Once I am completely corroded by the devil's filth, no one can stop me from going mad. Then the final course of action becomes clear.
As the black membrane spread over his limbs, his hands and feet gradually turned to jade, the transformation creeping upward until even the last strand of darkness could not halt it.
"No! Stop! You're killing yourself!" Ba Che cried, terror in his voice, knowing full well what Yilan's actions meant. If a being such as this died a natural death, its will would linger on this land— able to seep back into the earth's veins and await rebirth. But if Yilan suppressed it, it would never rise again.
"Weren't you shouting with glee just now? Why are you so frightened now?" Yilan murmured with a derisive chuckle. "You're so ugly. Since you're about to die, why not make yourself look presentable first?"
Rocks whirled around Ba Che, obscuring his form completely. Just before his head would have turned to jade, Yilan saw Ganyu racing toward him, her lips moving but no sound reaching his ears. Yet he could see her eyes brimming with sorrow—sorrow that tugged at his own heart.
No need for grief, though—this was but a life simulation, detached from reality. Once he exited, he and Ganyu would be strangers again.
"Goodbye."
Yilan closed his eyes. Jade spread over his head, and the drawn-in rocks solidified around him, forming a new mountain. Mount Tianheng was destroyed by his battle; in its place stood this fresh peak on the land of Liyue.
When Cloud Retainer arrived on the scene, she found Ganyu kneeling before Yuheng Mountain, weeping inconsolably.
"Yilan…"
Ganyu's eyes flashed with memories of the past month: the moment he pressed an arrow's tip to his throat and confessed, "Ganyu, I fell in love the first time I saw you. For you, I want to become stronger—please teach me fairy arts!" … the day he guessed her unease:
"You look hesitant, so you must have run into some difficulty. Let me guess…"
"You probably want to go into the market to buy something, but your identity—half immortal, half mortal—makes you unequipped to deal with ordinary people, so you hesitate."
"From your expression, I know you must be wondering how I guessed so accurately, right?"
"Because I know you."
… and the time he reassured her about demon residue:
"You absorbed the demon's residue into your body? Will this harm you?"
"Don't worry—I have a special physique that purifies whatever filth it absorbs."
Yilan gave her a thumbs-up and smiled brightly. "So there is no problem at all!"
… and when she worried:
"But will this burden your body? Absorbing toxins must have a negative impact, right?"
"It's okay—don't worry."
"Didn't I absorb demon residue before? Ten days have passed—do I look any different?"
He gently scratched her nose. "Would I lie to you?"
In a flash of emotion, Ganyu shaped herself into an ice spike and stabbed it fiercely into her chest.
Bang!
A strong gust of wind—summoned by Cloud Retainer—knocked the ice spike aside. She shouted, "Ganyu, what are you doing?!"
"I was the one who actually killed him. Now I must pay with my life."
Ganyu's expression grew dull; even her tears stopped, as though her emotions had died.
In hindsight, she felt like a parasite—depending on Yilan for life, drawing joy from his body, blindly trusting him, losing all independent thought.
Why hadn't she stopped him when he tried to purge the devil's remnants from Qingxin?
Why hadn't she noticed anything wrong when he absorbed demon residue from his food?
"I really am a… hopeless fool!"
Seeing Ganyu's grief, Cloud Retainer sighed, produced a letter, and handed it to her.
"Read this. It's from Yilan… I admit, he knows you better than I do—he already guessed you'd do this."
Ganyu's vacant eyes flickered at the mention of his name. She unfolded the letter; Yilan's familiar handwriting greeted her:
My dearest Ganyu:
When you see this letter, I should be dead—though by protocol I should say that, in truth when you read this you should be seeking death, right?
A stubborn person like you will surely blame yourself entirely for my death, won't you?
Idiot, idiot, fool!
It's fine if I'm foolish, but if you truly die, won't I—who risked my life for you—look like an even bigger fool?
Don't feel guilty. Don't think everything is your fault. I chose this path—that's all.
And don't you think I succeeded? I became a great hero of Liyue. Even after a thousand years, my name will still echo across this land, right?
So as the person closest to me, shouldn't you live on and guard this land in my stead, so my legend won't be forgotten?
Consider this our contract. You may not object—my nature has always been domineering!
By the way, have you ever wondered why I call you Coconut Sheep?
Because you are timid and soft-hearted—like a little lamb that follows its shepherd.
So when I'm gone, live well, even alone.
Eat your fill—don't fret about losing weight. You are perfect. I'd cherish you with a little more flesh…
Don't fear mingling with others. The people of Liyue are kind; none will judge your half-human, half-immortal nature. Live as you wish.
I once heard that when people die, they become stars in the sky. If you miss me, look upward—among the stars is one gazing at you, lighting your path, sending you blessings.
Finally…
I hope you live well. Yet when I imagine your sorrow, I feel a guilty happiness—I'm not as noble as I pretend.
…Thank you for loving me so much.
—Love you, Yilan
"Ahhhhhhh…"
Ganyu pressed the letter to her chest like her most precious treasure. Her sobs were still wrenching, but the hopelessness had lifted.
Cloud Retainer—the ever-talkative—stood behind her in rare silence. The sunlight tore through the dark clouds, illuminating Yuheng Mountain. Its gentle shadow enveloped the two of them.