He changed Tiwat

But you can't exactly make her call you "Master" or "Master" or anything like that, that would be too feudal...

At this moment, A Yuan had a flash of inspiration: "That's it! Let's call you 'Young Master'! Anyway, A Ping and the others have always treated Miss He like their own daughter, and I always call her 'Miss'. You are Miss He's husband, so calling you 'Young Master' is the most fitting!"

Although the title "Young Master" is quite feudal, since he is paired with Ah He... so be it.

Young Master Han waved his hand dismissively: "Very well, I'll trouble you, Ah Yuan, to lead the way. I've returned to the manor today precisely to see your young lady!"

There were no roads in the traditional sense in the cave. Although they were supposed to be guiding people, they actually flew.

A Yuan is a peacock, and she was born with the ability to fly. After Han Fulai ascended to godhood, she also gained the ability to fly. Moreover, this cave heaven is filled with immortal energy and mist. Even if he doesn't use his own power, as long as he has a thought, there will be mist supporting him beneath his feet, allowing him to ride the clouds and mist. It is truly full of immortal charm.

Along the way, A-Yuan diligently fulfilled her duties as "housekeeper," introducing the wondrous grotto-heaven that "Young Master Han" possessed: "Although grotto-heavens are manifestations of the 'external landscape' abilities of immortals, even the manifestations of immortals have their limits. This grotto-heaven wasn't originally this large; what A-Ping created was only a mountain peak and a residence..."

"But the day before yesterday, a golden-eyed immortal who wished to remain anonymous came to this place. It was he who transformed this grotto and moved those mountains and rivers here."

Han Fulai already knew who A Yuan was talking about—a "Golden-Eyed Immortal" with such abilities must be the "Ancestor of All Immortals," the Rock King Emperor.

Zhongli previously said something like, "I also added a few 'outdoor shots' to it, as a birthday gift to you"... That's quite a generous gesture.

A-Yuan continued, "Oh, right, he also asked me to leave you a message. He said—'This world is not the real world, but merely a patch of green leaves that escapes the mortal realm, offering only half a day of leisure, not a lifetime of tranquility. The true world resides within your heart; the vastness of your heart determines the breadth of your inner landscape.'"

Han Fulai was taken aback. It turned out that the "gift" Zhongli had given him was actually "the empire".

Zhongli once collaborated with Chen Shen Gui Zhong to conduct a "Creation Experiment" in Liyue called "Heaven and Earth Cage Test." The three closely guarded secrets of the Liyue Asgardians—"Word of Power," "Alchemy Cauldron," and "Outer Realm"—are actually abilities required for "creating a world."

The "external scenery" mentioned here is called "internal scenery manifested externally" by the immortals, which originally means the external manifestation of the mental world.

Zhongli said that the landscape was in his heart, seemingly referring to the mountains and rivers in this grotto, but in reality, he was hinting at the secret of the "external landscape"—the so-called "true teaching in a single sentence." Zhongli's words conveyed the true essence of the "external landscape."

Only when one has the "inner landscape" of the land in their heart can they manifest it as the "outer landscape," just like the Tianheng Mountain in this grotto, which originally resided in Zhongli's heart.

Similarly, if Han Fulai has the country in his heart, one day he may be able to grasp the country and use it for his own purposes.

That old man gave such a big gift without saying a word, how are we going to repay him?

...Han Fulai smiled bitterly, hoping that he was worthy of Old Master Zhong's kindness.

Flying to the heart of Tianheng Mountain in the grotto-heaven, in a valley with high mountains, flowing water, clear springs and waterfalls, A Yuan and Han Fulai landed on the clouds.

A magnificent Liyue-style mansion sits there, with painted pavilions and vermilion towers, carved beams and ornate doors, no less impressive than any building in Yujingtai.

The five-story pavilion is accompanied by a large courtyard and side rooms, as well as a pavilion, a long corridor, a lake, a rockery, flower gardens, and even a tall gate tower and stone lions guarding the entrance!

The mansion is fine, but this gate tower is not something just anyone can build. It's called the "Three-Eyed Guardian Archway," and it's the gate tower for the four gates of Liyue, facing east, west, south, and north.

The main buildings in Liyue, such as the General Affairs Office and the Moonsea Pavilion, also use the "Three-Eyed Guardian Plaque" at their main entrances.

"This 'Three-Eyed Guardian Amulet,' also known as the 'Amulet,' is said to be able to deter evil spirits and heretics. It is said that it was first created by the Geo Archon himself, and is imbued with the power of the immortals. Its three-tiered top symbolizes the 'Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Immortal.' The people of Liyue firmly believe that this 'Amulet' represents the protection of the Archon and the immortals, and there has been spontaneous incense offerings to it since ancient times."

A Yuan proudly introduced the "Three-Eyed Guardian Plaque" to Han Fulai—to be able to place a "Three-Eyed Guardian Plaque" at the entrance of a private residence represents the protection of the Emperor and the immortals of Liyue, what a great honor!

...However, the golden-eyed immortal who came to renovate this cave seemed to have a different opinion on this matter. He said that the "Immortal Token" had nothing to do with the Emperor. It was just a nice-looking gate tower. In the past, demons feared this thing mainly because they were afraid of the immortal yakshas who patrolled from high places and the Thousand Rock Army who stood guard below with the "Thousand Rock Series".

But A Yuan felt that this statement was incorrect. She had heard many stories about the Emperor from A Ping, and that golden-eyed immortal looked quite young, so he certainly didn't know as much about the Rock King Emperor as she did.

Han Fulai walked through his family courtyard like a tourist, listening to A Yuan recount the stories and anecdotes of the buildings that Grandma Ping had constructed:

"This pavilion with its pointed roof is called 'Night View of the Seven Mansions,' and it is an excellent place to cool off, stargaze, and play the zither in the summer."

"These rooms are called 'Morning and Evening in the Courtyard'. According to Liyue's custom, these two rooms face due east and due west respectively. The passage of time is measured along the axis of the two rooms, with shadows as the measuring tool, making it clearly visible. However, the day and night in the cave can be changed at the whim of the cave's owner, so 'Morning and Evening in the Courtyard' cannot be used for timekeeping. But as guest rooms, their scenery is absolutely stunning."

"And these mountains, rocks, and lakes..."

At this point, A Yuan paused.

On the shore of the small lake in the courtyard, a white-haired girl sat gazing at her reflection in the water.

A pair of icy eyes, an otherworldly face, and a black silk cheongsam that was both fresh and elegant, yet perfectly complemented her fair and radiant skin, were reflected on the lake's surface.

The smooth hem of her skirt trailed on the water's surface, creating ripples that swayed gently.

Her slender toes also touched the water's surface, creating ripples that undulated gently.

Han Fulai, who was just next to A Yuan, has disappeared.

The next second, he appeared behind the white-haired girl.

His hands encircled the girl's slender waist, and his chin rested on her shoulder, greedily inhaling the long-lost fragrance of her hair.

"Ah He, I'm back," he said.

Shen He did not answer.

Her response was to turn her head and neck and kiss her lips.

The housekeeper, A Yuan, tactfully summoned a blue-and-white porcelain teapot, then shrunk herself—no, she was a bird—into the teapot, and stretched out her wings to put the lid on.

Then, the teapot, as if understanding the situation, bobbed and floated out of the courtyard.

It seemed that the young master and young lady wouldn't be calling her today, so A-Yuan decided to find a windward spot to sleep—that way, even the sounds from the courtyard wouldn't reach her ears.

People say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder," but for Han Fulai and Shen He, this period of separation was far more than just "short."

The longing in one's heart cannot be fully expressed by words alone; it is better to convey one's feelings to another through words.

After a long while, their lips finally parted, and Shen He finally uttered the words "Brother Han".

Those icy eyes held a wisp of misty frost, yet also an intense, unyielding tenderness.

No need for words of parting sorrow, no need for any vows of eternal love; these eyes are the best oath—no matter how much time passes, these eyes, far removed from the world, will only show such a look to him alone.

Just seeing you brings me peace and joy.

After gazing at each other for a long time, Shen He finally spoke again. She did not ask about his experiences during this period, nor did she talk about her own cultivation journey. She was here today only to celebrate the birthday of her beloved.

"I've heard that birthdays are memorable days, and people give gifts to the birthday person to celebrate. I don't know much about material things. The Milky Way at night is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in the mountains."

"So I asked my master to use her 'Stepping on the Stars and Capturing the Dippers' technique to bring the stars I had seen into this night sky."

She rose gracefully, pointed one finger to the sky, and the sun set in the west, and night fell; she pointed the other finger to the water, and the lake surface froze into ice crystals, shining like a mirror.

"I will freeze the lake into a mirror, so that the floating clouds and stars can be reflected in my eyes, and celebrate your birthday with you... I hope you like it."

She swayed her clothes, kicked open her skirt, and looked like a crane fairy.

The lotus roots are arranged in a covered basket, hanging over the bamboo shoots, with flowers and red lotuses added.

The zither of Shu lies across the land, the brocade of Mount Hua covers the hillside, and even a patched-up house is beautiful in its own way.

It is still worth looking at, and the number of times it wins is four, but it is winding and protracted.

Sometimes I would snuggle up to her bedside during the day.

Let Xiao Lang be my pillow for a good night's sleep.

More and more desires arise, urging me to a lavish banquet, leaving me alone to embrace sorrow, and endless poems to be written.

The moon shines brightly by the secluded window, flowers bloom on the Dharma seat, and one feels pitifully huddled on the carpet.

Now I see Ah Hou circling around, fearing him before me.

Chapter Thirty-Four: How to Meet the Grass God [4k]

"...So, I came to Sumeru to meet you. Wendy was also very worried about you, you know?"

The wine glass emptied and filled again, filled and emptied again. Han Fulai finally explained to Ying his experiences during this period and the reason for coming to Xumi.

Yes, of course, he omitted the parts that were not suitable for children.

When a good friend hears you're in danger and travels a long way to save you, anyone would be moved. Ying's gaze towards Han Fulai instantly transformed into that of "fellow countrymen meeting each other, tears welling up in their eyes."

Paimon was initially quite moved, but when she realized that Ying was even more moved than her, she quickly suppressed her emotions—she couldn't be fooled by this playboy's sweet talk; it was too dangerous!

In her eyes, Ying's eyes were just a little bit away from turning into the shape of a heart... If this man came to "propose to the traveler" again, Ying might inexplicably get married!

If Ying gets married, she won't be able to travel anymore. If she can't travel, she won't need a guide. If she doesn't need a guide, Paimon will be all alone...

Don't do this kind of thing!

Paimon's gaze toward Han Fulai immediately filled with vigilance.

...And did he really come to Sumeru just to support them?

impossible!

Based on Paimon's understanding of Han Fulai, this man definitely had other motives he hadn't told them. His claim of coming to rescue them was at most "on the way," like when they first met him and hitched a ride. He must have come to Sumeru for some other reason, and then casually flirted with Yingmei—Traveler, you'd better be careful!

Han Fulai was naturally unaware that in Paimon's eyes he was already synonymous with "playboy," but in this respect, Paimon wasn't entirely wrong about him.

He came to Sumeru partly because of Wendy's request and his concern for Ying, but he also had other goals he wanted to achieve.

He solemnly extended a cooperation invitation to Ying: "Actually, the reason I came to Sumeru this time is to see the grass god Buyer—our purposes are completely the same, so... Ying, how about we join forces again?"

Paimon glanced sideways, his face saying, "See! I knew it!"

Ying smiled brightly: "That's wonderful, I couldn't be happier!"

She was just worrying about how to meet the Grass God, and then the person who could solve her problem fell from the sky!

With my martial prowess combined with the wisdom of an "external brain," we'll be invincible!

Yes, that's my incredible luck! Luck is also a kind of strength!

Han Fulai smiled and stood up: "Alright, then in order to see the Grass God, we should take action. Follow me."

He led Ying and Paimon up to the third floor of the tavern.

The "Lambad Tavern" has three floors: the first floor has a counter and restaurant, the second floor has private seating, and the third floor has guest rooms.

Han Fulai took them to the guest room he had rented here.

This is the port area, and the tavern's customers are mainly sailors and laborers. Most of the people renting rooms in this tavern are sailors, and after spending so much time at sea, sailors always need to take care of their basic needs after disembarking—

As soon as Ying and Paimon opened the door, they saw the walls covered with "posters," or to be more precise, "small advertisements."

The sailors only needed to point to a certain "poster" from the tavern staff, and soon a scantily clad Sumeru dancer with tanned skin would come upstairs and knock on the door.

Ying and Paimon were of course unaware of these "underground businesses" in the tavern, but the poses of the women on the "posters" were all incredibly alluring, making them both blush. They could guess what they were up to.

What made them even more embarrassed was that the room was particularly "simple," with not even a chair besides a round bed...

Han Fulai sat on the bed casually, even crossing his legs in a very sailor-like manner. Then he shifted his position and patted the area next to him twice: "This room is small, this is the only place to sit. You two make yourselves at home."

So casual!

If Paimon hadn't known he was pretending to be a sailor, she would have yelled at him what he was up to—would he say something like "Stay tonight"? She'd rather pitch a tent in the wild than sleep in this filthy place!

Even Yingmei, who is usually very adaptable to her environment, seemed a little shy.

Although she was already quite familiar with Han Fulai and had experienced many adventures together, sitting on the same bed... or even sleeping in the same bed was still beyond her imagination.

If you were adventuring in the wild, or encountering some secret cave or similar place, it wouldn't be a problem to make do with what you have in an emergency, but that's obviously not the case now.

Ying and Paimon tacitly declined Han Fulai's offer of a seat, saying that they had just finished lunch and were taking a break to digest, and that they could talk standing up if they wanted to.

Han Fu looked at the two girls and knew they had probably misunderstood. He laughed and said, "You know me. I've always been virtuous and upright, not that kind of person."

Paimon aptly retorted, "But your face... really looks like that kind of person."

Speechless, Han Fulai shook his head helplessly: "Sigh, it's really not what you think. One of the reasons I live here is to obtain information about the Grass God..."

The source of the intelligence was the dancers on the "poster".

Most of the dancers came from desert regions to make a living in Sumeru City.

The Church's attitude towards the desert inhabitants, no matter how euphemistically described, can be described as "discrimination." The desert people can't find any legitimate livelihood in Sumeru City. The men can work as mercenaries and laborers, but the women... are basically limited to that kind of work.

However, for desert dwellers, having a livelihood and not having to worry about waking up with their head and body separated is already considered a great blessing.

After all, the godless desert operates on the law of the jungle: the strong prey on the weak. Those who aren't strong enough simply cannot survive there. Aside from the lawless "gilded guilds," the bloodthirsty monsters roaming the desert pose an even greater threat. Even if you are strong enough, you must be wary of weaknesses revealed by illness or injury…

Therefore, slavery still exists in the desert, where tribes are formed through the most primitive and barbaric force, living together in close-knit communities. The tribal leaders in the desert are considered "gods" by the tribespeople, who have the power of life and death over them and can do whatever they want with them.

Those desert dwellers who did not want to be exploited by the tribal leaders had no choice but to flee to Sumeru City.

The "thirty-man group" of mercenaries guarding the "sand barrier" on the border of Sumeru City made a fortune from the offerings of these desert "smugglers".

Even if the treatment in Sumeru City was terrible, at least there was still "discipline," or rather, "order." The Order of the Church always tried to maintain some decorum in its actions; at the very least, they wouldn't just arbitrarily behead people.

Even when the disciplinary officers of the Order of the Church were rushing to meet their year-end targets and came to arrest scholars whose lifestyles were not very proper, they would only punish the dancers with pen morras.

...There are rumors that this is because the "Grand Discipline Officer" also came from the desert, so he would be more lenient with his fellow desert natives.

It is precisely because these dancers come into contact with customers from all walks of life that they are naturally very well-informed.

“I am a ‘foreigner’ like you, and I have no way to obtain a way to meet the Grass God through formal channels. But as the saying goes, snakes have their paths and rats have their ways. The more mixed the place is, the wider the information you can get…” Han Fulai explained.

“Wait a minute,” Paimon objected. “Even with your status, you can’t obtain intelligence through ‘official channels’?”