Yahoo, This isn't my most researched or edited video but I really wanted to talk about this because this is a topic that's very dear to my heart. I tried to finish this quickly in honor of family members who passed away during the Pandemic before, but it took a bit more time since I was still finishing Baizhu's thing. My videos are usually very impersonal but I really wanted to make this one just because this hits very close to home. Thanks, everyone. I hope that you all have a great day.

Baizhu described his predecessors as "moths that throw themselves into the flame, seeking a glimmer of hope in a dark world filled with pain and suffering". People who willingly sacrifice themselves to help the world. This line is a direct reference to the Fire Moths from Honkai Impact and their objective, a group of individuals, the 13 Flame Chasers who sacrificed everything to trailblaze a path of hope for humanity. A group of moths who burnt themselves getting too close to the flame of hope and as their bodies burnt, they left a path of light for others to follow in the darkness of despair. This trailblazing spirit is carried on by the path of Trailblaze Aeon Akivili in Honkai Star Rail. This motif of a moth too close to a flame is also directly referenced by Signora and visualised in the Winter Night's Lazzo fatui trailer as a literal fire moth whose sacrifice has reaffirmed the determination of the Harbingers. This is one of the many reasons why people see the 11 Harbingers as a parallel to the 13 Flame Chasers. He then described himself "...For a selfish moth like me, who's afraid of the flame, yet yearns for the light, the only path forward is up towards the moon". The second motif is even more fundamental than the Fire Moths to Hoyoverse as a whole. On the surface this line describes the actions of the final Fire Moth, who flew to the moon and made the final sacrifice, the final chapter of Honkai Impact part 1. But the most significant meaning of this line is the Moon itself, which is the fundamental motif to Hoyoverse as a whole, not just in Genshin with a large portion of lore related to the moon and names like Liyue and Mondstadt being named after the Moon as "Glassy Moon" and "Moon City" Hoyoverse's very first game was FlyMe2TheMoon featuring Kiana as the girl flying to the moon, Kiana is also the main character of most of Hoyoverse's games and in every game she sacrifices and flies to the Moon as her destiny. Kiana is compared by Sushang in Honkai Impact to the Chinese Moon Goddess, Chang'e. In Chinese myths Chang'e took the elixir of immortality and exiled herself to the moon, sacrificing herself by taking the curse of immortality away from humanity. This is paralleled by Baizhu intending to sacrifice himself to immortality and bear all the suffering he will receive in contract with Changsheng and the secret healing technique. Immortality has been seen as a source of suffering in Genshin with the Khaenriahns, Hilichurls and Archons experiencing erosion and PTSD. This curse of immortality is also a main plot point of Star Rail currently with the people of Xianzhou and the Aeon of Abundance. Chang'e and the Moon can be said as the founding motif of Hoyoverse back when Kiana flew to the Moon in FlyMe2TheMoon, we can expect this to be a recurring theme in Genshin and every other Hoyoverse game.

Baizhu being most “pure of heart”and whose goal towards immortality even makes dainslief , who knows the burden of the curse, praise him , was the last thing I actually expected since I honestly thought dainslief would’ve surely warned him of the danger of it. Kinda makes you think if immortality is something that is achieved through human intellect , will they suffer the same kinda erosion others go through . Dottore for one doesn’t look like it although I’m not even sure his original body is even alive. Plus, baizhu is pretty well aware of the consequences of his pursuit to immortality , and to live forever while continuously dealing with deaths of people he couldn’t save with his own weak and dying body, will surely harm his own mind in the long run?

i really enjoyed his story quest and the ethic debate between baizhu and hu tao. But i also feel that baizhu doesn't want to people to live forever, but to live as much as they can and at peace, where hu tao knows the importance of acceptance of death in every stage of life

In Genshin most debates are one side it, you can see who's narrative is correct but Baizhu's story quest makes boths perspective so well that honestly is one of my favorite.

Baizhu is by far one of my favourite characters in this game. He’s just a kind hearted selfless man who wants nothing more than to help people. I truly love him 😭 ❤️

Baizhu's quest was such an incredible exploration of the theme of immortality vs. death, and the morality of sacrificing yourself for the sake of others, but I think one of the most interesting manifestations of this is Changsheng. She plainly states that she does not want anyone to suffer because of her, and thinks that people taking her contract is a bad thing. She expresses a wistfulness and acceptance about being allowed to die and be free from the curse of her contract. But she keeps offering the contract to people even though she could just stop, because she cannot let go of the instinct to cling to life with everything she has. Changsheng wants to die. And Changsheng does not want to die. I find her the perfect encapsulation of the argument.

This subject also happens to be echoed in Star Rail. You come across immortals, long life races and your general short lived races. There's still a lot to analyze but the main subject is a war between the Aeon of Abundance and the Aeon of the Hunt. One of the main antagonists of this plot happens to be a member of the long lived race's but also carries the moniker of being the incomplete ones. The nature of their long life continually regenerates them back to their base physical form and when that form is that of a blind person who can never know color or sight without suffering immensely when their own body rejects any transplants and pulls them back into eternal darkness again. There's much to be said on both sides regarding the time we are given to chase after our ambitions and the acceptance of what we are or whether to deny it, as is common amongst us of the short lived species. It truly becomes an argument between stasis and change. It's in our nature to resist change for the dangers it poses. We are hard wired to generally resist it even when we are stuck in a pit of despair. We continually question ourselves about the choices we make and our life legacies and wonder if perhaps in the end we will be forgotten as commonly one forgets a dream. To which I would respond, I do not see myself as an individual independent of other forms of life. Therefore my goal is to contribute to the greater whole of life and all its forms, each dependent upon the other. I acknowledge a great many living beings died to keep me alive by the amount I have eaten and to honor that I should struggle to create some meaning from it. I do not believe I can change the world or the rules by which it operates but if I can start a ripple that echoes for eternity carrying qualities of curiosity, empathy, decisiveness and acceptance then my Will shall live on in this world and perhaps a new journey will await me when I depart it. In short I see myself only as a visitor to learn this experience and when it's time to leave I should think there are a great number of reasons why I would not wish to stay indefinitely.

honestly I've been waiting for people to talk more about hu tao's philosophy with regard to the general workings of teyvat because it's often overlooked. Everyone forgets that she's not an ordinary funeral parlor director, she directly handles souls, the grievances of the dead, negative and positive energies, karma and pestilences; these all fall under her area of expertise. She knows the repercussions that come with extending life, on the soul as well as threats of natural order. This is not to say that baizhu's thought process is unjustified. It's just that baizhu doesn't realise that in the long run, there are far more consequences that come with attempting to reverse death, or suspending a person's mind, memory and soul between life and death. It's agonising for the heart and mind to be stuck in a place that is not belonging to any specific realm. This applies specially if you think of qiqi's life, it was definitely extremely sad that she lost her life, but what did bringing her back to life do? She's in a perpetual cycle of forgetting things, she has to practice calisthenics all the time so her body doesn't give up on her and lock up, she won't age while everyone else would grow older and move on. She's suspended in time with no way to move forward. It is also in this scenario that I understand hu tao's reasons for wanting to liberate qiqi's soul, because now that she's a zombie, the longer she spends like this the harder it will be for her soul to ever achieve respite. I really enjoyed your video and you covered their ideologies well. Specially for hu tao since she's commonly mischaracterised as someone who actively seeks people's deaths when all she wants is a soul's seemless movement to the afterlife, and for people to live long and fulfilling lives while they're alive. She laments when people's lives are cut short too like in freak accidents, she's more emotionally intelligent than many and we have seen that through descriptions of her solemnity and how she hears the woes of the dead and fulfills their wishes.

It's unrelated, but I love how this topic is being touched in Star Rail as well now. I won't go into spoilers, but the whole debate of immortality, good or bad, and all of it's consequences is pretty central to the plot and worldbuilding in general. And I really like how they approached the topic there.

8:43 About the Sisyphean nature of Baizhu attaining immortality to just remain in the cycle of absorbing pain and illnesses, enduring countless diseases, without the hope of release It sounds so similar to Xiao's cycle of bearing Karmic debt, no? They both take on suffering unto themselves (Xiao from absorbing corruption from exterminated demons, and Baizhu with "transferring" sickness from others unto himself). Both thankless duties. Both knows no end. The divergence would be their outlook in this "chore": Xiao effectively just wants to die, carelessly suggesting that he make a "sacrifice" to save others (from Archon Interlude, glad that he snaps out of it after the quest) Baizhu wants to live forever, hoping to be the last person to bear the cycle of contracts with Changsheng Are there other "reflections" of this idea for other characters? From what I recall, Ei also longed for an Eternity of Stasis (Inazuma Archon Questline), so she immaturely went into seclusion for preservation of her consciousness, enduring harrowing loneliness, emptiness, and stillness without even trying to seek out her companion / friend (Yae Miko)...

I wonder what would happen when baizhu’s snake would make a contract with a pure blood khanrian… could they be like an infinite life force source or would healing enough people kill them, essentially negating the curse that prevents them from dying

I loved this story quest because it shows the Hu Tao and Baizhu disagreement without saying who is right or wrong; both parties are on equal ground. Baizhu is the saint character who's only care is helping people even if it hurts him while Hu Tao is the moral compass, she's there to remind everyone the limits of the realm itself; immortality brings pain to everyone, if gods already suffer a lot from it then what can we expect for humanity? Khaenri'ah is proof of that. Baizhu's goal is admirable, but it will not do, he is just becoming an scapegoat, nothing is resolved, by achieving immortality Baizhu's ideal is done for since human intelect will be stuck , and no one will care for Baizhu's soul since he will stop being human, he will be a icon, a tool, the solution to all illness in the world: just give it to Baizhu and you will be better.

I thought that Hu Tao stopped trying to kidnap Qiqi after the first time because she acknowledged the zombie's sheer will to live, and now just tried to dote on her whenever they bump into one another, but Qiqi was so traumatized by their first encounter that it stuck in her awful memory much more firmly then any subsequent kindness did?

Hi Aster I don't know if you knew this, but in the recent map addition they added a quest called "An Artist Adrift" where they tease that there are artificial humans in Fontaine! The story is about a Fontaine artist named Julien and his dog, Pepper, where they tried to go on the same pilgrimage the lochfolk went on for artistic inspiration. But he runs into trouble and is stranded so we have to save him. On I think the second day of this quest, we learn that someone gave him the gift to draw everything so real that it looks like a picture, but the colors are off. That didn't indicate to me that he wasn't human at first BUT on the 3rd day, he mentions that his home used to be a small metal box. So perhaps the person who gifted him with good artistic skills was his "creator" since he obviously isn't human. There's also something left in Rene's Investigation Notes from the World Quest that indicates some of the people there were not human. Like how they said some of them were "kids", but they became "adults" when all of their teeth came in, which isn't something humans think, and why would they bring actual kids on a dangerous expedition in the first place? Perhaps they learned how to make artificial humans from Khaenri'an technology, and it's illegal in the eyes of Celestia but maybe Celestia has been incapacitated ever since the Cataclysm. Anyway, it raises some very interesting questions!

I really love your more thematic and symbolic analysis videos. Lore is really neat, but there are a lot of interesting things in Genshin's writing and character that are worth discussing just as much. Baizhu really surprised me with his story quest and totally changed my view of him. I was most struck by Xiao telling Baizhu immortality will not be as good an experience as he imagines it to be, which Baizhu brushes off with some irritation. Upon reflection, it's a fascinating dichotomy. Xiao is immortal and forced to shoulder the pain of karmic debt and corrosion, and his story arc seems to be about convincing him that his continued existence is worth something. Baizhu, meanwhile, is basically striving for this exact position, but by choice. He /knows/ immortality is a curse, but he pursues it anyway so that no one else has to. If he has endless life force, he can suffer endlessly in people's stead. It's very telling to me that Dain sees Baizhu's quest as morally challenging, as he'd never heard of someone looking for immortality "to endure endless suffering".

Isnt it funny, how we claim to think, that messing with evolution and life and death is wrong or a sin. Who decided that? "Hey i took a magic pill that makes me a chad" "You cant do that thats wrong!" "Why?" "Cause you should have to work for it" In a battle of morals vs. Technology, technology always wins. Food for thought

why are you making me laugh in one video and tear up in the next one

I agree with most of Hutao's philosophy but her treatment of Qiqi always rubs me the wrong way. She sees Qiqi not as a human being but as something unnatural that needs to be helped rather than a living human being that has a life that differs from a "normal" human. Qiqi, as puzzling as her existence is, is still a human being that has needs and wants. She helps around the pharmacy, she wants to play in the snow, she wants to help protect others, she has feeling, and she is a human being. Hu Tao is so stubborn in her belief that she couldn't see past the fact that she is "supposed" to be dead. I know Hu Tao have good intention but trying to bury Qiqi multiple time against her wish is not an excuse for stubbornness and inconsiderateness. Qiqi was revived by the Morax himself, if something ought to be wrong he would have done something. Qiqi is sort of a representation of neurodivergent kid who lives life in their own way, and to imply that their way of living was in any way a wrong way is so wrong to me.

Why does aster sounds like shes studying BS psychology, masters in philosophy? She sounds like a grand philosopher from the age of elightenment😂

This video just gave me a theory as to why Dainslief didnt turn into a monster when he got the curse. In this version's world quest, we learnt that Dainslief WAS affected by his curse and he was turning into a monster, but somehow sometime after he fought against the Abyssal hole, he returned to normal, and then he went to travel with Lumine. We also know that Lumine is connected to Irminsul as she begins her journey with Dainslief. I believe that Lumine did something similar to what Baizhu does and relieved Dainslief of the curse while putting it on herself, but as a result made her a part of this world so she is now connected to Irminsul. While the curse is in her, she isnt affected because she isn't Khaenri'an. Perhaps there's one thing in the conciousness of all beings of Teyvat that connects them to the Irminsul, and if a being from another world comes and takes it from them and puts it into themselves, they will now be part of the world while the other person isn't. Although how Dain is over 500 years old is still confusing. That's the confusing part, the people who got turned into hilichurls didn't get the curse of immortality so even after escaping his beastly fate, he shouldn't have survived this long. My theory is probably wrong but it's fun to guess. I considered that he found a way to escape the curse the same way Kaeya's ancestor did but his curse wasn't the same and Dainslief is still over 500 years old.

I haven't played Baizhu's story quest yet (been too busy on Space Train) but one thing with his absorbing of these illnesses and the constant pain with no hope of release if he does attain his goal, may easily be turned into less altruistic means. He's corrupting his body and infecting himself with pain, which may very well change him, not only to be less altrusitic, but even transform him into a monster at some point. Wouldn't be the first time we've seen 'good' creatures be changed by time and corruption

As someone pro immortality I think every person had the right to determine if they want it or not. The philosophies/ethics/beliefs of others should not effect anyone but themselves. Technology will one day get to that point regardless of if we try to fight it or not. I'd get into my personal beliefs more in depth, but I went into on the last video of yours the topic was brought up.

Wonderful and thoughtful video, Aster. Would love to see more like this, where you explore character philosophies and relationships.

Xiao warned Baizhu that immortality might not be the blessing he imagined it to be.

Baizhu's story quest turned out to be very emotional. With all the medical advancement in the world, there's still no cure for death. Death is the ultimate disease; the ultimate contract; a gift and a poison given by the Gods; a price for living and we are all paying.

I finally got him after two years of waiting. His story quest only added to my love for the character.

among us in real life

Mfs released baizhu story quest right after the bit on the xianzhou immortality in honkai star rail

I trust Baizhu as much I trust Hu Tao. But I want Baizhu and Changseng to succeed in his Immortality, but I don't like the idea to prolong immortality ever since Clotar and Caribet introduced. I don't want Baizhu to suffer from his wary thought of curing everyone by living forever. It is not fun.

That post-edit section reminds me a bit to the throne of heroes (Fate series) in which the person itself has no saying in wether they'll become immortal or not, like fate's heroic spirits, and instead it's based on the mark they left in human history/ their deeds towards the good of humanity. . Just a bit though, since the throne of heroes also records chaotic/evil beings as long as they leave a deep enough mark in history. . If a similar system were to be applied to Genshin, it would depend then on the collective consciousness of humanity, their records and their memories... ...which in Genshin it isn't a good thing.

I love how Genshin is basically introducing concepts like this its like watching philosophers when discussing schools of thought

The fact that Hu Tao wants to bury Qiqi after the Adepti themselves used their methods and powers to keep her alive shows how arrogant and narcisistic she is

Hu Tao bothers me because of course death is natural but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt those around it, she is so insensitive to the living.

Also as someone pro immortality ultimately it is up to everyone to decide for themselves if they want it

Even xiao's advice on baizhu, that immortality is not a good thing.

Idk why but the man who’s seeking immortality living nearby the funeral parlour just seems kind of funny to me

Baizhu wishes to keep giving life force to patients but also wishes to keep living a long life, his combat kit actually looks like he steals life force from enemies.

i hate how people still see him as bad even though we have lots of evidence that points towards him being a good-hearted character.

Essentially, Baizhu is purposely trying to become Xiao.

Can chengseng art transfer forbidden knowledge or curse of immortality on kheanrian...? Hu toa and Baizhu have a yin and yang theme, from what they believe and right down to gender...

Baizhu seeks to serve Liyue by treating illness in exchange of taking in the pain of affliction while Xiao serves Liyue by protecting it from monsters in exchange of taking in the pain of karmic debt. Xiao has lived this kind of life for thousands of years and Baizhu has only had around a decade or two. That's barely scratching the surface of the concept of pain. Without a ridiculously strong mental resilience, an eternity of suffering will drive you insane. If it can mentally damage the powerful Yaksha, imagine what it could do to a human. I imagine Baizhu finally snapping someday, losing all his sanity from all the torment and going berserk. The outcome would be identical to Qiqi's seal or Shenhe's red strings being removed. He may end up hurting the very people he swore to save. That's why Xiao warned Baizhu not to pursue an eternity of suffering, he speaks from personal experience. It's like telling him, "Dude, you don't have the slightest idea what you're asking for."

People who think the preservation of life and the acceptance of death are opposites of each other often misinterpret them as rejection of death and termination of life. There should be no debate in the first place.

404'd on the southpark with aster channel

Hey Remember when people did memes of Baizhou been Genshin's Orochimaru?! Welp

The contract reminds me of a sin-eater

I will the Qiqi

I really hope Baizhu doesn't die in the story...

"of of"

Is this Hu Taos voice actor? 🤔 Very similar 🤔🤔

Baizhu is one step away from being Yaoshi

of of

You think we will witness baizhu reach his goal and be immortal ?

I’m team Baizu

wheres kenny

I support baizhu search for immortality as long as he not end up like yaoshi

His story quest made me dislike Hu Tao more than i already did, her mid story quest and her interference in Baizhus work.. 🐍 blah..

Damn I thought I've accepted my qiqi from this banner but this vid 🤌🏿bro wasn't meant for my acct he's the concept of one of dehya passives he taken other ppl damage for no reason 😭💀

can't even watch a theory video without a sr mf in the comments on god i thought HI3rd were annoying but this is just obnoxious.

I think bhaizu will succeed in becoming immortal but will turn evil because of poison or diseases which he will be absorbing to cure others

Its time to reverse death itself! I'm kind of on Hu Taos side here. Immortality could only ever be a curse.

Despite how much i dislike her, i think I'm on hu tao's side on this. I don't think tampering with the natural course of life and death is a good thing

I didn't like Hu tao before Baizhu's story quest and I dislike her even more.

"Immortality isn't all that great" Dislike :)

Baizhu is wrong, Qiqi is a mistake of nature, it's cursed not blessed. Back in the event were we all learned about Guoba backstory, one of the last arts we saw is from the Liyue's youngsters as kids. Xiangling, Xinyan, Hu Tao and all others were maybe 4 to 5 years younger than they are now, and we saw they look different, cuz they were kids. HOWEVER, Qiqi looked exactly the same. Qiqi is cursed to be like that forever, it will not live, love or grow old, Qiqi was cursed by the Adepti to be forever in that pathetic form.

Interesting, even Baizhu lore is weak, this explains why his banner performing as the worst in history 🤔 At least Dehya was a beloved character

Baizhu is gay

of of