Chapter 61: Relief on the Mountaintop, Gifts from the Group
Azhdaha fell utterly silent. The burly man remained rooted to the spot, his heavy gaze anchored entirely on Guoba's small, round figure.
He watched the little bear clumsily, yet with absolute dedication, wave a large leaf to fan the flames beneath Xiangling's massive cooking pot. He watched Guoba sneak a freshly boiled piece of meat, only to burn his paws and hop around in a frantic, comical dance that sent Xiangling into a fit of bright, ringing laughter. He listened to the pure, unburdened "Lu-lu" noises bubbling from the creature's throat.
His eyes widened slightly. The tension in his broad shoulders locked, then trembled. A storm of complex emotions—bewilderment, disbelief, and a deep, aching sorrow—churned violently within Azhdaha's chest. But as the moments stretched on, the tempest slowly settled, leaving behind a quiet, indescribable sense of relief.
Yes... Marchosius chose his own path.
The God of the Stove had willingly let his immense power dissipate. His divine might was entirely gone. Yet, in another way—a much more direct, infinitely warmer way—he had integrated himself into the myriad households of Liyue, becoming an inseparable part of the daily lives of its people.
Looking at Guoba's carefree, vibrant demeanor, feeling the pure, unfiltered joy radiating from the little creature, Azhdaha couldn't help but compare it to his own agonizing years of subterranean slumber, chained in the dark, slowly driven mad by the torment of erosion.
Azhdaha closed his eyes and let out a long, silent breath of turbid air. It was as if he were finally expelling centuries of accumulated frustration and bitterness from his lungs.
"So that's how it is..." he murmured, his voice thick with an emotion he hadn't felt in millennia. "It's good to be alive. It truly is good to be alive."
He slowly turned his head away from the campfire. He didn't say another word. Instead, he simply reached out with a steady hand, picked up the porcelain cup of rich black tea that Zhongli had just refilled for him, and offered a faint, almost imperceptible nod in the former Geo Archon's direction.
That single gesture carried the weight of a thousand unspoken words. It was an absolute acknowledgment of his old friend's current state, a quiet appreciation for this slice of 'ordinary' happiness, and a lingering hint of melancholy for the long, bloodstained past they shared.
He truly had no need to argue or refute anything anymore.
Zhongli caught Azhdaha's silent response. The corners of his lips curved upward by a fraction of an inch, and he raised his own teacup in a graceful acknowledgment.
The atmosphere between the two ancient dragons settled into a serene, tacit understanding, accompanied only by the curling steam of the tea and the rich, mouth-watering scent of spiced meat drifting from Xiangling's camp.
On the surface, Zhongli appeared entirely focused on sipping his tea and admiring the sweeping mountain vistas. In reality, a significant portion of his consciousness was actively engaged with the lively, scrolling interface of the multiversal chat group.
At this moment, the direction of the conversation had shifted once again.
[Astral Express · Dan Heng]: "@Genshin Impact · Lumine. Lumine, I have received the 'deep Pivot Array Codex'. A quick glance confirms that its contents are incredibly detailed, and its theoretical system is flawlessly complete. This will be of immense help to the Divination Commission in researching basic array formations, such as spirit gathering and birth arrays. It will save them countless hours of blind deduction."
[Astral Express · Dan Heng]: "This item is exceedingly precious. I am only borrowing it temporarily. Once the Divination Commission extracts its core essence, I will ensure it is returned to you immediately. As a token of my gratitude, I have deposited 2,000 Spirit Stones into the group's shared storage for everyone to use for cultivation or array experimentation. Thank you again."
His typed words were as rigorous, measured, and sincere as his actual speaking voice.
[Genshin Impact · Lumine]: "Dan Heng, you're being way too polite! I'm just glad I could help. Feel free to use the book as long as you need. Later on, just drop it into our group's storage so anyone else who wants to learn from it can take a look. As for the Spirit Stones, those are for everyone to share, so there's no need to thank me!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Wow! 2,000 Spirit Stones?! Dan Heng is so generous! And thank you, Sister Lumine, for the book! Wise and I are still trying to figure out our Devil Fruit abilities. It feels so hard to control the power of ice, but it's super interesting!"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Actually, I feel like Wise and I could totally set up a food stall this summer. Wise can be in charge of the grill, and I'll use my ice powers to provide cold drinks! We can completely eliminate our utility costs and make a fortune!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Good idea! Be sure to invite me when you open! I really want to know what barbecue cooked with superpowers tastes like!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Wait! Hold on, that's not right! My Flame Lance can totally be used as a stove, and March 7th can make all the ice we need! Plus, we have Dan Heng as our perfect theoretical master. It's obvious that the Astral Express crew has an even greater advantage in the food stall market!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Ah! You've really gone too far this time! Don't drag Dan Heng and me into your weird business schemes!"
Sitting in the parlor car, March 7th felt a familiar headache coming on. She was fairly certain she had developed a specific chronic illness—one where, the moment she saw Stelle's characteristic brand of chaotic logic pop up on a screen, her hands physically itched with the urge to reach across the room and clamp a hand over the Trailblazer's mouth.
Of course, even if March 7th actually managed to tackle Stelle and cover her mouth, it wouldn't stop the gray-haired girl's fingers from flying across her phone screen to unleash more abstract commentary into the group chat.
After a brief round of digital banter, the topic finally steered back to the original point.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "For the massive gains of all our members, I want to formally thank Lumine! Thank you, Dan Heng! Long live Spirit Stones! Long live Array Codices! Long live Pom-Pom's Metaphysics!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: (Image: Pom-Pom happily scattering flower petals)
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Oh, right! Paimon, can your 'Star Paimon' show off its muscles for us?"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: (Image: Stelle with sparkling, expectant starry eyes)
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Stelle! Don't mention Star Paimon! I'm going to get angry!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "What?! My name literally means Star! Your 'Star Paimon' infringes on my naming rights! And after all that, you won't even let me see the muscular stand!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: (Image: Stelle looking utterly devastated and betrayed)
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Pfft—Paimon, don't be mad~ Actually, if you look closely, your Star Paimon... Hmm! It's definitely very mighty! It looks very safe!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "By the way, what did Mr. Zhongli get from the draws? (✧ω✧)"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: (Image: Pom-Pom tilting their head in curiosity)
March 7th was typing frantically, trying her absolute hardest to change the subject before Stelle could say anything else that would make her lose her composure entirely.
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "Thank you for your concern. Aside from this rather excellent jar of otherworldly black tea, my harvest this time includes a visualization method called the 'Method of Clarifying the True Self.' It is designed to purify the mind and rectify one's nature. I also received a Soul-Nourishing Puppet, an artifact capable of nurturing remnant souls. This particular item may have significant alternative uses for me. Additionally, I acquired a Tiger Talisman, which can harmonize mixed energies within the body. It has proven to be quite practical."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "I have already made several copies of the 'Method of Clarifying the True Self' and placed them in the group storage. If any of you are interested, you may take a copy and study it at your leisure. This method clarifies the Dao heart and reveals the true self, which may prove highly beneficial for your daily cultivation. However, please be aware that this method has its shortcomings, as it contains absolutely no offensive techniques."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Wow! Mr. Zhongli is so generous! Pom-Pom's Metaphysics is indeed invincible! I can't let myself fall behind either! @Astral Express · Dan Heng, Teacher Dan Heng, should we also make a few copies of the 'Fire Dance Whirlwind'and the'Ice Heart Technique' and toss them into the storage? Good things should be shared with everyone!"
[Astral Express · Dan Heng]: "I have no objections. The 'Ice Heart Technique'calms the mind and is excellent for stabilizing one's mental state during combat. I have already copied it and uploaded it to the group storage. The'Fire Dance Whirlwind' is an exquisite sword technique, but since you are the one who has already learned it, Stelle, I will leave the copying of that manual to you."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "No problem! Leave it to me! Hehe, just think about it—in the future, everyone in this chat group will know how to use the Fire Dance Whirlwind! Just imagining all of us spinning around with flaming swords is spectacular! March 7th, hurry up and praise me!"
March 7th did, in fact, praise Stelle. However, it was a strictly "offline" praise, delivered in the form of a heavily exasperated sigh and a thrown pillow across the parlor car.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Thank you, Mr. Zhongli! Thank you, Dan Heng! Thank you, Stelle! You guys are all so amazing! (◍•ᴗ•◍)♦ These cultivation techniques sound so cool and powerful! Wise and I definitely want to learn them too!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Although Paimon probably can't learn any of this complicated stuff... still, thank you all for sharing! Paimon will stay on the sidelines and cheer for you!"
[Genshin Impact · Lumine]: "Paimon, you just don't want to use your brain to read the manuals, do you?"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "That's not true! Paimon just... Paimon just thinks the power of food is much more suitable for my constitution!"
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "You are all far too kind. Sharing knowledge and offering mutual assistance among friends is only proper."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "However, at this very moment, the feast of the otherworldly giant beast prepared by Xiangling and Guoba is nearing its completion. Soon, this delicious food will be uploaded and shared with all of you, so that you may taste this exotic flavor for yourselves."
Zhongli's typed remarks were as calm and dignified as ever, effortlessly previewing the grand, mouth-watering meal that was currently sizzling over the campfire.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Otherworldly giant beast?! How big is it? What does it taste like? Now I'm super curious!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Ah?! There's MORE delicious food coming?! I'm so silly, really! I shouldn't have been so greedy earlier! Now my stomach is completely full, and I won't be able to eat any of the new food later!"
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