Chương 226: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [226]
The guards carried away Azar, who was retching miserably as he was dragged off.
The remaining scholars, who had been preparing to upload the canned knowledge into Nahida, froze in place, unsure whether to leave or continue their work.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to eat anyone."
Luo Qing chuckled softly. "Go on, do what you need to. Also, prepare the transmission device for me...
I'd like to have a little heart-to-heart with your dear Lesser Lord Kusanali~"
"..."
The scholars were momentarily speechless.
As expected, the Fatui Harbingers were all a bunch of lunatics.
But Luo Qing's overwhelming strength left them no choice but to remain silent. They pretended not to have seen Azar being carried away moments earlier and returned to their work.
It wasn't long before one of the scholars brought the transmission device over for Luo Qing.
Direct mental communication with a deity was extremely dangerous. The vast spiritual energy of a god could easily overwhelm and reduce someone to a fool.
However, last time, when Luo Qing had been subjected to an outpouring of mental power from the Lesser Lord Kusanali, even the transmission device had shattered under the strain—yet Luo Qing had emerged completely unscathed.
This had greatly shocked the scholars, who now planned to carefully record Luo Qing's state during this interaction with Nahida, hoping to uncover a safe method to control her.
Luo Qing picked up the helmet of the transmission device and placed it on his head.
The next moment, as a staff member activated the device, his vision went completely black.
Unlike last time, when only Nahida's figure radiated light in the darkness, this time, faint starlight sparkled around her, casting a soft glow that dispelled the oppressive loneliness of the void.
Luo Qing willed himself forward, approaching Nahida.
Curled up like a small cat, Nahida suddenly opened her eyes. She didn't meet Luo Qing's gaze, instead staring down at her knees as she murmured softly,
"They're... saying those awful things about me again..."
"I know I'm not good enough..."
"But still..."
Her expression was tinged with sadness, and after speaking, she buried her face back into her knees.
"Why care about what they say?"
Luo Qing placed a hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair as he spoke.
"No matter how much they deceive themselves, trying to downplay your existence, you are Sumeru's Archon. That fact will never change, will it?"
"But I'm such an unworthy Archon..."
"I can't resolve their doubts or guide Sumeru's path..."
"If a god isn't loved by their people—if they're barely remembered—what's the point of such a god..."
Nahida's voice was heavy with dejection.
It reminded Luo Qing of himself back in the day—scrolling through melancholic comments on music apps in the dead of night, silently weeping in bed.
"Who says you're not loved?"
Luo Qing countered, "The Grand Bazaar still has many who remember you, doesn't it?"
"For instance, the girl you once guided in her dream—the one with Eleazar. She's now the main sponsor for the next Sabzeruz Festival, all because of you."
Nahida blinked, surprised. "Luo Qing, how do you know about her..."
"I guessed."
"..."
"So don't pay too much attention to those pedantic scholars."
Luo Qing continued to ruffle her hair.
He had to admit—her hair felt amazing.
"They've let their pursuit of knowledge warp their principles and morality, turning into grotesque academic machines—frivolous and detached from the people they claim to serve."
"Isn't this the time for you, the God of Wisdom, to bring them back onto the right path?"
"But..."
"No buts. If you keep hesitating like this, I won't let you enter my dreams anymore~"
"..."
Nahida fell silent.
Her curiosity and fondness for Luo Qing's vivid dreams had opened a door to a new world for her—one she couldn't resist exploring.
How could he use that against her?
After a long pause, Nahida's wide eyes darted nervously, and she hesitantly opened her mouth, her tone almost pleading.
"Luo Qing... I... I'd like to prepare a little more..."
"I won't take long..."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course, my dear little Lesser Lord Kusanali~"
Luo Qing pinched her cheek affectionately, his voice indulgent.
"But don't take too long, or I might just get upset and leave Sumeru~"
"Eh...?"
"Mm... I'll try my best..."
"By the way, the Traveler should be arriving in Sumeru soon. She's an interesting one—you might enjoy interacting with her."
"The Traveler..."
Nahida murmured the name under her breath, her gaze toward Luo Qing subtly shifting.
She had communicated with the Traveler in secret before. At that time, she had concealed her identity—nobody else should have known about it.
How did Luo Qing know?
"I'll remember that..."
Nahida nodded softly.
"Good. Then it's settled."
Seeing that her mood had improved, Luo Qing smiled in satisfaction.
"See you in our next dream, Nahida."
With that, he willed himself out of Nahida's mental space.
The Void required no hardware—only a mind to operate it. It offered unparalleled computational power and infinite storage, all in a portable form.
Compared to the internet of his previous life, it was a hundred times more powerful.
Thus, an idea sparked in Luo Qing's mind—to refine the Void into a new kind of internet, leveraging his past-life knowledge.
And then, with the help of someone like Dori, the best water army head around, he could easily guide public opinion and stir the pot...
In his previous life, he'd surfed the web for over a decade, sometimes enraged by absurd online discourse.
Here in Teyvat, with its simple-minded populace, even a slight push would likely send them spiraling into chaos.
Elsewhere...
After Luo Qing left, Nahida hesitated for a moment before willing herself back into the Void. She searched the Akademiya's database for information about Luo Qing.
Their interactions had mostly taken place in dreams, and the only thing she knew about him was that he came from another world. She had assumed he was like the Traveler, wandering Teyvat.
But his knowledge of her private conversations unsettled her.
Perhaps Luo Qing wasn't as simple as she'd thought.
Before long, streams of information about Luo Qing appeared in the Void.
Nahida's gaze grew more complicated as she read.
"Luo Qing... Twelfth Fatui Harbinger... Code name: The Brighella..."
"He belongs... to the Cryo Archon..."
---
T/N: released Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
Chương 227: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [227]
As he passed the Akademiya, a sharp voice suddenly called out behind him.
"Stop right there!"
Turning around, he saw a girl with ash-blue, twin-turbine-like hair standing a few steps away. Her gaze flitted nervously, and her cheeks were dusted with a faint blush.
"You're... Layla?"
Looking at the girl in front of him, a mixture of tsundere shyness written all over her face, Luo Qing was puzzled.
Wasn't she supposed to be scared of him? Why was she suddenly approaching him of her own accord?
"What do you need?"
"I..."
Layla hesitated, fidgeting for a moment before stammering, "I'm ready now..."
"Ready for... what?"
Luo Qing blinked, momentarily bewildered.
Who starts a conversation like that? Ready for what, exactly? Dinner? Bed?
"For the meal I owe you! I can pay it back now..."
Layla's face turned even redder.
For a proud tsundere like her, inviting someone she didn't like out to eat was harder than finishing a thesis.
But Luo Qing was her savior, and she wasn't the type to leave a debt unpaid.
"You're saying... you want to treat me to a meal now?"
"What's the problem? Can't I?" Layla snapped, crossing her arms and puffing up in indignation. "I already booked a table. Once we're done, we're square—no more strings attached!"
Ever since their last meeting, Layla had been planning to properly thank Luo Qing for saving her life. The only way she could think of was treating him to a good meal.
However, as someone who relied on her "outer persona" for day-to-day functioning, Layla had to sneakily hoard Mora whenever she could. She had painstakingly scraped together enough over the past few days to make this happen.
Her plan was simple: invite Luo Qing for a quick meal, thank him properly, then leave as fast as possible and pretend the whole thing never happened.
"..."
Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
Why did this feel like a breakup dinner?
Should he suggest a "breakup bonus" while he was at it?
"But I already planned to have dinner at home today," Luo Qing said, feigning a conflicted tone.
This wasn't entirely a lie. At her insistence, he had developed the habit of returning home for all three meals unless something urgent came up.
If he skipped lunch to meet with another girl for a meal, he'd probably end up tied to the bed tonight for "disciplinary action."
In the past, it was manageable with just her.
But now, she had reinforcements—Theresa, of all people.
"Home for dinner? Someone cooks for you?"
Layla's instincts immediately went on high alert, catching a potential clue.
"Is it... a man or a woman?"
"Do I look like someone who'd live with another man?"
"..."
"I knew it!"
Layla glared at Luo Qing with a mixture of disdain and alarm, taking half a step back as if he were some kind of predatory beast.
"In that case, why don't we reschedule? That way, I can plan ahead," Luo Qing said casually, deliberately baiting her as he stepped forward, pretending to leave.
"No way! Today's the day! I worked so hard to scrape together the Mora and time!"
Layla moved to block his path, arms spread wide.
Her "outer persona" handled her basic needs, so she didn't have to worry about food or shelter. However, this also meant she had no control over her finances.
To avoid raising suspicion, Layla had been secretly siphoning small amounts of Mora from her "outer persona," hiding it away for weeks just for this meal.
And now, this ungrateful guy dared to decline?
Not happening!
She was determined to see this dinner—no, this thank-you meal—through to the end so she could clear her conscience and prevent Luo Qing from haunting her thoughts any longer.
"You sound... kind of broke."
"..."
"Is that really the point here?!"
Layla was furious.
She was treating him to a meal, and this jerk had the audacity to call her broke?! All her money went toward her research!
Glancing around, she noticed that her animated gestures had drawn the attention of several students in the plaza. They were starting to whisper among themselves.
"Hey, isn't that girl from the Rtawahist School? What's she doing here?"
"She looks familiar... Oh, isn't she that genius scholar? Is she arguing with her boyfriend?"
"Wow, even geniuses date?"
The murmurs made Layla flush in embarrassment.
If this continued, her "outer persona" would have to deal with unwanted gossip and complications.
"Hmph! Whatever. I already invited you. Whether you come or not, I've done my part!"
"And you're okay with leaving it like that?"
"..."
He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?!
Layla's frustration mounted. Luo Qing was so infuriating—what exactly did he want?
"How about this," Luo Qing suggested with a chuckle. "I still have some time before dinner at home. Why don't you help us cook? That can count as your thank-you."
"Huh...?"
Layla hesitated, caught off guard.
Her cooking skills were decent, so making a meal for him seemed like a reasonable way to repay her debt.
"But... I already paid for the reservation..."
"Weren't you planning to spend that Mora anyway? The process is different, but the result's the same."
Luo Qing's tone was light. "So, how about it? Want to come home with me?"
"Wha—stop saying it like that!" Layla hissed, glancing nervously around before lowering her voice. "I'm just cooking for you! Afterward, we're completely square!"
"Alright, alright. No strings attached."
---
Not long after, at Luo Qing's home...
The youthful and slightly flustered Layla stood at the doorway, watching as Luo Qing inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and slowly pushed the door open.
Glancing around cautiously, she quickly followed him inside.
The moment she stepped in, a gentle, feminine voice greeted them.
"You're back already? That's earlier than usual."
Turning toward the source of the voice, Layla spotted two women sitting on the living room sofa.
Both had violet hair and eyes, but their demeanors were vastly different. One had long hair cascading to her waist, exuding elegance and a regal aura. The other had a short, spunky hairstyle, her lively gaze brimming with mischief.
As Layla entered, both women turned their attention to her.
"Luo Qing, and who might this be?"
The long-haired woman rose gracefully, her hands clasped in front of her as she approached Layla.
"T-Two of you?!"
Layla stammered, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the long-haired woman, whose gaze felt ancient and commanding—as if she were a deity.
"I-I'm Layla. I came to... to thank Luo Qing for saving my life by cooking him a meal..."
Layla's voice wavered. This woman wasn't just a girlfriend; she radiated the aura of an empress.
"A meal?"
The regal woman's piercing gaze shifted to Luo Qing, her expression seemingly amused.
So, you've already started bringing girls home, huh?
"And why didn't I hear about this earlier?"
"Ahem. I just found out myself," Luo Qing replied, attempting to placate her. "She originally wanted to take me out, but you insisted I come home for lunch."
"Oh?"
The woman's eyes swept over Layla appraisingly, her presence almost suffocating.
At that moment, Luo Qing truly felt the oppressive power of a legitimate wife's aura.
Even he was starting to feel the pressure.
This was clearly someone who had read too many novels about harems and power struggles.
---
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
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