Genshin Impact: I am a scholar in Xumi

Chapter 381 The World Forgot Me...

Sora nodded.

Nashida: "But be careful, we here are also sentient beings. We must always be vigilant and not be contaminated by the surrounding environment, otherwise we may go crazy."

"Ah, so scary?!" Paimon screamed in horror.

Nashida: "It's okay. The pollution here has been suppressed by the Great Compassion Tree King for hundreds of years. It shouldn't get out of control suddenly unless something unexpected happens."

If nothing unexpected happens, then something unexpected will happen.

Harold muttered to himself.

"Wow, the Great Tree King is really a great god!" Paimon said to Kong.

"Well, she was still able to send out information in this state and guide us to this place. She has truly sacrificed so much... We must meet with her remaining consciousness as soon as possible and find a way to save the World Tree... If possible, we should also ask her if there is any way to help her rebuild her divine body..."

Nashida's gaze gradually changed from sadness to determination. "What's floating in the sky is the boat of consciousness. Its direction is the direction in which our consciousness is moving—"

"All we have to do is get on the boat and steer it, right?" The skirmisher walked to the front with his arms folded.

"...You can say that, but if the consciousness is out of control, it will be lost in this area, and there may be residual pollution there. I will use my power to open a barrier for you, and you can take the opportunity to purify them." Nashida reminded.

"But this should be the only way to find the Great Compassion Tree King. Let's go, Traveler," said Paimon.

Sora aimed at the four-leaf seal in the air, "Follow me, Paimon."

Four people and a floating spirit boarded the ship of consciousness through the four-leaf seal. After three waves of battles, Kong found the rudder at the bow. After asking Nashida's opinion, Kong injected his elemental power into it.

The rudder began to turn, and the oars of the boat of consciousness, which had been anchored for a long time, made a creaking sound, carrying the travelers towards the distance.

The huge ship passed through the sky and headed towards the fog.

After a long time, the boat of consciousness stopped on a large web woven by huge tree roots. Paimon looked around and saw only seas of clouds and glowing plants everywhere. In the distance, a giant tree perched above the clouds, its roots extending all the way to their feet.

"Is this the place you came to before? Could that be the World Tree?" Paimon asked Kong.

Sora looked up at the giant tree in the distance. "...Yes, it's exactly the same as what I saw back then."

"This is it, where the Great Kindness Tree King is." said Nashida.

"Well... we are here to find the Great Tree King, right? But why... the person in front of us now is Nashida?" Paimon said in confusion.

Kong was also surprised. He thought to himself: ...Could it be that the Great Mercy Tree King and Nashida look exactly the same - no, I should say, why do Nashida and the Great Mercy Tree King look exactly the same?

The Great Compassionate Tree King quickly answered their questions:

"Because you and I are essentially the same. I am the incarnation of the World Tree, and you are the purest branch broken off from it. You and I are the cycle of life, just like a tree withers in winter and springs back to life."

"But... why don't I have the same wisdom and ability as you..." Nashida lowered her head, not daring to look directly at the Great Compassionate Tree King. After hearing the Great Compassionate Tree King's explanation, she did not feel proud of sharing the same roots with such a great god, but developed a sense of inferiority.

"Because you have just arrived in this world, no one knows what they should do right after birth. In this respect, gods and humans are no different.

You and I are different individuals. We cannot replace each other. I cannot be you, and you don't need to be me. The new branches will thrive under the nourishment of sunshine and rain, and eventually grow into what she and the world she lives in want her to be.

The Great Compassion Tree King spoke in a gentle tone. Nashida's eyes were still wandering, but she finally dared to raise her head. From time to time, she timidly glanced at the god in front of her who was loved by everyone with the corner of her eyes. She felt that the other party was shining with a sacred light.

"You have done a great job. In the long years to come, you will do even better." The Great Compassionate Tree King said with a smile.

"...Really? Can I really do it?" Nashida asked softly.

"Yes! We believe you!" Paimon interrupted, "Nashida has done a great job! Don't forget, you just worked with us to crush the Fatui's conspiracy and save Xumi!"

Sora agreed, "Things wouldn't have gone so smoothly without Nashida."

Harold smiled and nodded in agreement. "I wonder how the people in the Order would react if they knew about this."

I really want to drag Hazard in and whip his corpse. Harold's heart is full of malice.

The scattered soldier stood aside without saying a word, silently listening to the conversation between the two gods, his eyes dim and unclear.

Nashida whispered, "Thank you. This is such a joyful thing. Knowing that I share the same origin as the gods I have always admired, and knowing that I can also become an excellent god...

That’s wonderful... King Daicishu, I’ve always wanted to stand before you like this and listen to your voice..."

The Great Compassionate Tree King said: "I have always wanted to meet you, Nashida. Ever since I broke off that branch from the World Tree, I have imagined the scene of meeting you."

Narcida: "Can you tell me about that? About why you created me... and what happened after you died?"

The Great Compassionate Tree King: "This is a very long story..."

Then, she recounted how she sacrificed herself to suppress the forbidden knowledge left by the Red King, how the second disaster came after the Kyria War, how she collected the dreams of the Xumi people through the void, continuously purified the forbidden knowledge, protected the world, and revealed her understanding of the forbidden knowledge to everyone without reservation.

The others listened silently, and could not help but sigh in their hearts at the greatness and benevolence of this god. At this time, the Great Kind Tree King told everyone the ultimate purpose of leaving clues -

The Great Compassionate Tree King: "As early as the moment the forbidden knowledge polluted the World Tree, my consciousness was already tainted. As long as my existence remains within the World Tree, the forbidden knowledge cannot be completely purified. Therefore, I broke off the purest branch from the World Tree... Nashida, I have been waiting for this moment since the day I created you..."

"No...don't...we can't do this...!" Nashida understood the meaning of the words of the Great Compassionate Tree King. Her voice trembled and she was unwilling to accept this reality.

King Dacishu: "It seems you have understood what I mean, Nashida. Erasing me from this world completely is equivalent to never having come into this world. This is what I mean by 'letting the world forget me'..."

Nashida shook her head, her voice tinged with tears. "But, why? Why must it be like this... You've done so much, and everyone loves you so much... I also..."

"This is the only way," the Great Compassion Tree King consoled him. "I've long since died. What remains here is only a wisp of my consciousness, able to pass on my knowledge to you. I'm very happy, Buyer. As a wise man, you should also be happy for discovering the truth."

"...This is too cruel..." Nashida said with her head down.

"Interrupt him first!" the soldier suddenly said.

Paimon and Sora turned around and looked at him with displeasure.

"What's wrong with him? At such an important moment..." Paimon whispered in Sora's ear.

King Daicishu: "Oh? You are a puppet created by Baalzebul. Do you have any questions you need me to answer?"

Before those clear, all-seeing eyes, Sanbing hesitated twice before finally asking, clenching his fists. "According to what you just said, if we erase a person from the World Tree, will past history change?"

The Great Compassionate Tree King: "That's right—"

Sanbing's eyes lit up, but the next words of the Great Compassion Tree King made his mood plummet again.

The Great Compassionate Tree King: "But history and the land will remember everything. It's easy to erase a person's existence, but the words he said and the deeds he did will leave traces on this land...

So, Nashida, don't cry for me, I just changed the way I stayed with you..."

Sora, Paimon, and Harold turned their gaze towards Nashida and found her face in tears.