Sacrificing Myself: Nine Transmigrations (Genshin Impact)

Several days later.

Elliot finally arrived at Qingyun Peak.

At that moment, the talisman Venti had given him began to react.

Sensing its direction, Elliot followed it and finally spotted a faint, cloud-shrouded house atop a mountain peak.

"Mountain Shaper... I've finally made it."

He let out a sigh and walked up to the door.

Knock knock...

He gently knocked and called out, "Greetings, Adeptus. I, Elliot, a mere mortal, have come to pay my respects."

"Come in," came a soft, ethereal voice from inside.

"Speak. What brings you here?" asked the Adeptus.

Elliot explained his purpose.

The Adeptus frowned, clearly hesitant to perform such a task.

"You truly wish to exchange your fate with that of Shenhe?" he asked again.

"I do."

"You do realize—your fate is one of happiness. Anyone who stays by your side will share in that happiness. Such a blessed fate... and you want to exchange it for Shenhe's?"

"Yes. I've made up my mind. Please."

"...Alright. I'll give it a try."

Perhaps it was because of Venti's talisman that things went surprisingly smoothly.

Without it, he suspected the process might have been much more difficult.

The Adeptus took two strands of hair from Elliot—one his own, the other Shenhe's.

He then began the ritual to swap their fates.

The light clouds overhead suddenly thickened, laced with crackling webs of lightning. Something terrible seemed to be brewing in the air.

This strange phenomenon wasn't limited to Qingyun Peak—back in Mondstadt, the once-clear skies were abruptly shrouded in storm clouds, drawing everyone's attention.

At that moment, Jean, Shenhe, and Venti all sensed Elliot's distinct aura.

BOOM!!!!!!!

A massive bolt of lightning struck down from the heavens, hitting both Shenhe and Elliot directly.

The terrifying sight stunned the onlookers—many feared an Archon had descended.

When the thunder faded, the Adeptus inspected the results in astonishment.

Elliot's fate had indeed changed—it was now Shenhe.

"The replacement... actually succeeded!?"

Even the Adeptus was shocked. Swapping fates was already an exceedingly rare act; a successful exchange was nearly unheard of.

"Thank you, Adeptus. I have one more request."

"What is it?"

"If a girl comes looking for me... please pass a message to her."

Elliot smiled gently as he spoke.

Leaving behind his final words, he descended the mountain.

...

In Mondstadt.

Not only was Shenhe unharmed by the lightning strike—she actually felt the malevolent energy within her dissipate.

She had been drowning in sorrow for days, and never could have imagined that lightning from the heavens would cleanse her evil aura.

Surprised, she slowly undid a red string, but still felt no trace of that energy.

She untied a second—still nothing.

Then she removed them all.

To her shock, the malevolent energy was truly gone.

She was stunned.

She should have felt joy—yet her heart only grew heavier, more uneasy.

Something didn't feel right.

"Jean, I want to leave Mondstadt... I need to go to Liyue and ask my master what's going on."

"I'll go with you," Jean said, unwilling to let Shenhe go alone.

"Thank you, Jean."

"Of course."

The two set off together for Liyue.

After some time, Shenhe returned to the mountain she once called home.

"Master, I've returned."

She pushed open the door, and Liuyun Borrowing the Wind looked over at her, eyes widening.

"Where is your red string?" the Adeptus immediately asked.

"I came back to ask you about this strange event."

She then introduced Jean. "This is Jean, leader of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt."

"Greetings, Adeptus," Jean said politely.

Hearing Shenhe's words, Cloud Retainer was taken aback.

He'd assumed Shenhe would spend her life alone among the mountains and beasts—never imagining she'd make a friend.

"Master, a few days ago in Mondstadt, the skies were clear. Then suddenly, dark clouds gathered and a thunderbolt struck me.

After that, I felt... the malevolent energy inside me was gone."

The Adeptus froze.

A few days ago, something strange had occurred in Liyue as well.

He hadn't expected it to involve Shenhe.

"Come with me to Qingyun Peak. That's where the disturbance occurred."

Shenhe's heart clenched at his words, and Jean also began to piece things together.

They soon arrived at Mountain Shaper's dwelling.

After explaining everything, Mountain Shaper's eyes widened.

"What? That was your fate?!"

Shenhe's heart trembled.

"What... what fate...?"

"Let me examine it first."

The Adeptus checked her fate—and found that her 'loneliness' had been replaced with 'happiness.'

"It really was you!"

He was stunned. The man who had asked to exchange fates had done so... with Shenhe's.

Mountain Shaper had once taught her a few techniques. In fact, many Adepti had guided Shenhe over the years—they knew her situation well.

"What are you saying?" Cloud Retainer asked, confused.

"A few days ago, a man came to me with a special talisman and asked me to switch his fate."

"You must understand—fate replacement can only swap good for bad, and only if the person is utterly sincere. It also incurs heavy karma... even death.

Yet that man was determined. He didn't hesitate at all."

"I agreed, not expecting anything—but the ritual succeeded."

Those words hit Shenhe like a thunderclap.

Jean's eyes widened as well, her mouth slightly agape.

Shenhe stood frozen, like a puppet.

Elliot's image flashed through her mind again.

"No... no..."

"This... shouldn't be..."

"Why did it happen like this..."

Her eyes turned red. Tears gushed forth uncontrollably.

Images raced through her mind like a reel of memories—

"Hello, my name is Elliot Yuan—the 'Yuan' in far away. Nice to meet you."

...

"A place to belong in this world... is a luxury for me. I've grown used to living among the mountains and animals."

"You're still young. Don't say such things."

"That so-called cursed fate—it's nonsense. Everyone deserves happiness. Even the heavens can't take that away. Just because you're suffering now doesn't mean your whole life will be that way."

...

"From now on, rely on me. I may not be strong, but I'll make that cursed fate meet the King of Hell."

...

"Try this. I made it myself—tomato and egg noodles."

...

"If you like it, I'll make it for you every day."

"Really?"

"Of course."

...

Shenhe, tears pouring down her face, knelt before Mountain Shaper and began kowtowing repeatedly.

"Please... Adeptus... change us back... I'll pay any price... just bring him back..."

"A fate can only be changed once in a lifetime. It can't be undone."

Mountain Shaper shook his head, a bitter look on his face.

"He asked me to pass on a message."

"I don't want to hear it... I want him to say it himself..."

Jean, eyes wet with tears, hugged Shenhe tightly, then nodded at the Adeptus, signaling him to continue.

"I love you dearly, but... I'm sorry."

"Please forgive me for making this choice without asking you. If there's a next life, I'll be your husband again..."

"Live well... live for the both of us..."

"And smile often—your smile is beautiful. More beautiful than mountains, moonlight, or a thousand lights across the city..."

Shenhe collapsed to the ground, tears soaking the earth.

The once-cold white-haired witch now wept until her voice broke.

"Husband... you're my husband... my husband for life..."

"I'll wait for you... no matter how long... I'll wait... until you marry me..."

"Master... please give me a red string... I want to tie it to him... only he can untie it..."

"Too cruel... You said you'd make me tomato and egg noodles every day..."

"I want to eat them... When will you make them again..."

At that moment, Jean also wept, silently apologizing in her heart:

"I'm sorry, Elliot... Only you live in her heart. Only you can make her truly happy..."

Third Life — End.