Phanes slowly recounted the past to Jiang Yan, attempting to make him understand his reasoning.
"That's why I said—those who deserve to die must die. The innocent should not be implicated."
Jiang Yan looked at him calmly.
"I assume this isn't the first time you've observed me. You should understand how I think."
"Yes. I have observed you before."
Phanes admitted it without hesitation.
"Though you're fond of acting recklessly, there's no denying that you deeply cherish those around you."
Suddenly, Phanes seemed to recall something and let out a faint sigh.
"Very well. Perhaps I understand now."
"This time, I will agree to your request."
Hearing that, Jiang Yan nodded.
Then the two of them acted together.
Jiang Yan activated the Soul Stone in his hand, altering the memories of those humans and exiling them across the world.
Phanes, meanwhile, placed a curse upon the humans who had actively come into contact with the Abyss.
They screamed and wailed as their bodies gradually twisted and contorted.
Before long, a vast number of hilichurls appeared upon the land.
They babbled incoherently, scattering wildly in all directions.
"By the way, aren't you missing one of your shadows?"
Jiang Yan glanced at the three remaining Sustainers beside Phanes and said with a smile.
"Hmph. Just handling a minor matter."
"Why? Are you concerned?"
Phanes replied coolly.
Jiang Yan shrugged indifferently.
After all, once the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles separated the twins, the main storyline would begin in about five hundred years.
Speaking of which… should he start preparing for retirement after returning?
After all, he had served as the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing for over two thousand five hundred years—though he had only personally handled affairs for a few hundred of those years.
Jiang Yan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Maybe he could hold out a few more centuries and then hand the Tianquan position over to Ningguang directly.
Once Ningguang was fully trained up, he could retire peacefully and travel the world with Ganyu!
Not bad at all.
"Well then, everything's settled. I'm off!"
Jiang Yan said cheerfully to Phanes.
Phanes nodded and vanished along with his three shadows.
Jiang Yan made his way to the desert's edge, where Morax, Raiden Ei, and Raiden Makoto were waiting for him.
The other gods had already returned to their respective nations. The Abyss Lord's influence had driven the monsters across Teyvat into a frenzy, attacking the Seven Nations.
They still had their own domestic crises to resolve.
"Is everything taken care of?"
Morax asked.
"Mm. Oh right, you all head back first. I need to make a trip to Sumeru City."
Jiang Yan said to the three of them.
"To Sumeru City? You intend to…"
Raiden Makoto frowned slightly, confusion in her eyes.
"Heh, it's nothing major. I'll be back shortly."
Jiang Yan answered vaguely.
Because Khaenri'ah had touched forbidden knowledge and unleashed the Abyss, he was worried that the Irminsul—the World Tree—might once again be contaminated.
If that happened, wouldn't all his previous efforts have been for nothing?!
That simply wouldn't do.
Though puzzled, the three gods ultimately didn't press further.
After parting ways with Morax and the others, Jiang Yan flew straight toward Sumeru City.
Sanctuary of Surasthana
Jiang Yan's figure appeared abruptly.
Not seeing Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, he knew she had not yet returned from Irminsul, so he called out loudly:
"Hey, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!"
"If you can hear me, bring me into Irminsul!"
The moment he finished speaking, the world spun—
—and he arrived once more at the location of the World Tree.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata stood there quietly.
"How is Irminsul?"
Jiang Yan walked to her side and asked.
"It's fine. When did you awaken?"
Rukkhadevata let out a long breath of relief and looked at him with delight.
When she heard his voice just now, she had almost failed to react.
In her memory, Jiang Yan was still supposed to be asleep.
She hadn't expected him to have already awakened.
"Not long ago. Though I have to say, that nap was quite comfortable."
Hearing that Irminsul was unharmed, Jiang Yan finally relaxed.
It seemed that by erasing the Khaenri'ahn people's memories of forbidden knowledge, the corresponding records within Irminsul had also disappeared.
Thus, this time, the World Tree had not been corrupted again.
"If everything's fine here, I'll head back."
"Hmm? Not staying for a meal before you leave?"
Rukkhadevata asked softly, a hint of disappointment in her tone as she watched him prepare to depart almost immediately after arriving.
"We'll gather properly another time. There's still plenty to handle in Liyue."
Truth be told, Jiang Yan missed little Ganyu terribly. It had been over two thousand years since he'd seen her.
"Alright."
Rukkhadevata nodded and led him out of Irminsul's domain.
What she didn't notice was that just before leaving, the Space Stone in Jiang Yan's possession flashed briefly—almost as if recording this location.
After leaving Sumeru, Jiang Yan returned to Liyue.
By then, the battles around Liyue had already concluded. Guizhong, Azhdaha, Ganyu, and the other adepti had all returned to Liyue Harbor.
When they heard that Jiang Yan had awakened, they cried out in surprise and joy.
They all gathered at the harbor to wait for him.
When Jiang Yan arrived, he saw a dense crowd of adepti assembled there.
"Jiang Yan!"
Upon seeing him, they all called out excitedly.
"Oh? Everyone's here?"
Jiang Yan landed and grinned.
"You brat. The moment you wake up, you start running around!"
Cloud Retainer lightly tapped his head, her tone reproachful—though her eyes were filled with delight.
"Alright, we can catch up later. Let's return to Yuehai Pavilion first."
Morax addressed the adepti.
"Give the two of them some space."
"Mm."
The adepti exchanged knowing glances at Jiang Yan and Ganyu, smiling as they headed toward Yuehai Pavilion.
Soon, only Jiang Yan and Ganyu remained at the harbor—
She stood quietly to the side, unmoving, saying nothing.
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