Chapter 228

Combining this with other matters concerning Su Bai and them from fifteen hundred years ago, Ganyu believed Su Bai's words.

Shenhe did not speak it, but she, who no longer made things difficult for Su Bai, expressed her attitude through her actions.

She acknowledged the other party's identity as the sword spirit of Senior Brother's Divine Sword.

However, though Shenhe acknowledged it, she still could not help but express her displeasure in certain aspects.

"So why did you have to take on Senior Brother's appearance? Couldn't you change into another form..."

Teyvat has no concept of sword spirits, but Teyvat is not without creatures capable of transforming into human form.

For instance, the Adepti of Liyue, and that chubby Geo elemental dragon; they can all transform from some other form into human form.

It is even heard that certain creatures of the Shenyuan Sect possess similar abilities.

Many monsters are the same.

"Uh..."

Su Bai felt a moment of awkwardness.

He had never realized before that Shenhe cared about him so much, as if he were a unique existence in the entire world.

Even though he had passed himself off as the spirit of the Xuanyuan Sword, Shenhe was still unsatisfied that the sword spirit's appearance was his own.

"Alright, Shenhe..."

Ganyu hurriedly smoothed things over.

"Now is not the time to mind such things."

"I believe the appearance of Junior Brother's sword spirit here must hold a much more significant meaning."

Ganyu shifted her gaze to Su Bai, opened her mouth slightly, and suddenly her expression changed; with a hint of apology, she said, "Sorry, I've said so much, but I still do not know how to address you."

"Address?" Su Bai smiled: "I have no name either; if not, just call me Ah Shi."

"I remember when everyone was naming Big Brother, the Dragon King of Ruotuo always wanted to call Big Brother Ah Shi."

"Ah Shi, then..." Ganyu nodded.

"What about the reason for your appearance in Liyue?"

Su Bai briefly responded to Ganyu and Shenhe.

The gist was that he had suddenly awakened in Khaenri'ah, so he hurriedly came to find his Big Brother, only to discover that Liyue had become in this state.

He also asked about the doubts in his heart.

Hearing this, Shenhe chose to withdraw, finding a place alone to sit quietly.

It was Ganyu who recounted all the events to Su Bai.

It was just that, beyond Su Bai's expectations, the impact of this matter was not limited to Liyue.

The entire Teyvat seemed to have suffered the erosion of some force.

People would suddenly develop various strange illnesses.

Some turned white-haired overnight; others had their blood congeal overnight...

And many seemed to have lost consciousness, becoming living dead.

There were even those whose bodies would gradually stiffen, eventually becoming like stones.

Various bizarre conditions raged among humans.

Not only humans, but even monsters suffered the affliction.

But monsters differ from humans; afflicted monsters become more frenzied than usual, killing not only humans but even their own monster kin without mercy.

The only thing that can be confirmed is that once symptoms appear, regardless of whether they are long-lived species, none survive beyond a month.

Hiss

Truly a living hell; not just Liyue, but the entire Teyvat has become in this state?

Though not witnessing the scene firsthand, mere imagination makes one's hair stand on end and cold sweat flow.

This...

In a world like this, where is there any possibility of survival?

Despair; those living in such a world face nothing but despair.

Venti: "This is too terrifying."

Zhong Li: "Sigh, monsters tearing each other apart? In such an environment, what difference is there between humans and monsters?"

Baizhu: "It is indeed something similar to a curse, but this kind of curse should not belong to Teyvat."

Aether: "Who says so? The Heavenly Principles once inflicted a curse upon Khaenri'ah, causing the mixed-blood citizens of Khaenri'ah to transform into Hilichurls."

Nahida: "But the Heavenly Principles would have no reason to inflict a curse upon the entire Teyvat; what would she gain?"

Rhinedottir: "I believe the Heavenly Principles would not be idle enough to inflict a curse and then send the Archon of Time to fetch reinforcements."

Barbatos: "Could it be that the Heavenly Principles is also conducting experiments? For instance, wanting to rely on absorbing Mr. Su Bai's power to strengthen the people of Teyvat, only to fail, causing Teyvat to meet destruction."

Furina: "Your imaginations are truly rich."

Furina: "I still believe this curse was caused by the invasion from the Former Otherworld six hundred years ago."

Alhaitham: "Barbatos speaks so frighteningly; if the Heavenly Principles obtained immense power from Mr. Su Bai, would she really do this?"

Lumine: "My heavens, with you saying that, am I really going to implement the Ark Plan?"

Su Bai: "Darling, be normal; you are overthinking it."

Yuan Shang: "Since Su Ye has spoken, then there is no problem."

"So that is how it is."

After hearing this, Su Bai's expression was extremely solemn.

Before this, he had already roughly guessed that the culprit behind Liyue's current state might originate from the spread of some entity.

Causing excessive deaths among the citizens of Liyue; due to the long absence of people, the cities have become dilapidated.

【But he hadn't expected the matter to be so horrifying.】

【"When exactly did this happen?"】

【"Six years ago," Gan Yu softly shook her head, as if reluctant to bring up such a suffocating topic.】

【"By the way, you came here to find your junior brother."】

【"He..."】

【Gan Yu continuously adjusted her breathing.】

【At this moment, her advantage as an immortal being became evident.】

【When facing any matter, immortal beings rarely succumb to extreme emotional collapse.】

【"Your junior brother... three years ago..."】

【"Died."】

【Merely overhearing the two's conversation.】

【Shenhe's brow furrowed sharply.】

【Her eyes flickered with a trace of sorrow, and a strange hatred.】

【But Su Bai shook his head and smiled: "I think that guy wouldn't die so easily."】

【"I know this is hard to accept," Gan Yu comforted Su Bai: "but we have definitively confirmed your junior brother's death."】

【"And buried him together."】

【"This kind of thing can't be fake."】

【"By the way, since you're here, I'll take you to your junior brother's grave. At least, you should pay your respects."】

【"Right?"】

【Gan Yu forced back her sorrow and mustered a faint smile.】

【.....】

【Soon, the three arrived again before Su Bai's tombstone.】

【But Shenhe saw the empty plate before the tombstone.】

【Her face turned pale with shock.】

【Her gritted teeth seemed to hiss directly into Su Bai's ears.】

【Su Bai froze.】

【Following her gaze.】

【Only then did he realize: if he guessed correctly, the Previous offerings must have been prepared by Shenhe.】

【And according to Hu Tao's earlier words, she seemed to have known there would be Offerings before Su Bai's tomb.】

【No doubt, even in the famine-stricken end times, Shenhe still wasted such precious things upon his tombstone.】