Chapter 765

""No, he has already been completely tempted by the power of the demonic sword.""

"Xing: "How can we make him wake up?""

"Yunli glanced at the bat in her hand: "The method is in your hand.""

""Temptation? I have been moved by Lord Guyun's pure beauty!" Yinzhī emphasized solemnly, "On the contrary, I am doubtful that none of those present can understand this sword, which is truly sad… I have made up my mind to take Lord Guyun away from the Immortal Vessel.""

"Yunli pulled out her old iron: "The demonic sword has already affected your cognition; I will help you break free from it! I will personally shatter this illusion—and this sword!""

""Beautiful lady, if you insist on taking away the person…thing I protect, please engage in a fair duel befitting knightly etiquette. As the knight's duel representative, Yinzhī, I challenge you!""

""If I win, I hope Lord Guyun will leave the Immortal Vessel with me; if Miss Yunli wins, I will graciously accept defeat and return Lord Guyun to you with both hands——"

"——"

"One-Punch Man."

""Yinzhī is really quite honest…… He didn't choose to secretly sneak away with Lord Guyun, but instead sat here waiting for Yunli and the others, right?""

"Bangu let out a light sigh; just based on this "stealing and then proactively leaving evidence" unconventional behavior, one can be certain that Yinzhī has absolutely not been tempted by the demonic sword…… because only he could pull off "stealing" with such dignity."

"If Yinzhī were truly tempted by the demonic sword, he would probably first lead Lord Guyun away from the Immortal Vessel; then Yunli and the others could never catch up, no matter what."

""Yinzhī is not weak, and with the demonic sword's own aid…… Yunli might not be his match, right?" Flash Fries said seriously beside him, "Pure Beauty Knights have undergone countless tempers since childhood; this is different from those usually controlled by the demonic sword.""

""But the problem is Yinzhī is not controlled; following the style of the Pure Beauty Knights, they probably wouldn't allow another consciousness to manipulate their bodies…… that would be too not 'Pure Beauty'.""

"Yuanzǐ Wushi chuckled: "I suppose I've discovered that although the Pure Beauty Knight Corps isn't a warlike organization, every time I run into Xing there seems to be a fight to pick; between these knights…… could fighting be a way to enhance feelings and understand each other?""

"——"

"Yinzhī pulled out his spear, took stance: "Although I know some swordsmanship, in such a solemn duel a knight ought to use the skills honed day and night to meet the challenge.""

"Yunli frowned: "... Really a strange person.""

"Although Yinzhī's spear technique is highly proficient, Yunli's monstrous strength still prevails; after dozens of rounds Yinzhī could no longer hold up and admitted defeat."

According to the rules of a knight's duel, he ought to have offered the Lone Cloud Sword with both hands. Yet before that, he still hoped that the victor, Yunli, would have the generosity to hear Lord Guyun's experience.

"Since the day it was forged, this sword has already fallen into the demonic path. Now, place the sword before me and let me shatter it!"

"Knight, just do as she says."

Suddenly, a hoarse, ancient voice came from the parcel behind Yinzhī.

"But——"

"You've done so much for me. Now it's time for me to face her alone."

Yinzhi drew the ancient sword, scarred and battered. Before everyone's eyes, the sword slowly rose, as if flames danced along its blade.

"Everyone, I'm tired of fighting. I just want to tell you my past, why I wanted to flee. After this, my fate will be in your hands. Little lady, are you afraid to witness my past?"

"Afraid? You do have an unusual aura compared to other demonic swords, but that's just to trick me with curiosity."

"You know best that a mere touch won't steal anyone's sanity."

Since Guyun said so, Yunli had no reason to be timid; she strode forward and reached for the hilt.

"Fine, then let me have a look."

……

"We can no longer contact the main force of the Cloud Knights."

"What comes next will be a long and lonely battle."

The cold is bone‑piercing.

When Yunli opened her eyes again, a vast snowfield lay before her.

She narrowed her eyes, struggling to adjust to the blinding white light. The sky hung low, gray and chaotic, making it impossible to tell morning from night. Fine snow blew into her face with the wind, leaving a sharp sting.

"Come with me," Guyun said beside her.

"Is this… your memory?" Yunli looked around in disbelief.

Following Guyun's steps forward, she then saw——

As far as the eye could see, the snowfield was not pure white; large patches of dark red blood stained the ground, dotted with bodies in various poses.

Closest to her was a soldier lying face up, wearing foreign garb, a thin frost coating his young face, his eyes wide open, staring blankly at the falling snow; his sword was broken, but the hilt remained clenched in his palm, impossible to pry open.

Farther off, countless corpses of the Step‑less people lay scattered, mingled with human bodies—broken limbs, shattered blades, cracked shields, unrecognizable banners… like rusted parts strewn across the snowfield.

The wind swept across the snowfield, emitting a mournful low howl, lifting fine snow and torn banners. The scent of blood seemed frozen, clinging to each snowflake; as she inhaled it, Yunli shuddered involuntarily.

——

Genshin Impact.

the City of Mondstadt.

Although the afternoon angel's gift was filled with the fresh scent of apple‑fermented dandelion wine, not a soul spoke in the huge tavern.

All the patrons stared fixedly at the sky, holding their breath, as if a single deep inhale could draw the blood‑laden chill of the ice and snow into their lungs, not even daring to let the air out.

Death, battlefield, carnage.

For most members of the Knights of Favonius, these words were foreign; although the knights' duty was to safeguard the environs of Mondstadt, after the Stormterror regained its senses, there was nothing near the city worthy of being called a 'major threat,' not even the remains of the dragon Dvalin in the mountains, which had lost its vitality. The scene of piled‑up mountains and valleys filling the sky… none of them had ever witnessed it firsthand.

Thousands, tens of thousands of lives were thrown into this flesh‑grinding mill, crushed, stirred, then carelessly tossed into this icy snowy waste… even Diluc couldn't help but feel his heart shaken.