Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

While Ye Lan and her group were still struggling through the maze-like underground passages of Qingxupu, Yusupov had already arrived at his destination with practiced ease.

After several dizzying twists and turns, the narrow passage suddenly opened up.

He stepped into a natural stone hall that was about ten feet square. The air was filled with the musty smell of old straw, dust particles, and a pungent odor that was hard to describe, similar to the residue of inferior gunpowder.

Bundles of dry straw were piled high in the corners and edges of the stone hall, the withered yellow straw stems tangled together, casting distorted shadows in the dim light.

Mixed in with the haystacks were dozens of heavy, dark brown crates with frayed edges.

These boxes were tightly bound with thick hemp ropes, and some of the boxes still showed faint traces of the Froststar emblem, which had obviously been hastily covered with inferior paint. It was unknown whether they contained contraband weapons or smuggled alchemical potions.

In the center of the stone hall, a gray-white stone table, clearly roughly polished by hand, and two stone stools of the same material constitute the only furniture here.

At this moment, a young figure was sitting quietly on one of the stone benches.

The young man wore a wide-brimmed white linen hat, the brim pulled low, cleverly blocking the faint light that might seep in from the rock crevices behind him, casting only a deep shadow below his brow.

In the shadows, one could barely make out a wisp of carefully combed black hair with a subtle, slanted curve in the side bangs.

This person was none other than Zhiyi.

On the cold stone tabletop, there was a small celadon wine pot from the Liyue official kiln, with a delicate body and a glaze as lustrous as the blue sky after rain. The pot's body had smooth and elegant lines.

Beside it was a pair of equally exquisite wine vessels, the walls of which were as thin as cicada wings and seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light, with fine gold wire inlaid on the rim.

If the traveler and Keqing were here, they would surely guess that this is most likely the "antique wine set" that the craftsmen of Xiguju made for Zhiyi.

"Tsk, Zhiyi, the location you chose is really hard to find."

A slightly impatient hum came from a narrow crack in the side wall of the stone hall, almost completely covered by vines.

Yusupov squeezed out of the crowd, looking somewhat disheveled. He vigorously patted the hem of his expensive woolen coat, shaking off the damp moss and rock dust that had stuck to it.

His previously tense shoulders and neck relaxed instantly, and his chin habitually lifted slightly, reverting to the arrogance characteristic of the Fool's Diplomat.

"I have no other choice, Lord Yusupov."

Upon seeing Yusupov, Zhiyi immediately sprang up from the stone bench as if pulled by an invisible thread.

He leaned forward, forming a perfectly measured, respectful bow, and extended his arm to guide the other person to an empty space, the movement as fluid as if he had rehearsed it countless times.

"After Tian Shu Star was assassinated, the Seven Stars monitored the Tian Shu Star candidates with unimaginable intensity. There were even secret sentries from the General Affairs Department lurking outside my house from time to time."

"Choosing this place to meet was a last resort, and I'm sorry you've been wronged."

Zhiyi's voice was gentle and humble, a stark contrast to the composure and competence he displayed in front of Uncle Tian and the clear and calm demeanor he maintained in front of Keqing.

At this moment, he was more like a well-trained hunting dog at the feet of the Fools, knowing when to wag its tail.

"Oh?"

Yusupov sat down on the cold stone bench, his knuckles unconsciously tapping lightly on the rough tabletop, a slight, almost mocking smile playing on his lips: "Speaking of which, I happen to have some more interesting news."

"According to the 'eyes' we planted in Bubu's Lodge in Liyue, your unfortunate teacher, Tian Shu Xing... seems to still be clinging to life."

"Zi la..."

The slender spout of the celadon wine pot made an extremely slight scraping sound against the rim of the cup.

Zhiyi was standing in front of Yusupov, steadily pouring clear wine from the flask, but upon hearing the news that Uncle Tian was not dead, he froze for a moment, almost imperceptibly.

The wine stream returned to normal as if nothing had happened, but Zhiyi's heart pounded violently in his chest, like being struck by a heavy hammer. He had personally mixed the poison into Uncle Tian's fishing bait.

This seemingly fish-poisoning method was actually a meticulously designed scheme that Zhiyi had spent months observing and rehearsing.

During the time when Zhiyi disguised himself as a student on a study tour and accompanied Tian Shuxing fishing, he discovered a habitual action that Uncle Tian had developed over many years while fishing.

Whenever the old man kneads and mixes the bait ball for fishing, which emits a strong fishy smell, he always habitually runs the edge of his fingertip, which is covered with bait, over the inside of his lower lip, and uses his tongue and lips to sense the viscosity, moisture, and evenness of the distribution of the spice particles.

This is a common problem among many experienced anglers: relying more on physical experience than on the fine-tuning ability of tools.

Zhiyi etched this detail into his mind and regarded it as a brilliant flaw bestowed by fate.

In addition, most anglers prefer to fish in secluded, undisturbed locations.

Is there any more ideal place in the world to poison someone than a secluded valley or deep pool where no one goes?

Far from the hustle and bustle of Liyue Harbor, rescue was out of reach. Zhiyi had even simulated it repeatedly in his mind: even if Uncle Tian's physique was different from ordinary people and he did not die on the spot, he could easily finish him off by lying in ambush on the side, finding some high places, pushing some rocks down to make it look like an accidental rockfall.

Afterwards, the poisoned bait cans, the remaining poison powder, and the tools used in the crime were sunk into the bottomless water, and some evidence pointing to the smuggling channels of the Fools was cleverly left behind... everything was perfect.

Zhiyi was certain that his plan was flawless.

On the day of the operation, he hid in the dense reeds, holding his breath and concentrating.

Zhiyi witnessed Uncle Tian, ​​as usual, brushing his fingers, dipped in the bait, across his lips while adjusting the bait.

He watched as Uncle Tian's body suddenly stiffened, the fishing rod slipped from his hand and fell into the water, and he watched as Uncle Tian curled up on the ground in pain, his muscles spasming and twitching uncontrollably, and white foam spilling from his mouth and nose.

Zhiyi, like the most experienced hunter, patiently waits for his prey to completely stop struggling before stepping forward to bring this conspiracy to a perfect close.

But despite all his calculations, he overlooked Uncle Tian's deeply ingrained caution.

With the Emperor's fall and Liyue facing numerous calamities, Tian Shu, who seems to be engrossed in fishing, always leaves a secret signal to the other members of the Liyue Seven Stars before each trip, indicating his destination through a specific channel.

Zhiyi had no idea that Keqing would happen to have an urgent matter to discuss with Uncle Tian, ​​and that she would find this secluded fishing spot by following the coded message.

After discovering the situation on Tian Shu Star, Ke Qing immediately launched a whistling signal flare into the sky.

Zhiyi could only watch helplessly as Keqing carried the dying Tian Shu on her back and rushed towards Liyue Harbor like a purple lightning bolt.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea could be heard, the hurried sound of Thousand Rock Army soldiers' boots could be faintly heard in the distance. Zhiyi could only grit his teeth and make a hasty retreat by taking advantage of the complex terrain and dense vegetation.

However, in his last glance before leaving, he clearly saw Uncle Tian resting on Ke Qing's shoulder, his face pale and his chest no longer rising and falling.

In Liyue, where the Geo Archon and the Celestial Emperor's divine intervention have been lost, Zhiyi doesn't believe anyone can revive a lifeless corpse.

But now, Yusupov says... Tian Shu is not dead?

A sudden chill shot up from his tailbone to the back of Zhiyi's neck, causing his knuckles to tighten and turn white as he gripped the wine jug. The young man forcibly controlled the wine jug, which was about to slip from his hand, and took a deep breath of the musty air, forcing his boiling blood to calm down.

The brief surge of turmoil was forcibly suppressed in my heart.

It's alright, his plan is perfectly closed, all clues have been dealt with, and the finger is pointing directly at the Fools.

Even if Uncle Tian is lucky enough to survive, what can he prove in this ambiguous situation?
Ningguang and Keqing have not dared to announce the news of Tian Shu's death. This cautiousness suggests that Tian Shu's condition is probably not good, or that he may have already passed away.

Now is his chance to understand Yi.

Now that things have come to this, he has no way out. (End of Chapter)