Genshin Impact's Incense Burner of Liyue [484]

"So, this is the truth of what happened back then?"

Gu Sanqiu tread carefully through the remains, his steps reverent. From the skeletal differences alone, it was clear that, in addition to the formal Millelith, countless "unknown individuals" had donned armor and given their lives in the battle beneath the earth against the beasts.

"If there are this many remains in just one place like this, then elsewhere…"

A tight knot formed in Gu Sanqiu’s chest. He didn’t want to accept such a reality, even if he knew deep down it was likely true.

As he continued forward, he couldn’t help but wonder: why had only this particular area evoked a response—why had this place alone created something akin to a no-fly zone?

Because it’s the will of the heroic spirits, he realized. This law was formed by their killing intent and unyielding resolve.

"Even if we can’t effectively combat flying beasts, you will not take to the skies and harm the people of Liyue!"

"Even if we perish here, we’ll take you with us!"

Kill them!

The bloodthirst and will of these fallen warriors still lingered within their bones, so potent that even now, no foreign entity was allowed to fly freely in the depths of The Chasm.

Had he not wielded his family’s ancestral weapon, had he stubbornly attempted to take flight again, those spiritual forces would have turned hostile, possibly materializing into ferocious attacks against him.

"Rest in peace, all of you."

Gu Sanqiu continued onward. The scene was grim, but the answers he sought weren’t here.

He couldn’t stop. If he lingered here, he feared his journey into The Chasm would end prematurely.

Suddenly, the inherited power of his [Eternal Sight] ignited. Black dragon scales and golden Geo light intertwined, sending streams of black-and-gold radiance into the surrounding remains. Tiny particles of golden dust transformed into brilliant threads of light, weaving a glowing path forward.

"Another guide, is it?"

Gu Sanqiu glanced at his hands, clenching them tightly before following the illuminated trail.

"Just a glance. I’ll take one look and leave. I’m only here for answers, not—"

The path ended at a pile of remains, small and compact, stacked deliberately. At the very top lay a skeletal figure with its hands frozen in a clenched position.

As the [Eternal Sight] shone upon the pile, it trembled, stripping away the corruption that had seeped into the bones. The black-purple miasma dissipated as the remains were cleansed.

"Are you weeping?"

Gu Sanqiu collapsed to the ground, powerless. He recognized the pose of the skeleton at the top—he knew what it signified. It was the same as one of his clan’s key duties during the Archon War.

"Millelith goes forth; the standard must never fall!"

In the end, when the soldiers could no longer fight, those near the standard gave their final breaths to shield Liyue’s battle flag from corruption, propping it up with their broken bodies.

If we cannot strike down our enemies, we will glare them into submission with our eyes. If we cannot lift our weapons, our killing intent will suffice.

"Even if our bones are ground to dust, never shall the beasts trample upon Liyue’s will or the Millelith’s pride!"

Never!

"All of them… Liyueans. All Millelith…"

Gu Sanqiu gripped his hair, tearing at it in anguish before bowing his head deeply. A storm roared within his soul as dark emotions surged, threatening to break free.

"I came here for answers. None of this… none of this should matter," he whispered through gritted teeth. "It’s not important… it’s not…"

Biting down hard on his right middle finger, he smeared the blood onto his forehead. Tears mixed with blood as his trembling eyes regained their steely focus.

"The answers… are ahead. I don’t need to rush."

He staggered to his feet, his voice heavy with resolve. "But the heroes here… they cannot wait any longer."

With a flash of light, a weathered battle standard appeared in his hands. An antique that could fetch a king’s ransom, yet he cared not. He planted the flag firmly into the skeleton’s grasp.

"The standard shall not fall; the Millelith endures."

Gu Sanqiu stepped back and bowed deeply, his voice calm and solemn. "Rest well, my comrades."

A soft, pure smile lit his face as he added, "I’ll take you all home."

Whoosh.

A mysterious wind swept through the depths of The Chasm. The pile of remains crumbled into its constituent bones. Yet, even as the skeletons fell apart, the one at the top remained steadfast, its bony fingers still clutching the battle standard tightly, without the slightest tremor.

No one knew how much time passed, but rumors began to spread among the Treasure Hoarders attempting to plunder the underground mines.

They whispered about a "three-eyed man with black hair, carrying a massive coffin on his back."

"Follow him obediently," they said, "and you’ll stumble upon rich veins of high-quality ore."

But when some foolhardy Hoarders tried to track him down, the ones who had encountered this "three-eyed black-haired man" grew tight-lipped.

They spoke of the third blood-red eye on his forehead—terrifying and paralyzing, reducing them to their knees with a single glance.

The talk of "rich ore veins"? A lie.

The truth was that these Hoarders, who had witnessed the man’s actions, remained silent because they had seen something far more profound.

One by one, they had knelt, striking their foreheads to the ground nine times in respect—even if the ground beneath them was jagged stone.

The so-called "rich ore veins" were nothing more than the bones and remains the black-haired man had unearthed and casually tossed aside during his grim work.

"Hey, um, are you… okay?"

A Fatui Pyroslinger cautiously circled around the scattered remains, bowing slightly before addressing the black-haired man still digging through the bones.

When Gu Sanqiu looked up, his hollow gaze met the Pyroslinger’s, who flinched and instinctively stepped back. Yet, mustering some courage, the Hoarder offered him a steaming cup of milk.

"Recently, there’s been a spooky rumor going around, and it’s about you, isn’t it? Here, have some milk to warm up."

The Pyroslinger’s tone softened. "Even if you’re collecting the remains of heroes… you still need to take care of yourself."

Gu Sanqiu’s forehead, still smeared with dried blood, bore a stark contrast to his previously bright and elegant appearance. After a moment of silence, he accepted the milk, drank it in one gulp, and handed the cup back without a word.

"Seriously? Not even a thank-you?"

The Pyroslinger pouted but refrained from kicking a nearby rock in frustration. Glancing at the remains around her, she thought better of it.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A series of dull crashes echoed nearby. The Pyroslinger spun around, holding her lamp aloft, its dreamy light illuminating the area.

But instead of monsters, her eyes landed on crates of supplies—fresh ingredients and sweet spring water, their aroma cutting through the damp, oppressive air.

"Heh. What a moody guy," she murmured, smirking to herself as she began hauling the supplies back to her camp. "Totally my type."

Back at the camp, a massive Electro Hammer Vanguard nodded approvingly as the Pyroslinger returned with the goods.

"You did well."

Surprisingly, no one in the camp disagreed. Each of the Fatui operatives silently nodded in unison, acknowledging her actions.

For they, too, had been moved by what they saw.

In the depths of The Chasm, a solitary man with a coffin on his back wandered tirelessly, collecting the remains of fallen heroes.

Giving these heroes a proper rest was his only goal.

One by one, the Fatui operatives placed their hands over their hearts, murmuring a solemn vow:

"May one of our descendants, one day, do the same for us."

"To the foreigner who stands against the demons, and to the fearless, undying spirits—we salute you."

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T/N: AHHHHH GU SANQIU UR SO MUCH BETTER THAN LUO QING!!!

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!