With a loud bang.
Cloud Cutter pierced through Crucabena's chest, pinning her to the wall.
The wall cracked under the immense impact, with radial fissures extending outward.
A mouthful of blood spewed from Crucabena's mouth as she struggled to lift her head, her vision starting to blur.
She saw Yu Xie standing in the distance. Though he was just a boy about to turn seventeen, he seemed as though a god had descended to the mortal realm.
Crucabena finally understood: she had made the wrong move.
The surrounding solid ice began to melt and collapse, the intense cold gradually being driven away by the wind.
"It's impossible... I am the noble Fourth Seat of the Harbinger. I will not be defeated..." Crucabena exerted all her strength, trying to pull Cloud Cutter out of her chest.
But her hand trembled as it reached halfway up, then suddenly stopped, weakly falling.
Life drained away, and she died.
Yu Xie slowly walked up to Crucabena, pulling Cloud Cutter from her chest.
It was over.
The children of the Hearth Manor would no longer have to fight until only one remained, nor would they have to fear being sent off to become subjects for human experiments.
Though the children who had already lost their lives could never return, such tragedies would never happen again.
[Time remaining: 1 hour]
With only one hour left, Yu Xie suddenly felt his body grow heavy—this was a side effect of the "Pure Soul Of The Blessed Land."
He still hadn't fully mastered the "Pure Soul Of The Blessed Land," and its side effects would make him feel like an old man for a while.
He coughed a few times, his steps heavy as he slowly made his way to the open area in the center. He sat down on the ground, quietly waiting for the inevitable end.
[Are you satisfied with your life?]
— I just did what I wanted to do. Whether I'm satisfied or not, I don't know, but I have no regrets.
— I have one small request.
[Please, go ahead.]
— In the next life, if my life isn't long, then don't remind me of the remaining time too early. It feels like my heart is being constrained by it. Just remind me when the time is almost up, as long as I have enough time to finish the last thing I want to do.
[Your request has been recorded in the system's core and will not be lost with the deletion of information. I will follow your wishes.]
Yu Xie smiled faintly and looked up at the sky.
What kind of person would he become in the next life?
If possible, he'd want to be someone carefree and lighthearted—someone who didn't worry about anything. That way, life would be much simpler.
Unconsciously, the images of Peruere and Clervie flashed through his mind. The two girls seemed to be standing in the distance, smiling at him.
It seemed that, after all, he just couldn't bring himself to let go.
Just the thought of having to forget them, to forget the times they had spent together, made his heart ache.
Would they meet again in the next life? If they did, would they recognize each other?
...
Under the moonlight, Peruere was running at full speed.
The Fatui's Army soldiers had long been left behind, far in the distance, and Clervie couldn't keep up with her.
Without any extra thoughts, Peruere only wanted to catch up, to see the person who occupied her heart.
She didn't know if it was "love," nor did she know if Yu Xie would ever return her feelings, but she knew that she couldn't stop now. She had to hurry, go faster, even faster.
Finally, in her line of sight, the building that stood upon the plains appeared.
In that instant, even from such a distance, Peruere could feel the intense, biting cold energy erupting from within the building.
And then, the thunderous sound that followed.
Her gaze sharpened, and without a second thought, she quickened her pace.
The wind howled as it blew through the building's entrance, and Peruere finally arrived.
She stood at the doorway, seeing the familiar figure sitting on the ground inside.
She wanted to run towards him, but in the end, she slowly walked up behind Yu Xie.
"Peruere, you're here."
Before Peruere could speak and call out Yu Xie's name, he spoke first.
For some reason, Peruere froze for a moment.
A thousand thoughts rushed to her mind, but she didn't know what to say.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Crucabena, already lying lifeless on the ground, and she fell silent, unable to find her voice.
"Yu Xie, let's go back." After a long silence, Peruere spoke softly.
"Peruere..." Yu Xie paused, then added, "I'm going to die."
What?
Die?
A buzzing sound filled Peruere's mind.
How could that be? Was it from the injuries he sustained during the battle?
Without hesitation, Peruere rushed to Yu Xie's side, wanting to check his condition, but Yu Xie extended his hand to stop her.
"There's no need to check, I'm not injured," Yu Xie said with a smile.
"Then what are you joking about?!" Peruere seemed a little angry, her trembling eyes fixed on him.
"I'm not joking. I'm really about to die." Yu Xie said with a sense of resignation. "Everyone will die. My time in this life is almost up."
From Yu Xie's eyes, Peruere could see no trace of jest, nor any hint of a lie.
Suddenly, she panicked.
Though Yu Xie was right in front of her, Peruere felt as though he was slowly slipping away.
It felt as if he was truly going to leave, and once he was gone, he would never return.
"No... It's impossible... You won't die... You..."
"Listen to me, Peruere," Yu Xie interrupted gently. "Life, death, illness, and aging—they're all part of the natural order. There's no need to be sad for me. I've done everything I wanted to do in this life. There's no regret."
"If there's anything I worry about, it's you..."
"But, with Clervie by your side, the two of you can look out for each other, so it should be fine..."
"Stop talking!" Peruere interrupted Yu Xie.
She lowered her head, and Yu Xie couldn't see her expression.
"Come back with me. You won't..." The words caught in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to say the word "die."
"Help me up first," Yu Xie said with a bitter smile, extending his hand.
Peruere hesitated for a moment, almost as if "rebelling" against him, but in the end, she helped him to his feet.
She noticed that his body was trembling slightly—whether from the cold or from some uncontrollable shake of old age, she couldn't tell.
"Peruere, can you promise me one thing?" Yu Xie asked slowly.
"...You can tell me," Peruere replied softly, her eyelids lowered.
"You need to become the next 'Knave,' the new 'Father' of the Hearth Manor, and a worthy 'King.' I believe you can do it."
"..."
Peruere remained silent.
"The new Hearth Manor needs you," Yu Xie smiled faintly and reached out to gently pat Peruere's head.
"...I promise you." After a long pause, Peruere finally spoke.
Yu Xie suddenly fell silent, gazing quietly at Peruere in front of him.
The night wind stirred the strands of hair at the side of Peruere's face.
"I'm sorry, Peruere... Many of the things I promised you and Clervie, I won't be able to do anymore. Please don't blame me... Don't worry about me. You two will have brilliant lives."
His words lingered in the air, carried away by the wind.
Yu Xie leaned forward and collapsed into Peruere's arms.
Peruere caught Yu Xie in her arms, holding him tightly, as if she could feel his warmth slowly fading away.
Yu Xie was really leaving, just as suddenly as he had arrived at the Hearth Manor eleven years ago.
He really was stubborn.
"I... I still have a scarf I never gave you..." Peruere whispered.
"Don't worry, I've already received it," Yu Xie whispered, his eyes closed. His strength was too weak to speak at his usual volume, so his words came as a soft murmur by Peruere's ear.
Over the past two months, Yu Xie had secretly returned to the Hearth Manor. From behind the window, he had seen Peruere weaving that black scarf under the light.
A once-in-a-lifetime mark was etched in this moment.
"I hope you like it..." The crystalline tears finally fell, slipping down Peruere's cheek.
But Yu Xie could no longer see or hear.
Clervie finally arrived at the scene, and the sight before her, along with Peruere's silence, said everything.
She slowly walked up to Peruere, standing in front of her, and remained silent for a long time.
The soldiers of the Fatui's Army also finally arrived.
Everything that had happened inside the building left them utterly shocked.
"What happened... Who did this?!"
"I did," Peruere replied quietly.
She didn't want Yu Xie to bear the guilt of this "matricide."
In her unique, mournful eyes, the image of a wave-like sorrow surged, overwhelming everything.
End of Arc 2
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