Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"I know. Time flies, and the years pass like an arrow. General, you are the Divine Strategy General, and you have your own plans in mind."

When my daughter was in trouble, the general already understood, but out of compassion, he couldn't bear to use her as a bargaining chip, and my daughter is deeply grateful.

"Is this your doing, for revenge?"

"No, my daughter does have hatred, but in her heart, she owes the Immortal Boat Luofu a fair judgment."

"Whether the principle of children paying for their fathers' debts is a matter of course is something no one can say for sure. You don't necessarily have to pay the price for the name Shangguan."

"But I do not wish to be born as an official."

"..."

"My daughter is only worried about being seen through and is determined to die. General, could you lend her a hand?"

"...What do you intend to do?"

“My daughter will use drugs to disfigure herself. General, you can send someone to dismember my body after that. No one will be able to predict that.”

"You're going to go this far?"

"Why should those who aspire to great things be concerned with trivial matters? Since we are all going to die anyway, we might as well make the most of this physical body."

"...Miss Tingxue's noble character, though she is a woman, puts the men of Luofu to shame."

"General, you flatter me."

"Jingyuan has a question that truly perplexes me."

"General, please ask."

"Why does Miss refer to herself as 'Little Girl'? Logically speaking, if one were to refer to herself, she should use terms like 'Little Girl', 'Servant,' or 'Concubine.'"

"So that's what you were asking about, General. I think you still remember what happened to my daughter back then. When my daughter first came to the countryside, she didn't know how to conduct herself. She saw a woman who called herself 'Little Girl,' but she misheard and called herself 'Little Girl,' which made Mr. Ouyang laugh at her... Now that the old friend is gone, it's good to keep a memory."

"So that's how it is. Ah, Miss Tingxue is truly a sentimental person. But such a beautiful woman, Miss Tingxue, would be better off leaving her image behind for burial..."

"...General, my daughter just wants them to see."

"them?"

“Those who claim to love me but torment me. Look at their daughters... what a monstrous, inhuman creature they've become.”

"...Jing Yuan is here, on behalf of the future of Luofu, and on behalf of the millions of people outside the civilized world of Luofu, to thank Miss for her noble sentiments!"

……

"I'm afraid that's pretty much the case."

Melutina said.

"So... Jingyuan already knew all along..."

Fu Xuan muttered to himself.

“Miss Tingxue was determined to leave, and Brother Jingyuan was just going with the flow. Otherwise, he could have used her as a bargaining chip to eliminate the Shangguan faction back then.”

Melutina offered a brief explanation.

"You don't need to defend him. He is a general of Luofu, and I trust him. It's just..."

Fu Xuan seemed somewhat bewildered.

"I never imagined that I, who pride myself on my many talents and knowledge of everything under heaven, would be unable to even understand the hearts of my subordinates."

"There is nothing more complex in this world than the human heart."

Melutina said,

"Now that things have come to this, I understand what Brother Jingyuan truly wants me to do."

"If you attack Shangguan, you will be an enemy of the Immortal Boat and an enemy of Luofu."

Fu Xuan said.

"I am a friend of the Immortal Ship."

"But they don't know."

"Them? I don't know them. You know Fu Xuan, and you know Brother Jing Yuan, but I can't control the others."

Melutina smiled nonchalantly.

"They say that people of the martial world are quick to anger and quick to retaliate... I have witnessed it for myself today."

Fu Xuan remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"In my hometown, this is called 'chivalry'."

"Is that so? Then I am not joking. Today, I will swear brotherhood with you, a chivalrous man."

Fu Xuan slowly sat up straight and said solemnly,

"From this day forward, you and I, Fu Xuan, are sworn brothers. In the future, if you are ever in trouble, I, Fu Xuan, will never hesitate to help you through thick and thin!"

……

"What a magnificent dragon..."

Looking at the flames soaring into the sky above Luofu, Jing Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

"No wonder my sword energy was useless against her. It seems that my sword energy simply did not penetrate her body."

Yanqing followed behind and said.

……

"Master Helmsman?"

"..."

Yu Kong silently looked outside. She should have sent someone to check immediately, but she stood there unmoved.

"Unknown guest... You will always be a friend of Luofu."

Yu Kong silently said to himself.

……

Lord Yukong personally declares:

Many years have passed since we last met. I wonder if you still remember your daughter, my old friend?

To be honest, my daughter has been resentful of you for many years and has never given you a kind look. I have no intention of apologizing.

However, I still know that you are the most just and righteous person on this celestial ship.

For thousands of years, the voyages of Luofu have deepened the divide between the uncivilized people and the immortal race. But the immortal ship is by no means the immortal ship of the immortal race.

My daughter is frail, yet she wishes to do something significant for the Immortal Ship. I hope that Lord Yu Kong will refrain from acting rashly, no matter what he hears afterward.

If possible...

Though it may be disrespectful, could you please bury my daughter and Mr. Ouyang together?

I know that it was you, sir, who collected his body and gave him a proper burial that day.

—Respectfully presented by your daughter, Tingxue.

Interlude, long time no see

"haven't seen you for a long time."

……

Melutina looked up and saw a very familiar person in front of her.

She stayed on this planet briefly after leaving the fairy ship, but unexpectedly, she received a message from Estella telling her not to go anywhere.

Just as she was wondering what was going on, someone she knew all too well appeared.

"Jo... Joachim?!"

Melutina looked at the old man, whose face bore the marks of time, with surprise.

But when she first met him, he was still a young child.

"Yes, it's me. Sister, I've finally found you."

Walter smiled.

"The Great Collapse... is over."

"……what?"

Unexpectedly, Melutina on the other side did not show a joyful expression, but instead gave an ambiguous look as if she had not heard.

She was definitely unhappy.

Walter noticed.

……

"Is that so... this is Kevin and May's plan."

Melutina propped her chin on her hand.

"Although I had a feeling it was going to happen."

"My sister has never seemed to like Kevin very much."

Walter and she stood by an artificial lake and began to talk about what had happened over the years.

"No, Kevin is my friend, comrade-in-arms, and companion, that will never change. It's just..."

Melutina paused for a moment before speaking.

“I’m sorry, Joachim, I am a person from a previous civilization. Even in this era of civilization, and having met you all, I am still a person from a previous civilization. I should have perished with that world, but I have lingered on in the next world.”

I am a weak person, unlike Kevin, and unlike May, who hoped for the continuation of civilization. But I only wish for the past to remain forever.

"elder sister……"

"So, I'm sorry, hearing that the Great Collapse is over should have been a happy thing."

Melutina realized she had gotten a little carried away and apologized.