Chapter 246: An extraordinarily meaningful slime feast

The deal was completed.

Having successfully obtained the Gnosis, Luo Sha Lin did not linger and immediately left Liyue.

As she left.

Her face bore a hint of doubt, but more so a look of relief.

To be honest.

Bargaining with Luo De was no ordinary fatigue.

This bastard differs from the Liyue officials who have clear demands and can exploit loopholes, and also from the Dendro Archon, who rules a country riddled with wounds and finds it hard to be steadfast.

Under Luo De's strange demands, he was ten times more stubborn than brainless monsters.

He was truly impervious to reason and profit.

Speaking of benefits and gains, he wouldn't listen to you.

Even using force or verbal threats, you still can't defeat him.

What's more infuriating is,

His backing is not lacking in the slightest.

He is truly a copper pea that cannot be smashed or flattened.

Now the Doctor's sudden compromise.

This instead let Luo Sha Lin finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The Gnosis is in hand.

It also allowed her to no longer endure the anger that had been pent up in her heart during this time.

Given the feeling of never wanting to see Luo De's hateful face again.

Upon obtaining the Gnosis, Luo Sha Lin, not wanting to stay even a moment, immediately returned to Snezhnaya to report for duty.

"With one person gone, I actually feel more relaxed—what's going on?"

Luo De, whose behavior is completely opposite to Luo Sha Lin's, is inexplicably in a good mood.

Not only because he got rid of Luo Sha Lin, who constantly tried to change his mind, but also because that bastard Doctor was finally brought to Sumeru by him.

"Heh—"

Luo De, in high spirits, couldn't help laughing out loud.

His laugh made Xiao's cheek, walking beside him, twitch.

Xiao originally did not want to intervene in Luo De's affairs.

But Luo De's laugh made him unable to suppress his question, his expression troubled as he said: "The Emperor's Gnosis."

"The Emperor has allowed me to handle it freely."

Saying this, Luo De recalled Xiao and Zhongli, stroking his chin as he said: "You needn't worry; I asked the Emperor, the Geo Archon's divine position comes from the Geo Archon's Throne, and the Gnosis will not affect the succession."

"I'm not talking about that."

Xiao said helplessly: "I want to ask you, what kind of person is that Doctor? Why go to such lengths to bring him to Sumeru, even sacrificing the Gnosis as a price?"

"Originally the Emperor allowed you to freely dispose of the Gnosis; I shouldn't have meddled."

"I merely feel that using the Emperor's Gnosis, you should have gained more practical benefits, rather than simply exchanging it for a person."

"Or rather."

"As for that Doctor, could he be of great help to Sumeru?"

This is the longest speech he has ever made to Luo De since meeting Xiao.

Probably only matters concerning Zhongli could make him say this much.

In short.

In summary, it's just one sentence.

Xiao felt that Luo De's use of this Gnosis was not worth it, a bit wasteful.

Especially after Luo De said, "That Doctor is useless to Sumeru, purely here to cause destruction," Xiao's bewilderment almost solidified.

"I want him."

"Actually, it's to kill him."

"That's all."

Without waiting for Xiao's question, Luo De voluntarily explained: "I have a student who was nearly tortured to death by the Doctor's human experiments, and her parents were killed as well. Although I didn't teach her much, she called me teacher, and as her teacher, her grudge is my grudge. Now I have a chance to avenge her, so I must seize this opportunity."

"Revenge."

This word is not unfamiliar to Xiao.

But Xiao never expected Luo De to want to avenge his student.

Such an action is not uncommon among the adepti.

Liyue's adepti are naturally inclined to protect their own.

If their disciples are bullied by outsiders, if they are at fault, it's fine; but if they are bullied for no reason, they will surely go to the aggressor's door.

Hearing what Luo De just said.

His student, since childhood, had been deceived into that Doctor's lab, suffering torment while her parents were killed; this truly counts as an irreconcilable grudge.

A teacher standing up for his student is also reasonable.

Having received a reasonable explanation, Xiao stopped asking further and turned to talk about Luo Sha Lin.

"That Fatui Harbinger left a bit early."

Upon saying that,

Luo De, whose attention had already strayed from Luo Sha Lin, immediately became interested: "Huh? How so?"

"She was intentionally left for you by True Lord Liuyun and them."

Xiao casually mentioned what the adepts had planned back then.

Luo De's guess was correct.

The adepts and Venti deliberately brought Rosalyn here themselves.

Their purpose was clear.

It was to inform Rosalyn of the Geo Archon's impending abdication, and, while Luo De brought Xiao to prepare for succeeding the Geo Archon, to properly showcase Liyue's strength to Snezhnaya in order to achieve the goal of shaking the mountain and shocking the tiger.

Xiao didn't know whether this was Zhongli's prior arrangement.

But no one said anything.

He also didn't dare to draw a conclusion.

However, his not daring to speak doesn't mean Luo De doesn't dare to.

"The Sovereign has really exhausted himself for Liyue."

Xiao had heard something similar yesterday, except the core noun was changed from him to Liyue.

Anyway, Luo De was certain.

From the adepts' various antics to Venti's deliberate help everywhere, and then to the arrangement of shaking the mountain and shocking the tiger for foreign envoys.

These things seemed unrelated to Zhongli.

They were definitely all arranged by him in advance.

Perhaps, in the shadows unrelated to Luo De, Liyue's higher-ups were also surging with undercurrents, everything preparing for the imminent divine succession.

These things haven't yet affected Liyue's civilians.

At least, as far as Luo De and Xiao can see.

The lives of ordinary Liyue folk remain as stable as ever, showing no sign of being affected by any undercurrents.

Along this route arranged by Zhongli.

Xiao's emotions also steadied day by day.

"Those guys used to say, when they were still alive, that once the world is at peace, they'd also go live a mortal life."

Drinking the rice-ball liquor Luo De treated them to, Xiao spoke with an inexplicable expression.

Those guys he was referring to.

Without a doubt, he meant the other four of the adepti yakshas.

It's a pity.

This simple wish.

Now only Xiao remains to bear their burden.

"You also shouldn't burden yourself too much."

Xiao has always borne a lot; perhaps he's lost in the fray, but as an outsider, Luo De can still see clearly.

Whether it's the contract, as a yaksha, to guard Liyue.

Or the promise made after seeing Fushe's remnant soul.

In fact, Xiao bears countless burdens heavy enough to crush a person.

Even his promise to Fushe's remnant soul—to bring the will of his brothers and sisters to experience the warmth and cold of the mortal world—is itself a burden enough to crush a person.

"To fulfill a promise by fulfilling a promise."

"This isn't really living for them at all."

Luo De once again took up the role of a spiritual counselor, guiding this two-thousand-year-old adept: "Do you remember how Fushe said it? Live well in their stead, go see more of the sights in this world we haven't yet had a chance to see."

"Do you think Fushe wanted you to live on bearing their wishes?"

"Wrong."

Luo De shook his finger: "Fushe hopes you won't be bound by the yaksha's duty in body and spirit; he hopes you can fulfill their wish and live an ordinary life."

"Do you know why the Sovereign let you, like the Anemo Archon, keep only the Geo Archon's name without fulfilling its duties?"

"It's because he also wants you to live the life the yakshas once most longed for."

Finally.

Luo De then said another line that moved Xiao: "What you regard as your life's duty has now become your burden."

"Duty, has it become a burden?"

Xiao murmured Luo De's words, then lowered his head slightly and said, "Perhaps you're right."

"What do you mean 'perhaps'?"

Luo De looked dissatisfied: "It simply is."

He ignored Xiao's somewhat grim expression and continued: "You should be aware of that; otherwise, you wouldn't have been single-mindedly seeking death in the underground mines."

"You're already tired."

"You should relax a bit."

"That sentence 'You're already tired.'"

Made Xiao's face change color again.

He muttered something, but Luo De didn't catch what he said.

Looking at Xiao's expression, he seemed indeed to be much more relaxed than before.

Merely wanting to let him truly escape his past burdens through a joint verbal sparring.

That is obviously impossible.

Luo De also didn't intend to simply let Xiao shake off his past shadows with a few words.

"Alright."

"The Sovereign's arranged route I've already taken you through; it's time to change places."

Luo De stood up, moved his shoulders a bit, and hehehed: "Let's go, I'll take you to a good place."

Xiao didn't know where the good place Luo De mentioned was.

Out of habit and trust.

He still followed Luo De and set out together.

How far they walked.

The good place Luo De mentioned had arrived.

Looking at the familiar three characters on the sign.

Xiao asked doubtfully: "Wanmin Hall?"

Xiao looked again seriously.

He was certain the place Luo De was bringing him to was indeed Wanmin Hall.

This was very strange.

Xiao had indeed been to Wanmin Hall before.

On the first day when they toured Liyue with Luo De, they ate at Wanmin Hall.

According to Xiao's understanding.

The three words "good place".

Shouldn't it be an interesting place he hasn't been to?

Wanmin Hall.

It seems unrelated to those three words, right?

"Quite unexpected?"

"Hehe."

"Today I'll bring you to see a Wanmin Hall you haven't seen before."

Luo De gave a strange laugh and brought Xiao inside.

"Mr. Luo De, you've arrived~~~"

Xiangling, who had been waiting eagerly, saw Luo De finally arrive and immediately perked up: "The two guests you reserved earlier have already arrived."

"Mm-hmm."

"Thank you, Miss Xiangling."

Luo De greeted Xiangling familiarly.

During his time in Liyue, the place Luo De most often visited was Wanmin Hall.

Sometimes he came himself, sometimes Zhongli invited him.

Over time.

He became familiar with Xiangling, who worked as a cook.

Today Luo De had specially booked a table of special dishes in advance.

This was to fulfill the promise he had made to Cyno and Tighnari in the Chasm earlier, to have Xiao experience a different Wanmin Hall, which turned out to be a simple matter.

He escorted Luo De and Xiao to the reserved private room.

Xiangling happily brought the scorched rice and rushed to the kitchen like a whirlwind, clattering as she began preparing the dishes that could be called explosive throughout Liyue.

Inside the private room.

Tighnari and Cyno, dressed in Sumeru attire, saw Xiao following Luo De inside and curiously asked: "Is this the guest you mentioned?"

As Cyno spoke, a flash of unusual color crossed his eyes.

He saw in Xiao a killing intent somewhat similar to his own.

Although Cyno usually acts clueless or extremely relaxed around his own people, he is after all Sumeru's Grand Marshal, tracking criminals from desert to rainforest, and even fleeing abroad cannot escape his pursuit.

Over the years.

His body had long accumulated enough killing intent to make people tremble.

And such killing intent of his.

But in front of Xiao, it seemed utterly insignificant.

"Where did Luo De meet such a fierce person?"

Cyno's question disappeared after Luo De introduced Xiao's identity.

"This is the Liyue adeptus, the demon-subduing great sage among the yakshas, Xiao."

After a brief introduction, Luo De sat beside Cyno and Tighnari with a grin, rubbing his hands and said: "Don't complain this time that I broke my promise—I found the best person in all of Liyue to make the slime feast you asked for."

"Slime feast?"

Hearing that name, Xiao's face showed a hint of hesitation.

This thing.

Can it really be eaten?

Compared to Xiao's doubtful look at the slime feast, Cyno and Tighnari were full of enthusiasm.

To taste this slime feast.

They also specially brought a borrowed recording device, and Tighnari's experiment notebook was ready, waiting to later record in detail the steps of making the slime dishes.

"These two are my senior brothers: Tighnari, the Sumeru Biogenesis Scholar, and Cyno, the Grand Marshal."

In Xiao's astonished gaze at the slime feast, Luo De continued introducing Tighnari and Cyno to him, then added: "Don't underestimate this slime dish—if it's confirmed that slime can indeed serve as food, then for Sumeru, where nearly a third of the population can't even fill their stomachs, this would be an extremely valuable expansion of food resources."

"Exactly."

Tighnari nodded in agreement with Luo De's words: "In the past, we Biogenesis Scholars studying new edible species always excluded slime as a monster; I never expected that in Liyue someone could actually turn slime into a dish. If we later confirm slime's viability as food, whether it's supplementing food varieties or providing edible options for expedition teams encountering danger outdoors, it can be said to be of great significance."

"And there's more."

After Tinari finished talking about the route of scientific exploration, Luo De gave Xiao another meaningful glance and said: "Mr. Zhongli also loves to come to the Hall of All People to try Xiangling's innovative dishes; if you want to experience Mr. Zhongli's daily life, you definitely cannot miss Xiangling's specialty slime dish feast."

Is this a different Hall of All People?

Xiao recalled the words Luo De had said to him before entering the door, chuckled lightly, and said: "All right, then I'll come experience... uh, Mr. Zhongli's daily life."

(End of chapter)