Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The underground grottoes of Qingce Village were quiet.

Famas's sharp question still echoed in the deathly silence, lingering for a long time.

Zhiyi lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his clasped hands, his knuckles slightly white. He finally fell into a long and stagnant silence, a silence that did not stem from ignorance or shock, quite the opposite.

How could he not know about the flaws pointed out by Famas, Uncle Tian's doubts, the fragile halo on the dock, and the glaring flow of Mora on the books?
Zhiyi knows better than anyone how hasty and superficial the foundation is behind his carefully crafted persona.

Once upon a time, he was just a poor student struggling to make ends meet among the masses in Liyue Harbor, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he "didn't know where his next meal would come from."

He spent more time sitting on the cold stone steps of the South Wharf of Liyue Harbor than he had spent studying at the academy.

Back then, his fishing rod was his only companion. He was fortunate if the fish he caught could fill his stomach; he had no energy to cultivate any reputation.

At that time, in the eyes of the dockworkers and boat captains, Zhiyi was just another taciturn, down-on-his-luck scholar who was worried about making a living, a vague figure who was almost invisible.

All the change began with the heavy, scalding Mora that the fools gave away.

It was these funds, imbued with the chill of foreign lands, that enabled Zhiyi to generously donate, giving him the capital to be charitable at the docks and showcase his talent and enthusiasm, packaged in money.

Like a skilled craftsman, he used Mora as paint and, in just a few months, painted a brand new image of a public-spirited and talented person on the canvas of the dock.

However, this canvas is ultimately too new, and the background is too pale. Anyone with a little sense and a keen eye can easily peel back this layer of glossy paint by going back a little time, revealing the truth of the unknown student who was worrying about a fish and a bowl of rice just a few months ago.

This is the most vulnerable weakness in the Zhiyi Plan, a loophole that he is well aware of but powerless to close in a short period of time.

The embarrassment he suffered a few months ago is like an indelible brand, deeply etched into his very being.

At that time, he was struggling to survive, so how could he have the luxury of weaving an earlier, denser, and more robust network of relationships? The investment in Mora by the foolish crowd came too late and was spent too hastily.

This hastily built reputation proved incredibly fragile under genuine investigation.

As for the Liyue special agencies and professionals mentioned by Famas.

Zhiyi's brows furrowed slightly as he unconsciously rubbed his knuckles, his thoughts like intricate gears rapidly meshing and turning among the fragments of known information.

From the occasional snippets of conversation that Tian Shu occasionally uttered, and the tacit whispers of the General Affairs Department officials, Zhi Yi had already sketched out the overt picture of the changing of the stars in his mind.

The current Tian Shu Star recommends candidates, which are then submitted to Yue Hai Ting for approval. Yue Hai Ting then conducts a comprehensive review, weighing all factors, and evaluates and compares the nominated candidates and other potential contenders before making the final selection and publicizing the results.

This is a procedure that takes place in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of the public.

FAMAS mentioned professionals from intelligence agencies, a term that was both familiar and unheard of.

He never found the exact origin of this title in official documents or popular rumors.

However, this confusion was fleeting. With his years of experience in the docks and his glimpse into the dark side of power, he understood that the transfer of power among the Seven Stars was a matter of life and death for Liyue. How could it be decided solely by official documents and verbal sparring in the Mingtang?

Beneath the underground river, there must be an undercurrent.

There must be another force in Liyue that is thoroughly investigating and tracing the lineage, past actions, and interpersonal relationships of each candidate.

The professionals that FAMAS mentioned are undoubtedly the ones in power in this force.

However, when FAMAS mentioned professionals, a slender and capable figure gradually became clear in Zhiyi's mind.

It was Ye Lan, the woman whose hair seemed to be tinged with the deep blue of the night. A few days ago, Ye Lan had personally visited Qingce Mountain and Water, her words gentle yet carrying an undeniable weight, urging Uncle Tian to return to Liyue Harbor to take charge of the overall situation.

After Tian Shu refused, this person delivered secret letters to Tian Shu, who was recuperating in Qingce Manor, several times. The thick files were sealed with sealing wax, exuding an air of secrecy that kept people at a distance.

Zhiyi's encounter with Yelan was purely accidental. At the time, Zhiyi was walking on a path in Qingce Village, preparing to deliver the "delicious fish soup" that Uncle Tian had carefully prepared. While his mind was racing, he almost bumped into a woman.

Zhiyi quickly steadied himself and looked up. The other person reacted extremely quickly, deftly sidestepping to avoid the collision the moment he stumbled.

But in that fleeting glimpse, Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat. The woman's movements were unusually nimble, and her emerald eyes were sharp. When her gaze swept over every blade of grass and tree around her, it carried an almost instinctive, cold scrutiny, as if she could penetrate the surface and reach the subtle discord within.

Uncle Tian was at the end of the path when he saw the two meet. He quickly walked over, chuckled, and casually introduced them to Zhiyi:

“Zhiyi, you’ve arrived…cough cough…This is Yelan, a friend of mine in Liyue Harbor, who came to visit this old man in Qingce Manor.”

Ye Lan didn't say much, but nodded slightly to Zhi Yi, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.

Zhiyi suppressed his surprise and nodded politely in return.

He keenly sensed that this woman named Ye Lan was no ordinary visitor; her demeanor and alertness seemed to have little to do with the word "friend" that Uncle Tian had mentioned.

However, Uncle Tian had been coughing badly lately and obviously didn't want to talk much, so Zhiyi had no choice but to suppress her doubts for the time being.

At this moment, when Famas mentioned again the hidden individuals and secretive organizations of Liyue, that name immediately came to Zhiyi's mind.

Night orchid.

Her all-knowing gaze and her cautious, almost instinctive demeanor perfectly matched what Famas was referring to.

Zhiyi suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on Famas, and tentatively asked:

"The professional you mentioned... could it be Miss Ye Lan?"

Upon hearing this, Famas's eyebrows visibly twitched, a hint of undisguised surprise flashing across his face. He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Zhiyi, and blurted out:

"Oh? You know about Night Orchid?"

"Tian Shu Xing tells you everything."

Famas was truly surprised that Zhiyi already knew Yelan.

Logically speaking, a spy of Ye Lan's status should not only have to keep her true identity strictly confidential, but even her face should be hidden away, and she should live in darkness for the rest of her life, never to be seen by the world.

The continent of Teyvat is a magical land. Even without the slightest clue or evidence, magicians who study magic and fortune tellers skilled in divination can easily glean information about Yelan's identity with just a flick of their fingertips.

In this way, deliberately hiding one's face loses much of its practical significance.

Just like with the abilities of the Fools, if they were truly determined to investigate, it wouldn't be difficult for them to uncover Ye Lan's true identity out of thin air.

So, Ye Lan's usual disguises were, in the end, just to fool ordinary people who didn't know the truth.

Moreover, Uncle Tian also entrusted Ye Lan to serve as the examiner for the next Tian Shu Star.

In this way, Ye Lan no longer needed to conceal her identity from these candidates. (End of Chapter)