Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Everyone is setting up stalls.

The same applies to Terra now.

Ursus is giving up.

Unable to resolve the escalating domestic conflicts, they could only alleviate them through repeated foreign wars.

Kazimir is giving up, even though he knows it's wrong and can't continue like this, but the business federation is still slowly eroding every corner of the country.

Victoria is in a state of disarray; for the sake of that throne, the dukes are even willing to tolerate a Sarkaz becoming regent.

Although there are precedents, it still sounds bad when people say it.

Letania is also in a state of decline. The lingering influence of the Witch King has not been eradicated. The Electors both fear and yearn for the power left behind by that man. The treatment of the Infected and the conflict between the Twin Queens remain unclear.

Iberia is the worst performer. The Great Tranquility has had a significant impact on this maritime power, comparable only to the legendary Agor.

But no one knows exactly how much the underwater people lost.

All that could be seen was a devastated Iberia, an increasingly impoverished populace, a financially strained court, and a decline that continued day after day.

This is not a wonderful era.

Compared to the countries mentioned above, Yan Kingdom can certainly be considered a secluded paradise, untouched by worldly strife.

But not enough.

But for Xia Yu, that's not enough.

However, none of these are reasons for the year.

“I have a younger sister,” she said, looking at Xia Yu, “though she doesn’t have white hair…”

"Alright, alright, stop trying to sell your sister," Xia Yu rolled her eyes at her. "Since you like matchmaking so much, and I think you're quite pleasing to the eye, especially with your white hair, why don't you just make do with her yourself?"

“That won’t do,” Nian said seriously. “Nobody in the world would dig a hole and bury themselves in it.”

"So you've already decided I'm a trap?" Xia Yu retorted expressionlessly.

"Ahem, don't worry about the details," Nian waved her hand. "Since you're not interested in my sister, what about my older sister?"

"Let me tell you, my sister is a literary genius who is one in a thousand years. She loves poetry and wine all her life. Since you can write poems like 'Ode to a Knight-Errant,' you must be able to have something in common with her."

Nian, beaming with excitement, urged, "How about I show you the way, and you go take a look and see if you like it?"

“I already told you, the author of ‘Ode to Gallantry’ is Li Bai,” Xia Yu said, glancing sideways. “It really wasn’t written by me.”

"Oh right, so you're interested in my older sister?"

"No, why are you so insistent on introducing me to your sisters?" Xia Yu asked knowingly. "I have a feeling there's something fishy going on here!"

"Hey, that's not right," Nian rolled her eyes at him, "With our relationship, would I ever cheat you?"

"No way!"

"Not yet, um, you know what people like us are like, long-lived and with a long life, it's hard to find a partner."

Nian shook his head and said, "There aren't many Yan Kingdoms that can keep having banquets with us."

"The fact that most of them are actually their own siblings makes it quite awkward."

"Having lived for so long, I have seen and witnessed many partings and deaths, but I have never personally experienced the taste of love in this world."

“Take my sister for example, she’s become a complete homebody, never leaving the house, just drawing all day.”

"She hasn't communicated with anyone for so many years. If this continues, I'm afraid she'll develop mental problems!"

Nian said with great sorrow, "And my sister, sigh, it's all tears when I talk about it."

"Once you boasted of living a carefree life, but what about now?"

“My younger sister is withdrawn and isolated on a small hill, and my older sister is also withdrawn and isolated on a small hilltop. She is a little better than her younger sister, and occasionally she comes down the hill to have a drink.”

"That sister really hasn't left the house even once! For over ten years!"

Nian sighed, "How can I not worry about them?"

"I ran into you while we were out. You seem like a good match in terms of both status and way of thinking, so I thought I might try to bring them together and give them renewed hope."

"At least stop being so withdrawn!"

"Then why not look for someone else?"

Xia Yu asked curiously.

“Didn’t I say before?” Nian sighed dramatically, “The ephemeral mushroom doesn’t know the difference between dawn and dusk, and the cicada doesn’t know the difference between spring and autumn. If we were to find an ordinary person, after a hundred years, they would probably be even more withdrawn because of the heartbreak they suffered.”

"Born in the morning and dying at dusk, how can one know the cycle of day and night?" Xia Yu raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Yes, yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Nian nodded repeatedly.

Seeing her confident and assertive manner, Xia Yu smiled gently.

Then he leaned forward, put his hand on Nian's shoulder, and looked into her eyes.

"That makes sense!" he exclaimed, feigning sudden realization. "You're absolutely right. Now that you mention it, I really should start thinking about it."

"After all, I have this problem too."

“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” Nian’s eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly.

"Ruzi can be taught."

"Well, you actually got one thing right before."

Xia Yu said sincerely, "I really do have a thing for white hair."

Upon hearing this, Nian swallowed hard, his smile freezing on his face.

"If I may ask, does your sister have white hair?"

Nian sensed something, slowly shook her head, and alarm bells rang in her mind.

"And what about your sister? Does she have white hair?"

Nian swallowed hard, shook his head again, and had a premonition in his heart, his mind racing.

“Oh, that’s a real shame,” Xia Yu winked at her. “It’s a pity they’re not in my strike zone.”

"Haha," Nian said dryly, "what a pity."

“However, what’s that line of poetry again?” Xia Yu reached out and lifted Nian’s chin, “Suddenly turning around, I found that person in the dim light.”

"No, that's not quite accurate. It should be: 'After passing through mountains and rivers, one seems to have no way out, but then a village appears amidst willows and flowers.'"

"White hair, shared language, long life and good eyesight," Xia Yu said with a smile, "Isn't such a person right in front of me?"

When Nian heard this, his face froze. How did the fire end up on his head?

Gray hair... I shouldn't have been so sharp-tongued!

"Hey, I...I'm not autistic!"

"Look at me, how lively I am! I even play matchmaker for my sisters, I'm a piece of cake!"

"Isn't that even better?" Xia Yu continued with a smile, "No problem, isn't this good news?"

"Do I have to specifically look for the problematic ones?"

"But...but...um, a gentleman doesn't take what others like," Nian said in a panic, "I was going to introduce you to my sisters, just so I could...um, line my own pockets, huh?"

"That's not like me!"

"It's okay, we haven't even started the introduction yet," Xia Yu said nonchalantly. "If you don't tell anyone, only heaven, earth, you, and I will know. How would anyone else know?"

"But...but what about my sister's mental health issues?"

“Well…we’ll have to find another way,” Xia Yu said, shrugging. “I couldn’t possibly solve the psychological problems of two people by myself.”

Ha, what kind of psychological problem is that? You made it all up.

Oh, maybe Xi has a little bit of that, but it has absolutely nothing to do with love and romance. She's just simply afraid of Sui!

Xia Yu sneered inwardly: Did you think I didn't know about your family's mess? Trying to trick me into working for you for free?

Dream on!

It's easy to say that you can solve your own age-related problems.

You should just sign a contract that lets her work for free for a hundred or eighty years. Xia Yu has been envious of her skills for a long time.

It's not that Xia Yu can't do it, but... why do you have to do it yourself when there are qualified assistants available?

Are you not tired?

"But, but..." Nian looked around, trying to find an excuse.

They discovered that Amiya was watching the two perform with great interest, her eyes glued to the screen.

Nian's eyes lit up, and an idea came to her.

"Yes, Amiya is still here," Nian said shyly. "Isn't it inappropriate for us to talk about this? She's still a child!"

Amiya never imagined that she would be caught up in the gossip herself.

She was very intelligent and could see the confrontation between the two people clearly.

Did Nian really think Xia Yu was pursuing her?