Chapter 849
Making Ningguang Owe Me Money
The two sides looked at each other in bewilderment.
Another silence followed.
After finishing the grass in her hand, Xiao Ganyu didn't immediately go to get more. Instead, she hugged her knees, looked at her round reflection in the pool, and suddenly whispered, "Why... why does everyone want me to become stronger, to prove the value of the Qilin bloodline? I... I just like to stay quietly, watch the clouds, and eat some calming grass..."
Her voice trailed off, filled with confusion, "Why do people... always strive so hard to prove that their existence is more valuable than others, more valuable than other celestial beasts...?"
This question, posed by a child who is sensitive because of his mixed-race identity and unique physique and has yet to find his place in the world, carries a particularly heavy weight.
Su Chen pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Proving one's value... perhaps, is not about comparing oneself with others, but about finding one's unique place in this world."
He pointed to a cluster of inconspicuous glass pouches with pale purple flowers by the pool, "It is not like Qingxin, which is the main ingredient of many elixirs, nor can it gather a large amount of spiritual energy like some immortal herbs."
But it is here, growing quietly, adorning the cliffs, and has its own meaning in existing.
Its value lies not in being stronger than anyone else, but in the fact that it is a 'glass bag,' an integral part of this mountain landscape, and perhaps at some point, it will become the key to harmonizing the medicinal properties in a prescription.
He then pointed to the enormous immortal abode that was faintly visible in the distant clouds: "And those immortals, who pursue power and the Great Dao, their 'value' may lie in protecting, guiding, and opening up new paths."
But this doesn't conflict with your enjoyment of watching clouds and grazing on grass, or the tranquility you crave. Existence itself is a form of value. Finding a way to make yourself feel at ease and contribute to what you care about is finding your own 'value'.
There's no need to rush to prove anything to everyone. First, be honest with yourself: why you exist, and what kind of 'self' you want to become.
Xiao Ganyu seemed to understand but not quite, but the confusion in her clear eyes seemed to be dispelled by these words.
She glanced at the glass pouch, then looked in the direction of the immortal abode, and finally looked down at her round hands.
"...Should I be honest with myself first?" she murmured repeatedly.
"Hmm." Su Chen nodded, revealing a faint smile. "For example, if you feel that your current state is inconvenient or makes you unhappy, you can try to change it little by little, but that's for your own comfort and ease, not to meet anyone else's expectations. If you need help, I can accompany you."
And so, Su Chen remained temporarily in this distant fragment of time.
He didn't use any supernatural powers; he simply accompanied and encouraged the chubby little Gan Yu as he began an extremely gentle "change."
They strolled together along the scenic path in the deep clouds, gradually increasing the distance between them.
Su Chen taught her some simple stretching and body-coordinating movements, similar to a modified version of children's gymnastics.
They sought out a more diverse range of refreshing plants that were equally delicious.
More often than not, they would just sit together on the edge of the cliff, watching the clouds drift by. Su Chen would tell them interesting stories about people outside the mountains and some children's tales, or simply keep them company quietly.
He told Gan Yu that the Qilin's kindness was a virtue, the immortal beasts' long lifespan was a gift, and that Gan Yu's own qualities were unique.
Whether it's the current shyness and tranquility, or other forms it may develop into in the future, it's all worth cherishing.
Change is about embracing more possibilities, not about negating the starting point.
Xiao Ganyu gradually became more talkative. Although she was still shy, the melancholy in her eyes had faded considerably, and she would occasionally even show a very faint, relaxed smile.
She began to wonder about the world outside the mountains, about the ordinary yet bustling human life that Su Chen had described.
When the pull of time came again, Xiao Ganyu was able to walk more nimbly on some less treacherous mountain paths, and the expression on her face brightened considerably.
Su Chen knew the moment of farewell was approaching. He squatted down and looked the girl in the eye: "Remember, your value is defined by your heart and the path you choose. Whether you stay in the mountains or go out to see the world, be a 'gentle rain' that brings you peace of mind."
Xiao Ganyu nodded vigorously, then suddenly stepped forward and gently hugged Su Chen, her voice barely audible: "Thank you... Brother Su Chen."
Then, light and shadow shift, and time and space are transformed.
The timeline of returning to the Hall of Rebirth doesn't seem to connect seamlessly with when Su Chen left.
He felt that the light in the courtyard seemed to have shifted slightly, and the tea in his cup was still warm.
The noise in the front courtyard was more lively than ever before.
Ke Qing indeed became a regular at the Hall of Rebirth, seizing every opportunity to ask Su Chen for advice.
On this day, she seemed to have just argued with Yue Haiting about some policy details, and feeling frustrated, she poured out her grievances to Su Chen: "...those veteran clerks, they keep saying 'it was like this during the Emperor's reign' and 'traditions should not be easily abandoned,' they are simply impervious to reason!"
Senior Gan Yu was gentle in her attitude, but she always said things like "we need to plan for the long term" and "we need to balance all parties," which was too slow!
She complained, casually mentioning Gan Yu: "Senior Gan Yu is the same. She's so capable, yet she always gets herself bogged down in endless paperwork and coordination. Sometimes I feel like she's more of a 'conformist' than me... But speaking of which,"
She blinked and looked at Su Chen. "Mr. Su, about the 'goal decomposition and incremental iteration' method you mentioned last time, I tried to communicate the framework with Senior Gan Yu. She actually accepted it very quickly and even said thoughtfully... it seems that a long time ago, someone said something similar to her, about 'value' and 'change'... her tone was a bit strange."
Ke Qing mentioned it casually, but Su Chen's heart stirred.
Just then, Yi Guan's slightly flustered voice came from the front courtyard: "Lord Gan Yu? Why have you come in person? Please come in!"
A blue figure, elegant yet with a rare hint of urgency, strode through the moon gate and went straight into the backyard.
It was timely rain.
Her hair was neatly styled, and she was dressed formally, clearly having come directly from the Yuehaiting office. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her breathing was a little rapid.
Her gaze immediately and precisely locked onto Su Chen beside the stone table.
Those pinkish-purple eyes, which always held a gentle warmth and a hint of weariness, were wide open at this moment, filled with disbelief, shock, realization, and an excitement that came from finally finding something after traversing countless years.
"It's you...it really is you?!" Gan Yu's voice trembled almost imperceptibly, and she didn't even bother to look at Zhong Li beside her.
She naturally recognized this guest of the Hall of Rebirth, but at the moment she had no time to think about anything else.
He nodded to Ke Qing, then walked a few steps to Su Chen and carefully examined his face, as if to confirm every detail.
"That person... who told me 'existence itself has value,' who accompanied me... who walked with me along the path through the clouds, watching the clouds, who told me I could slowly change, to become the 'sweet rain' that puts my mind at ease... that was you, wasn't it?" Her tone was urgent, yet also cautiously seeking confirmation. The backyard fell completely silent.
Hu Tao had somehow joined them, and together with Xing Qiu and Shen He, they stared in disbelief at the sudden turn of events.
Ke Qing was completely bewildered, looking at Gan Yu and then at Su Chen, utterly confused.
She only mentioned it briefly! How did it attract the attention of Yuehai Pavilion's "fortune teller" secretary? And what did she say about "a long time ago" and "accompanying me"?
Faced with Gan Yu's burning and confirming gaze, Su Chen knew he couldn't deny it, nor could he explain it in detail.
He could only maintain his composure and nod slightly: "Miss Gan Yu, it's been a long time."
This can be seen as an acceptance of that companionship that transcends time and space.
Upon receiving confirmation, Gan Yu's face instantly blossomed into an extremely bright smile, even tinged with tears. That smile diluted the calm and aloofness that had lingered around her for many years, making her appear exceptionally vivid and genuine.
“I…I will always remember. Those words, that companionship…it was very important to me. Thank you.” She bowed deeply.
Zhongli silently put down his teacup and rubbed his temples.
He glanced at Gan Yu, who was excited and seemed to have found a mentor; at Ke Qing, whose face was full of admiration that read "Mr. Su is indeed omnipotent"; at the curious Hu Tao; at Xing Qiu, who seemed to be deep in thought; at Shen He, who was still aloof but whose gaze moved between Su Chen and Gan Yu; and finally at Su Chen, who looked calm.
I always feel like I'm superfluous, not someone with thousands of years of experience. What's wrong with me?
Could it be that the world I lived in before was all a lie?
The Hall of Rebirth is now completely bustling with activity.
He faked his death to escape, hoping for some peace and quiet, and to silently observe the beginning of the era of human rule in Liyue as a mortal.
The result? The core members of the radical reformist faction became frequent visitors, speaking "disrespectfully" to their "deceased emperor."
The hermit disciples living in seclusion in the mountains were led down the mountain.
Now even his most capable secretary, Gan Yu, who possesses the body of a half-immortal, has come knocking on his door because of an unbelievable "past encounter," and is revealing her true feelings to Su Chen...
Zhongli picked up the cooled tea, took a sip, and felt that the taste of the tea was truly complex and varied, just like her current state of mind.
He looked at Su Chen, who was subtly surrounded by the crowd and trying to remain calm while answering questions, and then at the group of "visitors" with special identities and different personalities gathered in the small backyard. In the end, his helplessness turned into a very faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his lips.
interesting.
That's really interesting.
Su Chen is like a strange pebble thrown into the net of fate, and the ripples he creates are drawing more and more scattered threads to this small space of the Hall of Rebirth.
Although he, the retired rock god, felt his plans were disrupted, he had to admit that this panorama of life, woven from "accidents" and "fate," was no less than the leisurely life of sipping tea and watching the clouds alone that he had imagined, and even had a more vibrant "human touch."
But this feeling of "everyone knows"... sigh.
Zhong Li sighed inwardly. It seemed that in this "leisurely stroll through the mortal world," it was becoming increasingly difficult to truly find "leisure."
Well then, let's see what kind of story unfolds on this new stage, which Su Chen unintentionally built, a stage of delicate balance and undercurrents.
Perhaps this former emperor can also see more possibilities for Liyue's future from this?
This time, the vortex of time threw Su Chen to the shore not a secret realm of immortals or a desolate mountain village, but the early days of Liyue Harbor before it fully revealed its future grandeur.
The port is much smaller and the buildings are old, but the vibrant energy of commerce and opportunity is already beginning to emerge.
The air was filled with the sea breeze, the smell of goods, and the slightly rough, bustling atmosphere unique to the streets and alleys.
As Su Chen strolled through the somewhat chaotic yet vibrant dock area, a list of "characters he had met in Liyue" quietly surfaced in his mind.
Hu Tao, Xing Qiu, Qi Qi, Shen He, Ke Qing, Gan Yu... even the retired Lord Yan, all had a strange encounter in the small world of the Hall of Rebirth because of his existence as a stranger in time.
Only one person, Ningguang of Tianquan, who would later become incredibly wealthy in Teyvat and control power and intelligence in Liyue, never set foot in the Hall of Rebirth, nor did she ever actively seek him out in his timeline of return.
This aroused Su Chen's curiosity to investigate further.
Could this legendary businessman, known for his shrewdness and ambition, really be able to completely avoid the influence of this "time intruder"?
Or perhaps it's simply a matter of fate, or... there's more to the story?
As he pondered, his gaze was drawn to a small, thin figure in the corner of the dock.
She was a little girl who looked to be around ten years old. Her clothes were simple and even patched, but they were washed very clean.
She had a rare head of light golden hair, which was loosely tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, with a few strands hanging down her neck.
Her features had not yet fully developed, but one could already see the exquisite outline she would have in the future, especially her pair of violet eyes, which were now sparkling with a liveliness, cunning, and an undisguised desire for wealth far beyond her years.
She is like a seedling growing tenaciously in the cracks of rocks; despite the rough environment, she has already begun to show a unique vitality and upward momentum.
Little Glow.
She was squatting next to a pile of newly unloaded junk boxes, her fingers rapidly fiddling with a few worn Mora coins. Her brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently as she muttered to herself, seemingly calculating something. Every now and then, she would look up warily to observe her surroundings, like a nimble and vigilant little animal.
Su Chen understood, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
I see. It's not that there's no overlap, but rather... the time just hasn't come yet, or rather, the way we overlap might be a bit "unusual".
He didn't go forward immediately, but instead observed from a distance for several days, like an ordinary stroller.
He saw how Ningguang, with her childish yet clear voice, sold homemade lucky charms to the sailors—charms made with meager ingredients but carefully packaged.
I saw how she sifted through the dockyard garbage to find the still valuable scraps, cleaned them up, and then sold them to recycling merchants.
I watched as she haggled with the much taller and bigger porters, trying to get a meager running fee, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
This is a born businessman, with a keen sense of money, strong execution, and a combination of boldness and meticulousness. Although his methods are still somewhat immature and his resources are extremely scarce, his burning ambition is like a wildfire, tenaciously burning in barren soil. (End of Chapter)