I, from the Celestial Empire, have parachuted into Teyvat.

In the original game storyline, Aru was the key figure in resolving the endless cycle on the island. Due to her intense obsession before death, Aru became a phantom different from others, capable of communicating with people, which is the so-called "bound spirit." However, Ivan could not directly tell Qi Ji and the others this information, so he chose to give them a subtle reminder.

"We understand."

Qi Ji and the others had no doubts and nodded in agreement.

After a brief rest, the Heguan reconnaissance team temporarily disconnected from communications and re-entered Heguan.

To be on the safe side, the group did not return the way they came. Instead, they circled slightly eastward on the beach and chose to enter from the spot where Qi Ji and his team first landed on the island.

Looking at the stone gate and thunderbird statue that appeared before them, Qi Ji said, "We entered Crane View from here when we first logged in. If you walk forward from here, you will enter a canyon. On the north side of the canyon, you can see a recessed mountain cave."

Goro nodded and said, "I remember, that's where I met you last time."

"Let's go."

Qi Ji waved his hand, and the group passed through the dilapidated stone gate and began to head towards the center of the island along the path.

However, as soon as they passed through the stone gate, they were surprised to find that the fog in front of them was slowly thinning.

"What happened? Why did the fog clear up?"

Just as everyone was wondering, Goro and Qi Ji suddenly noticed a little boy wearing a sun hat on the rocks of the road ahead. The little boy was staring straight at them.

Goro asked, "Did you encounter this child when you passed through here last time?"

Qi Ji frowned: "No, we didn't encounter any illusions of this child when we passed by here last time... Wait, this child looks familiar, could it be...?"

At that moment, the little boy suddenly spoke to the members of the reconnaissance team.

"Uncles, can you do me a favor?"

Qi Ji and Wu Lang exchanged a glance and stepped forward.

Qi Ji asked, "Child, are you A-Lu?"

Aryu paused for a moment, blinked her big, bright eyes, and asked with some confusion, "Uncle, how do you know my name?"

It really is Aruru...

Qi Ji and Wu Lang were stunned.

They never expected to encounter Aru as soon as they returned to Crane Temple. Were they just blessed with good luck, or was there another reason?

Moreover, this child named Aru was indeed different from the other illusions, just as Commander I had said, and was able to communicate with people on her own initiative.

Seeing that Qi Ji and Wu Lang had fallen silent with slightly strange expressions, Aru thought that the two had rejected her, so she bowed again and pleaded, "Please, uncles, please help me."

At this moment, the two of them came to their senses. Qi Ji subconsciously reached out to help Aru up. After helping Aru up, Qi Ji realized that Aru was not like the other illusions, which did not have a physical form that could be touched. This made the two of them even more surprised.

After calming himself down, Qi Ji asked, "A-Lu, what do you want us to help you with?"

Aryu lowered her head, her expression sorrowful.

"I want to ask you uncles... to save Capachelli."

Chapter 400 Promises Made to Children Must Be Kept

“Kappachiri…”

Qi Ji confirmed, "Aru, do you mean we should save Thunderbird?"

"Ah."

Faced with Qi Ji's question, Aru nodded obediently.

Goro paused for a moment, then asked, "Aru, can you tell me why you came to us to rescue Capachelli?"

“I…I think the uncles are very special.”

As Aru spoke, she looked up at Goro, who was half a head taller than her. Her childish tone contrasted sharply with the resolute expression on her face.

“I saw the uncles when they first came to the island... and for some reason, it seems like everyone else on the island can't see them except me. I asked everyone on the island for help before, but no one was willing to help me. I saw the uncles fighting Kapachiri at the altar square before, and I think only the uncles can stop Kapachiri. Please, please save her!”

After hearing Aru's words, Qi Ji and Wu Lang exchanged a glance, both looking shocked.

It turns out that Aru, who was on the altar at that time, had already noticed them on the outside, but that means that Aru was also engulfed by the flames...

Having figured this out, Qi Ji squatted down, put his hand on Aru's shoulder, and his tone softened considerably: "Aru, do you... do you know what happened on the island?"

Aru nodded, her expression somewhat sorrowful: "Yes, I know... I know time keeps repeating itself... Every time I open my eyes again, time goes back to the morning of the festival day."

"Then... Aryu, why... why didn't you run away?"

Aru raised her head and said firmly, "Aru can't leave. Aru can't abandon Capachelli."

"But......"

Qi Ji wanted to say something more, but he fell silent when he met A-Lu's innocent yet strong eyes.

Aryu lowered her head.

“Uncle, actually, Aru knows that she has already died once. I am now a soul, a soul trapped on this island and unable to leave. As everything on the island keeps reincarnating and repeating the day of the sacrifice, Aru has no way to escape from here.”

"Actually, Aru isn't in pain. Every time the fire starts, Aru falls asleep. But Capachili is different. Capachili can be freed; she can leave this cycle of reincarnation. Aru knows that everything is a misunderstanding. Everyone on the island misunderstood Capachili's intentions. Aru doesn't hate anyone on the island... It's just... it's just that Capachili herself doesn't want to leave. Aru also knows that Capachili is constantly repeating in the cycle of reincarnation, trying to save Aru, but Aru is already dead..."

After listening to Aru's words, the two remained silent for a long time. Finally, Qi Ji sighed and asked, "Aru, do you know where Kapachiri is?"

"Yes, I know where Kapachiri is..."

Qi Ji stood up and said solemnly, "Then, Aru, we'll leave it to you to lead us to her. We'll free Capachelli from this endless cycle of reincarnation!"

"Ok!"

Aru nodded happily, then took out a purple feather from her bosom and handed it to Qi Ji.

“Uncle, this is Capachelli’s feather. She gave it to me years ago. As long as you have this, the fog within a radius of 300 meters will disappear. I think this can help you.”

......

In the canyon, the reconnaissance team, led by Aru, continued to advance along the path.

Seeing Qi Ji, who was staring intently at the purple feather in his hand and seemed quite silent, Wu Lang walked over and asked with concern, "What are you thinking about?"

"I......"

Qi Ji opened his mouth, then shook his head: "It's nothing..."

Goro sighed and said, "Giving its own feathers to that child to protect him, it seems that Thunderbird Capachelli really likes that child."

Goro's gaze fell upon the petite figure in front of him, who was hopping and skipping forward on tiptoe.

"That child can talk to people, can be touched, has his own thoughts, his own consciousness and his own memories. Compared to so-called illusions, he is actually more like a living person."

At this point, Goro heard Qi Ji's footsteps suddenly stop. Goro turned his head and met Qi Ji's somewhat sad gaze.

"Goro, do you think... that child really doesn't feel pain?"

Goro paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Taking a deep breath, Qi Ji's gaze regained its resolve.

“Goro, I think the reason why everything on Tsurukan Island keeps repeating itself is because of Aru’s obsession—his obsession with saving Capachiri. That’s why Aru is different from the other illusions. We must fulfill Aru’s purpose and end everything on Tsurukan Island, in order to set up the space fluctuation control device, for the people of Haigi Island and Qin Island City, and also for Aru.”

Looking into Qi Ji's eyes, Wu Lang nodded solemnly.

"it is good!"

......

Thanks to the Thunderbird's feathers, the reconnaissance team's vision was no longer limited by the thick fog, and their speed of movement was much faster than before. After traveling through the mountains for more than ten minutes, the group, led by Aru, returned to the altar square in the center of Tsurukan Island.

Just as Qi Ji and Wu Lang were wondering why they had returned here, Aru pointed to the mountain next to the altar plaza and said, "Kappachiri's true form is in this mountain."

"In the mountains?"

Everyone looked up.

Last time they came here, everyone's attention was mainly drawn to the ceremony being held at the altar, and the thick fog also prevented them from taking a good look at the highest peak of the Crane Pavilion. Now, with the Thunderbird feathers dispelling the fog, everyone was finally able to see the true face of this peak.

This is a typical arched mountain, without any strangely shaped rocks, standing quietly beside the altar square.

Looking at the bustling crowd in the officialdom, Aryu murmured, "The time for the ritual is almost here, and Capachelli's true form will soon awaken from this slumber."

Goro asked, "Is Capachelli's true form asleep?"

Aru nodded: "After each cycle ends, Capachiri's true form falls back into slumber, only to awaken precisely during the ritual. While her true form is asleep, the illusions evolved from her consciousness will hover and guard over Crane Gate. But as soon as her true form awakens and her consciousness is transmitted to the illusions, she will begin to attack indiscriminately, destroying everything on the island, thus causing Crane Gate to begin its next cycle."

After saying that, Aryu said to Qi Ji and the others, "There is a giant cave behind the altar plaza. Entering through that cave will take you inside the mountain. Kapachiri's true form is inside. Please stop her before she awakens. I'm counting on you, uncles."

"Do not worry."

Qi Ji released the safety on the rifle in his hand.

"I will always keep my promises to my child."

"This is my motto in life."

Chapter 401 Too Late

After bypassing the crowded altar plaza, the reconnaissance team arrived at the very back of the plaza.

Following Aru's directions, the group found a huge cave entrance on the side of the mountain.

Looking at the dark cave entrance, Qi Ji said in a deep voice, "This should be it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the voices on the altar behind him began to become noisy.

Goro raised an eyebrow and said, "The people who came to participate in the ritual have already begun to enter. We don't have much time left. We have to stop the Thunderbird Illusion before its true form awakens."

"go!"

Qi Ji charged in first, weapon in hand, followed closely by the others.

After entering the cave from the entrance, I did not encounter the dark, narrow, and interconnected passages I had imagined. Instead, after only a few steps, the view suddenly opened up before me.

"Is this the inside of the mountain?"

The group looked around in surprise. Before them lay an enormous space, so vast that it was hard not to wonder if the entire mountain had been hollowed out. In the very center of this enormous cave grew a huge, grayish-white tree, its trunk and leaves emitting a faint blue fluorescence that filled the entire cave and illuminated everything within.

The cave offered a wide and unobstructed view, but apart from the strange tree in front of them, they did not see any trace of the Thunderbird Phantom's true form, Thunder Sound Manifestation.

"Disperse in formation, remain vigilant, and search for Lei Yinquan."

After giving the order, Qi Ji, armed and alert, walked into the cave one after the other with Wu Lang.