The story ended there. After one turn, Jun Bai left Qingce Village—this sorrowful place was not suitable for lingering.
If not for the "Prosperous Fengdeng Road" event plot requiring it, Jun Bai actually wouldn't have been very willing to tell this story.
Perhaps due to erosion, he would have told this story to Lumine—as a Descender—to serve as Teyvat's backup and ensure the world didn't forget what happened back then.
Just like how Zhongli involved Lumine in matters related to the God of Salt.
But Jun Bai wouldn't tell this story to anyone else. Putting aside that he had only recently met Hu Tao and the others—did he really have any obligation to share his painful past?
Lumine is a Descender and can serve as Teyvat's backup—knowing this story is unobjectionable.
But Hu Tao and the others are true locals. In theory, there is no meaning in letting them know this story.
So if not for this event plot segment requiring it, Jun Bai wouldn't have told this story to anyone besides the Traveler.
Mm—it's just because the plot required it. Definitely not because he wanted others to know the real Jun Mo Li.
[Host, some lies can deceive even yourself.]
"Plot finished? And you come find me right away."
"Also—this isn't a lie."
[Host, I want to believe you too, but right now you're not only crying—you're also smiling.]
Tears because the wound was reopened—but that smile? Is it because sorrow turned to joy… or because someone could recognize the most real Jun Mo Li?
Jun Bai raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corner of his eye: "Just didn't manage my expression well."
[Is that really it?]
"Work finished? If not, hurry up and be your camera." Jun Bai planned to get some peace and quiet.
[The next plot segment is in four days—I'm on break now.]
"Where's your mute function? I want to silence you!" Jun Bai's face darkened as he pulled up the system functions group, searching for the mute option.
[Hidden.]
The mute function Jun Bai had just found was immediately hidden by the system. Jun Bai took a deep breath, then sighed: "How's the popularity value?"
[Already broken one million—and still rising.]
[Your cross-dressing has left everyone in the real world very satisfied—they're all calling for us to make official doujin figures.]
"Then find time to arrange it."
"What about the final reward for that event I mentioned before—have you prepared the plan?"
[The reward plan is ready. Just this popularity value… what do you think…]
"Take it yourself. But this plan must be ready with the final reward by the time the next plot segment arrives."
[Please leave it to me with peace of mind.]
As everyone knows, workers with proper bonuses become abnormally powerful. The same goes for a system with incoming popularity value.
Jun Bai raised his hand, looking at the palm that had met his past self's, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting slightly.
"Really looking forward to it."
——Reality
Little Gui's livestream room.
"Wuwuwu~" Little Gui quickly grabbed a small pack of tissues nearby to wipe her tears. "miHoYo, you've done too many bad things."
[Still the same line as the storm—one character who didn't even appear on screen still wants to knife me? (Sunglasses.jpg)]
[Second Brother~ My Second Brother! You didn't even get a single scene and you're already buried~]
[No animation segment at all and you still try to knife me? Truly naive. (Sunglasses.jpg)]
"In the story, Second Brother was a swordsman capable of slaying gods. But who ever thought that from childhood he didn't even like using a sword."
"Everyone thought Second Brother was a heaven-defying genius—only my husband knows what effort went into that one sword of Second Brother's. He was just an ordinary person!"
Little Gui cried with red-rimmed eyes: "miHoYo, you've done too many bad things. My Second Brother and my husband already had the lifespan gap between them—you still won't give them a good ending."
[I thought we'd see how the Qingce Sword Immortal gravely wounded a god back then—after all, there was a recreation scene setting.]
[In the eyes of later generations, Second Brother is the Qingce Sword Immortal—but in Jun Bai's eyes, Second Brother is just Second Brother!]
Little Gui was heartbroken and didn't even notice that this plot segment had already ended.
In the end, the pressures of life eased her symptoms somewhat, and Little Gui chose to continue streaming.
——Teyvat
No one expected to hear such a story from the Sky Phoenix Marshal's own mouth. In silence, they returned from Qingce Village to Liyue Harbor.
They returned just in time—Lumine and Paimon made it exactly for Fengdeng Lou's evening business hours.
Before opening to receive guests, Lumine found Iron Tongue Tian, who was preparing tonight's storytelling.
She made a request: change the content—stop telling stories about the Qingce Sword Immortal.
Since it was a story completely different from real history—let it end here. Don't let the world continue to misunderstand.
Xingqiu returned home. After much hesitation, he finally took out a sheet of white paper and wrote down a title that ordinary people couldn't recognize: "Chronicles of the Swordsman Chasing Immortals."
Whether truth or letting the story spread is more important—Xingqiu didn't know.
"Combining facts with literary flair. I hope it can make people remember the true Qingce Sword Immortal."
But Xingqiu felt that someone had to record the truth and keep it spreading. Once this novel is finished, he should go to Guili Assembly to find the Marshal and ask if it can be published.
Hu Tao returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and instructed the staff to bring over a tombstone. She began engraving an epitaph for the nameless Qingce Sword Immortal.
"The Marshal holds a high position, but when it comes to funeral matters, it still has to be Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
For such a respectable person, Director Hu believed he deserved a finely crafted tombstone. This was the only thing she—as Director of Wangsheng—could do.
Later she would place it together with the one personally made by the Marshal—make sure the inscription notes it's from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor~
Chongyun continued diligently practicing swordsmanship on his path of exorcising evil.
"If the Sword Immortal could do such things, I need to work even harder!"
The truth didn't diminish this young exorcist's admiration for the Qingce Sword Immortal—in fact, it only increased. Because the real Sword Immortal had no halo, no talent—yet was extremely pure.
Zhongli came to Guili Assembly to visit the Sky Phoenix Marshal.
"I brought some excellent tea—care for some?"
Morax and Phenex sat in a third-floor room at Fengdeng Lou, using the finest tea to toast the eternal Qingce Sword Immortal.
Though Jun Bai felt Second Brother might prefer wine—this seemed to be a lingering habit from their brotherhood oath back then.
But whether wine or tea…
It's all heartfelt…
Four days later, Liyue Harbor, Fengdeng Lou.
Today was the day Lumine and Paimon's temporary manager career ended—and also the handover ceremony for Fengdeng Lou's manager position.
Lumine and Paimon would officially hand over the temporary manager position to Fengdeng Lou's new manager—Ning Yao.
"So why couldn't Miss Ning Yao have been the manager from the very beginning?" Paimon stomped her feet in the air angrily.
Ning Yao stuck out her tongue: "Because this humble one's vacation still has ten days left. If I worked during vacation, this humble one truly couldn't complete the manager's duties."
"Just remember to settle the bill." Lumine said with arms crossed.
"Rest assured—one million Mora. This humble one has already prepared it for the two managers." Ning Yao smiled. "In the future, if the two of you ever wish to experience manager life again, you are welcome to come play anytime."
"We'll definitely come often—this is the restaurant we built with our own hands." Paimon said with arms crossed and a smile.