The Embers of King's Teyvat Journey

"Liyue's grandest festival of the year. People light lanterns to guide those who sacrificed themselves in the war against the demons."

"Of course, this is just the official version of events," Bai Shu said, changing the subject.

"Now that the war between the demons and gods has lasted for thousands of years, the lanterns not only serve as a tribute to the heroic souls, but also contain the longing for the deceased, the yearning for the future, and so on. Any good things you can think of can be entrusted to the lanterns."

"The lantern can carry your wishes and fly to a very, very high place. That way, you might be able to see it in the future."

Bai Shu smiled. The happiest moment of the year was releasing lanterns with everyone at Bubulu.

"For adults, the Lantern Festival is a time for relaxation and family reunion after a year of hard work."

"For children, the Lantern Festival is the time of year when their thoughts and desires are most easily fulfilled."

"The people you want to see, the things you want to eat, the little trinkets you want—all of these will pop out of something called 'New Year's Gift'."

Bai Shu spoke at length, and it was clear that he really enjoyed the festival.

“What a wonderful time of year,” Yu Jin said, turning around with a sigh.

“Wherever there is a human kingdom, there will be things called ‘festivals’.” Dain nodded. Festivals were something he could never forget.

On certain days, he would also return to the ruins of his homeland to spend the festival alone, a festival that only one person would remember.

"Really?" Yu Jin was a little skeptical, but he quickly realized what was going on.

In the past, he had never been to the land of humans.

The protagonists of Lordran and the Borderlands were never human until the Embers set off.

Thinking of this, Yu Jin became smug; he was very happy.

So he waved to Bai Shu.

"Bai Zhu, come here! I'll give you a New Year's gift!"

Chapter 360 An Early New Year's Gift

2023-12-22

"and many more……"

Just as Bai Shu was about to say something, he saw his whole body go black – Yu Jin's huge black hand was already pressed against his face.

“There are quite a lot of odds and ends in Liyue.” Yu Jin took a deep breath. He had encountered Xiao, who was burdened with karma, and now he had encountered Bai Shu, who was plagued by illness.

Liyue has far more strange and unusual things than Mondstadt.

He activated the power within his body, and a warm yet ethereal stream of fire surged out from Yu Jin's body and then entered Bai Shu's body.

The flames are not ordinary fire; they are illusory and naturally burn intangible things.

In Changsheng's perception, Baizhu's ethereal vitality, like a firefly flickering in the night, gradually rose up.

Previously, Atractylodes macrocephala was like being trapped in thick silt, its vitality seemingly absorbed by that layer of "silt," barely revealing a trace of life.

But now, the mud covering him has been burned away by something, and Bai Shu's own vitality is now fully revealed.

Bai Zhu herself experienced all of this more profoundly than Chang Sheng.

In the darkness, Bai Shu could feel warmth emanating from Yu Jin's hands. The heat broke through the barrier and flowed directly into his body.

Where the heat flowed, Bai Zhu immediately felt incredibly light. It was as if the heat was burning away the pain that was clinging tightly to her body.

After the illness that was not her own was burned away, the vitality that had been suppressed and devoured by Atractylodes macrocephala suddenly burst forth.

That immense vitality made Dai Yin and Chang Sheng, who were standing nearby, turn their heads in surprise.

But soon, this vigorous vitality vanished, like a night-blooming cereus blooming in the dead of night.

Judging from the current trend, it won't be long before it reverts to its previous state.

The Serpent Dragging Dragon Technique consumes the contractor's life force. Bai Shu's illnesses were all transferred from him using his own life force.

Since making the pact with immortality, Bai Shu has lost count of how many people he has saved using the Serpent Dragging Dragon Technique.

Even without the ailments plaguing his body, Bai Shu's days are numbered given how much life force he has already expended.

However, the gradually weakening life force within Bai Zhu finally stopped declining. Something transformed into new life force, continuously replenishing his life.

In the end, Bai Zhu's aura was no different from that of an ordinary person. He wasn't much stronger than others, but he wasn't much weaker either.

Seeing this, Yu Jin released his grip. He clapped his hands and asked Bai Shu, "How is it? Not bad, right?"

Bai Zhu did not reply, because he was still savoring the changes within his body.

Seeing Bai Shu's state, Yu Jin stopped bothering him. So he turned around and started bothering Dain.

"Dain, do you want a New Year's gift?" Yu Jin looked eager to try it out.

"I don't need it." Dain refused Ember's so-called "New Year's gift" without even thinking.

"Besides, this isn't a New Year's gift." Dain recalled the date in his mind and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Who said that? My gift perfectly matches all the characteristics of the 'New Year's gift' that Bai Shu mentioned!" Yu Jin said, indicating that Dain was joking.

Dain shook his head, and then provided the decisive evidence.

"As far as I know, the Lantern Festival is the first full moon of the Liyue New Year. And today, we are still in the middle of the year."

"In other words, the Lantern Festival was never held, so this is at best... a birthday present?"

Dain raised an eyebrow, feeling immensely pleased. He'd been traveling with Ember for so long, and he'd always been the one getting the short end of the stick; now, he'd finally gotten his chance.

"It's not even a birthday present, let alone Atractylodes macrocephala. There's no one celebrating a birthday in Bubu today."

Changsheng added insult to injury from the side.

"What?" Yu Jin finally believed it when he heard Chang Sheng say that.

He pointed to the fiery red Liyue outside the window and asked, unwilling to give up, "Then why has Liyue become like this now?"

"That's because the Lantern Festival is a grand event, and only by preparing early can you have the most fun on the day of the festival!"

Changsheng was very experienced in this, and in a few days, Bubulu would also be decorated for the New Year.

When the time comes, it will definitely make Atractylodes macrocephala the biggest lantern ever!

“Okay.” Ember sighed, looking quite dejected.

"Yu Jin, you don't need to be so frustrated."

Bai Zhu snapped out of his peculiar sensation. He took a few deep breaths, the warm, medicinal air flowing freely into his lungs, then he exhaled it, feeling even warmer and more moist.

The entire process was incredibly smooth, leaving Bai Zhu momentarily stunned. How long had it been since he had experienced such refreshing and unobstructed breathing?

In the past, when I breathed, I always felt that my throat was very narrow and my lungs were very heavy. When I inhaled, it felt like my lungs were tightly wrapped by something, and it was so difficult to expand them.

But when it came to exhaling, it was the opposite. It felt as if his lungs were filled with things that didn't belong to him, and he couldn't exhale at all.

But all of that is now in the past. Bai Shu clenched his fist, and for the first time, his body, strengthened by the Eye of God, unleashed its full power.

"Phew... Actually, the two weeks leading up to the Lantern Festival can be considered a holiday. Everyone is on holiday, and Liyue City is at its busiest time of the year right now."

Bai Shu exhaled a breath of stale air and walked to Yu Jin's side.

Besides ordinary patients, the majority of people in Bubulu are adventurers who travel around.

They always like to explore uninhabited, secret places, and naturally, they suffer more injuries as a result.

Therefore, during the treatment, Bai Zhu also heard some information about the embers.

For example, Ember likes to join in the fun.

If we're talking about liveliness, there's nowhere in Teyvat more bustling than Liyue during the Lantern Festival.

"Really?"

"It's true."

Seeing that Yu Jin's dejection vanished instantly, Bai Shu could only secretly admire the accuracy of the adventurers' information.

Seeing that Yu Jin was so interested, Bai Shu pointed to Liyue outside the window. Looking in his direction, you could see that Liyue was located near the sea, where the light was brighter and the crowds were denser.

"That is the Sky Market, a rare annual market for Liyue merchants that is not for profit, but only to raise funds for the construction of the Sky Lantern."

"It has everything, and the quality is good and the price is low. It only happens once a year, so Yu Jin, don't miss it."

“Sky Lantern? What’s that?” Yu Jin keenly noticed the important information within it.

"The Lantern Festival, the Lantern Festival, the most important thing is to release the lanterns."

Bai Shu smiled and then continued, "It's a little gadget that can fly with light on it."

“Every Liyue resident weaves their own lantern during the Lantern Festival. But the most eye-catching ones are definitely the lanterns made by the official organizers.”

"I heard that this year's commemoration is for the [True Lord Who Guides Heaven to the Clouds], and it's the largest in recent years."

After Bai Shu finished speaking, he also looked expectant. In his spare time, he had also gone to see the lantern. Although it was just a skeleton now, he knew from that alone that this year's lantern was definitely the largest.

"I see." Yu Jin nodded, and after a slight sigh, he no longer cared about the lantern.

Because Ember felt there were many things worth seeing at the Lantern Festival, the importance of the Lantern Festival could be postponed.

Anyway, according to Bai Zhu, many people will be releasing lanterns during the Lantern Festival, so there's no need to worry about not being able to see them.

"There are so many amazing things to do in Liyue during the Lantern Festival that you could talk about them for three days and three nights. You two should experience it for yourselves."

"If you're not busy on the night of the Lantern Festival, you can come to Bubu Lu for a visit. I'm very good at making nourishing medicinal New Year's Eve dinners."

Bai Shu concluded by saying this.

Chapter 361 Martial Arts Practice

2023-12-22

"Look, take a look! This amber from the new mine is of top quality!"

"Don't miss out! This newly written couplet is beautifully written and perfectly matched, sure to bring you good luck for the whole year!"

"Steamed buns, freshly baked, delicious and inexpensive!"

……

Liyue City is indeed as bustling as Bai Shu described. At the crack of dawn, the streets near the shipyard were already noisy.