Chapter 26

“Look familiar?”

A sinister voice sounded from beside his ear.

It exploded like a thunderclap, and Jiang Yan dodged away with a sudden flash.

When he looked at the person who spoke, he was suddenly stunned in place.

He saw a young man with short black hair standing above the starry sky.

His pupils were pitch black, and a playful smile was on his face.

“Nice to meet you, I am your heart demon.”

“My name is Jiang Yan!”

Looking at the person in front of him who looked exactly like he did in his past life, Jiang Yan’s face sank.

“Why... are you my heart demon!”

“Why?”

The ‘Jiang Yan’ opposite him suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had heard the funniest joke.

Jiang Yan looked at the young man in front of him with a calm gaze.

“Hey! Jiang Yan...”

“I am you...”

“So, why can’t I be your heart demon?”

‘Jiang Yan’ smiled playfully.

“You didn't answer my question directly.”

Jiang Yan frowned; he really couldn't understand.

Why he himself would become his own heart demon.

“I’m asking, what is the reason that made you become my heart demon.”

“Heh, why...”

‘Jiang Yan’ tapped his chin, acting as if he were thinking.

Suddenly, he asked Jiang Yan:

“Hey, Jiang Yan, do you know how many years you’ve lived in Teyvat?”

Hearing the question from the ‘Jiang Yan’ opposite him, Jiang Yan was stunned.

How many years have I... lived in Teyvat...

“It should be... over twenty years...”

“Yeah, over twenty years...”

‘Jiang Yan’ said faintly.

He took a step, and in an instant, he was in front of Jiang Yan.

“Then do you still remember”

“The you from your past life?”

Jiang Yan was baffled by the question from the heart demon in front of him.

“What are you talking about, of course I... remember...”

Jiang Yan’s eyes became increasingly confused.

Do I remember?

It seems that in his memory, the memories of his previous life are becoming increasingly blurred...

Looking at the familiar black-haired young man in front of him, Jiang Yan’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

“Looks like you’ve already realized it...”

‘Jiang Yan’ stared at Jiang Yan’s furrowed brow, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

“Specifically, when did it start?”

“Ah... it should have started when you wanted to protect the people here... or perhaps, the moment you officially integrated into Teyvat, I was already born.”

“Twenty years, what a long twenty years...”

“You only lived for twenty years in your past life.”

“Memories gradually overlapping has made your memories of your past life start to blur.”

“You should have realized it long ago.”

“This is exactly the ‘erosion’ between you and me...”

Erosion is the shackle imposed by the Heavenly Principles on the Seven Archons.

But Jiang Yan is not one of the Seven Archons, nor does he have the status of an Archon.

“So... what do you want to do?”

Jiang Yan stared at the heart demon in front of him and said.

‘Jiang Yan’ looked at the Jiang Yan in front of him, staring for a long time.

Suddenly, he smiled.

“You’ve grown.”

He said: “Having lived two lives, your mental state is much stronger than any of your peers.”

After speaking, he reached out his hand.

Jiang Yan didn't speak, just stared quietly at the ‘Jiang Yan’ in front of him.

‘Jiang Yan’ chuckled and explained:

“Let’s reconcile, you and me.”

“You’re clearly my heart demon, yet you don’t want to kill me?”

Jiang Yan was truly a bit confused now.

The actions of the heart demon in front of him were not the kind of heart demon he understood.

Logically speaking, shouldn't there be a fierce battle to determine the winner?

‘Jiang Yan’ seemed to know what Jiang Yan was thinking, smiling and shaking his head.

“If we fight here, even if we fight for a lifetime, there will be no winner.”

“I am one with you; what you know, I know, and what you realize, I realize immediately after.”

“Our minds are one; it is destined that we cannot determine a winner.”

“Such a struggle is meaningless.”

Jiang Yan did not refute; he had realized this long ago.

That was why he had expected this to be a difficult battle.

“Do you know? To be honest, when I was first born, I was thinking about how to replace you.”

‘Jiang Yan’ said softly.

“But as time passed, I gradually changed that idea.”

“Why must I replace you?”

“Why can’t I be one with you?”

“I am a product of your memories; logically speaking, I am you.”

“My disappearance is the best result for both you and me.”

Jiang Yan looked carefully at the black-haired young man in front of him, and suddenly, he took a step forward and reached out to shake his hand.

“Thank you, Jiang Yan.”

“Before I disappear, how about making a vow with me?”

‘Jiang Yan’ said with a smile, points of light beginning to emerge around his body; he wasn't far from disappearing.

“What vow?”

“Teyvat is just a world bubble about to be swallowed by the Sea of Quanta; save it!”

“I believe that with the system, you can do it!”

Jiang Yan was slightly stunned, then smiled.

“I would have done it even if you hadn't said so!”

“That’s good!”

‘Jiang Yan’ smiled, turning into points of starlight that merged into his own body.

Suddenly, the surrounding sky shattered, and a blinding beam of light shone into Jiang Yan’s eyes.

The surrounding scenery changed abruptly, and the landscape belonging to Teyvat appeared once again.

Am I back?

[Yes, host, congratulations on successfully completing the Heart Demon Trial.]

The system’s voice sounded in his mind.

“Yeah... I have reconciled... with myself!”

“System, this Heart Demon Stone thing was something you left on purpose, right?”

Jiang Yan smiled slightly and asked in his heart.

[What are you talking about? This system doesn’t understand～]

For some reason, the system was also gradually becoming more human-like.

“Heh, I knew it was you.”

Jiang Yan smiled, feeling his body.

For some reason, the moment the heart demon merged into his body, his body felt as if it had sublimated, feeling much more comfortable.

But now it’s time to open the treasure chest!

Jiang Yan looked excitedly at the Exquisite Chest in front of him, but was suddenly stunned.

Where is the chest?