Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

The night in Liyue Harbor was as thick as ink that couldn't be dissolved.

But beneath this deep sky, the port market burns with lights that never sleep, bustling and noisy, its prosperity reaching its peak.

The giant bird of Liyue, reborn from the ashes, has struggled to break free from the ravages of war and the financial traps meticulously woven by Pantarone.

Even though the massive ruins at the North Wharf are still under construction day and night, with the sounds of hammering never ceasing, the pulse of this city is as strong as ever, even stronger than before.

Along the long street, the masks of the Nuo opera and song and dance performances shimmered with an eerie glow under the lights, the colorful parade tents were dazzling, and laughter and music mingled and rose, extending the vitality of the daytime into the deep night.

In another corner of this harbor, where lights are dim and ships are moored.

A figure subtly blended into the shadows of a caravan about to depart.

Zhiyi lowered the brim of his hat and walked with ease. Under the cover of the carriage cargo, he slipped out of the city silently through the inconspicuous little stone bridge at the back gate of the port, like a drop of water flowing into a stream.

The hustle and bustle of Liyue Harbor was quickly left behind.

The night wind outside the city carried the chill of the mountains and fields.

Instead of following the main road, Zhiyi plunged into the overgrown wilderness path, repeatedly turning back and meandering through the intricate mountain valleys, streams, and dense forests.

He would sometimes stop and hold his breath, listening intently to any unusual sounds that might be coming from the wind; at other times, he would hide behind a boulder, scanning every corner of the path he had come from.

Only when he was certain that there were no other signs of following him in the silent mountains behind him, except for the hooting of owls and the rustling of insects, did Zhiyi's heart finally settle down.

Without further delay, he determined the direction and embarked on a hidden path leading deep into Tianheng Mountain.

The moonlight was fragmented by the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows.

The overgrown path was almost completely submerged by rampant weeds and had been untouched for a long time.

Zhiyi pushed aside the thorny vines and walked with difficulty for about fifteen minutes until the path suddenly opened up at the end.

A wooden house, worn down by time and the elements, leans precariously against a steep mountainside.

The walls were crumbling, the wood covered in moss and mold was rotten and blackened, the roof had collapsed most of its length, and the exposed rafters, like the broken ribs of a giant beast, grotesquely pierced the night sky.

Under the moonlight, it looked exactly like a pile of rotten wood that had been abandoned for decades, exuding a strong aura of decay and death.

Faced with this scene, Zhiyi did not hesitate at all. He nimbly stepped over the rotten fence that had long since collapsed and was entangled with withered vines, and without hesitation bent down and squeezed through the crooked wall with a large hole in it.

The interior of the dilapidated house was in complete disarray, with broken tiles and rotten furniture fragments mixed in with thick layers of dust.

Moonlight filtered through the huge hole in the roof and the cracks in the walls, outlining the ruins.

Zhiyi ignored the desolation before him. His gaze swept over the entrance and path behind him, which were swallowed by darkness, one last time. After confirming that no one was watching, he quickly walked to a corner in the shadows where rubble and rotten wood were piled up.

The young man's fingers quickly swept across the cold stone wall, brushing away the thick layer of dust to reveal several seemingly natural but actually subtly positioned protruding stones below.

Zhiyi took a deep breath and, following the specific order, force, and rhythm he remembered, pressed down and twisted the stones one by one.

"Click...click..."

A slight clicking sound was heard from the mechanism.

The stone wall in front of Zhiyi emitted a faint grinding sound as it slid open a crack just wide enough for one person to pass through. A cool, dry air, distinct from the decaying outside, wafted out from the crack. The young man slipped sideways into the narrow passage behind the crack, and the stone wall behind him silently slid back into place, completely isolating him from the ruins.

The passageway was short, only a few steps long, but the scene before him changed abruptly the moment he stepped out of it.

This is a small safe house.

A stable rock elemental crystal lamp hangs from the low dome, emitting a soft yet bright light that illuminates the small space clearly.

The solid stone walls were polished smooth, isolating them from the dampness and cold of the outside world.

One side of the room was a cabinet with neatly arranged canned food and medicine, while the other side had a weapons rack, communication equipment, and a simple bed. The air was dry and clean, a stark contrast to the dilapidated house outside.

In this well-equipped and orderly safe house, a figure stood quietly against the edge of the food shelf.

Under the stable light of the rock element crystal lamp, the red and white hair strands clearly displayed two distinct colors.

It was Famas, whom we hadn't seen in a long time.

As soon as the slight sound of the entrance mechanism starting came, FAMAS's gaze turned to the narrow passageway.

When Zhiyi's figure clearly appeared within the light of the safe house, FAMAS straightened up from his casual leaning against the shelf.

He gestured with his chin toward Zhiyi, his eyes sweeping over the neatly arranged supplies in the room, a slight upward twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"This place is quite well-planned, Zhiyi. I didn't expect that besides being quick-witted, you also have a good ability to choose and prepare hiding places?"

Famas' tone sounded like a compliment, but when he talked about preparation capabilities, his gaze lingered on Zhiyi for a moment, with a scrutinizing quality.

Upon hearing Famas's words, Zhiyi's eyebrows twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his head and listened intently for a few seconds to the direction of the closed passageway entrance behind him. After confirming that there was only silence there, he walked to the simple wooden bed in the corner of the safe house, sat down, and the bed frame creaked.

"Your Excellency Famas is too kind."

Zhiyi's voice was flat and emotionless.

“Such a place is naturally not something an ordinary student like me could build.”

"This is one of the many safe houses set up by the Liyue Sept. I just happened to find out its location from Dublin."

Zhiyi deliberately slowed down his speech, his words carrying a hint of something to ponder.

The room fell silent, with only the faint hum of the crystal lamp's core.

Zhiyi had many questions in his mind at this moment, such as how Famas became the examiner selected by Tian Shu Star, and what his true identity and purpose were.

But he kept his lips tightly closed, not making a sound. He leaned forward slightly, placed his hands flat on his knees, tightened his jawline, and maintained a waiting posture, his gaze fixed firmly on Famas's eyes without any attempt to look away.

The air inside the safe house seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

In a conversation, whoever asks the question first is more likely to expose their focus and weaknesses.

Zhiyi understood this principle, so he chose to remain silent, suppressing all his questions and waiting for the other party to speak first.

Taking the initiative is crucial. (End of Chapter)