Shenhe stood poised lightly upon a tree branch.
Gazing at the Abyss Herald and the Riftwolves, a flicker of unease crossed her otherwise aloof face.
"Abyss Order… You fiends, why have you come to Liyue? What scheme are you brewing?"
"Heh."
The Abyss Herald fixed his ghost-fire-like eyes on her, raising the water blades formed along his arms.
"A dead woman needs no answers."
The Riftwolves, as if receiving a command, swiftly surrounded Shenhe.
"You can try."
"Such insolence—from a mere mortal exorcist."
Shenhe raised her polearm, pointing it at the Abyss Herald, while her other hand formed a seal.
"By my name, arise!"
With her words, three Ice clones materialized and charged toward the oncoming Riftwolves.
She herself, gripping her polearm tightly, closed the distance to the Abyss Herald with lightning speed.
In the blink of an eye—
Shenhe and the Hydro Herald had already exchanged several blows.
Clang! Clang!!
Polearm shadows danced, streams of icy energy radiating out with each thrust and sweep.
The Abyss Herald, in turn, wielded his twin water blades with unpredictable precision—the Hydro energy tainted by Abyssal corruption struck with terrifying force.
Amidst the clash, Shenhe's calm face betrayed a flicker of surprise.
This Abyssal creature was stronger than she had anticipated. Were it not for her Cryo arts naturally countering his Hydro element, she might have already been at a disadvantage.
"Hehehe… Ha! Ha!"
"Exorcist, you are strong—one of the rare powerful humans."
The Abyss Herald's attacks grew increasingly frenzied, punctuated by maniacal laughter.
"Pity you do not know what you face. You cannot possibly withstand the power of the Abyss!"
"Hark, to the tide that emerges from the depths!"
Shenhe parried his assaults, her movements growing slower, more labored—
as if exhaustion were setting in.
"Urgh…"
"Hold on, Miss Shenhe! You're our only hope!"
Ji An watched anxiously from the side, struggling futilely against his watery bindings.
Seeing this, the Hydro Herald grew more excited, swinging his arms to unleash a cross-shaped slash.
Shenhe dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding the attack.
A few strands of her severed white hair drifted slowly down through the air.
"Perish, exorcist!" the Abyss Herald bellowed, voice fervent. "Let your blood quench the flames of hatred born from the Abyss!"
"..."
Suddenly, the Herald's movements froze.
Ahead of him, Shenhe stood motionless, her head lowered—yet from her emanated a pressure so cold and violent that even his Abyssal blood seemed to congeal.
"You—!!"
His gaze snapped to Shenhe's hand, which was moving toward the red ropes adorning her body.
Her fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second… but then continued their motion.
"Heh. So that's it. This isn't your true power, is it? To think such a terrifying force lies dormant within you…"
The Abyss Herald's voice turned low and insidious.
"But exorcist, think carefully. Do you truly wish to lift that seal?"
"If I'm correct, you likely cannot control that power yourself."
"If you unleash it and cause irreversible consequences, you will surely regret it."
Shenhe's body trembled.
The consequences… of removing the ropes…
A pained expression flickered across her face.
Had this been before the dream where she killed An'er, she might not have felt much.
But now, the Herald's words were like sharpened daggers, reopening old wounds.
Seeing his words strike home, the Abyss Herald pressed his advantage, voice dripping with mockery.
"That power is beyond your control, isn't it? Even if you could kill me after unsealing yourself, how can you guarantee you won't slaughter any humans nearby?"
"I…"
Shenhe had no retort.
Unknowingly, the Abyss Herald had struck the very nerve that weighed most heavily upon her heart.
Although Cuijue Slope was sparsely populated, there were still a few farmers living nearby.
If she were to lose control after removing her seal… if she killed an innocent person—a father, a mother, a child—
"Release him. Then get out of Liyue," Shenhe said quietly.
Her hand slowly moved away from the red ropes, her tone icy as she addressed the Herald.
"Of course, I shall depart," the Herald replied smoothly. "But this human is… special. I will be taking him with me."
"Unacceptable. I promised to escort him to a town."
Shenhe's voice was flat.
The Herald's demand was a test of their connection.
If she refused, he would abandon the idea—this human was peculiar, yes, but not worth challenging this monstrous woman over.
Yet something in Shenhe's response hinted at hesitation.
A thought occurred to the Hydro Herald.
Could it be their relationship wasn't close? Was she merely bound by a verbal promise?
In fact, his guess was correct.
Ji An's earlier frivolity and his presumptuous words had eroded what faint goodwill Shenhe once felt.
The peculiar warmth his name—"An"—had stirred in her heart now felt more like a thorn lodged deep within it.
After all, he was Ji An, not her An'er.
Her past acts of rescuing mortals had earned her the title "Lonesome Transcendence," but few truly understood her.
Her kindness was never born of compassion—it was simply her sect's creed, a byproduct of her cultivation.
Her exorcisms were not acts of mercy, but of discipline and instinct. Shenhe had never been one to seek virtue for virtue's sake.
"Exorcist, it's merely a verbal promise. You have no obligation to risk your life for him."
The Abyss Herald's tone turned sly.
"You have a choice: unleash your power and save him—risk countless innocent lives… or hand him over to me."
"I will fulfill your promise. Once I uncover the secrets he holds, I shall deliver him to a human town."
"Though," he chuckled darkly, "I cannot guarantee his condition, of course."
His words filled Shenhe with cold disgust.
But he was right. If she unsealed herself, the destruction she unleashed could spread beyond her control.
It might even reach the nearby settlements.
On one side—a single, foolish man.
On the other—numerous innocent civilians.
The choice was clear.
To anyone else, it would have been simple.
"..."
Shenhe fell silent, her nails digging into her palms, her expression taut with conflict.
This decision, however, was not so easily made for her.
Even if it was for the sake of many, one person would still die because of her choice.
Finally, she closed her eyes—and turned her back.
That was her answer.
For some reason, after making that choice, her heart suddenly throbbed in pain.
It felt exactly like that moment in her dream—right before she committed her irreparable mistake.
It must be… an illusion?
Shenhe instinctively glanced back at Ji An, still bound tightly in the Abyssal Hydro tendrils.
Ji An had been watching for a while, utterly bewildered as to why the two had suddenly stopped fighting to have a conversation.
???
He was completely lost.
Miss Shenhe, what are you doing?!
Ji An blinked desperately, trying to catch her attention. Finally, she turned toward him—and he blinked even faster.
Miss Shenhe, help!
But after a moment… he stopped.
Because in her eyes, he saw something strange— a mixture of guilt, sorrow, and resolve.
Then he heard the armored creature's voice:
"Then, exorcist, our transaction is concluded. Hehe… haha."
Transaction?
What transaction?
Hey, hey?! Miss Shenhe, why are you turning away? I'm still here! Hello??
It wasn't until the Abyss Herald seized him and began dragging him toward a spatial rift that Ji An finally understood.
A chill ran down his spine.
So that was it… He had been abandoned.
A discarded pawn.
Of course.
That was the look in her eyes—reluctance, guilt… and finality.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
Hate Shenhe?
Not really. She had no obligation to save him. Without her, he would have died long ago.
If he had to hate anyone—it was himself.
He hated his own weakness. His powerlessness.
And in that moment, Ji An had never wanted power more—the power to crush everything that made him so helpless.
As the Abyss Herald released his bindings and prepared to toss Ji An into the rift—
Shenhe suddenly froze mid-step.
Instinctively, she glanced back.
And then—she saw him smiling at her.
Until the rift swallowed him whole, leaving only silence.
It was the first time she had truly seen Ji An's face.
Abruptly, Shenhe's body went rigid, as though struck by lightning.
Across from her, the Abyss Herald nodded in satisfaction, turning to speak.
"Heh. Exorcist, as you people of Liyue say—'The blue hills remain, the green waters ever flow…' Hm?"
The Herald suddenly paused.
Why had the exorcist turned back—and was now walking toward him?
Her state seemed… wrong.
Her beautiful white hair had come loose, cascading over her shoulders.
A single, blood-red rope drifted softly to the ground.
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober