Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The South Wharf had long since sunk into the boundless, bustling sea of ​​activity on the eve of the Lantern Festival.

The plank road is like a vein, with lanterns and colorful flags hanging in succession, like a flowing river of light, dyeing the harbor into a floating, crystal dream.

The smoke from the restaurants rises and falls, the aromas wafting like silk threads, quietly weaving into the damp night breeze; the colorful ribbons of lanterns sway in the wind, as if whispering riddles; and the treasure chests, hiding surprises, are being reverently placed by the staff, like offerings to a festival's secret treasure.

As far as the eye could see, the place was bustling with people, their laughter echoing everywhere. The entire pier resembled a giant lantern lit up by the festival, shining brightly in the night.

Meanwhile, the cargo ships of the Southern Cross fleet, like weary behemoths, lay quietly in a secluded corner of the bustling dock.

The ship swayed gently with the waves, and the bare-chested, muscular laborers were shouting powerful work chants as they carried loads of cargo from the hold onto their shoulders.

The goods were tightly wrapped in tarpaulins and sturdy oak crates, bound tightly. On the sides of the crates, the bright red "Beware of Open Flames" markings in both Inazuma and Liyue languages ​​silently and chillingly branded their identities.

These goods are the celebratory fireworks that the Southern Cross fleet brought back from Inazuma after a long voyage across the ocean, which will soon ignite the night sky of Liyue.

Amidst this hustle and bustle, the most illustrious ship, the "Death Star," which should have been the soul of the fleet, along with its captain, Hokuto, who was accustomed to laughing loudly in the storm and drinking heavily, was nowhere to be found.

The traveler had originally hoped to get closer to the captain of the Big Dipper.

At this moment, only the sea breeze swept across the empty berth, leaving behind an unusual silence.

Yingmei and Paimon plunged headlong into the dazzling, surging torrent of the dock.

In an instant, a surging crowd rushed towards me like a tide, and the dazzling lights wove a net of light. The noisy shouts of vendors, the laughter of children, and the clatter of spatulas blended into a deafening symphony.

Paimon was so overwhelmed by the overwhelming sight that he swayed in the air for a moment, then rubbed his eyes and exclaimed in surprise:

"Wow! My eyes are going blurry! This is too much! It feels a hundred times more lively than Liyue Harbor!"

Despite the excitement, the message from the Northern Bank only vaguely pointed to the South Wharf.

The traveler put away the ephemeral shadow sent by Pantalone.

They understood the principle of not flaunting their wealth, but with the surging crowds and towering masts before them, where could they possibly find Pantalone's figure?

The two women felt as if they had been plunged into a dazzling sea of ​​lights. They looked around, but could not find the unique cold aura of the Winter Executive.

Fortunately, this feeling of helplessness and confusion did not last long.

A clear, cool, and familiar voice suddenly cut into the commotion behind them.

"Oh? You're here too?"

The traveler and Paimon were startled, as if pulled by invisible threads, and quickly turned around.

Behind the two, a tall figure had quietly appeared.

The woman was like a solitary orchid standing quietly in the bustling city; the noise and clamor seemed unable to disturb her tranquility. Her deep, emerald-green eyes silently fell upon them, carrying a penetrating power that seemed to see through everything.

It was Ye Lan who was on duty at the dock.

Just as Paimon was about to ask why this elusive intelligence officer had appeared here, Nightlan spoke first.

Her lips seemed to curve into a faint smile, but her voice lacked its usual gentleness, becoming clear and cold like an icy spring, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"The dock is so lively, are you two also planning to participate in the Lantern Festival celebrations here?"

An invisible pressure quietly spread with her words, and the laughter and joy on the dock seemed to be separated by a layer in an instant.

The traveler felt a chill run down his spine, taken aback by the completely different, almost interrogative tone. Almost instinctively, he began to explain what had happened along the way.

Starting with being turned away by the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, then failing to find Mr. Zhongli, and finally receiving news from the Northern Bank that led them to the South Wharf to search for Pantalone.

The traveler's voice trailed off under Ye Lan's calm gaze. Ye Lan listened quietly, her eyes gleaming as if she were rapidly unraveling the threads of the information. After a moment of contemplation, she didn't respond immediately, but instead slowly turned her head, casting her gaze upon the vast sea beyond the southern dock.

Then Ye Lan withdrew her gaze, fixing it on the traveler again, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on her lips: "So that's how it is."

"So, traveler, would you be interested in joining us in search of Pantalone?"

The word "we" lightly glossed over Yelan's possible companions.

The traveler keenly grasped the deeper meaning behind it.

Ye Lan clearly knew secrets far beyond what she could imagine, and without much hesitation, the girl nodded vigorously.

"follow me."

Ye Lan said no more, turned around nimbly, and walked straight towards the old shipyard at the very edge of the dock, away from the hustle and bustle of the city lights and crowds.

The traveler and Paimon didn't have time to think it through and quickly followed, but soon a strange sense of unease began to linger in the traveler's mind.

She seemed to have overlooked something important.

"what!"

Paimon suddenly cried out in surprise, quickly covering his mouth with his little hand, his voice revealing a belated panic.

"Famas! Famas hasn't caught up yet! Should we wait for him?"

This reminder made the travelers suddenly remember Famas, whom they had left behind.

The two women's conversation reached Yelan's ears clearly. She already knew from the previous conversation that Famas had also accompanied the traveler on his visit.

However, Yelan's attitude towards this demon god with a special identity has always been restrained and cautious.

Missing this opportunity might actually be a convenience for her upcoming mission.

Ye Lan paused almost imperceptibly, without turning around, but her clear, cold voice came through clearly, carrying a hint of unfathomable meaning: "It's alright, if that gentleman is willing, he can catch up with us at any time."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Lan stopped and continued walking forward with firm steps.

The traveler and Paimon exchanged a glance, their eyes showing hesitation, but they knew the opportunity was fleeting.

After a slight hesitation, the two gritted their teeth and followed.

The three walked through the dock area, which was filled with the smell of rotting wood, pungent tung oil, and a strong fishy smell. Abandoned ship rudders and rusty ironware were piled up on both sides like the remains of a giant beast.

Ye Lan's steps did not falter, following the steep and slippery edge of the cliff, extending all the way towards the Lonely Cloud Pavilion.

Seemingly feeling that her speed was a bit slow, a layer of dark blue water ripples suddenly appeared around Ye Lan, as if she were enveloped by the deep sea. In an instant, her figure became hazy and illusory, as if she had transformed into a flowing liquid light and shadow, and her speed suddenly increased.

"Don't be surprised, this is a family secret technique that can increase our travel speed."

Night Orchid whispered a reminder, and at the same moment, two cold yet supple beams of deep blue water appeared out of thin air, instantly enveloping the Traveler and Paimon gently yet powerfully.

The traveler felt a sudden lightness in his body, the sense of support beneath his feet vanished, as if he were being gently lifted and propelled forward by a powerful current of water. The scenery on both sides of his vision instantly stretched into blurry bands of color, and the wind whistled in his ears.

"Wow ah ah!"

"Flying, flying so fast! Whoa, Paimon's going to turn into a shooting star!"

Paimon, already hovering in the air, flew even faster, its incredible speed causing the little mascot to cry out in surprise. (End of Chapter)