Yunxuan's tense shoulders finally relaxed completely, and even the hand holding the violin bow loosened slightly. The wariness in her eyes faded mostly, replaced by a trace of fatigue from letting down her guard.
"Setting aside the Abyss for a moment, I'm more interested to know—Yunxuan, what exactly are you?" Before the atmosphere on the balcony could fully ease, Xianyun suddenly spoke, skillfully changing the subject, her tone carrying a hint of cautious probing. "Yunqin... hasn't she already..."
The name "Yunqin" fell like a light feather, yet landed heavily in everyone's hearts.
Before her words even finished, everyone's gazes focused simultaneously on Yunxuan.
A flicker of inquiry flashed in Xiao's eyes, his brow slightly furrowed.
Lumine and Paimon held their breath, clearly filled with curiosity about this girl who looked exactly like Yunqin.
Yunxuan lowered her eyelids, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the violin bow.
She remained silent for a long time, as if organizing memories too heavy to touch, even her breathing becoming soft and slow.
Xianyun saw her troubled expression, her tone gaining a bit more firmness, yet still carrying a hint of gentleness: "I think, as Yunqin's Master, I have the right to know all of this."
"Her past, her struggles, her end, I want to know it all completely, so that her spirit in heaven can rest in peace."
Yunxuan looked up, first glancing at Zhongli.
The Geo Archon's gaze was calm and accepting, without the slightest hint of pressure, only silent encouragement;
Then she looked at Osial and Beisht beside her, the couple's eyes full of support, Osial even gently patted her back, leaving the choice entirely to her.
She took a deep breath, finally speaking slowly, her voice carrying a faint, barely noticeable tremble, like a string vibrating in the wind: "When... her chest was pierced, she finally collapsed in Morax's arms."
"She knew she couldn't hold on any longer, but she didn't want the part of her soul that carried her obsession and resilience to also dissipate in the filth of the Abyss." Yunxuan's eyes reddened slightly, tears swirling on her eyelashes, "So she used the last trace of her divine power to tear me away from her soul, giving me a new life."
"I've always hidden my identity, not wanting to cause trouble," she paused, her voice growing even softer, "I don't even know what identity to face you with, after all, I am neither that gentle and smiling Yunqin, nor a completely strange 'Yunxuan'."
Hearing this, Xianyun could no longer hide the emotion in her eyes.
So, her disciple, until the last moment of her life, had been striving to leave behind hope, thinking about "living on".
Everyone present fell silent, the wind itself seeming to grow heavy.
No one took the initiative to break this sadness, only the bronze bell on the eaves occasionally letting out a soft chime, as if sighing for the departed soul.
Yunxuan gently blinked away the moisture in the corners of her eyes, just as she was about to shift her gaze away from Venti, she met a pair of burning eyes.
Lydia was staring at her unblinkingly, her pupils beneath snow-colored eyelashes shining with an astonishing brightness, like an explorer who had discovered a rare treasure.
The girl's hand gripping the Festering Desire even tightened slightly, and the dark purple runes on the sword's blade flickered along with her.
"What's wrong?" Yunxuan felt a bit uneasy under her gaze, subconsciously taking half a step back and asking in confusion, "You've been staring at me ever since just now. Is there something on my face?"
Lydia didn't answer immediately, but instead lowered her head in contemplation for a moment, her fingertips tapping gently on the hilt of the Festering Desire.
The dark purple runes flickered rhythmically with her movements, as if resonating with her thoughts.
Then she raised her head, her gaze open and earnest, without the slightest disguise: "You are very strong."
"When we fought just now, I could feel that your power was very pure, and... I felt that you were very familiar."
"Familiar?" Yunxuan froze for a moment, her face filled with astonishment, her brow furrowing tightly. "Could it be that you've seen me before? But I have never had contact with outsiders."
Lydia slowly shook her head, a bold and confident smile curving her lips.
A gleam of eagerness flashed in her eyes, like someone who had met an evenly matched opponent: "I haven't seen you before."
"But I just have a feeling, a very strange one. Our fates seem... tightly connected, as if we were meant to meet long ago, but simply missed each other for many years."
Yunxuan's heart suddenly leaped. She actually had the same feeling!
When they fought in Liyue Harbor just now, that kind of unspoken understanding where they could predict each other's moves despite it being their first meeting, as well as the inexplicable force pulling them together from the depths of their hearts, all made her feel it was unbelievable.
She was just about to open her mouth to respond, but saw Lydia suddenly raise the Festering Desire, its tip pointing straight in her direction.
Dark purple sword-qi condensed into a tiny blade of light at the sword's tip, yet there was not the slightest killing intent, only pure, burning battle intent, like a blazing flame.
"Let's fight!" Lydia's voice was crisp and resolute, carrying a hint of irresistible enthusiasm, even her snow-white ponytail swayed with it, "I don't know why, but I just want to continue fighting with you, to properly test your strength, and also to see... what kind of connection there is between us!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned.
Paimon was so shocked she stopped mid-air, hurriedly flapping her wings, her voice full of panic: "Huh? Right now?"
"You two just cleared up the misunderstanding, why are you fighting again! What if it ruins the mood?"
Venti also raised an eyebrow, his emerald eyes filled with a mix of amusement and exasperation as he rubbed his forehead. "Lydia, aren't you being a bit too hasty?"
"We just agreed to join forces against the Abyss, so why are you turning on your own ally the moment we're done? Our main focus right now is to uncover the Abyss's scheme, not to see whose sword is faster!"
Zhongli did not stop her, but a hint of deep inquiry flashed in his eyes as he gently stroked his chin.
He could feel that between Lydia and Yunxuan, there seemed to be a faint, intangible connection that transcended space and time.
This connection had nothing to do with the Abyss, but was related to some kind of ancient power.
This match might not only allow the two girls to familiarize themselves with each other's strength, but could also reveal some unknown truths.
Yunxuan looked at the pure battle intent in Lydia's eyes, and remembered the exhilarating feeling when they fought just now. Finally, someone could withstand her moves, and she no longer had to deliberately hold back her power.
The inexplicable palpitation in her heart grew stronger and stronger, as if it wanted to burst out of her chest.
She tightened her grip on the lyre bow in her hand. The confusion in her eyes was gradually replaced by battle intent, and a sharp smile that was completely different from Yunqin's curved her lips. Her black hair fluttered slightly in the wind.
"Fine! I've been wanting to see if that sword of yours, tainted with the Abyssal aura, can actually withstand my power!"