He changed Tiwat

The True Lord of Liuyun Borrowing the Wind only answered with three words.

"...You will die."

"...Thank you for the reminder, Immortal Master Liuyun." Han Fulai finally understood why True Lord Liuyun Borrowing the Wind had not taught Shen He the common sense of human society.

She clearly loves to chat, so logically it wouldn't hurt to talk to Shen He about common sense about society—but Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun never intended for Shen He to return to human society in the first place, at least not until Shen He could completely control his "killing instinct".

Liyue Harbor is not like the wilderness; it's populated and full of events, making it prone to various accidents. If something were to happen that triggers Shen He's bloodlust, it could easily cause a massive disaster in Liyue Harbor. This is probably one of the reasons why Liu Yun Jie Feng entrusted Shen He to his care; after all, he's a secretary, and the most important quality of a secretary is meticulousness. In terms of attention to detail, Han Fulai certainly possesses the qualities that make Liu Yun Jie Feng entrust his disciple with such responsibility.

If Shen He is clearly prone to causing danger, why did Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun send her down the mountain?

If Shen He had simply come to pay his respects to other deities during the Lantern Festival, it would have been fine, as the other deities could have kept Shen He in check and controlled his bloodlust. But this time, Shen He clearly came with a mission, which, according to Shen He, was to "quell the calamity in Liyue."

Han Fulai pondered for a moment, then asked another question: "Imperial Master Liuyun probably didn't come here simply because he was worried about Shen He, did he?"

“Heh, you are indeed not simple. Liyue Harbor may seem peaceful now, but there are hidden dangers.” Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun said, “Back then, Ningguang made a boast and asked us, ‘After the contract is re-established, will you bless the next era?’ Since Ningguang insists that this is the era of Liyue making contracts with people, I want to see how she can deal with the coming storm.”

"If she handles it well, I am willing to be a witness to her achievements. If not... the immortals will take over the whole situation."

"Then... why does Shen He need to quell this disaster?" Han Fulai stared at Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun and asked seriously.

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun turned around and glanced at the residence where Shen He lived. A tall and slender figure quietly disappeared from the light of the residence.

She said softly, "Because this child... is still human after all."

"Humans..." Han Fulai stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"Perhaps Shen He's secret departure from the mountains last time exposed her whereabouts, and in recent years there have been more and more legends about her. I heard that someone in Liyue Harbor wrote a play about her based on the legends, called 'The Goddess Splits the Temple.' The play says that she stood up to protect the villagers... Heh, she really knows how to bring up the most sensitive topic."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun flapped his wings and turned to Han Fulai: "According to the Emperor, Han boy, you have a special destiny, and you are also... destined to be with Shen He. Please take good care of her."

Han Fulai cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I will certainly live up to Immortal Master Liuyun's expectations."

"Alright, I've kept you occupied for quite some time. That's all for now. It's getting late, so get some rest." After saying this, Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun gestured for him to go back.

Han Fulai bid farewell to Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun and walked down the hillside, pondering the information Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun had just told him. Earlier at Bu Bu Lu, Bai Shu had mentioned that Ning Guang was purchasing a large quantity of wound medicine, clearly in preparation for the impending turmoil.

Based on what he knew about the game's plot before his transmigration, this calamity in Liyue should be caused by Báchá, the wife of the vortex demon god Osel.

As the last follower of the vortex demon Oser, Bác is about to attack Liyue Harbor. Shenhe descended the mountain to help Ningguang defeat Bác, while the immortals will observe the situation. If Ningguang is unable to defeat Bác, the immortals will intervene. Ningguang's haste in rebuilding the Jade Pavilion is also to resist Bác, and she does not want the immortals to get involved.

On the surface, this seems to be another test for the Seven Star Government by the immortals—but the truth is far more complicated.

In Han Fulai's view, the matter of Ba Che involved at least the arrangements of three forces.

The side that unleashed the Bazha attack on Liyue Harbor; the Liyue Asuras who sent Shenhe down the mountain; and... Ningguang, who had everything prepared and was waiting for something to happen.

In the past, Han Fulai would have either chosen to help the Liyue Immortals or Ningguang, because he could only rely on their influence.

But now, he has a third option.

Han Fulai clenched his fist and made a "snap" sound.

"I've won this round."

Requesting leave on April 4, 2023

I won't be updating on this day, for reasons you know. I'm taking a day off too.

Simply writing a leave request without saying a word is the best approach, but you'll all be unhappy, so I'll recite two lines of poetry:

The heavenly horses crossed the river from the south, and a few truly possessed the talent to govern. The elders of Chang'an, the scenery of Xinting, sadly remain unchanged. Yi Fu and his ilk, the Central Plains were submerged, how often have they looked back? Even if they pacified the barbarians across ten thousand miles, their achievements and fame were truly the work of a Confucian scholar—do you know this?

Moreover, there are countless literary works to be found. Under the shade of the paulownia trees, the courtyard is bathed in the clear daylight. Born in those days, now look at the swiftly moving winds and clouds. Green fields and misty winds, grasses and trees of Pingquan, songs and wine of Dongshan. In future years, when the affairs of heaven and earth are settled, we will celebrate your birthday, sir.

Updates resumed on September 8.18th.

Chapter 82 A Person's Fate

After speaking with Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun, Han Fulai bought two portions of poultry from a nearby food stall and brought them back to his residence.

As soon as he reached the door, he saw Shen He standing there, seemingly waiting for him to return.

"Shen He, why aren't you resting?" Han Fulai asked, somewhat surprised.

“I was planning to wait for you to come back before I went to sleep, but you didn’t return for a long time, so I got worried and came outside to look for you…” Shen He replied.

"I ran into an acquaintance on the way and was delayed." Han Fulai casually lifted the dinner in his hand. "Let's go inside and have dinner first."

The two entered the house and turned left into the first guest room. Han Fulai saw that it was a standard room with two beds and breathed a sigh of relief. Even if they were "brother and sister", they couldn't sleep in the same bed!

Shen He did not rush to eat, but asked Han Fulai first: "The acquaintance you met, was it Master? I just saw her."

Since Shen He had already seen it, Han Fulai had no choice but to nod and admit, "Yes, I met Immortal Master Liuyun on the road and talked with her for a while."

"...You must have heard about my situation from Master, right?" Shen He asked again.

It seems this topic can't be avoided. Han Fulai sighed softly and replied, "...She did mention your past."

Shen He nodded without any surprise, "After all, Master... is very good at chatting."

"Actually, it's good to know more about you. At least I can understand your thoughts better now," Han Fulai smiled.

"So... now that you've heard my story, aren't you afraid of me?"

Shen He's voice was soft, but Han Fulai heard it clearly. It was a feeling of knowing that someone would be afraid of you, yet still hoping to be accepted—like a confession that you knew would be rejected.

"Why be afraid?" Han Fulai countered.

“My fate is solitary and I am prone to harming those around me, which is why I need this red string to suppress my murderous nature. Moreover…” Shen He raised his hand and gently stroked the red string on his earring, “the power of the red string also has its limits.”

"Has Miss Shen He ever injured anyone because of this murderous intent?" Han Fulai asked again.

“No.” Shen He shook his head. “When I can’t suppress my killing instinct, I will go to the mountains and wilderness to hide alone. Things like digging deep pits in the ground and uprooting trees have only happened in the mountains far from human habitation, and have never affected innocent lives.”

"If that's the case, what's there to be afraid of?" Han Fulai said with a smile.

Shen He shook his head again.

"Mr. Han, you are unaware of this. I have studied under several immortals and cultivated diligently. As my cultivation level improved, they stopped teaching me new techniques and instead taught me how to restrain my killing intent. Whether it is this Red Rope Soul Binding Technique or the Divine Maiden's Spirit Dispatch True Technique, it is all to suppress the killing intent within me. But even so, I can still feel the killing intent within me sometimes stirring... This is the solitary evil in my destiny, which I cannot change."

Shen He said softly, "Master said that evil spirits are easy to expel, but inner demons are hard to eliminate. If one cannot overcome inner demons, neither immortal techniques nor spells can salvage the situation."

"I know about your past experiences, so I can guess what you're thinking."

Han Fulai suppressed his smile, and his voice became serious.

"Have you ever thought that everything you've experienced is predestined, manipulated by an irresistible fate? Do you believe that one day you will harm those around you because of your Lonely Star and Calamity Fate, or even... become the demon god you saw when you were a child?"

Shen He nodded silently.

“Shen He, we haven’t known each other for long, and you’re not familiar with my personality yet.” Han Fulai stared into Shen He’s eyes and said, word by word, “I don’t believe in fate.”

He suddenly laughed, a somewhat rude laugh: "If I believed in fate, wouldn't my fate be a little too terrible?"

Shen He recalled the memories he had seen in the illusion, the wondrous world, and the young man who had once been in despair.

"Shen He, do you know why your master sent you to find me?" Han Fulai asked.

Shen He did not answer, but Han Fulai provided the answer.

“Because I come from a world outside of Teyvat.” Han Fulai gently touched his chest. “In my previous world, most people didn’t believe in fate. The humans living there believed more in themselves.”

Han Fulai softly recited: "The wind and thunder roar, the banners flutter, this is the human world. Thirty-eight years have passed in the blink of an eye. We can reach for the moon in the heavens, we can capture turtles in the five oceans, and return in triumph with laughter and songs. There is nothing difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to climb."

Strange phenomena suddenly appeared behind him, as if a series of paintings were unfolding—a vast land, red banners, flying ships, and giant ocean liners.

Shen He stared wide-eyed in surprise.

The strange phenomenon vanished in a flash. Fortunately, it all happened in the guest room; if it had happened outside, the construction workers would probably have had another deity to worship from then on.

Unaware of anything amiss, Han Fulai smiled and said, "So I'm not afraid of anything, not even the Lonely Star or Calamity Star fate."

In the past, Han Fulai would definitely have criticized fate and such things as feudal superstition!

...But this continent of Teyvat is rife with feudal superstition. As for whether fate has any influence on Shen He, even someone as knowledgeable as Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun cannot say for sure, so Han Fulai cannot deny the existence of fate either. But the existence of fate is one thing, and whether it is fearsome is another.

“Shen He, in my world, an elder once said something very insightful, and I’d like to pass that on to you,” Han Fulai said.

"What?" Shen He asked.

Han Fulai looked up, recalling all his experiences before and after his time travel. These experiences ultimately coalesced into one sentence in his mind—

"A person's fate depends on both their own efforts and the course of history."

“You can’t change history, but you can change yourself. I believe that your efforts to combat killing so far have not been in vain.”

Shen He remained silent for a long time, then a slight smile appeared on his face.

That was the first time Han Fulai had ever seen Shen He smile.

“I’ve got it,” she said.

Han Fulai pointed to the dinner on the table, "We've been talking for so long, the food won't taste good if it gets cold. Most of the people living around here are workers and vendors, so their food isn't very light. That's why I brought back some poultry. It smelled really good at the stall, but I don't know if it will suit your taste."

Shen He picked up a chicken leg without hesitation and took a bite.

"...Indeed. The flavor is rich, and it tastes better than what I roast myself in the wild."

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you what your favorite food is yet. Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm actually a pretty good cook! If there's anything you want to eat, I can make it for you," Han Fulai said with a smile.

"My favorite food... I tried a lot of dishes during my trip down the mountain, but I don't really remember the taste of them. But... I will never forget the bowl of noodles I used to eat at home."

Shen He remained silent for a moment, then, recalling the precepts on the mountain, shook his head.

"...I shouldn't have remembered it, I shouldn't have remembered it..."

"There's nothing wrong with that. You're human, you can't just live on herbs." Han Fulai stopped Shen He from blaming himself.

“Herbal medicines… if you chew them for too long, all that’s left is bitterness and astringency, they really don’t taste good.” Shen He nodded, “But after years of cultivation, I’ve long been used to these rules and regulations.”

"But your master, True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, is not picky about food, and is even quite particular about food." Han Fulai recalled that when he accompanied Keqing to Mount Aozang to deliver gifts to True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, Keqing deliberately did not bring any dishes in order to avoid being criticized for the food.

“Master is an immortal. ‘Immortals are not hindered in their cultivation by worldly matters, so they can eat all kinds of dishes to their heart’… These are Master’s exact words,” Shen He said in a serious tone.

Han Fulai waved his hand.

“We’re not on the mountain now, we’re in Liyue Harbor. The rule of Liyue Harbor is: ‘Cooking is simply for all the hungry people. Those who set those rules are mediocre people who can’t see the essence of cooking!’... These are the original words of Chef Mao from ‘Wanmintang’.”

“I see. I’ll remember that.” Shen He nodded earnestly, as if he wanted to take notes. “I rarely go down the mountain and don’t know much about how to treat people. So I handle many things in my own way. But if you think it’s inappropriate, please tell me. Even if I don’t understand, I will listen to you.”

"Then tell me now, what did that bowl of noodles look like in your memory?" Han Fulai asked.

“Yes, that was the ‘longevity noodles’ my mother made for me on my fifth birthday,” Shen He recalled. “The noodles were stretched thin and long, like the whiskers of a dragon in legend. When you picked them up with chopsticks, they looked like a waterfall cascading down from the mountains. The soup was golden, and it was served with delicacies such as mushrooms, poultry, and ham. It tasted softer and more tender than ordinary noodles, making it impossible to stop eating.”

Han Fulai nodded and carefully noted it down. He planned to go to Wanmintang later to ask Xiangling how to make "dragon beard noodles".

After dinner, Shen He sat on the bed and began to meditate.

Han Fulai lay on his back on another bed, his head resting on his arm, quietly reflecting on what he had gained that day.

He faced a peculiar situation. The strategies of the three parties, though seemingly unrelated, were intertwined and not contradictory, as if fate itself had brought them together.

Someone has unleashed the lingering power of the vortex, Bazha, intending to use the Demon God's wife to attack Liyue Harbor. While Han Fulai lacks concrete intelligence on who is behind this, given the current situation, it's highly likely to be an action by the Winterlands faction. Their true purpose remains unknown. But whatever they intend to do using Bazha, it will certainly be detrimental to Liyue.

The chess piece in Zhi Dongfang's hand is Ba Che.

Ningguang was fully aware of this. Originally, the plan to rebuild the Jade Pavilion was not to be completed so quickly, but Ningguang immediately accelerated the reconstruction project after the Lantern Festival. Now, the Jade Pavilion is only missing three things to be completed—Ningguang even deliberately used a public tender as a gimmick to invite merchants from Liyue Harbor to participate in the reconstruction work, and used the bidding as a pretext to speed up the collection of materials, gathering the materials she needed in the shortest possible time.

On one hand, this was preparation for promoting Liyue coins; on the other hand, it was Ningguang's backup plan, ensuring that even if something unexpected happened to Han Fulai and she couldn't obtain materials from the immortals, she could still obtain materials from other merchants to complete her plan. Ningguang's borrowing of Qiqi from Bubulu to prepare medicine for injuries also confirmed that Ningguang was prepared for a battle, even willing to pay the price of casualties among the Thousand Rock Army.

Ningguang's chess piece is the Jade Pavilion.

At this time, the Liyue Asgardians dispatched Shen He, who had been cultivating in seclusion on the mountain, down to the south. According to Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun, the Asgardians were clearly aware that Bach was about to attack Liyue Harbor, so they sent Shen He to help Ningguang rebuild the Jade Pavilion and to entrust him with the task of quelling the disaster in Liyue—but this is also the biggest point of suspicion.

The immortals are bound by a pact to protect Liyue, and in principle, they cannot stand idly by and watch Liyue suffer a calamity. They knew that Bazha was going to attack Liyue Harbor, so wouldn't the most correct course of action be to gather the strength of the Liyue immortals before Bazha arrived, eliminate Bazha in advance, and avert the disaster?

Whether it was Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhen Jun, who saved Xiao Shen He during his travels and dealt with the remnants of the demon god, or Xiao, who silently protected Liyue by traveling between Dihua Island and Guyun Pavilion, both proved that the normal practice of immortals should be to resolve disasters in advance before humans notice them.

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun said that the immortals wanted to see Ning Guang's performance; if Ning Guang failed, the immortals would take over the entire situation—this is true, but not the whole truth. If they wanted to help Ning Guang, why did the immortals send Shen He to help secretly? Why did they have to send Shen He down the mountain? Couldn't Gan Yu handle it? Why tell Shen He to quell the disaster, but not what the disaster was? Also, why did Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun bestow that "Disaster-Quelling" spear upon Shen He?

It is obvious that the chess piece in the immortals' hands is Shen He.

The arrangement involving the three parties involves three unrelated people and things—Ba Che, Qun Yu Ge, and Shen He.

Han Fulai's strategy was simple: when he had no pieces in his own hand, other people's pieces could also be his pieces.

If there's anything else that Han Fu is concerned about, it's Ningguang's and the immortals' attitudes—why didn't any of them inform him about this beforehand?

He is "the Emperor's man", Gan Yu's private secretary, the executive deputy director of Yuehaiting in the Seven Star Government, the exclusive secretary of Ke Qing of Yuheng Star, and the adopted younger brother of Ning Guang of Tianquan Star... With these identities piled up, he should clearly be someone who can get along well with both humans and immortals. However, both sides have kept him completely in the dark. Neither Ning Guang nor Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun gave him a hint beforehand.

Until he met Shen He, he had always treated this matter as a bidding process for an engineering project! What if he and Shen He missed each other due to a time difference in their journeys? He was kept in the dark about this whole thing, foolishly running to Mt. Aozang only to find it empty and then running back to discover that something big had happened in Liyue Harbor—but it had nothing to do with him?

—It's precisely because of his special status that this matter has nothing to do with him.

Being able to play both sides means he might side with the other party. Moreover, given his actual strength, he might not be capable of getting involved in this matter.

Fortunately, he now has the immortal power given to him by Zhongli, which makes him qualified to join the three-way scheme.