Chapter 39

【We who once crossed many worlds are now trapped here...】

【"I don't know how many years ago that was."】

【"But I will find out."】

【On the beach, Lumine clenched her pink fist, as if making a firm decision.】

【"After waking up, I always wandered alone until two months ago, when I met you..."】

【"Mm! Back then, I owed you my life." Paimon nodded firmly: "Otherwise, I probably already drowned."】

【"So, I'll work hard to be a good guide."】

【"Lumine..."】

【"It's time to go."】

【The golden-haired girl, led by Paimon, set out on the journey to find her brother.】

【They climbed over a high cliff.】

【Several Chuchus caught Lumine's attention.】

【She took a long look at the tribe they belonged to.】

【Her chest trembled for no apparent reason.】

【A single tear slid from the corner of her eye.】

【A gentle breeze blew in, like tender hands wiping away the glimmer of her tear.】

【"Lumine..."】

【Paimon's call roused Lumine from her thoughts.】

【"What's wrong, Lumine..."】

【"Nothing." Lumine smiled: "The wind blew into my eyes."】

【"Let's go."】

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Chapter 34: The first story arc ends, rewards distributed

As Lumine and Paimon's figures faded into the distance.

The screen's image gradually vanished.

Signifying the end of this cycle.

The Traveler Lumine resumed her proper path, once again setting out with Paimon on her journey to find her blood kin across Teyvat.

Kamisato Ayaka: "Has the past life of Mr. Su Bai and Young Lady Lumine ended like this?"

Arataki Itto: "In the end, he still ended up with Jinwa. But come to think of it, when Su Bai and Lumine were together, they never met Jinwa—it could fly yet fell into the water. I don't get it."

Lisa: "Mm, as expected, Paimon and Lumine are the real pair... Sigh..."

Paimon: "Huh!? When Su Bai and Lumine were together, did I really drown? Hehe, I don't even know why I never got a chance to show up when they were together."

Venti: "That final tear of Lumine's was surely wiped away by Su Bai—using the thousand-year winds to give his beloved one last tenderness."

Just as Su Bai had told Aether.

He was not as great as this crowd, lacking the noble ambition to protect Mondstadt and Teyvat.

Nor did he, like Aether, challenge the Heavenly Principles to avenge the glory of Khaenri'ah and seek retribution against the Seven Gods who had destroyed it.

In Su Bai's own understanding, he was merely a small man who loved Lumine.

Yet this small man accomplished a great deed no one else could ever do.

He sacrificed his own power to sustain the Sky Island's control over Teyvat's order.

When he stepped through the gate of self-sacrifice.

Su Bai's demeanor showed no grand tragedy.

He even said he only wished Lumine to remember him alone.

Yet everyone could feel Su Bai's ease when facing this monumental choice.

Perhaps after learning the full truth, he had already made a decision, knowing what he must do.

Lumine and Paimon's reunion proves Teyvat has entered a new cycle.

The people of Mondstadt will not remember a knight named Su Bai who helped them fight the dragon calamity.

Lumine likewise will not remember a man named Su Bai who found her drowning, brought her home, and cared for her tenderly.

Tianquan Ningguang: "This is the suffering of the cycle—Lumine's journey continues, yet she alone forgets the one who once gave everything for her."

Alhaitham: "In Lumine's journey, she will still become Mondstadt's Honorary Knight, still meet us familiar faces, and experience all she must. Yet no one knows the truth—that the history was obtained by Mr. Su Bai's sacrifice."

Yaoyao: "Forgetting, in some sense, is also a kind of happiness—at least without memory, there is no pain."

Jean: "Too heavy."

Su Bai: "Wait, please stay calm—don't treat this like a farewell. In this life, I lived well."

Lumine: "Where are you now? I want to see you. (Eyes red)"

Su Bai's home.

Furina remained immersed in the sorrowful ending of the story, unable to pull away.

Especially the Chuchu tribe Lumine finally saw.

That tribe must have been the prototype of the house Su Bai seized and built.

Unconsciously shedding tears, yet brushed away by a gentle wind.

Furina dared not imagine if the reincarnation had not occurred immediately after Su Bai's sacrifice in that past life.

How would Lumine face a life without Su Bai?

She dared not think, but now did not seem the time for such thoughts.

"No, I must leave."

"Lumine is coming to find you."

"If we are caught, won't we have our heads chopped off?"

Furina said to Su Bai, tense.

Yet she did not expect the other party to fall into deep thought.

If, according to the System, he continued exposing himself via the "Kingly Way" route, Su Bai was certain his small cottage would absolutely become a battlefield of Asura.

"Indeed, the true battle lies ahead."

Su Bai thought to himself.

And the content of the past life was, as the System said, truly what happened.

It was only right that his efforts received some reward.

"Don't rush; put your clothes on first."

Su Bai's words made Furina pause.

In a daze, she nodded: "Understood."

Subconsciously, she began searching the sofa for something.

However, finding nothing, Furina froze.

Only then did she recall that she and Su Bai had done nothing at all.

Instantly, she clenched her pink fist and protested: "Hey, what are you saying?"

"What kind of time is this? You still have the mood to joke?"

"Let me tell you, Lumine's strength is not weak; I cannot defeat her."

"If she truly gets jealous and overthinks it, I cannot bear the responsibility."

"No, no, I must withdraw first."

Furina rose to leave, but Su Bai called out to her: "You already know we did nothing; what are you afraid of?"

Since a battlefield of Asura awaits ahead, dying early or late is the same.

Might as well let the storm arrive early.

"Moreover, the past-life reincarnation was not just this one; if others get involved then, what should be done?"