He changed Tiwat

He beckoned to Ying and Paimon with his finger: "You two stick your heads over here, I'll give you a buff."

"what……?"

Both Ying and Paimon were taken aback.

The two of them simultaneously remembered something—Ying raised her hand and touched the "Intiwat" flower on her head. Back in the Abyss Palace, Han seemed to have touched her head like that as well…

"Hey, don't take this opportunity to do anything weird, okay?" Ying warned him somewhat guiltily.

Little Paimon glanced sideways at Ying.

...If you really don't want him to touch you, then don't stick your head out!

Han Fulai was naturally unaware of Ying and Paimeng's inner monologues. He solemnly took out two silver-white talismans from his pocket and stuck them on their foreheads.

Then, a light of immortal power emanated from his hands, and he chanted an incantation in a low voice:

"Humans and spirits yearn for purity, yet the mind disturbs it; the human heart yearns for stillness, yet desires pull it away. Dispel desires and the heart will naturally be still; purify the heart and the spirit will naturally be pure. When the six desires cease, the three poisons are extinguished. The spirit is bound to the truth, and one is constantly pure and still!"

The two talismans transformed into two beams of silver light and merged into Ying and Paimon's bodies. The two felt a sudden clarity in their minds, as refreshing as eating ice cream on a sweltering summer day.

"This is a 'Binding Spirit Connecting True Seal' that I asked Ah He to specially make. You can think of it as a kind of 'brain-sealing technique' to protect your consciousness from malicious prying and interference. With the protection of the 'Binding Spirit Connecting True Seal,' the 'Void Terminal' should no longer be able to affect your consciousness," Han Fulai explained to the two with a smile.

The "Binding Spirit Connecting True Seal" personally passed down by True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng can even suppress the influence of the remnants of the demon god on Shenhe, making it the most effective way to defend against the "consciousness manipulation" and "brainwashing" of the "Void Terminal".

In addition to the "Binding Spirit True Dharma Seal," Han Fulai also asked Xiao Shangxian for a special talisman, which sealed the secret technique of the Yaksha clan—"Extinction of All Suffering."

Over the years, Xiao has been suppressing his "karmic obstacles" and fighting against the lingering influence of the "Dream Demon" using the supernatural power of "Cessation of All Suffering." If Ying is already controlled by some force when he finds her, he can also use "Cessation of All Suffering" to help her regain her senses.

Ying covered her forehead, staring at him in surprise: "How come it seems like you've prepared for everything in advance?"

Han Fulai blinked and smiled, "The virtue of Secretary Yue Haiting is that she can gracefully handle any request from her superior."

Chapter Twenty-Six: Life Has a Little Unexpected

Having resolved the potential risks associated with the "Void Terminal," both Ying and Paimon felt relieved.

They had just entered Sumeru City today, traveled a long way to inquire about various things, and hadn't had a chance to eat yet. They were already starving, and just then, the owner of Lambad served up the tavern's signature dish - "Lambad Fish Roll".

As soon as the dishes were served, the aroma of flowers filled the air.

The golden fish fillets resemble waves tinged with the sunset, while the delicate rose petals scattered among them add a touch of romantic mystery, making them irresistible to anyone who looks at them.

Uncle Lambad proudly introduced this famous dish to the new guests: "This is a dish I created on a whim during my adventures when I was young. Back then, I traveled all over the world with my fleet, and I ate delicious grilled fish in Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma. So I thought the air in Sumeru should also be filled with the aroma of grilled fish!"

"So I combined the 'Sumeru Rose' and 'Date Coconut' baked cakes, specialties of Sumeru, to create this fish roll that can be easily eaten even on a turbulent sea—I didn't expect the finished product to be so delicious, so I gave it the great name 'Lambad'!"

While the veracity of Lambad's adventures is debatable, the deliciousness of the fish rolls is undeniable.

Han Fulai readily echoed Uncle Lambad's words, showering him with praise: "Such a brilliant invention certainly deserves the resounding name 'Lambad'! When the brothers in our fleet talk about Brother Lambad's grilled fish, they all praise it highly, calling it 'the romance of a seaman'!"

Lambad was overjoyed: "Haha, we men of the sea know our stuff! Hmm, what's 'seaman's romance' without wine? Wait a minute, I'll get you another bottle of good wine!"

Ying and Paimon were simply astounding—Han Fulai said he was treating, but most of the meal was actually paid for by the owner of Lambad.

Not only are there half-price fish rolls and coconut charcoal cakes, but also complimentary sabuz stewed meat, and even free wine... Is this Secretary Yuehaiting's flattery... no, her social skills?!

Han Fulai simply smiled calmly, accepting Ying and Pai Meng's admiring gaze with a clear conscience.

In fact, the reason why Lambad's boss gave so many gifts wasn't solely because of his sweet talk.

His identity as "Han Jiangxue" is that of a "fisherman in the Liyue Harbor ocean-going fleet," and his listed identity is one of the Liyue Seven Stars, a crew member under Tian Shu Xing Tian Shu.

This Mr. Lambad, who used to be adventuring at sea, had spent some time in Uncle Tian's fleet, and his "Lambad Fish Roll" was actually made on Uncle Tian's ship!

Lambad still maintains trade relations with Tian Shu's fleet, and many dishes in his tavern use seasonings specializing in Liyue—for example, the "goldfish grass" used in the Subuz stew is a plant that only grows in Mondstadt and Liyue. The two bowls of broth in front of Yingmei and the others are mostly made with ingredients from Qingce Manor in Liyue…

With this connection, Han Fulai naturally received preferential treatment.

On the other hand, it was precisely because Han Fulai knew Uncle Lambad so well that he chose this tavern as his base in Xumi.

Staying in this tavern run by a former sailor not only suited his public persona but also allowed him to gather intelligence discreetly, monitor the port of Sumeru City, and observe the city's movements—a win-win situation.

The owner of Lambad returned with fine wine and bowls, not only pouring him drinks but also enthusiastically urging him to drink: "The fish is fresh, the bread is freshly baked, and even these plates and bowls... are brand new! Hey, this meal will surely refresh your mood!"

"Oh?" Han Fulai picked up the wine bowl in surprise and looked at it for a few moments. He then realized that Uncle Lambard's tableware seemed to have been changed to new ones today. Both the shape and the pattern looked quite exquisite. Generally speaking, such tableware would be placed in a shop window as decorations rather than used.

He gave a thumbs up: "As expected of Brother Lambad, even the tableware provided to the guests is so excellent!"

Lambad laughed even louder: "Hahaha, there was a little accident at the tavern a couple of days ago. Two young scholars from the Church of Christ got into a fight and broke a lot of tableware. This is their compensation."

"Huh? Scholars fight in taverns? Is it because they're drunk?" Little Paimon suddenly became interested and started gossiping too.

Lambad laughed and said, "You probably can't imagine why we fought... Well, it all started with our regular customers."

"Most of our tavern's customers are sailors like Brother Jiang Xue or workers who maintain merchant ships. They are all people who make a living at sea, especially the workers, who rely entirely on the skills passed down from their ancestors. But recently, it seems that the scholars of the 'Mysticism School' of the Order Academy have invented a new technology and even spread it into the 'Void,' which has rendered the old skills useless, and many workers have lost their jobs as a result."

He pointed to a few tables in the corner: "Look, they used to drink alone over there all the time. The day before yesterday, that 'Wonderful Theory' scholar who invented that new technology heard about it from somewhere, came to the tavern to introduce jobs to those workers, and even gave them a large sum of Mora."

"Well, to be honest, this scholar is a very good person. The only problem is... the money he took out seems to be his roommate's..."

His roommate, a scholar of the "intellectual school," discovered the money was missing and chased after him to demand its return. The "divine theory school" scholar refused, saying, "The poor suffer more than the rich, therefore the rich should generously distribute their wealth."

"Oh, that's right! There are still conscientious scholars in the Academy." Han Fulai nodded with great feeling.

Ying seemed to understand the plot: "Later, it turned out that... the rich and heartless scholar and the generous scholar got into a fight over money?"

Lambad shook his head: "No, their reason for fighting wasn't money."

"The 'Scholar of the Wise' said that his previous statement was a quote from the sage Zolfikar of their academy, while the 'Scholar of the Knowledge' said that the sage Zolfikar never said that."

"The 'Wonderful Theory' member insisted that the sage had said this, while the 'Knowledge Theory' member argued that he was fabricating a citation, which constituted academic misconduct... Then, the two of them got into a fight over whether the sage had actually said this..."

"..." Han Fulai and the other two fell silent at this bizarre reason for the fight.

Lambad laughed heartily: "In short, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise: the tableware you are using now was made by craftsmen commissioned by scholars of the Mysticism School, and it is decorated with patterns designed by scholars of the Epistemology School. There is no other shop in the entire Sumeru City with such a luxurious setup! It shows that a little accident in life is not necessarily a bad thing, hahaha!"

After hearing the little story about Lambad's side dish, the three of them enjoyed a delicious "Lambad Fish Roll". Ying and Paimon recounted their experiences in Daocheng Forest, and then finally asked the question that the two of them were most curious about now—"Why did you come to Sumeru?"

In response to this question, Han Fulai picked up his wine bowl and laughed like Lambad: "Well, my life has also had a little unexpected turn of events."

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Han Fulai, 25 years old

On the evening of November 1st, Liyue Calendar 37xx, the "Tianheng" returned to its warm harbor after being away from home for two months.

It departed laden with food, medicine, and a longing for distant lands; on its return journey, it carried with it precious "crystallized bone marrow," and a glory even more precious than the "crystallized bone marrow"—

The first successful voyage in Liyue's naval history resulted in victory for the entire Inazuma region.

Unlike the grand scene of thousands of people flocking to the city when the ship set sail, no welcoming ceremony was arranged for the "Tianheng" ship when it returned.

This was partly because Han Fulai decided to change the return time at the last minute, much earlier than originally planned, and the people in Liyue Harbor did not receive the news. On the other hand, it was also Gan Yu's arrangement—now that Liyue and Inazuma have become allies, the "Tianheng" is not "returning in triumph," but "going home."

Let history and the future be the glory; for now, let's enjoy the warmth of home.

The seven stars who greeted Han Fulai at the dock were still the same ones—the two older brothers from the Yun family, Jiang Xue who looked much more handsome after shaving her beard, and Ms. Ruoyu who looked a bit more prosperous.

Upon seeing him for the first time, these people all bowed deeply to him as if they had planned it together.

Han Fulai not only broke the "lockdown order" and obtained Inazuma's precious resource "Crystallized Bone Marrow," adding a steadfast trading ally and a valuable overseas special zone to Liyue, but more importantly, he secured the support of the Thunder General for Liyue, which had lost its deity on the surface.

"General Raiden can draw his sword for Liyue."

This may be the greatest achievement of the "Teyvat Community of Fate" plan to date, far more valuable than land, money, or resources, representing the fighting power of one of the "Seven Earthly Rulers".

In addition, although the news of Han Fulai's "ascension to godhood" in Daoqi has not yet spread widely, people at the Seven Stars level naturally already know about it.

The bow from the Seven Stars was a tribute to the "successor of the Emperor" and to the "Salt King Emperor".

The former "Secretary Han" is now the true ruler of Liyue, the uncrowned new generation of Geo Archon.

Han Fulai struggled to suppress his habitual actions as a secretary and stood ramrod straight to receive the respect of the seven stars.

Behind the Seven Stars, the three-thousand-year-old Yuehai Pavilion Executive Secretary watched him quietly with a smile on his face.

Han Fulai and Gan Yu's eyes met across the distance.

He saw Gan Yu's lips move slightly, as if to say, "Welcome home."

The victory banquet was held at the Crystal Pavilion. All the meritorious soldiers who had made contributions on this voyage, as well as Miss Xingqiu, the "Liyue Trade Representative," were invited to the banquet. Xingqiu's performance in Inazuma was outstanding. Although the guild leader Yun didn't say it on the surface, he was overjoyed and would definitely celebrate properly. The other soldiers, of course, should also be rewarded according to their merits.

However, Han Fulai, the protagonist of this celebration banquet, did not attend the banquet.

He was pulled away by Gan Yu halfway there.

Before Han Fulai returned, he sent someone to deliver a letter to Gan Yu, explaining the situation in Xumi and Wendy's request, asking Gan Yu and the others to help with the preliminary investigation.

So, the reason Gan Yu pulled him away must be because the Fools really have something big planned in Sumeru, and they need to discuss it as soon as possible. The other two Seven Stars who didn't come to the dock to greet him, Tianquan Star Ningguang and Yuheng Star Keqing, must also be too busy to get away and are probably waiting for him in the meeting room.

—Yes, that's really what Han Fulai thinks.

...Otherwise, he would have to wonder what kind of terrifying hellish scene awaited him.

Out of consideration for the shogun's dignity, the relationship between Kage and the shrine maiden was not truly made public, and the "Lady Han" thing was just a joke in the shogun's inner palace—but the two new contracts he had on him could not be kept from Gan Yu, who also had a soul contract with him. Gan Yu probably knew what had happened in Inazuma long ago.

Now that Gan Yu knows, what about Ning Guang and Ke Qing...? Well, Han Fulai decided to trust Yue Haiting's professional ethics, even though Gan Yu seemed to have no reason to keep it a secret for him.

The night market at Scarlet Cloud Slope was still bustling. The two walked side by side through the lively crowd, observing the changes in Liyue over the past two months—more shops had opened, and most tourists from various countries were using Liyue currency for transactions. The "Grand Blueprint of Jade Balance" was showing a thriving appearance.

As the direct creator of this prosperous scene, Han Fulai had countless feelings in his heart, but Gan Yu was surprisingly silent and just walked silently.

...This made Han Fulai feel even more uneasy.

Could it be that what awaits him at the Moon Sea Pavilion is truly a terrifying hellscape? Is Gan Yu escorting him to the execution ground?

As the two approached Yujing Terrace, Han Fulai finally couldn't contain his unease and asked, "...Gan Yu, don't you really have anything to say to me? Even just a hint would be helpful; I need to prepare myself..."

Gan Yu stopped abruptly, her body trembling slightly, as if startled by his voice.

Han Fulai was even more frightened than Gan Yu.

Good heavens, this is actually a major event that will keep Gan Yu deep in thought the whole way!

He couldn't even imagine what could possibly cause Gan Yu such distress... What kind of matter could it be? Had the Emperor truly passed away? Or had the laws of nature awakened?

Gan Yu was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Do you remember what day it is today?"

What day is today……?

Han Fulai racked his brains, but none of the history or festivals he knew about Liyue were related to November 1st.

"You really forgot."

Gan Yu sighed softly.

Then Han Fulai saw Gan Yu awkwardly... yes, awkwardly, like a newlywed bride meeting her in-laws, taking out a small box from her storage space.

There was a beautiful card on the box, decorated with refreshing dried flowers.

Four characters were written on it:

"Happy birthday."

These four words left Han Fulai frozen in place.

What day is today?

Today is November 1st, his 25th birthday.

A year ago today, he traveled to Teyvat and made the life-changing pact with Gan Yu in the outskirts of Lisha.

He had wondered if his arrival in Teyvat on this day meant a so-called "rebirth".

—A new life, a new journey.

However, the various events that followed made him forget about the concept of "birthday" very early on.

I'm already working overtime every day, so why would I care about "birthdays"?

But Gan Yu still remembered his birthday, the day they met and got to know each other a year ago.

"I've received so much care and attention from you this past year. I've thought about it for a long time and have prepared a gift for you..."

She hesitated for a moment before handing the box to him.

"This is a refreshing flower cake that I made myself. I'm sorry, because of work, my cooking skills are rather rusty, and it's nowhere near as good as the ones you made for me..."

"Although I was determined to make it perfect, I asked my master for advice, but she said she would make me a 'pastry machine'... So I had to try to make it myself, and the result was a bit of a failure."

Han Fulai reached out and took the small box, then opened it on the spot.

Inside were five neatly arranged pieces of white rice cake, which together formed the refreshing image of five leaf petals.

But Han Fulai immediately noticed what Gan Yu meant by "somewhat a failure"—it seemed that Gan Yu used ice to freeze the rice cake into shape, and then left it at room temperature to thaw for too long, causing the rice cake to fall apart. She had to freeze it again, and then she froze it a bit too hard...

As a result, the few pieces of chilled rice cake in his hand still had ice shards stuck to them, and taking a bite would probably give him the tangy sensation of biting into ice...

Han Fulai picked up a piece without hesitation and put it in his mouth.