Venti's music filled the air, soothing the hearts of everyone present. Even Xiao's expression softened.
Qingge suddenly froze, turning her head toward Venti as he played. Her crimson eyes slowly faded, rationality returning to her gaze.
But with so little consciousness remaining, even Venti's aid could hardly achieve the full effect everyone hoped for. Still, it was better than nothing. At least Qingge no longer resembled the monstrous creature she had been moments ago.
The Kaiyang, the brightest star of the Qixing, shouldn't be like this.
Qingxu turned, her eyes fixed intently on her sister.
Though Venti's music wasn't primarily aimed at her, the incidental exposure elevated her spirit. Qingxu instantly understood Venti's intent.
Sister still has consciousness—she must! Venti's playing is meant to awaken her latent consciousness!
With this realization, Qingxu's anticipation surged.
Hu Tao, Keqing, and the others gathered closer. Qingge was now calm, and they no longer feared her sudden violent outbursts.
Hu Tao tucked away her Compass. If the "guy in green" truly awakened Qingge, she didn't want Qingge to see her holding the device.
-
In the live stream, Chen Xiyao and the viewers were eagerly awaiting the outcome.
[Venti, you've got this! I really want to see Qingge again!]
[sniffles Even though I made an alt account where Rola and Qingge didn't die, I know they're supposed to die. Watching it still breaks my heart.]
[If Qingge wakes up and sees what she's become, her feelings must be so complicated...]
[Damn the Abyss! I curse them every morning when I wake up!]
[Wishing you success!]
-
Beside a pool of water in Mt. Aocang.
Venti finished playing a tune and retrieved the Holy Lyre der Himmel.
Zhongli nodded his thanks to Venti before turning his gaze to Qingge in the center of the clearing.
The blank expression on Qingge's face softened slightly. She moved her body, still stiff and awkward, as if just regaining control of it.
She raised her right hand, examining her pale palm and sharp fingernails, still stained with dried blood.
Clarity gradually returned to Qingge's mind. She remembered crawling out of the grave, step by step leaving Tianheng Mountain, arriving at a small mountain village, hunting wild boars, and draining their blood...
Shock twisted Qingge's features as she recoiled violently, stepping backward until she tripped over a rock and landed heavily on her backside.
A hoarse, guttural growl escaped her throat—not a threat, but more like a sob.
"Sister..." Qingxu sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Her elder sister had always been so strong; in Qingxu's memories, their parents had never scolded her, and Qingge had rarely cried.
Everyone felt heavy-hearted. Paimon began shedding tiny, pearly tears again.
Still sitting on the ground, Qingge suddenly noticed a pool of water nearby. She scrambled toward it on all fours.
Reaching the pool, she leaned forward to peer into the reflection.
Is that really me...?
Qingge stared at the surface, transfixed. If not for the ripples caused by a passing breeze, the scene would have seemed frozen in time.
Suddenly, she bared her teeth, terror flashing in her eyes.
-
Player World
[What's Qingge thinking right now?]
[That look in her eyes breaks my heart...]
[I see fear in Qingge's eyes, but I don't think she's afraid of her reflection. She's terrified of what she's become.]
[Damn the Abyss for splitting someone's consciousness into so many pieces! What's the difference between that and dismemberment?!]
[The Geo Archon is being worn down again. I saw him try to step forward several times, but he kept holding back.]
[I know it's inappropriate to say this now, but Qingge still looks beautiful like this, especially when she bares her teeth.]
[I thought I was the only one who felt that way! If Qingge doesn't make it into the gacha, would this zombie version be okay?]
[Get lost, you mood-killing creep!]
-
By the puddle.
Seeing her sister in such a state, Qingxu could no longer restrain herself and lunged forward.
This time, Xianyun didn't stop her.
As Qingge stared blankly at her reflection in the water, Qingxu wrapped her arms around her from behind. The warmth of Qingxu's body pressed against Qingge's frigid form, sending a shock through her heart.
"Sister... sniffsob..."
Qingge turned her head stiffly, her expression seemingly surprised.
Qingxu didn't care about her sister's appearance; all that mattered was that she was holding her sister, the sister she had yearned for day and night.
"Qing...xu..."
Qingge's voice was low and hoarse. Qingxu immediately looked up, meeting her sister's bloodshot eyes.
"Sister, it's me! Can you speak now, Sis? Do you remember me?"
"I..."
Qingge slowly stood up, pushing Qingxu away. Faced with Qingxu's innocent gaze, she struggled for what felt like an eternity before finally uttering a single word:
"Dirty..."
Dirty wasn't just about the bloodstains on her body.
Qingxu suddenly lunged forward again. "Sister, you're not dirty! You're not dirty at all! Let me hold you, let me hold you for a while longer..."
This time, Qingge didn't push Qingxu away. Holding her sister close, she turned her gaze to the crowd.
Everyone's eyes were red-rimmed except for Zhongli and Venti, but thankfully, only Paimon was crying loudly. The others remained stoic, holding back their tears.
When her eyes met Zhongli's, Qingge instinctively tried to look away.
Zhongli sighed again. He stepped forward, no longer hiding behind the others.
"There's no need to blame yourself. I failed to protect you, allowing the Abyss to exploit the opening. You have done right by Liyue. You have harmed no citizen of Liyue. I am proud of you..."
Zhongli's words brought two drops of blood tears to Qingge's parched eyes. Her body trembled as she tried to kneel, but Zhongli immediately stepped forward to steady her.
"I... I don't deserve your bow..."
Zhongli's voice was bitter, filled with remorse. He felt he had failed Qingge.
Keqing stood behind them, utterly shocked, her eyes darting between Zhongli and Qingge.
Lumine, noticing Keqing's expression, realized that Zhongli's identity had likely been exposed to her.
"My... Lord..., I... am ashamed..."
Each word Qingge forced out felt like a knife tearing through her throat. Just as she was about to continue, her vision was suddenly consumed by crimson.
Though Qingge quickly regained control of her body, she fearfully pushed her sister away.
"Go... don't come near me..."
Zhongli looked at Venti, who shook his head.
This was all they could do. After drinking blood, Qingge's consciousness was rapidly fading. Even if they did nothing, it was likely that after three more bloodlettings, her consciousness would completely dissipate, leaving behind only a soulless husk to wreak havoc on the world.
Tears streamed down Qingxu's face as her sister pushed her away. She didn't want to leave, but the look in her sister's eyes left her no choice.
Qingge fell silent, acutely aware of her current state.
This clarity was only temporary; soon she would revert to her previous state.
But how could she accept such a fate?
To become a zombie, harming the very people of Liyue she had once sworn to protect with her life, to harm her own family?!
Qingge slowly stepped forward and extended her hand toward Xiao.
After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, Xiao handed Qingge his spear.
"Th-thank... you..."
Qingge gripped the spear, holding it horizontally before her. For a moment, she seemed to transform back into the majestic leader who had once led the Millelith in repelling Abyss Monsters.
She pointed the spear at Qingxu—at her own sister.
"Come, defeat me!"