Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [630]

Gu Sanqiu glanced at Hu Tao beside him. “You really think you’re being stealthy? That no one can see what you’re up to?”

“As if! I’m openly plotting your downfall!”

Hu Tao announced it righteously, then leaned in and whispered carefully in Gu Sanqiu’s ear.

“Hey, Qiuqiu, did you remember to prepare a birthday present? Don’t tell me you forgot. Need your Director to help pick something out?”

Gu Sanqiu gave her a look. “You’re not planning on giving me a copy of the Director Hu’s Poetry Anthology or something, are you?”

Hu Tao folded her arms defensively, suddenly wary. “Qiuqiu, you perv! You were peeking at the Director’s secrets!”

Gu Sanqiu: ?

“Just eat. I appreciate the thought, but I already had a gift in mind—just finished putting it together, actually.”

He absentmindedly rubbed his head. “Though, to be honest, the price was a bit steep.”

After the banquet ended, everyone presented their gifts—an assortment so wild and varied that it left the crowd amazed.

Then it was up to Gu Sanqiu to help deliver all the drunken revelers home.

He honestly considered using the power of the winds to just blow them all away at once, but decided against it. Not only was it a little too dangerous considering his friends’ strength, but also, hurling people off the Jade Chamber just wasn’t right.

“Whew—these guys really went all out with the drinking.”

He flew back to the Jade Chamber. “Hey, Sis, where did you get that liquor? Some of those bottles had a kick that’s just unreal.”

Ningguang was busy sorting through the presents. “Some are aged cellars, and some are collector’s items bought from other nations. Why?”

“Sounds expensive.”

Sanqiu left Ningguang to sort her own gifts—after all, these things were more meaningful if handled personally.

“Hey, you didn’t just invite me to dinner as my birthday gift, did you?”

Ningguang stood up, tapping his forehead with her finger. “Little rascal, treating your own sister like this—doesn’t your heart ache?”

“Please, do you really think I’d do that?”

He grinned, setting his hands on her shoulders. “Come on, let me show you what I got you.”

“What kind of present needs to be seen outside? Can’t we—”

Ningguang’s smile was full of fondness as she let him lead her out, and then she saw the enormous amber crystal on the deck.

If it were just a giant gem, Ningguang wouldn’t have been so stunned—the real reason was its shape.

It was a nearly perfect replica: a gemstone statue of the Jade Chamber.

And at its heart, two long-haired figures smiled. The woman stood behind, hands resting on the boy’s shoulders; the boy grinned, carefree.

“Happy birthday, Sis.”

Gu Sanqiu smiled. “I remember when the Jade Chamber was finished, you had a master ink artist do a painting of it, but it couldn’t have been as detailed as this. One of Liyue’s only two master sculptors helped me with it.”

Yeah, the price was getting yelled at by Lord Azhdaha—“Why didn’t you bring me along to fight Osial?”—before getting stomped into the roots of the sealed tree.

Just thinking about that dragon’s thousand-mountain weight still made his legs go weak.

Ningguang looked at the slightly younger faces in the statue, then at the rough, warm, reassuring hand on her shoulder, and couldn’t help but smile.

“I was the one with a hand on your shoulder then. Now it’s you.”

“That kid back in the Incense Room—all small and alone, like he stood apart from every home’s lights—he’s grown up.”

She hugged him tight, palm gently patting the back of his head.

“Thank you for the gift. I love it.”

Gu Sanqiu laughed, completely carefree, and hugged her back.

“Don’t worry, Sis. I’ve got everything covered.”

I’ll bring you peace and stability.

No matter what it takes.

...

The next day, Gu Sanqiu found Zhongli at his usual teahouse spot.

Gu Sanqiu was unusually serious. “Dad, I—”

“You’re planning to go to Inazuma?”

“Uh, how did you know?”

“Nothing much has happened lately, but you seem restless. That’s a sign your heart’s uneasy. Maybe that’s why the seal’s acting up.”

Zhongli took a sip of tea. “If a trip to Inazuma will steady your mind, I don’t see why not.”

“Yeah, this problem really is a pain.”

Gu Sanqiu ran a hand through his hair. “I’m at adeptus-level now, but that black will inside me still matches my strength. It’s like living with a bomb in my head. It sucks.”

“‘Black will’? Hm, that’s a fitting name.”

Zhongli nodded. “Do what you want, while you’re still young. Don’t leave regrets in your life.”

“You’re right.”

Sanqiu nodded. “I’ll go tell Sis and the others.”

“Child.”

Zhongli’s voice was gentle. “Every journey has an end. There’s no need to rush—take time to appreciate the scenery. There’s elegance in that, too.”

Gu Sanqiu fell silent, then grinned and made a face.

“Yeah, every journey ends. So I’ll just take bigger steps—see more, do everything I want to do.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t be reckless without absolute confidence. I’ll bring back souvenirs from Inazuma.”

He smiled. “Honestly, I’m kind of excited to see what’s waiting for me there.”

And he’d be bringing back a whole crate of top-quality seeds for Arataki Itto. Maybe by then that big lug would finally show some growth.

At home, Gu Sanqiu polished his weapons, thinking back to Ningguang’s heartfelt “you two aren’t a good match,” and felt a little helpless.

Sis, you really can’t trust anything that pink-haired fox says.

He wasn’t going to Inazuma for a matchmaking trip—he had his own reasons.

The Chasm was out of the question right now; Yeyueting was already arranging professional teams for the survey, hoping to lift the seal.

If he forced his way in, he’d only be making trouble for everyone, and he wouldn’t be able to get much done.

Azhdaha wasn’t much help either—always cryptic, never straightforward. And the black-robed guy who always showed up was even worse.

Venti? Not even worth mentioning. Always joking around, never a straight answer, and his topic-switching was so clumsy he didn’t even notice.

“As long as I can help the ‘Chef Granny’ solve her problem, there are a few things I can finally ask about.”

Of the current Seven, besides his own old man and Venti, only Inazuma’s was “ancient” enough.

When the Seven gathered in Liyue to drink, the Chef Granny was there too. If anyone still knew about the old days, it would be her.

And she wouldn’t brush him off with some weird excuse, either.

If he could help her with Eternity, she owed him a lot. He refused to believe she’d say nothing.

Returning kindness for kindness might sound a bit suspect, and maybe his dad wouldn’t approve, but Gu Sanqiu was still going to try.

This was a transaction not yet begun, but with high odds of success.

He put his weapons away and got ready to leave.

He’d just bring Raiden and Kazuha and fly straight there. The storms of the sakoku decree weren’t that tough for him—and besides, Beidou had given him a map.

A streak of blue crossed the sea; Zhongli watched it fade, sighing quietly.

Sanqiu was anxious, though he might not know why. Zhongli had watched his growth from the shadows the whole way—even if he didn’t say it, wasn’t it obvious?

After the battle with Osial, realizing his own strength was lacking, and the seal kept loosening—naturally, the incense-bearer grew restless.

Was it just a bad premonition?

Bearing the wish of a thousand years, it wouldn’t be impossible.

“You’ve worked hard, child.”

Zhongli clasped his hands behind his back. “It’s not time yet. When the time comes, all will be revealed.”

“A world in turmoil, a fate in chaos—those are enough to drive anyone mad.”

“Until the truth comes out, I still need you to know nothing.”

There’s no such thing as a flawless plan. Every move leaves a mark on the world; all you can do is limit how often people notice, and reduce the chances of being exposed.

Even keeping secrets from your own people is the simplest and most effective way.

And so far, the plan had gone smoothly—though hidden behind it was a painful truth.

Everyone who ever worked on this scheme, back then, either died or vanished without a trace.

The price was heavy, and even if it hurt Zhongli to keep Sanqiu in the dark, he had no choice.

---

T/N: daddy zhongli

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!