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

Chapter 142 The Theory of Transcending Lifespan: A Three-in-One Combination

The lazy, leisurely afterglow of autumn fell through the gaps in the cherry blossoms of the sacred cherry tree.

Although it was late autumn, the cherry trees were still laden with cherry blossoms.

Crimson cherry blossoms fluttered down, landing between the torii gates of the shrine, spreading thickly on the stone slabs, transforming autumn into the early spring of falling cherry blossoms.

The cherry blossom wine was fully ripe and poured into a jar, its clear liquid reflecting the clear sky.

As dawn broke, Qingnuoyan arrived at Yingxiangshan to prepare for today's banquet.

'Be home for dinner before dusk.'

This is the first promise Qingnuoyan has made in this life.

Regardless of any previous agreements he made, this agreement was Qing Nuoyan's first.

And he will keep that promise.

The reunion with Luminous was on the beach in Mondstadt. He was pulled from the sea by that guy, frozen solid like a corpse by the lady. Luminous and Paimon were planning to loot the corpse and dig for goods. Now, it all seems like it happened yesterday.

We ate mackerel at the time.

Ying's fishing skills are terrible; he catches mackerel only at Qingnuo Rock.

Sardines are for Heuria, so mackerel are for Firefly.

The dish is decorated with crimson cherry blossoms, and the smoked mackerel has tender white flesh. Fallen cherry blossoms cover the surface, making it look like winter snow meeting spring cherry blossoms—this is the dish that Qingnuoyan promised to give to Ying.

It's finally coming to an end.

From the Kiyono Tofu Shop on Narugami Island, to the Forest of Guardians, to the Pillar of the Nation, to the Castle Keep, he has come full circle and is now back on Narugami Island. Kiyono Iwa is honored that he has fulfilled his promise and has truly found all his old friends.

Ying, Hana Sanri, Mikoto Chiyo, Yae no Kamiko, Kuni Bō, Kiyono Sara, Tsubaki Yuri... There were former friends and present encounters. Kiyono invited many people; he loved lively gatherings.

They'll have a party, play karuta, play drinking games, perform a sword dance, and get completely drunk—all within arm's reach.

But Qingnuoyan knew that all of this was just a lie, a fleeting illusion that had not yet been exposed.

'Say something'

'Sweet words'

Say some sweet nothings to me.

'You are my dear Miss Ying—you were quite talkative when I was asleep, weren't you?'

'That's not enough, say more.'

Say more

He still remembered the scene he witnessed that day; when he saw Ying's chest pierced by Li's chains, he could feel a faint pain. Five hundred years ago, Ying was pleading with him for help.

Qing Nuoyan is going to rescue her.

He looked up at the sacred cherry tree, its cherry blossoms burning like fire on the horizon, brilliant and dazzling. The ritual of the sacred cherry tree purification was about to begin, and all impurities were being purified in the falling cherry blossoms.

But Qingnuoyan knew that the tree was just an illusion; it had never existed in the past, and its seed was in Qingnuoyan's hand, waiting to take root and sprout in the past.

This story began with him, and it was also started with his lie. Since he lied, he would continue to lie to the end.

The sunlight was growing thinner, and the evening glow gradually spread across the sky. Dusk was approaching, and his guests would be arriving soon. In the quiet autumn light, Qingnuoyan turned around and walked deeper into the mountains, the setting sun casting his shadow.

According to Lily, the entrance to the Dream of One Heart is hidden deep within Shadow Mountain.

The entrance is a torii gate.

Because of the long years, the torii gate has been covered with layers of vines, and dark brown rust spots cover the torii gate. The vines grow wildly and wildly, covering the blood-like rust.

In Inazuma's architecture, the torii gate is like a 'door'; to visit a shrine, one must first pass through this torii gate. Beyond this torii gate lies one's own consciousness space.

Getting lost in your own mind is a terrible thing.

Renli whispered in Qingnuoyan's ear.

Remember the right time and the right place, or you will get lost.

Feel those calls within your heart.

[This opportunity only comes once]

The right time and the right place...?

Qingnuoyan didn't quite understand.

If you are going to save Ying, then you must listen to her voice.

Renli spoke softly to Qing Nuoyan, whose eyes flickered.

The Great Tengu leaned back in his chair, his gray eyes lowered. Qing Nuoyan could sense that he was hesitating about something—the old man slowly exhaled, his thin lips slightly parted and then closed again, the words swirling in his throat.

Finally, he raised his eyes and looked at Qing Nuoyan, "I have fulfilled my promise."

"As a samurai, I kept my promise to you and brought you here."

Lily paused, pondered for a moment, as if making a decision, her eyes trembling slightly.

"As a friend, I want to tell you—don't go. You didn't tell me everything in the past, so I don't know what will happen on the other side of the torii gate."

"...I didn't want to bring you here."

"Nobody knows what will happen over there at the torii gate."

The Great Tengu stared at Qingnuo Rock. "I've been struggling all along. I don't want to keep my promise... I don't want to. Our existence is a lie, and a lie has lived for hundreds of years, which is more than enough."

This tengu, who loved to run but was now bound in a small cell, spoke to Qingnuoyan in this way.

He really didn't want to keep his promise.

From the day she arrived at the Pillar State Mansion, everything was only revealed to Qing Nuoyan after he pressed her for answers.

“I’m going.” Qing Nuoyan shook his head, patted his chest, and smiled, a stubborn and determined smile. “I’m going.”

"Because I promised that all the guests would attend my party."

His gaze was firm and sincere, his dark blue eyes reflecting the clear autumn light as he stared directly at Lily.

"And Ying is still waiting for me."

After an unknown amount of time, Lily sighed softly, revealing a slightly helpless bitter smile, looking defeated.

This guy... he really looks exactly like that old man when he was young.

"Stubborn," Lily cursed.

"Over the past few hundred years, I have also studied the consciousness space... and have achieved some results."

Tsubaki Yuri took out a bunch of tangled threads from the lining of her kimono, tied them together to form a red rope, and handed it to Qing Nuoyan. "If you get lost in your consciousness, pull this thread and I will pull you out."

“This thread can only be used once,” said Lily. “It will break after one use. The intertwined longing and the intertwined fate will help you reach your goal.”

"Thanks." Qing Nuoyan took the threads from Ti Baihe and put them in his sleeve.

"See you later," he said to Lily. "Thank you for your hard work these past years."

To keep that secret, Lily fled for hundreds of years.

"Go away, go away, who cares to see you for even a moment?" Old Heavenly Dog waved his hand to shoo Qing Nuoyan away. "Get lost."

Qingnuoyan walked into the torii gate.

Ti Baihe watched as Qing Nuoyan's figure was slowly swallowed by the darkness. He walked deeper and deeper into the darkness, and soon he could no longer hear Qing Nuoyan's footsteps. The cold autumn light covered the decaying door, which was dead silent and desolate.

The old tengu stared intently at the torii gate for a long while before lowering his head and whispering, "See you later... my friend."

"We must... say goodbye."

"Mmm Good."

Kiyono Iwa poked half his head out from behind the torii gate, grinning as he stared at Shimizu. "Actually, I haven't left yet."

"Don't say those things in secret." Qing Nuoyan made an X with her hands. "According to the script of drama, if someone says something like that, I'm definitely not coming back."

Visibly, Lily's eyes twitched slightly.

"Leave me some wine, Hui," Qing Nuoyan waved to Ti Baihe and instructed, "Don't drink it all!"

"I'll drink you to death..." Lily stared straight at Qing Nuoyan, and after a long while, he finally laughed out loud, "I'll save it for you! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

This time, however, the smile was not a bitter one; it was a natural, genuine smile.

"Keep it for me!"

Qingnuoyan smiled at Ti Baihe, and their laughter echoed through the mountains, as if traveling through time.

The boy waved goodbye one last time and walked through the torii gate. This time, he went in completely.

That was his dream.

Beyond the torii gate lies the shrine, where azure clouds linger between the eaves, faintly shimmering with pure white lightning. Pure white cherry blossoms and crimson leaves dance in the air, then fall together in a soft rustling sound.

The long, long staircase stretched upwards, its steps disappearing into the crimson sunset, its end nowhere in sight.

The concept of time becomes blurred in consciousness. Past, present, and future coexist on the steps, and if you take a slight wrong step, you will get lost in your consciousness.

He climbed up those steps.

The familiarity with the surrounding scenery—this was a projection of his past inner self.

It felt like returning to one's own home, the location was crystal clear.

Human reasoning had told him that to travel in the space of consciousness, one must remember one's 'location', and that one could travel very far within one's own consciousness.

Countless chaotic illusions rose in his eyes. He walked through those chaotic fantasies, and countless memories also surfaced in his eyes, drifting upstream along the river of time.

Feel those calls.

Say more sweet nothings to me.

"I want to protect you too."

Rice wife.

This is a conversation that took place yesterday, on that late autumn night, in the kitchen of the Zhuguo Mansion, between two people who had been hurt by each other.

...

"Because...because you are here, I was able to come back. Because I know someone is still waiting for me, I dare not die or go crazy, so I was able to come back."