Genshin Impact: This light novel author doesn't cross the line.

Fortunately, Ueno Chiki did not grant Laila's request. He smiled and said, "Laila, you don't need to follow me to learn. Everything I teach will be covered in class. You are a genius; following me will only waste your talent."

Then, before Laiira could speak, he quickly ran away. He didn't want to get involved with any more female students. If Yingmei and Linghua found out, he would likely be in serious trouble.

After leaving the Kyoryoin, Ueno Chiki headed towards the Grand Bazaar.

Along the way, many people greeted him warmly, and he responded in kind, making him feel very approachable and without any airs of a saint.

Before long, he arrived at the Grand Bazaar. As soon as he appeared, the vendors immediately stuffed their goods into his hands. In no time, he was covered with all sorts of merchandise.

Ueno Chiki was also helpless. The people living in the Grand Bazaar at the bottom of Mount Sumeru were all devout believers of the Little Auspicious Grass King, and they were full of gratitude for him, the saint who saved the gods.

In addition, his recent policy of making most of the research results of the Academy of Religious Affairs freely available to the public has significantly improved the quality of life for the people.

He shook his head helplessly and headed toward the house that Huma's family had provided for him, carrying a pile of goods.

He lived in a two-story villa not far from the church, in a quiet and elegant environment. Originally, Humayi had offered him a super luxurious villa, but he refused it outright.

He is now a saint of the Seed Sect and also a saint of the Seventh School of the Order of the Church. If his private life is too extravagant, it will have a bad influence.

Back home, Ueno Chiki got busy. He carefully selected some fresh ingredients from the pile of goods. These ingredients were all gifts from the people of the Grand Bazaar, and were of excellent quality.

Then, he started boiling water, chopping vegetables, and stir-frying them, his movements skillful and fluid, just like a professional chef.

In fact, given his current status, if he simply gave the instructions, the most luxurious restaurant in Sumeru would send him the most delicious food every day.

But he still preferred to cook for himself and let his loved ones enjoy the food. When he saw the happiness and satisfaction on Yingmei and Columbia's faces as they enjoyed the meal, he felt a sense of happiness.

Just as he was busy, the door opened and Yingmei, Columbia, and Paimon walked in.

As soon as Yingmei entered, she smelled the aroma of the food. She hurried to the kitchen and looked at the plate of braised pork ribs that had already been prepared, her mouth watering.

She couldn't resist any longer, and taking advantage of Ueno Chiki's inattention, she grabbed a piece of pork rib with her hand and stuffed it into her mouth.

Upon hearing the noise, Ueno Chiki turned around and saw that Yingmei had something bulging in her mouth. He immediately knew that she had been stealing food again.

He smiled helplessly and said, "You came in to steal food again. Last time you even blamed Paimon for it!"

With a bone stuffed in her mouth, Yingmei couldn't speak and could only keep shaking her head, firmly stating that she hadn't stolen the food.

Ueno Chiki chuckled inwardly at Yingmei's adorable appearance. He covered the braised pork ribs with a plate to prevent them from falling prey to Yingmei's culinary whims. He knew that if he didn't, Yingmei would likely devour the entire plate of ribs.

When Yingmei saw him like that, she glared at him, as if to say, "What happened to the trust that people are supposed to have?"

However, Ueno Chiki ignored her protest.

Before long, Ueno Chiki brought out a series of delicious dishes to the table. Braised pork ribs, tender and spicy chicken, crystal shrimp, braised shredded vegetables, and vegetable and tofu soup—each dish was mouthwatering.

However, before Ueno Chiki even started eating, Yingmei, Paimon, and Columbia had already begun a fierce struggle over the food.

They wolfed down their food, each refusing to give way to the other, as if they hadn't eaten for days.

Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but think of the time he spent in Inazuma, when Yae no Miko and Rai-niyo were together.

I wonder how they are doing now?

Soon, the dishes on the table were all gone. Ueno Chiki put the dishes in her own bowl beforehand, otherwise she wouldn't have any to eat.

Satisfied with their meal, Yingmei, Columbia, and Paimon lay on the sofa, burping contentedly and enjoying the leisurely post-dinner time. Meanwhile, Ueno Chiki was busy washing dishes and tidying up the kitchen.

"Traveler, Paimon, I won't be accompanying you to search for the Grass Eye Fragment this afternoon," Columbia said to Yingmei.

Yingmei said with some regret, "Well, alright then! Finding the fragments of the Grass God Eye is indeed quite tiring."

Columbia shook her head gently. "It's not a matter of being tired or not, but that I need to go back to Winter."

Upon hearing this, Yingmei jumped up from the sofa. "What? Yaya, you're going back to Zhidong?"

"The Queen keeps urging me to go back lately, and I can't help it." Columbia's face showed a helpless expression. She stood up and said, "I'll leave after saying goodbye to Thousand Trees."

After she finished speaking, she walked lightly toward the kitchen.

Chiki Ueno, who was busy in the kitchen, heard footsteps and turned around to see Columbia walk in. He said with some surprise, "Columbia, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Columbia gently bit her lip. "Qianshu, I have to go back to Zhidong. The Queen has been urging me to return." Her voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of sadness and reluctance.

Chapter 164 The Departure of Columbia

Ueno Chiki felt a pang of bitterness when she heard that Chiki was leaving. "Couldn't you stay here a little longer?"

A hint of reluctance flashed in Columbia's clear eyes, but she still shook her head firmly. "No, Her Majesty the Queen's plan to defy the laws of nature has entered a critical stage, and I need to bring the Heart of God back as soon as possible."

Chiki Ueno sighed softly, then returned to her room and retrieved the green Heart of God.

"Take it." He handed the Heart of God to Columbia.

Columbia examined it carefully before putting the Heart of God away. "Chiki, I will do my best to secure you a position as an executive officer of the Fools before Her Majesty the Queen."

Upon hearing her words, Ueno Chiki's face showed a grateful expression. "Thank you!"

His decision to join the Fatui as an executor was carefully considered. He clearly understood that the Sky Isles, the Fatui, and the Abyss Order were currently the three major powers on the continent of Teyvat. The balance of power and their interactions constituted the basic power and political structure of the entire continent.

Sky Island is considered a mysterious and sacred place, inaccessible to ordinary people. While the Abyss Order is powerful, its actions are secretive and difficult to discern.

In contrast, the Fatui are spread throughout the entire continent of Teyvat. They are not only numerous, but also have penetrated into every corner, possessing abundant manpower and intelligence resources.

This means that Chiki Ueno can quickly gain the support of a large organization and network.

Once he becomes an executive officer of the Fools, he will have access to more power and resources. Mobilizing the Fools' human resources, gathering intelligence from various locations, and even carrying out secret missions will pave the way for his promotion.

He knew that to rise from an ordinary person to a demon god, personal effort alone was far from enough; a powerful organization was essential as a backing. The Fatui were a very good choice.

Moreover, as a large organization, the Fools also have a complex power structure and various factions.

As an executive officer, Chiki Ueno will have the opportunity to delve into the organization's inner workings, understand its operational mechanisms, and may even build her own influence within it.

This will undoubtedly be a huge boost to his future status and influence on the continent of Teyvat.

Then, Columbia solemnly said, "Qianshu, in fact, it is not a good thing for a mortal to become a demon god. In the process of advancement, mortals often lose themselves and their mortal nature, and their behavior is dominated by their divinity."

Ueno Chiki had initially held high hopes for ascending to the rank of Demon God, but upon hearing Columbia's words, he was suddenly startled. If it were truly as she said, that after ascending to the rank of Demon God, he would no longer be himself, then what would be the point of all his efforts?

He asked somewhat anxiously, "Columbia, is there any way to maintain your mortal nature and not be dominated by divinity?"

Columbia pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know the specific method, after all, there are very few cases in this world of people who have truly ascended to the level of a demon god. However, there is one example that might give you some reference."

"Who is it?" Ueno Chiki asked curiously.

“The second-generation water goddess, Fucarus,” Columbia replied. “According to the records of the Fools, she was originally a pure water spirit, but later she successfully ascended to become a demon god. Moreover, she retained her mortal nature after her ascension and was not dominated by divinity.”

"Fukaros?" Ueno Chiki murmured the name. Before his transmigration, the Fontaine version hadn't been released yet; he only knew that she was a being revered as the Goddess of Justice.

It seems I'll have to make another trip to Fontainebleau in the future.

"It's getting late, it's time to say goodbye." Columbia stared at him blankly, her eyes filled with reluctance and longing.

"Have a safe journey!" Ueno Chiki sincerely wished.

Columbia nodded, then turned to leave. However, just as she was about to teleport away, she suddenly stopped. She turned back, looked at Ueno Chiki, and a determined glint flashed in her eyes.

Then, she quickly walked up to Ueno Chiki and, before he could react, gently kissed his lips.

In that instant, time seemed to stand still, and only the two of them remained.

The sensation between their lips and teeth momentarily stunned Chiki Ueno. He could clearly feel her faint fragrance and the coolness of her red lips.

After a brief touch, Columbia immediately left his side and vanished without a trace in an instant.

Ueno Chiki cried out inwardly, "What a disaster!"

He always regarded Columbia as his sister and never had any improper thoughts about her.

This was not only because of their deep friendship, but also because he was well aware of the special fate of the Fairy Clan to which Columbia belonged.

The Fairy Spirits possess beautiful forms and extraordinary wisdom. However, once they fall in love, they gradually lose their forms and wisdom, eventually transforming into mindless guiding spirits.

He decided to keep a certain distance from Colombia from then on.

As he walked out of the kitchen, he found Yingmei lying on the sofa in the living room, looking dejected and with a look of disappointment in her eyes.

He walked gently to her side and said softly, "Ying, Columbia is gone."

Yingmei responded softly, her voice filled with deep regret: "I already know, but I don't know when we'll meet again." As a traveler, she had experienced many partings, but each separation made her feel sad.

“Parting is for a better reunion. We will meet Columbia again,” Ueno Chiki comforted her.

Hearing this, Yingmei felt a little better. She sat up, looked at him, and gave him a grateful smile: "Thank you, Qianshu. You always know how to comfort me."

Then, she suddenly thought of something: after Columbia left, she would have the opportunity to be alone with him at night, and could easily win him over.

Thinking of this, a wicked smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

"I have a feeling you're thinking about things that aren't suitable for children," Ueno Chiki said, looking at her face.

Yingmei's face immediately turned red, and she retorted shyly, "No way! Don't talk nonsense."

Then, she immediately changed the subject, "I'm not going to waste my breath on you anymore, I'm going out to find the Aegis fragments." With that, she grabbed Paimon and hurriedly left the house.