Genshin Impact: My confession was rejected, so I traveled to seven countries

Yun Jin then highly praised the old man's magnanimity, and the old man declined, expressing his dissatisfaction with Su Mo and his satisfaction with Yun Jin.

The two chatted happily, while Su Mo, standing to the side, seemed like an outsider, lonely and abandoned.

Hu Tao and Ying were eating melon seeds on the side.

Hu Tao asked uncertainly, "Shouldn't this be considered passing?"

Ying and Paimon nodded. "It seems that's how it is!"

"Hmm~, it seems that this hasn't completely wasted my patience," Hu Tao said with satisfaction.

Although it was a case of better late than never, at least she managed to fix it, right? Yun Jin probably won't cause her any more trouble afterward.

Then he looked at Su Mo, who was all alone to the side. The old man and Yun Jin were chatting happily, while Su Mo, who was standing to the side, was like an outsider, lonely and abandoned.

Hu Tao couldn't help but sigh, "Tsk tsk tsk, Su Mo, everyone is lonely when they grow up. If you want to cry, just cry! You can borrow my shoulder for now."

Su Mo rolled her eyes at Hu Tao. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Me? I helped Yun Jin through such a huge crisis, what could possibly happen to me!?" Hu Tao put her hands on her hips and looked at Su Mo aggressively, pressing her stubborn little face in front of Su Mo's eyes, as if to say, "Try giving me an explanation."

Su Mo sighed and lightly tapped her forehead. "Have you forgotten why we came here?"

Walnut was struck by lightning

Yes

What are they doing here?

They came to...

"Frog Fun!" Hu Tao shouted, attracting everyone's attention.

Hu Tao waved to Yun Jin and the old man, "It's alright, it's alright, you two continue chatting."

Then she looked at Su Mo anxiously, "What should we do? Su Mo, hurry! We've already been delayed for too long!"

Su Mo said helplessly, "No wonder they say you have a bad memory, and you still won't admit it. Let them continue chatting, and we'll go fix the gate first."

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go!" Hu Tao urged the group.

Led by Hu Tao, the group arrived at the gate they had come from. Looking at the stone gate, Hu Tao frowned slightly. "This gate was originally only for entering, not exiting. Later, it malfunctioned and lost its restriction, which is why they can run out and scare people."

"So that means it can be fixed?"

Hu Tao nodded, "I'll do the repairs, you guys just need to cover for me."

Then Hu Tao took out the Homa Staff and held it horizontally in front of her chest. The Eye of God emitted a fiery red elemental light, and in an instant, the Homa Staff shone brightly!

"town!"

With a loud shout, Hu Tao plunged the Homo Staff into the ground. Red elemental energy flowed down the Homo Staff into the cracks in the ground, spreading out at the end of the staff and slowly moving towards the gate.

Hu Tao frowned slightly as she watched the elemental energy flow slowly.

Why is it so slow?

With a soft shout, Hu Tao's Eye of God once again emitted a dazzling red light. With a boom, flames ignited, and red elemental energy flew around her, gradually forming red butterflies in the air. Her entire body was now surrounded by flames.

"Wow! It's so hot!" Paimon exclaimed.

The three hurriedly retreated, looking at Walnut engulfed in flames. Paimon asked with some concern, "Is Walnut alright?"

"She should be fine; after all, it's her own elemental power!" Ying commented truthfully.

Su Mo frowned slightly as he looked at the petite figure in the flames. He felt something was amiss; Hu Tao's elemental power was far too overwhelming.

Despite his doubts, seeing that Hu Tao hadn't asked for help, he didn't want to act rashly and interrupt her process.

Yun Jin and the old man also noticed the situation; after all, with such a commotion, it was hard not to notice.

After inquiring about the situation, Yun Jin couldn't help but feel worried for Hu Tao.

A moment later, the flames still raged, scorching and radiating a terrifying aura, as if they were about to devour everything.

Su Mo had been keeping an eye on Hu Tao's movements when suddenly his pupils dilated. Although it was difficult to see clearly in the firelight, it was not a problem for Su Mo.

At this moment, elemental cracks were already rising from Hu Tao's calves, making it appear from a distance as if her skin was cracking, with golden-red veins about to burst out. This phenomenon wasn't limited to her calves; it was also beginning to appear on her arms.

This is clearly a case of elemental backlash!

Su Mo explained the situation, and Ying and Paimeng were surprised.

"Hu Tao! How are you!" Su Mo shouted for Hu Tao, but Hu Tao did not respond at all.

"Hu Tao, how are you? Say something!" Ying and Paimon shouted.

Walnut still did not react.

"No! We can't let Hu Tao continue like this. If this continues, Hu Tao will really die!" Su Mo said worriedly.

"What should we do! Hu Tao's elemental power is too strong right now, we can't get close at all!" Ying said anxiously. Although she really wanted to go in and rescue Hu Tao, Hu Tao's elemental power was exploding at the moment, making it impossible for her to get close.

Su Mo frowned, then suddenly realized something and murmured, "The maintenance of elemental skills requires drawing on elements from nature. What if there's no elemental power...?"

"Su Mo! You have a way!?" Ying asked hurriedly.

Su Mo nodded, then threw out three talismans that floated around Hu Tao, forming a triangle. As Su Mo made hand seals, the three talismans gradually transformed into three puppets, each shooting out two laser beams. They then connected in pairs and converged in the middle above, forming a triangular pyramid on top of Hu Tao's head, trapping Hu Tao inside.

"What is this?" Ying asked in confusion.

"A secret technique that can block elemental power! We'll rescue Hu Tao once her elemental power has been somewhat depleted."

The reason he didn't wait until all the energy was used up was because Su Mo dared not gamble. He dared not gamble that by then Hu Tao might not be able to be saved, or she might have already been killed by the backlash.

"Su Mo, the firelight has dimmed a little," Ying said hurriedly.

Paimon suggested, "Yes, let's hurry up and rescue Walnut!"

"Be careful!" Yun Jin warned.

Su Mo nodded, then took out talismans and covered himself with them. These were specially made talismans that could temporarily resist fire elemental power.

Su Mo leaped in with the talisman, and the intense heat instantly hit him, making him feel uncomfortable. At this moment, the talisman on his body emitted a soft light to resist the heat, and Su Mo felt a little better.

He came to Hu Tao's side, only to find that Hu Tao had lost consciousness and was muttering to herself.

Su Mo frowned slightly and looked at the door to the side. He saw that the fire element had already occupied seven or eight tenths of the door and would soon be repaired, but Su Mo ignored it and wanted to take Hu Tao away.

In Su Mo's view, the door could be repaired anytime, and was far less important than walnuts.

But Su Mo was surprised to find that Hu Tao was holding the staff of homa tightly, and even he could not easily remove it.

He tried to uproot the staff, but it didn't budge.

What's going on?!

Su Mo inquired about the true essence within her body.

Zhen replied, "It seems that Hu Tao's ritual cannot be stopped, and she has already suffered a backlash and become connected with elemental forces, mutually attracting each other. It can only end with her death or the completion of the ritual!"

"What should we do then!?" Su Mo wanted to help Hu Tao complete the ritual, but the difference in elemental power was also a problem.

“Perhaps we can try using the immortal power within you!” Zhen said. “Immortal power originates from elemental power, but it is different from elemental power, although both can be used to replace it.”

If it were true, it would be a revelation for Su Mo.

Just like the True Lord Liuyun Borrowing Wind, who can use immortal power to activate wind and lightning elements, they are different in nature, but they also have similarities.

After making up his mind, Su Mo used all the immortal power in his body and slowly poured it into Hu Tao's body, and then transmitted it to the Hu Mo Staff through Hu Tao.

With Su Mo's full effort, the spread of cracks on Hu Tao's body stopped, and it even seemed to be decreasing.

"It works!" Su Mo was overjoyed and then pushed forward with all his might.

Ten breaths later, with a loud boom, the staff of homa shot up, and the gate emitted a dazzling light. The two were blasted away. Hu Tao fell unconsciously, and Su Mo hurriedly caught her in mid-air, held her in his arms, and used himself as a backrest.

"Hu Tao!" Everyone rushed over.

Hu Tao slowly opened her eyes, looking at herself lying in Su Mo's arms, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes, "Su Mo?"

Then she rubbed her head, somewhat dazed, and said, "I think I just saw Grandpa..."

After checking on Hu Tao and finding that she was alright, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

With the gate repaired, and under Hu Tao's arrangement, those who had remained began their journey to the true boundary between life and death.

Su Mo's grandfather was no exception.

Su Mo walked with the old man on the road, the two of them in silence.

Because after the two of them, this might be the last time they see each other.

"When you get back, remember to give my regards to that girl Xiyue. Tell her that the old man misses her very much and is very pleased to know about her achievements."

Su Mo nodded, "I will. Sister Xiyue sometimes tells me that she misses you."

"When you get back, you must marry Yun'er as soon as possible. Once you have a child, just let me know at her grave. If I can still find out by then, that would be the best," the old man suddenly said, turning his head to the side.

"What are you saying! I'm still a long way off, old man, you'd better hold on a little longer," Su Mo retorted.

The old man smiled but didn't say anything more.

As Hu Tao unleashed her elemental power once more, the gate opened, fiery red butterflies fluttered around her, and snowflakes continued to fall gently. The travelers on their way home began their journey to their final destination.

The earth gradually awakens, and a ray of dawn breaks the stillness of the night.

As he watched familiar faces enter through the gate, the silent old man glanced at Su Mo beside him, then at his outstanding granddaughter-in-law.

After a long silence, the old man finally spoke, "I'm leaving!"

"Grandpa..." Su Mo hesitated, her eyes already brimming with tears.

The old man walked straight to the gate without stopping.

Yun Jin held Su Mo's hand tightly. She knew that Su Mo must be going through a lot of pain at this moment. The sadness was not from the sudden departure, but from the loss after having gained her.

The old man suddenly stopped in front of the gate without turning around.

"Hey, Su Mo,"

"I'm with Grandpa!" Su Mo said hurriedly.

The old man sighed, slowly turned around, and smiled, "Although you are different from what I imagined, I still want to say that I am proud of you as you are now..."

He felt gratified, both for his character and his personal achievements.

"Of course I know what I'll look like when I grow up, Grandpa," Su Mo said with a smile, wiping away her tears.

"Because of you! My grandfather was a very good person!"

The old man paused for a moment, then laughed heartily, "I love hearing that!"

"Oh, by the way, remember to get married soon. I'm extremely satisfied with Yun'er, I couldn't be more satisfied," the old man grinned.

"Grandpa!" Yun Jin said, somewhat ashamed and indignant.

The old man chuckled and shook his head, then looked at Su Mo, "Remember to treat her well, and don't lose her. If she doesn't marry Yun'er, don't say she's my grandson when you're in the afterlife. I can't bear that shame." The old man's words sounded like a final admonition.

"You know what I mean," Su Mo said with a hint of disdain, but tears welled up in her eyes.

"This is really goodbye."

The old man spoke in a low voice, and Su Mo hummed in agreement.

The old man stepped in and waved.

Su Mo also waved goodbye.

Finally, the old man's figure was completely swallowed by the light.

Su Mo looked at the spot where her grandfather had disappeared, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Grandpa will definitely keep an eye on us!" Yun Jin said with a gentle smile. "You'd better be nice to me from now on, and don't make me angry, or I'll tell Grandpa!"

"Okay!" Su Mo said with a hint of indulgence.

……

As the grandfather and granddaughter bid farewell in the morning light, Hu Tao remained silent, stunned.

Then, as if struck by a thought, she looked up at the plum blossoms blooming in the dead of winter, the snowflakes still falling, as if her thoughts were echoing in the air.

While she was repairing the gate, she seemed to see her grandfather again, and some memories began to flood her mind.

She once resented her grandfather for leaving without saying a word.

Does her hatred for her grandfather truly stem from a lack of love for her?

If you loved her, why didn't you give her even a chance to make amends in the end?

If there is love, why can't the ending be a little gentler?

If there is love, why...?

Now, looking at the scene before her, she seemed to understand somewhat.

Grandpa's silent departure was perhaps the best ending.

Grandpa's love for her didn't need much searching; it existed in every aspect of her life. She wouldn't believe it if he didn't cherish her at all.

The passing of her grandfather left a huge flaw in her young heart. Although Zhongli's companionship helped to mend it, it was never the same as before.

Isn't her years of living in a daze just an excuse for her to avoid facing reality?

We are all just passing through; the departed are also returning.

Some things we still have to face; only by facing them can we calmly accept the time that follows.

Fiery red butterflies danced in the air, dazzling against the backdrop of a sky full of white snowflakes.

Hu Tao raised her hand, and the butterfly circled around her fingers, eventually landing on them, its wings opening and closing.

She gently stroked the red butterfly formed from elemental power, and in the firelight, the plum blossom pupils in her eyes seemed to silently melt and disperse like ice.

She gently raised her hand and sent the red butterfly soaring freely in the air, dancing gracefully around the plum branch, and finally turning into starlight and disappearing without a trace.

On the snow-white branches, plum blossoms adorn the white blossoms, their delicate beauty tinged with a refreshing coolness.

Looking at the plum blossoms blooming in the wind, Hu Tao's brows relaxed, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she murmured, "Grandpa, do you see? The plum blossoms have bloomed again."

Walnut, a tree of longevity, also symbolizes vitality and fragrance.

She is Hu Tao, the 77th head of the Wangsheng Hall.