Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Three months later——

Time was passing, and Xuan Qing was waking up less and less in his spiritual sea of ​​consciousness, which indirectly affected Xuan Yue as he also began to feel tired.

"Ha~" Xuan Yue was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open, but she still forced herself to come to the place where she had agreed to meet with Xibarak.

"Does Liyue have a lot going on? Why are you so sleepy? Where's Xuanqing?" Hibarak bombarded him with questions in an instant. Xuanyue was too weak to answer him now, and just weakly reached out to him, asking for his [Ancient Name].

"Hey, here. You'd better keep this safe, I don't have the energy to make another one for you." Hibarak handed the stone to Xuan Yue, who examined it carefully. Taking advantage of her slightly clearer mind, she immediately began storing the memories.

"You! Fine, I really owe you one." Hibarak could only stand guard nearby, helpless. Fortunately, Xuan Yue was fast enough; the memory transfer was completed in less than an hour.

After Xuan Yue put the stone away, she sat down on the grass. Seeing that something was wrong, Shibarak, who was not far away, immediately ran over.

"Thank you... I really made it in time..." Xuan Yue said to Shibarak and also to herself.

"So, the change of order is imminent, is that right?"

"Hmm... Xuanqing has fallen into a deep sleep, and I'm affected by him too." Xuan Yue's voice was clearly drowsy, as if she was about to fall asleep at any moment.

"That's really bad. Let me take you back to your cave. Looking at you now, can you even hold on?"

Xuan Yue shook her head at Xibarak's concern, declined her kindness, and then used the last of her strength to return to the stone bed in the cave and fall asleep.

—Within the sea of ​​consciousness—

Inside the golden cage, Xuan Qing was sleeping peacefully. He was now sleeping for a month at a time, and the duration of his awakenings was getting shorter each time. He was still able to be conscious for the time being, probably because the other half of his soul came from someone else. If this continued, his own soul would likely be split in two again, one half going with Xuan Qing, and the other half… vanishing from the world.

“Xuanqing, tell me… why do we have to keep one of us? We had so much fun together.”

Xuan Yue muttered to herself, and Xuan Qing couldn't answer, "You said, if we enter reincarnation together, you can accompany me to see the seas calm and the rivers clear, and I can accompany you to travel around the world. Then we won't become gods, but will hide ourselves among the lights of a hundred homes, so that no one knows that their gods are among them. Hahaha, wouldn't that be so much fun!"

Xuan Yue seemed to be imagining that scene: he and Xuan Qing would disguise themselves as ordinary merchants, then mingle among mortals listening to them talk about the deeds of gods. Xuan Qing was shy, and he would definitely be unable to resist pulling him away. Then he would tease Xuan Qing all the way, making his face turn rosy...

Thinking of this, Xuan Yue couldn't help but laugh, but then she turned her head and saw Xuan Qing beside her, and her laughter fell silent again...

"Xuanqing, please don't leave me behind... okay..."

A deep sleepiness crept into Xuan Yue's eyes. He turned over and snuggled into Xuan Qing's arms, just like back in the underground when he was afraid of the dark, and Xuan Qing would hold him close and gently comfort him, "It's okay, I'm here."

Xuan Yue's consciousness was hazy, completely unaware that the figure beside him had awakened. He simply stroked the figure's hair, then withdrew his hand, stood up, and opened the cage...

"You've come." Morax stood on the cliff with his back to the newcomer, his tone filled with deep helplessness.

“Let’s do it… Morax… as we agreed before…” Xuan Qing appeared before Morax in spirit form, his body riddled with holes and cracks. Upon closer inspection, it would be apparent that he was blind…

Morax held the Rainbow-Piercing Spear, its tip pressed against Xuan Qing's neck, but he couldn't bring himself to thrust it in... His hand holding the spear was trembling...

Xuan Qing seemed to have anticipated this. He smiled slightly and gave Morax time. He knew it was cruel, after all, he had said before that he was the God of Rock, but his heart was not made of stone...

"Morax, what does Liyue Harbor mean to you?"

"He is the culmination of my and all the immortals' efforts, a child yet to mature..."

"If one day, when the child grows up, will you let go?"

"The time is not yet ripe."

“But I don’t have time.” Xuan Qing looked up at the sky. “So, Xuan Yue is asking you for help again.”

"!" Under Morax's shocked gaze, Xuan Qing grabbed the Piercing Rainbow Spear without hesitation, poured all his strength into it, and pierced its tip into his own body.

The already fragmented soul began to disintegrate and drift away with the wind. At the same time, Xuan Qing's last words rang out: "Thank you... and goodbye, Morax... Barbatos..."

Barbatos then revealed himself, playing his harp with a gloomy expression. He never expected that the third contract Xuan Qing mentioned would be... to send him on his final journey.

Tears fell onto the strings, one drop at a time...

The wind howls, their gods weep; the rocks tremble, their gods reminisce about the past, a memory etched deep within their hearts…

The wind carried fragments into Xuan Yue's body, enveloping his other half of his soul like a transparent amber, protecting him...

"Hmm... Xuanqing, you're awake." Xuanyue saw Xuanqing in front of her, smiled and walked towards him, then hugged him tightly.

"Xuanqing, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Xuanyue asked, puzzled, looking at Xuanqing's unusual behavior. Xuanqing didn't answer, but just looked at him again, his purple eyes seeming to tell a story, but ultimately he said nothing.

Suddenly, before Xuan Yue's eyes, they transformed into countless transparent crystal butterflies and vanished without a trace...

We will eventually part ways, if not today, then tomorrow…

The one left behind always suffers the most, so, Xuan Yue, forget me, and live well...

"Xuanqing! No! I beg you! Don't leave me alone... I was wrong... I'll be good, so..."

Don't leave me all alone...

But Xuanqing could no longer hear it...

"Xuanqing!" Xuan Yue was startled awake. He immediately sensed his spiritual sea, but found it empty.

He immediately jumped out of bed, his mind set on finding Morax and asking him what had happened.

Morax stood on the cliff, while Barbatos sat on the edge, holding a harp. Usually so boisterous, he was unusually quiet.

"Morax! Quick, help me see...who...is it again..." Xuan Yue couldn't remember for a moment. Why did he want to see Morax? Why did he come looking for Morax? Who was he doing this for? He felt a void in his heart, a strange and uncomfortable feeling...

"What's wrong?" Morax turned around and asked, but seeing Xuan Yue's dazed look, he guessed that he had forgotten.

"Oh, it's nothing, I can't remember. I'll head back now, I won't bother you any longer." Xuan Yue then flew back.

Morax's hands, clasped tightly behind his back, were trembling...

"Xuan Yue...do you still remember..." Barbatos murmured. He and Morax, no, it should be the other demon gods besides Xuan Yue, all remembered Xuan Qing, because the World Tree was managed by Buyer, and they had exploited a loophole...

Because if the world were to forget someone forever, it would be as if that person had never come into this world at all—what a sad story that would be…

"Will do."

How can you be so sure?

"Because he is Xuan Yue."

Because he is Xuan Yue, he is bound to notice the changes in this world.

“…Then let’s wait and see…” Barbatos began to play his harp and sing a ballad.

I won't say goodbye, because I look forward to seeing you again...

Goodbye, Xuanqing…