"I'm… I'm not heavy at all!"
The furball stretched out, revealing itself to be a rather adorable creature. It looked somewhat like a lamb, except it had two horns on its head—striped in black and red.
"Wait a minute… Are you a sheep spirit?" Lucas grabbed the little creature by its stubby legs and held it up, grinning. "Or maybe a lady sheep spirit?"
The little lamb's face turned red in an instant. With a sudden jerk, she bit Lucas right on the wrist.
"I'm not a sheep spirit!"
"Ow, ow, ow!" Lucas cried out in pain, flinging his arm several times before finally managing to shake the little creature off. But his wrist was already dripping with blood.
He had only just acquired the [Pure Yang Indestructible Golden Body] talent, and his defense should've been akin to reinforced steel—yet he'd been bitten this badly by a little lamb. Dumbfounded, he muttered, "Man… this sheep spirit's bite is no joke…"
Wait a second. A bite strong enough to break through his body's defenses, combined with those familiar black horns…
Could this little creature be Ganyu?
After all, this was Ganyu's dream.
"I'm not a sheep spirit! I'm a qilin!" The little one stood with her hooves on her hips, puffing with anger. "Who are you, trespassing in a place of the immortals?!"
Qilin?
So it is Ganyu!
"I'm not some evil spirit," Lucas said helplessly. "I'm human."
To his surprise, the moment she heard the word "human," little Ganyu jumped in fright and immediately dove behind a nearby tree. After a long pause, she nervously poked her head out, her big eyes brimming with tears.
"Master said humans are all big meanies… Can you… can you not eat me?"
So in Cloud Retainer's eyes, humans were even worse than evil spirits. It seemed she'd raised Ganyu with that belief, which explained why she was so terrified of humans.
But seeing such a cute little Ganyu, how could Lucas resist teasing her?
A mischievous smile crept across his face as he said, "That's right, I am a human. And a little qilin as adorable as you was born to be eaten by someone like me!!"
"Ah… ahhh…"
Ganyu froze completely, her whole body rigid. And then—thud—she collapsed onto the ground.
Crap!
Lucas panicked. Had he taken the joke too far and scared the poor thing unconscious? He didn't want to turn Ganyu's childhood dream into a nightmare.
But soon, he noticed something off.
Though Ganyu had "fainted," her little legs were still trembling.
Wait, was she… playing dead?
Lucas almost laughed aloud. Did she think he was a bear?
"Oh dear, did I accidentally scare her to death?" he sighed dramatically, pretending to regret it. "If she starves to death, the meat will turn sour. That wouldn't taste very good at all…"
Little Ganyu, thinking her "playing dead" act had actually fooled the human, secretly felt a wave of pride. Even her tiny tail started wagging without her realizing it.
"But wow, this fur really is something else…" Lucas leaned closer, deliberately speaking in a low, sinister voice. "If I skinned it whole, I bet I could fetch a good price for it."
At that, little Ganyu shivered violently, clearly unnerved.
Lucas ran a finger down her back and said, "Let's make the first cut right here…"
"Noooo!" Ganyu sprang to her feet, tears spilling from her eyes. "Don't kill me! I… I don't wanna die!"
Seeing her so pitiful, Lucas didn't want to push it further. He gently ruffled her head and said with a laugh, "I was only teasing you. I'm not a bad guy, really. I'm… a friend of Cloud Retainer."
"Re… really?" Ganyu finally started to calm down a little, but still eyed him warily. "Why should I believe you?"
"Not bad—your caution is commendable," Lucas nodded. "I know your name is Ganyu. You're a half-qilin, half-human hybrid, right?"
Ganyu blinked, then nodded suspiciously. "And?"
"And…" Lucas smirked. "Cloud Retainer told me that you eat a lot. And that you gain weight easily… You often end up rolling down the hills without meaning to."
"Stop… stop it! I believe you!" Ganyu's cheeks flushed crimson. She mumbled, "You… you came from the outside world, didn't you?"
To young Ganyu, the world consisted only of Mt. Aozang and "outside Mt. Aozang."
"That's right, I came from outside," Lucas replied. "Do you want to know what it's like out there?"
"…I do," Ganyu said hesitantly. "But Master said my cultivation isn't strong enough yet. I'm not allowed to leave."
"That's okay. I can tell you stories about the outside world," Lucas smiled. "And I can play games with you too."
He really was acting like a weird uncle trying to lure a kid with stories and toys.
But innocent little Ganyu didn't think that deeply. She readily agreed, and the two—man and qilin—spent a joyful time together.
Of course, dreams don't last forever.
"It's getting late," Lucas said, gently setting Ganyu down from his lap. "I have to go now."
"Already?" Ganyu looked up at him, eyes full of reluctant sorrow. "Can I… find you when I leave this place someday?"
"Of course you can…"
As he spoke, Lucas' figure began to blur.
"I'll… be waiting for you in the future."
When Lucas opened his eyes again, he had returned to reality.
Outside the window, the sky had already begun to brighten with the pale light of dawn. Ganyu was still asleep, though her brows furrowed slightly—likely still lost in the sorrow of parting from "him" in her dream.
But usually, dreams like that fade quickly from memory after waking. Ganyu probably wouldn't remember much of it.
Still, Lucas couldn't help but wonder—what was the actual use of this ability?
He had indeed entered Ganyu's dream, but if he had truly altered the past, then following the logic of the "butterfly effect," the real world should have shown at least some changes.
Yet so far, everything seemed exactly the same as before.
Of course, it was also possible that his actions hadn't yet reached the threshold needed to affect the future.
Or perhaps… the future had already changed, and he just hadn't realized it.
Suddenly, Lucas felt a faint, inexplicable pain on his wrist. Instinctively, he lifted his arm, but the area in question was covered by the Ring of Manipulation, obscuring it from view.
Wait a minute… wasn't this the spot where little Ganyu bit him in the dream?
Because only his body had entered the dream, the Ring of Manipulation, which was worn on his wrist, hadn't existed in that dream space—so that's why he'd been bitten by little Ganyu.
Could it be… that the bite mark from the dream had carried over?
It was the only explanation Lucas could come up with. At the edge of the Ring of Manipulation, a few traces of blood had indeed seeped through. However, thanks to his remarkable regenerative ability, the pain quickly faded, and the bleeding had stopped.
Whether it left a scar or not, Lucas couldn't be sure, since the mark remained hidden beneath the bracelet.
"But now that I think about it…" Lucas muttered to himself, "I haven't really felt the influence of this Ring of Manipulation in quite some time."
[The Ring of Manipulation only amplifies your negative emotions. If those emotions have become second nature to you, then its influence naturally diminishes.]
The system's response darkened Lucas' expression.
So in other words, he'd become so used to committing misdeeds that the bracelet couldn't affect him anymore?
He had long since noticed that his personality had been subtly altered by the simulator's influence, but he still clung to the ideals he'd started with.
[However, this isn't necessarily a good thing. It just means your "threshold for wrongdoing" has increased. Which is to say, if the Ring of Manipulation were to affect you again, the consequences could be far more extreme.]
"Looks like after the Tianshu election is over, I'd better find a way to get rid of this thing as soon as possible," Lucas sighed. "I don't want to become a slave to it."
[Why not? That way, if you do something bad, you can just blame the bracelet… guilt-free.]
"I'm not that shameless…"
Lucas jumped out of bed. "Whatever. It's almost morning anyway. Might as well make breakfast."
...…
Meanwhile, in Cloud Retainer's chamber.
"How strange… to dream of something like that…"
She slowly opened her eyes and muttered, "Could it be… that living among mortals for so long has stirred a yearning for the mundane world?"
Indeed, even though Cloud Retainer didn't appear frequently in the simulations, the indecent, carefree life she'd lived with Lucas and his family on Mt. Aozang had still left an imprint in her dream.
"No, no… it must've been just a coincidence…"
She sat up, her waterfall-like navy hair catching the morning light and glowing faintly. "Have I… really grown accustomed to this form?"
Suddenly, her cheeks flushed. She felt something uncomfortable beneath her, reached down, and pulled out an egg.
It was about the size of a goose egg, but smoother in texture. Unlike ordinary bird eggs, it didn't have a strange smell—instead, it emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Yes. This egg had been laid by Cloud Retainer.
As is commonly known, even without a rooster, a hen can still lay unfertilized eggs—much like how human women have monthly cycles.
Cloud Retainer's true form was that of a crane, a bird. Naturally, such phenomena applied to her as well.
However, ever since achieving immortality, she had long since severed her worldly ties. She hadn't produced anything like this in thousands of years.
"For this to happen…" Cloud Retainer gazed at the egg in her hand, her heart full of emotion. "Does this mean… I truly have developed mortal feelings?"
Indeed, this egg symbolized her entanglement with the mortal realm.
No… Impossible!
It had to be just an accident!
Regardless, she needed to deal with the egg first.
Smash it outright? That might be messy to clean up.
Eat it herself? Even if it couldn't hatch life, the idea of consuming something her body produced felt… weird.
As she pondered, a knock came at the door.
"Disciple Shenhe offers her morning greetings to Master."
When training on the mountain, Shenhe would greet her master every morning. Cloud Retainer suddenly had a thought and quickly said, "Shenhe, my disciple, come in. Your master has something to ask of you."
"Yes."
Shenhe opened the door and stepped inside. "What would you have me do?"
Cloud Retainer took a step forward and handed her the egg. "This egg. Dispose of it for me."
"An egg?" Shenhe tilted her head. "Why do you have an egg, Master? What kind of bird is it from?"
"This… ahem…" Cloud Retainer blushed, a bit awkward. "You need not ask. Just take care of it."
"As you command."
Shenhe had never been especially curious, and when it came to her master, she followed orders without question. She took the mysterious egg and exited the room.
"But… how exactly should I dispose of it?" Shenhe walked a few steps, turning the egg in her hand. "It's a perfectly good egg… it'd feel like a waste to just smash it."
"Yo, morning."
Just then, a familiar voice called out behind her.
"Playing with an egg?"
There was no need to ask. In this house, no one else could say something so shameless—other than Lucas.
Shenhe turned around and rolled her eyes at him. "What did you just say?"
"Aren't you playing with an egg?" Lucas chuckled. "First thing in the morning, holding onto an egg like that—planning to have it for breakfast?"
Shenhe narrowed her eyes slightly.
That's right. Giving it to Lucas to cook and eat could be a solution after all.
With his resilient body, and since the egg looked fairly fresh, there shouldn't be any problems. As for herself, like Ganyu, she had always preferred a light diet. Eggs, being considered animal products, weren't part of her menu.
"This was from Master, but I don't like eating eggs," Shenhe said as she handed the egg to Lucas. "Just in time—you can use it for breakfast."
"Then I'll gladly accept it." Lucas studied the egg and even gave it a sniff. He muttered in confusion, "Doesn't really smell like a chicken egg though… Whatever, it seems freshly laid. Let's go, A-He."
Hearing him say "A-He," Shenhe's heart gave a subtle jolt. "Go where?"
It had been this exact phrase—"A-He"—that awakened her memories in the dream just now.
"To the kitchen, of course. I can't just take your egg for nothing," Lucas said with a grin. "Come, brother-in-law will cook you a special breakfast."
But that single phrase—"brother-in-law"—instantly pulled her back into reality.
Yes. This man before her ultimately belonged to her senior, Ganyu.
Shenhe's personality was too straightforward to truly understand what jealousy was. Still, deep down, she sometimes wondered:
If she had met Lucas before her senior did, would things have been different?
If there truly was such a thing as "fate," then perhaps, after sharing so many dreams with Lucas, she was the one more destined to be with him?
But—there were no ifs.
"Stop spacing out," Lucas said naturally, taking her hand. "Let's go."
......
In the kitchen.
The mysterious egg had already been placed in a pot of boiling water by Lucas. As he put it, "The finest ingredients deserve the simplest preparation."
"What should I make for you?" Lucas rubbed his chin, then suddenly slapped his forehead. "Right! I'll make you noodles! You like them, don't you?"
"Noodles?" Shenhe frowned slightly.
"Hey, hey, it's no fun repeating the same joke twice," Lucas quickly realized the double meaning and gave a wry smile. "I meant…"
"I know what you meant," Shenhe said flatly. "No need to explain so quickly. After all, I've had both."
"We're at home, you know…" Lucas said awkwardly. "What if someone finds out…"
Shenhe shook her head and murmured in a voice as faint as a whisper, "I'd… rather they did."
"What did you say?" Lucas looked surprised.
Shenhe didn't answer his question. Instead, she quietly said, "… I dreamed of you again last night."
"Is… is that so?" Lucas seemed to understand, but pretended not to. "What did you dream about?"
"Stop pretending." Shenhe glared at him. "You know exactly what I dreamed. Just like… the other two times."
Though several women had experienced the simulator's dream world, Shenhe was the only one who had gotten close to the truth.
"That's right," Lucas didn't hide it this time. He nodded. "I probably know what you dreamed."
"Can you tell me why?" Shenhe sat on a chair, lifted one leg onto the edge, and rested her temple against her knee. "The you in my dreams is always such a jerk—so different from who you are in real life. Sometimes I wonder… between the real you and the dream you… which one is truly you?"
"Maybe… both of them are." Lucas didn't turn around. "That dream version of me… do you hate him?"
But instead of answering, he felt two slender arms wrap around him from behind.
Shenhe pressed close to his ear and whispered, "Brother-in-law, I…"
SMACK!
Just then, the kitchen door was abruptly flung open. Cloud Retainer strode in with a big smile. "I heard noises in the kitchen, so I came over. Hurry and make me something to eat. I'm starv—eh?"
Indeed, what she saw was her disciple Shenhe embracing her would-be son-in-law from behind.
Lucas' heart sank into an icy pit.
He had already resolved to confess his relationship with Shenhe to Ganyu and Cloud Retainer when the time was right. No matter the outcome, at least it would be honest.
But if their "secret relationship" was discovered beforehand, the nature of the matter would change entirely.
Before he could react, Lucas suddenly felt his feet leave the ground. The world spun wildly, and the next thing he knew, the back of his head and spine had slammed into the floor.
That's right—Shenhe had executed a textbook-perfect German Suplex (belly-to-back waist-hold bridge throw).
Fortunately, Lucas had a sturdy physique. Had it been an ordinary person, they might've snapped their spine.
"See clearly?" Shenhe dusted off her hands and said casually, "That's how you do a proper suplex. I'll only teach you once."
"Th-thanks for the lesson…" Lucas forced a laugh. "It was… perfect."
Who would've thought stoic Shenhe could think on her feet like this? But… could such an act really fool anyone?
"You two sure are diligent. Practicing throws first thing in the morning," Cloud Retainer commented approvingly. "Shenhe, that was a textbook move. Clearly, you haven't slacked off on what I've taught you."
She really believed it?
Also—weren't they supposed to be cultivating immortality?
Why were they practicing wrestling?!
Lucas struggled to imagine Shenhe wrestling with a crane deep in the mountains.
"Master, you're here," Shenhe finally turned around, face composed. "Brother-in-law insisted I teach him some martial arts. Forgive the clumsiness."
"Y-Yeah," Lucas said, rubbing the back of his almost-snapped neck as he stood up. "That was seriously impressive. As expected of Cloud Retainer's top disciple."
"No need to flatter me. I don't fall for such things," Cloud Retainer replied coldly, though the smile on her face betrayed her satisfaction. She pointed toward the stove. "Enough of that—what were you cooking?"
"Oh no, my egg!"
Only then did Lucas remember the egg he had been boiling. He hurriedly turned off the flame and scooped the egg out with a spoon, sighing in relief. "Whew… good, it's not overcooked."
Cloud Retainer's eyes widened slightly as the egg looked familiar. "Wait… that egg…"
"What?" Lucas tilted his head. "If you want it, you can have it."
"No… that won't be necessary!" Cloud Retainer quickly waved her hands.
"Then I won't be polite." Lucas cracked the egg open, and a fragrant aroma immediately wafted out. He couldn't help but praise, "Smells amazing!"
Seeing Lucas about to eat the egg she had laid, Cloud Retainer hurriedly said, "W-Wait!"
"Hm?" Lucas looked puzzled. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this egg?"
Cloud Retainer obviously couldn't tell the truth—that the egg was from her—so she grit her teeth and replied, "Nothing."
Watching Lucas consume her own freshly laid egg, Cloud Retainer felt as though she had just lost something very, very important.
"Mmm, delicious," Lucas marveled. "No idea what kind of bird laid this egg, but if I could keep one at home to lay them daily, that'd be great."
Cloud Retainer's face flushed redder and redder. In her mind surfaced a rather bizarre image—
In a dark room, a chain locked around her neck, and all she did every day was lay eggs nonstop.
"How strange…" After finishing the egg, Lucas patted his chest and muttered, "Why do I feel so warm all over, like a flow of pure energy just coursed through my meridians?"
He hadn't really slept all night and had been feeling a bit drowsy, but now, after eating that egg, he was completely refreshed.
Cloud Retainer's egg contained the essence of her immortal energy. Its effects far surpassed any medicinal elixir.
But precisely because it was so potent, any ordinary person would likely be overwhelmed by it. Only someone with Lucas' monstrous physique, boosted further by his "Gluttonous Beast" bloodline, could absorb every drop of the egg's essence.
"That's impossible…" Shenhe said instinctively. "Unless that egg wasn't ordinary, but actually—"
Suddenly, Cloud Retainer grabbed Shenhe's wrist and cut her off. "Disciple, come with me. I have something to discuss with you."
Without waiting for a response, she dragged her disciple out of the kitchen, leaving Lucas alone in bewilderment.
"But now that I think about it…" Lucas rubbed his chin and muttered, "What was the rest of what Shenhe was trying to say earlier?"
......
Outside the house.
Seeing Cloud Retainer's complicated expression, and considering the extraordinary effects of the egg, even the slow-to-react Shenhe had more or less figured out the truth.
"Master, don't tell me that egg was…" Shenhe hesitantly asked.
"Y-Yes," Cloud Retainer said with a sigh. "It was mine. Didn't I ask you to dispose of it? How did it end up getting eaten by that guy?"
"I happened to run into Brother-in-Law. He said he wanted a boiled egg, so I…" Shenhe answered honestly. "Please punish me, Master."
"Forget it, the ignorant are not at fault," Cloud Retainer shook her head. "But this must never be spoken of. Especially not to Lucas. Understood?"
"Yes, but…" Shenhe tilted her head in thought. "What if he wants to eat another one?"
"What do you mean what if?!" Cloud Retainer's expression soured. "Then I'll lay another one for him!"
"Understood." Shenhe nodded earnestly. "Next time Master lays an egg, please let me know."
Seeing the serious look on Shenhe's face, Cloud Retainer didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Clearly, Shenhe didn't understand what "sarcasm" meant.
......
Meanwhile, at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"I have it! I have it!"
Before the rooster had even crowed, Hu Tao, still in her pajamas, burst out of her room shouting. Her excited voice nearly scared the corpses in the mortuary awake.
A few of the Wangsheng staff exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what exactly their young director "had."
A child?
But she hadn't even married yet. And besides, they could hardly imagine what Hu Tao would be like as a mother.
"Hu Tao," a hand suddenly rested on her shoulder as a calm voice said, "No shouting."
The person who stopped her was, of course, Zhongli. Although she was technically only a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, ever since the previous director passed, she was the only one capable of keeping Hu Tao in check. If not for her presence, Hu Tao might've already launched something outrageous like "half-off headstones with every second funeral."
"Sister Zhongli!" Hu Tao spun around and hugged her. "I have it!"
"Oh?" Zhongli took her pulse and narrowed her eyes slightly. "By standard diagnostic measures, this is not the pulse of a pregnant woman."
"N-No! It's not that!" Hu Tao's face flushed. "It's my chest! I finally have a chest!"
Zhongli's gaze swept over Hu Tao's chest, flat as the plains under a rising breeze. Calmly, she said, "Would you like to listen to yourself right now?"
"I-I don't mean now!" Hu Tao puffed up her cheeks. "I had a dream! In the dream, I… I grew up! Super big! Bigger than yours!"
As she spoke, Hu Tao spread her arms dramatically. But if her exaggerated gesture were to be believed, her dream size might've surpassed the limits of human biology.
"So it was just a dream?" Zhongli mused. "It's not uncommon. What you think of during the day often appears in dreams."
Seeing Zhongli so unfazed, Hu Tao instinctively said, "But it wasn't a normal dream! I also dreamed of Lucas…"
At that point, she reflexively shut her mouth.
After all, for a girl to dream about another man—it usually implied something.
"Lucas?" Upon hearing that name, Zhongli, who previously hadn't shown much interest, suddenly raised an eyebrow slightly. "You dreamed of him?"
"Y-Yeah," Hu Tao realized she had misspoken and tried to deflect. "It was just a dream, you know. People always dream of random nonsense… I… I have morning lessons, so I'll be going!"
But Zhongli's hand on her shoulder suddenly felt as heavy as a mountain. Little Hu Tao was like a sparrow caught in the palm of a martial arts master, unable to fly away at all.
"Morning lessons are canceled today," Zhongli said with a faint smile. "It's been a while since we last talked. Coincidentally, I just brewed some tea—we can have a long-overdue chat."
Zhongli… actually smiled.
She wasn't expressionless per se, but in Hu Tao's memory, she always maintained a calm, stoic demeanor. It wasn't often one saw an expression other than "neutral" on her face, even over the span of ten days or half a month.
"C-Chat about what?" For some reason, Hu Tao felt a strange unease at the sight of that smile.
"Anything, really. For instance…" Zhongli said softly, "That dream of yours."
Although Hu Tao always acted mischievous and unruly, there was one person she couldn't handle—Zhongli. More importantly, Zhongli's eyes seemed capable of seeing through all lies and deceptions. So Hu Tao didn't dare to lie and could only recount everything from her dream in full.
Even some "not suitable for children" scenes were told with great difficulty.
That conversation lasted nearly an entire hour, and the tea Zhongli had made had to be reheated two or three times.
"I've never heard a dream so detailed," Zhongli stared into Hu Tao's eyes. "It almost sounds made up."
"I didn't make anything up!" Hu Tao pounded her chest. "It was all real—my dream!"
"I believe you. Your eyes didn't lie," Zhongli said thoughtfully. "Besides, even if someone did make it up, it would be hard to fabricate something so absurd."
"So it was just a dream…" Hu Tao bit her lip. "But some of those details felt so real. You know? I still feel a dull ache in my shoulders, like I really 'escaped poverty and struck it rich'!"
But when she looked down and could still clearly see her knees, a sense of sadness inevitably washed over her.
"In theory, people can only dream of things within their knowledge," Zhongli casually removed Hu Tao's Harmony Hexagram Hat and said, "Like this hat—you probably didn't know it once sealed away a demonic entity, did you?"
"This… this is just a normal hat, isn't it?" Hu Tao was startled. "Wait… is it really like in the dream?"
Thinking that the hat she always wore might hide such a "secret," Hu Tao couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"It's true. But the former director had already guided the demons away from it before passing," Zhongli nodded. "In any case, this wasn't an ordinary dream. Later, I'll give you some calming incense. Also, don't tell anyone else about this dream—especially… not Lucas."
"Who… Who would tell him?!" Hu Tao's face flushed red. "I… I'm going back to bed now."
With that, the little rascal hummed her strange tune, "When the sun comes out I bask in the sun, when the moon comes out I bask in the moon," and disappeared from Zhongli's sight.
"Both Hu Tao and I dreamt of him…" Zhongli murmured. "Could this be some kind of omen?"
......
Lucas never would've imagined that, besides Shenhe, yet another "divinity" had uncovered hints of the simulator's secrets.
At this moment, he was in the kitchen, washing breakfast dishes.
Ganyu was always busy with work and naturally didn't have time for such chores.
As for Shenhe, while she didn't mind helping, her immense strength made these delicate porcelain dishes feel like paper to her. After breaking about three sets of tableware, Lucas had forbidden her from touching anything ceramic with both hands at once.
As for Cloud Retainer… asking an Adeptus to wash dishes—perhaps even Liyue's wealthiest, Ningguang, wouldn't dare to wish for such luxury.
"Ah… Lucas?"
Lucas didn't notice when Ganyu had entered the kitchen. She spoke softly, "Need any help?"
"No, no, I've got it," Lucas chuckled. "It's just a quick chore. By the way, why haven't you left for work yet?"
In truth, Ganyu hadn't come to the kitchen just to help. From earlier, she had been closely observing Lucas's wrist.
Last night, she had another dream about him. No, rather than a dream, it was more like reliving something that had once happened.
Thousands of years ago, when she was still a child, a human once trespassed into Mt. Aozang and made a promise to see her again.
But for some reason, Ganyu could never remember that human's face—until last night's dream, where she finally recalled: that person looked exactly like Lucas.
However, Lucas was just a human. Logically, it was impossible for him to live that long.
The only possible proof of his identity was the bite mark she had once left on his wrist. But that wrist had always been covered by that strange bracelet, so she couldn't see what was underneath.
"I… I was just about to leave. I wanted to say goodbye," Ganyu said, trying to sound casual. "Oh, by the way, that bracelet on your wrist—I don't think I've ever seen you take it off."
Indeed, whether eating, sleeping, or even during those kinds of activities, Lucas always wore that bracelet. Ganyu hadn't thought much of it at first, but in hindsight, it did seem a bit strange.
"This?" Lucas glanced at the Ring of Manipulation on his wrist and gave a wry smile. "I picked this up during an accident in Mondstadt. It's not that I like wearing it… it's that I can't take it off. It's practically like a shackle."
"Let me try," Ganyu said. She was desperate to see if Lucas's wrist bore the bite mark she had left. She reached out and pressed against the ring. "Though I've never seen this material before, if I just apply a little pressure, I should be able to—"
Though Ganyu appeared delicate, her strength rivaled even Shenhe's. She had thought she could easily crush the bracelet with a bit of force. But to her surprise, the ring didn't budge in the slightest.
Lucas, as if already expecting this outcome, gave a helpless smile and said, "As expected, it's not so easy to break."
Though his current strength was still a bit below Ganyu's overall level, in terms of raw physical power, he wasn't far behind. If brute force alone could remove the ring, he would've solved it himself long ago.
"No, there must be a way," Ganyu's eyes lit up. "Right, there are quite a few knowledgeable scholars at Yuehai Pavilion, including students who've returned from the Akademiya in Sumeru. If we let them take a look, maybe they'll find a way to remove it."
To be honest, Lucas didn't have much hope for these so-called scholars. After all, even Lisa, a top student of the Akademiya, had failed to unlock the Ring of Manipulation.
Still, he didn't want to give up hope, and he didn't want to reject Ganyu's kindness either. So, he nodded and said, "Very well. I'll visit Yuehai Pavilion another day."
"Why wait?" Ganyu took the opportunity to grab Lucas's wrist and said, "You can come with me to work today. We'll check it out along the way."
"Is that really okay?" Lucas hesitated. "Yuehai Pavilion is an important place in Liyue. Isn't it inappropriate for an outsider like me to just walk in?"
"It's fine," a blush crept up Ganyu's face. "If it's a family member, it's usually allowed. Besides, though it's not entirely proper to use my position… if I want to bring someone in, no one would stop me."
With that said, Lucas had no reason to refuse.
What's more, if the girl herself didn't mind, it'd be overly cautious of him to hesitate any longer.
......
To the people of Liyue, Ganyu was the Adeptus with the deepest ties to the mortal world. On workdays, it was common to see a blue-haired beauty with breakfast in her mouth rushing off to Yuehai Pavilion, having overslept.
She had walked this path for thousands of years.
So even if passersby caught a glimpse of this Adeptus, it was no longer a rare sight.
But today, Ganyu's appearance drew quite a few stares—
Because she was accompanied by a man!
That man appeared to be in his twenties, with a clean and pleasant appearance, but nothing particularly exceptional. What right did he have to walk alongside a secretary of the Qixing?
Speculation about his identity quickly spread.
Some said he must've been a petty thief Ganyu caught on the way to work.
Others claimed he was a distant relative of hers.
Even more outlandish were those saying he was a qilin Ganyu had just taken in, now in human form.
Yet not one person suspected that he might be Ganyu's partner.
Or rather, no one could even imagine what kind of person would be worthy of someone like her.
That man, now drawing widespread attention, was of course Lucas. As they walked, he truly experienced what it meant to have "a thousand needles at one's back." His perception was so keen that he could clearly feel the eyes of those watching him.
"Feeling a little uneasy?" Ganyu said gently. "It took me hundreds of years to get used to those gazes."
"It's not just that…" Lucas scratched the back of his head. "They're probably wondering who this guy is, walking beside Lady Ganyu."
Hearing this, Ganyu was momentarily stunned.
She had indeed been careless, not realizing how her identity might cause Lucas considerable trouble.
With that thought, as if summoning all her courage, she resolutely took Lucas's hand.
Lucas felt a sudden warmth in his palm and instinctively looked toward Ganyu, only to see her gently biting her lip. "T-This way, maybe… maybe they'll understand the kind of relationship we have."
Seeing the shy yet brave look on her face, Lucas couldn't help but smile. He leaned closer and whispered, "I think that's not enough. How about you wrap your arm around mine?"
"Eh? That's… going a bit too far…" Ganyu trembled slightly. "I still need a bit more time…"
With her personality, even holding Lucas's hand in public was already a huge leap. Anything more intimate would take time for her to adjust to.
"Just kidding," Lucas chuckled. "Holding your hand like this is already more than enough."
......
Before they knew it, the two had arrived at Yuehai Pavilion. After composing herself briefly, Ganyu opened the door and entered hand in hand with Lucas.
She knew full well that, as the de facto leader of Yuehai Pavilion, bringing a man to work would cause a stir—but no matter what, she had to take this step.
Sure enough, the moment the two entered, the usually busy and orderly staff all stopped what they were doing, and the slightly noisy office fell silent.
All eyes turned to the man standing beside Lady Ganyu. But only for a moment.
Just a second later, the staff returned to their tasks, as if nothing had happened. The bustle resumed immediately.
"Take this document to the copier!"
"What's the status of that unfair competition case from last week?"
"Is the Tianshu election summary report ready yet?"
Lucas felt a wave of admiration in his heart.
As expected of Liyue's civil servants—such keen social awareness. They knew when to play dumb and not meddle in their superior's private affairs.
"Good morning," a secretary-looking young woman happened to pass by and greeted, "Lady Ganyu."
Lucas took a closer look and was slightly surprised. That secretary was none other than Huixin, daughter of the former Tianshu.
In the simulator, he had once shared a story with her, which is why he remembered her face clearly.
"Good morning, Huixin," Ganyu nodded and then gestured to Lucas. "By the way, this is—"
"I know, I know!" Huixin guessed excitedly, "Lady Ganyu's younger brother!"
Both Lucas and Ganyu were slightly stunned.
Then Lucas couldn't help but chuckle and said to her, "What do you think, Ganyu… big sister?"
Even Ganyu couldn't help but show a subtle, amused smile.
It seemed that getting others to accept her relationship with Lucas wasn't going to be easy.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the door. Soon, the door was pushed open, and a guard rushed in, panic-stricken.
"Something's wrong! There's a fight outside—some guy is being surrounded by five others!"
To dare start a fight right outside the gates of Yuehai Pavilion—especially a group beating?
This was no small matter. Inside Yuehai Pavilion, the staff all paused what they were doing upon hearing this, momentarily unsure how to react.
"To cause a disturbance right outside Yuehai Pavilion? Quite the nerve," Ganyu, who usually wore a gentle expression, now showed a trace of anger as she said in a firm voice, "All of you, carry on with your work. I'll handle this matter."
With just one sentence, she exuded an air of authority that needed no explanation.
Even Lucas was a little surprised—was this composed and decisive Ganyu truly the same gentle, slightly scatterbrained woman he knew?
The two stepped outside, and sure enough, a crowd had gathered at the entrance to Yuehai Pavilion.
Amid the crowd, five thuggish-looking men were surrounding and beating a slender young man, kicking and cursing at him.
Not far away, a man with a large gold chain around his neck had his arm around a woman's waist, shouting, "Hit him! Beat him good! Where does this bumpkin think he's going, dreaming of stealing a swan?"
The woman in his arms wore heavy makeup and—shockingly—was dressed in a Yuehai Pavilion staff uniform!
Despite being surrounded and beaten, the man in the center showed no signs of surrender. Instead, he cried out loudly, "Jiaying! It's me, A-Yao! I… I'm your husband! How… how could you treat me like this?!"
One of the thugs kicked him in the face and shouted, "Who the hell do you think you are?! You think you can mess with the boss's woman?!"
Ganyu, concerned for the man's safety, was just about to step in when Lucas held her back.
"Wait… something's off."
Sure enough, just as the man—called A-Yao—was about to pass out from the beating, a flash of green light suddenly radiated from his body.
It was the telltale sign of a Vision awakening!
When a person's desire reaches its peak, the gods' gaze descends—this is the moment one earns a Vision.
So he awakened a Dendro Vision from being cheated on?
"Get… away from me!!"
Several vines erupted from the ground beneath his feet, whipping upward to ensnare the five thugs and slam them hard into the pavement.
Though experienced fighters, they were no match for a newly awakened Vision bearer. After being smashed into the ground several times, they all fell unconscious.
Battered and bloodied, A-Yao struggled to his feet. Just as he was about to collapse again, Lucas stepped forward, caught him, and secretly channeled a stream of healing energy into him.
With a low voice, Lucas said, "One against five and you didn't back down. Respect, brother."
Though A-Yao's strength was far beneath Lucas's, that determination alone was worthy of admiration.
Ganyu stepped forward, her expression solemn. "I am Ganyu, emissary of the Qixing. Who are you, and why have you caused a disturbance here?"
Though just coming out of a fierce struggle, A-Yao remained calm and bowed respectfully. "My name is A-Yao. I'm from Qingce Village. Years ago, I married Jiaying, who is also from my hometown. Since then, I've lived frugally and sent all my savings to her so she could continue her education until she was accepted into Yuehai Pavilion…"
At that moment, the woman who had just been standing on the sidelines, Jiaying, rushed up with an innocent expression and said, "Lady Ganyu, you mustn't listen to just one side of the story!"
"Did I give you permission to speak?" Ganyu shot her a cold glance, immediately silencing her. "A-Yao, please continue."
"I wanted to move to Liyue so I could live with Jiaying, but she kept making excuses. She said life in the city was too expensive, that we couldn't afford to live together, and she asked me to send even more money."
A-Yao looked at Jiaying with a complicated expression and continued, "I believed her without question… even sold off our family land. Then one day, someone from our village came home from Liyue and told me Jiaying had found someone else. I traveled nonstop for three days and nights just to get an explanation!"
Good grief… Qingce Village was at least several hundred li from Liyue Harbor. To run that whole distance, this man was a warrior for love!
The crowd erupted in murmurs. Realizing the tide was turning, Jiaying hurriedly said, "That's just his side of the story! You say you sent me money—do you have proof? You say we're married—where's the marriage certificate?"
A-Yao was at a loss. "I never doubted you. Why would I keep evidence of my trust? And the marriage certificate… didn't we vow before the statue of the Geo Archon?"
"So you have no proof at all?" Jiaying sneered. "Lady Ganyu, I have nothing to do with him. You mustn't be fooled by his lies."
Ganyu had overseen Yuehai Pavilion for millennia. With one glance, she could tell A-Yao's sincere expression wasn't a lie. Still, she asked again, "A-Yao, are you sure… you truly have no proof?"
A-Yao remained silent for a moment before replying in a defeated tone, "I made this journey only to find the truth. Now that I know it, I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. Whatever punishment I receive, I will accept without complaint."
"Hmph. Stop pretending to be the victim," Jiaying said coldly. "You caused a public disturbance at the gates of Yuehai Pavilion. Get ready to rot in jail."
"Hold on!"
At that moment, Lucas stepped in front of Jiaying and smiled. "He may not have physical evidence—but we do have a witness."
Startled, Jiaying asked, "Wh-What witness?"
Lucas pointed at her. "You."
"What?" she laughed nervously. "You're saying I'll testify against myself?"
She was just about to deny everything—when the words spilled out of her mouth involuntarily.
"Everything he said… is true!"
Everyone around them froze in astonishment—including Jiaying herself.
As for the reason why, it was simple—Lucas had just used his skill: [Interrogation Technique]
[Interrogation Technique: Forces a target to answer one question truthfully. The lower the target's mental resistance, the higher the success rate.]
As an ordinary person, Jiaying couldn't resist the technique and confessed without hesitation.
"I work as a clerk at Yuehai Pavilion, and he's just a broke nobody—how could he ever be good enough for me?"
Lucas said coldly, "Then why didn't you just tell him the truth from the start?"
"Tell him?" Jiaying's face twisted in panic as she spoke uncontrollably. "If I told him, he would've stopped sending me money! I never liked him. He's just a fool! A few sweet words and he sent me everything he had!"
The bystanders, seeing how shameless Jiaying was, couldn't help but feel a surge of righteous indignation. If this weren't the heavily guarded Yuehai Pavilion, there likely would've already been a riot.
"So…" Lucas continued, "how much money did you take from A-Yao over the years?"
Jiaying answered truthfully, "All together, around five million Mora."
Though Mora's purchasing power wasn't as high as dollars, five million was still no small amount—especially for someone like A-Yao.
Unexpectedly, Jiaying's current lover—the man with the big gold chain—stepped forward, looking completely unfazed. "So what if it's money? No big deal. Babe, I'll pay back that five million Mora for you. After that, you don't have to deal with him anymore."
"Birds of a feather really do flock together… you seriously picked this guy?" Lucas shook his head and said, "Jiaying, you must really love your new man, right?"
"Of course!" the gold-chain guy said smugly. "Jiaying only loves me!"
But Jiaying suddenly shook her head and said word by word, "I… I've also slept with all of your little underlings…"
The gold-chain guy's face changed instantly, disbelief in his eyes. "W-What did you just say?"
Jiaying looked embarrassed, but the words kept coming. "Your little underlings are all better than you in bed. Sometimes two, sometimes three, sometimes all five at once. Don't be fooled by how they act all respectful to you—in private, they call you 'Little Shrimp' behind your back."
The crowd erupted in laughter. The gold-chain guy's face flushed with anger. He snarled, "I must've been blind to fall for you. From now on… I don't give a damn what happens to you!"
Although Jiaying couldn't control her mouth, she could still control her body. She grabbed his arm, trying to win him back, but her mouth kept going: "You're not just useless in bed, your breath stinks too. Kissing you is worse than licking a toilet…"
"Get lost!"
Enraged, the gold-chain guy slapped Jiaying hard, sending her flying before spitting on the ground. "Disgusting!"
Only then did Lucas snap his fingers, deactivating the [Interrogation Technique], and said with a smile, "Well then, with that detailed testimony, do you still have anything to deny?"
Jiaying looked utterly defeated, her face pale, unable to say a single word.
"With this conclusive evidence," Ganyu said coldly, "Jiaying used the promise of marriage to swindle money, cheated while claiming to be married, and treated contracts as nothing. I hereby declare: she will repay A-Yao eight million Mora, principal and interest, and she is to be dismissed from Yuehai Pavilion—permanently barred from future employment."
Eight million Mora wasn't exactly astronomical, but that second punishment effectively ended her career.
"W-Why do I have to pay back an extra three million Mora?" Jiaying protested.
"That extra three million is compensation for the time and youth he wasted on you," Ganyu replied icily. "Honestly, that's already generous."
Jiaying still tried to argue. "But he's a man…"
"So what?" Ganyu's gaze sharpened. "Does a man's youth have no value?"
Now that was a true righteousness-fueled smackdown.
Only then did Jiaying realize just how bad the situation was. She looked at A-Yao, her voice trembling. "A-Yao… I was wrong. Please, forgive me…"
"I don't know what I ever saw in someone like you," A-Yao said coldly. "Lady Ganyu was fair and just. But I also made mistakes. Please, punish me as well."
"He definitely deserves a little punishment," Lucas said to Ganyu. "He's a pretty good fighter—how about assigning him to the Millelith for a month of unpaid work?"
Though Millelith duty was hard, it came with an official position. For a poor country boy like A-Yao, it seemed like punishment but was actually a hidden reward.
"Excellent idea," Ganyu immediately caught on and nodded. "Go ahead and report in. I'll send a letter to authorize it."
A-Yao was moved to tears. "T-Thank you, Lord and Lady Benefactors!"
"Wait a minute…" Ganyu's eyes widened. "How… how did you know we were husband and wife?"
"Isn't it obvious?" A-Yao grinned. "Only a couple who understands each other completely would work together so seamlessly."
Even after A-Yao left, Ganyu still had a faint smile on her face. It wasn't until Lucas patted her on the shoulder that she finally came back to her senses.
"I didn't expect this…" Lucas muttered thoughtfully. "Turns out you do have a stern side."
"No choice. If I don't act serious, my subordinates won't respect me," Ganyu frowned slightly, suddenly looking nervous. "You… you don't dislike that version of me, do you?"
"Actually, I like it even more," Lucas whispered into her ear. "Next time, treat me that strictly too. I'm looking forward to it."
Ganyu blinked, then realized what Lucas meant by "next time." Her face turned red. "Anyway, what did you do just now to make Jiaying tell the truth?"
Lucas obviously couldn't tell her it was a system-granted skill, so he just replied, "Just a little psychological trick."
Maybe it was because Lucas had too many secrets, but Ganyu wasn't suspicious at all. She suddenly remembered something and said, "Right, didn't I say I'd help you find a way to remove that bracelet? Come with me."
…
Yuehai Pavilion, Library.
Like the Knights of Favonius, Yuehai Pavilion had its own library—but on a much grander scale. It had multiple staff members, and certainly none who lazed around like Lisa.
At this moment, an elderly man around seventy years old was peering at the bracelet on Lucas's wrist through a magnifying glass, muttering to himself.
"Director Wu, have you figured out what it is?" Ganyu asked nervously from the side.
"This is the ancient Sumeru magical artifact known as the 'Ring of Manipulation,'" Director Wu said, setting down the magnifying glass. "Legend has it this ring grants immense power to its wearer—but also corrupts the mind. According to ancient texts, the Scarlet King of Sumeru once wore it and successfully suppressed its influence. But after his death, the ring vanished. Young man, where did you get this?"
Lucas answered honestly, "I got it by accident. I've never even been to Sumeru."
Wow… so this thing actually had such a legendary backstory?
Looks like Director Wu really knew his stuff—more than Lisa, even.
"It's that dangerous?" Ganyu looked worried. "Is there any way to remove the Ring of Manipulation?"
"No need to panic, Lady Ganyu," Director Wu stroked his graying beard and said, "According to what I know, there should be two possible methods to break its seal."