Chapter 49: Chapter 49
The Dust God Guizhong was established in the game's lore as the Geo Archon's closest friend, and also a past that he couldn't bear to face.
In his previous life, Nathan hadn't deeply explored the story while playing the game.
He only knew that this Dust God... died during the Archon War.
She was also highly skilled in mechanical arts, and the Guizhong Ballista in the main storyline was her creation.
While Nathan was pondering this information, the Dust God's eyes lit up.
"Wow! What a polite child!"
She stepped forward, slowly approaching his side.
Guizhong bent down, a fragrance of glaze lilies wafting toward him.
As Nathan wondered what was happening, her delicate hand was already on his forehead.
"Good child... good child!"
Completely lacking the bearing of a god, she was more like a gentle neighborhood big sister, softly caressing Nathan's forehead.
"Um... Guizhong..."
Nathan spoke awkwardly, wanting her to stop.
He had no choice - because of Guizhong's actions, Ganyu behind him was using both hands and feet
to strongly express her disapproval on Nathan's body.
"No, you must call me big sister!"
Guizhong's lips curved upward slightly, her maternal smile washing over Nathan like warm sunlight.
"Hmph! Bad sister!"
Seeing that her hands and feet weren't having any effect, the little one behind him had enough.
"Little Ganyu... you're not as cute as you used to be!"
This sentiment actually matched Nathan's feelings from earlier until now.
Somehow, the little girl after three years would get angry for no apparent reason.
Guizhong wasn't angry. Her other delicate hand reached past Nathan's shoulder to pat the temperamental little one's head.
Her palm seemed magical, warming Ganyu and quickly calming her down.
"Little brother Nathan, so do you know where Cloud Retainer went?"
While radiating gentleness, Guizhong hadn't forgotten her purpose.
"Cloud Retainer she..."
This question, Nathan couldn't answer himself.
After all, he had fast-forwarded through three years via the life simulator.
After initially playing around with the little one, Guizhong and company had directly arrived.
As for Cloud Retainer's whereabouts, he was helpless to say.
"This adeptus has returned..."
Speak of the devil!
Just as they mentioned the crane, she flew in from outside.
"Oh? Guizhong, why are you here?"
Seeing Guizhong, Cloud Retainer's voice carried joy.
From the game's stone tablet message at Mt. Aozang: "Here dwells Cloud Retainer, here sits Guizhong, here rests the Geo Lord," one could conclude that Cloud Retainer and this Dust God were definitely close friends.
"Cloud Retainer, long time no see!"
The Dust God turned, equally delighted to speak to her friend.
"Indeed, it's been too long. Guizhong, you and Morax went to establish Guili Plains, leaving this lonely adeptus alone in the mountains."
Nathan could hear a hint of sourness in Cloud Retainer's words.
Guizhong clearly sensed it too, directly turning to embrace her friend.
"Wait... Guizhong don't, this adeptus can hardly breathe!"
Enveloped in the warm embrace, even the tsundere crane's emotions were instantly calmed.
"Hehe, Cloud Retainer, have you forgiven me?"
"Yes, yes, forgiven!"
Cloud Retainer, taking advantage of the moment, was completely subdued by Guizhong.
Nathan marveled from the side at this Dust God's powerful charm.
"Tell me, what brings you here this time?"
The now-calm crane, fluttering her wings, broke free from Guizhong's embrace.
With her disciples present, she tried to maintain composure while asking.
"Naturally, to catch up with you, Cloud Retainer!"
As she spoke, Guizhong prepared to open her sleeves again.
But Cloud Retainer quickly fluttered backward.
"Stop... stop, you and Morax coming together surely means more than just catching up!"
Following their conversation, Nathan looked toward the entrance where a golden dragon was floating outside.
No wonder they hadn't seen the Morax that Guizhong mentioned - he had stayed outside.
His appearance wasn't much different from the Prime of Adepti form Nathan had seen in the game.
"Haha, you know me best, Cloud Retainer. We came to ask for your help!"
"Your help? If you and Morax can't solve it, how could this adeptus possibly help!"
The crane shook her head, skeptical of her friend's words.
"Well... it's not anything difficult. Guili Plains is often troubled by magical beasts. We want to ask Cloud Retainer to use your mechanical arts to help drive away these troublesome beasts!"
Guizhong pressed her hands together, earnestly making her request.
"But Guizhong, your mechanical skills are clearly on par with mine, why seek others' help?"
"Oh my, Cloud Retainer, have you forgotten? I'm worst at creating automatons and such things."
"Automatons? This adeptus thinks... you should ask Nathan instead!"
After understanding her friend's request, Cloud Retainer shifted the topic to her disciple.
"Oh right, little brother Nathan is your new disciple, right? He could indeed be an assistant!"
The Dust God Guizhong was established in the game's lore as the Geo Archon's closest friend, and also a past that he couldn't bear to face.
"No... Guizhong, you're wrong. Nathan's mechanical skills have surpassed this adeptus, you can entrust everything to him!"
Regarding her friend's words, Cloud Retainer could only shake her head helplessly.
What's it like having such a capable disciple?
One could only say it was frustrating - three years ago, Nathan had already surpassed her as a master.
Fortunately, she still had the slow-learning Ganyu, giving Cloud Retainer some consolation in teaching.
"Cloud Retainer... are, are you serious?"
Guizhong spoke with doubt, mainly because Nathan's adorable appearance in her eyes couldn't possibly be associated with such capability.
"Of course it's true. All these creations around us are Nathan's work.
Moreover, haven't you noticed his pure qilin bloodline? Both this adeptus's arts and mechanical skills have already been mastered by him!"
"You're saying little brother Nathan is... the legendary heaven-sent qilin?"
Understanding her friend's meaning, Guizhong covered her mouth in surprise.
"This adeptus wouldn't lie!"
"That's... that's wonderful!"
Receiving confirmation, Guizhong's face grew even more joyful.
She came to Nathan's side again, ignoring Ganyu's resentful gaze, and held his hand.
"Little brother Nathan, would you be willing to come down the mountain with Cloud Retainer to help big sister?"
Under this sincere request, the life simulator system in his mind triggered again.
[Sensing Guizhong's sincere invitation, what is your choice?]
[Choose to refuse: Immediately unlock Ending 2 - Heart of Stone!]
[Choose to accept: Simulation will continue!]
Between the two options given by the simulator, Nathan felt there was no need to hesitate.
"Yes, I'm willing!"
"Haha, little brother Nathan is amazing!"
Before the words finished, Guizhong immediately enveloped Nathan in her long sleeves.
"Hmph, bad sister!"
Only Ganyu remained behind, desperately pulling at Nathan's back, trying to free him from the Dust God's warm embrace.
"Well, little Ganyu come too, Guili Plains is much more fun than the mountain!"
Guizhong sensed the little one's awkwardness and again managed to calm her emotions.
"Time is of the essence... let's go!"
Cloud Retainer spoke up to diffuse the situation, clearly used to her friend's behavior.
The human and crane set off, with Ganyu and Nathan following behind.
But after just a few steps, his clothes were grabbed by the little one.
"Nathan..."
"Ganyu... what's wrong?"
"I'm unhappy!"
"????"
The dissatisfaction hadn't disappeared at all. In this brief moment alone, she wanted Nathan to comfort her.
"Nathan, you need to make me happy!"
Seeing he didn't speak, Ganyu directly hugged his waist.
In the little one's heart, there had been a lingering sourness.
She didn't know why, but especially after seeing Guizhong embrace Nathan, this sourness grew stronger.
Though it was clearly just an elder's affection for a junior, the little girl felt uncomfortable no matter what.
"Ah... how should I make you happy?"
Nathan said with a headache!
The current him didn't know the little one's various thoughts, or he would have been shocked.
Since that night of their encounter, the seed of possessiveness had been quietly planted in Ganyu's heart.
It had taken root and sprouted over these three years, and now she didn't want to see any other females appear around Nathan at all.
"Mmm... I want those words you said to that bad sister earlier!"
Ganyu pouted, her discontent about to overflow.
Though still at an innocent age, this kind of expression seemed to come naturally to her.
"Guizhong... words?"
Nathan tried to recall what he had said earlier that could have upset the little one.
Thinking back, it could only be the poetry from before.
"Ganyu, you couldn't mean that poem?"
"Mm-hmm, I want too..."
Ah this...
Hearing the little one's answer, it was indeed about the casual Classic of Poetry verse.
"Nathan, you can't repeat it, and you can't just brush me off!"
Hearing this response, Nathan felt even more troubled.
"Then... 'Green, green, my simple gown, Far is my heart from thee now; Not for thy sake alone I vow, These sighs till now!'"
To comfort the little one, Nathan unconsciously recited these lines.
But as soon as he finished, his mind suddenly froze.
This poem, hadn't he heard it somewhere before?
"Mm-hmm, I'll let you off this time!"
Ganyu nodded, and even though she didn't understand the meaning, it didn't stop her from memorizing these verses.
But thinking again, she still wasn't completely appeased.
The current Nathan was too excellent; she needed to find a way to keep him by her side forever.
Suddenly, Ganyu had a flash of inspiration.
She recalled words her master had once said... something about qilin, bloodlines, and inheritance.
If their bloodlines were to merge, they would surely never be separated.
Ganyu raised her head joyfully, stepping in front of him.
"Nathan, let's have a baby together!"
A/N- You can join my patreon to access 25+ advance chapters
[ Patreon.com/nneol ]