Lu Bu, the Thunder General, is my adoptive father in Genshin Impact.

"Boss, things don't seem as simple as you think..."

Amidst the boisterous laughter of the ghost youth and the slightly speechless remark of the green-haired girl, Xiao Yi slowly crawled out of the box, feeling even worse than if he had been forced to drink dozens of cups of coconut milk.

"Oh, it's Brother Xiao Yi!" Araki Ichito continued optimistically. "Hahaha, that's even better! Shinobu, haven't you heard the saying that a good friend is better than any wealth? This means the treasure chest has brought us the greatest wealth!"

It seems that Yi Dou didn't consider at all how Xiao Yi got into the box.

Staring at the lock that had been smashed by the rock elemental club, Xiao Yi couldn't help but lament his miscalculation. He hadn't expected that there were indeed idle people in Inazuma who would break into roadside boxes for no reason, and that he also possessed the Eye of God—he had miscalculated, greatly miscalculated!

Xiao Yi crawled out of the box, patted Ichidou and Hisaki Shinobu on the shoulder, and pleaded, "Please, please don't open boxes randomly anymore, at least not for the time being. This is very important to me."

Despite his confusion, Ichito confidently replied, "No problem. I came here to find the Oni-Hebi, and I just happened to see the box."

Xiao Yi looked around and realized that they were on Bayun Island. He added, "There's one more thing. If you see a boy wearing a bamboo hat, stay away from him. Then report the details to the soldiers in charge of the Heavenly Territory. Remember, no matter what happens, do not communicate with him. Leave quickly."

For a moment, Xiao Yi even felt like he was telling some kind of supernatural tale about rules. However, there was no doubt that the Scattered Soldier was indeed a very dangerous person. Moreover, he had previously threatened to cause trouble at the festival, so it was very likely that he had made preparations in advance on Bayun Island.

Of course, Xiao Yi wasn't saying these words to Ichidou. Even if Ichidou remembered them perfectly, he would still cause some trouble. He was specifically telling Kuki Shinobu these words with a serious expression, hoping that Shinobu would react quickly.

Seeing Xiao Yi's extremely serious attitude, Jiu Qiren nodded, deeply remembering his admonition.

Suddenly, Xiao Yi turned to ashes once again.

"Brother, what happened to you?!" Araki Ichito exclaimed excitedly. "Who did this? Tell me quickly, I will definitely avenge you!!!"

"Don't worry, it's just a teleportation technique." Xiao Yi sighed and rubbed his forehead. "The visual effects are a bit strange, but I wasn't harmed."

Xiao Yi waved goodbye and disappeared without a trace, just like he had in front of Gan Yu.

“Good brother, I will always mourn you.” Yi Dou said sadly, his head bowed. He was too grief-stricken to hear Xiao Yi’s explanation.

*Slap!* I slapped his arm.

"Boss, listen to me! Narutoko isn't dead!"

"Oh? I see."

……

"What is a surprise? This is a surprise—it's been so long, I've missed you both!"

Xiao Yi, who was asking and answering her own questions, jumped out of the box, startling the traveler so much that she fell to the ground with a thud, while Paimon flew behind her to hide.

Ying traveled throughout the three kingdoms of Teyvat and had never seen a monster similar to a mimic. She had never been wary of such a good thing that could provide resources and money.

Today, a guy who seemed somewhat familiar but not quite so familiar suddenly appeared inside. Yingmei's heart couldn't take it. She sat down on the ground, and at the same time, her fighting instincts were awakened. She subconsciously drew her sword and stabbed Xiao Yi in the throat.

Chapter 223 Awakening Thor's Sleeping Soul

A few minutes ago, in the desolate wilderness of Ba Yun Island.

"I came to Inazuma all high and mighty, wanting to see the portal, only to be ruthlessly driven away by the Sky Counter-General, and I didn't even have much money on me," the white floating object complained. "Paimon can't take it anymore, Paimon wants something good to eat! Traveler, let's go to Ayaka's house for a free meal."

The blonde girl shook her head, directly rejecting her companion's suggestion: "No, how can we trouble others when we're penniless? Besides, if the general's adopted son sees us, he'll definitely laugh at us. That guy has a terrible temper and isn't even a pretty girl..."

During Ying's journey, she encountered many despicable people, such as the fox priestess of Narukami Shrine, who best embodied the word "despicable." However, she had helped her, and besides, who could resist a beautiful fox fairy (demon) sister who loved to make little jokes?

However, Ying's attitude towards Xiao Yi was completely different. At least they weren't familiar enough to be called friends; at most, they were business partners.

Therefore, she didn't want Xiao Yi to see the girl in her disheveled state. In addition, she didn't want to trouble Linghua. After all, the young lady of the Society was not always free. Even if she was short of money and needed to freeload, she would rather go to a certain great god of the Arakkado sect.

"Let's wander around some more," Ying suggested. "We might find a treasure chest, and then we'll have all the food for the week."

Paimon, hands on his hips, retorted, "Don't overthink it, Traveler. When you first came to Inazuma, you were wanted by General Raiden and ran away to the wilderness. Before you joined the resistance, you practically looted every treasure in Inazuma. So, look, there aren't any treasure chests left!"

The little white creature's comment made Ying suddenly realize something. Imagine a poor adventurer who has the ability to find every treasure chest in sight, but is stranded in the wilderness for some reason and has to dig for treasures all day long. How terrible the damage that would be to the "treasure hunting ecosystem"!

In short, Ying dug up the Inazuma Treasure Chest and wiped out all its descendants.

“I don’t believe there aren’t any stragglers,” Ying said confidently, hands on her hips. “As long as we find anything of value, we can be self-sufficient from now on.”

"Ugh—even if some escaped, they wouldn't be by the roadside like this, would they? A treasure chest that's just a few steps away would definitely be snatched up by passersby first," Paimon continued pessimistically. "Let's stop having unrealistic expectations and find the cowherd to solve our lunch problem."

The cowherd was the nickname Paimon gave Yidou.

While Xiao Yi was focused on overseeing the construction of the teleportation portal, the Abyss of Layered Rocks opened and many things happened, including the acquaintance of the traveler girl and Ye Lan, a certain Yaksha's desperate efforts to save everyone, and the resolution of some of his inner conflicts...

“That’s the only way, we can’t just starve ourselves…” Just as Ying was about to give in, she suddenly exclaimed, “Paimon, look, there really is a treasure chest by the roadside!”

"Traveler, are you also so hungry that you're dizzy and hallucinating—it really is a treasure chest!"

Ying took a step forward, and Paimon accelerated his flight. The two quickly arrived in front of the treasure chest, ready to enjoy this gift from heaven.

They didn't even realize that it was highly suspicious that a perfectly intact treasure chest was left by the roadside instead of being taken away along with its contents by passersby or the Nobushido.

Ying observed the keyhole for a few seconds. She had seen this kind of useless defense many times before. After all, as a hero, she had often broken doors and locks to borrow the best swords in the ruins. Besides, the lock's structure was unusually simple.

She doesn't even need to use elemental power; a thin noodle is enough to open it.

Nevertheless, if there were noodles, they wouldn't be starving here. Ying didn't hesitate to drive the wind element, surging into the lock hole and destroying the internal mechanical structure.

Ying and Paimon opened the box with shining eyes, but unlike usual, there was no golden light inside. Instead, there was a dazzling purple light and a few arcs of electricity, and a happy face popped out of the box.

"A mimicry!!!" Paimon exclaimed.

The blonde girl instinctively tried to jump back, but slipped on the wet mud. She immediately changed her technique, summoned the bladeless sword, and stabbed at the guy who jumped out of the alley.

Snapped!

Xiao Yi caught the blade with his bare hands, blocking the attack aimed at his vitals, and said helplessly, "Although we're not very familiar with each other, we've fought side by side before. Can't we be a little more friendly?"

"It's you?!" Ying looked at the other person in confusion.

“That’s right, I’ll get straight to the point. I, Gan Yu, Miss Ying, and Miss Mount, have an important favor to ask of you.” Because catching the sword barehanded restricted his movements, Xiao Yi explained while half-squatting in the box, “Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find someone as busy as you right now, so we had to resort to this.”

Just as Ying was beginning to understand the situation, a second burst of purple light suddenly shot out from the box, which was unexpected by Xiao Yi, who had no idea what had happened.

Not long after, the purple-haired woman's graceful figure appeared in the box, leaving the other three people present stunned.

The treasure chest has a very standard volume; it's too big for one person and too small for two. It would be just right if it only fits Xiao Yi and a little girl.

However, aside from her state of mind, Ying cannot be called a little loli in any way.

And so, they were crammed together inside the box, and according to Xiao Yi's observation, Thor seemed to be half asleep, his eyes glazed over.

"Miss Ying, what brings you here?" Xiao Yi asked, somewhat bewildered.

A sleepy-eyed Thor slowly replied, "Last night, I secretly added a few strokes to the runes on the treasure chest. After you find Luminous, I'll teleport here a few seconds later... But why didn't you leave the chest..."

"Look at me, sir! How am I supposed to get out of this box after catching a blade with my bare hands?!"

The blonde girl finally realized what was happening and sheathed her sword, but the fact that Thor and Xiao Yi, who were half asleep and half awake, were stuck in the box was already a foregone conclusion.

Xiao Yi used the knuckle of his middle finger to tap Ying's forehead with just the right amount of force, giving her a unique flick on the head, gently waking up her sleeping soul.

"Well, what happened?"

Once Ying was fully conscious, she began to move around inside the box, making Xiao Yi very uncomfortable.

"Miss Shadow, behave yourself!" Xiao Yi pressed down on Thor's shoulder to stop him. "Take a good look at your situation. We're stuck in the box!"

Ying finally realized the problem and looked at Xiao Yi with a puzzled expression. Her mind was not fully clear yet, and she asked in confusion, "Is this some kind of new game?"

"You should probably read fewer weird light novels!" Xiao Yi complained. "Do you remember what you told me when you were half asleep just now?"

Thor finally realized that she had brought this upon herself.

“I’m worried that forcibly destroying this box from the inside will affect the other boxes, which would be a real shame.” Xiao Yi made a thrifty statement, then looked at the Free Traveler and Paimon, “Please, help us find some slime to help us get out.”

Chapter 224 Everyone's Sticky

"Why can slime help you get out of the treasure chest?" Paimon asked, looking at Xiao Yi and Thor who were stuck in the chest with a puzzled expression.

"Of course, it's because the slime's sticky liquid, besides being an alchemical ingredient and a potential food source for Miss Xiangling, also has a lubricating effect." Xiao Yi immediately explained to the white floating objects, knowledge that Gan Yu had taught him. "Anyway, hurry up, the general's body is soft and fragrant, and squeezing me is making me very uncomfortable!"

Ying nodded and echoed, "I'm not feeling well either. My hands are stuck in the box, and I can't do anything."

Given this situation, Ying and Paimon had no choice but to agree to let them wait a moment, and then headed towards the area where monsters might exist, hoping to encounter a slime.

“There are quite a lot of slimes in every country, they should be back soon,” Xiao Yi said to Thor beside him.

Now, he can only move his hands, which are pressed tightly against the edge of the box by his own body.

Xiao Yi came up with a good way to kill time.

He stretched his hand out to the distance, and under Ying's puzzled gaze, after a difficult effort, he finally succeeded in picking a sweet flower growing next to the treasure chest.

"Miss Ying, have you ever tasted unprocessed sweet flowers?" Xiao Yi asked.

The purple-haired woman shook her head.

As the most noble of the Inari, her daily life is taken care of at the highest level. How could she possibly have tasted the flavor of flowers and plants? However, normal people wouldn't just eat sweet flowers for no reason; only herbivores would do that.

Xiao Yi handed the flower to Ying's lips.

"Want to give it a try?" he asked.

Without hesitation, Ying took a bite of the small yellow flower and savored it.

Thor finished chewing, swallowed, and commented, "Compared to finished pastries, eating roadside ingredients directly gives you a sweet yet natural flavor, somewhat like weeds, mixed with a few minerals and rock elements from the soil, like a mixture of sand and stones..."

Just as Ying was analyzing the taste, Xiao Yi felt a kind of pleasure akin to blasphemy—how blasphemous it was to personally feed a noble god wildflowers!

Not long after, Ying and Paimon returned, carrying a broken earthenware jar they had picked up from the roadside, filled with a large amount of sticky liquid.

“Okay, all you need to do next is…” Xiao Yi said.

Before she finished speaking, Ying splashed the slime onto the treasure chest, mainly aiming it at Xiao Yi.

The two sticky creatures successfully overcame the friction and crawled out of the box. The first thing Xiao Yi did after regaining his freedom was to "repay" the traveler girl for her selfless help.

"You little rascal, Ying-mei!" Xiao Yi ran towards the Traveler with his arms outstretched. "I remember there's a hugging custom in Mondstadt etiquette. It's been a long time, come give me a hug!"

Ying stretched out her hands to block Xiao Yi, her expression one of disgust. "You're clearly in Inazuma, so why are you greeting me with Mondstadt etiquette? Your intentions aren't pure, are they? You want to smear your slime on me too, don't you? I won't let you succeed!"

"How could that be? How could I possibly hold a grudge against you for splashing me with slime and want to make you slimy too?" Xiao Yi said with a smile, forging ahead.

Suddenly, due to the slime's effect, Ying's hand, which was blocking Xiao Yi, slipped, and Xiao Yi stepped on the mud that Ying had just stepped on. He then pounced on the traveler girl.

"I'm not clean anymore..." The blond traveler, lying on the ground covered in slime, stared blankly at Xiao Yi lying on top of him, muttering to himself.

"Hahaha, even travelers have become like this!" Paimon gloated. "How do you feel now? How do you feel?"

Suddenly, Ying, Paimon's best friend, scrambled a clump of slime off Xiao Yi's back and threw it precisely at Paimon, successfully knocking down the white floating object.