Chapter 146: Incomplete reincarnation is equivalent to completely not reincarnating.
「 "General!" Yanqing rejoiced.
Jing Yuan gestured for him not to stand up yet and to rest well. He looked up at Blade and Dan Heng, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
Memories flooded back, some sad, some joyful… But in the end, he forced a relaxed smile and said, "It's been a long time since you two returned to Xianzhou, but it's always under such awkward circumstances. If you still remember our old friendship, you should have notified me earlier."
Blade, however, said coldly, "What I needed to do is done."
"Yes, it's done." Jing Yuan nodded, then turned to Kafka and Blade: "You've done Xianzhou a small favor, and I'm grateful. Take this person and go. This time, I can pretend I didn't see anything."
"General?! I…" Yanqing could hardly believe his ears.
"Now is not the time to talk about this." Jing Yuan shook his head seriously. 」
「 .....」
〜Zenless Zone Zero World〜
New Eridu, Cunning Hares—
"Hey! Jing Yuan! How can you just let Kafka and Blade go so easily? That Blade guy even beat up your subordinate!"
Seeing that Jing Yuan had no intention of backing Yanqing up, Nicole almost let out a sharp shriek.
"Calm down, Boss Nicole!"
Billy quickly tried to persuade her:
"General must have his reasons for doing this, right? Maybe… uh, he wants to train Yanqing?"
"Look, last time Yanqing was defeated by Jingliu, he learned a new move. Maybe after this mixed doubles beating, he'll learn double the new moves!"
"It's like… after I get slapped, someone suddenly gives me a million Dennies. Even if Boss Nicole doesn't back me up, it's not a loss, right?"
"Eh? A, a million Dennies? Cough cough… If it's really that much, then I think it's fine for you to get slapped a few more times, Billy."
Nicole's attitude suddenly did a 180-degree turn, and she turned back to righteously correct him,
"And, Billy, don't say it so vulgarly. How can that be called getting slapped? That's—firepower suppression, high-intelligence tactical body head impact resistance test!"
"If there's really such an opportunity, you should test it a few more rounds. That way, Cunning Hares's debt… oh no, your machine's performance will also improve. It's simply too good!"
—
「 Jing Yuan watched Kafka and Blade leave, then turned back to Dan Heng: "Long time no see… old friend."
"I am not him." Dan Heng's calm voice held a hint of weariness.
"Hmm… sorry." Jing Yuan chuckled casually. He looked at Dan Heng, who was preparing to leave, and reminded him lightly, "You can't leave yet, because your train friends are waiting for you in the Scalegorge Waterscape. Shall we go meet them together?"
Dan Heng nodded and accompanied Jing Yuan and a large contingent of Cloud Knights.
Before long, they arrived at a deeper secret realm within the Scalegorge Waterscape. Here, they could faintly see the "Grand Reverie Palace" in the distance, and the towering High Elder statue in the center of the palace.
Seeing this scene again, Jing Yuan was filled with emotion.
"The Ancient Wave Sea, a wondrous realm. The scenery of this Scalegorge Waterscape is unchanged from when I last witnessed it. Yet, you and I, standing here now, are each different. It seems that even as long-lived beings with immortal bodies, we cannot stand alongside heaven and earth."
"The General should know the Vidyadhara's cycle of rebirth." Dan Heng said calmly, "The waters of the ancient sea have washed away Dan Feng's sins. The person who stood here with you back then is no longer here." 」
「 .....」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
"Hmm… Lady Frieren, does that mean Dan Heng's previous life was called Dan Feng, a notorious criminal of Xianzhou, but he has been reborn as Dan Heng through reincarnation, right?"
Fern simply sorted out the information on the light screen and concluded,
"The one who committed the crime was his previous life; Dan Heng is actually innocent."
"Hmm, but there are still some doubts…"
Frieren pointed to the pair of dragon horns on Dan Heng's head on the light screen.
"According to the Vidyadhara's custom, rebirth means a complete break from the previous life. But why does Dan Heng still possess the power of the High Elder and some of his memories?"
"It's called rebirth, but it doesn't feel like a complete rebirth. In short… It's very strange."
"Ah, no wonder Blade said Dan Heng 'hasn't even died once.' So that's why!"
Stark suddenly realized:
"The Vidyadhara's reincarnation is equivalent to the death of the previous life, but Dan Feng's reincarnation… likely had an accident, allowing the power and memories of the High Elder to remain with Dan Heng."
"That's not right either."
Sein frowned in confusion,
"The power of the High Elder is inherited. If Dan Heng possesses the power of the High Elder and was exiled from the Xianzhou, then the current Vidyadhara High Elder must be…"
"Could it really be Bailu-sama?"
Fern recalled the High Elder candidate who was initially rejected by everyone.
—
「 "I am Dan Heng. Whether that Dan Feng was a hero or a sinner, it has nothing to do with me. I have borne his punishment and accepted permanent exile—I have no complaints about this, but when the General sees me, please abandon the shadows of the past." Dan Heng said calmly.
"Ah… bringing up old matters is like stirring up muddy water, only inviting displeasure." Jing Yuan sighed, "Perhaps it's your appearance… perhaps those dragon horns, the faint aura of the High Elder, always make me associate you with an old friend."
"…" Dan Heng emphasized again: "I have already said—"
"Yes, you said it, so what?" Jing Yuan tilted his head slightly, smiling as he interrupted, "If a single sentence could change how others view you, there wouldn't be so many disputes in the world. You want me to no longer see you as Dan Feng? Fine, do one thing for me."
"Help me one last time as Dan Feng. Once this matter is concluded, I will let him die and revoke your exile order. From now on, I can guarantee that, at least on the Luofu, you will no longer be anyone's shadow."
Upon hearing this, Dan Heng shook his head: "What Dan Feng could do, I may not be able to do."
"You must do it; otherwise, all promises are void." Jing Yuan was uncharacteristically domineering this time, "Blame your previous life. If he hadn't done that outrageous thing back then, if the power of transformation into a dragon could be completely inherited, I wouldn't need to force you."
"As I said earlier: you and I, standing here today, are each different. Dan Feng is no more, only Dan Heng, and I…"
"I am already the General of the Luofu. There are some things, even if unwilling, I must still do." 」
「 .....」