Honkai Impact 3rd: Yumeji Satsuki's lies

Under the crisp autumn sky, a gentle breeze weaved through the bamboo forest, creating a rustling melody that echoed like an ancient tune from bygone eras. The sunset bathed the horizon in hues of crimson and gold, casting a warm yet melancholic glow over the landscape.

Jiang Zhu carefully secured the fabric pouch containing medicinal herbs to his waist, his sharp gaze sweeping over the patches of wild grass swaying in the wind. The search for Water Phlox had proven far more arduous than expected, but the most unexpected event of the day was his encounter with Feng Yue.

The traveler, with a fox mask concealing half of his face, sat quietly against a tree, his demeanor as tranquil as though he were merely observing the world, untouched by the dust of mortal concerns. At his feet, two wolf pups curled up in peaceful slumber, while a falcon perched firmly on his arm, occasionally flapping its wings as if testing the wind's direction.

Jiang Zhu approached cautiously, but it was Feng Yue who spoke first.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was low and calm, as if he had noticed Jiang Zhu long before he arrived.

Jiang Zhu hesitated briefly but then smiled lightly. "I'm searching for Water Phlox, but I didn't expect to run into you in such a remote place."

His eyes flickered with curiosity as he glanced at the small beasts beside Feng Yue. "Did you take them in?"

Feng Yue shook his head slightly, his hand gently stroking the soft fur of one of the wolf pups. "I simply stumbled upon them. They were lost from their pack. As for the falcon… it has been following me ever since I saved it."

Jiang Zhu pondered for a moment before sitting down beside him, his gaze lingering on the pup nuzzling against Feng Yue's chest. In the depths of those masked eyes, there was something elusive—a loneliness both light and persistent.

"Do you have no friends or family?" Jiang Zhu asked absentmindedly.

Feng Yue paused briefly, as though understanding the underlying meaning of the question. He let out a faint chuckle. "I do… but they are far away. I am merely a wanderer, still on my way back."

Before Jiang Zhu could inquire further, a ferocious roar shattered the peaceful air. From behind the bushes, a massive bear emerged, its black-gray fur marred with scorched patches. Its blood-red eyes—telltale signs of a creature tainted by Honkai energy—gleamed with unrestrained hostility.

In an instant, it let out an earth-shaking bellow and charged at them. Though Jiang Zhu possessed skill in medicine, he was no martial artist. His body tensed instinctively, frozen by the sheer threat of the beast. Yet, in stark contrast to his fear, Feng Yue remained utterly still. The eyes behind his mask gleamed with an eerie indifference.

With just a glance, the very air seemed to solidify, an invisible force crashing down like a tidal wave. The bear roared in agony, stumbling backward. When Feng Yue lifted a single hand, an unseen power struck down, and the monstrous beast collapsed before it could even register pain.

Jiang Zhu inhaled sharply, turning to Feng Yue with astonishment. "You… you possess divine power!"

Feng Yue's voice was calm. "It's not divine power."

Jiang Zhu clenched his fists. "Can you teach me? I want the strength to protect others."

This time, Feng Yue was silent for a long while. He gazed into Jiang Zhu's determined eyes before shaking his head lightly. "Your hands are meant for healing."

"But I don't want to just stand by and watch!" Jiang Zhu bit his lip, his voice thick with frustration. "Xuan Yuan has shouldered too much alone. If I were stronger, at least I could help her… make her smile freely like when she eats my pastries."

Feng Yue studied him for a long moment, then exhaled a quiet sigh. "Fine. But in exchange, you must teach me medicine."

And so, over the course of two short weeks, they exchanged knowledge. Feng Yue imparted to Jiang Zhu simple yet practical self-defense techniques, while Jiang Zhu taught him how to identify medicinal herbs. Beneath the cool shade of the bamboo forest, in those clear autumn days, they gradually grew accustomed to each other's presence.

One afternoon, as they rested by a stream, Jiang Zhu suddenly asked, "What's your favorite flower?"

Feng Yue frowned, clearly puzzled by the question. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Jiang Zhu shrugged.

Feng Yue was silent for a moment before answering, "Aster tataricus."

Jiang Zhu hummed in interest. "Some flowers have medicinal properties, so I was just wondering. I didn't expect you to answer seriously. Aster tataricus… it means 'never forget.' That's rather profound."

Feng Yue remained quiet for a long while before asking, "What about you?"

Jiang Zhu hesitated, never having thought about it before. After some contemplation, he replied, "Probably the lotus."

"Hmm~"

"What's with that 'hmm~'?" Jiang Zhu frowned.

"Nothing, nothing at all~"

For the first time, Feng Yue smiled. But instead of feeling pleased, Jiang Zhu found himself irritated. He thought, This guy is cute when he's silent and cold, but the moment he smiles, it's annoying.

On the last day before their departure, they happened upon a bamboo grove. Jiang Zhu broke off a green bamboo stalk, carefully carving it into a simple flute before handing it to Feng Yue.

"I'm giving you this as a thank-you gift."

Feng Yue hesitated before accepting it. "I don't know how to play the flute."

Jiang Zhu chuckled. "Then I'll teach you."

By the riverside, amidst the rustling of bamboo leaves, they sat together—one patiently teaching, the other silently learning.

Two days later, Jiang Zhu finally found Water Phlox. Before leaving, he turned back for one last glance. Feng Yue still stood there, bathed in the golden sunlight, holding the bamboo flute in his hand, like a traveler on the verge of continuing an endless journey.

"Take care."

"You as well."

And so, they walked in opposite directions, like two shooting stars crossing paths in the vast sky—leaving behind memories that would never fade.

****

The Scuba Grass sparkled green in the palm of his hand. The dew drops on the leaves were like small gems, sparkling in the morning sunlight. Jiang Zhu looked at it, his heart filled with a magical feeling – as if he had just touched something sacred and irreplaceable.

Two weeks. Two weeks of wandering through steep mountains, crossing raging rivers, and overcoming countless dangers. Without Feng Yue, he would never have been able to fulfill his promise to Xuan Yuan. That man in the fox mask appeared like a gust of wind, bringing with him strength and knowledge that Jiang Zhu had never had before. Whether by accident or on purpose, he had become his guide, an unwilling master on his journey.

Now that he had obtained the Scuba Grass, Jiang Zhu just wanted to run back to her as fast as he could, handing Xuan Yuan the proof of his promise. All he wanted was to see her smile, to see her eyes light up like stars when she touched this treasure.

"I did it…" He whispered, clutching the Scuba grass tightly as if he was afraid it would disappear.

…

Xuan Yuan received the Scuba grass with a gentle gaze, he thought this peaceful moment would last longer.

But he saw deep in those eyes, something uneasy, restless. Something that Jiang Zhu could not reach.

He did not want to believe it.

And then, early the next morning, the relationship he had tried so hard to build and preserve came to an end and collapsed before a roar that shook the heavens.

It was a roar that seemed to echo from the abyss as if the place where it came from was the place of death.

That roar made the whole world tremble.

The ground shook beneath his feet, the waves from afar came crashing down in large waves, swallowing the shore. The wild birds flew away from their nests, signaling that something terrible was about to happen.

Xuan Yuan's face paled.

"Chiyou."

The name fell from her lips like an omen.

Jiang Zhu stood still. He had heard her talk about it before—a beast from the deep sea, a calamity that Xuan Yuan had once repelled. But now, it had returned.

Xuan Yuan turned to him, her eyes filled with determination.

"I have to go."

"No!" Jiang Zhu almost screamed. He grabbed her arm, desperately trying to stop her. "You just came back! We can find another way, we can—"

"There is no other way." Her voice was still gentle, but unwavering. "This is my responsibility."

"But… I don't want to lose you."

For the first time, his voice choked. Since meeting her, he had never let fear invade him like this, his face was stiff like a pitiful child who did not want to lose his support.

Xuan Yuan reached out to gently touch his cheek, his eyes filled with countless unspeakable things.

"I understand."

Just three words, but they carried everything she could give him at this moment.

Then she turned and walked away.

Each step was like a knife cutting into Jiang Zhu's heart. He wanted to run after her, wanted to pull her back, wanted to scream that this fate was unfair.

But his feet could not move.

…

When Xuan Yuan's figure gradually disappeared on the horizon, he was left alone with emptiness. The sea breeze blew through his hair, carrying the echoes of his farewell.

Jiang Zhu sat down on the rock, his hand unconsciously scattering crumbs of cake for the Jingwei birds that were chirping around him.

The dawn is so bright.

But he doesn't feel warm at all.

*****

The sea breeze blew stronger as Xuan Yuan approached the Jiu Zhou coast. The waves crashed loudly against the rocks, creating a scene like the end of the world. And there, blocking her way, was him.

Feng Yue.

She had heard from Jiang Zhu about him, the mysterious boy in the fox mask who had always helped him.

The man in the fox mask stood motionless, his black robe fluttering in the wind. He did not draw his sword, nor did he take a fighting stance, simply standing there, like an impassable wall.

"Are you here to block my way?"

"I have no interest in fighting you." His voice was calm as if he did not care about the world.

"But I cannot let you go down the path of despair while leaving someone behind."

Xuan Yuan narrowed his eyes. "You don't understand—"

"I understand." He interrupted.

"You think this is your responsibility, that you have the duty to protect the Nine Provinces. But you know, the boy you left behind is actually a foolish lover, he begged me to teach him just to become stronger and help you. And now you plan to turn around and leave all of that behind for the sake of justice or the responsibility you carry."

She was silent. Xuan Yuan could only be silent. She understood. It was because she understood too well that she ran away like this. She didn't want to see that person's face suffer because of her, cry because of her. That boy was too good to give up on someone, so she had to be cruel, had to be steadfast to sever this relationship to be able to protect him.

Even if it was a mistake

Even if it was like giving him a deep wound in the chest instead of salvation.

But this was what she had to do to protect that person and the people of this land.

Feng Yue looked at her for a long time, then chuckled softly.

"Have you ever wondered, if this power did not belong to you, would you have chosen this path?"

She did not answer immediately.

But then, with unshakable determination, she raised her head.

"I am Ji Xuanyuan." Her voice rang out, strong as thunder.

"I am the queen of Xuanyuan. The protector of the Nine Provinces. The people here are all my relatives, I will not turn a blind eye and abandon them."

A foolish answer.

That was all Feng Yue could think of.

But he did not stop her anymore.

"Go." He said, his voice as light as a breeze.

"Do what you want."

Xuanyuan nodded. She walked past him, each step steadily toward the sea.

When she disappeared into the salt mist, he lowered his head, clenching his fist.

Do you really think you can change the past, Feng Yue?

He laughed bitterly.

The words he had just said were no different from mocking himself.

The reason he had stopped her, was probably out of sympathy.

He understood the mood that Xuan Yuan was carrying.

Because the path she was walking was a path that someone had walked before.

That was why the young man could speak as if he had experienced it.

He wanted to change that choice, even if it was someone else's fate, not his.

"Fool."

The fool he was referring to was none other than himself.

He pulled out an old photo from his pocket, it was unclear how much time had passed, but since the image was still clear, it could be seen that it had been preserved very carefully.

Abandoning loved ones to protect those loved ones, the wrong path no one understood better than him.

With a blurry and hazy hand as if floating between reality and illusion, he clenched the photo in his hand.

His expression could not be seen clearly because it was hidden by the shadow of the cloak, but it must have been a sad expression.

"Are you trying to make amends? What a hypocrite, ■■■■■■"

He regained his determination, he still had work to do.

Like a ghost trapped in the past.

…

A moment later, when he returned to the path, he saw Jiang Zhu.

The young man sat silently on the rock, his eyes blankly looking out to sea, silently scattering crumbs for the Jingwei birds.

A man who lost the one he loved.

A man who tried to change his fate but could not.

He and Jiang Zhu… looked at each other.