12. For the Glory of Shushan!
Jiang Yan looked calm, but beneath that calmness lay a deep sorrow.
Zhongli and the others didn't know how to comfort him.
Gan Yu looked at him with concern and whispered, "Jiang Yan, don't be like this…"
But Jiang Yan remained immersed in his performance, letting his emotions shape the atmosphere.
As a cultivator who had refined his spirit and returned to the void, influencing the world around him was second nature. His emotions resonated with the fragile world of Teyvat, sending ripples through its very fabric.
Zhongli sat in silence for a long time, looking at Jiang Yan with a complicated expression.
"I'm sorry… I didn't know," Zhongli finally said.
"It's fine," Jiang Yan replied quietly. "The past is set in stone. But as long as I claim the title of Headmaster of Shushan, I won't let this glorious sect be erased completely."
Jiang Yan sighed and continued, "My master once told me that there are three stages of death in life.
The first stage is when the body ceases to function, and you are pronounced dead.
The second stage is when your loved ones mourn and bid you farewell.
The third stage is when the last person who remembers you passes away, and you are truly gone."
"I believe the same applies to Shushan. As long as I remember Shushan, as long as I believe in my identity, Shushan will not die."
His words rang like a bell in the hearts of Zhongli and the others, shaking them to their core.
Zhongli picked up his teacup, then set it down, repeating the motion several times before sighing.
"I have been enlightened… Your master was truly a man of great wisdom," Zhongli said solemnly.
Jiang Yan smiled slightly. "Yes, my master was indeed a wise and extraordinary figure. In less than three hundred years, he reached the realm of refining the void and merging with the Dao.
"He was fond of drinking and often disguised himself as a mortal to experience the world's joys and sorrows. His state of mind and talent were unparalleled. Many great elders of the upper realms believed he was the most likely genius to achieve Golden Immortality in an era spanning countless tribulations.
"But…"
A deep sadness flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes.
"In the turbulent river of time, while trying to protect me, my master was splashed by a single drop of its water…
"No matter how brilliant he was, he was still only at the peak of refining the void and merging with the Dao.
"And even those at the Golden Immortal level must be wary of the river of time.
"I watched as my master smiled and waved at me… And then, in an instant, his tens of thousands of years of cultivation vanished.
"Before my eyes, he turned to dust, his very bones erased from existence."
Jiang Yan clenched his fists. His voice trembled slightly.
For a moment, he had even convinced himself of his own story.
Zhongli and the others remained silent, not knowing how to comfort him. Gan Yu hesitated, wanting to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but in the end, she didn't dare to.
"You once said…" Zhongli suddenly spoke.
"The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Way is forty-nine, and one is left as a glimmer of hope.
"Perhaps your survival is proof that the ancestors of Shushan won their battle against fate.
"Therefore, you must pass on Shushan's legacy."
Jiang Yan was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Zhongli to grasp the essence of immortal cultivation so quickly—let alone use those words to comfort him.
It seemed his fabricated story had truly gained Zhongli's trust.
If that was the case, it was time to proceed with his plan.
However, before Jiang Yan could speak, Liuyun interrupted:
"So that's why you said you don't recognize us as immortals? You don't acknowledge innate immortals?"
Jiang Yan hadn't expected her to make this connection, but he took advantage of the moment and sighed.
"Yes… I apologize. When I heard of your so-called 'immortals,' I was reminded of the Da Luo beings who are born enlightened.
"It was my own prejudice clouding my judgment."
Jiang Yan's gaze shimmered with purple energy as he observed each immortal present—Liuyun, Zhongli, Ganyu, Xiao, and Lishui.
After a moment, he nodded and said, "Leaving aside immortal cultivation, your strength is undeniable.
"Especially you, Morax—you stand at the pinnacle of this world.
"Although your power is a blessing from heaven and earth, you are not Da Luo. You did not become enlightened effortlessly.
"You have paid the price of blood and tears for your strength. It was wrong of me to dismiss you."
Liuyun felt a little better after hearing this.
If any ordinary person had said these words, she would have slapped them for their arrogance. But Jiang Yan was a cultivator who had refined his spirit and returned to the void.
More importantly, he had painted Shushan's history and his own experiences in such grand strokes that his words carried undeniable weight.
Even so, Zhongli let out a bitter smile, shook his head, and said, "The pinnacle? Compared to the world you described, I am nothing—especially after hearing your path to immortality."
Jiang Yan comforted him, saying, "There is no need to belittle yourself. As a being of Teyvat, you should view yourself through Teyvat's lens.
"More importantly, it's the world's upper limit that restricts you. If you were in my world, you might have already ascended to immortality.
"In Shushan's prime, your talents would have been considered among the exceptional."
Hearing this, Zhongli and the others felt somewhat reassured.
Liuyun almost asked how her talent compared to Jiang Yan's but decided against it.
After all, Jiang Yan's bone age was clearly only in his twenties.
Reaching the realm of refining the void and merging with the Dao at such a young age was unprecedented.
Otherwise, why would such a genius master have accepted him as a disciple? Why would the ancestor of Shushan have chosen to send him away in the final moments?
A disciple meant to carry the last embers of Shushan's fire must have been the most exceptional genius.
No one wanted to continue discussing such a depressing topic.
Especially after hearing about Da Luo and Taiyi beings—existences so high above them that they could only despair.
Zhongli decided to change the subject.
"So, you arrived in Teyvat through the turbulence of time and space?"
Jiang Yan nodded. "I have only just passed through the turbulence and have yet to recover my strength. I must thank Zhenjun Liuyun, Miss Gan Yu, and Miss Shen He for taking care of me."
"Don't call me 'Zhenjun,'" Liuyun interrupted quickly.
"After hearing what you've said, I don't want to call myself an immortal anymore. Just call me Liuyun."
Jiang Yan smiled and nodded.
Zhongli continued, "So, what are your plans now? If you don't have a place to stay, you are welcome to settle in Liyue for the time being."
Zhongli looked at Jiang Yan expectantly.
Liuyun and the others were also excited.
They didn't fully believe everything Jiang Yan had said, but one thing was undeniable—his strength was real.
And not only was he powerful, but he could continue to grow stronger.
If Jiang Yan stayed in Liyue, he might one day elevate the entire nation.
Jiang Yan shook his head.
"Thank you for your kindness, but as a disciple of Shushan, I cannot abandon my identity.
"If I do, then Shushan will truly die."
Zhongli took a sip of tea but said nothing more. However, his desire to recruit Jiang Yan remained.
Gan Yu stepped in.
"Jiang Yan, even if you are strong, you are still new to this world. Liyue is the most powerful and prosperous nation in Teyvat. If you stay, we can even help you rebuild Shushan—"
Jiang Yan raised his hand to stop her.
"I understand your good intentions, but I have already decided on my path."
Zhongli's gaze sharpened. "And what is that?"
Jiang Yan's eyes burned with determination.
"As long as I live, Shushan will not perish!"
"If its glory has faded—then I will restore it!"
"I will rebuild Shushan!"