Chapter 1174: Weng Faluos 3.2 (220)

Jing Tian surveyed the dilapidated, ruined walls of Stikokisia, couldn't help but click his tongue: "This place… it's been desolate for over a thousand years, right?"

"Brother, but I think… the Death Titan they've been desperately searching for is probably not in there." Long Kui standing nearby suddenly interjected.

"Huh? Why?"

"Although Fengdu, which we visited earlier, and Stikokisia belong to different worlds, they share some similarities. First, both are surrounded by the Nether River's waters; second, although this place is heavy with yin energy, at its core it is still a place where the living once lived." Long Kui said solemnly, "Yin and yang are in order; the realms of the living and the dead usually have a clear boundary. Though Stikokisia is barren, it resembles an abandoned frontier more than a final resting place."

Saying that, Long Kui asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Brother, do you still remember how we originally got to the outskirts of the ghost realm?"

"Hmm, let me think..." Jing Tian rubbed his chin, "I remember we took the Soul-Departing Soup, which allowed us to enter the ghost realm."

"Right. So I think there won't be a Death Titan in Stikokisia; the Titan should be living in the ghost realm—no, in Weng Faluos it should be called the Underworld. If we want to go there, we must definitely use some special means: like soul-departing, ferrying, and so on. In short, this place is equivalent to the boundary between life and death in Weng Faluos, but it is not truly the world of the dead."

——

"As several people crossed the small bridge over the Nether River, a butterfly suddenly followed them, flying while speaking human words."

""Turn back… turn back…… the territory of the dead lies ahead……""

"Xing remained unmoved, after all, if she really heeded the advice to turn back, with only a little over ten days left, she might never be able to return."

"Upon arriving at the gate of Stikokisia, Mi Mi noticed that the butterfly was still hovering nearby, not leaving, and stayed close to them."

""What a beautiful butterfly, is it speaking to us?""

Xiaodie explained: ""This is the 'Departing Words Butterfly'. In places where many have died, they always flutter about. In Ai Diliya, some believe they are Senatos's mercy. They transform the dead's final obsession into these living beings, like specimens made for life.""

""Others believe they are actually Senatos's ferries, guiding souls to the Underworld.""

Mi Mi: ""I feel the latter explanation is more credible, after all, its words are still a bit… well, overly frank.""

""Perhaps. But being able to hear their whispers at least shows we are indeed approaching the world of the dead.""

"Several people entered the gate of Stikokisia, only to see semi-transparent figures everywhere on the road."

""Are these figures… illusions reflected from the Nether River?" Xiaodie crouched down, listening to the remarks of two nearby children; their tone and demeanor were almost exactly the same as when they were alive."

""Strange, if it were the Nether River's reflection, it seems too… lively.""

"Xiaodie approached the 'phantom' of a fish vendor, intending to observe it, but unexpectedly the figure spoke directly to her: ""You… want to buy fish?"""

"Mi Mi jumped in fright, hastily hiding behind Xing and peeking out with half her head: ""Huh? Can he see us?"""

""How… another living person?" The market vendor's soul seemed a bit impatient, ""Living people… don't sell, you guys… are too shameless. You bought fish but didn't pay… when I see her again, I will… I will…"" "

——

Genshin

""No, there's a problem here.""

"Unlike usual clever sprites, Hu Tao spoke unusually seriously."

""What's the problem?" Xingqiu wondered."

""Although Stikokisia has now become a dead city, the appearance of so many ghosts is strangely odd. In Teyvat, people's souls return to the ley lines after death; if you see wandering spirits in Liyue, what would you first think?""

Xingqiu rubbed his chin: ""Hmm… I would probably think that person had some strong obsession in life, dying with unresolved resentment.""

""That is indeed a possibility, but there is also another possibility…" Hu Tao slowly closed her eyes: ""…Liyue's ley lines have gone awry; they can no longer contain the souls of the dead, so they are left to wander in the mortal world.""

Chongyun widened his eyes in surprise: ""Has this ever happened in Liyue's history?""

""I don't know about that. Although Teyvat and Weng Faluos are two different worlds, according to my experience, a large gathering of dead souls in the world of the living is definitely abnormal. Like… Wuwang Slope, even though Wuwang Slope often has rumors of hauntings, few actually see ghosts. If one day that place truly gathered a great number of ghosts…""

""What would happen then?" Xingqiu's eyes were full of curiosity."

Hu Tao's face finally relaxed into its usual ease, she gave a dainty smile: ""Eh, I don't know either, but the only thing I can say is that if this really happens, it's time for the 77th-generation master of the Repose Hall to take action.""

——

""Could it be that you… are souls unable to rest?""

""Underworld… nonexistent…… Titan… refuses… you… I……" the merchant shook his head slowly, ""…so… want to buy fish?""

Mi Mi kindly reminded: ""But there aren't any 'fish' around here……""

""Fish… gone? People… also missing……" the merchant looked around, sighed deeply, ""All I can do… is sell fish. You… want to buy fish?""

""Sorry, my savings are almost gone. But perhaps there's another way to ease your suffering. Please relax. May you peacefully sleep amidst gentle floral fragrance." Xiaodie slowly reached out her hand; shortly after, the fish vendor's body gradually turned transparent."

""This… this is……""

""Indeed, these people are not phantoms but the souls of the dead. They should have followed the Nether River to the westernmost end, yet they are stranded in the shallows of the Nether River, unable to move forward.""

Xiaodie furrowed her brow, utterly puzzled: ""Is it Senatos who rejected them? Or have they never truly died?""