After a long while, Qiu Bai finally collected himself.
He then channeled Xiao's memories and his own divine power into his sister's Eight Trigrams formation.
The glowing formation spun continuously, gradually taking the shape of four figures.
Their eyes remained closed, their bodies glowing faintly with a pale blue light, slightly translucent.
Then, slowly, the four figures opened their eyes, dazed and uncertain. They stared at their hands in disbelief.
A towering man with four arms—Bosacius.
A sweet and charming Water Yaksha—Bonanus.
A bold and spirited Fire Yaksha—Indarias.
And finally, the composed and refined Rock Yaksha—Menogias.
The four of them exchanged bewildered glances before shifting their gaze to Qiu Bai, then to Xiao, who lay unconscious on a nearby bench.
"...Who are you?"
"And over there—is that Xiao?"
Bonanus' gentle voice broke the silence as she looked toward Xiao.
"I... I was supposed to be dead, wasn't I?"
Bosacius stared at his hands in disbelief. He clearly remembered guarding the seal beneath The Chasm—his mind consumed by madness, leading to his demise.
Looking at the familiar faces around him, even someone as strong as Bosacius couldn't hold back his tears. But after a moment, he let out a laugh.
"Big Brother, why are you crying?"
"Are you alright?"
Indarias, watching Bosacius switch between tears and laughter, was completely baffled.
"I remember… weren't we locked in an endless battle against the remnants of a god and countless beasts?"
"How did we end up here? We have to go back—Liyue's people need us!"
Menogias' voice was urgent as he turned to his comrades.
He attempted to rush back to what he believed was still the battlefield—only to realize that no matter how far he ran, he could not escape the confines of the Eight Trigrams formation.
Bosacius, seeing this, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong, Big Brother?"
"The people of Liyue! What kind of barrier is this? Let me out!"
Menogias tried to summon his immortal power, only to find himself unable to use it at all.
He felt powerless—like an ordinary mortal.
"Menogias, Bonanus, Indarias… we have already passed on."
"Look around you—is this the Liyue you remember?"
Bosacius' voice was calm as he spoke to the three beside him.
"We're… already dead?"
"Then what about the people of Liyue?"
The realization struck them hard.
Bonanus covered her mouth in disbelief. If they were truly gone, then what had become of the people they swore to protect?
"...Sigh."
"Look at me."
Qiu Bai's steady voice rang out, drawing their attention.
"If you don't understand what's happened..."
"Then allow me to show you."
With a flick of his finger, four orbs of light shot into the Yakshas' minds.
Each orb carried the truth—how they had died, who Qiu Bai was, the events that had transpired over the past five centuries...
How the Immortal Lord and Geo Archon had feigned death and slumber...
And how they had been resurrected.
...
After a long silence, the four Yakshas slowly opened their eyes again.
Their expressions were blank as they took in their surroundings.
"I never thought… five hundred years had passed."
"Xiao must have been so lonely all this time."
Bosacius let out a heavy sigh.
Their gazes collectively turned toward Xiao, who lay motionless on the bench.
Their eyes, once filled with confusion, now held only sorrow.
Among the five Yakshas, Xiao had always been the youngest.
"Immortal Lord, thank you."
"Liyue… truly is at peace now."
Indarias turned to Qiu Bai—the scholarly figure before him—and bowed respectfully.
None of them cared about their own deaths.
The only thing that had ever mattered to them was Liyue's people—whether they were safe, whether their sacrifices had meant something.
Qiu Bai chuckled lightly.
"There's no need to thank me."
"If anything, you all have done far more than I ever have."
He waved his hand dismissively before looking at the four Yakshas with a warm gaze.
"But for now, wait here a little longer."
Qiu Bai summoned a Yang Incarnation to maintain the formation.
Then, he took to the skies, flying toward Dihua Marsh.
There, he sat cross-legged on the ground.
Forming a hand seal, a massive Taiji diagram slowly emerged beneath him.
An invisible ink-white aura burst outward from Qiu Bai's position, forming a shockwave that rippled in all directions.
The plants and trees that were caught in its wake swayed as if rejoicing. Around Dihua Marsh, the lingering corruption of Archon residue had tainted Hilichurls and various monsters. But as the shockwave passed, the remnants of that corruption and pollution dissolved into nothingness.
With that, the last traces of lingering resentment in Dihua Marsh were completely purified.
Qiu Bai slowly rose to his feet and flew above Wangshu Inn.
His gaze fell on the Yang Incarnation still maintaining the formation. With a thought, he recalled it back into his body and continued channeling divine power to revive the four Yakshas.
The four of them looked at Qiu Bai, who sat cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed, their expressions filled with gratitude.
"This is my first time seeing the Immortal Lord in person."
"I never imagined such a kind and gentle deity."
Bonanus murmured to herself as she felt her body slowly regaining its form and immortal power with the passage of time.
"I heard from Liuyun and the others that the Immortal Lord fell into slumber for a thousand years… all for the sake of purifying the Dragon King, Azhdaha."
Bosacius glanced at Bonanus as she spoke, nodding with a faint smile.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind Qiu Bai.
"Old friend, I've arrived."
Upon hearing that voice, the corners of Qiu Bai's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Morax, what brings you here?"
"I thought you were staying at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to teach my sister about the ways of Teyvat?"
Qiu Bai chuckled as he turned to look at Zhongli.
At that moment, Zhongli was approaching at a leisurely pace.
"Haha, your sister is progressing at an astonishing rate."
"Everything I teach her—she remembers it after hearing it just once."
Zhongli laughed softly before shifting his gaze to the four Yakshas, his expression warm.
"Lord Emperor."
The four Yakshas, having heard Qiu Bai refer to him as Morax, immediately recognized who Zhongli was.
But Zhongli simply smiled and waved his hand.
"I have already made a contract to end all contracts."
"There is no need to address me like that anymore. And… I owe you all a great debt."
His voice was gentle as he looked at the four Yakshas before him.
"Lord Emperor, there is no need for guilt."
"It was our duty to protect Liyue!"
Menogias immediately cupped his fists and bowed toward Zhongli.
Bonanus, Indarias, and Bosacius followed suit, showing their respect.
"There's no need for such formalities."
"You may all rise."
Zhongli nodded with a smile before turning his gaze toward Xiao, who was still lying on the bench.
"Has Xiao's karmic burden been lifted?"
"My friend… thank you."
A trace of relief flickered in Zhongli's eyes as he looked at the Yakshas surrounding him.
Then, he turned his attention back to Qiu Bai, who was still seated on the ground, and expressed his gratitude once more.
"Haha, are we really still being so formal with each other?"
Qiu Bai chuckled, waving his hand dismissively before focusing again—pouring even more divine power into the formation.
...