The purification ritual was simpler than Cid had expected.
Even mortals without a Vision could perform it.
And for those with a Vision, once they possessed a high degree of elemental mastery, they could purify with their bare hands.
For those unfamiliar with it, the ritual served as a means of reinforcement.
After attempting to learn it, Cid spent some time understanding the flow and principles of the elements within it, and in the end, he simplified the purification seal gesture to a single Survivorship Seal.
It seems I still have quite the talent!
Cid looked at the sky, which had already begun to brighten faintly.
It was already morning.
So sleepy…
No, I can't sleep.
If I sleep now, what about tonight?
Having stayed up all night, Cid began yawning uncontrollably.
Whatever, a short nap shouldn't be a problem, right?
It's still early; I should be able to sleep a few more hours…
Cid lay down and was just about to fall asleep.
"Old uncle! Once you're awake, you can't go back to sleep, okay!"
Oh, it's little Hu Tao, who went to bed super early yesterday. Cid, the old uncle, was so sleepy that he was barely conscious.
"The old uncle stayed up all night and is so tired he has no energy left. Little Hu Tao, why don't you play by yourself for now."
Cid pulled the blanket tighter around himself, wanting only to take full advantage of his drowsiness and sleep deeply.
"No way… old uncle, play with me! Don't sleep!"
Little Hu Tao climbed straight onto Cid, the old uncle's bed, and yanked hard on his blanket.
"The old uncle is really sleepy and has no strength left!"
Cid, the old uncle, refused to budge from little Hu Tao's grasp.
"No, no! Why sleep in broad daylight! I'm so bored! Play with me!"
That's probably just how kids are—when they have energy, they're full of it, and when they don't, they sleep very quietly.
Little Hu Tao tugged at Cid, the old uncle's blanket. The old uncle rolled a little in the direction she was pulling, but then, because little Hu Tao's strength was too weak to flip him over, his body flopped back down.
In the end, amid little Hu Tao's tugging, the old uncle safely fell asleep.
And he slept especially soundly.
Little Hu Tao puffed out her cheeks angrily as she watched Cid who had stayed up all night. In the end, she sat down beside him.
"Sleep~ sleep~ my dear old uncle Cid~"
Little Hu Tao began singing a lullaby, while gently patting the sleeping old uncle's body in time with the rhythm.
The old uncle showed no reaction, simply continuing to sleep deeply.
But little Hu Tao, as if she had found something fun to do, kept at it tirelessly.
Who knows how much time passed.
"Old uncle, why hasn't he eaten yet even though it's gotten so late today?"
Little Eula pushed open the door to the old uncle's room.
She saw little Hu Tao sprawled exhausted across the old uncle.
Hm, and Cid still fast asleep.
Though she didn't know what had happened, it was truly wonderful that the child had run out of energy to cause a ruckus so early in the morning.
In the end, the old uncle slept all the way until midday.
Yes, the quality of his sleep was truly reassuring.
"Old Mister Zhong, where are little Hu Tao and Eula and the others?"
After washing his face, Cid asked the nearby Zhongli, who looked very much at leisure.
"The Hall Master arranged for little Hu to do homework. As for Eula, I just saw her practicing swordsmanship in the backyard."
"Practicing swordsmanship? I'll go take a look."
Cid pocketed the steamed xiaolongbao that old Mister Zhongli had prepared in advance and headed to the backyard.
However, regrettably, little Eula had already finished her practice.
"Old uncle, you're awake."
Little Eula looked at the old uncle walking over while eating xiaolongbao and felt a slight headache.
This really didn't fit a noble's demeanor at all.
Well, it is the old uncle, after all—so expectations couldn't be too high.