Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 121 No Goodbye (4)

As Xuan Yue drew closer to Jueyun Pavilion, he saw Xuan Qing sitting in the pavilion drinking tea. A gentle breeze ruffled his long hair. Upon seeing the newcomer, Xuan Qing simply smiled gently and said, "I thought you had left."

"Would you like to sit down and have a drink?" Xuan Qing gestured to the seat next to him, inviting Xuan Yue to sit down, but the man did not move.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Are you tired?" Xuan Yue's seemingly disjointed question startled Xuan Qing. Before he could react, Xuan Yue looked him straight in the eye and continued, "What should I call you, Xuan Qing, or—Xuan Yue?"

"..." The person on the other end withdrew his hand, neither denying nor confirming. He simply asked, "Why do you ask that?"

“At first, when I got out of bed, I found that many places looked like a place where someone lived alone. Because the world was different, I thought it was just a personal habit, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.”

"And then there's your reaction. I've never seen Xuan Qing in white robes before, and when I called you Xuan Qing, you hesitated..."

"..." Xuan Qing on the other end remained silent, continuing to listen.

"I went to Qingce Manor and looked through the ancient books. Guess what I found? At the very beginning of things, when we started leading Liyue to expand our territory, the day and night were constantly changing. Do I need to explain it more clearly?"

"The 'Xuanqing' and 'Xuanyue' of this world were originally one and the same, yet you, as the current 'Order,' claim you don't recognize the other's existence. If you want everything to make sense, there's only one truth: 'Xuanyue' replaced 'Xuanqing' and assumed the divine position of 'Order,' while the true 'Xuanqing' has been completely forgotten, including you."

“Hehe, a very good deduction. But why isn’t it ‘Xuanqing’ replacing ‘Xuanyue’?” Xuanqing still smiled slightly as he looked at Xuanyue, wanting to hear his explanation.

"He knows his own limitations, including his personality. In his early years, he was always trying to destroy himself, but after I appeared, he restrained himself. He would even choose between 'death' and me without hesitation, giving up opportunities for me."

"But if his 'death' would bring about my 'life,' then..."

“He will make that choice without hesitation.” At this moment, [Xuan Qing] spoke up, his face indifferent. “You’re right… absolutely right.”

He stood up and slowly walked to Xuan Yue, saying each word clearly: "I am Xuan Yue of this world, and also Xuan Qing."

"give up?"

Xuanqing shook his head: "You might not believe it, but from the very beginning, I never intended to hide anything from you. Being with you is when I feel most relaxed..."

"Would you like to hear the story of my world?"

This time, Xuan Yue did not refuse. They returned to the cave, and Xuan Qing took out another cup that was upside down on the table, poured tea, and placed it next to Xuan Yue.

"It seems that in your world, you and Xuanqing are both alive and well, and are completely independent individuals. That's wonderful..." Xuanqing couldn't help but sigh, "Since I don't know when the dividing line between you and me was, I'll just give a general overview."

"Before the complete transition of the 'Seven Rulers' era, Xuanqing secretly made a pact with Morax, without my knowledge, to use his soul to envelop the extra half of me when the transition arrived, thus protecting me from the ravages of change..."

“Yes, I’ve been through that too. If it weren’t for Nata’s ‘Ancient Name’ recording the original events, I probably would still be kept in the dark.” Xuan Yue nodded in agreement.

"Hmm, it seems it's the same here. I also received the memories from the 'Ancient Name,' and learned that Xuanqing exists. But at that time, there was nothing I could do; the overwhelming sense of powerlessness enveloped me, and I fell into a deep sleep..."

After catching her breath, Xuanqing continued, "Before the transition was complete, the Abyss invaded the earth's veins. Ignoring Molian's advice, I used my limited power to try my best to drive the Abyss away, but I was quickly targeted by the Abyss's will. Before the transition was complete, before our souls were fully joined, the Abyss wanted to take this opportunity to corrupt me as well..."

“Xuanqing…” [Xuanqing]’s voice involuntarily trembled with sobs as he recounted the rest of the story: “I saw with my own eyes that he crushed his own soul into powder, forcing my soul to ‘devour’ him… In this way… he prematurely completed the transition…”

"How much pain he must be in..." Xuanqing's tears slid down her cheeks, dripping into the tea, making even Xuanyue taste bitter as she drank it.

(If I had made that choice back then, or continued to wait for the change to be completed, would I... have lost you too?)

Xuan Yue stood up and hugged Xuan Qing, comforting him, "It's just the two of us here, so... just do as you please..."

“…He really…was so awful.” Xuan Qing’s muffled voice came through. For so many years, he had been regretting it, he had always…

"Yes, that's really going too far..."

-----

Xuanqing held Shaoyin in his arms, his eyes closed, leaning against the entrance of the castle tower. He had said he would protect these soldiers and would never leave easily. Goro had tried to talk to him many times, but he had ignored him as if he couldn't hear.

"Sigh... he's like a stone, he doesn't move, he doesn't say a word, and we can't find out anything about him." Goro returned to Manyo's side, sighed, and said helplessly.

"His aura silenced the surrounding wind for a while; he's an exceptionally powerful person. It's best not to make enemies."

"Of course I know that... but why have we never heard of such a powerful person?"

The person being discussed, however, offered no explanation. It was as if everything around him was irrelevant…

"Huh? Look at that statue!" A soldier's voice drew everyone's attention, and they all looked in the direction he was pointing—

On the statue representing "eternity," the eyes of God, embedded in the cold stone, began to light up. It was as if they were responding to a warrior in battle, lending him a helping hand…

"It looks like it's coming to an end."

"Huh?" Wan Ye heard the voice, and when he turned to look in that direction, the person who had been there was nowhere to be seen...

"Leaved?"