changed much.

Unhurried and unhurried, as calm and serene as water.

Perhaps maintaining this distance and warmth, and occasionally getting a little closer to each other, is enough to create enough sweetness.

The lanterns are lit.

The cool night was illuminated by the lights of thousands of homes, creating a dazzling spectacle, while the fireworks that rose and intertwined in the sky dispelled some of the darkness.

In that single minute, the fireworks, which went through countless cycles of blooming and fading, formed complete sentences in different sequences.

The boy looked up at the sky, his gaze drifting to the snow-white face of the person beside him, and softly recited the linked words:

"Su Qing'an likes Fu Hua."

Upon hearing Theresa's deadly threat, she calmly parted her lips and said:

"I know."

"Me too."

The fireworks display continued unabated.

Amidst the clamor and trivial sounds, Su Qing'an found the answer.

……

……

The photographer's team successfully obtained excellent material beyond their expectations. With professionalism and enthusiasm for making money, they worked through the night to process and integrate the photos, and then sent them to the two bosses.

Theresa Apocalypse.

Otto Apocalypse.

Well, it's clear that Otto, who has always found this very interesting, wouldn't miss the opportunity to get interesting information.

Instead of starting from scratch and hiring someone to film it yourself, it's smarter to use money to replicate your lovely granddaughter's excellent work.

Meanwhile, Theresa, who was completely unaware of all this, carefully placed all the detailed documents, videos, and photos into the safe in the principal's office after reviewing them.

Then, the white-haired girl sat down on the large chair.

She held a quill pen, but showed no interest in the documents on the table that were still mostly unapproved.

Theresa had a suspicious blush and smile on her face, and seemed lost in thought.

After a long while, she came to her senses, patted her cheeks, and revealed a solemn expression.

Next time, I'll use these things to trade with Himeko for a vacation. But I can't let her find out before then.

……

……

One day...

Su Qing'an will overcome sorrow and despair and reach an ending where she can fulfill her wishes.

Therefore, even in the darkest timeline and the most hopeless future, he can tolerate a purgatory far more terrifying than before.

71. Yuno, did you pay for your cream puff?