The sea breeze of Liyue Harbor carried the lingering gunpowder smoke in the air, yet it could not disperse the sorrow that permeated heaven and earth.
The funeral prepared by Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was so grand it was almost solemn. The high platform was covered with a deep blue felt carpet, and the vermilion coffin was draped with brocade embroidered with Glaze Lilies.
That was what Ying'er and everyone else had stayed up all night to make, each stitch embroidered with their longing for Yunqin.
Around the coffin, the fresh flowers spontaneously offered by the common people formed a small mountain, various kinds of flowers interwoven, and the candle flames of the Xiao Lanterns gently swayed in the wind.
Wisps of incense rose into the sky, intertwining with the morning mist over the sea to form a hazy white veil, as if weaving the final dream for the young girl.
The scale of this funeral was second only to the Rite of Parting, personally authorized by Rex Lapis, who had "come back to life."
Hu Tao wore her signature red and black official uniform. The corners of her mouth, which usually curved upwards, were now pressed into a straight line, and even her eyebrows lacked their usual playfulness.
She held the sandalwood token of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, her tone as heavy as water-soaked cotton thread: "Liyue has a daughter, named Yunqin.
Inheriting the steadfastness of rock, carrying the gentleness of water, and cherishing a heart of protection."
"Fighting the Abyss without retreat, recovering under the Divine Light, fulfilling a promise with her life, and guiding all living beings with gentleness..."
When the eulogy reached the words "fulfilling a promise with her life," her voice paused slightly, and a faint, imperceptible moisture flashed in her eyes.
The sobs from the crowd below gradually rose, intertwining with her voice to become Liyue Harbor's heaviest farewell song.
Below the high platform, the area was packed with people who had come to say their final goodbyes.
The Granny who sold spices leaned on her smooth, worn cane, clutching a bunch of fresh laurel in her withered hand. That was the floral scent Yunqin had said she liked to smell, and the petals were still covered in morning dew.
A young man in short-sleeved clothes held half-burned incense, his eyes as red as ripe apples. He remembered competing with Yunqin to catch Crystalflies, and at that time, her smile was brighter than the sunlight.
The Millelith stood in formation, their armor glinting coldly in the sun, yet unable to hide the grief in their eyes. The captain at the front still wore the amulet Yunqin had once given him, which had now become a keepsake.
The three Adepti also took human form to attend.
Cloud Retainer shed her illuminated beast form, gently waving her horsetail whisk as she offered three sticks of incense to Yunqin.
"A pity for such a transparent and resolute heart," Moon Carver said with a grave expression, gazing toward the coffin.
Mountain Shaper stood beside him, holding a jade pendant he had crafted in the image of Yunqin's Vision, and sighed softly, "She deserves all the respect."
As the ceremony concluded, Hu Tao turned to look at Zhongli behind the high platform.
The Rex Lapis before her wore a long white robe, his golden eyes as deep as ancient stone. His face was identical to that of the Consultant from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the one who usually vanished from sight and loved listening to storytelling.
Hu Tao opened her mouth, but the words "Mr. Consultant" that reached her lips were ultimately swallowed back.
She understood. Some truths did not need to be exposed, and some identities only needed to be tacitly acknowledged.
She bowed slightly, gently placed the token in her hand on the table, and silently withdrew to the side, handing the floor over to him.
Zhongli walked slowly up the high platform. The Geo element around his body carried the majesty of a thousand years of accumulation, yet it was also wrapped in a rare gentleness.
He raised his hand, and a faint golden light shone from his palm. The light was not blinding, but clear enough to carry his voice to every corner of Liyue Harbor: "Yunqin blocked the Abyss with her own body, and protected Liyue with her gentle heart. Her achievements are monumental, and her virtue is illustrious."
"Today, I bestow upon her an Adeptal title, honoring her as the 'Immortal Lixi.' 'Li' signifies the will to protect Liyue, and 'Xi' embodies the gentleness of water.
May her soul return to heaven and earth, coexisting with the mountains and rivers of Liyue, sleeping eternally with the rock and water."
The moment the four words "Immortal Lixi" fell, the heavens and earth seemed to respond.
Ripples spread across the sea, each circle shimmering with a faint golden light.
A delicate chiming drifted through the wind, like wind chimes gently swaying, or perhaps Yunqin's gentle reply.
The people knelt one by one, their cries and reverence intertwining and echoing over the harbor. Even the seabirds ceased their calls, circling silently in the high sky as if bidding farewell to this young Adeptus.
After the funeral ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the incense still swirling, filling the air with a faint scent of sandalwood.
In a corner of the crowd, a figure wrapped in a white robe quietly withdrew.
The wide brim of her hat was pulled low, obscuring most of her face, revealing only a pale jawline and tightly pressed lips.
Yunxuan lowered her head, walking quickly through the deserted streets. The ground beneath her feet still held the scent of the funeral incense, each step feeling like a tread into past memories.
She sighed softly, her fingertips curling slightly beneath the white robe.
This funeral was held for Yunqin, and also to bid farewell to the "Hydro Qin" who lived in the shadows.
From now on, there would be no more Hydro Qin in this world, only Yunxuan, who wanted to live well.
She couldn't help but glance back toward the high platform. The coffin had already been carefully removed by the people of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, leaving only a ground covered in fresh flowers and unburned incense.
Her heart was a tangle of emotions: gratitude to Yunqin, relief for the past, and a faint, indescribable sense of bewilderment.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, two familiar voices suddenly called out from behind, softly speaking the name that belonged only to her: "Yunxuan?"
Yunxuan's entire body stiffened, her feet feeling as if they were nailed to the spot.
This was the name she had chosen for herself while gazing at Liyue Harbor. The "Yun" was from Yunqin's Yun, and the "Xuan" was from the Xuan of vortex. It was a symbol of bidding farewell to the past and welcoming a new life.
No one else knew this name besides herself.
How could anyone possibly call her by this name?
She spun around abruptly. At the entrance of a nearby alley stood a man and a woman.
The man wore a deep blue robe, its hem embroidered with delicate wave patterns. His face was resolute, and his brow and eyes carried the unique steadiness of the deep sea. It was Osial, in human form!
The woman wore a long silver-white gown, her long hair flowing over her shoulders with a few glistening strands still damp. Her gaze was so gentle it could drip with tenderness. It was Beisht!
Their eyes met hers, and there was no unfamiliarity, no distance, only a profound sense of heartache and concern.
Yunxuan froze on the spot, her mind going completely blank.
She reflexively took a half-step back, her body trembling slightly beneath her white robes. There was the shock of being recognized, and the helplessness of facing her closest kin.
She had grown used to being treated as a "shadow," used to hiding alone in the corners.
Yet she had forgotten that she was also a child who deserved to be cherished.
Osial slowly walked forward, his steps steady and light, as if afraid to startle her.
He raised his hand, his fingertips pausing slightly before he cautiously touched Yunxuan's head.
His palm was large and warm, carrying the moist scent of the deep sea, and his touch was as gentle as if he were stroking a fragile treasure.
"We have been searching for you for a long time. Ever since you were born, we have been looking for you."
Feeling the warm touch on her head and the familial warmth radiating from his palm, Yunxuan's body trembled even more violently.
Seeing this, Beisht could no longer restrain herself. She strode forward and wrapped Yunxuan in a tight embrace.