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

With a muffled sound, this world, lost for two thousand years, once again revealed its face to its visitors.

"Three people"

Zhongli turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the three of them.

"Before entering the ruins, I would like to make a pact with the three of you; otherwise, I will not break this seal."

"A contract...?" Wanyan asked, somewhat puzzled. "Please explain, sir."

"Take items in order, one item at a time."

Zhongli stared at her expressionlessly: "If there are any ancient artifacts in the ruins, I hope you will abide by this contract."

He said earnestly:

"Those who break the contract will be punished by being devoured by rocks."

-

-

ps1:

Whew, sardines and salt, a brief recycling! Whew

PS2: This chapter is 300 words longer than yesterday's, making it 2.5 chapters. Pretty impressive, right?

Volume 1: Chapter 85 I hope you won't regret it

Take items in sequence, one item at a time.

A very strange contract.

Qing Nuoyan thought to himself.

Brother Zhong Li, did you have other intentions in making this contract...?

But it doesn't matter, as long as Qingnuoyan can fulfill his promise.

After the seal was broken, the first thing that appeared was a narrow cave.

In the damp cave, cold water droplets fell on the translucent rocks, and some pebbles glowed faintly, which was the only source of light.

The cave entrance was cramped and narrow, dark and gloomy. The four of them walked deeper into the damp rock wall, and the further they explored, the more their vision expanded.

They unconsciously lowered their footsteps, remaining silent as they walked, as if they had entered a lost kingdom.

Finally, the cave came to an end, and as the slightly dazzling lights filled the view, everything in front of us suddenly opened up.

This is a pale blue, lost world.

The dome, with its cool tones, seems perpetually devoid of light. Rocky cliffs, abandoned ancient buildings, and a lake flowing beneath—a deep, endless lake, crystal clear and pale blue, reflecting everything in the sky.

Even the plants here are pale green and desolate. Pine and cypress trees hang sadly upside down on the cliff, their branches swaying in the wind, leaving dark shadows. Apart from the thin layer of moss on the ground, this is the only plant in sight.

That's a city.

Ancient city.

True salt from the earth.

After being sealed for more than two thousand years, this ancient city has finally welcomed new visitors.

Qingnuo Rock stands on the edge of a towering cliff. Looking down the ravine along the majestic mountain ridge, one can truly appreciate the scale of this ancient city. Rows upon rows of buildings are arranged in succession, with streets, squares, and alleys, giving one a sense of the city's former prosperity.

However, prosperous cities are covered with the dust of history, just as waves die on the shore and dry up into salt grains. This ancient city is like the salt of yesteryear, old and lifeless, forever losing its vitality.

"I'll say it then. I'll say it then... It really is so!"

Wan Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement, and upon closer inspection, they even seemed to glisten with tears. Overwhelmed with emotion, she was speechless.

"The Salt God truly possesses great authority; otherwise, how could he have built such a magnificent city... If it weren't for the sinful immortal Fushe's wrath..."

The city that had haunted her heart and appeared countless times in Wanyan's dreams, the hometown that Yinyuan Hall had sought for generations, was now truly before her. How could Wanyan not be excited?

As a historian, she has a strong sense of historical responsibility.

She gritted her teeth, as if chewing on hatred, "The salt people will not become Morax's lackeys!"

A great city...

Zhongli gazed at the city below the mountain, his eyes flickering slightly. For the first time, complex emotions surfaced in his bright golden eyes, as if he were filled with emotion.

On the other hand, Miss Ying didn't have any sentimentality or historical mission. She was simply wondering how many treasures could be unearthed in such an ancient city.

We don't have enough money.

That bastard Qing Nuoyan... last time he was fooling around at Wanmintang, he spent several thousand Mora, and now spring is here and he wants to buy clothes again... It's true what they say, only when you're in charge do you realize how expensive oil, salt, ginger, and vinegar are.

They may feel sentimental about the passing of time, but Miss Ying has to focus on the mundane details of daily life.

This time, the tomb raiding... cough, archaeology, we absolutely have to salvage this year's food budget.

The road to the salt of the earth is not easy.

What are you writing now?

Qingnuoyan asked Miss Ying, who was walking behind him, and she took out her old "Teyvat Travel Guide" again, holding a pencil, and carefully made some notes on the title page of the book.

"Diary," Ying said without looking up, "travel diary."

“No respectable person keeps a diary,” the boy said.

Qing Nuoyan glanced at it lightly; the paper was covered with Ying Juan's neat handwriting, and the diary entries included all the locations—she was really serious, very serious about her travels.

Perhaps sensing Qing Nuoyan's gaze, Ying raised her head, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, her face icy, and poked Qing Nuoyan's back with her finger: "Don't look."

To simply tell yourself not to watch it is too disrespectful.

Qingnuoyan glanced at the puddle on the ground out of the corner of his eye; he had excellent eyesight and intended to peek.

"On the third day of the Lunar New Year, I went with Qingnuoyan to...Mount Aozang, nestled in the clouds. Wild lilies and dandelions bloomed on the mountainside; it was very beautiful."

The boy read it aloud involuntarily, “That idiot… suddenly… picked me up, and was so… so embarrassed… what was it again? — Hey, don’t close it.”

Ying slammed the book shut with a snap, like a startled hare. Her bright golden eyes seemed flustered, their light rippling like scattered gold dust in a pond. She bit her lip slightly and gently poked Qing Nuoyan's back with the pencil in her hand.

"I'm terrified, you bastard."

Her voice was soft, her head drooping, and she poked Qing Nuoyan's lower back repeatedly with the pen holder. "Idiot, I'm just afraid you'll suddenly drop me... I'm scared!"

She emphasized it again.

"That's fear."

How did this guy see what I wrote?!

You bastard, don't you know it's incredibly rude to peek into a girl's diary...?!

Is that really the case?

Qing Nuoyan tilted his head and looked at her.

Ying blushed slightly, avoiding the boy's curious gaze. "That's right. Yes, it's fear, it's fear."

"So you look scared right now?"

Qing Nuoyan didn't quite understand girls. Ying turned her delicate face away, revealing her fair neck. She didn't meet Qing Nuoyan's gaze. Fine beads of sweat ran down her cheek, along her neck, and onto her collarbone. She seemed very hot, and her earlobes showed a blushing color.

This expression is exactly the same as the one I saw on the mountain that day—was he afraid?

"It's fear."

She stubbornly retorted, "I'm scared too. Who isn't scared when they're raiding tombs!"

Oh, I see.

"You even said you'd protect me no matter if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. You're the one who's a little chick."

Qing Nuoyan smiled.

“This…” Ying bit her lip, “This is different, it’s different.”

"Then don't be afraid."

Qing Nuoyan smiled and said, the boy staring intently at Ying, his azure eyes as clear as a lake, reflecting Ying's flushed profile.

"Whether this place is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I will protect Ying, so you don't need to be afraid."

The boy was very serious, and he gave me a smile that said, "I'm all yours."

But...why...does this guy look even more scared?!

Her head tilted even further to the side, as if afraid to meet his own gaze. She bit her lip, the blush on her earlobes spreading to her cheeks, and fine beads of sweat trickling down her fair neck.

　"foul."

Ying said softly, her voice as low as the chirping of insects.

"What?" Qing Nuoyan asked.

"These words you said... are clearly my words." She awkwardly turned her face away, biting her lip. "You... are breaking the rules."

"That's a foul..."

-

This ancient site has finally come to an end.

Along the way, there were naturally monsters such as Hilichurls blocking the way, but they were all dealt with by Qingnuoyan's talismans. He became more and more adept at using the immortal techniques, almost to the point of mastery. The talent of this body was astonishing.

Before them stood the tallest building in the ancient city, or rather, the palace. According to Zhongli, this place was located at the center of power in the Rock of the Underground, which, if converted to Liyue, would be equivalent to the Jade Pavilion in Liyue.

The gate, which was as tall as three people, was covered in rust.

The outer skin of the gate was almost peeling off, revealing a scarlet inner skin covered with deep, lush ivy. There were several traps in front of the gate, but Mr. Zhongli easily deactivated them all.

With the roar of gears, layer upon layer of rotten rust began to fall off, the ivy-covered gate was torn open, and the door creaked and groaned as it burst open with a loud crash.

It's a ruin inside.