After queuing at the Feiyun Commerce Guild for half an hour, the girls finally registered at the registration point.
"Everyone's enthusiasm for the competition is so high!"
"After all, there's a huge prize pool."
"Boss, let's go back early today."
"Aren't we going for a walk?"
"The preliminary rounds start next week. We want to go back and practice playing Mahjong!"
"Alright."
Back at the shop, the girls excitedly took out the Mahjong tiles and started playing.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata naturally didn't need to practice. She put the various miscellaneous things she had just bought back in her room and took her clothes down to take a shower.
After showering, she came over and pulled Xia Zhi: "Cousin, it's time for my massage."
"Mm."
The two of them came to the back hall, and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata lay prone on the small bed, revealing a smooth, clean back.
Xia Zhi took out the Essential Oil and began to massage her.
"I saw you chatting happily with Ningguang this afternoon. What were you talking about?"
"Just currency, population, interest rates, and stuff."
"Was it fun?"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's tone was serious: "What do you mean fun? I'm doing important things for the benefit of Liyue."
"I was the one who started it."
"She came to me, it's not like I was trying to steal your plaything."
"Is that so?"
"Anyway, you're busy and don't have time to play with her."
"And you say it's not playing."
"Tee-hee..."
"You've changed."
"What's changed?"
"You weren't like this before."
"What was I like before?"
"Noble, beautiful, wise, calm, selfless, independent..."
"Tsk, so you had such a good image of me in your heart."
"You were. You are the avatar of Irminsul, the Lord of Wisdom, the previous Dendro Archon."
Xia Zhi was heartbroken.
"Look at you now, indulging in low-level pleasures. You're either reading novels all day or shopping..."
"Well, Morax has retired. It's reasonable for me to retire and enjoy life too, right?"
"Don't let him lead you astray!"
"Don't worry! I won't spend your money like he does. That guy Morax never bargains when he buys things. Look at me, I save a lot of money every time I buy something."
"You just like bargaining."
"Nonsense, I'm saving you money! Saving is earning!"
"Those odds and ends you buy are useless."
"They'll be useful someday."
"I feel like your body has shrunk, and your personality has also become a bit rebellious."
"What rebellion? This is called having a younger mindset."
"I remember you weren't like this when you were young."
"It was different back then."
"...I think I understand."
"What do you understand?"
"Someone with your impressive background, in a movie, would be a young lady..."
"At least a princess, right?"
"Don't interrupt me!"
"Oh."
"You are the avatar of Irminsul, born with extraordinary wisdom, becoming the high and mighty Dendro Archon, working tirelessly for the development of Sumeru, and ultimately sacrificing yourself to protect the world. All of this seems to be preordained by fate. You couldn't escape this fate, and you didn't want to escape this fate. Even so, you should still have some regrets in your heart, right?"
"...What regrets?"
"A longing for the ordinary?"
"..."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata suddenly fell silent.
Xia Zhi also closed his mouth and quietly massaged her.
After a long time, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata spoke.
"Cousin."
"Mm?"
"Back then, when you saw my predetermined fate, how did you view it?"
"It was like watching a movie."
"Watching a movie... I see..."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sighed softly.
"Indeed, we are different..."
"What's different?"
"Nothing."
"When you saw my past life, wasn't it like that?"
"No."
"I remember you said you dreamed it..."
Xia Zhi suddenly remembered that he had once met Shenhe as a child in his dream.
Could it be that Greater Lord Rukkhadevata also saw her past self in the same way?
Compared to his way of observing from the sidelines, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's way of dreaming was undoubtedly much more profound.
In a sense, it was as if she had accompanied him through his entire life...
"You... were you influenced by another world?"
"There's a little influence, but not much."
"Then..."
"Now is the era of Lesser Lord Kusanali. The new era has no place for me. Is there anything wrong with me living under a different identity?"
"It's not wrong..."
"I was a little hesitant at first, but then I met Morax and saw how he was wandering the mortal realm. I suddenly understood. It doesn't matter what identity you have, just follow your heart."
Xia Zhi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "It was him who led you astray!"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata couldn't help but laugh: "It's not wrong to say that."
"Forget it, it's up to you. If you want to be my cousin, then be my cousin."
"You're actually complaining about having such a smart and cute cousin?"
"I think Yaoyao is cuter."
"Tsk..."
"What's with that tone?"
"You have ulterior motives."
"!?"
"Yaoyao is still just a child."
"I just said I prefer a well-behaved cousin like Yaoyao."
"Don't explain."
"..."
"Ooh... you... um... lighter... ah..."
"I'm already using very light pressure."
"No... you... um... your hand... ooh..." ( ahhhhhh lmao )
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's eyes were glazed over, and she felt her entire body lose strength.
It's like this again.
It was like this last time too. She didn't know why, but suddenly she felt a strange sensation that her body couldn't refuse at all.
This sensation had an indescribable and unbelievable comfort, making her want to indulge in it and enjoy it to the fullest.
Xia Zhi lowered his head and looked at Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who was as soft as a puddle of water, and chuckled.
The [Enjoyment] characteristic of [Master of Massage] was still very useful.
Even Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, under the attack of the characteristic, didn't perform much better than Shenhe.
"Cousin, enjoy it."
"Ooh..."
--
Sumeru, House of Daena.
Nahida was numb once again.
She slumped on the ground, looking at the sealed palace, her eyes watery and alluring.
"Why... does it... hurt so much..."
--
After a while, Xia Zhi withdrew his hand.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata lay lazily on the small bed.
"It's done."
"Hmph."
"Go take another shower."
"Cousin, I won't forgive you."
"Suit yourself."
"Unless you carve a jade pendant for me too."
"What jade pendant?"
"The kind that Zhu Zi and the others have."
"Oh, that. Okay, I'll carve one for you tomorrow."
"Good."
"By the way, I'll carve one for Ying'er too."
"You have ulterior motives."
"?!"
----
You can join my Patreon to read 50+ chapters early and support me and my work.
Patreon.com/rivyura