Genshin Impact: The Beginning of the Wind

"Shall we head back now? If it's alright, I'd like to treat you to some dessert?"

After confirming that there was nothing else going on for the time being, Su Feng cautiously suggested something – he had learned about Ying's little hobby from the fox, and now that he knew, he should naturally reward Ying properly.

This is the only solution Su Feng has come up with after much thought.

"Dessert?"

Ying's eyes lit up slightly after hearing Su Feng's suggestion, but she quickly hesitated again.

"But...my identity..."

Unlike the two in Mondstadt and Liyue, whose humanoid forms are almost universally recognized, Inazuma's Narukami is remarkably rare. In fact, very few people in Inazuma do not recognize the appearance of the Raiden Sisters.

However, upon thinking of the Inazuma people's fanaticism towards him, Kage hesitated slightly before going out into the streets.

Even he and she could foresee what would happen after they went out on the street like that.

"That's not a problem. I have a way to help you conceal your appearance. You can walk around with me as an ordinary person."

Su Feng certainly had a way of dealing with such a small problem. After hearing this, Ying's hesitation became even more obvious. Sensing this hesitation, Su Feng simply took Ying's slender hand.

"Let's go, let's take a look at your country and people together, this is part of your hospitality as the host."

Chapter Fifty: Simple Yet Difficult Prayers

In fact, Inazuma Castle is not currently showing much signs of chaos or disorder.

After all, although this invasion by the evil god was quite large-scale, and even the losses suffered by Inazuma were by no means small, it did not last long overall. Many of the filthy demons did not have time to cause much of a commotion before it was all over.

Under these circumstances, Inazuma Castle, being the most important castle in the entire Inazuma, was not greatly disturbed. Although it suffered some losses, they were still within Inazuma's tolerance range.

Since it's within our means, life must go on. Perhaps the only difference from usual is that Inazuma Castle, which was already quite desolate due to the lockdown order, has become even more desolate.

At least, that's the feeling that Ying had while walking with Su Feng on the main street of Daoqi City.

"Is this depression due to this disaster, or to the lockdown order?"

Upon seeing the desolate Inazuma Castle, so different from what he remembered, a hint of melancholy appeared in Kage's eyes.

But no matter what, it's all Kage's responsibility. The once prosperous Inazuma declined under her leadership, which is an undeniable fact.

However, her eternity was never about letting Inazuma decline, nor about letting her people struggle in despair.

"There's no need to care so much. After all, it's already happened, and no one can change what has already happened."

"All you can do now is to revitalize Inazuma, and besides, your sister will help you too."

After sensing Ying's disappointment, Su Feng offered some words of comfort to this guy who always tends to overthink things.

"No, this is different. This is still my responsibility. I am the god who promised my subjects a permanent paradise, and now I have clearly broken my promise."

Shadow shook her head in pain. She looked at her people, whose faces were filled with pain and numbness, and her heart ached. Although she thought she had taken everything about Inazuma into account, it was clear that she had still overlooked these people at the bottom of society who could hardly make a sound.

She had thought that Inazuma's noble officials wouldn't cause much trouble, but she never expected things to turn out so much worse than she anticipated.

In fact, no one, Shadow, truly believed in nobility. She had once been obsessed with eternity and allowed nobles like the Three Envoys to act with impunity. However, recent events and her sister's reprimands had shown that her thinking was wrong.

Complete eternity does not exist for Inazuma, at least not for her in the present moment.

The isolationist edict brought only suffering and poverty to Inazuma, as for the Eye Hunting Edict...

But regardless, it is a fact that the people at the bottom of Inazuma's social class are plunged into pain and despair because of these things.

It was precisely because of this that Ying began to painfully change her mind. Only when she turned her attention to the people at the very bottom of society did she finally realize just how wrong she had been.

This pain tormented her every moment.

“You are much more stubborn than I imagined, whether it’s imposing your own eternity on the entire Inazuma, or taking all the responsibility upon yourself at this moment.”

"But why not go and see your own people? Even the mighty thunder cannot completely drown out all the sounds of the world with its roar, can it? So why not go and see what your people are really thinking?"

Seeing Ying's pained expression, Su Feng shook his head. Without waiting for Ying to express her thoughts again, he grabbed Ying's hand and walked forward. Soon, the two saw a child placing several konpeito and several strings of tricolor dumplings in front of the shrine.

The little boy, dressed simply, earnestly placed his 'treasure' in front of the shrine, then devoutly clasped his hands together and began his prayers for the day.

“…”

Upon seeing the child, Ying couldn't help but stop in her tracks. The child's image was reflected in her purple eyes, and she seemed curious about what kind of wish such a young child would make to the gods.

Do you want more pocket money? More snacks and toys? Or do you wish you didn't have to study or take exams anymore?

Shadow seemed to see many things in this little child, yet also seemed to see nothing at all. Perhaps it was because the child wasn't praying directly to Shadow that Shadow didn't hear the child's prayer.

"Since you're curious, why not ask the child what he's praying for?"

Perhaps sensing Ying's hesitation, Su Feng simply whispered something in Ying's ear.

Ying's ears twitched slightly at Su Feng's actions, which made her feel completely at ease. However, Ying quickly regained her composure, maintaining her usual seriousness and a hint of hesitation.

"Should I really go? Maybe his prayer isn't... something that's acceptable to people?"

After calming herself down, Ying expressed her concerns. She was genuinely afraid of receiving even worse news from the little boy, which could be the most devastating blow to her already crumbling faith.

"You're afraid? This isn't the Shadow I know, the one who could face anything without fear. How could you feel fear?"

Su Feng looked at Ying with a hint of surprise, his eyes seeming to ask her if she was Ying.

"..."

"Yes, that's certainly how it should be. No matter what, it's the prayer of my people. How can I, as a god, ignore or fear it?"

As expected of a shadow, she may hesitate at first, but she will quickly regain her courage to face any challenge.

So after a short while, she walked over to the child who was still praying earnestly.

What do you hope the gods can help you with?

So when the little boy lowered his clasped hands, he heard this question. The little boy subconsciously raised his head and saw a beautiful older sister standing behind him.

"Hmm... Big sister, do you also have a wish you want to ask the gods for? If so, remember to offer your most precious treasure!"

"However... praying to the gods can only be a comfort to the heart; the most important thing is to work hard yourself!"

For some reason, the little boy spoke with considerable pride, trying to teach Ying this principle. Hearing the child's innocent words, Ying couldn't help but smile.

"Since you know that praying to the gods is just to seek some psychological comfort, then why do you still come here to pray?"

"Besides, both the three-colored dumplings and konpeito are very precious foods to you, right? You just put them in front of the shrine and offered them away like that?"

"Don't you feel regretful?"

Ying became even more curious about the child.

Upon hearing Ying's question, the little boy couldn't help but show an embarrassed expression.

"Actually, I know about these things, but... now everyone in Inazuma Castle has lost their smiles—everyone's face has been somber ever since it suddenly got dark. I'm just a child, I don't know what happened, and the adults don't tell me much either."

"But I know everyone is unhappy right now, and I don't know how to bring smiles back to everyone's faces. In the end, all I can do is pray to God in despair, right?"

"I think... surely the gods can make everyone laugh, right? Only the gods can do something like that, right?"

"Although it's just a small, insignificant dessert, it's all I can offer. And eating dessert makes me smile, so I hope everyone can enjoy a small dessert and smile together."

The little boy hesitated before expressing his expectations—he wasn't a very sensible child, but he could sense that everyone in Inazuma Castle had become increasingly unhappy lately, and who could bring smiles back to everyone's faces at a time like this?

Aside from the gods, probably no one could have done that, right?

Since that's the case, he'll offer the little dessert that makes him happiest to the gods.

I really hope everyone can start laughing again soon.

This is the child's simplest and most direct thought.

"Just so that everyone can laugh again?"

Ying seemed to be incredulous as she confirmed the child's thoughts again, and the child nodded vigorously.

“That’s right, everyone shouldn’t be so lifeless right now. It’s like your terrible expressions are frozen on your faces forever. It’s awful. I hope that God can make everyone happy again, even if it’s just for a little while.”

"Is it too much for me to pray like this? After all, even for a god, it's difficult to make everyone laugh, isn't it?"

"..."

"That's it!"

"I never expected you to have such thoughts. Your wish will come true."

"No matter how many difficulties there are, your wish will still come true. Don't forget, Narukami promised Inazuma a permanent paradise. If all that's left on your face is pain and numbness, what kind of permanent paradise is that?"

As if he had received a definite answer, a slight smile appeared on Ying's lips.

Just as the child was about to say something, a gentle breeze made him squint. When he opened his eyes again, the beautiful older sister in front of him had disappeared.

"Eh?"

As the child looked around to find the older sister, he suddenly realized that all the sweets he had offered in front of the shrine had disappeared, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Could it be... that older sister just now was a deity?"

In the end, all that remained of the child who stood there blankly was this...

Chapter 51 A Desire That Inevitably Leads to Suffering

"How do you feel now?"

As Su Feng walked with Ying on the sparsely populated street once again, he asked Ying, who seemed to have made up her mind about something, with great interest.

"It feels very subtle. As expected, the thoughts and ideas of mortals are still too difficult for me to understand."

After hearing Su Feng's question, Ying couldn't help but shake her head. After experiencing this disaster and seeing Inazuma City in its current state, she did begin to reflect on whether her actions were correct.

"I know that blindly pursuing their desires will only lead to an even more unacceptable outcome for them, but I can never stop them from making those choices."

“Now I admit that the lockdown order was indeed wrong, but the Eye Hunting Order…”

"Am I really wrong?"

"Or is this what humans are like?"

Ying seemed quite conflicted. Knowing much that was taboo for mortals, she couldn't understand the relentless pursuit of mortals.

Desire can bring great power, but after a brief period of pleasure, only endless pain will follow.

Perhaps other mortals still have hope, but if they obtain the eye of God, they will inevitably face the fate of turning into stars and contributing more power with endless suffering.