Chapter 11: Villain Simulator, Ch 11
It seems that, aside from using Chongyun to threaten her, he hadn't actually done anything evil.
Not only that, if it weren't for his help, Chongyun wouldn't have been able to clear his name.
That's right, this "deal" was entirely voluntary on her part; he didn't force her into it...
No, Shenhe, how could you defend that scoundrel?
He's clearly a devil with no sense of morality, treating people's emotions as mere toys to manipulate at will!
Thinking this, Shenhe resolutely said, "He harassed me."
Harassed?
Cloud Retainer was momentarily taken aback.
Could it be *that* kind of harassment?
This left Cloud Retainer in a bit of a dilemma.
After all, while she was well-versed in the heavens above, the earth below, yin and yang, the eight trigrams, and strange portals, she knew very little about matters between men and women.
So, she had never taught Shenhe anything about such things.
But, the child had grown up after all. Having such dreams was normal. Keeping Shenhe isolated from the world forever was not a long-term solution.
"Master," Shenhe's face flushed slightly as she asked, "Do you think I'm having these dreams because I can't shake off the inner demons, causing evil thoughts to arise?"
"How could that be?" Cloud Retainer forced herself to remain calm and said, "Don't overthink it. All girls, when they reach a certain age, will have these sorts of strange dreams."
"Really?" Shenhe asked in surprise. "By the way, Master, has Senior Ganyu, whom you often mention, also had such dreams?"
"Of… of course!" Perhaps wanting to comfort Shenhe, Cloud Retainer nodded hastily. "Her dreams are even more bizarre than yours. For instance... dreaming of rolling down a hill, all the way to the bottom."
"Master, that... I don't think that was a dream. Senior Ganyu seems to have actually done that," Shenhe said seriously. "And she's mentioned it quite a few times."
…
"Achoo!"
In Yuehai Pavilion, a blue-haired girl with black horns sneezed heavily as she was reviewing documents.
"Strange..." Ganyu rubbed her nose, frowning slightly. "Could it be that I've been overworking myself and accidentally caught a cold? No, I have a half-immortal body. How could I contract a mundane illness? Maybe it's because of excessive dieting, and my immune system has weakened? Sigh… I really want some Sweet Flowers..."
…
Back at Mt. Aocang, after comforting Shenhe for a while, Cloud Retainer seemed to suddenly recall something and asked, "By the way, how long have you been training under me?"
"If we count from the day Master brought me up the mountain..." Shenhe respectfully replied, "It has been over twenty years."
"Your dream reminds me," Cloud Retainer mused, "For over twenty years, I have taught you martial arts, immortal techniques, and helped you suppress your inner demons. Now that you've achieved mastery, it's time for you to take up the mission of vanquishing demons and upholding justice."
"Master, are you saying..." Shenhe mumbled as if realizing something, "that it's time for me to leave the mountain?"
"Indeed. You came from the mortal world, and now you must return to it," Cloud Retainer said, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice. She still spoke firmly. "Your Senior Ganyu has already made her mark in Liyue. Though you are human, your talent is extraordinary, and you have received my full teachings. This time, when you descend the mountain, I will give you a task."
"Please, Master, tell me!" Shenhe quickly responded.
"Slay one hundred demons, teach a lesson to one hundred evildoers, and do one hundred good deeds." Cloud Retainer raised her wing, revealing three feathers. "Until you complete these tasks, you are not allowed to return."
"Disciple... will obey!" Shenhe nodded.
"Since you've been away from the mortal world for so long," Cloud Retainer added, "I will give you a treasure for your journey."
A treasure?
Hearing those words, Shenhe felt a surge of emotion. Despite Master's usually cold demeanor, she still cared deeply for her. Now that Shenhe was about to leave, her master must be worried about her.
But what kind of treasure would it be?
A superior weapon? A refined technique? Or perhaps the recently improved portable Guizhong Ballista?
Cloud Retainer waved her wing, and a book slowly landed in Shenhe's hands.
Shenhe looked at the cover, and to her surprise, the title read: *The Art of Conversation by Cloud Retainer*.
W-what is this?
"Shenhe, this is a book I've spent many years compiling, filled with the communication skills I've accumulated over time," Cloud Retainer said proudly. "You've lived in isolation for so long, and when you return to the world, you may not know how to interact with others. When you're unsure, consult this book, and your problems will be solved."
"I… I understand! I will follow your guidance!" Shenhe, touched, carefully put the book away. "But, such a rare book—if published, Master, your reputation would surely spread across the seven nations."
"*Cough cough*... I am not one to seek fame," Cloud Retainer coughed lightly. "Alright, pack up and head down the mountain. If you're unsure where to go, find your Senior Ganyu. She will definitely help you out of respect for me."
"Yes!" Shenhe nodded.
In truth, Cloud Retainer wasn't being entirely honest. She had finished writing the book years ago and had even taken human form to visit a publisher in Liyue to get it published.
However, after reading it, the editor rejected it, saying, "This book's content is too advanced for the people of Liyue right now."
Unconvinced, Cloud Retainer self-published one hundred copies. As for the outcome… well, the remaining ninety-nine copies were still hidden under her bed.
As Cloud Retainer watched Shenhe leave, her thoughts drifted back to centuries ago. Back then, she had watched Ganyu's departure in the same way, only to see the child...
Roll all the way down the mountain.
"Whoosh!"
At that moment, a shooting star streaked across the sky, cutting through the stillness of the night.
"Shenhe, Ganyu..." For some reason, an ominous feeling flashed through Cloud Retainer's mind. She murmured, "You two, please stay safe."
…
The next morning.
"Young Master Li, this is the Ke family residence," said the merchant leader Zhang Luo, pointing at the large plaque overhead with pride. "What do you think? Quite grand, isn't it?"
The caravan had stopped in front of an opulent mansion. Two stone lions stood guard at the entrance, exuding a fierce aura. The gatekeepers, wielding water-fire staffs, looked burly and stern—definitely not people to be trifled with.
"Truly extraordinary…" Lucas nodded.
Though he was quite familiar with Keqing from the game, he knew little about her family. Of course, there wasn't much information on any of the characters' backgrounds in the game.
Keqing was simply said to come from a prestigious family in Liyue. But just how prestigious, Lucas wasn't sure.
"Follow me," Zhang Luo led Lucas into the Ke mansion, explaining as they walked. "The Ke family's business is wide-ranging, primarily in real estate, weaponry, and martial arts schools."
"A martial arts school?" Lucas asked curiously.
"Of course! How do you think Miss Keqing became so skilled? The people of Liyue highly value martial arts. After all, the Geo Archon is known as the 'God of War'. For mortals without a Vision, the only way to gain strength is through martial arts. Liyue Harbor has many schools, but when it comes to swordsmanship, the Ke family's *Cloud-Rising Sword Style* is second to none."
"Old Zhang!"
At that moment, a crisp voice called out from behind them. They turned to see a maid of about eighteen or nineteen years old, with her hair tied up in a bun. Although she couldn't compare to Keqing or Shenhe, she was still quite a beauty.
"So it's Miss Chunxiang," Zhang Luo greeted her with a smile, unfazed by her rude tone. "Don't misunderstand. This young man, Lucas, helped us during some trouble on the road. Without his help, we might not have made it here safely."
He then introduced her, "This is Chunxiang, the head maid of the Ke household."
Even the maid is this beautiful?
Lucas marveled inwardly.
Truly the household of a prestigious family…
"If that's the case, then a reward of Mora would suffice," Chunxiang said indifferently. "Why bring him into the estate?"
"Well, you see," Zhang Luo quickly explained, "I noticed his skills are impressive, and I thought he might find some work here at the Ke residence."
"There's no need for that," Chunxiang rejected flatly. "The household is currently hiring guards, but only those who are truly skilled. Not just any bumpkin can take the job. Besides, Miss Keqing is a formidable fighter herself and doesn't need any guards."
The maids of prestigious families sure are sharp-tongued…
Before Lucas could respond, Zhang Luo patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Young Master Li won't disappoint you! Why not test him yourself?"
"Since you're so insistent, I'll humor you," Chunxiang beckoned to Lucas. "If you can withstand ten of my moves, I'll let you stay."
"Well…" Lucas scratched his head awkwardly. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Oh?" Chunxiang sneered. "Afraid?"
"Yeah..." Lucas nodded nonchalantly. "I'm afraid that if I accidentally ruin such a pretty face, it would be quite a hassle."
Lucas was an honest man, and his speech was straightforward.
After all, the only move he knew was [Charging Fist], a technique that, if not used, was fine, but once unleashed, it would seriously injure someone. Even hulking Hilichurl brutes, weighing several hundred pounds, would be reduced to ash with one punch. If a delicate girl like Chunxiang were to take a hit, it would be more than just a matter of disfigurement.
However, Chunxiang took his words as nothing but pure provocation.
"Don't look down on me!" A flash of anger crossed Chunxiang's pretty face. "I've never slacked off in my training so I can protect the young miss. Since that's the case, let me show you my resolve!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Chunxiang drew a longsword from her waist and charged at Lucas with impressive speed and agility. Her swordsmanship was exceptionally graceful.
"White Clouds Emerge from the Peaks!"
This was the opening move of the Cloud-Rising Sword Style. Despite her youth, Chunxiang had mastered the technique to perfection. The strike aimed directly at Lucas's shoulder, intending to instantly incapacitate the boastful young man.
[Diamond Body]
Lucas didn't dodge; instead, he activated the newly-learned Diamond Body. As Chunxiang's sharp blade made contact with his shoulder, it felt as though it struck a steel wall.
This skill could reduce the force of an attack by 90%, and given Lucas's enhanced defensive abilities, the sword strike felt no more significant than a needle prick.
Moreover, the blade didn't even penetrate.
With a "clang," half of the sword blade shattered and flew off. Chunxiang's hand went numb from the shock, and the longsword fell to the ground.
[Charging Fist]
At that moment, Chunxiang sensed a tremendous surge of energy rushing toward her. The previously harmless-looking young man now exuded an invisible aura of pressure. His fist, like an arrow loosed from a bow, shot towards her face.
Though the punch stopped just in front of her nose, the force of the wind still caused Chunxiang's hair to flutter, and her cheeks tingled slightly from the impact.
If that punch had actually landed on her face… the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Being kind-hearted, Lucas naturally didn't follow through with the punch. After all, this wasn't a life-or-death battle, and his opponent wasn't a Hilichurl brute but a delicate young maid.
[Showed mercy and earned 200 virtue points]
Wait… I can earn points like this too?
Lucas slowly lowered his fist, smiling as he said, "See? I wasn't wrong, was I?"
"You… I…" Chunxiang's face displayed a complex expression, but in the end, she sighed and admitted, "I lost."
"Didn't I tell you!" Zhang Luo clapped his hands, laughing. "So, does this mean that Young Master Li has passed the test?"
"What are you all doing here?"
At that moment, a somewhat lazy voice called out from behind Lucas.
Before he could turn around, Chunxiang's expression instantly shifted to one of respect as she said, "Young Miss! Old Zhang brought someone into the estate, and he's here to apply for a guard position, so I sparred with him for a few moves..."
Young Miss?
Lucas's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the person behind him was… Keqing?
Although he really wanted to turn around and see what Keqing looked like, for some reason, he suddenly felt too scared to do so.
After all, in the [Villain Simulator], he had done many things that hurt her.
"There's no need for that. We already have enough guards in the household," Keqing said indifferently, showing no interest in the man standing with his back to her. "Besides, I don't need someone weaker than me to protect me. Take him to the accounts room to collect some Mora, and then let him leave."
It seemed that fate had never meant for him and Keqing to cross paths.
A bitter smile appeared on Lucas's face. He turned around and said to Keqing, "Thank you, Young Miss, for the reward."
"No…" Keqing was about to dismiss him, but the moment she saw his face, it felt as though her heart had been struck by a heavy hammer.
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