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

Let's have a giveaway!

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Chapter 129 Saint Liya, Begin the Prayer!

This is a difficult matter.

Qing Nuoyan felt a slight headache.

One of the Great Tengu has disappeared, and another, corrupted by filth, has gone mad and its fate is unknown... it is probably dead too.

In any case, things must be done step by step, and food must be eaten one bite at a time.

The most urgent thing right now is to eat regularly.

Qing Nuoyan looked up at the window; it was already quite late.

The rose-colored sunset had melted into the azure sea, the two colors blending together, the night wind stirring them into new hues. Between the sunset and the sea, returning fishing boats could be seen, fishermen sang their evening songs, and smoke rose from the chimneys of Konta Village.

The Qingye Tofu Shop has also closed. This old shop has received its last batch of customers, and Miss Fox has hung a lantern under the door to signify 'closed for the day'. After closing and taking a break, it's time for dinner.

It's time to make dinner.

Dinner at Qingye Tofu's house wasn't complicated; it consisted of just a few simple dishes.

He was a follower of the God of Salt, and according to the usual church rules, he would pray before supper.

Qing Nuoyan took out the salt ruler he always carried with him and pressed it to his chest. His face was devout and solemn. The reflection of the setting sun hanging in the window frame was reflected on his cheeks, and the orange color made him look both sacred and solemn.

“The Great Saint Liya”.

Qingnuoyan said earnestly, “Your devout followers have prayed to you, asking for your glory. In the most blessed heaven, please guide us forward. We ask you to bless the believers—give us some salt, I want to use it to cook.”

"Stop praying," Leah said lazily. Although her expression wasn't visible, one could sense her rolling her eyes. "How did I end up with a believer like you in my life..."

"There's nothing I can do about it," Qing Nuoyan said with a laugh, looking completely shameless. "You're destined to be stuck with me for life."

You're destined to be with me for life.

Lia paused noticeably, "Ugh..."

"What's wrong?" Qing Nuoyan removed the leaves from the cabbage, washed it clean, and then chopped the scallions and garlic into small pieces.

"...I always feel that you lack the most basic respect for your gods," Lia said in an unfriendly tone. "Do you think of me as a salt-making machine?"

What is a salt-making princess?

“There’s no need to be so self-deprecating,” Qing Nuoyan replied earnestly. “We’re all the same.”

"how?"

"Miss Ying is the Hair Dryer—a machine that blows my hair," Qing Nuoyan joked. "Miss Fox is the Money Printer, responsible for paying my salary..."

“What I mean is,” Leah interrupted him, “you can rely on me more.”

"I can handle it... If you really can't, I'll pray for you."

Before Qingnuoyan could finish speaking, she noticed that the salt ruler slowly dispersed into salt grains, which floated in the air. The fine salt grains formed a thin mist, which intertwined with the light of the setting sun, creating a dreamlike outline, through which the pure white summer skirt could be seen.

"I will also pray..."

Qing Nuoyan felt a pair of slightly cool, soft hands gently caressing her cheek.

His long, snow-white hair was scattered in the night sky, and his warm, slightly itchy breath brushed against his collarbone. In the salt mist made of sand, a pure white girl, like a summer dream, leaned close to his cheek.

She whispered in Qing Nuoyan's ear, her thin lips parting slightly, "...Would you like to try?"

...Qing Nuoyan dared not be sarcastic anymore.

Saint Lia is truly terrifying... the boy thought to himself.

"What kind of god are you?" Qing Nuoyan shook his head.

"no way."

The girl made of salt grains laughed and said, "You've been fortunate enough to be born with a god like me in this lifetime."

Qing Nuoyan turned his face away, refusing to look at her.

"I'm not kidding anymore." Lia looked at Qing Nuoyan's appearance, tilted her head, and let her long silver hair cascade to the other side. "You just said you were going to write a letter to 'Narukami'?"

When this topic came up, for some reason, Qing Nuoyan could clearly feel that Liya's voice had turned cold... Was it just his imagination? She still had a gentle smile on her lips.

Lia always reacts like this whenever faith or other deities are involved.

"It's just fulfilling a promise I made to an old friend," Qing Nuoyan said with a wry smile. "They don't know me, and I don't know them... To put it bluntly, it's just a try—anyway, it's free."

"Oh."

Liya said calmly, "Since it's an agreement between old friends, how can you guarantee that 'Narukami' isn't your old friend? How can you guarantee that he isn't the 'god' you once worshipped?"

Qing Nuoyan was taken aback. He blinked and looked thoughtful.

Lia's words did remind me; perhaps... that's really a possibility.

He had been thinking in the wrong direction. Since Hana-san was his old friend, then similarly, Narukami, who was also an old friend of Hana-san, might have been an acquaintance of his, and he might even have once worshipped this Lord Narukami.

Liya tilted her head, her bright golden eyes devoid of any extra emotion, calmly reflecting Qing Nuoyan's image. She murmured, "Indeed, it's possible."

Qing Nuoyan gave a slightly helpless smile.

But the person I once was is gone.

What are you worried about?

Qing Nuoyan parted his thin lips, wanting to say something, but before he could utter a word, Liya grabbed his collar, bringing them very close. Qing Nuoyan could see those bright, clear eyes, like the setting sun, with a campfire-like light flickering deep within them.

"Qingnuo Rock".

She said softly, "You must remember one thing."

“You are my believer, and I am your god.” Lia stared straight at him. “I met you two thousand seven hundred years ago; I was the one who came first.”

“Write to her if you want—I don’t care.” Lia walked barefoot on the tatami mat bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, her shadow turning orange. “Whether it’s the so-called Narukami or that blond guy, ‘Saint Lia’ isn’t worried.”

"No one can take my believers away."

Qing Nuoyan paused, feeling a cool, moist touch on his cheeks. His lips were also a little dry. He pursed them gently, and they tasted salty, like dried sea salt on a summer beach—cool and slightly astringent, with a lingering sweetness that was hard to forget.

This is...

Before he could react, the girl vanished, scattering into salt grains, then gathering back into a translucent salt ruler.

“This is God’s blessing,” Lia said as her last words. “The first mark God left.”

...Qing Nuoyan unconsciously pressed his finger to his lips. The soft feeling had not yet dissipated, and the boy's brain seemed to freeze. After a long while, he slowly came back to his senses.

At this moment, Qing Nuoyan finally realized with absolute clarity... Saint Liya truly lived up to her name.

That's terrifying.

He blinked. Liya had already left. There was still a small patch of salt on the desk. It seemed that although Liya complained, she still left some salt for Qingnuoyan to use for cooking.

half an hour.

Perhaps growing impatient, Ying's slightly disgruntled, goofy voice came from upstairs as she innocently urged:

"Is the food ready? Is the food ready? I'm hungry, I'm hungry."

All they know how to do is eat!

Qing Nuoyan was still a little dazed until the pot started bubbling. He shook his head and put the salt and the prepared scallions and garlic into the broth to simmer.

...

The night is already deep.

White cherry blossoms fluttered down outside the courtyard, scattering in the air along with the moonlight, making it impossible to distinguish between the moonlight and the cherry blossoms.

"Are you really not going to eat in the restaurant?" Qing Nuoyan handed the prepared food box to Hana Sanri, tilting his head. "The Divine Child should really want to see you."

"A departed soul cannot be too close to the human world."

Hana Sanri smiled, raising her eyes to gaze at the old shop with its red lanterns lit. "Otherwise, when it's time to leave, I'll start to feel reluctant again."

"That's enough... I'm very satisfied."

The shrine maiden wearing a fox mask lifted the food box handed to her by Kiyono. A thin mist of water wafted towards her. The food box contained simple dishes: a plate of steaming tofu, and at the bottom, udon noodles topped with Gao Tao. Warm steam rose into the night air.

"Wow."

Hana Sanri said nostalgically, "It's tofu. I've had it before. You always made these dishes at song festivals, and we all loved them... especially Chiyo... By the way, are there no sweets? I remember your sweets were delicious, especially with plum wine."

"Sorry." Qing Nuoyan forced a smile, recalling the milk dumplings in the steamer that were as golden brown as charcoal, "...I may not have awakened my talent in this area yet."

"I see." Hana Sanri thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "The memory of taste is never forgotten, and taste is the shape of fate. You don't have it now, perhaps just because you haven't met the person you're meant to meet yet."

"Profound," Qing Nuoyan shook his head. "Anyway, eat it while it's hot and enjoy my cooking."

"Could you please turn around first?"

She pointed to her mask, looking somewhat troubled. "Sorry, it's not very convenient for me,"

Qingnuoyan obediently turned around.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that Hana Sanri had lifted a corner of her mask, revealing a smooth and delicate profile. She opened her mouth slightly, revealing small canine teeth. As she gently bit into the fish tofu, she ate quietly, like a little fox holding a dried fish.

"Don't peek," she said.

Wow... Qingnuoyan had no choice but to obediently turn her head away.

mean.

How mysterious... Wearing a mask, not even letting anyone see what she looks like, Qing Nuoyan is quite curious about what Hua Sanli looks like.

However, what he didn't know was that Hana Sanri didn't want him to see her face, but something else entirely.

Huasanli was quietly biting Qingye tofu.

As she said, every time they gathered together at a karuta party, Kiyono Raimei would always cook his signature dishes. Everyone was there then, the plum wine was slightly intoxicating, and the tofu was soft and warm. These flavors are the shapes of memories.

"How is it?" Qing Nuoyan asked expectantly, his back to her. "Isn't my cooking pretty good?"

"Mmm. It's delicious." Hana Sanri nodded, murmuring softly, "It's delicious."

"That's good." Qing Nuoyan sounded quite happy.