Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

This is one of the agreements.

"Only sardines and salt..." Fushe ignored the man's words and asked, "Is this enough to eat?"

"Ah."

Hararia nodded earnestly, her bright golden eyes reflecting Fushe's face. Outside the window, white streaks of rain stretched across the sky, and raindrops pattered against the eaves with a crisp echo—Hararia smiled at him by the fireplace and said:

"Sardines and salt are enough. I'm easily satisfied."

Sardines and salt.

Strange guy.

Fushe picked up a handful of salt from the salt jar, the fine salt grains shimmering with light. He walked to the desk, as if sprinkling salt on two sardines. The ingredients were simple, so the method was even simpler.

Cut open the fish's belly with a knife, remove the internal organs, and the fish meat is still very fresh. Then, carefully spread a thick layer of salt inside the fish's belly—this is to remove the fishy smell. Place it in the oven and let it sit for a while to marinate and absorb the flavor. The oven fire should not be too high, otherwise the fish meat will burn.

Lydia rested her chin on her hand, quietly watching the floating house, patiently waiting for the meal to be served.

“It’s done,” Fushe said.

Simple food, simple sardines and salt, no superfluous and complicated spices or ingredients, frighteningly pure and clean, without any extraneous purposes or ideas—just like Heureia.

'You have saved many people, and I want to save you.'

They had only met a few times.

"good to eat."

She picked up a piece of tender fish, rested her chin on her hand, her eyes slightly narrowed in comfort, and the corners of her mouth turned up gently, revealing a satisfied expression.

Fushe gazed at her quietly, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly said softly:

"Heureia, if I really... lose control, then you should run away yourself."

"Can we not talk about these boring topics while eating?" Leah said, disgruntled. "Your sardines are so delicious, I won't let you go crazy. I want to eat them again next summer."

She said earnestly, "You will definitely get through this."

Summer sardines are at their freshest, and summer sea salt is at its best; it is currently the height of summer.

Oh, I see.

But there is one thing

Fushe did not tell Heulia about this.

[Remaining lifespan: 40 days]

He stared at the panel of the Human Relationship System.

That is: even if Fushe doesn't go mad in the end, even if he survives and overcomes the karmic obstacles in his heart, and everything develops in the best possible direction—Fushe's remaining lifespan won't last until next summer.

In order to perform Nuoyou, Fushe had long since begun to shorten his own lifespan.

The best ending for this life is to die peacefully forty days later.

No one can save him.

But Heureia was unaware of this.

Fushe watched her; the girl sat cross-legged in the kotatsu, the firelight casting a rosy glow on her profile.

She told herself very earnestly, "You can definitely pull through." Her bright golden eyes were like sea salt born from the wreckage of ocean waves, shining brightly under the fire or the summer sun.

“Every summer from now on, I’ll bring salt, and you’ll bring fish. I’ll also eat sardines.”

She was so serious.

“Sardines and salt…” Finally, Fushe smiled helplessly, “Fine, you win.”

"So, it's settled then?"

"That's settled then."

This is the second agreement.

—The Pact Between Sardines and Salt.

-

This is a strange four-person team.

The one in charge of guiding and navigating was naturally the well-traveled and knowledgeable Mr. Zhongli.

Miss Wanyan was the one who looked through the map and explained the historical sites along the way.

Paimon did not come because he had to stay home to take care of Qiqi—in case she was accidentally buried alive.

Zhongli and Miss Wanyan's attire was normal, but Miss Ying's was rather strange: she had a compass, gunpowder, a folding shovel, and even a black donkey hoof.

Clearly, when Miss Ying heard that she was going to do archaeology, she thought it must be tomb raiding.

Qing Nuoyan felt sad. The promises he made were getting stranger and stranger: visiting graves, digging up rice dumplings, making offerings, and now he was going to raid a tomb.

The salt in the ground is not so easy to reach.

This abandoned, desolate land, amidst ruins and broken walls, teems with abyssal monsters.

The team leader is Zhong Li, the tour guide is Wan Yan, the tomb raider is Miss Ying, and the task of clearing the way is Qing Nuoyan.

[King of the Hills]

[lv40]

This was Qing Nuoyan's first real combat experience.

After fulfilling the previous agreement, he inherited 'part of the immortal arts'.

It's described as a partial set of immortal techniques, but when listed, there are actually only three.

Qi cultivation technique.

Guiding the breath to circulate throughout the body, building a foundation and refining qi, dispelling impurities—this is the foundation-building method that beginners learn. He taught it all to Qi Qi. This is genuine immortal calligraphy, so this time it's not a scam against the underage little zombie.

Talismanic arts.

It is a technique to depict talismans used by immortals, with warriors lining up in front to subdue enemies.

Sword control technique.

This is the sword technique of immortals.

The Divine Cutter flipped in his palm, and Qing Nuoyan lowered his body, turned to the side, and dodged the powerful blow from the King of the Hill.

As stone chips flew, he took a step forward, climbing up the giant wrist of the Hilichurl King. Using his qi to control his sword, he slashed at the mouth of the beast's bowl, slicing off the arm and splattering blood. With another slash, he severed the Hilichurl King's head.

[You have defeated the Hilichurl King, level 40]

More monsters swarmed towards him, countless sharp claws scraping the ground and emitting piercing howls, threatening to engulf him like a tidal wave. Qing Nuoyan stood upright in the middle of the beast tide, the talisman in his hand slowly dissipating.

"Pardon," the young man said, stepping forward.

Rock elements spread rapidly.

Sharp boulders rose from the ground around him, one after another piercing the monster's body, blood splattering everywhere. He walked calmly among the rocks, and the divine blade followed his steps, accurately slicing through the throat of the monster he passed.

[You have defeated the Hilichurl thugs, level 23]

[You have defeated the Beast Hound, level 30]

...

【Qingnuo Rock】

[Level: lv42]

They leveled up two levels at once.

Finally, all the monsters were cleared out, and Qingnuoyan slowly exhaled.

"Amazing!" Ying clapped her hands.

She puffed out her chest triumphantly, put her hands on her hips, and glanced at Wanyan with a showy look, as if Ying was the one who was powerful.

Indeed, that's impressive.

Wan Yan nodded involuntarily.

She had thought the journey would be difficult.

Qing Nuoyan's moves were indeed clean and efficient. Even Wan Yan, who was arrogant and claimed that Morax had distorted history, couldn't help but admire him. Among all the people she had ever met, Qing Nuoyan was the most skilled.

He's just a teenager.

If possible...

Wan Yan couldn't help but start having other thoughts.

Her identity is special; she is an official of the Ginhara Office.

The so-called Silver Plains were originally inhabited by the salt of the earth. After the death of the salt god, they needed the protection of a new demon god and sought refuge in Liyue, Morax.

Now, as a descendant of the Salt of the Earth, Wanyan feels that she has discovered the truth about the destruction of her ancestors. Once everything comes to light and the ugly side of Morax is exposed, they will inevitably be irreconcilable enemies with the rulers of Liyue.

Just in case, they might need powerful warriors.

Qingnuoyan seems to be quite formidable.

Wan Yan shook her head again, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and said that all of this was still a long way off.

The most urgent task now is to uncover the dark side of history!

"I'm exhausted." Qing Nuoyan was covered in blood and said to Ying, "...Why didn't you go up?"

"To train you."

Ying dried Qing Nuoyan's hair with a towel, "I was watching from the side."

"Stupid Ying."

"Everyone," Zhongli interrupted Ying and Qingnuoyan's argument, "I think I've broken the formation."

The formation Zhongli mentioned was a seal.

It is precisely because of this seal that the deepest part of the earth's salt has never been found.

Mr. Zhongli truly deserves his reputation as a man of profound knowledge and wisdom; he was even able to break the seal on such a relic.