Genshin Impact: Starting Guide - End of the World Qi Bao

……

Meanwhile, the Traveler is digging for the Heart of Tranquility with Paimon...

"Traveler, traveler, do you think these villages, which have been dilapidated for so long, might contain treasures?"

Yingmei sternly reprimanded Paimon.

"Little Paimon, how could you think like that? How is doing this any different from those treasure-hunting groups?"

Xiao Paimeng also deflated after Ying said that.

"Alright, alright~ Traveler, I was wrong. I was thinking that Shen He is from this village, and she seemed to know that old man quite well. Shen He looked preoccupied, so maybe it was related to this village?"

After listening to Paimon's words, Yingmei suddenly understood and started talking nonsense with a straight face.

"But you can't just rummage through other people's things. However, on the other hand, the reason why True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng wants Shenhe to go down the mountain for training is naturally because he wants Shenhe to let go of his past. As Shenhe's friends, we should naturally help him."

Paimon's little brain couldn't quite grasp it for a moment, and he asked in a daze.

"Um, so what should we do now, traveler?"

Yingmei said in a smug tone.

"Let's see if there are any records or stories about Shen He's past in this village."

Paimon suddenly realized what was happening and said angrily.

"Well, you, Traveler, after lecturing me, you're going to join the treasure-hunting gang yourself."

Yingmei tilted her head and snorted coldly, speaking righteously.

"What are you saying? What are you saying! Little Paimon, don't you know me? I'm doing this for my friends. We're just looking for clues. If we're done searching, we can just put everything back. We're not going to sell other people's stuff for money."

Although Paimon was somewhat angry, he still spoke up.

"Hmph, Traveler, you're getting better and better at sophistry, just like Juexi."

Yingmei was also a little confused. Yes, she did seem to be influenced by Juexi, but it didn't seem like anything serious. Yingmei pulled Paimon along as they walked, talking.

"Let's go, let's go, Paimon. It's all worth it for our good friend Shen He. After all, we're not breaking into a house. There's no one inside. The treasure-hunting gang has probably already searched it countless times. We won't make a difference."

Paimon knew he couldn't defeat the Traveler and ultimately compromised.

"Then, we'll order an extra serving of Mora meat tonight."

"Okay, okay~ I'll buy it for you~"

Yingmei quickly turned the entire dilapidated village upside down... Unfortunately, she found nothing but a few fragmented notes, but piecing them together seemed to reveal a terrifying story...

"The doctor said you're very ill, but don't worry. Even if it means giving away all my wealth, I will definitely save you."

Seeing you grow increasingly haggard, beyond the reach of medicine, my heart feels like it's bleeding. If I could, I would suffer in your place...

"You said you have no regrets in this life, your only wish is for me to take good care of Ahe, but if you have no regrets, why are you crying? Well, how could anyone not be afraid of death... Or are your tears because of some other worry?"

"During this time, I don't know what I've been doing. I've been living in a daze every day, searching through ancient books, trying to find a way to save you, but I've found nothing. Why? Why is this happening?"

"I found it! I found it! Haha, haha... It's all Mingjun's fault! He secretly kept the book that could save you! I snatched it! I followed the book's instructions and awakened the gods! All you have to do is offer sacrifices..."

"A deity appeared, and I said to Him, 'I would give my life to bring you back,' but the deity remained silent, only pointing to our daughter... Ah-He..."

"The gods say she's a cursed star, a jinx, a born jinx. Anyone near her will suffer misfortune. The gods must act on behalf of heaven! I think... even if she were alive, she'd only bring harm to those around her. It's better to have her... exchange for you. Maybe, no... definitely! You were definitely killed by her, that must be it! That's right..."

I left her in the cave the god had described. Three days have passed... and still no news. I waited anxiously, a bad feeling creeping into my heart... Could it be that the god...?

"Ah-He, I'm so sorry, Ah-He, I'm not worthy of being your father... I'm so sorry... Why did you cry back then? Was it not because you were afraid of dying, but because you were afraid things would turn out this way? I was blinded by anger! Let me... go down and apologize to you in person..."

"In the east of the village lived a branch of a family specializing in exorcism. However, within a mere ten days, the wife died of illness, the young daughter disappeared, and shortly afterward, the husband hanged himself from a tree in the courtyard."

Further investigation revealed the presence of remnants of a demon god within the village.

"Due to uncertainty about whether the remnants of the demon god still existed, the villagers were filled with fear and had no choice but to relocate."

"Please be careful if you come here later!"

As Ying looked at this last clue, she suddenly felt dizzy...

"Traveler, travel..."

……

When Ying opened her eyes, she felt as if she had turned into a little girl, and she looked at the tall man in front of her and spoke.

"Dad, where are we going?"

"Good boy, Daddy is taking you to see a very important person. Mommy will be back soon."

Hearing this, Ying realized that she had inexplicably entered this state, just like she had sensed her brother's last time...

Ah He was still young and didn't understand, so he happily spoke without knowing what would happen next.

"Really? Daddy, will Mommy come back?"

"Of course, Mom just went to a very far place. She'll be back after today..."

Ah-He didn't understand; he just listened to his father and kept walking...

"Dad, I'm so tired. Can we rest for a while? Where are we going?"

"Ah He, hang in there a little longer, we're almost there."

Ah He looked up at his father, his eyes no longer filled with the usual affection, but instead with a kind of fanaticism that he couldn't understand.

Ah-He was terrified but said nothing more, just gritted his teeth and kept walking... He assumed it was because his father missed his mother too much...

The two reached the entrance of the cave, and Shen He got goosebumps looking at the dark cave.

"Dad, can I not go in? I'm scared..."

"Ah He, we're just one step away! Don't you want your mother to come back?!"

Ah He watched his angry father walk in step by step. He felt a sense of security knowing that his father was behind him. He walked for a long time and seemed to see a dark fog.

"I've brought her here. Please don't forget what you promised me."

Hearing his father's humble tone, Ahe was momentarily confused, but stared intently at the fog. Yingmei could clearly sense that fear was now permeating her entire being...

"Dad, what is this...?"

Ah He's father spoke expressionlessly.

"Ah He, you can stay here..."

Ah He immediately burst into tears, grabbed his father, and shouted.

"Why? Dad!"

He simply pushed his daughter away and said...

"You were born with this fate. As long as you live, you will bring danger to those around you. It would be better for you to die and bring her back..."

Hearing this, Ah He froze on the spot, staring blankly as his father walked away with his hand outstretched.

"Stop looking, he's gone. You're just a cursed star, give up."

Hearing the words of this damned black mist, the six-year-old Ahe looked around at the ground, searching for a weapon, and finally her gaze settled on a dagger... while the mist said disdainfully.

"Oh? You think you can fight the demon god with just this dagger? What wishful thinking."

"My father must have been bewitched by this thing. I... I must prove myself," A-He said firmly, staring at the mist that called itself a "demon god."

"I... am not Gu Chen Jie Sha!"

……

Ying slowly opened her eyes, and the memory of "A-He" came to an abrupt end. Paimon asked anxiously from the side.

"Traveler, what's wrong? I called you just now and you didn't respond. I was so worried about you!"

Yingmei shook her head, trying to clear her head. After a while, she told Paimon about the memories she had just seen.

Paimon sighed after hearing this.

"So... Ah He is Shen He, right? She's so pitiful, how should we help her?"

Yingmei sighed and then slowly said.

"Sigh... That's right, it seems this is what's on her mind. As for our help? I think just being by Shen He's side is enough; that should be the best help for her. Alright, Paimon, let's hurry up and take Qingxin back to find Shen He."

Chapter 96 Warm Wine Cuts Off the Arrogant One

Meanwhile, on the other side, Juexi and his group were drinking and eating heartily on Beidou's ship.

Since Wendy is now in the body of an adult woman and not a boy, there is no rule against her drinking alcohol.

Kiana was leading Qiqi around, eating but not drinking, and trying to persuade Juexi.

"Captain, drink less!"

Jue Xi said with a smile.

"Hehe, okay, okay, I got it, Qibao."

Beidou patted Wendy on the shoulder and said something.

"Look, this Juexi is actually afraid of his own wife, what a loser."

Wendy, who was enjoying her drink, chimed in.

"Yeah, yeah, he's always afraid of Kiana."

Absolutely righteous and eloquent sophistry.

"Nonsense, I'm just being affectionate towards my wife, how could I be afraid of her?"

Kiana, feeling a little embarrassed by their nonsense, pulled Qiqi onto the deck, intending to get some fresh air. However, Kiana sensed something amiss on the calm sea. There's an old saying in China... what was it again?

"Something's not right here, something's definitely up. Why is it so quiet? It's so strange. I've been on boats with the students from St. Freya Academy before, and it always seems like something bad is going to happen to our boat when it's this quiet..."

Kiana patted Qiqi's head and gave her instructions.

"Qiqi, go back to your room first. I'm going to talk to your brother Juexi about something. Don't come out if it's noisy outside."

Qiqi hugged the coconut milk and nodded blankly.

Kiana went back to the room where the three of them were drinking and grabbed Juexi's ear, saying something.

"You can't drink anymore, Captain. Don't you notice something's wrong?"