"Ganyu, how does it feel?"
"Did this round go smoothly?"
Taro withdrew the palm he'd been resting on Ganyu's smooth, bare back, eyes full of anticipation as he waited for her feedback.
"Feels like…"
Ganyu slowly opened her eyes and checked her own condition. Three distinct flashes of joy floated up onto her face.
"So this is Rensei Kaki (Refining Essence into Qi)?"
"Sensei… I think I really did it."
"A power that's different from elemental energy and adeptal power."
"Cultivating the qi of the five viscera, refining the body's essence, gathering the strength of the spirit…"
"Sensei, did we… open up a brand-new path?"
"This power is weak when it's first born, but even for someone like me—half-adeptus, half-human—I can still feel how much it benefits me."
"The toughness of my qilin body really did improve, even if only a little."
Was it really weak, though?
Tch. Probably not.
Ganyu was one of Liyue's adepti, someone who had existed for thousands of years and had long practiced adeptal arts alongside everything else. An adeptus's body was only one "tier of life" below a god's.
Ganyu might have been half-adeptus by bloodline, but her qilin lineage made up well over ninety percent of her. In truth, she wasn't that different from most adepti.
Taking the first step onto an entirely new path like this—of course she'd gain a lot from it.
"As long as you're benefiting, that's enough."
Taro nodded in satisfaction, then smiled.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
Ganyu—still riding the high—froze for a beat and instinctively patted her belly.
That post-dinner fullness had already vanished without a trace. In its place was an emptiness—sharp and intense.
"I… I'm not hungry…"
A faint blush rose on her cheeks. She didn't turn around; she just shook her head stubbornly.
"That is a lie~"
Taro's expression carried a teasing edge as he exposed her without hesitation.
"Ganyu, are you underestimating me, sensei-style?"
"Don't forget—this whole Rensei Kaki idea was proposed by me in the first place."
"After all those fixes and refinements, you think I don't know what it does?"
"Uh…"
Ganyu shrank her neck, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I… might be a little hungry."
There was no dodging it.
So she might as well… wait.
Why was she even lying to cover it up?
Wasn't the whole point from the beginning—?
Ganyu raised a hand to cover her face, ashamed to the core.
"I'm sorry, sensei."
She'd already found a way to solve the weight problem.
Sensei had even helped her.
And yet she still lied out of habit.
"You don't need to apologize."
Taro shook his head lightly.
"A habit you've kept for a thousand years doesn't change just because you want it to."
"Besides, this isn't a malicious lie."
"It's just self-protection. I understand."
"Just get used to it slowly."
Ever since she'd sworn to lose weight, Ganyu's state had been the same day after day for a thousand years. It was a habit carved into her subconscious.
How could a few words erase that?
Get used to it slowly…?
Hearing that, Ganyu's tension eased.
She turned without thinking.
"Sensei, I'll do my best."
Clenching her small fists, she silently encouraged herself.
Sensei taught her Rensei Kaki and helped resolve her pain point.
She couldn't let him down.
Change. She'd change starting today.
"By my estimate, the night market shouldn't be over yet."
Taro stood up, did a quick mental check of the time, and spoke softly.
"Let's go take in Liyue Harbor's night scenery."
"And we'll grab some late-night snacks while we're at it."
"Ganyu, coming with me?"
"Mm~"
Ganyu nodded.
Head lowered, she followed behind Taro at an unhurried pace.
The two left the Cang Tian Small World and returned to the little building.
Surprisingly, no one was home.
"Looks like they all went to the night market."
"Getting along so well—nice."
Taro chuckled.
He took Ganyu out the door and into the flow of the crowd.
Calling it a "night market" didn't quite capture it. It felt more like Liyue's nightlife in full bloom.
Whether it was Chihu Rock, Feiyun Slope, or the North Wharf, everything was brightly lit. Friends and family walked together in groups of two and three, drifting through the nighttime streets of Liyue Harbor.
If it were a festival, the bustle would far surpass an ordinary night—packed wall to wall, a sea of people.
"Ganyu, want a skewer of grilled fish?"
"Mm. I'll go with whatever sensei says."
"Boss, three skewers of grilled Chihu fish."
"Coming right up! Please wait a moment—won't be long!"
"…"
"Here. Try it."
Taro ate one skewer himself, then handed the other two to Ganyu.
Under the lantern light, Ganyu's face looked even rosier, but she didn't refuse. She quietly accepted the two skewers and took small, careful bites, lips parting slightly with each mouthful.
"Tastes good."
The fish wasn't big. Taro finished his in three bites, then led Ganyu toward the next stall.
"Ganyu, want some dried fruits and candied preserves?"
"Mm~ I'll listen to you, sensei."
"Alright. Boss—every type of dried fruit and every type of candied preserve. Five liang of each. Keep them separated, bagged in small portions."
"Got it, honored guest! Please wait—I'll weigh them right now."
Five liang of each?
Ganyu's eyes widened without her noticing.
This stall wasn't small at all. There were easily more than twenty kinds of dried fruits and preserves.
Five liang each meant… at least ten jin total.
And there were plenty of honeyed ones in there. How much sugar would that be?
No, no, no—wait.
She already had Rensei Kaki now. She wasn't afraid of getting fat anymore. She could eat openly.
Ten jin? So what. She could eat a hundred jin if she wanted.
Before she realized it, her mouth was watering. The two fish skewers in her hand had already disappeared, and she was staring with bright, eager eyes at the preserves being weighed out.
She wanted it. She really wanted it.
Anyone with eyes knew she liked sweets.
But to avoid gaining weight, she'd forced herself to endure and endure.
Now she didn't have to endure anymore.
"Want a taste?"
Once the payment was done, Taro immediately handed a bag of candied orange slices to Ganyu, who looked like she'd been waiting her whole life.
"Thanks~"
Ganyu didn't hesitate for even half a beat. She took it, speared one with a little bamboo pick, and popped it into her mouth.
A clean, bright sweetness flooded her taste buds instantly.
A wave of happiness surged up into her heart and overflowed straight onto her face.
So. Satisfying.
"Good?"
"Mm. Sweet."
Taro nodded with deep satisfaction.
This was the joy of feeding someone.
Ganyu was happy, and that made Taro happy too.
With big bags and small bags hanging from his hands, the two kept walking—one on a relentless feeding spree, the other eating without restraint.
Those ten jin of dried fruits and preserves were gone in no time at all.
Honestly, Taro was kind of monstrous.
Could someone really eat that much sweet stuff in one sitting without getting sick of it?
Taro turned his head and looked at Ganyu, still puffing her cheeks as she chewed.
The answer was obvious.
At least Ganyu couldn't.
Look how delighted she was.
Without realizing it, they'd eaten until it was already late.
The two stepped onto Liyue Bridge and paused for a moment.
Listening to the gentle sound of flowing water, they lifted their eyes toward the bright moon hanging over the Sea of Clouds.
"Liyue's night view…"
"It's really beautiful."
With her hands clasped behind her back, Ganyu stood on tiptoe, her whole expression relaxed.
Taro quietly watched her.
A smile curved at the corner of his lips.
(End of Chapter)
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