"Ta-da—!"
Danzhu giggled and turned to pull a lifelike doll, about seventy centimeters tall, from a box.
The doll's appearance was remarkably similar to Cangxuan's, like a miniature version of her.
"What is this?" Fu Hua asked curiously.
"The Book of Cangxuan. An armed doll created in my image," Cangxuan explained.
"I helped, too~~" Danzhu chimed in.
"From this day forward, she will take care of your daily needs."
"You don't have to go to such trouble. If my clothes get torn again, I can just come back."
"But our lives are not as long as yours. We can't stay by your side forever," Cangxuan said with a gentle smile.
"If one day, Danzhu and I are gone, she can be here to accompany you in our place."
"That's right. When that time comes, you have to take good care of yourself," Danzhu added.
"...I understand."
Fu Hua pursed her lips, not wanting to continue this conversation.
She then looked at the small Cangxuan, hesitated for a moment, and reached out to pat its head.
"Hello, my name is Fu Hua."
"Celestial, my name is the Book of Cangxuan. From now on, we're partners~" the little Cangxuan smiled and greeted Fu Hua happily.
---o---
Outside the vision, Fu Hua watched this familiar yet distant scene, the memory in her mind and the image before her eyes seeming to overlap in that instant.
She felt as if she had returned to a thousand years ago, to the days when Cangxuan and Danzhu were still by her side.
Back then, she didn't understand that this was the happiest time of her life.
It was only later, when one familiar face after another vanished into the dust of time and she was left all alone, that she truly understood the happiness and warmth of having companions.
Fortunately... she was no longer alone now.
Fu Hua looked at the people around her, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Cangxuan, Danzhu, if you could see this, you would be at peace, wouldn't you?
---o---
In the vision, images flashed by in rapid succession. Theresa and the others witnessed the story of the Immortal Celestial Chiyuan, who, accompanied by the Book of Cangxuan, traveled across the lands of Shenzhou to vanquish evil and maintain peace.
The scenes flickered past one after another, finally stopping on a dilapidated city wall.
In the image, countless Honkai Beasts surged toward the wall like a tide. They shrieked and roared, as if to annihilate every living creature and civilization before them!
Outside the wall, many humans clad in armor and wielding weapons formed a defensive line with their own bodies, fighting bravely against the Honkai Beasts, protecting the land beneath their feet and the city behind them with their very lives.
At the very front of the crowd, Fu Hua's entire body was wreathed in flames. Like a goddess, every punch and every kick could instantly kill several Honkai Beasts.
But the sheer number of Honkai Beasts was overwhelming. No matter how desperately she fought, their numbers showed no sign of dwindling.
Moreover, she seemed to have something else on her mind, her gaze frequently drifting to another part of the land.
As time passed, the anxiety on Fu Hua's face grew more and more apparent, but she could not leave. If she did, the soldiers present, as well as the civilians in the city, would suffer the merciless slaughter of the Honkai Beasts.
The battle raged for a full twelve hours. It wasn't until dusk was approaching that Fu Hua finally killed the last Honkai Beast.
Then, without a moment to bid farewell to the people around her, ignoring their tearful thanks as they knelt before her, she took the Book of Cangxuan and passed through the crowd of people who were cheering for their survival. Dragging her long-exhausted body, she arrived at the other side of the city.
But she was still a step too late.
When she reached the seaside and saw the surroundings, ravaged as if by a hurricane, her heart sank in an instant.
She searched frantically, finally finding Cangxuan and Danzhu behind a reef.
"Chiyuan, you're here."
Cangxuan, her face pale and blood trickling unceasingly from the corner of her mouth, managed a calm smile when she saw the disheveled Fu Hua.
Fu Hua froze. She saw that in Cangxuan's arms, the girl who was once as lively as a lark now lay quietly.
If not for the gaping hole torn in her chest and the blood that covered her body, anyone would have thought she was merely asleep.
"..."
"I'm sorry. We did our best, but we still couldn't kill Chiyou. Ji Lin gave her own life to seal Chiyou beneath Jiuyou," Cangxuan said, forcing the corner of her lips into a bitter smile.
"I'm sorry... I was late."
Fu Hua bit her lip tightly. Endless grief flooded her, and her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a powerful hand, the intense pain making it nearly impossible to breathe.
"I'll take you and Danzhu back for treatment right now!"
"There's no need, Chiyuan. You should know... I'm beyond saving." Cangxuan shook her head gently. She looked down at the slumbering person in her arms, her eyes filled with tenderness. "Danzhu has already fallen asleep. It's time for me to go with her."
"..."
"Chiyuan, don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault." Seeing Fu Hua, who was staring at the ground, her fists clenched so tightly that her whole body trembled, Cangxuan said softly, "Danzhu and I had long anticipated this day. We just didn't expect it to come so suddenly... there wasn't even time for her to say goodbye to you."
"Chiyuan, Danzhu and I have never had any regrets. We only regret that... we can no longer accompany you..."
"..."
"Master..."
The Book of Cangxuan wept ceaselessly, lightly grabbing Cangxuan's clothes and crying out in a trembling voice like that of a small animal. "Please don't go, okay? Little Xuan doesn't want to leave you..."
Her voice was laden with immense sorrow, its trembling tone enough to break one's heart.
"Little Xuan." Cangxuan slowly raised her hand and gently stroked the Book of Cangxuan's head. It was the last movement she could make. "Remember what I told you. From now on, I'm entrusting Chiyuan to you..."
"Master..."
The Book of Cangxuan sobbed uncontrollably.
Finally, Cangxuan looked at Fu Hua.
"Chiyuan, don't grieve for us. You still have a long road ahead of you. You will meet many more people. I only hope... that you won't close yourself off because of us..."
"...I'm sorry..."
Fu Hua opened her mouth. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. For the first time, she hated herself for being so clumsy with words.
"You don't need to apologize, Chiyuan. You must believe in your choices. In this world, no one is more correct than you."
Cangxuan slowly closed her eyes. Her life had reached its end. If not for holding on with her last breath to see Fu Hua one last time, she might have already departed.
Now, she had said all she wanted to say. It was time to find Danzhu.
"..."
A single, crystalline tear slid from the Immortal's eye, falling to the ground and splashing into a tiny, insignificant droplet.
In that instant, the Immortal felt as if her own heart had died along with that tear.
"Chiyuan... if there is a next life... I... still wish to again..."
Cangxuan's voice grew fainter and fainter, until finally, it could be heard no more.