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

The civilization of Kanria had come to an end, but the dying struggle of a civilization on its last legs was its most powerful moment—powerful enough to bring down even the gods.

"cough."

Zhen Qing covered her mouth and coughed. When she raised her hand, she saw that her delicate, almost transparent white hand was covered in blood.

Her snow-white kimono was now stained crimson with blood, like white cherry blossoms covered in frost—so vibrant yet so sorrowful. She swayed, as if she were about to collapse.

Before the truth, there was a tidal wave of calamity that occupied half the sky.

Calamity covered the entire Kanria Plain, even staining the sky red with filth, turning it into a blood-red haze.

That bunch of cherry blossoms, that one last remaining pure white, gradually vanished in the cold wind. The petals shattered into fragments and were swallowed up in the dark abyss. Zhen gazed at that bunch of flowers and revealed a calm smile.

She told no one about this journey, not even her sister Ray Movie—this weak and gentle governor was venturing into the land of calamity alone.

Because she knew that Inazuma needed the Shadow, and that when calamity and corruption covered the entire continent of Teyvat, her people needed a more powerful god to protect them. So she went to Kanria alone.

If only one person is sacrificed, then Zhen is content.

However, as death approached, she felt sorrow.

We hadn't even properly said goodbye yet.

ha...

She felt death, life was constantly flowing out of her body, like grains of sand scattered in the air, or like broken white cherry blossoms. Her real body was thin and transparent, slowly dissolving.

She is walking towards death.

She still remembered... she and Qingye Leiming buried a jar of wine in the center of the Zhuguo Mansion courtyard. It was a jar of very fragrant ale. What a pity... they had agreed to dig it up and taste it together at a gathering, but now she couldn't taste it.

ha...

I really want to try it.

That idiot, he cooks so well... why won't he be my cook?

Seriously... haha.

Zhen slowly closed her eyes, her physical form disintegrated and vanished, leaving only a conscious space that remained, but it was like a rootless duckweed, ready to dissipate at any moment... In the desolate world of consciousness, only endless ruins and eternal emptiness remained.

But slowly, I began to feel other temperatures.

She struggled to open her eyes and saw a sea of ​​cherry blossoms stretching as far as the eye could see. Crimson cherry blossoms fell softly across the entire sky, accompanied by faint thunder and a gentle breeze, as well as the vast earth. A slightly intoxicating breeze caressed her cheeks, and the dappled sunlight swayed in the wind.

very familiar.

This world... is very warm.

'Godcut'

This sword evolved from the Serpent Cutter and has been owned by three different people. Wind and Thunder slumbered within it, and it was also bathed in the blood of the Great Serpent and Heavenly Principle. It is no longer an ordinary object, and now... Qing Nuoyan has entrusted his dreams to this sword.

Over the course of a thousand years, Qingnuoyan has gained new insights and understanding of eternity.

It is a projection of Qingnuoyan's inner world onto reality, where time itself seems blurred.

Now, God has accepted true consciousness, and eternal time has sealed it away, halting her dissipating soul.

"You are dead, really."

I heard the boy's voice, as if it were right next to my ear. "In history, Raiden Shin is indeed dead, his body has dissipated, and I did not disrupt the original timeline. From now on, you can no longer exist as Raiden Shin."

Qingnuoyan cannot destroy or change time; all he can do is deceive it.

"I have preserved your soul, your consciousness," the boy whispered. "In the near future... the Shadow Society will create dolls to protect her eternity."

“A doll called ‘General Thunder’.”

"I will place your consciousness, your soul, into that puppet, and you will become one with General Thunder, continuing to exist with a new life."

New...life?

Lei Dian seemed lost in thought. She repeated it softly, her eyes flickering slightly.

"This matter must not be mentioned to anyone," the boy said earnestly. "I will temporarily erase your memory."

"...Who are you?" Zhen pursed her thin lips, gazing at the cherry blossom-reddened sky, and asked softly.

However, often, asking questions is not really about wanting to know the truth, because the questioner already has the answer in mind before asking the question, and the reason for asking the question is just to confirm it.

I can really feel it.

Because her heart was in Qingnuo Rock... in Qingye Leiming's heart, in his world of consciousness. In this world, everything was so transparent, everything was so clear. When the lightning streaked across the sky, she could hear the faint rumble of thunder, and she could hear his heartbeat.

"Five hundred years from now, there will be a banquet." The young man's voice was as gentle as a light afternoon breeze. "We will all be waiting for you."

"I see." Zhen gave a helpless smile.

"I have one more thing to ask of you. It's a very unreasonable request, and you could easily refuse."

Qing Nuoyan said softly, "Five hundred years from now, Ying will die on her toes... She will trap herself in the Pure Land of One Heart and never come out again."

"I promised, everyone has to be there."

"Please stay with her until she truly leaves her sanctuary. She will be very lonely; please accompany her and guide her out of that desolate land. Help her find her own 'eternity'."

"I really can't do anything with you guys... I agree." Zhen sighed softly, then hummed, "What can I do? She's my sister... I really have to worry about her."

They all understood what this meant.

For samurai who seek eternity, battle is their only companion.

"Thank you... Zhen." Qing Nuoyan lowered her eyes. "Thank you."

"Before the dust settles, please stay here and live on in my dream."

Live in the heart of dreams.

"Your dream... Hmph." Zhen tilted her head, a bright smile appearing on her lips, like an early cherry blossom under the spring sun, the warm sunlight blending with the crimson cherry blossoms, making it impossible to distinguish where the flower ended and the light began—such a radiant smile.

"What does your dream look like? I'm very curious."

"My dream is right in front of you."

Zhen raised her eyes, looked at the cherry blossoms filling the sky, and gazed at the pure white world reflected in the sky. She tilted her head and said, "Your dream is so beautiful."

"Then let me dwell in your dreams."

That's the last sentence.

In reality, Qingnuoyan sheathed Shenqie.

He exhaled softly, took out a stack of cigarettes from his pocket, rolled them up, lit them, took a light puff, and watched the smoke dissipate in the slightly chilly air before turning back to look at the calamity that had already engulfed his face.

Once the sword was sheathed, there was no need to draw it again.

Having spent so many years cutting through the snow in the mountains, Qingnuoyan no longer needs a knife to kill people.

He perfectly inherited Fushe's sword and the heart of the Pillar of the Nation, and cultivated immortality in Mount Aozang for nearly a thousand years, opening up a consciousness space unique to him. At this moment, he has realized one of his dreams.

That is to become the strongest in the world.

call.

He simply raised his slender hand and gently pressed it onto the abyss. Countless invisible slashes appeared between heaven and earth. With a light tap of his fingertips, as if playing some melody, those slashes fell on every abyssal beast, and thousands of calamities were slain at the same time.

The knife didn't strike the flesh, but rather the depths of filth, the very consciousness.

When consciousness is severed, the physical form naturally disintegrates as well.

In an instant, all the calamities in this area were wiped away, leaving only a clear, clean sky, and the world returned to its former tranquility.

Warm sunlight streamed through the clouds, and along with it fell the crimson cherry blossoms.

The destruction of Canria was a predetermined fact; it made a mistake and must bear its guilt, which cannot be changed.

Qing Nuoyan had no power to change anything; the only thing he could do was purify the filth of his subjects.

Nuo You.

He walked across the desolate land, embracing the painful, sorrowful, and desperate souls into his heart. Fushe had once used his body to bear filth, which is why he was eventually corrupted and went mad.

But Qingnuoyan used his consciousness... to wholeheartedly embrace the saddest emotions in the world with his dreams. In that infinite pure white world, all wandering souls will find their home.

His soul absorbed all the pain and despair, yet it also received the seeds of hope. These seeds, born deep within his heart's desire for dreams, will grow into a towering tree, protecting this world in his place.

This was Qingnuoyan's original dream.

Powerful enough, and carefree enough.

Then grant all people the prosperity of spring.

The pain of Kanria will forever be etched into the land of Teyvat. He could not save the dying civilization; all he could do was make that civilization pass by a little faster and a little more peacefully.

This is the end for Canria.

What Qingnuoyan didn't know was that he had once been the Endblade of Kanria, but he failed to save his homeland—he died before Kanria was destroyed.

In the end, however, his homeland was hidden within that extinguished sword. He redeemed both his homeland and himself.

At the end of this disaster, he will have a struggle with the maintainers of justice. This struggle is unavoidable, and Qing Nuoyan will not back down.

Historically speaking, those who uphold the principles of Heaven are right, and it is Qingnuoyan who is wrong. He knows this.

Even though he knew it was wrong, Qing Nuoyan would still do it.

We will meet again eventually.

-

I can't find that guy.

Ying has been searching for that guy for who knows how many years—five years, ten years?

I can't remember anymore.

Since she woke up, she has been searching all over Teyvat. That guy wanted to travel on his own, so Ying traveled to every country, to Liyue and Sumeru... She saw deserts and rainforests, and also set foot on snowfields and mountains, but Ying still couldn't find him.

Teyvat is beautiful, and the scenery along the way is truly stunning. However, without a travel companion, there was no one to share those beautiful views with, and the memories of the trip became blurred and faded, leaving no lasting impression.

Travel is no longer travel; it's just rushing around.

The beauty of life is something that must be shared with others. Ying wants to find that guy and share her experiences from her travels with him.

She had so much to say to that guy about the people she met, the people she experienced, the places she visited, and the delicious food she enjoyed.

But in the end, he couldn't be found.