Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"Oh."

Yusupov seemed to have caught the fleeting stiffness in Zhiyi's eyes.

He picked up the freshly filled glass of wine in front of him with satisfaction, admiring the liquid in the glass under the faint light filtering through the crack in the cave ceiling, his tone carrying a hint of consolation.

"However, you don't need to worry too much. Even if that old man is tough and just clings to life, he's practically useless."

"Look at Ningguang's reaction... They've blocked the news, kept it a secret, and even their investigation is going around in circles like headless flies. It's clear they haven't found any real evidence."

Yusupov took a sip of the wine, letting out a satisfied murmur.

He set down his wine glass, the bottom of which clinked slightly against the stone table. His gaze towards Zhiyi was full of approval, as if he were appraising a useful tool, making no attempt to conceal the cold, calculating intent beneath.

"Kid, you handled this matter cleanly and efficiently. I'm very satisfied."

This satisfaction did not come out of thin air.

Before Zhiyi finally decided to kill Tianshu, he, who was well-versed in intelligence and the rules of the power game, clearly understood that the butterfly effect of assassinating one of the highest-ranking officials in Liyue would be enough to stir up the entire Liyue chessboard.

To prevent the Fatui's intelligence network in Liyue from being put on the defensive due to the sudden death of Tian Shu, or even to be exposed prematurely due to information gaps, Zhi Yi delivered a multi-layered encrypted warning message to Yusupov himself through a top-secret one-way communication channel.

The message is extremely concise, only hinting that "there may be major personnel changes in the Liyue leadership due to unforeseen circumstances in the near future. Please prepare contingency plans to avoid any gaps in information."

This intelligence did not cause any visible ripples, but it was enough to make the Fools' massive intelligence machine adjust its posture silently, so as to avoid revealing a fatal flaw due to insufficient reaction or information asymmetry after Tian Shu Xing's unexpected death.

This is one of the safety nets that Zhiyi has carefully woven for itself.

Regardless of whether the operation succeeds or fails, the Fools' line will not suddenly break down, thus affecting him personally.

Upon hearing Yusupov's condescending and satisfied assessment, Zhiyi's fawning smile deepened.

He lowered his head humbly, his voice filled with just the right amount of heartfelt gratitude:

"You flatter me, sir. It is my honor to share your burdens."

Zhiyi picked up the cold celadon wine pot again, its body appearing particularly fragile in his slightly trembling fingers.

He refilled Yusupov's half-empty glass with his usual gentle movements.

The wine swirled gently in Yusupov's glass, reflecting the faint, ghostly light filtering through the cracks in the cave ceiling, and also revealing the unfathomable chill in Zhiyi's lowered eyes.

Yusupov picked up his glass, brought it close to his nose, took a deep sniff, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Hmm... I can smell it even through the stale air in this cave. It's good wine. I appreciate your efforts in finding it."

He put down his wine glass, the bottom of which lightly tapped against the rough stone table. He turned his gaze to Zhiyi with a condescending approval in his eyes.

"Come on, let's have a drink to our cooperation. You go first."

Yusupov mimicked the Liyue people, making a gesture of invitation, his tone and demeanor exuding an unyielding force.

Zhiyi quickly put on a smile and awkwardly picked up the wine glass in front of him with both hands.

The cool glass touched his lips, and as if he had made a great decision, he tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful.

The pungent liquor felt like a flaming thread rolling down his throat, instantly causing him to cough violently, his entire face turning red.

"Cough...cough cough...I'm...sorry."

Zhiyi awkwardly wiped the spilled wine from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice hoarse from coughing, and even tears welling up in his eyes.

"This is such a strong liquor, this is the first time I've ever tried it... I'm really... not used to it."

Yusupov looked at his disheveled appearance, let out a soft, ambiguous chuckle, and slowly sipped the wine in his glass as if savoring a fine nectar.

"You'll get used to it gradually."

"To be friends with us, drinking capacity is a required course. You can't be one-drinking wonders." Yusupov put down his glass, tapped his finger on the rough table, and spoke with a hint of condescension. He then leaned forward slightly, his azure eyes appearing particularly deep in the dim light, his words like the spitting of a venomous snake.

"Back then, when I saw you add poison to the ingredients without batting an eye and then use it to make soup for your teacher, I thought you were incredibly audacious."

"Come on, pour some more! Let's chat while we drink, we haven't even started the real business yet."

Yusupov pushed his half-empty glass forward, the bottom of the glass scraping against the stone table with a harsh sound.

"okay."

Zhiyi suppressed the burning sensation in her throat and the nausea she felt, forcing a fawning smile back onto her face, though her voice was still somewhat weak.

He picked up the cold celadon wine pot and carefully filled it for Yusupov; the pot seemed unusually fragile in his slightly trembling hands.

"I...I was forced into a corner."

"The idea of ​​poisoning makes my hands tremble and my heart race... To be honest, I'm actually a very timid person. Every time... every time I do that kind of thing, I have to hide at home for several days and dare not go out, for fear that someone will notice something on my face."

Zhiyi lowered her eyes, poured wine, and explained in a low voice with lingering fear, trying to hide the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

"I know, my friend!"

Yusupov's tone suddenly took on a false sense of comfort, perhaps due to the effects of alcohol. He reached out as if to pat Zhiyi on the shoulder, but his hand ultimately landed on the cold stone table.

"You've really worked hard before, but I have to say, you are indeed a genius when it comes to the art of poisoning."

He picked up the refilled wine glass and admired the color of the wine in the dim light shining through the crack in the cave ceiling, as if he were appreciating a masterpiece. Then, his tone changed, and a shrewd calculation flashed in his blue eyes.

"The poison I brought from the winter solstice is extremely potent and ruthless, more stimulating than the most volatile fire or water; one tastes it the moment it enters the throat."

"And you were able to blend and neutralize it, turning it into a slow-acting poison that was difficult to detect. What's even more ingenious is the method you devised to administer the poison, using the pungent smell of fish soup as a cover."

Yusupov clicked his tongue in amazement, mimicking the tone that Zhiyi might have used. He looked at Zhiyi with a gaze that held both inquiry and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension.

"Using the fishy smell to perfectly neutralize the sourness of the poison, making the fish soup even more delicious... What a brilliant idea! Tell me, how did you come up with this?"

Zhiyi's knuckles, gripping the wine jug tightly, turned slightly white from the force, yet he maintained a humble smile on his face.

"It was by chance. One day, while I was fishing with Tian, ​​I saw the pot of boiling fish soup and smelled the strong fishy smell. Suddenly, this idea popped into my head."

"It's all thanks to this method. Otherwise, with Liyue's experience and vigilance, I really wouldn't have been confident that we could have gotten away with it."

Yusupov clapped his hands and chuckled, the sound somewhat abrupt in the empty stone hall.

"Amazing, truly amazing!"

"Don't worry, the Fatui will not treat their friends unfairly. We will give you enough support to ensure you can firmly sit in the position of Tian Shu Star in Liyue."

"Of course, that's on the condition that... you have to keep being this obedient."

Yusupov abruptly changed his tone, his voice becoming as hard as steel tempered with ice, carrying a naked threat.

He leaned back slightly against the cold stone bench: "Besides continuing to help clean up the traces at Qingxupu, we have some small requests that you, the future Tian Shu Star, need to handle."

"I'll tell you the specifics later."

Zhiyi took a deep breath, the cold, musty air in the cave filling his lungs.

His smile remained flawless, even more radiant, and he bent down even lower:
"Don't worry, I will do my best to carry out any task you give me."

Zhiyi's voice was loud and clear, filled with a promise of loyalty, but deep within his lowered eyes lurked a murderous intent more intense than the shadows of the cave. (End of Chapter)