Not long after Mr. Lovia embarked on his ship to Fontaine, "the dust journey of shi po, volume three" was released!
As soon as the new book, "the dust journey of shi po, volume three," was published, it immediately caused an unprecedented sensation in Liyue Harbor.
Although the first two volumes of the travelogue also sold well due to their humorous writing and novel perspectives, and were widely discussed by many tea drinkers at Wanmin Restaurant, there were still some dissenting voices in the market.
There were always some Liyue people who adhered to tradition and were of rigorous temperament, especially those old scholars who had studied diligently their whole lives, who couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh in private, believing that the author "Lovia" was a bit "disrespectful to the gods."
"How solemn and dignified is the Archon's incarnation? How can he haggle with a shopkeeper over 'ten boxes at half price' Scented Balm like an ordinary commoner? What kind of behavior is that!"
"Writing about the Adeptus receiving gifts in such a... such a mundane way, where is the Adeptus's majesty?"
"Although such arrangements are not malicious, they are ultimately disrespectful to the Archon and The Adepti. This trend must not be encouraged!"
Although these rumors didn't cause a huge stir, they were like small ripples hidden in the dark, occasionally bubbling up and affecting the reviews of the first two books.
Shopkeeper Sun of the Bookshop had made money, but he was always uneasy, fearing that one day the General Affairs Department or the Sea Gazers Pavilion would come to talk to him.
However, as soon as this third volume, "Lord Shi Po and Seafood," was released, all discordant notes were scattered like by a strong sea breeze, instantly vanishing into thin air.
The books sold out almost instantly, and the Bookshop printed more overnight, yet it was still not enough to meet demand.
In the streets and alleys of Liyue Harbor, after meals, people no longer talked about the Archon's divine power of moving mountains and filling seas, but rather about the past event of the "divine body tasting all flavors," and the mysterious yet approachable "Young Master Shi Po" in the book.
Those few old scholars who had previously voiced some criticism all shrank their necks and dared not utter a sound when they saw this momentum.
After all, everyone liked it so much, who would dare to stand up and say it was bad?
"So, the Archon... no, it's Lord Shi Po, actually knows so much about tasting seafood!"
"The cooking time for steamed perch, the selection of cuttlefish... Oh my goodness, it makes my mouth water just hearing it, and I feel like everything I've eaten before was just trash!"
"The most incredible is the 'Titan Prawn'! I've never even heard of this thing, and even Lady Ningguang had to consult him for an appraisal. He's a true expert!"
"No wonder some Liyue Harbor seafood cooking methods are said to have been taught in ancestral dreams. I always thought it was an excuse, but I never expected it to be guidance from the Archon in a dream!" Master Mao of Wanmin Restaurant suddenly realized, and in his excitement, he began to diligently research ancient seafood recipes recorded in old texts.
The direction of public opinion completely shifted.
Those previous criticisms about "disrespect" were now drowned out by a grander, deeper emotion.
People finally understood that Rex Lapis's protection extended far beyond the grand Archon War and contracts.
It was a more meticulous concern; he cared whether his people were hungry, whether they could find a means of survival beyond barrenness.
This "divinity" was not in the high heavens, but in the human world, amidst the smoke and fire, in every meal that filled their stomachs.
Then, this emotional resonance quickly manifested in daily life.
The most direct change occurred before the Archon statues worshipped in homes. (It's a small Archon statue; I don't know if Liyue families worship them. If not, then it's a private setting for this book.)
Previously, offerings were mostly seasonal fruits, clear tea, fine wine, or exquisite pastries. Now, almost every household's offering table quietly featured the freshest seasonal seafood.
Steamed perch, fresh and sweet; red-boiled prawns, tempting in color; plump oysters with a fragrant garlic aroma; and even stone carvings of "Titan Prawns" described in the book.
In this most unadorned way, people expressed their deepest gratitude and remembrance to the deity who had personally tasted a hundred poisons for them and opened a path to survival.
It was as if through this lingering human smoke, they could connect with the departed deity, telling him: We always remember your sacrifices back then, and look, we are eating very well now.
Following this, Liyue's seafood market experienced unprecedented prosperity.
Whether in high-end restaurants like Liuli Pavilion, or street vendors and small eateries, seafood dishes became the absolute favorite.
Vendors also added new sales pitches when hawking their wares.
"Come and see! black-back bass personally tasted and approved by the Archon!"
"This seaweed, the Archon himself said... uh, it was a bit numbing, but absolutely non-toxic!"
A respectful yet familiar banter circulated among the people of Liyue, adding a touch of "food first" warmth and intimacy to the Archon's image beyond his majesty.
However, after this city-wide fervor, not everyone was without doubts. After tea and meals, in the casual conversations at Wanmin Restaurant, a few cautious whispers could still be heard.
"Speaking of which, what's written in this book... is it really true? Would the Archon, that old man, really go and taste these things himself?" A middle-aged tea drinker sipped his tea, looking at his friend at the same table with slight hesitation.
An elderly man next to him, who seemed well-informed, stroked his beard and mused, "Indeed, there is no record in historical archives."
A young boatman at another table joined the discussion, his voice booming: "Does it matter if it's true or false? I think, even if we take a step back and say this story was fabricated by Mr. Lovia, it must have been written with an understanding of the Archon's intentions! The Archon loves his people like his own children, personally tasting a hundred poisons and searching for food for us. Doesn't that sound exactly like something the Archon would do? Even if the story is fake, the principle, the sentiment, is absolutely real!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many around nodded in agreement.
Gradually, a consensus formed in the streets and alleys of Liyue Harbor: perhaps every detail in the book cannot be verified one by one, but the profound and meticulous care of the divine for its people, as solid as rock, contained within it, is undoubtedly true.
Since the principle is true and the emotion is true, then they believed that this record was a past event that had indeed occurred. Thus, with a certainty of "though unconfirmed, my heart yearns for it," people more eagerly immersed themselves in this remembrance and gratitude sparked by a book.
Even the middle-aged tea drinker who had initially raised questions finally smiled and shook his head, serving himself a bowl of steamed fish soup that had just been offered to the Archon statue, murmuring, "No matter what, this fish soup, the Archon tasted it, and now I have tasted it too. The taste... is truly good."
And this trend, sparked by a book, naturally reached the ears of Zhongli, the Caretaker of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, as time passed.
Listening to Storyteller vividly narrate the chapter about the "divine body tasting all flavors" from the book, with the audience below sighing and moved, Zhongli's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.
The fragrant steam of the tea momentarily blurred his slightly subtle expression.
He lowered his gaze, looking at the tea leaves floating in his cup, while Storyteller's impassioned voice and the occasional exclamations and sighs from the surrounding tea drinkers echoed in his ears.
[Bonus Chapter Progress: 9%]
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