Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 123 No Goodbye (6)

Late at night, Xuan Yue lay on the stone bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

(Did I... forget something...?) Xuan Yue had been feeling a bit dizzy and lightheaded these past few days. He shook his head and prepared to go outside for some fresh air.

"Hmm? Why did you come out?" Xuanqing, who was outside the cave, looked at Xuanyue who had come out and said with some concern, "It's starting to get colder recently. It's cold outside. You should go back into the cave and sleep for a while."

"I just came out for some fresh air; I always feel stuffy staying in the cave. Oh, right, have I forgotten something important lately? I just can't remember." At this, Xuan Yue's head started protesting again, telling him to rest.

"Is the wind giving you a headache? Why don't you go home and lie down for a while?" Seeing Xuan Yue's discomfort, [Xuan Qing] suggested, "It's the same if you think about it tomorrow."

"Home?...Going home?"

“Yes, go home and lie down for a while. Let me help you.” [Xuan Qing] said, reaching out to help Xuan Yue back into the cave.

(Home...this isn't...) The yin-yang jade pendant on Xuan Yue's chest glowed: "This isn't it!"

Xuan Yue drew the Shaoyang Sword and immediately stood a foot away from Xuan Qing, pointing the sword at him: "What exactly is your conspiracy?"

"I just helped you home to lie down for a while." [Xuan Qing] was a little confused and felt somewhat wronged.

"No, this isn't my home. I knew I'd forgotten something, I'd forgotten how I got here!" Xuan Yue remained vigilant: "You're weakening my senses, you want me to stay here!"

Xuanqing's smile faded, and he said calmly, "No, you are not my target."

"But it was him—" [Xuan Qing] looked at the uninvited guest who stepped out of the black hole behind Xuan Yue.

“…A-Yue.” Xuan Qing’s voice reached Xuan Yue’s ears. He was happy for a moment before realizing what was happening and Shao Yang attacked [Xuan Qing].

[Xuan Qing] vanished from his spot in an instant, and reappeared behind Xuan Qing.

"Ah Qing!" Xuan Yue was frozen in place and could only watch as Xuan Qing was knocked to the ground unconscious by [Xuan Qing], and he was powerless to stop it—he was too weak right now.

"It seems that the great battle consumed a lot of your divine power and shattered the barrier between space and time, leaving you at your weakest." [Xuanqing] looked at the sleeping person in his arms, a gentle smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

"Release Aqing!"

"..." [Xuan Qing] tried to reassure him: "Don't worry, Xuan Yue. I'll return him to you, but... not now, just a little while..."

The power of [Xuanqing] penetrated deep into Xuanqing's soul, but it was pitch black inside, completely empty...

"!" By the time he realized what was happening, a sword was already pressed against his neck; it was Shao Yin.

“You used the jade pendant as a node to possess me, and cleverly, you briefly invaded my consciousness during my weakened state, taking Xuan Yue away and leading me here. It was clever, but even the best plans can have flaws. I think ‘he’ must have taught you not to completely trust your own eyes.” Xuan Qing stood behind him, while the one in Xuan Qing’s arms turned into petals and flew away.

"Xuanqing?!" Xuan Yue exclaimed in surprise; he had just been scared to death.

With a wave of his hand, Xuan Qing released the time restriction on Xuan Yue. As they were both "order" and shared the same source of power, such a spell was easy to break.

"Why..." [Xuanqing] was now filled with despair, as if isolated from the world: "Why can you both exist in the new era, while my Aqing and I are forced to choose between us! I just want my Aqing..."

"..." Xuan Yue, who had walked over, did not speak. One should not advise others to be kind if one has not experienced their suffering.

Xuanqing withdrew Shaoyin, his expression somewhat complicated. He sighed, patted Xuanqing's head, and said, "Because he loves you enough, Ayue."

"!"

"!!!" Xuan Yue felt a pang of jealousy instantly.

"As someone who shares the same human being, I understand that feeling best. Unlike self-destruction, it's a way to survive and overcome difficulties, and the only price is the loss of him." Xuan Qing's voice softened. In his eyes, Xuan Yue was nothing more than a child who had made a mistake…

Everyone makes mistakes, he does too…

"Close your eyes..." Xuanqing's voice made Xuanqing believe it. Xuanqing activated his divine power and drew out some soul fragments from Xuanqing's soul... which slowly formed a translucent stone that reflected light and floated in mid-air.

“…Here.” Xuan Qing’s face was even paler at this moment. After handing the stone to [Xuan Qing], he couldn’t help but fall backward.

Xuan Yue immediately pulled Xuan Qing back into her arms. Upon seeing this, Xuan Qing immediately channeled divine power into him, which improved his complexion somewhat.

"You... just wait for that stone to take shape..." Xuan Qing was weak and listless, as if he was about to fall asleep.

"Ah Qing, don't go to sleep yet!"

"The situation is terrible, I'll send you back immediately!" [Xuanqing] carefully put away the stone, and the Shaoyang Sword appeared in his hand.

"Can you?"

"Heh, at least that's how I brought you here. You should have that Yin-Yang jade pendant too, right? Once you enter the space, just follow its guidance and run as fast as you can!" [Xuan Qing] finished speaking and, without giving Xuan Yue time to react, raised his sword and slashed at the sky.

The sky seemed to have been cleaved in half, revealing a black void. Xuan Yue spread her wings, carried Xuan Qing on her back, and flew up, disappearing into that pitch-black realm…

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Has it arrived?" Lei Ying used the body of General Lei Dian to walk in the world. The Divine Child checked the magic circle again and answered Ying's question only after confirming that there were no errors: "Not yet. A message has also come from Liyue. Everything is ready."

"Yes, the Wind God will be there to meet us in the skies above Liyue. Hopefully, this sealing technique can hold for a while longer."

"But what about Xuan Yue? Who can stop him?"

While they were talking, Sora and Paimon happened to come looking for the Divine Child and overheard their conversation.

"A seal?! What seal?" Paimon exclaimed involuntarily.

"Oh, here come the helpers! What a coincidence," the divine child teased. "Hey, we have a big operation planned, you guys want to join us?"

“Divine Child,” Lei Yingdong said in a warning tone.

"Oh dear, they're just looking for help because they don't have enough manpower. This little guy might actually be able to stop Xuan Yue."

"Stop... Xuan Yue? What happened?" Kong Du unconsciously tensed up.

"Divine Child!" Lei Yingdong warned again, and this time the Divine Child could only sigh helplessly: "Sigh, alright, alright. It seems we can't talk about it. We can't tell outsiders about the 'Contract,' so you can just watch from the sidelines."

"Hmm... Here it comes!" Lei Yingdian's hair tips glowed, and his body was already floating in the air, preparing for what was to come.

The divine child also began her ritual. The magic circle glowed, connecting along the mysterious runes to the flower in the very center. Kong and Paimon had both seen that flower before; it was the Black Lotus.

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from high above, tearing through the void as two figures plummeted rapidly—

"here we go."

"Ah."