Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

On the edge of the terraced fields of Qingcezhuang, beside the babbling brook, an old man and a young man sat quietly fishing.

The young man wore a wide-brimmed white hat reminiscent of Fontainebleau, but was dressed in a wide-sleeved robe from Liyue. A wisp of hair fell across his forehead, and behind his black-rimmed glasses, a hint of barely perceptible anxiety lurked in his calm eyes.

His name is Zhiyi, and he is a student studying in Liyue.

The old man beside Zhiyi had his full head of silver hair neatly pulled back, and his silver-white beard was meticulously combed. He had a thin and gaunt face, and wore a simple and neat Liyue short jacket with dark arm guards. He was none other than Tian Shu Xing, Uncle Tian, ​​who had not set foot in Liyue Harbor since returning from Wuwang Slope.

The two sat side by side on the stone-built embankment by the stream, their fishing rods stretched diagonally across the water, the floats swaying gently in the shimmering waves, surrounded only by the sound of water and the occasional gust of wind.

Fishing is supposed to be an activity that cultivates the mind and body, but Zhiyi finds it difficult to calm down.

Besides being a student studying in Liyue, Zhiyi has another identity: he is a mole planted in Liyue Harbor by Pantarone, the ninth executive officer of the Fatui.

In the future, Zhiyi will even commit acts like poisoning a king.

Perhaps before we even reach the future, Tian Shu Xing, who is sitting next to him now and occasionally coughs violently, has probably already been given a slow poison by Zhi Yi in the fish soup he often drinks.

The poison originated from a gift from Zhi Dong's superior. It was extremely potent, but Zhi Yi, through repeated adjustments, transformed it into a slow-acting poison.

He also discovered that the fishy smell of the fish soup could neutralize the special sour taste of the poison, making the soup even more delicious. So he would often take the opportunity of fishing and making soup to secretly poison the soup and then invite Uncle Tian to taste it.

After each poisoning, Zhiyi would be paranoid and unable to sleep for several days.

But when it came time to act, he never hesitated.

Because in Zhiyi's eyes, a poor student like him, who has no wealth or power, can only sit on the position of Tian Shu Star by such means.

When the star is at its dimmest, that is when it shines brightest.

Zhiyi's anxiety at this moment stemmed not only from Tian Shuxing, whom he was secretly poisoning, but also from a more serious and urgent threat.

That was his superior, the Fatui's Ninth Executive Officer, "The Rich" Pantarone, who had personally arrived in Liyue Harbor.

Although Zhiyi was completely unaware of the naval clash between the "Death Star" and the "Yermark" a few days prior, and had no idea that Pantalone had already quietly departed, this lack of information only exacerbated his unease.

Pantalone's arrival was like a boulder thrown into his already turbulent thoughts.

Zhiyi was worried that if his plan to replace Tian Shu Xing was delayed even slightly, it would lead to unpredictable changes. What made him even more uneasy was his direct superior named Yusupov, who had many key details of his plan.

Zhiyi was constantly worried that Yusupov might leak his plans in order to gain credit.

If that happens, everything he has painstakingly built will collapse like a sandcastle in an instant, and all his efforts will be in vain.

Uncle Tian's gaze never left the buoy, but out of the corner of his eye he took in the young man's anxiety.

The old man paused slightly, thinking that Zhiyi was worried about his future, so he coughed twice and his deep, calm voice slowly rang out:

"Zhiyi... Life is like fishing; it allows no room for impatience. In life and in work, one cannot be hasty."

"When I was young, I was just like you, always wanting to prove myself as soon as possible. Later I realized that things don't always go as we expect."

Uncle Tian held the fishing rod loosely, as if feeling the subtle vibrations from the fishing line, and then gently lifted the rod tip, his movements as steady as a rock.

"Only by calming your mind can you see the direction clearly and move forward steadily."

The old man's gaze remained fixed on the water, and his words flowed gently like a stream.

"You are still young, and you have a long way to go. You must be able to endure loneliness, and you must believe in your own worth. Your value does not need to be proven by external things."

Uncle Tian spoke these words sincerely. In fact, when they first met, the elderly Uncle Tian had also suspected that the young man had ulterior motives for approaching him, but his secret investigation showed that Zhiyi at that time really had no other intentions and only regarded him as an ordinary fishing buddy.

Over time, Uncle Tian gradually became amazed by Zhiyi's talent and developed a love for talent. One day, while fishing, he inadvertently revealed his identity as Tian Shu Star.

Zhiyi was incredibly perceptive. He immediately straightened his clothes and hat, and respectfully bowed to Uncle Tian. From then on, whenever he sought advice, his words were earnest and his demeanor humble.

Over time, Uncle Tian grew to appreciate Zhiyi's talent and learning more and more. But looking at his own aging body, Uncle Tian had an idea.

That means this child, Zhiyi, might be able to take over the responsibility of Tian Shu Star.

Although he had not yet decided to directly recommend Zhiyi to Yuehaiting, he was determined to give him a fair chance to compete.

While people value one's background and reputation, Uncle Tian doesn't care much about them.

Since Tian Shu returned from the misty, life-or-death situation at Wuwang Slope, he has never set foot in the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor again.

That journey, which teetered on the brink of life and death, made him truly realize the weight of time.

The energetic young man who followed Gan Yu back then is now all white-haired.

This body, which had followed him in battle for many years, could not ultimately withstand the erosion of time.

Compared to the mountains of paperwork and the hustle and bustle of politics in Liyue Harbor, Tian now prefers the tranquility of Qingce Village.

Here, terraced fields cascade down the slopes, streams murmur, and more importantly, his equally elderly sister lives here in tranquility.

Spending time with his family and fishing by the stream in his spare time has become the most cherished moment for Uncle Tian.

His daughter, Huixin, is already capable of handling things independently at Yuehaiting, which is enough to allow him to rest assured and relieve himself of his burden.

This old body, which has toiled for Liyue its entire life, deserves a rest.

Therefore, when Ye Lan followed the clues to Qing Ce Manor and gently persuaded him to return to Hong Kong to take charge of the overall situation, Uncle Tian refused without hesitation.

He frankly expressed his feelings, clearly stating that he had no intention of making a comeback, and instead solemnly entrusted Ye Lan with a crucial task.

To assist in initiating the selection process for the next Tian Shu Star.

Faced with Uncle Tian's firm determination to retire, Ye Lan felt helpless, but she could only take on the important task of examining candidates in addition to her heavy duties.

To ensure that Uncle Tian could stay informed about the situation in the port even while living in the countryside, Yelan would regularly send important intelligence about Liyue Harbor, news from various parties, and some government documents that required Tian Shu's review to Qingce Manor for Uncle Tian to study in his spare time.

Ningguang clearly understood Tianshu's intentions and his decision to step down, so she took over the core political affairs that originally belonged to Tianshu Star and handled them in an orderly manner.

Thus, Uncle Tian, ​​who was living among the bamboo forests and streams of Qingce Village, entered a state of semi-retirement.

The whispers of the stream replaced the hustle and bustle of the harbor, waiting only for Ye Lan to complete her examination and selection of the candidates, and for Uncle Tian and the new Tian Shu Star to complete the handover of duties. That moment would mark the beginning of his true retirement to the countryside, where he could enjoy his later years in peace.

Zhiyi is one of the people that Uncle Tian thinks highly of.

Unfortunately, Zhiyi remains trapped in his past. His talent bestows upon him arrogance, but his past etches deep-seated inferiority. This contradiction will eventually tear apart his principles, pushing him down a path of no return.

The stream still murmurs, and the float gently dips.

Uncle Tian flicked his wrist, and a silver scale drew an arc in the sunlight.

Zhiyi stared at the leaping fish, his eyes behind his glasses unreadable. (End of Chapter)