Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Paimon: "A tough opponent? I can't believe I've run into someone here who makes Xiao frown?"

Xiao's words before leaving left Paimon somewhat confused. But they soon realized what the trouble was. A mortal had run up to them, his face beaming with excitement.

Xin Cheng: "Heavens...Heavens! May the spirit of the Emperor in heaven protect me, I have finally found the immortals! May I ask if everyone here is an immortal from this mountain!"

The man was clearly very excited, and before Gan Yu could even speak, he hurriedly said, "That's wonderful! I am Xin Cheng, and I beg all the immortals to bless my love life, my wealth, my career... Please, please!"

Paimon: "So you're a visitor to the immortals..."

Upon hearing Xin Cheng's wishes, Kong concluded: "So calculating..."

This was the first time Gan Yu had encountered such a situation, and she was at a loss: "I... I should also be considered an immortal, or you could say an immortal who is still cultivating."

"Great! It was definitely worth the trip. Although I sound like a half-baked amateur, well... it doesn't matter." Xin Cheng's face was full of eagerness: "So, what can you bless me with?"

“…Wow, this guy is really going too far.” Paimon couldn’t help but shake his head.

Xuan Yue (anger rising): (Can I kick him out right now?!)

Xuan Qing frowned: (Let's see what Gan Yu says first, it's not too late to take action later.)

Gan Yu replied, "This... visitor to the immortal, I think you shouldn't try to take shortcuts like this. Immortals don't help every visitor to the immortal for free."

"Free of charge? You mean you have to charge for the blessing of immortals?" Xin Cheng was immediately dissatisfied and also puzzled.

Gan Yu: "Ah, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to say that we should strive for everything through hard work and a serious life... It's unfair to other ordinary people if they get everything for no reason."

Xin Cheng became somewhat disgruntled: "Alright, alright, I heard my father nag me about this before I came here..."

Gan Yu still tried to persuade him, "Your father must have experienced the hard work yet happiness of an ordinary person's life. At your age, you should focus on your work and family, and not pin your hopes on something unrealistic..."

Xin Cheng immediately began to doubt: "Are you really an immortal...? Why do your thoughts and way of speaking sound so much like those of us city people?"

Xin Cheng: "Could it be one of those scams where someone pretends to be a sage and spreads knowledge, but actually just wants to swindle money?"

Xuan Yue (fuming to the max): (I can't take it anymore!)

Xuan Yue immediately released his golden body, and a huge golden crow phantom instantly descended upon this world.

"You rude scoundrel! You disturbed the tranquility of Jueyun Pavilion first! And now you dare to slander my juniors! How audacious of you!"

Paimon: "Wow!"

null:!!!

Gan Yu: ...

Startled, Xin Cheng immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I...I just..."

"Thump!" With a chop to the neck, the visitor to the immortals fainted.

Paimon exclaimed, "Qingyue! You used too much force!"

That's right, it was Xuan Qing himself who knocked him unconscious.

Xuan Yue withdrew her golden body and flew back to Xuan Qing's side. Xuan Qing then gently touched her finger and she transformed back into human form.

"I was so suffocated! Luckily, Aqing's words were very satisfying." Xuan Yue looked at the person who had already fainted and was quite pleased.

The demon in Xuan Qing's arms was also transformed back to its original form by Xuan Qing. At this moment, it was still muttering to itself, "So that's what it means..."

Sora heard Xiao mutter to himself, "Xiao, you didn't leave?!"

Xiao nodded, glanced at Xuan Qing, and then explained, "Um... I was... kept behind by the Heavenly Lord, who said he would observe Gan Yu's reaction."

“That was our initial plan, but this guy is too infuriating! I just couldn’t stand it…” Xuan Yue’s tone was still clearly angry: “So I made an appointment with A Qing in advance, I was going to threaten him!”

Xuan Qing: "I'll finish him off."

Paimon: "Just like that, all fresh and clean?! But what did Grandpa Qingyue mean by 'finishing off'?"

Kong looked at the person lying on the ground and said, "It was a hand chop..."

“Yes, there have been similar incidents before. Ah Qing and I had a clear division of labor, and it was resolved quickly.” Xuan Yue finished speaking and quickly turned to Gan Yu: “In the future, if you see such rude people, don’t hold back.”

While they were chatting, Xuanqing cast a spell to send the visitor away, out of sight, out of mind.

Gan Yu shook her head: "No, no, the 'contract' between the immortals and the emperor includes a clause prohibiting the harming of ordinary people without cause."

Xuan Yue: "I didn't ask you to hurt them. Just knock them unconscious with a hand chop, and then send them back to Liyue Harbor."

Paimon: "Huh?!"

Kong (°ー°〃): "So that's what 'no need to hold back' means..."

Gan Yu, however, remained unmotivated: "That being said, I'm still definitely not suited to be an 'immortal'."

Xuan Yue immediately became anxious, and Xuan Qing glanced at her and pulled her away: "A Yue, let Gan Yu finish speaking first, be good."

Xuan Yue responded listlessly, and then fell silent.

“Gan Yu…Gan Yu knows that Lord Xuan Yue is worried about me. At first, I thought that if I returned to Jueyun and worked hard to cultivate, I could regain my identity as an immortal. But after that visitor questioned me, I was indeed still…” Gan Yu was instantly disappointed. She felt like an outsider in Liyue Harbor and also detached in Jueyun.

Xuanqing walked over, gently patted Ganyu's head, and said softly, "Every star has its own shining point. They may stray from their position, or they may get lost and stagnate, but this is common. Only by trying can they find their correct position and shine in the darkness."

Gan Yu had a vague understanding; it seemed like she had grasped something, yet it also seemed like... she knew nothing at all.

Paimon: "Hmm... Qingyue is just like Zhongli, speaking in such profound ways. Paimon can't understand a word... Did you understand?"

Kong shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either this time.

"It's okay if you don't know now. The road ahead is uncertain and you can't see it clearly, so why not look back at the steps you've taken? Perhaps you'll gain something from them."

"Turn back...?" Gan Yu hesitated.

Paimon: "Hey! I understand that! You mean you want us to take Ganyu back to Liyue Harbor for a stroll and relax, right?"

Gan Yu looked at Paimon and Kong, then at Xuan Qing and Xuan Yue with their faint smiles, and Xiao beside them, before finally speaking, "Alright then, I'll go back to Liyue Harbor for a stroll. Although I still stand by my original judgment on this matter. If it turns out that my judgment was correct, I will definitely return to Jueyun Karst again."

Kong: "We've finally taken this step... Let's go then. Qingyue, Jinxuan, and Xiao, we're off!"

Xuan Qing nodded, but Xuan Yue beside her watched them walk away with a worried expression...

Xiao: "Did the Heavenly Lord's words just now... have they a hidden meaning?"

In Xiao's eyes, Xuanqing and Xuanyue's attitudes were in stark contrast, as if Xuanqing Tianjun had known the ending all along and was not surprised by the development.

Xuanqing gently rubbed Xuanyue's head to comfort him while answering Xiao's question: "Xiao, what are your thoughts on Ganyu's problem?"

“Those involved are often blinded by their own perspective. Gan Yu is somewhat weak-willed and hasn’t yet detached herself from the ‘mortal world.’ I think… she might be better suited to city life,” Xiao offered his opinion.

Xuan Qing nodded: "That's right. It's been a thousand years since Gan Yu and Morax signed the 'contract.' In all these years, Liyue has developed rapidly; how could Gan Yu remain unchanged..."

"Gan Yu is a half-immortal beast. The biggest difference between her and mortals is her lifespan. Because her lifespan is too long, she becomes indifferent to many things... Just like... a close friend who was talking to you one second, and when you meet again not long after, all that's left is a handful of dust..."

"Over the course of a thousand years, she has seen countless generations of the 'Seven Stars' come and go, to the point that she has become somewhat numb. Her return this time is merely a catalyst, an opportunity to resolve the knot in her heart."

Xuan Yue: "How can you be so sure that Gan Yu will return to the mortal realm?"

Xuanqing shook his head: "It's not just certain, it's absolute. Traces of the rain have been left in Liyue Harbor. As I said before, stars can find their own exact location..."

"All we need to do is offer our blessings..."

Xiao: "As expected of the Heavenly Lord."

Xuan Yue: "Alright, anyway, your icy judgment has never been wrong, so Xiao Gan Yu should be fine..."

Seeing Xuan Yue's still troubled expression, Xuan Qing saw through him: "Where do you want to go to play this time?"

Xuan Yue: "No...no! Xuan Qing! You're trying to read my mind again!"

"Your expression is written all over your face, no need to guess."

Xuan Yue remained silent. Seeing that something was wrong, Xiao greeted Xuan Qing and Xuan Yue and then returned to his Dihuazhou.

"Alright, sweetie, I'm leaving tomorrow to repair the ley lines. You can go play with Morax, Kong, or Paimon these next few days."

Xuan Yue: "How long will it take?"

Xuan Qing: "Don't worry, it won't be long..."

Xuan Yue (`皿′): "I'll give you half a month! If you exceed that by even one day, you're finished!"

Xuan Qing chuckled softly, "Okay."