Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

After a dazzling burst of light, the teleportation anchor point near Huacheng Guo returned to calm.

Two figures, Elhesen and the traveler, vanished from the hustle and bustle of Sumeru City in an instant, only to reappear in this tranquil place deep in the rainforest.

As the bright light faded, the traveler ended the terrifying physical contact that had lasted for over ten seconds and immediately released his grip on Elhesen's hand.

Fortunately, he did not show any resistance or objection throughout the entire process.

Almost the instant their feet touched the ground, the humid air, like a thick blanket, carrying an intense, overwhelming scent of grass, soil, and decaying leaves, enveloped them.

As far as the eye can see, there is an endless expanse of vibrant green.

The towering trees, their branches gnarled and twisted, had massive buttress roots that dug deep into the fertile soil like the claws of a dragon. The ground was covered with a thick layer of lush green moss and unidentified ferns, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

The houses here are cleverly integrated with nature. Some are built on sturdy cliff platforms, some use the huge root systems of giant trees as foundations, and some are even suspended high in the tree canopy like bird nests.

Simple yet sturdy wooden ladders, winding boardwalks, and suspended vine bridges connect houses scattered at different heights, forming a three-dimensional "city of trees."

"Why don't we go to Daocheng Forest?" the traveler blurted out instinctively, then immediately regretted it.

I know this is a stupid question.

Daocheng Forest is a vast area, while Huacheng Guo is the core settlement and outpost of the forest rangers in this area.

But... it was Kavi who told me to go to "Tao Cheng Lin" to find Tina Li. Shouldn't I have gone to Tao Cheng Lin as he said?

...If I were to actually plunge into the vast rainforest to find someone, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"...Would you rather take a walk deep in the rainforest and experience being surrounded by fungi and mosquitoes?" Elhesen frowned slightly and asked in return, "Considering your current physical condition, visiting his residence directly is the most efficient option."

He paused, his gaze falling on the damp, moss-covered wooden boardwalk beneath his feet, and added, "The moss is slippery after the rain, watch your step." With that, he strode forward, his long legs accentuated by the well-tailored Sumerian scholar's robes, toward the small house perched atop a strikingly prominent, leafy tree.

"Oh... thank you."

This is so weird! This is so weird!

What is it that made me only now begin to strongly feel this pervasive eeriness?

Is this damn headache causing my sluggishness?

His words just now...were even...a little considerate?

This is even more chilling than seeing him carrying painkillers with him!

He should consider these words to be common sense that any intelligent adult should understand.

So much so that there's no point in wasting time on it.

Maybe it was all just a dream from beginning to end?

I was actually still on the deck of the Death Star, enjoying the sea breeze, and hadn't even set foot on the land of Sumeru.

*

Following Elhesen, the traveler climbed the wooden stairs leading to the treehouse.

The ladder creaked softly with each step. Finally, they stopped outside the most conspicuous little house on the trunk of the giant tree at the highest point of Huacheng City.

The dense foliage, like a giant umbrella, enveloped the cottage in cool shade.

Several delicate little wooden cages were hanging on the surrounding branches, clearly intended as habitats for rainforest animals, exuding an atmosphere of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Elhesen raised his hand and tapped the wooden door twice with his knuckles, neither too hard nor too soft.

dong dong——

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet canopy.

However, there was silence inside the door, and no one answered.

……

Oh no.

Is Tinari not home?

Doesn't that mean... I'll be spending a long time alone with this scholar next to me again?

"Wait a moment." Elhesen's tone revealed no surprise or disappointment.

He turned around and sat down calmly on an unusually thick tree branch that extended from the doorway, almost big enough to be used as a bench.

He gracefully crossed his legs and reopened the old book he hadn't finished reading in the hotel lobby, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

“Okay…” the traveler replied.

She stood at the doorway, her eyes darting around, searching for a place to rest.

After looking around, it seemed there was no better choice than the large tree branch where Elhesen was sitting.

The traveler had no choice but to resign himself to taking out a clean handkerchief from his bag, spreading it on a tree branch not far from Elhesen, and carefully sitting down, trying to maintain a relatively safe "academic distance" from him.

I'm starting to feel like taking a walk in the rainforest.

Looking down at the lush, vibrant rainforest, yet also shrouded in mystery, I felt a deep sense of sorrow.

Even if I might encounter a large carnivore like a jungle leopard, or be swarmed by annoying mosquitoes... it's still better than this cold, unapproachable guy next to me!

I even miss the "easy" days in the game, when I could hunt mushrooms and fight gilded guilds in the Sumeru wilderness.

I miss my cell phone even more...

Silence spread beneath the cover of branches and leaves, broken only by the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the distance.

Every second felt incredibly long.

Finally, unable to bear the awkward silence any longer, the traveler decided to speak up and break the deadlock.

"Excuse me... what are you looking at?"

"The Evolution of the Ancient Script of Sumeru." Without even looking up, Elhesen gave an expected, extremely concise answer.

I was being nosy!

There's simply no way to answer it...

The atmosphere seemed to get even more awkward...

"Speaking of writing... I created a simplified version of the writing system based on Liyue's. It was specifically used to write... well, a diary that only I could quickly understand."

I'm referring to simplified Chinese characters.

Sorry to the big shots in real life, I'm just borrowing their names for now.

“A self-created script?” Elhesen finally closed the book again, his emerald-gold eyes turning to the traveler: “The ‘self-created’ you’re talking about, judging from the description, is closer to ‘simplification’ of the existing mature writing system.”

“I can show you.” The traveler immediately pulled a small notebook out of his pocket.

This is a recipe I wrote in simplified Chinese when I was learning cooking from Xiangling at Wanmintang.

“Look, isn’t it quite different from the current Liyue script?” She turned to a page and pointed to the characters.

Elhesen's gaze fell on the notebook the traveler handed him.

He examined it very carefully, his sharp gaze sweeping over the simplified characters as if he were rapidly comparing and analyzing them. He nodded slightly, then looked up and asked directly, "What does it say?"

"...That's not important!" The traveler quickly snatched the notebook back and stuffed it back into his pocket.

“Really?” Elhesen’s lips twitched up almost imperceptibly, so quickly it seemed like an illusion. “If I’m not mistaken, it seems to say ‘Spicy Stir-fried Cabbage,’ ‘Boiled Pork,’ ‘Green Pepper Pork Slices’… It certainly looks important to you.” He recited several dishes with perfect accuracy.

“Uh…” the traveler stammered in defense, “…the exclusive cooking recipe is of course important.”

"By the way, how did you know what I wrote?"

El-Hysen, were you also from another time?

"Because you claim to have 'created your own script,' the structure of which is highly consistent with the common script of Liyue, and there is an obvious simplified correspondence." Elhesen's tone was calm and even: "Essentially, this is a script simplification based on efficiency, rather than the creation of a new system. However... commendable spirit, keep up the good work."

To the traveler, that bland tone sounded like the most sophisticated form of sarcasm.

"..."

What terrible crime have I committed to have to sit here and have this suffocating conversation with him?!

“Um… let’s talk about something unrelated to the text.” She tried to keep her voice friendly: “When you’re reading, doesn’t the hair on your forehead… block your view?” She pointed to the gray-white wisps of hair that fell across Elhesen’s forehead, slightly obscuring his eyebrows and eyes.

Damn it, I have to admit, his eyes are really beautiful!

“Occasionally,” Elhesen replied, his answer still brief.

"It might be a long wait, right?" The traveler looked at the tightly closed door, then at Elhesen. "How about I lend you a key so you can stay here? It'll be more convenient for reading that way."

Actually, I'd rather you cut it all off! Serves you right for being so sarcastic!

Elheisen didn't answer immediately, but simply looked at the traveler for a few seconds. Just when the traveler thought he would refuse, he leaned slightly towards her.

Is this... a promise?

And... he even wants me to help him put it on?

The traveler quickly rummaged through his card holder, which contained various small items.

I remember there was one that was very "suitable" for him—a green turtle hair clip!

Let him read a book with a little turtle on his head, just thinking about it makes me feel so good!

However, after fiddling with it for a long time, the little green turtle hair clip simply disappeared.

hateful!

Fine, we'll use this one!

The traveler picked up an adorable, pink pig hair clip.

The traveler moved closer.

Al-Hysen remained motionless, slightly bent over.

From this distance, you can clearly smell the faint, refreshing scent of herbs and trees emanating from him.

The traveler held his breath, carefully reaching out his hand. His fingertips inevitably brushed against his slightly cool forehead, lifting up a stray strand of hair and then carefully securing it with a pink pig hair clip.

Just as the traveler finished her action and was about to step back, her gaze inadvertently met Elhesen's raised eyes.

Those emerald pupils were so close, reflecting her face clearly.

But deep within those usually calm and unwavering eyes, a complex and unfathomable emotion, unlike anything the traveler had ever witnessed, seemed to be surging.

A faint fluctuation, one that even he himself could not conceal.