According to the mission prompt, Chen Xiyao teleported to Guili Plains.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived, Paimon spotted Diluc hurrying along the road.
"It's Master Diluc!"
It was Chen Xiyao's first time seeing Master Diluc in his Crimson Witch of Flames attire in a game cutscene, and he was truly handsome. The overwhelming sense of duty emanating from him really resonated with her.
The mission name also appeared on the screen:
'A Final Farewell.'
Having been 'knife-edged' before, Chen Xiyao's radar went into overdrive. This name, this name—
No way, no way. Ruola has already left, and you're still doing this?
Could it be that this 'final day' is Diluc's?
He sought that bastard to avenge his sister, but his strength wasn't enough, and he was instead severely wounded, leaving him with only one day to live?
No!!!
In the game, the first thing Diluc said to the Traveler and Paimon after they met him was to ask for their help, and what followed was quite unexpected.
Ruola's soul was actually taken by that bastard?!
Thankfully, Diluc managed to snatch it back in the end.
: "Damn that bastard, the person is already dead and he still takes her soul. Ahhh, I can't take it anymore. MHY, quickly give this guy a health bar; I want to abuse him a thousand times, a thousand times!"
: "Wuwuwu, Big Brother-in-law is still the best. Thanks to Big Brother-in-law, my baby Ruola's soul can finally rest in peace..."
: "Speaking of which, if her soul was taken, didn't Venti know? Why didn't we know anything?"
: "Leave this important mission to me. We will definitely protect Ruola's final soul!"
: "Sigh, suddenly I understand why this mission is called 'A Final Farewell.'"
---
Teyvat.
Liyue, Guili Plains.
Just as Lumine and Paimon arrived at the Teleport Waypoint, about to set off, Venti appeared beside them.
"Leave Ruola's soul to me."
Venti extended his hand with a serious expression.
Paimon, seeing Venti, no longer called him the 'bard':
"Venti, so you're here! That's great, quickly help us see what's going on with Ruola right now."
Lumine carefully handed the jade ring to Venti, afraid it might fall and break.
Diluc stepped forward: "I implore you, Lord Venti!"
"Hmm."
Venti, having received the jade ring, immediately infused it with divine power.
Gradually, the purplish-black color on the jade ring slowly faded, beginning to transform into a bright yellow.
Diluc, Lumine, and Paimon watched Venti's operation intently, not daring to breathe too loudly.
It wasn't until Venti stopped that Diluc anxiously asked:
"How is it?"
Lumine, who had been tense, also asked: "How is Ruola, exactly?"
Venti: "I have erased the abyssal power from it. I did sense Ruola's soul within, but... it's extremely weak. The soul's strength is only one-tenth of a normal soul's strength."
"Ah, why is it like this?!" Paimon exclaimed in disbelief.
Venti: "For a soul, the power of the Abyss is a curse. They will slowly devour the soul, until it is completely consumed, and this process will be extremely painful..."
Venti's tone when he said this clearly became displeased, but he quickly returned to his usual self.
"If it were any later, even just one more day, Ruola's soul would cease to exist, completely vanishing."
Diluc had already clenched his fists tightly upon hearing that the soul's consumption would be extremely painful, his hands trembling slightly from the effort.
Paimon lowered her little head:
"Venti, do you have any other way to save Ruola? She's truly pitiful!"
Venti gently shook his head:
"The dead cannot be brought back. This is the law of the continent of Teyvat. Even if I am a god, I cannot change this reality. Ruola has already left; what we should do now is to send her off peacefully."
Lumine was not from Teyvat. She had traveled many worlds and knew that not only on the continent of Teyvat, but in other worlds as well, those worlds that had not completely separated the boundary between life and death were without exception chaotic, filthy, and their ultimate end could only be destruction.
Diluc fell silent.
He knew Venti was right, but... seeing the three of them with such expressions, Venti sighed and said:
"I'll go find the old man for help. We can allow Ruola to remain on the continent of Teyvat for one more day, but after that day, she must leave."
Almost the instant Venti finished speaking, Diluc immediately grabbed his hand:
"Lord Barbatos, what did you say?!"
Diluc was so shocked he started calling him Barbatos.
Venti felt the strength of Diluc's grip on his hand, gently patted his hand, and repeated what he had just said.
Diluc was so excited that tears streamed down his face. As long as he could see Ruola again, even if only for one day, he would gladly exchange his life for it.
"Venti, can you really do it?!"
Paimon's big eyes were wide open, full of anticipation.
Venti: "I can't do it alone, but with the old man, it should be possible."
Lumine: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, we'll go find Zhongli now!"
Diluc was also anxious, urging the Anemo Archon to set off immediately.
Venti was actually quite moved. He said to the group:
"Traveler, you and Paimon can use Teleport Waypoints. You go find the old man first. He's currently listening to stories in Liyue Harbor; you should know the place. Diluc and I will arrive shortly."
Paimon and Lumine nodded and left. Before leaving, Paimon didn't forget to turn back and urge:
"Then you two hurry up!"
After Lumine and Paimon left, Diluc suddenly looked at Venti, his gaze making Venti feel uneasy:
"Um, is something wrong?"
"Regarding Ruola's soul being taken by the Abyss, did you not realize it earlier?"
"Uh... this..."
Diluc took a deep breath and said:
"I know your concerns, and I'm very grateful for your care for me, but many things are more important than life. Just like this matter, it's worth fighting for with my life. As a brother, no matter what, I have the right to know."
Diluc looked at the pensive Venti:
"Let's go, Lord Anemo Archon, we should depart."
"Ruola," who had been staying in the jade pendant:
"???!!!"
Venti, you actually have such a trick up your sleeve?
Jiang Mumu, who originally thought this part of her would quickly be sent to the Bard, had planned for Ruola to return to her main body after they sent her off. She just didn't expect Barbatos to have such a move... Thinking of this, Jiang Mumu immediately became excited. She had originally planned for Ruola to make her complete curtain call, but if that's the case—
Hehe... on the last day of her life, she wants to see her good friends, no problem, right?
She wants to cry about the pain of being devoured by the Abyss, no problem, right?
She wants to watch a sunrise but can't, no problem either, right?
You probably won't care if I take Klee to go fish blasting, right?
.
.
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_