harleyscars Page 19
Page 19
The contrast is too strong!
It's such a pity that such a beautiful scene wasn't captured!
Little did Ke Qing know that she was secretly wondering to herself, "Is this the guy who spent the whole night with Xiang Ling? He seems so refined, how could he be so capable?"
No, no, Keqing, what are you thinking? You have no shame!
"Nice to meet you, Miss Keqing. What brings you to Cuijue Slope?" Lu Lin casually started a conversation.
Ke Qing couldn't help but complain in her heart, "Weren't we attracted here by your commotion?"
Of course, she couldn't say that out loud. She replied, "I came all the way from Qingce Village by clearing out the monsters. Although you have dealt with the source, there are still some scattered monsters that have escaped. They all need to be cleared out."
"I see. You've had a long journey, Keqing. We're heading back to Liyue Harbor. Would you like to come along, Keqing?"
"Yes, the Asura Summoning Ceremony is tomorrow. Keqing, do you want to go back to Liyue Harbor for a visit?"
"The monster eradication is over, and I am indeed preparing to return to Liyue Harbor. As for the Summoning Ceremony, Ningguang will be in charge this year, so I won't get involved."
"Then let's go back together!" Xiangling was even more enthusiastic and proactive than Lu Lin had expected.
Although she wasn't exceptionally intelligent, she was definitely not stupid. Ke Qing's demeanor at the valley entrance spoke volumes. How could she not feel embarrassed?
Another player with a big heart, I love that!
Lu Lin greatly appreciated Xiang Ling's generosity. Everyone was so enthusiastic and proactive, which made it easier for more sisters to join!
But Ke Qing hesitated; she didn't want to go with Lu Lin.
Her feelings towards Lu Lin are now very complicated.
In her opinion, the person who had taken Xiangling out in the wild for most of the night must be a lecher, and today she had let this lecher see her most shameful side.
Although he appeared to be a gentleman, keeping his eyes straight ahead and displaying impeccable manners...
But just thinking about how he and Xiangling had been up to something for most of the night, how he had helped guard the door and indirectly participated, and how he had ended up seeing his most embarrassing side, made him feel uncomfortable all over, and he wished he could dig a building out of the ground!
Go back to Liyue with him? That's too much of a hassle!
But Xiangling was her good friend, and she really couldn't refuse her warm invitation.
Sigh, I shouldn't have said I was going back to Liyue Harbor too!
"Let's go, let's go! Don't hesitate any longer, or it'll be dark by the time we reach Liyue Harbor!" Xiangling ignored all that and casually pulled Keqing out.
"Hey? Slow down, slow down, I'm not going to run away~" Ke Qing finally couldn't resist Xiang Ling's insistence and had to give in to her.
This is why Lu Lin likes a warm and proactive girl like Xiang Ling. Some of her unintentional actions can have unexpected effects, helping to create opportunities for her to interact with other girls.
And so, the three of them set off together on their journey back to Liyue Harbor.
"Miss Keqing seems to have her own opinions on the Summoning Ceremony?" When traveling together, it's always good to find something to talk about; feelings are built through conversation, after all.
Xiangling joining the Dust Song Pot is a done deal, but there will definitely be more joining quests later in the system. Keqing will be his next target for invitation, so he needs to seize the opportunity to start cultivating a relationship.
However, because of what happened this morning, Ke Qing definitely doesn't have a good impression of him now; feelings aren't something that can be easily cultivated.
Lu Lin wasn't worried about this, as he had the advantage of information asymmetry.
He knew Keqing's personality traits very well, what topics she liked, and he would tailor his approach to her.
For example, right now, Keqing doesn't really want to talk to Lu Lin because she feels really awkward. She just wants to get back to Liyue Harbor as soon as possible, so that everyone can go home and never see each other again, and let time heal the wound.
But the topic Lu Lin brought up really hit a nerve with her.
This is about her beliefs.
"Mr. Lu, what makes you say that?" she asked simply, as a polite response and also to test whether he shared the same thoughts as her.
Lu Lin smiled and said, "I am not from Liyue, but since I came to Liyue, everything I have seen and heard is that the people of Liyue have an almost fanatical worship and love for the Geo Archon."
From the streets and alleys of Liyue Harbor to the desolate wilderness of Cuijue Slope, wherever mortals go, they all revere the Emperor. To have had the honor of interacting with the Emperor is a family honor that can be passed down for thousands of years.
The Seven Stars Summoning Ceremony is an annual traditional ceremony in Liyue Harbor. At this time, the Geo Archon bestows divine pronouncements to guide the development of Liyue Harbor in the coming year, making it a ceremony that every Liyue resident values highly.
But judging from Miss Keqing's tone just now, she seemed to have some reservations about the ritual of summoning the immortals?
"I don't have any complaints about the ritual of inviting immortals, I do have some complaints about..." Ke Qing changed the subject and asked, "What does Mr. Lu think of the Emperor and immortals?"
How do you see it? One of my wives is an immortal, so of course you have to see her naked.
He could only think these words to himself for the time being, while maintaining a smile on his face: "The Emperor can be called the pillar supporting the sky and the golden beam bridging the sea of Liyue, but..."
"Just what?" Ke Qing stopped and turned to look at him.
She has a baby face, paired with a specially styled cat-ear pigtail hairstyle, which is actually quite cute. However, at this moment, the expression on her cute face is quite serious and earnest, with a hint of anticipation in her seriousness.
"But Liyue is ultimately a human kingdom. It's hard to say whether being so deeply bound to an immortal like the Emperor is good or bad!" Lu Lin sighed softly, a hint of worry in his eyes.
A glint flashed in Ke Qing's eyes!
It seems she's found a kindred spirit!
"Oh? Mr. Lu actually has this opinion? What exactly do you mean?" She suppressed her excitement and asked again.
Seeing that she was like a completely different person, no longer the awkward and unwilling person she had been just moments before, Lu Lin couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
Find the right topic and start chatting—it's that simple.
Then let me give you another shock!
Chapter Thirty-Four: New Host Entries
He organized his thoughts and said slowly, "Compared to the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt who is a hands-off manager, the Geo Archon has always been in charge of the development of Liyue, which can be said to be quite diligent."
But this also creates a problem: Liyue's prosperity was created by the Emperor, but what if one day the Emperor stops guiding Liyue?
I apologize, but my idea might be a little disrespectful to the Emperor.
“No, you’re absolutely right. This is the very question that the people of Liyue should be thinking about.” Keqing’s pink eyes sparkled, and she felt an instant connection with her.
"The people of Liyue rely too much on the Emperor's guidance, but what if the Emperor is no longer here one day? Can the people of Liyue govern this country well on their own? This is a question I often ponder." The girl's face showed worry.
She shook her head and said with a wry smile, "I've talked to many people about this issue, and they all think I'm worrying unnecessarily. How could the Emperor not be here? You're the only one who shares my thoughts."
Keqing is a very crisis-aware and proactive person who doesn't stay in one place. She has keenly seen the hidden dangers that exist in Liyue.
The current prosperity of Liyue Harbor is like a magnificent sandcastle on the beach, which will be washed away by the tide. However, it is not humans themselves who determine the rise and fall of the tide.
During last year's summoning ceremony, she asked the Geo Archon, "Your Majesty has protected Liyue for a thousand years, but will it be the same for the next thousand years, ten thousand years, or a hundred thousand years?"
The Emperor did not answer directly, but left with a meaningful smile.
"Have you ever thought about how Liyue should operate and develop if the Emperor no longer guides it?" Lu Lin's question was not to refute her point of view, but to guide her to think.
After all, Lu Lin knew that the Rock King had already begun preparing for his retirement ceremony, and the people of Liyue did not have much time left.
“I’ve thought about these issues too…” It’s not easy to find a kindred spirit with the same ideas. Ke Qing had already put the embarrassment of the morning behind her and began to seriously discuss the matter with Lu Lin.
Lu Lin is indeed quite capable. He has a significant information gap and insights that transcend this world. His thinking is not limited to one country or one family. Many truths that seem obvious to him are sobering words to Ke Qing.
From the overall direction of national governance to the potential impact of a specific directive, Lu Lin could respond to any question with great eloquence.
After all, in his original world, he was also an excellent keyboard warrior, capable of dominating the battlefield with just a keyboard.
Xiangling wasn't interested in these national affairs; all she could think about was finding new ingredients and researching new dishes. Now she had another option: being with Lu Lin.
However, this did not diminish her admiration for Lu Lin. In her opinion, the Seven Stars of Liyue were all very powerful figures, and Lu Lin was truly amazing to be able to have a pleasant conversation with them and even to the point that Ke Qing admired him so much!
As Keqing's good friend, she knew very well how high Keqing's standards were.
And so, the two talked, the one listened, and the three of them trekked all the way back to Liyue Harbor before nightfall.
"Mr. Lu, are you saying that Liyue is currently facing an unprecedented crisis? What makes you say that?"
"It's just a guess. Miss Keqing asked that question at the Immortal Invocation Ceremony last year, and the Emperor didn't answer it directly, right?"
"Yes."
"Is it possible that this is the gods' approval of you? Although your question is very disrespectful to the gods and is seen as rebellious by others."
But the Emperor might not see it that way. He might also know that he can't protect Liyue forever. Liyue is a human kingdom, and ultimately it should be governed by humans.
Your question lets the Emperor know that the people of Liyue are already considering this issue, which is a huge step forward. However, whether humanity can govern Liyue well is a question no one knows the answer to; it requires practical experience to verify.
"Would the Emperor... think that way?" Ke Qing was also somewhat confused.
"Regardless, you need to be prepared to face any challenges that may arise!"
Lu Lin had actually already revealed a lot of crucial information to her, but she wasn't yet aware of the amount of information involved. Nevertheless, she said seriously:
"I have benefited greatly from my conversation with Mr. Lu. I had planned to treat him to a meal today, but I still need to inform Ningguang about the extermination of the demons. I will have to leave it for another day."
"It's alright, it's alright. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. Miss Keqing is truly admirable for her dedication to public service. Let's get together properly after we're done with this!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ke Qing took her leave.
"Are you a little bored after listening to us chat all the way?" Lu Lin cupped Xiang Ling's cute little face and gently pinched it.
"No way, Brother Lu Lin is really amazing. Even a big shot like Ke Qing admires you so much. I'm very happy to hear that."
"Really? But I still prefer Xiangling praising me for being amazing last night."
"Hmm~ then we can't do it at home, we need to find a quiet place, otherwise if I make too much noise..." Even Xiangling, who is very bold in this regard, blushed a little when she said this.
She's not stupid; how could she not realize that Keqing was attracted by her cries yesterday? It's just that it seems a little hard to control.
Seeing that Lu Lin just grinned mischievously and didn't say anything after hearing her words, she lowered her voice and said, "How about I try to keep my voice down?"
"No, no, no, just shout if you want to. Don't hold back. I'll take you to a nice place."
Lu Lin stopped teasing her and led her to a corner, where he activated the mark and entered the Dust Song Pot.
Wow! What a beautiful place! Where is this?
"This is my Dust Song Pot."
"The Dust Song Pot? Was it made by my master?"
Xiangling learned from Grandma Ping, who was an expert in making Chenge teapots.
"Although the name is the same, this Chenge Pot wasn't made by Grandma Ping, and its function is quite different from Grandma Ping's Chenge Pot..."
Lu Lin held Xiang Ling's hand as they toured the place, introducing the various functions of the Chen Ge Pot and completing the registration and marking of entry and exit.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully inviting four people to join. Reward: 2 million Mora, 1,000 points, 1,000 experience points, and a random host affix: Skillful]
[Dexterity]: Enhanced talent in various life skills, and greatly enhanced talent in hand techniques.
This entry looks incredibly powerful. Combined with the [Spiritual Mind and Wisdom] he has already acquired, the Return to the End Mechanism technique he is researching will have effects that will absolutely exceed expectations.
Not only will their talents in mechanical arts be greatly enhanced, but their abilities in cooking, farming, blacksmithing, and various other life skills will also improve, as will their manual dexterity...
All I can say is that Gan Yu and her friends are lucky.
Just as he expected, after completing the task of inviting four people to join, a new task of joining came.
[Task objective: Reach eight members (4/8)]
[Mission Rewards: 2 million Mora, 1,000 points, 1,000 experience points, and one random host affix]
Chapter Thirty-Five: Sweet Rain's First Test [Skillful Hands]
Lu Lin considered it over. Today's progress with Ke Qing was pretty good, and there was hope of inviting her in the future. He was about to meet Ying, who was also a target for Lu Lin to win over.
As for the others, it's up to fate; there are still many roles he likes that he hasn't encountered yet.
Perhaps he could also visit other countries, such as Mondstadt, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine... each country has many characters he likes.
A long way to go!
Xiangling successfully joined the platform and now has her own control panel.
[New Member: Xiangling]
【Age: 18】
[Greatness Level: A]
[Elemental attribute: Fire]
[Exclusive Weapon: Annihilation of the Stars in a Box]
[None of the specified terms are listed]