Shenhe's mother curiously sized up Koji—Shenhe's husband, her son-in-law.
His looks were impeccable, and he was the hero who had helped the Liyue Qixing save Liyue, an honored guest of Ningguang, the Tianquan Star.
In Liyue's words, this was what you called a "perfect dragon-riding son-in-law."
Most importantly, her daughter liked him, and he had even allowed her to meet Shenhe again.
"Mother-in-law, would you like to be resurrected?"
Koji looked at Shenhe's mother and asked the question seriously.
This was up to her alone; they would not force the matter.
"Resurrected…?"
Shenhe's mother was slightly taken aback. Being able to see Shenhe as an adult already left her deeply satisfied.
If she asked for even more, she felt she would be getting a bit too greedy.
Shenhe pressed her lips together. In her heart she hoped her mother could stay with her, but she also respected her mother's choice.
"Will it cause any trouble?"
Shenhe's mother asked.
If possible, she certainly wanted to stay at Shenhe's side, to see her wedding, to hear grandchildren calling her "grandma."
But if it was too much of a burden, then she would rather let it go.
"For a small number of people, it won't be a problem," Koji said.
Overturning life and death was a taboo, yes, but if you had that kind of power and refused to use it, then what was the point of having it?
He wouldn't abuse it, but he also wouldn't leave it unused.
He would use it on the people around him.
"…I understand. Then I'll trouble you with this, Koji."
Shenhe's mother nodded. Her only attachment to the world of the living was this daughter, Shenhe.
…
While Shenhe strolled through Liyue with her mother, Koji himself headed to Sumeru.
"Koji, do you need something?"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata raised her head, set aside the documents in her hands, and looked at Koji with a smile; clearly, she held quite a bit of goodwill toward him.
"I'd like to visit the Eternal Oasis and need a local guide," Koji said.
"The Eternal Oasis?"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's expression turned slightly odd.
Of course she knew of the Eternal Oasis. It was a ruin tied to the Scarlet King and the Goddess of Flowers, a tomb the Scarlet King had built to commemorate the Goddess of Flowers. In the early days when three gods ruled Sumeru together, the Goddess of Flowers had sacrificed herself, bringing Forbidden Knowledge and helping the Scarlet King rebel against Celestia.
The tomb the Scarlet King built had been given everlasting greenery.
"All right." Greater Lord Rukkhadevata nodded, then used the Akasha to send a message to Nahida. These documents could serve as training for her.
After her return, the Akasha Terminals had been modified. To gain knowledge, people now had to study for themselves; the method of directly injecting information into the brain was gone. The communication functions, however, had been upgraded. As long as one was within the Akasha's coverage, communication was possible.
In the desert, at the Eternal Oasis, time did not move. Everything there was frozen, fixed at the most beautiful moment.
On the small island at the heart of the lake stood three thrones carved from tree stumps. They represented Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, the Goddess of Flowers, and the Scarlet King, and also the friendship they had once shared.
Rukkhadevata sat on her own throne, gazing at the two empty thrones beside her, her face tinged with remembrance.
Once upon a time, she, the Goddess of Flowers, and the Scarlet King had shared wine together, watching the Goddess of Flowers dance in graceful splendor.
The present-day "Dance of the Goddess of Flowers" came from that Goddess, but no matter who performed it now, none could match the original.
She had thought it would last forever, but those two were too good at causing trouble. In the end, they had gotten themselves killed.
She herself had been dragged into their mess and almost gone down with them.
"Rukkhadevata, according to some unofficial records, the Scarlet King was infatuated with the Goddess of Flowers, and the Goddess of Flowers was infatuated with you. Is that true, or not?" Koji asked curiously.
"Uh…"
Rukkhadevata's lips twitched. Thinking back to those days, it was indeed true that the Scarlet King was besotted with the Goddess of Flowers.
As for the Goddess of Flowers being infatuated with her…
Tch. That wasn't exactly wrong either. The way the Goddess of Flowers looked at her had practically sparkled with longing, but back then, Rukkhadevata hadn't paid it much mind.
Could it be that the Goddess of Flowers had liked her?
At that thought, Rukkhadevata's body jolted. She was clearly having a stress reaction—her orientation was perfectly normal, thank you very much.
The Goddess of Flowers, Nabu Malikata, was a descendant of the Seelies created by the Primordial One.
The Seelie race had once walked alongside humans, guiding them in language and natural philosophy, leading humanity in the distant past. Because of certain events, they later bore a curse: once they fell in love with humans, they would lose their wisdom and power, and their bodies would regress.
"I am rather curious, though—what kind of allure did the Goddess of Flowers have to make the Scarlet King fall for her that hard?"
Koji stroked his chin.
The Goddess of Flowers' looks probably weren't any worse than Rukkhadevata's, but her aura was certainly more aggressive than Rukkhadevata's.
"I actually don't really want to see Nabu again…" Rukkhadevata's lips twitched. Back then, the antics those two pulled had almost gotten her killed, and thinking about it even now left her somewhat shaken.
They had been utterly insane—being able to come up with a stunt like drawing in Forbidden Knowledge.
"Sumeru is still somewhat lacking in top-tier combat power. Let's have Nabu atone for her sins," Koji said as he began to work.
Hearing that, Rukkhadevata thought that one Goddess of Flowers was already troublesome enough; that Scarlet King should definitely not be brought back. If that lovestruck fool and the Goddess of Flowers ended up in the same place again, there was a very high chance they would stir up yet another mess.
Flowers rained down, and the Goddess of Flowers returned. Compared to the gentle Rukkhadevata, the Goddess of Flowers was like a vibrant blossom, full of thorns, with an extraordinary allure.
Nabu, Master of Flowers, slowly opened her eyes. Those soft, seductive eyes seemed capable of melting even bone, carrying a unique charm.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. As expected of the Goddess of Flowers.
Now Koji could understand why the Scarlet King Al-Ahmar had been so hopelessly obsessed with her.
The Seelie race truly had been blessed by the heavens—there was nothing to criticize about their beauty; it could only be called top-tier.
Columbina, that young Fatui girl, was also of Seelie descent, and her looks were nothing to scoff at.
The Scarlet King had probably never seen such a beautiful deity before, which was why he'd fallen in love at first sight. To put it simply, he'd been completely captivated by Nabu's body and beauty.
In truth, Rukkhadevata's looks were no worse than Nabu's. She possessed an aura of wisdom and compassion that naturally inspired respect in others.
The Goddess of Flowers, on the other hand, made people instinctively want to conquer this thorn-covered blossom and savor the fragrance of the Goddess herself.
"Rukkhadevata?"
Nabu blinked in surprise. Hadn't she already died? Could it be that Rukkhadevata had died too?
After all, the Forbidden Knowledge they had brought in back then was terrifyingly powerful; perhaps Rukkhadevata had been dragged down with them.
"I'm sorry. We're the ones who harmed you," Nabu apologized, her mood sinking.
They had been far too selfish, never once considering their good friend Rukkhadevata.
Having died once, she had come to understand some things and now deeply missed the days when the three gods ruled Sumeru together.
As someone who understood the human heart, there was no way Rukkhadevata could fail to see what Nabu was thinking. She let out a helpless smile.
"Nabu, I didn't die. You're the one who's been brought back to life."
If not for Koji, then according to her original plan, she really would have died.
But now, she was very much alive and well.
"Really?"
Nabu's eyes lit up.
They had drawn in the power of Forbidden Knowledge for their own reasons, and Rukkhadevata had silently taken on so much. Nabu had always felt she owed her friend.
"Yes, it's all in the past now. All of us have survived it."
Rukkhadevata looked at Nabu gently, a deep warmth and nostalgia flickering in her gaze.
Now that the Goddess of Flowers had been resurrected, the trio of deities who had once ruled Sumeru together were one important step closer to being reunited.
And as for the Scarlet King… perhaps he, too, would have to face the consequences of the chaos he had once caused.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]