Honkai Impact 3rd: Chiyou's Survival Guide

Flipping through the information in his hand, Otto seemed nonchalant in the face of Amber's report.

"After all..." Closing the book, Otto looked at Amber with a smile, confident.

"She has nowhere to go back to."

Taixu Mountain, nestled in an ancient courtyard. Fu Hua felt bewildered as she gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar objects before her. This was clearly her home, yet she felt no connection to it. Entering the courtyard, the surrounding furnishings were neatly arranged. Even though Fu Hua hadn't been back for so long, the place still seemed full of life.

"..." Standing quietly at the courtyard's entrance, Fu Hua remained silent. She had forgotten everything, yet vaguely remembered the memories of this place that held her memories. But... what good was that? Of course, the remnants of the divine sound had vanished, and Fu Hua was now completely free. But the past was gone, and she herself had lost her memories. Rather than dwelling here in vain, she might as well return to her destiny and continue her pathetic life. With this thought in mind, Fu Hua cast a last, reluctant glance at the courtyard before slowly heading out the door.

"Master!" Suddenly, a surprised voice came from behind Fu Hua, causing her to freeze. Fu Hua didn't know who it was, but she subconsciously felt that the owner of the voice was very important to her. Slowly turning around, Fu Hua saw a gray-haired girl standing there in a daze, her expression surprised, yet also a bit incredulous.

"You..." Fu Hua was stunned when she felt the long-lost familiarity from the girl. After confirming that she was not hallucinating, the kettle in Cheng Lixue's hand fell to the ground with a "click". But she didn't care about it anymore, and ran straight to Fu Hua. Seeing this, a trace of confusion flashed in Fu Hua's eyes, but the next moment, Cheng Lixue had hugged her tightly. A warm feeling came from her chest, and Cheng Lixue's eyes filled with tears. She thought that her master had met with an accident. Holding Fu Hua tightly, Cheng Lixue was reluctant to let go, as if she was afraid that her master would disappear silently in the next moment, just like when she was young. Missing, worrying, respecting and loving... all those emotions that she wanted to express to her master day and night, thousands of words, were all integrated into one sentence.

"Master... welcome home!" Cheng Lixue parted her hair and whispered softly into Fu Hua's ear.

"...That's how it was. I was attacked by your old enemy. After I woke up, I returned to Taixu Mountain. And, for some reason, I couldn't leave."

After leading Fu Hua to sit down, Cheng Lixue told her about his own experience while looking at Fu Hua's expression curiously.

"But that guy also said that he came to rescue me personally in order to prevent the inheritance of Taixu Mountain from being cut off..." "By the way, Master, what is your relationship with him? You don't look like mortal enemies, but he went to help Honkai..." "Oh, right, you said you didn't know before, look at my memory."

Without waiting for Fu Hua to speak, Cheng Lixue knocked his head and said awkwardly.

"Let me tell you about my life after returning to Taixu Mountain. Master, you don't know..." Cheng Lixue changed the subject and started talking again.

"I'm sorry, I've forgotten a lot of things and now I can't remember who you are."

Seeing that Cheng Lixue didn't notice anything unusual and was still talking incessantly, Fu Hua lowered her head guiltily, interrupted Cheng Lixue, and spoke slowly.

"Although I feel that you are a very important person to me, I have lost all my memories of you. I'm sorry."

However, the next moment, Fu Hua was surprised to feel her right hand being pulled up. She raised her head and met Cheng Lixue's gentle gaze.

"It's okay, Master. Your words are enough for Lixue."

There was an unconcealable sadness in Cheng Lixue's eyes, but there was also a hint of smile.

"Master, I am your disciple, Cheng Lixue. My name comes from the meaning of standing in the snow outside Cheng's door."

She was overjoyed to finally hear her master confess his love for her, yet saddened that he had lost all his memories. However, it wasn't too late. Looking at Fu Hua, Cheng Lixue gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

"It's okay, Master. You were the one who taught Lixue about this world when we were young. Now, let Lixue be your eyes to understand the outside world."

"...Thank you, Lixue."

Hearing this, Fu Hua smiled from the bottom of her heart. Only after experiencing loss would she know how lucky she was to meet Cheng Lixue again.

"This is what I should do, Master. Taixu Mountain is a treasure land for self-cultivation. We can settle down here in the future, away from the world, get up at sunrise and go to bed at sunset..." Cheng Lixue looked at Fu Hua and spoke nervously just halfway through his words.

"By the way, Master...you will stay in Taixu Mountain this time and will not leave, right?" "Yes, Lixue, Master will not leave this time."

Gently stroking Cheng Lixue's soft hair, Fu Hua looked at the person in front of her kindly and agreed.

Fu Hua and Cheng Lixue were immersed in the joy of reunion and did not notice that several uninvited guests had arrived on the mountain road of Taixu Mountain.

"Senior, the place you mentioned seems to be occupied... Should we leave?" Bella asked cautiously, watching Fu You stop and sensing the two auras in the small courtyard on the mountain. Her side was currently in a weak period, and she didn't want to start another dispute with those two hateful humans.

"Even the place you're staying in is one step ahead of me? Chi Yuan, you bastard..." Fu You muttered to himself, not answering Bella's question. Sensing Fu Hua, who was already confiding in Cheng Lixue, Fu You felt a pang of discontent. Most importantly, Fu Hua had snatched the place he'd originally reserved before him. But after glancing at the Yu Du Chen in his hand, Fu You decided not to go. Glancing deeply at the courtyard at the top of the mountain, this former tenant turned and headed back down the mountain.

"Senior...what are we doing?" Bella stood there in a daze, looking at Fu You's slightly desolate back.

"Let's go to Jiuyou. That's where I made my fortune, and there's also a place for us to live."

Without looking back, Fu You held Yu Duchen in his arms and slowly walked down the mountain.

"As for this place, give it to her."

Extra 2: Lantern Festival

February 2000, 2, the Second Great Collapse had just concluded. Today was the traditional Lantern Festival, a traditional festival for the people of Shenzhou. Across Shenzhou, people had already decorated their homes with colorful lanterns and illuminated the night sky, a festive atmosphere already overflowing. These ordinary people joyfully celebrated the holiday, perhaps never imagining that a crisis sweeping the world would quietly be resolved as they toasted and drank. The sky gradually darkened, and bright lanterns were lit one after another, rising into the sky with beautiful meanings. ... Having just arrived in Shenzhou, Cecilia was taken aback by the sight of this joyful family scene. Soon, once she had dealt with the remnants of Shenzhou's Honkai energy, she would be able to return to be with Kiana and Siegfried. Cecilia consoled herself, thinking of her beloved daughter and husband in a foreign land, and she missed them even more. When she said goodbye to Siegfried earlier, he was in a very bad state. I heard that to improve his combat effectiveness, Siegfried used an extremely dangerous technique... Cecilia sighed again at this thought. ... "Senior, what are those humans doing?" Bella asked curiously, standing on a reef next to Jiuyou, observing the lights of countless homes in the distance. Fu Hua returned to Taixu Mountain, so Fuyou brought Bella, Aurora, and the others to Jiuyou and settled there.

"Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so of course they are celebrating the Lantern Festival..." Fu You spoke subconsciously without thinking, but suddenly got stuck halfway through his words.

"The Lantern Festival... Yeah, yes, the Lantern Festival."

Muttering to himself, Fu You couldn't help but be stunned. This festival where friends and family gathered together was extremely warm, but it also made Fu You feel particularly unfamiliar, leaving him speechless for a moment. Fu You couldn't remember how long it had been since he last paid attention to this kind of festival. It could be hundreds of years, or maybe thousands of years... Since breaking up with Chi Yuan, Fu You, who was busy protecting himself, never watched a lantern again, or tasted a glutinous rice dumpling. When I curled up alone at the bottom of the abyss, or hidden in an uninhabited wasteland, would it be as lively as before on this day every year? Quietly watching the bustling crowd in the distance, Fu You couldn't help but think.

"...Senior?" Bella asked softly, seeing Fu You absentminded. Fu You didn't answer. He gazed at the lanterns lighting up one after another in the distant streets, and couldn't help but recall the past. On the Lantern Festival, he and Danzhu would usually drag Chi Yuan down the mountain, under the pretext of understanding the people's sentiments... Then, they'd go watch lion dances and stilt walking. Then, when it was time for dinner, they'd have a bowl of steaming hot glutinous rice balls, which the immortals would pay for, of course, and she only liked the ones with sesame filling. Of course, compared to Chun Bulao, the filling wasn't that important. After dinner, the group would go guess lantern riddles among the bustling crowd—this was Cang Xuan's specialty; she was the cleverest, and she'd won many gifts for it. Returning to Taixu Mountain, they sat on the stone steps halfway up the mountain, watching the bright lights rise and fade into the night before returning to their room and falling into a peaceful sleep... Fu You reminisced, and Bella tactfully didn't interrupt. The lights flickered, casting a fickle golden glow in Fu You's eyes. The bustling crowd before him made Fu You feel as if he were in another world. Those vibrant figures, those warm smiles, had once been a part of his life, years ago. Late at night, a gentle breeze gently rippled Fu You's clothes, but it was no longer as cold and biting as before.

"Bella, do you want to go check it out together? We can go together."

After a long time, Fu You spoke.

"Only me...?" Pointing at herself, Bella was a little uncertain. She raised her head and looked at Fu You.

"Why don't you call Aurora and the others?" "If Agata doesn't let the whole town burn, Aurora doesn't blow this place up into the sky, and Galina doesn't destroy life everywhere, I'll be happy to take them with me."

Fu You was also helpless about this. Currently, the only one who could control his own power and easily integrate into human society was probably Bella.

"Ah."

Bella nodded. Although she didn't know why Fu You took her to a place where weak humans gathered, she knew his arrangement was correct. After being saved several times by Fu You, and after he saved Xilin at the last moment, Bella now trusted and obeyed Fu You unconditionally.

"Haha, let's go. You've been fighting since you were born, and your nerves have been tense until now. It's time for you to relax."

Gazing at the dimming lights in the distance once again, Fu You's mood was completely different from before. It was completely different from thousands of years ago. Now, he had new companions and a new life. ...half an hour later.

"Bella, I think we've got a tough problem."

Putting down the bowl, Fu You looked around and looked at Bella with a serious expression.

"...Have those humans caught up with us?" Seeing this, Bella's heart skipped a beat. She didn't expect that even here, those damn humans could still catch up with her.

"No, not pursuers, but worse than that."

Fu You shook his head heavily, then spoke with difficulty.

"I forgot one thing...we have no money."

It's not Fu You's fault. From ancient times to the present, he has been a completely pauper, always eating and drinking for free, and he has no use for money at all. Sometimes, Fu You also hopes that the stories and comics are true, and Chi You has seized a huge amount of treasure - that way he wouldn't be in the predicament he is in now.

"...Ah?" Bella was stunned when she heard that.

"The second collapse happened during the Spring Festival, and we didn't have a good time...so we can't miss this Lantern Festival!" Cheng Lixue placed two bowls of glutinous rice balls on the stone table in the yard, looking at Fu Hua with a smile.

"Master, eat it while it's hot!" "Hmm..." Fu Hua responded softly, looking at the twinkling lights in the sky, a trace of nostalgia flashed in her eyes.

"Master, have you remembered what happened in the past?" Cheng Lixue, who was very attentive, could see Fu Hua's emotions at a glance.

"No, I just felt a little touched."

Fu Hua sighed softly and shook her head. Deep in her mind, a familiar feeling stirred, but she couldn't recall it at all.

"It tastes delicious, thank you, Lixue."

Fu Hua took a light bite of the glutinous rice balls and looked at the uneasy Cheng Lixue and praised him.

"Hehe, as long as Master likes it!" Cheng Lixue beamed at the words. Fu Hua's gaze softened as she gazed lovingly at Cheng Lixue, who seemed like a child who hadn't grown up. She knew she had forgotten much: years of grudges, companions, enemies, glory, and failure... Whether as one of the Thirteen Heroes, the bearer of the [Floating Life] Seal, or as the Red Kite Immortal, Fu Hua's eventful life was so eventful that even history books could hardly capture it fully. But since she had resolved to live as [Fu Hua], why should she dwell on the past? Right now, she should focus on those she cherished, like Cheng Lixue, who was right before her. Touching the docile Cheng Lixue, Fu Hua grew more resolute. She had found her next path.

Meanwhile, at the Tianming headquarters, Otto, who had been calm and composed until then, was now a little restless. He paced back and forth in his office, deeply puzzled.

"Red Kite Immortal, where else can you go? Apart from Destiny, where else can you stay?" He was puzzled. If Amber had not reported Fu Hua's departure, Otto would even think that his old friend had died on the battlefield - after all, if he used that powerful sword god again, the weak Fu Hua would probably pay a heavy price.

"No, old friend, one day you will come back to me."

Otto stopped and murmured, he still didn't believe that Fu Hua could endure such an environment with no relatives after losing her memory.

The Core of the Three Herrschers

After the Second Collapse, in North America, inside the Anti-Entropy Base, Walter frowned as he looked at the holographic projection and heard the voices.

"Master Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader, how have you been lately?" The blond man greeted politely and warmly, as if there had never been a conflict between them.

“…Otto.”

Staring intently at the man in front of him, Walter clenched his fists and tried his best to restrain himself, so as not to reveal a ferocious expression.

"Mr. Walter, there may be some small misunderstandings between us. After all, decades ago, we were close friends who could talk about anything, weren't we?" However, Otto seemed unaware of it and instead shamelessly tried to get close to him.

"I know I didn't give you a happy Thanksgiving that year, so I've been trying to find a way to express my apology. Like, maybe find a memorial and perform a tearful performance for the victims of that accident—of course, if that's what you like."

"Huh... Tell me, Otto, what do you want to do?" Walter suppressed his nausea and anger, feeling that if he continued to listen to the other party, he would go crazy. Interrupting Otto's words, Walter asked harshly.

"Heh, after defeating the Second Herrscher, the Skyward Sword recovery team brought back the famous Dr. Einstein."

With a light chuckle, Otto still looked elegant and easy-going.

"I can return her to you, but in return, I hope Anti-Entropy can hand over the five cores of the Second Herrscher. I know they are in your hands, Walter."

"Impossible!" Walter roared subconsciously, without thinking. Anti-Entropy paid a heavy price during the Second Collapse, even destroying Arahato to barely secure five Herrscher Cores. How could they possibly tolerate Otto taking them all? "Alas, don't act on impulse. This isn't good. Are a few Herrscher Cores more valuable than your companions, your friends?" Hearing this, Otto shook his head and criticized.

"As I recall, Einstein, one of the scientists from the original North American branch, seems to be one of your only two companions now, right, First Ruler?" Otto squinted at Walter with a playful smile, a hint of threat in his words. Walter fell silent. He could sacrifice himself for the world, but he didn't want to lose any of his like-minded companions in Anti-Entropy. Seeing Walter showing signs of wavering, Otto struck while the iron was hot.

"Alright, I won't make it difficult for you. Five Herrscher cores is a bit much to ask. So, as long as you give me the three cores of Kong, Si, and Yan, I will return them to Dr. Einstein."

His eyes flickered for a moment, and Walter finally agreed to Otto's unreasonable request.

"...You must ensure that Einstein will not be harmed before or after the transaction is completed."

Although Otto's character and guarantee were not credible at all, Walter had no better solution at the moment.

"of course."

Seeing Walter agreed, Otto smiled and said nothing more.

Both Destiny and Anti-Entropy attached immense importance to this exchange. Otto smiled at the expressionless Walter. When Einstein returned to Anti-Entropy and the three Herrscher cores were handed over to Destiny, both sides cautiously departed, fearing a sudden attack from the other side. ...A few days later, at the Danish border, several trucks drove under the cover of darkness. The convoy contained a team of five well-equipped B-class Valkyries, escorted by even more C-class Valkyries and elite soldiers. Even in today's Destiny, it was a force to be reckoned with. And what they were transporting was none other than the Herrscher of Death core, which came from the Second Herrscher. As they drew closer to their destination, everyone on board breathed a sigh of relief. Along the way, everyone had worried about a surprise attack from Anti-Entropy, but fortunately, they would soon reach the Second Laboratory.

"Bang!" Suddenly, a violent crash was heard, and everyone in Tianming immediately got out of their cars, ready for battle. For some unknown reason, the lead car suddenly braked, causing the cars behind it to crash into it one after another, and even paralyzed the entire convoy.

"Alert!" the team's commander immediately ordered, rushing towards the car where the Serenity Stone was stored. However, she was still a step too late. A figure had already taken the Serenity Stone in his hand and stood on the roof of the car, gazing at everyone with a playful look.

"Open fire! Take back the gem!" "It's so late, why not get some sleep first."

However, just as the commander gave the order, the uninvited guest across from him also spoke. Several vermilion feathers slowly descended, and all the members of the Sky Mandate present seemed to have lost their souls. Their eyes were empty as they collapsed to the ground in unison.

"Okay, you must have been very anxious these days. Don't worry, you will be able to come out soon."

Touching the feather in his hand, the visitor spoke softly, as if comforting someone. However, within the Yuduchen, a certain defeated Herrscher was still shouting.

"You're biased! Last time, you took Bella out to eat so many delicious foods and play everywhere, but I'm stuck here, staring at you all helplessly! I want to get out too!" "Okay, okay, when we get back to Jiuyou, I'll put this core in your body. Once the repair is complete, I'll transfer your consciousness into it, and then you can eat and play like usual."

Seeing that Xilin was still a child at heart and couldn't bear the loneliness, Fu You readily agreed. A few days ago, he had gone to the former Babylon Laboratory area to retrieve Cecilia's Black Abyss White Flower and encountered a recovery team from the Skybound Mission. From their consciousness, Fu You learned that Einstein had been taken away by Skybound Mission. So, after following the clues all the way back to Skybound Mission headquarters and taking a look around there, Fu You learned that the Skybound Mission Bishop was preparing to exchange the Herrscher Core with the Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader. Finally, he obtained information about Skybound Mission's arrangements for the Herrscher Core of Death and the transportation route.