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

It was like this thousands of years ago, and it remains like this thousands of years later. Just like this city-state, it was the same thousands of years ago, and it is still the same thousands of years later. Nothing has changed except the people.

"You are the salt of the earth."

...

"If salt becomes ineffective, what should be used as a substitute?"

...

"You are the salt of the earth."

..

If salt becomes ineffective, it should be replaced with something else.

"If the salt loses its effectiveness, there may be no flavor worth savoring."

The boy's voice rang out from behind the garden.

Heureia was stunned.

The sunlight was brilliant, and the early summer light shone through the translucent courtyard dome, dancing obliquely between them. Lia turned around and saw the boy who had come to her city.

He had gotten lost and walked for a long time, still panting, with fine beads of sweat on his temples and his shirt damp. He looked somewhat travel-worn, and the glaring sunlight made him squint. He was carrying several lively, wriggling sea fish in his hands.

“The Salt of the Earth…this city,” Qing Nuoyan paused, then said, “is very beautiful. It was my first time here, and I almost got lost…really, it’s very beautiful.”

Liya gazed quietly at Qingnuo Rock. After a long while, she said, "...It's beautiful?"

"very beautiful."

"But there's no one in the city."

"That's why I came to find you."

Why did you come?

Qing Nuoyan paused, then said softly, "I have already signed the contract... Everyone else has betrayed you, and I am the only remaining salt worker. I cannot betray you."

He could easily part ways with Gan Yu, for they would never meet again in this life; the past was history... But Heulia was different. When Qing Nuo Yan prayed to her, he made a lifelong promise. This wasn't just about [Fu She], but also about [Qing Nuo Yan].

What are you carrying...?

"Fish." Qing Nuoyan raised the still-fresh sardine in his hand. "I've forgotten everything from before... but when karmic obstacles assailed me, they still brought back some vague memories of the past."

"I always wanted you to try the fish of Liyue," Qing Nuoyan said softly, "but I didn't."

"before?"

“The day before you were killed,” Qingnuoyan said, “I went to Liyue and bought sardines... but I couldn’t enjoy them with you.”

So... I thought...

Ah... I see.

It turns out that the reason I couldn't find that guy that day was because he went to Liyue and bought sardines.

Heuria gazed at Qingnuoyan, her golden eyes reflecting his image.

What an idiot.

"If you don't mind, would you like to try some?" Qing Nuoyan earnestly extended an invitation. "Ying is waiting outside... she's coming to eat too."

Ying?

Leah leaned against the crabapple blossoms, her silvery-white hair scattering in the air along with the petals. She suddenly asked, "Is the city beautiful?"

"...very beautiful."

“This city,” those amber-clear eyes gazed at Qingnuo Rock, “every street, every house, every brick and tile is made of grains of salt.”

Lia pointed to herself with her slender, delicate hand and teased, "That's all [me]... So, you mean I'm very pretty?"

"This..." Qing Nuoyan hadn't expected such an explanation. He wanted to say something, but before he could speak... Liya repeated, "Don't lie. This is your god's [oracle]."

Heureia is very beautiful.

Whether it's those amber-clear eyes, that exquisite and flawless face, or that smug expression like a kitten... she's as beautiful as the city itself.

Qingnuoyan still remembers the thrill he felt when he first stepped into the Salt of the Earth. Walking along the bluestone alley with light steps, when the hazy sunlight pierced through the evening cherry blossoms and fell on him, and the cool lake breeze dampened his clothes, he felt that this city was truly beautiful.

"It looks good." Qing Nuoyan finally nodded in agreement. "You're a god, everything you say is right."

“So,” Lia said proudly, raising her head in a sacred tone, “your handsome god is about to send down another divine decree.”

"God said—"

"What divine decree?" Qingnuoyan asked.

“...Turn around,” she suddenly said.

Qing Nuoyan obediently turned around. After a while, he felt his clothes being grabbed tightly.

half an hour.

In summer, the gentle breeze is picturesque, and the shadows of the trees sway gently.

"God said," Lia's voice was very low, like a small animal, "Don't let God lose you again..."

"Um..."

"We must not hide from God, we must not stop talking to God, we must not be angry with God, we must plant flowers with God..."

"Ah."

“Praise God for his good looks.”

"You are very beautiful."

"No..." Her voice trembled with a sob as she whispered, "Don't let your beautiful god worry anymore."

Is she crying...?

"...Um."

"Just 'hmm'?"

“Your followers listen to your teachings,” Qing Nuoyan changed his words, deliberately using a pious and holy tone. “My beautiful God.”

"Idiot..." Lia seemed amused and laughed out loud, her smile as bright as a begonia in the summer sun.

“Turn around.”

Qing Nuoyan obediently turned around. Liya was very close to him. He lowered his head slightly and could smell the faint fragrance of her long silver hair and feel her warm and cool body temperature.

"The last oracle."

Heuria stared into Qingnuoyan's eyes and declared domineeringly, "My city has only you, only you are my guest. That blond guy can leave now."

Qing Nuoyan wanted to say something, "But Ying bought the fish with her own money..."

But he hadn't said those words yet.

Lia tugged at his collar, and they quickly closed in, almost touching. The summer sun shone on their shadows, which swayed gently with the shadows of the crabapple blossoms.

"Listen to God's word."

“But…” Qing Nuoyan said sadly, “she’s already here… right outside the door.”

Wow... Miss Ying will get angry.

_

P.S.: Wow, 2.5 chapters! Pretty impressive, right?

Let's have a lucky draw!

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Chapter 114 "I have one more heart than you!"

"...What are you doing."

Miss Ying leaned against the doorframe, the swaying shadows of the trees casting deep shadows in her eyes, which reflected the scene before her:

A gentle, intoxicating floral fragrance wafts through the air.

A boy with light-colored long hair leaned against a pillar, while a silver-haired, golden-eyed girl in a white dress tugged at his collar; their faces were very close...

They were even touching, their breaths mingling. Sunlight covered them, casting flower-like shadows. The two shadows were reflected in the center of the garden, almost merging into one.

"What are you doing."

The god-like creature let out a soft hiss, and Miss Ying looked at Lia with a kind smile, "What are you doing?"

Lia noticed Ying's presence, but she showed no emotion, seemingly unconcerned. Still holding Qing Nuoyan's hand, she tilted her head and said to Ying:

"...Is it the blond guy?"

The screech of the divine beast grew even louder.

Ying thinks there's a saying that's very good: "God cuts," meaning it should be used to cut God.

...

The early summer sun is bright and warm, with dappled rays dancing lightly between the rolling waves. As the waves crash against the rocks, the sunlight and the spray shatter together into a single mass.

On the coast in summer, you should eat fish.

Squeak, squeak...

Over the orange campfire, the skin of the giant sardines from Liyue City slowly turned golden brown, becoming even crispier. Golden oil dripped down the tender fish meat, landing on the firewood and sizzling as it mingled with the flames.

Qing Nuoyan dared not speak; he could only silently grill the fish.

Using a bamboo skewer to check if the fish was cooked, he made several cross-shaped cuts on the skin with a knife, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, flipped the fish over, and grilled the other side—Qing Nuoyan didn't say a word throughout the whole process.

He stared at the sardines on the grill.

Qingnuoyan felt that he was just like the dead fish eyes on the campfire.

Fire on both sides, roasting from both sides, no matter which side you flip it over, the other side will be roasted by the fire. Flipping and turning it over and over, the final result is that it is cut into pieces by a cleaver and eaten... How difficult it is for fish to live, but isn't life just like that?

Although it was just grilling a fish, Qing Nuoyan inexplicably gained a profound understanding of life's truths.