Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

Wendy's leap over the threshold created a string of clear sounds from the wind chimes, while Famas's movements of pulling Tok over the vermilion lacquered threshold revealed the agility of a military commander.

In the main hall of the Hall of Rebirth, the pine wood incense burner that Hu Tao had replaced last night was emitting wisps of smoke, and a flyer carefully made by the girl was hidden in the crack of the steps.

There was a sudden sound of footsteps on the wooden stairs to the second floor. Hu Tao walked down the stairs holding the railing in her embroidered soft shoes. Her floral nightgown was wrapped around her body. The soul-attracting butterfly embroidered on the collar was rubbed askew, and her white lotus-like calves were stained with red marks from the quilt.

"Zhongli? Who's knocking on the door so early?"

The girl's fingertips rubbed her plum blossom pupils until they were misty, and her words were nasal with the sound of waking up in the morning.

"Is it Mr. Zhao who ordered the family package half a month ago who is here to pay the balance?"

When he caught a glimpse of three figures standing at the door, Hu Tao suddenly cried out "Ah" and stopped abruptly at the steps.

She hurriedly pulled her collar together, and the ornaments in her hair jingled, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she caught a glimpse of Tok's innocent little face and the familiar faces of Famas and Wendy, and in the blink of an eye she returned to her proud look with her head held high.

"Who is this little boy?"

"By the way, Famas, you came just in time. I have something to ask you!"

The moment Walnut saw Famas, her eyes lit up. She ran down the stairs, grabbed the boy's wrist and went upstairs. Her overly intimate behavior successfully made Wendy open her eyes wide.

Fortunately, Zhongli stopped Hu Tao in time, and found a short coat from the chair in the main hall for the girl to put on. He rubbed his brows helplessly and said, "If you have anything to say, let's talk in my bedroom first."

In addition to him and Hu Tao, the Hall of Rebirth also occasionally had ferrymen on duty staying overnight. It was just dawn in Liyue, and in order to avoid disturbing the resting ceremonial attendants, Zhongli took the initiative to take everyone to his bedroom.

By the way, use the power of the cave to separate several people.

Famas and Wendy obviously had no objection, and Walnut was eager to lead the way.

As the hinge of the sandy wooden door made a slight sound, Zhongli raised his hand and flicked it slightly. A dark golden light quietly flowed from his fingertips, causing slight ripples in the air under the corridor. The cave barrier spread silently, locking all the morning noise out of the small world.

Famas and Wendy naturally noticed the change in space, but after looking at each other, they tacitly chose to remain silent.

Zhongli's bedroom was simply furnished. The sandalwood was still incense and the ink on the ancient book spread out on the desk was not dry yet, indicating that he was still studying last night.

Hu Tao walked into the room and subconsciously touched the missing corner of the Ruo Tuo sculpture with her slender fingers. Suddenly, she saw a copy of "A Study of Funeral Rites" with annotations written on it under the paperweight on the desk. The ink had seeped through the yellowed rice paper. She tilted her head and took a closer look.

Could it be that the guest official was writing new teaching materials for the ceremonial attendants last night?
The morning sun on one side of the window cut across the crystal butterfly specimens on the antique shelf. Toke's entire face was almost pressed against them, and his nose tip blew white mist on the glass:
"Uncle Zhongli! Does this golden butterfly flutter its wings like the mechanical butterfly my brother gave me?"

Before the slightly childish ending of the sentence had even finished, Famas had already taken the specimen off and nudged Zhongli with his elbow:

"Of course, Liyue's Lord Yan can make metal and stone open their minds, right?"

Zhongli's eyebrows moved slightly, and he raised his finger to lightly touch the crystal butterfly specimen. A ray of golden light meandered up from his wrist like a dragon, and the thin wings of the rock crystal butterfly trembled immediately. Fine golden dust fell bit by bit accompanied by the child's exclamation.

Wendy leaned against the carved window frame and ate an apple. The green breeze blew up a few grains of golden sand and sprinkled them in Toke's hair.

Hu Tao stood on tiptoe to reach the top of the jade porcelain jar, and sniffed the gold powder left by the crystal butterfly with her fingertips. Her plum blossom pupils suddenly brightened like morning stars: "This phosphorus powder can be used as medicine! Zhongli, lend me the alchemical equipment in your study... Ouch!"

The girl's voice stopped abruptly. She moved too hastily and her belt accidentally hit the antique shelf, causing the celadon vase on the shelf to shake and fall.

Zhongli gently raised his hand and the rocks rose up, holding up the tipping porcelain vase steadily. He then saw the girl had scurried to the other side of the antique shelf like a cat, and was putting a flyer with "Second stele half price" written on it into the books on funeral rites.

"Master," Zhongli sighed helplessly, but there was a hint of indulgence in his gilded eyes, "be careful not to drop that expensive incense burner." Ripples appeared in the barrier outside the window. An early riser hurriedly walked under the corridor holding the account book, unaware that in the bedroom not far away, golden sand was dancing around a giggling child.

But unfortunately, this harmonious atmosphere did not last long.

The golden mist raised by the crystal butterfly's wings had not yet dissipated when Hu Walnut's lower back hit the sandalwood table. The books piled on the table collapsed with a crash, sweeping away half a cup of cold tea, and brown stains spread across the cover of the ancient book, forming a large black flower.

"That is the only copy handed down from the Guiliji period!"

Just as Zhongli finished speaking, the amber condensed from the rock element had already wrapped around the book. Wendy wanted to help, but when the breeze from her fingertips blew away the tea stains, the remaining apple core hit the bronze wine jug on top of the antique display stand.

Thousands of years old wine mixed with crystal butterfly gold powder cascaded down like a waterfall, instantly filling the room with an intoxicating sweet fragrance.

Tok was jumping and chasing after the crystal butterflies. His small leather boots slipped after stepping on the wine and hit Famas' knee.

The latter staggered and grabbed the curtain hook beside the bed, and the entire curtain fell like a cloud, covering Nutella who was holding the crucible.

The silver powder that was overturned by the girl when she struggled touched the remnants of the fire element, and instantly exploded into a cluster of golden-red sparks.

"careful!"

Zhongli's warning was drowned out by the sound of the explosion. Sparks splashed into the wine pool and ignited a dark blue flame. Venti hurriedly summoned wind to sweep up the fire, but the airflow blew the gold powder into a vortex, and the afterimages of the burning crystal butterflies scattered like a meteor shower.

When Hu Tao came out through the curtain, she reached out and grabbed the jade belt around Zhongli's waist and almost pulled Zhongli's pants off.

Prince Yan stretched out his hand and took Walnut, and quickly condensed four rocks to control the chaotic elemental force. However, Tok looked at the burnt crystal butterfly powder and cheered: "Great, this is more beautiful than the fireworks at the dock!"

The mess in the bedroom had not yet been cleared up. When Zhongli held his forehead and sighed, he suddenly felt the rock print slightly hot, and Paimeng's crisp cry was heard again on the stone steps in front of the Hall of Rebirth.

As the temporary master of this cave, Zhongli could naturally sense movements that others were unaware of.

A look of helplessness flashed across the old man's gilded eyes. He asked Walnut, the only reliable person among the crowd, to look after the place for a while, then prepared to turn around and go downstairs to greet the Traveler and Paimon.

Before leaving, Zhongli did not forget to use a formation to seal the door of the cave room to prevent any accidents from happening to them that would affect the Hall of Rebirth.

The sun was shining obliquely in the corridor. The emperor, whose clothes were still stained with crystal powder, had just arrived at the hall and happened to run into the early ferryman on duty.

The girl stared at the embarrassed Zhongli and took a half step back in shock. A few pages of the account book in her arms fell out:
"Mr. Keqing, what are you doing...?"

Zhongli lowered his eyes, and saw the gold powder on his collar like plum petals falling on snow, and the jade buckle on his waist still had Hutao's handprint. At this time, the sound of a traveler knocking on the doorknob was heard outside the hall.

"Please go ahead and receive the guests. I'll be out after I tidy up a bit."

Zhongli gave instructions to the ferryman, and the attendant opened the door to receive him as ordered.

When the other party turned around, a slight fluctuation of rock element occurred, and in an instant, Zhongli's drooping sleeves with dragon pattern were restored to neatness. The moment Xuanyan retracted his sword, his sleeves also returned to their original solemnity.

Zhongli then went out to greet the Traveler and Paimon who had returned from the Yujingtai Auction House.

There is no need to elaborate on what happened next.

The Traveler and Paimon followed Zhongli back to the bedroom and stood at the door, nervously watching Famas bragging to her. (End of this chapter)