“Uh-oh—”
(:з」∠)
It was nighttime. After seeing off those who had helped wash the dishes, tidied up, and handled another day’s share of Liyue’s millennia-old affairs, Gu Sanqiu slumped over the stone table, lost in thought.
Not long ago, his sister and Keqing had to leave to handle some urgent matters. His sister had simply smiled and playfully tugged on his ear, but Keqing… her glare looked like she wanted to carve him into pieces.
As for Beidou, she had taken it in stride, laughing as she said she hoped it’d be her turn to feed him next time.
But the old man… Gu Sanqiu still couldn’t shake the memory of that faint glance the Geo Archon had cast him before leaving.
Only now was he beginning to grasp the depth of the trouble he’d stirred up.
“Hmm, Mona should still be in Liyue Harbor, right?”
Gu Sanqiu pondered whether he should seek her help in calculating how many years he had left to live.
When it came to fate, consulting someone who could mock even misfortune with half-lidded eyes seemed like the most reliable option.
Surprisingly, what scared him most wasn’t the fury radiating from Keqing. No, it was Zhongli’s calm and understated demeanor.
After all, logic dictated that those who posed the greatest threat rarely revealed it in their actions—unless they were a genius-level maniac, of course.
Having offended the Geo Archon, Gu Sanqiu figured he should start scouting for a prime location for his grand funeral.
Then again, given the reputation of the Gu family, his grave would likely attract a constant stream of tomb raiders. Perhaps he should set up elaborate traps, turning the site into a hellish tower-defense game to keep them occupied.
His sister wouldn’t harm him. Keqing might drag him off to make a bowl of beef offal stew, but she wouldn’t go too far.
The old man, though…
He could easily envision Zhongli issuing an imperial decree to transfer the responsibilities of the Gu family’s incense lineage to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Then, he’d likely be exiled to guard Guyun Stone Forest, forbidden to return until the remnants of the Archon War were cleared.
Cue dramatic music and falling snowflakes—a poetic ending for the Gu family incense tradition.
Oh no. He was doomed.
“They’re gone now. It’s quiet again.”
Gu Sanqiu gazed at the now-empty courtyard, his eyes drifting toward the apple tree swaying gently in the breeze. With a hint of curiosity, he approached and placed a hand on its trunk.
“You know, I’ve been taking care of you with good food, good drinks, and everything you could possibly need. Couldn’t you at least develop some sentience in return?”
He had once hoped to nurture this tree into something extraordinary. While it couldn’t compare to the renowned spirit roots of the adepti, he thought it could at least become a rare and valuable plant.
Yet, this mountain apple tree remained as dense as ever, unresponsive to even his teachings of The Mountain Shaking Sutra.
“Well, I guess I’ll keep you around. It’d be nice to have another living thing to talk to in this household.”
Resigned, Gu Sanqiu figured the tree was likely a product of artificial grafting. Trying to cultivate spiritual awareness in something so mundane seemed like a pipe dream.
At its core, the tree simply wasn’t of high enough quality.
“Forget it. I’ll prepare what I need tomorrow.”
Shaking his head, Gu Sanqiu retreated into the incense chamber.
—
“Grandma Lin, here are some New Year’s gifts for you. Wishing everyone a happy Lantern Rite!”
Gu Sanqiu smiled warmly as he embraced the elderly woman who had dedicated her life to running the orphanage. Turning, he directed the workers to unload the goods.
If things got too busy later, he might not have time to visit again. It was better to replace everything they needed in one go.
“Sanqiu, have you been fighting lately?”
The elderly woman held his hand firmly. “Tell me the truth. Have you gotten into fights recently?”
“…Yes.”
Having grown up under her care, Gu Sanqiu wasn’t surprised she could read him so well.
“I thought so.”
“Whenever you visited before, your expression was that of a normal young man. But today, there’s a sharpness in your gaze.”
She sighed. “The Gu family may be a prominent household, but why does everything fall on your shoulders alone?”
She understood that Gu Sanqiu’s life wasn’t easy. Every family had its struggles, and the orphanage only thrived because of help from many parties.
But the Gu family’s knowledge and wealth were immense, while its members were pitifully few. Even calling it a “handful” was an exaggeration.
“Child, if it gets too hard, don’t bear it all alone. Go to your sister, your friends. They’re all capable of helping you.”
Grandma Lin patted his arm. “I know young men like you often find it hard to ask for help. But your sister holds the Tianquan position, and Keqing is the Yuheng Star. They can surely lend you a hand.”
After a lifetime of watching children struggle, Grandma Lin had come to understand one thing: nothing else mattered as much as ensuring the people you cared about were happy.
“Haha, don’t worry. I’m far from overwhelmed. I merely disciplined a few fools who didn’t know their place,” Gu Sanqiu said with a chuckle. “You know how it is—being a Gu means inheriting old grudges from the martial world. Sometimes, I even have to suppress a demon or two.”
“Don’t be fooled by my sister’s lofty position. When it comes to real trouble, it’s still me who has to clean up the mess.”
Hearing the commotion, the children burst out of the orphanage, swarming Gu Sanqiu like a human jungle gym. Two clung to his legs, two climbed onto his arms, and one perched on his shoulders, squishing his handsome face.
“Careful now! Don’t disturb the workers, and watch out for each other!”
Even with five kids hanging off him, Gu Sanqiu moved steadily, his limbs stiffly outstretched like an unwieldy puppet, shuffling the eager children aside to keep them out of harm’s way.
“Leave these to them.”
Freed from their “seal,” the five children each grabbed a small item from an open crate and dashed back into the orphanage.
Gu Sanqiu had brought along two teams of workers this time to ensure everything went smoothly. The burly men worked with extra care, mindful not to accidentally hurt the children.
After bidding farewell to everyone at the orphanage, Gu Sanqiu made his way to Bubu Pharmacy.
“Gui, one serving of Tianxu Pork, a plate of braised noodles, and a jar of Immortal Jumps Over the Wall, please. Thanks.”
“Xiangjun, Dr. Baizhu is in the storeroom sorting herbs. You can find him there.”
Gui sighed. “Do you really have to announce it every time you come here? Aren’t you tired of it?”
“Honestly, no. Watching your exasperated reaction is pretty entertaining.”
Gui took a deep breath, clearly tempted to throw hands, but knowing full well he’d lose.
Gu Sanqiu tapped Gui’s chest lightly with his fist. “You’re looking good. I take it you’ve been following that remedy I recommended?”
“Thanks to you, Xiangjun. I feel much better both physically and mentally.”
Gu Sanqiu waved it off. “No problem. Actually, there’s an even quicker way to improve your health. Want to hear it?”
“Please enlighten me, Xiangjun.”
Gui straightened up, eager to listen.
“Quit.”
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