Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The second-floor terrace of the Rock Tea House is filled with the fragrant aroma of tea, a truly delightful experience.

Looking out from the railing, one can see the bustling scene of thousands of sails racing and hundreds of boats vying for position in Liyue Harbor.

Upon arriving at the Rock Tea House, Paimon took the lead and strode across the terrace threshold, his clear voice instantly breaking the tranquility around the table.

"Uncle Tian! We've come to chat with you!"

Uncle Tian, ​​who was leaning against the railing gazing into the distance, slowly turned around upon hearing the sound.

The marks of time etched on his face now revealed a gentle, slightly unexpected smile:
"Oh? This is a rare guest indeed. Welcome, welcome."

The traveler and Famas followed Paimon up the steps to the terrace.

The moment he saw Famas's face, the gentle smile on Uncle Tian's face seemed to be pulled away by an invisible force, slowly disappearing, leaving only a faint, barely perceptible curve on his lips.

After that chance encounter at Qingce Manor, Uncle Tian used Ye Lan to pass on the information that Famas had appeared at Qingce Manor with unclear intentions to Ning Guang, but the reply Uncle Tian received was unusually concise:
"If the other party does nothing to harm Liyue, there's no need to pay them any attention."

This almost permissive attitude made Uncle Tian instantly understand Ningguang's helplessness.

After the passing of the Geo Archon, Liyue Harbor has lost the means to deter this ancient demon god. At this moment, taking the initiative to provoke him would be tantamount to inviting trouble. Ningguang's choice is to exercise restraint after assessing the situation.

The chilling sensation of death and the ecstasy of resurrection are still etched in Uncle Tian's memory.

Having personally experienced that boundary, he understood better than anyone how easily life and death were played with in the hands of beings like FAMAS.

Facing a demon god whose breath can overturn life and death, Liyue can no longer afford to take any chances.

But Uncle Tian never let his guard down. Famas entered Qingce Village alone and happened to meet himself and Zhiyi while they were fishing. It was no coincidence.

Uncle Tian was constantly haunted by a strong sense of conspiracy, but his weeks of secret investigation seemed to have vanished without a trace. Famas's whereabouts in Liyue were eerily clear, as if the reunion in Qingce Village was really just a casual stroll on a whim.

As for Zhiyi... after Famas suddenly left that day, the young man quickly returned to Uncle Tian's side. He seemingly casually probed Famas's identity and Uncle Tian's reason for letting him leave first.

Uncle Tian naturally kept his mouth shut, only using the excuse of Liyue's secrets to evade the question. Finally, he solemnly warned Zhiyi that if he ever saw Famas again, he must stay away from him.

Zhiyi nodded thoughtfully at the time, but Uncle Tian still couldn't be sure whether the glint in his eyes was awe or something else.

A silent sigh spread through Uncle Tian's heart.

What worries him even more is Ye Lan's situation.

In the past few weeks, the dark side of this General Affairs Director seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace. Occasionally, a fleeting glimpse would reveal him either silently wrapping blood-soaked bandages in a dimly lit corner or tidying up those strange tools that radiated a dangerous, chilling light.

That's clearly the state you'd be in when someone's chasing you.

Uncle Tian asked Ye Lan several times if she needed help, but Ye Lan always refused decisively.

"It's a small matter, I can handle it."

But the weariness hidden in Ye Lan's eyes indicated that the trouble she was involved in was by no means trivial.

However, the selection of Tian Shu Star is imminent, and Ye Lan, who is the most suitable candidate for review and supervision and has rich experience and excellent insight, is obviously unable to take on the task.

Returning to the present, following Ningguang's instructions, Uncle Tian tried to ignore Famas's identity, nodded and greeted him, then turned his kind gaze to Huixin, who was following closely behind, and gave her instructions in a gentle but authoritative tone:

"Huixin, thank you for making this trip. Please go downstairs and ask the shopkeeper to bring another pot of the newly arrived Qiaoying tea."

When distinguished guests arrive, they should be treated to the finest tea.

After Huixin left, Uncle Tian's gaze fell on the Traveler and Paimon, with the curiosity of an elder about the adventure stories of young people: "Huixin said that you have recently set foot in many new and interesting places? My old bones can't walk anymore, so I would like to hear about your experiences to pass the time."

The traveler stepped forward, his tone sincere and concerned: "More than this... Uncle Tian, ​​we are more concerned about your health."

Uncle Tian paused for a moment, then nodded knowingly. His smile gained a touch of magnanimity, but it also subtly revealed a hint of imperceptible signs of aging.

"I see. It seems that Huixin did tell you."

"It's alright, it's alright, don't worry, my old bones can still hold up for now, it's not a serious problem."

Uncle Tian's gaze fell upon the bustling harbor outside the terrace, his tone becoming long and wistful, carrying a kind of candor and weariness before a heavy burden was lifted:

"But time... ultimately waits for no one."

"As I get older, many things that I used to be able to handle with ease now seem beyond my capabilities, especially lately. My energy is visibly declining like the receding tide."

Tian Shu Xing picked up the half-full cup of cool tea on the table, took a sip, and let out a soft sigh.

"Although I am honored by the high regard of my colleagues, who all say that I am of great virtue and prestige, I am ultimately just an ordinary person beneath this empty reputation."

"Rather than waiting until I'm confused and can't distinguish between what's important and what's urgent in the future, it's better to take advantage of the fact that I'm still clear-headed now and properly hand over the responsibility of Tian Shu Star."

Paimon's little face turned serious as he listened, and he couldn't help but fly over to Uncle Tian, ​​asking with concern:

"Will the handover of Tian Shu Star... be very troublesome? More troublesome than repairing the Crescent Moon Sea Pavilion?"

Uncle Tian coughed lightly, amused by Paimon's naive analogy, a complex glint flashing in his eyes:

“Hehe, silly child, how can the two be compared?” He sat up a little straighter, his tone revealing the profoundness unique to the Seven Stars of Liyue. “Among the Seven Stars of Liyue, the position of the Star of Heavenly Pivot has always been somewhat special.”

Uncle Tian's gaze slowly swept over everyone, as if he were sorting out an ancient tradition.

"Throughout history, most of the Tian Shu stars have remained behind the scenes, strategizing and planning, rarely appearing in public like the other seven stars. This secrecy is both a duty and a form of protection. Therefore, open selection... is not suitable for this position."

Tian Shu Xing's fingertips tapped lightly on the table, producing a soft, thoughtful sound.

"Furthermore, in order to maintain the balance of Liyue's grand strategy, the successor of Tian Shu Star must be as detached as possible from the entanglements of various forces. This determines that the final appointment process must be relatively secretive."

"Based on these ancient traditions and practical needs, the succession of the Tian Shu star has always been based on the opinions of the previous generation of Tian Shu stars, and finally confirmed and approved by the other six members of the Seven Stars."

Uncle Tian extended his withered but still powerful finger and pointed it in the air, clearly in the direction of Yuehai Pavilion.

Paimon strained his little head to process the information.

"Oh, I think I understand! It means you, Uncle Tian, ​​personally recommend suitable candidates, and then hand them over to Keqing, Ningguang, and the other Seven Stars for appointment?"

"exactly."

"The choice of personnel is crucial, and the joint decision-making of the seven leaders is a guarantee, but unfortunately..."

Uncle Tian's tone suddenly dropped, filled with deep apology and a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.

"Unfortunately, given my current fluctuating energy levels, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to devote the same amount of effort to conducting a detailed and lengthy examination of each potential candidate as I used to."

A few slivers of sunlight dappled the shade of the trees, falling precisely on Uncle Tian's hand, etched with the marks of time. The light and shadow flowed silently, as if whispering the passing of time. (End of Chapter)