Shenhe had returned quietly, thinking she had hidden it from Mu Yang.

But in truth, Mu Yang wasn't the only one who noticed her departure—Cloud Retainer had as well.

However, both of them tacitly chose not to mention it.

Mu Yang knew that Cloud Retainer cared deeply for her disciple.

Moreover, after her experience with Ganyu as a student, she had learned much.

She would not bind Shenhe's growth with rigid constraints, nor would she let her drift aimlessly in the wind.

Guidance and freedom both had their limits.

This was also the last time Mu Yang would see Shenhe in the coming years.

After this, his symptoms began—occasionally forgetting things.

Such as the promise made during the Moonchase Festival.

This wasn't something he made up.

Mu Yang suspected it was related to Clarisse's growing strength.

Time in the simulation flowed by bit by bit, until Mu Yang walked back from Mt. Mingyuan to Yilong Wharf...

Mu Yang opened his eyes. The identity of "Mu Yang" in the setting was now clear to him.

He had also regained all his memories of the corrected Teyvat world.

Now, he was the complete Mu Yang!

No one can understand me better than I do!

With his full memories restored, Mu Yang began planning his next steps.

"The Moonchase Festival is the nearest upcoming event, in the same version—Version 2.1."

Mu Yang recalled the contents of this year's Moonchase Festival—

The Liyue Culinary Showdown, and Guoba's true identity.

Perhaps there might even be traces of him in the great migration of the Guili Assembly back then.

"Anyway, I should go find Lingyuan first. We'll figure out the rest later."

Mu Yang arrived at Lingyuan's abode and recounted his experiences in Inazuma.

The usually reserved Lingyuan spoke bluntly for once, "Do you know how worried I was during those years you disappeared? And then you went and challenged her again?!"

Lingyuan was referring to the time he was cut down by Ei.

Mu Yang spread his hands. "But I came back safely, didn't I? I promised you I wouldn't break my word."

He deactivated the system's suppression, and the sudden surge of immense aura shocked Lingyuan.

"Strong… even stronger than you at your peak."

Mu Yang immediately started spouting nonsense again. "This is a new cultivation method I developed—'Rebirth Through Death'."

"This method… is too dangerous."

Lingyuan already knew Mu Yang sought strength to restore Yaojun's memories.

But was this approach too reckless?

She really didn't want to go through that kind of nerve-wracking experience again.

"Then I'll hold off on using it for now."

Mu Yang reassured Lingyuan—after all, the Moonchase Festival didn't require fighting.

Whether he acted or not made no difference.

Only then did Lingyuan relax.

"This year's Moonchase Festival, I'm going to Mt. Aocang. Would you like to come along?"

Lingyuan said she had been away from the Liyue adepti for too long—it would feel awkward to visit now.

Perhaps next time.

Mu Yang said he would return after finishing his business, and they could celebrate together then.

———

Mt. Hulao

Shenhe sat cross-legged atop the mountain, practicing the art of "Stillness."

This "Untraceable" internal cultivation technique was taught to her by Mu Yang.

The key to mastering this meditation technique lay in "stillness."

Clearing the mind and sensing the surrounding energy with the body allowed consciousness to swiftly return to the self.

Then came enlightenment—merging with nature, becoming one with all things.

Deep in this state, Shenhe sensed a faint presence intruding upon Mt. Hulao.

She withdrew from meditation. "Perhaps another mortal seeking the adepti has wandered here. I should drive them away."

"Otherwise, they might get trapped in amber and disturb the Mountain Shaper's peace."

Because the presence was so weak, she assumed it was an ordinary person.

This was Shenhe's daily life.

Honing herself, practicing the arts, resisting her own fate.

When she encountered lost seekers of the adepti, she would persuade them to leave, lest they disturb her masters.

As for those with ill intentions—she naturally opted for a quicker, more efficient method: her fists.

Compared to lecturing, Shenhe preferred this approach.

Of course, she only demonstrated her strength—like punching a deep crater into the ground or lifting a boulder with one hand.

Not actually hitting anyone—after all, with her strength, no ordinary person could survive a direct punch.

And this level of restraint was already the result of her training...

Just as Shenhe located the faint presence, ready to persuade them to leave, she realized—it was her master, whom she hadn't seen in years!

"Master Mu Yang?!"

Mu Yang nodded in satisfaction.

"You could detect such a faint presence—seems you haven't slacked in your training."