In the blink of an eye, Kael's vision shifts to a room steeped in Liyue's distinctive style.
Sheets of paper covered in dense writing are spread out before him.
Kael looks up and realizes the sky outside is already bright.
It seems his life simulation self spent the entire night recording intelligence.
He picks up the papers and flips through them one by one, growing more astonished the more he reads.
As a long-time Genshin player, Kael is quite familiar with the game's storylines. He roughly remembers the Fatui's plans and strongholds.
Yet his life simulation self has written down a massive portion of it in detail.
There is even information that never appeared in the game at all.
No wonder the Fatui once relied on him so heavily, and no wonder Liyue wanted to pull him to their side.
It turns out his life simulation self truly had that level of capability.
However, the most crucial piece of intelligence was missing.
His life simulation self never realized that the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon were currently living among mortals in disguise.
A large part of the Fatui's efforts to stir chaos across Teyvat was precisely to obtain the Gnoses.
After a moment of thought, Kael writes down everything he knows from the game about the Fatui's plans to seize the Gnoses.
Before he crossed into Genshin Impact, the game's story had not yet concluded.
Perhaps all the sins committed by Snezhnaya would eventually be justified.
Or perhaps they would stand firmly on the side of justice.
But so what?
Just like his life simulation self this time.
Despite a tragic past and unspeakable suffering, his hands were still stained with the blood of countless innocents.
In this life simulation, he would pay the price for the crimes he had committed.
Snezhnaya would be no different.
Kael writes down everything he knows, partly because he wants to see just how much damage the intelligence in his hands can inflict on the Fatui.
He also hopes to use the experience from this life simulation to stop the Fatui's atrocities in the real world.
Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru…
His real life and his simulated life continue to intertwine.
In the future, the number of people he cares about on this continent will only keep growing.
He can no longer sit by and watch tragedies unfold like he is playing a game.
Once Kael finishes writing, he gathers the thick stack of documents and leaves the room.
Yanshang Teahouse may be Yelan's territory.
But the Fatui's influence has long since seeped throughout Teyvat.
There is no guarantee that Yelan's subordinates are all clean.
In this life simulation, there is only one person left he can trust.
Hu Tao.
Kael heads toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Before he even reaches the entrance, he spots a familiar black figure from afar.
Hu Tao is sitting on the steps in front of the parlor, her chin resting in her hands as she watches the passersby.
Her face still carries the youthful softness of a young girl.
But the playful innocence she once had is gone, replaced by a hint of maturity.
It seems that after being tempered by love, she has gradually transformed into a true woman.
Hu Tao's gaze is fixed straight ahead, lost in thought.
The moment Kael appears in her field of vision, the dimness in her eyes brightens instantly.
"Kael!!!"
Before Kael can reach her, she is already running toward him.
"Are you here to…"
Are you here to see me?
Did you decide to come back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?
Hu Tao opens her mouth, but only two words escape before she closes it again.
If this were the old her, she would have voiced her doubts without hesitation.
But now, when facing Kael, all that remains is timidity and caution.
She can no longer act willfully in front of him like she used to.
Seeing Hu Tao avert her gaze, Kael feels a sharp ache in his chest.
He knows exactly why she has become like this.
His repeated rejections have stripped Hu Tao of her confidence.
Kael knows this life simulation is nearing its end.
Perhaps after heading to The Chasm to rescue Chenxi, he will die.
This meeting may very well be their last.
So let him say a proper goodbye to Hu Tao.
"Hu Tao… I came to see you."
Kael speaks softly.
Hu Tao freezes, disbelief spreading across her face.
"Really…?"
She raises her hand and slaps her own forehead hard.
A red mark immediately blooms on her fair skin.
"Ah… that hurts."
"So this time, I'm not dreaming… Kael really came to see me on his own?"
Hearing her murmur, Kael feels both heartache and amusement.
He cannot help but reach out and gently rub her forehead.
"Are you an idiot? Why would you hit yourself that hard?"