Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Why can't I do it!

"How do you feel?" Black Seele asked indifferently.

"I feel..." Shen Liang hesitated to answer.

"Was that fun?"

Shen Liang hesitated for a long time, wanting to shake her head, but then felt that saying so would be unfair to the efforts of the A-Lin sisters, so in the end she could only smile nonchalantly.

Nod.

Bronya chuckled, and seeing everyone's gazes drawn to her, she said, "If brother wants, it can be even more fun."

"Alright, stop making fun of me. At least give your brother some face."

“Sure enough, boys become much gentler in tone after they’ve completely let loose and had fun. Before, they sounded so aggrieved and irritable when they talked to us,” Bronya said with a smile.

That's undeniable.

Shen Liang is now much more stable and calm. He can calmly handle any jokes or banter, all thanks to the Arlin sisters.

“Then let’s begin with the ritual of inheriting the ‘Serpent’s Sheath,’” Bronya said. “Rosalia and Lilia, your brother marked them a long time ago, didn’t he? Rosalia has a red scale emblem on her stomach, and Lilia has a red scale emblem on her thigh. Dr. Möbius said that it means they were chosen by you, and that they have received the stigmata to live forever with you.”

Shen Liang nodded.

"Snake molt" represents the precious genes of "the son of man". Although Möbius also possesses similar immortality, Möbius's immortality cannot be transferred. As a perfect creation, Shen Liang finally completed himself after fusing countless genes.

His "snake molt" can be transferred to other people, inviting them to enter absolute "immortality" together with him.

This is a power that could shake the world if spoken of, but with Earth connected to Teyvat and Schicksal even beginning to develop the Imaginary Tree for other worlds, Shen Liang's little secret can be effectively hidden. Currently, most people in the world are rushing into the "Transcendent Era." While Honkai energy can only be used by women, the various transcendent abilities of Teyvat are not gender-restricted, and the "Gateway Between Worlds" overseen by the Shaniat family handles hundreds of thousands of transactions daily.

Visitors to Teyvat, visitors to Earth, endlessly circling between the two worlds. Shen Liang speculated that perhaps one day, this kind of "immortality" wouldn't be his exclusive privilege. Maybe some genius would gather the civilizations of various worlds of the Imaginary Tree and create other ways of "immortality" just like him.

However, Shen Liang's immortality was not so easy to obtain.

"Speaking of which, have you asked Mebius about... how to inherit the 'snake molt'?" Shen Liang asked cautiously.

He knew that Mebius probably wouldn't betray him, but Mebius was wicked, so it was hard to say.

"No, they just told us to come and ask Brother Liang ourselves," Bai Xier said softly. "Sister Mebius doesn't like us bothering her."

Shen Liang thanked the snake's ancestors for eight generations.

“It’s strange, really. My brother gave Stigmata to so many people, it’s like he brought prosperity to everyone. But there are some people, how did he give them to them willingly?” Bronya looked at him scrutinizingly. “For example, my brother hasn’t returned to the orphanage for so many years, but when did Mom and Cocolia get their Stigmata from him? I checked their travel records, and I didn’t see them come looking for you.”

"Ah... hahaha." Shen Liang looked down, so he didn't notice that although Bronya's tone was serious, there was actually a helpless smile in her eyes.

"And Miss Raven, why did you think of giving her a share too? Or is the 'snake skin' not important at all, and you just gave it to her because she wanted it?"

"Well... well, they're acquaintances after all."

"And Anna's mother, Aunt Elsa, are you also connected to Anna? It seems everyone who sees your brother's 'snake molt' gets a share."

“Yes, yes, you know the relationship between Anna and her brother. It’s impossible for Anna to watch her mother die. I can’t bear it. Wouldn’t it be better if everyone could live together happily?” Shen Liang was sweating profusely. “Look, for Maria’s sake, I even planted snake molts on Shi Yu Qi Luo’s stepmother as well.”

“If this continues, brother, you’ll eventually raise a large number of beings that consume resources but never age or die,” Bronya sighed. “Earth’s resources… never mind, anyway, we’ll be exploring the multiverse in the future.”

“But I have a question.” She looked up again, and this time Shen Liang saw the sly glint in his clever younger sister’s eyes.

"Brother, where is Miss Cecilia's 'snake skin'?"

Shen Liang looked at her.

Bronya looked at Shen Liang with a charming smile.

Shen Liang realized that this guy was just teasing him. Bronya was incredibly clever; she had noticed the true nature of the "snake molt" from the very beginning.

“Brother, you couldn’t possibly deny your most beloved Saintess immortality, could you? Then, why does this Saintess always keep the mark hidden?” Bronya chuckled. “Why would an ordinary ‘snake skin’ mark need to be hidden? Why does Miss Cecilia dare not let others know that she too has obtained this ‘immortality’?”

Shen Liang was a little unhappy and glared threateningly at her younger sister.

Bronya seemed oblivious. "It's because Dr. Mebius, Dr. Mei, and others know what that 'snake skin' mark also means. The Holy Maiden didn't dare gamble that they wouldn't let it slip, so she could only... keep it hidden for the time being. Only those who have no idea what this holy mark really means have been openly exposing it and flaunting their immortality."

"You knew all along?" Shen Liang said through gritted teeth.

Bronya smiled. "So, that's why brother has always been unwilling to give us snake skins. As for what brother has always wanted to hide from Bronya, that's also because of this... But brother, the secrets of the orphanage when we were young are not something you need to worry about."

"Don't you need to worry about it?"

“Bronya knows all this.” Bronya looked at the two Seeles and smiled slightly. “Bronya doesn’t care.”

Shen Liang didn't know how to answer, so she clenched her fist and then relaxed it.

He felt relieved; at least when facing Bronya, he could finally feel relieved.

An indescribable sense of happiness surged through my entire body.

Bronya stood up and embraced her beloved boy.

“Brother, do you remember what Bronya once told you? People with tree-like disease are no longer human. What human has branches and trunks? People with albinism are no longer human either. What human is as cute and fragile as a Barbie doll? They are no longer human. Are humans who have entered immortality still human? Can they still be bound by human concepts?”

"I understand what you mean."

“We’ve been through so much, so many times, brother, we almost really lost each other. But now the best ending is right in front of us, forever and ever together, no matter how many years or things happen, our best friends will be by our side, our closest family will never grow old, and we’ll be in one house looking towards the future. Whatever the memories, they will all be preserved, and time will never take anything away,” Bronya said softly. “With such a beautiful world before us, brother, you actually think we’d still suffer over those foolish ‘ideas’? No, you’re wrong. Bronya will only be happy to be able to stay with Mom forever.”

"A view of happiness based on small, certain joys is pathetic."

"Bronya, like her brother, has never amounted to anything."

"..."

"..."

Happy New Year, and may every year to come be filled with happiness.

"Silly Ryo-nii, you should be confessing your love to a girl while kissing her, not shouting 'Happy New Year'! Go away, Bronya-neechan, you go aside first, let me teach you how to do it! Here we go, Ryo-nii, do you have enough strength?"

And so, all we could do was respond to this love that had abandoned all taboos.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: From this day forward, you shall not bear the surname Thunder.

After the court session ended, Lei Dian Guo Beng knew that he had something to say to him, so he waited for a while until he was the only subject left in the main hall.

Lei Dian Zhen beckoned him to sit down: "She's been busy with official duties lately, and Ying hasn't had time to check on your daily life. It seems she's arranged for you to stay at the Borrowed View Pavilion?"

"Yes." The sinister-looking youth cupped his hands, still holding a degree of awe towards Raiden Shin. As his creator's sister, Raiden Kokubaku could never see through Raiden Shin's thoughts. She didn't seem to be a particularly powerful god, yet she could somehow make Raiden Shin willingly work behind the scenes.

Despite his deep dislike for Lei Yingdian, he had to admit that her prestige was unparalleled, something that couldn't be overshadowed by the title "older sister." In Guo Beng's view, Lei Yingdian was fully qualified and capable of standing on her own; the weak Zhen could simply serve as her advisor. But in reality, it was the opposite… Or was she truly that outrageous, so outrageous that her "intelligence" surpassed Ying's "strength"?

"Kage doesn't know how to handle people. He hastily built the Kage no Kan and it's far away from Narukami Island. With the country in ruins, it must be very inconvenient for a courtier to live so far away."

“It’s all good. Tasha is quite peaceful. I’m a puppet, so I don’t feel tired,” said Lei Dian Guo Beng. “Actually, I don’t have to come to court most of the time. This is what Lord Ying has permitted.”

"You're very polite, but there's no need to be so formal. I heard from the Inspector that you've made great progress in both your literary and martial arts, unlike my good-for-nothing child." Raiden smiled gently. "Before the New Year, Liang'er went to Liyue to study. I heard she made great contributions at sea with the Thousand Rock Army. I thought things would change, but now many of her friends from Ji Palace are sending letters complaining about Liang'er's willfulness. Guo Pang, you're a friend of Liang'er's. Have you been in touch lately?"

"No, no. Your Highness is in Liyue, a thousand miles away, and I am not allowed to leave Inazuma." Raiden no Kōbō had just sat down when he heard this, and quickly stood up, trying to keep his tone as natural as possible.

"I told you not to be so formal," Raiden Shin smiled calmly. "Just sit down and talk."

Raiden Kuniba sat down with difficulty, his doubts and unease growing stronger. He had a feeling that something was about to happen. Although Raiden Shin usually spoke to him gently, such one-on-one conversations were rare. After all, he was a creation of Raiden Shin, and Raiden Shin didn't care about him particularly much.

He glanced cautiously at Raiden Shin, while Inazuma Supreme, who looked exactly like his mother, calmly sipped her tea without looking at him. The only sound in the air was the woman blowing on her tea.

Lei Dianzhen suddenly spoke up: "What do you think of Liang'er's situation after the collapse of the country?"

Lei Dian Guo Beng was taken aback. "What? How do you see it?"

"Ying said your quiet nature is the complete opposite of Liang'er's, but perhaps that's why you two are so close, and you're one of Liang'er's few friends of the same age," Lei Dianzhen said. "What kind of person do you think Liang'er is?"

Lei Dianguo collapsed and pondered for a long time.

"Your Highness Liang is exceptionally intelligent, even among demons, he is among the most talented. At such a young age, he already possesses the potential to become a dragon, and it is likely that he will be able to inherit the mantle of rule in the future. Of course, this is assuming that you are willing to relinquish it." Lei Dian Guo Beng knew that Shen Liang was usually favored by Lei Dian Zhen, so he spoke quite directly. "Your Highness has a graceful and elegant appearance, and a free and unrestrained nature. This is an advantage, but it may also be a disadvantage. I am a close friend of Your Highness, and I know that he does not like to govern the country. He often says that 'those who eat meat are despicable,' and instead focuses on all kinds of strange and ingenious skills, earning him the nickname 'Demon Lord.'"

"Demon Lord?"

"It is the title of respect given to Prince Liang by the hundred ghosts and demons of Yingxiang Mountain. They say that compared to human leaders, Prince Liang's capricious behavior is more like that of a 'demon.' This is not slander but an affectionate title. Prince Liang's identity is still relatively conservative and mysterious in the human world, while the demons have known about his identity from the beginning. They have witnessed his growth since childhood, regard him as one of their own, and have even dedicated their loyalty to him. So it is normal for them to call him 'Demon Lord.'"

After Raiden Kuniba finished speaking, he glanced at Raiden Shin with a meaningful look. He wanted to see a different expression on Raiden Shin's face, to see how he truly viewed this "unruly" child.

Surprisingly, neither the expected suppressed laughter nor dark anger occurred. Raiden remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a word of it.

—His inability to suppress a smile stems from his view of Shen Liang as the inevitable successor, thus disregarding the slight insolence of his subordinates. This is his perspective on his "beloved son."

—The somber mood stems from the perception of Shen Liang's uncontrollability and the challenge she faces in wielding power over the Daoqi, demon, ghost, and immortal realms. It reflects her perspective on the "Crown Prince."

No one in the world can tolerate their power being tainted or stripped away, even if the one tainting their power is their own son. This is exactly what Raiden Kokubaku wanted to see; he wanted to see Raiden Shin's attitude. But he really couldn't tell from Raiden Shin's expression.

"That's a good point. So in your opinion, Liang'er has no ambition for great things and is just a willful and unruly wanderer?"

"I wouldn't dare say that to Your Highness Liang."

Lei Dian smiled and said, "The collapse of the country is quite real, not just empty flattery. Liang'er's good-for-nothing behavior is indeed due to my spoiling him. If only Liang'er had a third of your maturity. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Liang'er for a long time. To ease the pain of missing him, I ordered the blacksmithing department to build a telegraph machine and lay an undersea cable. If you want to say something from a thousand miles away, just say it, and someone will transcribe it and send it to you immediately. It's very convenient."

"The collapse of the nation is clear."

"How old was the country when it collapsed?"

“Eighteen,” Lei Dian Guo Beng said. “One year older than His Highness Liang.”

“You’re eighteen.” Raiden Shin nodded and smiled. “In Inazuma, you’re past the age for marriage.”

“I am but a mortal, and I have not considered this.” Lei Dian Guo Beng was taken aback.

"In Inazuma, it is customary to get engaged at the age of thirteen. When Ryo was thirteen, the monsters of Shadow Mountain sent many marriage proposals. Kokubun is now a handsome young man. The women of Inazuma are known throughout the lands for their gentleness and kindness. Has Kokubun had a girl he has his eye on all these years?"

In the instant of the Thunder Kingdom's collapse, he pondered many things, and in the end, he panicked. He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I am a puppet, not a human, and dare not speak of any so-called affection."