Chapter 246: A Letter from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor

"Hehe, I have something to tell you, Ei."

Said Yae Miko as she looked at Raiden Ei, then glanced at Qiu Bai beside her, a crafty smile playing on her lips.

"What is it, Miko?"

Raiden Ei asked with a puzzled expression.

"Oh my~"

"This is a secret, so Qiu Bai and little one, please step outside~"

Yae Miko turned her head to look at Lumine before shifting her gaze to Qiu Bai, speaking with a mysterious expression.

"I understand."

"I have some things to discuss with Miko, so I'll see you both out."

Raiden Ei nodded as she looked at Yae Miko, then turned her gaze toward Qiu Bai and Lumine with a smile.

"Sigh..."

"Miko, are you sure you want to tell her?"

Qiu Bai frowned as he looked at Yae Miko.

"What's wrong? Is that not allowed?"

"Chatting with a good friend about things that happened in the past is perfectly normal, isn't it~"

Yae Miko looked at Qiu Bai with her hands on her hips and a beaming smile.

"But now my memories, including her memories..."

"Have already disappeared."

Qiu Bai sighed as he looked at Yae Miko.

"It's fine."

Yae Miko shook her head as she looked at Qiu Bai.

Soon after, Raiden Ei escorted Qiu Bai and Lumine out of the Plane of Euthymia.

"They're out!"

Qiu Bai and Lumine stood before the Raiden Shogun.

Gorou, Kaedehara Kazuha, and the resistance fighters rushed over upon seeing them.

"Let them go."

"Her Excellency said that tomorrow, the Vision Hunt Decree will be abolished."

The Raiden Shogun spoke calmly to the resistance fighters, Qiu Bai, and Lumine, then frowned slightly before walking toward Tenshukaku.

"What?!"

"The Shogun said she'll abolish the Vision Hunt Decree!"

The resistance fighters, thinking they had misheard, suddenly fell silent.

Earlier, the Raiden Shogun had suddenly become motionless, and they hadn't dared approach, only waiting quietly.

"That's wonderful!"

Soon after, the resistance fighters began excitedly sharing the news with one another.

Some even shed tears.

"We succeeded."

Qiu Bai smiled as he looked at Gorou.

"This is truly wonderful."

"I'll take the resistance fighters back first; the Shogunate forces will likely be coming soon."

Gorou nodded with a smile as he looked at Qiu Bai.

He then led Kazuha and the resistance fighters out of Inazuma City.

"Lumine and Qiu Bai!"

"You're out! I was so worried!"

Paimon flew into Lumine arms, crying as she spoke.

"It's alright, Paimon."

"It's all over now."

Lumine gently stroked Paimon head and spoke softly.

"Really?"

"That's great! Let's go tell Ayaka and the others!"

Paimon looked up with tears glistening in her eyes and spoke with a smile.

"Mm!"

Lumine nodded with a smile and walked toward Komore Teahouse.

"Qiu Bai, aren't you coming?"

Lumine turned back, looking at Qiu Bai who remained standing, and asked with some confusion.

"You go ahead..."

"I want to see the sights of Inazuma."

Qiu Bai smiled and nodded at Lumine and Paimon.

Then he slowly walked toward the other end of the street.

The dense clouds had now given way to clear skies.

The ground, still wet from the recent rain, carried the fragrance of plants and cherry blossoms that wafted through the air.

The fresh air made Qiu Bai smile involuntarily.

With his hands behind his back, he walked slowly toward the end of the street...

Qiu Bai spent the day traveling to various places in Inazuma.

He went everywhere, admiring Inazuma scenery, just strolling along.

The beauty of the sunset made Qiu Bai pause his journey.

Standing on a cliff with his hands behind his back, he watched the breathtakingly beautiful sunset.

He then went to that beautiful field of flowers.

Under the moonlight, he looked at the stone monument as countless flower petals danced into the air.

Qiu Bai walked to the seaside with his hands behind his back, gazing at the bright moon until the sun rose...

Later, the Raiden Shogun fulfilled her promise and abolished the Vision Hunt Decree.

The wishes of the people had finally unlocked her closed heart.

Outside the Plane of Euthymia, she too saw eternity through the eyes of the people.

When wishes become too intense, The divine will cast their gaze upon them.

Yae Miko walked to the Grand Narukami Shrine, watching the morning sunrise in the distance.

Some wishes...

Are enough to soothe pain.

Bring victory, awaken hope.

Some wishes...

Kazuha, accompanied by the sunrise, walked to a gap between cliffs.

A cute white cat lay on a rock, watching as Kazuha slowly walked toward the sword cemetery inside. 

Even if their owner has already perished, with their soul returning to the high heavens.

In front of Teppei house, Sangonomiya Kokomi held the dim Vision in her hands.

With hands clasped together and eyes slightly closed, she made a gesture of prayer.

Yet still remained as it was when it was born.

Kazuha also knelt down, making a gesture of prayer.

Then he placed the dimmed Vision on the sword cemetery and turned to leave...

But neither Kokomi nor Kazuha noticed that the Vision Kazuha placed down flashed with a hint of Electro.

And the Vision clasped in Kokomi hands had a faint Yin-Yang symbol spinning.

Before they both lost their light.

Qiu Bai stood alone by the sea, the breeze gently ruffling his clothes.

He enjoyed the cool sea breeze while gazing at the ocean before him.

As the sun gradually rose, flower petals from the flower field drifted to Qiu Bai.

"So this is where you are..."

"Why do I feel that this backdrop makes you look so lonely?"

Yae Miko sat on a rock behind Qiu Bai, looking at his back and profile, asking with a light chuckle.

"Hehe..."

"I'm just feeling somewhat emotional and wanted to see the scenery of this mortal world again."

Qiu Bai replied with a soft laugh, arms crossed over his chest as he gazed at the ocean.

"Oh my~"

"You should have seen how surprised Ei was when I told her you were that big brother of hers."

Yae Miko hopped forward, landing on the beach, then strolled to Qiu Bai side with a smile.

"Oh?"

"That does make me curious."

Qiu Bai looked at Yae Miko beside him and said with amusement.

"That old friend of mine~"

"Because she knew you were her big brother, she missed you so much she was crying so pitifully~"

Yae Miko spoke with exaggerated tone as she looked at Qiu Bai.

"Hahaha..."

"It can't have been that dramatic."

Qiu Bai looked at Miko beside him and said with a grin.

"By the way, a letter arrived from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"It's addressed to you."

Yae Miko said with a light laugh as she looked at Qiu Bai.

Then she handed the envelope to him.

"Oh?"

Qiu Bai opened the letter with curiosity.

Inside the letter was a windwheel aster.

Sender: Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant, Zhongli.

"Has my old friend's journey in Inazuma come to an end?"

"I took everyone from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to Mondstadt for a trip some days ago."

"Haha... It was quite a pleasant journey."

"I casually picked a windwheel aster and placed it in this envelope as a gift for you."

"Qiu Yue and Director Hu, as well as Azhdaha, everyone at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, including myself, miss you dearly."

"As the Lantern Rite approaches, if you have time, old friend, come back to visit."

"Qiu Yue and Director Hu asked me to tell you to remember to bring some Inazuman delicacies."

"Old friend, this mortal world has many past events, many secrets."

"Perhaps you already know some, but when you made your choice, and after you had chosen..."

"Last time, I was not standing by your side."

"But this time... I will stand by your side and face it together."

"Haha... Also, Xianyun said to come back soon so she can see the new Liyue Harbor."

"As the wind gently falls with flowers, time treads with light footsteps, rolling up yesterday's beauty and leisurely departing."

Your old friend, Zhongli.

"Morax..."

Qiu Bai looked at the contents of the letter, then at the windwheel aster beside it, feeling a warmth flow through his heart.

(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)