Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"Those who were meant to leave have left, and those who remain didn't really want to stay. Our era ended long ago; we live only for a mission."

I don't think so.

Cangxuan Zhishu shook his head firmly.

"...Why?"

"One day, the person who can save you will appear."

The Book of Azure Profound said,

"Because this is an important thing that Cangxuan wrote in my program. One day, the person who can save Melutina and you will definitely appear."

"If they were all still here..."

Fu Hua didn't finish her sentence. She lowered her head, and after a moment, suddenly said...

"Since you're here, stop hiding, Li Zitian?"

Li Zitian, Emperor Li.

A boring anonymous name.

"The immortal is still as powerful as ever."

Emperor Taizong walked out obediently, followed by three men of different appearances.

"If this is considered unparalleled skill, then there are countless masters in the world."

Fu Hua frowned and sighed.

"I don't intend to pursue your claims about immortals bestowing swords, transferring skills, and teaching you. But if you disturb my peace... do you know what 'an immortal touching one's head' means?"

As she spoke, Fu Hua actually stretched out her hand.

Emperor Taizong shuddered violently and took three steps back.

"Um, Immortal."

Yuchi scratched his cheek, looking embarrassed.

"I heard that a celestial being saved me, and I haven't thanked him yet."

"..."

Fu Hua raised her head and looked him over a few times.

Who are you?

"..."

Yuchi felt very hurt.

"That's the one who fainted that day. Didn't the immortal help me bring him back?"

Emperor Taizong explained with "kindness".

"...It seems like that's true."

Fu Hua shook her head, then turned to leave, but was stopped by Emperor Taizong.

"Since the immortal has come, why not give me the honor of visiting my other palace?"

Emperor Taizong said with a sincere expression,

"To be honest, before I saw the immortal again, I also doubted the immortal's authenticity. But now I have received a great favor from the immortal, yet I have not repaid even a little bit of it."

"Young brother, you're not just receiving a great favor, you've shamelessly asked for a lot of favors."

Upon hearing the address "little brother," Qin Qiong and Changsun Wuji, who were following behind, twitched their lips but dared not utter a sound.

"You blockhead, it's good to go for a stroll. I've never seen anything like royalty before, and I'm tired of eating wild game from the mountains."

Cangxuan said, clutching his stomach.

"Since you want to go, then go."

Fu Hua didn't care.

"But... Your Majesty, you're not up to any evil schemes, are you?"

"...Am I really that insignificant in the eyes of the immortals?"

Emperor Taizong smiled wryly.

Those in high positions are not bound by trivial matters, while those who achieve great things are indifferent to right and wrong. A good emperor and a good person are two different things.

Fu Hua put her hands behind her back.

“If I were someone you could control, you wouldn’t be willing to maintain this relationship. Emperors are all like that… perhaps except for Ji Lin.”

"..."

Emperor Taizong remained silent, which was, in effect, a tacit agreement.

"Li Shimin, I have lived for fifty thousand years."

Fu Hua shook her head.

“I have witnessed countless dynasties, and I have seen their corruption and depravity over and over again. You are a wise ruler, but not a benevolent one. If you have any thoughts, you may speak to me. If I say yes, then yes; if I say no, then no.”

"Although immortals are said to be untouched by the mortal world, their actions more or less affect the court and the imperial court, which I cannot ignore."

Emperor Taizong pondered for a moment and then spoke.

"Just as the immortal said, I am the emperor, but I cannot stop the immortal from doing what he wants to do. The only thing I can rely on is the immortal's selflessness and impartiality."

"I have my mission. If your mission is to govern the country, my mission is to protect humanity."

Fu Hua glanced at him.

“There’s no conflict here. You want to control me, but you can’t, so you want to know something from me.”

"Yes, for example... what is qi deviation, and what is a demonic beast?"

Emperor Taizong nodded frankly.

"Or rather... what are you?"

"Why don't you just look and see? I'm a monster."

Fu Hua glanced at him.

"Li Shimin, you are not in a position to negotiate with me. I can single-handedly defeat the entire army of China."

Ironically, isn't that why you're wary of me, why you doubt me?

"Excessive power can instill fear."

Emperor Taizong spoke softly, looking at Fu Hua.

"You... fill me with fear."

"Because you have no reason to trust me."

Fu Hua suddenly started walking, gesturing for Emperor Taizong to follow.

"You shall stay here, I shall accompany you for a while, my immortal."

Emperor Taizong waved his hand, signaling Qin Qiong and the others to stop, and then followed them.

"Trust between people is not built overnight, and it is based on the fact that the two people belong to the same kind of existence."

Fu Hua looked at the lights along the river and continued speaking.

"You are right, but I obviously don't know what the immortals are thinking."

Emperor Taizong followed behind. Apart from accompanying his parents in the past, this should be the first time he has taken a walk with someone since becoming emperor.

Although Qin Qiong and the others seemed very worried, what was there to worry about when they were next to Master Chi Yuan?

If she wanted to kill him, it would only take a moment.

If she didn't want to, then the place next to her was the safest place in the world.

"I won't tell you those things, because you're nobody to me, you're just a passerby to me. Maybe, barely, you can be considered a friend."

Fu Hua watched as one person after another passed by, her eyes illuminated by the lamplight.

"So we still can't understand each other. They say the emperor's heart is unfathomable, and you won't open your heart to me either."

"..."

"Li Shimin, to me, you are all just passersby."

Fu Hua reached out and caught a fallen lantern; these things are everywhere now.

"I'm just searching for that final moment. A promise is the most important thing to me. Try to believe me, or... try killing me."

"That was my original plan."

Emperor Taizong suddenly reached out and pressed down on the lantern, with the two men each holding one side of the lantern.

"But like this, I think the relationship between immortals and mortals has always been like this. You hold the lantern, extend your hand, and we take it. Then, we pass the lantern down one by one."

Thus, the history of China over thousands of years was formed. If, at the end of this lantern, you are standing there…

Emperor Taizong picked up the lantern and hung it up again.

"Well, I didn't really have anything to worry about."

That is the difference between immortals and humans.

Emperor Taizong understood, but he knew that the immortals did not actually understand.

The immortal did not consider herself a great being, but she accomplished great things.

She connected the history of China, just like many years ago, when a lantern was handed to people, and then people created thousands upon thousands of them.

But she herself doesn't even remember.

Do immortals have names?

Emperor Taizong asked the final question.

"Fu Hua."

Although Fu Hua didn't understand, she felt that this person seemed to have come to terms with it.