Genshin Impact: Our journey will never end

Adventurer Camp

This time there were no monsters causing trouble, and everyone returned to the camp at the foot of the mountain smoothly.

Seeing the familiar camp, Bennett excitedly clenched his fists and said, "Wow! I'm back!"

Amber looked around the camp, but there was no sign of Mr. Serius.

"Thanks to you this time, otherwise, I might still be locked in the cage... I really want to thank you all, but I can't think of any particularly good ideas at the moment..." Bennett clasped his hands together and expressed his gratitude.

Paimon couldn't stand seeing his expression like this, so he stroked his chin and said teasingly: "With Bennett's physique, you should often meet kind people, right? I thought you were used to everyone's kindness."

Bennett spread his hands helplessly, then said seriously: "No matter how many times I encounter favors from others, I will always remember them in my heart. I can't take it for granted just because everyone cares about me."

Seeing his serious look, Albedo smiled and suggested: "How about turning this gratitude into helping others? You must have met people who need help, and helping them is a kind gesture."

Benny nodded. Albedo's words made sense and he would stick to it in the future!

After finally getting down the mountain and returning to the camp, they had just experienced another battle. After chatting for a while, they said goodbye and went to rest. Only the Traveler, Paimon and Albedo stayed there.

Paimon watched them leave and clapped his hands in satisfaction: "The curse that prevented these guys from leaving the mountain has finally been broken! It feels like we have accomplished something big. Why don't we find a place to rest and chat?"

Albedo suddenly said: "In that case, please come with me."

Ying understood in her heart that Albedo was indeed hiding something from her, and it seemed that he was going to reveal his true colors.

...

Ying and Albedo returned to the mountain camp together...

"I'm sorry to call you here again. Some things should be said where there are fewer people."

Paimon guessed, "Is it about the topic of that impostor just now?"

Albedo nodded and said, "That's right. Or rather... Traveler, I'm surprised you can notice the difference between me and that impostor."

Our Sky

Ying was stunned for a moment, then realized: "You mean the one on the neck...?"

Albedo touched the star mark on his throat and said calmly: "Yes, this mark may be the starting point of everything. What I am going to say next is indeed like a story in a picture book. What do you think this diamond mark is?"

Paimon thought it was a tattoo or a badge.

Ying thought it was a scar.

Albedo shook his head and said calmly: "No, this is my flaw as a human being. Have you seen various utensils made of glass? There is a kind of artificial production technique related to glass, called glass blowing. Glass blowing is not popular in Teyvat, so most of the glassware made by this technique are expensive."

Paimon still couldn't quite understand what Albedo meant, but the answer was vaguely emerging in Ying's mind.

Albedo raised his hand and pressed the mark on his neck, saying calmly: "As the name suggests, the blowing process requires a hole for injecting air, just like blowing a balloon. Therefore, this type of glass product will occasionally have a gap for finishing. This gap is the trace of artificial production. This is a wonderful and beautiful craft. Aunt Alice said that these manual traces are both the value of artificial skills and the only [flaws] on perfect works of art. And the mark on my neck is something similar."

"This mark is something similar. The difference between artificial life and natural life is that the direction of the flow of life force is different. The power of natural life flows from the inside out, so flowers go from curling to blooming, and leaves go from bending to stretching. When we appreciate flowers, we say the word "blooming."

Paimon nodded, pretending to understand.

"To create artificial life, to a certain extent, is to input power from the outside to the inside. The interface where the embryo finally gains vitality is the point where the glass product closes. After the alchemical material dripped, it spread out in all directions, cleverly constructing this diamond shape.

"This mark of creation is proof of my imperfection as a human being. The imposter probably avoided this mark because he didn't want to become imperfect himself."

[Paimon: Uh…Paimon didn’t understand a word you said]

[Keqing: It’s indeed a bit profound]

[Alice: You can think of it as a human belly button]

[Mona: I still don’t quite understand]

[Alice: Do you really have to make me spoil the plot?]

[Alice: Then let Ms. Alice, who is both beautiful and intelligent, answer your questions.]

[Yaejinko: This is my line, old woman! I will remember this grudge.]

[Barby Los: Abe and Albedo look exactly the same, there is basically no difference between them. This is a twisted emotion born out of jealousy.

Albedo and Abe-san are man-made creations of the Golden Hand. They are brothers as well as perfect works and defective products. Abe-san envies Albedo who has integrated into the society. He imitates him, copies him and wants to replace him.

There is a difference between them, but even if there is no difference, he cannot replace Albedo. Albedo knows the pain of wishing, so he chooses to sink.]

[Alice: Damn it, you dare to steal my line! You old woman]

【Mona (shocked): Well done! 】

[Ying: Watching the fun is not a big deal]

[Hutao: I don't understand why Abe-sama wants to imitate Albedo and kill him. If he appeared as Albedo's twin brother, I think Mond would accept him. His only mistake in the plot is that he wanted to replace Albedo.]

[Paimon: Because of jealousy. As both of us alchemical creatures created by Rhinedort, why should he be the failed product in the dragon's belly while he can live with the people of Mond? The flower of sin born of unwillingness and jealousy prompted Albedo to want to replace Albedo and become the one and only one born.]

[Klee: Um...why do you have to replace me? Can't we just live together?]

[Yatae Shenzi: Alas...]

[Albedo: This is unavoidable, I will also get rid of him]

...

Ying was silent for a while, looked at Albedo with complicated eyes, and asked: "Is it okay to tell me this?"

Albedo put one hand on his waist and smiled as he said, "You are fundamentally different from the others. I won't have so many concerns about sharing secrets with you. As Paimon said, all this sounds like a [story]. Even if I tell others, they will only regard it as a whimsical novel."

“Human beings not only desire transcendence and miracles, but their pursuit of the ordinary is also far beyond our imagination.”

Ying nodded. This is why there are so-called outliers.

"Things that are completely different from ourselves should only exist in stories. If you think this way, you will feel much more relaxed. In other words, these incredible things recently should be good themes for novels. Speaking of which, some of my friends often write novels. If I let them write it, maybe this story will be more complicated." (Xingqiu, a good handwriter)

Paimon said unconvincedly: "It's just making up a story, I can do that too!"

Albedo immediately became interested and said jokingly, "Oh? I didn't know Paimon had this ability."

Paimon put his hands on his hips and said proudly: "Hehe, I'm the best guide in Teyvat. Making up and telling stories is no problem for me."

Albedo suggested: "In that case, how about having a story-telling contest? We can use what happened in the past few days as the material."

Paimon nodded, then said hesitantly, "However, we still need to go to the Adventurer's Association to help..."

Albedo seemed to understand: "You can't rush into something like creation. Think about it slowly, and come back to me when you have some inspiration. Then, we'll see whose story is more exciting."

Paimon then became happy again: "Okay! Then let's go back to the Adventurer's Association first!"

...

Albedo stood on the snowy mountain, quietly watching the two people walk away. The heavy snow fluttered down, as if covering the whole world with a silver veil. Albedo raised his hand slightly, trying to catch the crystal clear snowflakes. When the snowflakes fell on his palms, they instantly melted into water droplets and seeped into the heavy gloves he was wearing.

He lowered his head, making it impossible to see the expression on his face, but one could hear him murmur softly, "【Story】..." His voice seemed to contain endless contemplation and emotion.

Looking up at the top of the mountain, he should have thought of it earlier. There was a failed product made by the teacher in the dragon's belly. This was the origin of the [story]...

Albedo closed his eyes and asked himself:

If we were to switch sides, and if it was you who survived, then I, as an abandoned experiment, a failure in the plan of the Original Man, would definitely want to replace you. I would change my appearance to yours, learn your alchemy, and create miracle creatures as a cover to divert attention. I would find the flaws and take the opportunity to get rid of you and the only traveler who can see through the secret. In that way, I can regain the joy of being born in the world.

Albedo then drew out a sword and headed for the top of the mountain without looking back, while the man on the mountain walked down the mountain.

[Paimon: Hmm... I think Abe is the most perfect one, because he is too perfect, without any human flaws]

[Albedo: Maybe...]

[Qin: The beginning of everything... turns out it's not referring to the dragon Durin, but to this artificial man]

[Alice: Back then, Reindorte was the most outstanding alchemist in Teyvat, so she started to implement the artificial human plan and named this plan [Original Man]]

[Barbelos: I have never seen anyone better than her in alchemy.]

[Yae Shenzi: So that guy is the failure of the original man. The following Durin, the Hound of the Hunt, and Erinus should all be successful products... Any one of these things can destroy a country, not to mention the most perfect works.]

[Ying: The original man Phanes is the first throne. Doesn't the original man plan mean that Albedo has a plan to rival the law of nature? ]

[Albedo: I don’t know that either, and I don’t want to know. My mother must have had her own reasons for letting me stay in Mondstadt.]

【Xiangling: I seem to have heard this sentence somewhere before】

【elf:…】

[Funina: I can no longer imagine how strong Ms. Alice, who is a close friend of Huang Jin, is.]

[Alice: Oh, those who are not dead, come and die and see]

[Paimon: If Klee is kidnapped, the consequences will be unimaginable. If something happens...]

[Alice: It just evaporates some things...]

【PhD:…】

[Barbelos: Based on my understanding of gold, the failed product would have been eaten by Durin long ago, and there would be no chance of him surviving. How on earth did he survive?]

【Amao: It’s a failure…】

[Nashida: Ah Mao, don’t think too much. In my eyes, you and others are no different.]

[Amao: Haha, of course I know that mortals need to consider their lifespan, but I don’t.]

...

Time flies, and just a few days later, Paimon and the Traveler came to the camp to visit Albedo again.

Paimon waved to Albedo like a cheerful little bird, and shouted happily: "Albedo! We are here!"

Albedo turned around upon hearing the voices, walked up to them with a smile and greeted them: "Oh, it turns out to be the Traveler and Paimon. Judging from the looks of you, you should have already thought of the story."

Paimon nodded repeatedly and replied impatiently, "Yes, yes, we have already thought about it! So, do you need more time to think about it?"

Albedo was very calm and shook his head, indicating that he did not need extra time. He said confidently, "No, I already have an idea."

Paimon said quickly, "First come, first served. I'll speak first! I'm going to start! Once upon a time, there was an evil scholar who captured the liar flowers on the mountain and transformed them. These liar flowers, in pain, turned into human forms and stood by the mountain road waiting for passers-by... As long as someone paid attention to them, they would ask the other person some questions, such as: Who am I? Who are you?"

Paimon then gesticulated with her hands and feet, with an exaggerated expression on her face, and continued to tell the story she had just woven in a vivid manner: "If you answer incorrectly... you will be eaten with a 'wow' sound!"

Hearing this, Ying couldn't help but shudder and said softly: "Paimon is so scary." Albedo on the side still had a blank expression on his face, and just responded lightly: "Yeah, it's really scary." His tone was calm, as if he didn't take Paimon's words seriously.

Paimon pouted in dissatisfaction, looking a little frustrated: "What? You are not scared at all!"

Ying shrugged and said helplessly: "Maybe I'm too strong-willed!"

Paimon couldn't help stamping his feet, looking arrogant: "Don't find fault with me! If you are not satisfied, just think of one yourself."