"Hey, Su Han, let me down! My grandpa already said I'd be fine!"
Su Han paid no attention to Hu Tao's shouts. Instead, he looked directly at the old man and asked, "What exactly is the deal with the Yama Token?"
"Ah, that. It's a boon our clan received long ago. You can see it as a symbol. Carrying it protects one from a hundred evils, and it can also stimulate our bloodline to the greatest extent. However, you've already seen the side effect. Hu Tao has fallen into a state of suspended animation."
"Then why did her soul come to the border? Isn't this a place only the dead can enter?"
"Mm, this involves a secret of our clan. Using the Yama Token, while it maximizes the power of the soul, also consumes one's vital essence and soul energy. Therefore, to protect the soul, the token will automatically send its master to the depths of the border to be nourished. And this place is our Hu family's secret sanctuary."
After Hu Tao's grandfather's explanation, Su Han roughly understood the side effects of the Yama Token.
But he then asked, "How can we wake Tao-tao up quickly?"
"Heh, that's actually very simple for you. Because you have a Pure Yang Body, it's enough to just use your power to nourish her. As for her soul, it has pretty much recovered. This girl is just too naughty. She used the token without even telling anyone the consequences. She must have scared you half to death," the old man said, looking at Su Han with a chuckle.
To be able to come to the depths of the border for Hu Tao, regardless of the danger, was proof enough of his feelings. Although this girl was a handful, with someone who cared about her so much, he could rest assured.
Hearing this, Su Han let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "She just has a childish temper. But this time, she really did give me a scare."
As he spoke, he put Hu Tao, who was on his shoulder, back on the ground.
"Alright, alright, I get it! I won't play that kind of joke again next time. Now that you know I'm fine, you should hurry back, Su Han. This border place isn't good for the living. I'll probably wake up in about a week."
She had originally wanted to argue a few more points, but recalling Su Han's anxious expression just now, her words turned into urging him to leave. This place really wasn't good for him.
Su Han nodded. Since Hu Tao was fine, it was redundant for him to stay here. Rather than waste time, it was better to go back and think of a way to wake her up sooner.
Watching Su Han's departing figure, the portly old man smiled at Hu Tao. "Girl, you've got a good eye. To get a man to come here for you… This old man can rest easy in the future."
"Hmph. Of course! When has this girl's judgment ever been wrong?" Hearing her grandfather praise Su Han, Hu Tao smiled. Who wouldn't want the person they liked to be approved of by their family?
"Alright, prepare yourself. You should be heading back soon."
"Ah? Grandpa, I just got here and you're already chasing me away?"
"What do you mean, chasing you away? That young man… how could he bear to let you just lie in bed? He'll probably wake you up in a few days," the old man said, like someone who had seen it all. He understood a man's persistence very well. Even if it was just to wake her up a few hours earlier, he would do it.
Returning to the boundary bridge, Mona was surprised. "You're back so soon? Did you find the Hu family?"
"Mm, I found them. Let's go back."
"Alright."
On the way, Mona finally understood the matter of the Yama Token. It had all just been a false alarm.
"That girl… she's really going to scare someone to death. It would have been so much better if she had just told us. She made everyone so nervous."
"No, Hu Tao probably didn't have time." When she used the Yama Token, she was already at the most intense moment of the battle. The moment the battle ended, she had fainted, with no time to speak.
Mona thought about it and found that was indeed the case. Then, she asked, "Then how do we wake her up early?"
"It's simple. I have a Pure Yang Body. It's enough to just restore her power."
After leaving the border and walking out of the foggy area, they were at Wuwang Hill. The two large white cranes were waiting for them in the distance.
"Da Bai, come here." At Su Han's call, the two white cranes gently landed.
On the way back, the others in the group learned that Hu Tao was fine and all breathed a sigh of relief. But Yae Miko warned him that he should try not to use such things in the future. If he overused his power, his soul might permanently leave his body.
Su Han naturally understood and was already prepared in his heart to train Hu Tao well after she woke up. As for the matters of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she could just arrange for her trusted subordinates to do them.
When they arrived at the Jade Chamber, it was already evening.
Su Han looked at Hu Tao, who was lying quietly on the bed, and smiled. "This is the only time you're this well-behaved. But a well-behaved you just wouldn't be Hu Tao."
He pinched her nose, and then a stream of Pure Yang True Fire flowed into Hu Tao's body. Compared to his Pure Yang Body, this power was even stronger and more effective for her recovery.
A large amount of Pure Yang True Fire continuously poured into her body, as if there were a bottomless pit inside her, constantly absorbing the power of the flames.
Slowly, fifteen minutes passed, and some color returned to Hu Tao's face. Her skin also became rosier. It was working.
Su Han's face lit up with joy, and he increased the supply of power. The flames continuously poured into her body, and it was only after half an hour that Hu Tao slowly opened her eyes.
"You! Just like Grandpa said, you wouldn't let me stay there."
"Isn't it good that I could wake you up early?" This girl was really not cute when she woke up.
Seeing Su Han's annoyed expression, Hu Tao suddenly smiled. She reached out, took his hand, and said softly, "Stay with me a little longer today. I've just woken up so early, and my body feels very weak."
"Alright." Su Han agreed in an instant. He would just have to apologize to Shenhe today. Hu Tao had just woken up, after all.
He lay down on the bed next to Hu Tao. The two of them held hands and slowly fell asleep. Hu Tao was tired because her soul had just returned, and Su Han was also very tired from infusing her with a large amount of Pure Yang True Fire.
It wasn't until nine o'clock the next morning that the two of them woke up from their sleep. No, to be precise, Su Han was woken up by Hu Tao. His nose was constantly itching. When he opened his eyes, he found Hu Tao tickling him with a strand of her hair.
"Ha, you're awake! It's already nine o'clock. Get up and eat. I've already finished," she said, showing him her slightly damp hair, proving that she had just taken a bath.
Normally, Su Han would wake up at seven o'clock sharp. It seemed that continuously using the Pure Yang True Fire yesterday had really exhausted him.
When he arrived at the dining room to eat, he finally had time to open the Multiverse Mission Group to check the rewards from yesterday.
[Ding! Congratulations to member Hu Tao for completing the 4-star Multiverse Mission. As the Group Leader, this mission has generated an additional strategic reward: 20,000 Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to member Hu Tao for completing the 4-star mission. As the Group Leader, this mission has generated the primary strategic asset: Thousand-Year Locust Tree Soul-Box.]
[Name]: Thousand-Year Locust Tree Soul-Box
[Description]: A soul-box made from the core of a thousand-year-old locust tree demon. The craftsmanship is exquisite.
[Effect]: Can store souls and soul fragments, and can also nourish the souls and soul fragments within.
[Restriction]: Cannot store souls of the Archon level.
"To think there would be such a treasure!" Su Han was a little shocked. This was the first time a treasure had been generated from a mission target itself. Before, there had always been a "requester" for the treasure, but now it had come from the target. That was quite rare.
However, what disappointed Su Han a little was that this soul-box had a restriction: it could not store the souls of Archons. He had originally been considering sending this to Inazuma to collect the soul of the former Raiden Shogun. It seemed that plan was now impossible.
After finishing breakfast, Ningguang brought some news. After several days of joint efforts by Mondstadt and Liyue, the railway could now reach Springvale.
Klee's eyes lit up, and she said to Su Han, "Big Brother, do you want to go to Springvale to play? Klee hasn't been back in a long time. Let's go and play together!"
"Well… alright. How about we all go together?" All work and no play was not good. If one pushed themselves too hard, it could sometimes be counterproductive.
Ningguang smiled. "I haven't been to Mondstadt in a long time either. Let's all go together. We'll just take today as a holiday."
"Yay! Everyone's going to Mondstadt!" Klee jumped for joy when she heard Ningguang's words.
Sucrose also smiled. "I've been away for over a month now. It would be good to go back and see. Maybe Master Albedo is back home, too."
"Mm, then let's go together," Su Han nodded.
Subsequently, the group arrived at the station and, boarding the train, set off for Mondstadt.
They crossed the Guili Plains, passed by the beautiful Dihua Marsh, and soon arrived at the Stone Gate canyon. Because of the last war, this place had become very wide. At the same time, to protect the railway, a large military camp had been built here, and a division of Liyue's Black Blade unit was also stationed here.
After leaving the Stone Gate canyon, they entered the region of Mondstadt. The charming fragrance of flowers drifted in with the wind, intoxicating everyone.
Keqing took a deep breath and smiled. "What a sweet smell. It's Windwheel Aster."
"This area is near the Dawn Winery. To brew his wine, Master Diluc has always had his servants plant many flowers and plants, so the air on this route is very fresh," Sucrose, as a native of Mondstadt, explained.
Beidou smiled. "Diluc's wine has dropped in price by forty percent now. Let's buy some later."
Ningguang nodded. "With more convenient transportation, the price naturally drops. Anyway, we're out on an excursion. We can buy some later."
Read ahead with 70+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Zefyrus