Under his severe injuries, Bennett's consciousness grew fainter and more chaotic. Before him, his dad's figure also grew blurrier. But just before his dad's image disappeared, he spoke to Bennett again.
"Son, whether it's luck or misfortune, it's all part of the adventure. Don't mind what others say. Live well."
With those final words, the already blurry figure faded further. Gradually, his dad's image vanished before Bennett.
Hearing these words, new strength surged within Bennett's body. His wounds began healing rapidly, and his fading consciousness instantly cleared.
"Yes—whether it's luck or misfortune, it's all part of the adventure. Bennett won't care about that anymore. If no one likes Bennett, Bennett will like himself. If no one will be Bennett's companion, Bennett will fight alone. If no one will protect Bennett, Bennett will protect himself. Even cursed with misfortune, Bennett won't be defeated by it."
As Bennett shouted to the heavens, the entire Valley of Despair seemed affected, erupting with powerful energy. The blazing fire rushed toward him. Lightning crazily attacked everything around, shattering massive boulders. The blade-like wind broke through the valley's confines and spread outward.
Not only that—half the valley's power converged toward Bennett. In an instant, a great fire blazed up around him, engulfing his small body. The powerful flames consumed him.
But strangely, the raging fire caused him no harm. Instead, it shielded him from the blade-like wind and the lightning from above.
Then, what seemed like the eye of a god slowly opened in the sky, witnessing everything below. The gaze of the gods appeared once more in Teyvat.
The moment that divine gaze appeared, the blazing fire seemed influenced by its power and began to gather at Bennett's waist. Time passed—minutes or hours—until Bennett opened his eyes again. The converging power had fully coalesced at his waist. A crimson Vision was born.
Bennett looked down at the fiery Vision, feeling the power it brought. He thought again of his dad's fleeting figure. He didn't know if his dad had truly appeared before him, but he knew it was his dad's encouragement that had given him strength again, allowing him to turn the tide once more and overcome the misfortune that clung to him.
"Thank you, Dad. Bennett has grown up now. From now on, Bennett will take care of himself. You can rest easy."
With that, he picked up his fallen sword, slowly stood, and resolutely stepped toward the valley's exit. No lingering. No hesitation.
In that moment, Bennett became a true adventurer. No longer afraid of any danger. No longer afraid of so-called misfortune. Even if he could never receive the blessing of luck, he would never accept the pity of misfortune.
...
Thus ended the story of the eighth life, where he was reincarnated as Bennett's granddad.
Now, at Wangshu Inn in Liyue Harbor, Li Mo had been speaking for so long his throat was parched. If not for the fading daylight and his desire to finish in one go, he would have drunk water long ago. After finishing the story of the eighth life and Bennett, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, picked up his tea cup, and took a slow sip.
Meanwhile, below the stage, the audience began discussing.
"Poor Bennett. I don't know him, but I still feel sorry for him."
"With misfortune always dogging him, how did Bennett ever grow to adulthood?"
"I have a question. If Bennett heard these past stories, would he break down crying?"
"He'd definitely cry. But it's a shame Bennett is an adventurer in Mondstadt. He can't come to Liyue Harbor. If only he could."
"Storyteller, I've listened from beginning to end, but I still don't understand one thing: what exactly is Bennett's identity? Who put him in that valley?"
"Ever since he was found, Bennett has been connected to fire. Could he be related to the Pyro Archon?"
Though Bennett's story had ended, the mystery of his origins remained unsolved. If anything, it left the audience more puzzled.
An orphan. Cursed with misfortune since childhood. A monster-like constitution. Awakening his Vision through fire. And all those patterns inside the valley, which seemed to come from Natlan, the nation of Pyro. All the evidence pointed to a connection between Bennett and Natlan—perhaps even with the Pyro Archon himself.
Facing the audience's questions, Li Mo spoke slowly from the stage. "That's all I know about Bennett's story. As for his true identity, I'm not certain. But over the years, I've heard some rumors."
He was telling the truth. He didn't know Bennett's origins—not back when he was playing the game on Earth, nor during the ninety-nine reincarnations he had experienced in this world. The mystery of Bennett's birth had never come to light.
The audience pressed him. "What rumors? Stop being mysterious and tell us, storyteller."
Not only the ordinary listeners, but even the gods in the corner pricked up their ears when Bennett's identity was mentioned.