Three Days Later

Liu Yun had been searching for Yu Xie to the north for three days, but to no avail.

She knew very well that if Yu Xie didn't want to be found, then he wouldn't be found. Yet, she couldn't help but cling to that small hope.

However, over these three days, that flicker of hope had gradually dimmed.

It was time to accept it: Yu Xie wasn't playing hide and seek; he had truly left.

When Liu Yun returned to Guili Assembly, it was a morning like any other.

Walking along the path, she noticed the snow had melted, and the place had returned to its usual bustle, with residents working from dawn till dusk.

For some reason, she recalled her last meeting with Yu Xie.

If she had known it would be their final encounter, she wouldn't have kept her feelings hidden until now.

Her fists tightened, nails digging into her flesh.

As she walked, when Liu Yun finally looked up, she found herself standing in front of the General's residence, unaware of how she had gotten there.

The mansion seemed desolate.

The front door wasn't locked but was firmly shut, as if waiting for its owner to return.

…

Tianheng Mountain

Yu Xie climbed step by step toward the mountain's peak.

The wind at the top howled incessantly, sending shivers down his spine.

He tightened his clothing and sat on a stone at the summit.

Looking southeast, he gazed at the vast expanse of the sea, an endless stretch of clouds and waves.

To the south lay uncharted wasteland.

In a thousand years, that area would become the largest commercial port in Teyvat.

Merchant ships would come and go, and the people would live in peace and prosperity.

But Yu Xie would never witness it in this lifetime.

His nearly two hundred years of life were but a drop in the ocean of time.

Yu Xie looked north toward Guili Assembly.

Though it was too far to see clearly, he could still feel the vibrancy of that place.

[Your estimated lifespan is down to one day.]

Only one day left.

Throughout his journey back, Yu Xie had scarcely rested, further depleting his life.

But a single day was enough to accomplish the last thing he wanted to do before his life ended.

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Taking a deep breath, Yu Xie stood up.

Cloud Cutter slid out of its sheath, the blade glinting in the light.

Power began to gather as he gripped the hilt tightly, every cell in his body responding to him.

[Life force is rapidly depleting; your remaining time is decreasing!]

Yu Xie ignored the warnings. This was to be his final performance.

Living one more day in exhaustion was not as worthwhile as living one moment in brilliance.

He looked up, his eyes seemingly holding the entire sky within them.

In the next moment, his figure suddenly shot up, soaring into the heavens.

In an instant, Cloud Cutter sliced through the air, creating a powerful gust of wind.

The sky was immediately filled with wild winds.

The whistle of Cloud Cutter cutting through the air echoed like thunder, and the dazzling light of the blade flashed like lightning across the sky.

Amidst the chaotic gusts, the clouds above were not blown away; instead, they seemed to be held in place by an invisible force, motionless in the air.

This was Liu Yun ( Staying Cloud ).

…

Liu Yun stood at the entrance of the General's residence, hesitating to step inside.

At that moment, she heard the voice of Ge Chen.

"You're back. Why don't you go in?"

"…" Liu Yun didn't respond, simply staring at the familiar door.

"Honestly, Liu Yun, I envy you," Ge Chen said. "It's obvious to everyone that Yu Xie cares the most about you, yet you can't see it. He's foolish, too, for not realizing how you feel about him."

"…" Liu Yun remained silent.

"It's too late to say all this now. We were foolish to think we'd have plenty of opportunities in the future," Ge Chen smiled, but her eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears. "We should have anticipated this; we took too much for granted…"

"Ge Chen, what do you think Yu Xie is doing right now?" Liu Yun finally spoke.

"Maybe he's secretly watching Guili Assembly from somewhere, or perhaps he's sleeping, or…" Ge Chen hesitated and didn't continue down that path.

"I never thought that one day, my lifespan would become my shackles," Liu Yun said.

"…I've thought about it. Once the war is over, I might try to live as an old woman," Ge Chen said.

"Why?"

"Maybe to be a bit closer to him," Ge Chen smiled again, but the moisture in her eyes deepened. "You should go inside and take a look; maybe he left something for you in there."

"Did he leave anything for you?"

"No." Ge Chen shook her head. "But I just feel like he would leave something for you."

Liu Yun fell silent again, her gaze fixed on the door of the General's residence, unable to look away.

"I'll be going now. Whether you go in or not is up to your heart."

With that, Ge Chen turned and slowly walked away.

Once Ge Chen was far off, Liu Yun's gaze remained on the door.

She stood there, as if pondering for an eternity.

Finally, she took a step forward, walked to the door, and pushed it open.

Everything in the courtyard felt so familiar, the small yard filled with echoes of the past.

Liu Yun crossed the courtyard and entered the house.

She looked around but found no traces of him.

It wasn't until she walked into Yu Xie's bedroom that she noticed it.

A small, exquisite wooden box rested on Yu Xie's bedside.

When she had come a few days ago, that box hadn't been there.

Liu Yun's heart stirred as she quickly picked up the box and rushed outside.

But aside from her, there was no one else in sight.

Staring at the box in her hands, Liu Yun remained silent for a long time.

Then she opened it.

The box wasn't locked and was easy to open, but it felt as though Liu Yun had expended all her strength to do so.

Inside was a piece of jade, a deep green water jade, along with another rectangular small box.

The water jade glimmered in the sunlight, completely free of impurities.

Beneath the water jade and the small box lay a letter.

On the envelope was written—To Liu Yun, personally.

Seeing this made Liu Yun's heart tremble.

Something seemed to swirl in her eyes, a feeling that was hard to describe.

She placed her hand over her chest, trying to confirm if her heart truly ached.

Yu Xie had indeed come back quietly; he left these behind silently, and then slipped away without anyone noticing.

Seriously, weren't we supposed to wait until the snow melted to go fishing by the river together?

Now that the snow has melted, where are you?

Why don't you keep your promises?

After a long silence, Liu Yun set down the water jade and the small box and picked up the letter.

Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to open it, struggling a few times.

Finally, the letter was unfolded.

The handwriting was somewhat hurried, but it wasn't hard to read.

It was unmistakably Yu Xie's style.

"Liu Yun, forgive me for my sudden departure. I know you will see this letter, but by the time you read it, I should no longer be in Guili Assembly; perhaps my life has already come to an end."