Wanjie Game Hall, I sent Kiana to Silent Hill

How about we change the name? What do you think, fellow readers? Feel free to share your thoughts here!

In addition, today’s updates are put together again, and the second update will be up soon!

Volume 080: : Zhongli's Pastoral Life

"Oh? The store manager looks a little surprised, but what's unusual about the game unlocked by Zhongli?"

Zhongli naturally saw the confusion on Wang Xuanqiao's face and asked.

Wang Xuanqiao looked at him and looked him over carefully.

"Um—a question."

Wang Xuanqiao quickly stopped worrying. The reason the system unlocked this kind of game for Yan Shen was because it had to involve a serious illness or a principle.

In short, it has nothing to do with me!

"Can you farm?" he asked Zhongli.

"Farming? I know a thing or two." Zhongli lifted his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. "Is it because the unlocked game requires farming skills? That's understandable. After all, it would be a bit strange for guests seeking entertainment to require such skills."

"That's not the only reason." Wang Xuanqiao shook his head. "Well, there's no point in saying more. You'll know once you experience it yourself."

"That's fine." Zhongli nodded slightly and followed Wang Xuanqiao into the game area.

After Wang Xuanqiao's expert guidance, Zhongli quickly learned how to activate the device. Unable to contain himself, he praised its ingenuity and wonder before entering the game "Story of Seasons."

Hu Tao and Wang Xuanqiao stood behind him, one on each side, leaning on the backs of chairs, both looking forward to Zhongli's gaming journey.

The broadcast screen diligently presented the in-game scenes to the two viewers - the tall and strong Zhongli stood on the edge of a barren field ridge. After experiencing the character memories at the beginning, he began to interact with the recipient who came to the ranch to say hello.

Before arriving, the consignee named Zack heard that the farm in the town was handed over to a child to manage. Based on the principle that the villagers of Mineral Town should take care of each other, he rushed over to meet the child who took over the farm.

When he saw Zhongli, his mind went blank, and only one sentence remained:

Is this a kid?

But it seemed that there was no one else around, so Zack had to go up and greet Zhongli.

He didn't expect that the new owner of the farm would be so polite. It was as comfortable as a spring breeze to be with him. He even forgot about whether he was a child or not and enthusiastically told Zhongli everything about managing the farm.

After saying goodbye to Zack, Zhongli looked at the land again.

"Hmm...what should I do?"

He looked at his clothes, which were typical country styles, somewhat similar to those in Mond.

This saved a lot of trouble. Zhongli said nothing more, rolled up his sleeves, and walked towards the field covered with weeds and gravel.

Let’s plant the land first——

Zhongli busied himself silently.

------

At the same time, Liuying, who returned to the Galaxy World, successfully infiltrated the event star Pinoconi.

This giant hotel, which is famous in the starry sea, has a glamorous appearance that fascinates countless people, but behind the flashing neon lights there are still shadows that cannot be illuminated.

The vast memory matter has built a synesthetic dream world shared by trillions of people, but these memory matters are also constantly expanding, swallowing up everything in the material world, including the asteroids around Pinocchio.

Firefly took advantage of the darkness hidden beneath the light, transforming into a firefly flying towards the flames, and resolutely rushed into the ocean of memory that was enough to crush consciousness...

Because she is unable to dream, the lack of dream-making function forces Liuying to choose such a painful method to enter a synesthesia dream.

But for Liuying, it would all be worth it as long as he could see her again.

With the desire to see that person again, Liuying's consciousness successfully reorganized within her synesthetic dream. After landing, she didn't go to see how glorious the event star was, but instead followed her companions' instructions and headed for her next destination.

They say the family hound has a keen nose, and Liuying doesn't want to cause any more trouble. If she were to start a fight in her synesthetic dream, her plans might not be affected, but things would become very complicated.

She was in a hurry along the way, but gradually began to feel a sense of novelty, because she was not moving around as [Sam], but as [Firefly].

The synesthetic dream seemed to suppress the loss of entropy, allowing him to maintain his existence for a long time without the help of [Sam].

It's like... being in that magical arcade.

At this thought, Liuying froze. She recalled that the Pinoconi Galaxy she was in was itself a universe filled with mementos. If synesthesia and the arcade experience were the same, could that mean they were also in mementos?

So...what about the [Hero Seed] obtained from the game?

Liuying, who was slowly sinking into thought, suddenly heard a groan.

How could anyone lament in such a world of pleasure? Liuying couldn't help but glance sideways and saw a woman sitting on a high step with a sad look on her face.

This is not something I should care about. Liuying thought to herself and was about to leave, but stopped as if possessed by some mysterious force.

The seed of heroism...water it with heroic qualities...

Forget it, there is still time, let’s give it a try.

Liuying made up her mind, turned around and walked up the stairs towards the woman.

"Hello, what happened?"

When the woman heard someone asking her a question, she looked up at Liuying.

"Don't meddle in other people's business." After seeing Liuying's appearance, she frowned and said loudly, "I don't need sympathy!"

Then he stood up, walked down the stairs and left, leaving Liuying alone there, looking a little confused.

The woman's attitude was irrelevant. Liuying was surprised that the Hero Seed did not react to it.

Why was that? She couldn't help but wonder, was it because she hadn't been able to help, or was it because... this wasn't a heroic quality?

Unable to figure out the reason, Liuying set out on her journey again. Meanwhile, on the Star Train, far away in another corner of the Milky Way, navigator Wuliangta Jizi was re-opening the invitation to the grand event planet, Pinocchio, to the passengers.

------

Zhongli truly looked like a seasoned farmer, tidying up the barren fields with simple yet surprisingly pleasing techniques. Hu Tao and Wang Xuanqiao, both unwilling to stand, took seats beside Zhongli, one on his left and one on his right.

By the time the retired old man had finished cleaning the fields, the sunset glow over Mineral Town had gradually faded. He clapped his hands leisurely, strolled to the river, and leaned over to wash his palms. Then, Zhongli opened the door of the protagonist's home, calling it a day.

The game screen disappeared, and Zhongli reached out and slowly took off his helmet.

"Yes, it is indeed a precious time in the countryside." He said, turning his gaze to Wang Xuanqiao.

"Manager, could you please tell me what this system's rewards mean? The name 'Pastoral Song' seems to fit the game's characteristics quite well."

Wang Xuanqiao opened the system mall and started searching for keywords, and soon found the answer.

[Pastoral Song]: Drinking tea, playing chess, raising chickens and growing vegetables, grazing and fishing... Pastoral life always makes people involuntarily forget about time. Therefore, the influence of time on you will be weakened.

"Hiss—another skill without a talent tree?" Wang Xuanqiao gasped. "[Pastoral Song] weakens the effects of time on its holder. Simply put, it's almost equivalent to immortality. However, to achieve that level, one must constantly accumulate experience and upgrade the skill."

"You're currently only at level 0. I guess the path to leveling up depends on two factors: the amount of time you've spent in the game, and the degree of development you've put into your farm."

Hearing this, Zhongli nodded thoughtfully.

"I see. Thank you, manager, for clearing up my confusion." He expressed his gratitude, but his mind had already extended to another level due to this introduction.

For someone like him, immortality wasn't a happy thing. However, the way this skill achieved immortality was unusual. It essentially weakened the effects of time, so...

Coincidentally, Wang Xuanqiao also thought of the serious problem faced by the immortals in Teyvat.

——The author has something to say——

Volume 081: : She is the only one in Teyvat who can be called a traveler

The immortals of Teyvat have broken free from the shackles of lifespan, but they still cannot escape the ravages of time.

They call the phenomenon of 'aging', which is different from the decline of the body, wear and tear. The longer a person lives, the more wear and tear he suffers.

As the oldest demon god, Zhongli understood the consequences of wear and tear better than anyone else. It was for this reason that he orchestrated the departure of [Geo Emperor] and officially entrusted the cause of Liyue to the people of Liyue.

Although Zhongli later became an old man drinking tea and walking his bird, it did not mean that the wear and tear had stopped. He knew in his heart that he would have to leave one day, just like his old friends.

There is never a winner in this game of immortality.

But now, a turning point has appeared.

A song of "Pastoral Song" gently soothes the curse of time.

Zhongli pondered for a moment, then decided to reenter the game. Since he could avoid wear and tear simply by tending to the farm, why not? Besides, wear and tear wasn't just his problem, so being able to clarify the path forward for his old friends sooner was worth it.

Zhongli then asked Wang Xuanqiao about some in-game matters, such as the direction of the farm's development and whether the materials needed to craft tools were available. After clarifying his questions, he put on his helmet and entered the game again.

Seeing that his guest official had started farming again, Hu Tao, who suddenly felt bored, started to pester Wang Xuanqiao.

Wang Xuanqiao thought about it and realized that he had promised Hu Tao to make milk tea for her, so he might as well leave Zhongli alone to farm downstairs. He led Hu Tao directly to the second floor.

This was Hu Tao's first time on the second floor, so she was naturally curious. She followed Wang Xuanqiao, carefully examining the decorations, which were completely different from those on Teyvat, and occasionally expressing her admiration.

Wang Xuanqiao asked her to sit wherever she wanted, and he went into the kitchen, took out the ingredients he had bought earlier, and started cooking.

Making handmade milk tea doesn't require any sophisticated techniques. Simply boil some water and steep the tea leaves for the first time. Then, discard the bitterest broth and add more water to boil for the second time.

After the tea boiled again, he removed the tea leaves and added pure milk and sugar, stirring. Wang Xuanqiao added a few slices of cheese and pearls, and finally added some honey for a richer taste.

By the time he brought out the steaming milk tea, Walnut had already started clapping at the smell.

"This aroma is truly unforgettable. It has the fresh fragrance of tea and the mellow aroma of milk. If you take a closer look, you can even smell the faint sweet aroma of honey. The manager's cooking skills are truly amazing! No wonder he knows a chef like Xiangling."

"You're an expert," Wang Xuanqiao chuckled, passing the milk tea to Hu Tao. "Then come and try it. This is Wang's traditional bowl of milk tea."

"okay!"

Hu Tao picked up the spoon and scooped up a spoonful of pearls and milk tea. She didn't even blow on it, but put it directly into her mouth.

Walnut didn't drink it directly. Instead, he kept the liquid in his mouth, soaking his tongue, and savored it carefully with his eyes closed. After a moment, he gulped it down.

"It's really delicious." She raised her spoon, acting like a reviewer. "The sugared milk has a refreshing sweetness, and the tea has a slightly bitter aftertaste. The honey adds a layer of flavor, and these tapioca pearls enrich the taste."

"This milk tea can be enjoyed hot or cold. Whether it's a scorching summer or a chilly winter, a bowl of this is a real treat!"

Wang Xuanqiao couldn't help but laugh at Hu Tao's amusement. She truly lived up to her name as a doggerel poet, her words were full of twists and turns, and sometimes one couldn't help but anticipate what refreshing golden line she would come up with.

"Then when you have a festival, I'll go to Liyue and set up a stall to sell milk tea. What do you think?" he said jokingly.

"Oh! Great!" Hu Tao's eyes lit up. "If the store manager wants to come, please let me know in advance. I'll go to the General Affairs Department to apply for the necessary procedures, and I guarantee you'll be able to set up your stall without any problems."

"Then I'll launch a promotion. As long as you buy the store manager's milk tea, you can enjoy a half-price discount on the second monument at Wangsheng Hall."

Wang Xuanqiao was immediately delighted when he thought about enjoying funeral discounts by drinking milk tea.

"You're truly dedicated," he said with a smile. "But it seems Wangsheng Hall doesn't have any other rivals in Liyue, right?"

"Hey, manager, you're wrong—" Walnut shook her head repeatedly, holding the spoon. "You don't know, my guest's spending is shockingly high. If we don't work harder, Wangsheng Hall may go bankrupt in a few generations!"

Oh wow, the Wangsheng Hall has quite a strong foundation.

"Besides, we're not in this business just for the money." Walnut scooped another spoonful of milk tea into his mouth and muttered, "We &%*!@#￥!, we also do this to make &%￥#@!*......"

"Okay, okay, let's talk after we finish drinking." Wang Xuanqiao shook his head and smiled.

"Actually, it's just like that game called 'Left 4 Dead'. There's a line between life and death. If you try to cross it, the whole world will be plunged into disaster."

After swallowing the milk tea, Hu Tao suddenly became serious.

"The boundary between life and death is so fragile. Whether it's the longing of the living or the nostalgia of the dead, they can become an opportunity to cross this line. But the dead should leave. Even if they force themselves to stay in the world, they cannot be resurrected."

Wang Xuanqiao stopped talking. He was worried that if he spoke, the girl's established values would be shattered.

"And those souls who refuse to leave will eventually become wild ghosts, wreaking havoc on the region. So my job is to help those lingering on the brink of the border let go of their obsessions, bid farewell to the past, and get back on track."

After Hu Tao finished speaking, seeing that Wang Xuanqiao remained silent, she smiled and said, "Actually, to put it bluntly, it means allowing the living to properly bid farewell to the deceased, or perhaps helping the deceased fulfill their unfulfilled wishes. However, many people wouldn't accept it this way and would be frightened."

"I think that since Teyvat already has demons and immortals, it shouldn't be surprising that there are ghosts."

Wang Xuanqiao touched his chin, thinking back to what he had seen and heard in the game, and said.

"Just because I know there are ghosts doesn't mean I'm not afraid." Walnut shook her head. "After all, many people can't handle ghosts. Even I, the hall master, get so worried I pull my hair out sometimes. Oh, right! Thanks to the [Master of Resurrection] the store manager gave me. Otherwise, sometimes I really want to write to the traveler and ask him to come back for help."

Traveler...Huh? By the way, who is the little golden retriever at Walnut's place, and which country is he in now?

After hearing Hu Tao talk about the protagonist of the game, Wang Xuanqiao suddenly became curious.

"Are you familiar with the traveler?" he asked Walnut.

"Of course I am. We are close friends, but it's a pity that she travels a lot and we can't see each other often. Otherwise, I would definitely drag her along!"