Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"Wow! Miss Huixin, it's you!"

"I never expected to meet you and Mr. Buyun at such a beautiful Crescent Moon Pavilion!"

Upon hearing Huixin's call, Paimon immediately flew over joyfully.

The reconstruction of Yuehaiting is nearing completion; the scaffolding has long been removed, revealing a brand-new look as if it has been reborn from the ashes.

The vermilion pillars are made of the finest sandalwood, coated with tung oil and cinnabar lacquer several times, shimmering with a warm and understated luster under the sunlight. The auspicious crane and cloud patterns on the eaves and brackets have been carefully restored by skilled craftsmen and re-gilded, shining brightly in the sunlight. Even the bluestone slabs of the corridor underfoot have been polished and paved again, smooth and flat.

After recovering a large amount of Mora from Pantarone, the restoration of Liyue Harbor progressed at an astonishing pace. The plan to revitalize the area through industrial development was quickly implemented, and the travelers encountered a similarly bustling scene when they passed through Scarlet Cloud Slope.

Most of the damaged shops have been rebuilt with brick walls, and brand-new wooden beams and eaves have been installed. Craftsmen are busy painting the doors and windows with bright paint, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of wood shavings.

It's probably not far off from a full return to its former glory.

Paimon circled Huixin lightly once before stopping, tilting his little head and curiously examining the gleaming pillars and the sheen of the new paint around him, his tone full of concern:

"Are you still busy with work lately? By the way, I just passed by Feiyunpo, and the shops are being built so quickly!"

Huixin hugged the documents tighter, a gentle yet somewhat forced smile curving her lips:
"Thanks to everyone's blessings and the guidance of senior Gan Yu, the work is finally on the right track."

"Seeing Yuehaiting recover little by little, even better than before, I feel much more at ease."

As Huixin spoke, she subconsciously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Bu Yun's gaze followed her movement, lifting slightly before quickly lowering again, focusing on tidying the edges of the documents in his hands.

"It's just... lately, I don't know why, I'm always getting distracted, and I can't calm my mind down."

The girl's gaze swept over the elegant green plants that had just been transplanted into the brand-new courtyard and were still on their supports, appearing somewhat unfocused, and her voice lowered.

The traveler keenly noticed a hint of melancholy flashing across Huixin's brow and asked softly:

"Miss Huixin? Is something wrong?"

Upon hearing the traveler's words, Famas, who was standing nearby, withdrew his gaze from examining the building and cast a timely and appropriate look of concern.

He certainly knew the root of Huixin's worries, and even understood her father's true situation better than Huixin herself.

However, Famas showed no intention of exposing the truth. Instead, he silently played along with everyone else, while also pondering how well Irina was diverting Yelan's attention.

To Huixin, FAMAS was merely a gentle companion to this legendary traveler. After all, FAMAS's true identity remained a taboo in Liyue, known only to the Liyue Seven Stars and a select few.

At the same time, Bu Yun paused in his work of organizing the documents, looking intently at Hui Xin, his calm gaze revealing unconcealed worry.

Huixin sighed softly, unconsciously hugging the files in her arms tighter, her voice even lower.

"Well... it's a long story."

“It’s my father… He… due to health reasons, has clearly expressed to the Seven Stars his desire to step down as ‘Tian Shu Star’.”

Paimon was so startled that he kicked his leg hard in mid-air, glanced back at the Traveler, then turned to stare at Huixin, his voice rising:
"Hey? Uncle Tian? What's wrong with him? Is it serious?"

The Traveler and Paimon are well-known gossip experts in Liyue, so they naturally know that the secretary of the Moonlit Pavilion, Huixin, is also one of the Seven Stars of Liyue and the daughter of Tian Shu.

Upon hearing this, Huixin quickly shook her head, trying to comfort Paimon, but the sorrow in her eyes deepened.

"My father said it's nothing serious, just... his energy isn't what it used to be."

“He used to be full of energy even when reviewing documents late into the night, but now he can’t read for long before he shows an undisguised look of fatigue and weariness, and sometimes he even loses his mind and becomes absent-minded.”

Huixin gazed at the shimmering sea in the distance, her eyes unfocused, and her voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob.

“My father often said casually that everyone gets old eventually, but every time I saw the wrinkles on his face deepen and the gray hairs at his temples increase… my heart felt like it was being squeezed, a bitter and indescribable feeling.” Famas listened quietly, his face maintaining just the right amount of solemnity and sympathy.

But beneath that seemingly concerned surface, thoughts were racing to confirm it.

His barely concealed fatigue and brief moments of absent-mindedness closely matched the symptoms he had learned from Zhiyi about the middle and late stages of a chronic, rare poison.

Everything is progressing steadily according to Zhiyi's plan.

As Huixin's words fell, the air under the corridor seemed to freeze for a moment. The faint sounds of ship whistles and waves in the distance only made the sense of helplessness in the face of the aging of loved ones seem even more empty and silent.

Bu Yun unconsciously tightened his grip on the documents. Looking at Hui Xin's slender yet resilient back, a complex, dull pain welled up in his heart.

He understands the sense of powerlessness in the face of the passage of time, and because of his age, this understanding is mixed with a deeper resonance.

Bu Yun wanted to say something to comfort Hui Xin, but his throat felt like it was choked by something, and in the end he just stood there more silently, suppressing his turbulent emotions deep inside.

Bu Yun knew that the years that separated him from Hui Xin had already destined him to be only a silent guardian.

At this moment, Huixin took a deep breath, forced a pale smile, turned to the traveler and Paimon, her eyes filled with earnest expectation, her tone sincere and earnest:
"By the way, Father is resting on the second floor of the Yanshang Tea House. Would you like to come with me to see him?"

“Father really likes you. He mentioned it after we parted last time. He said he would be very happy to see you and talk to you. That might comfort him a little…”

Huixin paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and added:
"Speaking of which, the renovation of the Crimson Cloud Slope where the Rock Tea House is located is progressing very quickly. My father sometimes goes there to take a look and says that seeing Liyue gradually recover makes him feel more relaxed."

As soon as Huixin finished speaking, Paimon nodded vigorously, his little face filled with anxiety and worry.

"Okay, okay! Let's go right now!"

"Traveler, Famas, hurry up! I'd love to see what the repaired Scarlet Cloud Slope looks like!"

At that moment, Bu Yun stepped forward and extended his hand. He deliberately avoided looking into Hui Xin's sorrowful eyes and focused only on the files in her arms.

"Miss Huixin, I'll take these documents back to Lord Ganyu for you."

"Ah... thank you, Mr. Bu Yun."

Huixin then realized what was happening and quickly handed over the document, her face filled with gratitude.

"If any new progress reports on the renovations at Feiyunpo arrive, please receive them for me."

Her fingertips brushed against Bu Yun's calloused palm, and Bu Yun's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm.

"Please take good care of your father.

Bu Yun took the document and gave Hui Xin a deep look. His eyes held the care of an elder, as well as a deeper emotion, but in the end, it turned into a simple and solemn instruction.

The middle-aged man said nothing more, nodded slightly, turned around with the documents in his arms, and walked steadily toward the depths of the Moon Sea Pavilion.

As Huixin watched Bu Yun's tall but weathered figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, a strange sense of peace washed over her. But then his last words, "Take care," stirred up even deeper worries about her father's current situation.

Huixin shook her head, temporarily setting aside her distracting thoughts, and gave the Traveler, Paimon, and Famas a forced smile:

“Then let’s go too, let’s go to Scarlet Cloud Slope to see the new look of Liyue, and also to see Father.”

The traveler and Famas exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

The afternoon sun still shone brightly on the newly renovated Moon Sea Pavilion, its white stone steps reflecting a dazzling light. But beneath the eaves of this hall, a symbol of rebirth, a drama of power transition was already unfolding. (End of Chapter)