"Hey… hey…"
A voice was calling out to Bosacius.
It was very soft, light as the tiny drifting grains of salt under the summer sun.
Waves rolled over the beach, and as the tide receded, the sea evaporated, leaving behind delicate sea salt that sparkled under the golden sunlight—that was the impression Bosacius had.
"Wake up," the voice said gently. "Wake up."
"Don't sleep anymore."
Bosacius slowly opened his eyes. At first, the glaring sunlight overwhelmed him—brilliant orange rays were spread across the land. Backlit by this light, he couldn't make out the figure's face.
She wore a pure white dress, translucent and thin.
Something soft supported the back of his head, as if he were resting on a cushion of soft sand. Bosacius realized he was using the girl's lap as a pillow.
He paused. The next second, the frenzied howls of the evils erupted again in the depths of his soul.
Boundless malice surged before his eyes. His gaze turned wild and violent as he gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the turbulent energy inside him.
The pain…
A near-numbing pain radiated from his wrist. Bosacius raised his hand instinctively and saw a deep red, almost black cross-shaped wound carved into his pulse point. With most of his blood drained, the skin around it was deathly pale.
[Remaining Lifespan: 60 Days]
He himself had inflicted that wound.
Bosacius remembered—just a short while ago… or maybe it had been quite some time—he had bled himself.
When his rabid thoughts grew too strong to contain, bleeding helped dull his senses. Weakening his body a bit made it easier to suppress the violent urges.
He did it often, but this time, it looked like he'd pushed too far.
"You powerful types…" The girl who had helped him glanced at the wound on his wrist. Pausing, she laughed softly. "Is that how all of you train? So… extreme?"
"Who are you…?"
His mind was hazy; Bosacius couldn't recall who this person in front of him was.
"Eh…?"
She made an exaggeratedly hurt expression and pretended to pout. "Eh… eh eh eh, we must have met before, right? At least once."
"Sorry. I really don't remember."
"Hmm… it was over two hundred years ago… here's a hint: the Archon War."
Bosacius frowned. The Archon War… Was this girl one of those comrades who had survived the Archon War? But why did he have almost no memory of her?
"Alright, I won't tease you."
Even though Bosacius couldn't place her, the girl showed no sign of anger. She seemed perpetually gentle, always smiling, those clear eyes forever as pure as a mountain spring.
She brushed her silvery-white hair behind her ear. "Because I left… Or rather, you could say I ran away."
With a self-deprecating laugh, her silver hair glowed faintly under the golden sun.
Havria.
Bosacius finally remembered who she was. The God of Salt—Havria, ruler of Sal Terrae.
During the Archon War—a war among gods for dominion—Havria was an exception among the Archons. She wasn't strong.
In other words, she was quite weak.
She hated war so deeply that she chose to retreat and yield, leaving the heart of the conflict.
She departed Mt. Tianheng, entered Yaoguang Shoal, ascended Jueyun Karst, visited Qingce Village, traveled far and wide across Liyue. Ultimately, she established a land called Sal Terrae in a barren, remote region.
Bosacius had wandered into that sparsely inhabited territory on his way out of civilization, stumbling upon the domain of the God of Salt.
"I… I'll leave right away."
He struggled to sit up, but the filthy voices in his ears grew even louder.
The corruption surged; he felt his soul about to shatter. His karmic torment was flaring up again—just as it did once or twice every week—but lately it had been happening more frequently.
And this time was especially bad.
A bloody hue rippled through his eyes.
"Hey, hey… I'm not trying to make you go," Havria said, pressing her hand to Bosacius's shoulder. She tilted her head, studying him.
She noticed the beads of cold sweat on his forehead, his quivering lips, the violent bloodlust flickering in his violet eyes. He looked on the brink of madness, an overwhelming stench of carnage and filth. It was as if in the next second, he might spring forward and bite through the soft, slender neck of the young woman, devouring her in a frenzy.
His killing intent almost solidified in the air.
Sunlight fell between the swaying palm leaves, cutting the light and shade into two distinct halves that crossed between them. The bright glare and the dark green shade alternated over Bosacius's twisted features.
A demon.
Anyone would have been terrified by the sight of Bosacius now.
"Get… get away from me." He pushed Havria's hand aside, struggling to hold back his karmic eruption. His voice was cold. "Go away."
"No."
"Why?" Bosacius asked. "I'll kill you."
He wasn't bluffing.
Everything about him—his icy gaze, clenched teeth, the tangible killing intent—proved that he was serious. He truly would kill her.
"No special reason."
She cocked her head to the other side, silver hair cascading over her delicate shoulder.
"But you seem to be in a lot of pain—you need help, so I can't leave."
Idiot… Is this Archon an idiot? Bosacius cursed inwardly. How did such a foolish Archon survive?
Someone's in pain, so you rush to help? If he's a walking calamity, leaving destruction wherever he goes, if he might claim your life—would you still smile and lend a hand?
"Mr. Bosacius, it seems you're thinking some rather impolite things."
"Scram," he snarled, baring his teeth. "If you don't want to die, then scram!"
"Scram!"
He knew himself to be a curse, a monster.
A calamity needs no help, asks for no help—his only wish is for others to keep far, far away. That alone would be enough.
"But you're in pain," Havria continued gently, "or should I say, you're torn up inside. Mr. Bosacius, you truly don't want to kill me."
"You're kind at heart."
The God of Salt spoke softly, her cool, slender fingers brushing Bosacius's forehead.
Her bright golden eyes were as clear as mirrors, reflecting his face.
Without question, Bosacius now looked more like a monster than an adeptus, someone nobody would want to be near. Yet Havria simply embraced him, her gentle warmth akin to sunlight.
"Mr. Bosacius,"
Havria said with kindness and patience,
"There's a monster inside you, and you've been fighting it on your own…
I don't know what it is, nor the cause of it all, but I want to help you—just as you once helped us, even though you don't remember."
"Go… go…" Bosacius barely kept his murderous urges in check, his lips trembling. "Go."
His mind was disintegrating.
Yet the God of Salt did not leave. She was so weak, reputedly the weakest deity in Liyue, and Bosacius could have easily crushed her throat—yet she stayed.
Havria held Bosacius in her arms, softly singing a song. It was a tranquil, ordinary melody, peaceful like summer foam rising on the shore. Gentle waves caressed the beach, and the serene tune soothed the soul.
"Mr. Bosacius, have a good sleep."
She stroked Bosacius's hair, the tips of her fingers just grazing his skin, cool and comforting.
"I'm very weak. I can't do much… The only thing I can give you is a sweet dream.
It's been a long time since you've slept, hasn't it? You must be exhausted. I can tell."
The God of Salt smiled faintly, the radiant sunlight illuminating her exquisite profile. Her smile was like morning dew—thin, delicate, and ready to be evaporated by the brilliance of the sun at any moment. Precisely because of its fragility, it shone with startling warmth.
"Mr. Bosacius, rest well. No one will disturb your sleep."
---
Ganyu sniffed at the air.
A qilin's sense of smell was very keen.
The aroma of tofu… plus fresh greens, mint fish, lotus seeds—light fragrances all mingling. Even the cool air seemed purified by it. The scent was both unfamiliar and reminiscent of something past.
It was Jewelry Soup.
A dish Ganyu had almost forgotten.
She didn't like it.
She frowned slightly.
"You," Ganyu addressed the strange young man in a soft voice, speaking to him for the first time. "Is that 'Jewelry Soup'…?"
Who on earth came up with such a pretentious name?
Seino Yaku was about to answer, but Miss Lumine cut him off first.
"You can't have any."
She glared at Ganyu with suspicion, like a lioness guarding her meal. She stood protectively in front of the offering. "No stealing."
She herself hadn't even tasted it yet!
Such a little…
Ganyu shook her head slightly, somewhat helpless—would she really steal any?
That would be disgraceful, a behavior an adeptus would never stoop to.
"I have no intention of stealing," she said calmly. "Besides, 'Jewelry Soup'—I happen to dislike it now."
"Why?" Seino Yaku asked curiously.
"No particular reason."
Ganyu turned her gaze to the ripples on the lake's surface, the faint undulations sparkling in her golden eyes, cold and distant.
"I simply detest it. As my advice to you: if you truly wish to offer tribute to the adepti, don't use that 'Jewelry Soup.'"
"Why?" Shenhe didn't understand.
Why, indeed… Ganyu's voice trailed off. "No reason."
Because that dish reminded her of someone she wished never to think about. Each time she recalled him, her emotions grew unstable.
So that was it…
Seino Yaku looked crestfallen. He glanced down at the steaming tofu soup, already guessing part of the reason.
It was his former self, hated by others yet again, wasn't it?
The adeptus hated tofu soup. And if his former life had promised to offer tofu soup, that meant she despised him by extension.
Truly…
He could only give a helpless smile.
All the same, he had to fulfill the vow.
He neatly placed the Jewelry Soup in its proper spot, along with two other dishes. Suddenly, he paused. There were four seats, but only three offerings.
Someone was missing.
"The empty seat belongs to the eldest disciple," Shenhe explained.
"Eldest disciple?"
Seino Yaku looked quizzically at the tall, cool young woman. Shenhe nodded. "I've heard Master mention him—his name is 'Bosacius'…"
"He is not your senior brother," Ganyu interrupted coldly, her golden eyes fixed on Shenhe. "He is not your senior brother."
Bosacius.
A baffling name.
It hardly mattered.
Nightfall was near. The scattered sunlight of the late evening lay across the land, and dusk would soon descend.
Three kowtows, three bows with head to the ground.
What a strange young man…
Ganyu studied Seino Yaku, quietly thinking to herself.
"Since you've placed your offering, you should go… Huh?" Ganyu paused. "What are you doing?"
The so-called three kowtows and three prostrations was a solemn ceremony.
Under the dimming sunlight, the boy lowered his head toward the stone table, propping his fingers on the ground. His forehead touched the earth and stayed there for a long, silent moment.
His expression was utterly solemn, reverent to the point of devoutness.
The grand sunset painted the scene in warm hues.
Seino Yaku no longer remembered much. Maybe in a past life, he was someone people resented, but he would still complete this vow with care.
After a thousand years, Seino Yaku sensed there was still something that needed to be communicated by his return here.
[Fourth Covenant, Completed]
[Reward: Partial Adeptal Arts (due to the Heart of Contract, you will not suffer any side effects) ]
[Level Up]
[LV30 → LV40]
[Fifth Covenant: Go to "Sal Terrae," locate the salt jar and salt ruler, and awaken "her."]
Ganyu watched the young man's sincere act of prostration. For some reason, she felt an odd sense of déjà vu. She shook her head slightly, pushing that strange notion out of her mind.
Master doesn't like it.
They detest this so-called Jewelry Soup.
---
"But the recipe for Jewelry Soup is simple. You have a very long life… surely one day, you'll find another disciple who can make White Jade Soup."
Cloud Retainer's ears echoed with those words again.
She'd spent a long time pondering what happened two thousand years ago.
Where had Bosacius gone afterward? What had happened to him, that things ended the way they did? She kept on thinking.
Why did it have to be so?
She'd carried that secret in her heart all along.
Another disciple who can make Jewelry Soup, was it…
She, too, observed the young man bowing.
Indeed, it was Jewelry Soup. Countless restaurants around the land served similar dishes, since it was so easy to make. But ever since Bosacius left, Cloud Retainer had not eaten Jewelry Soup again.
Not because, as Ganyu thought, she disliked the dish—rather, none of the ones she'd tried tasted like it did before.
"I will fall into madness. Please take care of yourself afterward."—that was Bosacius's farewell.
You say you'll fall into madness… you foolish child, what madness are you heading into?
You've always been like this, keeping everything to yourself, never telling anyone.
Twilight spilled over the peaks. Seino Yaku finished his ceremonial bows, rose to his feet, patted off the dust, and made to leave.
Almost unconsciously, Cloud Retainer called out,
"Who disturbs my peace in these mountains?"