Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"The Xuanyuan Sword? Isn't that what Cang Xuan and the others belong to? You... went and stole the Xuanyuan Sword? Where is Cang Xuan?"

Chi You was dumbfounded.

"Cang Xuan is dead! No, her physical body has perished; she must have gone to the Heavenly Realm! In any case, she definitely won't be back anytime soon!"

Youju was clearly somewhat agitated and was speaking recklessly.

"While we were holding a meeting of the three major tribes, we sent Youwu to shoot and kill Cangxuan! Now the other two major tribes are in complete chaos! We've seized the opportunity to take the Xuanyuan Sword and are about to launch a general offensive!"

As he spoke, he knelt down.

"Lord Chi You! Our Nine Nether Tribe is about to seize the world and the rivers! We are the masters of the world! You are also the only god of the Divine Land! Use your divine power to protect us!"

Chapter Twenty-One: The Song of Cangxuan Ends

科学是什么？

This is a question that Cangxuan has been pondering for a very, very long time.

Although she seemed to be doing nothing and obsessed with making money every day, Cangxuan was different from her sister Danzhu; she was an excellent scientist.

Möbius, Möbius, and Vervier were the three pillars of the scientific community in the pre-civilization era.

Cangxuan is the fourth.

With Melutina, Blanca, and Klein retiring from the scientific community, Cang Xuan became the undisputed fourth-ranked scientist in the world.

She is talented enough, but not hardworking enough.

This was not because she was lazy, but because, unlike Mebius and others, she was bound by her sense of morality and found it difficult to move forward.

She was born in a cruel era, an era that made it difficult for kind people to move forward.

Cangxuan was just one of those in the cage.

Mebius saw all of this, but never said a word.

"Doctor, research, research, research... even abandoning our sense of morality, what will we ultimately gain?"

On the night he left the Möbius Laboratory, Cang Xuan, with three parts bewilderment, three parts expectation, and four parts hesitation, asked Möbius a question.

"Looking up at the stars, the vast sky, one day, humanity will usher in a new era."

Mebius simply said...

"Science is for the new era; scientists look to the future, not to save the present."

Even though the people of this era will eventually die, in the distant future, what we leave behind will usher in a new era for humanity.

After Möbius finished speaking, he patted Cangxuan on the shoulder.

“Cangxuan, pass them down... Don’t worry about me, you and Danzhu are very suitable for the Fire Seed Project.”

.........

"Ah... Möbius... Doctor..."

"Cang Xuan! Cang Xuan! Don't scare me! Don't scare me! Cang Xuan!"

In the tent of the Youxiong clan, Danzhu, her lips pale, looked at her twin sister lying on the bed, her chest flushed red.

"Danzhu... I'm really stupid..."

"Cangxuan! Cangxuan! Sister, sister! Waaah..."

Seeing Danzhu's red-rimmed eyes, Cangxuan suddenly reached out his hand, as if trying to grasp the starry sky.

"I've been a scientist my whole life, but all I've ever done is look back... This is my retribution."

"Sister...Sister! Don't talk nonsense! You'll be alright! You'll definitely..."

"My greatest sin is that those who possess the ability have been constantly running away. But..."

Cang Xuan slowly clenched his fists, his face as pale as a sheet, blood trickling down the sheets. Danzhu knew what this meant; she had seen it many times 50,000 years ago.

"But... I have indeed planted the seed, and it will take root and sprout, waiting for someone to dig it up."

But I'm not worried that they're evil people, because science will never stop because of good or evil; it's a treasure belonging to humanity... One day, we will defeat the Honkai, and even go further..."

"Danzhu..."

"us……"

"even……"

"It can reach the stars..."

“But every single star…”

"They're all ours..."

"..."

.........

"Are you going to the moon, Vilvie? I thought you wouldn't."

"Of course I'm going. This is the greatest significance of Kevin's armed forces."

"If you can reach the next era of civilization, you will surely bring them immeasurable wealth."

“My old friend Cangxuan, you care too much about these things. What wealth, meaning, value, etc.”

"Aren't these things worth worrying about?"

Whether or not one cares depends on the individual; everyone has the right to choose and define, doesn't everyone?

The forms of life, and even the forms of the soul, originally had no meaning. It is only those who acquire them that give them meaning.

"but I……"

“I know, my old friend. You’ve always been like this, but there’s nothing wrong with that, because you are Cangxuan.”

You are neither Mebius nor Vervière.

"It's precisely because you are Cangxuan that you pretend not to see what you're aware of. But this isn't escapism; it's gentleness."

“Keviervi, I have a responsibility to fulfill my… obligations.”

"Who stipulated that obligation? Besides, Cangxuan, whether I go or not, I've left everything I could. And I've entrusted it to you, haven't I? Nothing could be more reassuring than that."

"...I am not someone worthy of entrusting such an important thing to."

"Of course you are."

Vervi waved her hand, turned her head and said,

Goodbye, perhaps... we won't see each other again. I still hope you are happy... in the next civilization era.

.........

"Senior Sister Klein, why don't you do the research yourself?"

"If you keep helping the PhD student with these things, your talent will be wasted."

"It's Cang Xuan. I'm not as talented as you. To be honest, this is all I can do."

"How could that be? Senior Sister Klein is much more capable than me."

"That's called underestimating yourself, Cangxuan. In my opinion, someone like you is a truly outstanding scientist."

"Me? I clearly...can't do anything."

"Even after realizing the results of the research, he still chose to abandon it. That's what makes Cang Xuan so remarkable."

Klein patted Cangxuan on the shoulder.

"Because this proves that you have never lost sight of your original intention."

.........

"Cang Xuan, what do you want to do after graduation? An investor?"

"...Investing is something I should do, but that has nothing to do with my profession, right?"

"Haha, your teacher thought you'd be dealing with money your whole life."

"That's true. Everyone has to deal with money, and it's a lifelong commitment."

"So what do you want to do, Cang Xuan?"

"..."

"kindness?"

"……research."

"Eh?"

"perhaps……"

During her high school years, Cang Xuan suddenly looked out the window and saw the setting sun, which flushed her face red.

Perhaps the teacher was mistaken, but there was a glimmer of light in those eyes.

"I will become a scientist."

……

"..."

Her hand fell.

Blood dripped from his fingers onto the ground, each drop clearly audible.

Ji Lin, Lian Shan, and the elders of the two major tribes stared blankly at their god's deathbed.

Blood donation blossomed on her chest like a flower.

Beautiful, yet tragically poignant.

They were so shocked they were speechless.

After a long while, Danzhu burst into tears.

Then, a chorus of cries erupted.