Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

Whether it was the war between demons and gods, the war between immortals and gods, or the numerous battles large and small in the ancient times of Liyue, the Yakshas and immortals have all been born with a filth called 'karma' in their hearts. It has always been so!

More details, the details she had ignored or forgotten, or rather, the details she had deliberately chosen to ignore or forget, slowly surfaced in her mind:

Why did Fushe live a secluded life in the mountains for nearly ten years before his betrayal? And why did he invite the Yakshas to visit him every now and then? Is it true, as the Emperor said, that Fushe was practicing evil magic?

What exactly happened to the salt in the earth?

Is it true, as the refugees said, that Fushe massacred them and attacked the salt god?

"Karmic obstacles".

At this moment, Xiao, who had been intently watching Fu She's retreating figure, turned around. His bright golden eyes reflected Gan Yu's face, and he said earnestly:

"It turns out that what I had in my heart was called 'karmic obstacle'."

What does it mean to say...that thing in your heart!

Gan Yu stared at Xiao with a slightly flustered expression. She subconsciously took a half step back, pursed her thin lips, and asked in a low voice, "What's in your heart?"

"Since..." Xiao paused, seemingly hesitating about something, but ultimately decided to drop the pretense and reveal the truth.

“Since the death of my elder brother Fushe, I have been ordered by the Emperor to guard the mortal world with ‘killing’. As the killings have increased, my state of mind has changed.”

“A touch of tyranny, a touch of complexity, a touch of indifference… growing ever deeper.” He looked at Gan Yu, “It’s as if… another, unfamiliar version of myself is slowly being born.”

Another, unfamiliar version of myself is slowly being born.

Gan Yu kept pondering this sentence.

"Have you ever encountered this situation before?" Xiao asked Gan Yu earnestly.

I...?

Will she admit it?

That correct voice, that voice she relied on, that voice she chose... is actually the most filthy karmic obstacle.

silence.

Her thin lips trembled slightly without any change in expression, her brows furrowed, and finally, she slowly said, "I...I didn't."

“I didn’t.” Gan Yu’s voice gradually calmed down. She raised her eyes, looked at Xiao, and shook her head. “I have never seen him.”

"Is that so?"

Xiao was an honest demon; he nodded.

"Perhaps, that thing is karma."

Xiao's voice was calm as he stated his views with as much composure and calmness as possible: "If killing would lead to such filth, why didn't we see it in the two great battles between demons and gods?"

“Because back then, Brother Fushe was still alive.” He stared at Gan Yu. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

"Gan Yu, you have always been the most intelligent. Do you understand what I mean?"

Gan Yu's heart seemed to stop beating. She felt her breathing become rapid, and her eyes lowered—she was thinking about even more things.

Huff...huff.

shake.

Her heart, which she thought would never waver... that rock-solid heart, was now cracking with fissures.

Each crack was small, but they slowly crept into her heart, as if if the cracks were to connect and she were to tap them gently, her heart would shatter.

It was just a tap away.

Should we continue forward?

At this moment, Qing Nuoyan spoke up.

He stared blankly in the direction Fushe had gone, "He's already far away. The projection has disappeared too."

Fushe walked deeper into the abyss, the dim darkness covering his back, the vast rock formations empty of anything.

The boy's pale blue eyes were clear as water. He could sense that someone was waiting for him in the deepest part of his being. Soon, everything would be revealed.

Keep going forward...?

Gan Yu gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes trembled slightly, and she continued walking forward.

We've come this far, should we continue deeper into the area...?

Gan Yu knew very well what lay ahead and what was in front of her. She tried her best to forget that place, but she could never do it. When she closed her eyes, she could always see the dried-up blood and the slowly congealing eyes.

They are currently on the second-to-last level of the Laminar Abyss; if they continue down, they will reach the ley lines of Liyue.

That is, the place where Fushe died.

You look terrible. You should go back.

The boy gazed at Gan Yu's profile with slight worry. For some reason, he could sense that the seemingly calm immortal was actually in great pain. He could perceive Gan Yu's inner turmoil... He didn't want others to suffer, and moreover, he didn't want others to feel pain because of him.

Otherwise, he would feel uneasy.

Once dead, they are dead. The past is gone, like a lamp going out. Since they are dead, they should not trouble the living.

Fushe concealed everything and died as a sinner, hoping to minimize the sorrow and pain brought about by his death.

Those who have died may die in peace, and those who are alive may live in peace.

This was both Fushe's wish and Qingnuoyan's idea, which is why he advised Ganyu not to move forward.

"I..." Gan Yu stared at Qing Nuoyan, at the latter's light blue eyes, the clear and transparent gaze reflecting her current appearance. Was she in great pain?

"Do not."

She subconsciously clenched her teeth. "Why am I feeling uncomfortable?"

“I’ve never felt bad,” Gan Yu said stubbornly, shaking her head.

"I will continue to bear witness."

Xiao's tone was unwavering as he gazed at Qingnuo Rock with sincerity and calmness. "I must witness it. I must witness that person's final moments, even though... it may be uncomfortable."

Then let's keep going.

-

Surprisingly.

Quite unexpected.

Qing Nuoyan wiped the fine sweat from his cheeks, took a slow breath, and froze.

He kept thinking about what was below, making countless assumptions, but the final result exceeded his expectations.

The person waiting at the bottom of the giant abyss was Mr. Zhongli.

Zhongli clearly noticed the arrival of Qingnuoyan and the other three. He turned around slightly, his eyes, like rosy clouds, reflecting the faces of Xiao and Ganyu. Mr. Zhongli stood with his hands behind his back, his back straight, like a pine tree standing tall amidst the clouds.

“We can’t go any further,” he said calmly. “Stop.”

We can't go any further.

His tone was not loud, and his voice was calm, but hidden in those calm words was an ancient and profound wisdom.

But no one could ignore his presence. He simply stood there, like a clear and solid rock, with the surrounding rock elements naturally prostrating themselves at his feet.

"Your Majesty...?"

Xiao hesitated. He hadn't expected the Emperor to appear here, and what surprised him even more was that the Emperor wouldn't allow them to proceed.

why?

The Emperor did not speak, but simply gazed at them quietly; this silence was the answer.

So he was the Emperor...

Qing Nuoyan stared at Mr. Zhongli's stylish appearance, but he wasn't particularly surprised.

Knowing so many secrets, even the intricacies of the earth's salt, and being an old acquaintance of his, the Rock King Emperor is the only possible candidate.

On the contrary, Miss Ying's gaze grew increasingly suspicious; clearly, she simply couldn't reconcile the image of that tavern hoodlum with that of the Rock King Emperor...

Neither of them spoke.

A long, long silence followed, as the dark, azure lava slowly melted away, leaving behind bubbling foam. Time passed bit by bit, and Xiao and the Emperor remained locked in a silent gaze.

After a long pause, Xiao slowly said:

"Your Majesty, I must go there."

"Let's go back." Zhongli shook his head.

"Why did you stop us?" Xiao gritted his teeth unconsciously, staring at Zhongli. "Is it because...you've always known more than you think?"

He was a clever man and quickly connected everything.

The Rock King appeared here and blocked their way, not wanting them to go any further or see anything more. This was, in itself, an answer!

Xiao should have known.

The history of Liyue has been altered!

Gan Yu was clearly aware of this as well. Her heart trembled slightly as if being gently tapped, and the cracks slowly healed.

She had always been able to deny everything by claiming that illusions could be fabricated, but now, the appearance of the Rock King Emperor was slowly shattering her hopes.

Everything else can be fake, but the Emperor cannot be faked.

“I’ve been following you all along,” Zhongli said calmly, “and I’ve been hesitating whether or not to show myself… to stop you.”

“Because I understand,” he said in a deep voice, “my appearance is also an answer, but even so, I showed myself...because I don’t want you to go any further.”

There was a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Nothing can be hidden forever.

When the Great Power Disc recorded history, and when they chose to come to the bottom of the Great Abyss, Morax knew that it would be difficult to keep it a secret any longer.

Another reason is that after so many years, he was tired of hiding it.

He could not shut down the Taiwei Instrument, because it sealed something even more important; the projection of history was only one of the instrument's miracles.

If they are not stopped, they will go all the way to the deepest part and find the truth. If they step in to stop them, then stopping them is itself an answer, a truth... That's why Morax has been hesitant.

In the end, he decided to show himself.