"Why is kneeling on the bed so different from kneeling on the floor?" Shenhe, clearly catching the implication behind Lucas's words, replied with no hint of embarrassment. Instead, she countered, "Besides, do you think I'd kneel that long for anyone else but you?"
"Ahem!"
At that moment, a sudden cough interrupted them. Ganyu, her expression complicated, approached and sat down in front of the two.
Although Ganyu had been upset with Lucas for his mischievous antics many times over the years, this was the first time Lucas had ever seen her wear such a heavy expression.
This time, it wouldn't be solved with his usual tactics of acting cute or playful.
After a long, tense silence, Lucas finally spoke. "Ganyu Mama…"
"Don't call me 'Mama'!" Ganyu snapped, puffing her cheeks. "I don't have a Mama like you—"
"Pfft…"
Ganyu's slip of the tongue caused both Lucas and Shenhe to stifle their laughter. The previously tense atmosphere eased ever so slightly.
"Stop laughing! I'm being serious here!" Ganyu scolded, her face flushing red. "Now tell me, how long has this… relationship been going on?"
Lucas: "Two months!"
Shenhe: "Almost two years."
They answered simultaneously, but with entirely different answers.
Hearing Shenhe's response, Lucas felt a pang of dread.
Seriously, Shenhe? You're too honest for your own good!
"Lucas!" Ganyu's voice turned sharp. "Even now, you're still not being truthful with me?"
"I…" Lucas's voice softened in protest. "Why are you so sure I'm the one lying?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ganyu frowned. "Shenhe never lies. If you keep deceiving me, I swear I'll punish you! From now on, you're only allowed to speak if I give you permission!"
"I… I understand…" Lucas agreed reluctantly, inwardly resigned.
As the realization of the true timeline set in, Ganyu's heart grew heavy.
For almost two years, she had remained completely oblivious. Thinking back now, there were indeed plenty of suspicious signs.
They often trained together—fine, that could be overlooked. But spending two or three hours training at a time? It seemed increasingly unlikely that was all it was.
She assumed they had been using their "training sessions" as an excuse to hide their activities.
Of course, Ganyu's suspicions were only half correct. After all, the "other activity" was real, but the training was equally genuine.
"So…" Ganyu's expression flickered with mixed emotions. "While I was away these past three days, how many times did you… train?"
Saying the actual word was too much for her to handle.
"Once," Shenhe answered truthfully.
"Just once?" Ganyu felt a small sense of relief.
Seeing Ganyu's expression relax slightly, Lucas also exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.
"Yes, just once," Shenhe nodded. "Once—for three days straight."
"Th-three days?" Ganyu's face flushed even redder. "Without… stopping?"
Even though Ganyu was inexperienced in such matters, she knew that typical human reproductive behavior couldn't possibly last that long… or so she thought. Was it different for non-humans?
"Of course not," Shenhe replied calmly. "Master always taught us that when undertaking any task, we must see it through to the end without interruption."
What kind of face would Cloud Retainer make if she knew her teachings were being applied this way?
Ganyu glanced at her son, her feelings a tangled mess.
In her eyes, Lucas had always been her adorable, well-behaved little boy. Reconciling that image with the idea of him as a man capable of enduring three days and nights was… disorienting.
This stark contrast undoubtedly stemmed from Ganyu's own life experiences. After being adopted by Cloud Retainer, she had taken decades to mature and gain understanding of the world.
Lucas, on the other hand, at barely fifteen or sixteen years old, had already… reached this milestone.
Could it be that creatures of Gluttony were equally voracious in this aspect?
"It's already happened," Ganyu sighed, her tone heavy. "There's no undoing it now. Lucas, Shenhe, do you… understand that what you've done is wrong?"
"Why would it be wrong?" Shenhe asked, her expression puzzled. "I like Lucas. Lucas likes me. We haven't hurt anyone, have we?"
Though human, Shenhe had lived her life in isolation from society, leaving her unfamiliar with many societal norms. Her blunt nature made it hard for her to understand what she'd done wrong.
"Like…" Ganyu felt a sharp twinge in her chest. Turning to Lucas, she asked softly, "Lucas… do you like Shenhe, too?"
Lucas hesitated briefly before nodding.
Ganyu bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I… I see. So, when do you plan to leave?"
Her question left both of them dumbfounded. Lucas tilted his head, confused. "Leave? Why would we leave?"
"Married couples in the human world always start their own households after the wedding," Ganyu said, her voice tinged with sorrow. "If you two truly love each other, you'll get married. And when that happens, you'll leave me, won't you?"
It suddenly clicked for Lucas why Ganyu was so upset—she wasn't angry at their relationship; she was afraid he would leave her.
"I'll never leave Ganyu Mama!" Lucas shook his head firmly. "Even if I get married one day, I'll always stay by your side!"
"Re-really?" Ganyu asked, her tone filled with hope. "You'll never leave me?"
"Never!" Lucas declared. "Because I love Ganyu Mama the most!"
"My sweet boy!" Overcome with emotion, Ganyu opened her arms wide.
"Ganyu Mama!" Lucas leapt into her embrace.
And so, this "drama" reached its surprising conclusion.
Watching this display of maternal love, Shenhe felt a subtle pang in her heart.
Having lost her mother at a young age, she had never experienced such affection.
"So…" Shenhe suddenly spoke, "does this mean Senior Sister will be joining us?"
"Eh?" Ganyu blinked, confused. "Joining what?"
"Joining us for cultivation, of course," Shenhe said matter-of-factly. "If mutual affection is the only requirement, then why not?"
"T-that's not allowed!" Ganyu stammered, her face turning scarlet as she waved her hands frantically. "Because I'm Lucas's mother!"
"If I can do it as his aunt, why not you as his mother?" Shenhe countered, unconcerned. "You're not blood-related either, right?"
"In any case, it's not happening!" Ganyu covered her face with her hands. "Shenhe, some things aren't as simple as you think."
Shenhe nodded thoughtfully but silently resolved that perhaps, given time, Ganyu might change her mind.
[Exiting immersive mode.]
[Returning to text mode.]
[Your secret with Shenhe was finally discovered by Ganyu. Fortunately, Ganyu did not harshly blame you two but instead warned Shenhe that you were still young and that cultivation should be practiced at a reasonable frequency and not rushed.]
[Shenhe outwardly agreed, but when Ganyu was not present, she would still push you to continue cultivation.]
[Now, the Thousand Calamities Dual Cultivation Technique that you and Shenhe practiced has broken through a major barrier, greatly enhancing both your strengths. Each subsequent session of cultivation yields far greater benefits than before.]
[As for the matter of marriage between you and Shenhe, Ganyu used the excuse that you were still too young to consider it for the time being. Both you and Shenhe were fine with this arrangement.]
[Age 16: The frequency of demon appearances increased yet again. Strangely, the adepti within Liyue have remained silent, as if they have no intention of intervening.]
[Of course, the adepti have no obligation to assist humanity. For a long time, the Liyue Qixing have been reducing their reliance on the adepti, hoping to solve problems through human strength alone.]
[The chaos caused by the Four Beasts was resolved by the adepti many years ago. If the current demon scourge still required the adepti to step in, it would suggest that humanity had become overly dependent on them.]
[One day, traces of significant demon activity appeared in a specific region of Liyue. The Liyue Qixing and the Adventurers' Guild collaborated to organize a large-scale campaign against the demons.]
[However, the adventurers and Millelith sent on the campaign all mysteriously vanished. Finding this matter suspicious, you and Shenhe decided to investigate.]
[Upon arriving at the scene, you and Shenhe were ambushed and surrounded by a large group of demons. This surprised you greatly, as while demons are more intelligent than ordinary monsters like Hilichurls, they are still far inferior to humans in strategy. That they could organize an ambush like this was truly unexpected.]
[However, neither you nor Shenhe viewed these demons as a threat. Just as you were about to begin a slaughter, an elderly voice interrupted the imminent battle.]
[A demon wearing a black hood slowly emerged from the group. The other demons seemed to show it great respect. You could sense an incredibly powerful aura emanating from it.]
["Such a familiar aura... Could it be? Are you the child of Gluttony?" The demon's words left you shocked. At this moment, you decided…]
[1. Admit your identity and converse.]
[2. Dismiss its claim and begin slaughtering.]
After some thought, Li Hangshan chose the first option.
[You nodded, admitting your identity. Unexpectedly, the demon reacted with great excitement. It removed its hood, revealing a face devoid of features.]
[Though it lacked a mouth, it could still speak: "So, you survived! During the chaos of the Four Beasts, I was one of them. Your mother, Gluttony, was an old friend of mine."]
[You were greatly shaken but remained skeptical. By all accounts, the Four Beasts should have been completely eradicated.]
[The demon, who introduced itself as Chaos, explained that while the other three Fiends were slain by the adepti, it had been sealed by the Yaksha protectors. Having now atoned for its sins, it had been released from its seal.]
[Chaos revealed that its unsealing had caused many dormant demons to awaken. However, it claimed to have promised the Yaksha not to harm humans and only wished to find a peaceful haven for itself and the other demons.]
[It further explained that when Ganyu rescued you all those years ago, she had spared a wolf demon. News of you being taken by Ganyu had spread from that wolf demon.]
[You candidly told Chaos that while you hadn't forgotten the death of your biological mother, Ganyu had raised you for many years and was incredibly powerful. Seeking vengeance against her would not be easy.]
[You had intended this explanation to appease Chaos, but to your surprise, it shook its head and said, "Why cling to past hatred? Ganyu has shown you kindness by raising you. Why not let go of vengeance? Surely your late mother would want you to live a good life."]
[You finally understood why the adepti had not intervened. In the past, the Four Beasts' atrocities gave the adepti a clear justification to act. But now, the demons simply sought a peaceful haven, and the conflicts with humans were inevitable byproducts. From the adepti perspective, they could not justify waging war on the demons.]
[The missing adventurers and Millelith were being held hostage by Chaos's followers. At its invitation, you visited their "home."]
[However, calling it a home was generous—it was little more than a damp, dark cave where your "kin" lived in pitiable conditions, barely managing to survive.]
[In your quest for power, you had devoured both humans and demons. Neither group gave you a sense of belonging. Though you admitted to being selfish and ruthless, seeing the demons in such dire straits stirred complicated feelings within you.]
[The humans were being held as hostages and bargaining chips. Chaos promised to release them once a suitable home for the demons had been found.]
["Go home, child," Chaos said, effectively dismissing you. "I do not expect you to return to the demons' side. I only hope we do not become enemies. If one day we are slaughtered by humanity, at least you will remain to preserve a trace of our lineage."]
[You could not discern whether Chaos's words were genuine or part of a greater scheme. But the demons' pitiful situation was no fabrication. At this moment, you decided…]
[1. Leave and have nothing to do with it.]
[2. Assist them.]
[3. Annihilate them all.]
This appeared to be a main story branch.
Each option could lead the plot in completely different directions.
Annihilation? Immediately ruled out. Not only was it morally questionable, but while you and Shenhe had grown significantly stronger, Chaos, as one of the Four Legendary Beast, was unlikely to be an easy opponent.
The first two options would determine whether you aligned with humanity or the demons going forward.
Ultimately, Lucas chose the demon route. Given his identity, remaining in the human camp seemed bound to lead to exposure eventually.
However, helping the demons establish a new home could at least offer a fallback option, even if peace between humans and demons could not be achieved.
["I admit, I cannot bring myself to kill Ganyu, nor do I have the strength. But at the very least, I wish to repay my mother's debt of life," you said after much consideration, making a decision that would change your fate. "I can act as an informant within Liyue Harbor to help you establish a haven."]
[Chaos was delighted by your decision, even naming you the demons' young master. While you did not formally accept the title, your strength and status made you worthy of it.]
[As for Shenhe, she unconditionally supported your choice. Even if you decided to rebel against the Geo Archon, she would likely join you without hesitation.]
[Thus, from that day forward, you took on a new identity as a demon spy within Liyue Harbor.]
[Your adoptive mother is Qixing emissary Ganyu, and your godmother is Tianquan Ningguang. Thanks to these connections, you had access to Liyue's upper echelons at a young age.]
[Moreover, Ningguang, seeing you as her heir, spared no effort in teaching and guiding you, even entrusting you with handling some of Liyue's affairs.]
[Among these affairs were matters related to demons, including policies and extermination plans.]
[You relayed this information to the demons, helping them avoid conflict with humans as much as possible, thereby maintaining an uneasy peace between the two races.]
[Though simple in theory, the task was fraught with challenges. Discovery would mean certain death for you as a traitor to humanity.]
[Age 17: After a year of your efforts, the demons finally had a chance to breathe. You also received some good news.]
[The nearby Mondstadt region had recently resolved the Stormterror crisis. Without Stormterror's dominion, the ruins of the Wind Dragon's lair became an ideal location for the demons to settle.]