Chapter 1166: Weng Falos 3.2 (212)

The withered, trembling hand reached over the edge of the bed as if trying to grasp Xia Die's hand; its cracked lips moved silently—was it a moan or a yearning?

Xia Die didn't know.

She staggered backward, her slight body like a leaf repeatedly struck by autumn wind, trembling uncontrollably. At last she could bear it no longer and, disregarding everything, fled desperately out of the temple.

The rows of deity statues in the temple stood silently, their hollow eye sockets watching the fleeing girl—no words of pleading, no words of blame. They remained mute, just as they have been for millennia in the face of all Weng Falos's suffering.

The girl ran onto the grass outside the temple, where a few nameless little flowers poked up from the foliage, blooming brightly. Xia Die reached out, her palm hovering a fingertip above a petal—she hesitated, but finally brushed the flower lightly.

The petal curled and withered at a visibly rapid pace… as if an invisible hand were erasing its color point by point; after a few breaths, the trembling flower was blown into powder, leaving no trace.

"Accept death, walk with it."

——

Naruto.

I noticed that the girl thickened her gloves. At first they were just a thin silk glove, later they became a thick plush glove… yet, unfortunately, nothing changed.

Watching the row of elders in the sky preparing to receive death's "gift," even Fei Jian couldn't help a sigh, "…under such utterly irrational power, even Brother's cells would likely lose vitality in an instant, wouldn't they?"

"Hmm, but one thing seems suspicious to me," Senju Hashirama said, rubbing his chin. "If Xia Die's power is linked to Weng Falos's Death Titan, then if Xia Die someday travels to the universe, would her curse still take effect? After all, on planets like Xian Zhou and Pinokangni, there are no Death Titans."

Konoha Minato, standing nearby, replied, "It shouldn't take effect."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Although the analogy isn't perfect, if we liken Xia Die's death power to an automatic ninjutsu, then the Death Titan is the chakra source tightly bound to her—if the Death Titan's power cannot affect worlds beyond Weng Falos, then it's clear that Xia Die's power only works on Weng Falos."

As he spoke, Minato's mouth curved into a slightly apologetic smile, as if he felt it presumptuous to apply ninja logic to Weng Falos's rules, yet he continued, "However, beyond Weng Falos there already exists a layer of chaotic matter, and it's possible that this layer serves to limit the Titan's power range. After all, Weng Falos is an exceptionally unique world."

"If Xia Die's ability can work beyond the heavens, that would be fascinating," Fei Jian said with interest. "I'd like to see whether Xia Die's 'gift of death' takes the lead, or the power of a 'bountiful' destiny prevails."

——

On the opposite bank, a clearing of children danced merrily around a bonfire.

Xia Die stood on the other side of the river, too afraid to approach, watching from afar. Suddenly, rustling footsteps came from behind her, and the little girl who had once tried to greet her in the crowd walked over—her eyes still bright, showing no fear of Xia Die's status.

She held a freshly broken branch in her hand and quietly offered it to the saintess.

Xia Die understood without words; after a brief hesitation, she reached out and grasped the other end of the branch, and the two, separated by the slender twig, walked slowly along the riverbank toward the bonfire.

The firelight ahead grew nearer, and some children turned their heads, curiously eyeing the two tiny figures approaching them.

But when they reached the bridge's center, a flash of wilting flowers and dying life surged through Xia Die's mind. Almost instinctively, she released her grip on the branch and, once again alone, returned to the opposite bank.

On the bridge, the little girl stood sorrowfully in place, watching Xia Die's departing silhouette from afar, still clutching the branch whose other end she could no longer reach.

In the spacious room, flames flickered gently on the mirror, imprinting Xia Die's tiny silhouette onto the wall behind her—

She closed her eyes.

Candlelight filtered through her thin eyelids, leaving a hazy orange in her vision. She imagined that orange as the bonfire across the river, and her reflection in the mirror as the dancing children. The girl held a branch in each hand, as if someone were truly pulling her from both sides. She twirled gently, rising onto her toes, her skirt swirling in the candlelight like a budding flower.

She laughed brightly, as if she had never been the child kept apart from the crowd, untouchable.

——

Genshin Impact.

"What a pitiful child," Laiyin Duote shook his head, "If she were to descend upon Teyvat bearing such a curse, I would certainly help her."

"Help?"

As if hearing a joke, a snicker sounded behind Laiyin Duote, and Nabe Lishi's projection appeared beside her ear, "Dear Laiyin Duote, of course I know what you're thinking. Facing a girl wielding death's authority, you merely wish to conduct an 'experiment' under the guise of 'help,' right?"

"Experiments are, of course, essential," Laiyin Duote smiled. "The Baku Nawa sealed in the Ash Silent Sea still radiates threat; what would happen if this little girl were to touch it? Miss Nabe, aren't you curious?"

"Xia Die's power doesn't affect all living beings," Ruo Nawa glanced at her lightly. "If her authority truly cannot be shaken, then back at the Divine Insight Tree Courtyard, the black‑robed swordsman was already killed by the tentacles she created. And that swordsman's regenerative ability… is probably no worse than your creations."

Laiyin Duote's smile deepened. Indeed, only when discussing 'death' does Ruo Nawa's interest surface. She said eagerly, "Indeed, if we reverse the logic—if the black‑robed swordsman wouldn't die from Xia Die's curse, does that mean his authority even surpasses the Death Titan's? So that… even 'death' cannot affect him?"