Chapter 855
Nasita's True Torture!
Su Chen was caught in the ebb and flow, instinctively circulating the increasingly refined energy within his body, which was now able to subtly sense and adapt to the turbulent flow of time, struggling to maintain the anchor point of his self-awareness.
In the torrent of consciousness, he "perceived" an extremely faint, yet exceptionally pure and resilient "spot of light".
The point of light was bound by layers upon layers of cold and precise "shackles," placed at the "center" of this torrent of consciousness, yet it seemed to be deliberately "forgotten" or "shielded" by the entire dimension, bearing alone the scouring and burden of information flow from the entire dimension and even the wider world.
That's... the interior of the World Tree? Or some consciousness space closely connected to it?
And that bound "spot of light"... an indescribable sense of pity and responsibility instantly gripped Su Chen's heart.
He "saw" a figure, small, bound in the void by invisible chains, with pure emerald eyes that carried a deep weariness and loneliness, like a tender sprout weighed down by the weight of an entire forest.
She silently processed and channeled the endless flow of information, trying to understand, trying to reconcile, trying to fulfill some innate responsibility that she herself might not fully understand.
To maintain, to learn, to guide, to purify... and to endure the near-eternal solitude that comes with "omniscience".
Naxi Da.
The god of wisdom, the king of grass, is imprisoned within the very domain he is supposed to protect.
Su Chen did not hesitate.
Gathering all spirit and strength is not about breaking through external shackles, but about letting one's unique "existence frequency," which transcends time, slowly seep in like the gentlest moonlight, enveloping that small, weary spot of light.
"It's heavy, isn't it?" His voice resonated directly in Nasita's heart, peaceful, steady, without pity, only understanding.
The small figure trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her emerald eyes, followed by a deeper confusion.
Can she "hear"? In this silent cage designed so that only "duty" and "information" flow?
"Don't be afraid." Su Chen's consciousness became clearer, and he imagined a warm touch, like gently stroking a child's head. "This burden shouldn't be borne by you alone. At least for now, I'm here."
He wasn't just offering empty words of comfort.
As his understanding of his own time-related abilities deepened, and the strange energy within him grew, he discovered that he could indeed, to some extent, share the "weight" of that conscious level.
He transformed his consciousness into a flexible "filter" and "buffer," actively receiving and sorting out a portion of the information torrent rushing toward Nasita, temporarily isolating or mitigating the disorder, noise, and even some dark fragments within it.
The sudden reduction in pressure was almost unbelievable to Nasita.
She blankly "felt" that sudden support, a support that did not come from the World Tree system settings, but from the protection of a strange yet incredibly firm independent consciousness.
"Why..." Her consciousness conveyed a faint question.
“There’s no why.” Su Chen’s answer was simple and powerful. “It’s just that once you see it, you can’t pretend you didn’t. You’re still so young, you shouldn’t have to face all of this alone.”
His mind revealed a mixture of tenderness and determination: "From now on, I will help you shoulder this burden. You just need to... be the Nasita you want to be, to be curious, to learn, to feel joy and sorrow, instead of just being a 'container' or a 'processor'."
In the time that followed, Su Chen's consciousness transformed into the only "visitor" and "guardian" in Nasita's cage.
He talked to her, listening to her recount the fragments of what she had seen and heard about the world of Teyvat that she had captured from the information stream, and answering her questions that were full of childlike innocence yet went straight to the heart of the matter.
Using his perspective as a time traveler and his observations from different timelines, he cleverly avoids key taboos.
He taught her how to distinguish between "information that needs to be processed immediately" and "knowledge that can be savored slowly," and how to extract "emotion" and "stories" from massive amounts of data, rather than just cold "facts."
More often than not, he simply "exists" there, offering silent companionship and support, letting her know that she is not absolutely alone.
He would "weave" simple, tranquil images of stars, forests, and streams to alleviate her mental exhaustion.
She could use her consciousness to simulate the scents of sunlight, breeze, and grass, even if it was just an illusion, it brought her a sense of comfort that was different from the cold data stream.
“Remember, Nasita.” Su Chen’s voice was always so steady and reliable. “The meaning of wisdom lies not only in understanding and taking responsibility, but also in choosing and creating.”
You have the right to choose who you want to become, and to create your own memories and bonds. And no matter which path you choose…
His promise was resounding: "I'll always be there for you."
These words, like the most steadfast foundation, settled upon Naxi Da's heart, which, though newly born, already bore an immense burden.
In her emerald eyes, the indifference and detachment that had been veiled by eternal duty were gradually replaced by a sense of dependence, trust, and a rekindled, faint radiance belonging to a child.
She began to express her thoughts more proactively, and would even make some "whimsical" little requests to him, such as "Tell me another story about the outside world," or "Could you please reduce the 'noise' today?"
Su Chen always readily agreed.
In his heart, Naxida was no longer just the grass goddess of Mount Sumeru, but also a child who needed to be protected, guided, and given the warmth of a normal childhood.
He treated her almost like a "daughter," giving her everything she lacked within this cage of consciousness.
Until the pull of time becomes strong again.
The time for our return is approaching.
"I need to leave for a while to deal with some... 'outside' matters." Su Chen's consciousness conveyed the message of farewell, but he immediately added, his tone filled with a smile and an undeniable promise, "But don't worry, it's only temporary."
I will find you, in the 'outside' world. Then you will be able to see the sunlight with your own eyes, touch the flowers, and taste real date honey, instead of just 'knowing' about them in a data stream.
Nasita's mind revealed a clear sense of reluctance and a hint of unease, but she had already learned to trust.
Will you... find me?
"I definitely will." Su Chen's consciousness transformed into a gentle embrace. "Remember our promise. I'll always be here. And until then, learn to be a little... 'lazy' and let the World Tree handle some of the work itself. It's not as fragile as you think."
As light and shadow shift, consciousness is stripped away.
When Su Chen stepped onto solid ground again, he was back in the familiar corridor of the Hall of Rebirth. The air was filled with the scent of incense and tea, and he could faintly hear Hu Tao's clear recitation of poetry and Xing Qiu's helpless sigh.
He didn't linger.
As strength grows, it brings not only a stronger physique and a more stable sense of time, but also a clearer intuition and greater ability to act.
He knew there were things he had to do, and now he could do them.
He found an excuse to leave Liyue Harbor, and relying on the subtle sensations left over from his connection with Narcida's consciousness, as well as his increasingly keen perception of time and space, he headed west, traversing the Abyss of Rocks, and stepping into the vast land of Sumeru.
His journey was not aimless; it was as if an invisible thread was guiding him, through the dampness of the rainforest and the scorching heat of the desert, until he finally arrived at Sumeru City.
Without alerting anyone, and even avoiding any possible spies from the Church, he walked precisely to the sacred tree that symbolized wisdom and imprisonment, like an ordinary traveler.
He stood outside the Jingshan Palace, looking up at the palace rooftop enveloped by heavy branches and barriers, and the feeling in his heart became clearer.
There was no forced entry, no earth-shattering announcement.
He simply stood there quietly, his unique aura—aura that had deeply intertwined with Nasita's consciousness—mixed with a gentle yet firm call, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, gently conveying his message.
Deep within the palace, those emerald eyes, after a long period of solitude and the tranquility of data flow, suddenly opened.
A familiar warmth and unwavering strength, so profound it sent shivers down her spine, pierced through the icy barrier and resonated directly in her heart. It was… him.
He really came.
Not long after, the door of Jingshan Palace, which was almost never opened to outsiders, silently slid open a crack.
A petite figure dressed in a white divine robe walked out slowly, somewhat hesitantly, yet filled with barely suppressed anticipation.
The sunlight shone on her, causing her to squint her emerald eyes slightly.
She saw the figure standing under the tree. The figure might be slightly different from the one she had perceived in her mind, but the unique, timeless sense of peace remained unchanged.
Nasita's steps changed from hesitant to firm. She walked up to Su Chen, raised her small face, and stared at him with her clear eyes, as if trying to imprint his image deeply.
Su Chen crouched down to meet her gaze, a genuine smile on his face, a smile that bore the marks of a long journey yet remained incredibly gentle.
"You see, I told you I would find you," he said softly, reaching out as if to ruffle her hair, but then he hesitated for some reason and only gently brushed away the non-existent dust from her shoulder.
"I'm currently staying at the Hall of Rebirth in Liyue Harbor. Although it's a place where people talk about life and death, it's also quite lively. There are kids who write strange poems, gentlemen who like to drink tea and listen to opera, friends from the mountains, and... well, a rich woman who's always trying to invest in me."
His tone was relaxed, with a familiar ease: "In the future, if you feel bored here, or want to see different scenery or hear different stories... you can come here often."
He didn't say "I'll come and get you out of here," nor did he make any overstepping promises.
But he stood there, personally telling her where he was, and extending a simple yet incredibly solemn invitation—"You can come often."
This is more powerful than any grand statement; it means a stable, accessible haven, an exit she can choose to escape moments of loneliness.
Nasita gazed at him, her emerald eyes seemingly shimmering with a crystalline light.
She nodded vigorously, a small but incredibly genuine smile curving her lips.
"Mmm," she replied softly, her voice carrying an unprecedented lightness and anticipation. "I will... I love Father."
The last two words, as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet fell into Su Chen's ears with perfect clarity.
He paused for a moment, then his eyes were almost overflowing with tenderness.
He didn't deny it, but simply reached out and, this time, gently and thoroughly stroked her soft, light green hair.
"it is good."
Sunlight filtered through the branches of the sacred tree, casting dappled shadows on the two of them.
When Nasita discovered this, a light drizzle was falling in the courtyard of the Hall of Rebirth.
She sat on the porch, her small legs barely touching the ground, so she swayed freely.
Holding the well-worn fairy tale book she had brought from Sumi, she waited for Su Chen to finish his work so he could read her a new chapter.
Not far away, Su Chen was checking a ceremonial document with Zhong Li.
His profile appeared exceptionally serene in the gray light of the rainy day, his eyes revealing a familiar, reassuring focus that Nasita found comforting.
As she watched, she suddenly realized something—
How old is her "father" this year?
It's not about appearance.
Su Chen's appearance has hardly changed since she met him.
She had long been accustomed to that sense of stability that transcended time. But at this moment, she suddenly remembered another number.
She became the grass goddess of Mount Sumeru, and has been there for five hundred years.
He appeared in her consciousness one year during the long years she was trapped in the Jingshan Palace.
She asked him how old he was at that time.
He answered.
She remembers.
Is he... in his early twenties? Or even younger?
Nasita's eyelashes trembled slightly.
She lowered her head and looked at her small hands, which belonged to her young body, lying on her knees.
She raised her eyes again and looked at the figure not far away who was whispering with Zhongli.
—She is 507 years old.
He is not yet thirty.
In the mind of the god of wisdom, the intricately working logical network woven from countless streams of information paused briefly for a moment.
"...Su Chen."
Her voice was very soft, drifting past from under the eaves.
Su Chen turned his head and met those emerald eyes.
He sensed something almost immediately; his keen senses, typical of a time traveler, allowed him to detect something amiss in her barely perceptible pause.
He put down the documents, got up, walked over, and sat down beside her.
"what happened?"
Naxi Da looked up at him with her small face upturned, her expression unusually dazed.
“It suddenly occurred to me,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of newly discovered, yet not fully digested, wonder, “My father… is much younger than me.”
Su Chen was slightly taken aback.
“So many,” Nasita added, her tone earnest, as if stating a newly confirmed fact. “More than just a little.”
My father is much younger than me, so could I be a different person? (End of Chapter)