Genshin Impact's Sweet and Hard Free People

"You're awake?" Bai Shu was initially surprised that Xin Hui woke up in less than half a day. He had thought that Xin Hui would be unconscious for three days like last time.

Ke Qing and Gan Yu were drawn over by Bai Shu's voice, and the group stood in front of the bed, making Xin Hui feel a little awkward.

"Don't move, let me check the situation again," Bai Shu said quickly when he saw him about to get up.

Then, he gently placed his hand on Xinhui's chest, and the Grass-attribute God's Eye emitted a faint light.

After a while, the examination was completed. Bai Zhu said, "There's nothing seriously wrong," and then left with a smile.

When Xinhui came to his senses, he realized that he was in the Bubu Lu, on the same familiar bed.

"How is the situation at the Abyss of Layered Rocks?" Although Xin Hui's head was a little dizzy, he knew that he had probably fallen into a deep sleep after absorbing the Core of Rock Glass.

"After you obtained the core glass, mine tunnels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 were opened up. The workers are mostly safe. Of the miners trapped in the abyss, a total of six perished," Ke Qing answered his question softly.

"Before Ah Xin fainted, she still managed to give us the medicine made by Bu Bu Lu that she was carrying, which successfully alleviated the pain of many people." Gan Yu's gentle voice followed.

Not only that, Gan Yu also bent down and gently held Xin Hui's small hand, "Fortunately, Xin Hui is not seriously injured, otherwise I would definitely blame myself."

Xin Hui could already smell her delicate fragrance, and then he was about to be melted by Gan Yu's bright eyes. She really was as gentle as an angel!

However, when Xin Hui thought about how six miners had indirectly sacrificed themselves because of the power of the rock core glass, he couldn't help but feel a pang of self-reproach.

That power originally belonged to him, yet it caused those people to die in vain. Although Xin Hui was very unwilling, he couldn't escape the responsibility.

"You guys go back first, I'm going out for a bit. I'll have dinner at Yiyu Pavilion tonight," Xinhui said before getting up to leave.

After hearing this, Gan Yu and Ke Qing did not refute it. Seeing Xin Hui's somewhat serious expression, they wisely left together.

After the two left, Bai Shu reappeared from the side, smiling, and reminded Xin Hui, "Be careful to balance the different attributes of the power within you, or something terrible might happen."

Clearly, as the holder of the Grass-type God's Eye and the owner of Bubulu, Bai Shu also understands that Xin Hui currently has more than one elemental force within him.

On the back of Xinhui's left hand, there was another mark similar to the Eye of the Rock God, which was proof that he had obtained the Rock Core Glass.

Xin Hui nodded slightly, thanked Bai Shu, and then, in a flash, also left Bu Bu Lu.

Xin Hui was heading to the Hall of Rebirth. Passing through the rows of buildings, he arrived at a secluded corner and met the familiar ritual attendant—the ferryman.

The ferryman had met Xinhui before, so this time she didn't ask too many questions. After a few words, she let Xinhui enter the Hall of Rebirth.

On the black desk, a girl named Hu Tao is holding a hand-drawn book in her left hand and putting some dried fruit into her mouth with her right hand. She is reclining in a chair with her long legs propped up on the desk, looking quite comfortable.

Seeing Xinhui come in, she quickly put away the hand-drawn book, wiped the dried fruit crumbs from the corner of her mouth, and looked guilty.

"How about it, young man? Isn't the order from Wangsheng Hall reasonable?" Hu Tao's guilty conscience seemed to last only a moment. Then she jumped in front of Xin Hui, thinking that Xin Hui had changed his mind about the previous order for funeral clothes. She put her fair hands on her hips and said.

"Master Hu, what I wanted to say is that the order from the Hall of Rebirth can be cancelled now. We no longer need so many funeral clothes," Xin Hui quickly waved his hand and then explained what he had been doing these past two days.

They passed through the mist and entered the abyss... The miners were successfully rescued, including the mine collapse that ended with the deaths of six miners.

After listening attentively, Hu Tao smiled and praised him, saying, "Young man, you did a pretty good job."

that's it?

Xin Hui was puzzled because Hu Tao seemed indifferent to how many people died, and her praise was merely a reflection of her own actions.

"What else can we do? Lost youth, have you misunderstood the purpose of the Hall of Rebirth?"

Chapter Thirty-One: Life Mentor Hu Tao

Hu Tao's words startled Xin Hui slightly.

What is the significance of the Hall of Rebirth?

"Funerals are the last act of dignity for mortals. The 'Hall of Rebirth' in Liyue is the final chapter in the tapestry of life. Traditional funeral rites are numerous and complex, with strict rules governing every step from the mourning period to the burial, memorial tablets, and other items. Regardless of the deceased's social status or wealth, they must be given a funeral befitting their status. This is the way the Hall of Rebirth treats its guests."

Hu Tao raised a finger and began to speak to herself.

"What the 'Wang Sheng Tang' cares about is simply to make sure the funeral of the deceased is appropriate to their status. It doesn't care who the deceased is or how many there are. As long as guests come to the 'Wang Sheng Tang' and have any requests, the 'Wang Sheng Tang' will treat them with courtesy."

"Is that so..." Xinhui understood what she meant. The things that Wangshengtang was responsible for were very simple, and they couldn't overstep the rules.

"Then, what about Hu Tao? Can Master Hu himself bear the constant disappearances?" Xin Hui immediately asked, even excitedly mentioning Hu Tao's name.

"Sigh, Mr. Xinhui, all I can say is that you can take everything in stride, rather than it being a matter of whether you can tolerate it or not." Hu Tao sighed slightly.

After seemingly pondering for a moment, she grabbed Xin Hui's hand. The latter felt that her slender little hand had a powerful strength, but it was also very warm, so he let her pull him over.

Hu Tao asked Xin Hui to sit opposite her, adjusted the Qiankun Tai Gua hat on her head, and said, "Let me tell you my story, and perhaps you will understand."

Xinhui listened attentively; it was roughly the coming-of-age story of a mischievous girl.

Hu Tao is quite famous in Liyue. When people talk about her, they always have mixed feelings. They praise her intelligence and wit, but also fear her wildly imaginative ideas. Her schemes have reached the point of being outlandish. At three, she could recite texts while standing upside down, and read through classic works in a collection of books. At six, she would skip school on a chosen day, sneak into a coffin, and sleep soundly. At eight, she would reside in the hall, studying funeral rites. By all accounts, Hu Tao is far from being "composed." In her teens, Hu Tao took charge of a grand ceremony for the first time, organizing a funeral.

Ten days before the funeral, Old Master Hu passed away at home. The Wangsheng Hall held a grand funeral for this 75th generation head of the hall, arranged entirely according to his will, with Hu Tao in charge. At only thirteen years old, and not yet the head of the hall, Hu Tao single-handedly managed everything, yet she handled every detail meticulously, satisfying the attendants. After the funeral, Hu Tao packed her bags and slipped out under the cover of night. She was alone, her bag containing only dry food, water, and lighting equipment. But she was heading to a mysterious realm rarely seen in the world.

Continuing forward from Wuwang Slope, one reaches the "Boundary," the dividing line between life and death, a secret place managed by the Hall of Rebirth for generations. Legend has it that one can see deceased relatives and restless spirits there. Hu Tao rushed there, hoping to see her grandfather one last time before he completely departed. After two days of tireless travel, Hu Tao successfully reached the boundary, but she couldn't find her grandfather. Countless spirits passed by, but none resembled her grandfather. She waited all day, falling into a deep sleep. When she awoke, the night was deep and the dew heavy; only a few lone spirits clapped and laughed at her, for Old Man Hu wouldn't be here.

Unconvinced, Hu Tao waited and waited, day after day. Her provisions dwindled, her water nearly gone, but her grandfather never appeared. An old woman told her that the past masters of the Rebirth Hall would never linger here. The Hu family had always lived and died honestly. Hu Tao finally believed that her grandfather's absence meant he had already crossed the border and gone to his rightful place. Her grandfather had lived an upright life, leaving no regrets, and she didn't need to consider his departure a regret. She smiled and began her journey home.

It was noon when she arrived home. Hu Tao climbed over the wall into the backyard and went into her bedroom to pack her belongings. Her backpack, empty of food and water, now contained a radiant "Eye of God." As one of the few survivors who dared to linger on the border, Hu Tao had perhaps moved some unspeakable deity. She had thus received a gift from the heavens—proof of ultimate power.

"The first thing I handled was to organize my grandfather's funeral. At that time, I was just a little girl who didn't understand anything, but in the process of chasing after the deceased, I also came to understand my own heart, because I know that the 'disappearance' of other things is also accompanied by 'new life'."

"I'm not telling you all this to get your sympathy for my experience. It's just that I noticed you have some doubts. After all, Zhongli, who knows everything, said that helping people resolve their doubts is a wonderful thing."

After Hu Tao finished telling Xin Hui all this, she felt a little tired. Just as she was about to stretch with her hands clasped together, Xin Hui grabbed her hands.

Then Hu Tao saw Xin Hui looking at her with grateful golden eyes, his gaze pleading, which made her feel a little scared.

"The head of the Rebirth Hall knows so much. Thank you, Hu Tao. You could be called a life mentor." After being thanked by Xin Hui several times, Hu Tao left the Rebirth Hall as if she was in a great mood.

Hu Tao felt the lingering warmth in her hands, hesitated for a moment, but still finished stretching. It felt very comfortable. After she calmed down, her eyes involuntarily drifted to the threshold beside her, thinking of the somewhat impetuous blue-haired brat from earlier.

If you're just going to giggle, why are you calling out someone's name...?

Hu Tao didn't notice that a slight blush had crept onto her face as she spoke...

Outside the Hall of Rebirth, Xinhui walked along the streets of Changming, feeling the prosperity of Liyue Harbor, and strolled lightly among the crowd.

He suddenly smelled a delicious aroma in front of a barbecue snack shop, stopped abruptly, and then walked over.

"Guest, we're having a promotion today, a single-person BBQ set meal for 100 Mora, would you like to take a look?" The sweet-voiced female employee in front of the store seemed to be trying to attract customers.

"One serving, oh, three servings, please," Xinhui said with a smile.

"Okay, sir."

After Xinhui received the three packaged barbecue sets, he went straight back to Yiyuge.

The light coming through the crack in the red wooden door was dim. Gan Yu didn't need to sleep, and Xin Hui assumed that Ke Qing might already be asleep, since they had been busy for several days and hadn't had a proper rest.

Therefore, he opened the door very quietly, so much so that it was impossible to notice unless one was constantly listening for any sound at the door.

He had originally planned to put the things on a table, but when he stepped across the threshold, he found that under the lamplight, the table was set with food and two young girls gazing tenderly at him, waiting for him with adoration.

At that moment, Xinhui smiled.

A peculiar emotion seemed about to well up within him, a wondrous yet enjoyable, immersive yet fulfilling feeling...

Chapter Thirty-Two: A Thousand Years of Weariness

Xinhui felt quite relaxed after leaving the mortuary. He admired people like Hu Tao who could take life and death in stride, and he was also grateful to them for their guidance.

Having lived for thousands of years, he has never lacked trials and tribulations; it's just that sometimes he remains stuck in his old perceptions and can't break free from them.

The kebabs brought back to Yiyu Pavilion were praised as delicious by Keqing and Ganyu.

It's important to know that Gan Yu adheres to the principle of "drinking only sweet dew and eating only fine grains." Although the Kirin clan are strict vegetarians, Liyue cuisine, as the pinnacle of culinary arts, can be incredibly tempting, even for vegetarians. Therefore, Gan Yu, accustomed to city life, is very conscious of her figure and weight. Being unconsciously drawn to delicious food while simultaneously trying to strictly control her eating—for Gan Yu, this is no less difficult than finding a Flame Flower in Dragonspine.

If she thinks something is delicious, it must taste pretty good. However, Gan Yu didn't seem to like the spiciness of the skewers, so she ate them with a flushed face.

After dinner, Gan Yu and Ke Qing went back to their rooms, and Xin Hui also planned to go to sleep, as he would be busy with Yi Yu Ge's work the next day.

He planned to take a shower first, as he had accumulated quite a bit of dust while exploring the fog and the rocky mine tunnels.

However, after Xin Hui finished showering, when he passed by Ke Qing and Gan Yu's room again, the light shining through the crack in the door caught his attention.

He knew that Gan Yu was tireless, and even after settling down at Yiyu Pavilion, she still had to review some documents at night, silently doing things for Liyue.

It must be tiring. Xin Hui wanted to comfort her, but the latter didn't seem to feel any pain; on the contrary, she thought it was much more interesting this way.

Because if she doesn't work at night, she'll feel lonely just as much. As for whether or not to sleep, Gan Yu feels it's unnecessary and a waste of time.

Xin Hui returned to his room, intending to fall asleep, but his mind was in turmoil. The matter of the Cold Heaven Nail, the matter of the Rock Heart Glass, and news about his other sources of power were all very disturbing.

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The surroundings were quiet, which made him feel at ease, but Xinhui wasn't sure how long this peace of mind would last.

Moonlight streamed in. The moonlight outside the window was bright and pure, giving Xinhui a sudden urge to take a stroll in Liyue Harbor at night.

With that thought in mind, he immediately took action. After getting dressed and extinguishing the oil lamp, Xinhui quietly closed the door and prepared to leave.

Ke Qing and Gan Yu's room was still bright. When Xin Hui walked to the door, he even turned back for a second look.

Once outside, the night air felt slightly cool. Even at midnight, there were still quite a few vendors on the streets.

Xinhui walked alone in the alley, feeling the cool breeze and feeling free. He thought it was a good choice.

Time flies by, or rather, when you don't pay attention to time, it always passes in the blink of an eye.

When Xin Hui looked up and saw that the last vendors in the distance were preparing to close up shop, he realized that it was already three in the morning.

So Xinhui prepared to go back. But this time, when he arrived at Yiyu Pavilion, he found that the lights in Keqing and Ganyu's room were off.

Gan Yu didn't rest; she must have gone out.

Xin Hui knew Gan Yu very well; that girl wouldn't easily give up the burdens she carried.

Since Xin Hui wasn't sleepy at the moment, he prepared to go out and look for Gan Yu.

But Liyue Harbor is so big, where should we go?

Xinhui glanced at the horizon; the moon was already quite far away. Then he looked in the other direction. After a brief moment of thought, he had already found the answer in his heart.

At the docks in Liyue Harbor.

A blue-haired girl sat quietly on the cool stone steps, staring blankly at the horizon where the sea met the night sky.

If you see the black and red horns on her head, then you'll probably know who she is.