Su Yuan suddenly remembered—ever since the immortals had placed the soul-binding red rope on Shenhe, while it had suppressed the ominous energy within her, it had also sealed away many emotions that were originally human…
But according to the previous in-game descriptions and storylines, it was also clear that Shenhe seemed to have fallen for the Traveler at first sight…
Even the red rope couldn't suppress Shenhe's feelings for the Traveler.
"Long-lost, unfamiliar emotions gradually surged forth, as if something deep within the threads of fate had begun to loosen."
To Shenhe, the Traveler was special…
Could it be that the reason Shenhe was acting like this now… was because she had sensed something?
Or rather, it was because she hadn't sensed anything—that feeling of heart-stirring affection—that she was reacting this way?
Just then, a shocking thought struck Su Yuan like lightning…
If that really were the case, then ever since he met Aether in Liyue… everything would make sense.
"Xiao, when you hear someone calling your name, what exactly do you use to distinguish who it is?"
Su Yuan turned to Xiao and asked:
"Is it by the sound of their voice?"
"No. Voice tone can be imitated—that's not reliable…"
Xiao replied:
"It's the aura—more precisely, the aura deep within the bloodline. That's something that can't be faked by any other means…"
"The aura deep within the bloodline…"
Su Yuan murmured softly to himself, then continued to ask Xiao:
"Then, if two people are twins, or siblings… wouldn't their bloodline aura be almost the same?"
"It would be very similar, yes. But in the end, there would still be a difference…"
Xiao thought for a moment and then slowly said:
"Unless… the two of them had gone through a long, long time together and understood each other deeply—only then might they gradually assimilate…"
At that moment, Xiao seemed to realize something too.
He lifted his gaze and looked toward Aether…
Seeing Xiao's reaction, Su Yuan finally understood everything.
Why Aether was able to find him directly,
Why Dottore retreated without a fight,
Why Aether's behavior was so strange,
Why he acted shy when Su Yuan saw him coming out of the bath…
So that's how it is…
Su Yuan slowly stepped forward, walked up beside Shenhe, looked toward Aether, and said:
"Shenhe was right. You're not the Traveler…"
"At least… not the Traveler of the present."
Aether looked at Su Yuan with a confused expression, and somewhat aggrievedly said:
"Su Yuan, have you forgotten? Who was it that saved you from Dottore's hands?"
"There's no need to say any more."
Su Yuan cut Aether off.
"I've already seen through your identity…"
"Lumine… Princess of the Abyss Order…"
"Lumine? Su Yuan, you even know my sister's name, and that she's the princess of the Abyss Order?"
Aether's face showed a look of shock as he stared at Su Yuan.
"Su Yuan… do you have news of my sister? Do you know where she is?"
Yelan, Xingqiu, and Chongyun all looked on in confusion as well, speaking up:
"Su Yuan, Shenhe… could it be that there's been some misunderstanding…"
Su Yuan stared at the scene before him, face serious and grim…
Even now… still refusing to admit it?
Although he had already pieced together most of it from the clues…
But there was still one thing missing—crucial evidence…
Suddenly, Su Yuan seemed to think of something…
Back in the story, the Dendro Archon once said that the real Aether was the Fourth Descender, while Lumine, for some unknown reason, didn't belong to the Descenders.
The Irminsul still recorded information about her…
In a sense, Lumine was a native of Teyvat…
Which meant—if they flipped the perspective—by asking just a few questions, they could determine whether the person before them was Aether or Lumine.
Su Yuan took a deep breath, looked at the Aether before him, and slowly asked:
"Tell me—do you know who the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is?"
"And also, who is the Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers?"
Before Aether could respond, Yelan jumped in to answer first:
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata? I've never heard that name before…"
"As for the Sixth Harbinger of the Fatui, that I do know. That seat's been vacant for hundreds of years—there's never been anyone assigned to it…"
Su Yuan looked toward Aether and asked, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are your answers exactly the same as Yelan's?"
"No… I was just thinking… whether answering you directly would be a bad idea…"
As Aether spoke, he pulled out a pen and paper, scribbled something down, folded the note, and tossed it into Su Yuan's hands…
Su Yuan unfolded the note, and saw, written boldly:
[The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sacrificed herself to save Sumeru, exhausting her power to help the Scarlet King eliminate forbidden knowledge…]
[The current Dendro Archon, Nahida, is the purest branch on the World Tree…]
[As for the Sixth seat among the Fatui Harbingers—isn't that the "Balladeer"? The puppet created by the Raiden Shogun and later betrayed and manipulated by Dottore… No, I guess he goes by "the Wanderer" now…]
[So, what do you think of my answers, Su Yuan?]
[I really am Aether…]
Su Yuan stared at the note in shock.
If this was actually Lumine in disguise—how would she know all of this?
And not just vaguely—she knew the details.
But then he quickly came to a realization.
It was entirely possible that Lumine had read Aether's memories—that's how she knew all this…
After all, he already knew that Aether had gone to Sumeru—and that the teleport waypoints had malfunctioned…
But if the "Aether" standing before him now was actually Lumine…
Then where was the real Aether?
"Oh, right. There's something else I want to say to you," "Aether" added, scribbling something down again before tossing another note into Su Yuan's hands.
Su Yuan opened it, but this time—what was written on it shocked him even more…
[Su Yuan, I know you probably have the ability to rewind or revert things...]
[And the condition that triggers it is your death...]
[If you don't want me to reveal this to everyone, then stop focusing on my identity...]
[Just tell everyone that I am Aether...]
[Trust me, I won't harm you...]
[After all, we have a common enemy...]
These words were essentially a confession.
It was as if the note directly told Su Yuan, I'm not Aether, but what can you do about it?
I know your biggest secret, and if you don't want that secret exposed, you'll have to compromise...
"How about it, Su Yuan? Are you satisfied with my answer?"
Aether smiled as he looked at Su Yuan and spoke.
"Mm."
Su Yuan nodded helplessly, then looked around at the others and said:
"Earlier, I misunderstood something, but now I'm sure..."
"The Traveler is the real Traveler, without a doubt…"
---------------
Exclusive access : 258ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz