Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

Paimon's little head slumped on the traveler's shoulder, his sighs filled with deep disappointment, as if the whole world had dimmed.

Amidst this gloomy atmosphere, a silent contest has just come to an end.

Ningguang was ultimately unable to glean any further information about this guest of the Hall of Rebirth from Zhongli.

She was shrewd and knew that forcing things would be futile, so she had to temporarily suppress her doubts and turn her attention to the dejected traveler and Paimon beside her.

Paimon's tearful words, "It's all gone to waste," carrying utter despair, clearly pierced Ningguang's ears.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on Ningguang's lips. She approached the couple with graceful steps, her robes swaying gently with each movement. Her voice rang out at the opportune moment, steady and gentle, carrying a calming power:
"You two have gone to great lengths to warn all sides of Liyue. Ningguang will always remember your kindness."

Ningguang's gaze lingered on the traveler for a moment before landing on the dejected Paimon, and she paused slightly before speaking.

"As for the lantern voucher in your hands, although it cannot be redeemed as originally intended because Pantalone left early..."

"But I would still like to buy it at the current market price as a token of my gratitude."

Tianquanxing's tone shifted naturally, carrying an undeniable certainty.

"Really?!"

Before Ningguang could finish speaking, Paimon seemed to be injected with boundless energy, suddenly springing up straight from the Traveler's shoulder.

That little face, which had been filled with despair, was instantly illuminated by an unbelievable, overwhelming joy, like sunlight piercing through thick clouds. She screamed excitedly, as if to confirm once again that this wasn't a dream:
"Ningguang, are you... are you telling the truth? You're not lying to us?!"

With a smile, Ningguang nodded gracefully, giving the most affirmative response with impeccable poise: "Of course it is true."

"great!!"

Paimon's cheers nearly lifted the roof off the Dead Star's cabin.

She excitedly spun rapidly in the air, tracing blurry paths, her little hands and feet waving haphazardly.

The heavy gloom of despair that had just enveloped him had been completely washed away by this sudden burst of joy, leaving only an almost overflowing sense of elation.

Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, a steady sound of footsteps approached from afar, neither hurried nor slow.

Zhongli strode over, his gaze as steady as a rock as he fixed it on Ningguang. His deep, magnetic voice rang out, carrying concern for the most ordinary people of Liyue.

"In that case, Miss Ningguang, what should be done about the losses suffered by those ordinary people who were deceived?"

Upon hearing this, Ningguang's gentle smile vanished instantly, replaced by the composed and solemn demeanor she usually displayed when ruling Liyue's business and political circles.

She turned to this unfathomable guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth and responded clearly and earnestly:
"With the Lantern Festival approaching, peace and stability should be the top priority in Liyue Harbor. The Seven Stars will urgently discuss this matter with the General Affairs Department and the Eight Gates to draft a preliminary compensation plan. Once all parties have reviewed and confirmed the plan to ensure fairness and that there are no objections, it will be announced to the public."

Upon hearing this, Zhongli lowered his eyelids slightly, his golden eyes becoming more reserved. He pondered for a moment, seemingly carefully weighing every aspect of the plan in his mind, before slowly nodding, his steady voice revealing a hint of approval:
"Hmm... this arrangement is quite prudent."

After confirming that Ningguang would compensate the deceived people, Zhongli turned his attention to Famas.

"Lord Famas, I have some questions I'd like to ask you privately."

Zhongli spoke calmly, his voice not loud but clearly penetrating Paimon's cheerful cheers.

As he spoke, he slightly raised his hand, gesturing for Famas to proceed.

After a moment of silence, Famas immediately understood. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two turned around in tacit agreement, avoiding the Traveler who was talking to Ningguang and Paimon who was still cheering and dancing in the air because of his unexpected joy, and walked together towards a slightly secluded corner of the ship.

A sea breeze blew, ruffling the hem of Zhongli's robes, adding to his serene and aloof demeanor. Ningguang's gaze immediately locked onto the two departing figures, a fleeting thought flashing in her eyes. The traveler also stopped his conversation with Ningguang, his eyes following Zhongli and Famas's retreating silhouettes, casting a brief, curious glance towards that corner.

Curiosity naturally arose in their hearts, but Zhong Li had just clearly expressed his desire to be alone, so this was obviously a private conversation.

The group of people, all well-versed in propriety, tacitly withdrew their gazes and stood still, without attempting to approach or disturb the others.

The clamor of salvaging cargo on the ship and Paimon's jubilation seemed to create an invisible boundary around the two of them.

Famas stepped onto the ship's gunwale, the deck creaking beneath his feet.

He paid no attention to Ningguang's subtle probing gaze, turned his head directly, and raised his chin toward Zhongli.

"Why do you have to talk about this separately?"

Zhongli stood with his hands behind his back, his robe sleeves fluttering slightly in the sea breeze: "The time reversal just now did not belong to the authority of war."

"what?"

Famas chuckled, a hint of impatience flashing in his red eyes.

"There are many things you don't know. Why can't the God of War control time?"

Zhongli lowered his eyelids slightly, his voice as steady as a rock: "I know you have a close relationship with Ishtar, but power is the foundation of governance. Even if she is your best friend, she would never entrust this great power to you."

Zhongli took a half step forward, deliberately lowering his voice when mentioning the name of the current ruler.

When was the last time you used this power?

Zhongli's question made Famas frown sharply. When Paimon was shouting about time reversal, a vague thought had flashed through Famas's mind, but he instinctively dismissed it.

The thought resurfaced at this moment, carrying a sharp and illogical sting.

The boy focused intently on his memories, which clearly pointed to Inazuma, two thousand four hundred years ago.

But that's not right!

During that time, he was clearly imprisoned within the seal of Mondstadt, barely able to move. How could he possibly cross the ocean to appear in Inazuma, let alone wield the power that only the Ruler of Time could control and manipulate the river of time?

Famas tried to grasp the thread of that memory, but his mind was abruptly blank.

Details, process, reasons... all disappeared, leaving only a solitary result standing there abruptly, as if it had been forcibly stuffed in and all the ins and outs brutally erased.

A chilling feeling of being manipulated by an invisible hand instantly gripped him.

"The future is predetermined, waiting for the past... is to reverse cause and effect..."

Famas muttered to himself, realizing that a memory that shouldn't exist, or rather, existed beforehand, had appeared in his mind.

A name, tinged with a hint of relief, escaped from between his teeth.

"I see……"

"Baal, the God of Moments." (End of Chapter)