Liyue Harbor, Yuehai Pavilion.
It was already past noon, during the lunch break.
Ganyu sat in her chair facing the computer, with a mountain of documents piled up beside her. She let out a yawn. She was a bit tired. But the workload just kept piling up... and the financial reports from the Jade Chamber were still coming in. The more she looked, the more there seemed to be! It was endless!
"I have to keep going..."
"If I can just push through this period, once the Jade Chamber's financial issues are resolved..."
Ganyu tried to comfort herself.
For Liyue, Ganyu was willing to endure anything without complaint. She didn't complain much—she just tried to focus.
On the edge of her desk sat a pot of pink succulents. It emitted a faint fragrance. As a fourth-tier magical plant, its scent had a soothing effect on the mind and spirit. Just the aroma alone made Ganyu feel a little more relaxed.
Gurgle~
She had just eaten, though...
Ganyu cautiously glanced around. Fortunately, given her status, this was a private office with no one else around. No one would notice!
Ganyu sighed in relief.
Her left hand slowly reached out.
Her right hand quickly grabbed her left wrist. Ganyu's expression twisted in conflict.
Just bringing the succulents out had already taken an immense amount of mental effort. If she ate even one leaf... wouldn't that mean she'd completely given in?
Ganyu glanced at the towering stacks of documents and the blinking icons on her computer—signs of incoming files.
"Just one leaf. If my spirits lift, I can keep working."
"No, Ganyu! You must resist! There's no time for this right now—you're too busy!"
"Just one leaf. Just one. It'll be fine..."
Ganyu felt like two little people were fighting in her head.
And then—
Ding~
The hair strand on her head trembled instantly.
Ganyu quickly picked up her phone. It was the Great Demon King Who Lures People into the Abyss—the nickname she had given Lu Heng.
Why did he always message her at the exact right time to ask if she was resting properly?
Ganyu suspiciously scanned the office. There weren't any hidden cameras, right?
She knew her profile existed in Genshin Impact. Lu Heng knew her extremely well—he could practically guess what she was doing at any given moment.
Sigh...
Ganyu wasn't exactly feeling like her privacy was being violated. Rather... if Lu Heng weren't so concerned about her, she'd feel much more at ease.
This feeling of being watched over made Ganyu restless.
On one side was the temptation to relax and rest. On the other was her duty to Liyue.
Such a difficult choice!
And during this critical period, there was no middle ground!
With the two little people in her head still fighting and Lu Heng's continuous "temptation," Ganyu quickly reached her limit.
Her hand reached out, plucked a leaf from the succulent, and popped it into her mouth.
Delicious!
It had medicinal properties that instantly refreshed Ganyu's mind.
What was this?
This was something with absolutely no side effects—it was even beneficial for her body and mind!
Well...
Actually, there was a side effect: eating too much could lead to weight gain!
But right now, Ganyu couldn't care less.
This is the best!
Furina's Shop, Fontaine.
"Now this feels right."
A smirk crept onto Lu Heng's face—one that resembled a shady uncle successfully tricking a child.
Though his words might have sounded a bit like a sales pitch, Lu Heng's intentions were genuinely for Ganyu's good.
How could such a sweet and beautiful girl be allowed to exhaust herself?
If she ended up with dark circles under her eyes, looking haggard and drained... would that be right?
As for the weight issue, Lu Heng didn't think it was a big deal.
If Ganyu had managed to lose weight before, she could always do it again later if needed.
No problem!
"Mr. Lu, do you have a moment?"
Lu Heng looked up, saw someone pulling a fourth-tier purple card, and immediately put his phone down. "Coming."
In the main hall.
Furina held out a bag of chips to the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
But the Dendro Archon politely declined.
Despite her childlike appearance, her demeanor was wise beyond her years.
Her youthful face carried an air of wisdom. "They're really tasty, you sure you don't want any?"
Furina sighed in disappointment.
It seemed the Greater Lord couldn't enjoy the snacks.
Was this how older people were?
Furina couldn't help but ponder.
Wait, I'm over 500 years old myself...
And Focalors was originally an Oceanid—she was nearly a thousand years old!
As Furina was lost in thought, the Greater Lord asked curiously, "What's on your mind?"
"I was just thinking..."
"Turns out we're all pretty old, huh?"
Furina rested her chin on her hand, her tone tinged with melancholy.
Why was she even thinking about this?
The Greater Lord didn't feel particularly affected.
Since the magical cards could solve the issue of erosion, for beings like gods—immortality wasn't out of the question.
Long-lived species rarely worried about lifespan, except for humans.
And now, with the Card System and equipment, even if Focalors revoked Furina's curse, she'd still be fine.
Just as she was about to speak, the Greater Lord suddenly let out a soft hmm.
The shop entrance was crowded, so she had to stand on her tiptoes to peer into the distance.
"What's wrong?" Furina asked, puzzled.
"I think I sensed a familiar presence... No, that's not quite right. More like a familiar condition..."
The Greater Lord's physical body was fully healed, but her powers hadn't recovered.
So her perception wasn't sharp enough to detect things clearly from afar.
"No need to rush. You'll see soon enough."
Lu Heng, who had just finished appraising a card, casually remarked while pouring himself a cup of tea.
Fontaine Court, Lionfang District.
Given the recent influx of visitors, a parking area had been set up.
The Dragonfly airship slowly descended into the parking zone.
The space was more than enough to accommodate the small vessel.
As the trio disembarked, their earlier excitement from flying over Fontaine's capital quickly turned into nervousness.
It was like traveling to another country, only to find that the entire place was filled with futuristic alien technology.
How could anyone handle this?!
The feeling of being country bumpkins in the big city was overwhelming!
"Hope you enjoy your time in Fontaine Court!"
With that, the Dragonfly took off again.
In this unfamiliar city, Collei felt lost—unsure of where to go or what to do.
Luckily, she had two reliable companions.
Tighnari held a map of Fontaine Court, while Cyno surveyed their surroundings.
"We're here in the Lionfang District. The red star marks the card shop's location."
After checking their position, Tighnari pointed in a direction. "Let's head this way first."
"Will we even get in line today?" Cyno sounded worried.
"No one cuts in line," Tighnari reassured.
Due to the card shop's overwhelming popularity—and the changing times—the Palais Mermonia had allocated additional space in the area.
Teyvat had no shortage of workaholics: Mondstadt had Jean, Liyue had Ganyu, and Fontaine had Neuvillette!
Neuvillette's efficiency was unmatched.
"So first, let's head this way and secure lodging."
As they approached the street where the card shop was located, they saw food stalls, novelty shops, and hotels!
Many of the hotels were already fully booked.
"You're outsiders, right?" the front desk clerk asked.
"Yes, we're from Sumeru," Tighnari replied.
"Then let me explain a few things."
The clerk went on to describe the queuing system—how they could get a ticket from an automated robot to hold their spot in line, allowing them to explore or rest without losing their place.
Collei, being the only girl, got her own room.
"This is so expensive..." Collei whispered.
But upon reflection, it made sense.
After booking their rooms, the trio joined the queue.
The line stretched from one end of the street to the other!
Fortunately, it moved forward every few seconds.
After all, most people only needed a few moments to draw their cards before stepping aside to check their effects.
As soon as they joined the line, a robot approached them.
"Good afternoon. The master wishes to see you. If convenient, please follow me."
Cyno and Tighnari exchanged glances.
The "master" referred to by the robot could only be the shop's owner—Lu Heng.
He wanted to see them?
Why?
None of them felt they were special enough to warrant a private audience before even meeting him.
It was like arriving in a foreign land and suddenly being personally received by a VIP.
"Let's go see first," Tighnari said.
"Alright," Cyno agreed.
People around them murmured in surprise.
The boss himself is receiving them?!
Who are these three?
"They look like Genshin characters," someone remarked.
"But that shouldn't warrant a personal meeting, right? Who is this boss?"
"Maybe they're special in some way?"
Soon, the robot led them into the shop.
Inside, they saw a young man sipping tea.
His first impression was one of calm and approachability.
This aura softened his otherwise imposing status, making him seem friendly.
This was that Mr. Lu—the generous and revered figure Fontaine spoke of!
Besides Lu Heng, two others were present:
"The Hydro Archon," and a white-haired child.
"Greetings, Mr. Lu. Greetings to both Hydro Archons." Having done their research, the trio bowed politely.
"No need for formalities."
Lu Heng smiled and gestured for them to sit. "Care for some black tea?"
"We'd be honored," Tighnari replied.
As Lu Heng poured tea, the Greater Lord studied Collei intently.
Earlier, the distance had made her perception unclear.
Now, face-to-face, she was certain of Collei's condition.
"You have Eleazar?"
Though already sure, the Greater Lord still asked.
"You—huh? How did you know?" Collei blinked in confusion.
"You must be wondering why I wanted to meet you, right?" Lu Heng chuckled.
Cyno and Tighnari nodded honestly.
Lu Heng continued, "This is your Dendro Archon—the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Tighnari's teacup nearly slipped, the liquid sloshing onto his hand.
Cyno's eyes widened.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?!
Wasn't she supposed to be dead?!
All three stared in shock at the adorable white-haired child.
This was the Dendro Archon?!
"Mr. Lu, I don't mean to doubt you, but... according to Sumeru's records, the Greater Lord perished long ago. How could she...?" Tighnari struggled to believe it.
"But she really is."
Lu Heng explained, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, she's in this form for now."
"Indeed."
The Greater Lord nodded solemnly. "Thanks to Mr. Lu, I was able to survive."
She raised a small hand, and faint green light shimmered around it.
This was no ordinary Dendro energy—it carried a divine essence unique to gods!
Though weak, it was unmistakable proof of her identity.
No matter how unbelievable it seemed, the evidence was undeniable.
"With Mr. Lu's help, the Greater Lord's revival isn't surprising."
Cyno gradually calmed down, then asked, "But why are you in this form?"
"My power isn't fully restored, so my body regressed," the Greater Lord explained. "Once I recover, I'll return to normal."
"I see." Cyno nodded in understanding.
"Mr. Lu, was it not you who wanted to see us, but the Greater Lord?" Tighnari guessed.
"Correct."
The Greater Lord nodded. "I wanted to see her."
"Me?" Collei pointed at herself, bewildered.
"Because of Eleazar?" Tighnari connected the dots.
The Greater Lord confirmed, "It's an illness caused by the Irminsul's corruption—a disruption in elemental balance. Conventional methods can't cure it."
"Is there any way to treat it, then?" Tighnari pressed.
"Have you noticed any changes in your condition?" the Greater Lord asked Collei.
After a moment of focus, Collei gasped. "I think... I've gotten better?!"
"When did this happen?" Cyno was stunned.
Tighnari looked equally baffled.
From their departure in Sumeru until now, none of them had noticed!
"The Irminsul is recovering well."
Unlike the original timeline where she was erased from memory, the Greater Lord had survived.
Thus, Eleazar and the Irminsul's condition were different from the original future.
Now, the Irminsul was like a convalescing patient—slowly healing.
And Eleazar, as a symptom of its corruption, was naturally fading as well.
Without delving into details, the Greater Lord simply said, "From what I can see, the Eleazar in your body is gradually disappearing. At this rate, you'll be completely cured in about a year."
"Really?!"
Collei shot to her feet, trembling with excitement.
She had thought her only hope lay in the cards. Yet here, before even drawing anything, the disease that had plagued her for years was already vanishing on its own!
How could she stay calm?
Overwhelmed, she nearly lost her balance.
"Of course it's true."
Lu Heng smiled and raised a hand. An invisible force steadied Collei like an unseen hand.
"You should calm down first."
Collei snapped back to reality, her face flushing as she realized everyone was staring.
"I-I'm sorry! I got too carried away!"
The others smiled kindly.
Eleazar made it hard to control one's body during flare-ups. No one blamed her.
"By the way, isn't Eleazar a kind of debuff?" Furina mused.
Lu Heng grinned. "Anything abnormal is a debuff—meaning it can be purged!"
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T/N:
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