Shenhe froze for a moment.
Then, as if heat rushed straight to her face, a deep blush spread across her cheeks.
To say she wasn't embarrassed would be a lie.
This was no different from being completely exposed—
and she and Idris weren't especially close to begin with.
What made it worse was that, strictly speaking, Idris was still her brother-in-law.
"Is it a bit hard to accept?"
Idris asked gently, easily catching the hesitation and conflict in her expression.
Shenhe nodded lightly.
"Will… will Ganyu be angry if she finds out? Would this affect you two?"
Even now, she was thinking about others first.
That made Idris sigh inwardly.
He smiled and reassured her,
"Don't worry. Ganyu is reasonable—she'll understand. And this isn't anything shameful. In the end, it's about saving a life."
After a brief pause, he added calmly,
"And there's nothing improper between you and me."
Shenhe's tension eased a little.
She understood what Idris meant.
Still, she lowered her head shyly and said softly,
"Thank you, Grand Sage Idris. I'll remember this kindness."
"There's no need to be so formal," Idris replied.
"If you're ready, then we'll begin."
He was already prepared to extract her three souls and six spirits.
In truth, he could have avoided doing it this way—
but caution mattered.
This wasn't just about Shenhe's fate. It concerned Sumeru, and even the World Tree itself.
If something went wrong, the consequences would be far too great.
"I… I need a moment," Shenhe said quietly.
"I'm a little nervous."
She wasn't stalling—she was steadying herself.
Accepting something like this took more than words.
Idris nodded.
"Take your time."
Just then, Nahida's voice echoed teasingly in his ear:
"Grand Sage, you're not just after her body, are you? Since when could three souls and six spirits show memories? Are you tricking her?"
Idris sighed helplessly.
"Don't say things like that. I'm really not that kind of person."
And he wasn't.
This approach had been decided at the last moment—purely for safety.
Otherwise, it would've been slower, riskier, and far more prone to misunderstandings.
Still, he admitted,
"I should've explained it more clearly beforehand."
Shenhe had mostly calmed down now.
She looked up, saw Idris blaming himself, and her eyes hardened with resolve.
"I'm ready," she said.
"Let's begin."
Idris nodded.
The spell in his hands slowly formed and flowed into Shenhe's body.
Soft light spiraled around her as the technique began to probe her three souls and six spirits.
Shenhe closed her eyes, breathing evenly.
She was nervous—but holding herself together.
Idris was fully focused.
There was no room for error.
His magic moved with extreme care, threading through her body like silken strands, searching for the core of her soul structure.
Sweat beaded lightly on his forehead as his consciousness locked onto every fluctuation.
The room fell utterly silent.
Only their breathing remained.
After a while, Idris's eyes gleamed.
He had found it.
A faint but unmistakable soul resonance—like a hidden treasure buried deep within Shenhe.
He guided the spell gently, as though brushing petals with a breeze.
Shenhe's body trembled slightly.
Idris adjusted his rhythm, syncing his breathing with hers, stabilizing the process.
One by one, her souls and spirits were carefully drawn out.
Because this wasn't voluntary extraction, every soul that emerged triggered a surge of memory.
Fragments flooded forth.
Scenes.
Moments.
Emotions long sealed away.
Idris saw them all.
Like watching an entire lifetime unfold before his eyes.
Some memories were deeply private—
enough to make even him feel awkward.
He did his best to ignore them and stayed focused.
After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, all three souls and six spirits had been extracted.
Shenhe's eyes lost their light.
She looked as if something essential had been removed.
Without delay, Idris sent her soul structure into the World Tree.
The rest was up to it.
All he could do now was stand guard.
This phase was critical—
any disturbance could affect the reshaping of her divine framework.
Idris stood silently, like a sentinel.
The World Tree's power flowed gently, drawing Shenhe's scattered souls together.
Her memories, like drifting stars, gathered under its guidance.
Gradually, a warm glow spread across her body.
Her expression softened.
Idris finally relaxed a little.
No rejection.
No instability.
That meant success.
Once her body fully accepted the change, the divine framework reconstruction would be complete.
All that remained was to return her souls and spirits along their original path.
In simple terms—
The casing had been replaced.
The contents remained the same.
Idris stayed alert.
Even the smallest fluctuation now could spell disaster.
So he waited.
And watched.
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