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

He had no intention of admitting defeat, nor did he intend to die.

He wanted to live on and end this fate.

Even if it's difficult.

He wasn't just living for himself, but also for the people he loved... and for the people who loved him.

Fushe said something very true, something he said to Qianyan Army: 'Because your deaths are the most terrifying thing in the world for those who love you, but I am different...'

Qingnuoyan is not a fugitive; Qingnuoyan hasn't lived enough. He still has things he cares about to accomplish.

"call..."

Qing Nuoyan exhaled slowly, his body swaying. The karmic burden of the demon lingered deep within his consciousness, and violent and manic emotions flickered in his eyes. He closed his eyes and then opened them again, regaining his clarity.

He slowly straightened his spine, his joints cracking. He raised his head, and before him lay an overwhelming karmic obstacle, with crimson flames and gloomy smoke rising and covering the entire layered abyss.

Gan Yu was trapped in the center of karmic obstacles. The sand and stone fragments transformed from the remains of immortals surged out of the seal along with the endless karmic obstacles.

"Big...Big Brother?"

A murmured voice came from beside me.

Xiao stared blankly at Qing Nuoyan's retreating figure. Heavy karmic burdens piled up before him, forming towering mountains, and that thin figure seemed to disappear into the mountains...

Xiao recalled the battlefield of the Demon God War, where Fushe, covered in blood, turned his back to him and headed towards the Great Demon.

“I’m not your older brother.” Qing Nuoyan slowly shook his head and said softly, “But I’m happy to be your friend.”

"When we get back, we must have a good drink together."

More and more karmic obstacles entered Qing Nuoyan's body. With each step forward, his aura became heavier, stronger, and even more filthy. Nuoyou devoured all the karmic obstacles he passed through.

Qing Nuoyan's eyes were already covered in blood. He stopped, paused, turned around, and looked at Mr. Zhongli. Across the overwhelming karmic obstacles, they looked at each other.

Mr. Zhongli lacked a target, a living target that could gather all the karmic obstacles together and give them form... Qing Nuoyan raised his head and slowly patted his chest, where his heart was.

Silence.

He didn't speak, but everyone could understand what he meant.

Qingnuoyan was to become this live target. After he had devoured all the karmic obstacles and his heart was filled with filth, Zhongli pierced through the karmic obstacles along with his heart.

His heart is the target.

call...

asshole.

Zhongli gazed silently at Qingnuo Rock, recalling that bright summer afternoon when Fushe invited him to the last drink. It was at that party that they made their final pact for life. Zhongli still remembered what Fushe looked like then.

“I will continue to cleanse myself of karmic obstacles, until I go mad,” the man said to himself. “When I lose control, I hope you will be the one to kill me.”

However, this promise was never fulfilled in the end.

Zhongli thought he would never have to keep his promise again, but this world is truly absurd!

Zhongli and Qingnuoyan looked at each other, pondered for a moment, and slowly shook their heads.

But how can a person live without a heart?

But Qing Nuoyan remembered that since the beginning of his life, he had two main tasks: to fulfill all the promises and to live carefree.

'heartless'

'heartless'

'Survive'

Perhaps... even without a heart, he could still live.

This is the message that human consciousness, before falling asleep, cleverly circumvents certain rules and restrictions, and ultimately conveys to itself.

"Listen to me." Qing Nuoyan looked at Mr. Zhongli earnestly and said softly, "I will be fine."

He's still gambling... or rather, it's a judgment based on experience and facts.

The seventh promised reward has not yet appeared.

In the past, the reward for fulfilling each of the six promises was something he needed. For example, the reward for salt and sardines was the recipe for making sardines. He was betting on the reward for the seventh promise, a promise he made to his past self and to his own true self.

The first six agreements: Fushe's immortal arts, Fushe's swordsmanship... Fushe's Nuo blessing...

Perhaps, the reward for the seventh promise is the heart of Fushe.

He still remembered that heart, called Fushe Yixin. After Fushe died, he passed that heart on to him in his next life.

And this heart, perhaps 2,400 years from now, will be passed down along with the promise.

This is still a gamble, but it's worth it because if he doesn't gamble, everyone will die, but if he does gamble, the worst outcome is that he alone will be sacrificed.

He must resolve Liyue's destiny and bring an end to this karmic entanglement that has lasted for over two thousand years. Only then can he truly live without a care in the world.

Please believe me.

'I will Survive'

'My friend, this is the promise I made to you as [Qingnuoyan]'

Zhongli understood Fushe's eyes. The sky-blue eyes of the young man were stained with blood-like filth, like the ocean under the setting sun. Even so, the light reflected from them was still clear and bright.

Firm and sacred.

'The contract has been completed'

He said softly.

'A man who breaks his word.' Zhongli subconsciously gripped his rock spear, his golden eyes reflecting Fushe's face. After a long while, he slowly exhaled:

—"He shall be punished by being devoured by the rocks."

Please turn around and walk into the abyss of karma!

The karmic obstacles became even more frenzied and joyful because of the boy's arrival. For them, Qing Nuoyan's body was the best vessel. Attracted by Nuoyou, they covered Qing Nuoyan like a dark tide.

The only problem now is that he needs to devour all his karmic burdens.

"asshole!!"

The divine blade burst forth with the most dazzling light, and wind and thunder danced together. This god-slaying weapon clashed head-on with the salt ruler, and surprisingly, it subtly shattered the barrier of the salt sea. Ying stretched out her hand with all her might, wanting to grab Qing Nuoyan. She had to grab it; she couldn't let go. She had missed it so many times; she didn't want to... didn't want to miss it again.

"Ying." Qing Nuoyan stopped and, amidst the tide of karma, earnestly said, "You must live. You must leave this place."

"What...what are you saying, you!"

"Because you're here, I won't go crazy."

Qingnuoyan was being devoured bit by bit by his karma. "I know... I'm a bastard... I've done a lot of bastard things in the past, but now I understand."

“I used to be arrogant and conceited, but now I understand. After experiencing the life of Fushe, I finally understand.”

"I will never again recklessly throw away my life, because that would hurt the people I love and the people who love me."

"You must leave here and wait for me to return."

“Karma is a terrible thing; it erodes a person’s will and mind. But as long as you are here, I will not lose.”

"As long as you're alive, I don't want to die; as long as you're alive, I don't want to go crazy."

His face became increasingly distorted, but his eyes grew ever clearer.

"I used to be willing to die for the people I loved, and now... I'm willing to live for the people I love."

Ying realized that she could no longer hold onto Shenqie.

The sword trembled, its surface crackling with patterns of wind and thunder, exuding a vast and awe-inspiring power. It awakened in this apocalyptic land, and Shenqie spontaneously flew out of his hand. Qingnuoyan reached back and grasped the hilt of Shenqie, as if he were grasping the wind and thunder of this world!

"Heureia".

He lowered his eyes and gently stroked the cold salt ruler. He seemed to taste the sardines and salt again, slightly astringent, but with a refreshing aftertaste, which was the taste he liked.

"Your followers are praying to you."

"From this day forward, I will never betray you again."

"Death is also betrayal. From now on, I will never die again."

"You are with me, and I am with you."

"You are my god, and I will be your believer."

"A person who breaks their promise—"

The salt ruler shone with the most magnificent brilliance, and endless fine salt surged from the depths of the sea, covering Qing Nuoyan's silhouette. Qing Nuoyan saw long, silvery hair fluttering and scattering in the most magnificent summer sunlight, and the barefoot girl in a white dress grasping the hilt of his sword.

Heureia said softly, her golden eyes shining like the rising sun, "She shall be punished with salt."

Gods can share authority with believers; the Queen of Winter Kingdom has granted part of her authority to her foolish followers on more than one occasion.

And at this very moment.

The salt ruler melted into sea salt and merged into Qingnuoyan's body. Heuria shared the authority of the Salt God with him, and his physical aura began to surge.

【Qingnuo Rock】

【lv.50】

【lv.60】

...

【lv.80】

This power does not belong to him and only exists temporarily in his body, but that is enough.

He softly chanted Nuoyou's incantation, and Shenqie drew a bright arc in the air. Thunder and wind scattered along the edge of the arc, slashing straight down, shattering the karmic obstacles and taking them into his heart. His eyes were incredibly clear.

The Taiwei Instrument Plate has been completely unsealed, and the sealed and hidden space has reappeared in the world. This is the deepest part of Liyue, the burial place of Fushe, and the source of the karmic retribution.

Qingnuo Rock plunged into the abyss.

He is consuming karmic burdens.

"bring it on."

Like Fushe, Qingnuoyan was also surrounded by a vast army.

The contract with Zhongli, the contract with Ying, and the contract with Heulia—these new triple contracts solidify his mind; this is the true authority of the Heart of Contracts.