Three days later.
All preparations for the Heavenly Marriage were complete.
Along the way, Jack made a trip to Watatsumi Island, personally inviting Sangonomiya Kokomi to attend his and Raiden Shogun's wedding.
That day, the monitoring shikigami left by Yae Miko at Kokomi's place recorded the following content:
[Seeing the Traveler who had been missing for so long again, I feel very happy, Energy + 20]
[The Traveler is going to marry Raiden Shogun. Although they are indeed a good match, I always feel a bit choked up, Energy - 100]
[I was invited to join the Traveler's harem. Although I know that so many people together do not conform to conventional perceptions, I still agreed, /( / o / ω / o / )/, so shy. I don't know whether energy should increase or decrease. That's all for today!]
He also went to Aaru Village later.
He met Candace, the guardian of Aaru Village (definitely not a shut-in NEET princess).
Women in the Desert are always passionate and uninhibited.
That day, Candace invited Jack to mate, hoping to preserve the Traveler's excellent bloodline and continue the existence of the Desert guardians.
But after a series of canned knowledge kisses, Candace changed her mind.
It wasn't about abandoning this barren homeland and moving to the Minecraft World, which had a superior natural environment.
Instead, she sought several sources of infinite water. With this life-source guarantee, she would let the Desert people live happy lives through their own efforts.
At that time, she, as a guardian, could retire successfully. If she was lucky, she could take a very long maternity leave (pregnancy preparation period also counted as maternity leave).
In the blink of an eye, it was the day before the Twin Gods' Heavenly Marriage.
That afternoon.
Still the old spot, the fishing platform in Liyue.
Jack sat on a small stool like an old monk in meditation, with a titanium alloy fishing rod, bought at a high price from a general store and ergonomically designed, placed beside his feet.
Beside him were the usual retired old cadre Zhongli and the slacking Venti.
"Speaking of which, Traveler, you're marrying Baalzebul tomorrow. Don't you have time to check for any last-minute issues at the wedding venue, yet you have the mind to fish here?"
Zhongli, ever composed, looked at the sea and spoke offhandedly.
"Don't even mention it. The past few days, to appease the other wives who didn't have a wedding ceremony, I barely slept."
"Cough, cough, then the Traveler is truly energetic."
"What energetic? They were just throwing a collective tantrum on a whim."
Though he said this on the surface, Jack's lips curved slightly.
Clearly, he was quite willing to cooperate with this kind of marital affection.
Zhongli didn't care that this person was once again showering them with public displays of affection. As a thousand-year-old bedrock, he had long shed such worldly desires. He merely glanced at Ganyu, who was standing by Jack's side.
This child, he had watched her grow up. Now that she had been married for so long, her belly showed no sign of movement. Liu Yun Borrowing Wind True Monarch had been nagging in Zhongli's ear so much that calluses were almost forming.
Should he find a suitable opportunity to ask? Do they need Liyue's folk remedies for fertility?
...
"By the way, Traveler, do you know Barbara?"
"Hm? Why bring her up suddenly?"
"How do I put it, as my most devout believer, Barbara seems to not pray to me much lately. Before, I often heard her say she dreamed of the Traveler again at night, or prayed to me for your safe travels every day."
Venti's forlorn expression didn't seem fake.
He didn't have many devout believers left, and losing Barbara was a huge blow, almost making him want to go back to work.
"Perhaps it's because I'm right by her side, so she doesn't need to pray anymore."
"Is that so...?"
Venti looked at Jack suspiciously.
But Jack remained as steady as an old dog on the surface, revealing nothing.
It was Ganyu, however, whose complexion inexplicably turned a bit redder.
Barbara, among all her little sisters, was the most diligent, and her strength had been growing rapidly lately. She heard that Barbara was even learning how to use Hydro Element to fire projectiles from Yelan recently.
It was hard to imagine what this child would become in the future.
Plop!
Suddenly, the float on the water began to sink.
Jack's eyes narrowed, and he instantly gripped the fishing rod.
His stance was firm, his entire being focused on the struggle with his catch.
Snap!
The moment he lifted the fishing rod, the seemingly transparent fishing line instantly tautened, emitting a humming sound like a zither string.
"Good heavens, it's a big one! Looks like I'm in for some good luck today!"
Jack didn't use his perception to detect what the catch was underwater.
He maintained the most primitive, ordinary way of fishing, as that was how he got the sense of accomplishment from catching a big one.
Just like that, Jack and the catch went back and forth, the fishing line reeling in and out, and the struggle underwater began to lessen.
He knew it was time to reel it in.
So he yanked hard.
Splash!
The catch emerged from the water—a winged sprite made entirely of water appeared before everyone.
The well-informed Zhongli immediately said: "It's an Pure Hydro Hypostasis."
Venti said with a hint of emotion: "It's an Pure Hydro Hypostasis again~"
Ganyu said uncertainly: "This... probably can't be eaten, right?"
Thud!
The Pure Hydro Hypostasis landed on the floor, raising its innocent, naive eyes to look at Jack.
It seemed to be saying: Are you done playing? We can continue!
Jack's face darkened, and he grabbed the Pure Hydro Hypostasis, throwing it far away with all his might.
Splash!
"If you let me fish you up again, do you believe I'll go to Fontaine and flatten your hometown?!"
Jack's threat seemed to have worked.
The Pure Hydro Hypostasis, which had just popped its head out, instantly trembled with fear and quickly disappeared into the sea with a flick of its tail.
"How many Pure Hydro Hypostasiss has the Traveler fished up now?"
"That's the fourth one."
The Wind and Rock Gods conversed like a comedy duo.
"Tsk tsk, how strange. It seems the Traveler has never fished up a proper fish in Teyvat. Could it be that he has some special constitution that makes it 'absolutely impossible to fish up a fish'?"
"From a conventional logical perspective, if even Venti can become the God of Wind, then this possibility shouldn't be ruled out. As for the Traveler, I think you should pay a little attention to the Pure Hydro Hypostasis matter."
Although Jack was in a bad mood, he still nodded, indicating he understood.
After Zhongli's spoiler, he already understood what had happened in Fontaine and what might happen in the future.
Now that many Pure Hydro Hypostasiss were escaping from the nation of all waters, it seemed the doomsday mentioned in that prophecy was not far off.
"Speaking of which, Tartaglia invited me to dinner before. Why haven't I heard from him for so long?"
"Um… because you went to Inazuma in a hurry before, I thought you might not have time to deal with them, so I refused. Should I contact them again?"
"No need. If it's refused, it's refused. Ganyu, you don't need to waste energy on these unimportant matters. The Fatui are the ones asking for favors, not us."
Jack patted his bottom, put away his small stool and fishing gear.
Zhongli then shifted his gaze to him: "You've only fished for two hours today. Not fishing anymore?"
"The Pure Hydro Hypostasis ruined my mood, and you're right, I need to go see how the venue is set up. I'm really worried about Yae Miko's work!"
In a flash.
Jack and Ganyu disappeared from this fishing spot.
The Wind and Rock Gods exchanged glances.
As per usual, they pulled out bait that could never catch a fish.
"Oh? Old man, you've switched to Noctilucous Jade this time."
"I'm not like you, always using a straight rod, with no sincerity in accompanying me fishing."
"Yes, yes, old man is the most sincere… So, want to play mahjong? This mini-game the Traveler recently brought is really popular. I have a thousand mora here, let's see if the old man has the ability to win it all."
Zhongli looked at Venti with disdain.
A thousand mora, and he dares to show it off?
To think he, the dignified Rex Lapis… No, there's still a week until Director Hu pays his salary…
It seems, possibly, probably… he couldn't even pull out 100 mora right now.
"The stakes are too low, I'm not going!"
Zhongli righteously refused Venti.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"